Binder1 03 september, 2014 by Newtelegraphonline

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Vol, 1 No. 197

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British Deputy High Commissioner dies at Lagos airport Wole Shadare

ritish Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Peter Carter, yesterday slumped and died at the Murtala Muhammed In-

ternational Airport. Carter, who was said to have arrived aboard United Airlines flight, died at the arrival hall of the airport shortly after disembarking from the plane.

A top security operative at the airport told New Telegraph that the diplomat might have died of heart-related complications. “He was shouting help! help!! and then

slumped. People did not want to go near initially because of the Ebola scare that has been in town,” the official added. A witness said the deceased did not make it

to the Nigeria Immigration desk before he died. One of the spokesmen of an agency in the aviation sector, who pleaded anonymity, also confirmed the incident. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

The late Carter

Tinubu tackles Ikimi lSays he would have sold APC lEx-minister: He's talking nonsense Ayodele Ojo and Lateef Ibrahim

ormer Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, yester-

day hit back at ex-Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi, saying he is not worthy to be trusted with public office. Tinubu, in a statement

in which he defended himself against allegations levelled against him by Ikimi, who has defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the former minister was schemed out of the APC chairmanship because the party leadership did not trust him.

According to him, Ikimi is a serial betrayer who will not hesitate to sell out the party. But in a quick riposte, CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Quick Read APC to Jonathan: Hand over Sheriff, Ihejirika to ICC The APC yesterday called on President Jonathan to handover Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika to ICC for sponsoring insurgency.

ISIS beheads second American journalist }50

FG: Cement installed capacity hits 39.5m metric tonnes

L-R: National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunazo; National Treasurer, Alhaji Bala Gwagwarwa and Auditor, Mr. George Moghalu, at a press briefing in Abuja...yesterday. Photo ELIJAH OLALUYI

Borno on fire as 170 die in gun battle LAGOS

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lFresh Boko Haram attacks force 100,000 to flee to Cameroun, Niger Emmanuel Onani and Ahmed Miringa

he death toll from Monday's attack on Bama, the second largest town in terror-ravaged Borno

State, has risen to 170 as Boko Haram militants and troops clashed. A member of Civilian JTF in Bama, Alhaji Mohammed Adamu, told reporters yesterday in Maid-

uguri that the he was at the Mohammed Kur Barrack during the attack and that the military successfully repelled the insurgents, killing 170. Thirty five others were

arrested while motorcycles and an armoured vehicle were recovered from them. He said: "I personally counted 170 corpses of the insurgents, while 35 were CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

The Federal Government yesterday put Nigeria's installed capacity in cement production at about 39.9 million MT

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Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Kwankwaso: I’m still consulting on my presidential ambition Muhammad Kabir Kano

ano State Governor, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, yesterday said he has intensified consultations before declaring for the 2015 presidential election. The governor is one of the likely presidential aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Kwankwaso, who said he is presently consulting friends and political associates on 2015 election, said his presidential ambition has brought him enemies and admirers. He said: “As we started consultation on whether to join the 2015 presidential race or not, we have seen a lot of admirers and a lot of true enemies. Some people who have never met me have sent copies of my posters calling on me to join the race. But I said they should go and harmonise their positions and possibly change those posters because some are of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “Although some of these posters were sent to me two years ago with

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST ABUJA

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a logo of PDP. Hence, I directed my aides to destroy PDP posters and reserved APC ones and wait for me to finish consultations and take the final decision.” Kwankwaso spoke when he met with his political appointees at Gover nment House, Kano on Monday.

He noted that people across the country and beyond have been calling on him to declare his presidential ambition for 2015, pointing out that they assured him of full support. “That is not enough. This is so because presidential contest is not a joke and one should take critical

views from all angles before bowing to pressures,” he noted. He, however, said Nigeria is in need of credible leaders that can transform the nation, urging electorate to do away with incompetent leadership. The governor was confident that the APC

would win Kano State gubernatorial election with a wide margin, adding that the next governor would find Kano easy to govern. Already posters of Kwankwaso and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari litter the state, with their supporters engaging in superiority clash.

FLIGHT SCHEDULE FIRST NATION AIRWAYS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06.50; 09:30; 11:45; 16:00 (SAT) 06:50; 11:45 (SUN) 11:45; 16:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 11:30; 13:40;18:30 (SAT) 09:00; 13:40 (SUN) 13:40; 18:30 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 14:45 (SAT) 16:15 (SUN) 14:45 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:50 (SAT) 18:20 (SUN) 16:50 AEROCONTRACTORS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06:50; 13:30; 16:30; 19:45 (SAT/SUN) 12:30; 16:45 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 13:00; 19:00 (SAT) 12:30 (SUN) 15:30 MEDVIEW AIRLINES LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:50; 12:00; 15:30 (SAT) 10:00; 15:00 (SUN) 17:30; 18:30 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 14:00, 15:00; 18:30

L-R: The Osile Oke Ona of Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuosho; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio and Greneda's High Commissioner in the United Kingdom, Mr. Joslyn Whiteman, at the presentation of Nigeria Arise Most Outstanding Governor Infrastructure Development Award by Ben TV, London to the governor, in London.

Fresh Boko Haram attacks force 100,000 to flee to Cameroun, Niger CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

arrested; one armoured vehicle, motorcycles, RPGs were also recovered. "Most of those that fled Bama did so due to the sound of guns and IEDs, as many people were not used to it. But after some time, we returned many people to their houses. You see most of those that fled to Maiduguri are from the neighbouring villages of Konduga, Kawuri among other villages.” A spokesman for Civilian JTF, Mr. Jubrin Gunda, also dismissed reports that the Boko Haram had captured Bama, saying the terrorists attempted to run over the town but were repelled by the military. He spoke just as New Telegraph learnt that morale was high among troops following Monday's repulsion of Boko Haram in Bama. Also yesterday, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said 10,000 people had fled fresh attacks in Nigeria and sought shelter in Cameroun and Niger. Gunda, who is Civilian JTF's Legal Adviser, said: “Our gallant soldiers assisted by our members successfully repelled the attack (on Bama) and the

military is still in full control of the town. "We categorically denied and disassociated ourselves from an interview granted to some foreign media by one Senator Ahmed Zannah as what he stated was not a true reflection of what is on ground, as Bama remains in the firm control of the military." The group called on the people not to panic, as the military with the assistance of the Civilian JTF are doing everything possible to defend lives and property. It also urged President Goodluck Jonathan to properly investigate the claims by an Australian national, Dr. Steven Devis, that some Nigerians are the sponsors of the insurgents. He also urged the president to support the military and other security agencies to effectively contain the insurgency in the Borno and the North-East. However, it was learnt that Boko Haram insurgents on Monday also attacked Balbaya village in Bayo Local Government Area of Borno State and abducted four women, while one person died as

a result of heart attack. A resident of the area told New Telegraph that the insurgents after storming the town abducted the wives of a former Permanent Secretary in the Borno Civil Service, Alhaji Idi Gada and that of his two brothers but one of the abducted women escaped back home. The state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Zannah Umar Mustapha, has, however, reassured the people that government is in control of Bama town. He said government had registered 2,000 internally displaced persons from Konduga, Bama, Kawuri and other villages and that it had opened another camp at Government Girls' Secondary School, Yerwa to cater for them. New Telegraph has, however, learnt that the Nigerian Army has begun "a total war" against the outlawed Boko Haram sect. A highly-placed military source, told New Telegraph that never again would the military allow the Boko Haram fighters to killed many troops as they might have been done in the past.

He explained that the Monday feat when troops prevented Boko Haram from overrunning Bama was a product of "discreet" planning and execution. According to him, the military is firmly in control of Bama, contrary to reports that Boko Haram had taken over the town. "The terrorists will henceforth feel our total might, as we are determined to crush them and restore total sanctity to our sovereignty. "We will defeat them on all fronts and what our boys displayed on Monday was to demonstrate our resolve to assert our legitimate might and restore that confidence that the Nigerian Army had earned for itself, both locally and on the foreign frontiers,", he stated. Meanwhile, the UNHCR has said 10,000 people have fled fresh Boko Haram attacks in the North-East to seek shelter in Cameroun and Niger. Some of the refugees, it said in a statement yesterday, were sleeping in schools and churches while children are suffering from poor health. "UNHCR is very conCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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

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Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Adamawa guber: My participation not do-or-die, says Fintiri

lAPC clears seven aspirants Ibrahim Abdul Yola

damawa State Acting Governor, Alhaji Ahmadu Fintiri, has declared that his aspiration to contest the October 11 governorship election is not a do or die, but purely an Adamawa Project that would see to the rapid transformation of the state. Fielding questions from newsmen in Yola, the state capital, Fintiri said his emergence was an act of God. "The reaction of the people when I was initially disqualified showed that the people of Adamawa are with me. My ambition is Adamawa project and therefore it’s not a do or die. "I feel happy and have cause to thank God that the Appeal Committee cleared me to contest. I want to assure the people of Adamawa who trooped

out to welcome me that we must all team up and work for the total liberation of the state," Fintiri said. The Acting Governor, who said he was in touch with most of the other 13 aspirants, was however confidence that other aspirants will step down for him. “Yes, I am in serious consultation with other contestants and I can assure you that they are all willing to step down for me,” he said. Already, one of the governorship aspirants, Ambassador James Barka, has declared his support for Fintiri. Barka told newsmen that with Fintiri in the race he saw no reason why he should contest against the acting governor. Barka said that other aspirants would soon withdraw in support of Fintiri. Similarly, another aspirant, Alhaji Sabo Jimeta, has announced his deci-

sion to support Fintiri and urged other aspirants to follow suit in the interest of the party and the state in general. Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared seven aspirants for the election. Chairman, Screening Committee, Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredelu (SAN), said that all the aspirants that presented themselves for the governorship ticket met the guidelines of the party. “All the seven aspirants that appeared before this screening committee were cleared to contest as certified by the guidelines of our party,” Akeredolu said. Those cleared include Senator Bindow Jibrilla, Senator Ahmed Hassan Barata, Alhaji Dahiru Bobbo and Hon. Emmanuel Bello. Others are Mr. Boss Mustapha, Mr. Yakubu Tsala and Ibrahim Mijinyawa.

Tinubu: Ikimi would have sold APC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Ikimi, in a telephone interview with New Telegraph, Ikimi said he would rather react fully after reading Tinubu's statement "it took him three days to react to my letter. I would speak fully when I read what he has to say. I can't jump to react to nonsense." In further justifying the refusal of the party leadership to allow Ikimi pursue his ambition to lead APC, Tinubu said the former minister, given his antecedent, lacked the democratic credentials to run a political party as he had betrayed his position as the national chairmanship of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC). He added that Ikimi’s past is laced with betrayal and his quest for the APC chairmanship was at the instance of the PDP. He said Ikimi was only out to use the APC chairmanship as a negotiation tool with the PDP, “just the same way he did with the military.” Ikimi had in August while resigning his membership of APC accused Tinubu of hijacking the

party for selfish purposes and striking a $1.7 billion deal with the Federal Government so that Oando Plc, a petroleum company in which the former governor allegedly have interest could purchase the assets of ConocoPhillips, an international oil company divesting from Nigeria. The ex-minister also stated that Tinubu sold out in the 2011 presidential election. But Tinubu described Ikimi’s explanation for leaving APC as “lengthy chronicle of falsehoods, cheap blackmail and abuse,” saying he has seen him “perpetrate this deviousness in his years in public life.” “It was clear to practically everyone who had the interest of the party at heart that we simply could not have a man of Tom Ikimi's antecedents as chair of the party. As chairman of the (defunct) National Republican Convention (NRC), one of the only two political parties in the country under the military transition programme, Tom Ikimi not only connived with the then military regime to

annul the elections, terminate the democratic process and sell off his party. He became (the late Gen. Sani) Abacha's foreign minister, convincing the world that heinous state murders like the hanging of Ken Saro-Wiwa were just acts! “If Ikimi were the chair of APC, the party would have to sleep with both eyes open lest its chairman sell off the party before day break. No matter what anyone may say about me, it is unlikely that I can be accused of supporting incompetent or morally lightweight individuals for important political positions. My philosophy is to put the best forward, men and women of competence and integrity, who can stand up to us politicians to challenge us and say no when necessary. Such people are not noisy or able to gain attention by being loud. I believe my role is to do all I can to project them,” he stated. The former governor also defended his choice of party’s national chairmanship, saying: “Who CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

FG: Cement installed capacity hits 39.5m metric tonnes Anule Emmanuel

he Federal Government yesterday put Nigeria's installed ca-

pacity in cement production at about 39.9 million metric tonnes. It attributed the rise from a meagre 2 million

MT to its backward integration policy in the sector. President Goodluck Jonathan said at the

groundbreaking ceremony of a second production line at the UNICEM Cement Factory, Mfamosing, Calabar,

Rivers State Governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi (left) with Country Representative/Director, World Health Organisation (WHO), Mr. Rui Vaz, who visited him in Port Harcourt...yesterday.

Tinubu tackles Ikimi CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

in their right mind would compare the highly principled Chief Bisi Akande or Chief John Odigie-Oyegun with a Tom Ikimi? Either of these two men is known for their nononsense styles, not once in their careers would you hear that they betrayed a cause or were anybody's stooge.” Tinubu also denied that he sold out the 2011 presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. “Regarding the nonsense about selling out on Ribadu, I think common sense should dictate that if ever such a deal were reached, we would have had to inform our members in all the states. How could that have been done secretly? How do you tell hundreds of thousands of people not to vote for your own party without it becoming public knowledge?” he asked. On the $1.7 billion Oando/ ConocoPhillips deal allegedly struck between Tinubu and the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, on the eve of the APC convention, the former governor exonerated himself from the transaction, stressing that he had no interest in Oando. He said: “Only a Tom Ikimi can come up with the absurd falsehood that on the eve of the APC con-

vention when I was in crucial meetings practically round the clock, I was meeting with the Minister for Petroleum! What exactly would have been the point of such a meeting especially on the eve of the convention? Was it to prevent Tom Ikimi from emerging as chairman of the APC? To what end? Of what value would it be to anyone except Ikimi himself ? Besides if this was so why he is back to the same party that purportedly planned his downfall? “What is the Oando/ ConocoPhillips transaction anyway? For those who do not know, this is a private sale of the assets of ConocoPhillips to Oando. It was not patronage of any kind from the Federal Government. The Federal Government's involvement was merely to formally consent to the sale. I was not involved and I have never been involved in any of Oando's transactions. “Typically, he plays on the fact that Wale Tinubu of Oando is my nephew. Oando has been thoroughly investigated by South African and British authorities in the past five years as part of the process of listing the company on the stock exchanges of those countries. Those rigorous and comprehensive investigations conducted by the governments and

risk control investigators are to discover the actual ownership of shares in the company. “Politically exposed persons like me are prime targets for those investigations. All these investigations have shown that I have no investment in Oando. My public position on the entire transaction is that if an indigenous Nigerian oil and gas entity run by young serious-minded Nigerians raise money transparently in the international capital markets to purchase private assets of a multi-national, the Federal Government ought to give its consent. That it took so long is shameful. The Conoco/Phillips transaction was a $1.7 billion dollars investment in Nigeria that would create more jobs, witness the establishment of allied industries and make the Nigerian economy more attractive. I would have been extremely proud to have made such a transaction possible.” The former governor also shed light on how Ikimi was admitted into the progressive fold after he left the PDP. According to him, “At the formation of the APC, a crucial debate ensued about what to do about persons like Ikimi who had done awful things in the past, but who were now minded to align with the progres-

sive tendency in Nigerian politics. Should we forever blacklist them? This would have been the easiest route, but it would have kept rancour alive. It would have made us slaves to the bleakest chapters of our past. Instead, we opted to extend the hand of brotherhood, reconcile and put the past behind us. This would enable a broader political consensus, while also giving the likes of Ikimi an opportunity to atone for their grievous wrongs against the people and be rehabilitated. “We recognised that many leading Nigerians had committed acts of shame. Some for private profit, others who were otherwise decent people who had become prisoners to a terrible system. “Not surprisingly, Ikimi acting true to type, abuses that magnanimity. He was never sincerely committed to the party. He was always playing out a PDP script. He only wanted the chairmanship of the party as a bargaining chip for negotiations with his benefactors. His defection purportedly on account of the loss of the chairmanship of the party is a mere subterfuge, once his ploy failed, he had no other objective within the party. I knew he would go back to his sponsors. He is back in the company he deserves. And APC is better for it.”

Cross River State that the integration policy in the industry was initiated in 2002 to meet selfsufficiency in cement production. Jonathan, represented by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, said: "From a paltry two million metric tonnes of cement hitherto produced locally per annum, by 2013, we have achieved 39.5 million metric tonnes of installed capacity." He described the manufacturing industry as the backbone of the country's growth, saying that government will continue to formulate policies to galvanise the industry. According to him, the 550mw Calabar Power Plant will soon be inaugurated to tackle the challenges being faced by industries in Cross River State. He said construction work would soon commence on the rail line from the Obudu Ranch to Calabar, while the dredging of the Calabar River as well as the construction of a deep sea port at Ibaka, among other infrastructural developments, were in top gear. Jonathan urged stakeholders to cooperate as this is necessary for progress, adding: "Government will continue to cooperate with the relevant agencies both public and private to champion meaningful projects and ensure steady progress in our communities." The president, who commended the management of UNICEM for

keying into the Transformation Agenda of his administration, stressed the need for the company to carry along the communities in the area of its operations. He also called on the communities within UNICEM’s operation area to cooperate with the company. Earlier, the Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, represented by his deputy, Mr. Efiok Cobham, said the state government would continue to provide the enabling environment for businesses to thrive. He commended the president for his peoplefriendly policies that had made the state a hub of industrialisation. He added that the increased cement capacity would not only reduce the supply gap, but would also reduce the market price of the commodity in the state. Also, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, represented by the Minister of State, Dr. Samuel Ortom, said the performance of the cement industry was a testimony that Nigeria was moving in the right direction in achieving its industrial revolution plan. The Chairman of UNICEM board, Mr. John Coumantaros, said the new line, which will cost N84 billion, would be completed in 2016 and would increase the capacity of the company from the current 2.5 million metric tonnes to 5 million metric tonnes.

Borno on fire as 170 die in gun battle CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

cerned that even once they have crossed into Cameroun, they are still being pursued by insurgents and we have already started to relocate some of the refugees to a refugee camp where they can enjoy safer conditions," UNHCR spokesman, Adrian Edwards, told journalists in Geneva. It was gathered that in the last 10 days, at least 9,000 people had arrived in Cameroun's Far North Region and more than 2,000 had sought refuge in Lake Chad islands belonging to Niger, while more people had continued to arrive. The new arrivals fled recurrent attacks in the past three weeks in the Gwoza

in Borno State, before reaching safety in Cameroun. Authorities report that 5,500 refugees have arrived in Kolofata, 3,000 in Kerawa and 370 in Mora, in the Mayo Sava and Logoneet-Chari districts. The total number of Nigerian refugees in Cameroun now stands at some 39,000 according to local authorities, including 19,633 who have been registered by UNHCR. Niger is hosting more than 50,000 forcibly displaced people who have arrived from Nigeria since May 2013. Inside Nigeria, some 645,000 people are displaced in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states, as a result of the violence.

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Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

APC to Jonathan: Hand over Sheriff, Ihejirika to ICC l Says Presidency, PDP know Boko Haram sponsors Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday called on President Goodluck Jonathan to handover the former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for sponsoring the Boko Haram insurgency. The party spoke against the background of revelation made by Dr. Stephen Davis, an Australian negotiator appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan to help secure the release of the over 200 Chibok girls, who accused Sheriff and Ihejirika of being sponsors of insurgency in the North. Addressing a press conference in Abuja, APC national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, stated that the revelation by Davis has vindicated the party and its members. Oyegun said all attempts by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its members to associate APC with insurgents was a fluke to distract attention from the real culprits. His words: "The truth is finally out. We have been vindicated. We have no hand in the Boko Haram insurgency. The raison d'etre of our party is the well-being and security of Nigerians. "The sponsors of Boko Haram are within the PDP and the Presidency. They are known friends of President Jonathan. He knows them and they know him. "The man who exposed these Boko Haram sponsors is a Jonathanappointed Negotiator. He has no axe to grind, neither does he have any motive to shield the APC or portray the PDP/Presidency in bad light. In fact, if he had any sympathy at all, it is for the man who hired him, President Jonathan. "Now that the cat has been let out of the bag

and the real sponsors of Boko Haram have been exposed, we hope President Jonathan will summon the courage to do the right thing: Hand over the identified Boko Haram sponsors to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for investigation and prosecution. "There is no doubt that Boko Haram has committed crimes against humanity in its scorchedearth campaign against unharmed citizens, and the most appropriate body to investigate and try the sect's sponsors is the ICC. "According to Article 17 of the Rome Statute that set up the ICC, and to which Nigeria is signatory, the ICC is a court of last resort, expected to exercise its jurisdiction only if states themselves are unwilling or unable genuinely to investigate and prosecute international crimes. "In view of the fact that the alleged Boko Haram sponsors are either members of the ruling party or friends of the President, it is clear that the PDP-led Federal Government is unwilling and unable to try them, hence our call. "Nigerians can rest assured that the APC will not allow this issue to be swept under the carpet. "Now that it is clear that the PDP is behind Boko Haram for the sole purpose of winning next year’s presidential election, Nigerians must prevail on the PDP and the Presidency to urgently end this insurgency and the daily killing and maiming of innocent Nigerians! "The President must remember that he is the Commander-in-Chief ! The buck stops on his desk. He must now do all it takes to stop the growing mess in our nation’s North-East." Oyegun stated that though the APC cannot state who attacked former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, but definitely they knew who provided the atmosphere for the attack.

British envoy dies in Lagos CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“Someone died at the airport. Port Health officials are on the matter. We cannot confirm the identity now,” he said. Also, the Commissioner of Police, Airport

Command, Mr. Wahab Salau, also confirmed that a foreigner had died at the airport but declined to reveal the identity of the deceased because of the sensitive nature of the case.

L-R: Director General, Budget Office, Dr. Bright Okogwu; former Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revernue Service (FIRS), Mrs. Ifueko Omogui-Okauru and Chairman, FIRS, Alhaji Kabiru Mashi, during FIRS stakeholders’ forum in Abuja...yesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Obasanjo, others sign petition on Ebola lWHO collaborates with Rivers lSuspected patient dies in LUTH Appolonia Adeyemi, Biodun Oyeleye and Emmanuel Masha

ormer heads of state, business leaders as well as civil society organisations across Africa yesterday launched a petition calling for a more coordinated approach to deal with the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in the region. In a statement through the African Press Organisation (APO), the petitioners, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, explained that the call for action is meant to wake up all citizens to play their role and demands a coordinated response from African governments and international institutions. The petition, according to the statement, is already attracting an increasing number of signatories with the social media hastag: #StoptheQuarantine The APO statement said: “High profile leaders such as former Presidents Mkapa of Tanzania and Obasanjo of Nigeria have signed the petition, as well as Graça Machel, civil society leader and wife of the late President Mandela, former Minister

Youssour N’Dour and a number of prominent leaders and personalities from music, media and business. “As the Ebola virus becomes an overwhelming human catastrophe affecting public health, social institutions and economic well-being in Africa, we stand in solidarity with our fellow citizens in the countries victimised by this deadly disease." Also, officials of WHO have arrived Port Harcourt to assist the Rivers State Government in combating EVD, which has claimed the life of a medical doctor. The Country Director of WHO, Rui Vaz, yesterday in Port Harcourt, assured Nigerians that the EVD can be checked if adequate hygienic basic standard are strictly adhered to. Vaz said that WHO would provide technical support to Rivers, which he described as an important economic part of the country that needs special attention. He said WHO deployed its officials from Lagos to help establish the emergency operation centre (EOC) immediately there was outbreak of the disease in Rivers. Meanwhile, the Lagos University Teach-

ing Hospital (LUTH), Lagos, was yesterday thrown into panic when two patients suspected to be infected with EVD were reportedly brought into the hospital. Confirming this development in LUTH, a resident doctor at the hospital, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that the patient was brought in on Monday by an airport ambulance, after he had been rejected care at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja in Lagos. According to the doctor, the suspected case was severely ill and showed symptoms of the EVD, including high temperature, vomiting blood and stooling. The said patient, however, reportedly died, due to the severity of his illness and lack of care, as doctors and nurses on duty at the time were not equipped with protective gears required to attend to such cases for precaution. When contacted on phone, Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof. Akin Osibogun said: "We do not have a confirmed case. We maintain a high index of suspicion in public health interest and investigate any suspected

case." In a related development, Japanese researchers said they had developed a new method to detect the presence of the Ebola virus in 30 minutes, with technology that could allow doctors to quickly diagnose infection. Prof. Jiro Yasuda and his team at Nagasaki University said their process is also cheaper than the system currently in use in West Africa where the virus has already killed more than 1,500 people. It was, however, learnt that the human trial of experimental vaccine for Ebola would begin this week. The United States Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, in a statement yesterday said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had given the researchers at the institute the approval to begin the human safety trial. The experimental vaccine, developed by the phar maceutical company GlaxoSmithKline and the NIAID, will first be given to three healthy human volunteers to see if they suffer any adverse effects.

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Peace summit orders dismantling of militias in Nasarawa Cheke Emmanuel LAFIA

n a bid to find lasting solution to the persistent communal crisis in Nasarawa State, the peace summit convened yesterday by Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, has ordered for the immediate dismantling of all militia groups operating in the state. The summit equally resolved that government should detail appropriate security agencies in the state to apprehend and prosecute all persons or

0.06%

group of persons found prophesying the outlawed Ombatse Cult Group. The position of the peace summit was contained in a communiqué read by Mohammed Abubakar Ahmadu and issued to journalists at the end of the exercise held at the Government House, Lafia, the state capital. The communiqué read in parts: “That government and security agencies should collaborate with community leaders and cultural associations to disarm ethnic militia

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Nigeria in 2000. Source: Itu.int

groups in the state. “The summit support the proscription of Ombatse as it is already outlawed. Anybody prophesying membership of the cult group should be apprehended and prosecuted.” To ensure permanent peace in the state, the summit advocated for a visible roles for the traditional rulers in the state to compliment government efforts, hitherto suggesting that an executive bill be sent to the state assembly for enactment in order to have their roles codified.

66,000

The total number of internet users in St. Vincent & Grenadines in 2008. Source: Blatantworld.com

The summit said; “Government should expedite efforts in getting people back to their homes and also to provide enough security and relief materials and resettlement of displaced persons.” In the meantime, top stakeholders in the Nasarawa State project, who include ex-governor Aliyu Akwe Doma; Information Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku; Senators Suleiman Adokwe and Solomon Ewuga among others were conspicuously absent at the event.

114

The sex ratio of women to 100 men in Martinique in 2012. Source: Un.org

Fashola calls for negative media on PDP Muritala Ayinla

overnor Babatunde Gyesterday Fashola of Lagos State charged the

Publicity Secretaries of All Progressives Congress across the 36 states of the federation to intensify campaigns against the Peoples Democratic Party-led Federal Government, saying Nigerians expect much from the party than to keep mum in the face of bad policies of the ruling party. Fashola, who hinged the party's success in the forthcoming general elections on APC's ability to engage the PDP government on issues, said that is what drives politics globally. He said if the APC had had the opportunity to be in control of the nation's resources, the party would perform better than the ruling PDP, going by the performances of the APCcontrolled states. Speaking when he

received state Publicity Secretaries of APC from 34 states, Fashola charged the party's spokespersons to embark on aggressive campaign against the PDP controlled government, especially in the areas where the government had failed to address issues affecting the citizens. He said:"You are making history for coming together. Definitely, for the kind of politics we play, we are going forward because clearly the APC has changed the game and people expected us to do normal things but they are seeing APC organising public lectures and clearly people are seeing that something must be different here. "The responsibility rests on all of you to reinforce the idea that drive every other party. We are going to hold every other party with issues; that is what drives politics and we are going to discuss those issues frontally.

NMA wants EVD committee Obinna Odoh ABUJA

Nigerian Medical Thashe Association (NMA) called on the Federal

L-R: Project Director, Montgomery West Africa, Mr. Mark Anderson; Managing Director, Mr. Tori Abiola and Sales Agent (West Africa), Mr Joju Adekanbi, at the inauguration of Propak West Africa Trade Exhibition in Lagos …yesterday

2015: I'll be with Jonathan till the end, says Yuguda FOREVER

Bauchi governor promises to swim or sink with Jonathan, dismisses APC links Lateef Ibrahim ABUJA

auchi State Governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda has raised the alarm that some desperate politicians are out to cause disaffection between him and President Goodluck Jonathan. Yuguda, yesterday in a telephone interview with Journalists, warned those involved to desist from the evil plot as they would not make progress though such means. According to him, "I am aware of the desperation of some politicians to cause disaffection be-

…Dismisses rumour of his planned defection to APC tween me and Abuja for their selfish interests. Let me warn such politicians to desist from the evil plot as they would not make progress though such means". The Bauchi State Governor equally dispelled rumours making the rounds that he has concluded plans to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, blaming his opponents for the spread of the false information. Yuguda pointed out that he had never contemplated leaving the PDP for the APC, so as to be able to help President Goodluck Jonathan win his re-election next year. The governor, who described himself as a diehard supporter of Jonathan, wondered how he could have left the

President half way into his presidency when he (Jonathan) needed him (Yuguda) most to consolidate his position on the political turf. The Bauchi State Governor pointed out that since Jonathan came on board as Nigeria’s President, he had remained one of his unrepentant supporters and would continue to work for his success. His words, “Let it be known to those who did not know that I remain one of the unrepentant loyalists of President Goodluck Jonathan and I will continue to work with him even after he might have left office as our president. “It is also a known fact that since Jonathan became president, I have been one of his most consistent supporters. What

then am I going to do in APC, as the tale bearers are insinuating? “Over the years, I have used the solid political structures I have developed to work hard for Jonathan’s success in my state and I will continue to work with him in whatever capacity he desires and nobody can stop us", he said. The governor boasted that he had what it takes to deliver his state for the ruling PDP and that there was nothing for the party to fear or for him to cross over to the opposition. He said he did not need to defect to the opposition in order to win any position of interest in next year’s election and that the PDP was a better platform to him to realise any potential office.

Government to create a functional EVD Control Committee in all levels of government to ensure positive and effective result in the fight against Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria. The association also urged the Federal Government to police all the nation’s borders and ports to avert further importation of the virus into the country. This was contained in a communiqué issued and signed by the President of NMA, Dr. Lawrence Obembe after the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Awka, Anambra State, last weekend, to strategize on the possible ways of tack-

ling the challenges of Ebola Virus in Nigeria. During the meeting, NEC of the NMA commended the efforts of the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government, so far, in containing the spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak, and attempts at establishing isolation centres in the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). However, NEC observed that the essential structures and framework for containing the outbreak on a national scale are yet to be in place, particularly at the state and local government levels. “NEC, therefore, calls on Federal Government to take a step further in ensuring the creation of functional EVD control committees at all levels of

Insurgency: No birthday greetings for me, says Shettima associate of GovAof media ernor Kashim Shetima Borno State, Isa Gusau,

has kicked against some sponsored messages placed in some national dailies yesterday to congratulate Shetima on his 48th birthday, saying that those behind the media messages acted in good faith but in defiance to the governor's appeal. Gusau disclosed that his principal had circulated a message since last week, urging anyone desirous of placing adverts on his birthday to channel the funds to victims of insurgency in different camps within and outside Borno State. Despite his warning, many of his wellwishers still went ahead to sponsore paid adverts in

some newspapers. His words: “Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima has sent messages to friends, family members, political associates’ and companies dealing with Borno, appealing to them against sponsoring goodwill messages on Newspapers, Magazines, Television and Radio on his 48th birthday on Tuesday, September 2, 2014. “The Governor had circulated the message since last week through personal means but decided to use the mass media now after seeing a paid advert in some Newspapers yesterday sponsored by some well wishers, acting though in good faith but in defiance of the governor's appeal."

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Enugu: Onyebuchi may resign as deputy director Uwakwe Abugu ENUGU

here are strong indicaTGovernor tions that former Deputy of Enugu State,

Manager, Manpower Planning and Resourcing, Dr. Sophia Horsfall (left), receiving the award on behalf of NLNG from the former Deputy ViceChancellor, University Port Harcourt, Prof. Bene Willie Abbey, in Port Harcourt

SHADOWS

Chief Arthur Eze is man enough to speak out, Kalu's spokesman insists

he Abia State government was yesterday advised against linking its predicament to former governor Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu. Kalu's media adviser, Mr Ebere Wabara, was reacting to a press briefing by the government on Monday which alleged that Kalu influenced Daily Sun publication of critical statements against the state by multi-billionaire, Mr. Arthur Eze, who was a guest of the state at the celebrations marking its 23rd anniversary.

Leave Kalu alone, media aide tells Abia govt In a statement, Wabara said there was no way Kalu could have intervened in what Eze unambiguously said or its publication. According to him, Kalu had been in London in the past two weeks amid a tight schedule as to have time for banal commemorative issues at home. “In any case, The Sun Group of Newspapers is a chain of credible news media with some of the best professionals in the industry in its employ. The philosophy of the conglomerate is enshrined in objectivity and robust pro-

fessionalism. “Kalu is one publisher who does not meddle in the day-to-day administration of his newspapers. The Abia Information Commissioner can forensically verify this fact. “It is not for the state government to hallucinate on the inalienable declarations credited to Eze and dumbly think, out of mischief and brazen stupidity, that the publication was doctored by Kalu. The damning assessment of the state was made at a public forum held at the Michael Okpara Au-

New polling units: Group accuses INEC of sabotaging 2015 elections Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

political pressure Avival group, South East ReGroup (SERG) has

accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega of programming the 2015 to fail. The group, in a statement yesterday was reacting to the allocation of 150,000 polling units recently created by the

commission to the six geopolitical zones of the country, saying the commission is working to disenfranchise people from certain geo-political zones. The statement signed by its Coordinator, Chief Willy Ezugwu warned that the outcome of the elections may be widely rejected if Professor Jega and INEC do not correct what he described as the “glaring shortcomings” in the distribution of poll-

ing centres. “It is baffling that Professor Jega can allocate as many as 5, 000 polling units to the north east where people are fleeing from because of the on-going insurgency and in the same breath allocate a paltry 1,500 units to the south east, which is playing host to a large number of those who fled back to their home states because of the insecurity", Chief Ezeugwu stated.

Oladapo: Why I dumped APC for PDP Kunle Olayeni ABEOKUTA

of the Ogun Ablymember State House of Assem, Adijat Adeleye-Olada-

po, has declared that the unending crisis in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state would wreck the party’s chances in the 2015 general elections. Adeleye-Oladapo, representing Ifo I1 constituency, spoke in Ewekoro yesterday shortly after submitting her letter of intent to contest for a seat in the House of Representatives on the platform of Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP). The lawmaker, who formally defected from the APC to PDP last week, lamented that the ruling party had been “personalized.” She said: “I believe for anyone who follows the trend of happenings in Ogun State would have known what is happening in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. What we were taught is party politics and party supremacy but a situation whereby party politics now becomes personal politics, then there will be problem.

“Yes, there are other issues but constitutionally, part of the reasons the constitution allows a legislator or an elected person to cross to other party is when there is breakdown of law and order in a party. During the last congress, we had parallel congresses instead of a single congress. The party has been factionalised. It’s just like what happened in 2009 to 2011 in Ogun State under PDP. “But it is highly unfortunate that part of leadership of the APC in Ogun State did not learn from the crisis that happened under PDP," Adeleye Added.

ditorium, Umuahia, with multifarious dignitaries in attendance. “The onus of any rebuttal is on Eze—not any government official embarrassed by Eze’s affirmation of facts known by everyone worldwide who is familiar with information mechanics,” Wabara stated.

Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, may resign from the state civil service any time now. Onyebuchi, who was impeached last week by the state House of Assembly is to serve as deputy director in the state Civil Service following his deployment to that effect by the state government. However, the development yesterday generated response from the state chapters of opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) and the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which traded tackles as the opposition party’s attack on Governor Sullivan Chime attracted prompt reprisal attack from the PDP. Whereas the state Publicity Secretary of APC, Mrs. Kate Offor, in a statement, berated Chime over the redeployment, saying that “in sum, APC Enugu State Chapter regards the caricature appointment of Chief Sunday Onyebuchi as a huge joke and theatre of the absurd”, the PDP counterpart, Dr. Okey Eze fired back at the APC, saying, “the reaction of the APC to the redeployment

of Mr Sunday Onyebuchi to the Civil Service is typically and characteristically uninformed and full of mischief. The party appears not to know the difference between the words "appointment" and redeployment". As a deputy director, the former number two man may not earn up to N100,000 per month but a dependable government source hinted yesterday that Onyebuchi may decide to resign his appointment, which had subsisted since he joined partisan politics. Efforts yesterday to lay hands on the letter deploying the former deputy governor to return to the civil service said to have been issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Amaechi Okolo, were unsuccessful. Hence, it was not possible to identify the time limit given him to report to the State Civil Service Commission for his deployment to a ministry or urgency for specific schedule but the government source was of the view that the development which is seen as humiliation of the embattled former deputy governor is likely to lead to his quick response by resigning his appointment to avoid being further ridiculed.

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Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Aspirants urged to support Obuh Gabriel Choba UGHELLI

s the political clock Awards continues to tick to2015 general elec-

tions and the emergence of aspirants for the different elective offices, Delta Governorship aspirants have been advised to queue behind Tony Obuh in the gubernatorial seat of the state. This call was made through a group, Canvassers for Good Governance,

based in Delta during its monthly meeting held in Sapele yesterday, while announcing its support for Obuh's ambition. The group stated that having appraised and assessed those who have expressed interest in taking over from the current Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, it arrived at the conclusion that Mr. Obuh was the best suited and equipped to lead the state.

Jonathan’s work’ll speak for him — Group Cajetan Mmuta L-R: Minister of State FCT, Jumoke Akinjide; Director Legal Drafting, Isah Bin Abdullahi and Head of Department Infrastructure, Nairda Limited, Yair Segal, after the signing of Gidan Daya Engineering infrastructure in Abuja …yesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Crude oil theft drops from 2.6m barrels to 9,000 — Navy Emmanuel Onani and Adeola Yusuf

he Nigerian Navy has hinted of a reduction in the quantity of crude oil stolen from the country. Speaking while receiving the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Joseph Dawha in his office yesterday, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, said between January and June, crude oil theft dropped substantially, from 2.6 million barrels to a little over 9, 000 barrels.

According to Jibrin: "In the last seven months, I can say that we have recorded huge success, particularly with respect to oil theft and piracy. "In January, for instance, we recorded about 2.6 million barrels in oil theft. "But, in June, based on the record we have here, it has dropped to nine hundred and something thousand barrels of crude oil theft. "And we will continue to do our job until this theft is brought to an appreciable level, to the extent that people will not show interest;

FCTA, NAIRDA sign N14bn camp development deal Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

ederal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) yesterday signed a contract worth N14 billion to provide engineering infrastructure at the proposed Labour camp for FCT staff who are currently living in old Labour camp, Nyanya. Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, who signed the contract with the representatives of NAIRDA Limited, the company that would execute the project, said the UNHabitat has designated the old Labour camp as unfit for human

habitation. The new Labour camp, according to her, is sited at Gidan Daya in Kurudu District of the FCT, adding that the project would be executed for the period of 36 months. She explained that residents of the old Labour would be relocated to the new camp, once the infrastructure are fully provided there. The project, she explained, would be funded through the FCT Statutory budget and National budget under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Project (SURE-P).

LG Poll: Tension grips Sapele LP Gabriel Choba UGHELLI

head of the October AElection 25 Local Government in Delta State,

tension has gripped the entire membership of Labour Party in Sapele Local Government Area as rumour emerged that an aggrieved member of the party Rev. Ughayeju David, has decided to pitch camp with another party. Oghayeju, aka Davogho, who contested the party primaries for the chair-

manship position, was alleged to have won the primaries in all the wards in Sapele, but according to him, was sidelined in favour of another candidate. Oghayeju, who spoke to New Telegraph yesterday on the development, explained that he actually won the primaries but was allegedly manipulated out in favour of another aspirant, explaining that he and his followers may decide to defect to another party.

the task is huge but it is surmountable", the naval chief stated. While expressing regret that some unscrupulous elements engage in exporting the stolen crude, he, however, observed that some establish illegal refineries, for purposes of refining the commodity. His words: "Apart from that...before I came on board, it was a huge challenge that we were recording piracy and sea robbery in our waters on a daily basis, that foreign navy felt they could be of assistance. "And, some of us felt challenged. That is why

the first thing we did was to have effective patrols around ships at anchorage position. "And today, I can say that we have been able to check piracy within Lagos water to the barest minimum. "I cannot say it is not in existence, but we can count it that in a month, we may record up to one or maybe one or two", he noted. Earlier, Dawha told his host that "there is the need to strengthen the close ties between the navy and NNPC for the socio-economic growth and stability of our fatherland."

Obiano gets N13.8bn supplementary budget Tony Okafor AWKA

he Anambra State House Tpassed of Assembly yesterday a supplementary

budget of N13.8 billion presented to it by the executive last Thursday for the services of the state The Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation , Ms Nikky Ugochukwu, had on Aug. 29, moved a motion for that purpose. According to her, the supplementary budget was necessary, based on the executive request to approve

it to ensure that the good service pledged to the citizens was not interrupted. Ugochukwu urged the lawmakers to give urgent attention to the request of the executive as part of its responsibility to the people. The Minority Leader, Mr Tony Muonagor (APC Idemili North ) said that there was urgent need for the passage of the supplementary budget as according to him, that would enable the government provide basic facilities yearned for by the people.

BZF threatens to sue IGP Uwakwe Abugu ENUGU

or the detention of its Fwuka leader, Benjamin Onand many other members in the group in the past two months over attempts to take over the Enugu State Broadcasting Station, the Biafra Zionist Federation( BZF) has threatened to drag the inspector general of police to the International Court of Justice. In a release yesterday in Enugu, the group also called on President Goodluck Jonathan to order

the immediate release of its leader and other members, who have been in detention over the incident. BZF members were arrested after they had attempted to gain entrance into the Enugu State Broadcasting Service, (ESBS) with the intention of making a live-broadcast to institute the so-called sovereignty of the federation but they were later arrested and paraded before journalists in Enugu from where they were moved to the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.

BENIN

espite the barrage Dtacks of criticisms and aton the government

of President Goodluck Jonathan over security challenges in the country, a sociology-political group, the Goodluck for Transformation, (G4T), said yesterday that the undue distractions and the daunting security problem cannot stop his

re-election bid come 2015 general elections in the country. The National President of the G4T and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State, Chief (Mrs.) Evelyn Omokhodion, said Jonathan deserves a second term because he has recorded landmark achievements in key sectors of the economy that touches on the lives of citizens.

Council boss cautions Lanlehin against attacks on Ajimobi Sola Adeyemo IBADAN

aretaker Chairman, CLocal Ibadan North West Government, Hon.

Wasiu Olatubosun, has cautioned Senator Olufemi Lanlehin to refrain from his incessant media attacks on the person of Governor Abiola Ajimobi for the purpose of scoring cheap political points. Olatubosun, who described the Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial district in the National Assembly as a peculiar drowning political actor, said that he has emerged the best apostle of double speak in the current political dispensation in view of his activities in the politics of Oyo State. In a statement he per-

sonally issued and made available to journalists in Ibadan yesterday, Olatubosun reacted to an interview published in a national newspaper on Tuesday, where Lanlehin had been quoted to have said that Ajimobi was on his way out of the Agodi government House. "It is sad to note that while the current administration of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State is busy attending to the yearnings and aspirations of the masses, a confused turncoat, who is being traumatized by his ego, as well as insatiable quest for power, is deploying all within his power to sabotage the genuine efforts to move the state forward as championed by Sen. Abiola Ajimobi.”

2015: No going back on motorcycle ban — Lagos APC Temitope Ogunbanke ll Progressives Congress (APC) has reiterated its commitment towards the Road Traffic Law, regulating motorcycles (okada) operations in Lagos State, saying that the party would encourage the state government in implementing the law to the letter. Addressing a press conference in Lagos yesterday, Lagos State chapter chairman of APC, Otunba Henry Ajomale, said that any attempt by Lagos State government to revert its decision on okada operation in Lagos would put the ruling party in trouble because the traffic laws has

reduced accidents rate in the state. Ajomale said APC was in support of the traffic law because it defends human existence and therefore, the party would continue to support the state government doing everything to the save the life of the people. His words: "We are going ahead to enforce it. If we reverse, our party and government will be in trouble. Nigeria is developing and okada should not be a means of livelihood. PDP is using the okada issue as a political tool, therefore encouraging okada riders to disobey the laws of Lagos State.

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Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Catholic Diocese declares 30 day mourning for late bishop Tony Okafor he Catholic Diocese Tstate of Awka, Anambra has declare a 30 day

L-R: Enugu State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Chris Okoro; Vice-Chancellor, Administration, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Prof. Edwin Igbokwe and Registrar/CEO, Librarians' Registration Council of Nigeria, Dr. Victoria Okojie, during the opening of the workshop on Application of free and Open Source Software in Library Operations in Enugu…yesterday

8.01

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Botswana in 2012. Source: Itu.int

The life expectancy (in years) of women at age 60 years in Bosnia & Herzegovina in 2010-2015. Source: Un.org

$US467.6bn The nominal GDP of Saudi Arabia (World Bank) in 2009. Source: Blatantworld.com

2nd Niger Bridge: Community protests, demands compensation COMPENSATION

With homes and farmlands lost to the 2nd Niger Bridge, life is no longer the same Okegwo Kenechukwu ONITSHA

he people of OkoAmakom community in Delta State have staged a protest against unfair payment of compensation for the second Niger Bridge project by the Federal Government. In a letter signed by Chief Jideofor Anosike, Chairman Powerline, Johnbull Nwabueze secretary and Edwin Obiora youth leader, titled Power line Oko-Amakom community Delta State, the people expressed dis-

pleasure over the manner compensation was being paid by the federal government. The protest letter which is dated August 23 was addressed to the honourable minister, Federal Ministry of works Mabushi, Abuja and copied to Julius Berger and Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyor and Valuer and its appointed attorneys. The letter reads in part: “We the community of Oko-Amakom and power line settlers wishe to express our displeasure in the mode of compensation of the 2nd Niger Bridge by the Federal Government of Nigeria and wish to complain as follows. That we are in full support of the construction of the second Niger Bridge which

we admitt will enhance economic and social activities in Anambra and Delta State. “That after the joint inspection of our properties, economic crops, and trees by the Federal Government Consultant and our dully appointed attorneys, we were surprised that we were not consulted by the Federal Government consultants before arriving at the value of our properties. “That the rate used by the consultants was too low as a four bedroom Bungalow which cost millions of naira to build was under-estimated to be compensated with only two hundred thousand naira.” They also claimed that a member of the community (names withheld) has committed suicide

by plunging into the river Niger when he was under paid by the Government. The letter also quoted the community as saying: “We know and strongly believe that the present government love and has the interests of the poor masses at heart, therefore we are pleading for the upward review of the value or let the Government resettle us so that the effect of the project will not overwhelm us”. The protesters numbering over two hundred people including elderly men, women, youths and children carried placard with different inscriptions such as Julius Berger pay us for our property, federal Government come to our rescue as well as we will die over our property; among others.

Ebonyi Assembly crisis: Factional speaker, others shun sitting Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

ollowing an Abakaliki High court ruling, urging the Ebonyi State House of Assembly to go back to status quo and pronouncing Rt. Hon. Chukwuma Nwazunku as the authentic Speaker of the House of Assembly, the embattled factional Speaker, Hon. Mrs. Helen Nwobashi, and six others yesterday shunned the house plenary sitting. Others who shunned the sitting includes the Deputy Speaker, Hon Blaise Orji, the Leader of the House, Hon Sam Nwali, the Chief Whip, Hon

Ogbonnaya Ikoro, the Minority Leader and All Progressives Congress APC arrowhead in the House, Hon Enyi Enyi. The trial judge, Justice Chinyere Ken-Eze had in her ruling held that the status quo before the purported impeachment be maintained. The suit was brought before the court by Nwobashi and 17 others urging the court to restrain Nwazunku from parading himself as Speaker. In yesterday’s plenary after more than one month of the protracted crisis that rocked the house, 6 members of the Assembly loyal to the embattled fac-

tional Speaker, Nwobashi attended the sitting of the House presided over by Rt. Hon Nwazunku. Meanwhile there was a mild drama at the Speaker’s quarters shortly before the plenary when 2 out of the 6 members of the House Hon. Chris Uzulor, representing Ezza South Constituency and the Minority Whip and member Representing Ezza North East Constituency staged a walk out after refusing to address the press pledging their loyalty to Nwazunku as their other colleagues has earlier done. New Telegraph gathered that the 6 lawmakers who came to the quarters

at about 9am held a meeting with speaker Nwazunku alongside other lawmakers. The meeting which lasted for over one hour however saw the 6 returning lawmakers arguing on the rational of addressing the press on their unalloyed loyalty and support to the Speaker. It was further gathered that Uzulor and Nwobashi had to walk out of the Speaker’s quarters following the insistence of the member Representing Onicha East constituency, Hon Odefa Obasi Odefa that the returning lawmakers must address the press and pledge their unalloyed loyalty to Nwazunku.

mourning period for the late Bishop Simon Okafor who died on 29th August. One of the parishioners made this known in a press briefing at St. Patrick’s Church, Awka yesterday. He said within the 30 days which started last Sunday, the laity and clerics of the diocese would be praying for the repose of the soul of the late Bishop in accordance with the Catholic beliefs and doctrine. He said though the late Bishop Okafor’s good works could follow him to wherever he would be,

there was still need for devotion for the late Bishop. He said the deceased was known for his simplicity Bishop Ezeokafor of Awka, who lamented that the late Bishop went through excruciating pains of sickness since 2009 when he stepped aside, said he went home fulfilled. He said the late Bishop would be buried on the October 7, with a funeral mass expected to be presided by Francis Cardinal Arinze. Bishop Okafor who was born on 16th November, 1934 became auxiliary bishop of Awka diocese from 1992 to 1994, and substantive bishop of the diocese from 1994 to 2009.

FIRS to prosecute tax offenders Kenneth Tyohemba ABUJA

he Federal Inland RevTsays enue Service (FIRS) it will intensify its

efforts on tax payment compliance by always prosecuting tax law offenders. Acting Executive Chairman, FIRS, Kabir Mashi stated this yesterday in Abuja during a Stakeholders' Engagement Forum organized by FIRS with the focus of improving on the non-oil tax revenues. Mashi while soliciting for the cooperation of the stakeholders for the fulfillment of FIRS mandate of revenue generation, particularly pointed at Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) who according to him, have a major role to play in ensuring tax compliance. He enjoined the MDAs

to comply with all relevant tax laws, which require them to deduct and remit withholding tax and value added tax promptly from payments, which they make to contractors and service providers as well as deducting and remitting personal income tax from employees. "You should assist your staff in complying with annual filing requirements and also in processing tax clearance certificates through official channels, so that your employees do not patronize touts or obtain fake tax clearance certificates. “You should in addition, continue to assist us with relevant data and information on taxpayers, should we require such, and also verify with us any tax documents which your contractors provide especially tax clearance certificates", he said.

UPP blasts Orji over infrastructural decay in Abia Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

United Progressive Tedhe Party (UPP) has lamentwhat it called infrastruc-

tural decay that Abia state under Governor Theodore Orji has witnessed since he came to office in 2007. It said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led government in Abia state has failed the people. The party in a statement issued yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Ogbuehi Dike said Governor Orji's regime has taken the state back to the dark ages lamenting that he has no idea on how to transform the state and provide dividends of democracy to the long suffering people of the state. It however expressed determination to win Abia state in 2015 to clean up the infrastructural decay saying: "the state stinks since Governor Theodore Orji

captured power in 2007" While calling on citizens of the state who are eligible to vote to make sure they register and obtain voters' card ahead of next year election so as to vote PDP out of office, the party noted that "Abia State needs an intensive surgery to clear the PDP misrule that mortgaged the destiny of the people for a mess of pottage from our common patrimony." It maintained that it is on a rescue mission to save Abia state from extinction and captivity. "The famous Enyimba city, Aba has become a zoo while Umuahia, the State capital is a glorified village. Abia State popularly known as God’s Own State has become a laughing stock in the Federation due to inept leadership of Governor Orji who juxtaposed developmental projects with cronyism infrastructure."

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ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

WednesDAY, September 3, 2014

FRUSTRATION

A suspect says he embraced robbery as he became frustrated after LASTMA officials impounded his commercial bus Juliana Francis

suspected robber, Echefulachi Alozie, said that the seizure of his commercial bus by officials of the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) forced him to go into robbery. Alozie was arrested by detectives from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos, along with two other members of his gang, Benson Onome and Koko John. Detectives described the suspects as “notorious armed robbery gang which specialises in breaking the windscreen of vehicles and robbing motorists in traffic jam within Lagos and its environs”. The gang’s downfall started after police ar-

hree minors almost lost their lives yesterday when fire gutted their four-storey building in Onitsha, Anambra State. The incident happened at 62 Francis Street in Onitsha North Local Government Area. The mother of the minors, according to the residents of the area, locked them up in the house and went to play betting game called “Baba Ijebu) when the house went up in flames. The three kids were said to be sleeping in their one-room apartment of the fourth floor when the fire broke out about 12:30pm. Their mother (name withheld), it was learnt, is addicted to Baba Ijebu as she plays it on daily basis. The betting centre is located at Awka Road near Mandilas bus stop about four kilometres from the scene of incident. The father of the minors, who neighbours said was into sale of recharge cards, has in the

0802 393 8212

‘How LASTMA officials forced me into robbery’

rested Alozie at the Ijora Orile area of the metropolis. The gang used to use stones, generators or motor plugs to hurl at vehicles’ windscreen, smashing them, after which they would attack the occupants. Alozie, 32, who has a six-months-old daughter, said it was never his intention to take to robbery, adding that LASTMA officials compelled to embrace it, after they seized his bus, which was his only source of livelihood. He said: “My wife doesn’t know that I’m an armed robber. I joined the robbery gang early this year. I stopped driving after my bus was seized by LASTMA. “I joined the robbery gang because my wife was pregnant at the time my bus was seized. Things happened swiftly and I

Three minors cheat death in Onitsha fire Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

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

past engaged her wife in physical combat following her addiction to Baba Ijebu. “WethankGodthatthe lives of these kids were saved. There was a sound of explosion in their flat which was followed by a thick smoke. It attracted passers-by who rushed to the flat, forced the door open and brought out the three kids. Their mother, who returned from where she had gone to play lottery, looked stupid, hopeless and helpless and could not immediately explain the cause of the incident. There was no power supply to the area for weeks,” a close family source said.

didn’t know what else to do. I didn’t have money to feed or cater for her and our unborn baby.” Alozie said he was introduced to robbery by one Mr Pepper. John, 22, a mechanic apprentice before he joined robbery, said Alozie convinced him to become a robber. While expressing regrets, John disclosed that he had participated in several robbery operations. He said: “We don’t make much from these operations. Most times when we steal laptops and phones we sell them at ridiculous prices. We sell Techno phones between N8000 and N10,000. We sell the HP laptop for N15,000. I’ve sold over 20 laptops.” Onome, a bus conductor, described the armourer of the gang, said

The suspects

he was also initiated into robbery by Alozie. He said: “I was on my own when Alozie came to my house and gave me a gun to keep for him. He gave me the gun to keep because he knew it would be secured with me. The leader of the gang is Mr Pepper who

came and gave me another gun to keep. “Each time they are going for operations, they would come and meet me to collect the guns. The money I received from them is between N1,500 and N3,000. “I have never participated in any of their opera-

tions. I got involved with the gang as a result of my greed. Sometimes I won’t get a driver to work with. So helping them keep their guns was helping me out financially.” The police are, however, on the trail Mr Pepper and One Amaechi.

Reptiles invade FGGC Ikot Obio Tony Anichebe Uyo

arents of students of PGirls’ Federal Gover nment College, Ikot Obio

Itong, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, have called the Federal Government to save their children from reptiles. The appeal followed continued invasion of the college’s dormitory by reptiles such as snakes and other dangerous animals. Besides deep holes caused by the topography of area, which provided habitation for the snakes, grasses have taken over the hostels’ roof. A parent and member of Parent-Teacher-Association of the college, Mr Bassey Eyo, said the deplorable state of infrastructure in the college had become cause for

Party has inauLinabour gurated its secretariat Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State. It also inaugurated ward secretariats at Ward 6, Itunsokun; Wards 4 and 5, Sabo; Ward 8 Latawa and Ward 12 Isote, all in Sagamu. The recent inauguration also featured the unveiling of Plasma Television, DSTV

tion was so bad that the principal had to vacate her office which had collapsed and had to take refuge in one of the classrooms she converted to be her new office. He said: “Snakes are natural a phenomenon here. Where walls have fallen apart, the college is not properly fenced or fumigated; the place becomes haven for reptiles. My daughter and her friends have often times been complaining of invasion of reptiles in the college. Education Minister, Ibraham Shekarau “Since the inception of the college, first as a concern. teachers’ training college, He said that the develop- for more than 40 years, nothment was caused by long ing has been added to reflect neglect of the college by the its new status as a Federal Government institution for Federal Government. Eyo added that the situa- grooming girls.

“Even in your house, when you allow dilapidation to set in, snakes could find a place to live. Look at the structures, the walls, and the hostels, the ground itself has opened up due to long period of neglect of the college. “The dormitory, the staff quarters, the principal’s office, even some classrooms are in a terrible state. “It is hard to imagine that is where government expects to produce future leaders. I am appealing to all the authorities concerned, the Federal Government, who happens to be the proprietor of the school, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and Petroleum Education Trust Fund, to assist.” Another parent, Mrs Tina Okon, said they had cried for help over the deplorable state of the school.

LP inaugurates secretariat in Sagamu systems and generators donated by the Ladi Adebutu Democratic Organisation (LADO) to the party secretariats. A Labour Party chieftain and aspirant for the House of Representatives, Remo Federal Constituency, Ogun

State, Hon Oladipupo Adebutu, enjoined party faithful to remain steadfast. Adebutu reassured the party followers that Labour Party was the only alternative that could deliver on good governance in the state.

He said: “We are still in Labour Party and we remain bona fide members under the able leadership of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, a great leader with uncommon acumen, an astute mobiliser, who successfully coordinated the Goodluck

Jonathan campaign in South-West in the 2011 presidential election.” Adebutu urged the party members to disregard propaganda that the Labour Party was going to merge with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Mimiko orders recruitment of 2,000 teachers overnor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has directed the immediate Grecruitment of 2,000 teachers into the

teaching service. The Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, disclosed this while briefing journalists yesterday. Akinmade said Mimiko directed the state Teaching Service Commission to begin the recruitment exercise in earnest. The exercise, according to him, is part of government’s efforts to create more gainful employment and raise the standard of education in the state. Giving details of the exercise, the commissioner said 1,300 university graduates with teaching education qualification would be employed. He added that 200 National Certificate of Education (NCE) holders and 500 non-teaching staff would also benefit from the exercise. Akinmade said application forms could be obtained online by applicants for free, vide TESCOM website, www. ondotescom.org. Stressing that applicant must be of state origin, Akinmade added that quality control system would be adopted in the employment process. This, according to him, will include computer-based test (CBT), with general paper, core subjects and Use of English as parameters. He added that qualified candidates would be interviewed by TESCOM which had also been saddled with the responsibility of final selection to be followed by one week induction course for successful candidates. The commissioner said the recruitment drive was to strengthen the educational sector at the secondary school level as the government was trying to set a world class standard.

Monarch tasks subjects on Ilara-Mokin’s development Babatope Okeowo Akure

he traditional ruler of IlaraTment Mokin in Ifedore Local GovernArea of Ondo State, Oba

Aderemi Adefehinti, has called on his subjects to be more committed to the socio-economic development of the community. The monarch made the call when the community honoured the past presidents of Egbe Omo Ilara-Mokin and some distinguished sons and daughters of the town, including the Chairman of Toyota Nigeria Limited, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, his late wife, Wuraola, and the Project Environmental Officer in Ondo State World Bank-assisted Fadama III project, Mr Bunmi Falodun, among others. The monarch, who was also among the recipients of the award put in place by the National Association of Ilara-Mokin Students (NAIMS), said the development of the community should not be left in the hands of government alone. Speaking at the programme, which also include the launch of N15 million appeal fund for the construction of the Wuraola Elizabeth Ade-Ojo NAIMS National Secretariat, Adefehinti stressed the need to come together for the uplift of the town.

METRO

Man murdered for refusing to be party thug Taiwo Jimoh

27-year-old man, Abayomi Azeez, has been murdered for refusing to work as a thug for politicians in Ikorodu area of Lagos State. The father of two was shot to death recently in Odonguyan area of Sagamu Road. Azeez was said to have been murdered by hoodlums operating under the codename: ‘Yago Boys,’ around Odonguyan in Ikorodu, where the deceased was working as a security man. His death, which sparked off spontaneous protest, forced the police to arrest some of suspects in connection with the murder.

The elder sister of the deceased, Mrs Omobolaji Modupe, described the attack on her brother as deliberate and planned. Modupe also called on the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, and Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, to ensure that the case is not swept under the carpet. She said: “There are some people who are making moves to ensure that those arrested by the police in connection with the murder are released.” It was gathered that the Yago Boys stormed Jerry Farms in Odogunyan area in several motorcycles and started shouting and thereby caused commotion. “The hoodlums were

Eight arraigned for stealing N24m chemicals

said to have had their target in mind as they went straight to where Azeez, who was working

to join Yago and be useful during the forthcoming general elections. “After he had explained to me, someone began to call him for about nine times and when I asked him why he did not pick the call, he said that it was ‘Honourable’ again. I told him to pick his call and tell the man that he did not want to be part of them,” she added. When contacted, the Lagos State Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Lelma Kolle, confirmed the death of Azeez. He said that one suspect identified as Fashola, popularly known as Ifa, had been arrested in connection with the incident.

Neighbours arrested after wife allegedly killed police inspector

John Edu ight persons have been arraigned before a Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting at Ebute-Meta in Lagos for conniving to steal 24 drums of chemical worth N24 million. The accused, Mark Ekpo (35), Gbenga Soyombo (37), Akindolire Tobi (26), Emmanuel Emordi (32), Ogunbayo Seyi (47) and Bright Hassan (27), allegedly stole the items belonging to N. N. FENS Industry Limited between July 2013 and June 2014. Also charged along with them are Kingsley Uchegwam (26) and Christian Onyekaozulu (40), who allegedly received the stolen items. The police officer in charge of the case, C/48/2014, said that the six major accused were security men, storekeepers and drivers, had between July 2013 and June 2014, while working with N. N. FENS Industry Limited, located at Wemco Road, Ogba, Lagos, did conspire among themselves to steal chemicals known as Lanolin and menthol worth N24 million, property of the company. He added that Kingsley and Christian some drums of the chemicals from Ekpo, a storekeeper with the company, knowing fully well that the products were illegally obtained.

The late Azeez

as a security man, was sitting and engaged him in a conversation, before one of them shot him to death,” Modupe said. She noted that the death of her brother might not be unconnected with his refusal to be initiated into Yago group. “The deceased had reported to me that the coordinator of the Yago Boys (one honourable) had been pestering him to join Yago and that he had refused all attempts to make him join the group. “There was a time he changed his SIM card and when I asked him, he said that it was because of the man and the Yago Boys. He said that the honourable wanted him

Juliana Francis IG, Suleiman Abba

have arrested Plateolice the neighbours of the Inspector Danjuma Daniel at Ijeh Police Barracks, Obalende, Lagos, for not intervening when he was fighting with his wife. Daniel reportedly died after his wife pushed him off the balcony of

their house in the barracks during a fight last Thursday. The couple was said to have a penchant for fighting. Angry by the inspector’s death the police authorities reportedly ordered the arrest of all adults in the barracks for failing to stop the fight and make peace between the husband and wife before it degenerated to a fight. “The police authorities also want to use the neighbours to get to the root of the fight which led to the death of the inspector,” a policeman

said. “We don’t know the cause of the fight yet. But the late inspector and his wife used to fight always. It was nothing new anymore,” a resident said. She said that people living in the barracks were being arrested for failing to intervene when the couple was fighting. The resident alleged that the directive was from the police top hierarchy. Although initial reports said that the inspector fell from the balcony, some of the residents alleged that in the heat of the scuf-

fle, the mother of three pushed her husband off the balcony. “Immediately the man fell, the wife started screaming. As she was rushing down the stairs to go to her husband, she fell down and fractured her leg. The woman was later rushed to the hospital. Before the residents could bring a vehicle to move the inspector to a hospital, he died,” said one of the residents. Most of the residents were said to have broken down and wept after they observed that the man was dead.

Police deny arrest of terrorists in Ogun Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

olice yesterday denied that some suspected Pmembers of Boko Ha-

ram sect were arrested in Akute area of Ogun State. This is contained in a statement signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, and made available to journalists in Abeokuta. Speculations had been rife that some Boko Haram members were spotted in Akute area yesterday, which led some concerned members of the public to send distress calls to the police. But Adejobi debunked the speculations, saying the suspects were actually intending Catholic

Okoye

priests. The PPRO explained that the identities of the people had been confirmed and urged people to remain calm. He said: “The attention of the Ogun State Police Com-

mand has been drawn to a rumour being widely circulated that the command has arrested some members of Boko Haram sect in Akute area of Ogun State. “The command wishes to debunk the rumour and set the records straight that those seen and challenged by members of the public at Akute area were actually students of Franciscal Friars of the Emaculate Seminary School, Sagamu, Ogun State who came on a visit to a friend at Kayode Afolabi Close, Mubarak Estate, Akute, Ogun State, before a distress call was put across to the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ajuwon Division. “The intending Catholic priests were on their normal white robes with

beards which gingered up the suspicion of some people, thus took them for Boko Haram sect members. They were taken to the Police Divisional Office for interrogation where their identities were confirmed. “The leaders and representatives of the said seminary school in Sagamu and the Catholic Priest in Akute as well as the host of the students have come to the Police Division in Ajuwon to identify them as their Catholic members who are actually on training in the school in Sagamu.” Adejobi appealed to people to always clarify issues on security “before spreading wrong and unconfirmed information via all available means”.

12 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Osun gov poll: INEC suspends two for malpractices FRAUD For aiding one of the parties in the August a elections, heads are rolling in Osogbo Adeolu Adeyemo

OSOGBO

wo Electoral Officers (EOs) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State, E.T. Fabunmi and A.O. Osinoye were yesterday suspended by the electoral body for alleged electoral fraud in the last governorship election in Osun state. The two affected officers were said to be part of the EOs that participated in the distribution and collection of sensitive electoral materials in Osogbo and

Obokun Local Governments during the August 9, 2014 gubernatorial election. New Telegraph investigations revealed that the two officers were suspended to allow for critical investigation by the team that came to investigate the offence. Sources hinted that their offences ranged from selling of blank ballot papers to the APC, manipulating Form EC8 series to favour APC and voiding PDP votes counted in favour of the APC. It was alleged that they conspired with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to manipulate electoral process in favour of the party in Osogbo and Obokun Local Government Councils respectively during the election. INEC sources further told newsmen that the ‘de-

velopment is the outcome of preliminary investigations by INEC National Commissioners, who were deployed by the commission to supervise the August 9 election.’ “The two electoral officers are suspended to create enough room for thorough investigation into electoral offences leveled against them. After the investigation must have been concluded, appropriate legal action, if need be, would commence to punish them for the misdemeanor,” the sources hinted further. While confirming the development, INEC National Commissioner, who supervised the election, Ambassador Mohammed Wali said; “The two affected EOs are currently under suspension, pending the outcome of investigations

into issues raised against them.” INEC Director in of Voter Education and Publicity (VEP), Oluwole Osazi-Uzzi, in a telephone interview yesterday, said he was not aware that any staff of the commission has been suspended in connection with the Osun State governorship election. He said he was aware that some INEC staff were being investigated, adding; “but not just INEC staff, others who were involved in the conduct of the election also.” The director said the reporter might have better information than he was having, but as far as he was concerned, the report of the investigation panel has not been submitted.

Ebola: School proprietors seek review of new resumption date Kunle Olayeni

Abeokuta

he National Association TSchools of Proprietors of Private (NAPPS), Ogun

State chapter yesterday kicked against the October 13 resumption date for primary and secondary schools in the country. The association said the extension of the resumption date by the Federal Government beyond the original date of September 15, was inimical to the nation's educational system. Addressing a press conference in Abeokuta, the state NAPPS President, Dr. Abayomi Jiboku, queried the rationalebehindtheextensionand called for a review. Jiboku said if the movement of people was not restricted from states where Ebola cases have been recorded and children are allowed to participate in

NANS pleads with Fayose to reduce tuition fees Adesina Wahab

Ado-Ekiti

he National Association T(NANS) of Nigerian Students Joint Campus

L-R: Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Epiphany Azinge; Chairperson, Committee on Diaspora Matters, House of Representatives, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa; Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), University of Benin, Prof. Obehi Okojie, at the NOA “Do The Right Thing: CAMPUS FOCUS, a students' Re-Orientation Programme in Benin City, Edo State…yesterday

Presidency: We’re creating jobs, not employment Onyekachi Eze

ABUJA

he Presidency yesterday clarified its position on the eradication of unemployment in the country, emphasising that no country provides more than 10 per cent of employment to its citizens. Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation, Mrs. Josephine Washima, at an interaction with newsmen in Abuja, said what government does is to provide enabling environment for private investors that would drive the economy. According to her, President Goodluck Jonathan’s

insistence on the completion of projects in the transportation, power, agricultural and textile sectors, had helped in no small measures, to create more jobs for Nigerians. “Job creation is different from employment; a lot of people get that mixed up. Job creation is the opportunities that generate employment. We don't have employment letters or we don't have employment to give to you, but we have activities that, if followed to the letter, would eventually begin to generate employment. “The government has a huge responsibility in

making sure that there is an enabling environment to kick-start activities that will generate employment,” she stated. She noted that the agricultural, power and transportation sectors are potential for job creation and employment, adding that government is thinking of reviving the textile sector, which provides huge employment for Nigerians. According to her, the Goodluck Jonathan administration has done much despite the series of challenges it inherited. The Presidential aide called on Nigerian youths

to take advantage of government's employment generation activities to get out of unemployment, pointing out that the right environment was being provided for a private sector driven economy in Nigeria, a situation she explained was in vogue in many countries. “I want to make it very clear that this government inherited most of the challenges this country is facing now. And you don't expect these challenges in less than three years, even in seven years to be solved. So, it is something that we have to look at very critically,” she added.

church and mosque activities, then there was no justification extending schools’ resumption date. He argued that the extension was capable of affecting the performances of students in external examinations like West African School Certificate Examination and National Examination Council, because they may not be able to complete the syllabus before the commencement of the exams. He described as unfounded, the claim in some quarters that the school proprietors’ position was driven by pecuniary interests. According to Jiboku, the state government had requested all schools, including private ones, to send two representatives each for training on Ebola Virus Disease protection as well as procure EVD detecting devices.

Committee, Ekiti axis yesterday urged Ekiti State Governor-Elect, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, to reduce tuition fees payable in all state-owned tertiary institutions by 60 percent, when he assumes office. The students also charged him to place premium on youth employment to curb the incidences of robbery and crimes in the society. Addressing journalists in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, newly inaugurated Chairman of the body, Comrade Musa Surajudeen, said state-owned institutions were churning out graduates yearly without commensurate employment opportunities.

The NANS leader urged Fayose to reduce the fees in tandem with the steps being taken by President Goodluck Jonathan, who he said had reduced tuition fees in federal institutions. He also called for prompt payment of bursary and scholarship to students from the state. “Students deserve to enjoy comfort because it is our rights. And we are demanding that hostels should be provided in all the state-owned institutions for quality service delivery and to prevent crimes and extortion of students by landlords,” he said. Meanwhile, a team from the Federal Ministry of Lands and Housing, Abuja yesterday visited Ekiti State in respect of starting work on the Federal Secretariat in the state.

With Mimiko’s defection, APC is dead in Ondo, says Oke Babatope Okeowo

Akure

ormer governorship FDemocratic candidate of the Peoples Party (PDP) in

Ondo State, Chief Olusola Oke, has said that the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) will be easily routed in the state if Governor Olusegun Mimiko, eventually defects from the Labour Party (LP) to the PDP. Oke, who contested against Mimiko on October 20, 2012, described the planned defection of Mimiko to the PDP as a welcome development. The PDP leader in a

statement by his Media Adviser, Mr. Kunle Adebayo, said the merits of the governor’s coming to the party far outweigh the disadvantages. According to him, the opposition APC would be completely dead in the state by the time Mimiko's defection to PDP materialises. Oke expressed optimism that PDP would take over South West in the 2015 general elections. He said: “I see his coming as a plus. First, the governor is bound to come with a large number of followers and supporters, who will add value to our party."

Planning Minister enters Kwara political fray / PAGE 41 | Harvest time for Ladoja’s accord / PAGE 43

POLITICS

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Why demand for increase in derivation failed – Arogbofa

p-42

WEDNESday, September 3, 2014

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Was there a Draft Constitution?

Just before the National Conference adjourned sine die, a major controversy arose among the delegates as to whether the conference had or had no powers to produce a new constitution for Nigeria. It was an argument that polarised the conference and almost rubbished whatever it had achieved. In this report, ONWUKA NZESHI recaptures the controversy, the roles played by some prominent delegates and how it was resolved

The Genesis Long before the 2014 National Conference, the 1999 Constitution has been a source of controversy amongst the political elite, parliamentarians, legal luminaries and public affairs analysts. Many have questioned the authority and legitimacy of the constitution particularly, because of the process that gave birth to it. Others have defended it and dismissed the various criticisms hauled against the same document. The truth is that the 1999 Constitution is an amended version of the 1979 Constitution promulgated into existence through Decree 24 by the General Abdulsalami Abubakar regime on the eve of May 29, 1999. Abubakar, who assumed the leadership of the country following the death of General Sani Abacha had the privilege of executing the shortest military to democratic transition programmes in Nigeria. He did not want to outlive his welcome and so went about the hand-over programme in a hurry. As at the time he took over, the country had no valid constitution because the military had suspended the 1979 Constitution when Major General Muhammadu Buhari and his colleagues in arms sacked the Second Republic in 1983. General Ibrahim Babangida, who took over from Buhari in 1985, had made some efforts to give the country a new constitution but he aborted the experiment with his own hands when he annulled the June 12 1993 presidential elections and set a chain of events that brought in Abacha. In one day on the hot seat, Abacha demolished all the democratic structures built by Babangida and began to build his own structures, one of which was a

L-R: Deputy Chairman, National Conference, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi; Chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi and Conference Secretary, Dr. Valerie Azinge, displaying the final report of the National Conference

constitution that was yet to come into effect when he died in 1998. In furtherance of its commitment to hand over to a democratically elected civilian administration on May 29, 1999, the Federal Military Government inaugurated on November 11,1998 a Constitutional Debate Co-ordinating Committee to start the process of getting a new constitution for the country. After receiving memoranda from Nigerians at home and abroad as well as held public hearings in selected places across Nigeria, the committee concluded that it was “convinced that the general consensus of opinion of Nigerians” was the desire to retain the provisions of the 1979 constitution with some amendments. The committee submitted its report to Gen. Abubakar and the Provisional Ruling Council, which in turn approved and promulgated into force the revised 1979 Constitution. It is imperative to recall too that the 1979 Constitution was similarly midwifed by the then Supreme Military Council when the military made their first retreat from the political arena and ushered in the Second Republic. It has been argued in some quarters that since both the 1979 Constitution and its offspring were decreed into existence for the purpose of the transition from military to democratic rule, there was the need for Nigeria to break from its dark past by developing a new constitution that would flow from the people themselves in a democratic process de-

void of fear and intimidation. Akinrinade Vs Aminu As the 2014 National Conference came on board, it was one of the key issues on the front burner. In a memoranda presented to the conference on the first day of proceedings, constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba recommended among other things, the preparation of a draft constitution. Agbakoba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) canvassed the re-modelling of Nigeria from what he called centralised federalism to a balanced federation with “massive” devolution of powers from the centre

When you look at the documents you have been given, you have the main report in two volumes, the Hansard and the 1999 Constitution with amendments. I repeat, the 1999 Constitution with amendments proposed by you

to the federating units. He ended his eight-page memo thus: “Conference, in addition to producing a report, ought to draft an Executive Bill and attach a Draft Constitution, incorporating our resolutions. In order to make our work relevant, it should be recommended to the President to send an Executive Bill to the National Assembly for referendum and enactment of a new constitution.” A few days later, a former Chief of Defence Staff, General Alani Akinrinade echoed Agbakoba’s position when he made a strong case for the national conference to produce a brand new constitution to replace the 1999 Constitution. Akinrinade admitted that since the 1963 Republican Constitution was suspended by the military in 1966, all the constitutions that have been in use in Nigeria have been dictated at the barrel of the gun, stressing that there was the need to change the system. He recalled that before the military intervention of January 15, 1966, Nigeria was a federation “negotiated painstakingly by our fathers” and lamented that the dismantling of that arrangement has brought the country to its present predicament. “I have therefore thought that this (national conference) is another opportunity for us to throw away this 1999 rental constitution that mandates corruption and be courageous enough, be painstaking enough and cooperative CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

14 INTERVIEW

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Draft Constitution: A document

enough to draw up a new constitution that can take our country to the promised land,” he said. Akinrinade pledged that he was prepared to sacrifice anything to ensure that the National Conference gives birth to a constitution that would be acceptable to the generality of Nigerians. According to him, a true people’s constitution would put a stop to what he described as a rental syndrome that had overtaken the country. But at the same session, a former Minister for Petroleum Resources, Prof. Jubril Aminu said there was nothing wrong with the 1999 Constitution. He said that rather than write a new constitution, the conference should work with the National Assembly on critical areas of amendment to the constitution to make it better. Aminu argued that the trouble was not with the constitution but the inability of the people to do the right things to make the country better. “This conference is one of those conferences we hold in this country. But this one has no compelling antecedents. No June 12, nothing. I sincerely hope that this type of conference also becomes the last one and that we find ways of resolving whatever differences we have today instead of people accumulating venom and asking for a conference only to come and let it out. Our constitution is very good. There is no need to write a new constitution. Like all things it can be made better,” he said. From these two opening shots, it was clear from the beginning that the conversation had just begun. Indeed, the arguments for and against a new constitution continued to reverberate throughout the remaining period of the conference without a clear resolution on the way to go. Consensus Group Underneath the open sessions, there were attempts by some delegates to build consensus on some of the issues arising from the conference committee reports. One of the harbingers of the new draft constitution was a group known as Leaders of Zones Harmonisation Committee. It was constituted by Chief Edwin Clark, Chief Olu Falae, General Ike Nwachukwu, Prof. Jerry Gana, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and Chief Raymond Dokpesi. These leaders agreed that each of the six geo-political zone should nominate three delegates to meet and deliberate regularly on the contentious issues so as to find a common ground to resolve them. The activities of the Consensus Group was however bedevilled by mutual suspicion and the delegates from the three zones of Northern Nigeria withdrew from the group at a stage. This atmosphere of mistrust could be gleaned from the correspondences between Prof. Awwal Yadudu, a prominent northern delegate in the group and Chief Raymond Dokpesi, the co-ordinator of the group. The northern delegates accused the conference secretariat particularly, the Deputy Chairman of the Conference, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi of being part of an alleged plot to use the Consensus Group to foist some resolutions and a new constitution on the conference. This accusation was however denied by Akinyemi and the conference leadership. The document When the National Conference adjourned plenary session on Monday,

Some of the delegates leaving the conference venue with the final report of the conference

July 14, 2014, it was on the understanding that delegates will reconvene after three weeks to ratify the draft report of the conference. The plan was that the secretariat would use the recess to compile the various sections of the resolutions adopted at plenary into a draft report that will be ready for distribution to all the delegates on Monday August 4, 2014. The resumption date was later shifted to Monday August 11 following the inability of the secretariat to make the report available on the earlier scheduled date.

On resumption, the delegates were presented with three volumes of the draft conference report which also included the “Draft Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2014”. Although some delegates were concerned about the voluminous nature of the report and the difficulties of reading and understanding all of it, others were apprehensive about one aspect of the report they found offensive from its title. It was the 181-page document tagged - Draft Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2014.

The document was actually what could be described as a revised version of the 1999 Constitution. Revised in the sense that the various amendments which the conference had agreed by consensus to make in the existing constitution have been made through the new document. The conference secretariat which prepared the document did a good job of reproducing the 1999 Constitution and placing in italics, the appropriate amendments in their respective sections as proposed by the conference. In specific terms, the document threw

vox populi The so-called draft constitution was indeed a controversial document. Obviously, many delegates saw the same document from different perspectives depending on where they stood before the controversy began and their general disposition to change in the polity. Here are some of the reactions of prominent delegates when the battle was over. They spoke in separate interviews with ONWUKA NZESHI

Coomassie: No draft constitution Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie is a former Inspector General of Police and Co- chairman, Northern Delegates Forum at the conference “Well, I am glad it’s all over. All is well that ends well. Let me add, and very Coomassie well too. There is no draft constitution at all. We have the report of the conference, Volumes 1, 2 and 3. That is the one which we accepted after some amendments. No draft constitution at all. No draft bill to the National Assembly at all. What we did was for Nigeria not for the North. We were doing it for the country, not for ourselves. “

Mantu: Draft constitution captures our resolutions

Senator Ibrahim Mantu is a former Deputy Senate President “Let me start by giving kudos to

the secretariat of the National Conference because they are thinking ahead. As you know, our duty was just to produce a report and make sure that what is contained in the report reflects what we resolved Mantu on the floor of the conference. But they went ahead to even propose a draft constitution, which captured virtually everything that was agreed upon at the plenary. They did that to fast track the process of implementation and by so doing, I have no doubt in my mind that the President will forward the report and the proposed draft constitution to the National Assembly so that they can now start the process of turning our recommendations into Acts of Parliament. “I believe that this conference report will not go the way of previous ones, which actually ended up in the dustbin of history. I believe that this one is going to see the light of the day. We will make sure that some of our friends and colleagues

in the National Assembly will encourage them to fast track the process.”

Ahamba: Amendments don’t necessary requires new constitution Chief Mike Ahamba is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a confab delegate “Now, you see, everybody has become a constitutional lawyer in Nigeria. The important thing is: did we decide properly? Did we decide in the interest of Nigeria? If we have, then we shall find a way to make those decisions work. “We didn’t come here to make a new constitution. We were not told not to suggest one. We have no capacity to make a constitution, but we can raise issues that would require a new constitution being made. So it is a question of considering what we have whether it is only going Ahamba to stop at amend-

INTERVIEW 15

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

and its many colours

A delegate carrying the confab report

away most of the vestiges of militarism and in their place fitted in the ingredients of democracy and the popular will of the people. The most visible changes in the document were the delisting of the 774 local government councils and the enlistment of the proposed 18 new states side by side with the existing 36 states. In essence, it deleted the sections the conference resolved should be deleted and added the new clauses and sections that were approved at plenary by consensus. This provoked mixed reactions from

a cross section of delegates. Northern opposition Unfortunately, the document provoked angry reactions from some of the delegates. The Northern Delegates Forum (NDF) promptly rejected the document and described it as a calculated attempt by some fifth columnists at the conference to foist another third term agenda on the country. The forum alleged that adopting a new constitution was a plot to enable incumbent elected office holders who are statute barred

from going for another term having been elected twice to the same office, to go for a third term under the guise of running under a new constitution. The forum comprising delegates from the North West, North East and North Central zones claimed that their members were neither privy to nor were they accessories to the emergence of the controversial document distributed to delegates ahead of the resumption of plenary. Co-chairman of the NDF and former Inspector General of Police, Al-

vox populi ments or it requires a total overthrow of the constitution. “If you look at the American Constitution, you will find out that the amendments are more than the original book itself. So, that we have many amendments does not mean we must have a new constitution. In the American system, they are called Alteration 1, Alteration 2, Alteration 3 and so on. But here, after classifying them as alterations, we go back to the main body of the constitution and begin to readjust the sections of the constitution and in the process, a lot of things go wrong. “So even if we have 50 amendments later, they should be 50 Acts of the National Assembly or one Act showing 50 alterations. The number of suggested amendments does no scare me. It all depends on how fundamental they are. If it is just adjusting what is inside the constitution, even if they are a hundred, it will not require a new constitution. “In any case, let me say it again, the constitution is not our problem. If we had implemented the existing one as it is, we won’t be here. So, whatever we do, if we don’t adjust our thinking, the same problems will continue because Nigeria is being run in breach of the existing laws and the constitution. That is where our problem is; not whether the constitution should be written this way or that way. “I came here and showed you the American Constitution; I also showed you the Chinese Constitution. None of them is more than 50 pages, yet those countries are doing very well. But here, we have a constitution that is already a textbook and we want to put in more.

May God help us.”

Falana: Amendments on state policy more important

Mr. Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), is a human rights activist “I think that a referendum is the best way to get the ratification and imprimatur of the Nigerian people on the proposed amendments to the constitution. But if the President, since he is of the ruling party, wants to put those recommenFalana dations through the National Assembly, so be it. But that is not the only way and that is why the President has to start with policy recommendations. If those policies are popular and they are embraced by the Nigerian people, of course the National Assembly would have no choice but to put the necessary machineries in place to have these recommendations factored into the ongoing constitutional amendments process. “As for me, the most fundamental of all the recommendations is the agreement by all the delegates that Chapter Two of the Constitution, the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy. Those areas of the constitution that has to do with the economic, social and cultural rights of our people will have to be made justiceable. In other

words, if a government does not encourage its people to go to school, you can go to court. If you have no access to health, you can go to court. “

Yakasai: I’ve no issue with draft constitution

Alhaji Tanko Yakasai (OFR) is the chairman, National Elders Council (NEC) and a confab delegate “I have no quarrel with the issue of Draft Constitution. I know that it was not a new constitution. When it was first shared to us and I went through part of it, I became satisfied that what the secretariat did was to lift the areas we amended in the constitution and counter-pose them with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution for the purpose of clarity. “So, I am happy that by and large everybody has come to understand the purpose of that document. Most people particularly in this conference were entertaining fears that the conference might not end well the way it has ended. But since the conference has received the blessing of Almighty God. We started it on a good note and we have ended it on a very peaceful and amicable note. We pray that the gover nment, which convened the conference will put the recommendations Yakasai into practice.”

haji Ibrahim Coomassie who made the position of the group known at a news conference said that northern delegates would have nothing to do with the document because they were not elected and therefore lacked both legal and moral authority to draft a new constitution for Nigeria. Coomassie addressed journalists in the company of other prominent delegates from the North including a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Gen. Jeremiah Useni; former President of the Senate, Dr Iyorcha Ayu; AVM Murktha Mohammed; Emir of Askira, HRH Abdullahi Mohammed Askirama; former Nigeria’s Permanent Representative at the United Nation, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; former Minister of Power and Steel, Dr Bashir Dalhatu; former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Salihu Ibrahim and Hon. Mohammed Kumaila, a former Minority Leader in the House of Representatives. The National Conference, Coomassie said, was constituted as representatives of a broad interests across the federation to serve as an ad hoc advisory mechanism to the President and cannot arrogate to itself the function of making a new constitution for the country. According to him, only an appropriately constituted Constituent Assembly can give the country a new constitution and accused the leadership of the conference of working with some fifth columnists whose goal is to subvert democratic processes and plunge the country into avoidable political crisis. Southern endorsement In a swift reaction to the protest, Prof. Godwin Darah, one of the delegates representing the South-South dismissed the arguments of the NDF as mere propaganda designed to create confusion at the conference. Darah stated that the secretariat of the National Conference only compiled in one booklet, the resolutions of the conference as they related to the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to enable delegates ratify these decisions. He also debunked claims by the northern delegates that the conference has scrapped the local government system in Nigeria. According to him, the conference had resolved by consensus that the local government councils would no longer be a tier of government but administrative units under the states. He said that it was mischievous to equate that decision with scrapping of the councils. “There is nothing like a draft constitution. What we have is a document containing several proposals for amendments to the constitution placed side by side with the existing constitution to guide the President in sending these amendments to the National Assembly. The proposed amendments themselves were gotten from the resolutions reached by consensus during the consideration of the reports of the 20 committees of the national conference. So, where is this alarm coming from? It is coming from those who have been benefitting from the present system and do not want the status quo to change,” he said. Former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a delegate to the conference, Senator Anietie Okon said there was nothing wrong with the draft constitution distributed to delegates on their resumption as the document contained all resolutions on the constitution amendment earlier passed by delegates at the conference. Okon said those raising dust over the document were only being jittery over a looming change which they fear might dethrone nepotism and bring equity and justice to the polity. CONTINUED ON PAGE 48

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Since his attainment as President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has been a stabiliser in the Nigerian polity through several interventions at critical stages, writes PAUL MUMEH

or the President of the Senate, Senator David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark, his philosophy is never stop doing good to others no matter how little because sometimes those little innocuous things occupy the biggest parts of their hearts. To bring to the fore for perception, the President of the Senate was a trained combatant soldier. Those who followed his track records in the hay days of his military career would attest to the fact that Mark was a no nonsense soldier who believed that no matter whose ox was gored the job had to be done. From that background, Senator Mark did not have any business with union or industrial relations matters talk less of engaging in any form of negotiation with them. Like a true soldier, his core obligation was to get the job done even if it required stepping on toes. Most often then, it was with immediate effect. And to his subordinates, the options were limited and there was no room or window for excuses; but getting results was the core value. But since taking the mantle of leadership at the nation’s apex law making body in 2007, Senator Mark has proven bookmakers wrong with his deep sense of wisdom and strategic diplomacy in managing the affairs of the Senate nay National Assembly. Even his emergence as the President of the Senate remains a shocker to many political pundits because except for destiny and the hand of God, not many gave him a chance to make a success of it. Those who had seen the rise and fall of many Senate Presidents under the current political dispensation (1999 till date) argued that Senator Mark would sooner than later unwittingly step on the proverbial ‘banana peels’ that had seen the premature termination of the tenure of his predecessors in the unstable whimsical chair of the Senate presidency. Seven years down the line, Senator Mark to their utmost dismay has proven doubting Thomases really wrong. He has stabilised the Senate nay the national polity with his ingenuity and Wisdom of Solomon. He has unarguably given the upper legislative chamber a good name to be remembered for and whose shoulders Nigerians can lean on no matter the odds. Just a few months ago, Mark rose above the fray, above partisan politics when he “resolved” and successfully managed the crisis arising from the once Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senators “defection” to the then emerging All Progressives Congress (APC). Undaunted by the pressure from within and outside the hallowed chamber he stood firm like the rock of Gibraltar and held on tenaciously to what is right in tandem with the constitution and the standing rules of the Senate. Those who rose up in protest that Mark must read the letter of the “defecting” Senators few weeks later had cause to rethink and say thank you Senator Mark. The Senator Bukola Saraki-led “defecting” senators now know better that the story would have been grossly unpalatable politically and that what Mark did was beyond partisan politics but to safeguard democracy and protection of the rules and laws in the overall national interest. Let’s not miss the point of this discuss to wit; that in almost every critical situation the nation had found herself at least since the return to a democratic rule in 1999, there has always been a Nigerian, a David Mark there to rescue the hitherto sinking ship. From Senate Retreat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in 2008, where the

David Mark: Portrait of a negotiator

Mark

upper Legislative Chamber proffered solution to tackle the menace of the restive Niger Delta militants from where the establishment of the Ministry of Niger Delta, to compliment the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was conceived, to so many interventions during labour unrests, Mark has always been the man behind the mask. It is no longer news that for the whole of last year, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) shut down the Ivory towers on account of the alleged Federal Government refusal to honour the agreement reached with them on the deplorable state of education in Nigeria. All efforts and entreaties by authorities and stakeholders to persuade ASUU to call off the industrial dispute fell on deaf ears until Mark through a mandate from the resolution of the Senate waded into the crisis. Expectedly, Mark stepped into the matter and within a couple of weeks of tact and skilful negotiation, the university teachers suspended the strike many thought was a mission impossible. As a humble public servant, Mark did not claim the credit or glory of that achievement, but attributed it to the university teachers themselves, the Senate and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who gave him a listening ear to resolve the issues at stake. In the same vein, the Senate President now dubbed the ultimate negotiator waded into the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) dispute with government and again achieved a great deal of success in resolving the crisis and the lecturers went back to classes after about 10 months. It is also instructive to recall that it was Mark’s invocation of Doctrine of Necessity in February 2010 that saved the nation from the precipice at a time the country was in circumstances described as rudderless on account of the

In almost every critical situation the nation had found herself since the return to a democratic rule in 1999, there has always been a Nigerian, a David Mark there to rescue the hitherto sinking ship ill-health of Nigeria’s late President, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, a man believed to be determined but cut short by ill-health to lead the nation. That singular action of the invocation of the Doctrine of Necessity unarguably saved Nigeria from the leadership vacuum and empowered then Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan to become an acting President. It remains a vital page for the Guinness Book of Records. What is more, Mark’s intervention in the January 2012 public outcry and wild protests against the removal of petroleum subsidy during which the sociopolitical and economic life of Nigeria was in comatose remain a reference point in our contemporary history. The statesmanship of Mark on that occasion was worthwhile. Only last week, Mark added to his credit in conflict resolution when his intervention led to the suspension of the Nigeria Medical Association’s (NMA) two-month industrial action. Doctors under the aegis of the NMA had embarked on strike action to among other things demand for the unpaid arrears arising from the relativity allowance, application of skipping in the promotion of medical doctors as applicable in civil service, increment of hazard allowance for medical doctors from the present N5,000 per month to a proposed N100,000 per month, withdrawal of the circular making Nurses and Midwives

consultants. The NMA insists that only holders of degrees or fellowships registrable by the Dental and Medical council of Nigeria can be considered for appointment of consultants in hospitals. Besides, they were demanding the reversal of government circular sacking Resident Doctors and suspension of Residency Training nationwide. While the NMA strike lingered, Nigeria had the unfortunate and challenging outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), a development that worsened provision of health care services in the country. Government and well-meaning Nigerians pleaded with the striking doctors to call off the strike and respond to the national health emergency all to no avail. It was yet Mark’s intervention from Sunday August 17 through Wednesday August 20 that salvaged the situation. During the prolonged meetings with the leadership of NMA led by Dr. Kayode Obembe, Mark persuaded the doctors to see reasons and hearken to the national call to duty. Accompanied by Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, also a medical doctor, and Senator Tunde Ogbeha, the doctors after due consideration and consultation with their colleagues agreed to suspend the strike and returned to their duty posts. Although, negotiations continue with government over the yet to be met demands. To Dr. Obembe and his colleagues, they are not unmindful of the challenges faced by Nigerians on account of the strike but it was like a last resort for government to do the needful in the health sector. The point must be re-emphasized here that Senator Mark has lived up to his billings as the President of the Senate. He has consistently stated that he remains a pan-Nigerian, a patriot and nationalist whose mission and goal is to contribute squarely to the wellbeing of the ordinary Nigerian. In doing so, he will be guided by the wishes and aspirations of the Nigerian people. He will be neutral in all matters, but he cannot fold his hands on issues that affect the security and wellbeing of Nigeria and Nigerians. Mark promised to be fair, firm, just and honest at all times so that generations yet unborn would remember his records of excellent services in public service. Hate him or love him, Mark’s honesty and determination to leave the Senate nay its leadership better than he met it is incontrovertible. Even his political foes have come to agree that his leadership of the Senate is far beyond partisan politics. He believes and works for a peaceful and united Nigeria where no one or section is oppressed or marginalised. He is a peace maker, a successful negotiator of goodwill. He believes in the sanctity of the truth because for him, there is no meeting point between truth and falsehood. Everything that is possible to be believed is an image of the truth. There is no sitting on the fence especially on matters affecting Nigeria and Nigerians. And like Marthin Luther King jnr puts it: “When the chips are down, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.” For Mark, there is the hand of God in what he does and he adorns a garment washed by God which no man can stain. •Paul Mumeh is the Chief Press Secretary to the President of the Senate.

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

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2014

The danger of firewood smoke

nternational Centre for Energy, Environment and Development (ICEED) has disclosed that 93,000 Nigerians die annually as a result of smoke inhaled while cooking with firewood, with women and children as the most affected persons. ICEED’s Executive Director in Nigeria, Mr. Ewah Otu Eleri revealed that a 2012 study report of the World Health Organisation (WHO) showed that deaths from firewood smoke is the third highest killer in the country after malaria (225,000) and HIV (192,000). He attributed the ugly trend to lack of access to cooking gas and kerosene. His words: “It is shocking and regrettable that 56 percent of households in Nigerian urban cities still use firewood to cook. In Ebonyi, only 12 percent of households have access to kerosene while only 6.1 of the entire population of Lagos State use Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for cooking. About 30 million households depend solely on wood as a source of fuel for their daily cooking.” Otu Eleri further stated that in a bid to reduce drastically this alarming number of deaths being recorded annually in the country, ICEED in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) came up with Energy Efficient Woodstoves Project in Nigeria with the aim of providing efficient energy

woodstoves to Nigerian households. The aim of the organization is to achieve better respiratory health, create new jobs from stove production, distribution and retailing in the country, empower women by building stove sale networks and support the country to develop sustainable cooking energy policy frameworks. No doubt, firewood smoke is hazardous to the health of women, and the point must be made that most people especially in the rural areas make use of firewood to cook because they do not have any other alternative. Unfortunately most of them are oblivious of the risk firewood smoke poses to their health. It is important to note that, numerous scientific studies have linked particle pollution exposure to a variety of problems. These include increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways, coughing, or difficulty breathing, decreased lung function, aggravated asthma, development of chronic bronchitis, irregular heartbeat, nonfatal heart attacks and premature death in people with heart or lung disease. Furthermore, although wood smoke conjures up fond memories of sitting by a cozy fire, it is important to know that the components of wood smoke and cigarette smoke are quite similar, and that many components of both are carcinogenic. Wood smoke contains fine particulate matter, car-

bon monoxide, formaldehyde, sulfur dioxide and various irritant gases such as nitrogen oxides that can scar the lungs. Wood smoke also contains chemicals known or suspected to be carcinogens, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and dioxin. Also, wood smoke interferes with normal lung development in infants and children. It also increases children’s risk of lower respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Again, wood smoke exposure can depress the immune system and damage the layer of cells in the lungs that protect and cleanse the airways. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), toxic air pollutants are components of wood smoke. Wood smoke can cause cough, headache, eye and throat irritation in otherwise healthy people. For vulnerable populations, such as people with asthma, chronic respiratory disease and those with cardiovascular disease, wood smoke is particularly harmful— even short exposures can prove dangerous. The particles of wood smoke are extremely small and therefore are not filtered out by the nose or the upper respiratory system. Instead, these small particles end up deep in the lungs where they remain for months, causing structural damage and chemical changes. Wood smoke’s carcinogenic chemicals adhere to these tiny par-

ticles, which enter deep into the lungs. Recent studies show that fine particles that go deep into the lungs increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. EPA warns that for people with heart disease, short- term exposures have been linked to heart attacks and arrhythmias. If you have heart disease, these tiny particles may cause you to experience chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, and fatigue. It, therefore, behooves the government to act decisively to halt the menacing spread and adverse consequences of firewood smoke in the country. Besides the serious health hazards, it also contributes to deforestation and desertification. Nigeria is an oil-producing country and a leading member of OPEC, therefore, making kerosene available in all the nooks and crannies of the country at affordable price should be a difficult task to accomplish. Perhaps, if the four refineries in the country are functioning at optimum capacity, it would be easier to do, but the oil import dependency is a bulwark against eliminating firewood smoke swiftly. It is evidently clear that firewood smoke is very dangerous but much has not been said about it. It is time to drastically reduce the use of firewood to the barest minimum for the sake of the health of the citizenry and the protection of the environment. MANAGING DIRECTOR/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Eric Osagie DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTORS

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Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

OPINION Anti-Awolowo legacy in education

Prince M. Arayuwa Wilkie

he legendary Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the late Premier of the defunct Western Region was of the strong view that education should be made free at all levels at the expense of the state. Hence, the Icon himself ensured the implementation of free education during his tenure as head of government of the said region in the First Republic. As a result of this deliberate policy of free education for all, many children who were from poor as well as wealthy homes, took advantage of this legacy to acquire free education. Hence, the Yoruba of the South West is generally regarded as the intellectual power house of this country. In 1963, the area known as the Midwest was carved out from the then Western Region and created as a region. The emergence of the Midwest led to the outright death of free education in the region while that of the present South West geopolitical zone was not interrupted until that first bloody military intervention in politics in 1966. It is glaring to add that I was privileged to be one of the beneficiaries of the free education programme of the defunct Western Region until the creation of the Mid-West Region. Free books and its accessories, even up to pencils were supplied to pupils and students at the expense of the State. With effect from 1963, this was not to be in the newly created Mid-West in view of the fact that its new Government led by the late Chief Dennis Osadebay as Premier and Chief Jereton Mariere, Governor, conspired to scrap the free education policy of the old Western Region. During the period, two radical and fearless students, George Air Iyare and Dr.Tunde Obanor mobilized their colleagues on a protest march to the Urhokpota Hall at Ring Road,

Benin City, calling for the re-instatement of free education in the region. However, the students’ protest amounted to nothing as the government failed to appreciate the merit of their peaceful demonstration. But, sooner or later, the military was to strike in a putsch, abruptly termination the First Republic. Thereafter, the Second Republic came with the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) controlling the entire South West including the defunct Bendel State. Seen as a latter-day Action group, the UPN offered free education at all levels in all the states it controlled until the 1983 military coup which, again, flushed politicians out of democratic governance. Another set of anti-Awolowo’s free education agents are the present day governors of the APC in some states of the South West. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), governor of Lagos State, had initially increased the school fees of students in the Lagos State University (LASU) from N25,000.00 to a maximum of N350.000.00 per session, depending on the course of study in that state institution. But for political expediency with regard to the 2015 general election, Fashola suddenly reversed himself, without a single shame, to announce that the school fees should revert to its original N25,000 per session. In addition to the forth coming election of 2015, as a reason for reverting to the old order, the consistent students’ protest was also a contributing factor to Fashola’s decision. I, therefore, see the governor as a man who is incompetent to withstand some concentrated pressures. With the present age of Fashola, I am convinced that he, too, was a beneficiary of free education and the question is: did he pay such an unreasonable sum of money in his days as a student? Today, the governor is a SAN and a celebrity in the legal

profession. It is expected that Fashola should respect the basic tenets of the free education doctrine as practiced by Pa Awolowo. Perhaps, the crass opportunist is not an Awoist but only a pretender. Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State thinks he is a smart guy. Recently, he reduced the school fees in Ogun tertiary institutions by 60% with effect from the next academic year. The question is: why not with immediate effect? The aftermath of this reduction led to a series of protests by students from Ogun State higher institutions to the extent that the governor has closed down indefinitely the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, the Ogun State-owned university. The fact that the effective date of the reduction of the said school fees is after the 2015 general election, is a pure indication that Amosun is only playing politics and politicking with the educational progress of the children of Ogun State in view of his second term governorship ambition. If I may ask: Is Amosun a beneficiary of the Awolowo Free Education programme? Circumstantial evidence indicates that he is. It, therefore, beats my imagination how the governor, a supposed Awoist, would intentionally prevent the children of the poor from enjoying the free education doctrine of the late UPN leader. I do not have elaborate information about the other APC governors of Osun and Ekiti State, Rauf Aregbesola and Dr. Kayode Fayemi. My only advice is that if the APC governors of the Southwest and Edo States were the privileged beneficiaries Awolowo’s free education, then they should endeavour to make education equally free at the expense of the state. • Prince Wilkie (pmikky1950@yahoo.com), 08023097251

Truth is lonely E. O. Eke

hen men stop thinking, they accept that there is justification for evil. When they are blinded by ethnic and religious bigotry, they see the good in the evil, which they and those they support perpetrate. They actually believe in the concept of just war, instead of bemoaning the necessity that compelled them to do a greater evil in the use of war to fight evil. Such is the plasticity of the human mind that 10 people can see the same thing and come to 10 different conclusions, or read the same book and come away with ten different understandings. If you doubt this, how can you explain the many religious sects, even when they claim to believe the same ‘holy book’? Therefore, in the face of evil, it is not uncommon for some to believe that their motive changes the intrinsic nature of their actions and misconstrue the justification for the evil, as sufficient for others not to see evil in its true light. This is the game we play with our mind and believe that it alters reality and truth. Fortunately, truth is a constant and cannot be altered by our motives or conscience. No, there is no justification for evil of the monstrosity that ISIS is UNLEASHING on people in the Middle East, Boko Haram in Northeast of Nigeria or El Shabab in East Africa. It is Ironic that at the dawn of the

21st Century, religion and ethnicity continue to provide the ignorant mind dumbing orthodoxies and prejudices that fuel most of the conflicts in the world, and many still feel that these potentially lethal constructs should continue to have prominent role in our existence. They cite morality, as if ethics and morality are the exclusive preserve of religion and turn a blind eye to the way it can alter human minds and imbue it with disdain for reason and hatred for those who are different. Islam has been showing its true colour in the Middle East for many years, in the persecution of Christians. After Judaism ended its persecution of Christianity, Islam became the greatest danger to Christianity, independence of thought and liberal values, and it is making Christianity extinct in the Middle East, the birth place of Christianity. All Abrahamic religions divide families and people and set people against one another because of ideas they hold to be true about an unknown part of our existence. In many Islamic countries, it is illegal to build churches or convert from Islam to another religion. They preach death to infidel and use blasphemy laws to persecute Christians in exactly the same way Judaism used it against Christians. Orthodox Jews still proclaim death to Jews who marry nonJews and believe in the dichotomous concept of Jews and Gentiles. Similarly, Christianity still preaches ‘do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers’ and you wonder

why Intolerance, inequality, disunity and discrimination are still the hall mark of all the Abrahamic religions. Islam is just the most intolerant of the three. The fact is that Christianity has done the most to address the intolerance, inequality, discriminations and prejudices, which religion can induce in the mind, while Judaism remains dormant but often finds expression in the struggle between Israel and Palestinians. ISIS is what happens, when men cannot make distinction between what they believe to be wrong and the wrong doer, are taught that they are right about God, while others are wrong, that God wants them to fight evil by killing human beings, who they believe are doing evil, that anybody who does not believe like them, will go to hell, that child marriage is religious obligation while there is nothing wrong with discrimination against, and subjugation of, women… When vulnerable people who cannot think for themselves are indoctrinated with these ideas, based on dichotomous dualism of good and evil, or God and Satan, there is often no understanding in such minds of tolerance, equality, and justice. They see the world in black and white, us and them, and find no reason to regard others as deserving of the same consideration as they. They grow up to disparage what others believe and do, and dehumanise them in names like infidels, Gentiles and unbelievers. The stage is set for hateful coexistence, which

often results in the annihilation of those who are different. All concepts on which peaceful coexistence rests mean nothing to such minds, only what they believe God wants or had written in the Talmud, Bible or Quran. In this way, criminals, psychopaths and monsters who believe that they are saints are created. The world has a serious problem in its hand because many believers, religious people who strongly believe that their holy books contain the words of God are in denial about the true effect of religion on the human mind and the fact that more evil than good is committed by the religious in the name of God. Therefore, they tend to minimise the atrocities committed by extremists in their fold by disowning them and claiming that they do not represent their religion, instead of acknowledging that indeed, their religion is a dangerous cocktail, which can cause madness in some people, when internalised in a distorted form and applied in self-serving way. If we cannot go to Northern Nigeria or Iraq to fight terrorism, we can at least start by teaching children that God did not write any book and that all books are written by men and, if read and understood in the wrong way can turn people into monsters who believe that they are saints. • This article by Eke, a specialist in child, adolescent and adult psychiatry was posted on NsukkaHub by Tony Ogbodo

ARTS

LITERATURE

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2014

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“THE DECLINE OF LITERATURE INDICATES THE DECLINE OF A NATION.” ―- JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE

TONY OKUYEME

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Hope for new Nigeria, Are We the Turning Point Generation? Ebere Ameh

all it a book of hope and you may be right. Chude Jideonwo’s book, a collection of thought provoking essays, vividly x-rays our present realities as we struggle with deprivation and poverty in a country richly blessed. He challenges us to rise above our hurts and worries and salvage Nigeria for good. Titled Are we the Turning Point Generation?, Jideonwo who has been described by the Guardian Newspaper in the United Kingdom as the co-owner of Africa’s largest portfolio of youth media brands has always had a passion for the youths. His Red Media Africa, owners of The Future Awards, and Y! Naija, empowers young people across Africa through leadership and enterprise. Reading from the 40th and the last chapter of the book during the last Open Mic Theatre at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos recently, Jideonwo started with the experience of a young man who lost his father to the negligence inherent in the Nigerian healthcare system; and went on to narrate his experience in the course of taking his father’s body to the morgue. He reminisced with so much bitterness about the events of that day even as he mused about everything that is going wrong; and wondered why ‘we are still here in a country that cannot protect or provide for them’. The unsympathetic police men who “proceeded to haggle with each other over how much they would extract from a 24-year-old who has just lost his father” was one stubborn reality that he faced on his trip to deposit his late father in the morgue. The nonchalance and insensitivity of the morticians whom he had to tip to do his work is another reality that got on his nerves and left him complaining. “I had to tip the morgue keeper daily on my way to work so his body would not rot. I can only see what insensible country I am so unfortunate to come from and live in,” Jideonwo read. The author touched on the corruption inherent in the system, the insensitivity of law enforcement agents, the fact that the masses do not trust the politicians any longer; the scramble for the national cake by all and sundry, which is beclouding our sense of judgement; and so many things that have gone wrong in the country. That single chapter chronicles most of the challenges and inhumanity that the citizens have to endure while an tiny ruling class feeds fat on tax payers money. Jideonwo who is named by Forbes as one of Africa’s 30 best entrepreneurs under 30, at a point, queried rhetori-

Jideonwo

cally in his essay “what are we still doing in Nigeria? The country does not deserve some of us. Why are we living in a country that does not support us, has not supported us and may not support us?” He agreed that it is okay to condemn,

to criticize, to protest, to demand just like him, but he maintains that in spite of everything, we must start to build the country for good because it is not too late, especially if other countries could rebuild theirs. “No matter how disappointed we are

with Nigeria, we cannot abandon her, we cannot use Nigeria as an excuse to fail Nigeria,” he intoned, stressing that, “We should handle the country the way a mother does her daughters – with tough love sometimes, with deliberate gentility at other times, demanding at one time, encouraging at next. Because we are all the she’s got ...” The young entrepreneur admonished that we keep working until we see results, observing that ours should be the turning point generation, and because we are living here, we have no choice than to keep working until we see results. Jideonwo founded EnoughisEnough Nigeria in 2010, a platform which has become the country’s foremost good governance group for young Nigerians. His book, Are We the Turning Point Generation is another of his attempt to say that enough is really enough, this time to the led, the disgruntled youths, and not the leaders.

Indigenous language programme: Stakeholders lauds NICO Tony Okuyeme

his year’s edition of Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme (NILP) by the South-West Zone of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) in Aquinas College, Akure, Ondo State, came to an end last Friday, with participants commending NICO for the programme, and called for its continuation. Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Director of Engineering Management Development Institute-National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (EMDI-NASENI), Akure, Engr. Samuel Olusunle who was the chairman of the occasion, expressed delight at the performance of the various participants, saying he was lucky that, as a young boy, his father (a railway worker), was always travelling round the country; so, he learnt several Nigerian languages.

He informed the audience that some of his staff members whose languages he understands find it easy to confide in him on matters which may have been if he didn’t understand such languages, adding, “I sit atop an organisation with diverse cultures and languages represented, and I am better equipped to deal with such diversities.” Olusunle thus urged NICO to continue with the language programme, promising to support the Institute by contributing to the purchase of books to help participants, who requested for such, in their quest to continue learning the languages during the programme. In his own reaction, the Principal of Aquinas College, Pastor Babasola Ayibiowu, who was the Special Guest, said he was elated to watch the event and promised to support NICO in whatever form. “Taking pride in our indigenous languages helps to stop neo-colonialism,” he said. A participant, Mrs. Adebola Oshodi,

who is a teacher at Aquinas College, Akure, and attended the Hausa class with her daughter, revealed that they both now converse more easily with Hausa traders, which has helped to cement their relationship. She promised to avail herself of any other opportunity to improve on what she had learnt. Another participant, Mr. Charles Jegede, who was also in the Hausa class with his daughter, was full of praises for the programme, saying that he and his daughter practice what they have learnt at home to the admiration of his wife, who was amazed at how much they had learnt within such time frame. Earlier in his welcome address, NICO’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma encouraged parents and guardians to send their children and wards to the Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme (NILP), in order to reduce the communication barrier in the society.

NAPS PETITIONS FG JIGAWA }p-24 OVER ASUP STRIKE AT VARSITY TO TAKE-OFF SEPT EKOWE POLY }p-29

EDUCATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2014

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How plot to unseat UNIBEN VC failed

Oshodin, VC UNIBEN gate

PLOT

A plot orchestrated by some section of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) community to unseat the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Godwin Osayuki Oshodin, who was away for few months for medical treatment in the United Kingdom, has failed Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

here was heightened anxiety at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) community, two weeks ago, among members of staff, management and other stakeholders over the running and management of the university. The anxiety was about the state of health of the ViceChancellor, Prof. Godwin Osayuki Oshodin, who was said to have been flown abroad on May 8, for medical treatment of an ailment, which many described as mysterious. Due to the health challenge of the Professor of Physical and Health Education, there were deft moves by percieved opponents to displace him. However, the intense scheming and deft moves by the perceived enemies camp, was said to be causing serious stir within the university community. The absence of the ViceChancellor has continued to raise several issues and ques-

tions that have pitted the university workers’ unions, the Senate, and in other stakeholders against one another. Oshodin was named the substantive Vice-Chancellor of the 44-year-old university and has since assumption of office taken positive steps to rewrite the history of the institution, which places the Ivory Tower on the top pedestal among its contemporaries in the country. Some of his administration’s achievements are etched on basic research development, e-library; adequate science laboratory equipment, key infrastructure, peaceful learning environment, staff welfare, harmonious working relationship among students, management and the various unions, as well as zero tolerance to cultism. The feat notwithstanding, a group under the umbrella of Save UNIBEN Group (SUG), in a statement last month, appealed to the Education Minister, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, to compel the university Senate and Governing Council, to appoint acting or substantive ViceChancellor for the institution. The body, however, raised the alarm of a plot by some forces to ridicule the Council and the Senate of attempts to “bastardize the Federal Government Public Service Rules 2009 and the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act as amended in 2013. Accusations and counter accusations have since continued

to trail the body's actions. According to the statement signed by Professor Nosa Omoregie, an alumnus of the university and coordinator of SUG, “Section 070316 of the Public Service rules says the average minimum aggregate sick leave allowed an officer shall be 42 calendar days, and where the officer has been absent from duty in excess of those days on ground of ill-health, the officer should be made to appear before a medical board to ascertain if he or she should be invalidated from service”. Omoregie said the rules specified that “Any period of absence on grounds of ill-health in excess of the approved calendar days will be without pay and will not be reckoned for purpose of pension". He stated that “the ViceChancellor has been collecting his salary ever since as he is being prepared for pension sequel to his tenure expiration on November 30, 2014". Besides, he added that “Professor Osayuki Oshodin has

From the ongoing, it is apparent that there is a lot of arm twisting within the university

been widely reported by the media of being sick of an undisclosed ailment since July 2013; and was last seen in his office on May 28, 2014 and also reported by the media to have been flown out of the country to the UK on May 9, 2014”. The statement pointed out that “by this token, the university has been without a ViceChancellor ever since, yet an unsigned and undated memo without the name of the author asked the Senate to approve the appointment of Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor at its meeting of July 22". From the ongoing, it is apparent that there is a lot of arm twisting within the university, even as he described the emerging confusion as a big slap on the academic community and the alumni of the university, of which he is a member. He cautioned that UNIBEN is in dire need of an acting vicechancellor and for Professor Oshodin having been away for three months and in violation of the extant rules and regulations is no longer in charge of the administration of the university. Irked by the scheming, the Benin National Congress (BNC) in a reaction expressed shock and deep concern over what it described as wicked and malicious actions of some of the university’s professors who are bent on destabilising the peaceful academic environment for selfish reasons following the absence of the ailing ViceChancellor. Determined not to allow anything to chance, the BNC in a

petition urged security agents to investigate the actions of those plotting amid bitterness to discredit the ailing ViceChancellor. The Secretary of congress’ BoT, Chief Michael Edobor Imasogie, in a petition to the Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, argued: “This man (Prof. Oshodin) is known to be very dedicated to his duties as Vice-Chancellor and that was why UNIBEN has been transformed to that level today. “That a man is sick, not by any natural development, but substantially by a deviouslyinfused anti-body on account of which he was flown abroad and has substantially recovered, empathy demands that a set of staff who claimed that they love him should treat perceived absence misdemeanor with respect, passion and candor”. He added: “To resort, therefore, to diabolic orchestra by engaging in the pull him-downsyndrome because of selfish ambition of some of the members of staff who wants to be the next Vice-Chancellor of UNIBEN by all means, is to say the least ungodly.” The congress, however, vowed that “no one, no matter how highly placed, behind Prof. Oshodin's medical predicament can succeed him either as ViceChancellor or occupy any privileged office, because it took us 39 years to produce an indigenous Vice-Chancellor; so miscreants masquerading as academicians cannot fight him through CO NTINUED O N PAGE 26

22 EDUCATION

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Shekarau laments teachers' quality, access Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

inister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau has reiterated the need to bridge the gap between the quality of teachers in the education sector, and access of students into schools in the country. Shekarau, who said that the dwindling quality of teachers in public institutions of learning has become a major source of worry to all stakeholders in the education sector, stated this in Abuja during the meeting with Commissioners of Education from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. The Minister, who lamented that though government meant well by opening access through the establishment of new universities, said there has been no corresponding increase in the number of quality teachers for the institutions. He argued that Vice-Chancellors and lecturers poached from existing universities to fill the vacancies in the newly created institutions were never replaced, saying the time has come to institute incentive measures such as automatic scholarship and employment

Shekarau

for best students in school certificate examinations to embrace teaching profession. His words: "The Vice-Chancellors in new universities have been taken away from classrooms. All the lecturers in new universities were taken from existing universities. In 1982, when we started the Universal Primary Education (UPE), marked the beginning of our crisis. I was a school principal then. I have over 50 staff strength out of which I lost 24 because Kano State opened 128 new junior secondary schools at a go. “Even the appointment of principals, the government

removed 128 teachers from the classroom. I had seven Mathematics teachers, of which I lost five. So, this issue of access vis-a-vis quality must be addressed especially in this political dispensation. It takes a lot of courage to get our political leaders to appreciate the fact that it is not only about opening schools but also about improving quality.” According to the minister, the earlier the government reverses the trend where high flyers candidates in the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) would only want to study medicine, law, engineering while the dregs want to go into teaching profession as a last resort, the better. “There must be incentives to attract those students with ‘As’ in their SSCE to teaching profession and plough them back into the system to reproduce high flyers like them,” Sekarau said. The minister, who argued that the only way to attract them is to award them automatic scholarship and automatic employment as part of the incentives, added that it is criminal to produce NCE teachers and allow them to roam the streets when schools operate without teachers."

Parents berate NECO over irregularities in unity schools' common entrance Kayode Olanrewaju arents, whose children and PCommon wards sat for this year’s 2014 Entrance into the Fed-

eral Government Colleges, otherwise known as Unity Schools, have berated the management of the National Examination Council (NECO) over the conduct of the examination. They are challenging the examination body that the first and second stage examinations were marred by irregularities. Towards this end, they are calling the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau to urgently intervene in the matter to safe the education of their children and wards from the anomaly of NECO. According to the parents, “why is it that NECO refused to release the marks of all the candidates. Many of the candidates have no results recorded on their names. What kind of examination is this? Either pass or fail, all the candidates who wrote the examination should have their marks released. Why then has NECO failed to release their scores, only to tell us that only candidates who qualified have their marks released? The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) releases all the results of candidates that write its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) whether the pass or

Provost declares zero tolerance for misconduct Dominic Adewole ASABA

“I

want to reiterate that this college is widely acknowledged for zero tolerance for anti-social activities and academic misconduct as academic records are treated with sacrosanct.” With these words, the Provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, Delta state, Dr. Ignatius Nwanze Ezoem, admitted fresh students into the college during the 27th matriculation ceremony of the 27-year-old institution. According to him, with his administration’s resilience and doggedness, the institution has flourished and transformed into a beehive of academic and extra-curricular activities. No fewer than 1,392 new in-takes took the matriculation oath of the college to be responsible students, and project the good image of the college. Ezoem, who said the college has been at the forefront of implementing teacher education policy in the country, gave a breakdown of the matriculating students, in which he noted that 1,006 were admitted for the full-time Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) programme, while 250 for part-time programme and 40 students for the Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) part-time programme. According to him, the Col-

A cross section of matriculating students of Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, oath during the 27th matriculation ceremony of the college. PHOTO: JANE USIWO

lege, which has a workforce of 324 members of academic staff and 501 non-teaching staff, runs academic programmes in five schools and in 21 departments with fully accredited programmes by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), could boast of highly motivated and dedicated members of staff. “We are the first government college of education to offer PDE in the entire Southern part of the country and the leading institution in the induction of graduates” the Provost said, even as he hinted that the PDE programme

for part-time students had since commenced in the institution. He, therefore, advised the fresh students to pursue their academic activities with diligence, doggedness, resilience and dedication, by shunning cultism, hooliganism and other anti-social behaviour such as act of hooliganism, fighting, stealing and indecent dressing that could truncate the education in the college. He warned: “Over the years, we have developed an efficient mechanism for rewarding excellent character and flushing out bad eggs. So, you must align yourselves with the already estab-

lished standards in the college, since the management will not hesitate to show any erring student the way out.” The Provost said no fewer than 1,217 had already graduated from the college since its establishment in 2011, adding that those graduates that have been inducted are recognised as qualified teachers who can practice the teaching profession anywhere in the world.” The matriculation oath was administered on the fresh students by the Registrar of the college, Mr. Rotimi Adepoju, who described the ceremony as their formal admission as bona-fide students of the institution.

fail. That should be the system. If NECO has nothing to hide after taken another N1,500 from each candidate invited for the interview.” The parents, who are demanding their children’s results or scores added: “As part of the fraud perpetrated by NECO, some of the candidates, who were invited for the interview, were given the same examination number. We have situations in which three candidates have the same number for the same examination. This is part of the irregularities in the examination we are talking about and which the Minister should urgently resolve. When we protested, while the effected candidates at the Kuramo College, Victoria Island, one of the interview centres in Lagos, were crying, the examiners said the issue had been addressed and therefore allowed the students to write the examination. Their action was to merely deceive the candidates and their parents. How do you expect such candidates to have any mark?” This to some of the parents, was a calculated attempt by NECO management to defraud the candidates and their parents. “The number of my daughter, whose interview centre was at Kuramo College, Victoria Island, Lagos, was the same with three other candidates at that centre." Why should NECO allocate the same examination number to three candidates in one examination? The pupils did not have the same examination numbers for the first stage exam, why during the interview. Now, my daughter has no result, and I am sure my child could not fail the examination. In challenge NECO to produce the candidate’s answer scripts for the two stage exams if it is sure of what it has done,” a parent told New Telegraph. When the New Telegraph contacted Dr. Ikechukwu of NECO, Minna on phone, he said those who qualified were the ones with scores, while similar text message forwarded to the Registrar’s phone was neither acknowledged nor replied. But, the parents describing such practice as full of irregularities and attempt to swap the candidates results for those who were able to pay for the children’s admission. A parent recalled how she met some of the examiners at Kuramo College centre that she is a teacher and wanted her child to be admitted. “They said I should pay N10,000 and that those who want admission for their children had earlier seen them. As a teacher and colleague, you can give us N5,000 if you want your child to be given admission. The situation is as bad as that,” she said. New Telegraph learnt that irregularities marred the conduct of the examination, during the administration of Dr. Babalola Borishade, as Education Minister, when he had to come to Kings and Queens Colleges to intervene and address the irregularities.

EDUCATION

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Plateau SUBEB to spend N800m on school construction, renovation

Aregbesola: Proliferation of varsities bane of education

Musa Pam JOS

Mojeed Alabi

arring the last minute change of mind, the Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) is to spend N872 million on the construction and renovation of classrooms in public primary and junior secondary schools in the state. The Executive chairman, Mrs. Lyop Gloria Mang has disclosed this during the opening ceremony for the bidding for the award of the contracts for the SUBEB first and second Quarter 2013 Intervention Projects held at the Board’s headquarters in Jos, the state capital. According to her, the quest to provide unfettered accessible and qualitative basic education to the children of the state has remained one of the cardinal objectives of the administration of Governor Jonah David Jang. Mrs. Mang, who stressed that the present administration was undaunted by the seeming decay inherited in the education sector from the past government in the state, which was characterised by infrastructural deficits and dilapidated facilities, recalled how Governor Jang-led administration initiated a state of emergency in the education sector in order to arrest the situation. She said: "As part of the emergency measures, Governor Jonah Jang has remained resolute in supporting education by paying the state’s counterpart funds to the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC) to access the state’s UBE funds. "This development has given additional impetus to the original mandate of the board in ensuring performance turn around in our public primary and junior secondary schools, through robust planning and diligent implementation of policies and programmes. This is as captured in the three-pillar policy of the government and target towards improved basic education in the state". The Chairman challenged the bidders and other stakeholders in the educational sector to be part of building of the education system, saying the board will not accept any substandard job. Her words: "I wish to state clearly that the board will not entertain any substandard jobs. I believed that the bidders have played the game according to the laid down rules, otherwise non-adherence to the contract specifications will lead to job disqualification".

Jang

Rauf Aregbesola IthefofGovernor Osun State has his way, continued proliferation of

Abdullahi and Medaiyese at the ceremony

Proprietor tasks parents on child development

Biodun Oyeleye ILORIN

arents have been reminded of the need to play active role at the early childhood development of their children and wards. Proprietor of Jibson Nursery and Primary School, Ilorin, Kwara State, Mallam Mohammed Abdullahi gave the advice during the maiden prize-giving/graduation ceremony of the school, and explained that early childhood is a crucial stage of life in terms of child’s physical, intellectual, emotional and social development. According to him, growth of mental and physical abilities progress at an outstanding rate and a very high proportion of learning which takes place from birth particularly need high quality of personal care and learning experience.

He made parents to understand that education begins from the moment the child is born and continues on when the child starts to attend play groups and kindergartens, while the learning capabilities continue for the rest of their lives. With this in mind, babies and toddlers need positive early learning experiences to help their intellectual, social and emotional development and this lays the foundation for greater school success. He explained that during the first three years, parents will be the main influence in the child’s learning experience and education thus what parents do and expose their children to have fast impact on the development of the child. “Parents or caregivers can have a vast impact on a child’s speech development by the

amount of time that is spent talking with and reading to a child”, he said, adding that parents need presence, time, words, and attention to share language and literacy with infants and toddlers. Abdullahi added that parents should also embed physical acts like putting away toys or lining up at pre-school into a delight learning experience of the children, while noting that trips to grocery store could be turned into a vocabulary lesson about colour and the names of fruits. The guest speaker at the event, Chief Michael Medaiyese urged parents to support the proprietor of the school by paying their children and wards’ school fees promptly, and by providing them necessary materials such as uniform, textbooks and writing materials, among others.

Mastercard trains 500 girls in enterprise acquisition Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

s part of its social responsibility, one of the nation's operators of Automated Teller Machines (ATM) cards, MasterCard, has sponsored 500 girls in the country to the Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN) Girls Enterprise Programme, where they were exposed to various skills acquisition trainings and empowerment programmes. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the programme in Abuja, the National Programme Coordinator of JAN, Mrs. Franca Nnaji Thomas, said the programme which was carried out with the FCT Agency for Science and Technology as the implementing partner was meant to empower the girls with skills that would make them self-employed. The programme, she said had two sections which in-

clude the theoretical aspect which teaches them on financial literacy and the practical aspect which equipped them with skills to display the skills acquired. He said: "The students were taken through 17 sessions that teach self-esteem, goals setting, carrying out research, writing business plan, funding and financial management, among others, while the second part is the skill acquisition training. "Some choose bead making, make-up artistry, computer appreciation, while other chose pastry making. We have 550 girls that participated in the programme, of whom 180 were empowered in FCT; Lagos is 250, while Port Harcourt had 120 girls, making 550 girls that were impacted on the programme. “We did not give them funds, because skill acquisition is enough empowerment, but we

gave them the tools they need to start their businesses. This is a one-year programme, but because of the summer holiday that is why we choose the month of August of the long vacation.” According to the Director, FCT Agency for Science and Technology, Mrs. Rosemary Umana, the aim of the programme is to bridge the gap of unemployment among the girls, while partnership with JAN is one of the mandates of the agency. One of the participants, Miss Khairan Umar Usman, who won the outstanding award in Make-up Artistry, lauded the initiative, saying she has been empowered to be self-sufficient. Certificates were given to the 180 participants including awards to the outstanding trainees, who distinguished themselves in the various training sessions.

universities by the government and the private sector should be halted. The governor condemned the proliferation of universities by the government, corporate organisations and individuals, saying the situation rather than providing more space to admission seekers as claimed by the operators, would further compromise the standard and limit the quality of the products churned out by the ivory towers. Aregbesola disclosed this when the Governing Council and management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Osogbo, the state capital. He said universities are regarded as citadels of learning because they are well funded to provide knowledge and wisdom that are beneficial to the society, the governor, therefore insisted that any university that is worth its salt must be able to provide what the society needs in terms of quality learning and beneficial knowledge. He, however, lamented that some of the universities in the countryare poorly funded to an extent that they are unable to meet the academic needs of the society, even as he canvassed for a few universities that are well-funded and well-equipped instead of proliferation of universities that cannot stand alone, or compete favourably with their contemporaries in the world. The governor, who insisted that adequate funding was one of the most essential ingredients for better administration of any university, promised that out of the state’s meagre resources his administration will jointly fund LAUTECH with Oyo State. Aregbesola said: "A university does not just answer that name unless it is able to provide for the needs of the society. I fancy one great university that is all in all. A university that is well-funded to meet all the academic needs of the society that it is founded to serve. "Most of the universities we establish in the country are poorly funded, yet finance is very key to university administration.

Aregbesola

24 EDUCATION

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

TAKE-OFF

All is set for the takeoff of the Jigawa State University, established by the administration of Governor Sule Lamido. To the governor and people of Jigawa State, it is a dream come true Geofrey Ekenna

ll is now set for the takeoff of academic activities at the Jigawa State University, Kafin Hausa, in Jigawa State. Situated in a serene environment, off Jahun-Hadejia Road, in Kafin Hausa Local Government area of the state, the university, which is the brainchild of the state Governor, Mallam Sule Lamido, is set to commence academic activities this September. When New Telegraph visited the university last week, arrangements were in top gear to put finishing touches to the admission of its pioneer set of students. Already, infrastructural development of the university, including faculty buildings, administration block, and academic block had been completed, while work is ongoing on the Senate building complex, whose foundation block was laid on by the governor. According to the Project Manager of the building, Mr. Ibrahim Suleiman, an engineer, the Senate building would be inaugurated before May 29, 2015. The building, he said, would take 10 months to construct with the plan that Governor Lamido will open it before he hands over next year to a new administration. But, while work is still ongoing at the Senate building, which has been described as a modern architectural masterpiece and first of its kind in Africa and to be built by Lamido, work has been completed at the academic block, which houses 44 offices for the Deans of the various Faculties, Heads of Department and the university’s administrative departments, while the temporary library is also completed. According to an official of the university, construction work in the university buildings will be accelerated once additional funds were released by the state government for the projects. The governor said that his administration’s plan is to invest part or whole of the N13 billion which his government needed for the construction of the Dutse International Airport, whenever it is refunded by the Federal Government. Indeed, according to the governor, his vision is to bequeath a world class university to the people of the state, even though he acknowledges that the entire plan is to complete the university in about 20 years. Also ready for the smooth take off of academic activities in the new university, is the faculty building, which has 14 large classrooms, eight laboratories, two seminar rooms, two boardrooms, a clinic and a restaurant. Lamido noted the university will admit 96 students per course with an initial take-off

The university faculty building. INSET: A laboratory

Jigawa varsity to take off Sept

Lamido

capacity of less than 3,000 pioneer students, even as he insisted that the university will not admit more than its carrying capacity for the take-off. According to the Director of Press to the Governor, Alhaji Umar Kyari, the university is laying more emphasis on science and technology. He said: “The country has had enough share of Humanities and Arts graduates. Therefore, the governor believes that it is in the interest of the state to shift focus and dwell more on science and technology to produce quality graduates for the country”. Kyari, who was of the view that with the serenity of the university and the facilities being put in place by the state government, the university would in the next five years be a reference point for academics in the country. Already, with the view of attracting the best quality of references and personalities, the university has appointed

former President Olusegun Obasanjo as its pioneer Chancellor. The letter for the appointment, according to him, was conveyed to Chief Obasanjo, last week, by the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu and his management team. On the appointment of Chief Obasanjo, the governor said the essence was to tap and attract Obasanjo’s contacts, influence and personality to the university. Lamido added: “We all know Chief Obasanjo is a man of high clout. We can give it to no other person except him because we believe his influence will count”. In a statement, signed by Alhaji Ismaila Ibrahim on behalf of the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Haruna Wakili, the Commissioner said the appointment of the former President was based on Section 8 of Jigawa State University Law, 2013 and Section 2 of the Second Schedule of the Law, which vested in the Visitor of the university and Governor

A commitment to producing wellrounded graduates who are worthy of their moral and academic positions...

Ribadu, VC

of the state with the powers to appoint Chancellor for the university. He further said that the decision to appoint the former President as the pioneer Chancellor of the university “was reached after due consideration of his (Obasanjo) immense contributions towards the making of modern Nigeria, as a former military head of state, two terms democratically elected President, an internationally recognised personality, respected elder statesman and indeed, an eminent personality of proven integrity, who served his country to the peak diligently, selflessly and sincerely.” According to Ribadu, the university which was founded in February 2013 is coming after futile attempts by previous administrations to set up a university for the state. He said: “On June 22, 2010, the state government under the leadership of His Excellency, Alhaji Sule Lamido, the governor, set up a Technical Com-

mittee for the Establishment of Jigawa State University, led by Professor Munzali Jibril, a former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission. The committee submitted to the proposed university’s key documents including the Academic Brief and the Draft Law to the government. “The university is at present located on the old premises of the Jigawa State College of Remedial and Advanced Studies, Kafin Hausa. The site of the university, the Kafin Hausa town, is the administrative headquarters of the Kafin Hausa Local Government Area. The town’s rising profile as an urban centre is slowly making it an ideal stop-over for travelers from major metropolitan areas such as Kano, Dutse, Azare, and Bauchi.” According to the website of the university, it shall draw inspiration from, and will be a beacon of light to all the people of Jigawa State and shall dedicate itself to the creation of better living conditions for the people. The university shall do this through the application of knowledge and skills generation. It added: “The vision of Jigawa State University is to be a top class University that provides a stimulating teaching, learning and research environment in pursuit of solutions to societal problems. While the mission is “to produce graduates sound in character and learning, at undergraduate and graduate levels, imbued with the spirit of service and dedicated to innovative application of knowledge aimed at improving the lives of people within Jigawa State, the nation and humanity in general.” It listed the university’s objectives to include: “A commitment to producing well-rounded graduates who are worthy of their moral and academic positions and who recognize and appreciate the dignity of work, and are able to see themselves as agents of change for development and for the common good. Others are to make higher education more accessible to the people of Jigawa State in an environment that reflects the cultural values of the host society; and recruit, train, and maintain a highly qualified core of teaching staff committed to the highest ideals of research, teaching, and community service so that the university will eventually rise to be a veritable symbol of an institution that prepares students to fit into the world of knowledge, learning, work, and service.” According to the state government, the university is projected to have four phases of a five-year development plan, beginning from 2013-14 until the next 20 years when the university is expected to reach full maturity (with 20 faculties, 59 departments and 261 academic programmes). “Overall, the vision of JSU is to be a university with a strong tradition of excellence, intellectual progress, and continuing learning and service; a university driven by the new demands of globalization, rapid advances in technology, environmental issues, and other societal challenges.”

EDUCATION

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Obafunwa calls for investment in books Kayode Olanrewaju

agos State University (LASU) ViceChancellor, Prof. John Oladapo Obafunwa has restated the determination of the institution to promote knowledge and high quality tuition through publication of books. The Vice-Chancellor, who stressed that it was through publication of books that academics could climb the ladder of teaching career and be recognised as renowned scholars, added that the university is investing heavily in book publication. Obafunwa spoke at the public presentation of a book: “Foreign Policy and National Security – Theory and Practice”, written by Ambassador Olanrewaju Falola, a former lecturer at the Department of History of International Relations of the university. He described Falola as a renowned and erudite scholar, saying the university is greatly proud of him and his scholarly contributions towards the development of the state university in all spheres. According to the Vice-Chancellor, the publication of the book could not be timely than this period the nation is being confronted by the challenges of insecurity. Obafunwa, who pointed out that the book was published by the Lagos State University Press, however, said that efforts were being geared towards repositioning the printing press as a commercial entity with a view to improving the university’s internally generated revenue (IGR). The book launch, which took place at the MRC Hall, LASUCOM, Ikeja, was part of activities lined up to commemorate the 19th convocation of the university. Former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman

of Council of the university, Mr. Akin Kekere-Ekun, who was represented by Prof. Gbadebo Awosanya, Provost, LASU College of Medicine, described the author as a man and scholar of many parts. Kekere-Ekun, while stressing that education is light that brings value to people’ lives, and that people live to learn, noted that the country needs those who could write books and document events for generations, even those yet unborn. Meanwhile, the former Council chair insisted that events and happenings that could change the life of the people and the society for better needed to be documented for posterity. The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga, who was also represented at the event, noted that security was vital to the existence of man and a nation, saying a country without adequate security is at its peril. According to him, national security ranges from personal security, social security, economic security, employment security, to education and other forms of security. The 265-page book, according to the book reviewer, Dr. Joshua Bolarinwa, from the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), is a compendium of theory and practice in foreign policies and national security. He described the book as a must read for students, scholars and policy makers, saying it is book that exposes the fundamentals of foreign policies and national security. In his citation, Falola was described as an ambassador per excellent, consummate diplomat, a fatherly teacher, an amiable personality with self-effacing disposition, who is well regarded among his peers. Falola, was said to have between 1997 and

Muslim students condemn mass failure in WASSCE

uslim students in higher inM stitutions, under the umbrella group, the Muslim Students’

2006 taught courses on foreign policy, diplomacy, international relations at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels at LASU. The author of “Sovereignty and Democracy: The Sao Tomean Experience,” a monograph published by LASU Department of History and International Relations, Falola was the Programme Officer, coordinating and administering LASU’s Master of International Relations and Strategic Studies programme. Responding, the author, who said foreign policy and national security are interrelated, however pointed out that it is a promotion of national interest. Falola said: “National security is not limited to military matters alone, as it covers government, territory, welfare and needs of the people. National security emphasizes relations with other countries, as well as friendly relations with other nations. National security covers more than military operations, as it covers values, needs, beliefs and the entire well-being of the people.”

Alamieyeseigha, Akinruntan, others commend ex-AIG at book launch Dominic Adewole ASABA

he former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepriye Alamieyeseigha and the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, Oba Fredrick Akinruntan have commended the efforts of a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Oruebebe Gandhi Ebikene for his two new books. They described his literary prowess as part of his contributions to the education sector. This view was expressed at the launch of the two books titled; The Missing Daughters, and The Deserts, which took place at the Nnebisi Hall of the Grand Hotel, Convention Centre and Resort in Asaba, Delta State. According to Alemieyeseigha, just as the themes of proper children upbringing, quality education and moral character are depicted in the two books, the author has revealed his academic prowess and sound upbringing he received from his parents in the manner with which he has been able to put his thoughts together in book form. The former governor said Orubebe, through the books has boosted the education agenda of Federal Government, calling on other individuals and organisations to emulate the retired police officer and writer to reclaim the nation’s lost glories. In his remarks, Oba Akinruntan praised the writer for adding value to the profession of policing in the country, saying being a cop does not stop one from being academically sound

L-R: Executive Chairman, Spectrum Nig. Ltd, Hon. Dayo Awoniyi; Chief Launcher, Dr. Andrew Warri; Chief Alamieyeseigha; Mrs. Orubebe; A.I.G Orubebe, and other guests at the launch.

and intelligent. The traditional ruler, who was represented at the event by the Olu of Igbokoda, a community in the riverine area of Ondo State, Oba Afolabi Oladimeji, urged the government to emphasise academic and moral qualities before recruiting men and women of the police force for the nation to produce the likes of Orubebe. The books’ reviewer, Prof. Isidore Oiala of the Imo State University, Owerri, wondered how Orubebe in the “Missing Daughter” was able to capture side by side the confused male world the dramatic personae (Obi and Ogbebor) and the organised female dominated world, thereby exposing the limitations of the

social and traditional preference for the male children. Oiala maintained that; “Orubebe guides Obi to his anguished moment of recognition,” before he described “Deserts” as the consequences of “sparing the rod” in a child’s upbringing, as personified in Ogbobene’s family.” Other book reviewers including Prof. B.E. Nwoke and his counterpart, Prof. C.B. Nwanchukwu, both of Imo State University, also hailed Orubebe’s passion, saying they hope the fictions would affect the Nigerian psyche as “Jeremiah’s sermons affected the Israelites.” “As a police officer, sociologist and a novelist, Orubebe articu-

lates his vision with clarity; the moral edification of humankind is for him the greatest conceivable good. That is the ideal for which he would be inclined to pawn his soul”, Nwoke said. They also congratulated the author for striving to realise that vision in the work of art, including his lovely dialogue in helping to develop the plot, his constant use of anecdotes, sense of humour and display of irony in the books. Representatives of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and the Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, and the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Chike Edozien, were among the dignitaries at the book launch.

Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit, are not happy over decline in performance of candidates at the 2014 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The society, which expressed dissatisfaction over the results released by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in which only 31 per cent obtained five credits including English Language and Mathematics, noted that the decline was an indication that the country was losing its pride of place in education. The President of the society, Alhaji Kaamil Kalejaiye, a statement made available to New Telegraph quoted the WAEC Head of National Office, Mr. Charles Eguridu, that only 529,425 candidates representing 31.28 per cent, obtained credit passes in five subjects and above, including English Language and Mathematics. He reasoned that when compared to the 2012 and 2013 May/ June WASSCE results; there was marginal decline in the performance of candidates, saying 38.81 per cent was recorded in 2012 and 36.57 per cent in 2013. Kalejaiye suggested that adequate infrastructures, proper remuneration and teachers’ training, review of curriculum and promotion of academic activities, among others as means of reducing failure in the examination. He said: “If only 31.28 of the 1,692,435 candidates that sat for the examination are those that passed with necessary subjects (Mathematics and English), we should know that if care is not taken, we will completely lose our pride of place in education among the West African countries". "It is also not encouraging that 86,822 candidates representing 5.13 per cent have a few of their subjects still being processed due to some errors. We have come to a point where government at all levels must realize that without quality education, the country will hardly grow except with the help of God". Kalejaiye, however, advised the government on the remedy needed to rescue the situation, stressing: "The government must not only invest in education, but ensure proper implementation and usage of the funds. It is only in this part of the world that we spend much and still have poor output. The government should begin to place its appointment in the education sector based on merit. Good budgeting and policies require good and dedicated manager for efficiency.” The group challenged government and stakeholders in the educational sector to initiate a rewarding system that would surpass that of athletes and entertainers for outstanding students. He added: “It is worrisome that students are not doing well in Mathematics and English Language, which are the core subjects."

26 EDUCATION

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Don seeks blueprint on govt policies

Set good example for your children, parents told

Musa Pam

Education Consultant and AdonPsychologist, Mrs. Ena Agohas urged parents to be role

JOS

of Political SciAof Professor ence and Dean, Faculty Social Sciences at the

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Prof. Ayo Dunmoye, has called on political class and leadership of the country to be more focused and proactive in developing blueprint that would serve as a framework for government policies. Dunmoye said this in Jos, the Plateau State capital during the public presentation of a book: “The Nigerian Condition; Reflections on Nigerian Politics, Democracy and the National Question,” written by the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, Professor Sonni Tyoden. He attributed the failure of the nation’s leadership to the unwillingness of political leaders to rise up to their responsibilities and challenges of fixing the country. While lamenting that Nigerian leaders have not been focused and proactive in their determination to develop the country, Dunmoye, who was the book reviewer, stressed that the book identifies three leadership qualities which could make the difference. To him, they include vision, political will and integrity. Dunmoye, who hinted that the book is essential for the political class, if the nation’s socio-economic potential is to be achieved and for the country to attain its political greatness, however, maintained that the book would serve as working document for those seeking political office, who believe in selfless service and a bright future of the Nigerian Project.

Some of the graduating pupils of Masterpiece Schools, Akera, Alagbado, Ogun State during the school's 2014 graduation prize-giving day held at the school compound

Set good example for your children, parents told

n Education Consultant and Psychologist, Mrs. Ena Agodo has urged parents to be role model and set good example for their children and wards, as this will go a long way to guide the m right in the journey in life. She gave the advice at the graduation ceremony of Darforte International Schools, Ahmadiya, Lagos. According to her, since charity begins from home, there is no matter what the school inputs in the children, if the home environment is not conducive to learning, the children would find it rather difficult to excel. He said: “I want to tell the parents to make the home front more peaceful, neat and caring for the children to thrive. Let the children learn how to use their time wisely. Parents should teach them moral values such as hard work, integrity, disci-

pline, patience and friendship. Let all parents set good example as role models for the children to follow.” Mrs. Agodo, who lamented the manner in which some parents abdicate their responsibilities of proper upbringing of their children and wards to the school, advised the pupils to learn how to choose their career wisely. She said: “The best way to decide or choose the profession or career to pursue is to follow your natural abilities, instinct and interest. Do not base your decision to choose a career on money.” The consultant stressed the importance of deep thinking in the journey of life and advised the graduating pupils to embrace vigorous thinking as a way of life, restating the need for them to be more focused and refused to be distracted.

The Proprietress of then school, Princess Titilade Ijiwole assured parents and guardians of the safety of their children and wards, saying the school had already equipped the school with Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) in the response to the deteriorating security situation in the country. According to her, the CCTV camera will enable the management to monitor the movement of people within and around the school in order to take appropriate action in case of any security violation or challenge. While pledging that the school has been positioned to meet the education needs of the pupils towards the challenges of the 21st Century, she assured the parents that the school would continue to maintain a very high standard in every aspect of the education of the children.

model and set good example for their children and wards, as this will go a long way to guide them right in the journey in life. She gave the advice at the graduation ceremony of Darforte International Schools, Ahmadiya, Lagos. According to her, since charity begins from home, there is no matter what the school inputs in the children, if the home environment is not conducive to learning, the children would find it rather difficult to excel. He said: “I want to tell the parents to make the home front more peaceful, neat and caring for the children to thrive. Let the children learn how to use their time wisely. Parents should teach them moral values such as hard work, integrity, discipline, patience and friendship. Let all parents set good example as role models for the children to follow.” Mrs. Agodo, who lamented the manner in which some parents abdicate their responsibilities of proper upbringing of their children and wards to the school, advised the pupils to learn how to choose their career wisely. She said: “The best way to decide or choose the profession or career to pursue is to follow your natural abilities, instinct and interest. Do not base your decision to choose a career on money.” The consultant stressed the importance of deep thinking in the journey of life and advised the graduating pupils to embrace vigorous thinking as a way of life, restating the need for them to be more focused and refused to be distracted.

Red Star Foundation’s scholarship to enhance education How plot to unseat UNIBEN VC failed Kayode Olanrewaju

rked by the increasing rate of school drop-outs among children due to funding challenge of some parents, Red Star Express Plc (RSE), has embarked on a rescue mission to save the education of the pupils. The firm in 2004, launched the Red Star Foundation Scholarship which is aimed at improving learning and providing pupils, especially in the junior secondary school (JSS) to create access for them to further their education to senior secondary school (SS) to actualize their potentials. The scholarship, which initially was instituted for pupils in Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos State, has been extended to Kano and Port Harcourt. Red Star Express Commercial Sales Participant Manager, Mr. Rotimi Beyioku-Alase, while speaking on the initiative noted that quality education is the bedrock of any progressive nation, added that such is mostly attained through purposeful synergy between the government and corporate organisations. He said: “The Scholarship is

part of Red Star’s initiative to give back to the society, contribute to its development, and help create world-class students. It is an honour to support our host community and provide Nigerian students with the means of achieving their education dream. We assist our country’s best and brightest JSS pupils to go through their senior secondary school education without financial constraints.” Towards implementation of the programme, Beyioku-Alase explained that RSE has been partnering UNILAG Consult for the selection of candidates for the scholarship award yearly. He, however, added that principals of Junior Secondary Schools in Oshodi/Isolo LGA are requested to forward the names of the best pupils in their schools to the Consult, which conducts a written examination for them. According to him, the best pupils are therefore selected based on their performance for the award. So far, Beyioku-Alase noted that more than 50 pupils have benefitted from the scholarship under the scheme since its inception. “This long-standing partner-

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

Oladunjoye, Commissioner

ship with UNILAG Consult has continued to flourish and has helped positively to impact on country best and brightest students,” he recalled, saying we provide them necessary tools to excel in their school works and prepare them for profession career. The UNILAG Consult Head of Training, Mrs. Bukola Fakeye hinted that the RSE scholarship project has paved the way for brilliant students to access quality education, stressing that the project has encouraged the students to work hard while at JSS level.

unorthodox means, and seek to succeed him”. The UNIBEN authorities in reaction denied any lapses in academic and administrative activities following the absence of Vice-Chancellor. It described the reports in the media over the matter as untrue and misleading. The university said in a statement: “The incumbent ViceChancellor of UNIBEN has been away overseas for medical check-up and he is expected to resume fully any time from now. The statement said in the absence of the Vice-Chancellor, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) had, at different times before August 5, 2014, performed the functions of the Vice-Chancellor after due consultation with the Vice-Chancellor as necessary. “They have neither left the management nor the Governing Council in doubt as to their ability to steer the affairs of the university to the satisfaction of both members of staff and students. The appointment of the incumbent Vice-Chan-

cellor, like others before him, is for a fixed term of five years which terminates on 30th November, 2014. “The management of the university, therefore, wishes to use this medium to assure the general public to disregard the unfounded fears raised in the publication as both academic and administrative affairs remain on course, despite the Vice-Chancellor’s absence”. Meanwhile, the university’s spokesman, a Deputy Registrar, Mr. Harrison O. Osarenren, in an advertorial challenged the critics and opposition groups for what he described as their shortsightedness and myopic thoughts. He declared, therefore, that the day-to-day running of the university has not been hampered by the absence of the Vice-Chancellor, who incidentally, though, physically absent, is very much aware of and in firm control of activities of the university. The scheming of forces notwithstanding, Professor Oshodin last week, made a surprise appearance at the university to the utter disbelief of some sections of the university.

EDUCATION 27

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Emeka Onwudinjo UNIZIK

t was encomium galore last week at the Nnamdi Azikwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, as members of the university community paid their last respect to one of their own, the late Prof. Dora Akunyili, former Information Minister. The event was organised by the university’s Educational group, Literary Insight Network (LIN) to immortalise the late Professor, who died few months ago. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku, who described the death of the late Director-General of NAFDAC as shocking and a great loss to the state in particular and the country in general, said late Prof. Dora Akunyili's interventions in the country governance would be greatly missed. The Vice-Chancellor, who was represented by the former Chairman of the university’s chapter of ASUU, Prof. Ike Odimegwu, said while others may have disagreed with his views, most Nigerians never doubted Akunyili’s immense patriotism and sincere commitment to building a greater, more united nation that all Nigerians and the entire black race would be proud of. While eulogizing the late Minister for his academic and literary prowess, Ahaneku described the late Akunyili as a social critic with an unparal-

Literary insight Network members presenting Dora’s portrait to the Elder Sister, Mrs Rose Okeke

Encomium as UNIZIK stands still for Akunyili leled courage, singleness of purpose and steadfastness of conduct. He expressed grief that though “she has passed on, she lives on as her numerous works will continue to illuminate the dark confines of the distorted history of the black race.” He, however, lauded the

leaders and members of the Literary Insight Network, the organisers of the event for organising such an event on behalf of the university to honour the late Professor, whose deeds will continue to live in the mind of the people. The event, which took place at the university’s main auditorium, was attended by more

President/Chairman Of Council, CIPM , Mr. Victor Famuyibo presenting award plaque to the Lagos State Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Mrs. Modupe Oguntuase, at the training.

CIPM makes case for staff training Shadrack Yusuf RUN

he Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) has advised companies operating in the country not to view their investment in staff training from the perspective of added costs alone, but also as adding value to their businesses. This position was made known at the 2014 Learning Leaders’ Forum organised by the institute at the Conference and Exhibition Centre of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Central Business District Area, Alausa, Ikeja. According to the institute, the focus of the forum was to provide answers to what could be done to bridge the gap between potential and the

fully-bred leaders, and how the chief executives of companies will perceive training of staff members as additional value and not additional cost. The event, which drew professionals and other members of the academia, public service and private sector as resource persons, had as theme: “Investing in Human Capital: The Role of the Chief Executive.” The President and Chairman of Governing Council of the institute, Mr. Victor Famuyibo, told journalists the motive behind conducting research and publishing materials relating to human resource management discipline. He said: “This is because the initiative was borne out of the need to deliver value through people. We brought profession-

als from diverse areas of life to brainstorm on important issues in the society. In this case, we brought together experts, and all participants had one or two values instilled in them." The training, according to Famuyibo, also focused on how companies will ensure maintenance of high standard of professional competence and management of human resource in the country in public and private sectors, and conform to the best professional standards. In a similar development, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Honeywell Flour Mills, Mr. Lanre Jaiyeola noted that the programme sought to promote the science and practice of personnel management in all its ramifications.

than 500 people, including students, lecturers and dignitaries across the state. In her remarks, the Academic and Staff Adviser of the group, Professor Joy Eyisi stressed that the best way to immortalise the late icon is to imbibe those principles and virtues the late Akunyili lived and died for. The don spoke of plans by the Network to immortalize the late Professor with a compendium and a movie production, which will be a yearly event. “Prof Dora Akunyili was a fearless fighter, whose back never touched the sand and I really wonder if she could be replaced,” she said, describing her as a great ambassador of the country, who brought honour to the Nigeria, her fatherland by combing the illegal production of drugs and foods in the country. To immortalize the late Akunyili, Prof. Eyisi unveiled a large artistic portrait of Late Dora Akunyili, and which was presented by the group to her

husband, Dr. Chike Akunyili and Dora’s elder sister, Mrs. Rose Okeke. Responding, the special guest of honour at the event, Dr. Chike Akunyili, who was represented by Dr. Ononigwe Pius, thanked the Network and the entire university community for the encomium and the portrait presented to the late Prof. Akunyili’s family. He offered prayer that God will continue to bless members of the group and replenish all those who have contributed in one way or the other to the success of the event. The President of the Network, Elochukwu Ezeumeanya said the group was immortalising the late icon, as a response to the need for those living to imbibe her virtues and principles since the vacuum she left behind cannot be filled. “We realize that the institution where leaders of tomorrow are nurtured is the best place to host the event and honour the great leader,” he said. His words: “We want to make late Prof. Akanyili’s legacies to be indelible in the sands of time with an annual publication that will be a compendium of poems, articles, tributes and lots more to be written by people from all walks of life in her honour. This will feature a movie that will x-ray her life and times, to be acted by students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University.” The high point of the activities was a talk-show on life and times of Prof. Dora Akunyili presented by Chief Strategist and Vice-President of the Network, Ekene Ezeumeanya and Nwamaka Uzoigwe respectively. The group, led by Chiagozie Ezeumeanya unveiled of a blog site: www.doraakunyiliblogspot.com, where tropical issues concerning the late Professor will be discussed, which comprises of drama, articles, tributes and poetry reading sessions. Other activities include poems recitation, drama and articles reading session in honour of the late Minister, while a condolence register was opened.

Hotelier tasks students Victoria Ewoh LEAD CITY

embers of the National M Universities Association of Management and Business Students (NUAMBS), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Enugu State chapter, have been advised to remain focused and hardworking in their endeavour. The Public Relations Communication Officer of Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, Miss Raliyat Lawal, gave this advice during the students' excursion to the hotel, as part of the students’ learning exposure and initiative to boost the quality of education in tertiary institutions. Officials of the hotel during the visit also taught the students how to use the various cooking utensils and techniques of serving customers, while they were also given practical training on the fitness centre facilities with an

interesting demonstration on how to use an ultra-modern tread mill. Lawal spoke on the need for the students to be knowledgeable in all aspects of life, and not just in academics alone, adding: "Hard work and patience are the keys to success, anyone who wants to make it in life must be focused and avoid all forms of distractions." She appealed to the students to strengthen their knowledge in cooking abilities and the use of different cooking utensils. Meanwhile, the Marketing Coordinator, Mr. Emeka Obasi, as well as the Human Resources Manager, Mr. Victor Ekwu equipped the students on various aspects of the hotel operations, management and services. The high point of the visit was the educational tour of the hotel property and facilities, which was led by Ekwu.

EDUCATION | CAMPUS

Oladele Oge UNN

he curtains have been lowered on an international conference on food security and biotechnology in Africa, which is aimed at facilitating the benefits and constraints in agricultural productivity. The conference was organised last week at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), as part of efforts at tackling the problem of food insecurity in the country. Prof. James Chukwuma Ogbonna, a lecturer at the Department of Microbiology delivered the lead paper entitled: “Adoption of Crop Biotechnology as a Food Security Option Benefits and Constrains”. The round table discussion, which dwelt on awareness on food security education for Nigerian citizens, was organised by University of Nigeria Nsukka EDULINK – SBA Office. Ogbonna, in his lecture, stressed the determination of the Biotechnology and scientists to ensure adequate security and safety of food beverages and energy drinks, being consumed by the people in Africa. The don added that Bio-technology will increase productivity and fortified crops with necessary minerals and vitamins that will enhance nutritional needs of people. “Some of the fears being expressed on bio-technology foods are rumours and have not been scientifically proved,” the lecturer said, reminding participants at the talk-shop to be bold about their research, without merely relying on vociferous information of sycophants. Ogbonna outlined in his paper some of the benefits which would accrue from the awareness programme on food security in Africa, to include taking necessary steps that would combat unexpected sickness and death due to improper information given to the people on food consumption. Welcoming participants to the conference, the Chairman of the Local Organising Com-

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Experts compare notes on food security at UNN

Cross section photograph of the paticipants during the conference

mittee of the programme, Dr. Aja Nwachukwu, former Education Minister, declared that the current members were working tirelessly in taming the threats and the challenges facing low production of food in the country and canvassed elaborate training in order to safeguard the society. The Coordinator of the programme, Prof. Jerry Ugwuanyi, who explained the major reasons behind the awareness programme, said the conference was instituted by the European Union and ABNE, an agency of AU-NEPAD that involves four universities. He listed the universities to include: the University of Groningen in Netherland; Ehcloret University, Kenya; University of Oragonding, Bokinafaso, and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), saying the main purpose is to focus on how to address the problems people encounter from taking contaminated foods and drinks. Ugwuanyi, however, urged

participants to apply the experience and training garnered at the conference to rebuild their organizations, even as he explained that the data gathered from the outcome of the research and the conferences would be recommended to the Federal Government and other relevant agencies responsible for foods and human’s health control for execution and implementation. On questions on the special qualities and qualifications control of the food imported to the country, Mrs. Rosline Gidado, said a concrete plan is underway to strength the campaign to rural communities in order to ensure maximum orientation and counseling throughout the duration of the awareness programmme. On adoption of food security and biotechnology, the Enugu State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Nnemeka Chukwuone tasked the participants to uphold new method of addressing the issue of food bev-

erages locally, even as he expressed pessimism that nothing no longer working in nation’s agricultural extension. The Commissioner, appealed to the Federal Government to encourage quality research by tertiary institutions in the country and which will be adequate funded to address the problems plaguing the country’s socio-economic and political spheres. Chukwuone, who lamented that agricultural extension practice had been set aside in the country by the government at all levels, regretted also that practitioners have misplaced their duties in tackling food security and mass storage of food produced by farmers in the country. To move the agricultural sector forward, the Commissioner challenged the participants on the urgent need for them to come out with immediate plans to effect radical change in the sector in order to ensure food security for the people.

FUTA admits 1,014 fresh students management of the FedTogy,he eral University of TechnolAkure (FUTA), has offered

provisional admission to no fewer than 1,014 students out of 5,865 candidates that sat for the Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination screening exercise into the institution for the 2014/2015 academic calendar year. A statement by the university's Public Relations Officer, Mr. Adebanjo Adegbenro, said Ibukun Jonathan Ige, scored the highest marks with 92 per cent, while Toluwalope Temidayo Dada scored 88 per cent to come second in the exercise. Expressing delight at the conduct and outcome of the exercise, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola reaffirmed FUTA’s commitment to due process in all its operations. According to him, only the best can make it to the university, because FUTA’s tradition of excellence will never be compromised. He said: “We have confidence in our process as far as conducting examination is concerned because we have competent personnel and resources. Besides, we are very transparent in our dealings. Those candidates who made it did very well in the examination and we are happy to have conducted the Computer Based Examination (CBT) using our internal personnel and resources without any external help.” The Vice-Chancellor, who reiterated FUTA’s determination to sustain its tradition of excellence, noted that the new students are privileged to join a citadel of academic excellence, which ceaselessly promotes technological advancement through motivated and skilled staff. According to him, the members of staff are dedicated to teaching and research geared towards global needs and the production of self-reliant high level manpower for the development of the country.

Anambra distributes 3,000 laptops to private schools Emeka Onwudinjo UNIZIK

s part of commitment to make students and pupils in Anambra State enjoy world class education and have access to modern learning facilities, the state government, last week distributed over 3,000 laptop computer sets to all registered private schools in the state. Under the computer distribution scheme of the state government, each of the proprietors of the schools received 15 laptop computers. The government had last year distributed laptops to all public schools in the state and other education largess which aimed at making Anambra State one of the top three states in federation with lowest illiteracy level and Information Technology (IT) compliance. While handing over the laptops to the proprietors of the schools, Governor Willie Obiano, who spoke through the

Prof. Kate Omenugha reading the core values of education to the students

Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kate Azuka Omenugha noted that the plans of the government was to position Anambra State at the front burner in

teaching and learning, as well as ensure that private schools are carried along in the state’s revolutionary process. “We have given laptops to all

public secondary schools and this time, we want to give registered private secondary schools in the state,” she stressed, advising them to ensure that the

facilities were use them judiciously towards effective teaching of the students and not as private properties. The idea, the Commissioner noted, was to make sure that all private schools key into the government policies in terms of improved education sector. The Commissioner added: “Henceforth, no private school will be allowed to register students in examination classes. You should not employ quacks as teachers in your schools, as that could endanger the future of the children. Do not induce our supervisors during inspection financially and make sure that your school is registered with the government as we are poised to close down all unregistered private schools in the state. “Most of you see school management as a business rather than as a social service, but the government will not hesitate to wield its sledge hammer on any private school that fails to abide by the government policies.”

CAMPUS | EDUCATION 29

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Wednesday, September 3, 2014

NAPS petitions FG over ASUP strike at Ekowe poly Emeka Onwudinjo UNIZIK

igher school students, under the aegis of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) have petitioned the Federal Government over what they described as frustration and unwarranted delay in resumption of academic activities at the Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, Bayelsa State. They, however, wondered why after the protracted 10-month nationwide strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) was suspended on July 17, members of the academic staff of the polytechnic were yet to resume academic activities. The students, who blamed the polytechnic management, led by the Acting Rector, Mrs. Emilian Bribena for the plight of the students, however accused the Bursar, Mr. James Neminebor and the Chairman of Governing Council, Mr. Bekeakpo Etifa of taking undue advantage of the polytechnic's lack of substantive Rector to mismanage the institution. In a statement issued by NAPS Senate President, Salahudeen Lukman, the association called on the Education Minister, Mallam Ibrahim Shekaraou to raise a Ministerial panel to visit the polytechnic and dissolve the governing council pending the report of the panel in order to enable academic activities resume in the institution for the sake of the students. Lukman, who said the association was miffed at what it Sikiru Akinola OAU

Lukman

described as the appalling situation on campus of the polytechnic, noted that six weeks after the suspension of the nationwide strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), academic activities were yet to resume in the polytechnic. The union traced the problem to poor management of the institution by its Governing Council and management, saying: "The polytechnic has continued to suffer neglect and abandonment due to the bad politics being played out by the Chairman of the Governing Council and the Rector in which the institution refused to pay the striking lecturers. This has led to abandonment of academic activities in the polytechnic for more than six weeks after the national ASUP had ordered resumption of academic activities in all polytechnics. "If this situation persists, we will not hesitate to mobilise our colleagues across the Nigerian

campuses to shut down government operations in Abuja." The union called for the removal of the Governing Council Chairman, Mr. Bekeakpo Etifa, while the appointment of the Rector of the institution should be based on merit. The statement read in part: "The frustration of the students of the polytechnic and the undue delay in their future career call for the need for a rescue hand of the Honourable Minister of Education and other stakeholders in the education sector. The leadership of NAPS had engaged in wide consultation and fact finding mission to establish the real cause of this saga. “This act has resulted to the short payment of the academic staff salaries as well as lack of funds to put in place the required facilities for resumption of our teeming students in the polytechnic. And hence, this has resulted to the non-resumption of academic activities by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Ekowe chapter, who are demanding that their salaries are fully paid. This is termed to be a calculated attempt to frustrate the effort of the Federal Government, especially President Goodluck Jonathan's Transformation Agenda, since this is emanating from the President’s state." "We strongly believe that the Federal Government will yield to the students demand as a matter of urgency, as any further delay within next 21 days may attract confrontational from the student body".

UNIJOS inducts pioneer medical lab graduates Musa Pam JOS

t was encomium galore last Ition week during the first inducceremony of the 39 pioneer set of qualified Medical Laboratory Science graduates of the Faculty of Medical Science, University of Jos (UNIJOS), Jos, Plateau State. According to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Hayward Mafuyai, the induction of the 39 laboratory scientists marked an important milestone in the annals of the Faculty of the Medical Sciences in particular and the university in general. Meanwhile, Mafuyai hinted that the induction of the pioneer set of Science Laboratory graduates represents the institution's contribution to manpower development in the health sector. His words: "On our part, in spite of limited resources available at our disposal and the array of competing needs, it our resolve to continue to provide an enabling environment for qualitative medical education at the university. It is my hope that wherever you may be, you will strive to identify strongly with the alumni association of our great university, and by so doing, contribute your quota to the development of the university". The Vice-Chancellor, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Administration, Prof. Ibrahim Musa congratulated the newly inducted medical laboratory scientists for their success in the qualifying examinations. He admonished the induct-

ees: "As you take the oath, I want to counsel you all that a good name is a product of rare achievement. Therefore, in your subsequent undertakings, I implore you to aim at that good name through your exemplary conduct, carriage and comportment. In this way, you will be a pride to your profession and worthy ambassadors of your families and alma mater." Mafuyai commended the effort of the Dean and members of staff of the university for producing the best scientists in the country, saying the Faculty of Medical Sciences has over the years, despite its several constraints, has continued to churn out excellent graduates. “I urge you not to rest on your oars in your efforts to produce the right caliber of manpower who will rise to the enormous health needs of the country," he said, challenging the new scientists to always remember the sacrifices of their parents and teachers as they prepared in their heart to meet the medical and health needs of other people. The Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Prof. Nuhu Dakum thanked the university authorities for the immense support it continues to give the faculty towards the recruitment of high quality staff as well as provision of necessary infrastructure and equipment required for training of the students. He noted: "To the inductees, in as much as the faculty is proud of you, you should commit yourselves to positive deeds that will edify and uplift the image of our university."

SSANIP blames underfunding for poly crises

nderfunding of polytechnic education has been identified as one of the major causes of crises in the country’s educational sector. The Chairman of Oyo State College of Agriculture, IgboOra, (OYSCAI) chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP), Mr. Adedotun Ogundeji, disclosed this during the formal opening of the third quarter zonal meeting of the association. The meeting, which aimed at exposing members of the association to the ideals and dynamics of labour unionism, according to the Chairman, is also aimed at preventing industrial action that usually paralyses academic activities on campuses nationwide. Ogundeji pleaded for understanding and support SSANIP members and other guests at the event. between the management of various institutions and ties, as it has continued to or- attributed the labour harmony unions in expanding the edu- ganise seminars and training on the campus since the varicational infrastructure and programmes for its members ous unions were inaugurated improving the internally in order to understand issues to the cordial relationship begenerated revenue capacity and perspectives in labour tween the management and the of institutions. unionism, public services rules unions. The union leader, who and extant regulations, as well Ogundeji said that SSANIP stressed that "this strategic as the Nigeria Labour Law and was instrumental to the negomeasure will enhance the per- its application. tiation and implementation formance and help in sustainOgundeji, however, ex- of hazard and medical allowing the institutions," explained pressed gratitude to the Pro- ances for members of staff that SSANIP has been deeply vost of the college for priori- of the college, noting that the rooted in the college’s activi- tising staff welfare, even as he association was also instru-

mental to the setting up of committee on the implementation of migration policy within the unions. He urged members of the association to collectively fight for their rights whenever such need arises, saying "there are policies introduced based on agreement between the government and the unions which have been fully implemented by the federal institutions,

while the state-owned institutions are reluctant in implementing them.” In his keynote address, the Provost, Prof. Jacob Adewale, represented by his Deputy, said that the meeting was essential for the success of trade unionism in higher institutions of learning, affirming that without deliberations, consultations, exchange of ideas and information, it may be difficult to reach consensus and agreements on issues. “There is bound to be communication gap and breach of trust, when the leaders fail to hold meeting or allow meaningful deliberations on issues of interest between the leaders and workers to hold," the Provost noted. He, therefore, advised the union leaders to be conscious of implications of wrong approach to crisis management, if such meetings are to be meaningful in the collective search for industrial peace and harmony on campus. The Registrar of the college, Mr. Niyi Fehintola commended the association for organising the meeting and charged members to come up with policies that will enhance members' welfare and the smooth running of the college.

EDUCATION

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Wednesday, September 3, 2014

OAU: Confidence restored Kayode Latinwo

aving spent 20 years in the United States of America with nostalgic feeling for my dear country Nigeria, I recently returned home to spend my holiday with my extended family members. With unquenchable love for academic environments, I decided to visit Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU), Ile –Ife, just for mere adventurism, relaxation and familiarity. Though, I did not attend OAU for my undergraduate study in those days, I simply love the good stories I have been hearing about the university which prides itself as the "neatest campus in Africa" With two boys as my guide, we arrived at OAU with mixed feelings. Interestingly, the ambience of the environment right from the main gate through the long stretch dual carriage way leading to the sprawling campus was amazingly remarkable. Truly, the OAU campus was not only tastefully orderly and neat; it was indeed groovy and elegantly tidy. The academic structures were just too exotically dazzling. I was shocked that a Nigerian university could parade such architectural masterpiece. Honestly, many universities in America do not have as many fantastic buildings as OAU does. The flowers were well laid out. The campus was just too academically befitting. As I was praising the university management, led by Prof. Idowu Bamitale Omole, I

ran into a group of students who were criticizing him. His offence, they said that the increased their school fees from less than Ten Thousand Naira to close to a Hundred Thousand Naira. I laughed sarcastically. "University education must be very cheap in Nigeria", I told my two guides. How can you pay just less than a hundred thousand naira for all the good structures, services and quality university education when some people pay far more for their wards in nursery and primary school? Education is not that cheap in America. I moved round and spoke with other people. The aggregate opinion I got was that Prof. Omole has been providing fantastic and quality leadership in the university, though he is tough as his name implies. But then, a good leader must be firm and tough if he is to achieve results. Many people described him as a man of integrity so much so that nobody could accuse him of stealing the university's money. I began to fall in love with the Vice-Chancellor with all the good works I saw on campus and good testimonies I heard about him. As fate would have it, a couple of days later, I saw Prof. Omole on television announcing the results of Osun State governorship election. He was the Chief Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for that election. I love his personality. He is fluent and meticulous. He was calm while announcing the results; an indication that he

had not been compromised by anybody. My love for him became more reinforced though I have never met him one on one. He radiated confidence and exuded so much authority and control to the amazement of the multitude. I came to the conclusion that Nigeria is blessed with so many highly cerebral personalities. However, if Nigeria is so much blessed with wonderful people like Prof. Omole, why is the country so backward in terms of development and advancement? Why is there so much corruption in the country? These are national questions that should lead to the ultimate decision that the "best must be allowed to rule the rest". A situation, in which what they called "stomach infrastructure" was given so much attention to the extent that an accused defeated a highly cerebral and wonderful personality in an election, is highly undesirable. However, were it not for security reasons, with what I saw in OAU coming from Prof. Omole and his team, I would have loved to send my children to Nigeria for their university education. But with all the Boko Haram insurgents on the prowl, I would rather stay in the foreign land called Boston, and be boasting of Nigeria's rich cultural heritage. I must confess that some of us are really missing home because, life here in America, is as well, not a bed of roses.  Kayode Latinwo writes in from USA.

Some of the girls displaying their crafts at the exhibition

Omoge Konsult trains teenage girls on handicraft Lydia Famous

s part of its activities towards supporting the girlchild education and redirecting their energies towards improved skill acquisition, a training institute, Omoge Konsult, has equipped the skills of no fewer than 150 teenage girls in handicrafts and marketing techniques. The curtains were lowered on the five-day intensive training, which took place at Egbeda, a suburb of Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos, with an exhibition of various products made by the trainees during the training. Some of the skills acquired by the participants include cloth knitting, bag making, shoe making, dress making and graphic

design. According to the Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, Miss Adaku Emeka, the programme is aimed at opening the eyes of an average girl-child to the opportunities available to them and empowering them with the tools that will enable them live beyond the endemic rating of moral decadence and corrupt society. She added that the initiative was also instituted to teach the younger generation the value of hard-work and enable them strike a balance between academic life and entrepreneurial skills, as well as teaching them that hard work pays off in the long run. She said: “We are hopeful that these young girls will develop these skills during holidays

and free periods, to enable them support themselves and contribute positively to the economy of their society.” Meanwhile, one of the guests on the occasion, Reverend Eberechi Igwe, in her speech told the participants that they were part of the success of this programme because if they had not showed up, there would have been nobody to teach. She encouraged the young ones to put into practice the skills they acquired and told them to avoid the “fast syndrome” that most youths indulge in, the fact that they want to make fast money, eat fast food and cut corners. Rather, she pleaded that they should seek knowledge and ask questions because it pays off in the long run.

EDUPEACE

with Mahfouz A. Adedimeji (08066372516, sms only)  Dr Adedimeji is a Senior Lecturer and Director, Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, Unilorin

Face books more, Facebook less

he invention of Mark Zuckerberg is undoubtedly the bomb. Though just ten years old this April, if Facebook were a country, it would be the third largest in the world with some 500 million citizens, including, of course, millions of Nigerians. Well, what you first read about the population is outdated. That was exactly what I was told in 2010 at a conference of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) in Melbourne, Australia. The truth now is that as Zuckerberg announced on September 14, 2012, the population of Facebook citizens is over a billion. The growth rate is staggering. The excited Zuckerberg wrote on his blog that day, “This morning, there are more than one billion people using Facebook actively each month. If you are reading this: thank you for giving me and my little team the honor of serving you. Helping a billion people connect is amazing, humbling and by far the thing I am most proud of in my life.” Between 2010 and now, I won’t be surprised if “Facebookians” (those who inhabit the Facebook country) and “Facebookers” (those who actually use Facebook regularly) have exceeded the population of China. Two years is long enough to grow a few hundreds of million users if you are Facebook. For all his talent, as the Saturday Sun of August 30, 2014, (p.38) reported, the net worth of Zuckerberg is $33.5 billion as at August 2014. This makes him much richer than the richest man in Africa, our own Alhaji Aliko Dangote, whose fortune is $17 billion. And he is simple to the core. He cruises the town in “ordinary” Acura TSX and Honda Fit, not Ferrari and Lamborghini like some of our corrupt politicians and lousy musicians. However, beyond the glitz and the razzmatazz, Facebook, here as a hypernym for other social media like Twitter, 2go, LinkedIn, myspace, viber, etc., is one of the greatest enemies of Nigerian students nowadays. It is one huge distraction they should be wary of. Facebooking has capacity to distract one from attaining academic excellence. It is definitely much easier to chat away and hop from one shared site to the other than burrow one’s heads in books. But the pains of study must be endured to achieve the gain of academic success. After my Facebook account, which I opened after a lot of subtle pressure from wellmeaning Facebookians, was compromised by a hacker and identity thief two years ago and I was able to render the account useless for him or her, I said good riddance to “bad rubbish”. It was a time I was finding it difficult to cope with several notifications of messages and a deluge of information, including the utterly useless. But in order not to throw the baby out with the bath water, af-

Facebooking has capacity to distract one from attaining academic excellence ter some months I overcame my Facebook fatigue and opened another one. Apart from messages you need to respond to, there is a steady flow of information that you have to keep space with. You definitely would appreciate the use, misuse and abuse of the platform. The reality of today is that rather than use Facebook to advance knowledge and share valuable information, many students have turned it to a gossip forum. Several thousands of those who should be learning seriously hang out on the social media connecting for nothing. They practically wake and sleep on Facebook, updating status, liking and commenting on anything and everything ultimately wasting valuable time. I know those who are permanently online, whose jobs don’t actually require it. Some students tell their Facebook friends when they are in the toilet and where they are when they are travelling. They update their status when they take their bath and reveal the colour of their new under-wears. I don’t have information on how often Zukerberg himself updates his Facebook status but it is known he has posted only 19 tweets in the last three and half years. There are students who tweet more than that number per day. Rather than face their books squarely, they Facebook all the time and tweet away valuable time. There are enough blames to go round for the poor academic performance of students in public examinations. But if students fulfil their own part of the bargain, change their attitude to education by working hard and avoiding distractions, the situation will improve. That is why I like the comment of someone on Nairaland who attributed the recent mass failure in WAEC examinations to some factors, largely bordering on students, the first of which is "Facebook, Yahoo, Twitter, Myspace and generally browsing on the internet." Others are: English Premier League/ European Football League; DSTV/Home Video; GSM and Blackberry; Quest for cheap fame and wealth; craze for talent shows; ever busy parents and weak government policies. Rather than complain about this and that, let students face their business of schooling squarely, avoid distractions as much as possible and they will be safe from the agony of failure. They can start that process by Facebooking less and facing their books more, the same point I made in a November 15, 2012 report of the Nigerian Tribune.

BUSINESS Wednesday, September 3, 2014

What's news Investors at NSE lost N187bn in August Investors in the Nigerian capital market lost about N187 billion last month as negative sentiment persisted in the equities market.

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BRINK Failure of Nigeria to pass the test will hurt Arik Air, as the carrier would not be able to operate to the US

Wole Shadare

Nigeria is strong destination for telecoms, retail investments Nigeria has emerged as a strong destination for investments in telecoms and retail mainly due to the large population (20 per cent of the sub-Saharan Africa), detailed study by Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry has shown.

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FMBN recovers N1.2bn debt The Board of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) has recovered over N1.2 billion from its debtors and has outlined a fresh plan to deliver additional 15,000 housing units next two years.

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FG approves dredging of Calabar port Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)’s subsidiary, Calabar Channel Management Company, has been given a marching order by President Goodluck Jonathan to embark on the capital and maintenance dredging of the remaining part of the Calabar water channel. This is the third time the contract would be awarded.

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BUSINESS CREW

igeria will this month know whether it would pass the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Category One Aviation status as the apex American aviation regulatory body is set to pass its verdict. As a result, anxiety is beginning to build up in the aviation industry. While some are pessimistic about the country scaling the huddle, others are of the view that Nigeria has done well to deserve category one. The FAA team leader, Mr Andre Lamarre, who led a threeman team comprising of Mr Michael Jennisin and Mr James Plasman, had last June, while visiting the Acting Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Benedict Adeliyeka, in Lagos, said that the most important thing to the FAA then, was the sustenance of a robust oversight of the industry and strict enforcement of compliance to safety regulation by NCAA. According to a top official of the agency, who spoke to New Telegraph on condition of anonymity, the only area left when the FAA visited was the recurrent training, which he said could be regarded as a closure since the NCAA has signed con-

SMARTPHONE USERS Number of smartphone users is expected to rise to over 35 million in 2017 from 5.6 million at the end of 2012

AYODELE AMINU, Deputy Editor (Business) Simeon Ogoegbulem, Dep. Business Editor BAYO AKOMOLAFE, Asst. Editor (Maritime) SUNDAY OJEME, Asst. Editor (Insurance) Godson ikoro , Asst. Editor (Money Market) DAYO ADEYEMI, Property Editor ADEOLA YUSUF, Energy Editor WOLE SHADARE, Aviation Editor

Kunle Azeez

ccess to telecoms services in Nigeria continues to gain traction, as the number of active telephone lines now stands at 131.1 million, New Telegraph has learnt.

CHRIS UGWU, Capital Market Editor Abdulwahab Isa, Finance Editor KUNLE AZEEZ, Senior Correspondent Chuks Onuanyin, Energy Nnamdi Amadi, Reporter JOHNSON ADEBAYO, Asst. Production Editor

31 NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/business

Nigeria’s debt profile sustainable, but… – Dr Nwankwo }p-34

ayodele aminu, Deputy Editor, business

ayodele.aminu@newtelegraphonline.com ayodeleaminu@yahoo.com

Anxiety mounts as US sets to release Nigeria's audit report tracts for recurrences with various simulator organisations. Nigeria was four years ago awarded category one, which shows that the country complied with all known global aviation regulations in line with the provision of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). A former Director-General of NCAA, Dr. Harold Olusegun Demuren, worked tirelessly to ensure that some of the gaps

noticed by the Americans were closed. The procedure led to granting Nigeria category one status. But the spate of air accidents, about three in four years, raised a lot of questions about air safety in Nigeria. The alleged interference in the affairs of NCAA by the Ministry of Aviation, culminating in the removal of two DirectorsGenerals in a space of one year, is said to have infuriated the US

and brings to questions professionalism in the agency. Also, the failure of Nigeria to pass the test will hurt Arik Air, as the carrier would not be able to operate to the US with its aircraft but would have to lease plane from a category one rated country to operate to the US. The four-man team from the United States FAA were in the country for five days to carry CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

L–R: Acting Registrar/CE, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Mr. Seye Awojobi; Managing Director/CE, First Registrars Limited, Mr. Bayo Olugbemi; President/Chairman of Council, CIBN, Mrs. Debola Osibogun; Group Managing Director/CE, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Bisi Onasanya and Second Vice President, CIBN, Dr. Uche Olowu, during the Institute’s courtesy visit to the Bank in Lagos…yesterday

Nigeria’s active telephone lines hit 131.1m ...As telcos’ voice revenue declines The development is coming as revenue accrued by telecoms operators from voice services is projected to decline in the coming years, as non-voice services drain voice revenue. According to the latest official industry data obtained from the Nigeria Communication Company (NCC), from 127.9 million active mobile subscriptions in January, this year, mobile subscriptions increased to 129 million in February but slightly fell to 127 million in March.

However, in April, active mobile subscriptions swung upwards to 129.3 million and by the end of May, it stood at 131.1 million, which is the latest industry figure, as released by the telecoms regulator. Meanwhile, as the mobile networks are witnessing increasing subscriber base, they are also currently grappling with declining revenue in the face of myriad of operating challenges affecting them. According to a new report by global TMT, a research leader

for Deliotte, telecoms operators are bound to shed part of their revenue as Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) value is predicted to maintain consistent decline of up to five per cent per month over the next five years. Apart from this, the report said that the increase in smartphone ownership in Nigeria and penchant to use chat apps to communicate instead of voice, is another factor that will affect operators’ revenue in the coming years. Director at TMT research, Mr Paul Lee, said that the wideCONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE July 2014.................................8.3% June 2014................................8.2% May 2014....................................8%

LENDING RATE

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at Aug 29)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N168 InterBank Rate . . . . . . . . . . 11.57% Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N290 Prime Lending Rate. . . . . 16.93% Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N228 Maximum Lending Rate..25.83% • Foreign Reserves – $39.60bn as at 28/08/2014

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at Aug 29)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N156.73 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N259.24 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N206.42 Source: CBN

32 business | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Investors at NSE lost N187bn in August NEGATIVE GUSH 2014 half-year results released in the review period did little to drive positive investor's sentiment Chris Ugwu

nvestors in the Nigerian capital market lost about N187 billion last month as negative sentiment persisted in the equities market. Market capitalisation dropped by 1.36 per cent to close at N13.713 trillion at the close of the last trading day on August 29 from N13.900 trillion opening at the beginning of trading on August 1 , 2014. The NSE All Shares Index equally declined 1.36 per cent at the end of the month, from 42,097.46 points it opened during the beginning of trading to close at 41,532.31 points. The index measures the performance of the stock market

and also reflects how prices of stocks have moved, which in turn determines how much investors lost or gained. Market sentiment for the first half of the month was largely negative as the NSE ASI closed in the red in six out of the 10 trading days. Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismark Rewane in his Bi-monthly Economic & Business update said H1’14 results released in the review period did little to drive positive investor sentiment. The expert noted that the effect of the summer holidays was beginning to tell on the Nigerian equities market as investors cash in on investments to fund holiday expenses. According to him, sectoral returns on the index also portrayed the negative sentiment in the broader market. “Apart from the best performers – the oil and gas, and industrial goods indices, which year-to-date returned 39.26 per cent and 7.59 per cent respectively, all other sub-indices have

underperformed the NSE All Share Index. The consumer goods subindex, which has returned -6.27 per cent thus far, continues to lead continues the underperformers. The banking and insurance indices have also provided negative returns of -5.51 per cent and -5.52 per cent year-to-date. Activities on the bourse in the review period were negative as the 10 trading days resulted in four days of gains against six days of losses. Daily changes ranged from -1.38 per cent to 1.18 per cent,” he said. Market turnover in the review period was N36.78billion, 21.16 per cent lower than the turnover for the same period

in the month of July. The average daily turnover for the period was also relatively low at N3.68billion, compared with the daily average of N4.61billion for the year. The financial services sector accounted for 50 per cent of market turnover, as stocks in the sector remain the most liquid on the Nigerian bourse. The consumer goods sector followed, accounting for about 23 per cent in the period. This comes as Nigerian Breweries Plc emerged as the most active stock by value accounting for 13 per cent of market turnover. The activity of Oando Plc, Seplat Plc and other oil-marketing firms, saw the oil and gas sector accounting for 12 per cent of

market activity. The industrial goods and conglomerates sectors accounted for 8.35 per cent and 3.95 per cent of the market turnover respectively in the period under review. According to Rewane, the MSCI Frontier Index emerged the best performing index with a year-to-date return of 14.37 per cent. “On the other hand, the MSCI Europe Index has underperformed in comparison to other indices, including the ASI, with a return of (-2.98 per cent). This negative return may be attributed to the persisting crises in Ukraine and the strict sanctions imposed on Russia as a result,” he said.

Active telephone lines hit 131.1m C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 1

spread adoption and usage of instant messaging services (IMS) from Over-the-Top (OTT) providers such as Whatsapp, Viber, Facebook and Blackberry Messenger (BBM), is an indication that communication no longer occurs exclusively on voice, especially amongst the nation’s vibrant youth population. “This development is contributing significantly to declining voice revenues and operators have to grapple with this reality by focusing more on devising other means of generating revenue through data services,” he said. ARPU for voice services is expected to decline steeply by around $5 per month over the next five years. This figure has been down from $6 in April 2013 and $10 in 2008. In a recent interview with New Telegraph, Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr Mathew Willsher, also confirmed that currently ARPU is between $6 and $5. However, operators appears to be strategising ways to make up for the projected decline in

voice revenue by ensuring that they latch onto the provision of various value added services (VAS), as they provide broadband services across the country. “We are aggressively working with the original equipment manufacturers, OEMs, to push smartphones into the hands of Nigerians,” said Mr Osondu Nwokoro, Director, Regulatory Affairs, Airtel Nigeria. With Nigeria’s VAS market currently valued $200 million, operators are set for significant growth in the next few years to unleash the project $500 million which Nigeria’s telecoms VAS market is worth. Telecoms analyst, Ike Nnamani, said that operators will need to ride on the back of rising smartphone acquisition, the opening of new markets as well as sustained efforts by government and telecommunication companies to enhance broadband availability. The number of smartphone users is, however, expected to rise to over 35 million in 2017 from 5.6 million at the end of 2012, according to a research company, Informa Telecoms & Media.

Anxiety mounts as US sets to release Nigeria's audit report C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 1

out assessment of NCAA’s compliance with applicable sections of ICAO standards contained in Annexes 1, 6 and 8 as a result of the eight critical elements of a state safety oversight as described in the ICAO document 9734 A. The team used the current International Aviation Safety Assessment IASA checklist and ICAO guidance material during the assessment.

The eight critical elements that the US team looked at were primary aviation legislation, specific operating regulations, state civil aviation system and safety oversight functions and technical personnel qualification and training. Other critical elements include, technical guidance and tools, licensing and certification obligations, surveillance obligations and resolution of safety concerns.

L-R: Sales Manager, Shoprite, Paul Akeju; Store Manager, George Ukwunna; Sales Admin, Popoola Boluwaji and Stock Admin, Gbenga Apata, during the opening of Shoprite's park lane mall in Apapa, Lagos.

Nigeria is strong destination for telecoms, retail investments –Dubai Chamber FOREIGN INVESTMENTS Nigeria's FDI has exceeded $6 billion mainly in the energy sector Dayo Ayeyemi

igeria has emerged as a strong destination for investments in telecoms and retail mainly due to the large population (20 per cent of the sub-Saharan Africa), detailed study by Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry has shown. Consequently, the study noted that Nigeria is also a key market to multinationals. The report is coming ahead of the 2nd Africa Global Business Forum (AGBF) billed for October in Dubai. The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in collaboration with the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), developed the detailed study highlighting economic and investment potential in sub-Saharan Africa. According to the report, Nigeria's FDI has exceeded $6

billion mainly in the energy sector. “Owing to the investment in oil and gas, the economy will remain robust but will not be sufficient for a sizeable improvement in living standard,” it stated. Growth, according to the study, is expected to continue until 2017 owing to the investment in the oil and gas sector. Non-oil growth will be robust, led by telecoms, trade and infrastructure. President and CEO, Dubai Chamber, H.E. Hamad Buamim, highlighted that the increase in economic reforms, rising fiscal spending and ties with fast growing economies in Asia are the main factors supporting the economy in subSaharan Africa. He added that the AGBF will shed light on the economic and investment realities in Africa and will give business leaders and decision-makers from Africa, Dubai and the wider GCC region an ideal platform to discuss business partnerships and opportunities. The study emphasised that with the emergence of middle class in sub-Sahara Africa, formal retail is starting to develop, offering "value" products aimed

at lower income customers while infrastructure needs are enormous, with an estimated $100 billion a year required by the power sector alone. The study further informed that Africa holds 60 per cent of the world's uncultivated arable land, but remains a net importer of several food products as well as processed foods. Encouraging growth in domestic production and reducing reliance on imports is a key goal to governments and investors, it added. The President and CEO of Dubai Chamber stressed that this study is one in a series of studies on Africa developed by the Chamber, and is aimed at introducing businesses in Dubai to investment opportunities available in the continent. Non-oil trade between Dubai and Nigeria accounted for almost AED5.6 billion in 2013. Imports accounted for around AED1 billion and exports and re-exports around AED4.6 billion. Nigeria ranked 47th on the list of Dubai trade partners. Challenges, opportunities and cooperation between African and Dubai-based companies will be discussed further by leaders and businessmen attending AGBF in October.

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

SMEDAN, UNDP eye CBN’s N220bn MSME fund ENTREPRENEURSHIP Over 60 women benefitted from entrepreneurship training Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

s part of requisite criteria to access Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) N220 billion micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) fund, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in conjunction

l Train women cooperatives with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have concluded the second phase of their economic empowerment programme for selected womenowned Cooperative Societies across the country. President Goodluck Jonathan at the just concluded 8th session of CBN’s MSME conference in Abuja flagged off the disbursement of N220 billion MSME funds. SMEDAN Deputy Director/ Coordinator, South-East Zone, Levi Anyikwa, said in a statement that over 60 women representing various Cooperative So-

cieties from the north and south of Nigeria benefitted from entrepreneurship training held in Minna, Niger State and Enugu, Enugu State respectively in August 2014, preparatory to facilitation of access to working capital. The cooperative societies were drawn from six states, each representing a geo-political zone in the country. The entrepreneurship training held in Minna drew participants from Gombe State (North-east), Katsina State (North-west), and Niger State (North-central) while the one held in Enugu catered for participants from Enugu

State (South-east), Rivers State (South-south) and Ekiti State (South-west). Speaking at the closing ceremony of the training held in Enugu on Thursday, the Director-General of SMEDAN, Alhaji Bature Umar Masari, who was represented by the Director of Enterprise Development and Promotion, Mrs Justina David, promised that the agency would explore the possibility of securing funding for the wom-

Procurement officers to synergise with states Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

replicate procurement best obtained at the fedTeralopractices level in states, stakeholders

L-R: Director Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Tony Ojobo; Commissioners Alhaji Yusuf Hamisu and Mrs Biodun Olujimi, at commission’s stakeholders’ forum on modalities for the auction of Spectrum in 2.6GHz Band in Lagos. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

FMBN recovers N1.2bn debt Kenneth Tyohemba Abuja

he Board of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) has recovered over N1.2 billion from its debtors and has outlined a fresh plan to deliver additional 15,000 housing units next two years. This is just as the bank restated its commitment to the transformation of the bank to effectively deliver its mandate on providing decent and affordable houses to the Nigerian populace to reduce over 17.5 million housing deficit. The bank which has resolved to vigorously push for debt recovery and, take further measures including addressing non-performing loans (NPLs), enhancing the credit review process and streamlining project monitoring, said everything is being done to address debt problem. The bank adopted these positions at the end of the two day retreat for the board under the theme 'Transformational Leadership: The FMBN Perspective', which held in Abuja. The board resolved that as

part of its transformation process to improve corporate governance, adopt an enterprise risk management structure and the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) prior to expiration of the deadline as key deliverables. To this end, the Board has engaged the services of an international consultant to conduct an Institutional Management Study towards improving corporate governance and adopting sound operational management policies. The Board also noted significance progress on debt recovery and the need to take further measures including exploring options for addressing non-performing loans (NPLs), enhancing the credit review process and streamlining project monitoring. The Board while expressing gladness over the 75,000 housing units delivered by FMBN nationwide, said it is a tangible performance indicator of the bank's fulfillment of its mandate of providing decent and affordable housing for Nigerians. It therefore, agreed to intensify public enlightenment/sensitization and to consolidate on

the achievement by delivering an additional 15,000 units for the next two years. “The board has also resolved to engage key partners including the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Finance and international development partners to address its challenges and explore opportunities for intervention funds for social housing to redress the national housing deficit,” the Board Chairman, Ogunjobi said while briefing newsmen shortly after the retreat. He said one of the major challenges facing the bank is in the area of poor portfolio, which has accumulated over some years, and assured of the Board intensified commitment to address the issue. Speaking on the banks achievement, he said that the bank has been sanitised for the past one year, pointing out that N1.2 billion has already been recovered from debtors. "The issue of debt recovery is an ongoing process, what we have recovered is just a percentage of what is outstanding and I can assure Nigerians that all those that are owe the bank will pay.

en-owned cooperative societies from the N220b CBN intervention fund. Commending the women for their commitment throughout the training, he noted that they are now better positioned to access the CBN’s MSME Fund, as well as other soft loans from the Federal Governmentowned development finance institutions such as the Bank of Industry (BOI) and Bank of Agriculture (BOA).

are partnering state governments to create a synergy for the establishment of procurement procedures at state levels. Such synergy, according to procurement experts, would afford states that are yet to enact Procurement Act to see derivable benefits of having it operational in their states. As part of the synergy, a national conference on public procurement (NACOPP) with a theme: “Public procurement: A tool for good governance has been scheduled to hold between November 10 and 11 at Transcorp Hilton Abuja where over 5,000 participants are expected. Announcing the dates for the conference at a press briefing in Abuja, chairperson of the conference planning committee, Ms Arinola Giwa Amu, described the conference to be declared open by President Goodluck Jonathan. “It will bring together actors and stakeholders in the public

procurement process and stakeholders in the public procurement process at the federal and state levels. It is the beginning of a new partnership between the federal and the state governments on the establishment of a synergy in the development and implementation of public procurement global best practices in the country,” she said. Justifying the need to have the states key into best practices that the Federal Government has already recorded through the enthronement of Procurement Act, Ms Giwa said: “The economic status of Nigeria is fast evolving, especially going by its recent rating as biggest economy in Africa. It is also part of the MINT countries, comprising of Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey. The MINT countries are regarded as the potential economic powerhouses of the future. This classification means that the economic growth and development of Nigeria cannot be overemphasised. Therefore, process and procedures that drive a good public procurement system have to be continuously improved upon,” she said.

CAC boss tasks directors on corporate governance Nnamdi Amadi Abuja

he Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs TCommission (CAC), Alhaji Bello Mahmud, has called on stakeholders in the economy to embrace the code of corporate governance to ensure enthronement of integrity and rapid business growth. Mahmud spoke in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the Chairman of the Institute of Directors (IoD), Mrs Eniola Fadayomi. The CAC boss said that effective code of corporate governance will create conducive environment for business growth as well as improve the overall interest of business objectives. He expressed the commit-

ment of the commission as a partner in nation building, adding that the commission is institutionalising an annual corporate citizen’s award to stimulate a solid foundation for enterprise and proper business ethics. A statement by CAC Director, Public Affairs, Churchill Williams, quoted Mahmud as explaining that a corporate citizen’s award will promote the culture of good corporate governance in Nigeria environment by recognising corporate citizens who have conducted their affairs in compliance with statutory requirements and best practice of corporate governance. The CAC RG, agreed to partner with the institute to encourage directors of companies attend its course.

FCT | BUSINESS WATCH

Sanctity of Truth

Nigeria’s debt profile sustainable, but… – Dr Nwankwo Recently, the Director General of Debt Management Office (DMO), Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, met with finance reporters in Abuja where he shed light on issues bordering on debt management in the country. SIMEON OGOEGBULEM was there. Excerpts What is the position of Nigeria’s current debt profile? The sovereign debt is doing well. The total domestic debt including the states and Federal Government is about N8.9 trillion while external debt is about $9.38 billion. If you combine the two in one currency and find our debt–to-GDP ratio (our GDP ratio is about 12.51 per cent) and this much lower than the 56 per cent, which is recommended for countries like Nigeria. However, this is not an indication that Nigeria can afford to borrow without caution. So despite the rebasing of Nigeria’s GDP and the fall in Nigeria’s debt-to-GDP, it does not mean that Nigeria can borrow without caution. Indeed, we are going to be more cautious and the reason is that the tax revenue GDP ratio is low because it says that economic agents do not pay their tax according to their outputs. So, the challenge also is for the mass media and other officials to continue to find ways of encouraging greater compliance with tax payments. As you know, government has already commissioned an exercise that will lead to improved tax administration and tax collection so that our tax revenue to GDP ratio will be significantly higher than what it is now. Currently our tax GPD ratio is about 12 per cent per cent. When you compare it with our peers, it should be at least as high as 18 per cent. What it means then is that revenue generating agents like tailors, taxi drivers, manufacturers and the media industry and the rest are all economic agents that are supposed to look at the tax code, see what they produce as an individual or corporate body and be able to make their tax returns to the tax authorities so that as you produce within the economy using the infrastructure put in place by government, they should pay their taxes to enable government replace the infrastructures and even build new ones. The second part of it is that beyond our production, we need to improve on our efficiency and productivity because when output is higher you pay a higher tax and that is how an economy does well. So, in summary, Nigeria’s debt remains sustainable, our debt to GDP ratio is quite low, but Nigeria has a challenge to ensure that as the economy grows through our various activities we pay our taxes fully and timely so that there will be enough revenue to support debt services. So, in the medium to long term, the best way for a country to maintain debt sustainability is to ensure that the economy is productive and growing and that all the economic agents are paying their taxes effectively so that there will be enough revenue to continue to maintain public and social infrastructure. How do you react to the frequency with which states access the capital market? In terms of governors going to the capital market to raise funds for their states even as some of them are on the last lap of their tenure, we have to be careful because societies do not go to sleep because an administration is going to end in the next few months. The economy will continue to work even after the governor might have finished his tenure. However, one has to appreciate that when a state or an entity is approaching the capital market to raise funds, such funds must be related or tied to a project or projects. It makes sense to continue to fund the project because the project is not tied to an individual. And in that context, the noise that somebody is leaving in the next 10 months is not necessary because the money being raised is for the state. The money is not being raised for the individual. Somebody may be leaving office in the next 10 months but the state is not

dying in the next 10 days. The state is continuous. What is important is that every state should have enough institutional frameworks that would ensure that the funds are put into proper use. Firstly, for you to borrow, whether from the capital market or money market, there are procedures that must be followed or complied with. The state House of Assembly should approve it and the civil society should also be interested in order to monitor the projects and I think that these are the things that are important. Also, let me emphasise that any state that wants to borrow from the bond market gets approval from the center; the DMO has to appraise and make recommendations to the minister of finance for approval based on the recommendations, whether it is appropriate for the state to borrow and for what purpose. So, there is adequate control at the center, but all of us, not just because there will be an election even after the election, all us should continue to be interested in how the resources are used. We should all be interested in how the funds are used at all times. Economic activities should not grind to a halt because election is coming. Election or no election, economic activities should go on. That is why DMO started working with the states to establish debt management offices and we are still working with them to strengthen them to continue making them to internalise the practices so the issue is to work for the institutionalise them to make sure that the states and other government agencies have the capacity to manage resources, whether borrowed or not, that, to me, is where the emphasis should be. I would like the mass media to excuse all issues regarding public debt management from politicization. Can you please shed light on the proposed Sukuk Bond? Yes, DMO is preparing for the Sukuk. As you know, in 2013, we were very busy. The Sukuk is on-going in terms of understanding the product, designing it and watching the market both the international and local markets, so that at the appropriate time it will be issued. It is one of the products in the pipeline because we need to increase the variety of products in the market that we need to deepen the market in terms of liquidity and in terms of assets. There people who need the money and there are people who have the money, but will only invest them in the Sukuk product. So, you satisfy those who need the money and those who have the money. Sukuk is a product that we know will come in at the appropriate time. So, we are still working on it. How will proceeds from the Bonds be deployed? Much of my briefings have been on the public sector. How we have used borrowed funds to dualise the Abuja Airport and Kubwa Express roads in Abuja and how we have used the funds to develop new districts in Abuja and how the funds have been used to revive the railways, so these are old stories. What we are saying now is

Our debt to GDP ratio is quite low, but Nigeria has a challenge to ensure that as the economy grows through our various activities we pay our taxes fully and timely so that there will be enough revenue to support debt services

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Nwankwo

that much of the money that should be borrowed in the economy should be by the private sector. Government should borrow minimally as a way of activating the economy so that the private sector takes the advantage of that momentum of borrowing and funding of the economy. So, that is why my emphasis is how the private sector has caught up and taking advantage of the little borrowing that government has done to start raising their own money. They are using it in manufacturing, in the power sector and other areas of economic activity. On the Euro Bond that was issued last year, part of the proceeds was pumped into the power sector, precisely into the Transmission Company of Nigeria, the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company and also to the gasto-power projects. So, that is where the proceeds of the 2013 Euro Bond went into. These are all public projects. How do you see the DMO in the years ahead? Well, DMO will be were Nigerians want it to be. But certainly we are in the stage of improving our efficiencies in the way we manage our resources and revenues by introducing new products. We will continue to find ways of encouraging the private sector to take more advantage of the market we have created. We will continue to help the private sector take advantage of the capital available in the market both in the local and international capital market. We will also continue working on the sub-national programmes by encouraging states to be stronger in the management of their institutions and their finances. What are the challenges of the rebased economy? The rebasing of the economy provides both challenges and opportunities for the Nigerian economy. After the rebasing of the economy, our GDP to debt ratio dropped to 12 per cent. So, ordinarily, you will say that you have more breathing space. But that is an illusion and that is the challenge because you have to recalibrate and reorientate yourself to appreciate that though your GDP has measured better and it is now higher, bus as I explained, your tax revenue to GDP is not as it should be; that means that there is a problem. If you look at the GDP ratio, you will think that you have more space to borrow. The truth however is that you do not service debt with GDP. You service debt with revenue and since most people do not pay taxes, it makes it difficult for the debts to be serviced. However, it provides an opportunity for us to know that our debts are quite sustainable and yet we are not collecting as much revenue that ordinarily should have been collected in terms of taxes and all that should be going to the treasury. So, if we collect as much as we should, based on the new GDP, then we will be in a better position to service our debts. So, it is a challenge from the conceptual point of view that if we do not take time, you get the impression that you have more borrowing space. But I have cautioned that we do not have that borrowing space and it throws out the challenge for us to improve on our tax payments and collection of revenue so that the treasury will have more resources to service debts and to fund growth and development.

FCT | BUSINESS WATCH 35

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Confronting unemployment in Nigeria At the recent signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Enterprise Brazil-Nigeria Company (EBN) and Nigeria Entrepreneurs Forum (NEF), some pertinent issues were thrown up for discussion, including the mere rhetoric on job creation. CLEM KHENA-OGBENA, who was at the event, reports

igeria’s unemployment problem is seemingly an intractable socio-economic problem, raising the blood pressure of so many Nigerians in government, the public sector as well as in the private sector. It has become a recurring nightmare, especially when some individuals and corporate entities in the private sector have continually viewed government’s stance on job creation or unemployment situation in the country as mere lip service. It is a chronic nightmare, when people of different socioeconomic strata have become casualties of rising crime and other social vices, such as robbery, assassination, kidnapping, economic sabotage, political and religious insurgencies, as well as many others plaguing the country. The MoU The lip service reportedly paid by government and even the private sector to job creation was rekindled recently when Enterprise Brazil-Nigeria Company Limited signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), with Nigeria Entrepreneurs Forum (NEF) on massive employment generation. The MoU signed by the leaders of the two organisations in the full glare of officials from both sides, at the NEF corporate headquarters, located at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Abuja, holds a lot in promise for not just the job seekers but also the entire economy of the country, as employment is expected to be generated through investments in agriculture, agro-allied businesses, waste management as well as the provision of various environmental services. Speaking shortly before signing the MoU, the President, NEF, Dr. Sidney Inegbedion, noted with concern that although Nigeria had been blessed with potentials and opportunities in agriculture, it over-relied on petroleum products, which he claimed currently accounted for 95 per cent of Nigeria’s total revenue. Inegbedion stressed: “This morning, we are meeting with a delegation from Brazil. The delegation is in partnership with a Nigerian organisation,

Wogu

which jointly is called Enterprise Brazil-Nigeria Limited. The group is firmly established in Nigeria for the purpose of investing in agriculture. “The group is also engaged in waste management and provision of environmental services. The Brazilian group has found it necessary to work with Nigeria Entrepreneurs Forum, because of our interest in expanding different aspects of the Nigerian economy. “We are aware that agriculture constitutes 70 per cent of our labour activities in Nigeria. We are also aware that despite the opportunities God has given us in the field of agriculture, in recent times, we have relied so much on mining of petroleum, which now accounts for 95 per cent of Nigeria’s revenue. At NEF, we are looking at exploiting the different value chains of agriculture to improving the Nigerian economy and we are looking at official and massive production of fish, cultivation of crops, poultry production and development of animal husbandry. “The length and breadth of this country are largely arable, to the extent that we believe that once we succeed in achieving our goals, we will create jobs for millions of Nigerian youths, we will be able to meet the needs of graduates that are leaving the universities, especially in the area of agro-allied business.” Brazilian technology Inegbedion noted with some air of confidence in EBNC as he explained that the company had replicated Brazilian technology in some parts of Nigeria in the various areas of investment mentioned. According to him, “the group we are signing an agreement with this morning has already embarked on the provision of Brazilian technology to Nigeria - micro farming in the related areas mentioned. They have already embarked on pilot project in Sokoto State; they have also signed an agreement with Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, to provide

Aganga

If we have to address the acute problem of unemployment in this country, we must take job creation exercise to the various communities and localities technical assistance at local content level. “They also have signed the cultivation of 2,000 hectares of land in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State. Under the agreement we are signing today, NEF will provide the national platform for the introduction of all these offerings or projects to the 36 states of the federation plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The role of Nigeria Entrepreneurs Forum shall be to provide entrepreneurship development for Nigerian youths in order for them to be able to harness the opportunities that are emerging through this relationship with Enterprise BrazilNigeria Limited.” Briefing the board of NEF on the roles of Enterprise Brazil-Nigeria Company Limited in the agreement, its Managing Director and Chief Executive, Mr Charles Adzo, said: “EBNC has been in Nigeria for a couple of years now and we are engaged in sustainable agriculture, sustainable job creation, waste management, water and environmental projects. At the moment, we are engaged with the Sokoto State government, where we have signed a MoU to develop 200,000 hectares of agricultural land in each of the senatorial zones of the state.” Job sustainability As a result of the partnership with the Sokoto State gov-

ernment, the onus has been on EBNC to re-invigorate the revenue base of the state for efficiency, in an effort to beef up the state’s monthly internally generated revenue. While expatiating on the terms of reference of the agreement with Sokoto State, Adzo explained: “We are also expected as part of our agreement with Sokoto State government to assist the state to generate and increase its monthly internally generated revenue. We have expertise in such projects. We also have developed a unique programme that is capable of creating 50 sustainable jobs in every council and ward of all 774 local government areas of this country. “We believe that if we have to address the acute problem of unemployment in this country, we must take job creation exercise to the various communities and localities in the country, so that we do not concentrate job creation or development in the cities. We have the expertise to stimulate the local economies of the councils, wards and villages of Nigeria. So, it is our firm belief that this agreement will be a platform from which we will be able to reach Nigerian communities with little or no hassles. “We believe that we will be able to penetrate the various communities in the country and partner also with relevant government agencies to address the acute problem of youth unemployment, youth empowerment, women empowerment and job creation, among others. I also want to add that all our projects are sustainable. We believe in the sustained development of our country.” Adzo, who disclosed that the value of EBNC’s project in Sokoto is worth N15 billion, added that donor agencies had indicated their willingness to partner with the company, stating that “in such instances, part of the funding will come from those donor agencies.” Lip services In his remark, a director on

the board of NEF, Chief Samson Akiga, said point blank that NEF was tired of paying lip service to the issue of job creation, expressing optimism that the EBNC would not just say it, but practically create jobs for the teeming Nigerian population of employable youths. Akiga stated: “Like the president has explained, our organisation is tired of paying lip service to the issue of job creation. We have found this group of Brazil intense to practicalise this aspect of job creation. As a result, NEF has decided to partner with this group, in such a manner that there will be no more paying of lip service to job creation. “Children that are leaving schools will now have the opportunities to own farms, generate their income on their own and do so many other things. So, you have a situation where you have a child that is in the university; he owns his farm and once he is on holiday, he finds himself there. “He produces his crops and there is a ready market for it. He gets his money and knows in a year, he can afford to pay his tuition fee and every other similar responsibilities. What we are doing here is to ensure that no more lip service is paid to job creation. You will practicalise it on ground.” Akiga gave the hope that before long, the partnership would cover the length and breadth of Nigeria, urging state governments to key into this economic initiative. Funding challenge The vice president of NEF, Augustine Chigbolu, an engineer, asserted that funding the projects mentioned in the agreement would not be a challenge, as both the NEF and the EBNC have their different arrangements as to how to access funds. He said: “I do not think the issue of funding is a problem. We have our own arrangement in NEF. They have also their own arrangement; they have other private funding arrangements.” In his own view, a director on the board of Enterprise BrazilNigeria Company, Malam Saheed Umaru, noted that one of the major problems confronting Nigeria is unemployment, stating: “I know government has been paying lip service to the issue of unemployment in this country and because of this lacuna, we have come in to see how we can generate employment opportunities in Nigeria.” NEF legal adviser/secretary, Grace Ose Inegbenebor, while commenting on the agreement, commended the NEF partnership with EBNC, describing it as a welcome development. She expressed the hope that it would, to a very large extent, reduce the problem of unemployment in the country, and alluded to the tragedy that occurred recently at the Nigerian Immigration recruitment centres nationwide, as a perfect example of too many job seekers chasing too few job openings.

36 BUSINESS | THE INVESTOR Chris Ugwu

ematerialisation concept was introduced into the Nigerian financial market in order to mitigate the risks associated with share trading in paper format. Dematerialisation is the process through which an investor’s physical share certificate gets converted to electronic format, which is maintained in an account with the depository participant. In order to free shareholders from the shortcomings and fasten the receipt of dividends, bonus issues and notice of meetings on time, informed the decision of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to dematerialise share certificates and neutralise them into electronic documents. The initiative has solved these problems. With share certificates reduced to electronic form, it will be difficult to be stolen; the process of getting it to the shareholders as soon as an offer is completed will also become faster as the issue of being lost in transit would have become a thing of the past. Benefits of dematerialisation Financial pundits had lauded the efforts of the regulators for introducing the system, noting that the concept, which will discourage the use of share certificates, will go a long way to closing doors for infractions that result from fraudulent operators in the market. They noted that the system would give Nigerian shareholders confidence in the market as they will now have to make their investment and go to sleep without doubts that their investments are safe. The President/Chairman of the Council, Institute of Capital Market Registrars (ICMR) and the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, First Registrars Nigeria Limited, Mr. Bayo Olugbemi, explained that it would help the capital market to be more liquid and attractive to more foreign investors. “It minimises the settlement risks and frauds in carrying out transactions in the market and thus can restore faith of investors in the capital market. It helps to reduce delay in trading practices - creating investor friendly atmosphere in the capital market,” he said. He added that for investors, it is a safe and convenient way to hold securities, adding that the depository system reduces risks involved in holding physical certificates such as loss, theft, mutilation, and forgery, among others. “It ensures electronic transfer settlements and reduces delay in registration of shares; it ensures faster communication to investors. It also helps avoid bad delivery problem due to signature differences, among others. It ensures faster payment on sale of shares. It provides more acceptability and liquidity of securities,” he said. The First Registrars Limited boss said dematerialisation is not only beneficial to investors but also the company that issued the shares." "The depository system helps in reducing the cost of new issues due to less printing and distribution cost. It also increases the efficiency of the registrars and the secretarial departments of the company. Besides, it provides better facilities for communication and timely services with shareholders, investors among others,” he said. Impact on unclaimed dividend Central Securities Clearing System Limited (CSCS) has disclosed that 73 per cent of share certificates in the Nigerian Capital Market (NCM) have been dematerialised. Managing Director, CSCS, Mr. Kyari Bukar, who said this in April at a forum, said though a larger percentage of the certificate had been dematerialised, it was still expedient that awareness campaign is stepped up to educate Nigerians on the need to dematerialised their share certificates.

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Dematerialisation: Need for aggressive awareness campaign

NSE trading floor

Bukar explained that before 1998, only manual share certificates were being handled, which created room for market manipulation and fraudulent practices. “The existence of the pre-CSCS market was fraught with one long transaction cycles, a lot of fraud related to certificates clowning, certificates being lost or invalidated via one form or another. People handled paper certificates; so, they can actually play around the market and take advantage of this. All these malpractices were reduced or completely eliminated as a result of the advent of the CSCS to the market,’’ Bukar said. Also, Olugbemi said dematrialisation of share certificates and other policies have helped to a large extent in reducing unclaimed dividend in the country. “You see, I can’t give you an absolute figure but I can give percentage, whether is N50 billion, N45 billion or N70 billion as some people claimed. As I always say, I stand to be corrected or be challenged by anybody, as at today is just about five per cent. Quote me anywhere in the world. I stand to be challenged, I stand to be faulted, and anybody can come and counter it. "Ten years ago it was about 25 per cent, somebody will tell you that unclaimed dividend 10 years ago was about N7 billion or less, N7 billion of how much? “Ten years ago, Dangote was not quoted, today, Dangote pays hundreds of billions as dividend. Ten years ago, First Bank hardly pay N1.5 billion as dividend, today, it pays about N32 billion. Ten years ago, a lot of companies that are quoted today were not quoted, they didn’t pay dividend but today they pay billions of dividends. So, all said and done, even at that, if compared with the last 10 years, you will see that we have at least five per cent unclaimed divided. That is not to say that we have done well, that is not to say that there should be any at all. “But what am trying to say is that we have moved forward. We have N7 billion or N10 billion in 2001 and 2002, it was about 25 per cent of dividend declared but today, N60 billion as the case may it was just about five per cent. About a year or two years ago,

Dematerialisation, which will discourage the use of share certificates, will go a long way to closing doors for infractions that result from fraudulent operators in the market it is about seven per cent, as a last time we computed it just in March this year, it was just about five per cent,” he said. Need for awareness In a move to reinforce the initiative, the apex regulatory body, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), had set up a Share Certificates Dematerialisation Committee headed by the Chairman, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Mr. Emeka Madubuike, to ensure a smooth exercise. The committee had also submitted a comprehensive report on how to successfully execute the dematerialisation process. A nationwide enlightenment programme was to follow so that many investors would be educated on the benefits of share dematerialisation. Director General, SEC, Ms. Arunma Oteh, had said the nationwide awareness was necessary following the resistance of the dematerialisation policy by some shareholders due to lack of knowledge of its benefits and low awareness. She said the policy had many benefits and should be embraced by all shareholders, hence, the need for more awareness to be created. She reiterated that asset transfer from one investor to the other would be much easier in a dematerialised market. Madubuike, at 2012 Annual Workshop of Capital Correspondent Association, had decried the low level of compliance by investors since the regulators mooted

the idea. He noted that the sensitisation became necessary to ensure that the current active investors rise to about 70 million. He added, “We want to have education forum in all parts of the country to help sensitise investors on the importance of having their share certificates dematerialised. Now that market is recovering, it is high time; all stakeholders tied up every loose end. The whole objective is to ensure that market remains an investor’s heaven." Madubuike noted that the most protected investors are the educated ones, adding that there was need for investors to be educated. ASHON, he explained, is trying to help educate investors to know that capital market is not a short-term trading platform and also understand the risks associated with investing and other options available in the market. However, market operators have continued to express concerns over delay in take off of the enlightenment campaign, which is supposed to be propelled by regulators. A source close to the Exchange linked the delay in the awareness programme to lack of funds, saying SEC was managing the meagre resources it now had to keep afloat due to the zero-budget allocation. “Going by the recommendation of the committee, by now, the nationwide enlightenment campaign would have gone far round the whole federation. But without funds, such a programme can't executed,” the source, who craved anonymity, noted. Conclusion In spite of the considerable gains being recorded currently, it is believed by some experts that if the tempo is to be maintained, the Exchange managers should continue to deploy available resources towards educating investors, particularly retail investors and creating awareness about the important function the capital market plays as an enabler of national economic growth and a wealthcreating avenue for investors.

BUSINESS | MONEY 37

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Godson Ikoro

t the 317th edition of the meeting of the Bankers’ Committee, biometric registration was the major issue. The committee decried the snail speed at which the ongoing registration, leading to the issuance of uniform and unique identification number called bank verification numbers (BVN), to every bank customer in the country. Slow pace Briefing the press on the BVN, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, Managing Director and Chief Executive of Access Bank Plc, said that the registration process was so slow, stressing that the bankers’ committee was not pleased. He had hinted that the exercise was bedeviled by technical hitches between the Nigerian Inter Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) and the consultants and the lenders. Wigwe had argued that given the objectives of the exercise including the idea to fight fraud, money laundering and ensure a better customer protection, the initiative, which was launched on February 14, ought to have made substantive progress more than what was reported to the committee last July. Fraud figures in Africa The urgency for fast-tracking the BVN can be understood given that about 503 cases of financial fraud in the first half of year 2012 (valued at $2.0 billion) was reported across the African continent. Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa made up 74 percent of all fraud cases reported in Africa. Indeed, various African fraud investigation institutions data indicated that between November 2012 and April 2013 alone, a total of $11.2 million was stolen. Of this, only $4.05 million were recovered. After such incidents, a number of financial institutions in Africa have adopted biometric technology to curb frauds. Two-factor biometric identification technology can help banks and financial institutions in the authentication process and has become nearly a de factor technology standard due to increased incidents of identity theft, spoofing, forgery and fraud. Biometric authentication requires an individual whether it is a customer or employee to provide twofactor biometric authentication. The Access Bank boss said that committee also expected the respective banks to create the more awareness and get their customers to register, adding that the committee has resolved to step up the publicity in terms of jingles about the BVN in different languages. Journey so far Following the launch of the registration, Ade Shonubi, Managing Director, NIBSS, said the rollout of the BVN registration of customers by banks signified the end of the pilot phase of the project. In a subsequent statement, Shonubi, stated that over 7,000 BVNs had been issued by 21 banks and the NIBSS to existing internal bank customers during the pilot phase. Shonubi, who also doubles as the Head of the BVN Project Management team, said that the enrollment and BVN issuance were achieved across 44 bank sites that included 21 bank headquarters. Furthermore, he pointed out that the biometric registration exercise of the banking public would take place in 1000 bank branches located in Lagos only. He averred that the BVN aligned with the phased approach adopted in executing the three-tiered 'know your customer' and the cashless policy of the CBN. "We are adopting a phased rollout approach starting with Lagos State. It commences on June 16, 2014, at 1,000 bank branches, after taking out the pilot branches, out of the 1,410 bank branches in the state. Across the nation at full rollout, 10,000 enrolment sets will

MD, First Bank, Bisi Onasanya

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

Sterling Bank MD, Yemi Adeola

Bank Verification Number: The good, bad and ugly be deployed across 5,000 bank branches, implying deployment of two enrolment sets per bank branch. “In line with the commitment of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Banker's Committee to the financial enlightenment of Nigerians, all possible knowledge gaps will be closed through bespoke awareness programmes, customer education and engagement initiatives to ensure massive uptake of the BVN by existing bank customers." The NIBSS Managing Director explained that the pilot phase of the BVN registration of bank customers served as a model and basis for the rollout of the solution to existing bank customers. New Telegraph revisited the technology and confirmed that the intrusive nature of the exercise and the timing of customers also delay the conclusion of the exercise. Biometric identification systems are often touted as foolproof but they are far from it. Merits of the technology The BVN initiative involves the capturing of an individual's basic biometric data information, which includes the facial image, the 10 fingerprints as well as other unique features of that individual. It will utilise the biometric technology system for verification and secure authentication of the identity of bank customers and ultimately as a means of authenticating customer's identity at the point of banking transactions. The CBN explained that the biometric system, when fully operational, will help improve the safety of credit transactions in the economy, subsequently boosting the nation’s macro-economy. The decision to conduct a biometric exercise on bank customers came on the heels of the committee’s decision to rollout the Central Bank-led cashless policy, which had gone live in the remaining states of the country since July 1, 2014. Biometrics is gradually supplanting traditional customer and employee identification credentials as a technology that is more secure and a much stronger tool to prevent bank fraud. Experts, who conceived the idea, were guided by the obvious advantages of biometrics, which includes very high accuracy, the most economical biometric PC user authentication technique, one of the most developed biometrics and easy to use. Also, its small storage space required for the biometric template, reducing the size of the database memory required

Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa made up 74 percent of all fraud cases reported in Africa and is standardized. The more complex the system, the most difficult is to be attacked, although it will be more expensive and will require more software and hardware resources. When a new authentication system is implanted, it is essentially a judgment between simplicity, price and efficiency, as well as social acceptability. Demerits of the technology Despite the challenge of implementing the bank verification number, Biometric identification systems have many disadvantages. The biometrics can also make mistakes with the dryness or dirt of the finger’s skin, as well as with the age (is not appropriate with children, because the size of their fingerprint changes quickly). And the image captured at 500 dots per inch (dpi). Resolution: 8 bits per pixel. A 500 dpi fingerprint image at 8 bits per pixel demands a large memory space, 240 Kbytes approximately giving rise to a compression required (a factor of 10 approximately). Specifically, studies have shown that Police have at times misused biometric information. Fingerprint readers are used to limit access to computers, but they are no more reliable than turnkey locks. While banks are free to do what they will with their own biometric information, indications are that such systems could be abused. In spite of the merits, a determined pirate can steal the biometric information if it's stored on a computer. There are many other drawbacks to these systems. For instance, if evidence planting by police happens, and a cop goes astray, armed with an innocent person's biometric information, he can destroy that individual. How often evidence planting happens is an open question, but it has been documented throughout the United States. Other jurisdictions A famous example was the Roth prosecutions reported in the New York Times on February 4, 1997. Special Prosecutor Nelson Roth documented 36 evidence-

planting cases in New York and five guilty officers served prison time. Fingerprint evidence was planted, and that's reason to think twice before submitting biometric information to the state. According to WadeH, an eHow contributor , some of the systems store biometric information through software and keep it in the computer or on a disk. That makes the information vulnerable to copying from any other computer system that can access it. If the computer with the biometric information is connected to the web, someone in a foreign country can copy it Technical vulnerability Furthermore, some biometric identification systems can be beaten with a copy of a fingerprint or eye. Someone who understands the technology can fabricate a copy from the owner's biometric information and access the computer system. These biometric identification systems are often touted as foolproof but they are far from it. As a security measure on a computer system, a biometric identification system is far more expensive than a simple turnkey lock. It is more expensive to change than the turnkey system, and it's no more reliable. A biometric identification system is not an economically advantageous technology. When biometric information is required by the state, it undermines the presumption in a free society of innocence. In America, police generally need probable cause before arrest and formal fingerprinting at the station, but when the state establishes biometric identification schemes, the tradition shifts. People are expected to show up at the government office and submit to fingerprinting, much like the criminally accused of the past. Privacy To safeguard freedoms, it's best to preserve privacy. Biometric identification systems undermine privacy by making identity theft more likely. When implemented by the state, the situation is far worse because such systems have been grossly abused in the past. They've even resulted in state crime. Conclusion The BVN implementation should be expedited. Using biometrics and other methods of checks and balances may in fact thwart incidences of identity theft before they happen at financial institutions.

38 BUSINESS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

FG approves dredging of Calabar port After several complaints and anger among contractors and management of the Nigerian Ports Authority, a new channel management company, Calabar Channel Management (CCM) has been asked by the Federal Government to dredge the Calabar water channel. In the last one decade, the channel has become the melting port of contractors. Before now, over N12 billion had been spent on the channel without result. BAYO AKOMOLAFE reports.

igerian Ports Authority (NPA)’s subsidiary, Calabar Channel Management Company, has been given a marching order by President Goodluck Jonathan to embark on the capital and maintenance dredging of the remaining part of the Calabar water channel. This is the third time the contract would be awarded. Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, who disclosed this when he received SouthSouth and South-East traditional rulers led by Edmund Daukoru, the Amanyanabo of Nembe, in Abuja. The first contract was awarded in 1996 by former head of State, General Sanni Abacha, at a whopping N3 billion while the second was awarded at $56 million by then President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2006. But before the latest move, $56 million (about N8.9 billion) has been spent on the 84 kilometres port channel without result. The dredging project began in July 2006 and lasted 64 weeks. The channel is expected to be used by vessels up to 30,000 Gross Registered Tonnage since the metre depth of the channel would now be 9.5 metres minimum. The contract was awarded to Messrs Jan de Nul and Van Oord. The entire length of the channel was divided between the two firms. While Van Oord was paid $26 million to dredge the first 44 kilometres, Jan de Nul got $30 million to dredge the last 40 kilometres of the water channel. The Federal Government told the two firms to scoop out 25

Dredging vessels at work on Nigerian water

million cubic metres of sand to achieve an overall draft of eight metres, to enable big vessels sail to the port. The incessant failure of the contract for the dredging of the 84-nautical mile Calabar Sea Port channel has crippled the smooth take-off of the port for over 20 years. Although, there had been petition to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) by Jan De Nul Limited before the Federal Government resolved to form a company that will dredge the channels Argument Jan De Nul Limited which did not execute the first contract properly claimed that it submitted the lowest bid price for the contract, but NPA has consistently refused to respond to its request for information regarding the contract. The company alleged that NPA was considering offering the contract to companies that were previously disqualified. Six companies, Jan De Nul, Dredging International, Westminster Dredging, China Harbour Engineering and Lagos Channel Management bided for the channel. In the petition, after the opening of the bid tender, it was learnt that two of the six companies, Van Oord and Westminster, were disqualified for their failure to submit bond security. But NPA still allowed them to participate in the bid. At the end, Jan De Nul sent in the lowest bid price of E79,083,454; followed by China Harbour which quoted E90,910,731.09 and Dredging International which offered to execute the contract for E101,829, 300.00. Lagos Channel Manage-

ment came fourth with E132,359,176.03, Westminster E132,395,176.03) and Van Oord ,E139, 574,782.56. N'Assembly’s observation Miffed by the way the dredging was handled in the past, the National Assembly, it would be recalled, refused to provide funds for dredging of the channel in 2010. The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) had included the project in its 2010 budget and had gone ahead to advertise for the capital and maintenance dredging of the approaches to Calabar Port, but the Senate and House of representatives committee on marine transport expunged it from the budget. The legislators had complained that NPA always include Calabar channel dredging in its budget every year. In 2008 and 2009, the authority received N6 billion and N7 billion, but they never used it. NPA chairman’s anger Last year, an attempt was made to award the multi-billion

Piqued by this development, Chairman of People Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, sent a strongworded petition to Transport Minister

Calabar channel contract to a newly incorporated Calabar Channel Management Limited jointly owned by Niger Global Engineering and Technical Company Limited, and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). About N3 billion was voted in the year’s budget for the commencement of the capital dredging alone. It was revealed that the consortium has no reference whatsoever of previous jobs done. They were completely alien to the Calabar channel project and did not even take part in the bids of 2010 and the later procurement process. Piqued by this development, Chairman of People Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, sent a strong-worded petition to Transport Minister, Idris Umar, questioning the rationale behind the choice of the senator’s company to manage the two international channels. Petition Anenih, who also is the chairman of NPA Board, detailed in the five-page petition what he termed irregularities that characterised the creation of Calabar Channel Management as well as the flaws in the partnership agreement. Although Anenih’s petition put equity participation at 60 per cent for NPA and 40 per cent for the senator’s company, available records indicate that NPA owns 53.3 per cent while Niger Global owns 46.7 per cent. Precisely, of the 300 million shares of Calabar Channel Management, 160 million belongs to NPA and 140 million to the firm. But it was revealed that what existed is a partnership between NPA and Niger Global Engineer-

ing and Technical Company, not a consortium as Anenih indicated in his petition to the minister. Anenih declared: “The consortium was not prequalified and did not pass through the selection process like other companies. It, therefore, follows that the presidential approval for the appointment of the consortium led by Niger Global Engineering and Technical Company Limited to enter into a joint venture with NPA which culminated in the agreement to form Calabar Channel was obtained without following the due process.” This is the fourth controversial attempt at making Calabar River navigable. Only two years ago, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) cancelled the entire process following protests over NPA’s attempt to award the contract to itself. Ministry’s decision The current conflict was prompted by the decision of the Federal Ministry of Transport to circumvent procurement procedures as well as its refusal to adhere to BPP’s directive designed to achieve transparency. All these, as maritime watchers say, are prompted by their desire to impose their preferred firm on the nation. While announcing the cancellation of the 2010 exercise, the bureau had recommended a re-procurement in which only the six companies already prequalified should participate. The companies are Jan De Nul, Dredging International, Westminster Dredging, China Harbour Engineering, Lagos Channel Management and Van Oord. But rather than the reprocurement or advertising C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 3 9

BUSINESS | MARITIME

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

TRADE Customs provides conducive environment for trade facilitation at Ijora

he Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Lilypond Area Command, has declared that cargoes could be cleared within 24 hours at the Lilypond container terminal in Lagos. The command advised importers and their customs agents to import more of their cargoes through the terminal. Its Area Controller, Mrs Isa

Importers, agents can clear cargo in 24 hours, says Customs Tallatu, made the call at the monthly stakeholders’ meeting of the command in Lagos. The command also announced that it has collected N12.6 billion as revenue from January till date. Tallatu who was represented at the meeting by Deputy Controller in charge of Administration, Ozoemena J.O, said that the command recorded N1.8 billion as

revenue in the month of August. Tallatu noted that Lilypond area command is a dry port that depends mainly on seaport terminals for survival. She said: “From January till date, we generated N12.6 billion into the federation account and this month, we have generated N1.8 billion even though the month has not ended,” she said. The controller urged freight

forwarders to promote the command to importers and woo them to Lilypond Terminal because their cargoes will be cleared within hours. “We are at a disadvantage because our cargoes come to Apapa, this is a dry port, it is only when Apapa have eaten before they now send some to us, this is why we must be user-friendly, we clear goods within a day, unlike other places where it takes weeks,” she reiterated.

The Controller explained that the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) being operated by customs was very efficient, saying that the bottlenecks which earlier hindered smooth operations of PAAR have been eliminated. She advised customs agents to make genuine declarations, noting that when declarations were ambiguous, it suggests that the declarant has something to hide from the authorities.

FG to dredge Calabar port C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 8

for fresh bids, the Transport Minister sought and obtained presidential approval to form a partnership/joint venture. The presidential nod eventually paved the way for awarding the contract to the serving senator.

L-R: Consultant, Nigerian Army School Public Relations, Marce Anyanwu; Commandant, Col. John A. Agim; Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Habib Abdullahi; Army School Deputy Commandant, Lt Col. Tukur Gusau; NPA Asst. General Manager, Public Affairs, Musa Iliya and Special Assistant to NPA MD, Abdullahi Buhari, at the NPA corporate headquarters, Marina Lagos.

Mariners link economic loss, capital flight to lack of shipbuilding yards

here is a huge economic loss over lack of shipbuilding yards in the maritime industry, the Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture (MENA), a division Nigerian Society of Engineers, has lamented the nation’s??????? At the third annual conference of the division, its Chairman, Navy Capt. Dominic Onabajo (rtd) who spoke on “Development of marine structure in the Nigerian economy, challenges and the way forward,” said that the nation had lost money running into billions of dollars due to lack of shipbuilding yards. According to him, Nigeria had lost an unquantifiable amount of dollars to lack of

shipyards, we are losing every time. “What is our own market share of this multi-billion dollar shipping business? How come countries like Vietnam and Malaysia are shipbuilding nation’s with many shipbuilding yards while Nigeria is yet to lay it’s first keel of ocean-going merchant ships?” he asked. Onabajo said that the inability of the country to operate shipbuilding yards had encouraged capital flight and non-participation of indigenous ship owners in carriage of local cargoes. He declared: “Truly, the lack of shipbuilding yards in Nigeria has dealt a devastating blow to our economy. It has led to capital flight arising from the purchase

of new and second hand ships outside our shores. “Today, there are well over 50,000 ships trading internationally with none of these ships built in Nigeria, new shipbuilding orders for this year alone in the shipbuilding sub-sector globally runs into billions of dollars with Nigeria not getting anything from it. “The reminiscent of the ugly experience with Nigerdock must have taught us some good lessons. So, the mistake of the past must not rob off on this new project. There should be proper management of the project from the execution stage through to the completion and throughout its operational life in other to avoid a setback.”

Reefer container to grow 22% over next five years hipping analyst firm, Drewry SMarket in its latest Reefer Shipping Annual Review and Forecast has predicted thatreefer capacity on the containership fleet is expected to increase by 22 per cent over the next five years. Reefer box capacity is expected to grow from 1.6 million 40ft slots in 2014 to 1.9 million slots in 2019. The firm however said fleet growth is not expected to adversely impact vessel utilisation levels because of growth in cargo. It said: “Reefer container volumes are forecast to rise by

20.5 million tons over this period, 16.5 million tons by organic growth and 4 million tons at the expense of the shrinking specialised reefer industry. Overall seaborne perishable reefer trade will increase by 17 per cent between 2014 and 2014, providing an additional 16.5 million tons of cargo. “As a result of the expected cargo growth, reefer container slot utilisation levels will be unchanged in 2015 and only marginally lower thereafter,” said Kevin Harding, at the firm. He added: “Meanwhile, the specialised reefer sector is fore-

cast to shrink further as a result of scrapping and a virtually empty order book.” Also the firm observed that the specialised sector’s continuing market share decline was reinforced by leading operator Seatrade’s recent order for two 500 forty equivalent unit container vessels. However, it is worth noting that although the specialised reefer fleet provided little more than seven per cent of overall reefer capacity, it carried almost 28 per cent of the estimated perishable reefer cargo in 2013.

Latest contract Speaking on the latest approval, the minister said that the dredging of Calabar channel would boost the economy of Cross River State and the country at large. Umar said that the delay in the dredging of Calabar channel had impacted negatively on the economic activities of Cross River State and the entire country. According to the minister, “the delay had also affected the economic fortunes of the area and the entire country. Tinapa Resort, Calabar, has been a little bit dormant because of the nonfunctionality of the channel. “At last, the matter has been concluded and President Goodluck Jonathan has graciously approved that work should commence at the channel.” He said that the present administration was determined to transform the transport sector, saying that government had revitalised the railway system, which had been out of operation for two decades. The minister said that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved development of additional deep seaports which included Lekki, Badagry, Ibaka and Warri seaports, in an effort to improve the maritime sector. He said that the present administration recognised the support and continuous cooperation of the council of traditional rulers. Earlier, Daukoru had commended the Federal Government over the contract and described the approval of the presidency as gratifying news. He said: “The Calabar Port is of strategic importance because it links Port Harcourt, Warri and Lagos and any effort made to open up the port will improve the country’s economic growth. “Any kind of maritime activities in Cross River generally will be of immediate benefit to the entire geo-political zone.”

The delay was caused by some controversial issues surrounding the award of the dredging contract since 2005. Location of the port The port is located along latitude 4055’N and Long 8015’. 3.E. The new port lies about 55 nautical miles from the fairway buoy up to Calabar River. It occupies an area of approximately 38 hectares of land buoyed channel 150 metres wide and a navigable chancy 85 kilometres. Its history The history of Calabar Port can be traced to the pre-medieval merchants’ ventures of the 15th century to the present day. It served as an important focus of trade with the outside world in the eastern states and natural port for the northern states of Nigeria. The old port was privately administered and operated by various shipping companies among who were M/S Palm line Agencies Limited and Elder Dempster Agencies until December 1969 when the Federal Government took over the inadequate Calabar Port facilities from the erstwhile operators and vested it in the Nigerian Ports Authority. The development, modernisation and expansion of the Calabar Port was embarked upon under the 3rd National Development plan – 1975-1980 in order to make the port’s facilities cope with the ever increasing demand of the country’s economy. The new port complex was commissioned in June, 1979 and consists of the following major operational areas: a total land area of 38 hectares, four quays each measuring about 215 metres long and 40 metres wide. The four quays have been decimated into six operational berths. Also, the port has two warehouses measuring 150 metres by 40 metre and 175 metres by 40 metres. Its operational area was divided into two concessioned terminals. Terminal A consisting of two berths was concessioned to Messrs Intels Nigeria Limited while Terminal B consisting of four berths was concessioned to Messrs ECM Terminal Limited.

40 POLITICS After the recently concluded governorship election in Osun State, the Department of State Security (DSS) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were engaged in a war of words over an alleged N14 million bribe that was offered to the agency. As at now, nothing is being said about the offer, ETAGHENE EDIRIN reports

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

DSS, APC, N14m bribe and crisis unlimited

igerian security agencies, especially operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS), hitherto unknown, and hardly seen by the Nigerian public have recently become frequent items in the news, mostly in relation to terrorist activities, or being accused of complicity concerning electioneering processes. It’s either the officials are being accused by the politicians, especially in the opposition parties, of one misdeed or the other, or the spokesperson of the agency is defending the actions or inactions of the DSS operatives. Soon after allegations trailing the agency’s actions in the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State, another controversy followed its officials’ performance in the subsequent August 9 governorship election in Osun State. Asides allegations coming from members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) about the performance of the DSS before and after the poll, another can of worms was thrown open when the DSS alleged that its officials that took part in the Osun gubernatorial election were offered N14 million by a political party to influence the election. Deputy Director, Public Affairs of DSS, Marilyn Ogar, who made the revelation at a media briefing in Abuja after the election, said the money, which was obviously a bribe, but she chose to classify as an offer, was turned down. She went on to blame the media for calling it a bribe in order to make it sensational. “The media had used the word bribe in order to make it sensational. I could make you an offer saying this should assist you in what you are doing. It’s either you take it or you refuse. But it all depends on the interpretation the other person would give to it. I did say here that they offered us money to assist us and we said no,” she stated. At this point, analysts insist that some pertinent questions need to be asked. Among which is; what in the DSS schedule of activities can be defined as a bribe? And does the Department always turn a blind eye to such infractions, even as most Nigerians have continued to lament the negative import of corruption in the country, chief among which is bribery. Another question raised by followers of the situation is; has such offers been offered to DSS officials in previous operations or elections in which they took part? How were such offers regarded, and were they accepted in the guise of ‘offer of help’? According to her, “The director that was in charge of election duty for the DSS was asked to come and collect N4 million for himself and N10 million for the men, but the offer was declined.” And as if reading the thoughts of many Nigerians, who must be wondering how the security agency has come to be drawn into the political scene in the country, Ogar called on political party leaders to leave the DSS out of politics. The DSS spokesperson also stated that officials of DSS are well paid and have no need for any form of induce-

Ogah

ment from any politician, adding that N200 million was provided for the operations to the gubernatorial election in Osun She went on to allude that the agency was being accused of all manner of atrocities solely because its officials refused to be compromised. Reacting, the APC again accused the DSS of crass partisanship and unprofessional conduct over its actions and comments on the Osun State election. The party in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described as a tissue of lies the allegation by Ogar that the party tried to bribe the DSS with N14 million before the Osun election, wondering why the DSS did not arrest the official who offered the alleged bribe. “Apparently, Ms. Ogar has never head of a ‘sting operation’ that is widely used by security agencies to catch a person who is committing a crime. The allegation by Ms. Ogar would have been sweet in her mouth had the DSS mounted a sting operation to catch whoever was offering the alleged bribe, and then prosecute him or her,” the party said even as it went on to describe Ogar’s allegation as “cheap blackmail by a conspiratorial organisation” The APC said since it won the election in Osun, Ogar has been struggling hard to discredit the party and its victory, including using the allegation that the party offered the N14 million as a bribe and also trying to make a joke of the arrest of the party’s spokesman, Mohammed, for no other reason than that he belongs to the opposition. Following the exchange of words by the party, and the agency, many Nigerians seem to have taken sides with the APC, in echoing that the agency failed in its crime prevention responsibility by making such a weighty allegation without proof of any kind. They contend that by making the allegation public without proof, the agency was indeed out to discredit the party, giving credence to the APC accusation that the agency was in league with the ruling party, and that it had compromised its neutrality, and non-partisan

Mohammed

The allegation by Ms. Ogar would have been sweet in her mouth had the DSS mounted a sting operation to catch whoever was offering the alleged bribe

posture. In efforts to unravel the authenticity, source, and intent of the bribe allegation, the APC called on the National Assembly to invite the Director-General of the DSS to explain if Ogar’s perceived partisan stance represents the official position of the service, and, if indeed the sum of N14 million was offered as bribe to the DSS and by who; and why the DSS has chosen to descend to the political fray, at the expense of its professionalism and national loyalty. Also reacting to the bribery allegation, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Ifako/Ijaiye Constituency I, Lagos State, Saka Fafunmi, said the allegation was only meant to tarnish the image of the party. Fafunmi insisted that the DSS spokesperson’s allegation that the APC tried to bribe her agency to redirect the Osun State governorship election was only meant to “call the dog a bad name in order to hang it.” He said: “I’m not at home with that allegation that my party the APC tried to bribe the DSS in order to redirect the just-concluded governorship election of Osun State. “Basically, the DSS by virtue of the law or the act that established them,

they are not even to be seen or heard on election matters. They are just there to provide security.” Many Nigerians are wondering if the issue of the bribery scandal has been laid to rest, as the agency has said nothing further on the issue, or if it intends to reveal those behind the bribe offer or what will be done to them. The law it seems will be made to rest on this one, except the agency decides to perform its functions, by ensuring that offenders do not go free, if only to serve as a lesson for others who might be contemplating doing the same in future. For this, however, Ogar gives no such hope of prosecution or exposure of the culprits. According to her, the duty of the Department is to detect and prevent crimes. And more so, the president, according to her, has directed that they must primarily use the carrot and stick process. Ogar therefore insists that it is not every time that they go out arresting people. And if as Ogar insists that it is outside the purview of her department to arrest or prosecute those who seek to induce DSS officials financially, to influence or compromise them in the discharge of their official functions, what happens to people who do such things, and what is the essence of crime prevention, if it does not include ensuring that the culprit, or others who intend to go that way, are made to realise that crime does not pay. If the responses of Ogar are the official position of the DSS, a good number of Nigerians, are of the view that the statutes of the agency need to be urgently reviewed to fall in line with internationally accepted modes and processes to ensure a society in which crime is reduced to the minimal. In Ogar’s view, the APC was antagonising the department, as a defence mechanism in case, the DSS operatives went to town with bribery allegation, alluding that the DSS had no intention of revealing the person that made the offer. Then, what was the essence of bordering Nigerians with the bribery allegation if it was meant to be kept under wraps in the first place?

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After all the hues and cries associated with his nomination as a minister, Abubakar Suleiman, Minister of National Planning and Chairman of the National Planning Commission has swung into action, both political and official. His visit last week to Ilorin, his home state, was the first as a member of the federal cabinet but it was more than a visit as it gave him ample opportunity to express the political aspect of his appointment, according to this report by BIODUN OYELEYE

Planning Minister enters Kwara political fray

lthough he came to collect his Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC), the Minister of National Planning, Dr. Abubakar Suleiman, also used the opportunity to meet stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during which he spoke on issues as they affect Kwara State, particularly the desire by the PDP to take over the state in 2015. He was received at the airport by a huge crowd of PDP members led by the state chairman of the party, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo. After leaving the airport, he went to pay traditional homage to the Balogun Ajikobi, Alhaji Mohamed Ajikobi, one of the four kingmakers in Ilorin emirate and the traditional leader of his domain, Ajikobi ward. Different community development associations who displayed various banners to welcome their illustrious son were on hand to support the minister at his palace. Ajikobi prayed for Allah’s guardiance and protection for the new minister before he departed home. Popularity walk Since former Governor Bukola Saraki did a popularity walk few days after the PDP held a mega rally to welcome some new members in the state, no politician has tried to do it again in Kwara. Abubakar however went on a popularity walk during his visit. Moments after he had collected his PVC at Ode-Opobiyi, Ajikobi ward, the crowd of PDP supporters in the area would not allow the minister ride in his car, as he was made to walk from the point where he collected his PVC through the long stretch of the Ajikobi-AgbajiOmoda roundabout as the throng of PDP members continued to chant their slogan, “PDP! Freedom for Kwara”. The minister later went to visit some other polling units in Otte/ Bala, Danialu/Gaa Akanbi, Okelele/ Amule and Ikhwan. At each point, he took time to interact with members of his party, pointing out his conviction that the party would dislodge the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Government House in 2015. Continuously, he warned voters not to sell their voters’ cards for any amount, even as he drummed support for President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the 2015 general election. Speaking most of the time in Yoruba, Abubakar warned members of the party: “Don’t let us allow them to buy our voters’ cards; voters’ cards are our future and we must not allow anybody to buy our future and those of generations yet unborn.” He also used some dilapidated structures in some schools hosting the polling centres as argument to dismiss the acclaimed performance of the APC in

Suleiman (holding megaphone) addressing is supporters

the state and concluded with his followers that time was up for the ruling party in the state. Local leaders of the PDP who came to welcome him in their centres all assured the minister of their readiness to ensure PDP’s victory in next year’s general election at both the state and national levels. Mild drama There was, however, a mild drama at Omoda area in Ilorin West Local Government Area as supporters of the APC came out to symbolically sweep the minister’s footprint, almost immediately after he left the Agbaji compound’s registration point, where he collected his PVC. The APC supporters, mostly women, came out wielding brooms, the symbol of the opposition party and dancing to the tune of drums from local musicians. Their attempt to move into the street leading to the family house of the minister, not far from the family home of the Sarakis, was however resisted by security operatives. PDP waxing strong, says Abubakar After collecting his card at Ajikobi, the minister told newsmen that the PDP was waxing strong in the state. He said: “There is no doubt, it’s an obvious fact that the PDP is going to win the election. We have the overwhelming support. Yes, this is the stronghold of APC, the Senator, former governor, but it is also the stronghold of Gbemi Saraki, it is the stronghold of Bola Shagaya, the stronghold of Prof. Oba Abdulraheem and from the turnout of the people here today, it is obvious that we have the overwhelming support. “My advice for PDP members is that they should be very peaceful. The people we are contesting with know that their days are numbered, they want to cause chaos to destabilise the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan; they should not succumb to that intimidation, our chances of winning

the election is obvious. Any attempt by the opposition party to stampede us into chaos, into crisis, will not be taken lightly.” The minister also held a closeddoor meeting with leaders of the PDP in the state where, according to sources, members discussed how to pull resources together to dislodge the APC government and recapture it’s mandate come 2015. It was gathered that the meeting stressed the need for stakeholders to work as a team regardless of their individual ambition, or interest for the collective interests of the party. It was learnt that those in attendance agreed to map out strategies and oil the party’s machinery for sustained political activities that will drive the party to success and eventually give freedom to the people of the state. Nigerians will jubilate by 2020 The minister told newsmen at the airport that the Federal Government is set to engage researchers in the nation’s universities and relevant ministries to evaluate government programmes and come up with recommendations on how to enhance the na-

Members discussed how to pull resources together to dislodge the APC government and recapture it’s mandate come 2015

tion’s growth and development. The decision followed the approval by the National Economic Council (NEC) for the implementation of a new infrastructural development master plan that will address the country’s infrastructure deficits. He explained that the approval of the plan came two years after it was initiated. He said the Federal Government needed to be commended for putting in place various transformation programmes designed to make the country better despite security challenges in some parts, adding that if the ongoing efforts are allowed to come to fruition Nigeria will be a much better country by the year 2020. He said: “On the basis of what Mr. President is doing right now, Nigeria stands a better chance of being one of the greatest countries in the world. We have so many plans, we have so many visions, we have so many transformation agenda being put in place by the Federal Government and if people allow peace to reign, we have every cause to jubilate by the year 2020. “Just two days ago, we were able to get the master plan on infrastructure down to NEC and for the first time it was adopted after two years of stampeding of that master plan. We have other programmes in place, we have the NEEDS, we have the monitoring and evaluation unit in ensuring that every sector, every agency, every department complies with the performance contract of Mr. President. “Most importantly what I intend to do is to establish a connection between the Ministry of National Planning and various institutions. There must be that synergy between what goes on in the various academic institutions and what the ministries are doing and that is very important.” On Millennium Development Goals (MDG), he said the Federal Government was steadily pursuing its agenda within the context of the programmes to meet it’s 2015 target.

42 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Who’s Who @ Confab 2014 Secretary General of pan Yoruba Socio-Cultural group, Afenifere, Bashorun Seinde Arogbofa represented the group at the just-concluded National Conference. In this interview with BABATOPE OKEOWO, he speaks on decisions reached at the conference, the prediction that Nigeria will break up after the 2015 elections and other national issues. Excerpts:

Why demand for increase in derivation failed, by Arogbofa every state should now be able to have its own police not a central police; every state should be able to manage its resources; every state should be able to create any number of local governments it wants. That is true federalism; you don’t have to impose anything on anybody. So, all these things are what we recommended and if they are looked into, all will be well.

There have been several National Conferences held in this country without any change in the status quo. Do you think the conference you attended will achieve any meaningful results? In the previous ones, there were hidden agenda; there was third term projects and all sort of things like that. Again, even in the management of the process, oneness of purpose was demonstrated, clarity of purpose was demonstrated. The management was opened to us and we were opened to them and the President came himself to deliver a heart-warming address that, “look, I am not for any third term, you talk on anything except that you don’t go there to divide this country.” If the President could say we should talk about anything except dividing the country, we knew that he was serious and had a clear mind on what he wanted and what we too wanted. Don’t you nurse the fear about the implementation of the decisions of the conference? On the issue of implementation, we should not be afraid because we have made our recommendations open to the public and our recommendations can been divided into three sections. Those that are policy matters that could be addressed through administrative fiat, those dealing with the judiciary that the judges and the lawyers are to look into, and the third is the ones referred to the National Assembly. These are the three sections and we are convinced that if it is just the policy papers or issues alone, that the President can go into that quickly, things would change for better in this country. Now we have made it clear and the President himself, when we handed over the report to him, did make it clear that he was going to invite the Council of State to look into all those things and we can’t but agree with him. Honestly, because he should not do everything in a haste. The Council of State will meet and I am sure those dealing with policy matters they are not going to deny him. The President has also said it clearly that he was not going to tie down our decisions. Decisions made are for this country and the country has come together. Look at the composition; the delegates from different parts of the country, unlike the previous ones. With all these things the issue of sweeping anything under the carpet won’t arise. And in any case this is the only conference so far that began well and ended well. The loose ends were brought up, no issue of third term was raised. What is in the report that will be to the benefit of the Yoruba race that you represented? I must confess to you that the interest of Yoruba race tallies with the interest

Arogbofa

of the other races. We looked at issues from Nigeria perspective, not necessarily from any particular race. Yes, we went to represent the social-cultural organisation, the Afenifere, we had our own philosophy and our philosophy tallies with the philosophies of the other people except in one or two areas. But one thing was clear; we were all united in making sure that this country did not break. We were all united to ensure that this country continue to progress. In few things, yes, which we from South-West might have had as our position paper were brought to the conference but again we didn’t impose anything on anybody. We had many agenda but we had to marry one another, you bend a little I bend a little. For instance, the issue of regionalism which those of us from South-West zone were pursuing even though we couldn’t get it, we got it in another form. For instance, economic integration was allowed. It was allowed that any group of states that want to come together under an economic umbrella is free to do so. It seems to be better than the regionalism we are talking of and don’t forget that even while we were talking about regionalism, it is not all of us in the South-West who believe in it. Lagos State did not believe in it, some opposed it so it was not a Yoruba agenda per se. The Yoruba agenda fused into Nigeria agenda because we were all looking towards making this country better. And one big voice abnitio when we started was talking about migrating to another area, I think a day or two after he realised he had made a mistake and I want to tell you that he was one of those who attended most our sessions. So, we are all united.

Yoruba people are talking about true federalism, devolution of power and regional integration. How far were you able to achieve these at the confab? We also achieved all these things. True federalism means that every state is independent which was what we went there to achieve. We said we should not have three tiers of government, we agreed on only two. We trimmed down, we know that the federal is too strong; so we decided to fight it. The federal and the state are the two federating units now and we said that any state before long should be able to manage its own affairs in such a way as not to go to Abuja every month begging for money. Every state should be independent at the end of the day. What every state should be able to do is manage its resources, collect what you are able to have and pay a percentage to the centre, that is true federalism. We want every state to manage its own resources and that is why we made the recommendations towards that so that at the end of the day only a little percentage will be returned to the centre. So, when you talk of true federalism,

We should not be afraid because we have made our recommendations... Those that are policy matters that could be addressed purely on administrative fiat

Aside the issue of true federalism, the Yoruba people always agitate for resource control, did you achieve it during the confab? Resource control from my own point of view is true federalism; it is having your own ability to develop your own initiative. Up till now, every state in this country is depending on oil but we have now said that we should not depend on oils that there are other things we should look into. Every state should go back because there is no state in this country that has not got enough resources. Mineral resources or some other things, they are all there for them to be explored but we are not doing that. We are now saying they should go back and tap them. But if they are convinced that they have not got the money now, we are now telling them that henceforth the Federal Government should set aside five per cent of its annual income to develop all these resources in each of the states. Also, the oil-producing areas should still continue to assist those that have not gotten these resources until such a time that they too will be independent enough to exploit their own natural resources and be independent so that they and the others should now join in paying a kind of royalty to the centre. So, I think if that is done we will not have any problem in this country. With these recommendations, do you think the people who are opposed to the idea of the confab at the beginning will not block it at the National Assembly? Well, our report have been divided into three categories; policy decisions and issues on policy decisions are what Nigerians need now to move forward, to make life better. Those of judiciary, the Ministry of Justice would handle them and anybody that has anything to do with law. Yes, we are not optimistic of the National Assembly and all these assemblies because we have been fighting them. Our assemblies have not been doing very well even the legislators have not been doing very well, they know it and they thought they are the ones we are really fighting, No. Let me tell you a secret about my own committee, Political Restructuring and Forms of Government. We did say that legislation should be a part-time thing because, how many times do they seat in a year? How many of them even seat in a year? And they go there to waste a lot of money. So, if part of the money spent on assemblies is devoted on some other areas and if members now know that it is to be a part-time thing, this rat race to the assembly will be reduced and those contesting to kill will really reduce. You will think of other areas where you can exert your energy, where you can exert your discipline. The confab didn’t agree on the increase in derivation fund to the oil-producing states or derivation for other natural resources,

CONTINUED ON PAGE 48

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Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Harvest time for Ladoja’s accord The political landscape in Oyo State is gradually changing with the acceptance of Accord Party led by former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, writes SOLA ADEYEMO

hen Accord Party sprang like a bolt from the blues in 2010 and threatened to submerge all existing political elements in Oyo State, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), now All Progressives Congress (APC), the political firmament of the Pace Setter State was shaken to its foundation. The salvo fired by its founder, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, eventually hit the target within a short period of three months. The then incumbent Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala lost his second term bid, just as his predecessor and boss, Ladoja, who avenged his 2005 illegal impeachment, also failed. Both failed to get back to the Agodi Government House which they had earlier occupied. The ACN flagbearer, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, cashed in on the political feud between Ladoja and AlaoAkala to beat the duo, and eventually emerged winner. Political pundits have opined that both gladiators, after apparent rapprochement and armistice brokered by some stakeholders, would go into an alliance to fight their common enemy, but the reverse has been the case going by recent political revelations. Just as Alao-Akala is of the high hope that he would return to the Government House in 2015 through the same PDP platform, Ladoja is busy spreading his dragnet to emerge the next governor next year. Just as he is scheming to do all his possible best to defeat his cousin (Ajimobi), Ladoja is not resting on his oars to ensure that the masquerade of AlaoAkala or anyone from his groove does not come out to display in the next election. To make good his intention, Ladoja has expanded the coast of his catchment areas beyond Ibadan, where he got his party’s few elected officers in the 2011 election. Accord has succeeded in poaching into the territories of the PDP and APC in the 33 local government areas of the state. It has wooed many leaders and followers in both parties to its camp. The crowd of supporters that thronged the ancient Mapo Hall, Ibadan on Tuesday where the Senator representing Oyo South on the platform of APC, Chief Olufemi Lanlehin, formally defected to the Accord party, was indeed intimidating, to say the least. Thousands of political leaders and their supporters in the two parties from across the state drove to Ibadan to pledge their support for Accord Party and loyalty for its national leader, Ladoja (the Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadanland). They openly dumped and denounced their former parties, accusing the leaders of selfishness, greed and knack for divisive tendencies capable of stunting their ambitions. At the crowded reception, Lanlehin, who was voted on the platform of the ACN, formally declared for Accord Party and upon being received, was handed the flag of the party by Ladoja, as the party’s senatorial candidate in

L-R, Oyo State Chairman, Accord Party (AP), Arch. Bashiru Lawal, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, former Governor Rashidi Ladoja and Senator Gbenga Babalola at a rally where Lanlehin defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to Accord Party in Ibadan

the 2015 election. Present at the reception were many former aides of Ladoja including council chairmen, commissioners, former senators, party executives, as well as serving lawmakers, students association, Hausa community leaders, and grassroots supporters, among others. In his address to the crowd of supporters, Ladoja, who noted that the gathering was not for campaign, said: “Our party is no longer an Ibadan party as some people said in 2011. It has transcended to all the zones of Oyo. Our party has become a very big ‘Araba’ tree. Oke Ogun, Ibarapa, Ogbomoso people have challenged us and so we must wax much stronger. All those who had joined the party in 2010 and those joining now have the same opportunities. Whatever position they want to contest for, they are free to do so.” He flayed the administration of Ajimobi, accusing it of not having quality of appreciation, reason many of the politicians who assisted him into office had defected to other parties, including Accord. “Like the state chairman of our party has said, by God’s grace in May 2015, Ladoja will be elected as governor. Four months after, we shall conduct local government election. If the APC government is confident of itself, let it go and conduct local government election and see if they will win. “Our party is that of peace. We don’t have hooligans amongst us. We are friends of the police who will at all times protect us against hoodlums and thugs. Please go and get your cards and get qualified to vote for Accord in 2015,” he advised his followers. Lanlehin described Ladoja as ‘senior senator’ and potential Olubadan of Ibadanland, who had demonstrated immeasurable leadership qualities which made him and many others to follow him. On his mission, he said: “Two things brought me here: One, the Accord party; and two, Senator Ladoja. I had been in another party and when we weighed the two parties with their leaders, we have seen the difference. Our party is going to elect those to be in the various legislative Houses by 2015. By May 29, 2015 at Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, formerly Liberty Stadium, Oke Ado, we shall all be there to celebrate our

For any governor not to have a running mate in the state but using a Lebanese as running mate is unacceptable governor, Ladoja, as the Oyo State governor. I will stand beside him to sing the National Anthem by the grace of God,” he said. Commenting on the effect of urban renewal policy of Ajimobi administration wherein shops of many street traders were demolished and houses along the expanded roads were demolished, Lanlehin said he told the governor that he should not destroy people’s houses and shops, “but the government did not listen. They demolished poor people’s property without giving them compensation. The result is what we have seen now.” Among the various dignitaries that graced the occasion were the state chairman of Accord, Basiru Lawal, Hon. Abraham Adeolu Adeleke (former Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly), Dr. Nureni Adeniran (former Education Commissioner and now Accord Publicity Secretary), Senator Gbenga Babalola, Chief Lukman Bisi Ilaka (Ladilu of Oyo), Mr. Bayo Lawal (former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General), Hon. Akin Onigbinde (former Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly), Prince Lanre Ogundipe (former NUJ President), Alhaji Lanre Latinwo (former Chief Press Secretary to Ladoja), Hon. Abiola Ashafa, member of the House Representatives. Chairman, Planning Committee of the rally, Barrister Bayo Lawal assured of Accord winning the 2015 election, adding that there is no hooliganism in the party and that party loyalists, rally round the party across the state. One of the sons of the late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Azeez Arisekola- Alao, Semiu, who also defected from the APC said: “It is the broom of the APC that we are going to use to sweep them away. Accord is the party to beat in Oyo State. Vote Senator

Ladoja for governor in 2015.” Deputy Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Babatunde Olaniyan, implored all supporters to campaign for Ladoja and the Accord party. He called on teachers to have a rethink because it was during Ladoja’s administration that they really enjoyed dividends of democracy. Representative of the Igbo community also spoke announcing support for the Accord Party. Similarly, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) pledged its support for the party. Former Speaker Abraham Adeleke said: “We did not come here to campaign, but to receive leaders from the PDP and APC with their members who are defecting to our party. For any governor not to have a running mate in the state but using a Lebanese as running mate is unacceptable. “Tell APC to show their senator in Oyo State. Lanlehin, who has left the APC has come to Accord and it is in this party that he will emerge again as senator for the Oyo South Senatorial District. We are tired of a political contractor who sits somewhere and deciding our fate for us in Oyo. They are political business men,” he said. Lawal, Accord state chairman, said that APC has disappointed the people of the state and so Accord is ready to dislodge it in 2015. A former House of Assembly member from Oke Ogun, Hon. Agbarapo emphatically declared that Ajimobi’s government did not do anything tangible for the Oke Ogun people and that Accord would vote the administration out. Similarly, the former state chairman of Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Ojo, said: “In 2011, the kind of crowd we had for the presidential rally was not up to this being witnessed today. After Ladoja administration, we have not witnessed any tangible development in the whole Ibarapa area. Accord is going to do it.” Ladoja later presented the Accord flags to leaders of the party in all the local governments. Handing over the flag to Babalola, Ladoja said: “Gbenga is my in-law and younger brother. He has nowhere to go but to be with us in Accord. He is a Senator that is worth it.” For Ladoja, the defection has expanded the tent of Accord on Oyo State ahead of 2015 polls.

business | MONEY LINE

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Diaspora remittances hit N35bn in Q1, says Okonjo-Iweala

PATRIOTISM Nigerians abroad seeks ways to contribute to the country’s development Abdulwahab Isa

Coordinating Minister for the Economy/finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said. She spoke in London while holding talks with Nigerians in Diaspora to support economic development in the country. The first leg of the meeting,

Abuja

iaspora remittances by Nigerians resident overseas have increased to over $35 billion between 2013 and first quarters of 2014,

according to statement issued by Special Assistant (media) to CME, Paul Nwabiuku started yesterday and will continue in New York, Washington DC and Houston between September 2-4, 2014. Over 140 invited Nigerian

NACCIMA seeks review of interest rate its high Monetary Policy Rate at 12 per cent since 2012.” This he said, keeps the interest rate high and unaffordable to borrowers, especially the Small Medium Enterprises. The NACCIMA boss stressed: “Business operators should not be allowed to continue to struggle with that kind of high lending rates in existence, which is based on wrong monetary policy stance. Indeed, MPR should be reduced to less than five per cent to enable banks lend to the private sector at less than 10 per cent interest rate if they are to thrive and boost productive capacities and create more jobs to reduce unemployment and poverty level in the country.” NACCIMA also urged the CBN to review the guidelines and include the organised private sector in the steering committee for effective administration and management of the N220billion Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Develop-

Godson Ikoro

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been urged to review the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) from 12 per cent to five per cent. President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar made this call yesterday at the association’s review of the economy in Lagos. He said the high rate of the policy had become detrimental to the growth of business in the country. The NACCIMA boss said, “While we have commended the Central Bank of Nigeria and its Monetary Policy Committee for doing a good job to maintain monetary stability in the economy, we are also at the same time expressing concern on the continued retention of

ment Fund. Abubakar said this would enhance private sector collaboration with the bank in a bid to improve access to finance to genuine MSME operators in the country. Among other issues, the association also urged the Federal Government to accelerate the privatisation process of the four government owned petroleum refineries, with a view to moving nearer the completion of all social infrastructures, stressing that the private sector is best placed to operate as witnessed in other countries. “The shortage in supply of gas to industries, has affected the capacity untilisation and production output and competitiveness of industries in the country. We urge that government should intensify more efforts to address the problem with a view to boosting gas supply to increase industrial productivity,” he said.

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

Bid Spot ($/N) 163.28 THE FIXINGS –NIBOR,NITTY and NIFEX of February 6,2014

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

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

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

able Adeyinka Ajayi, Chairman, House Committee on Aid, Loans and Debt Management; Honourable Famurewa Ajibola Israel, House Committee on Diaspora; Honourable Abdulrahman Terab, House Committee on Finance and Honourable Emmanuel David Ombugadu, House Committee on Appropriation. It will be recalled that Nigerians in the Diaspora have been seeking ways and means to contribute more to the country’s development. This interest is backed by substantial capacity: the value of remittances from Nigerians abroad in 2013 was $20.77 billion; for the first half of 2014 it is $10.40 billion. This includes contributions through remittances to their families, friends and communities, medical missions and provision of scholarships. “The experience of countries such as Israel and India shows that the Diaspora are a force to be reckoned with in the growth and development of any country, through the funding of critical development projects, among other means. The current effort is directed at providing the Nigerian Diaspora similar opportunities”, said the statement.

Nigeria’s bank rules spur bond sale rush

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

professionals attended the London meeting hosted by the Nigerian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida. The meeting, according to the statement, provided an avenue for the CME and the other members of the team to update Nigerians in the Diaspora on the developments in the Nigerian economy, the major achievements of the Transformation Agenda under the Administration of President Goodluck Jonathan and the opportunities available in Nigeria for Diaspora Nigerians. The Debt Management Office, led by its Director-General, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, organizes the sessions. Other members in the delegation headed by Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala, include key members of relevant committees in the National Assembly. The members of the National Assembly are: Senator Ahmed Makarfi Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance; Senator E. Uzamere, Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts and Senator Ita Enang, Chairman and Senate Committee on Appropriation. Others are Honour-

igerian lenders are gearing up to sell the most debt in four years to bolster cash reserves, taking advantage of a drop in borrowing costs before the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) increases how much capital they need to hold. Banks may raise as much as $2.5 billion this year compared with $2 billion in 2013, according to FBN Capital, the investment-banking unit of Nigeria’s largest bank by assets FBN Holdings Plc. International debt sales are becoming more common as yields on Nigerian Eurobonds due July 2023 declined 96 basis points this year through yesterday to a record. That compares with an average 35 basis-point drop in emerging-market yields, according to Bloomberg indexes. The CBN last month changed the way lenders calculate capital buffers to align Africa’s top oil producer with global standards and increase their ability to withstand losses five years after saving the industry from collapse. The regulator ordered Nigerian banks it considered too big to fail to boost minimum capital ratios to 16 per cent last year, compared with 10.5 percent for South African lenders, which control most of the continent’s banking assets. “Capital adequacy for many of the banks will be close to the minimum” once the changes are taken into account, Mike Nwanolue, an analyst at Lagosbased Greenwich Trust Group Ltd., said by phone on Aug. 28.

“The capital adequacy levels for banks are expected to drop by about three per cent across board, which will entail raising core capital.” The CBN removed some assets lenders can count as capital in preparation for the implementation of Basel II and III, while limiting Tier 2 capital to 33 per cent of Tier 1 capital, according to an Aug. 5 circular from the regulator. Minimum capital requirements for lenders with operations outside the country were kept at 15 per cent and at 10 per cent for those with interests only in Nigeria. The changes will shave 100 to 400 basis points off the capital adequacy ratios of most banks, Adesoji Solanke, an analyst atRenaissance Capital in Lagos, said in an Aug. 11 note. Wema Bank Plc, which focuses on the country’s Delta and Southwest regions, will be most impacted among smaller lenders, and United Bank of Africa Plc of the larger ones, Exotix Africa Equity Research analysts Ronak Gadhia and Kato Mukuru said in an emailed note on Aug. 7. Wema’s capital adequacy ratio will slip to 17.5 per cent this year from 26.7 per cent in 2013, and UBA’s to 17 per cent from 22.6 percent, Exotix said. “Banks want to show their capacity to protect depositors and absorb losses,” Sewa Wusu, an analyst at Lagos-based Sterling Capital Markets Ltd., said by phone from Lagos on Aug. 29. “A capital adequacy of over 20 percent is ideal.”

Daily Summary as of 02/09/2014

Printed 02/09/2014 15:06:16.016

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Daily Summary as of 02/09/2014 Printed 02/09/2014 15:06:16.016

Daily Summary (Bonds)

business | CAPITAL MARKET 45

No Debt Trading Activity

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at September 2, 2014 Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

AGRICULTURE Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 2 24 14 40

Current Price 0.50 34.10 36.30

Quantity Traded 53,900 174,131 69,872 297,903

Value Traded 26,950.00 5,920,768.87 2,525,845.18 8,473,564.05

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 50 50

Current Price 3.25

Quantity Traded 1,239,674 1,239,674

Value Traded 3,940,723.24 3,940,723.24

1,537,577

12,414,287.29

Quantity Traded 86,100 50 91,441,699 2,353,763 93,881,612

Value Traded 126,567.00 207.00 613,085,332.65 137,162,425.72 750,374,532.37

93,881,612

750,374,532.37

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Daily Summary as of 02/09/2014 Diversified Industries Printed 02/09/2014 15:06:16.016 A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. CHELLARAMS PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

90 Symbol No. of Deals AGLEVENT 3 CHELLARAM 1 TRANSCORP 872 UACN 88 Daily Summary (Equities) 964

Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONGLOMERATES Totals

Current Price 1.47 3.95 6.50 58.50

964

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

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Pharmaceuticals Totals HEALTHCARE Totals Daily Summary as of 02/09/2014 Printed 02/09/2014 15:06:16.016 ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals IT Services

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Symbol COSTAIN GCAPPA

No. of Deals 27 1 28

Current Price 1.13 14.46

Page Quantity Traded 843,556 100 843,656

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

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 65.00

Quantity Traded 20,154 20,154

Value Traded 1,265,530.80 1,265,530.80

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

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 19 19

Current Price 15.60

Quantity Traded 17,085 17,085

Value Traded 261,073.25 261,073.25

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

Symbol UPDCREIT

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 9.13

Quantity Traded 10,500 10,500

Value Traded 91,140.00 91,140.00

891,395

2,591,936.83

Current Price 7.91 0.71 180.50 28.38 175.64

Quantity Traded 26,785 2,075 603,419 1,577,850 936,501

Value Traded 212,412.45 1,535.50 108,764,375.17 44,265,919.41 164,497,721.12

Page Quantity Traded 100,411 3,247,041

2 of 12 Value Traded 239,937.08 317,981,900.73

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

Daily Summary as of 02/09/2014 CONSUMER GOODS Printed 02/09/2014 15:06:16.016 Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC.

Symbol No. of Deals CHAMPION 3 GOLDBREW 2 GUINNESS 67 Daily Summary (Equities) INTBREW 15 NB 145

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

CONSUMER GOODS Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Beverages--Brewers/Distillers PREMIER BREWERIES PLC Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

Symbol PREMBREW

No. of Deals 7 239

Current Price 2.39

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

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 36 36

Current Price 134.00

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

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM UTC

No. of Deals 16 67 45 51 30 1 2 212

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

Daily Summary as of 02/09/2014 Food Products--Diversified Printed 02/09/2014 15:06:16.016 CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC.

CONSUMER GOODS Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Household Durables Household Durables Totals Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals

FINANCIAL SERVICES

No. of Deals 25 119 144

Current Price 59.85 1,054.90

Quantity Traded 90,306 224,161 314,467

Value Traded 5,428,309.20 234,522,992.14 239,951,301.34

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 14 5

Current Price 4.15 1.00

Quantity Traded 131,625 264,387

Value Traded 543,016.59 265,825.70

Symbol

No. of Deals 19

Current Price

Page Quantity Traded 396,012

3 of 12 Value Traded 808,842.29

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 46 33 79

Current Price 35.00 48.50

Symbol ACCESS DIAMONDBNK ETI FIDELITYBK Daily Summary GUARANTY SKYEBANK STERLNBANK

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. Daily Summary as of 02/09/2014 LAW UNION 15:06:16.016 AND ROCK INS. PLC. Printed 02/09/2014 LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY

FINANCIAL SERVICES Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services UNIC INSURANCE PLC. UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Symbol UBA UBN UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE CORNERST EQUITYASUR GNI GUINEAINS INTENEGINS LASACO LAWUNION LINKASSURE MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM Daily NIGERINS PRESTIGE STACO

No. of Deals 173 59 61 63 (Equities) 318 112 609

No. of Deals 169 58 3 30 273 1,928

Current Price 9.29 6.00 16.63 1.98 29.35 2.86 2.19

Current Price 7.39 8.15 0.50 0.93 24.60

No. of Deals Current Price 15 0.81 6 0.98 23 0.54 3 0.50 1 0.50 1 0.50 2 0.50 1 0.50 2 0.50 1 0.50 5 2.50 11 0.53 23 0.79 Summary (Equities) 1 0.50 3 0.50 1 0.50

12,283,247

810,253,486.49

Quantity Traded 13,045,034 3,100,648 2,028,825 3,965,933 12,505,125 25,368,485 19,868,398

Value Traded 123,270,939.98 18,621,865.12 33,749,096.38 7,806,035.23 366,815,410.70 73,502,274.99 44,162,026.43

Quantity Traded 5,698,870 741,142 919,123 1,440,782 13,354,694 Page 102,037,059 Quantity Traded 470,090 43,416 2,452,340 409,000 1,000 4,659 35,155 1,000 12,111 1,000 42,965 559,000 3,019,613 100 10,436 1,000

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

Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Daily Summary as of 02/09/2014 CONOIL PLC Printed 02/09/2014 15:06:16.016 ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC.

Petroleum and Petroleum Activity Summary on Board Products EQTY Distributors Totals

OIL AND GAS Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

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

Quantity Traded 550,347 550,347

Value Traded 302,690.85 302,690.85

Symbol

No. of Deals

Current Price

Quantity Traded

Value Traded

Symbol TRIPPLEG

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 1.88

Quantity Traded 2,000 2,000

Value Traded 3,580.00 3,580.00

Symbol CHAMS

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,251,000 1,251,000

Value Traded 625,500.00 625,500.00

12 Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM PAINTCOM PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 71 6 19 37 93 2 21 53 302

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

6 6

1.90

308 Symbol BOCGAS

Quantity Traded 41,064 41,064

Value Traded 79,748.91 79,748.91

Current Price 5.48

3,215,682,540.16 8 of 12

Quantity Traded 10,000 10,000

Value Traded 52,100.00 52,100.00

10,000

52,100.00

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 52 52

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 2,977,943 2,977,943

Value Traded 1,501,057.01 1,501,057.01

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 327 327

Current Price 26.00

Quantity Traded 4,765,681 4,765,681

Value Traded 125,064,901.93 125,064,901.93

Symbol No. of Deals CONOIL 50 ETERNA 131 FO 120 MOBIL 22 Daily Summary (Equities) MRS 24 TOTAL 10 357

Current Price 61.00 4.47 227.00 175.00 55.96 180.00

Quantity Traded 340,439 5,707,995 475,726 21,884 37,136 8,428 6,591,608

Value Traded 20,856,864.77 25,287,758.42 104,791,753.17 3,824,486.05 1,975,086.92 1,453,472.25 158,189,421.58

Page Quantity Traded 35,213 35,213

9 of 12 Value Traded 23,928,240.81 23,928,240.81

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 680.00

746

14,370,445

308,683,621.33

Current Price 4.80 1.79

Quantity Traded 16,384 1,700 18,084

Value Traded 75,024.08 3,043.00 78,067.08

Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 15 15

Current Price 0.84

Quantity Traded 570,296 570,296

Value Traded 469,058.26 469,058.26

Symbol DAARCOMM

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 7,500 7,500

Value Traded 3,750.00 3,750.00

Symbol No. of Deals Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 1.55 1.62

Quantity Traded 1,100 152,560

Value Traded 1,628.00 244,053.60

Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA

2 6

Page

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Symbol UPL

No. of Deals 14 22

Current Price 4.20

Quantity Traded 112,100 265,760

Value Traded 449,500.00 695,181.60

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 0.74

Quantity Traded 53,889 53,889

Value Traded 39,877.86 39,877.86

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 2 39 41

Current Price 2.00 5.00

Quantity Traded 6,000 783,119 789,119

Value Traded 12,000.00 3,917,938.13 3,929,938.13

Support and Logistics

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 50 50

Current Price 5.01

Quantity Traded 2,439,633 2,439,633

Value Traded 12,720,420.96 12,720,420.96

152

4,415,634

18,187,185.33

6,032

296,095,762

6,488,171,003.56

Quantity Traded 2,000 2,000

Value Traded 1,000.00 1,000.00

SERVICES Totals Value Traded 166,934.50 EQTY Board Totals 75,000.00 Activity Summary on Board ASeM 8,333,203.91 OIL AND GAS 13,397,167.55

Quantity Traded 333,869 150,000 11,228,327 18,775,081

Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 0.95

Quantity Traded 376,646 376,646

Value Traded CAPITAL OIL PLC Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals 358,828.70 358,828.70

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC. Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Symbol UNHOMES

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,500 1,500

Value Traded Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © ASeM Board Totals 750.00

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC DEAP CAPITAL MANAGEMENT & TRUST PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS DEAPCAP FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 78 19 1 497 50 15 28 73 761

Current Price 3.28 3.96 0.87 15.00 4.25 0.60 30.01 2.16

Quantity Traded 2,131,464 1,460,357 100 17,344,336 933,320 647,360 549,548 2,113,109 25,179,594

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors

Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol CAPOIL

No. of Deals 2 2

OIL AND GAS Totals

750.00 Equity Activity Totals

Value Traded 7,116,793.50 5,820,513.15 Exchange Traded Fund 83.00 Name 263,792,407.88 NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) 3,925,272.61 VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF 388,786.00 Exchange Traded Fund Totals 16,490,496.90 ETF Board Totals 4,610,379.89 302,144,732.93

ETP Activity Totals 1,360,968,247.75

Value Traded 42,797,487.41 436,685.40 2,826,945.14 6,230,292.91 3,057,828,640.74 8,800.00 6,390,600.00 99,083,339.65 3,215,602,791.25

No. of Deals 3 3 6

DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Media/Entertainment Totals

Quantity Traded 1,320,945 49,626 72,313 435,621 13,872,357 5,500 1,271,000 847,356 17,874,718

17,915,782 Page

No. of Deals 1 1

931,770.85 of 12

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

Support and Logistics Totals

Page

Current Price 32.42 9.00 39.05 14.40 225.50 1.60 5.00 116.00

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Daily Summary as of 02/09/2014 CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Printed 02/09/2014 15:06:16.016

146,369,880

1,803,347 Page

Value Traded 250,891.44 250,891.44

Current Price 0.50 0.50 0.73

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Current Price 0.55

Quantity Traded 271,353 271,353

No. of Deals 1 1 86 187

2,887

8,031,295.16

Current Price 0.94

Symbol UNIC UNIVINSURE WAPIC

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

2,616,843

No. of Deals 13 13

SERVICES Printing/Publishing UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Value Traded 636,057.22 5,367,133.61 1,153,817.33 596,589.67 277,697.33 8,031,295.16

Symbol RTBRISCOE

Daily Summary as of 02/09/2014 Printed 02/09/2014 15:06:16.016 Media/Entertainment

Value Traded 41,737,910.97 6,039,905.94 459,561.50 1,362,726.00 327,539,015.33 4 of 12 1,045,066,768.57

Quantity Traded 337,900 1,607,739 18,390 393,997 258,817 2,616,843

No. of Deals 6 6

OIL AND GAS Totals

Value Traded 391,338.60 43,074.47 1,337,173.20 204,500.00 500.00 2,329.50 17,577.50 500.00 6,055.50 500.00 107,884.85 296,825.00 2,408,002.52 50.00 5,218.00 500.00

Page

Symbol COURTVILLE

Daily Summary (Equities)

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

Current Price 1.86 3.40 65.99 1.52 1.08

INDUSTRIAL GOODS

Value Traded 939,339.10 12,967,610.35 10,882,233.78 8,590,281.65 2,768,161.90 49,875.00 8,132.00 36,205,633.78

Value Traded 9,251,764.87 179,550,095.14 188,801,860.01

No. of Deals 12 22 14 22 15 85

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Quantity Traded 141,254 1,501,513 164,334 2,091,606 284,701 2,500 16,264 4,202,172

729

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Published byBanking The Nigerian TotalsStock Exchange ©

Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC.

Electronic and Electrical Products Activity Summary on Board EQTY Totals

Current Price 6.65 8.50 68.11 4.10 10.19 19.95 0.50

Quantity Traded 269,825 3,666,202 3,936,027

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals ICT Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC Daily Summary as of 02/09/2014 PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC Printed 02/09/2014 15:06:16.016 PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals

Value Traded 26,503,948.34 26,503,948.34

CONSUMER GOODS Totals Banking Daily Summary as of 02/09/2014 ACCESS BANK PLC. Printed 02/09/2014 15:06:16.016 DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK Activity Summary on PLC. Board EQTY

1Value of Traded 12 972,818.78 1,374.00 974,192.78

Quantity Traded 187,528 187,528

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board VONO PRODUCTS PLC. EQTY

ICT IT Services TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. IT Services Totals

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH

Current Price 0.50

2,000

Page 2,000

6,034

296,097,762

1,000.00

of 12 1,000.00

6,488,172,003.56

Daily Summary (ETP) Symbol NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 2 3

Current Price 1,997.00 18.76

Quantity Traded 23 1,010 1,033

Value Traded 45,931.00 19,097.60 65,028.60

1,033

65,028.60

1,033

65,028.60

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Page

46 business | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

2-Sep-14

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description 9.25 28-SEP-2014 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)

28-Sep-07 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

9.25 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

100.00 535.00 530.27 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 281.35 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 70.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,591.19

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,683.35

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

28-Sep-14 23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

0.07 0.64 1.95 2.65 2.90 3.00 3.74 4.82 5.14 7.40 9.53 14.24 14.72 15.22 15.89 19.87

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

10.86 10.99 11.26 11.26 11.27 11.27 11.27 11.28 11.37 11.82 11.95 12.43 12.46 12.49 12.15 12.16

8.81 10.74 11.17 11.20 11.20 11.21 11.17 11.20 11.28 11.77 11.90 12.39 12.41 12.44 12.10 12.12

99.86 95.78 103.05 108.55 96.55 95.24 98.25 117.15 83.31 122.10 112.60 116.92 100.16 73.06 85.00 99.90

100.01 95.93 103.20 108.70 96.70 95.39 98.55 117.45 83.61 122.40 112.90 117.22 100.46 73.36 85.30 100.20

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

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

978.35 24.56 3.30 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.16 0.72 1.33 2.27 2.63 2.84

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.57 13.68 13.52 13.26 12.27 12.27

98.18 90.84 104.72 101.13 99.55 97.07

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

***LCRM

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,301.62

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,280.50

Sub-National Bonds A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014

15-Oct-09

14.00

6.00

15-Oct-14

0.12

3.29

14.00

99.91

A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.99

4.44

15.68

97.17

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

6.08

30-Sep-15

0.60

3.23

14.19

Nil

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

1.12

4.46

15.71

98.67

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

1.12

3.48

14.73

101.27

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.63

5.59

16.86

85.87

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.67

1.00

12.26

102.49

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.33

1.79

13.06

102.42

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

37.25

30-Sep-18

2.30

1.80

13.06

101.97

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

4.09

1.00

12.28

105.38

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

14.96

09-Dec-18

2.50

1.00

12.26

104.89

A-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

11.13

12-Dec-18

2.50

4.78

16.04

96.17

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.88

1.00

12.27

105.19

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*GOMBE

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019

02-Oct-12

15.50

17.28

02-Oct-19

2.95

1.00

12.27

107.97

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

22-Nov-12

14.50

80.00

22-Nov-19

5.22

1.00

12.39

107.87

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

12-Dec-12

14.75

28.37

12-Dec-19

3.01

2.74

14.01

101.78

A/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020

30-Sep-13

14.75

11.40

30-Sep-20

3.63

1.00

12.27

106.90

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.00

27-Nov-20

6.24

1.00

12.68

103.40

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

6.33

1.94

13.65

105.55

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

3.81

1.44

12.71

105.23

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.79

06-Jan-21

3.84

1.95

13.23

105.17

99.92

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

99.53

484.10 492.75

Corporate Bonds A+/Agusto; AA/GCR

LAFARGE WAPCO

11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014

07-Oct-11

11.50

11.80

07-Oct-14

0.10

1.00

11.78

Aa/Agusto

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014

18-Dec-09

13.50

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.29

5.21

15.62

99.29

Nil

GTB µ NGC

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.33

8.71

19.20

99.15

Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.71

4.88

15.92

96.32

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

13.62

09-Dec-15

0.79

1.00

12.09

100.50

BB+/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.60

06-Jan-16

0.86

2.63

13.78

100.73

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

2.07

1.00

12.27

101.29

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

2.15

1.34

12.61

102.96

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

3.08

1.00

12.27

101.80

BBB-/GCR

*C & I LEASING *DANA#

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.73

30-Nov-17

1.89

1.88

13.14

109.22

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

7.20

09-Apr-18

1.85

3.48

14.74

102.30

BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR

*TOWER

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

3.27

09-Sep-18

2.02

5.20

16.47

102.75

AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.90

09-Sep-18

2.02

5.06

16.33

101.66

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

4.06

1.35

12.63

104.23

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.70

18-Oct-18

2.13

2.29

13.56

104.30

BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.46

6.11

17.37

99.40

BBB/GCR

*DANA

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

3.33

2.16

13.43

106.68

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

6.20

2.76

14.43

103.22

11-Feb-18

3.44

1.00

12.27

94.31

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

142.08

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

144.92

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

IFC

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

12.00 11.32

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

4.63

4.49

111.61

112.46

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

3.89

3.67

104.38

105.17

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

4.97

4.86

109.97

110.79

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

1,629.80

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

3.33

111.13

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

4.39

105.04

105.04 101.20

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

6.78

101.20

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.73

8.16

94.25

95.98

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.06

5.75

99.77

100.91

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

8.66

8.09

105.92

108.15

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.16

100.35

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

9.00

8.75

99.05

100.00

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.42

103.01

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

7.64

95.00

9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021

24-Jun-14

9.25

400.00

24-Jun-21

8.73

8.57

102.88

103.73

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

AFREN PLC III

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC II

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

7.53

101.48

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

8.60

8.45

99.78

100.60

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,760.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,847.52

**Treasury Bills DTM 9 16 23 30 37 44 51 58 65

Money Market

FIXINGS Maturity 11-Sep-14 18-Sep-14 25-Sep-14 2-Oct-14 9-Oct-14 16-Oct-14 23-Oct-14 30-Oct-14 6-Nov-14

Bid Discount (%) 10.40 10.40 10.45 10.50 10.40 10.50 10.60 10.55 10.15

Offer Discount (%) 10.15 10.15 10.20 10.25 10.15 10.25 10.35 10.30 9.90

Bid Yield (%) 10.43 10.45 10.52 10.59 10.51 10.63 10.76 10.73 10.34

Tenor

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 11.7917 12.5977 13.4663 14.3373

Rate (%)

OBB

11.00

O/N

11.25

Tenor Call 1M 3M

REPO

Rate (%) 11.08 12.24 12.91

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

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

162.40 162.51 162.77 163.37 164.53 165.64 169.30

162.50 162.75 163.07 163.95 165.66 167.33 172.66

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

***LCRM

20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

116.70 66.49

20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,301.62

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,280.50

2.63 2.84

1.00 1.00

12.27 12.27

99.55 97.07

Sub-National Bonds A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014

15-Oct-09

14.00

6.00

15-Oct-14

0.12

3.29

14.00

99.91

A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.99

4.44

15.68

97.17

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

6.08

30-Sep-15

0.60

3.23

14.19

99.53

Nil

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

1.12

4.46

15.71

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

1.12

3.48

14.73

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.63

5.59

16.86

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.67

1.00

12.26

102.49

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.33

1.79

13.06

102.42

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

37.25

30-Sep-18

2.30

1.80

13.06

101.97

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

4.09

1.00

12.28

105.38

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

14.96

09-Dec-18

2.50

1.00

12.26

104.89

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

11.13

12-Dec-18

2.50

4.78

16.04

96.17

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.88

1.00

12.27

105.19

A+/Agusto

Sanctity of Truth

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR Wednesday, SeptemberLAGOS 3, 2014 A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

A/Agusto

EDO

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

PARADOX

The NSE Banking*EKITI Index A-/Agusto *NIGER A/Agusto; A-/GCR *ONDO advanced by a marginal A/Agusto; A-/GCR *GOMBE Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR LAGOSback 0.01per cent on the A/Agusto; A-/GCR *OSUN of gains on Zenith Bank A/Agusto *OSUN Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR LAGOS shares A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro KOGI

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

A/Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Stories by Chris Ugwu

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Corporate Bonds he Nigerian bourse contin-

WAPCO ued to witnessLAFARGE decline in GTBthe bears stock prices as NGC Nil sustained grip*UPDC on equities, Bbb-/Agusto amid sell-offs. A-/Agusto *FLOURMILLS Blue Chip Company - Nestle BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO priced Nigeria, the most highly A-/Agustoon the stockFSDH stock market, deA/GCR UBA preciated by N25.09 per share, BBB-/GCR *C & I LEASING dragging the NSE*DANA Consumer BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR Goods Index by 0.76 per A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCRdown*TOWER cent. AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR *TOWER A+/Agusto; AA/GCR Aa/Agusto

business | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Nigerian stocks down by N44bn 15.50 GOMBE the 02-OCT-2019 However, NSE Banking 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 Index advanced by a marginal 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 0.01per cent on the back of gains 14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020 on Zenith Bank shares. 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGIactivities 31-DEC-2020 on the floor Trading 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 of Exchange had the previous 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 day also closed in the red following low sentiments of investors. Consequently, the All-Share Index dipped 133.4 basis points 11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014 or 0.32 per cent, to close at 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 41,264.65 as against 41,398.05 re17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 corded the previous day, while 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 the market capitalisation of eq12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 uities depreciated by N44 billion 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 or 0.32 per cent as market sentiFSDH 25-OCT-2016 ment14.25 remained red. 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 Meanwhile, a turnover of 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 296.09 million shares worth MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 N6.4MPR+7.00 billion in 6,034 deals was TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 9-SEP-2018 recorded inTOWER the day’s trading.

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

BBB/GCR

*DANA

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

15.50 Just02-Oct-12 as in the previous day, 22-Nov-12 14.50 the banking sub-sector of the 12-Dec-12 14.75 financial services sector was 30-Sep-13 14.75 the most active during the day 27-Nov-13 13.50 31-Dec-13 (measured by turnover15.00 volume); 31-Dec-13 14.50 with 102.03 million shares worth 06-Jan-14 15.00 N1.04 billion exchanged by investors in 1,928 deals. Volume in the banking subsector was largely driven by 07-Oct-11 11.50 activities in the shares of Skye 18-Dec-09 Bank Plc and Sterling 13.50 Bank Plc. 01-Apr-10 Also, other financial17.00 services 17-Aug-10 10.00 sub sector, boosted by activity in 09-Dec-10 12.00 the shares of FBNH Plc, followed 06-Jan-11 14.00 13.00 with a 29-Sep-11 turnover of 25.2 million 14.25 shares25-Oct-13 valued at N302.1million 30-Sep-10 13.00 in 761 deals. 30-Nov-12 18.00 The 09-Apr-11 number of gainers at the 16.00 close of09-Sep-11 trading session was 20, 18.00 while decliners closed16.00 at 33. 09-Sep-11

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

17.28 02-Oct-19 2.95 Zenith Bank Plc led the gain80.00 22-Nov-19 5.22 ers’ table with 59 kobo to close 28.37 12-Dec-19 3.01 at N24.60 per 30-Sep-20 share, while Guin11.40 3.63 ness Plc followed with 87.00 Nigeria27-Nov-20 6.24 6.33at a5.00 gain of 5031-Dec-20 kobo to close 4.78 31-Dec-20 N180.50. Eterna Oil Nigeria3.81 Plc 4.79 06-Jan-21 3.84 added 38 kobo to close at N4.47 484.10 per share.

492.75

igeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Supranational Bond has issued a caveat on LiberAAA/S&P IFC Limited, ty Assets Management TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE saying the company it not regTOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION istered with the commission to transact any business in the NiRating/Agency Issuer gerian Capital Market (NCM). In a statement obtained from FGN Eurobonds SEC’s official website, the comBB-/Fitch; B+/S&P mission said: “This is to notify the general public that Liberty BB-/Fitch; FGN BB-/S&P Management Limited is Assets BB-/Fitch; not registered by the Securities BB-/S&P and Exchange Commission to TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE carry out any transaction in the TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Nigerian Capital Market,’’ The apex capital market Corporate Eurobonds regulator, said information B/Fitch; B-/S&P AFREN PLC I available to it confirmed B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLCthat I Liberty Assets Management B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC B/Fitch; B/S&P operating FIDELITY BANK327 PLC has been at No. B+/Fitch;Road, B+/S&P (upstairs) GTBANK PLC Oron Opposite B/Fitch AFREN PLC IIUyo, Akwaette Filling Station B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC and at Room 30, Ikot Ekpene B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC LG Stall, by Old Stadium, Ikot B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State. B-/Fitch; B/S&P AFREN PLC III ‘’Members of the public B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANKare PLC II therefore desist B-/Fitch; B/S&Pwarned to FIRST BANKfrom LTD TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

B-/S&P

carrying out any capital market transactions with Liberty Assets Management Limited,’’ IFC 11-FEB-2018 SEC10.20 said. The regulator had recently suspended of Shalom Investment and Financial services Description Limited and its sponsored individuals from all capital market activities. 6.75 issued JAN 28, 2021 then, A statement warned the general public that 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 Shalom Investment and Fi6.38 JUL 12, 2023 and nancial services Limited its sponsored individuals have been suspended from all capital market activities effective 20th May, 2014. The apex regulator 11.50 FEB 01, said 2016 the suspension of 7.50 Shalom SecuriMAY 19, 2016 ties was as a result of25,its 7.25 JUL 2017refus6.88 MAY 09,with 2018 al/failure to comply the 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 commission’s directive to pur10.25client’s APR 08, 2019 chase completely shares 6.25 APR 22, 2019 paid for since 2008, resolve the 8.75 May 21, 2019 other complaints against it and 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 pay the penalty6.63 imposed by the DEC 09, 2020 commission. 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 The Director of 23the 8.00/2Y USD General SWAP+6.488 JUL 2021

14-Aug-14

1.00 the other 12.27 hand,107.97 On Nestle 1.00 12.39 Nigeria Plc led the price107.87 losers’ 2.74 14.01 101.78 table, N25.0 to106.90 close at 1.00 dropping 12.27 N1,054.90 per12.68 share, while Forte 1.00 103.40 13.65 105.55 Oil1.94 Nigeria followed with a loss 105.23 of 1.44 N2.99 to 12.71 close at N227.00. 1.95 13.23 105.17 Ashaka Cement shed N1.05 per share to close at N32.42.

Caverton wins drilling vessels contract 07-Oct-14

0.10

1.00

11.78

18-Dec-14

0.29

5.21

15.62

99.29

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.33

8.71

19.20

99.15

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.71

4.88

15.92

96.32

14-Aug-21

8.60

8.45

99.78

100.60

13.62

8.75

250.00

99.92

and 1.00production 12.09 company 100.50 in Nigeria. 2.63 13.78 100.73 1.00 101.29 lo“Today , we 12.27 not only provide 1.34 services 12.61 102.96 gistics in support of oil 12.27 and1.00 gas exploration and101.80 produc1.88 13.14 109.22 tion activities14.74 by multinational 3.48 102.30 companies, but also provide 5.20 16.47 102.75 services for 16.33 indigenous Com5.06 101.66 1.35 104.23 our panies. This 12.63 demonstrates 2.29 13.56 104.30 deep knowledge and experience 6.11 17.37 99.40 in the Nigerian offshore support 2.16 13.43 106.68 services industry ,” he said. 2.76 14.43 103.22 Makanjuola further stated that whilst the aviation business accounts for a large portion of its revenue base presently, 94.31 the1.00 company12.27 plans to increase marine business contribution over the next two years. “We are aggressively pursuOffer (%) Bid Price in the Offer Price ingYield opportunities marine industry and are well posiPrices & Yields tioned as the leading logistics 4.49 111.61 full advantage 112.46 provider to take of 3.67 the benefits of current local 104.38 105.17 content laws and initiatives,” 109.97 110.79 he 4.86 said. According to Makanjuola, Caverton’s strength lies in building local capacity and assets as attested by its aviation business. 3.33 111.13 111.13 He that RK Offshore 4.39 added 105.04 105.04 brings to the JV 6.78 vast experience 101.20 101.20 8.16recognises 94.25the company’s 95.98 and 5.75 99.77 100.91 commitment to local capacity 8.09 105.92 108.15 development. 6.16 100.35 100.35 “Some members of the crew 8.75 99.05 100.00 onboard the vessels are local 7.42 103.01 103.01 and plans are95.00 underway95.00 to fur7.64 ther local participa8.57 increase 102.88 103.73 tion. 7.53 101.48 101.48

4,760.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

85.87

13.17

averton Offshore Support 09-Dec-15 0.79 Plc, 0.86 has 0.60Group (COSG) 06-Jan-16 15.00been awarded 29-Sep-16 a contract 2.07 25-Oct-16 2.15 to5.53supply two drilling vessels 20.00 30-Sep-17 3.08 to Shebah Exploration and 0.73 30-Nov-17 1.89 Production Company Limited 7.20 09-Apr-18 1.85 (SEPCOL). 3.27 09-Sep-18 2.02 The company is a provider 0.90 09-Sep-18 2.02of 22-Sep-11 14.00 35.00 22-Sep-18 4.06 marine, aviation and logistics 18-Oct-13 15.75 2.70 18-Oct-18 2.13 services to local and interna17-Feb-12 17.00 0.41 17-Feb-19 2.46 tional oil and gas companies in 01-Apr-14 16.00 4.50 01-Apr-19 3.33 Nigeria. 14-Nov-13 15.25 2.05 14-Nov-20 6.20 The contract, according to 142.08 SEC, Ms Arunma Oteh, said a statement, will run for an 144.92 that the commission would do initial period of three months anything to compel operators and provides for Caverton-RK 11-Feb-13 to obey10.20 12.00 3.44 supply two11-Feb-18 vessels in support in the market the rules to 12.00 guiding it. This, according to of Rig Trident VIII SEPCOL’s 11.32 drilling operations. her, informed the decision to offshore Caverton-RK is a joint ventighten the noose on marketOutstanding Value Issue Dateand other Coupon (%) Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) ture infractions miscel($mm) between RK Offshore of laneous capital market crimes. Singapore and Caverton Ma“We must implement the rine Limited (one of the two 07-Oct-11 6.75 500.00 28-Jan-21 SEC zero tolerance policy in a subsidiaries of COSG). 4.63 decisive and far-reaching manThe joint venture 3.89 was 12-Jul-13 5.13 500.00 12-Jul-18 ner. I am therefore determined formed in 2012 to take advan12-Jul-13 sharp practices, 6.38 500.00 of growing 12-Jul-23 4.97 to eliminate tage opportunities deter malpractice and change 1,500.00 in the offshore support vessel behaviours by ensuring that sector. 1,629.80 both the institutional and perOn its part, SEPCOL is an insonal costs of any wrongdoing digenous exploration and production company and operator are extremely high. 11.50 01-Feb-11 450.00 01-Feb-16 3.33 “We19-May-11 will ensure high of the Ukpokiti offshore field, 7.50 stan500.00 19-May-16 4.39 dards in regulatory oversight which it acquired 25-Jul-12 7.25 350.00 25-Jul-17 from Cono6.78 09-May-13 6.88 name 300.00 8.73 and enforcement and will coPhillips in02-May-18 2004. 08-Nov-13 6.00 400.00 6.06 and shame where necessary . We Caverton’s08-Nov-18 Chief Executive 08-Apr-12 10.25 300.00 8.66 are continuing to strengthen in- Officer, Mr. 08-Apr-19 Olabode Makan22-Apr-14 6.25 500.00 22-Apr-19 spection and investigation and juola, commenting on 6.16 the 21-May-14 8.75 200.00 21-May-19 9.00 any operator found erring will development, said the group 07-Aug-13 8.25 300.00 07-Aug-20 7.42 be suspended, issued a 6.63 warning, was delighted to be providing 09-Dec-13 360.00 09-Dec-20 7.64 or fined depending on9.25 the grav- marine logistics services 8.73 to a 24-Jun-14 400.00 24-Jun-21 wholly indigenous ity and23-Jul-14 nature of the violation. 8.00 450.00 23-Jul-21 exploration 7.53

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

101.27

11.80

Liberty Assets is illegal operator, says SEC TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

98.67

2-Sep-14

4,847.52

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

**Treasury Bills

9 11-Sep-14 10.40 16 18-Sep-14 10.40 23 25-Sep-14 10.45 FGN Bonds 30 2-Oct-14 10.50 37 9-Oct-14 10.40 Rating/Agency Issuer Description 44 16-Oct-14 10.50 51 23-Oct-14 10.60 58 30-Oct-14 10.55 9.25 28-SEP-2014 65 6-Nov-14 10.15 4.00 23-APR-2015 72 13-Nov-14 10.75 13.05 16-AUG-2016 79 20-Nov-14 10.00 15.10 27-APR-2017 86 27-Nov-14 10.75 9.85 27-JUL-2017 93 4-Dec-14 9.90 9.35 31-AUG-2017 100 11-Dec-14 10.70 10.70 30-MAY-2018 114 25-Dec-14 10.85 121 1-Jan-15 10.80 16.00 29-JUN-2019 NA NA 128 8-Jan-15 10.80 7.00 23-OCT-2019 135 15-Jan-15 10.80 16.39 27-JAN-2022 142 22-Jan-15 10.35 14.20 14-MAR-2024 156 5-Feb-15 10.50 15.00 28-NOV-2028 170 19-Feb-15 10.40 12.49 22-MAY-2029 184 5-Mar-15 10.35 8.50 20-NOV-2029 219 9-Apr-15 10.20 10.00 23-JUL-2030 233 23-Apr-15 10.30 247 7-May-15 10.15 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 338 6-Aug-15 10.40 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE *from the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration

10.15 10.15 10.20 10.25 10.15 Issue 10.25Date 10.35 10.30 28-Sep-07 9.90 23-Apr-10 10.50 16-Aug-13 9.75 27-Apr-12 10.50 27-Jul-07 9.65 31-Aug-07 10.45 30-May-08 10.60 10.55 29-Jun-12 10.55 23-Oct-09 10.55 27-Jan-12 10.10 14-Mar-14 10.25 28-Nov-08 10.15 22-May-09 10.10 20-Nov-09 9.95 23-Jul-10 10.05 9.90 18-Jul-14 10.15

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

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

(N'bn)

Value

OBB

Rate (%) 11.7917 12.5977 13.4663 Maturity 14.3373 Date

100.00 28-Sep-14 535.00 NITTY 23-Apr-15 530.27 16-Aug-16 Tenor Rate (%) 452.80 27-Apr-17 1M 10.6084 20.00 27-Jul-17 2M 10.6102 100.00 31-Aug-17 3M 10.9070 300.00 30-May-18 6M 10.9159 9M 11.0527 351.30 29-Jun-19 12M 11.6825 233.90 23-Oct-19 600.00 27-Jan-22 281.35 14-Mar-24 NIFEX 75.00 28-Nov-28 150.00 22-May-29 Current Price ($/N) 20-Nov-29 BID($/N) 200.00 162.3675 591.57 23-Jul-30 OFFER ($/N) 162.4675 70.00 18-Jul-34

11.00

O/N

11.25

REPO TTM (Yrs) Bid Yield Tenor Rate (%) (%) Call 1M 0.07 3M 0.64 6M

11.08 12.24 10.86 12.91 10.99 13.78

AMCON Modified Duration FMBN Buckets

<3 ***LCRM 3<5

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

>5 Market

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Tenor Spot 7D 14DYield Offer 1M (%) 2M 3M 8.81 6M 10.74 1Y

1.95 11.26 11.17 2.65 11.26 11.20 NOTE: 2.90 11.27 11.20 3.00 11.27 11.21 :Benchmarks 3.74Bond 11.27 11.17 * :Amortising µ :Convertible 4.82Bond 11.28 11.20 AMCON: Asset of Nigeria 5.14 Management Corporation 11.37 11.28 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 7.40 11.82 11.77 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 9.53 11.95 11.90 IFC: International Finance Corporation 14.24 12.43 12.39 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 14.72 Aviation Handling 12.46 Company 12.41 NAHCO: Nigerian 15.22 12.49 12.44 O/N: Overnight 15.89 12.15 Company 12.10 UPDC: UAC Property Development WAPCO:West Cement Company 19.87Africa Portland 12.16 12.12

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

162.40 Price 162.50 162.51 162.75 162.77 163.07 Bid Price Offer Price 163.37 163.95 164.53 165.66 165.64 167.33 99.86 100.01 169.30 172.66 95.78 95.93 176.66 184.52

103.05 103.20 108.55 108.70 96.55 96.70 95.39 NA :Not95.24 Applicable 98.25 # :Floating Rate Bond 98.55 ***: Deferred 117.15coupon bonds 117.45 83.31 83.61 †: Bond122.10 rating expired 122.40 112.60 112.90 116.92 117.22 100.16 100.46 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 73.06Bank for Africa 73.36 UBA: United 85.00 85.30 99.90 100.20

4,591.19

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

Agency Bonds

Tenor O/N 1M 3M Outstanding 6M

4,683.35

Rating/Agency

NIBOR

Bonds

10.43 10.45 10.52 10.59 10.51 Coupon 10.63 (%) 10.76 10.73 9.25 10.34 4.00 10.98 13.05 10.22 15.10 11.03 9.85 10.16 9.35 11.02 10.70 11.23 11.20 16.00 11.23 7.00 11.25 16.39 10.78 14.20 10.99 15.00 10.93 12.49 10.92 8.50 10.86 10.00 11.02 10.90 12.1493 11.51

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) Total Outstanding 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 Porfolio Market Value(Bn) Volume(Bn) 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 1,037.96 983.07 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 1,144.15 951.30 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

819.63

872.92

3,001.74

2,807.29

28-Dec-11 Weighting by 24-May-10 Outstanding Vol 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 35.02 20-Apr-12 33.89 06-Jul-12

31.09

100.00

0.00

Weighting by Mkt 0.00 Value 17.25

0.00/16.00 34.58 0.00/16.50 38.12 0.00/16.50

27.31

100.00

978.35

24.56 Bucket Weighting

3.30 112.22 0.35 116.70 66.49 0.34

0.31

1,301.62

1.00

1,280.50

31-Oct-14

% Exposure_ 24-May-15 Mod_Duration 03-Apr-17

0.16

0.72 Implied Yield

09-Dec-16 16.31 20-Apr-17 34.52 06-Jul-17

1.33 2.27 11.26 2.63 11.66 2.84

100.00

49.17

# Risk Premium (%)

1.00

Implied 2.63 Portfolio Price 2.27

Valuation Yield (%)

11.57

13.68 INDEX

12.09

2.00 119.1183 1.00 135.9842 1.00 103.7620

13.52 13.26 1,131.38 12.27 1,151.46 12.27 1,210.47

11.80

120.0586

1,140.43

Indicative Price

98.18

YTD 90.84 Return (%) 104.72

101.13 13.1381 99.55 15.1463 97.07 21.0467

14.0429

Sub-National Bonds A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014

15-Oct-09

14.00

6.00

15-Oct-14

0.12

3.29

14.00

99.91

A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.99

4.44

15.68

97.17

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

6.08

30-Sep-15

0.60

3.23

14.19

99.53

Nil

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

1.12

4.46

15.71

98.67

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

1.12

3.48

14.73

101.27

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.63

5.59

16.86

85.87

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.67

1.00

12.26

102.49

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.33

1.79

13.06

102.42

48 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Arogbofa: Nigeria won’t break in 2015 CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 2

sat and discussed, there won’t be any war. We should be patient for the President and the Council of State to look into the report. We are not expecting 100 per cent acceptance of what we did but we expect that most of them and especially those on policy matters should be quickly handled. We don’t pray for any war and we don’t expect any war. That was why we met to fashion out those things for us to talk like Papa Ajasin used to say, ‘you talk and I talk’ and that is exactly what we have done. Instead of war! war! We have gone to jaw-jaw, so we don’t expect any war. And no Nigerian should think of war.

why? We were almost getting to the aspect of derivation. All of us agreed that the 13 per cent to the oil-producing areas should be increased to 18 per cent because the 13 per cent has been on the marking line for a long time and there was a unanimous decision that we should jack it to 18 per cent. Some of us wanted it to be 21 per cent and above, but we all agreed that for the time being, we should leave it at 13 per cent. But we could not get things going, we could not eventually agree on this because of that hitch with five per cent which would have been set aside for the North-East that is now being ravaged by the Boko Haram. When we got there and our brothers in the North were saying that advantage should be extended to the North Central and the North West and those of us from the South West said no because we discovered that it is a way of encouraging insurgence in other areas, the talk on this increase in derivation broke down. And because we are not experts in that field, in all these figures, we told Mr. President that let the experts in his office handle it. How do you think the confab report should be implemented? We said it clear and loud that the report should be handled by three important segments of the national body. The Presidency which will deal with the policy, the judiciary which will deal with legal matters and the National Assembly which will handle its own aspect. We are not expecting 100 per cent acceptance or execution of all those things, but I want to advice that Nigerians on the issue of referendum. Let us wait for what the

Arogbofa

President is going to do with his Council of State before we lose confidence in what he is saying. We have to cooperate with him. He started this debate very well and even when we were submitting the report, he was still optimistic as we were. So, I hope that all will turn out very well and if he can set the ball rolling fast like he said he was going to table the issues before the Council of

State, I think Nigerians will smile at the end of the day. Some political leaders are threatening war if the government does not fully implement the report of the committee. Do you share their view? No! If there is no war before this time and there was no war before we started and after; Nigerians have

There was a prediction that Nigeria may not exist after 2015. How feasible is this? Part of the way of looking at the socalled doomsday prediction is what we have gone to do in Abuja. The conference was to talk about things that have been dividing us. Let me correct the impression; it was not the American government that said it, it was just a few American people who have their own reasons of saying that; those who do not wish us well. That was their own speculation. We won’t end in 2015; we will continue to prosper by the grace of God. So, we should not bother ourselves about such. When we went to Abuja, the first one week was a tug of war. It was as if the next person was going to kill the other person. When we started moving and talking to one another we discovered that we nearly made a mistake. Nobody wanted this country divided and if there is anybody who wanted it, the person should have realised he was making a mistake.

Draft Constitution: A document and its many colours CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 5

“There exists this persistent oversensitivity and misplaced panic when the fact and evidence of our diversity bestirs its monstrosity and stares us in the face. The so-called ‘North ‘ are the ones who understandably are in thrives of communal fright that the order that vested in their hands our national feeding bottle is petering slowly but certainly to a closure. “They can hold as many meetings as their fear may impel, but it doesn’t detract nor reduce the imminence and inevitable end to nepotism and impunity as public administration and management tools of governance,” Okon said. Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, described the protest of the northern delegates as crying wolf where there was none. He said that those raising the false alarm were people who did not want the conference to hold in the first place and had been doing everything possible to scuttle it. According to Umeh, their latest attack on the conference was to ensure that the final report would be discredited and sent to the dust bin. Beyond these individual reactions, the Southern Delegates Forum (SDF) also formally addressed a news conference on the issue. Former Information Minister, Clark, who addressed newsmen on behalf of the group said there was nothing wrong with the documents given to the delegates except that some persons want to create confusion at the closing stage of the conference. Other Southern leaders at the brief-

ing included Falae, Nwachukwu, Dokpesi, Ms Annkio Briggs, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, Senator Femi Okunrounmu and a host of others. According to Clark, if the resolutions of the conference must be implemented by the government to give birth to a new Nigeria, there must be an instrument to accomplish the task. He said that the conference had achieved a lot within four months but lamented that some delegates wanted to rubbish the gains of the exercise by raising an unnecessary alarm on the so-called new constitution. The southern group argued that there was no truth in the claims of the northern delegates because the document was simply a compilation of the decisions earlier reached at the conference. They urged the conference to place the controversial document in the public domain and allow Nigerians to know the truth. The intervention The verbal exchanges made the atmosphere at the National Judicial Institute (NJI), venue of the conference, so charged that there were fears that the conference would end in chaos. However, succour came when the Chairman of the National Conference, Justice Idris Kutigi, allayed the fears of northern delegates over the emergence of the so-called draft constitution at the conference. In a brief remark at the resumption of plenary, Kutigi said that the conference secretariat had not produced a new constitution as alleged in some quarters, but merely incorporated the resolutions of the conference into a draft amendment to the 1999 Constitution. He said that in line with the resolu-

tions of the conference, the reports were prepared to cover constitutional issues based on amendments agreed upon by the delegates; policy issues meant for implementation by the President; and legislative issues earmarked for enactment into laws by the National Assembly. Kutigi explained that the document labelled “Draft Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2014” contained the various alterations and amendments to the 1999 Constitution proposed by the delegates. “When you look at the documents you have been given, you have the main report in two volumes, the Hansard and the 1999 Constitution with amendments. I repeat, the 1999 Constitution with amendments proposed by you. “Let me at this stage stress this point; we have prepared these documents to the best of our ability and with all honesty. We have made available to you copies of our proceedings and Hansards, so that if you have any doubts about anything contained in the Hansards or the main report, you can raise the issue and corrections will be made. The report has been prepared in all honesty and diligence and if there is any mistake it must be due to human error,” Kutigi said. This clarification punctured the plot by northern delegates to stage a public protest at plenary over the so-called new constitution. The northern delegates had planned to present a formal letter of protest and probably stage a walkout that could scuttle the proceedings of the conference. In a bid to further douse the tension, Kutigi explained that the main report of the conference have been captured in two volumes while the third document

contains the resolutions of the conference on amendments to the existing constitution. He disclosed that all the decisions captured in the report were reached through consensus and challenged delegates who had objections to the document to convey their objections in writing stating the issues and where the error can be found in the documents. He gave assurance that where the complaints were minor grammatical and typographical errors, they would be handled by the secretariat but where there are substantial factual errors, they would be discussed and resolved at plenary. The rebranding Shortly after the conference adjourned for the day, Kutigi held a closeddoor meeting with leaders of the various delegations to the conference. The meeting was meant to explain further what the conference secretariat had done, rebuild confidence among the groups and prepare grounds for a smooth adoption of the final report. This intervention paid off as the leaders of the NDF were able to see reasons to lay down their arms. On the final day, it took only a motion changing the title of the document from the “Draft Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 2014 “ to “Proposed Amendments to the 1999 Constitution” for the conference hall to explode in jubilation amidst hugs, handshakes and a spontaneous rendition of the old national anthem – Nigeria We Hail Thee! You might say that it was a matter of semantic and product rebranding but it was a master stroke that triggered a win-win situation for Nigeria.

NEWS 49

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

2015: Kwankwaso, deputy fall apart FROSTY You eye Jonathan's job, I eye your own. Kano is hot Muhammad Kabir

KANO

he relationship between Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and his

Deputy, Abdulahi Umar Ganduje, may have become frosty over the latter’s 2015 governorship ambition. Kwankwaso was said to have stopped the deputy governor’s campaign programme on the state’s radio station because the deputy governor did not seek the permission of the governor before running such campaigns.

However, spokesman for the Deputy Governor, Bala Dawaki, yesterday refuted such claims, saying all is well between Ganduje and his boss as the relationship between the two was more than 20 years. He said it has been the tradition of some people to put spanner in the works by attempting to put asunder what

God has put together. He said they do this by creating crisis between the two. But New Telegraph findings indicate that something indeed is amiss in the relationship between the governor and his deputy, because Ganduje was quoted sometimes ago to have told a gathering of media practitioners that; ‘I am indeed interested in

succeeding Kwankwaso.’ Also, local radio stations in the state were awash with Ganduje’s campaign slo g ans, which were being aired about seven times daily. But to Dawaki, ‘such campaigns you heard on radio are being sponsored by our well-wishers, friends and lovers, and we have no power to stop it, because in the first place, we do

not even know who are those carrying out the campaign.’ However, the Director of Press to the Deputy Governor told New Telegraph on phone that; “It has been the desire of our enemies to ensure that they create unnecessary tension and bad blood between the governor and his deputy, but I assure you, they will not succeed.”

Hajj: Adamawa pilgrims to undergo Ebola screening Ibrahim Abdul

Yola

damawa State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board yesterday said that its 1,966 intending Muslims pilgrims must undergo medical screening for communicable diseases, especially the Ebola Virus Disease EVD). The board also warned intending pilgrims for the 2014 hajj exercise to comply with the stipulated directives on excess luggage. Speaking in Yola, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the board, Mrs. Zaliha Hamman Joda Fari, also said the measure is part of the safety measure put in place by the National Hajj Commission to ensure the safety of the pilgrims. According to her, the board officials have commenced physical and religious knowledge screening of all intending pilgrims, saying that those who lack Islamic knowledge will not be allowed to attend this year’s

Hajj. Fari was emphatic that the board will not allow single females and pregnant women to attend the hajj this year in line with the resolve of National Hajj Commission. She said that Adamawa State was allotted 1,966 slots for the 2014 pilgrimage, attributing it to the ongoing renovation of the central mosque in Mecca. The spokesperson also said that there was a 20 per cent reduction in intending pilgrims nationwide following an order from Saudi authorities. She also cautioned intending pilgrims against carrying drugs to the holy land, saying anyone caught in the act would not be treated lightly by the authorities. The official admonished those performing the hajj to be cautious, adding that; “It is only medical experts that would prescribe to you (intending pilgrims) which drugs to go with and such drugs must be duly approved.”

‘No going to school in Delta till Oct. 13' Joe Obende

Warri

elta State Commissioner DEducation, for Basic and Primary Prof. Patrick

Muoboghare, yesterday charged private school owners in the state to adhere strictly to the directive by the Federal Government on the new date of resumption or face the wrath of the state government. The Federal Government has directed that no school should re-open for the new academic session before October 13, as one of the measures aimed at combatting the further spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country. Muoboghare spoke at an interactive session with private school proprietors in the state yesterday. The commissioner warned school owners

not to, for any reason, flout the government directive as any school found flouting the directive would be closed till further notice. He said the directive was for the good of all as an outbreak of the EVD in any school would spell disaster, given the very nature of children. If that happens, Muoboghare said it would mean any child who contracted it would take it home to his parents and siblings, ‘and you know what that means.’ The commissioner said one of the major reasons some schools would want to re-open was that they would want their pupils to come and pay up their school fees. He assured that government was taking every step to ensure that EVD was kept out of the state with ‘deliberate measures.’

Adamawa State Acting Governor, Alhaji Ahmadu Fintiri, acknowledging cheers from supporters on his arrival from Abuja, after he was cleared for the October bye-election in Yola…yesterday

Niger re-run poll: Blame APC if Group queries appointment of exercise goes violent, says Gov’s Aide PSC chairman

Dan Atori

MINNA

the people of Niger AofsState await the outcome Saturday's Niger East

senatorial re-run election, Governor Babangida Aliyu’s spokesman, Mr. Israel Ebije, yesterday said the All Progressives Party (APC) should be held responsible should there be violence. Ebije said this was because of the APC's position on last Saturday's outcome of the poll, which was declared inconclusive by INEC. Responding to APC's comment that the Inde-

pendent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should be blamed for irregularities and rigging in the poll, Ebije said in a signed statement made available to the New Telegraph in Minna, that it is irresponsible of the APC to accuse the PDP and INEC of rigging the election. According to him; “The opposition is already preparing fertile grounds for violence in the next general elections by setting negative agenda on the mind of gullible youths, who are on their payroll.

Suswam threatens to sanction civil servants over romance with opposition Cephas Iorhemen

Makurdi

overnor Gabriel Suswam Gthreatened of Benue State yesterday to invoke relevant

lawstosanctionanycivilservantfoundromancingwiththe oppositionpartiesinthestate. The governor, who stated this during the swearing in ceremony of four permanent secretaries at the Government House said, any civil servant interested in

politics should resign, insisting that his administration will not tolerate disloyalty from any civil servant, especially now that he has less than one year to leave office as governor. Governor Suswam averred that the civil service remains the engine room of any government, urging the new permanent secretaries not to compromise on standards, discipline and professionalism.

Azubike Nnadozie ssociation of Goodleadership Advocates, Lagos, an offshoot of the Concerned People of Lagos State, has queried the manner in which the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) is appointed. In a recent chat with journalists in Lagos, Prince Olu Ologbese, said the way and manner of appointing the service commission’s boss was quite questiona-

ble. According to him, the appointment of the IGP, who had left office as the chairman of the Police Service Commission, was not only questionable but non-holistic. According to the association, it is an extension of retired IGP’s tenure; it therefore called on the Federal Government to look at the issue critically, when appointing a new chairman of the PSC in the future.

PUBLIC NOTICE

OGANIRU AMAKA SOCIAL CLUB

The general public is hereby notified that the above-named club has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Acts,1990.

The Trustees are: 1. Mr. Aginwa Geoffrey Anyaehie - Chairman 2. Mr. Nwabunwunne John Mmaduneka - V. Chairman 3. Mr. Akpa Leonard Echezona - General Sec. 4. Mr Ezeigbo Fredrick Okwudiri 5. Mr. Unigwe Sunday 6. Mr. Ezeogbo Luke 7. Mr. Alex Obinna Joseph 8. Mr. Ben Victor Emeka Aims and Objectives: 1. To promote unity, peace and progress amongst its members. 2. To promote friendly relationship and social activities amongst its members 3. To settle dispute amongst its members. Any objection to this application should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Mr. Akpa Leonard Echezona General Secretary

WORLD | NEWS

NEWS

ISIS beheads American Steven Sotloff

he Islamic State militant group released a video purporting to show the beheading of U.S. hostage Steven Sotloff, the SITE monitoring service reported yesterday. A masked figure in the video also issued a threat against a British hostage, a man the group named as David Haines, and warned governments to back off “this evil alliance of America against the Islamic State”, the monitoring service said. Sotloff, a freelance journalist, was kidnapped in Syria in August 2013. Sotloff ’s mother Shirley appealed on Aug. 27 in a videotaped message to Islamic State’s self-proclaimed caliph, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, for her son’s release. On Aug 19 the group published a video showing the beheading of U.S. hostage James Foley. The group said his death was in retaliation for U.S. airstrikes on fighters in Iraq. That video was issued after the United States resumed air strikes in Iraq in August for the first time since the end of the U.S. occupation in 2011. Sotloff speaks to the camera before he was killed, saying he was “paying the price” for U.S. intervention. The masked ISIS figure in the video speaks to U.S. President Barack Obama, telling him, “Just as your missiles continue to strike our people, our knife will continue to strike the necks of your people.” Speaking on CNN moments after word of the Sotloff ’s murder, CNN’s terrorism analyst Paul Cruickshank said that the method of killing, beheading ,has a specific purpose for ISIS. A video like the one showing Sotloff ’s killing “really energizes” supporters of ISIS and beheading is employed for “maximum propaganda” to “terrify” ISIS’ enemies, Cruickshank said.

Sotloff

Last week, Sotloff ’s mother Shirley Sotloff released a video pleading with ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi not to kill her son. “Steven is a journalist who traveled to the Middle East to cover the suffering of Muslims at the hands of tyrants. Steven is a loyal and generous son, brother and grandson,” she said. “He is an honorable man and has always tried to help the weak.” Sotloff appeared last month in an ISIS video showing the decapitation of another American journalist, James Foley. The militant in the video warned that Sotloff ’s fate depended on what President Barack Obama did next in Iraq. Steven Sotloff disappeared while reporting from Syria in August 2013, but his family kept the news secret, fearing harm to him if they went public. Out of public view, the family and a number of government agencies have been trying to gain Sotloff ’s release for the past year. Sotloff, 31, grew up in South Florida with his mother, father and younger sister. He majored in journalism at the University of Central Florida. His personal Face book page lists musicians like the Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Miles Davis and movies like “Lawrence of Arabia” and “The Big Lebowski” as favorites. On his Twitter page, he playfully identifies himself as a “standup philosopher from Miami.” He graduated

from another college, began taking Arabic classes and subsequently picked up freelance writing work for a number of publications, including Time, Foreign Policy, World Affairs and the Christian Science Monitor. His travels took him to Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey among other countries and eventually Syria. CNN’s Christiane Amanpour said that Sotloff ’s killing will step up pressure on Obama to devise a strategy to combat ISIS. Last Friday, Obama said it’s too soon to discuss what steps the U.S. would take against the militant group inside Syria. On how to deal with the group in Syria, where it was born and has a safe haven, mostly in the city of Raqqa, the president said: “We don’t have a strategy yet.” Obama said that he has asked America’s top defense officials to prepare “a range of options.” Yesterday, White House spokesman John Earnest spoke to reporters in the moments after word came about Sotloff ’s killing. “This is something that the administration has obviously been watching very carefully since this threat against Mr. Sotloff ’s life was originally made a few weeks ago,” Earnest said. “Our thoughts and prayers first and foremost are with Mr. Sotloff and Mr. Sotloff ’s family and those who worked with him.”

U.S. jets hit where al Shabaab

n air strike by U.S. military forces hit an area where leaders of Somalia’s al Qaeda-linked militants were meeting, intelligence sources said yesterday, but it was

unclear whether any insurgent commanders were killed. The strike prompted rumors among Somali government officials that it had targeted al Shabaab leader Ahmed Abdi Go-

dane and other leaders who were suspected to have been at the location, but there was no confirmation they were hit. If he was killed, it would be a major victory against the group.

Azubike Nnadozie

he Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC) has emerged the Outstanding Financial Regulatory Agency of the Year. In a statement by the Media/Communications Consultant to FRC, Mack Ogbamosa, the award was bestowed on FRC by the Nigeria Media Nite -Out at a ceremony held in Ikeja, Lagos at the weekend. Conferring the award on the Chief Executive of FRC, Mr Jim Obazee, the founder of the award, Mr Shola Olugbemiro, described the award as a

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

FRC emerges Financial Regulator of the Year mark of recognition of the role the FRC is playing in sanitising the financial sector through enforcement of standards. Obazee dedicated the award to President Goodluck Jonathan for signing into law the FRC Act and providing the enabling environment for proper functioning of the Council. He declared the award as recognition of the roles members of the staff and Board of the FRC have been playing in ensuring players in the economy

are playing according to the rule. He also said the impact of the FRC enforcement of accounting, auditing, actuarial and valuation standards are already being felt in the transformation of the economy. Established under the Financial Reporting Act No 6 of 2011, the FRC ischarged with regulating accounting, auditing, actuarial and valuation standards as well maintain codes of corporate governance in Nigeria.

Benue uncovers over N7.3b extra budgetary expenditure in MDA’s Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

he Benue State House of Assembly yesterday beamed its searchlight into the activities of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s) of the state government and uncovered over N7.3 billion extra-budgetary expenditure. The House, which made the startling discovery at its sitting, presided over

Biodun Oyeleye ILORIN

ampaigners rooting for President Goodluck Jonathan’s reelection in 2015 were in Ilorin, Kwara State, yesterday and faulted arguments by the opposition blaming the president for the spate of insecurity in the country. The campaigners, under the auspices of Jonathan Actualization Movement (JAM), asked

by the Deputy Speaker, Dr. Stephen Omeje, expressed dismay over such gross fiscal irresponsibility and warned that any further unauthorized expenditures would be sanctioned. The lawmakers further ordered a staff of the office of the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Mr. Onah Iduh, to within one month, cough out the over N1.3 million imprest he allegedly pocketed back to the coffers of the state government and report

to the House within one month with clear evidence of retirement. The House’s decision on Mr. Iduh followed a debate on the report of the audited accounts of Benue State Government 2008 and presented to it by the Chairman, Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Rt. Hon. James Ochojila, who represents Ohimini constituency. The Assembly warned MDAs of extra budgetary expenditures insisting that only monies captured in the budget should be expended.

Pro-Jonathan group berates opposition over Boko Haram the opposition to join hands with the President in his efforts at bringing an end to terrorism in the country, instead of playing politics with the problem. The theme of the Town Hall meeting was “Security Challenges, Peace and Sustainable Development in Nigeria” and drew members of the movement from the six north-central political

region. National coordinator of JAM, Otunba Bashirat Nahibi, said given what the Federal Government is doing at present, “Boko Haram issue will soon be over, if only, Nigeria’s political opposition will stop playing politics with terrorism and join President Goodluck Jonathan in fighting the menace of Boko Haram terrorism.”

Alao-Akala to formally declare for governorship tomorrow Sola Adeyemo IBADAN

fter several months of speculations and guess work, former Oyo State Governor, Chief Adebayo AlaoAkala yesterday confirmed his readiness to formally declare his ambition tomorrow in Ibadan, the state capital.

Bent on his ambition to run against the incumbent Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 governorship election, Alao-Akala of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is optimistic of clinching the PDP ticket to emerge the next governor of the state. He made this development known when he told

journalists yesterday at his Bodija, Ibadan home that he would be declaring his intention to vie for the position on tomorrow at the Watershed Events Centre, Old Ife Road, Ibadan. “On Thursday, at the Watershed Event Centre, I will be declaring my intention to run for the Oyo State governorship election in 2015,’’ he said.

Mikel lightens up Eagles camp with Ebola gloves

} P 52

Powerlifting champ targets Rio Olympics gold Ajibade Olusesan

orld para powerlifting champion, Abdulazeez Ibrahim, has said that he can claim his first Olympic gold medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The lifter won gold medal in the heavyweight division at the world para powerlift-

ing championship last April and followed that up with another one at the just concluded 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. In an interview with our correspondent, the lifter said that his next target was to add Olympic honour to his collection. He said that he was getting close to realising his lifelong

dreams and would do everything to achieve success. “I am very happy for winning the Commonwealth Games gold medal. The medal was important to me because it proved that the one I won at the world championship was no fluke. But there is more work to do, I want to win the Olympics gold medal, I also want to break the

SPORT

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

Olympics record. “Everything is in God’s hands and the government has to help us because we are determined to win medals for this country, we are doing our best to bring honour to Nigeria,” he said. Ibrahim’s gold medal was one of the four won by Nigeria at the last 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Ibrahim

NEW TELEGRAPH

Did you know?

ADEKUNLE SALAMI, DepUTY Editor, SPORTS

That Jude Aneke’s haul of 20 goals in the 2010/2011 season is the most by a player in a single season in the Nigeria Premier League

newtelegraphonline.com/sports

kunle.salami@newtelegraphonline.com adekunles@yahoo.com

Wednesday, september 3, 2014

Ban: FIFA waits on Sept. 4 election

lObserver arrives as Amadu goes

underground

Emmanuel Tobi

uthoritative sources have revealed to New Telegraph that the world football governing body, FIFA, is waiting for the September 4 election before taking any decision on banning Nigeria from football. FIFA last week rejected the outcome of the Nigeria Football Federation executive committee election held in Abuja on August 26 by some members of the federation’s General Assembly after outgoing President of NFF, Aminu Maigari, and General Secretary, Musa Amadu, were arrested by security forces, causing the disruption of the NFF Annual General Assembly. New Telegraph scooped from

the camp of Maigari that FIFA has thrown its weight behind the September 4 elections before taking final decision on Nigeria having instructed the board, headed by Chris Giwa, that emerged as president after the August 26 election, to vacate the NFF secretariat and stop parading themselves as members of the executive committee. Similarly, a FIFA observer is expected in Nigeria on Wednesday (today) despite effort by the opposition to frustrate his coming by denying him an entry visa into the country. Amadu has gone underground to forestall any attempt to arrest him or keep him in incommunicado during Thursday’s election. Meanwhile, the 2015 Nations Cup qualifier between Nigeria

and Congo will go on scheduled at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar on Saturday September 6, while FIFA is expected to give its verdict before the game against South Africa on Wednesday September 10. There has been apprehension in the Super Eagles camp as players have been making enquiries about the internal wranglings in the NFF while praying to avoid the hammer from FIFA. “We have been reading a lot online about the football crisis in Nigeria and things have not really changed since we arrived the country from our various clubs. This is not a good omen for us at all as we begin the race for the 2015 Nations Cup qualifiers,” one of the players said.

SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Mikel lightens up Eagles camp with Ebola gloves

…Keshi replaces Enyeama with Obiazor Super Eagles technical crew expressed EmmanuelTobi

uper Eagles and Chelsea midfielder, Obi Mikel,enlivenedtheCalabarcampof the teamonTuesdayashecameinwithhand gloves and asked Coach Stephen Keshi if he would need some with the fear of the Ebola virus in mind. “Coach I have up to four hand gloves and if you don’t mind, I can hand one pair to you”, he said jokingly with the rest of the team reeling with laughter. The camp came alive with the arrival of Ahmed Musa, Ogenyi Onazi, Emmanuel Emenike, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Efe Ambrose, Kenneth Omeruo, Juwon Oshaniwa, Sone Aluko and stand-in captain Austin Ejide.

delight as the number of players increased to 19. Only nine players trained in the morning training session. Keshi who expressed satisfaction with the team’s spirit assured that the players will give their best on Saturday in the game against Congo. He also announced that he has decided to replace Vincent Enyeama, who is absent for personalreasonswith Elkanemiof Maiduguri Mikel(left) first choice keeper, David Obiazor. “We have been monitoring the Nigerian league and we see that the keeper of Elkanemi he Anambra State Government has unis a talent, that is why we want to give him a folded a month-long funeral arrangements trial. We will see how it turns out when he artowards a befitting state burial for its illustririvescamp”,KeshisaidafterlunchonTuesday. ous son and football legend, the late Albert Onyeawuna, 78 who died in Lagos recently following a brief illness. To achieve this end, the state governThe decision of the Uzbekistanis follows ment has constituted a 30-man committee similar travel bans imposed by China and chaired by Anambra Sports Commissioner, Russia ahead of the recent Youth Olympic Tony Nnachetta, alongside other top football Games and Judo World Championships. personalities. And FILA President, Nenad Lalovic, in a According to the detailed burial plans statement on Tuesday, said: “Our sympathies made available by Nnachetta, burial activigo out to the affected wrestlers, coaches and ties for the football legend will hold between fans.” August 27 and September 21, 2014 and is exSeven Nigerian wrestlers were billed to pected to span across four Nigerian cities compete at the championships as they conincluding Lagos, Port Harcourt, Awka and tinue their build-up towards the 2016 OlymAbatete, hometown of the late footballer, in pic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Anambra state. And President of the Nigeria Wrestling The state burial would commence with Federation, Daniel Igali, has described as

State burial for football legend, Onyeanwuna

World Championships: FILA apologises to Nigeria IfeanyiIbeh

he governing body of wrestling,the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA), has apologised to Nigeria over the inability of the country’s wrestlers to participate at the upcoming World Wrestling Championships taking place in Uzbekistan. The championship takes place from September 8 to 14 in Tashkent and seven Nigerian wrestlers were expected to compete for honours alongside their peers from other parts of the world. But the Uzbekistani government imposed travel restrictions on the Nigerian contingent following the Ebola virus outbreak in parts of West Africa, including Nigeria and Sierra Leone, who were also scheduled to take part in the weeklong tourney.

unfortunate their ‘forced absence’ from the tourney. “It’s a most unfortunate situation considering all the hard work we had put in since returning from the Commonwealth Games,” he said.

Imoke, Ikpeme back Eagles to defeat Congo C ross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, says he believes that the Super Eagles will come out

Danagogo confident FIFA won’t ban Nigeria Ifeanyi Ibeh

igeria’s Sports Minister, Tamuno Danagogo, doesn’t feel the current impasse in the Nigeria Football Federation would be enough reason for FIFA to ban Nigeria.

Danagogo

Speaking on a television show on Tuesday, Danagogo, who is also the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, described the situation in the NFF as “an internal wrangling among football stakeholders” and urged the global football govern-

Blatter

ing body to wade into the situation. “I am aware that FIFA does not ban countries over internal wrangling among stakeholders,” said Danagogo. “What I expect FIFA to do is to listen to both sides in the dispute and fashion out a peaceful resolution of the crisis.” He added: “It is also not fair for FIFA to ban a country over the actions of individuals. If they feel that an individual has gone against their statutes, such individual should be singled out and sanctioned and not the entire country.” “I don’t expect FIFA to ban Nigeria because we are in contact with them and have explained the position of things as they relate to the current crisis.”

novelty football match on Sunday, 7th September, 2014 between Lagos All Stars and Lagos SWAN at the Eagle Club, Surulere, Lagos. Other matches will see Port-Harcourt All stars and Port-Harcourt Ex professional battle at the Sharks Stadium, Port-Harcourt on Saturday 13th September, 2014. The final football match on Thursday 18th September, 2014 will be played at the home town of the legend where Enugu All Stars will trade tackles with Onitsha All Stars at Notre Dame College pitch, Abatete, Anambra State. Onyeanwuna was one of the biggest players of his era. A master dribbler who debuted for the Red Devils as the Nigerian senior football team was then known on October 30, 1955, was part of the Eastern region Spartans football club that won the National Golden Cup for keeps from 1960 before it was abolished.

“We expect that they would carefully look into the matter after listening to both sides and seek a peaceful resolution. If they say the way out is for another election to be held, we would ensure that it is done for peace to return to our football.”

tops against Congo, despite the short time the team had to prepare for the Morocco 2015 Nations Cup qualifier in Calabar, the state capital. Imoke spoke through Youth and Sports Commissioner, Hon Patrick Ugbe, who also promised that the fans in Calabar will turn out enmasse on Saturday to cheer the national team to victory. Ugbe, added that he was happy with the quick response of the players to national call and was sure that the team will excel. Earlier, NFF Director

of Technical, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, who has been pulling the strings to ensure the comfortability of the national team, said he was impressed by the showing of the players in the morning training session. Dr Ikpeme, who defied the early morning downpour in Calabar to join in the morning training session, said he will ensure that all that the team needs for a victory against Congo are provided, in conjunction with the Cross River state government.

Ikoyi Club hosts Tennis challenge tourney C hairman of the Ikoyi Club Tennis Section, Ede Osemwengie has revealed that the club is ready to host the first National Tennis Challenge sponsored by the section. The challenge matches will feature Mumuni Babalola, winner of the 2014 CBN Senior Open Championships and Clifford Enosoregbe winner of the 2013 Dala Hard Court Championships, who defends the title in Kano in November. The ladies’ contest will have Ronke Akingbade, winner of the 2013 CBN Championship squaring up against emerging young tennis star and runner-up at the 2012 CBN Senior championship, Sarah Adegoke. “We (Ikoyi Club Tennis Section) want to

start contributing our own small quota to the development of tennis in Nigeria” Mr Osemwengie said. Adding, “we hope that the challenge contest, which will be annual by God’s grace, will serve to motivate other players to strive to win tournaments to qualify.” Mr Sunday Thomas, the captain of the section explained further: “We have the Masters Championship that will feature the top eight players, men and women, in view. This should serve as a test run. President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation and the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Sani Ndanusa, is expected to be the special guest of honour.

SPORT | EURO FOOTBALL

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

United move is a ‘dream’ – Falcao N

ew Manchester United signing Radamel Falcao has described his move to the Premier League as a “dream”. Falcao joined United on a season-long loan from Monaco after Monday’s transfer deadline closed, with special permission given to the Old Trafford outfit to complete the deal. The 28-year-old forward can be bought by United at the conclusion of his loan spell and that is a move the player would clearly embrace. A delighted Falcao told MUTV: “For

Falcao(left)

me, it was a dream to play in the Premier League. “I always wanted to be here because this league is very good, it has very good teams and Manchester United is the best team in England. Everything is perfect for me. “I am very happy to be part of this big club. I’ve waited for this moment for much of the year.” Falcao admitted that he was nervous his move to United would not go through, with a delayed flight that took him to Manchester only adding to the drama.

Germany name Schweinsteiger captain Negredo grateful for City chance

astian Schweinsteiger has been named as Germany’s new captain, assuming the role vacated by Philipp Lahm following his retirement after the World Cup final. Ger many coach Joachim Low announced the Bayern Munich midfielder as his captain “for the next two years” at a press conference in Dusseldorf on Tuesday, although the 30-yearold will not feature in Wednesday’s repeat of the World Cup final

against Argentina due to injury. “I know I can always rely on him,” Low said. “Just look at the World Cup final and how important he was. “He has an immense level of experience and a high degree of acceptance within the team and from the coaches. He’s a great communicator and that’s important for the players. I know he’s injured now, but it’s not so bad that he’ll be out for months. “I trust him unreserv-

edly. He has the big aim of winning Euro 2016 and I felt that he is still very ambitious.”

Schweinsteiger

lvaro Negredo has thanked Manchester City for giving him the chance to play in England following his move to Valencia. The forward signed a season-long loan deal at Valencia on Monday, with the Liga club having the option to make the move permanent. Negredo is still recovering from the broken metatarsal he suffered in July, but reflected fondly on his sole season with City, in which the club won the Premier League title.

“Today I say goodbye to a magnificent club, as it is Manchester City,” the 29-year-old wrote in an open letter. “I want to thank the club for helping me become a better footballer and for making me and my family feel at home during my time here.

“About a year ago Manchester City, a club that for always will remain in my heart, gave me the amazing opportunity to play in England. And for me winning the Premier League, the Capital One Cup and scoring 23 goals in a season were a dream come true.

Arsenal stars welcome Welbeck to club A

s has almost become customary, Arsenal completed a deal on transfer deadline day as they secured the signature of Danny Welbeck, who left Manchester United after 13 years worth of service at youth and senior level. The 23-year-old joins David Ospina, Calum Chambers, Mathieu Debuchy and Alexis Sanchez as the club recruited in key areas over the duration of the summer window, with only cover at centre back and holding midfield left to fill. Following his responsibilities with the England national football team, Welbeck will likely be integrated immediately into the Arsenal first-team, as the Gunners lack

Fixtures International friendlies England v Norway Germany v Argentina Russia v Azerbaijan Denmark v Turkey Morocco v Qatar Czech v USA Lithuania v U.A.E. Ireland v Oman

Walcott (left) and Welbeck

quality cover for Olivier Giroud, who has been ruled out of action for the foreseeable future after suf-

fering an ankle fracture. Arsenal return to action on Saturday, September 13, as the club host title challenging Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium - and Welbeck is expected to start in the centre forward position, with players like Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil providing the service just behind him. Ozil was one of four senior Gunners to welcome Danny Welbeck on Twitter, as the German said he hopes the 23-year-old “scores as many goals as possible” - no doubt because it will presumably enhance his own assist return. Kieran Gibbs, Theo Walcott and captain Mikel Arteta also posted various messages of support.

Azpilicueta pens new Chelsea deal

esar Azpilicueta has signed a new five-year contract at Chelsea. The defender arrived at Stamford Bridge from French club Marseille in 2012 and has since made 95 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring

his only goal against Arsenal in last season’s League Cup. Azpilicueta kept longserving left-back Ashley Cole out of the Chelsea first team for much of last term and now has a firm grip on the position following the Englishman’s

departure for Roma during the close-season. A member of the Chelsea side that lifted the UEFA Europa League trophy in 2012-13, Azpilicueta went on to win the club’s Players’ Player of the Year award last season.

Negredo

England to banish World Cup demons against Norway

emories of a dismal World Cup campaign will need to be cast aside when England welcome Norway to Wembley for a friendly on Wednesday. Roy Hodgson’s men failed to win a single match in Brazil, and the subsequent retirements of experienced figures, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, have left the manager with sizeable holes to fill ahead of his side’s Euro 2016 qualification campaign - which gets under way in Switzerland next Monday. However, the 67-yearold, who has handed call-ups to uncapped

quartet Jack Colback, Fabian Delph, Danny Rose and Calum Chambers as he bids to wipe the slate clean, believes Norway are in a similar state of transition, with key players approaching the end of their career. “Norway will be in the same situation as we are,” Hodgson told the Football Association’s official website. “They’ve had some very good players - Morten Gamst Pedersen, Brede Hangeland - a group of players who have decided to retire or who are reaching the end. “But they’ll be hard to beat and it’ll be an exceptionally tough game.”

SPORT

Nigerian League Rendezvous

Gombe Utd players thumbs up Eguavoen

ombe United players have given the thumbs up to their coach, Austin Eguavoen, for his superb judgment and decision that recently helped the team make significant gains in the Nigeria Professional Football League. According to some of the players, the coach has added a lot of positives to the team since coming on board. Eguavoen took charge of Gombe United at the beginning of the second round of the 2013/14 league season with his arrival leading to the club climbing out of the relegation zone, while also winning their first away game in the top flight when they defeated Bayelsa United 1-0 in Benin on August 9. Under his watch, the club won four out of six matches, losing twice to FC Taraba and Heartland. The goalkeeper of the side, Chigozie Agbim, said; “I’m happy working with coach Eguavoen. He’s so experienced and knowledgeable. He has also shown that coaching goes beyond just tactics and selection on the pitch. It was a good decision to bring him to Gombe United.”

Midfielder, Suleiman Usman, believes Gombe will end the season strongly under the coach. “The results are now showing because he is a top-class coach. I’ve worked with a number of coaches as a player, but he is in a class of his own,” Usman said. P

SF SA Pts GD

1. Kano Pillars

25 12

38 28

2. Nasarawa Utd 25 12

27 19

3. Enyimba

25 11

29 17

4. Dolphins FC

25 10

26 17

5. Abia Warriors

25 11

35 28

6. S/Stars

25 9

10 6

33 29

7. Warri Wolves

25 11

25 26

-1

8. Lobi Stars FC

25 12

27 30

-3

9. Akwa Utd

25 10

20 21

-1

10 El-Kanemi

25 10

28 22

11. Sharks FC

25 9

25 22

12. Giwa FC

24 10

22 21

13. Heartland FC

25 8

10 7

23 20

14. Gombe Utd

25 9

29 27

15. Taraba FC

25 10

17 27

-10

16. Rangers

25 9

32 31

17. Bayelsa Utd

25 9

29 37

-8

18. Kaduna Utd

25 9

21 31

-10

19. Crown FC

25 8

18 30

-12

20. Nembe City

24 5

13 34

-21

NPFL Top scorers Osaguona Ighodaro (Rangers) 13 goals Peter Ebimobowei (Bayelsa United) 13 goals Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars) 11 goals Mfon Udoh (Enyimba) 10 goals

Djokovic

ovak Djokovic admitted he was ready for some tougher matches after securing progression to the quarter-finals at the US Open. Djokovic continued his fine form at Flushing Meadows with a 6-1 7-5 6-4 victory over 22nd seed Philipp Kohlschreiber. The Serbian is eyeing a fifth successive final appearance at the competition after

managing to see off his opponent in just over two hours in temperatures well into the 80s. The 27-year-old admitted that heat was a factor and he expects that it will test his mental strength when he comes up against more formidable opponents. Djokovic said: “I know that I definitely didn’t want to stay too long out there. You know, as we come closer and closer to the finish line, the matches will get tougher. “That’s where I will see where my game is and if I’m mentally strong enough to hold on.” British number one Andy Murray is next up for Djokovic with the duo set to lock horns later this week.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

charlesog2001@yahoo.com,

08098042287

Top scorer of the Savannah Scorpions, Adamu Mohammed, also feels the former Enyimba coach remains a good addition to the Gombe-based club’s coaching crew. Gombe United are in 14th position on the Glo Premier League table after 25 matches.

TEAM

Djokovic hoping to be mentally strong

Sanctity of Truth

with charles Ogundiya

Egbune Harrison of Crown fc

NFF Crisis: Which way for Nigerian league

layers in the Nigeria Professional Football League are in a serious dilemma over their fate as the Nigeria Football Federation crisis rages on. The scheduled matches for the weekend were postponed after the Nigeria Referee Association withdrew their members from handling any matches until the crisis was resolved. Just on Monday, the League Management Company, was suspended by the Chris Giwa-led NFF for sabotaging the league matches on match day 26, while setting up a six-man committee to oversee the running of the Nigeria Premier League matches

till the end of the season. The report stated in part; “Accordingly, a six man committee comprising of the following members: Mr. Fatai Olaniyan, Chief Rumson Baribote, Chief Okey Ibe, Barr. Isaac Danladi, Mr. Tijani Babangida, Mr. Babangida Little, Tunji Babalola - Secretaryis hereby constituted to oversee the running of the Nigeria Premier League matches till the end of the season.” Investigation by League Rendezvous revealed that some of the committee members were not aware of their appointments as some of them have vowed not to be part of the com-

US Open I am getting back to my best – Murray

ndy Murray believes he is close to playing his best tennis after beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to reach the US Open quarter-finals. The Briton won 7-5 7-5

6-4 at Flushing Meadows to set up a meeting with world number one Novak Djokovic on Wednesday. Murray, 27, will go into that match on the back of his first win over a top-10

player in 14 months. “I don’t feel like I’m that far away from playing my best tennis,” said the Scot, who is seeded eighth. “It’s still obviously a long way from trying to win the

Serena into quarter-finals, as Bouchard crashes out

ive-time champion Serena Williams reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final of 2014 at the US Open, while Canadian poster girl Eugenie Bouchard, struggling in the heat and humidity, was knocked out. World number one Williams, the two-time defending champion, eased past world number 50, Kaia Kanepi, 6-3, 6-3, for a fourth win over the Estonian and goes on to face fellow 32-year-old Flavia

Pennetta of Italy in a clash of the two oldest remaining players in the draw.

Serena

“It’s my first quarterfinal of the year at the majors — at last I did it,” said the American, who had fallen in the fourth round in Australia, the third round at Wimbledon and suffered a second round French Open exit. “It was a tough match today. Kaia hits the ball very hard and moves the ball around really well. I wanted to stay relaxed and told myself that whatever happens, Serena, you’re still in the doubles.”

mittee. “My brother, I am tired of this crisis, why would someone put me in a committee without consulting me?” one of the committee members who craved anonymity said. Meanwhile, the players are really agonising and according to them, they don’t even know what the future holds. “We are tired of this crisis, we only want to play football and move ahead with our career. I really want to appeal to everyone to settle whatever the problems are and let us go back to the field,” a player in one of the NPFL clubs disclosed to our correspondent.

tournament, but it’s only nine sets now, three matches, and I’ll just try and take it one set at a time. “I may be five, six days away from potentially winning another Grand Slam. “I know there is a lot of work to be done between now and then, but putting everything out there on the courts, the last Slam of the year, I hope I can play well.” Murray had not beaten a top-10 player since last year’s Wimbledon final until Tuesday, and had let a number of strong positions slip away in recent matches, including against Tsonga in Canada last month. Murray will play Djokovic for the 21st time on Wednesday, with the Serb leading 12-8 and having won four of their last five meetings.

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

World Record

On Marble

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Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2014

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Decoding Nuhu Ribadu

he season of defection by politicians is becoming more interesting going by the latest move by a former Presidential aspirant of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who decamped from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Ordinarily, one should not be too worried about the move if not for the dramatis personae in this latest development. What makes Ribadu’s case more interesting is that the man in question is well respected by both the young and the old. He’s a mentor to many promising youths in Nigeria. Ribadu is not seen as just another politician going by his antecedents in the public service. What readily comes to mind when his name is mentioned are: discipline, forthrightness, courage and frankness. Ribadu, whose self-acclaimed drive for the ‘pursuit of a good cause’ has energised his ambition to fully contest the Adamawa governorship bye-election slated for October 11, made possible by the impeachment of the former Governor Murtala Nyako, who was controversially removed from office by the State House of Assembly. Observers believe that each contestant has almost equal chance of becoming the next governor. So, when and how did Ribadu join the race? He was rumoured to have been drafted into the governorship race at the last minute by the Presidency on the recommendation of the Principal Private Secretary to the President, Ambassador Hassan Tukur, who is said to be Ribadu’s classmate, having enjoyed many years of mutual relationship together. The former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman’s defection is said to have already polarised the party in Adamawa State as party faithful are against the alleged plot by the national leadership of PDP to foist him as its candidate and the likely consequence ‘a Ribadu candidacy’ could have on the fortunes of the party in this election as well as the 2015 presidential election. No doubt, Ribadu’s remarkable achievements in the public service, as the chairman of EFCC, included the de-listing of Nigeria from the list of Non-Cooperative Countries and Territories as well as admission into the prestigious Egmont Group, among others. However, Ribadu’s new ambition may be thwarted for a number of reasons. Firstly, he may not get the ticket for joining the party late because the provision of the PDP’s constitution may be invoked through Section 50 (9) which says that, “there shall be a minimum of two year membership span for a member to be eligible to stand for election into any public

Guest Columnist Adewale Kupoluyi

office, unless the appropriate executive committee gives a waiver or rules to the contrary” (he has been granted a waiver by the party hierarchy). In addition, those to be considered are required to go through their wards up to local councils, state and the National Executive Committee (NEC), depending on the desired position. This is certainly a Herculean task and hurdle for Ribadu to cross. Secondly, he has to contend with powerful candidates that have so far indicated interest to contest the election on the platform of the PDP. So, what becomes of them if he truly becomes the anointed candidate? What happens to the political fortunes of the former Military Administrator of Lagos State, General Buba Marwa; former Senator representing Adamawa Central, Abubakar Girei; a former Political Adviser to the President, Ahmed Gulak; former Minister, Idi Hong; Dr. Umar Ardo, former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Dr. Ahmed Modibo; Mr. Markus Gundiri and the son of former PDP national chairman, Mr. Awual Tukur? Thirdly, he may simply lose out on the basis of his radical nature, going by his anti-corruption credentials and the way and manner he had dealt with high profile graft cases in the past. We recall that during Ribadu’s tenure, the EFCC prosecuted prominent bankers, former as well as serving state governors, senate presidents, ministers, high-ranking political party members, commissioners of police and advance fee fraud suspects. Despite the pressure and outcry, EFCC still issued thousands of indictments and achieved almost about 300 convictions, which include the celebrated cases of the then Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun, who was convicted, jailed and made to return £150 million under a plea bargain; former Governors Diepreye Alamieyeseigha (Bayelsa) and Joshua Dariye (Plateau) that were eventually removed from office. Ribadu’s court evidence also helped to prosecute foreign business men, who allegedly offered bribes while doing business in Nigeria even though he was variously accused of double standard and perceived selective insincerity in his fight and war against corruption. Many have observed that Ribadu only

Ribadu

went after perceived enemies of his boss and the then President, Chef Olusegun Obasanjo. Ribadu had once admitted taking bribe money, as an evidence to prosecute a former Delta State governor, James Ibori. Ribadu had claimed that he was offered bribes to pervert the course of justice by Ibori, who allegedly offered Ribadu a bribe of $15 million and a house abroad. This claim has, however, been refuted by the ex-governor who maintained that the fact that Ribadu put the money in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was not a proof that he actually gave him the bribe money. Another point that may work to his disadvantage is the gang-up by some serving PDP governors, who were said to have begun moves to stop him because it is strongly being insinuated that fielding Ribadu as candidate for the election could be dangerous, as they were not sure whether he was even being planted by the opposition party in the ruling party with the aim of spying on the government that had been previously criticised by APC of ineptitude, corruption and lacking clear focus in governance. Also, the powerful members of the party, led by the Acting Governor, Ahmed Fintiri, who fought to ensure Governor Nyako was impeached at all cost, are said to be re-strategizing to stop the possible imposition of Ribadu. Lastly, the strong political influence of a former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, though an APC stalwart, cannot be wished away in the political permutation against Ribadu. As it were, the decamping of Ribadu

to PDP is clearly a pointer to the lack of discipline and political ideology on the part of our politicians. We should not fail to state that it is not a sin for people to associate with like minds. It has shown that venturing into partisan politics in this part of the world is not about rendering of service. It is a means to an end in acquiring political and financial influence because one of the fastest and easiest ways to make free and easy money in Nigeria in through politics. That is why it remains a do-or-die affair. To them, defection is simply an opportunity to take control of the machinery of governance. Or, what is Ribadu’s convincing argument of leaving the APC? Afterall, the Electoral Act’s proviso that could make a defection legally justifiable is completely inapplicable since the political party (APC) has not disintegrated or fractionalised. With this kind of kangaroo politicking, who suffers most if not the nation? What this ugly trend suggests is that there is no need for a viable opposition that should keep the ruling party on its toes. What happens if he’s refused the PDP ticket? Will he return to APC? I wonder if our politicians like Ribadu ever ponder what they say in public. I was wondering why a man who once vowed ‘never to not join the PDP, even if he was offered the presidential ticket for free’ not a long ago, would now be singing a new tune by describing President Goodluck Jonathan of PDP ‘as a great achiever and an answer to the prayers of Nigerians?’ • Kupoluyi writes from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, vide, adewalekupoluyi@yahoo.co.uk, Twitter, @AdewaleKupoluyi

OMOBABA

WE ‘LL END PDP’s 15 YEARS REIGN – APC

– Insha Allah, if it is the will of God!

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