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Tuesday, December 9, 2014

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Vol. 1 No. 294

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

N150

Nigeria to buy fighter jets from Russia }48

Tight security for APC convention Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

S

ecurity has been tightened in Lagos as 8,000 delegates across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) gather for the convention of the

All Progressives Congress (APC) holding on Wednesday.

The Convention Planning Committee yesterday gave assurance of adequate security and maximum vehicular movement in Lagos during and after the event.

Business }21

The committee, in a statement issued by Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated that it was collaborating with the Lagos State Government and all relevant security agencies to put in place adequate arrangements aimed at ensuring CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Editorial }19

Buhari

Atiku

Kwankwaso

Travel Advisory Guide to local and international flights }4

PDP: The winners... lYero, Dankwambo, Ribadu, Wike, Udom, Umahi, Nasko, Okowa, Ugwuanyi, Ayade, Folarin, Ikpeazu triumph at primaries lViolence mars Lagos primaries, as Ogun defies NWC

Yero - Kaduna

Dankwambo - Gombe

Ribadu - Adamawa

Wike - Rivers

Udom - Akwa Ibom

Okowa - Delta

Umahi - Ebonyi

Nasko - Niger

Ugwuanyi - Enugu

Ayade - Cross River

Folarin - Oyo

Ikpeazu - Abia

Falling oil price threatens $150bn investments l16 unproductive oil blocks deserted Adeola Yusuf

S

ixteen unproductive marginal fields in Ni-

geria have suffered further setback as the oil price rout rocking the global crude market hit harder

on the marginal fields' production and assets, New Telegraph has learnt.

Also, global exploration

projects worth more than $150 billion are likely to be put on hold next year as the plunging oil prices

render them unprofitable.

The marginal field programme is an offshoot of the Federal Government’s

policy to promote indigenous participation in the upstream sector of the peCONTINUED ON PAGE 6

2

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

3

4

Travel Advisory

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

International Flight Schedule

Local FLIGHT SCHEDULE FIRST NATION AIRWAYS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06.50; 09:30; 11:45; 16:00 (SAT) 06:50; 11:45 (SUN) 11:45; 16:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 11:30; 13:40;18:30 (SAT) 09:00; 13:40 (SUN) 13:40; 18:30 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 14:45 (SAT) 16:15 (SUN) 14:45 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:50 (SAT) 18:20 (SUN) 16:50 AEROCONTRACTORS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06:50; 13:30; 16:30; 19:45 (SAT/SUN) 12:30; 16:45 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 13:00; 19:00 (SAT) 12:30 (SUN) 15:30 MEDVIEW AIRLINES LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:50; 12:00; 15:30 (SAT) 10:00; 15:00 (SUN) 17:30; 18:30 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 14:00, 15:00; 18:30 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 AZMAN FLIGHT SCHEDULE WEEKLY SCHEDULE Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Abuja 10:30am Abuja-Lagos 12:40pm Lagos-Abuja/Kano 4:00pm Abuja-Kano 5:45pm Kaduna-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kan 10:10am Kano-Abuja/Lagos 12:40pm Abuja-Lagos 1:00pm Abuja-Lagos 2:40pm Lagos-Kaduna 5:00pm WEEKEND SCHEDULE SATURDAY Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Abuja 10:30am Abuja-Lagos 1:00pm Lagos-Kano 4:00pm Kaduna-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kano 4:00pm Sunday Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kano 10:30am Kano-Abuja/Lagos 1:20pm Abuja-Lagos 2:40pm Lagos-Kaduna 5:00pm

British Airways flights from Nigeria (Mon - Sun) Flight path

Departure

Arrival

Lagos (LOS) to London Heathrow (LHR)

23.30hrs

05.30hrs

Abuja (ABV) to London Heathrow (LHR)

08.00hrs

14.00hrs

Flight path

Departure

Arrival

London Heathrow (LHR) to Lagos (LOS)

11.00hrs

17.30hrs

London Heathrow (LHR) to Abuja (ABV)

00.00hrs

06.00hrs

British Airways flights to Nigeria

Daily flights from Nigeria (Lagos, Abuja) (Mon - Sun) Airliner

Airports

Departure

Arrival

Arik Air

London to Lagos

21:30hrs

03.30hrs

Arik Air

Lagos (LOS) to New York (JFK)

23:35hrs

05:30hrs (NY time)

Arik Air

New York (JFK) to Lagos

12:00hrs (NY time)

06:00hrs (Nig. time)

Delta Airlines

Atlanta to Lagos

23:00hrs

16:00hrs

Delta Airlines

Lagos to Atlanta

22:20hrs

05:30hrs

Emirates Airlines

Lagos to Dubai

14:30hrs;

12:50hrs

KLM

Lagos to Amsterdam

23:10hrs

05:10hrs

KLM

Amsterdam to Lagos

11:30hrs

05:30hrs

Virgin Atlantic

Lagos to London

11:00hrs

17:00hrs

Lufthansa

Abuja to Frankfurt

23.10hrs

05.10hrs

Lufthansa

Lagos to Frankfurt

21.00hrs

03.00hrs

South Africa Airways

Lagos to Johannesburg

22.15hrs

03.15hrs (SA time)

United Airlines

Lagos to Housten, Texas

22:10hrs

-

Fly Direct

Air France

Abuja to Paris

23:55hrs

05:55hrs

Air France

Lagos to Paris

21:20hrs

03:21hrs

Ethiopia Airways

Abuja to Addis Ababa

20.10hrs (Nig Time)

00.10hrs (Addis time)

Ethiopia Airways

Lagos to Addis Ababa

14:00hrs (Nig Time)

18:00hrs (Addis time)

At the time of publication, the only direct flights between the United States and Morocco are those operated by Royal Air Maroc between New York JFK and Casablanca. This flight runs at least three times a week and often more frequently; check the Royal Air Maroc website (royalairmaroc.com) for the most up-to-date flight schedule.

Qatar Airways

Lagos to Doha

14.23hrs

-

Air Maroc

Lagos to Casablanca

06:25 hrs

12:45 hrs

Etihad

Lagos to Abu Dhabi

09:50hrs

-

Air Ivoire

Lagos to Abidjan

10:15hrs (Sun and Mon)

-

Cam Air

Lagos to Yaounde

15:25hrs (Mon, Tues and Wed)

How to Travel to Morocco From the USA Morocco takes up the northwest corner of Africa, covering an area slightly larger than California. It enjoys good weather and is rich in heritage and culture, with nine UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the famous medinas, or historic centers, of Fez and Marrakech. U.S. passport holders do not need a visa to visit Morocco as long as your stay is for less than 90 days. To reach Morocco, your only option is to fly.

Fly via Europe Flying via Europe really opens up your travel options to Morocco and provides the opportunity to add a European city to your itinerary. In addition to the main airport in Casablanca, Morocco has airports at Agadir, Fez, Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Rabat and Tangier. These alternative destinations are accessible from a variety of European cities. For example, if you fly via Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport you can choose from onward flights to Casablanca, Nador, Tangier, Marrakech and Agadir.

Other possible transit cities include London, Frankfurt and Paris.

Flight Times Flying from New York to Casablanca is a long-distance flight, so be prepared. Your flight time is likely to be around six hours.

The flights leave New York in the early evening, but the difference in time zones means that you’ll arrive at around 6.30 a.m., feeling like it’s the early hours of the morning. From Europe, flights are a lot shorter. Expect a flight from Amsterdam to Tangier to take just over two hours, although the longer journey to Agadir in the Morocco south will take more than five hours.

Domestic Flights Once you’re in Morocco, most destinations are accessible by public transportation or rental car, making air travel an option only for the longest journeys. Rough Guides recommends considering taking a flight to Laayoune or Dakhla in the Western Sahara due to the distances involved. However, internal flights are often delayed and can be quite expensive, so it’s worth looking at Moroccan trains and buses before making your journey plans.

News

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

5

Ribadu, Udom, Wike, Ugwuanyi, Yero, Folarin others emerge PDP gov candidates Our Correspondents

G

overnorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emerged in some states yesterday as the party held primaries in 29 states of the federation for the February 28, 2015 governorship election.

While some states such as Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Enugu, Niger, Adamawa, Kaduna and Abia concluded their primaries early enough to declare winners as at press time, others were delayed by logistical problems and crises that dragged the exercise into the wee hours of today.

In Lagos State, violence marred the exercise, leading to the late accreditation of delegates, which began about 7pm.

Among those who have been declared winner yesterday were Ebonyi State Deputy Governor, Mr. Dave Umahi; former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu (Adamawa); former Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Mr. Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom), former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin (Oyo), Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu (Abia), Alhaji Musa Nashuni (Katsina) and Alhaji Umar Mohammed Nasko (Niger).

Also, Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Ramalan Yero and his Gombe State counterpart, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo, got the PDP delegates' nod to run for a second term in office.

Rivers: Wike yesterday emerged the governorship candidate of the PDP after almost clearing the votes

of party delegates from the 23 local government areas of the state.

The party's primaries were held under heavy security cordon provided by well-armed riot policemen, soldiers and operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) who manned various points around the vicinity of Community Secondary School, Nkpolu-Oruworukwu, Port Harcourt, venue of the event.

Of the 24 governorship aspirants that were supposed to participate in the primaries, only five showed up.

Wike was declared winner after securing a total of 1,083 votes, while the remaining four aspirants – Senator Lee Maeba, Mr. Emmanuel Georgewill, Hon. Ibinabo Michael West and Hon. Dinbari Ben Dimkpa got a total of 26 votes.

In his victory speech,

Wike who was escorted to the podium by party stalwarts, including the Minister for Sports Tammy Danagogo; former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Austin Opara and a former governorship aspirant, Chief Sergeant Awuse, promised to extend olive branch to aggrieved members of the party in order to succeed in “the battle ahead.”

Oyo: Folarin emerged the party's candidate after polling 167 votes to beat nine other aspirants.

At the congress organised by Senator Abba Ajiled electoral committee, which was held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, seven aspirants were in attendance while six others boycotted the exercise.

In attendance were Senator Ayoade Adeseun, Chief Wole Oyelese, Professor Soji Adejumo, Alhaji Hazim Gbolarumi, Pro-

R

said in Katsina that Nashuni scored 1,309 votes to clinch the PDP ticket.

Mu’azu said Senator Ibrahim Ida came second with 16 votes; Alhaji Tukur Jikamshi, seven votes; while Alhaji Kabir Barkiya and Abdullahi Umar Tata, got two votes each.

In his acceptance speech, Nashuni commended the delegates for electing him and urged the aspirants that lost to cooperate and support him for the progress of the party.

Kaduna: Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State has emerged the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in the state after scoring 970 votes as against Senator Haruna Aziz Zego, who polled two votes in the primaries that were conducted under a peaceful atmosphere.

Indications that Yero would win the primaries emerged earlier when

three out of the five aspirants stepped down for him. Former Secretary to Kaduna State Government, Alhaji Samaila Lawal Yakawada, ex-Minister of Aviation, Mr. Felix Hassan Hyat and Air Commodore John Boko Ajeye (rtd) withdrew from the race.

Akwa Ibom: Like in some other state, yesterday's primaries in Akwa Ibom was like a coronation as a former Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Emmanuel Gabriel Udom, trounced his rivals.

He polled 1,201 votes to defeat Mr. Effiong Abia who had four votes; Benjamin Okoko who received one vote and Senator Helen Esuene who got one vote.

In his victory speech, Udom attributed the successful conduct of the election to the effective leadership of Governor Godswill Akpabio, saying CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

L-R: Team Lead, The Future Project, Miss Bukola Adebakin; an actress and On-Air Personality, Miss Osas Ighodaro; Executive Director, The Future Project, Miss Mfon Ekpo; Cofounder, Mr. Adebola Williams; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; Winner, The Future Awards Africa Prize in Enterprise Support, Mr. Bunmi Otegbade; songwriter/ singer, Miss Waje Iruobe; On-Air Personality, Ebony life TV, Miss Bolanle Olakunmi and a musician, Mr. Iyanya Mbuk, during their courtesy visit to the governor in Lagos…yesterday

Shell blames thieves for oil spills in Nigeria oyal Dutch Shell has blamed crude thieves for the recent rupture that sent about 3,800 barrels gushing out of a pipeline into the swamps of the oil-producing Niger Delta.

Assistant manager of the Shell's Trans Niger Pipeline, Jurgen Janzen, who disclosed this to Voice of America (VOA) declared that his company's loss to crude theft is now 30, 000 barrels per day.

Janzen maintained that trying to stop the theft, however, slows down production even more.

He added that the leak

fessor Taoheed Adedoja and Dr. Azeez Adeduntan.

Those who boycotted the primaries included former governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, former deputy governor, Taofeek Arapaja, Seyi Makinde, Femi Babalola, Isaac Owolabi and Kehinde Olaosebikan.

The electoral committee chairman in announcing the result, said Alao-Akala polled two votes, Adejumo four, Gbolarumi 12 and Adeduntan three.

When contacted however, Alao-Akala said he was amazed that two votes were recorded against his name, saying, "Was I there?

That is gimmick".

Katsina: PDP delegates at the primaries held in Katsina voted for Alhaji Musa Nashuni to be the party's governorship candidate in 2015.

The Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Alhaji Abubakar Mua’zu,

was caused by thieves cracking open a 24-inch pipe in an attempt to syphon off the oil. “This isn’t the first time this has happened,” he noted.

Shell, whose Nigerian subsidiary manages the ruptured pipeline, maintained that the Trans Niger Pipeline transports around 180,000 barrels of crude oil per day to the Bonny Export Terminal.

“The company managed to retrieve about 1,340 barrels of oil that was spilled, while another 780 evaporated,” Janzen said. “The rest was visibly floating on the water’s surface.

“We need to shut in our lines, every time," VOA quoted Janzen to have said.

"We do it in batches.

And that means the line is shut in, you cannot produce the oil, it’s still in the ground. It’s not stolen, it’s still there, and you can produce it later on but no longer this year.

"We are approximately at 100,000 barrels per day that we cannot produce, that we have got as deferred oil, as a result of oil theft. Outside of Nigeria, I’ve not come across anything that is as widely spread, and as active, as here in Nigeria.”

Tight security for APC convention CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

security of delegates.

It added that arrangement has been put in place at reducing the burden of traffic congestion throughout the period of the convention.

According to the committee, the relevant authorities in the state have mapped out strategies to ease traffic congestion around the venue of the convention, while adequate arrangements have also been made for the transportation of delegates from their hotels to the designated accreditation centres and the venue of the convention at the

Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

The statement stated that the arrangements include but not limited to diversion of traffic in some routes and restriction of vehicular movements in some areas.

"Delegates are therefore urged to cooperate with the security and traffic management officials during the period of the convention, while members of the public who might be inconvenienced as a result of the diversion are enjoined to see it as part of the needed sacrifice for the advancement of our democracy," Mohammed said.

The committee promises to make the convention, which features the election of the APC presidential flag bearer, a reference point in the history of successful conventions in the country.

Five aspirants are contesting for the APC presidential ticket. They are former Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari; former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; Governor of Kano State, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and Publisher of Leadership Newspaper Group, Sam Nda-Isaiah.

News

6

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

2015: INEC helpless on candidates' list, says Jega Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

T

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it is helpless in enforcing the rules regarding the processes on how candidates for the elections could emerge, blaming it on the ambiguity created by the Electoral Act. INEC Chairman, Prof.

Attahiru Jega, who addressed the INEC-Traditional Rulers National Summit on Peaceful Elections in Abuja yesterday, said the inability of the National Assembly to conclude work on the amendment of the Electoral Act, created a lacuna that the political parties are exploiting, which is a constraint to the commission.

"There is an existing provision in the Electoral Act, which actually creates confusion and conflict, constraining what INEC does in terms of regulating and ensuring internal party democracy. For example, section 31 of the Electoral Act says that when a party does primaries and submits the names to INEC, INEC will not reject those names for

any reason whatsoever.

“There is also section 87 of the same Electoral Act which says that candidates in political party primaries should emerge through democratic processes. Now, both the Electoral Act and the constitution mandated INEC to monitor primaries of political parties," Jega stated.

He, however, regretted that anytime the parties are conducting primaries and INEC officials sent to

monitor and prepare reports in compliance with the Electoral Act and the provisions of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended), the names the parties' secretariats submitted as candidates were different from the report of the INEC officials.

"In 2011, we had situations when we will send monitors that return with reports, detailing who emerged in the party primaries through demo-

cratic means in accordance with the dictates of Electoral Act, but the names that the party secretariats forward as nominations to INEC were totally different.

“Some of them, for example, would ignore the candidate that emerged and picked the candidate who finished third. There are cases they would even ignore the entire list and send an entirely different person who did not partici-

pate in the party primaries.

“Of course, a provision in that Electoral Act created that ambiguity and confusion and there is nothing we could do other than to accept whatever names they gave to us to avoid them, accusing us of interfering with the internal affairs of the political parties or violating the provisions of the Electoral Act." He also expressed concern on the attitude of

politicians, warning that their conduct is capable of generating and inciting conflicts and violence, which might pose serious threat to the 2015 general election.

"The greatest challenge and threat to 2015 general election, as we see it in the commission, is the conduct capable of generating and inciting conflicts and violence by many critical stakeholders in the political arena.

FG orders release of seized arms-laden aircraft Emmanuel Onani

T

he Federal Government has ordered security operatives to release an N'djamenabound arms-laden Antonov Cargo Aircraft, which was impounded at the Aminu Kano International Airport on Saturday.

The disclosure was made yesterday in Abuja, by the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshall Adesola Amosu, at a press conference that was attended by the French Defence Attaché (DA) to Nigeria, Col. Marc Humbert.

Amosu observed that the seized cargo did not

fulfil conditions precedent to an existing "Block Clearance" arrangement, hence the decision of the Federal Government to seize the controversial aircraft.

According to CAS, the decision to interrogate the origin and mission of the cargo, in the first instance, was a pre-emptive

and deliberate one, having regard to the global effect of terrorism, which share the country is currently contending with in parts of the North.

"The situation we have is that on December 6, an Antonov 124 aircraft with registration RA 82038 departed Bangui, Central Af-

rican Republic (CAR) for destination to Ndjemena, Chad.

"However, from our records, we had no such clearance to operate into Kano although with the French Government, we do have a 'block clearance' to cover up most flights throughout the year," he said.

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

31oC

26oC

Mostlly Sunny

ABUJA

36oC

21oC

Sunny

PORT HARCOURT

25o C 18oC Thunder Storms

KANO

34oC

12oC

Sunny

ENUGU

34oC

23oC

Partially Cloudy

IBADAN

34oC

23oC

Partially Cloudy

CALABAR

29o C 23oC Thunder Storms

MAIDUGURI

ONITSHA

35oC 15oC Sunny

34oC

23oC

Partially Cloudy

L-R: Former Group Managing Director, Diamond Bank Plc., Dr. Alex Otti, Group Managing Director, Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, Dr. Stella Okoli and Lagos State Deputy Governor, Princess Joke Orelope-Adefulire, at Emzor's annual thanksgiving dinner in Lagos

16 unproductive oil blocks deserted CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

troleum industry.

It was, however, learnt that the ongoing crude price fall had made further investments in marginal fields to be unattractive.

"Just eight of the 24 fields awarded in 2003 are currently producing, with over 40 new wells drilled by the awardees, representing a four-fold increase. But the bad news is that the price fall has made investments on the eight fields unattractive and works on the remaining 16 unproductive fields to be un lucrative," an industry source told New Telegraph by phone yesterday.

It also gathered that

the price fall has also set a big setback to the 2013 new marginal field bid round, which has been unofficially delayed for 2015 general election.

Besides, as big oil fields that were discovered decades ago begin to deplete, International Oil Companies (IOCs) are, according to Reuters, trying to access more complex and hard to reach fields located in some cases deep under sea level.

However, the rise in cost of production arising from increase in cost of raw materials and the need for expensive new technology to reach the oil, have been a deterrent.

Now the outlook for

onshore and offshore developments - from the Barents Sea to the Gulf or Mexico - looks as uncertain as the price of oil, which has plunged by 40 per cent in the last five months to around $70 a barrel.

Next year, companies will make final investment decisions (FIDs) on a total of 800 oil and gas projects worth $500 billion and totalling nearly 60 billion barrels of oil equivalent, according to data from Norwegian consultancy Rystad Energy.

But with analysts forecasting oil to average $82.50 a barrel next year, around one third of the spending, or a fifth of the volume, is

unlikely to be approved, head of analysis at Rystad Energy Per Magnus Nysveen said.

"At $70 a barrel, half of the overall volumes are at risk," he said.

Around one third of the projects scheduled for FID in 2015 are so-called unconventional, where oil and gas are extracted using horizontal drilling, in what is known as fracking or mining.

Chevron's North Sea Rosebank project is among those with a shaky future and a decision on whether to go ahead with it will likely be pushed late into 2015 as the company assesses its economics, analysts said.

"This project was not deemed economic at $100 a barrel so at current levels it is clearly a no-go," said Bertrand Hodée, research analyst at Paris-Based Raymond James.

He estimates a development cost of $10 billion for Rosebank, with potential reserves of 300 million barrels - meaning the Chevron would only recoup $33 a barrel.

Even with oil at $120 a barrel, the economics of some projects around the world were in doubt as development costs soared in recent years. Chevron's Rosebank project has already been delayed for several years.

News

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

7

Supreme Court to decide on Jonathan's eligibility Dec 16 Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

I

ndications emerged yesterday that the Supreme Court may, on December 16, give verdict in the suit challenging the eligibility of President Goodluck Jonathan to recontest in the 2015 general election.

This was as the apex court fixed the date for hearing in an appeal filed by a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Dr. Umar Ardo, challenging the judgement of the Court of Appeal, Abuja division which refused to join him as a party in an appeal filed by one Cyriacus Njoku.

The apex court fixed

the date against the background that nomination of candidates by political parties will close on December 18.

An inside source, however, told New Telegraph that the panel may, on December 16, give judgement in the appeal so as not to be caught up with the closing of nomination of candidates.

Njoku had approached an Abuja High Court in 2012 to stop Jonathan from re-contesting in 2015, but Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi, on March 1, dismissed the suit for lack of jurisdiction.

Not satisfied, Njoku proceeded to the Court of Appeal.

It was at the Court of Appeal that Ardo sought to

be joined as co-appellant, but was refused.

The court stopped Ardo from joining in the appeal on ground that he was not a party at the lower court.

Not satisfied, he approached the apex court.

Ardo, through his counsel, Dr. Amuda Kannike (SAN) in an appeal marked: CA/4/574/2013, SC 769/2014 is praying the court, among others, an order granting him leave to

appeal against the judgement of the Abuja High Court in suit marked: FCT/HC/CV/244/12 between Njoku and Jonathan delivered on March 1.

Joined as Respondents alongside President Jonathan, PDP, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Njoku.

When the matter came up yesterday, counsel to Jonathan, Ade Okeaya-

Inneh (SAN) told the court that he had responded to the appellant's brief.

Counsel to second respondent, C.I Paul and fourth respondent, O.O Obla prayed the court for a short adjournment in order to respond to the appellant's submission.

Counsel to INEC, AlHassan Umar, however, told the court that he would remain neutral and abide by whatever the de-

cision of the court is.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Tanko Mohammed later adjourned till December 16 for hearing.

He, however, ordered parties to file and serve their responses within seven days.

In the preliminary objection to the appeal, Jonathan asked the apex court to dismiss the appeal on ground that it lacks jurisdiction to entertain such.

N26.2bn debt: Court freezes Odogwu’s accounts in 19 banks Akeem Nafiu

A

Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has frozen business accounts of a billionaire businessman, Chief Sunny Odogwu, and his two companies, Robert Dyson & Diket Limited and SIO Properties Limited in 19 banks over an alleged N26.2 billion debt.

Justice Saliu Saidu gave the order yesterday.

The court’s order was

predicated on a Mareva injunction sought by Diamond Bank Plc., for alleged refusal by Odogwu and his companies to repay a loan of N26, 229, 943, 035.22, granted them by the bank.

Sued as co-defendants, are the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), The Registrar of Title, Federal Land Registry and Leadway Trustees Limited.

Meanwhile, Justice Saidu has fixed Friday for the hearing of the substantive suit.

L-R: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial aspirant, Mike Onoja; Benue State Deputy Governor, Steven Lawani and Senate President David Mark, during the Benue South Senatorial District PDP primaries in Otukpo, Benue State...at the weekend.

Violence mars Lagos primaries, as party stops Ogun's election CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

that Akpabio has provided a template of good governance which has endeared him to the people.

Addressing the congress, the Returning Officer, Prince Bola Oyebowale, announced that a total of 1,360 delegates from the 31 local government areas of the state were accredited for the primaries.

Speaking shortly after casting his vote, Akpabio described the process as clearly transparent and commended the delegates for peacefully conducting themselves throughout the exercise.

Adamawa: Ribadu yesterday was in the lead at the PDP's governorship ticket at the primaries conducted in Abuja.

Ribadu contested against the Governor, Bala James Ngilari, son of the former PDP National Chairman, Awwal Tukur, former governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2011, Dr. Marcus

Gundiri, former Executive Secretary of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Ahmed Modibbo and Gen. Aliyu Kama.

Ngilari and other aspirants, however, boycotted the primaries, held under a peaceful atmosphere.

Ogun: The Ogun State chapter of the PDP yesterday defied the directive of the party's National Working Committee (NWC) to elect a former Group Managing Director of Gateway Holdings Limited, Prince Gboyega Isiaka, as its governorship candidate.

Isiaka polled 705 votes to emerge the PDP standard bearer at the gubernatorial primaries held at the state secretariat of the party in Abeokuta where two other aspirants, Kayode Amusan and Segun Adewale participated.

But Isiaka's victory yesterday came against the backdrop of the announcement by the PDP NWC that the governorship primary election for the state had been cancelled.

In a statement in Abuja

by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh, the PDP said a new date would be communicated for the primary election.

Notwithstanding, the state chapter went ahead to conduct the primaries, supervised by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the police and Department of State Security (DSS).

Nine governorship aspirants, however, boycotted the exercise. They include former House of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole; former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Sarafa Isola; former Deputy Governor, Alhaji Rafiu Ogunleye and a serving House of Representatives member, Abiodun Akinlade.

Speaking after he was declared winner, Isiaka commended the transparency in the electoral process.

He promised to embark on reconciliation of party members and extend a hand of fellowship to oth-

er aspirants who lost the ticket.

Abia: Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu has emerged the Abia State PDP standard bearer for the 2015 governorship election.

Ikpeazu emerged after beating seven others at the primaries held at the Umuahia Stadium and supervised by the fourmember national primary committee, led by Dr Angela Mba. The former General Manager (GM) of Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) Aba Zone, floored his opponents with 487 votes.

President of Masters Energy, Dr Uche Ogah, came second with 103 votes while former Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu polled 33.

Niger: Governor Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu's candidate in the Niger State PDP primaries, Alhaji Umar Mohammed Nasko, won the ticket with 908 votes to emerge the party's candidate for the 2015 general election.

Announcing the result, the returning Officer, Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye, declared Nasko winner while Aliyu's deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Ibeto had 34 votes and Sahabu Darangi 11 votes.

Earlier, Aliyu had called for peaceful campaigns by political parties and their candidates.

Enugu: It was a landslide victory for Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, a threetime member of the House of Representatives, as he won over 90 per cent of votes cast in the 17 local council areas of the state to fly the flag of the PDP in the 2015 governorship election.

Senator Ayogu Eze, however, went to Filbon Hotel, Enugu and conducted a parallel primary election, where he was declared winner after he earlier disagreed with the panel members who had addressed the aspirants before going to conduct the election at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

Ebonyi: The Deputy

Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr. Dave Umahi, has emerged the PDP gubernatorial candidate in the forthcoming general election.

Umahi polled 541 votes to defeat other six aspirants in a peaceful primary election that took place at the Abakaliki Township Stadium amidst tight security.

Other aspirants included Dr. Paul Okorie, Senator Paulinus Igwe Nwagu, Dr.Offia Nwali, Dr.Hyacinth Ikpor and Dr. Igwe Aja Nwachuku.

Former Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, who was the candidate of Governor Martin Elechi, was absent.

In Cross River, Senator Ben Ayade won the PDP ticket. He polled 752 votes out of the 782 votes cast.

Goddy Jerry-Agba got five votes while Joe Agi secured 11 votes and Francis Eworo five votes.

Fidelis Ugbo, Legor Idagbor, Larry Odey and Mike Aniah stepped down for Ayade.

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News

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

NATIONAL

Jonathan’s supporters over-heating polity –APC Temitope Ogunbanke

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he All Progressives Congress (APC) has faulted the comment by former Minister of Information and Ijaw National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, that if the opposition has its way, it can poison or kill President Goodluck Jonathan just to take power.

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APC said the statement credited to the Ijaw leader was absurd, incendiary and unbecoming of an elder statesman of the Chief Clark’s stature.

APC, in a statement, issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said Clark’s comment, which was widely reported by newspapers, was the latest in a string

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of statements by President Jonathan’s supporters that are overheating the polity ahead of the 2015 general elections and are even threatening the peace and unity of the country. ‘’We have waited for several days to give Chief Clark the opportunity to deny making such a fallacious statement, but he has not done so, which means he was not

The percentage of population of men The number of individuals using the above 60 years of Belarus in 2012. internet in developed countries in 2008.

Source: Un.org Source: Itu.int

misquoted and that he indeed meant what he said. ‘’It is time for the President himself to call his supporters to order for the sake of the peace and unity of our dear nation. They have been threatening fire and brimstone if the President is not re-elected in 2015, as if elections are won by threats. One has even gone as far as saying there will blood on the

1.96m

The number of people that died due to infectious diarrhoeas in 2001.

Source: Unesco.org

streets if the President is not re-elected,’’ it said.

APC said in making his dangerous comment, Chief Clark probably mistook the party for the PDP, which has been described as the nest of killers.

“Our party has never and will never contemplate killing or poisoning President Jonathan just to take power, as Chief Clark carelessly said. We

90%

The estimated percentage of deaths due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that occurred in low-and middle-income countries.

Source: Who.int

Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi (left), and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala at the National Insurance Summit, 2014, at Nicon Hotel, Abuja, yesterday

are neither a violent nor an anarchic party. We do not seek power by any means other than through the ballot box. Therefore, we reject, totally, the statement by Chief Clark.

“We remind Chief Clark that since President Jonathan was voted into office by Nigerians; they also reserve the right to vote him out of office.”

Glo cuts tariff on international calls by 50 per cent

I

n a move aimed at drastically reducing the cost of international calls, national telecoms carrier, Globacom, has cut tariffs for calls to popular international destinations by 50 per cent.

Globacom said its new International Direct Dialing (IDD) promotion which allows its subscribers to enjoy a 50 per cent discount is applicable to calls made to all lines in the United States, Canada, India and China as well as calls to fixed lines in the United Kingdom.

The company’s Head of Glo Gateway, Mr. Steve Stretch, who made this known in a press statement in Lagos, explained that 50 per cent discount is available on the IDD pack which attracts a rental charge of N500 for N500 bundled airtime for 30 days’ validity period. Instead of the 20 kobo base rate, the subscriber is charged only 10 kobo per second.

Oritsejafor sues Fashola, Lagos Prisons recapture 108 jail-breakers over plan to demolish church Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

Akeem Nafiu

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he President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has dragged the Lagos State Government and six others to a Lagos High Court presided over

by Justice Deborah Oluwayemi over alleged plan to demolish his church.

Joined as respondents in the suit are; the Governor of Lagos State, Attorney-General of Lagos State, Lagos State Ministry of Physical planning and Urban Development, Lagos State Building Control Agency, Lagos State Physical Planning permit Authority and Lagos state Task force on Environmental Sanitation.

In the suit instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of Word of Life Bible Church, the claimant is praying the court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants, their

agents, servants, officers, privies or otherwise from demolishing or further demolishing, destroying, dispossessing or forcibly ejecting the claimant from continuing to take steps or in any other manner engaging in any activities detrimental or contrary to the rights of the ownership or possession of the claimant in respect of the claimants land located at Plot 21E, Abdulrahman Okene Close, Off Ligali Ayorinde Street, Victoria Island Annex, Lagos.

The claimant averred that after applying for building plan approval from the respondents and it was not forth coming within the regular period, it made enquires, wrote several letters and also held meetings with the former Governor of the state, Senator Bola Tinubu and the present Governor of Lagos State Babatunde Fashola, through the CAN President.

It was further averred that in March 2013, the claimant received a letter from the defendants directing the submission of some certain documents to facilitate the process of the approval of the building plan which it complied with.

But while the claimant was still awaiting the building plan approval so as to continue with its Church building, the claimant said it suddenly discovered that the defendants had pasted a certain contravention notice, dated January 20, 2014 on its fence, alleging absence of development permit, as ground of seeking removal of the building on the land within two days.

However, the defendants, in its counter affidavit to a motion for interlocutory injunction, alleged that the action of the claimants in not complying with the rules and regulations was responsible for its action.

T

he Nigeria Prison Service (NPS) has recaptured 108 persons, who escaped from the Medium Security Prisons of Minna, Niger State on December 6th.

The total number of those that escaped from the prisons were 275.

According to a statement from spokesperson of the Prisons Service, Mr. Ope Fatinikun, the escaped inmates were recaptured through combined efforts

of Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police, DSS, Prisons and cooperation of surrounding communities.

Fatinikun said the total number of inmates in the custody of the Prisons Service for Minna Prisons were 157, which include the 49 inmates that did not escape. This leaves 166 inmates still at large.

He, however, stated that search for the other escapees were ongoing by the security personnel.

The statement added that the Controller General of Prisons, Dr Peter Ekpen-

du, appealed to communities and neighbouring states of Kwara, Kaduna, Kebbi and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to be vigilant and watch out for any suspicious movement around and report such person to the nearest Police or Prisons formations.

“Once again the Controller General of Prisons wishes to reassure the general Public that from all investigations so far, there was no external or Boko Haram attack in the Prison’s escape incidence”, Fatinikun said.

Nigeria’s anti-insurgency strategies too cosmetic –ASUU Mojeed Alabi

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he Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said there is no indication that the raging war being unleashed on Nigerians by the dreaded Boko Haram insurgent group will end soon. The group said the strategies being deployed by the Federal Government are too cosmetic and could only scratch the surface of the

problem and not addressing its roots.

The union, at a media briefing addressed by its National President, Dr. Nasir Fagge Isa, at the Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo, condemned what it described as the government’s inability to fulfil the basic needs of the people, especially security, power, and other basic infrastructural facilities.

Isa, who also criticised

the Federal Government’s war against corruption, said the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration like those of his predecessors in office was insincere in the fight, saying the emergence of the former Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah as a Senatorial candidate for the 2015 general election shows how terrible Nigeria’s corruption cases have degenerated to.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

News

NATION'S CAPITAL

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Minister orders replacement of streetlights, others Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

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etermined to enhance the security of lives and property in the Federal Capital City (FCT) at all times, FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, has directed the Department of Facilities Maintenance and Management to, as a matter of priority, re-

1.4%

place all streetlight poles knocked down in the city.

The minister, who gave this directive yesterday, said the replacement of these streetlight poles would go a long way in providing illumination in the city at night, thereby enhancing the security surveillance of the nation’s capital.

Mohammed also said that the maintenance of public facilities has always been part and

The annual population growth rate of Central America in 2010-2015.

Source: Un.org

parcel of the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The minister further directed that all potholes found in the city should be patched to further enhance easy movement of vehicles thereby reducing traffic gridlock often experienced at peak hours in the metropolis.

He also instructed his officials to clear all drainages in preparation for the next raining season

0.83

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Afghanistan in 2009.

Source: Itu.int

to guard against flooding.

Mohammed, however, commended the department for the patching of potholes on some major streets and roads in the FCT such as Tafawa Balewa Street before and after Garki District Hospital; Nnewi Street, Area 2, Garki; Imo Crescent/ Mashhod Abiola Junction, Area 2, Garki and Birnin Kebbi Street in Garki II District of the federal capital.

2.02m

The total population of Slovenia (rep.

0.029% of world’s population) in 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

According to him, other streets that have been patched include the Junction of Yakubu Gowon Crescent and Murtala Muhammad Way; Junction of Muhammad Ribadu Street and Yakubu Gowon Crescent and the Roundabout near SS Quarters-Murtala Muhammad Way, all in Asokoro District.

“In Wuse I District, Mambolo Street, Zone 2; Gabes Street, Zone

88,148

The number of air travel passengers of Sokoto airport in 2013.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

2; Aswan Street, Zone 3; Suez Crescent, Zone 4; Tunis Street, Zone 6 and Makeni Street Zone 6 have been adequately patched in addition to Obafemi Awolowo Way in Jabi District and J. T. Useni Way as well as Salihu Iliyasu Street in Gwarinpa I District (LifeCamp),” he added.

Mohammed said activities of undesirable elements, vandalising manhole and gully inlet covers would soon be a thing of the past as his administration is already working to replace the stolen covers with ductile iron, which would remain worthless, if stole.

FERMA gets thumbs up Yusuf Shuaib ABUJA

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L-R: Director, Clinical Services, Garki Hospital, Dr. Nyomudim Essen; Lead Cardiac Surgeon, UK, Dr. Ikenna Omeje; Chief Executive Officer/Founder, Hospitals for Humanity Atlantic, Georgia, Dr. Segun Ajayi; Founder/Chairman, NISA Premier Hospital Group, Abuja, Dr. Ibrahim Wada; Director, Education and Development Hospitals for Humanity, Myna Shegog and Mr. Kenneth Smith, at a dinner organised by the management of Garki Hospital in honour of the team that perfumed heart surgery in Abuja…yesterday

BRAIN DRAIN

The United Nations is being asked to help resolve brain drain problem in Africa Yusuf Shuaib ABUJA

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coalition of groups yesterday made a strong case to the United Nations (UN) seek-

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Group seeks UN intervention on brain drain in Africa ing the assistance of the global body to put an end to brain drain in Africa.

The coalition is made up of the North American Graduates Alumni Association, Nigeria (NAGAAN), Africa Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, Enough is Enough Coalition, Civil Society Network Against Modern Slavery, the African Women Empowerment

Initiative as well as the New Africa Initiative for Sustainable Development.

In a joint statement signed by its Senior Coordinator, Ernesto Chukwukamma, the coalition regretted that countries in Europe, North America and Asia have continued to reap massively from the emigration of Africa’s best brains.

Chukwukamma called on the UN to compel ben-

eficiary countries to disclose the number of both legal and illegal migrants resident in their countries.

According to the group, the systematic luring of Africans was, to a large extent, responsible for the massive poverty and under-development that has continued to stare Africa in the face as it is difficult for any nation to grow without the contributions

of her talented citizens.

He further noted that the intervention of the global body has become imperative in view of the fact that “it has been shown that these developed countries benefiting from the brain drain of developing African countries in transitional economies and democracy are not disposed to end their neo-colonialism in the near future.”

NBS, SMEDAN kick off enterprises’ survey Kalu to chair Catholic TV dinner Abdulwahab Isa ABUJA

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he National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) are collaborating to conduct another round of the micro, small and medium enterprises survey across the country.

The survey scheduled for December 10 to 22, 2014 will have field officers of both organisations obtaining data and information across the 36 states of the federation, including the FCT in order to furnish the government and other stakeholders with useful information with which to make appropriate policies toward promoting

and developing MSMEs. A joint statement issued by NBS and SMEDAN solicits the cooperation of the general public by responding adequately to information requests by the field officers.

The survey is to reassess the impact of government policies and programmes since the last one was conducted in 2011.

Yusuf Shuaib ABUJA

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atholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, will today act as chief host to the much publicised Catholic Television of Nigeria dinner to be held at the banquet hall of the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.

This was contained in a press release signed by Patrick Wemambu, and sent to New Telegraph in Abuja.

The high profile event is expected to hold under the chairmanship of business mogul and former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, with the Senate President, David Mark, as guest of honour and many others.

he Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works, Dr. Dauda S. Kigbu, yesterday commended the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) for effectively and sustainably maintaining all arterial federal roads and highways nationwide.

The permanent secretary gave the commendation while on a familiarisation visit to the agency’s Wuse II, Abuja, headquarters.

Kigbu said physical infrastructure like roads are a good measure of the health of an economy and one way of appraising government’s performance, stressing further that such infrastructure cannot be hidden from the glare of the public as observers can decipher whether or not the roads are in good condition.

He added that keen observers would acknowledge that over the past few years, there has been a steady and marked improvement in the condition of federal roads and highways nationwide.

“All stakeholders need to support FERMA to enable it continue the pivotal work it is doing to grow the economy,” the current political will and policy support for the agency will be sustained and enhanced to enable it continue its good works.

As the chief administrator of the Federal Ministry of Works, which supervises FERMA, the permanent secretary pledged his support for the policies and programmes of the agency.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Metro Camillus Nnaji

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housemaid has disappeared with two toddlers she was employed to take care, six days after she was engaged by the family.

The victims are identified as one-year-old Michael and three-year-old Rafael.

The maid, identified simply as Juliet, hails from Osun State.

Juliet allegedly left home with the boys about 6pm on Sunday when their grandmother and nurse had gone to bed.

The incident occurred at Isheri Magodo Estate in Lagos State.

The parents of the boys were also said to have gone out. They returned to discover that the maid had disappeared.

Attempts to call her were abortive as her phone was switched off.

The agency where Juliet was hired is ‘Olamide Employment Agency,’ found on an online marketing website, according to the children’s mother, Mrs Jite Escharegharah.

Escharegharah said that attempts to call the agency had also not been fruitful, as its phone number was also switched off.

She said: “We have reported to different law enforcement agencies to help us find my children. We have also report-

Evil maid abducts kids, six days after employment ed to the police at Isheri Police Station. We are also trying to get the video footage from our CCTV. “We employed the maid six days ago. We hired her from an agency that advertised on OLX. We do not know where she has taken our children to.

The agency’s office is at Epe. We went to Epe to pick her.”

Escharegharah, who said she was still in shock and did not find it easy talking about the disappearance of her children, said: “My husband’s birthday was on Sunday. We decided to have dinner. We left home between 6 and 8:30pm yesterday (Sunday). We left our two children, Raphael and Michael, with the maid. Their grandma was around too. Surprisingly, when we came back, our maid had run away with our two children.”

Escharegharah said she could not understand why the girl took her kids, adding that she never treated the girl badly.

“In fact, we treated her like a family member,” she added.

The kidnapped children

We want to use arms, say schools’ security chiefs Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

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he Association of Heads of Security of Tertiary Institutions (AHSOTI) has called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to promulgate law that would allow its members to carry arms.

Its President, Colonel Umaru Tilde (rtd), made the call while speaking on the side line of a three-day security conference and workshop organised by the association at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Tilde said this was neces-

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

sary as a counter-measure against terrorism and other security threats in the institutions of higher learning.

He noted that some tertiary institutions had recorded many casualties as a result of Boko Haram attacks.

The AHSOTI president regretted that the campus security operatives had been unable to effectively ward off attacks as they were not currently allowed to carry arms.

He said that constitutionally, members of the association were not allowed to handle weapons but only liaise with the State Security Service (SSS) and the police should they encounter any security challenge on their campuses.

Tilde, however, pointed out that heads of security in tertiary institutions were experienced ex-servicemen with competence and requisite expertise in handling weapons.

But he argued that it had become imperative for the tertiary institutions’ chief security officers (CSOs) to be allowed to carry light weapons, as some tertiary institutions had become targets of terrorism.

File picture of firearms

He said: “Majority of the heads of security of tertiary institutions are ex-servicemen from the military and para-military forces, who are well trained in weapon handling. They have some larger percentage of their staff who equally have the training of handling weapons.

“Now, somebody has handled weapons for over 30 years before retiring and then you start doubting him to hold the weapon again. The earlier they have a rethink, the better so

that security officials in tertiary institutions can equally be screened. Those proven to be well trained and have not lost their values can still hold weapons.”

Speaking on the theme, Security Consciousness in Nigerian Institutions, Tilde, said that the conference was in line with the Safe School Initiative of the Federal Government.

Earlier, while declaring the conference open, the ViceChancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof AbdulGaniyu

Ambali, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Technology and Innovation), Prof. Gabriel Olatunji, appreciated the efforts of security officers.

Ambali said the workshop was an avenue to broaden the knowledge of security officers on security issues.

The VC gave assurances that the University of Ilorin management would always make sure that all security issues attract immediate attention He said: “Security is top on the agenda in any part of the world and in the University of Ilorin. Hence, it is my belief that University of Ilorin and other universities in Nigeria are trying their best on security issues, by providing all they need so that they can perform their work effectively.”

In his remarks, the National Coordinator of AHSOTI, Mr Imarah Okpako, urged all tertiary institutions to “launch with funfair, Campus Emergency Telephone numbers and email addresses which must be at the fingertips of all members of the institutions’ communities”.

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY DECEMBER 9, 2014

FOR THE LOVE OF WIDOWS A suspected robber, says he donates the bulk of money made from robbery operations to widows because he is usually moved by their plight

Juliana Francis

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any people who make phone calls at call centres unwittingly give out vital information exposing them to robbery attacks.

A robbery suspect, Ikemachukwu Obiora, 31, claimed that his gang used to get information for robbery operations by listening to people’s

We get information from call centres, says robbery suspect conversations while making calls at ‘call centres’.

Obiora added that most robbery operations carried out by his gang were through information gathered at places people make phone calls.

According to him, they used to loiter at call centres, pretending to be waiting to make phone calls, while they listen to callers.

The suspect said that the robbery operations he had participated at Gbagada area, fetched him N800,000, before his arrest.

He said: “My regret is that I will not enjoy my shares from our rob-

bery operations because SARS has now arrested me.”

Obiora confessed that the first thing he stole at the age of 13 was a big goat in his village before he graduated to robbery.

He also claimed that most of the money he made from robbery operations were given to widows and aged women because he was concerned about their plight.

Obiora, who was arrested on a tip-off by detectives attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos, said he used to reside at Gbagada and was part of the gang which had been terrorising the area for

long.

He said: “I started stealing at the age of 13 in Awka, Anambra State. My first attempt as a thief was to steal our neighbour’s goat in the village during Christmas.”

The suspect said he had participated in several criminal activities in Lagos, Ogun, and Osun states.

According to him, he relocated to Lagos a few years ago and started living with a friend at the Oworoshoki area of the metropolis.

Obiora said that his friend worked in one of the private companies in Ikeja.

Access Bank donates vehicle to police

“My friend did not know I was a thief until police arrested me in the area for snatching a BlackBerry phone. It was that incident that made police charged me to court. I was even sent to Kirikiri Prison,” he added.

The suspect explained that a few months later, he was released by a chief judge.

But according to him, he did not have anywhere to stay after his release and life became tough, to the extent that he could not afford three square meals.

“While I was thinking of what to do next, I ran into one of my old

F

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ccess Bank yesterday donated a brand new patrol vehicle and other security gadgets to the police in Lagos State.

The donation was part of the bank’s contribution to enhance se-

curity in the state.

The vehicle and other items were received by the Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Aderanti.

Others at the event were Head, Security Unit, Access Bank Plc,

Chuks Maha, Head, Internal Audit, Yinka Tiamiyu, Head, Compliance and Internal Control, Pattison Boleigha, and the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Kenneth Nwosu.

OAU gives first class students scholarship, employment Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

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he Vice-Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Prof Bamitale Omole, yesterday said that automatic scholarship would be given to first class graduating students of the institution.

Omole, who spoke through the Chairman, Ceremonial Committee of the Convocation, Prof Titi Kuku, also disclosed that some

departments/faculties from where they graduated were ready to offer them employment.

According to him, the first class students could also return for their master’s degree programmes on scholarship.

The VC said that activities lined up for the 40th convocation of the institution would begin tomorrow.

He said: “The ivory tower would graduate 9,094 students from 13 faculties, 127 of who made first class, while

2,360 others made second class upper and lower divisions.

“For the postgraduate students, 394 would be conferred with postgraduate Diplomas, 2,755 with master’s degrees, 73 with masters of philosophy while 150 would be conferred with Doctor of philosophy degrees.”

Omole also said that foreign students from Ebola-ravaged countries who were prevented from resuming at the beginning of the session had returned after being certified Ebola free.

friends. I used to know him way back in Anambra State. It was through him that I joined another gang of robbers and later became the second in command,” he recalled.

Media, military must cooperate, says NGE president Flora Onwudiwe and Taiwo Jimoh

Nwosu (left), Maha, Tiamiyu, Aderanti and Boleigha during the presentation

IG, Suleiman Abba

or Nigeria to overcome its security challenges and experience peace, the military and the media need to work together harmoniously.

The President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Femi Adesina, said this yesterday in a paper he presented at the opening of a four-day workshop in Lagos, entitled: “Impact of Military/Media relations in Promoting National Peace and Security.”

The workshop is organised by the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information (NASPRI), Lagos.

Adesina said: “Nigeria is in the trouble she has found herself today because relationship between the federating units, the different ethnic nationalities and groups, has gone awry.

And this underscores the need for positive, harmonious relationship between the military and the media, because it has great implications for peace and security in the country.”

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Major General Tamuno Dibi, said the workshop was to create synergy between media and the military.

Dibi added that the military, as regimented organisation, only recently decided to open

Participants at the workshop

its doors to the media for flow of information.

He said: “In doing so, the military cannot as a matter of fact over-look its role as the custodian of the national intelligence.

That is where I appeal to our media friends to cooperate with us in building a unified nation.”

But Adesina said that the relationship between the media and the military had gone through many phases, ranging from hostility to brutality, mutual suspicion, and the ‘wary collaboration’ currently existing between the two.

He said: “Under military rule, the media and the military were like cat and mouse.

Even a journalist like Mineri Amakiri was not spared by the then Military Administrator of River State Commander Alfred Diette Spiff who used broken bottle to shave the head of Amakri who was not writing in favour of his government in the state then.”

The NGE president added that Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irabor were also jailed under Decree 4, during the Buhari/Idiagbon regime.

He said: “Many journalists were beaten up, doubled up, harassed, and traumatised in different parts of the country. The result was mutual antagonism between the two institutions, when they should rather collaborate for peace and security.

12

News

Adesina Wahab ADO-EKITI

A

Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, has granted the requests of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State to serve the six APC members who defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the Originating Motion and Motion on Notice, asking the defected members to vacate their seats having defected from the party on which platform they were elected.

32.91%

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH -WEST

Court gives APC nod to serve defected Ekiti lawmakers summons According to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media to the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Wole Olujobi, in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, APC had taken the defected members to court asking them to vacate their seats, having defected to another political party without reasons precedent to that action, to wit: division in the party; as stipulated in the

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Bahrain in 2007.

Source: Itu.int

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The defendants in the suit are the defected members: Israel Olowo, Alex Ade Ojo, Dele Joseph Olugbemi, Ayoka Fatunmbi, Adeyinka Adeloye and Abeni Modupe Olayinka.

Others are the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

They defected to the

10,920

The number of refugees in Guinea at the beginning of 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

PDP on October 16, 2014 at the inauguration ceremony of Governor Ayodele Fayose.

In suit No FHC/ABJ/ CS/903/2014 before Mr. Justice A. F. A. Ademola of the Federal High Court and filed by Mrs. K. Uzoanya, a counsel in Tunji Abayomi law firm, the plaintiff asked the court to issue and serve the originating summons and

102

The sex ratio of women to 100 men in Barbados in 2012.

Source: Un.org

motion on notice on the defendants through themselves, by courier services or the Clerk of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Ado-Ekiti.

The applicant also sought for further order(s) as the court may deem fit to make in the circumstance of the case.

After hearing the APC counsel, Justice Ademola granted all the reliefs di-

41.3%

The percentage of the urban population of Faroe Islands I 2012.

Source: Un.org

L-R: Managing Director, Eye Foundation Hospital, Dr. Olufemi Oderinlo; Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka and Director, MTNFoundation, Mr. Dennis Okoro, at the MTNF EyeRIS launch in Abeokuta…yesterday

CANCELLATION

Controversy as INEC insists no election took place in Ekiti North Constituency II Adesina Wahab ADO-EKITI

T

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday cancelled the

ADO-EKITI

A

political group in Ekiti State, Opomulero Vanguard, has admonished politicians to embrace selfless service and shun self-serving attitude.

The convener of the group, Mr. Stephen Oladipupo, made the appeal in Oye-Ekiti yesterday while distributing

Ogun APC to hold inconclusive Reps’ primaries today gun State chapter of O the All Progressives Congress (APC) will today

hold repeat primary elections to select candidates that will represent it in the 2015 general election in the House of Representatives in the three federal constituencies, where the processes were inconclusive during last Sunday’s primaries.

In a statement by the Chairman of the APC Electoral Committee saddled with the task of conducting National Assembly primaries in the state, Senator Adudu, the party noted that the affected federal constituencies are Abeokuta South, Ijebu Central (comprising Ijebu Ode, Odogbolu and Ijebu North East LGAs) and Ijebu North (consisting Waterside and Ijebu East LGAs).

The party further said that the rescheduled primary elections are aimed at creating a level playing field for all the aspirants and give opportunity for the qualified delegates to freely make their choice.

INEC cancels PDP primaries in Ekiti North constituency House of Representatives’ primaries conducted in Ekiti State last Saturday.

The affected constituency is the Ekiti North Federal Constituency II, which produced Chief Thaddeus Aina, as the candidate of the PDP. INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti, Alhaji Halilu Pai, said in Ado-Ekiti that the elec-

Group to politicians: Serve people, not yourselves Adesina Wahab

recting that the originating summons and motion on notice be served on the defendants directly or through courier services or through the Clerk of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Ado-Ekiti, being the only known address of the defendants.

Christmas packages to members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oye Constituency Two. Oladipupo urged politicians to place the interest of their people above personal and political interests, stressing that community development and the wellbeing of the people should be paramount in the minds of those saddled with leadership positions.

toral commission did not recognise the primary.

Pai, who spoke through the commission’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Taiwo Gbadegsin said: “The PDP claimed that there were primaries in that place, but to us in INEC, we believed no primary was held.

“This commission cannot recognise primaries

conducted in the middle of the night as election, because reports by our electoral officers indicated that the so-called primary did not begin even as at 8.30pm in the night.

So, when was the election conducted?

“We owe it a duty to say the truth now to prevent future backlash. It is the responsibility of

this commission to ensure that things are done rightly and on that we stand,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) held its senatorial primaries in the three senatorial districts yesterday under a tensed atmosphere, owing to stiff competition among contending forces.

Tension was high in

Ekiti North senatorial district, whose primary was held in Ido-Ekiti, where the incumbent, Olubunmi Adetunbi, squared it up with Mr. Olusegun Osinkolu and Hon. Ranti Adebisi, former Chairman, Ekiti State Local Government Service Commission under ex-governor Kayode Fayemi’s government.

Ondo PDP to withdraw litigations from court Babatope Okeowo AKURE

T

he immediate past Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, Ebenezer Alabi, yesterday promised to withdraw all the litigations impeding the smooth running of the party in the state.

Alabi, while handing over to his successor, Clement Faboyede, said the party would win the

forthcoming general election if all members work together for the party.

Alabi, who while handing over the control of the party machinery to his successor, promised to offer all the necessary support to the new executive to enable them succeed.

The former chairman, who described the new party boss as an astute politician with pedigree to move the party forward and achieve success, also

expressed confidence in the leadership qualities of the new chairman.

He assured his successor that all the court cases concerning the party’s leadership would be withdrawn to pave way for effective administration and prepare the party for the forthcoming elections.

Alabi also appealed to aggrieved members to put the interest of the party at heart and above their personal interests

and work for the success of the party.

He said: “I am here this morning to formally welcome the newest chairman of the PDP in Ondo State, our brother, a politician of repute in person of Engr. Clement Faboyede. You will all recall that we were all in Abuja on Friday, when the inauguration of the new executive was performed by the national secretary of the party, Prof. Wale Oladipo.”

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, DECember 9, 2014

Casualties

Ndoma-Egba, Elechi, Chukwumerije, Usman, Lokpobiri, Ugbesia, Uba crash out

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Re-election

2015

15

14, 15

Mark, Ekweremadu, Adeyemi, Dariye, Abaribe, Ningi return

Akpabio, Yuguda, Jang, others savour victories

Politics

Disquiet over 2015 race FELIX NWANERI writes on the tension over the desperation for power by the various political gladiators and the possibility of their actions igniting crisis in the 2015 general election

N

igeria may be heading to another round of election violence, as comments by some stakeholders on the forthcoming general election have continued to raise concern about the possibility of bloodshed.

The country has a history of electoral violence, but the tension already generated over the 2015 elections as well as the security situation in the North-Eastern part of the country; occasioned by the Boko Haram insurgency has raised considerable concern among stakeholders.

Of the eight general elections the nation had conducted since independence – 1964/1965, 1979, 1983, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011, none was violence-free. Though many saw the lapses of the immediate postindependence polls as part of the learning process, recent developments in the polity have shown that politicians have not learned any lessons from the past. The outcomes of the two most recent polls – 2007 and 2011 justifies this assumption.

While the 2007 elections was described by both local and foreign observers as one that cast a harsh light on patterns of violence, corruption and outright criminality that have characterised Nigeria’s political system, the post-election violence, which trailed that of 2011, although it was adjudged a sharp departure from what obtained in the past, nearly drove Nigeria to

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY Editor, POLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Jonathan

Jega

crises. the brink.

By the time the dust settled, several lives were lost and properties worth billions of naira destroyed in some northern parts of the country. Among those caught in the crossfire included members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), employed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as ad hoc staff in Kaduna and Kano states, which were worst hit by the crisis, that had thousands of persons displaced.

The ominous signs over the 2015 elections, perhaps explained the alarm raised by the International Crisis Group (ICG), an independent body committed to preventing and resolving conflicts across the globe, in a report which was published on November 21. It was titled: “Nigeria’s dangerous 2015 elections: Limiting the violence.”

According to the report, parliamentary, state gubernatorial and assembly elections, scheduled for February 2015, will be more contentious than usual due to tensions within and between the two major political parties – ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

The group warned that if the violent trend continues particularly if the vote is close, marred or trailed by widespread violence, it would deepen Nigeria’s already grave security and governance

Clashes could erupt in some Northern states if the APC, whose frontrunners are all northerners, loses the polls; there is similarly a high risk of violence if the PDP loses the presidency, particularly in the Niger Delta

The ICG report It read in part: “Factional feuds within both parties could degenerate into violence during their national and state primaries. Competing claims to the presidency, between northern leaders and their Niger Delta counterparts, could also result in violence in either or both regions, particularly after the polls. As in 2011, clashes could erupt in some Northern states if the APC, whose frontrunners are all northerners, loses the polls; there is similarly a high risk of violence if the PDP loses the presidency, particularly in the Niger Delta, home region of the party’s candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan.

“The Boko Haram insurgency and the state of emergency in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe could prevent voting in parts of those North-Eastern states. If this occurs, the opposition APC, which has large following in those (and other northern) states, could lose a significant number of votes, reject the presidential polls’ outcome and question the elected government’s legitimacy.

“Equally worrying are the increasing availability of firearms, the rise in communal violence across several northern states since 2013 and deepening criminality in the Niger Delta.

“Deficiencies in electoral preparations are also compounding the risks of violence. Proposed

amendments to the 2010 Electoral Act, including provisions for establishment of an Election Offences Tribunal, which were intended to prevent or punish electoral offences including violence, remain stuck in the National Assembly.

There is no certainty they will be passed in time to have meaningful impact on the polls.

“Actions by the police and other security services, all controlled by the Federal Government, could also aggravate tensions around the polls and undermine the credibility of their outcomes. The conduct of some senior police officers, notably in Rivers State, has raised fears that the agency could be manipulated to serve the PDP’s interests. Similarly, some actions and pronouncements by the Department of State Security (DSS) – Nigeria’s main domestic intelligence agency have raised concerns about institutional bias. If these agencies act, or are perceived to act in a partisan manner, they could undermine free and fair polls and heighten the risks of violence, particularly after the vote.”

Early warning signals The ICG report is not the first time anxiety would be raised over the 2015 elections. The National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), it would be recalled, had in August 2012, raised similar fear, given the prevailing security situation in the country.

According to him, unlike the 2011 violence which came after elections, the violence which may trail the 2015 polls would be carried out before and during the elections. “There could possibly be violence, but with a different angle to it, not post-election but before and during, because of the prevailing security situation, unless the security situation gets better before then.”

The CLEEN Foundation, a Nigerian-based non-governmental organisation, also in a recent report stated that electoral violence is most likely to occur in 15 states in 2015. States listed as most volatile in the report titled: “Third Security Threat Assessment,” are Nasarawa, Plateau, Benue, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Zamfara, Rivers, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Ekiti and Osun.

Three of these states – Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe are already under emergency rule due to the activities of the Boko Haram sect.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

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Politics

TUESDAY, DECember 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

PDP SENATORIAL PRIMARIES

Ndoma-Egba, Elechi, Chukwumerije, Usman, Lokpobiri, Ugbesia, Uba crash out The National Assembly primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), held on Sunday, has recorded casualties. Some of the senators have lost their re-election bids as they could not secure the nod of the party’s delegates. WALE ELEGBEDE reports Ndoma-Egba: Big casualty Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, is one of the biggest losers in the PDP National Assembly primaries. NdomaEgba’s bid for a fourth term in the Senate hit the rock on Saturday in Ikom, Cross River Central.

He was defeated by Hon. John OwanEnoh at the PDP primary election for the constituency.

Owan-Enoh (PDP Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency) defeated Ndoma-Egba by 217 votes against 37 while the third aspirant, Mr. Mark Egbe scored 20 votes.

Owan-Enoh is the Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriation and serving his third term.

As expected, the Senate Leader has rejected the Cross River Central Senatorial District PDP primary election result, alleging that the result was not a reflection of the wish of the people.

In a statement issued shortly after the results were announced, NdomaEgba insisted that the result “was not a true reflection of the wishes of the people and vowed to challenge the result in the court.”

“I reject the outcome of the exercise and I will appeal against it,” he vowed.

In his reaction, Owan-Enoh thanked the delegates and the people of the central district for their trust in him.

“On this day, the people of Cross River Central have made a statement; they have voted for change. I promise that I will give them good representation,” he said.

Elechi humbled Governor Martin Elechi’s bid to head for the Senate crashed with his defeat by a former Ebonyi State chairman of the PDP, Chief Obinna Ogba.

Ogba picked the party’s senatorial candidate for Ebonyi Central.

Usman loses In Kaduna State, former Minister of Finance and incumbent senator representing Kaduna South Senatorial District, Nenadi Usman, fell by the way during the PDP primary election in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area.

The Presiding Officer, Nuhu Ibrahim, while announcing the result, said 323 votes were cast and one invalid vote while three aspirants, including Usman, Danjuma Laah and Joseph Gumbari, contested for the zone.

Ibrahim said two other aspirants, John Ayuba and Mark Jacob, opted out of the contest before the election.

He said Senator Usman scored 123 votes; Joseph Gummbari, 70; while Danjuma Laah won with 129 votes.

Ndoma-Egba

Elechi

Chukwumerije

Usman

Lokpobiri

Ugbesia

Lokpobiri scored zero vote.

not make it back to the Senate in 2015.

His bid to get a third term ticket for Abia North Senatorial District has crashed.

A former House of Representatives member, Chief Mao Ohuabunwa, defeated Chukwumerije, for the ticket.

Lokpobiri out In Bayelsa, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa West) lost his re-election bid to the upper legislative chamber to Mr. Foster Ogola, the immediate past chairman of Bayelsa State Scholarship Board.

Ogola scored 69 votes to win the election for Bayelsa West while Mr. Ayakeme Whiskey got 27 votes. Capt.

Matthew Karimo (rtd) got 12 votes, Dr. Stella Dorgu scored three votes, Chief Frank Akpoebi got two votes while

Some incumbent governors have won Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial tickets for the 2015 election.

But Governor Martin Elechi crashed out in Ebonyi State Akpabio wins In Uyo, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom emerged the candidate for Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, unopposed.

Akpabio emerged after the incumbent, Senator Aloysius Etuk, stepped down for him at the venue of the congress.

Etuk said that the decision to step down followed the outcome of the numerous consultations with major stakeholders of Ini and Ikono Federal Constituency and the party’s hierarchy.

He said that he had to step down for

Ugbesia, Uba out in Edo, Anambra Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Commerce, Odion Ugbesia, also lost his third term bid at the Senate.

Ugbesia, a former minister representing Edo Central, lost to Mr. Clifford Ordia by 141 votes to 62 votes.

In Anambra, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Andy Uba, was displaced by his brother, Chris.

Chukwumerije crashes out Senator Uche Chukwumerije would

Etuk drops out In spite of his resistance to Governor Godswill Akpabio, Senator Aloysius Etuk on Sunday ate the humble pie when he withdrew at the venue of the National Assembly primaries.

Akpabio emerged as candidate for the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District.

Akpabio, Yuguda, Jang, others Akpabio for the people of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District to have a feel of the seat.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the election, Akpabio commended the serving senator for taking a bold step to drop his ambition for him.

He said: “What Senator Etuk has done today is what many people did for me while I was contesting the governorship election in 2007.

“I will not disappoint you all for giving me this support.’’

Yuguda wins in Bauchi In Bauchi State, Governor Isa Yuguda emerged as the PDP candidate for Bauchi South Senatorial District.

Yuguda polled 290 votes to defeat Alhaji Sanusi Baban-Takko, who withdrew from the primaries after casting his vote.

Yuguda, a second term governor, had urged the incumbent senator, Adamu

Akpabio

Gumba, to step down.

Win-win for Suswam At the Akume Atongo stadium, Governor Gabriel Suswam polled 312 votes

Politics 15

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, DECember 9, 2014

PDP SENATORIAL PRIMARIES

Some of the incumbent senators have secured tickets for their re-election bid in 2015, writes TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE Mark wins fifth term ticket Senate President David Mark is on his fifth journey to the Senate having won the senatorial ticket.

The Returning Officer for Benue South PDP primary, Hon. John Akume, declared Mark winner by polling a total of 384 valid votes while nine were invalid votes.

His only challenger, Chief Mike Onoja, had shortly before the commencement of voting exercise withdrawn from the race citing, “interest and unity of the Idoma nation” as part of his reasons.

In his acceptance speech, Senator Mark praised Onoja for stepping down even as he dedicated the mandate to Idoma people.

He said he was humbled by the overwhelming endorsement by his constituents and pledged that, “whatever makes for the peace, unity and overall development of Idoma nation would be my guiding principle.

“We can work together for the common good of Idoma nation because we want to be exemplary. This is not about me but the interest of Idoma people,” he added.

Ekweremadu returned unopposed Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, was also elected as the PDP senatorial candidate for Enugu West Senatorial District.

Ekweremadu was returned unopposed with 294 valid votes cast by delegates from all the five local government areas in the district.

The Returning Officer for Enugu West Senatorial District primary election, Mr. Innocent Agbo, declared Ekweremadu after affirmative votes by delegates at Awgu Local Government Area headquarters, where many PDP faithful had converged to witness the exercise.

Governor Sullivan Chime had dropped out of the race.

Dariye wins Senator Joshua Dariye, who recently returned to PDP, emerged winner of the party’s primary election for Plateau Central Senatorial District.

A serving senator under Labour Party (LP), Dariye scored 104 votes to beat four others in the race for the ticket.

The primary election, which held amidst tight security, was conducted

savour victory

Yuguda

to emerge the winner for the Benue North East Senatorial seat.

The other contender for the seat, incumbent Senator Barnabas Gemade, had withdrawn from the race a week

Mark, Ekweremadu, Adeyemi, Dariye, Abaribe, Ningi return

Mark

Ekweremadu

Hayatu, Maccido, Ningi endorsed In Kano, the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Bello Hayatu, was endorsed as sole candidate of the party to contest the Kano North senatorial seat in 2015.

It was learnt that 513 delegates from the 13 local government areas which make up the senatorial zone endorsed Hayatu.

The ratification was conducted in Bichi on Sunday.

Senator Ahmad Maccido was granted automatic ticket to represent Sokoto Central.

Senator Abdul Ningi, who had earlier indicated interest in the governorship seat, was returned for Bauchi Central.

Abaribe, Kure get ticket Having been edged out of the governorship race, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, picked the ticket for Abia South Senatorial district for a possible third term in the Senate.

Wife of former governor of Niger State and two-time senator, Hajiya Zainab Kure, secured the return ticket for the Niger South Senatorial Zone. She polled 328 votes to defeat Abdulrahaman Enagi, the immediate past chairman of the state PDP, who scored eight votes.

Abaribe

Dariye

peacefully with all delegates from the five local government areas that make up the zone displaying spirit of sportsmanship.

Mr. Solomon Zang, Chairman of the party’s Electoral Committee, who announced the result, said that 262 delegates voted out of 263.

“I wish to declare that out of the 262 votes cast, Senator Joshua Dariye got 104 votes with Mr. Alexander Mwolwus coming second with 84 votes.

Emmanuel Goar scored 46 votes; Abbas Dayilim, 14; while Satti Gogwim scored 12.

Senator Ahmed Makarfi got the PDP ticket to contest the Kaduna North Senatorial District seat.

Makarfi was adopted as sole candidate after Umar Faruk withdrew from the contest.

“Makarfi is the only contestant, however, based on PDP requirement, an election must hold to fulfill such requirement.

“Having counted all the votes cast; Makarfi got 333 votes indicating that he polled all the votes cast which gives him the opportunity to become the flag-bearer of PDP,” Alhaji Ahmed Tahir, Chairman, PDP electoral committee said.

Makarfi on a third journey Former governor of Kaduna State, earlier.

The returning officer for the election, Senator Godwin Okpeh, therefore, declared him winner.

In a post-election speech, Suswam thanked the people of the zone for their support during his tenure as governor and for nominating him as their flag bearer for the 2015 general elections.

Orji for Abia Central Governor Theodore Orji of Abia has also joined the league of governors heading to the Senate.

He has won the PDP ticket for the Abia Central Senatorial District.

The governor, who was the sole aspirant in the contest, polled 221 votes.

In an acceptance speech at the end of the election, which took place at the Umuahia Township Stadium, the governor thanked the people of the area for the confidence reposed in him.

Jang on the Plateau In Plateau, Governor Jonah Jang

won the Plateau North ticket.

The governor polled 273 votes to defeat Mr. Ibrahim Kasai, who scored 18 votes at the party’s primaries held in Jos on Sunday.

The governor said that he would not take the victory for granted and would take campaign for the general elections very seriously.

“By the grace of God, we are not taking anything for granted and we are going to work very hard so that PDP will perform better than it did in 2011,” he said.

Aliyu in Governor Babangida Aliyu secured the delegates’ nod to become the flag bearer for the Niger East Senatorial seat.

Aliyu polled 286 votes to defeat Idris Adamu Kuta, a former Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry for Women Affair Abuja, who secured 86 votes to clinch the ticket.

Sekibo, Adeyemi win third term bid for senate Senator George Sekibo won the Rivers East Senatorial ticket for the third term.

Announcing the result, the returning officer, Dr Frank Kpakol declared Sekibo winner by winning 406 votes cast by 407 accredited delegates.

In the election for Rivers South-East, Chief Olaka Worgu won by polling 299 votes cast by the 300 accredited delegates to defeat Mrs Georgina Tenalo who got one vote.

Violence marred the primary in Rivers West in which three contestants including former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Chibudom Nwuche and David Briggs were aspirants.

Senator Smart Adeyemi also picked his third term ticket for the Kogi West Senatorial District. Adeyemi secured the ticket with 216 votes to defeat Chief Tolorunjuwon Joseph Faniyi who polled 77 votes.

Paulker, Bruce in Bayelsa Senator Emmanuel Paulker (Bayelsa Central) and Mr. Ben Murray Bruce (Bayelsa East) won their bid to contest the 2015 Senate election in Bayelsa.

Paulker won with 174 votes while Bruce won with 138 votes to beat Mr. Anthony Ikoli (SAN) who got 11 votes and Mr Nelson Belief with two votes.

Nnaji floors Nwobodo, Nweke Senator Gilbert Nnaji, Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications, picked the Enugu East ticket.

Nnaji secured 231 votes of the 247 accredited votes.

Nnaji’s opponents in the election, former Minister of Information, Mr. Frank Nweke (Jnr) secured two votes, Mrs Ifeoma Nwobodo, the former Chief of Staff to Governor Sullivan Chime got one vote.

Nweke, Nwobodo and Okafor held parallel primaries in different parts of the senatorial zone in which they emerged the party’s candidates.

16

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Politics 17

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, DECember 9, 2014

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

Others like Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Kaduna, and Zamfara, have recently witnessed killings of hundreds of people as a result of communal and ethno-religious crises.

The report also listed 11 states as mid-volatile. They are Kogi, Niger, Bauchi, Gombe, Katsina, Sokoto, Kano, Abia, Anambra, Delta, and Akwa Ibom, while the remaining 10 states including Lagos, Ondo and Sokoto were categorised as low-volatile or stable states. Ekiti and Osun states, where governorship elections recently held oscillate between most volatile and midvolatile groups.

The foundation stated that the parameters used for the categorisation, were history of violence, degree of control by incumbent and relationship with the Federal Government, stability of internal state party politics, existence of terrorists and militants, as well as communal and religious conflict.

Others were zoning arrangement, bid for second term by incumbent governors, and jostle for federal and state legislative positions.

The foundation also listed proliferation of arms and increased activities by armed groups as major risk factors towards the 2015 election.

About 500 million illicit weapons are said to be in circulation globally. Of this figure, 100 million are in sub-Saharan Africa and about 10 million in West Africa.

The Nigerian Army Standards and Evaluation Corps, attested to this, when it admitted last year that at least 70 per cent of the 10 million illegal weapons are freely circulating in the country.

It was against this backdrop that the Federal Government has of late introduced more measures to ensure that the forthcoming elections were not only free and fair, but violence free. Such measures include heavy deployment of soldiers to ward off possible trouble-shooters.

This began with the July 2012 Edo State governorship poll. The success of the poll forced the government to extend the measure to subsequent governorship polls in Ondo, Anambra, Ekiti states, and the most recent, Osun on August 9.

But typical of most government actions of late, the measure attracted criticisms from the leadership of the APC and civil societies, which described it as unconstitutional.

Anxiety in the air The forthcoming elections is the first time since the 1999 polls that Nigeria would be going into a general election with two political parties of almost equal strength.

Already, the build up to the elections have been characterised by intrigues and the leading parties and their supporters, particularly those in the North and South-South are taking nothing for granted in their respective bids for power. The belief is that the presidential poll would be between the two political blocs.

While the South-South, whose son – President Goodluck Jonathan is the incumbent, believes that they should be allowed a second term like the South-West enjoyed through former President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007, some political leaders in the North are insisting that power

Fears over violent polls the home state of APC’s leading presidential aspirant, General Muhammadu Buhari.

A transcript of the video read in part: “You should not be bothered with cockroaches of politics. Cockroaches are only found in the toilet even at homes. If you see a cockroach in your house what do you do? Anyone who does anything against you, we’ll retaliate, I am telling you now. Before now, people from the opposition will humiliate us in the PDP and we will say don’t do anything about it, but now, I am telling you to fight back.”

Sambo

Atiku

Oyegun

Shema

returns to their region come 2015.

The North’s clamour is predicated on the power sharing arrangement of the PDP that allows for rotation of the presidency between the North and South. The region had its turn in 2007, but its reign was cut shot in 2010 following the death of then President Umaru Ya’Adua.

Then Vice-President Jonathan had to complete the tenure, and despite resistance from the North, he went ahead to contest the 2011 election, which he won. His kinsmen, especially those of Ijaw extraction, have persistently said that there is no going back to an eight-year presidency for their region. They even at a time threatened that there would be no peace across the country if their son was not re-elected for a second term in 2015.

The gale of inflammatory comments, which was blamed for the 2011 post elections violence, has continued unabated despite the hard lessons learnt by countries like Rwanda and Cote d’Ivoire over such.

Threat of parallel government Only recently, Governor Chibuike Amaechi (APC Rivers State) threatened that his party will form a parallel government should the 2015 elections fail to meet its expectations.

He also said the opposition would also spearhead civil disobedience across the country, adding that the days were gone when figures ascribed as votes for former Head of State and presidential aspirant, General Muhammadu Buhari, by the electoral umpire in Rivers would be accepted.

Before now, people from the opposition will humiliate us in the PDP and we will say don’t do anything about it, but now, I am telling you to fight back

The Rivers governor made the threat at the APC’s “Salvation Rally” in Abuja, and he was corroborated by the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who said: “If we do not see any discernible change of attitude on the part of the government, then we will move to the next stage on the list of actions that our party intends to take to stop the rot being perpetuated by the PDP-led Federal Government.”

The rally, according to the leadership of the APC, was meant to sensitise Nigerians on what it called “a practical demonstration of our lack of confidence in the ability or willingness of President Jonathan to organise a free and fair election come February 2015.”

‘Crush’ opposition directive While many have insisted that actions capable of causing crisis should be shunned ahead of the polls, Governor Ibrahim Shema (PDP Katsina State) was recently caught on video urging his supporters to “crush” and “kill” political opponents.

The video was first posted on the internet on November 12, and it showed the governor addressing a crowd of supporters in Hausa.

He likened opposition politicians to “cockroaches” before asking the crowd what to do if they found the nocturnal insect in their apartments. The crowd chorused “Kill them!” “Crush them!”

The governor, who is yet to deny the video, in his response, agreed with the crowd. Katsina is

Doubt over INEC’s readiness With three months before elections, there are doubts over INEC’s capability to ensure free, fair and credible polls.

Like the ICG report noted, despite repeated assurances given by the INEC chairman, Jega, that the polls will be an improvement on the past, realities on ground do not support such assertion. There is the fear that INEC may not be able to produce an updated and credible voters’ register before the polls, given recent developments.

And expectedly, APC has seized the opportunity of the flop in the PVCs distribution to allege that INEC and PDP have merged to rig 2015 elections.

The party through its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, said the fact that most of the states where hitches in the distribution of the PVCs were pronounced had the highest number of voters and were under its control, point to a clear collusion between INEC and the PDP. The party also described the development as a programmed incompetence which could be traced to INEC’s ICT unit, with the intent of sabotaging the PVC distribution process in key states.

“If INEC is to organise a free, credible and transparent election next February, it must quickly return to the drawing board to fashion out how to ensure that all Nigerians who are eligible to vote are able to do so without hindrance, and also purge itself of the fifth columnists within its ranks who are bent on sabotaging the elections,” Mohammed said.

A national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who also spoke on the issue, warned the electoral body against any collaboration with the ruling party to rig the election, saying his party will resist such plot. “We have done it before and we are ready to do it again. We will show them that the power of the people is greater than the power of tyranny,” Tinubu said.

Militarisation of poll There is the possibility that the forthcoming elections would be heavily militarised. Indications to this are the recent governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states.

Despite the criticisms that trailed government’s action in both states, the Presidency has said there was no going back on troops’ deployment in 2015.

Justifying the deployment, CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

18

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion The fall and fall of Nigerian football Andrew Iro Okungbowa

I

should start by saying that the ouster of our senior national football team, Super Eagles, even though some people like to call it derisively ‘chicken eagles’ while our president, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, recently at Uyo stadium referred to it as ‘eagles,’ from the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2015 to be hosted by Equatorial Guinea, was long in coming.

The ominous signs had always been there that our team was not after all ‘super.’ Before the Congo game in Pointe Noire a number of us had written off the team but after the victory, which turned out to be a pyrrhic one, the team got many converts and Nigerians started hoping and believing in the team again.

Enthusiasm was so high days to the match with many Nigerians concluding that the South Africa game was a fait accompli but I saw the ouster coming and shared my thoughts with some of my colleagues on the sport desk.

But none of them took me serious especially the deputy sport editor who had earlier written off the team, particularly coach Stephen Keshi, just like many others in the football fraternity. But all of them made a 360 Decree turn following the victory secured at Porte Noire.

Am I happy that Nigeria's flag would not be hoisted at AFCON 2015? Certainly not! I am as a sad and disappointed just like every other Nigerian.

The joke really is on us because with all the assaults visited on the game and even on our collective psyche as a people by our feuding football administrators, we all still expected our national team to perform wonders.

Things sometimes do not work that way.

The game of football succeeds with combination of factors and as showed by international examples, it thrives with perfect administration and peaceful environment with well crafted strategies executed to precision.

Everyone who had followed the national team and the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) in the last couple of weeks knows too well that none of these factors existed.

Both entities worked at cross purposes and yet we all expected the impossible to happen.

A number of us expected Amaju Pinnick and his men who for the moment are benefactors of the senseless, unpatriotic, criminal and crass feuding at the Glass House, to have brought in some semblance of stability but by the first pronouncement and act, which was the sack of coach Keshi, in my own thinking not only drove the lid down the coffin but actually showed that the salvation of our football and NFF is not in their hands.

If they had their thinking caps on and understood the terrain well and the game of football as well as being good administrators, they should had known that what was needed most at that time, again, in my own thinking, was to rally and inspire every Nigerian, particularly the national team and their handlers towards focusing on the task at hand and not the rush and quick fix action they embarked on.

Many of us silent observers knew coach Keshi was not going to last long on the job because from day one his employers showed that they never believed him. I am sure they gave him the job to humble him but somehow, he started well and proved his employers wrong by winning the nation cup and qualifying the national team for the Brazil 2014 World Cup. What an excellent performance the ‘Big Boss’ posted by every conceivable standard but somewhere along the line he missed the point and probably allowed his feat to get

to his head. The only people that could have helped him to manage the success were his employers but because they too were impostors and pretenders who from day one never wanted him to succeed, they put bananas peels on his way and the big boss fell flat.

Ponder this, why would Pinnick and his cohort as well as a number of those in the sport reporting fraternity want to take us back to ‘Egypt’ by advocating for a foreign coach?

What happened to the principled fight by the former sport minister, Bolaji Abdullahi who succeeded in fighting the hawks then by taking the matter to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and got approval for the employment of a Nigerian coach for our national teams?

The swansong now is to build a new team but how do you build a new team? Is it from the ashes of the present national team or the local scene, which is comatose and badly managed? If the present state of the game is what we are relying on to rebuild we can only expect a poor result just as it was when coach Samson Siasia fumbled and Keshi came on board.

Our football and NFF need a total restructuring. What that means is to seek the best way of building a football culture, an enduring one for the country. It means we must have a vision, which is translated to a well articulated plan with time lag and perfect execution.

That means we must begin at the grass roots – primary, secondary, tertiary and then move to a perfectly managed local league and not the caricature structure that we have presently. No country ever succeeds with football without making it a nation ethos. The Super Eagles were our greatest brand until we decided to de-market it by our lack of foresight and political will to take the right action in developing and managing the game.

•Okungbowa is on the staff of the New Telegraph

OBJ: How not to be an ex-President (1) Nwobodo Chidiebere “A statesman is a politician who places himself at the service of the nation. A politician is a statesman who places the nation at his service”.

----George Pompidou

N

ot too long ago, lovers and admirers of General Yakubu Gowon, the former military Head of State and elder statesman, gathered in Abuja from all walks of life, to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the elder statesman, nationalist and pan-Africanist. Distinguished guests, who graced the occasion, poured encomiums one after another on the people’s general for his immeasurable role in maintaining peace and stability in Nigeria. Apart from the lifestyle being exhibited by General Gowon, since he left office, he has remained a political for a long while, serving as a unifying force in the polity. Gowon has hardly criticized a sitting president of Nigeria publicly; let alone denigrate the exalted office of the president.

Recently, Gowon took a swipe at the United States on its refusal to sell arms to Nigeria to fight the insurgency by the Islamic group, Boko Haram. He criticized the US for not selling military hardware to Nigeria. He has been doing everything possible to keep the corporate existence of Nigeria. These are the attributes and characteristics of an ex-President and elder statesman! A former military Head of State and ex-President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, is a living example of how not to be an ex-President! Why did I say so? Based on the recent unpatriotic utterances of Obasanjo, which are undeserving of an ex-President, it is obvious the former leader does not

A man who spent 16 billion dollars of tax payers’ money on power sector reforms without tangible results.

Imported power equipment remained at the ports till it lost its five year warranty.

It is crystal clear to even the blind that power sector under Jonathan has reached an irreversible stage of progress understand George Pompidou’s definition of a statesman as a politician, who places himself at the service of the nation, or he deliberately does not want to subscribe to that school of thought.

During a book presentation in Abuja recently, Obasanjo made a lot of unprintable remarks against President Goodluck Jonathan and his government, when he was quoted as saying, “As a leader, you must not deliberately do evil or condone evil. You should know that you will one day give account to God, you may cover up here, but before God, there is no cover up”. On insecurity, Chief Obasanjo said “Boko Haram is not out to frustrate anyone’s political efforts” and lamented that it took President Jonathan three years to understand the menace. On corruption, Chief Obasanjo said, “When the head is rotten, the whole body is useless”.

On the economy, he towed the same line of blame game by saying “Nigeria would continue to sink deeper and that what Nigerians are told about the state of the economy “is not truly what the economy is”. “The economy is in doldrums, if not in

reverse”, he said. Obasanjo’s latest attack on Mr. President came seven days after he rated President Jonathan’s performance as below average. In the light of the foregoing context, it is very unfortunate and unexpected that a man, who allegedly institutionalized corruption via Ghana-must-go syndrome, has decided to put on a garment of sainthood by referring to President Jonathan as a “rotten head”, presiding over a “useless body”; Nigeria. On which moral platform is Saint Obasanjo standing to accuse President Jonathan of running the economy aground?

A man who spent 16 billion dollars of tax payers’ money on power sector reforms without tangible results. Imported power equipment remained at the ports till it lost its five year warranty. It is crystal clear to even the blind that power sector under Jonathan has reached an irreversible stage of progress. Generation and Distribution companies are privatized, and Nigeria recently hit an all time high of 4517.6 MW of electricity generation last achieved in 1979. Nigerians would not forget in a hurry, that it was during St. Obasanjo’s era, that Aviation sector took a massive hit and Virgin Nigeria went under, sold assets were laden with protests, while over 30 billion naira spent on roads did not yield any result. During his reign, only 5,000km of road was motorable out of 35,000km of federal roads, which prompted the regrettable collapse of Benin/Sagamu and Ibadan/Akure expressways.

The administration of President Jonathan has not only succeeded in revitalizing the rail system, but has inaugurated the Lagos-Kano service, Eastern rail line from P/H-Kano under rehabilitation. A new gauge line from Lagos-Ibadan is on course.

It is on record that the present government has fixed 25,000km of interstate roads out of 35,000km. Nigeria’s image has been boosted via the remodeling of nation’s 22 airports via an integrated transportation system. President Jonathan’s government built over 2,000km of roads in 2013, highest in a single year by any government in Nigerian history (a giant stride St. Obasanjo did not achieve as Nigerian President). The sec-

ond Niger Bridge, which Obasanjo used as a campaign tool is now under construction, kudos to President Jonathan, who saw the importance of this bridge as a gateway to the South-east. I decided to highlight some achievements of this administration not as a sycophant, but to expose the hypocrisy of yesterday’s men! Any university student, who wants to start a project on how not to privatize government institutions, should pay a visit to Nicon Luxury Hotel and Nicon Insurance in Abuja, which were privatized during Chief Obasanjo’s era.

On security, if it is true that it took President Jonathan three years to fully understand the menace of Boko Haram, as was wrongly alleged by St. Obasanjo, how many years did it take Obasanjo to study Niger Delta militancy? Who finally ended insecurity in the oil-rich region, and granted amnesty to the ex-militants? Did former President Yar’dua of blessed memory, for once accuse St. Obasanjo of doing little or nothing to stop militancy in the region? Is Obasanjo trying to suggest to President Jonathan to adopt Odi/Zaki biam formula, where hundreds of innocent Nigerians were allegedly massacred in cold blood. St. Obasanjo charged President Jonathan to ensure that “management of democracy without resorting to brute force and dictatorial tendencies must be cultivated”, is this voice of Jacob, and the hand of Esau?

To attest to the veracity of my argument, political brigandage thrived under the leadership of Obasanjo. Nigerians can recall the infamous saga of an elected governor of Anambra State; Chris Ngige, who was kidnapped by hoodlums backed by Abuja.

If a governor, the Chief Security 0fficer of a state could be kidnapped for days without anybody raising an eye brow that would amount to impunity and dictatorship! Under former President Obasanjo’s regime, elections were held under questionable circumstances which saw the law courts nullifying some of them (e.g. Osun, Anambra, Edo and Ekiti States).

To be continued.

• Chidiebere (chidieberenwobodo@yahoo.com), Public Affairs analyst wrote in from Abuja.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

19

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Cancellation of the armed forces' training pact with the U.S.

A

lthough the world recognises five countries: United States, Russia, France, Britain and China- as the superpower, the penchant of America to singlehandedly shape world politics, economy and international diplomacy, makes ‘Uncle Sam’ stand out among the pack.

It is against this background that we share in the sentiment and frustration of the Nigerian government when it accused America of abandoning it in its quest to root out insurgency that is ravaging the North-East of Nigeria.

A few months back, the Nigerian Ambassador to the U.S., Prof. Adebowale Adefuye, had launched a tirade against the American government, saying Nigerian leaders were “not satisfied with the scope, nature and content of the United States’ support for us in our struggle against terrorists.” The Nigerian envoy also accused the US of not providing the needed “lethal” weapons that can help his country deliver devastating blows to the recalcitrant Boko Haram members.

But the spokeswoman for State Department, Jen Psaki, said contrary to Adefuye’s claim, the U.S. had provided “a great deal” of its aid to Nigeria. Although she acknowledged that the U.S. had refused to sell some Cobra heli-

A few months back, the Nigerian Ambassador to the U.S., Prof. Adebowale Adefuye, had launched a tirade against the American government, saying Nigerian leaders were “not satisfied with the scope, nature and content of the United States’ support for us in our struggle against terrorists copters to Nigeria, Psaki insisted that her home government had “provided and approved sales of military equipment” to the Nigerian Armed Forces.

The U.S. also raised concern about Nigeria’s ability to handle Cobra helicopters and more importantly, human right abuses by the Nigerian military against civilians in the North-East as reasons America is not willing to sell some of its military equipment to Nigeria.

Nigeria had since described the allegation of human rights abuses by its military as “rumours, hearsays and exaggerated accounts” spearheaded by the opposition and human right groups opposed to President Goodluck Jonathan.However, the cold diplomatic ‘war’ between

Nigeria and the U.S. climaxed on December 1 when the U.S. announced that “at the request of the Nigerian government, the United States will discontinue its training of a Nigerian battalion.”

Two initial phases of the training had already been completed between April and August this year before the cancellation of the third phase which has “the intent of developing the battalion into a unit with advanced military skills, with the goal of helping the Nigerian Army build capacity to counter terrorism.”

However, the Nigerian government denied cancelling the training. Rather, it said its position was engendered by the conditions given by the U.S. which among others asked the Nigerian government to withdraw some military equipment from the battle field, so that America could use them to train the soldiers. This, the Nigerian government argued, would put the lives of residents of the North-East at great risk.

While Nigeria should be blamed for putting itself in a sorry state in its quest to buy high-tech military equipment to wage war against insurgency, the U.S. should also be reprimanded for not standing by Nigeria in its hours of need. The claim of human rights,abuses, condemnable as such action is, as basis of not availing Nigeria some of

its sophisticated military equipment is hypocritical. Were there no cases of human rights abuses against the U.S. when it invaded Iraq some years back? And the claim of the U.S. that Iraq harboured Weapons of Mass Destruction is still a mirage.

Besides, it still grapples with inequality, injustice and racial discrimination as recent events have shown on the American soil. So, the so-called police of the world should stop playing the proverbial kettle calling pot black.

On its part, the Nigerian government should aggressively revive the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), which was established by an Act of Parliament in 1964 to produce weapons. But today, DICON’s capacity has been hampered by corruption and years of neglect by successive governments.

Once this is done, Nigeria will not need to go cap in hand to powerful countries. Besides, for a country that operates a monolithic economy, DICON could also serve as an avenue to earn foreign exchange. After all, Brazil, which started a similar corporation about the same time as Nigeria’s had become a net exporter of arms by 1980. Above all, Nigeria should stop behaving as if it lacks vestigial sense of pride by begging a particular country to sell arms to it.

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

Felix Oguejiofor Abugu

Managing Editor n Suleiman Uba Gaya

Editor, Daily n Yemi Ajayi

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Editor, Sunday n Emeka Madunagu

Deputy Editors, Daily n Emeka Obasi, Ayodele Ojo

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20

Politics

TUESDAY, DECember 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

President Jonathan explained that it was in response to plot by some anti-democratic elements in the country to take advantage of certain loopholes in the electoral processes to truncate the 2015 general election.

“The kind of elections we had during the Second Republic that some people won elections as governors and ran away from the state that they claimed elected them, cannot come up again. Nigerians must vote and our vote must count,” he said.

But rational as the action seems, members of the opposition insist that

Fears over violent polls it is a ploy by the PDP-led Federal Government to rig the polls. Their fear may have stemmed from recent actions of some officers and personnel of the various security agencies, particularly the Police and Department of State Security (DSS).

This may have informed the alarm raised

by NOPRIN Foundation last week. A network of 46 civil society organisations committed to promoting police accountability and respect for human rights, the group said it is wor-

“These acts of intolerance and desperation are more manifest in the use of the police and other security agencies as willing tools in the hands of the Presidency and key members of the ruling party – PDP to continuously harass, hound and intimidate political opposition and to stifle basic freedom guaranteed under Nigerian laws. Stretched beyond elections, there is a clear and present danger to the survival of our hard-won democracy,” the group said at a press conference

ried over police partisanship, which it described as a bad omen to the 2015 elections and the survival of Nigeria’s democracy.

“As we approach the 2015 elections, and if they must hold, we see it as a point of duty to sound a note of warning about the dangers inherent in the increasing intolerance and political desperation which currently characterise political contestations.

in Abuja.

But, Governor Adams Oshiomhole (APC Edo State), who warned against intimidating members of the opposition, said: “Any attempt to use the armed forces to rig the elections; it will be fire for fire. We will stand and defend our democracy because only a coward dies a million times before his death.”

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, an APC presidential aspirant, in his reaction, cautioned against politicising the

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military by deploying them to supervise elections in the country.

To him, the military should be allowed to concentrate on its immediate tasks and challenges so as not to lose focus, especially with the unprecedented security challenges brought on the country by terrorism. “The PDP has turned security operatives to confront those of us in opposition. This is the height of impunity,” he said.

Way forward There is no doubt that the elections are close and that government and its relevant agencies do not have the luxury of time, but they can urgently take several steps to limit the risk of violence.

These, like the ICG pointed out, should include increasing efforts to contain the Boko Haram insurgency; paying special attention to the police to improve the security environment; reinforcing the capacities of the INEC to restore confidence in the electoral process and along with all politicians, avoid playing the religious card and reducing tensions within and between the parties.

The group’s 15-point recommendation for violence-free elections, read in part: “To the president, major political parties and their candidates: Avoid inflammatory rhetoric, publicly denounce violence, pledge to respect rules, in particular the code of conduct for political parties, and pursue grievances through lawful channels.

Respect party constitutions and particularly allow democratic candidate selections.”

On its part, NOPRIN called on President Jonathan to exercise restraint, prioritise national security and the progress and development of Nigeria over his personal political ambition. “He needs to demonstrate a modicum of sensitivity, beyond rhetoric, that he is genuinely concerned and perturbed by the plight of millions of Nigerians who are maimed, killed and or displaced on daily basis by insecurity,” it said.

The group also advised the president to imbibe tolerance and other democratic principles and stop deploying security agencies as instruments of harassment, intimidation and oppression against citizens and political opponents.

While the polity is pervaded by anxiety ahead of the polls, developments in the days ahead will determine whether Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, will seize the opportunity of 2015 to consolidate her democratic process.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

21

Visual art

Echoes of Chibok girls in Balogun’s Mirage

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Arts War of Words 4: Paul, Aremu, Igbor CULTURE

shine amidst inspiring performances

Neofly

Paul Word (middle) recieving the award

Ebere Ameh

W

hile many are still relishing the experience of the scintillating performances of the youths during the Eko Poetry Slam held recently in Lagos, the 4th edition of War of Words, a slam poetry competition, raised the bar even higher, a proof of the maxim that Nigeria is full of talents.

War of Words 4 was a gathering of poets from across Nigeria. With so much energy and unique styles, coupled with an infusion of a robust and quality content, the contestants, through their spoken word, refuted the idea that poetry is boring.

The event which took place penultimate Sunday at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos, began with the introduction of the four judges, who would decide the fate of the fearless poetic gladiators. On that enviable roll call was Torpedo

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Mascaw, the man whom every Spoken Word Poet agrees is the king of rhymes and free style.

Others were Soonest Nathaniel Scholes, and Bob Ekat, both respected Spoken word artists and promoters. The guest judge of the day was Mrs Ayodele Jaiyesimi, a renowned playwright and producer, who is also the CEO of Thespian Family Theatre & Productions Company.

With the ringing of the bell, the War of Words began. Dare Dan was the first poet to grace the stage; he gave everyone an idea of what to expect.

First round saw series of amazing performances from 16 poets, and at the end of it, nine poets qualified for the next round with Eko Poetry Slam winner, Paul Word, dusting all others to come first. Other qualifiers for the second round included, Olayinka Samson Aremu aka Samurai, Omolara Kolawole, a medical student of University College Hospital, Ibadan and Abe Olalekan, also from Ibadan.

Completing the list of qualifiers were Igbor Clemency Green from Lagos, Osigwe Promise, Neofloetry from Port Harcourt, Nancee and Bankol (who had to go through a tie breaker with the aid of the noise meter to get in as the last qualifier for the 2nd round).

And thus, the second round began. The bar was raised even higher, with great performances all through. Clemency and Bankol got the first score

mance, Omolara wowing the audience once again; and Paul Word, who like a million stars, so dazzled the audience that by the time he dropped the mic, the prize was already in his bag.

There was a fierce battle between Samurai and Igbor Clemency for second and third places. They performed three times each, and still it remained a tie - the audience hit a brick wall and even the noise meter failed. In the end their fellow contestants decided it.

With Olayinka Samson Aremu (Samurai) and Igbor Clemency Green facing the wall, each contestant voted by raising up their hands. Majority of the hands went up for Samurai so the tie was finally broken.

War of Words 4 came to an end with Paul Word clinching the coveted 1st position, followed by Olayinka Samson Aremu, who was the first runner-up, and Igbor Clemency Green, the second runner-up. of a “9” each from one of the judges, Paul and Samson shared tears of joy afOlayinka Samson got a 10 and three 9’s ter winning the war. While Samson made while Paul Word came close to a perfect a touching dedication to his late mother, 10 with three 10’s and a 9. There were Clemency followed suit, making a dedicaalso great performances from Omolara, tion to his dear mother who was seated in Nancee, Promise, Abe and Neofloetry. the crowd cheering him on.

In the end it was cut down from 9 to The event was full of cheers, fun, and 5 performers, Paul, Omolara, Samson, admiration for the highly talented young Clemency, and Bankol. The final round poets that wowed the audience with their saw Bankol giving a spirited perforbrilliant performances.

Korean Cultural Centre screens 200 Pound Beauty Stanley Ihedigbo

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s part of effort to showcase and promote its entertainment industry in Nigeria, the Koreans Cultural Center hosted the screening of 200 Pound Beauty, a movie that is being celebrated in Korea. 200 Pound Beauty is story full of passion, love and courage.

Speaking at the occasion of the 5th Korean Film Festival, in Lagos, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre, Mr. Kwon Yong Ik, said that it is his pleasure to return to Lagos this year and meet the moviegoers again in the city where they held Korean Film Festival in 2011, and the home of Nollywood.

He added that they selected the biggest hit moves in Korea for this year’s edition of the festival to meet the expectation of Nigerian audience and their support that have a great affection towards Korean movie.

According to him, it would be an opportunity for Nigerians to see and appreciate the popularity and the cinematic quality of Korean

films. He said, also that it would be good to watch out how Korean movies is different from Nigerian movie.

“As you are very aware of, there is Hollywood in the US, Bollywood in India, and there is Nollywood in Nigeria. There is Hallyu in Korea.

“Nigeria has been vigorously expanding its role as the centre of Western Africa in the film industry. The country is keeping its front runner position by producing the largest number of films in African continent under the flag of Nollywood”, he said.

“Starting from a popular boom in Korean drama in Asian regions such as China and Japan, now Hallyu has been broadening its spectrum across the cultural industry, such as game, movie, k-pop and the likes, and it has become the cultural phenomenon to be considered as the culture that people around the world fall in love with.

“With today’s Korean film festival, we can start making this opportunity as an invaluable place to cooperate and communicate with each other in the field of art and

culture, which the two countries are immensely strong at. If we do so, I believe this festival will make a huge contribution to the mutual development in cultural industries of the two nations,” Yong IK assured.

“In the 1960s, Korea witnessed its first golden age of the film industry. After a setback in the 1970s caused by the widespread penetration of television, the film industry rebounded with even greater strength, thanks to increased investment by large companies into film making and distribution in the 1980s. With the emergence of young, talented film directors and the liberalization of the market, Korean movies began to occupy a major share of the domestic market and Korean film exports started to grow”, he submitted .

Also speaking at the event, the Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Hon. Oyinlomo Danmole, said that Nigeria has a lot to learn from the Korean culture, through its films, which would help develop Nollywood film industry.

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Arts

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Echoes of Chibok girls in Balogun’s Mirage Many people around the world have staged peaceful protest on the release of the adopted Chibok girls since they were captured in April 2014. Artist, and senior Lecturer at the department of Fine Art, Yaba College of Technology, Adeola Balogun, has raised his voice for the girls release with his solo exhibition. MOSES KADIRI captures it in this report.

Through Our Heart

A

DEOLA Balogun’s penchant for material experimentation has spurred him to explore and repurpose disused tyres, mesh, iron, aluminium plate, sponge, wires and other discarded materials as a medium for visual interpretation of his concepts. He uses these objects in myriad perspectives in his on-going art exhibition at Quintessence Gallery, Admiralty Way, Lekki, Lagos. The show is titled “Mirage”.

Some of the works dwell extensively on the female gender; he also paid attention to the Chibok girls that were abducted by Boko Haram in April this year in Borno State.

The artist whose adorn public monuments, some of which are the sculptural piece on the late Awolowo at Allen Round-about, Ikeja and Funso William’s statue at Costain Bus stop, and Sir John Glover installed at the foyer of Union Bank Building in Marina, Lagos, among many others, engage in sculpture, drawing, mixed media, to drive his point home.

The charcoal drawings about 22 pieces - reference the image of the female gender.

The show is the artist’s spontaneous exercises that channel a layering of real and surreal ideas coalesced to reference multiple cultural interactions in recent times. The spontaneity in his rhythmic mark making in varied thicknesses with dramatic rendering alludes to the notion of people’s divergent

Balogun

Veiled

perspective and opinion on any particular issue, which is often determined by numerous factors such as religion, culture and the like.

The pieces, which are the result of continuous engagement and contemplation of visual encounters, bring memories of the adopted girls. “A lot has to be given to the women folk. For instance put yourself in the position of these girls; they are someone’s children.

You can imagine the state of the parents, family members.

These are the kind of things that inspired the drawings; l titled them ‘Veiled Series.’ It also references ‘No Violence to Women’. The pieces also highlight the challenges the female gender face. In this part of the world much attention is not given to that. This is basically what the exhibition Mirage is talking about.”

Balogun’s love for renewal of seemingly dead, discarded objects comes handy with multilayered meaning, giving the viewer a sense of direction on what the work is tinted to. “l am not immune to happenings in my environment, part of those things come to play in my visual contemplation,” he said.

According to him, the whole idea of the work was derived from his recent residency programme in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirate. “The residency programme indeed paid off and the result is Mirage, a body of reference materials on display at the gallery. “That period that l was there the heat of the

Eve

l am not immune to happenings in my environment, part of those things come to play in my visual contemplation

Chibok girls came up, and till now we cannot trace or locate them,” he observed.

Making reference to folklores and legend, Balogun uses the folklore of Aladin and the magic lamp story to connect man to the universe, stressing that life is just a matter of attracting whatsoever an individual think is what happens.

“People, places, books, music, myths, and folklore, in conjunction with used and ready-made objects serve as stimulus towards my visual contemplations.

Thus, it is pertinent to state that every piece in this body of work is imbued and charged with the current and dynamics of the experiential encounter and available material that evoked its production.”

Apart from the drawings, his other sculptural pieces show that he is not restricted to a particular genre. The work, “Through Her Heart”, which focuses on the Chibok girls, typically shows the sad occurrence which is like injury to the heart.

“For us we know the kind of love we share with our loved ones, the circle in the work represents the love sign. The issue concerning the girls is like a scar in her heart,” Balogun explained.

Another work, “Hiding

Place”, made with tyre and aluminum plate, which the artist cut into fish form reflects what is happening in the country. “Nigeria is becoming a hiding place for criminals because we have lots of impunity going on and nothing is being done about it. When you have such occurrence in an environment, certainly you discover that it attracts evil and lawlessness. Each time we wake up, it is one sad news after the other; and the reason is that people who are committing these atrocities go unpunished,” he explained.

The piece, “Protective Ring”, corroborates “Hiding Place.” Balogun uses it as a metaphor to reflect on some issues in the country.

“Those who commit these crimes are being protected; we know them but because they are protected, nothing can be done to them. These atrocities are being committed per second, and it is becoming more colourful in our society to do those things that are totally wrong.”

With over 30 works put together, Balogun also captures a woman in celebration mood. The piece could be likened to the smiles that will be on the faces of Nigerians when the abducted girls eventually return.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

Mom&Parenting

23

A widow’s strange vocation The old saying that what a man can do, a woman can do better, aptly proves to be true as FLORA ONWUDIWE delved into the world of a widow who ekes a living in the field of men.

W

ould you be surprised to see a woman on a ladder, painting two storey building? Of course, it is an exclusive vocation meant for men, where women have feared to thread. They rather preferred to be identified with noble vocations like nurse, doctor, teacher or business tycoons.

Not so with Janet Roberts, a widow who dared broke the jinx. She has no formal training nor taught by anyone, “but I was led by the Holy spirit,” she said.

She added that “it had manifested in me many years ago but my husband always suppressed the talent. He would beat me each time he came back from work and saw me painting. I never had any training from anybody but I was led by the Holy Spirit on how to paint.”

Lucky her, as that is what sustains her and her four children since the death of her husband in 2003.

According to her, it all started in the church on a day that she looked unkempt to the extent she was mistaken for a mad woman. But someone took pity on her and gave her some money to feed herself and her children. “But that was not the kind of assistance I needed from people.

I needed employment in the field of menial jobs as well to harness my hidden talent. I just wasn’t satisfied at all,” she said. Opportunity however presented itself as she spotted an abandoned generator in the church premises. She painted the generator to a lemon green colour .

It was to the amazement of members of the church who asked her, “what type of woman are you?”

After narrating her ordeal to the members, she won their sympathy and they employed her. She became the cleaner and security personnel of the church. The regular salary sustained her and her children, until the church bought 28 acres of land between Oworonsoki and Ogudu and relocated.

Mom&Parenting Team Oluwatosin Omoniyi lCoordinator

Grace Essen

lContributor

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Roberts at work

It was during that time that she came across some bricklayers renovating a two storey building at Orile Iganmu and inquired about the landlord. When they both exchanged pleasantries, she quickly made her intention known to him. She wanted to paint the house. The man asked her: “Are you with your senses; you must be joking”.

He dismissed her and promised to call her. “After one month, I did not get any call. I went into prayers that God should arrest him to call me.”

Eventually, the landlord came with his wife and it was difficult for her in securing the contract of painting the two storey building. According to her, the man’s wife almost frustrated the deal.

According to her, they argued for almost four hours. The wife said, “what does a woman know about painting, madam please this is not a joking matter, if you don’t know what to do, you can go back to your house and look for something else to do.”

After much pleading and with the intervention of the landlord’s wife, she secured the painting job. She convinced the woman, “madam please give me a bucket of paint, I will paint whilst you are sitting down with your husband”, she said.

That was when the wife of the Landlord sent for an oil paint of N3, 500. “If you waste this money and you paint rubbish,

Roberts frying bean cake

mess up the floor, we would seize your phone and remove your shoe” she threatened. At the completion of the trial of the painting, Roberts said “the couple was shocked, the woman opened her mouth and was speechless, she apologised to me.

I single handedly painted the whole two storey-building.”

She added that she single-handedly painted the building for a week and three days. While painting the building, she said people were calling on themselves to come see her up the ladder. However, Luck did not stop there as the landlord and his wife also employed her to be the cook of the hotel when they discovered that she can cook. “She asked me to manage the Macos hotel for her,” she said.

Robert narrated that she took up the challenge when she could not pay for her accommodation, “The house rent expired and my landlord said he cannot continue to keep a widow in his house. He threw my properties in the rain and it destroyed virtually everything that I had , my children and I were drenched . Even family members rejected us on basis that my children are too many,” she said.

When she could not get help from any close relatives and friends, she said she moved her children to an uncompleted building at Coker, Orile Iganmu, where she spent a year and three months. “As early as 4am, we will have our bath at CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

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Mom&Parenting

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

MOM’S ALERT with

Grace Essen

grace.essen@gmail.com

S Young boy feeling happy and grateful

PHOTO: WWW.SHEKNOWS.CA

How to teach a child about being grateful Sharon Silver

S

ilver, a parent educator and author of “108 Ways to Discipline Consciously and Become the Parent You Want to Become.”

When a child says "please" and "thank you" during the early years (18 months to age 3), it's pretty much a rote expression, automatic and mechanical. If you think about it, you probably had to prompt your child by saying, "What do you say?" so he would remember to express thanks. At that age, most young children don't fully understand the social graces behind saying "please" and "thank you"; they just know they're supposed to say them.

At around ages 4 to 6, when a child begins going through the developmental phases that ignite independence and assertiveness, is when refusing to say "thank you" can rear its head. Not saying "thank you" isn't really about misbehaving, it's more about the fact that the child doesn't have a fully formed habit of saying "thank you" when he receives something he doesn't like. They're not old enough to understand all the complexities of using social graces. They need to be taught, without punishment, so they

can learn.

Four proactive ways to teach appreciation Teaching a child to be grateful, like most things in parenting, is not a one-shot deal; it's an ongoing process. Most parents are embarrassed when their child doesn't say "thank you," and rightfully so. However, if all you do is correct and punish after your child hasn't said "thank you," then the teaching moment easily can become a power struggle, not a lesson.

1. Model, model, and model some more. Let your kids hear you say "thank you" a lot. When you're given a gift or someone does something nice for you, say "thank you." Say "thank you" to the cashier or the dry cleaner.

Let your child know that when normal things happen, you express gratitude.

2. Point out details. Make a habit of pointing out the little details you like about things.

Share what you like in the pictures they draw, and compliment how nicely they're eating, how quickly they got dressed, and how they stopped what they were doing so they could listen to you. This not only builds rock-solid self-esteem, but it also helps a child understand how to pick out one detail he does

like from a gift he didn't like so he can genuinely say "thank you." After all, no parent wants to hear, "Saying 'thank you' for something I hate is lying!"

3. Donate. We had a rule in our house: about a week before each birthday or holiday, the kids had to survey their toys and clothes and pick out a few things to donate to those who were less fortunate. To avoid possible last-minute hesitation about giving something away that was theirs, the kids were in charge of packing up the stuff and I was in charge of delivery. We also made sure to praise them for their generosity so they could see how the whole process worked.

4. Practice makes perfect.

This is especially true when it comes to teaching appreciation.

Give your child opportunities to do nice things for others in the family. This teaches him about learning to extend kindness and about receiving appreciation in return.

If your goal is to release a respectful, well-mannered child into the world, then please know that refusing to say "please" and "thank you" does come up over and over again as they age. If you're embarrassed, try saying, "Please excuse her, we're working on social graces, again."

Surviving in the field of men CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 23

an open space on the road before people start going to work. We were exposed to mosquitoes, cold weather, no window, we laid carton on the ground with clothes to make it habitable. We thank God that the bad boys did not come to rape us.”

Along the line, she became frustrated with life, the future became bleak for her.

Help wasn’t forth coming from anyone, “I even felt the voice of God was far away

from me. I wonder where I had missed it with my God as He is the only companion I have”, she said. Somehow, succour came just when she felt she had no strength to go further in her struggle. She said some members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, came to her rescue. They rented an apartment for her and furnished it.

From there, she engaged in frying bean cake and selling bread at Coker bridge. She became so popular that she was called madam tantalizer. As

if life wasn’t satisfied in dealing her some blows, just when she was about having some respite, KAI officials came and dismantled her stall and threw away her bean cake and loaves of bread. Automatically, she stopped the business. Hence, she resolved to looking inward to see what else she could do and she discovered her talents for house painting Well Roberts has really proven the above adage that the woman in her can actually thrive and succeed in the field of men.

Much ado about mini skirts

ometime last month in Kenya, a mother of two was going about her business hawking hard boiled eggs at a very busy bus stop. She got into an argument with a buyer over her change, when he (the buyer) mocked her over what he said was indecent dressing - she was wearing a mini skirt. He then rallied some men standing nearby and before she could say JACK, they pounced on her and stripped her naked right in the public.

That was the beginning of a series of assaults and stripping of women in public for indecent dressing, which resulted in a mass protest by women and men on the streets of Nairobi, tagged: “My Dress My Choice.”

We all have the right to dress the way we choose. But in a society like ours, where we have people with different values, all coming from different backgrounds, and having different tastes, can we really dress the way we choose, at least in public? Will it be right to come out almost naked on a hot afternoon because you feel hot and that was your choice?

Generally we judge dressing based on ‘decency’. Really, what is decent and what is not? You would agree decency is to some extent as defined by the individual, and that is why many would just look away and mind their business when they see what they consider indecent dressing. But when it goes too far, people can’t help but lash out on whoever the culprit is.

Sometime this year miniskirts were declared illegal by parliamentary decree in Uganda. Will you consider that an infringement on the right of Ugandan women to self expression? The deputy governor of Lagos state in a public function some time ago, lashed out on a female dancer who was dressed indecently. How could a mother like her see such indecency and keep quiet? Many have argued that the African way of dressing also included short skirts. Yes, young women in some cultures wore short skirts and wrappers, but as they grew older and become mothers, the length of their wrappers fell well below the knees. But today even women, who should know better, flaunt their bodies, leaving nothing to the imagination. And I ask, “is that to say we have no better way of getting attention other than exposing our bodies?” Are we saying we have nothing else to offer as women?

It is a show of lack of confidence in ourselves, or a lack of self-esteem and dignity? How can one explain this? So pathetic!

This is not limited to women, haven’t you seen men (the very ones accusing women and stripping them naked on the streets) with sagging trousers, exposing very dirty under wears and almost naked butts which is such an offensive sight? I am yet to hear of any of them getting stripped for indecent dressing.

This is so much with us today largely because young people are exposed to movies, music videos, magazines and sites which promote such indecency.

And they watch their so-called role models dress indecently and talk about it with such pride, that it has become ‘acceptable’.

Stripping women naked in the public will not bring about the desired result, instead it will generate protests, resistance and aggression from the women folk who think they have the right to dress the way they choose. We all do have choices, but it is important to know the right thing to choose. Whether it is a country where people take laws into their hands and go about correcting indecent dressing, or one making a parliamentary decree to stop indecent dressing, it says one thing and very clearly, that mothers have failed in their responsibilities to teach their children the right values, one of which is decency, which is expected to reflect in the way we dress and comport ourselves in public. Charity they say begins at home.

Yesterday evening, my neighbour, a mother of five, stopped by for a brief chat and when I saw her the first question I asked was, “Did you wear this out?” and she said yes. She admitted it was not appropriate and even her six year old asked, “Mummy are your wearing this dress to go out?” But she just wanted to wear it anyway. We all know what is decent, we all know the right way to dress, but the choice ultimately is ours. If we would just think of the people watching us, particularly our children, we would pay a little more attention to what we wear.

Real beauty is seen in our confidence, in our dignity, in ways we carry ourselves, the intelligence and creativity we show in the way we speak and do our jobs, and in the way we respect ourselves as women, not by baring it all in public and making womanhood look so cheap. If we can go back home and try to right this wrong, then there would be no need for us to march the streets, placards in hand, chanting: “My Dress My Choice!”

• Grace Essen is the founder and president Mum To Mum Support Initiative.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

Property

Energy

27

Aviation

Why illegal refineries, others must be stopped –Alison-Madueke

Government not serious about housing – Ogunleye

MMIA, MMA2: Tale of two terminals

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36

Business What's news

How to sustain stock market recovery, by stakeholders To ensure that the recovery witnessed in the market from 2012 till the second quarter of 2014 is sustained, some of the challenges currently facing the local bourse must be addressed, stakeholders have said.

p.28

Climate change costs in Nigeria, others to hit $500bn –UNEP The cost of adapting to climate change in Nigeria and other developing countries is likely to reach two to three times the previous estimates of $70-100 billion per year by 2050, new United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report has said.

p.28

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Godson Ikoro

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dele Alao

Industry & Agric Editor

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

PPPRA crashes fuel landing cost to N98.15 per litre SUBSIDY REMOVAL Agency heightens experts’ calls for subsidy removal

Adeola Yusuf

• Subsidy drops to N14.40 of N106 per litre and further charges of N16 per litre to make a total cost of N122 per litre.”

Using this as an impetus, the FBN Capital said: “To derive the maximum from the crumbs of comfort: if the

crude prices have not recovered significantly by Q1 2015, we hope that the administration formed after the elections CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

T

he Petroleum Products Pricing Regulating Agency (PPPRA) has adjusted the landing cost for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol to N98.15 per litre.

As at Novermber 28, the PPPRA, in its detailed template for PMS updated on its website put the landing cost at N106 per litre, bringing the total cost to N122 per litre.

But the approved prices as at December 7, 2014, showed that the landing cost was N98.15.

‘The Expected Open Market Price (EOMP) is N111.40; The landing cost is N98.15; Exdepot price, N81.51; Regulated Price is N97. 00 and the subsidy (EOMP-RP) is N14.40,” the agency’s website stated This came as experts heightened calls for removal of subsidy on the product.

Meanwhile, experts at FBN Capital said that government should deregulate the oil prices.

Subsidy removal from fuel and others, the experts maintained in a report, entitled: “Not uniformly bad fiscal news,” will serve as a permanent fiscal step forward “If the Federal Government of Nigeria was searching for crumbs of comfort amid the rapid slide in both the international oil price and the naira exchange rate, it could do a lot worse than select the fuel import bill,” FBN Capital said.

“Generally, the PPPRA’s website shows a landing price

L-R: Secretary General, International Telecommunications Union, Dr. Hamadoun Toure; Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Eugene Juwah; Nigeria’s Minister of Communication Technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson and Minister of Information and Communication Technology, State of Qatar, Dr. Hessa Al Jaber, at the Nigerian Pavillion at the on-going ITU Telecom World 2014 in Doha, Qatar, at the weekend.

Wole Shadare

A

irlines, particularly domestic carriers, owe the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and other agencies a total of N8 billion, New Telegraph has learnt The debts cover landing and parking fees, services provided by the NAMA and other aeronautical charges.

However, an official in the Presidency told this newspaper that government might be forced

Airlines owe aviation agencies N8bn to employ all lawful means to recover the arrears and to avoid that, “it is better that they settle it from around the table.”

Just last week, NAMA threatened to ground carriers that are indebted to it unless they settle their debts. The agency did not give deadline on when it plans to ground the

carriers.

New Telegraph learnt that the carriers have refused to pay the service provider all they owe, a situation which NAMA said has crippled its operations.

The agency had sent several CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

Abdulwahab Isa Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE October 2014............................8.1% September 2014.....................8.3% August 2014............................8.5%

LENDING RATE InterBank Rate....................12.57% Prime Lending Rate...........17.93% Maximum Lending Rate...26.83%

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at Dec. 5)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N188 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N291 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N229.50

l Foreign Reserves – $36.44bn as at 5/12/2014

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Official As at Dec. 5)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N169 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N264.50 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N208.49

28

Business |News

WARNING

The capital market must avert another crash

Chris Ugwu

T

o ensure that the recovery witnessed in the market from 2012 till the second quarter of 2014 is sustained, some of the challenges currently facing the local bourse must be addressed, stakeholders have said.

These were the submissions of Chief Executive Officer of The

How to sustain stock market recovery, by stakeholders Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr Oscar Onyema and Group Chief Executive Officer of UBA Capital, Mrs Oluwatosin Sanni, at the 2014 Capital Market Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CAMCAN) workshop in Lekki, Lagos.

Onyema, who was represented by Bola Adeeko, Head, Corporate Services of NSE, said: “To enable the market sustain the momentum it has recently experienced, the

Fuel landing cost crashes to N98.15 per litre CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

moves quickly to deregulate fuel prices, offers the palliatives to counter the inevitable protest and thus achieves a permanent fiscal step forward.”

The report took a spot price for Nigerian crude of US$78/b and concluded that the subsidy cost to the Federal Government amounted to N12/l above the approved retail pump price of N97/l.

“After the FGN last cut the petrol subsidy in January 2012, the comparable subsidy cost was es-

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

timated at N44 per litre,” the report said.

“The spot price for crude has since fallen to about $65/b, which should have largely eliminated the subsidy altogether on the above basis.

“Timing and exchange-rate differences most likely account for the discrepancy. The broad trend is similar, however. On the basis of the local media estimates, the daily petrol subsidy has been slashed to the equivalent of N160billion per year on daily consumption of 35 million litres.

successful implementation of medium - to longterm strategic initiatives remain a key priority.

Both SEC and NSE have played critical roles to continue to support the Nigerian capital market, enabling it to build upon its strengths and ensuring Nigeria is an attractive market.

Going forward, Onyema said that whilst investors’ confidence is slowly being rebuilt, the sector still has a long way to go and many challenges to overcome. “It is our hope that we will continue to play our various roles in the transformation of the Nigerian capital market and this same measure of commitment will lead us

to all-round market improvement in 2015.”

He reiterated the important role the capital market plays in engendering financial stability and in enabling inclusive economic development.

Onyema noted that following the 2008 global financial crisis, the Federal Government of Nigeria, in conjunction with the Exchange and its regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Nigeria (SEC), as well as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), embarked on several key initiatives to ensure the Nigerian capital market and the over-arching financial market, emerged stronger and more resilient.

The focus of this trans-

formation, according to Onyema, was to strengthen the regulatory framework to ensure a safe investment destination for both local and foreign investors, while establishing a favorable business environment for companies to thrive in.

He said: “With immense support from capital market participants and various agencies in Nigeria, the NSE has made great strides in its transformation journey, which has brought about major review of our governance, market structure and operations thereby resulting in a stronger regulatory environment, and the implementation of innovations required for

delivering a robust and efficient capital market.”

The UBA Capital boss in a paper she presented at the event, titled “Sustaining Capital Market Recovery” said the country’s capital market is still be faced with several challenges but there should be concerted efforts by players in the sector, including the operators, to ensure that the recovery being witnessed are sustained.

She said the sector must prevent another crash, adding that the CBN, SEC, NSE, PENCOM should work together to continue to develop the world class capital market that the country requires at this time of its development.

Airlines owe aviation agencies N8bn CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

letters to the airlines to reconcile their debts with only a few of them complying.

Meanwhile, Managing Director, IRS Airlines, Yemi Dada, has said that that was not the best decision to take (grounding of debtors’ aircraft), stressing that NAMA should negotiate with airlines with a view to coming up with another repayment plan.

Dada said that NAMA seems to be in a hurry to enforce the collection of the debts at a time the Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, set up a committee three weeks ago on how to help the carriers ameliorate their problems, including alleged multiple taxes by the various aviation agencies.

The agency had, in the past two years, made desperate attempts to recover its money from debtor airlines, including writing the affected airlines, organising press conferences and putting up public notices.

Besides, it had, not too long ago, published the

names of airlines, which are indebted to it, among which are major foreign and domestic carriers.

Forty-eight airlines, principally domestic carriers, owe the agency enroute and over-flyer air navigational charges, while 19 others owe 5 per cent ticket sales charges.

Also, 17(all of them foreign airlines) others owe 5 per cent ticket sales charge, which they have allegedly failed to remit to NAMA for some time now.

A top official of the agency affirmed that NAMA’s current commercial status, which makes it completely selfsustaining left it with no choice than to go after its debtors in order to perform its statutory obligations of providing air navigation services to airline operators and the flying public.

He deplored the defiance of the debtor airlines to defray their debts, noting that in particular, the 5 per cent ticket sales charge from, which the agency is entitled to 30 per cent was the money collected by airline operators.

L-R: Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr Muda Yusuf; Deputy President, Mr Knut Ulvmoen and President, Mr Remi Bello, at the Chamber’s 126th Annual General meeting in Lagos.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Climate change costs in Nigeria, others to hit $500bn –UNEP FUNDING GAP

There would be significant funding gap after 2020

Dayo Ayeyemi

T

he cost of adapting to climate change in Nigeria and other developing countries is likely to reach two to three times the previous estimates of $70 to 100 billion per year by 2050, new United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report has said.

The report noted that adaptation costs could climb as high as $150 billion by 2025/2030 and $250-500 billion per year by 2050 The study, which was released during a crucial round

of climate talks in Lima, Peru, said that the first UNEP Adaptation Gap Report serves as a preliminary assessment of global adaptation gaps in finance, technology and knowledge, and lays out a framework for future work on better defining and bridging these gaps.

The report found out that despite adaptation funding by public sources reaching $23 to $26 billion in 2012-2013, there would be a significant funding gap after 2020 unless new and additional finance for adaptation is made available.

Global greenhouse gas emissions are expected to be cut to the level required to keep global temperature rise below 2°C this century.

Without further action on cutting greenhouse gas emissions, as outlined in UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report 2014, the cost of adaptation will soar even further as wider

and more-expensive action is needed to protect communities from the intensifying impacts of climate change such as drought, floods and rising sea levels.

Executive Director of UNEP and Under-SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations, Achim Steiner, said that as world leaders met in Lima to take the critical next step in realising a global agreement on climate change, the report has underlined the importance of including comprehensive adaptation plans in the agreement.

“The impacts of climate change are already beginning to be factored into the budgets of national and local authorities. The escalating cost implications on communities, cities, business, taxpayers and national budgets merit closer attention as they translate into real economic consequences,” he said.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

Eni mulls 11bn euro asset sales in Nigeria, others p.31

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Energy

German lender budgets $200m for Nigeria’s power p.32

Why illegal refineries, others must be stopped –Alison-Madueke SAFETY

Safety and control in the energy industry needs new approaches Adeola Yusuf

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ctivities of operators of illegal refineries otherwise known as “artisanal refiners,” must be stopped at all cost, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke has said.

She said this in a keynote address at the 16th Biennial Conference on Health, Safety and Environment in Lagos.

Noting the debilitating consequence of illegal refineries, the minister who was represented by the Director, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr. George Osahon, said pipeline vandals and oil thieves must also be curbed.

“The effects of these activities have not only resulted in great loss of revenue accruable to government, but also led to loss of several lives and property, damage to the environment and socio-economic disconnect,” she declared.

The conference, which is themed “Innovative approach towards emerging safety challenges,” is the 16th in the series of biennial seminars on the petroleum industry and the Nigerian environment, which initiative commenced in 1979.

The minister noted: “The petroleum industry worldwide is dynamic and highly organised through its advanced standards, codes of practice and control systems. Here in Nigeria, control of the industry is founded on legal frameworks that are predicated on international standards.

“Thus, Nigeria is a signatory to numerous international protocols, conventions, agreements, laws and regulations that govern oil and gas industry operations.”

On assumption of office, she said the government reviewed the situation critically and embarked on a number of reform measures. Apart from the amnesty programme, which has been hailed as a huge success, the government according to her, also decided to revamp existing refineries and establish new ones in order to reduce the demand gap while cutting down on importation of petroleum products.

“As the world continues to

A worker stands in front of a locally made burner in an illegal oil refinery

experience extreme weather conditions, which have been attributed to global warming, lot more pressure is being put on the industry to adopt more stringent HSE conditions in its operations.

“Rapid and radical changes are taking place in safety procedures, process technology, and equipment. For example, safety management is now taken more seriously than ever before and the tendency is to entrench it as a social and behavioral attitude to make it sink into the psyche of operatives.

“Public perception and expectation is also changing at a faster pace. The increasing scope of activities especially in the offshore terrain necessitated the introduction of some measures and policies that would raise our HSE standards and minimise incidents in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.”

In order to keep track of the HSE status of workers operating offshore in the country, Alison-Madueke said Offshore Safety Permit (OSP), which was launched three years ago, was introduced with the objective of ensuring that all offshore installations are manned by adequately equipped personnel, in accordance with the provisions of the Mineral Oils Safety Regulations (MOSR), 1997 and the Petroleum (Drilling and Production) Regulation, 1969.

She said: “The policy led to the establishment of several Offshore Safety Training Centres of International Stan-

dards, which has increased job opportunities for local contractors and employment prospects for our teeming school leavers. Five of such centres are currently operating in the country, all owned by Nigerians.

“Statutory Risk Based inspection of facilities to determine their state of health, in compliance with applicable health, safety and environ-

mental statutes is another area where government has been particularly active. Government, through the DPR, carries out safety control inspections, specifically targeted at facilities, which pose the greatest risks to the environment, such as rigs and production platforms.

“A review of the number and nature of accidents in the last few years confirmed

our genuine belief that safety control in the industry is not only imperative but requires new approaches and emphasis. Absence of adequate literature, such as Standard Operating Procedure (SoP), in respect of complex facilities being operated by relatively inexperienced workers has been one of the major causes of incidents and accidents.

Minister sees 75% Nigerians getting power by 2020 LIABILITY

Government electricity staff liability gulped N500 billion

Adeola Yusuf

T

he Federal Government has expressed its determination to connect at least 75 per cent of Nigerians to the national grid by 2020.

Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, who said this in Abuja, stressed that government had initiated the required efforts to achieve such ambitious plan.

That only about 40 per cent or 68 million Nigerians have access to electricity was, according to Nebo, an indication that the sector requires continuous efforts.

Nebo reiterated that the liabilities of about 50,000 workers of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria

(PHCN) gulped N500 billion from its coffers.

He maintained that the money was used for debt settlement and severance benefits of workers in the power sector to ensure that the privatisation took place last year.

Giving detailed account of how proceeds from the power privatisation exercise was spent, Nebo said that government, in 2013, earned about $2.6 billion (N442, 000,000,000) from the privatisation of PHCN successor companies.

“The proceeds were not enough and so government had to source for additional N45 billion from the federal treasury,” the minister said. This model enabled government to create the conducive environment for the private sector to invest in the power sector.

While urging Nigerians to be patient with government as it tackles the challenges in the sector, the minister said that government was determined to ensure that power gets to at least 75 per cent of Nigerians by 2020.

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Business | Energy

LEADERS

ExxonMobil and Saipem lead the pack as market expects large dollar sales from NNPC Adeola Yusuf

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he international oil companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria have traded over $55.5 million in an intervention, which supported the boost of naira value.

This came as expectations that the currency received more boost from further dollars’ sale by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) continued to rise.

Exxon Mobil sold $36 million, Saipem of Italy’s $15 million while the Chinese oil company, Addax, sold $4.5 million.

As oil prices stay persistently weak around five-year lows, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which devalued the currency by eight percent last week Tuesday in a bid to halt a decline in foreign reserves, has been struggling to keep the naira within its

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

IOCs’ $55.5m intervention boosts naira value new band of N160-N176 to the dollar.

“We expect the naira to strengthen further ... if the Central Bank continues to intervene this way ... coupled with the market expecting large dollar sales from (stateowned oil company) NNPC,” one dealer told Reuters.

The Central Bank’s firepower to defend the naira is limited, however. As the oil price has fallen by around 40 per cent since June, Nigeria’s forex reserves were down to $36.8 billion by November 28, from $44.6 billion a year ago.

Oil prices fell below $72 a barrel last Tuesday. Pressure on the naira from lower oil prices risks reigniting inflation - which has recently been stable around eight per cent - just ahead of an election in February when President Goodluck Jonathan is due to seek a second term. Nigeria imports around 80 per cent of what it con-

sumes.

The naira closed higher at the weekend for only the second time since it was devalued a week ago as the central bank stepped up interventions to support the currency, which still ended below the bank’s new target range.

Dollar sales by oil companies supported the naira and dealers said

the currency could gain further as oil companies sell more dollars to fund local obligations.

But trade could be volatile and the Central Bank could still struggle to keep the currency in its new target range if the oil price continues to fall, analysts said.

The naira has lost 12.3 per cent versus the dollar this year as the falling oil

price weighed on the already shaky finances of Africa’s top oil producer.

Reflecting investor concerns, Nigeria’s share index fell for a second straight last Tuesday, by 1.1 per cent and the most liquid three-year bond yield rose to 13.63 per cent, up 55 basis points as investors sold off debt.

The CBN failed to meet dollar demand at

its twice-weekly auction last week Monday when it sold about $169 million at N168 versus last week’s rate of N165, dealers said.

The bank has typically sold between about $200 million and $300 million at previous auctions.

In the currency market, the apex bank came in three times to support the naira, dealers said and, the most it has intervened since the devaluation, even as some banks were also buying naira ahead of a treasury bill auction last Wednesday and oil companies were active.

Power ministry commissions NAPSAS Abuja office Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

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he Ministry of Power has commissioned the head office of the National Power Sector Apprenticeship Scheme (NAPSAS) in Abuja.

The office is responsible for training the middle manpower to enhance the power sector capacity.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Power’s Deputy Director, Mr Timothy Oyedeji, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Godknows Igali, commissioned the office.

Speaking at the brief ceremony, Igali said that the office would be used to co-ordinate all activities of the scheme across the country, because the sector cannot afford to derail Mr President’s vision of building critical capacity in terms of middle level manpower necessary for the attainment of the nation’s quest for stable and safe electricity supply.

Going down memory lane, the Permanent Secretary observed that NAPSAS is a child of necessity, aimed at correcting the grave mis-

takes of the past. He said on the eve of privatisation, many felt there was no need to engage new hands, so for 16 to 20 years, there was embargo on employment of technical personnel in the power sector.

So, the coming of NAPSAS, he said, will add value to the electricity sector through capacity building for artisans, pole climbers, switch gear operators, electrical fitters, sub-station operators as well as low and middle level technical staff.

He expressed optimism in the future of the scheme, insisting that knowledge, innovation and technology, which are features of the sector, would be enhanced through training and retraining, which NAPSAS will help fill that manpower gap.

Speaking on behalf of other consultants, the lead consultant, Sybil Williamson, assured the permanent secretary that the ministry will continue to be the mother of NAPSAS, just as she said that no stone would be left unturned to ensure the achievement of Mr President’s vision for the scheme.

Oil rig

OPEC quota status quo depletes oil majors’ share values PROJECTION

Eni has estimated that every $1 fall in Brent equals a 100 million euro drop in free cash flow Adeola Yusuf

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he decision by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) not to cut production to prop up prices has wiped billions off oil majors’ value.

Reuters, which reported this, maintained that Eni’s shares have fallen 17.7 per cent since Descalzi updated its business plan on July 31 - underperforming the European oil and gas index, which has lost 14.7 per cent - despite a stock buyback programme that began at the start of this year.

Such losses leave dividend

payouts as the only solace for existing shareholders. Eni’s seven per cent dividend yield is above the 5.6 per cent average of its peers, but uncertainty is growing over whether it can keep up such a level.

“A slowdown in asset disposals (by Eni) would create a shortage of cash flow needed to cover part of the dividend and buyback,” Mediobanca Securities said in a report in October.

Eni, which relies on highrisk African operations for over half its output, has estimated that every $1 fall in Brent equals a 100 million euro drop in free cash flow.

Tumbling prices have prompted energy companies to slow spending on exploration and production, hurting oil services groups. This is complicating Eni’s efforts to sell its stake in Saipem, which said it might lose 1.25 billion euros in revenue in 2015 due to Russia’s appar-

ent cancellation of the South Stream gas pipeline project.

Selling Saipem would raise around two billion euros and wipe five billion euros of debt off Eni’s balance sheet, giving it greater financial flexibility that could support dividends.

But a source close to the matter said that the weakness of Saipem shares was a drag. They are worth just third of their 2013 value after two profit warnings, an overstretched balance sheet and a series of setbacks including South Stream, with which Russia had hoped to bypass Ukraine in exporting gas to Europe.

“There was an offer from a Chinese operator, thrown out for strategic reasons, and a couple of others that fell short of the mark. Sovereign funds have expressed interest but the oil price has thrown a spanner in the works,” the source said.

Business | Energy

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

CHALLENGE

Oil firms’ asset sales delayed due to oil rout Adeola Yusuf

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lans by Italian oil major, Eni, for major asset sales to help fund exploration and its dividend payments have been stalled due to diving oil and gas prices, Reuters has reported.

State-controlled Eni has already sold assets worth five billion euros to finance the generally more profitable business of finding oil and gas, while radically slimming down its troubled refining operations.

CEO Claudio Descalzi still needs to raise six billion euros ($7.4 billion) under an 11 billion euro programme lasting until 2017.

The firm has pinned its hopes on selling minority stakes in its Mozambique gas field, and non-core assets such as its 43 per cent holding in oil services contractor, Saipem.

This may also extend to sale of some assets in Nigeria.

But with Brent crude prices down by over a third since June and global gas by a half, finding buyers at the right price for both has become difficult.

A source with knowledge of the matter said that Eni had been slow to realise that buyers of liquefied natural gas (LNG) would no longer accept high prices linked to the value of oil, as they had before the current market rout.

With economic growth also slowing among major

Eni mulls 11bn euro asset sales in Nigeria, other LNG customers, notably in Asia, potential top-tier investors have become reluctant to take on the risk of buying a stake in Eni’s Mozambique LNG export project. “Given the downward oil and LNG price trends and slowing demand growth, this is not the best time to blow your brains out on Mozambique,” the source said.

Global LNG demand is expected to double by around 2035 but prices for long-term supply contracts are falling from historic highs as new producers crowd the market and oil prices plunge.

Eni, which has one of the best oil and gas discovery rates among its peers, has a policy of selling minority stakes in its fields to raise funds for their development and finding new ones. It wants to sell a 10-15 percent stake in its giant Rovuma gas field in Mozambique after offloading 20 per cent to China’s CNPC last year for around $4 billion.

Eni is now in talks with China Huadian Corp., among others, two sources said, but these have dragged on for around a year with little sign of progress.

Eni may also sell stakes in fields in Congo and Indonesia to boost free cash flow. This could offset delays and spiralling costs in oil field projects such as Kashagan in Kazakhstan’s zone of the Caspian Sea and Goliat off the northern coast of Norway.

Total Nigeria stresses safety importance for outlets, staff Adeola Yusuf

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he Benin Sales Area of the Total Nigeria Plc, at the weekend, slugged it out with 48 points over other seven contestants to emerge winner of the annual national Nigoscar competition held at the Ugbowo service station, Benin City.

The NIGOSCARS competition is an annual event of the Total Company geared towards showcasing and demonstrating how staff renders quality service to customers.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of Total Nigeria PLC, Mr Alexis Vovk, who kickedoff the event and put trophies at stake to reward winners, said the event was targeted at demon-

31

strating in reality how Total renders quality and standard operational service to customers with special focus on customers’ safety.

Vovk said that but for customer’s loyalty, Total Nigeria Plc would not have been where it is today.

He said that towards its commitment to satisfying, retaining as well as attracting new customers through quality service delivering, the company decided to organise the programme for the staff.

The MD disclosed that the company emerged at the top with benchmark of 79 per cent at the recent Total Nigeria TopService Results, adding that the company was aiming at 100 per cent in terms of quality service delivery.

Gas flaring

Gas flaring: UN sets modest hopes for Nigeria, others TARGET

The UN’s long-term goal is to reduce greenhouse gases to zero by 2100 Adeola Yusuf

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ledges by the Federal Government and governments of other nations to cut rising world greenhouse gases will be too weak to avert the worst of global warming, the United Nations has said.

The pledge, which is due in 2015, was not only to avert the worst of global warming but also to merely be part of a long haul to agree far tougher curbs.

Africa’s biggest crude exporter, Nigeria, flare over 18 per cent of its gas produced while the operations of industry players also contribute to oil spills.

Head of the UN Climate Change Secretariat, Christiana Figueres, told Reuters TV at 190-nation talks in Lima on limiting warming that it was unrealistic to expect a miracle solution at a UN summit in Paris in a year’s time.

Governments of Nigeria

and others agreed in 2010 to a long-term goal of limiting global warming to two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times to avert the worst of heat waves, floods, desertificiation and rising sea levels.

“We already know because we have a pretty good sense of what countries will be able to do in the short run, that the sum total of efforts (in Paris) will not be able to put us on the path for two degrees,” she said.

“We are not going to get there with the Paris agreement ... We will get there over time,” she said during the December 1-12 climate negotiations in Lima to prepare the Paris deal.

The mood at the Lima UN talks is far from the run-up to the Copenhagen summit in 2009, when governments tried and failed to agree a UN climate deal. At that time, many nations hoped for a sweeping new treaty.

Figueres said hopes this time are lower. “It is not about knocking people over the head and saying ‘now we have to miraculously solve climate change’,” she said.

This time, she predicted a deal was achievable, partly because the top emitters China, the United States and

the European Union - have already set goals to limit emissions beyond 2020.

In Paris, the focus would be on finding ways to toughen the initial pledges with regular reviews in future years. “The sense of urgency is there,” she said.

The long-term goal is to reduce greenhouse gases to zero by 2100, a target she says will require leaving threequarters of fossil fuels in the ground. “We just can’t afford to burn them,” she said.

In what Figueres called bad news, the UN weather agency said that 2014 is on track to be the warmest year on record, or among the very warmest.

UN Secretary General, Ban ki moon

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Business | Energy

HUMAN CAPITAL

Bank earmarks N5 million for technical assistance

Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

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he Ger man Development Bank, KFW, has earmarked $200 million in support of the Nigeria’s power sector in the area of renewable en-

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

German lender budgets $200m for Nigeria’s power ergy.

Leader of German delegation to Ministry of Power, Renate Von Bodden, disclosed this.

She also disclosed that another facility worth N5 million (Euros) has been set aside for technical assistance through the KFW, adding that

the German agency is endowed with required experience that will be useful to Nigerians in developing their capacities in renewable energy projects.

According to a statement in Abuja by the Deputy Director in charge of Press in the

Ministry of Power, Mr Timothy Oyedeji, the assistance is meant as support base for small and medium enterprises, specifically for the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.

She expressed satisfaction with the commit-

OML 56 hits 7,140 barrels per day production mark Oando announces 45, 000 barrels daily Umugini pipeline’s completion Adeola Yusuf

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rude production from Oil Mining Lease (OML) 56 has grown to 7,140 barrels per day oil equivalent (boepd) gross, partner in the asset, Oando Energy Resources (OER) hinted at the weekend. Oando has 3,052boepd net in the asset, which is being operated by Energia Limited.

However, according to a statement, export had been constrained at 3,093boepd (1,322boepd OER Share) via the Agip operated KwaleBrass NAOC/JV infrastructure, in which OER currently has a 20 per cent interest through the recent $1.5 billion acquisition of ConocoPhillips Nigerian oil and

ous projects undertaken in Nigeria, as well as their support for the Azura project, which has reached an advanced stage for fund draw down.

Also, he stated that after the last Bi-national meeting in Berlin, the Germans have approved the 1MW renewable electricity project for the University of Ibadan.

This, he said, will also create opportunities for research, as he observed that Nigerians are tired of the nuisance created by diesel run generators.

The success of this project, he said, will be a template upon which, it will be replicated in universities across the six geo-political zones.

The minister also commended the Germans for their intervention in rural development programmes through the provision and access to power for farmers in the rural areas to undertake irrigation activities.

FG tightens noose on illegal bunkering, sea pirates

Power sub-station

COMPLETION

ment so far exhibited by Nigerian officials, just as she said that the Germans have been working with Nigerians on some energy-related projects.

“Nigeria is on track with its vision of providing more of its nationals with electricity,” she added.

Bodden promised that Germany will continue to support the various energy-related initiatives in the country, stressing that as far as her country is concerned it is only issues pertaining to Polio eradication programme that is sharing equal attention with the energy sector.

Earlier, the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, represented by the Permanent Secretary (Power), Godknows Igali said: “The co-operation between Nigeria and Germany is a good example of how we can mutually work together for the benefit of our people.”

He commended the Germans for the vari-

gas business.

The completion and commencement of operations on the Umugini pipeline ensures that the Ebendo field can now produce at its full capacity.

Also, OER has announced the completion of the 45,000 barrels per day, 51 kilometres Umugini pipeline.

The pipeline, which the company said, in a statement, focused on oil and gas exploration and production in Nigeria, would provide an alternative evacuation route for crude oil produced from the Ebendo Field through the Trans Forcados export pipeline.

Following the successful drilling of Ebendo wells 5, 6, and 7 over the past 12 months, oil production capacity within OML 56 has grown to 7,140boepd gross for OER and Energia Limited the operator of the asset (3,052boepd net to OER).

Commenting, CEO Oando Energy Resources, Pade Durotoye, said: “The completion of the Umugini pipeline now allows us to maximise the value of our investments to date

on the asset and provides the latitude for further profitable development of prospects and resources identified in Ebendo.”

Ebendo is located onshore, in the central Niger Delta approximately 100 km north-west of Port Harcourt and covers an area of 65 km2 (16,062 acres).

The License includes two fields, Ebendo (producing) and the Obodeti field (undeveloped). Oando Energy Resources holds a 42.75 percent working interest on the field.

OER currently has a broad suite of producing, development and exploration assets in the Gulf of Guinea (predominantly in Nigeria).

OER’s sales production was 14,909 boe/d in the first nine months of 2014, with only 61 days of production from OMLs 60 – 63 attributed to this period. However production from OML’s 60 – 63 has contributed an average of 46,858boe/d for the 61 days from July 30 to September 30, 2014.

Adeola Yusuf

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he operations of its Navy would continue to make illegal bunkering more difficult in Nigeria the Federal Government has said.

The Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Obiora Charles Mediani, said this in Bonny, Rivers State, during sea inspection to evaluate the efficiency of the Eastern Naval fleet, marksmanship and combatant skill of the naval personnel.

He said that the Navy would do anything to maintain collaboration with its fleet to combat crime on the sea.

This, he said, is to ensure that the amount of crude oil being stolen in a month reduce drastically.

Applauding the effort of naval personnel, Obiora said that with the sea inspection exercise, he believed that it would send warning signal to sea pirates and all illegal encroachment to Nigerian sea territories.

He noted that it was dangerous to continue using old ships oper-

ating below standard, adding that government must act fast to procure modern ship and provide the resources for training and re-training of naval officers.

He said: “In a bid to sustain the Nigerian economy, we decided to embark on sea inspection to evaluate the readiness of Eastern Naval fleet and combatant skill of the naval officers. Of course, this event will send warning signal to sea pirates and all illegal encroachment to Nigerian sea territories.

“Navy is in control of the sea territorial environment, we need to be encouraged by ensuring the replacement of old ship with modern ship.

If government looks into our demand the Eastern Naval fleet will fight oil theft to zero.”

According to him, Nigeria is still losing 1.6 million barrels of crude oil every two months to oil theft.

But he said the figure was a significant reduction from the 2.4 million barrel initially lost per month, due to the strong commitment of the Nigerian Navy.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

Projects: How to get value for money – Experts p.35

33

Property&Environment

Units of houses in Choice Estate, Agbowa-ikosi, Lagos

Social Housing Bill: Call for passage gathers steam HOUSING DEFICIT The bill will take care of housing needs of lowincome people Stories by Dayo Ayeyemi

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orried by the scarcity of accommodation for the lowincome group in the country, concerned stakeholders have intensified calls for the speedy passage of the Social Housing Bill pending before the National Assembly.

Speaking exclusively with New Telegraph penultimate week, Chairman, Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVANBON), Mr Williams Odudu, said that the Social Housing Bill has to be passed to allow government take initiatives that will take care of

the housing needs of the lowincome people.

He explained that the need to redirect the attention of all housing stakeholders to the accommodation needs of the lowincome earners necessitated the drafting of the bill.

With the rapid urbanisation of Nigeria, the demand for low-and middle-income housing is growing. The National Housing Policy introduced in 2011 was to address the issue and in August 2013, a Social Housing Bill was presented to the Nigerian Parliament.

This bill intends to deliver 3.6 million houses per annum to no-income, low-income and lower-medium income earners. However, for such a bill to be successful, government needs to focus attention on the legislative constraints restricting the growth of the residential real estate market.

According to Odudu, the need for the bill has become a

reality following the nation’s housing deficit of 17 million of which the low-income group accounts for over 85 per cent.

He said: “Government has to get involved. What has been happening is that for a long time, government has concentrated on building houses for those who did not need them (those who can afford to build houses on their own) and this has been the reason why we have many unoccupied houses in Abuja and parts of Lagos.

“Therefore, the Social Housing Bill has to be in place to allow government take the initiative and come out to take care of the low-income earners and those who cannot afford to build houses because everybody is expected to live in decent shelter.”

The Social Housing Bill was passionately packaged by the Federal Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development under the for-

mer Minister of Housing, Ms Ama Peeple, to take care of the housing needs of the extremely low-income people.

But two years after the bill was submitted to the National Assembly, it is yet to see the light of the day.

Odudu revealed that the issues regarding the bill and other germane issues such as land law and mortgage affecting affordable housing delivery would top agenda when all stakeholders meet in Abuja and subsequently Uyo, the capital city of Akwa Ibom State, this month.

Alternate chairman, Ministerial Committee on the Presidential 10,000 Homes Initiative, Mr E. Nya Etok, told New Telegraphrecently that failure to reach an agreement on certain issues that will make the Social Housing Bill a useful law has been a major obstacle to its passage into law by the National Assembly.

He said that the inability to determine who will fund the social housing and the right agency for its implementation stalled the process of the passage of the bill.

According to him, these issues have kept the bill from being approved by the National Assembly after it has passed the first and the second readings.

He pointed out that the legislators wanted to know what would be the contribution of government or its agencies to the social housing provision.

He said: “The bill has passed through the first and second readings and it was after they threw the bill for discussion in their chamber that they raised the posers concerning the agency that will fund the provision of the social houses; and the implementing agency.

Because we are unable to provide answer to these questions stalled the passage of the bill.”

500 Ogun residents get C-of-O under Homeowners’ Charter

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ffordable housing and urban renewal programme of Ogun State government under Governor Ibikunle Amosun came to the fore last week, as 500 residents received their Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) under the state’s Homeowners’ Charter Scheme.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa, Amosun, in a statement, enjoined recipients to cultivate the habit of building right at all times and seek for Certificate of Occupancy and building plan

approval from the respective ministry and agency.

“This should be our watchword, as people of the state need to build right and acquire proper land documents, we, therefore, hope that the culture of due process in respect to building construction would henceforth be adhered to by all and sundry in the state,” the governor advised.

He explained that his government came up with the programme for residents to avert demolition of properties and to regularise land documents as most of the

government-owned lands had been extensively encroached by individuals and groups and were fully developed without the due process.

Also, the Special Adviser/ Director General Bureau of Lands and Survey, Mr Adewale Oshinowo, said that the Bureau has determined to enforce total compliance with the governor’s directive and promised to be issuing additional 500 C-of-O on weekly basis to the beneficiaries until all qualified applicants have been processed, adding that this has shown the readiness

of the Bureau to comply with the directive without further delay.

Oshinowo stated further that this is an opportunity for residents to enjoy the dividend of democracy as the unborn generation will benefit, adding that government surveyors will immediately carry out the enumeration of site by burying and beaconing of the pillars accordingly.

“We have fulfilled our promises in issuance of Certificate of Occupancy to some of those who applied for the scheme as part of our electioneering

campaign three years ago and promise to do more in the nearest future,’’ Oshinowo stated.

He therefore urged the applicants and recipients of the C-of-O to cooperate with officers of the Bureau, so that the collection and registration of Certificate of Occupancy can be hitch-free.

One of the beneficiaries, Mr Babajide Dasaolu, expressed satisfaction and happiness for being one of the lucky beneficiaries and commended Governor Ibikunle Amosun for making it possible to have a C-of-O at 78 per cent discount.

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Business | Property & Environment

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Government not serious about housing – Ogunleye Moses Ogunleye, a fellow and Principal Partner of MOA Town Planners consultant, is the President of Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON).

In this interview with Dayo Ayeyemi, he highlights the need for synergy between infrastructure master plan and physical development plan, including other industry issues. Excerpts

The Lekki-Epe corridor of Lagos State has been described as the fastest-growing in terms of real estate development. Do you support the growth?

I agree with you, it is growing rapidly, but the growth seems to be well managed. There is a proposal to do additional road - coastal road. My fear is that the way that corridor is growing, we need to pay more attention so that its development can be more organised.

I have seen a lot of people reclaiming their land, there should be more enforcement to checkmate such activities so that the right thing is done. I have my fear on the likely impact of climate change on the corridor because many supposed conservation areas have been built on. If we don’t want people to do that anymore, there should be alternative place where they can build. I know there are traditional settlements around some villages in Lekki, these villages should be integrated with these new developments, otherwise we are going to have slum development surrounding relatively high-income neighbourhood and the totality of that is that we are going to have inefficient corridor.

Ogunleye

For quite some time now, we do not have new cities emerging. What are town planners doing about this?

If government does not think we should have new communities/towns, there is little town planners can do in that regard Can’t you push government into thinking in that direction?

There are two ways to it. Even the existing plans, are we funding their development? Are we concerned with the way they are growing?

Are we ready to do development planning to integrate development? Are we ready to plan ahead for this development? How concerned are the political leaders? The way things are going, I want to challenge them. Can’t we do plan proposal development that will bring about the creation of satellite towns or new communities at the terrain of urban area? But now most of our cities, even their surroundings have been taken over by private developers and these lands have been developed without any form.

For instant, how convenient or easy will it be to create a new town of 50,000 populations around Lagos within 10-kilometre radius?

Almost all lands around the city, even within five kilometres, have been built upon because we have failed to do the needful. We now have congestion in our cities.

It is good to have new towns, but if they are not able to manage and maintain them, how do we expect the new towns to perform well?

In an attempt to manage the mega city, Lagos State government has come up with Model City Plans. Do you think there are enough infrastructures to support this?

The issue of Victoria Island and Ikoyi Model City Plan and the new proposal, to me, is about implementing the existing plan. I have seen the plan where town planners said we should increase in density probably by going vertical.

supply and water supply access must be facilitated. I do not need to travel four or three hours from place of residence to work. There should be alternative mode of transport - efficient public transport system that is very reliable. An efficient city means that when you are at the bus stop, within five minutes a bus will pick you, water runs sufficiently, sanitation is improved and you have a place to recreate.

They also proposed that the road should be widened and that some other infrastructural facilities be provided. If these are done, all will be well. If they say the buildings should be 30 floors, what will service those buildings are electricity, water supply and road; and because we are in a highly motorised area, most of us rely on private vehicle that is not efficient. The highest we have is 15. If we take it to 30, I think the city can still cope, but the most important thing in Victoria Island and Ikoyi, apart from road, is that other infrastructure should all be looked into. The value of land in Victoria Island and Ikoyi has gone up. It does not mean that the plan should dance to the tune of the value of land. Other factors should have been considered in determining the height; otherwise the plan will be meaningless if we base all our plans on the land value.

It is good to have new towns, but if they are not able to manage and maintain them, how do we expect the new towns to perform well

How can you access Nigerian cities?

I am not proud of our cities the way they are now. The question a first time visitor will ask is how are we surviving? There is no order and vertically, all aspects of the cities are not efficient. Even in the new capital city, Abuja, you see some elements of disfunctionality. The transport system is not there and in the area of waste management, you still see the way wastes are being managed, in terms of transportation and disposal. I am not proud of our cities because people still sell or hawk on the road, even at peak period. People bring their wares by the roadside and hawk; it is a form of nuisance for a city like Abuja. Most people do not have access to water supply. If there is no water supply, we will likely have poor system of sanitation and when sanitation is poor, you have diseases flying around. It is my wish that we have more efficient city that can make us proud.

What does it mean for a city to be efficient?

For a city to be efficient, housing, power

Being the organiser of Lagos Housing Fair, how has the fair impacted on the housing sector?

Government has not attached the level of seriousness and concern required for housing. This cuts across federal, state and local governments. Most times, we have government that mouth the issue of housing but in terms of implementing those things that would make housing to be accessible and affordable, not much has been done.

I know there is a new National Housing Policy 2011, it is good to have a policy, but how well have we implemented those policies? We have not done enough in the area of housing. The critical issue of affordability is the cost of these houses.

I relate that to the income of the supposed low-income earners, even some people in the private sector cannot afford those houses selling at N15 million even with the assumption that they earn much better. If a house is N15 million, you are supposed to pay within a short time and don’t forget that the developer has gone to the bank for a short-term loan to fund it, which is usually capital intensive and the return on the investment is usually long-termed.

If you have gone to a commercial bank for loan to build, the interest is double digit, there is no way you will go to that kind of market to get loan as an entrepreneur, you want to make profit. That is one of the challenges.

What is your comment on the launch of Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan for Nigeria?

When we say infrastructure, we are looking at the whole gamut of chain - sewage, water supply, road, and transport, among others. There should be a synergy between infrastructure supply and physical development plan. The entire infrastructure will be put on land. They are land related even when you are looking at water infrastructure like seaport.

We cannot run away from having a synergy and, more importantly, whatever happens to the implementation of the plan will be of importance to us. For instance, it is not that another government will come and stop it.

As a town planner, do we have a master plan for town? We don’t! What we have is more of development plan. For a few of our cities, many of the master plans have outlived their years. Many of the cities do not have master plan and that is why they just grow without any direction. This has affected the level of development and the status of these cities.

Therefore, if there is no master plan to guide city development, there is no basis for taking decision for land use and infrastructure.

Business | Property & Environment

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

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Projects: How to get value for money – Experts STANDARD Monitoring of projects by QS will curb wastage and abandonment Dayo Ayeyemi

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erturbed by the numerous shoddy and abandoned housing and infrastructure projects adorning the landscape of most Nigerian cities,

construction cost experts, popularly known as quantity surveyors, have suggested measures to ensure that investors or owners of projects complete them on time and get value for their money.

Speaking with journalists during a press briefing announcing the 2014 QS Week, the Lagos chapter’s Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Mr Olayemi Shonubi, called on government at all levels to create a director-

ate in their ministry, departments and agencies (MDAs) headed by a quantity surveyor in order to give advice on all infrastructural projects to ensure quality and speedy completion, while getting value for their money.

Besides, he also want government to appoint a quantity surveyor for the purpose of monitoring the implementation of projects to avoid abandonment and wastage, adding that the nation’s legislators should make

it a priority by creating a department in the National Assembly Commission where his members could help in monitoring and ensuring constituents’ project implementation.

He reasoned that it was time to talk about value for every naira spent on projects considering the dwindling earnings from oil and gas.

For its purpose, he said that the professional institute deemed it fit to organise the talk on value for money on construction

projects to checkmate wastage in the area of budgeting and planning.

He said: “On infrastructure projects, there is the need to get cost experts to advise all arms of government to ensure that money is well spent.

In project like buildings, bridges and other infrastructure, you need the quantity surveyor’s advice because he has the background on cost account, legal and contractual issues to pre-advise all parties involved.

“There is the need for government to have a directorate headed by quantity surveyors to help in the area of planning, budgeting and implementation.”

Shonubi also called on government to set up external body for the purpose of projects implementation to save time wasting on probe of failed infrastructure contracts.

“The nation is at low ebb now, if you set up probe panel, we are wasting time going by the length of time the committee is going to sit and complete their report. It is time wasting,” he said Incoming chairperson, Mrs Adenike Ayanda, said the institute, if possible, might consider sending a bill to the House of Assembly after intense deliberation with the national body of the association.

UK landlords plan to expand their portfolios in 2015

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ver half of landlords in the UK are looking to buy more property in 2015 and are feeling bullish about the New Year, according to a new study.

The optimism was fuelled by the growth in demand for rental property, falling rent arrears and rising rent prices during the last 12 months, says the research from online letting agent PropertyLetByUs. The survey as shown

by Property Wire, also found that 50 per cent of landlords have achieved yields of between six per cent and eight per cent, 10 per cent of landlords have achieved yields of over eight per cent and 40 per cent of landlords have achieved yields of four per cent, over the last 12 months.

The firm says that rising property prices have meant that almost a third of landlords are enjoying sizeable equity in their property, with a loan to value ratio of between 30 per cent and 40 per cent.

It also says that with booming tenant demand, it is no surprise that only a quarter of landlords are planning to cash in on rising property prices by selling some of the their buy to let properties in 2015.

‘Landlords have enjoyed good rental yields and increased asset values in 2014,’ said Jane Morris, managing director of PropertyLetByUs, adding that they have also experienced high levels of tenant demand.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Aviation

Plans underway to amend NCAT Act p.37

US ranks first foreign destination for Nigerians p.38

MMIA, MMA2: Tale of two terminals While MMIA is over 30 years old, the MMA2 is less than 10 years old and rose from the ashes of a terminal that was engulfed in an inferno in 2000. Aviation Editor, WOLE SHADARE, compares the two terminals and concludes that MMIA has not lived up to its billing.

B

y any measure, the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 run by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited is impressive. Built six years ago and officially opened by President Olusegun Obasanjo, the terminal has received numerous awards for both its stunning design and comfortable atmosphere.

Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka, who was highly disappointed with the recent ranking of Nigerian airports as being among the worst in Africa, singled out the MMA2 for having a mention as one of the best run airports in Nigeria. He gave assurance that his ministry would not relent until the aerodromes meet international standards.

Chidoka disclosed that plans are underway to provide facilities that would make them to be certified next year.

Certification It is shocking that none of the aerodromes is certified as they do not have the ingredients to make them be considered for listing or certification. They, especially the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and the Port-Harcourt International Airport, have inadequate fire-fighting equipment, good passenger facilitation processes, the carousels have gone bad a few months after they were installed, leaky roofs, dirty floors and above all, huge security threat that the airports are exposed to. One finds the terminal lacking in organisation and it is extremely hot.

Chairman, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Capt. Noggie Meggison, had in a paper he presented recently at the annual seminar of the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondent, lamented the sorry state of the MMIA despite the over N40 billion allegedly spent on the remodelling of airports across the country. He was short of calling it a sham, adding that the terminal is in a sorry state.

The airline chief lamented that the passenger processing and baggage collection wings have been modernised, but regretted that

MMIA

MMA2

the finger bridges are falling apart and decaying rapidly with temperatures over 40C in the afternoons.

Meggison, who spoke on behalf of the operator regretted that it is “becoming a disgrace to the face of our beloved country as this is the first point of contact on arrival in Nigeria.”

He, however, recommended that airlines, banks and blue-chip companies should be allowed to bid for the 16 finger-bridges, adding that the bid should be thrown open to them with a maximum of one finger awarded to each successful bidder to develop and brand to a minimum laid-down standard by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

The Chief Executive Officer of Jed Air disclosed that airplane parking is becoming a nightmare, with ground accidents, which he said has tripled over the past three years.

His words: “Thirty per cent of cargo planes cannot find space to park at the cargo ramp. They are sent to international wing of the Lagos airport or have to park on the taxi temporarily. The ramp has not been expanded in the past three decades. At MMA 1, the ramp can only take six airplanes.

“Arik’s 11am departures are a problem. As of now, Arik not

It is shocking that none of the aerodromes is certified as they do not have the ingredients to make them be considered for listing or certification

only uses the maintenance apron for boarding, but now have to park airplanes inside their hangar to board passengers. With Air Peace joining with seven airplanes, one can only imagine the impending chaos.”

He stated that MMA 2 has two processing points/scanning machines to process passengers, with about 15 departures before 8am, stressing that with the entrance of more airlines into the sector, the airport lack more parking spaces for airplanes which he noted could cause serious chaos.

“MMA 2 also has parking issues. Airplanes sometimes have to keep engines running with passengers on-board while waiting for a space to park.”

In Nigerian aviation history, MMA2 occupies an enviable position by being the first and only private airport terminal in the most populous black nation. It is a private investor under a Built Operate and Transfer (BOT) concession agreement with Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) after a fire incident razed the former domestic terminal. The terminal was commissioned on April 7, 2007.

Investments Just recently, Bi-Courtney in-

vested over N1 billion to upgrade its facilities after initially spending N500 million to bring the terminal to international standard.

Already, the firm has installed check-in counters inside the terminal that would soon be commissioned, just as it has automated its counters and the departure areas near the security gates.

The firm runs on generator almost 24 hours daily whenever there is power outage, which is a common feature at MMIA. Spokesman for Bi-Courtney, Dipo Kehinde, stated that Chidoka’s appraisal confirming MMA2 as the only airport terminal with high rating in the country highlights the benefit of privatisation and commended the minister for his objective appraisal.

To many, the greatest thing that can happen to the economy of any nation is when the private sector is involved in all the processes of its evolution, development and growth. That Nigeria prides herself today as the largest economy in Africa, after rebasing its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), is largely courtesy of the private investors, whose imprints in the telecommunications, aviation, education and entertainment (Nollywood), among other sectors, are very pronounced.

It is a good thing that the Federal Government created the atmosphere that brought this landmark about, and it is also good that it has continued to wax strong despite the limited resources and having passed through some trying times in the recent past.

Governments across the globe are turning to private-sector led initiatives for airport management and infrastructure development. This has resulted in a significant industry trend towards enterprise partnerships between public and the private sector.

Private sector All over the world, airports are privatised. Great airports like CONTINUED ON PAGE 37

AIR RAGE

WITH

Business | Aviation

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

37

Wole Shadare

Stopping illegal recruitment in aviation

T

Nigeria College of Aircraft Technology

Plans underway to amend NCAT Act EXPANSION

The process to have campuses outside Zaria was in the pipeline Wole Shadare

A

s the Nigerian College of Aviation, (NCAT) Zaria is putting final touches to arrangement to celebrate its 50th anniversary next month, efforts are also in top gear to change the Enabling Act of the college.

The document is at present in the Ministry of Justice going through necessary legal activities for amendment.

The NCAT Rector, Captain Samuel Akinyele Caulcrick, disclosed this, while speaking with New Telegraph.

He said: “We are trying to change the Enabling Act. Don’t forget that the Act is one of the oldest in the aviation industry today. It is 50 years and needs to be amended. We are in the process of achieving that.”

Caulcrick also disclosed that a document to this effect had gone to the Attorney-General of the Federation, adding that “all we are waiting for is a directive from the Federal Executive Council before it is sent to the National assembly.”

He regretted that “the existing Act had strictly been treat-

CONTINUED FROM PAG E 3 6

those in Heathrow, Gatwick and Atlanta are run by private sector.

A Nigerian, Adebayo Ogunlesi, had in July this year acquired the London Gatwick.

The Gatwick deal is a £1.455 billion agreement with BAA Airports Limited. 56-year-old Adebayo Ogunlesi who is the chairman and managing partner, Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), an independent investment fund based in New York City with worldwide stake in infrastructure

ing the college as an arm of the Aviation Ministry, thus making it to have a lot of limitations.

This is part of the constraints we have,” he added.

Speaking on some of the efforts to move the college forward, the Rector noted that NCAT had secured temporary accreditation from the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE) to start Diploma courses. He further said that the entry requirements of some of the courses offered were now first degree because they are professional courses.

“But we are not sure where we are, whether we are going to make the entry for all our courses, first degree, particularly flying because we need to capture them early. That is why in the past we take them after the School Certificate Examination but now we have over a million of Nigerians who are willing to go into aviation and have acquired their first degree at the age of 20 or 22. That is still okay for us because we have a limit.

“So, we may raise the entry requirement to that of first degree because we tried that in the past, it failed. It failed in the sense that the age at which those graduates came in was beyond the age limit you have to capture them.

“But now that we have a lot of Nigerians who have acquired first degree at tender age, we may have to make the entry re-

quirement a first degree. This is because like any other thing in life, you keep raising the bar,” he explained.

The Rector noted that as an institution rated in the past as the foremost in Africa but on its way up further, experienced some diminishing challenges, his administration had been trying to return the college to its excellent position.

“When I came in, I discovered that the standard was a bit down, though not dangerously. What we are now doing is to bring it back to original and make it better, so that our products will be the first choice anywhere in the world. That is our goal, we mean quality,” he emphasised.

To achieve this, he said that he had been shaping every staff to have eyes for details and be loyal to duty call while they were expected to be committed to the desire to produce quality products for the aviation industry.

Captain Caulcrick, who embraced the advent of other aviation training schools in the country, said such development would make the industry to expand.

“Yes, we want them to come in so that we can all raise the bar together through competition.”

He also disclosed that the process to have campuses outside Zaria was in the pipeline adding, “We are already in that process, it is in our budget this year, so that we can reach out to all corners of Nigeria.”

he news broke at the weekend that the Ministry of Aviation had concluded plans to sack over a 400 people recruited illegally in the past two or three years. This did not come as a surprise because the employment policy in the country’s aviation industry is flawed.

Not that the industry does not need fresh hands.

Far from it. Technical workers are needed in the critical areas of the sector. A situation where unskilled workers far outnumber skilled workers in supposedly technical areas is laughable.

That is what is presently playing out in the sector.

A female Minister of Aviation, who was not long ago sacked for her complicity in corruption was a butt of joke for causing over 3,000 people to be employed in the aviation agencies. Most of them, it was alleged had no offices; the open ground served as their offices. Most of them never came to work, but earned salaries and allowances that made those already in the system envious.

Some who just finished their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and had less than two years experience were over promoted to the position of Assistant General Manager (AGM). Very absurd. Nobody could talk.

They only grumbled and carried on as if all was well.

Some politicians who never knew what aviation was and who only had contact with the airports during one of their rare trips abroad were employed. No wonder a spokesman for one of the agencies could not differentiate between RUNWAY and RUNAWAY even after one month ofter he was dumped on the industry and later became a generalissimo and Mr. Know all on issues that do not concern his agency.

That is the danger of allowing mediocrity in a sensitive sector like aviation.

This reporter was how-

Tale of two terminals assets, is now the new owner of the London Gatwick Airport.

It would be recalled that Gatwick suffered deep losses over the years and all the turnaround efforts made by its former managers, the British Airport Authority (BAA), failed to halt the downward spiral. In the first nine months of 2009, the airport reportedly recorded a pretax loss of over £780 million, prompting the British govern-

ment to actively shop for buyers.

BAA also reportedly lost £225 million on Gatwick after it was compelled to sell the airport by the Competition Commission.

While Ogunlesi’s acquisition might have brought him international acclaim and made him something of an overnight private equity rock star, pundits have kept their fingers crossed to see what he will make of the ailing airport.

Usman

ever not surprised when Daily Independent reported last week that there are indications that the employment of about 400 staff of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), may be on the line due to alleged non-compliance with laid down procedures for recruiting staff.

It was gathered that these workers were allegedly recruited at the last lap of the immediate past Acting Director General of NCAA, Engr Benedict Adeyileka’s administration.

Aviation Ministry source hinted that those to be affected are the staff that were recruited by the former Acting Director-General whose employment did not follow the laid down procedures.

The source further hinted that as a result of the new development, Adeyileka and the Human Resources Director of NCAA were suspended by the new Director General of NCAA, Capt Mukhtar Usman. The suspension of the duo was allegedly approved by the Aviation Minister, Mr Osita Chidoka.

The source added that majority of those to be fired were the staff recruited between August and late October, 2014 and that the salaries and other entitlements of the affected staff have been suspended by the regulatory body.

The management allegedly argued that the engagement of the employees did not follow due process and received approval from higher authorities.

Until the right thing is done, most of the agencies will continue to be broke. Recurrent expenditure would continue to far outweigh capital expenditure and that could be the reason for the paucity of funds that has hit virtually all of the agencies and one that could be responsible for lack of infrastructure that are absent at the nation’s airports.

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Business | Aviation

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Lufthansa hands over ‘Robert Koch’ evacuation aircraft Stories by Wole Shadare

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erman Foreign Minister, Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Federal Minister of Health Hermann Gröhe have accepted receipt of the world’s first evacuation aircraft for transporting and treating Ebola patients on behalf of the German government.

Lufthansa Chief Executive Officer, Carsten Spohr handed over an Airbus A340-300 for its new role in Berlin last Thursday. He said that at the request of the Federal Foreign Office, Lufthansa Technik spent the last few weeks converting what was previously a passenger aircraft called the “Villingen-Schwennigen” so that it could be used for this special humanitarian mission.

Under its new name, the “Robert Koch,” it now serves

as the world’s only evacuation facility for highly contagious patients. Unlike the smaller aircraft that have been sporadically available to date, the facility can provide comprehensive intensive care on board.

The Lufthansa Group according to a statement, was able to complete such a complex and technically demanding undertaking so quickly because the airline was in a position to provide a long-haul aircraft at short notice that was suitable for the specific requirements of the project.

As a global leader in aviation technology, Lufthansa Technik also has a wealth of experience in installing a diverse range of non-standard cabin interiors on aircraft for governments, VIPs and the business travel sector. It was able to draw on this expertise for the construction and installation of the special isola-

tion unit in the aircraft cabin.

The aircraft conversion, which started on November 17, 2014 in Hamburg, was carried out in partnership with the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

In the middle and rear of the long-haul aircraft, passenger seats, kitchen and washing areas and baggage lockers were removed to make way for a patient transport isolation unit surrounded by an airtight tent with negative pressure.

Inside, medics can provide patients with intensive care and treatment during the flight while remaining fully protected. Two exterior tents, which are also airtight, serve as buffers so that the treatment tent can be entered and exited safely.

At the front of the cabin, there are still seats for up to 19 passengers such as doctors, attendants from the RKI, isolation tent technicians and a Lufthansa engineer.

Interior of the Robert Koch’s A340 evacuation aircraft. INSET: The Robert Koch’s A340 aircraft

Dana Air celebrates with senior citizens

A

s part of activities marking its sixth year anniversary, Dana Air once again demonstrated commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility by extending love and compassion to senior citizens when it visited the Old People’s Home in Yaba to lend support.

Speaking on the significance of identifying with the aged in the society, Head, Corporate Communications, Mr Samuel Ogbogoro, in a statement, said: “Dana Air is leading in the drive to support charitable causes in the country as it continues to show firm commitment by investing in worthy causes that touches the lives of both the young and aged in the society.”

It would be recalled that the airline recently treated special and orphaned children at the Sai Orphanage

to an independence party to celebrate Nigeria’s 54th independence anniversary just as it recently sponsored a youth empowerment programme, Dare2Dream project, to help Nigerian youths achieve their dreams.

This is in addition to other humanitarian activities which the airline has engaged in which includes: feeding the homeless, sinking of borehole water in rural communities, sponsoring pilgrimages as well as supporting eye surgeries to the visually impaired. The airline has also created opportunity for children who have not had flight experience to be ferried from one state to another aboard its aircraft through its Kidz fly programme.

Also coming on the heels of its sixth anniversary, the Nigeria chapter of Women in Aviation, a non-profit organ-

isation, recognised the airline for helping to inspire the next generation of professionals in the aviation sector.

While presenting a plaque of recognition as Best Customer Service & IT driven airline, the president of the Women in Aviation, Mrs Rejoice Ndudinachi, commended Dana Air for supporting future generation to build a career in the aviation sector.

Dana Air currently operates flights from its hub at the Murtala Mohamed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2), Lagos to Abuja, Port Harcourt and Uyo as well as flights from Abuja to Uyo and Port Harcourt.

The airline which is reputed for its efficient customer service, world-class in-flight service and on-time performance has airlifted over 2.3million passengers in the last six years of its operations.

SAA ups frequencies to African destinations

F

ollowing soaring demands, South African Airways (SAA) has commenced additional frequencies to its network, which it said would substantially increase air services to some of its key African routes.

According to the airline, the additional capacity injection answers the commercial mandate of the Long-Term Turnaround Strategy (LTTS) and is in response to positive market growth.

As at weekend, Harare (Zimbabwe) and Maputo (Mozambique), have included additional frequencies, with Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), and Mauritius to follow.

SAA’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Nico Bezuidenhout said the strengthening of these routes comes in the

wake of positive load factors and increased traffic between the countries.

He noted that presently, Gross Domestic Product growth in Mozambique (seven per cent - African Development Bank) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (8.1 per cent- African Development Bank) exceed World Bank growth statistics for the continent (4.7 per cent-2013) while South Africa’s trade and demand for leisure and business travel to Mauritius is growing at a steady pace.

“Air lift services traditionally lead GDP in all markets and also track the rate of increased leisure travel, investment and business engagement between South Africa and its continental peers.”

Delta Air cuts flights to Accra

D

elta Air Lines, the US carrier with the most service to Africa, is cutting flights to Accra, Ghana, by about 20 per cent as the Ebola outbreak in nearby countries damps travel demand.

The third-biggest US airline wouldn’t say at the weekend whether the epidemic in West Africa was turning away consumers.

Airlines including British Airways and Emirates have cited the virus in cancelling trips to the hardesthit regions, which don’t include Ghana.

Round trips between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Accra’s Kotoka International Airport were pared to 18 in November from 22 a year earlier, said Anthony Black, a spokesman. Delta cut one flight per week from the route

starting in November and expects the reduced schedule to continue indefinitely, Black said.

Black didn’t cite a reason for the slackening interest in trips to Ghana, whose government cut its 2015 economic growth forecast to about half of this year’s estimates because of power shortages, a slumping currency and inflation.

Ghana is outside the heart of the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Delta’s Africa flights go to Johannesburg; Lagos, Nigeria; and Dakar, Senegal, along with Accra. It stopped serving Monrovia, Liberia, in August.

United Continental Holdings (UAL) flies only to Lagos and American Airlines Group(AAL) has no African destinations.

US ranks first foreign destination for Nigerians

M

ost Nigerians travel overseas on business trips or to visit friends and family and their favourite destinations are North America, the United Kingdom and Europe.

These are some of the findings from a British Airways’ airport survey, aimed at further improving the airline’s understanding of its Nigerian customers’ travel habits and preferences.

The poll found that some 36 per cent of Nigerian’s travel abroad on business, while 34 per cent do so to visit friends and family.

Around 15 per cent combine business and leisure trips and eight per cent are pure leisure travellers.

Of the remaining seven per cent, the majority is travelling for medical check-ups.

Respondents were also asked about the international destinations they would most like to visit. A clear majority, 31 per cent, named the United States as their first choice. The next most desirable place on their wish lists is the United Kingdom at 27 per cent, while Europe is third at 20 per cent. Other destinations to make the top five are Asia at just over 13 per cent and South Africa at five per cent.

British Airways commercial manager for West Africa, Kola Olayinka, said the extension of British Airways’ joint business with American Airlines to include US Airways is good news for Nigerians wanting to travel to the United States on business, holiday or to visit friends and family.

Photo | News

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

L-R: Father of the Groom, Mr. Ibekwe Chuku-Egbuta; Mother of the Bride, Mrs. Bernie Okeke; Groom, Chibuzo Egbuta; Bride, Chinenyenwa Adobi Okeke; Mother of the Groom, Mrs. Egbuta and Father of the Bride, Mr. Sam Okeke, during the wedding reception between Chinenyenwa Adobi Okeke and Chibuzo Egbuta in Lagos.

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L-R: Sir Ambrose Lamidi; Mr. Babatunde Folawiyo and Chief Obinna Akwiwu.

The couple cutting their wedding cake.

Ogbonneya Uzor Kalu (left), with other bridal tarin girls at the wedding.

L-R: Mrs. Dora Umeh; Mrs. Azikwe Chinyere and Mrs Nkechi Daniels.

Mr. Ifeanyi Uba and his wife, Uchenna..

L-R: Chief Cika Okorocha; Chief Willie Anumodu; Chief ABC Orjiakor and Dan Ngerem.

L-R: Barrister Zik Obi; Mr. Ben Onwubalili and Engr. Funsho Kupoluku.

PHOTOS: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Leisure Arcade NUTS

NTPuzzle

By Kaycee

O C T D E C R A E S G P T L W C O C T E E T E Y O L A G A R E A N H G A N T L I H M E M E C H E G P T D R T D H E F N A A A B O E O T O L L O N C V P S T C U I S I N E R R E U S D I W R H F N T L N F E O E T T S R A S I I E E O S E I I E N U E E E D L

MAMA LASISI

By Aliu Eroje

C N N O E O T O C E D H C R M N N X O N T F I T S L L E M A N T E A U V U L E E P A R E L T E O S T L A R I R A M S L A R J E A D O S O E E E R R N P I M G E O M A N I B D R E E N I G S M S L R U U T R E I D E D B E R L A E A R H E S T C R N M R Q T R A A E E E T E T E B S O W A H T A R E I H L N H A G E E P M G E K W A Y

MOYIN & FRIENDS

By Ayo Oyerinde

N S L F T H A T L E T E O T K F N I E A T R M B N T R N R H N E I G E R

to go

to snow

train station

spring (season)

to answer

English

to look (at)

how many

tomorrow sad

SUDOKU - Answer to No 8

coat fat

SUDOKU - No 9

1

9

5

7

6

3

4

8

2

5

4

8

3

5

2

9

1

6

7

8

7

2

6

1

8

4

9

3

5

8

4

1

2

9

5

6

7

3

6

3

7

8

4

1

2

5

9

2

5

9

6

3

7

8

1

4

9

1

4

3

7

6

5

2

8

5

7

2

9

1

8

3

4

6

3

6

8

4

5

2

7

9

1

8 6

1 2

3

5

2

5

7

2

8

6

3

4

4

7

2

How to play

Sudoku

ALIU EROJE

CHIEF CARTOONIST aliu.eroje@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

toy

The objective is to fill a 9x9 grid so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3x3 boxes (also called blocks or regions) contains the digits from 1 to 9.

A cell is the smallest block in the game. A row , column and region consists of 9 cells and the whole game consists of 81 cells. A region has thicker lines surrounding it. This simply makes it easier to play the game.

to run

thirst museum

NTJokes

5

5

to cook

door summer

9

9 9

3

6 3

8 1

8

curtains

O

RELATIONSHIPS

ne of my friends always prided himself in landing such a cool job, and a beautiful, Agbani babe in the same month. On this year’s Valentine’s Day, he went over to the flat he had gotten and furnished for her, to take her out to Taipan for dinner. While she was in the shower, the Razr phone he had bought for her weeks before began ringing, and he picked the phone to see the Caller ID. He chuckled to himself when he saw ‘Mugu No 2’. He shook his head, wondering why all the guys would never stop disturbing his babe. Seconds later, he picked the phone again, his curiosity picked at what she had saved his number as. He dialed his number and dropped the phone when he saw the caller ID. He picked his jacket and walked out.

She had saved his number as ‘Mugu No 19’.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

41

42

Business | Money Line

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Banking system closes with N20bn debit HIGH RATES

Tighter monetary policy would increase cost of borrowing

N

igeria’s overnight lending rate more than doubled to a record high of 70 percent yesterday, amid a cash squeeze that threw the balance that lenders hold with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to a debit of N20 billion, compared with N45 billion last Friday.

The banking system was about N400 billion in credit two weeks ago.

The apex bank had last week soaked up naira liquidity to support the ailing currency, dealers said.

The banking watchdog is struggling to prop up the naira, which has taken a beating over the past few months as falling oil prices shook confidence in the assets of Africa’s leading energy producer. Oil hit a fiveyear low yesterday.

“Banks are scrambling for funds to cover their positions,” one dealer said.

The naira eased 1.1 percent yesterday, below

Overnight rate hits 70%, naira slides the CBN’s new target since 8 percent devaluation two weeks ago to save declining foreign reserves, despite the bank selling dollars onto the market.

As the banking watchdog has been forced to tighten monetary policy to defend the currency, it also risks hurting Africa’s biggest economy as high interbank rates will constrain credit.

“The tighter monetary policy - higher cash reserve requirement as well as higher policy rate - will filter through to the real economy via an increased cost of borrowing,” said Melissa Verreynne of NKC Independent Economists, adding that the spike in overnight rates was likely to be short-lived.

The timing is bad for President Goodluck Jonathan, who will seek re-election in polls scheduled for Feb. 14.

Overnight lending rates had spiked to 30 percent last Friday, a level itself more than double what rates were a week before.

Dealers said com-

mercial lenders were scrambling for funds on the interbank market yesterday to keep their liquidity ratios at the regulatory minimum of

30 percent, after the apex bank last week withdrew N300 billion ($1.7billion) to enforce a new cash reserve requirement of 20 percent, up from 15

Godson Ikoro

I

n response to the local contents policy, the apex bank yesterday accredited four local companies to print cheques and other debit pull paper instruments on categories “A and B” for the Nigerian market.

The companies are Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company Plc (NSPMC Plc), Tripple Gee and company Plc, Superflux International Limited and Euphoria Group Limited.

The banking watchdog made this known in a circular, Ref: BPS/DIR/GEN/ CIR/02/033 dated December 4,2014 signed by its Director, Banking and Payments Department, Dipo Fatokun and sent to all deposit money banks and cheque printers.

The apex bank said that in furtherance of its mandate to ensure an efficient payment

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

Description

TTM

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

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

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

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

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

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

FX

Bid Spot ($/N) 163.28 THE FIXINGS –NIBOR,NITTY and NIFEX of February 6,2014

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Offer 163.38

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

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

system, it collaborated with MICR technical Implementation Committee (MTIC) to conduct accreditation for cheque printers for 2014.

The banking watchdog urged the Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) to note the accredited printers, stressing that their appointments are in line with the bank’s policy on domestication of the cheque production in the country. It stressed that no foreign cheque printers should print for the money

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

market, Consequently, the lenders’ watchdog reminded lenders to patronise the CBN accredited cheque printers only for the printing of cheques, dividend warrants and any other paper instruments that are cleared through Nigerian clearing and settlement system.

Meanwhile, the apex bank yesterday offered the sun of US$200million for sale at the foreign exchange auction of December 8,2014.

World Bank lends $200m to IHS for tower deal

T

he World Bank’s private sector arm has lent $200 million to Nigerian phone tower company IHS to help to fund its purchase of about 2,100 tower sites from the country’s number four mobile operator Etisalat Nigeria.

Privately owned IHS raised $2 billion in equity and $600 million in debt last November and the money from the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) is part of this.

Construction and maintenance of mobile communications towers in Africa is more expensive than in other regions because of security costs and electricity shortages, while revenue per user is often lower.

That, according to Reuters news, has prompted many mobile operators to sell or

lease towers to specialist companies such as IHS, which can reduce costs by hosting multiple tenants - mobile operators and Internet providers - on the same towers.

The IFC’s contribution to the funding is made up of $50 million from the IFC itself, $112.5 million from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and $37.5 million from the IFC Managed Co-Lending Portfolio Programme, according to an IFC statement yesterday.

The portfolio programme is a syndicate of institutional investors.

IHS will use the money to help pay for its phone tower deal with Etisalat Nigeria, part of Abu Dhabi’s Etisalat, the statement said. In August, IHS agreed to buy and lease back 2,136 towers from the Nigerian mobile operator.

Oil price: Nigeria won’t print money, says finance minister

N

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80

sold $11 million to lenders, which was not sufficient to meet demand.

The bank also raised interest rates by 100 basis points to 13 percent, the first change in more than two years, and it debited N568 billion from the banking system.

CBN accredits four cheque printers

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

percent.

The naira closed at N182.10 to the dollar, after it touched an intraday low of N184.57, prompting the CBN to intervene. The unit closed at N180.10 naira last Friday.

Dealers said China’s Addax petroleum also

igeria won’t resort to printing money or imprudent borrowing as it adjusts to lower prices of oil, the mainstay of its economy, Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said.

“This is not the first time this country has gone through lower oil prices and it will not be the last,” she said at a conference in, Abuja yesterday. “We should avoid the kind of fear that will paralyse us or make us do the wrong things out of fear and alarm.”

Nigeria, which is facing general elections in February, lowered its proposed budgeted oil price last week

to $65 per barrel, the second cut in less than a month, signaling government revenue is set to plunge.

Any borrowing will be done “judiciously,” OkonjoIweala said. Increased tax revenue and an expanding private sector would help Nigeria offset the impact of falling oil prices, she said.

Global oil prices have plunged more than a third since June, prompting monetary policy makers to devalue the naira for the first time in three years, and threatening to erode public finances in a country that relies on crude sales for 70 percent of government income.

Business | Financial Market News

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

43

8-Dec-14

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute professional, financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or up to date. We do not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information.

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

NA

NA

Description 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

23-Apr-10 16-Aug-13 27-Apr-12 27-Jul-07 31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

535.00 573.89 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 396.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 150.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,730.13

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,532.61

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

0.37 1.69 2.38 2.63 2.73 3.47 4.56 4.87 7.14 9.26 13.97 14.45 14.95 15.62 19.61

14.37 13.97 13.89 13.85 13.85 13.88 13.94 13.92 13.89 13.58 13.21 13.19 13.17 13.45 13.15

13.94 13.87 13.81 13.77 13.78 13.76 13.85 13.81 13.83 13.52 13.17 13.14 13.11 13.39 13.10

96.30 98.60 102.35 91.39 90.02 91.44 106.75 76.08 111.05 103.15 111.26 95.50 69.79 77.70 93.00

96.45 98.75 102.50 91.54 90.17 91.74 107.05 76.38 111.35 103.45 111.56 95.80 70.09 78.00 93.30

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

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

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 3.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.46 1.20 2.00 2.37 2.58

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

16.66 16.97 15.88 14.85 14.84

92.86 100.42 100.16 97.53 94.61

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

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

322.97

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

314.93

Sub-National Bonds A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.73

4.44

18.84

95.81

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.57

3.23

17.26

98.51

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

0.85

4.46

19.14

95.64

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

0.86

3.48

18.17

97.85

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.36

5.59

19.44

82.72

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.41

1.00

15.37

97.97

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.06

1.79

15.66

96.06

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.24

1.80

15.66

97.20

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

3.82

1.00

14.90

97.40

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

14.96

09-Dec-18

2.23

1.00

14.86

99.31

A-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

11.13

12-Dec-18

2.24

4.78

18.64

91.60

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.62

1.00

14.84

99.35

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*GOMBE

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019

02-Oct-12

15.50

16.23

02-Oct-19

2.87

1.00

14.86

101.62

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

22-Nov-12

14.50

80.00

22-Nov-19

4.96

1.00

14.92

98.56

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

12-Dec-12

14.75

27.51

12-Dec-19

2.84

2.74

16.60

95.99

14.75

11.40

10-Oct-20

3.39

1.00

14.88

99.71

A/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.97

1.00

14.89

94.62

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

6.06

1.94

15.83

96.82

A/Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.78

31-Dec-20

3.55

1.44

15.33

97.90

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.79

06-Jan-21

3.58

1.95

15.84

97.90

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

471.68 449.89

Corporate Bonds Aa/Agusto Nil

GTB NGC

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014

18-Dec-09

13.50

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.03

5.21

24.09

99.67

µ

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.06

8.71

26.94

99.27 96.34

Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.45

4.88

18.96

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

13.62

09-Dec-15

0.52

1.00

14.93

98.00

BB+/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.60

06-Jan-16

0.60

2.63

16.74

98.50

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.81

1.00

15.01

96.86

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.88

1.34

15.30

98.28

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.81

1.00

14.85

95.81

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.83

1.88

15.88

104.04

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

6.30

09-Apr-18

1.84

3.48

17.48

98.09

A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-18

2.00

5.20

19.08

98.65

#

AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR

*TOWER

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

09-Sep-18

2.00

5.06

18.94

101.85

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.79

1.35

15.25

96.45

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.40

18-Oct-18

2.11

2.29

16.16

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.19

6.11

19.97

95.23

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

3.06

2.16

16.03

100.01

BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR

#{r}

99.55

*DANA

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.94

2.76

16.65

94.81

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

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

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.81

1.00

14.33

87.48

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.81

1.00

14.33

94.34

Nil

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

144.08

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

139.82

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

3.18

1.00

14.87

88.47

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.40

1.00

14.92

88.87

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 22.12

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

5.63

5.43

105.74

106.79

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.78

4.49

101.11

102.07

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.93

5.79

102.97

103.92

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,549.09

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

AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

8.38

8.38

103.30

103.30

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

4.77

4.77

103.75

103.75

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.47

7.47

99.48

99.48

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

10.12

9.26

90.82

93.14

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

7.14

6.83

96.16

97.17

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

9.67

9.67

102.00

102.00 95.50

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

7.47

7.47

95.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

10.17

9.99

95.00

95.63

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

8.15

8.15

99.75

99.75

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

10.71

10.71

82.25

82.25

9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021

24-Jun-14

9.25

400.00

24-Jun-21

10.35

10.13

95.13

96.13

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

9.30

9.30

92.88

92.88

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

9.14

8.81

97.25

98.88

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

AFREN PLC III

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC II

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,760.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,599.26

**Treasury Bills DTM 17 24 31 38 45 52 59 66

FIXINGS Maturity 25-Dec-14 1-Jan-15 8-Jan-15 15-Jan-15 22-Jan-15 29-Jan-15 5-Feb-15 12-Feb-15

Bid Discount (%) 15.60 17.80 17.00 15.45 14.35 14.80 14.60 14.80

Offer Discount (%) 15.35 17.55 16.75 15.20 14.10 14.55 14.35 14.55

Bid Yield (%) 15.71 18.01 17.25 15.70 14.61 15.12 14.95 15.21

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 44.1267 17.5674 17.0220 16.9735

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

59.67

O/N Tenor Call 1M

61.92

REPO

Rate (%) 50.67 17.26

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

182.50 182.28 182.57 183.24 184.47 185.71

182.60 182.38 182.71 183.69 185.44 187.16

Sub-National Bonds

44

A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.73

4.44

18.84

95.81

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.57

3.23

17.26

98.51

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

0.85

4.46

19.14

95.64

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

0.86

3.48

18.17

97.85

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.36

5.59

19.44

82.72

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.41

1.00

15.37

97.97

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.06

1.79

15.66

96.06

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.24

1.80

15.66

97.20

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

14.96

09-Dec-18

2.23

1.00

14.86

99.31

A-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

11.13

12-Dec-18

2.24

4.78

18.64

91.60

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.62

1.00

14.84

99.35

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019

02-Oct-12

15.50

16.23

02-Oct-19

2.87

1.00

14.86

101.62

14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

22-Nov-12

14.50

80.00

22-Nov-19

4.96

1.00

14.92

98.56

14.75

27.51

12-Dec-19

2.84

2.74

16.60

95.99

14.75

11.40

10-Oct-20

3.39

1.00

14.88

99.71

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.97

1.00

14.89

94.62

Business | Capital Market

BEARISH A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*GOMBE

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH 3.82 1.00 14.90 97.40

Investment value dips by N51bn

12-Dec-12 Stock market A/Agusto; A-/GCR opens *OSUN 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 10-Oct-13 A/Agusto *OSUN 14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 theAa-/Agusto; week on a 27-Nov-13 AA-/GCR LAGOS 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 31-Dec-13 A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro KOGI 15.00 KOGI at 31-DEC-2020 ish rally witnessed the leading to share decline negative path 31-Dec-13 A/Agusto *EKITI 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020

15.00 5.00 against 33,228.29 record14.50 4.78 ed the15.00 previous day4.79 .

The market capitalisa471.68 tion of equities equally 449.89 plummeted by N51 billion or 0.46 per cent to 13.17 close 13.50 at N10.919 trillion 17.00 2.00 from N10.970 trillion re10.00 3.61 corded12.00 the previous day .

13.62 At the 14.00 close of trading, 0.60 10 stocks 13.00 appreciated 15.00 in 5.53othprice,14.25 as against 39 13.00 20.00 ers that depreciated in 18.00 0.64 value.16.00 6.30 Forte Oil Nigeria Plc 18.00 2.90 advanced by 5 per cent 16.00 0.80 to 14.00 close at N235.18 per35.00 share to lead15.75 the gainers’2.40 table,

31-Dec-20 6.06 15.83 96.82 while e-Tranzact fol- 1.94 of 314.1million shares 31-Dec-20 3.55 1.44 15.33 97.90 worth N4.3 billion in lowed with a gain of 4.98 06-Jan-21 3.58 1.95 15.84 97.90 per cent to close at N2.32 4,027deals was recorded per share. Eterna Oil ap- in the day’s trading. preciated by 3.67 per cent The banking subsector of the financial to close at N3.11.

18-Dec-14 0.03 day’s 5.21 services 24.09sector was 99.67 the Reversing the 31-Dec-14 0.06 8.71 26.94 99.27 most active (measured gains, shares of Dangote 17-Aug-15 0.45 4.88 18.96 96.34 volume); Flour Mills Plc0.52 depreci-1.00 by turnover 09-Dec-15 14.93 98.00 ated by 9.59 per cent to with 224.9 million shares 06-Jan-16 0.60 2.63 16.74 98.50 close at N5.09 per N2.2 billion 29-Sep-16 1.81 share. 1.00 worth 15.01 96.86 ex1.88 15.30by investors 98.28 PZ25-Oct-16 Cussons Nigeria Plc1.34 changed in 30-Sep-17 14.85 95.81 followed with a2.81drop of 1.00 1,344 deals.

30-Nov-17 1.83 1.88 15.88 104.04 5.96 per cent to1.84 close at3.48 Volume in the banking 09-Apr-18 17.48 98.09 N29.99, while 2.00 Portland5.20 sub-sector was 98.65 largely 09-Sep-18 19.08 Paint fell by N4.96 to driven by activity in the 09-Sep-18 2.00 5.06 18.94 101.85 22-Sep-18 3.79 share. 1.35 shares 15.25 96.45Bank close at N4.79 per of Sterling 18-Oct-18 Meanwhile, a2.11 turnover2.29 Plc and16.16 GTB Plc.99.55

stock exchange last Fri- in most blue chip 06-Jan-14 com15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 day would be sustained. panies.

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE The return of the The key market perTOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION negative sentiment was formance measures, the Stories by Chris Ugwu Corporate Bonds on the back of losses suf- NSE All Share Index and 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 18-Dec-09 Aa/Agusto GTB he bulls yesterfered by most blue chip market capitalisation, µ NGC 31-DEC-2014 01-Apr-10 Nil day returned NGC to companies, 17.00 which dedropped by 0.47 per cent, 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 17-Aug-10 Bbb-/Agusto *UPDC trenches, dashgenerated from sell offs as market sentiments 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 A-/Agusto 09-Dec-10 *FLOURMILLS turned red on the 06-Jan-11 back ing the hope *CHELLARAMS of yesterday, as the bears06-JAN-2016 14.00 CHELLARAMS BB+/GCR 13.00the NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 of losses recorded by investors bulls, A+/Agusto;that A-/GCR the bull29-Sep-11 NAHCO overshadowed 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 Dangote Flour Mills A-/Agusto 25-Oct-13 FSDH Plc 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 A/GCR UBA and PZ Cussons. 30-Sep-10 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 BBB-/GCR *C & I LEASING Specifically, the30-Nov-12 NSE MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 09-Apr-11 Nil *DANA#{r} All-Share Index depre# MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 09-Sep-11 A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR *TOWER TN Cocoa Procesciated by 152.58 09-Sep-11 basis 30, 2014 the TOWER 9-SEP-2018 AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR *TOWER# ended June MPR+5.25 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 points or 0.46 per22-Sep-11 A/Agusto; A/GCR a pioneercent sors Plc, firm generated revenue UBA 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 Bbb+/Agusto; 18-Oct-13 *LA CASERA to close at 33,075.71, as status BBB+/GCR agro allied of N159.7 million, which MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 17-Feb-19 2.19 17-Feb-12 17.00 0.41 BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS# company has continued indicated a 111 per cent 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 01-Apr-14 16.00 4.50 01-Apr-19 3.06 Nil *DANA#{r} to struggle with lower rise in revenue year-onafarge Africa will on 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR 14-Nov-13 15.25 2.05 14-Nov-20 5.94 NAHCO salesA/GCR and declining botyear. FTN Cocoa ProcesWedneday make 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 30-Sep-14 11.93 an of0.10 30-Sep-24 9.81 STANBIC IBTC sors had posted revenue tom-line, as it posted a fer worth about $122 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR 30-Sep-14 13.25 15.44 30-Sep-24 9.81 STANBIC IBTC loss after of N403.772 million to buy out minority 144.08 TOTALtax OUTSTANDING VALUE of N75.6 million in the million theCAPITALISATION third half-year ended June 30, shareholders in Ashaka Ce- 139.82 TOTALfor MARKET quarter ended Septem- 2013. ment Plc. leading cement producers Supranational Bond The offer is part of proce- had secured the approval of ber 2014.

In the period under IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P IFC 10.20 11-Feb-18 dures11-Feb-13 to consolidate its busi- 12.00 review, the10.20company Nigeria’s Securities and3.18ExThe figure showed AFDB 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P AfDB 10-Jul-14 01-Feb-21 4.40 20 per cent higher than said it made 11.25 a gross loss nesses following 11.25 the $1.35 12.95 change Commission (SEC) TOTALmillion OUTSTANDING billion merger of Lafarge 24.95 to proceed on a mandatory N336.043 lossVALUE af- of N139.5 million, comTOTAL MARKET tender offer to acquire eqter tax posted at CAPITALISATION compa- pared with the gross loss Africa’s Nigerian and South 22.12 rable period of 2013. of N111.9 million it made African businesses, which re-Outstanding uityValue stakes held by minority Rating/Agency Issue Date Coupon (%) Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) shareholders in its majorityThe company’s rev- inIssuer the same period of lastDescription ceived approval from share- ($mm) enueFGN in Eurobonds a filing with the year. holders in July. owned subsidiary, Ashaka Nigerian Stock Exchange The company’s cost of The company in a notice Cement Plc. 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; 07-Oct-11 6.75 28-Jan-21 5.63 on (NSE) alsoB+/S&P fell by 26 per sale for the half-year peto Exchange yesterday said 500.00This development came ended June 30, 2014 cent BB-/Fitch; from N224.277 mil- riod that as part of the merger the heels of its completion of FGN 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 12-Jul-13 5.13 500.00 12-Jul-18 4.78 lion BB-/S&P in 2013 to N166.886 stood at N299.2 million – deal, it had acquired a stake the block trade in respect of BB-/Fitch; 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 12-Jul-13 Cement6.38 12-Jul-23 5.93 million recorded during up from N187.4 million in in Ashaka of more 500.00 58.61 percent shareholding BB-/S&P the period under review. the corresponding period than 30 per cent, the trigger in Ashaka Cement and thus TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 1,500.00 point for making a full takeThe cocoa processor of 2013. seeking to acquire stakes TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION 1,549.09 had reported a loss beAlso, FTN Cocoa Proover bid under Nigeria’s se- held by minority shareholders of the company. fore tax of N252.1 million cessors said in the financurities and takeover rules.

Corporate Eurobonds trade has8.38 trigcial statement that its toUnder the terms11.50 of the of- 450.00“This block in the half-year period 11.50 FEB 01, 2016 B/Fitch; B-/S&P AFREN PLC I 01-Feb-11 01-Feb-16 fer, shareholders who ended June 30, 2014. GTBANK PLC talI assets as of June 30, gered an MTO, in accordance 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P 19-May-11 7.50 accept 500.00 19-May-16 4.77 The company’s finan2014 it will receive 577.25 Lafarge 350.00 with Section 131 of the 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLCstood at N4.330 bil25-Jul-12 25-Jul-17 7.47In6.88 MAY 09, 2018 Africa shares for every 202 300.00 cialsB/Fitch; in aB/S&P filing with the lionPLC – down from N4.553 vestments 02-May-18 & Securities10.12 Act FIDELITY BANK 09-May-13 6.88 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC 6.00 08-Nov-18 7.14445 Exchange showed that billion as of December held 08-Nov-13 in Ashaka Cement and 400.00 (No 29 of 2007) and Rule 10.25 APR 08, 2019 B/Fitch AFREN PLC II 2013.

08-Apr-12 08-Apr-19 & Exchange 9.67 the figure was, however, 31, an additional cash10.25 payment 300.00 of the Securities 6.25 APR 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC 22-Apr-14 22-Apr-19 2.9 per cent lower than Its total equity stood of N2.00 per share. 6.25 The offer 500.00 Commission’s Rules and7.47 Reg8.75 May 21, 2019 B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC 21-May-14 8.75 21-May-19 at N1.459 billion, same the N259.7 million loss will run from December 10, 200.00 ulations, which requires10.17 that 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC 07-Aug-13 8.25 300.00 07-Aug-20 8.15 as it was on December before tax it reported in to January 16, 2015, the coma Mandatory Tender Offer 6.63 DEC 09, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P AFREN PLC III 09-Dec-13 6.63 360.00 09-Dec-20 10.71 pany24-Jun-14 said. be made to24-Jun-21 all other sharethe same period of 2013.

31, 2013, while its share 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC II 9.25 400.00 10.35 Lafarge InB-/Fitch; theB/S&P six months capital was N1.1 billion. holders of a23-Jul-21 public company 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 FIRST BANK LTD 23-Jul-14 Africa, one 8.00 of the 450.00 9.30 A-/GCR

*NASARAWA

T

FTN Cocoa records N404m loss

F

L

B-/S&P

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

19.97

95.23

16.03

100.01

2.76

16.65

94.81

1.00

14.33

87.48

1.00

14.33

94.34

Lafarge to buy out minority owners in Ashaka Cement

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

9.14

by any party that acquires 30 per cent or more of the 1.00 14.87 88.47 shares in that company,’’ a 1.00 88.87 notice from14.92 the company to the NSE stated.

On July 9, 2014, the company secured the approval of Offer Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price shareholders to consolidate itsPrices cement operations in Ni& Yields geria with Lafarge SA, South 5.43 105.74 African to emerge top106.79 cement manufactures not only in Ni4.49 101.11 102.07 geria, but also in the West Af5.79 102.97 103.92 rican sub-region.

Lafarge had recorded 37 per cent drop in profit after tax during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

In filings with Exchange, 8.38 103.30 103.30 the profit 4.77 company’s 103.75 103.75after tax 7.47went down 99.48 by 37 per 99.48 cent from billion in the Q3 9.26 N50.524 90.82 93.14 96.16 97.17 of6.832013 to N31.757 billion in 9.67review 102.00 the period of 102.00 2014.

7.47 95.50 Revenue95.50however, rose 95.00 to9.99N159.396 billion95.63from 8.15 99.75 99.75 N154.169 billion previously, 10.71 82.25 82.25 indicating a growth of 3 per 10.13 95.13 96.13 cent.

9.30 92.88 92.88 8.81

4,760.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

6.11

2.16

97.25

98.88

8-Dec-14

4,599.26

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not **Treasury Bills financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided FIXINGS Money Market constitute professional, “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or up to & date.

We do not Foreign Exchange (Spot Forwards) DTM Maturity Bid Discount (%) for a particular Offer Discount (%) of any of Bidthe Yield (%) Tenor (%) on the basis of the Information. guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness purpose Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any actionRate taken NIBOR FGN

17 24 31 Bonds 38 45 52 Rating/Agency 59 66 73 80 87 94 108 115 122 NA 129 136 143 150 157 241 269 360

25-Dec-14 1-Jan-15 8-Jan-15 15-Jan-15 22-Jan-15 29-Jan-15 Issuer 5-Feb-15 12-Feb-15 19-Feb-15 26-Feb-15 5-Mar-15 12-Mar-15 26-Mar-15 2-Apr-15 9-Apr-15 16-Apr-15 NA 23-Apr-15 30-Apr-15 7-May-15 14-May-15 6-Aug-15 3-Sep-15 3-Dec-15

15.60 17.80 17.00 15.45 14.35 14.80 Description 14.60 14.80 4.00 23-APR-2015 14.80 13.05 16-AUG-2016 14.85 15.10 27-APR-2017 13.85 9.85 27-JUL-2017 13.90 9.35 31-AUG-2017 13.45 13.85 10.70 30-MAY-2018 14.00 16.00 29-JUN-2019 12.85 7.00 23-OCT-2019 13.23 16.39 27-JAN-2022 12.51 14.20 14-MAR-2024 12.85 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.90 12.49 22-MAY-2029 13.40 8.50 20-NOV-2029 12.95 10.00 23-JUL-2030 13.50

15.35 17.55 16.75 15.20 14.10 14.55 Issue Date 14.35 14.55 23-Apr-10 14.55 16-Aug-13 14.60 27-Apr-12 13.60 27-Jul-07 13.65 31-Aug-07 13.20 13.60 30-May-08 13.75 29-Jun-12 12.60 23-Oct-09 12.98 27-Jan-12 12.26 14-Mar-14 12.60 28-Nov-08 12.65 22-May-09 13.15 20-Nov-09 12.70 23-Jul-10 13.25

12.1493 18-JUL-2034

15.71 18.01 17.25 15.70 14.61 15.12 Coupon (%) 14.95 15.21 4.00 15.25 13.05 15.35 15.10 14.32 9.85 14.42 9.35 14.01 14.48 10.70 14.69 16.00 13.46 7.00 13.92 16.39 13.15 14.20 13.57 15.00 13.66 12.49 14.70 8.50 14.32 10.00 15.57

Bonds

18-Jul-14

12.1493

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

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

(N'bn)

OBB

Rate (%) 44.1267 17.5674 17.0220 16.9735

O/N

Maturity Date

535.00 23-Apr-15 NITTY 16-Aug-16 573.89 452.80 27-Apr-17 Tenor Rate (%) 20.00 27-Jul-17 1M 13.5027 100.00 31-Aug-17 2M 14.4026 3M 14.6867 300.00 30-May-18 6M 14.7998 351.30 29-Jun-19 9M 14.8851 233.90 23-Oct-19 15.3406 12M 600.00 27-Jan-22 396.68 14-Mar-24 75.00 28-Nov-28 NIFEX 22-May-29 150.00 200.00Current Price ($/N) 20-Nov-29 591.57 23-Jul-30 BID($/N) 183.3000 18-Jul-34 OFFER150.00 ($/N) 183.4000

61.92

Tenor Call 1M 0.37 3M 1.69 6M

REPO

TTM (Yrs)

Rate (%) 50.67 17.26 14.37 17.05 13.97 17.62

Bid Yield (%)

Tenor

Spot 7D 14D Offer 1MYield 2M (%) 3M 13.94 6M 13.87 1Y

2.38 13.89 13.81 2.63 13.85 13.77 2.73 13.85 13.78 :Benchmarks 3.47 13.88 13.76 * :Amortising 4.56 Bond 13.94 13.85 µ :Convertible 4.87 Bond 13.92 13.81 AMCON: 7.14 Asset Management 13.89 Corporation of Nigeria 13.83 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 9.26 13.58 13.52 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 13.97 13.21 13.17 IFC: International Finance Corporation 14.45 13.19 13.14 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 13.17 Company13.11 NAHCO:14.95 Nigerian Aviation Handling 15.62 13.45 13.39 O/N: Overnight 19.61 13.15 Company 13.10 UPDC: UAC Property Development NOTE:

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

182.50 182.60 Price 182.38 182.28 182.57 182.71 183.24 183.69 Bid Price Offer Price 184.47 185.44 185.71 187.16 96.30 96.45 189.94 192.82 98.60 98.75 198.97 204.37

102.35 102.50 91.39 91.54 90.02 90.17 NA :Not91.44 Applicable 91.74 # :Floating Rate Bond 107.05 106.75 ***: Deferred 76.08coupon bonds 76.38 111.05 111.35 †: Bond rating expired 103.15 103.45 N/A :Not Available 111.26 111.56 {r} :Issuer in receivership 95.50 95.80 69.79 70.09 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 77.70Bank for Africa 78.00 UBA: United 93.00 93.30

WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company

4,730.13

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

59.67

4,532.61

#

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

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Agency Bonds 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 Total Outstanding Modified Duration Buckets0.00/16.50 PorfolioLCRM Market Value(Bn) ***LCRM II 20-APR-2017 Volume(Bn) 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 FMBN

Coupon (%)

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

<3

1,029.29

1,026.68

32.95

33.43

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3<5

1,450.49

1,347.98

43.26

47.11

>5

599.15

741.57

23.80

19.46

3,078.93

3,116.23

Sub-National Bonds

Market

100.00

Outstanding Value (N'bn) 24.56 INDEX

3.00 112.22 Bucket Weighting 116.70 66.49

322.97 0.33 314.93

100.00

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

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

0.46 1.20 2.00 Implied 2.37Yield 2.58

#

Risk Premium (%) 2.63 2.27 2.00 Implied 1.00 Portfolio Price 1.00

Valuation Yield (%)

16.66 16.97 15.88 INDEX 14.85 14.84

Indicative Price

92.86 100.42 100.16 YTD Return 97.53 (%) 94.61

14.04

13.93

117.7772

1,118.64

0.43

45.54

13.79

125.0450

1,058.83

5.8834

0.24

40.42

13.37

93.1294

1,088.85

8.8847

13.64

115.0556

1.00

100.00

1,098.68

11.8643

9.8681

A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.73

4.44

18.84

95.81

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.57

3.23

17.26

98.51

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

0.85

4.46

19.14

95.64

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

0.86

3.48

18.17

97.85

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.36

5.59

19.44

82.72

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.41

1.00

15.37

97.97

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.06

1.79

15.66

96.06

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.24

1.80

15.66

97.20

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

3.82

1.00

14.90

97.40

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

45

Features

Domestic violence: Women still bear the brunt Domestic violence does not know race, colour, tribe, religious, social and economic background, writes CAMILLUS NNAJI

Godwin Idoo beating his wife

A

s she lied on her hospital bed, Mrs Dupe Ikharia, was not too bothered about the excruciating pains in her body, but was longing to see her 14-month old son.

Both mother and child were victims of domestic violence.

Unknown to Dupe, her son, David, had died after the father allegedly stabbed him in the stomach. The innocent boy’s intestines gushed out. He gave up the ghost before assistance could reach him.

Dupe, according to report, was attacked by her husband, Corporal Lucky Ikharia, with a bus painted in commercial colours.

Ikharia reportedly ambushed his wife at Mushin bus stop in Lagos and crushed her legs.

“I only asked him if he was the one that took the N2,000 he gave me to keep. This got him angry to the extent of beating me, hitting my

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

head on the wall and threatening to kill me, our child and then himself.

“I did not know that by calling him on phone two days later, I was putting my life in danger, letting him know where I was. I told him I will go to Mushin.

“Immediately I came down at Mushin last bus stop, I was just walking on the culvert, a bus hit me and knocked me down, I was still on the ground and the bus came again and ran over my leg. While I was down, I looked at the bus and saw Lucky at the driver seat,” she had told our correspondent on her sick bed.

Unfortunately, Dupe died a few days later.

Dupe’s tragic case was not the first and would certainly not be the last.

Earlier, Mr Kolade Arowolo killed his 29-year-old wife, Titilayo, a banker with Skye Bank, Marina branch, Lagos.

Until he was sentenced to death by hanging, the convict had claimed that contrary to public opinion, the deceased stabbed herself to death.

The incident occurred at the couple’s No. 8 Akindehinde Street, Isolo in Lagos on Saturday, June 24, 2011.

According to Arowolo, he had been having a misunderstanding with the deceased over their marriage before that fateful day that she ended up killing herself, after stabbing him too.

Arowolo said the deceased was acting under the influence of de-

PHOTO: ONLINE

The late Dupe a few days before her death

mons that took over her body and turned her into another person entirely.

He said: “The woman was possessed that day and while we were quarrelling, she went into the kitchen and brought out a knife with which she overpowered me and then began to stab me all over my body and head.

“The next thing I saw, she started stabbing herself repeatedly with the knife while telling me that she was tired of the marriage and that since I did not want to let her go, she will kill me and then kill herself.

“We had been having issues since the day we got married so much so that I had contemplated divorcing her but because I am a spiritual person and because of our pastor, I decided to manage.

“I am now regretting that decision because I should have been bold enough to divorce her and then face the consequences instead of this mess I have found myself.”

Arowolo added that he never had plans to marry the deceased as he had a lady he was dating but got C O N T I N U E D on PA G E 4 6

46

FEATURES

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigeria and the challenge of gender-based violence

Idahosa

A fighting couple

PHOTO: ONLINE

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 5

lured into her web with the pregnancy she claimed he was responsible for.

According to him, he only agreed to marry her when the pressure from her family became too unbearable.

Advising young men not to allow family pressure to push them into unwanted relationships, he said they should be bold enough to stop any relationship that is not moving well before it culminates into marriage.

In Nigeria today, the record of domestic violence is alarming, while government institutions have not done anything meaningful in terms of punitive measures and public enlightenment.

Wife battering often results to untimely deaths or permanent disabilities. Sometimes, children are orphaned. This situation unfortunately puts Nigeria on top of the list of countries with highest cases of domestic violence in Africa.

The tragic phenomenon affects all categories of social groups and consists of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. However, the percentage of women who are victims of domestic violence compared to their male counterpart is 90 per cent to 10 per cent.

According to a study conducted by a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Haven Wolverhampton, with case study on Lagos and Oyo states, nearly 65 per cent of educated women said they had been beaten by a partner, boyfriend or husband, while 56 per cent of market women experienced similar violence.

Amnesty International describes Nigeria’s rate of domestic violence as shocking and calls on the Federal and state governments to do something to stem the rising violence against women.

Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Africa programme, Stephane Mikala, said: “On a daily basis, Nigerian women are beaten, raped and even murdered by members of their family for supposed transgressions, which can range from not having meals ready on time to visiting family members without their husbands' permission. Hus-

bands, partners and fathers are responsible for most of the violence.”

Domestic violence has been categorised mainly as a private family affair and a show of male authority predicated upon women’s submissiveness.

“Many believe that a woman is expected to endure whatever she meets in her matrimonial home and to provide sex and obedience to her husband, who has the right to violate and batter her if she fails to meet her marital duties.

“For some victims, domestic violence is seen as a sign of love. Domestic violence in Nigeria is often viewed as a necessary corrective tool for women, at best, a part and parcel of married life,” Amnesty International added.

Illiteracy and financial dependence on the menfolk have been identified as some of the factors responsible for this rising phenomenon, yet educated women are not exempted. In a study conducted by Global Express, 65 per cent of educated women have been beaten by their husbands.

A chronicle of domestic violence in recent times leaves an impression of festering brutality, barbarianism and evil which result to deaths and tragic closure of entire family.

In 2010, the story of a Nigerian pharmacist who killed his wife attracted both international and local attention.

The 52-year-old Olufemi Oladapo Ademoye ran out of his house at 8615 Villa Largo Drive in north Tampa at 9:50 a.m. and asked a neighbour to call 911. He said his wife, Juliet Ademoye, had a heart attack, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff ’s Office. But when deputies and rescue teams arrived, they found that the master bedroom and bathroom were covered in blood.

Deputies also determined that an aluminium baseball bat was covered with her blood. Juliet, 53, was pronounced dead by Hillsborough County Fire Rescue.

On July 24, 2008, a 50-year-old Nigerian, Michael Collins Iheme, shot and killed his 28-year-old estranged wife, Anthonia Iheme.

Iheme reportedly placed an emergency call to the police after alleged-

Domestic violence in Nigeria is often viewed as a necessary corrective tool for women, at best, a part and parcel of married life ly killing his wife. He was quoted as having told policemen on arrival at the scene of the murder that he had “killed the woman that messed my life up, a woman that destroyed me”.

Witnesses said Anthonia was shot as she left work at the Sholom Home West, an assisted-living centre, for whatever thing she had done to him.

An internet article in 2008 entitled: “Nigerian men are killing their wives in America now,” on a popular Nigerian blog, the Linda Ikeji blog, listed Nigerians, with pictures, for murdering their wives in America.

The names included Kelechi Charles Emeruwa, Theophilus Ojukwu, Johnny Omorogieva, John Onwuka and Iheme.

According to a US-based nurse and an entrepreneur in Nigeria, Mrs Grace Lemo, domestic violence is usually more pronounced with women as victims, the percentage of men victims is low.

She said: “I will say that women need to be empowered. Even in the western world, the crime is there but the law is totally against it.

“But in Africa, particularly Nigeria, culture permits men as chauvinists.

“Nigerian man will select the type of job he will do, only to sit behind the television at home all day doing nothing, at the same time he expects the wife who has been working for over 12 hours to come back home and prepare supper.

“If the woman manages this for about a year and could not take it again, it normally results to domestic crisis.”

According to Lemo, it is time Nigerian men accepted where they were unable to meet up.

She said: “Nigerian men are too proud to accept that a woman is the breadwinner of the family.

“Women do not need money to show love, may be one per cent. If a man loves and trusts his wife, she can do anything for him.”

But the General Overseer of Fellows in Christ Universal Ministry, Ikeja, Lagos, Pastor Phasy Otorubio,

said a good percentage of women were the cause of domestic violence.

However, according to the renowned marriage counsellor, this does not in any way justify the crime against women in families.

He said: “About 80 per cent is caused by women, her name is housewife. They (the women) have left their God-given roles in pursuit of career. If a woman does not know how to manage the husband, there will be reaction and that usually results to violence.

“Imagine you have a job and your wife has too, you tell her to do something and she refuses and leaves for work after arguing a whole day with you. When she is coming from work, she buys you a shirt and refuses to settle the matter you have discussed earlier. I think it is misplacement of priority because she should submit before showing love as the word of God teaches.”

Otorubio advised that families should return to God and follow His commandments and teachings.

The cleric said loss of family values was one of the factors responsible for domestic violence.

He said: “Schools as well have become bankrupt in moral and religious teachings. A society where a young man and a lady go for an interview and the preference is given to the lady. When the two get marry who will be empowered? The lady of course. And what do you think happens when women provide for the family? It is domestic violence.

“Thank God for the role of the church, we have seen many of these issues occur, we have seen hardened husbands and wives repent and give their lives to God in the church and live a happy family life.”

A Lagos-based human rights advocate and lawyer, Mr Bright Idahosa, said there was no justification for domestic violence while the lawmakers have not really taken issues of domestic violence against women seriously.

He said: “Nothing much has been done as regards this crime against women just as we have the Child Rights Act which Lagos State has promulgated as Child Rights law.

“Against women, you can only refer to the law as contained in the criminal code called ‘assault’. Assault can be in terms of occasioning bodily wounds or grievous bodily harm. I have has a case whereby a man used a hammer and hit a woman on the head.

“If domestic violence leads to death, the killer will be charged for murder as we have some cases in hand now.”

For Assistant Superintendent of Police based in Lagos, Raphael Irowainu, who prefers to speak as a husband, poverty, illiteracy, breakdown of family norms and values have promoted domestic violence.

He said: “We are living in a society where the majority of men are not able to provide for the family. When the woman is fed up, this may result to confrontations and subsequently physical expression. Do not forget that a frustrated man is always violent while expressing himself.”

Irowainu regretted that many husbands, even the elite, are constantly taking to drugs.

He added that under the influence of drug, a man could do a great harm.

According to him, such cases are reported on a daily basis.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY DECEMBER 9, 2014

News 47

SOUTH-EAST

Jubilation in Aba as Kalu’s sibbling joins Reps’ race

F

ollowing the emergence of the erstwhile Chief of Staff to Abia State Governor Theordore Orji and younger brother to former Governor Orji Kalu, Mascot, to contest as member, House of Representatives representing Aba North and Aba South federal constituency, wild jubilation erupted

in the Ariaria market at the weekend.

A coalition of traders’ groups in Aba had recently visited Kalu’s residence in Aba, ostensibly to woo him to go for the national legislature.

Speaking to our correspondent in Aba at the weekend, a close ally to the asspirant, Mazi Tony Elo, expressed joy over the decision of Kalu to

contest, stated that it was a clear indication that better days are here again.

He said: “I have been at the forefront of this project and we are glad we were able to convince our hope, Mascot Kalu. Aba, which is the commercial hub of the state, has lost its glory in the past seven years and honestly, we need a pragmatic change

in leadership. We want a young, vibrant and connected person to present the yearnings and aspirations of our people at the National Assembly. Our state is in a terrible condition at the moment and we would ensure we vote credible candidates in the forthcoming general elections”.

Kalu in a telephone conversation with our

correspondent stated that he decided to throw himself into the after several entreaties from concerned stakeholders in Abia, saying, “As you are aware, I have picked my expression of interest and nomination forms on the platform of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA).

I will bring my wealth of experience to bear in

ensuring a good representation for our people.

I am indeed glad about the moral, spiritual and financial support from our constituents so far.

Let me use this medium to call on stakeholders to play the game by the rule. Politics shouldn’t be seen as a do-or-die affair.’’

Kalu added that the PPA will clinch the governorship seat in 2015.

Anambra PDP primaries produce parallel winners Okegwo Kenechukwu

I

Former Governor of Abia State Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu (middle), speaking at the donation of drugs by the Orji Uzor Kalu Foundation to the people of Igbere…recently

A cross-section of the beneficiaries at the event.

ndications from various parts of Anambra State, have revealed that all the aspirants that contested the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Assembly primary election won in their various camps.

The election which was conducted in camps of the two parallel factions which held at various designated areas produced different winners.

New Telegraph correspondent in Onitsha reports that former member of the House of Representatives Lynda Ikpeazu, won in her camp, while, Hon. Emeka Idu also won in his camp. Idu, however, claimed he scored 68 votes to beat Ipkeazu, alleged to have scored 10 votes at the election claimed to have held at the new Bethel Primary School Onitsha.

In Anambra North Senatorial zone election, former Minister for State for Transport, Hon. John Emeka, won in his own camp, while Senator Margery Okadigbo also

emerged from her own camp. The Immediate past Minister of Aviation Princess Stella Oduah, was also declared the winner in another different camp.

In Anambra South Senatorial zone, Senator Andy Ubah scored 308 votes to beat Chief Chukwuma Nzeribe and Hon. Obinna Uzor who scored 24 and 23 votes each.

In the House of Representative Chief Mrs. Lolo Osude carpeted Hon. Eucheria Azodo representing Aguata Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives with 42 votes, while Hon. Azodo, and Nze Chidi Duru trails behind her with a total of 10 and 8 votes respectively.

Following this development there have been wide spread jubilation across the state over the parallel result of the election as claimed by each candidates.

Reacting to the claim Chief Jude Osude said the decision of who becomes the candidate of the party is an internal affair of the party and only the party can say who its candidate are.

OUK Foundation Obioma picks APC’s Abia Central senate ticket candidate of the party PDP who happens to be you, it will not happen, Orji partners medical experts Igbeaku for the district. at the helm of the failed because the people will Umuahia Speaking after the ex- Abia State. What the peo- defend their votes,” he non-profit organisa- Okoye, while briefing ercise, he said, he was ple would do is clear, that said.

A tion, the Orji Uzor stakeholders that included former member repprepared for the contest the people who are saying Continuing, he said, Kalu Foundation, has been newsmen and civil society Aresenting Ikwuano/ against the incumbent that the government did “The PDP candidate is applauded for initiating groups, described the ini- Umuahia, in the House selfless projects in alleviating the suffering of the downtrodden in the society.

The organization, had in November kicked off its quarterly free medical scheme across the 17 local government areas of Abia State.

The scheme, targeted at the vulnerable and the old, is aimed at reducing infant and maternal mortality through the provision of free medical checkups, anti-malaria drugs, long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets and maternal kits to rural communities.

Executive Secretary of the foundation, Mrs. Ngozi

tiative as a timely gesture meant to complement government efforts in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

She said: “As we approach the 2015 deadline set for the attainment of the MDGs, all hands must be on deck to ensure that the targets are attained to a large extent.

“On this note, our foundation has approved a quarterly free medical scheme as against our usual biannual scheme.

We are partnering with medical experts and volunteers to scale down medical services to the bottom of the pyramid.

of Representatives and an aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Abia Central Senatorial district, Hon Iheanacho Obioma, has emerged the consensus

governor, stating that his emergence would give the ruling party the test of its popularity in the state.

“I am going to contest against the candidate of

not perform mean they will not vote for the non performing governor What we hear from their quarters is that they are going to rig the election, but I assure

going to be a new student in the senate, if he wins and the senate is not for learners, all over the world senate is where people with experience dwell.”

Group plans two million-man match for Ugwuanyi Okegwo Kenechukwu ONITSHA

A

political pressure group in Enugu North Senatorial Zone, the Emelegenye Progressive Front said it is set to mobilize a two million man match in Nsukka Local government for the en-

dorsement of Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP, adopted candidate.

The solidarity match is also in honour of Engineer Ikechukwu Ugwuegede, who also hails from the Enugu North Senatorial Zone and also a PDP aspirant in Enugu State.

A chieftain of the PDP and former deputy state chairman of the PDP Hon Dan Sunday Ugwu stated this in an interview with Journalists in Awka, during a sensitization visit to the Nsukka patriotic front Awka branch.

He said the two million match was aimed at appreciating the gen-

erosity of governor Sullivan Chime’s political disposition and the PDP family in the state.

The match according to him will also serve as a platform to cement the return of peace in Enugu state PDP between Chime and the deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

News

48

Confusion trails APC senatorial primaries in Edo Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

C

onfusion yesterday trailed efforts by delegates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State to elect senatorial candidates of their choice ahead of the February 2015 elections.

The exercise was de-

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH - SOUTH

layed for several hours following alleged instruction by the state Governor, Adams Oshiomhole and some APC leaders to make last minute changes on the candidates to be elected by delegates in the three senatorial districts of the state.

It was gathered that forces within government circles and party leaders allegedly might have opt-

10,400

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

Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

ed for choice candidates, contrary to the particular candidates the delegates had earlier agreed on to cast their votes during the primaries.

The sudden change had caused hours of delay in the accreditation of delegates as the delegates and chairmen of the party at the various wards and local government council levels resorted

$52m

The total amount of salary/winnings of Cristiano Ronaldo (Soccer) for 2014.

Source: Forbes.com

to endless consultative meetings to reconcile the contentious issues.

Our reporter, who monitored the primaries in parts of Edo South, north and central districts, observed that accreditation of delegates started at about 3:15pm at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium venue for the exercise for delegates in the south senatorial district.

282

The number of pending asylum seekers of Rwanda at the beginning of 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

L-R: Chief Tom Uloko; Mr Wellington Okoh; Comrade Peter Esele and Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, at a memorial mass at the St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Iyamho, in honour of Oshiomhole’s late wife… at the weekend

Economic crisis: FG'll owe salary in February — El-Rufai l Says only APC presidency can reverse economic doldrums fast Johnchuks Onuanyim ABUJA

F

ormer Minister of Federal Capital Territory and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, yesterday stated that with the present way the Federal Government was going, she wouldn't be able to pay the workers' salary in February next year.

El- Rufai, who stated that the Federal Government was relying on the Excess Crude Account to cushion the effects of drop in oil price and devaluation of the naira stated that only APC-led presidency could bring Nigeria out of the economic doldrums fast.

Speaking at the APC media centre yesterday, El-Rufai posited that Nigerian economy today was worse than that of 1983 when General Muhammadu Buhari took over government.

He alleged that this was the worst economic situation Nigeria has witnessed in the last 30 years.

He attributed the present economic situation to corruption, stealing, wastage and incompetence in governance.

He said: "The last time Nigeria economic situation resembled what we are going through was

Nigeria to buy fighter jets from Russia

APC primaries: Rep member lays claim to ticket T Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

C

ontroversy has continued to follow the outcome of primaries of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC for the House of Representatives' seat in Ovia Federal Constituency. The incumbent lawmaker representing the area, Nosakhare Osahon, yesterday asked the electoral committee to declare him winner of the exer-

cise held on Sunday in the state.

Osahon, who is seeking re-election in the February 2015 National Assembly elections, stated this at a press conference held in Benin, the state capital.

He alleged that his opponent in the primaries, Mr. Charity Aimanyaenvho and his supporters went away with members of the electoral committee in the wake of the crisis that trailed the conduct of the exercise.

According to him, the call to declare him winner of the primaries had become necessary following disruption of the primaries during the counting of votes by his opponent, when it became clear that he led in the contest.

He also alleged that the disruption was part of a grand plot by his opponent to ensure he lost the party ticket.

“It is my humble demand that I be declared the winner of the party’s primaries without fur-

ther delay. The primary election, which was conducted on December 7, which the delegates voted in line with the party’s guideline was going on peacefully until my opponent, one Mr. Charity Aimayaenvbo, discovered I had won”.

The APC legislator disclosed that he was in possession of a recorded “DVD of the events of the primaries and all what I said are evident in the DVD for the world to see”.

I won Bayelsa West senatorial primary election —Lokpobiri Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

T

he confusion trailing last weekend's parliamentary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continued yesterday as the Chairman , Senate Committee on Water Re-

sources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri declared that he won the primary election of the Bayelsa West Senatorial district contrary to some reports in the media on the exercise.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, Lokpobiri said that he won the primary election since he partici-

pated in the race conducted with the list of "authentic delegates" accredited for the election. He urged his supporters to disregard media reports which indicated that he lost the primary election because such reports were not only misleading but were designed to rig him out of

the forthcoming. National Assembly elections.

Lokpobiri, who gave an insight into the intrigues that played out during the election, said he decided to act fast when he sensed that his opponents were plotting to scheme him out f the exercise by flouting the rules.

1983 when the Shagari government had to be overthrown and Gen. Buhari's government tried to impose austerity, discipline and all that. We are coming back to that almost.

"The Dollar exchanged for N199 this morning.

This is going to get worse.

The Federal Government has been taking money from the Excess Crude Account to augment the collapse of oil revenue.

As we speak today, there is only 2.2 billion dollars in the Excess Crude Account. They took a billion last month to augment Federation Account Allocation. They are planning to take a billion in December to pay salaries and another one billion in January just before the election so that they would manage to pay salaries in January.

"In February, those that work with Federal Government would not have their salaries. The month of election, there would be no salary if they continue the way they are going because they are relying not on the oil that they sale, because they don't sale a lot of oil, a lot of it is stolen and we know who is doing the stealing and the price has come down to 60 to 70 dollars per barrel; more than 10 dollars below the budgeted price of 78 dollars.

here are strong indications that Nigeria may have reached a deal with Russian authorities to buy fighter jets to prosecute the war against insurgents. That is in the light of the refusal of Western nations to sell the needed weapons.

"Nigeria has officially reached an arms deal with Russian authorities," a senior military officer told The Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media on the subject.

According to the officer, a high-level Nigerian delegation led by the air force chief and National Security Adviser travelled to Russia last week to negotiate the deal.

"Our team returned to Nigeria on Thursday after a four-day trip," he said.

"Russia has now agreed to supply us with arms," asserted the officer. "Henceforth, we are hopeful of getting arms

from Russia."

Nigeria is battling a five-year insurgency by the Boko Haram militant group in the country's northeastern region, where more than 13,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed and the local economy brought to its knees.

An emboldened Boko Haram recently stepped up its deadly attacks and seized several areas across Adamawa, Borno and Yobe – the three states worst hit by the insurgency – declaring them part of a self-styled "Islamic caliphate."

There have been complaints that Nigerian troops are using "obsolete" arms while insurgents employ sophisticated weapons.

The Nigerian military is reportedly seeking fighter jets and modern arms to tilt the balance in its favor.

"Basically, what we are buying from Russia are fighter jets," said the army officer.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

News 49

NORTH

ACF frowns on Chad’s alleged role in insurgency CONCERN

Sincerity of Nigeria's neighbours comes to question in the fight against terrorism Ibraheem Musa KADUNA

T

he Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has questioned the sincerity of countries that share borders with Nigeria over their perceived roles in the fuelling of the insur-

gency in the country.

In a statement issued by the forum’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Muhammadu Ibrahim, ACF was reacting to the recent detention of a Russian cargo aircraft, which allegedly contained arms and a combat helicopter at Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano by the Nigerian military authorities.

Expressing its concern, ACF noted that there have been widespread allegations ‘’ of influx of arms and ammunitions into Nigeria, through our bor-

ders with Chad and other neighbouring countries, which have been a source of serious concern to Nigerians.’’

According to the statement, ‘’the Boko Haram insurgency which flourishes along some of the border towns with Tchad Republic, alleged illegal arms influx through the Tchad borders, Tchad's role in the aborted cease fire agreement between Nigeria and Boko Haram insurgents and now the Russian aircraft containing arms allegedly meant for French peacemaking

mission in Tchad calls to question the sincerity of good neighbourliness.’’

To make matters worse, ‘’Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff former Governor of Borno state whom Dr. Stephen Davis, an Australian hostage negotiator accused of being a Boko Haram sponsor was reported to have been sighted at Aminu Kano international Airport on Saturday while the aircraft was under detention,’’ ACF said.

The forum called on ‘’the Federal Government to thoroughly investigate

the detained Russian aircraft, it's contents, why it landed in Kano Airport, it's likely connection with the current terrorism ravaging the North and the alleged presence of Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff at the Airport. ‘’ According to the statement, Nigerians demand an urgent explanation in order to reinforce their confidence in the government and to also disabuse their minds on the wild rumors being peddled around of the government complicity in the insurgency.

Wamakko emerges Sokoto Central APC candidate Umar Danladi Ado SOKOTO

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okoto State Governor, Aliyu Wamakko, has emerged as the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for the Sokoto Central Senatorial District. He won the ticket as a sole candidate.

Other APC candidates, that emerged in the party’s primary election for the federal legislature are; Ibrahim Abdullahi Danbaba Damboa (Sokoto West) and Engineer Ibrahim Gobir (Sokoto East) senatorial districts respectively.

Out of a total of 2,372 votes expected, 2,432 delegates voted to ratify Wamakko's candidature 60 delegates were absent at the exercise.

Wamakko, if elected in 2015 would represent eight local government areas of Kware, Binji, Tangaza, Silame, Sokoto North, Sokoto South, Wamakko and Gudu.

Announcing the results, Chairman of the electoral Panel for the Sokoto Central district, Alhaji Nasiru Danladi Bako said Wamakko having returned unopposed and scored the highest votes was declared the winner of the primaries.

Commanding Officer, 115 Force Battalion that recaptured Mubi, Lt.-Col Danjuma Abdullahi (middle), addressing his men at their base in Mubi …yesterday

PDP has failed Nigerians, says Borno deputy governor Ahmed Miringa MAIDUGURI

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orno State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Zannah Umar Mustapha, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has failed Nigerians in their expectations to see an end to the lingering insurgency in the North eastern and other parts of the country.

Court sacks Kogi Council Chairmen Muhammad Bashir LOKOJA

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Kogi State High Court sitting in Koton Karfe, yesterday nullified the May 4, 2013 local government elections, following what it described as improper composition of the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC), which it declared null and void.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), had earlier dragged the state government, KOSIEC before the High Court Contesting the composition of KOSIEC and subsequent conduct of the election in the state by the former Chairman who was alleged to be a card carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party. The Claimant had sought four declarations and five orders

The Deputy Governor stated this during the presentation of car keys to 70 beneficiaries of the vehicles procured by the Northern Borno Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Party (APC) held at the Government House Maiduguri.

He said, ‘’Any northerner that voted for PDP is not in his right senses, as PDP government has failed in its responsibility of bringing to an end the

lingering Boko Haram crisis in the North-east and the north in general” Zannah Mustapha expressed the position that the APC would form the Federal Government and government in Borno as well as at all elective positions in the state.

He commended the Senatorial candidate Hon. Abubakar Kyari, for providing the vehicles to the party members, stressing that Kyari was

Maje, Kwande, others pick Plateau APC Reps tickets Buhari Bello JOS

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ouse of Representatives members, Idris Maje and Suleiman Yahaya Kwande representing Wase and Bassa / Jos North Federal Constituency have won the All Progressives Congress (APC), tickets for their reelection into the Federal House, during the party primaries held on Sunday, all over Plateau State.

While Maje, was re-

turned unopposed in his Ease Federal Constituency, Hon. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande, won after defeating former Minister of Information, Hon. Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande and two others to clinch the APC ticket.

Kwande, who is an incumbent member defeated his opponents having scored 402 votes, against Nakande's 352, the results also reflected 58 votes, for Yusuf Umar Dauda and 17 for Hassan Isa Maimadara.

a trust worthy candidate that can represent the zone well if elected.

Earlier the women leader of APC in Borno, Hajiya Fati Kakinna, who was also a senatorial aspirant of the APC in the zone said they all decided to step down for Kyari because he was the best candidate for the job, adding that they have all resolved to work for the victory of Abubakar Kyari and the APC in the state.

Bent, others want Adamawa PDP primaries cancelled Tunde Oyesina

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enator Grace Bent and 10 others aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in the race for the Senate and House of Representatives primary election in Adamawa State, yesterday, called for the cancellation of the primaries conducted by the party in the state.

They described the primaries as process dogged by irregularities on ground that its conduct breached the party's constitution and guidelines for primary elections.

The aspirants who sent a petition through the State Executive Council to the National Working Committee (NWC), of the party called for a reversal of outcome which they described illegal and unconstitutional.

The petition signed by all the aspirants vying for the Senate including - Senator Grace Bent, Honorable Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed, Mr. Elisha Ishiaku and Mrs. Patricia Bonds. House of Representatives aspirants who signed the petition are Cmdr. Usman Sali Bodes (rtd), Tijani K. Kwaghe, Dr. Mustapha Saidu, Umar Maina, Mohammed Bassu, Ahmed Nwan and Abdul Rahman.

The petition reads in part, "We humbly lay our complaints on the illegal conduct of Senate/House of Representatives for Adamawa Senatorial districts and House of Representatives constituencies held to elect the flag bearers of our great party for the forthcoming 2015 General elections. The conduct of the election showed that the constitution of our great party and guidelines for the conduct of elections have been subverted in the most despicable manner for the first time since 1998 when our great party was established".

Saraki wins APC Senate ticket Biodun Oyeleye ILORIN

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ormer Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday emerged winner of the senatorial primaries for the Kwara Central constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, with a total of 1540 votes cast by delegates. The delegate election was held on the field of the Kwara Hotel

with Saraki as the sole contestant.

Saraki, who is aiming to return to the upper chamber for a second term if he wins the 2015 general elections, said his post-election interaction with the media that President Goodluck Jonathan should open up on the true state of the national economy, saying the President has so far been less than truthful on issues bothering on the health of the economy.

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WORLD | News

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Agbakoba introduces policy dialogue series

British millionaire, Dewani cleared of honeymoon murder

Dele Alao

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he need to address issues that impact on Nigeria’s polity, legal systems, regulatory and institutional framework, has been identified as the reason for the introduction of Policy Dialogue Series, a platform from the stable of Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL).

Addressing newsmen in Lagos yesterday, Senior Partner, Olisa Agbakoba Legal, Olisa Agbakoba, noted that the changing face of Nigerian economy required different approach in policy formula-

tion, review and service delivery.

“Economists and development law experts now understand and advocate that law plays an important role in economic reforms and development, because certain legal and institutional frameworks are particularly conducive and enable economic growth,” he said.

“In keeping with the new trends and best practices, our firm formally presents her Policy Dialogue Series. As development lawyers, we see the need to address issues that impact on Nigeria’s polity, legal systems, reg-

ulatory and institutional framework.”

Agbakoba, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said the policy dialogue series would be in varied forms such as summits, workshops, seminars, among others and each would be specially designed to bring together business operators, regulators, entrepreneurs, lawyers, heads of governments to engage in meaningful discussions on how to maximize Nigeria’s economic assets towards growth and development, among other related issues.

Abduction: Wabara, police know fate March 28 Akeem Nafiu

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ustice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, will on March 28 next year, rule on a suit initiated by an Associate Editor of The Sun newspapers, Ebere Wabara, and his colleague, Chuks Onuoha, over alleged breach of their fundamental rights by the police.

The judge fixed the date after parties in the suit adopted their written addresses.

While adopting his written address, the applicants’ lawyer, Chukuyem Atewe, asked the court to grant all the reliefs sought by his clients in the interest of justice.

He also urged the court

to dismiss a preliminary objection filed by the respondents, challenging the court’s jurisdictional powers to determine the matter.

Dissatisfied, the Attorney-General (AG) of Abia State, Umeh Kalu, while adopting his written address, told the court that the issue of jurisdiction was very crucial in order for the court to determine whether it could entertain the suit. He then prayed the court to dismiss the suit for lack of jurisdiction.

However, after listening to the submissions of both parties, Justice Abang said he would look at both the suit and the preliminary objection filed by the respondents

before arriving at a decision.

The judge held that if he finds the respondents’ preliminary objection worthy, the suit would be dismissed, but if otherwise, he would go ahead to deliver his judgement.

Joined as respondents in the suit filed by the duo over their abduction by the police from Lagos to Abia State are the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba; Abia State Chief Magistrate, John Ukpai and the Attorney-General (AG) of Abia State, Umeh Kalu.

It will be recalled that Wabara was abducted from his Surulere, Lagos home on March 28, 2014 by men of the Abia State police command.

Money laundering charge: Fani-Kayode seeks more time to defend self Akeem Nafiu

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former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, has asked Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of a Federal High Court in Lagos to give him more time to prepare his defence on the money laundering charge slammed on him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commis-

sion (EFCC).

When the case was called yesterday, EFCC’s lawyer, Festus Keyamo, reminded the court that the business of the day was for the accused to enter his defence on two of the 40-count charge preferred against him by the commission.

However, in his response, defence lawyer, Wale Akoni (SAN), told the court that although

the matter was for the defence to open its case, he would require more time to put his house in order.

He then prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him put his house in order.

In the absence of any opposition from the prosecution lawyer, Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia adjourned the suit to February 23 and 24, 2015 for continuation of trial.

UPP holds national convention December 11 Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

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he United Progressives Party (UPP) has announced December 11 for its first national convention and presidential primary, which would hold in the commercial city of Aba, Abia State.

In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the Chairman, National

Convention Planning Committee, Chief Ogbuehi Dike, the party’s presidential candidate would be unveiled at the convention.

The presidential candidate, the statement said, would point the way forward for a glorious, prosperous and greater Nigeria that every Nigerian can be proud of.

The statement added that the UPP flag would

also be handed over to the various candidates that will emerge during the congresses and primaries with a mandate to win the presidential, governorship and legislative seats across the country.

It said UPP candidates are on a rescue mission to save the nation's frail democracy, ensure good governance and restore the dignity of the long suffering Nigerians.

illionaire British businessman Shrien D e w a n i walked free yesterday after a South African judge cleared him of murdering his Swedish bride after a sensational trial where his sexuality played a key role.

The shock judgement in what became known as the "honeymoon murder" case left Dewani's mother weeping with relief in court while his late wife's family wept bitter tears.

Prosecutors said Dewani hired hitmen to kill 28-year-old Anni in a staged hijacking in Cape Town during their honey-

moon in November 2010, because he is gay and felt trapped into marriage by family pressures. Dewani said he was bisexual and loved Anni.

Both families are of Indian origin and had sat across the courtroom from each other since the trial began in October with graphic video of Anni's body in a short black evening dress sprawled across the seat of a taxi.

She had been killed with a single shot, execution style, prosecutors said, after the hijackers allowed Dewani out of the vehicle and drove off with her.

Judge Jeannette Traverso said the state's evi-

dence had "fallen far below" the level needed to secure a conviction and it would be unjust to force Dewani to testify in his own defence in the hope that he would incriminate himself. The judge conceded there were "a number of unanswered questions" about the murder and acknowledged "strong public opinion" that Dewani should take the stand. Traverso also noted a plea by the murdered woman's family that Dewani should not be allowed to walk free without testifying, but said her ruling was based on law and could not be influenced by emotion.

Anish and Vinod Hindocha, brother and father of murdered tourist, Anni Dewani face the waiting media, after Dewani's husband Shrien Dewani was acquitted of her murder yesterday

US unaware of South African hostage talks

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he United States did not know about talks on the reportedly imminent release of a South African hostage who died in a U S raid on al-Qaida militants in Yemen, the US ambassador in South Africa said yesterday.

Ambassador Patrick Gaspard said American officials were "unaware of ongoing negotiations that had any resolution"

between the militants and Gift of the Givers, a South African humanitarian relief group that had been acting on behalf of the family of South African hostage Pierre Korkie. Gaspard also said it was "not altogether clear" to him that the South African government was even aware of the talks. Korkie and American hostage Luke Somers were killed Sat-

urday during a U S-led rescue attempt.

Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers, has said that Korkie was supposed to be released Sunday under a deal struck with alQaida. Gaspard said the U.S. hadn't been informed about that. The U S decided to carry out the raid because the militants had threatened to kill Somers, Gaspard said.

Church of England warns against hunger

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he Church of England launched a parliamentary report yesterday urging Britain's government to do more to eliminate hunger, pointing to a sharp rise in the number of people turning to food banks.

The report, which was compiled jointly with a group of MPs, called for measures to ensure surplus food reaches those who need it most rather than go to waste.

"We believe it is indefensible that huge numbers of people are going hungry in a country which wastes such vast quantities of food," the report said.

It also called for an increase in the minimum wage and a more efficient system for state welfare payments. It said that the government should apply for European Union funding for the food bank network. The Trussell Trust, one of the main charities running food

banks in Britain, said the number of people using its centres has risen from 128,697 in 2011/12 to 346,992 in 2012/2013 and 913,138 in 2013/14. Britain's population was 63.2 million in the 2011 census.

The trust runs 420 food banks and the report said that around 400 more were operated by other charities. The report said it was "clear that demand for emergency food assistance is increasing, and sometimes increasing dramatically".

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

International Sport

Sports News

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Basketball

General Elections may affect league kick-off date

Arsenal gun for top spot

Hard work, secret to Raptors’ steady rise – Ujiri

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Sport

Did you know?

That Jim Frayne became the first test-tube footballer when coming on as a 17-year-old substitute for Halifax Town in 1997.

My fears for Nigeria – Oliseh We have got technical and administrative problems - it is too much for one nation…At the moment it is bleak. We need to face up to the job and get organised

Adekunle Salami

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Nigeria’s Aaron Samuel

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Deputy Editor, Sports

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Editor, Sports

Ifeanyi Ibeh Sports Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan Sports Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sports Correspondent

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

former skipper of the Super Eagles, Sunday Oliseh, has expressed fears over the declining fortunes of Nigerian football and the future of the game in the country.

Oliseh told the BBC Sport that the glory days of the country’s national team would not be racaptured unless the Nigeria Football Federation put its house in order.

The former international was particularly irked that the Super Eagles failed to pick a ticket to the 2015 African Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea.

Oliseh said: “We have got technical and administrative problems - it is too much for one nation, even if you are Nigeria. At the moment it is

bleak. We need to face up to the job and get organised.”

Oliseh knows what it takes to achieve success, having been part of the Nigerian squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994 and the Olympic football gold medal in 1996.

He also played at the World Cup in 1994 and 1998, helping the Super Eagles to the last-16 at both tournaments, and in the latter he scored a memorable winner as Nigeria shocked Spain 3-2 in a group match in France.

Those teams were filled with players referred to as the “golden generation” of Nigerian footballers; among them were Jay-Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu and Finidi George.

But Oliseh cannot see where the next generation is going to come from.

He said: “During the 1990s a lot of the players were products of the Nigerian league. Those who were playing in Europe had only left two or three years before. Myself, I had moved to Europe only four years

ATTF chief hails incredible Quadri Ajibade Olusesan

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chieftain of Africa Table Tennis Federation, Banji Oladapo, has showered praises on the continent’s number one player, Aruna Quadri, saying the ping pong player deserved his nomination for the world player of the year award.

Quadri is one of four players announced by the International Table Tennis Federation for the top award last week. The Nigerian was also nominated

in the ‘point of the year’ category.

And Oladapo who is the former secretary of the Nigeria Olympic Committee said that Quadri had been phenomenal and his achievement in 2014 was an inspiration not only to Nigerian players but to athletes in Africa.

He said it was unbelievable for a player to move so rapidly on the world ranking the way Quadri had done, adding that the player’s success was down to sheer hard work and focus.

“I am pleased to

see one of our players nominated for the ITTF star award. Quadri really deserves it. He has shown that hard work and focus pay with all he has achieved this year. He is now a source of inspiration to players around Africa and we are happy about that.

“I want to urge him not to relent. He must keep working hard; he must keep his focus and aim higher. Who says he cannot be the best in the world, he’s got the potential and I will be happy to see him up there,” Oladapo said.

Quadri

Oliseh

before the 1994 World Cup. “It was not as if it was Europe that made us - the Nigerian league produced us; it was so competitive then, it was viable and credible. The national team does not create players - you select your best players from your clubs to play in the national team.

“But now our attention is more focused on the national team and we have neglected the domestic league, that is the major problem in Nigerian football. If we cannot get the league in order we will never have another golden generation.”

The former Ajax and Juventus midfielder, who played 63 times for the Eagles, is also concerned about the leadership problem in Nigeria.

Nigeria’s Football Federation is in disarray because of in-fighting over the presidency - ongoing battles that have led FIFA to ban Nigeria for governmental interference in footCONTINUED ON PAGE 52

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

General Election may affect league kick-off date l LMC considers two options, pays clubs

ticipated in the 2013/14 Glo Premier League season have been paid the Financial Merit Award and their television coverage incentives.

Abubakar confirmed that remittance of the N75m set aside for the season’s Merit Award to the clubs had been completed since last week.

The LMC had increased by 50 percent the Glo Premier League annual Merit Distribution Award. It raised the total amount to be shared by the 20 clubs from N50m in the 2012/13 season to N75m in the last season.

“Payment to the clubs was approved by the LMC Management last week and we have made the remittance to the clubs’

Adekunle Salami

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he forthcoming General Elections scheduled to hold in February nationwide may affect the kick-off date of the 2014/2015 league season, this is authoritative.

Chief Operating Officer of the League Management Company, Salihu Abubakar, told New Telegraph that the body was looking at two possible options regarding the kick-off date.

“We are looking at two options. We either start in January or March. The LMC has all it takes to start in January but because of the elections, we have written the clubs to make input on when they prefer to start. It is either before or after the elections.

“The reason for this is because many of these teams are owned by the states and they might not be ready in terms of funding but if the clubs say they are ready we start in January and take two weeks break for the elections in February.”

Meanwhile, All the 20 clubs that par-

bank accounts based on their standing on the league table with Kano Pillars earning the highest amount of N15m while the lowest earning of N1.5m was by Nembe City,” He said The merit award represents cash earnings shared to the 20 clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League sponsored by Globacom Limited relative to their placing on the final league table ratified by the league body. LMC Chairman, Nduka Irabor, had weeks ago announced the new award value which meant clubs earned 50 percent higher than what was hitherto paid for particular positions on the table.

NTTF President’s Cup gets new date Ajibade Olusesan

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igeria Table Tennis Federation has moved the maiden President’s Cup to December 17 and 18 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, due to political activities in the state.

The tournament was billed to hold between December 10 and 11 but the federation said in a press statement released on Monday that the change in date was due to the fact that the venue would be used for political event this week.

NTTF said the tournament was aimed at inspiring the players as well as putting them in good shape for the major competitions in 2015. The players listed for the N1.8m prize money tournament are expected to arrive for the competition on December 16.

“Top 16 players within and outside the country will be invited for the tournament holding at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium and the event will also be used to honour outstanding players and officials this year. The 16-men singles and the 16-women singles players shall be drawn into four groups of four players in each group,” the statement read.

Crown’s Egbune Harrison in action in a league match

uper Falcons Coach, Edwin Okon, has stated categorically that the “group of death” his side is drawn in will bring out the best in his players.

Falcons are drawn against former world champions, USA and top women’s football nations, Sweden and Australia in group D with Winnipeg as host city.

An upbeat Okon said he was not afraid of the big names in the group.

“We are not afraid of any team as no group is simple.

Every group is tough. Having USA in our group does not put fear in us, instead it will give us the extra determination to train and prepare better.”

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yprian Onyekachi may have scored the match winner for UBA to end Skye Bank’s four year’s dominance of the football event of the Nigeria Bankers Games (NBG) but the tournament hero for Africa’s famed largest bank was goalkeeper Shola Thomas. A late second half goal decided the match in favour of UBA who reclaimed the trophy they lost in 2011 to Skye Bank.

The final day of the NBG which had only the football event began with a novelty match between NBG Hall of Fame members and online shopping giant, Jumia. And the Bankers Games All Stars proved their mettle, winning by a lone goal.

A disciplined backline stuck to UBA’s game plan of containing Skye Bank’s famed attacking quartet of Ismaila Sani, Seun Mohammed, Shola Akintayo and Mustafa Abdulraheed, keeping them quiet for most of the first half.

Apparently buoyed by the presence of their Chairman, Tony Elumelu, the UBA squad showed early intent as they pushed to reclaim the title they lost to Skye Bank in 2011 and almost won back in 2013. Though a colourless first half went the way of the new champions when Martins Udeaja’s free kick cannoned of the cross bar with Rasheed Oshun beaten. And that was sufficient warning to the former champions that their hold on the trophy was at risk.

Then came Onyekach’s free kick goal few minutes from the end of the encounter ensured the drama unfolded to a pulsating finish. As was the case last year when Skye Bank got a late equalizer, a penalty late in the game gave them a huge opportunity to level scores and drag the match to extra time. But, Goalkeeper Thomas had other ideas and stood firm to deny Skye a repeat of last year’s late comeback.

It was UBA’s fifth football title and brought them at par with Skye Bank. Thomas was rightly voted Best Goalkeeper while another UBA player, Emeka Okolie was voted Best Defender. Other award winners were Bamidele Odunuga of ECOBANK as Best Midfielder, and Seun Mohammed of Skye Bank, who won the highest goal scorers and Most Valuable Player awards.

Olukoya charges MFM to win trophy for Nigeria ‘My fears

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igeria’s representatives at the maiden edition of the Church World Cup holding in India, the Mountain of Fire & Miracles Ministries Football Club, has been urged to win the trophy for Nigeria.

The MFM started its campaign on a winning note with a 3-0 win over their Colombian counterparts in a game played on Sunday in Bangalore.

The team also defeated Egypt 2-0 on Monday to qualify for the semis.

General Overseer of MFM worldwide, Dr. Daniel Olukoya, commended the players and

charged them to make history by becoming the first church to win the Church World Cup. Olukoya said: “This is wonderful. This is just the beginning, the boys must work harder to win the cup not only for MFM but for Nigeria as a country.

“They should realise that MFM is flying Nigeria’s flag in India because they’re the best football playing church in Nigeria. They’ve done it in Nigeria and now face a bigger challenge of proving to the world that we are the best by winning the maiden edition of the Church World Cup.” In the match against Colom-

Tough group will bring out best in Falcons –Okon

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UBA dethrones Skye Bank to win Bankers’ Games

“Going into the World Cup as African champions they too are afraid of us. We have set a target for ourselves which is going farther than we have ever done in the World Cup. This is achievable but we cannot afford to be scared of any team” said Okon.

Okon said further that his team did not need too much information about their opponents but to just focus on preparing well for the tournament.

“We don’t need to know everything about our opponents; all we need to do is to prepare very well and then come out to play. We are not nervous about any team, every team is good,

we just have to prepare very well” “We are hoping to top our group, that is our target. With God on our side and with good preparation, we hope to top the group and go all the way” This is the first time that the World Cup would have 24 countries in attendance. The event runs from June 6 to July 5, 2015. Falcons will start their World Cup campaign against Sweden on June 8.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian delegation has been involved in workshops and seminars before leaving for Winnipeg for venue inspection. The delegation returns to Nigeria this week.

bia, goals from strikers Isah Akor, Sikiru Olatunbosun and Adekunle Adegboyega were enough for MFM FC to pick all the three points.

The Church World Cup that involves churches from across the world is the brain child of The Pope John Paul Foundation and the event has eight countries participating.

They are host India, Brazil, Portugal and Ghana in Group A while Nigeria is in Group B alongside Egypt, Colombia and Uzbekistan. The best two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinal.

for Nigeria’

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ball matters.

And there has been instability in management, with coach Stephen Keshi removed from his position only to be re-appointed following intervention by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Keshi led Nigeria to the Nations Cup title in 2013 in South Africa and he also steered the team to the last16 at this summer’s World the team’s fall since then has been rapid. And Oliseh believes there needs to be consistency as well as clear boundaries over roles.

“To fix it, we have to get our house in order,” he said. And the solution to this is not too far-fetched.

For example, if we have a Football Federation president who is doing well, let’s leave him in the job.

“It is great that Nigerians are passionate about football, that they have opinions like a coach.

But in reality, everybody thinks they know football - not because they play football but because they know football. It doesn’t work like that.

“We need to let people who are technicians do the Oshoala contesting with a Camerounian opponent at the AWC technical work.”

INTERNATIONAL SPORT 53

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

Arsenal gun for top spot

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rsenal take on Galatasaray in the Champions League on Tuesday knowing top spot in Group D remains up for grabs.

Arsene Wenger’s men sealed their progress to the last-16 with a 2-0 win over leaders Borussia Dortmund last time out at the Emirates Stadium.

That victory ensured Arsenal would join the Bundesliga side in the knockout stage, but there is plenty to play for in Istanbul as Wenger’s side look to avoid a potentially awkward

last-16 tie.

Arsenal will top the group with a win if Dortmund lose to Anderlecht but if the Bundesliga side draw, then Wenger’s men will need to win by a big enough margin to overtake Jurgen Klopp’s men on goal difference.

The London club’s victory against Dortmund was the first in a three-match winning run, all of which included clean sheets, but that sequence ended at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

Arsenal found themselves 3-0 down by half-time against Stoke City, with Wenger labelling his defence as “soft” after they were eventually beaten 3-2.

Juve must beat Atletico to top spot –Allegri

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assimiliano Allegri has insisted it’s vital for Juventus to beat Atletico Madrid and finish top of their Champions League section in order to have a better chance of going far in the competition.

The Serie A champions currently sit second in Group A with nine points from five games, trailing leaders Atletico by three points, but a win by two goals would seem them leapfrog the Spanish side.

“Our aim is to get through as group winners. It would enable us to face a second-placed team in the next round,” Allegri said at a press conference.

“It’s crucial for us to get to the last 16. We need to put in a strong display from a technical standpoint.

“Juve and Atletico are both excellent teams. Atleti won La Liga and were a whisker away from lifting the Champions League.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES Juventus v Atletico

8.45pm

Olympiakos v Malmo

8.45pm

Liverpool v Basel

8.45pm

Real Madrid v Ludogorets 8.45pm Benfica v Leverkusen

8.45pm

Monaco v Zenit

8.45pm

Dortmund v Anderlecht 8.45pm Galatasaray v Arsenal

8.45pm

Wenger will rest the in-form Alexis Sanchez for the clash with a Gala side buoyed by the arrival of Hamza Hamzaoglu as coach.

The former Barcelona man has adapted seamlessly to life in English football but Wenger insists it is vital that the Chile forward is given a break.

“At the moment he looks like at some stage I have to give him a breather,” Wenger said in midweek.

“I did it with many players before who were... playing every game. I did it with [Thierry] Henry, with [Robin] van Persie and it always helped them to get through without Santi Cazorla being injured.

Cricketer Hughes’ state memorial cancelled

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state memorial service for cricketer Phillip Hughes has been cancelled.

Australia batsman Hughes, 25, died in hospital two days after being struck by a ball in a domestic game last month.

New South Wales Premier Mike Baird said the decision followed consultation with Cricket Australia and Hughes’s family.

He added: “All parties felt that given the enormous outpouring of support at last Wednesday’s funeral, a state memorial service would no longer need to be held.”

About 5,000 people attended the service in Hughes’s hometown of Macksville, New South Wales, with

Basketball Flakes

mourners including Australia’s Test team, coach Darren Lehmann and cricket legends Shane Warne and Brian Lara.

“Last Wednesday’s funeral in Macksville was a wonderful service and a fitting tribute to Phillip’s life,” said Baird.

“It was a community

event attended by thousands of people, watched live by millions of Australians and observed at a number of grounds around the country, including the Sydney Cricket Ground.”

Former Hampshire, Middlesex and Worcestershire batsman Hughes was representing South Australia against New South Wales in a domestic Sheffield Shield match when he was hit by a Sean Abbott bouncer.

Hughes had been wearing a helmet but the ball struck him at the top of the neck, causing the injury.

Australia’s Test series against India was due to begin in Brisbane on December 4, but that was rearranged due to the proximity to Hughes’s funeral.

The rescheduled first test begins on Tuesday in Adelaide.

Hughes

with Ifeanyi Ibeh 08054175662

Hard work, secret to Raptors’ steady rise – Ujiri

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Ujiri

oronto Raptors’ President and General Manager, Basketball Operations, Masai Ujiri, has attributed his team’s impressive start to the 2014/2015 NBA season to hard work on the part of the players, the coaching crew, and everyone associated with the franchise.

The Raptors, one of the NBA’s youngest teams, having joined the world’s elite basketball league in 1995, currently lead the Eastern Conference on the back of an impressive run that has seen them win 15 of their opening 20 games, including seven of their last 10.

With former Dallas Mavericks coach, Dwane Casey, who led the Mavs to the NBA championship in 2011, at the helm of affairs, the Raptors have only lost twice on the road this season, and are on course to making a return to the post-season playoffs for a second straight year.

And Ujiri, in an interview with New Telegraph on Monday in Lagos, at the annual Top 50 Basket-

ball Camp organised by Giants of Africa, credited his young team’s recent success to the effort of the players and coaching staff.

“Whenever you go to a team you try to do your best and I think we have some good, young players that are playing hard and, in my opinion, a great coach that’s really coaching the team hard,” said the former Denver Nugget General Manager and 2013 NBA

Executive of the Year. “Hopefully, we can continue to sustain the momentum.”

The Toronto Raptors are the only Canadian-based team in the NBA and, since their debut season 19 years ago, have made the playoffs six times, moving past the first round just once, in 2001, when they were eliminated in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

The Raptors have also won the Atlantic Division title twice – in

2007 and 2014 – and are yet to lose to any of their division rivals this season.

“There is not much of a secret other than hard work,” continued Ujiri. “We all work hard and want to be the best.”

He added: “We all want to someday win a championship and be a great team. That is the only thing that inspires us and our coaches are doing a great job.”

Dodan Warriors coach targets top-two finish

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ead Coach of the Dodan Warriors, Chris Nomigo, has set his sights on securing a top-two finish in next season’s DSTV Premier Basketball League which will be his second season at the helm of affairs.

The Lagos-based club ended this past season’s league campaign in third place despite losing a number of their star players from the previous campaign to some of the league’s more established sides, most notably Abuja-based Mark Mentors.

Last season was Nomigo’s debut season as a Head Coach in the DSTV League, and a third-place finish was worthy reward for all the effort put into the team by its management,

led by Colonel Sam Ahmedu (retired), and other members of the team’s coaching staff.

And as he gets set to commence preparations ahead of next season’s campaign, the former guard is hoping to take his side at least one step further than they did this past season by taking them all the way to the final.

“Finishing third was not a disappointment as we sort of had to start from the scratch after losing so many of our players to other teams,” said Nomigo, in an interview with New Telegraph. “But that has never been a problem with us at the Dodan Warriors because we are a programme that knows how to handle such issues.

“We are proud to have had

a hand in the development of so many of the top players in the league but we are looking forward to a better campaign next season where we hope to get to the finals.”

A final ticket guarantees a spot on the continent and taking part in next year’s FIBA Africa Club Champions Cup for Men is top on the list of targets for Nomigo and the Warriors.

“We want to play continental basketball next year,” continued Nomigo. “And the only way to do that is to win the league or finish in second place.”

He added: “That is our target and we will set it in motion by the time we open camp ahead of next season’s campaign.”

54 SPORT

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Canada 2015: Nigeria will be difficult, says Sweden coach

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wo-time Olympic gold medal winner and coach of Sweden, Pia Sundhage, has said that Group D remains the toughest in the FIFA World Cup in Canada in 2015.

The former FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women’s Football disclosed that the Super Falcons of Nigeria would be the team to beat because they are a great side coming into this competition.

“It’s a very tough group.

lI’m excited by the draw – Aussie coach If you look at each team you will know what I mean. USA is probably the best team in the world and then you have Nigeria who are a very tough team; playing them in the first game will be tough because they are good in the air.”

“I followed them at the U-20 World Cup and the fact that they reached the finals absolutely buttress-

es the point that they have good players, so it’s going to be real tough and you add Australia to that who are well organised, it’s going to be an exciting group.

Meanwhile, Australia Coach, Alen Stajcic, has said he is excited at the prospect of playing the best teams in the world.

Edibi makes Nations Cup refs list

N Adegoke returns to winning form Dala Hard Court

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igeria Women’s no 1 ranked-player, Sarah Adegoke, returned to winning ways with a 6-0, 6-1 defeat of Kelechi Njoku as the main draw of the Dala Hard Court Tennis Championship served off in Kano yesterday.

Adegoke, who justified her NTF top ranking by reaching the final of the Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship last month, had her dream of adding the NPA Tennis Open title cut short by eventual winners Christy Agugbom in the semi-final in Abuja last week, but she showed that she still had what it took to dominate the domestic scene

igeria’s foremost referee Peter Edibi has been invited to officiate during the 30th Africa Cup of Nations taking place between January 17 and February by hitting series of winners 8 in Equatorial Guinea.

against her opponent.

“I had a very good game and hopefully I will play better if I meet stronger opposition,” said the top-seeded 16-year-old, who won the Ekiti Governor’s Tennis Championship in June.

In some of the men singles matches played yesterday, Candy Idoko defeated Azuka Benson 6-2, 6-1 while fifth-seeded John Otu bundled out wildcard entrant Ayuba Dauda 6-2, 6-2.

Christopher Edward outsmarted Benjamin Ebuka, a qualifier 7-5, 6-2 while Nigeria junior player, Ikechukwu Iloputa fell 6-3, 6-4 to Nonso Maduekwe.

Stajcic, who only assumed the reins on a permanent basis last September, having taken over on an interim basis for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, said although the group was tough, he was optimistic his side would scale through.

He said: “This is probably the

A CAF invitation letter dated December 8, addressed to the General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Association, carried the information, requesting Edibi to report in Bata on January 7, 2015 at the latest to take part in the fitness test scheduled for January 9, followed by the refresher course for those who scale the fitness hurdle.

Signed by the CAF referees manager, Eddy Maillet, the NFF is to ensure that Edibi “arrives in Bata in the best possible physical condition” Edibi, one of Africa’s best assistant referees narrowly missed going to the World Cup in Brazil after he had been selected to officiate at the FIFA Club World Champion-

ship last year in Morocco and was on duty in the third place match.

Before then, he was also selected by FIFA for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey. As far back as 2007, Edibi was in the CAF Delegation to the U-20 tourney in Togo, graduating to the Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana in 2008, he did so well that in the CHAN competition that held in Cote d’ Ivoire in 2009 he was in the final match involving Congo DR and Ghana.

Again in the Nations Cup in Angola, 2010 Edibi was picked, he was also on duty in Sudan for CHAN where he officiated in the semifinals.

That Nigeria did not qualify for the Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea /Gabon did not stop CAF from inviting him for the finals in 2012 and in South Africa in 2013, Edibi was good enough for the final match, but because Nigeria had qualified for the final, was made to handle the third place match.

toughest group at the World Cup, at the same time I am excited that we are going to be playing the toughest teams in the world.

“I think Australia can come out of this group because we are a young team who are improving and progressing “We will not underestimate or give too much respect to any team as we will take them as they come.”

“I think Nigeria have the chance to come out of the group because I watched U-20 World Cup and I saw the young girl (Asisat) Oshoala and I thought she was electrifying. I have really followed Nigerian girls and I hope we can make it out of the group because they are going to be a tough side to face.”

Sundhage

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Yemisi Suswam: Celebrating an amazon that saves lives

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hen a human being - in this case an illustrious woman - abandons the safety and luxury of her home and makes it her real business to save thousands of lives from the clutches of death; as well as give hope to the hopeless; lifting hundreds of thousands out of poverty, the least she deserves is a word of encouragement from all people of goodwill. And it is for this purpose that this column celebrates Architect Dooshima Yemisi Suswam, wife of the governor of Benue State.

By 2007 when her husband, Dr. Gabriel Suswam assumed office as governor of Benue State, the state was ravaged by unprecedented poverty, ignorance, diseases and deaths. Benue had the highest prevalence rate of HIV-AIDS, and it was losing the most productive part of its population - the youths - at an alarming rate.

It was a situation that had compounded past governments of the state, and many a governor's wife would have sat back in the comfort of her home and only bemoan the horrible situation, as virtually all else were doing. But Mrs. Suswam decided to face the monstrous challenges. Six months later, she came up with the SEV-AV Foundation, a non-governmental organisation aimed at creating jobs, uplifting living standards of millions of the state's poor people, as well as save them from premature deaths, courtesy of HIV. Nothing tells the success story of SEV-AV Foundation than the statistics. In less than four years, Benue moved from harbouring the highest number of HIV-AIDS positive people in Nigeria, a whopping 12.7 percent, to the ninth position, with a prevalence rate of 5.6 percent. This was confirmed in the latest National Survey On HIV Prevalence In Nigeria. The clinics set up by Mrs Suswam in the three senatorial zones of Benue state, started recording a large number of HIV patients, but she still realised a large number of those afflicted by the disease were afraid of coming out to receive treatment, owing to stigmatisation of the ailment in the society. She thus decided to take the campaign beyond the words of mouth, helping in passing the antistigmatisation bill that successfully turned her clinics into a Mecca of sort. The young and the old started trooping to the clinics to have their lives saved, knowing nobody could stigmatise them anymore. Her effort also contributed in saving mother to child HIV transmission by about 20 percent in the first year alone.

About a year ago, I led a team of some senior editors to Benue State on a self-funding visit to verify some of the things we were hearing about the wonderful achievements of the governor's wife. We carried out an inspection tour of some of the projects, and even interviewed some HIV patients in Gboko. A teenage, beautiful young woman told us she probably would have died if Mrs. Suswam had not come up with her intervention, as HIV positive patients were accessing life-saving (anti-retroviral) drugs easily, as well as getting quality counselling from medical experts that the Benue First Lady hired.

The achievements, as mentioned earlier, transcend saving lives. They are also life giving. Mrs. Suswam's noble agro-based initiatives saw her lifting tens of thousands of Benue citizens out of poverty, as well as significantly reducing the scourge among

Brass Tacks SULEIMAN UBA GAYA suleimanuba1@gmail.com 08035676295 (sms only)

Mrs. Suswam

millions. She set up farm produce processing centres in Katsina-Ala, Gboko and Otukpo. That of KatsinaAla was processing yam into derivative products of yam flour, for value

addition and elongation of shelf life, as well as boosts yam production in the Sankera axis of Benue in general.

The Gboko centre facilitates processing of mango and orange juice,

while Otukpo encourages palm oil and palm ker nel production. In general, Mrs. Suswam ensures that farmers get heavy subsidies in farm machinery, extension services, fertilisers and agro chemicals, improved seeds and seedlings, warehousing and general secretarial services. This has further entrenched the status of Benue as Food Basket of the Nigerian nation and made farmers benefit immensely from their hardwork.

It says a lot about the credibility of Sun newspaper that it has decided to reward this illustrious Nigerian with the major award of Most Supportive First Lady of the Nigerian Federation in its awards ceremony coming up next month.

The newspaper had noted, in a brief citation published in its edition of November 30, 2014, that "since 2008, the Sev-Av Foundation has been taking care of babies exposed to HIV as well as adults suffering from the disease in Benue State and beyond.

Many wheelchairs have been distributed to physically challenged persons. Foodstuffs and other materials are given to orphans and widows the foundation.

"Many orphans in the state can now attend school,as the Benue First Lady's foundation pays their school fees... Books and learning aids are donated to pupils and students of primary and secondary schools." It went on and on to underscore the importance of Mrs Suswam's achievements, which have earned her admiration and awards at home and abroad.

The philosophy that seems to define Mrs. Suswam's attitude to work is predicated on the urgent need to make a positive difference and leave a permanent impression in the lives of her people. She once said: "today is yours, tomorrow can be another person's. So do the best you could to transform the lives of your people today, so that tomorrow could just be a bonus." There is no doubt that Mrs. Yemisi Suswam wants to close in a day, a trench that took many years to dig.

As Benue's detribalised Governor gets set for the Senate

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f there is one governor in Nigeria that is truly detribalised - in every sense of the word - it is Gabriel Suswam of Benue State. Many members of the governor's kitchen cabinet, as well as his friends and key domestic staff, are representatives of various Nigerian tribes. He also has a passionate love for his Benue people. Though he is Tiv by tribe, his wife is Yoruba, but she has proven, over time, to be as detribalised as her husband, accounting for the deep love and support both of them enjoy from their immediate constituents, the Benue people, as well as many Nigerians.

In lending my voice in the argument about who between Chief Barnabas Gemade and Rt. Hon. Gabriel Suswam should represent the people of Benue North-Eastern zone in the Senate in 2015, one only needs to go to Benue to see first hand the kind of work undertaken by Suswam, which prompted the hilarious call, started since 2008, by his constituents to represent them in the Senate at the completion of his second and final term of office as governor, next year. Apart

Gemade

Suswam

from claiming incumbency, which, in his perspective has earned him 'automatic ticket', Gemade has done very little to convince his people as to why they should allow him to continue representing them in the nation's highest legislative chamber.

Gemade also needs to know that in a political contest, the people determine who they want. It is not about being a founding member of a political party, or it's former chairman or any such

appellation. What people need is your track record of achievement, not the number of officer you held.

In 2015, Nigeria cannot afford the kind of Senate we presently have, inhabited by the Gemades of this world.

A more robust one is surely needed. By his achievements, Suswam thoroughly deserves to represent his people in the kind of Senate that would take Nigeria to the promised land. Here is wishing him the best of luck.

Suleiman Uba Gaya

Sanctity of Truth

On Marble

“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.”

– J.K. Rowling

Leisure & Puzzle

Yemisi Suswam: Celebrating an amazon that saves lives

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Nigeria expects: Dreams and dreaming

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he hopes and expectations of Nigerians are to build and live in a nation where justice, fairness, rule of law, progress and development are not only common but cultural. These are great, noble and legitimate dreams.

That Nigeria will become one of the 20 most industrialised nations in 2020 is not altogether a hopeless expectation. But surely we are dreaming!

To have a dream for greatness, as exemplified in the opening paragraph, is one thing. To foolishly exaggerate one’s potentials and real capabilities and then proceed to build castles in the air – now, that is dreaming.

Of course no one can deny Nigeria’s potential for greatness. We have the natural resources but we squander them. We have the human capital but we abuse them. The more gifted you are as a Nigerian citizen, the less opportunities you find to express your talents and enrich your nation. If, by chance, you find a place to stand, they hastily clog the wheels to ensure that you do not change the world. The nature of the composition of a country like Nigeria makes a collective dream well nigh impossible, even as it is obvious that we all aspire to greatness and progress – but not with a collectivity of vision, united passion and commonality of energy.

Precisely because the concept of a permanent, progressive and united nation is a fundamentally unserious one in the deepest recesses of Nigerians’ souls, the ambition to realise a modern, developed and industrialised nation remains illusory. In other words, most people do not believe in, subscribe to or enthusiastic about the idea of one nation called Nigeria.

It is a fact unique to this nation that when its citizens discuss Nigeria, such discussions provoke anguish and a sense of shame rather than a sense of satisfaction and pride. We, as a people, have come to a pass where there are no longer occasional moments of national triumph to avail us of common levity. When was the last time the Nigerian brand was celebrated, commended, positively reviewed by our peers? Instead, the avalanche of negativity in virtually all spheres of human endeavour emanating from this nation has left us cringing in embarrassment and despair.

No one is interested in building the nation – this nation. Thus we have airborne coffins criss-crossing our domestic airspace; articulated morgues clogging our gutted motorways; obsolete clonking metal bulks meandering our rusty rail tracks like gorged anacondas. From our public services we reap a chronicle of incompetence, corruption, sabotage, nepotism, tribalism and the full manifest of bigotry. Serious discussions about their nature only come about following bloody emergencies.

Building private universities rather than endowing faculties or research specialties is a symptom of a disease not a cure for the catastrophic state of our education system.

Broadside EMMANUEL ONWE agubata@aol.com

Jonathan

Airports, seaports, railway systems, quantum of reliable electricity provision, modern healthcare system, solid educational foundation, et cetera, are the most integral element of industrialisation and development. There are some 36 countries ahead of us in the league table of industrialised and developed nations, according to the IMF and the CIA. Every passing day our leaders mouth the discredited mantra of 20:2020. The supposition is that Nigeria will overtake sixteen countries to become, in five short years, the 20th most industrialised nation on earth.

Here is a list of the countries we must overtake in order to get there: Iran, Sweden, Norway, Poland, Belgium, Argentina, Austria, Thailand, South

It is a fact unique to this nation that when its citizens discuss Nigeria, such discussions provoke anguish and a sense of shame rather than a sense of satisfaction and pride

Africa, UAE, Venezuela, Colombia, Denmark, Malaysia, Singapore and Chile.

Put on your thinking hat and consider both the complex and simple ingredients of national industrialisation.

Start with the quantitative and qualitative examination of the educated and trained manpower available, the prime component of the ingredients that must be present. From this starting point, you may run down the whole gamut. What do you think? Have you found the magic formula that will lead to the displacement of, say, Denmark from the 33rd position or Norway from the 23rd?

One’s despair often comes not from the inadequacy of genuine potential to pursue the dream, but from the malariatype dream which leads to a presumption that if you will it enough, shout it enough, wish it enough and lie about it enough, it will come to pass. Dreaming.

Running down NITEL, NIPOST, Nigeria Airways and the steel mills; manipulating a host of existing and emerging elephant projects cannot fill anyone with confidence about the imminence of greatness. The shameless ethnicisation of the military, depending on the whims and ethnic origin of the Commander-in-Chief, removes the basis on which confidence in a secure and safe nation is rested. Everything else crumbles there from.

The facilities, mechanisms and institutions that are foundational to a permanent nation were established not by Nigerians but by the British colonists.

Their ways were not and are still not our ways. Their vision for a permanent federal Nigeria was in stark dissonance from ours. They succeeded in the quick fix that would serve their purpose at that time. We have failed abysmally in the arduous task of building a permanent nation. We failed not because we are incapable but because we were and still remain unserious, hypocritical and delusional about nationhood.

A vibrant utopian democracy is possible. The capacity of man coupled with serious-mindedness is almost infinite.

But squander, dissipation and regard for the small picture are inimical to the attainment of the great dream.

Unseriousness and comprehensive corruption have brought us to our knees. Forty years of relentless rape, pillage and plunder have given rise to a dystopian nation.

Having raided the vaults of our national treasury, the politicians have now deployed the resources they carted away in usurping the franchise of frustrated, hungry, poor, ignorant and brutalised citizens.

How long will Nigerians be taken for super grade idiots by powerbrokers, power seekers and power occupants and we remain in acquiescent silence?

As evil and treachery are marching into a fusion, we mope helplessly, seemingly hypnotised by highwire ethno-religious politics primed to cast a potentially great republic into a fireball. Where are the patriots?

The dreams of professionals revolve around accomplishment, excellence and distinction – for organisation, institution or for country and for self, no doubt. They also dream of recognition when they attain accomplishments over, above and beyond the call of duty. But public professionals, particularly our compatriots in uniform, are honoured in negligence and carelessness even when they demonstrate extraordinary valour. National honours are instead bestowed on proven criminals.

At what point will it become not just desirable but obligatory to publicly and with fanfare decorate our soldiers for exceptional bravery? Honouring heroes that have distinguished themselves in the war against Boko Haram ought to be one important element in what should be a lengthy spectrum of motivational incentives for our men and women in the frontline of a brutal war. A small gesture that resonates in the great heave of nation building. But we do not care.

Soldiers from happier and better organised climes are given a pride of place, once in a while – usually once in a year – when their great triumphs as well as their great tribulations are honoured and mourned in equal measure. Our soldiers, on the other hand, are mocked, laughed at and generally ignored. They march just as far, bleed just as much and die just as soon – like soldiers in the frontline in other climes.

They are forgotten, erased in national memory just as soon as their corpses are interred.

Nigeria expects a nation where every soldier and civilian will do their duty with commitment and nobility and be honoured if and when they achieve distinction. Nigeria expects every leader to obey the law, shun impunity and define his character through rigorous accountability. Nigeria expects inclusiveness, equality of opportunity and promotion of excellence and total war against mediocrity. Nigeria expects security and order.

But we keep dreaming We are dreaming ourselves into paralysis and oblivion. Our carelessness or even indifference, as far as Nigeria as a collective enterprise is concerned, is of a degree that is shocking and sad.

The big picture reveals a nation that can. A country with practically every single thing it needs to excel, if harnessed, burnished, nurtured, guided and managed – be those resources human or natural in essence. But the nation is crippled by leaders made up of men and women whose imaginations are captured by the small picture.

Where you find cartoon characters in charge, pretending to lead, you will find a nation dreaming legoland dreams.

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by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotline: 01-8541248, Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: YEMI AJAYI.