Binder1 19 august, 2014

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Tuesday, August 19, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 182

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Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

Cameroun closes borders with Nigeria over Ebola scare lFour more patients discharged lUS to send 100 doctors to assist West Africa Our Reporters

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ameroun has closed all its land, sea and air borders with Nigeria in a move to stop the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) from

spreading to the country.

“All borders (land, sea and air) between Cameroun and Nigeria are closed.

Our thinking is that it is better to act preventively rather than have to heal,”

a report yesterday by the Agence France Presse (AFP) quoted the country’s Communication Minister, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, as saying.

The announcement

came as the Federal Government announced yesterday that four more Ebola patients have been discharged.

No cases of Ebola have been recorded so far in

Cameroun which shares a nearly 2,000-kilometrelong border with Nigeria, where the virus has claimed four lives with about a dozen people inCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

FAILED ASSASSINATION

FG deploys 30 security agents to guard Buhari Dan Atori MINNA

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ecurity has been tightened around one of Nigeria’s leading opposition figures

and former Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, after a failed bid to kill him last month.

Buhari, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who has been

in the presidential race since 2003, escaped death by a whisker when a suspected Boko Haram member who tried to break into his convoy in Kaduna while he was on his way to

Daura, his hometown in Katsina State, detonated his bomb-laden vehicle that destroyed cars in the convoy.

While Buhari, who was riding in an armoured

sport-utility vehicle (SUV) escaped without any injury, some of his security aides sustained varying degree of injuries.

The incident, which President Goodluck Jonathan said would have plunged Nigeria into turmoil if Buhari had been killed, has necessitated the review of security around the APC chief.

When New Telegraph sighted Buhari, who was

in New Bussa, in Borgu Local Government of Niger State at the weekend for the wedding of Hadiza, one of the daughters of the Emir of Borgu, Alhaji Haliru Dantoro, he was accompanied to the ceremony by about 30 security agents.

Besides the large retinue of security agents, Buhari’s contact with the public was restricted to the CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Impeachment: Nasarawa Assembly asks NJC to punish Chief Judge Cheke Emmanuel LAFIA

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Chief Executive Officer, The Tony Elumelu Foundation, Dr. Wiebe Boer (right), presents a N1 billion cheque to the Vice Chairman, Victim Support Fund, Mr. Fola Adeola, in Lagos...yesterday.

Police nab suspected suicide bomber at Lagos airport

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he Nasarawa State House of Assembly yesterday passed a resolution to petition the National Judicial Council (NJC) to penalise the Chief Judge, Justice Umaru Dikko, for allegedly being partisan.

The lawmakers have not been happy with Justice Dikko for allegedly constituting a seven-man panel, which they considered biased, to probe the allegations of gross misconduct levelled against Governor Umaru Al-

Makura, whom they were seeking to remove from office.

Their call on the chief judge to disband the committee for comprising members who are members of a political party in contravention of the 1999 Constitution, and reconCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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Tuesday, August 19, 2014

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Tuesday, August 19, 2014

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Police nab suspected suicide bomber in Lagos Wole Shadare

A

physically challenged man was yesterday arrested for allegedly planning to bomb the

Centrex unit of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), situated along the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

A source close to the airport alleged that the suspect was arrested midday by the security operatives when he attempted to detonate the explosive

device he put on his body.

A source at the airport told New Telegraph that the suspect’s movement attracted the attention of security operatives who rounded him up around the complex.

According to the source, “Our security men were curious of his presence at the place and they queried him, but the explanation he gave was not convincing. So, they kept an eye on him. Few seconds later, they discovered that he was struggling and protecting object tied around his neck.

“The airport police command was promptly alerted and he was immediately handed over to the police. I can confirm to you that he was immediately taken to the Beesam Police Station within the airport.

Why he chose NAMA and airport is still unknown to some of us here.”

The suspect was still being held at the Beesam Police Station within the airport, undergoing inter-

rogation.

When contacted, the Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, Mr. Waheed Salahu, declined to comment, saying it would be too premature to talk with the media at the moment.

But a source close to the command confirmed the story to our correspondent.

The source, who could not talk to the media on the issue, confided that the suspect was arrested around noon and had been taken to the Beesam Police Station.

The source could not, however, confirm if the suspect was a member of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, but confirmed that explosive devices were on the suspect as at the time of arrest.

Meanwhile, NAMA has denied that the suspected suicide bomber was arrested at one of the agency’s facilities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos yesterday.

Spokesman for NAMA, Supo Atobatele, stated that the suspect was on the ground making phone calls along the airport road close to CENTREX, an annex office of NAMA, when the agency’s security personnel accosted him.

According to Atobatele, “The basic truth, however, is that the said suspect was on the ground making phone calls along the airport road close to CENTREX, an annex office of NAMA, when the agency’s security personnel accosted him of his presence.

“His incoherent explanation exposed him to the security personnel who later found on him with some devices suspected to be explosives.”

He was subsequently handed over to the Airport Police Command for further investigation.

The NAMA Managing Director, Ibrahim Abdulsalam, commended the security personnel for their vigilance and prompt arrest of the suspect.

Inflation rises for fifth straight months to 8.3% in July, says NBS Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

The suspected bomber at the Lagos Airport...yesterday

Oil subsidy: EFCC recovers N5bn from indicted persons, companies

...arrests bankers for alleged ATM fraud Emmanuel Onani

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he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered about N5 billion from persons and organisations indicted in the fuel subsidy scam.

This is even as it disclosed, yesterday, that it has arrested four bank staff, over their alleged involvement in N5.1 million Automated Teller Machine (ATM) fraud.

The anti-graft agency had in 2012 listed some of the suspects involved in alleged mismanagement of fuel subsidy funds, to include: Mamman Nasir Ali (son of former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Ahmadu Ali), Mahmud Tukur (son of immediate past National Chairman of the ruling party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur), Abdullahi Alao,and Oluwaseun Ogunbambo.

While Ali is said to run Nasaman Oil Services, Tukur oversees Eterna Oil and Gas Plc. A statement signed yesterday by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, noted that the Commission is currently prosecuting 13 oil firms at various courts, even as it added that “investigations are on to bring other indicted persons or companies to justice.”

According to the anticorruption commission, “Investigation and prosecution of fuel subsidy cases have not been too easy for us but we are resolute in our determination to ensure that we push all those cases to logical conclusion.”

It further disclosed that “the Commission presently has a full fledge section charged with investigation of oil subsidy matters and other extractive industries issues.”

Meanwhile, the EFCC yesterday disclosed that it operatives had arrested four bankers, who allegedly conspired to steal the sum of N5.1 from a customer’s account.

In a statement signed

by Uwujaren, the commission said: “Four bankers: Mansur Danlami, Ejiro Eborikpo, Nina Stephen and Samson Nwodo, all staff of Zoo Road Branch of First Bank Plc allegedly conspired among themselves to issue ATM card to an impostor, in the name of Samuel Omede, a bona fide customer of the bank in Bayelsa State.

“After the issuance of the purported ATM card, the impostor used the card to steal N5.1 m from Samuel Omede’s account.

“The suspects are still being interrogated in the Kano Zonal office of the EFCC and will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.”

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igeria’s inflation rate rose marginally for the fifth consecutive month, from 8.2 per cent in June, to 8.3 per cent in July, strengthening the case for policy makers to keep interest rates on hold.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) disclosed this yesterday in its monthly inflation update report.

Consumer-price growth will probably average 7.5 per cent this year, World Bank economist John Litwach said in a July forecast.

Nigeria targets 9 per cent as the upper limit.

In the month under review, the NBS said the 0.1% marginal increase was driven by slight increment in prices of staple foods such as bread, cereals, meats, and fish groups. The pace of the increase was weighed upon by slower increases in the dairy, sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery; and coffee, tea and cocoa groups.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had cited inflation risks, including an expected increase in government spending before 2015 elections and rising food costs, as one of the main reasons it left the

benchmark interest rate unchanged in July. The key rate will probably be held steady until after the polls, CBN Deputy Governor Kingsley Moghalu had said.

The NBS attributed the faster pace of price increases recorded in the headline index to increase in multiple divisions, which contribute to the headline index.

“Between February and July, movements in food prices as observed by the food sub-index have mirrored the headline index. The food index edged higher to 9.9 in July per cent from 9.8 per cent in June.

“Prices rose by 7.1 per cent (year-on-year), a full percentage point lower from the rate recorded in June. Slower price increases in the alcoholic beverages tobacco and kola; clothing and footwear; housing water, electricity. Gas and other fuel; and many other divisions contributed to the muted increases in the Core sub-index,” the NBS said On a month-on-month basis, food prices increased at approximately the same rate of change for four consecutive months by 0.8 per cent. On a month-onmonth basis, the highest price increases were recorded in the fruits, meats,

fish, and potatoes, yam and other tubers, the statistics office explained.

Commenting on the latest inflation figure, Head, Africa (Macro Global Research) of Standard Chartered Bank, Razia Khan, noted that the consecutive year-on-year rise in headline CPI, was a sign that inflationary pressures may be moderating.

She said: “Surprisingly, given the overlap between Ramadan and July, food prices did not appear especially pressured. Food prices increased to 9.9% y/y in July from 9.8% in June. In m/m terms however, food prices were up 0.8% m/m – the same rate of change in food prices seen for four consecutive months. There was little sign of any heightened pressure in July.”

She said signs that Core CPI was moderating included easing of inflation to 7.1% y/y in July, rising only 0.2% m/m (from 8.1% y/y and 0.7% m/m a month prior).

In all, Khan said that, the m/m change in headline inflation has slowed – to 0.65% m/m in July, from 0.77% in June.

With 12 months inflation running at 8.0% in July, she noted: “We see little change in policy soon, despite still-liquid market conditions”.

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Four more Ebola patients discharged CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

fected.

The four more patients discharged in Nigeria were two male doctors, a female nurse and another person.

The doctors and the nurse were among the medical team that attended to the index case, the late Mr. Patrick Sawyer, who died at the First Consultant Hospital, Lagos where he was rushed to for treatment on arrival in Nigeria.

Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu told reporters in Abuja that the four patients were discharged yesterday, bringing to five the number of patients that have been allowed to go home after being quarantined for some weeks.

Also yesterday, the United States said it would send 100 medical personnel to help in the fight against the EVD outbreak in West Africa just as the World Health Organisation (WHO) directed authorities in countries affected

by Ebola to check people departing at international airports, seaports and major border crossings as well as stop anyone with signs of Ebola virus from travelling.

However, hope for Nige-

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medical doctors and one female nurse.

“The three participated in the treatment of the index case of the LiberianAmerican, Mr. Patrick Sawyer, who imported EVD into Nigeria, while the fourth person was a female patient at the First Consultant Hospital, Obalende, Lagos at the time the index case was on admission there,” it added.

Also announcing the US medical aid to West Africa to tackle the EVD

outbreak, the country’s Ambassador to the African Union (AU), Reuben Brigety, said yesterday in Addis Ababa at an information sharing session on Ebola at the AU Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) that the US would deploy 25 medical doctors and 75 nurses to Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria.

He, however, said the deployment to the Ebola affected countries was subject to the AU approval.

WHO also urged Ebolahit countries to screen travellers.

The UN agency in a statement yesterday, reiterated that the risk of getting infected with Ebola on an aircraft was small, therefore there is no need for wider travel or trade restrictions.

“Affected countries are requested to conduct exit screening of all persons at international airports, seaports and major land CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio (left) with the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, during a visit to Abba in Abuja...yesterday.

Impeachment: Nasarawa Assembly asks NJC to punish Chief Judge o

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PORT HARCOURT

ria to get the United States experimental drug on Ebola, Zmapp, was dashed yesterday when the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, said there was no sufficient quantity for now to give Nigeria.

Announcing the discharge of the four patients, the minister, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Mr. Dan Nwomeh, said those discharged were two male

FLIGHT SCHEDULE

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stitute it was unheeded, as the committee had gone ahead with its work.

It eventually cleared the governor of the allegations levelled against him.

While Al-Makura testified before the committee during its sitting, the lawmakers, who were represented by their counsel failed to defend their accusations against the governor as their lawyers only submitted a protest letter to the committee on why it should not go ahead with its assignment.

The lawmakers, who had relocated to Abuja from the onset of the impeachment process, returned to Lafia, the state capital, and arrived at the Assembly at about 9:30 a.m. in a convoy of over 17 vehicles and were escorted by security operatives.

Ahead of their arrival, 17 Hilux vans packed with security operatives, took over the premises of the Assembly while an armoured personnel carrier was also stationed within the premises.

The lawmakers upon

arrival, and on their way to the Assembly, were welcomed and cheered by a mammoth crowd of supporters at the state PDP secretariat in Lafia.

But in what many have considered as a fresh plot to impeach the governor, the lawmakers, held a plenary session during which they passed a resolution asking the Assembly Clerk, Mr. Maikeffi Ego, to petition the NJC towards punishing Justice Dikko.

The Assembly also suspended a lawmaker, Tanko Tunga (APC Awe North), for attempting to snatch the mace at its last sitting, in violation of legislative rules.

The sitting, presided over by the speaker, Ahmed Musa, was attended by 17 out the 24 members of the Assembly.

Of those in attendance, only the Minority Leader, Adamu Maikatako representing Lafia-Central under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) is from the opposition party while the remaining lawmakers are from the Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP).

The House Leader, Godiya Akwashiki (PDP- Nasarawa-Eggon-West) moved a motion under public interest, which was seconded by his deputy Yahaya Usman (PDP- Ugya/Umaisha) in which he accused the chief judge of contravening the 1999 Constitution while constituting the impeachment panel.

Akwashiki said the action of the chief judge on the composition of the seven-man panel contradicted section 188, subsection 5 of the 1999 Constitution.

According to him, despite a resolution of the House urging the Justice Dikko to disband the panel because its composition violated the constitution, the chief judge failed to do so.

The House had last month requested the CJ to constitute the sevenman panel to investigate Al-Makura on alleged 16-count charges of gross misconduct and abuse of office.

The Assembly later faulted the composition of the panel on the grounds that the wife of the

panel’s chairman is an aide of the governor’s wife, Hajia Salamatu AlMakura, while two of the members are PDP cardcarrying members and another member, a serving chairman of the Nasarawa State Christian Pilgrimage Welfare Board.

The second motion for the suspension of Tunga was moved by Chairman, House Committee on Information and Security, Baba Ibaku, and seconded by Nathaniel Agyomesa.

According to Ibaku, Tunga should be suspended for six months to allow him time to visit his doctors to ascertain his mental competence following his recent behaviours and outburst against the House.

“My colleague, Hon. Tanko Tunga, tried snatching the mace, which is the symbol of authority of this honourable House.

He was virtually fighting everybody, including my speaker and crying even when he was not beaten.

I hereby move a motion that he be suspended for six months with half salary,” Ibaku said.

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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Tuesday, August 19, 2014

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Impeachment: Enugu deputy gov’s health stalls panel’s proceedings lObi didn’t lure APGA lawmakers to PDP, says Rep Uwakwe Abugu and Tony Okafor

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he seven-man panel investigating allegations of gross misconduct levelled against the deputy governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, again failed to go on with its proceedings yesterday following his indisposition.

When the panel resumed after an adjournment last week Thursday, it could not proceed since

the deputy governor who had collapsed at the panel while in the dock testifying last Wednesday was not in court.

The embattled deputy governor was supposed to continue with his testimony yesterday, but the panel had to adjourn till Wednesday to give him to recuperate.

According to a counsel in the deputy governor’s defence team, “We could not go on today because the man is still sick and

the panel has adjourned till Wednesday.”

The counsel said Onyebuchi “is no longer in the hospital; he is at home but still under medical treatment.”

In another development, contrary to insinuations in some quarters that former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, lured some All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) House of Representatives members from Anambra State to the

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), one of the defectors, Hon. Victor Ogene yesterday exonerated him from the development.

Addressing journalists shortly after meeting his constituents at APGA office in his Ogbaru country home, Ogene said: “I have not attended any meeting recently presided by Mr. Peter Obi.” He said the decision by the four APGA lawmakers stemmed from the fact that they wanted to

support the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said their move to join the PDP was an experimental political calculation initiated by a certain bigwig that thought it would be better if the lawmakers rendered their support to Mr. President on the platform of PDP. The lawmaker had earlier told his constituents that he is still in APGA and enjoined them to

US to send 100 doctors to assist West Africa CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

L-R: Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chanchaga Local Government Area, Alhaji Shehu Gwamnati; former President Ibrahim Babangida and Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, during Babangida’s 73rd birthday celebration in Minna…yesterday

Political parties demand 0.5 per cent of budget Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

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egistered political parties in the country yesterday demanded for 0.5 per cent of the nation’s annual budget to allow them function effectively.

The parties believed that making a budgetary provision for them would not be a burden to make democracy thrives in the country.

Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr. Tanko Yunusa, who spoke at a three-day Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in collaboration with the Democratic Governance for Development Project (DGD II) called on the National Assembly to set aside the 0.5 per cent of annual budget.

Yunusa also advocated for the restoration of funding of political parties activities, which has been stopped by INEC. Responding to the chal-

lenge thrown at the parties by INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on the need for registered political parties to regularly organise workshop for their members so as to enhance their effectiveness, the IPAC chairman noted that funding is very central for the parties to function efficiently.

He said: “That is the reason why political parties under the IPAC have been asking for public funding. This public funding must not necessarily go to the political parties as it were, but go to the technical areas of electioneering. Once we are able to differentiate this type of expenditure and tie it to electoral processes, it gives room for a balanced situation.

“But when one political party has an enormous opportunity to use states’ resources and security for personal use it will create the room for other political parties to be used.

“We are requesting and insisting seriously

that the National Assembly through INEC, should look at the issue of political party funding. After all, we are only 26 political parties in Nigeria. Even if 0.5 per cent of the total budget of Nigeria is being given to political parties to enhance them to perform effective job, I don’t think that would be too much for this democracy all of us are enjoying.”

But the INEC Chairman said the commission cannot fund the parties due to constitutional constraints.

“The issue of funding political parties is a constitutional matter. As I speak with you, the constitution of Nigeria does not permit INEC to fund political parties. But in many other countries, their laws allow for the funding of political parties.

“So until and unless our laws are changed, there is nothing we can do about funding political parties.

So may be our legislators would look into the possibilities and whatever that

is in the law, we abide by it,” Jega argued.

INEC under the Jega stopped the funding of political parties.

Jega agreed that some political parties may not have the resources to hire party agents while those who could, may not have enough to take care of them thereby exposing them to inducement by other political parties with means.

The INEC chairman also encouraged political parties to also organise workshop for their party agents, who are very critical to elections.

“Party agents have a great responsibility for credible election and for the party agents to be able to discharge this responsibility, they need to be properly and adequately trained,” he said.

The workshop with theme “Role and Responsibilities of Political Party Agents on Election Day,” drew participants from the registered political parties in the country.

continue to give him and APGA the desired support for effective development of the area.

Before this development, some members of APGA had alleged that the former governor was behind the mass defection to PDP. Obi’s resignation of APGA BoT chairmanship also heightened the apprehension that he must have made up his mind to dump the party.

crossings, for unexplained febrile illness consistent with potential Ebola infection.

“Any person with an illness consistent with EVD should not be allowed to travel unless the travel is part of an appropriate medical evacuation,” it said.

However, while Entwistle ruled out Nigeria getting Zmapp for now due to insufficient quantity, Chukwu said yesterday that the Federal Government was withholding approval for Nano Silver, a drug discovered by a Nigerian which was believed to be capable of treating Ebola, over quality issue.

Chukwu told Entwistle who visited him in Abuja that the Nano Silver drug was made available to the Emergency Operations Centre in Lagos on August 14 but did not meet basic research requirements.

He said the ambassador’s visit was an opportunity to share ideas and information on Ebola virus.

Earlier, Entwistle had commended the efforts of the Federal Government in curbing the spread of the EVD in the country.

He said the aim of the visit was to discuss further on the anti-Ebola cooperation between Washington and Abuja.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has also urged airlines not to ban flights to Ebola-hit regions.

The industry needs only to screen passengers at airports in infected areas, apply rigorous procedures including isolation when handling suspected cases, and fully disinfect planes afterward, IATA said, citing WHO advice that aviation constitutes a “low risk” for Ebola transmission.

“They have been very clear that travel and trade bans are unnecessary,” a report by Bloomberg quoted IATA Vice-President for Africa, Raphael Kuuchi, as saying at the Africa Aviation Day conference in Johannesburg.

IATA issued the plea af-

ter Kenya Airways Ltd., Africa’s third-largest carrier, said at weekend it would cease flying from today to Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Meanwhile, two prominent indigenes of Benue State resident in Monrovia, the capital city of Liberia, as well as the driver of the state-owned transport company have been quarantined at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi, for allegedly contracting EVD. But Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Dr. Orkurga Malu, who confirmed the incident to New Telegraph yesterday, however, said they had tested negative to the virus.

However, a Nigerian woman who arrived on a flight to the United Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi and later died in the city may have been infected with the Ebola virus, said health officials.

The health authority in the emirate said in a statement carried by the Emirati state news agency WAM that the 35-year-old woman was travelling from Nigeria to India for treatment of advanced metastatic cancer.

Her health deteriorated while in transit at Abu Dhabi International Airport and as medics were trying to resuscitate her, they found signs that suggested a possible Ebola virus infection.

In a related development, Liberia has confirmed 17 suspected Ebola patients “missing” after a health centre in Monrovia was looted.

The government had sought to reassure people, saying all the patients had been moved to another health facility.

But Information Minister Lewis Brown had earlier told the BBC that 17 inmates had gone “back into their communities”.

But yesterday, the information minister said 17 of the 37 patients were unaccounted for.

He said the authorities were now trying to track them down but said he was confident they would return.

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Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Doctors stage protests in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo

lMark intervenes in FG, NMA impasse lNLC tells FG: Recall sacked resident doctors Appolonia Adeyemi, Chukwu David, Sola Adeyemo, Kunle Olayeni and Yekeen Nurudeen

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undreds of medical doctors yesterday took to the streets in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states to protest the sacking of 16,000 resident doctors in all federal hospitals across the country.

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) stated that with 26,000 doctors registered with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) in 2014, the 10,000 doctors left after the sack were not enough to provide healthcare for Nigerians.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) also described the mass dismissal of resident doctors by the Federal Government as illadvised.

But Senate President David Mark has waded into the crisis between the Federal Government and the NMA on the ongoing industrial action.

In Lagos, hundreds of medical doctors staged a protest at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba in Lagos condemning the suspension of residency training for doctors in all federal hospitals.

The NMA’s protest began as early as 10a.m. at the LUTH premises with doctors chanting songs, call-

ing on President Goodluck Jonathan and the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu to rescind the suspension order.

The doctors marched through LUTH to the Administrative Block to the office of the Chief Medical Director (CMD), LUTH, Prof Akin Osibogun where they demanded to see Osibogun on the mission to hand over the letter calling on the Federal Government to rescind the suspension.

However, LUTH’s Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), Prof.

Chris Bode who represented the CMD received the letter from the protesting doctors and promised to deliver it to LUTH authority for onward transmission.

The state chairman of NMA, Dr. Tope Ojo, who addressed journalists during the protest said that the sack of resident doctors in all federal teaching hospitals in the country would lead to imminent collapse of the health sector.

In Oyo, Governor Abiola Ajimobi appealed to the Federal Government to enter into further negotiations with the NMA with a view to resolving the current impasse over the sacked of 16,000 resident doctors.

He made the appeal in Ibadan yesterday while addressing members of the state branch of NMA led by its chairman, Dr. Mui-

deen Olatunji, who were on a peaceful protest against the sack of the doctors.

Ajimobi noted that rather than resorting to punitive measure, the Federal Government should continue to dialogue with the doctors in order to reach a compromise on their requests in the interest of Nigerians.

He said that the sacking of the resident doctors would further aggravate the already deplorable health condition of Nigerians and also lead to increase in the death rate.

Presenting a letter of protest to Governor Ajimobi for onward transmission to President Jonathan, the NMA said no doctor in the state should accept or collect any sack letter or sign any register opened by the government.

Olatunji said that none of NMA members will apply or take up any position declared vacant by the Federal Government.

He however said that the doctors would continue to provide emergency ser-

vices especially with the outbreak of Ebola disease in the country.

A communiqué made available at the end of the meeting urged government to show commitment on its part to solve the current impasse with the NMA, rather than resulting to punitive measure.

In Ogun, the state branch of NMA staged a peaceful protest over the scrapping of residency training.

Addressing reporters shortly after the protest, the state NMA Chairman, Dr Olubunmi Odewabi, described the government’s action as “suicidal and illegal.”

Odewabi contended that the Nigerian masses would suffer greatly if the Federal Government failed to rescind its decision.

She decried the health policy of the Federal Government, saying it could not guarantee access to basic healthcare delivery to an average Nigerian.

To resolve the impasse, the Senate President met

with the leadership of NMA on Sunday night to seek an end to the industrial action in the interest of Nigerians.

Mark reminded the striking doctors of their strategic roles in the lives of citizens, urging them not to close their eyes to the plights of Nigerians, who depend on them for medical attention in the face of the prevailing health challenges in the country.

Mark also reasoned that the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), which is now a national emergency, was sufficient to persuade the aggrieved medical practitioners to suspend the strike and participate fully in the crusade against the EVD challenge.

The President of NMA, Dr. Kayode Obembe, who led members of the association’s executive to the meeting, listed their grievances to include but not limited to improved hazard allowance for medical and health workers, about

10 months unpaid arrears as well as appointment of Surgeon-General of the federation .

In another development, the NLC called on the Federal Government to reconsider its stand and reverse the decision in the face of the Ebola outbreak in the country.

President of the union, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, stated this in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday.

NLC said what the nation needs urgently is recruitment of more health professionals, well equipped public hospitals, and a well-organised health system capable of responding to the health concerns of growing population and not sacking of any category of health personnel.

While arguing that the government was misadvised and misled to take such decision, the labour body noted that it was unwarranted to sack doctors at a time the nation is facing the Ebola challenge.

FG deploys 30 security agents to guard Buhari CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

barest minimum.

Buhari, who came to Borgu with his security in a convoy of about 12 vehicles, mostly SUVs, was sighted at the Muhammadu Sani Memorial Central Mosque at about 2:09p.m.

He was dressed in sky blue three-piece traditional attire with a cap to match just as his numerous admirers, mostly, youths started amidst hailing him with chants of “Sai Baba” as he alighted from an unmarked Toyota Sequoia SUV. Buhari was closely followed by the security operatives as he entered the mosque and he hurriedly left the venue of the wedding ceremony, a few minutes later.

The former leader who beamed with smiles as he acknowledged the cheers from his admirers was ushered into the mosque by some security operatives who were also chauffeur driven into the mosque premises in a

black Toyota Land Cruiser marked ‘PATASKUM.’ The security agents prevented people, especially the jubilant youths who were surging forward to touch and have handshakes with Buhari from reaching him.

The tumultuous welcome accorded Buhari, especially around the mosque premises almost marred the occasion, prompting some clerics to appeal to the youths for calm to allow them conclude the ceremony.

However, unlike in the past when Buhari would step aside at such an occasion to grant press interview, no sooner had the wedding was concluded than he sandwiched by eagle-eyed security aides who ushered him into his vehicle and spirited him away.

One of Buhari’s aides told New Telegraph that the decision to beef up security around the former head of state was prompted by the recent attempt on his life in Kaduna.

L-R: Director, Maritime Services, Naval Headquarters Annex, Lagos, Commodore Jatau Luka; Director, Airforce Transportation, Air Vice Marshal Stephen; Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Patrick Akpolokemi and Chief of Training and Operations, Air Vice Marshal Adebowale Odunlade, at Maritime Stakeholders’ Sensitisation Conference in Lagos… yesterday.

PHOTO : SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Post-MDG Agenda to focus on poverty eradication Anule Emmanuel

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday advocated the need to comprehensively capture issues of poverty eradication, access to sustainable energy, infrastructural development, population demographics and governance in the Post-2015 Development Agenda of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

He said this will help address the shortcomings of the present MDGs programme.

President Jonathan stated this at the Presidential Summit on the MDGs and Post-2015 Development Agenda in Abuja.

He said that the factors are essential for development of nations across the globe.

The President, who was represented by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, said the upcoming framework must finish the unfinished business of the current MDGs. He said: “In summary, for the Post-2015 Development Agenda to have the necessary impact on the

development trajectory of nations across the world, the new set of goals needs to tackle the issues that were not addressed under the current framework, with poverty eradication, access to sustainable energy, infrastructural development, population demographics and governance at the centre.

“It must be understood that these areas are crucial to the process and cannot be left out. The new framework must finish the current business of the MDGs. If the current framework was the so-called ‘floor’ for

development aspirations on which we set more ambitious and contextually appropriate policy aims, then the new framework must consider the most fundamental problems facing the least developed societies in the world.

“It must tackle those problems first. The formulation process needs to continue to be inclusive so that development realities and not academic conjectures are tackled. This inclusion has the added benefit of increasing community buy-in across the world.”

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

7

Group wants LG Auditor General probed over retirement Gabriel Choba UGHELLI

political group, the AniAyesterday oma Youth Movement, urged Gov-

L-R: Lagos District Manager, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr. Akin Osinowo; Managing Director, Mr. Adeseyi Sijuwade and Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, during Tukur's visit to Cabin 3, Iddo and Apapa Stations in Lagos…on Sunday

36.29

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Bahamas in 2012.

Source: Itu.int

0.36%

The percentage share of passenger air travel of Jos airport of Nigeria’s total air passengers in 2012.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

240,000

The number of adults and children estimated to be living with HIV in Burma in 2007.

Source: Blatantworld.com

Okorocha: APC will take over Abia in 2015 CONQUEST

It sound like war drum. The Owelle is taking the battle to Ochendu's domain Steve Uzoechi

I

mo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, yesterday said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will take over Abia State in the 2015 general elections.

His optimism followed what he described as ‘calls by the people for a change from the present downturn in the fortune of the state.’

The governor said this through his Deputy, Prince Eze Madumere, at a well-attended stakeholders’ meeting of SouthEast All Progressives Congress in Umuahia.

Madumere called for unity purpose, sacrifice and necessary compromises to achieve peace and cohesion in the party, especially in Abia State.

He told the party faithful the need for them to work as a team, which he said is the needed tonic that will see them chase the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) away from the Government House with their failed administrations.

Continuing, the governor reminded them that Imo and Abia are sister states and that the five South-East states are one, wondering why others states should be lagging behind in growth and development. Okorocha promised them of the Imo example, which he said is achievable with hard work.

Governor Okorocha,

who is synonymous with free education programmes from primary to tertiary level, massive infrastructural development and five star performances in every facets, has also promised to throw his weight behind the party to achieve success in the South-East in the 2015 general elections,” said Madumere.

He therefore assured the Abia chapter of the party to move on without any fear of intimidation since the have the people and the backing of Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha and the entire leadership of the party.

Earlier in the meeting, the National Auditor of All Progressives Congress, Chief Goerge Moghalu told the party faithful to go on sensitization of the people and win people for the party.

He particularly said that the leader in the South East Owelle Rochas Okorocha has taken the lead in governance as no other States in the South East can boast of Governor Okorocha's giant strides. He said he understood their challenges but should not be intimidated by anybody.

They should stand up to be counted if really they want change, which is long over due in the South East and in Abia in Particular.

Meanwhile, a political group, the South East Progressives Assembly (SEPA) has raised the alarm over what it described as the ‘reckless and unguarded utterances’ of Governor Rochas Okorocha and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha.

LG poll: Crisis in Delta PDP as Zoning confusion grips monarchs in Ngwaland Ibori’s candidates emerge Dominic Adewole ASABA

T

he Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election for the local government council polls took a new turn yesterday as different political groups kicked against the manner some candidates emerged winners.

In Aniocha South Local Government, a pressure group, the Aniocha South Political Forum (ASPF), condemned how one Chief Isaac Ozor Anwuzia, was imposed as the party’s flag bearer in the council area.

A statement protesting the outcome of the election signed by Engr. Mike Ifegaeme, Hon. Chukwuka Uwanine, Mrs.

Nkeiruka Tobechukwu and Comrade P. Y. Nwokoro, made available to New Telegraph in Asaba yesterday, wondered why former Governor James Ibori, who is serving a jail term in London, foisted Anwuzia on them.

According to the group, Anuwzia had boasted before the election that Ibori has endorsed him and instructed Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, to work with the party Chairman, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, to deliver him at all cost.

Besides, Anwuzia, the emergence of three other loyalists of the former governor, which included an aide to the incumbent governor have generated crisis in Delta Central senatorial district.

Igbeaku Orji UMUAHIA

ollowing the resolution Ftional of a section of tradirulers from Isiala

Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South and Osisioma Local Government Areas, who met at the palace of the traditional ruler of Ezeukwu of Ngwaukwu, Eze Bernard Enweremadu, and rejected the zoning of the governorship slot to Abia South senatorial district by the PDP, another group of traditional rulers from Isiala Ngwa South have risen in support of the zoning.

The pro-zoning monarchs after their meeting held at the country home of the former Commissioner for Information and a renowned human

rights lawyer, Dr. Anthony Agbazuere, at Ikem Nvosi, resolved to dissociate themselves from the former’s position. They resolved to support the power shift as advocated

by Governor Theodore Orji and the PDP. In the six-point resolution endorsed by 28 traditional rulers from the area, the royal fathers pledged their support and loyalty to the administration of Governor Theodore Orji.

The monarchs commended the governor for being the first governor, since the creation of the state, to champion the cause of Ngwa man by insisting on equity, justice and fairness in the distribution of political office.

ernor Emmanuel Uduaghan, to investigate the Auditor-General of Local Governments, Mrs. Mary Brown Njokanma, whom the group alleged was due for retirement since 2008, but is still keeping her job.

In a statement signed by the National Chairman and Secretary of the group, Comrade Emeka Chinyoye, and Mr. Clement Chukwudi respectively, the group alleged that Njokanma was to have retired since December 2008, having worked for 35 years.

The group further alleged that her arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Enugu zone, arose from her refusal to go on retirement after having spent 35 years in service and for falsifying documents to remain in office, expressing shock over the silence of the Delta State Head of Service, Mr. Paul Evuarherhe, and that the Delta State Government has not showed concern.

The group said: “This is a woman, who came into the service with level four and through the service, went to school and came back and rose to that position until her retirement after 35 years of service, yet do not want to quit.”

WAEC extends Nov/Dec SSCE registration he West African Ex- to do so.

T(WAEC) aminations Council The release, made has extended available to New Teleregistration for the November/December 2014 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), for private candidates till Monday, August 25, 2014.

A release by the council’s Deputy Director (Public Affairs), Mr. Yusuf Ari, said prospective candidates for the November/December Diet, who are yet to register for the examination, have till August 25,

graph stated: “The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), wishes to inform the general public that following appeals from candidates, parents, guardians and other stakeholders, it has decided to extend the registration period for the November/December 2014 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), for private candidates to Monday, August 25, 2014.”

10, House 1, Udi Street, Osborne Estate, Phase 1, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Tel: 0803 326 2279, 0803 357 9503, 0803 571 7733 Email: benchikaco@gmail.com Website: benchikaandco.com

FOR SALE

OSBORNE ESTATE 1 l 6 bedroom detached house with 3 sitting, guest chalet and boys quarter on land size of 1650sqm at Ibadan Street l 6 bedroom detached house with 3 bedroom guest chalet, and 2 room BQ on a land measuring 2300 sqm at obudu close.

LEKKI PHASE I l Luxurious 4 bedroom detached house + 1 bedroom guest chalet + 2 room BQ on Chris Otulana Crescent, Lekki right hand-side – N150m l 5 bedroom detached house with BQ on Oyibo Adjaro Street - N130m l A massive land measuring 10,000sqm, CBD along Durosimi Etti Street.-- N 850m Asking NORTHER FORESHORE ESTATE l 4 nos. 4 bedroom semi detached houses @ – N100m each FRIENDS COLONY l 4 bedroom semi detached house+ BQ on road 7N65m CALTON GATE l 800sqm in Carton gate – N100m net l 5 bedroom detached house with BQ well finished on closes B3 and 7

MAFOLUKU l block of 3nos 3 bedroom flats + 1 parking store at Ayinde Fasasi Street – 50m

TO LET

IKOYI l Three Bedroom Luxury Apartment At Trenchard Place $75,000 LAGOS ISLAND l Well finished and furnished 2 bedroom apartment on the 10th floor at Boyle street VICTORIA ISLAND l Well improved 4bedroom semi detached house with BQ on Jide Oki good for office use OSBORNE 1 ESTATE l 3 bedroom luxury apartment, with BQ on the ground floor within a mini-estate + swimming pool, gym etc. - $50k LEKKI PHASE 1 l Well finished 2 bedroom bungalow at Prince Bode Adebowale Crescent, Lekki 1- N2.5m /pa CHEVY VIEW ESTATE l A wing of 4bedroom duplex with BQ Off Udeco Medical Road.

OKOTA l 3 bedroom flats (Ground floor) on Onwujuobi Street off Ago Palace Way, Okota Lagos-N600/p.a

8

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Ossai Omomoyesan dies he Omomoyesan and EriTfinal ye families announce the burial rites of their il-

L-R: Ayaba Folashade Adeyemi; Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III; Brazil's Minister of Inter-Culture, Ana Wanzeller and Oyo State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Princess Adetutu Akhigbe Adeyemi, during the first Brazil -Nigeria International Seminar for Preservation of Shared Cultural Heritage in Salvador Bahia, Brazil

Obi denies heading pro-Jonathan group Tony Okafor

Awka

immediate past GovTMrheernor of Anambra State, . Peter Obi yesterday de-

nied the allegation in some quarters that he had been appointed the Co-ordinator of Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), a pro-Goodluck Jonathan support group.

Obi in a press release from his media aide, Val Obienyem said there was no truth in the claim credited to the National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh to the effect that he (Obi) was thecoordinatorof TAN,which

organised a rally in Awka last Saturday for reelection of President Jonathan.

He said it was wrong and false for Umeh to have linked him with Transformation Ambassadorsof Nigeriawithout cross checking his facts.

Obienyem said the rally organized by TAN in Anambra State on Saturday, which Obi attended was not even a political event but a platform used to tell President Goodluck Jonathan that he had done well for the South-East and call on him to continue by seeking a second tenure.

Obienyem who listed the key stakeholders in the South-East that attended the

rally, including the Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, Chief Theodore Orji, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim Pius, the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, members of the Senate and House of Representatives from the South-East, among others, however said throughout the duration of the event, nobody mentioned Obi as being the Coordinator and wondered where Umeh got his facts.

Obienyem submitted: “For the avoidance of doubt, Obi is not a member

of TAN such that being the Coordinator should not have arisen. Obi made it clear that one project he has now is to campaign vigorously for the re-election of president Goodluck Jonathan and he does not hide that".

Obienyem said in supporting Jonathan, Obi was not after personal gain, but was concerned with electing somebody who would continue and complete the on-going projects in the South-East, including the roads, the international terminal at Akanu Ibiam Airport, the Second Niger Bridge, the many erosion sites, the power plants, among others.

UNIBEN VC storms campus amid jubilation Oduah empowers youths in Anambra Cajetan Mmuta

BENIN

T

he Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Professor Godwin Osayuki Oshodin yesterday stormed the University premises in Benin, Edo state capital to the shock of hundreds of academic and non-academic staff, after weeks of heightened concerns about his state of health.

The sudden appearance of Prof. Oshodin was contrary to reports of his rumoured inability to as-

sume office due to ill health and therefore should be replaced with a substantive acting Vice Chancellor to complete the remaining months of his tenure in office.

His tenure is expected to end in November this year.

Oshodin was received amid jubilation by elated management staff and other residents in the university.

He was clad in grey shirt and jacket with black trousers to match.

Tony Okafor

Awka

Y

ouths and farmers in 52 communities in Anambra North Senatorial districts are to benefit from scholarship, skill acquisition and other empowerment programmes put in place by former minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah.

Chairman of the Foundation, Rev. Fr. Martin Onukuba disclosed this yesterday at the mini launch of the Foundation for the An-

glican dioceses of Ogbaru, Niger and Mbamili areas.

Onukuba, a catholic priest, said the Foundation was conceived by Nigeria’s former Minister of Aviation, Oduah not for political purposes but to help the youths so as to give them a secure future.

He said that four clergymen including a nun were in the management of the foundation to ensure that the ultimate desire of Princess Oduah in setting up the foundation would not be compromised.

lustrious daughter, wife, sister, mother, aunt and cousin, Mrs Ossai V. Omomoyesan, aged 54, who passed away on June 28, 2014.

According to a statement endorsed by Dr. Ubiwe K. Eriye on behalf of the family, she was a Chartered Insurance Practitioner and last worked for an elongated period as a management staff of Royal Exchange Insurance, Lagos. She attended Our Ladys' Secondary School, Warri, and proceeded to Auchi Polytechnic where she obtained her HND prior to earning an MBA from Lagos State

University. She is survived by children and siblings.

A service of songs/wake will hold at her residence,16 Agbasi Street, Satellite Town, Lagos on Friday August 22, 2014. Internment follows on Saturday August 23, 2014.

The late Ossai

Yero decries high turnover of legislators Ibraheem Musa

Kaduna

overnor Mukhtar RaGState malan Yero of Kaduna has identified high

turnover of legislators after each election as the bane of democratic development in the country, just as he advocated for longer terms for that arm of government.

Speaking yesterday when he received a delegation of the Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly, which paid him a courtesy visit, Yero said that the longer term for legislators will enable them

to acquire experience in lawmaking process.

According to Yero, "the only way to build a mature Legislature is for people to have experience. For me, the minimum time required for a legislator to even understand the work is eight years. It is then that you can understand the work and be able to impact positively.’’

The governor further said that the ‘’legislature is the bedrock of democracy and it is not right to continue to lose experience all the time. We also need to look at the quality of people.’’

Ebola: FCT residents warned against body contact at motor parks Yekeen Nurudeen

Abuja

s the Technical CommitAMinister tee on Ebola set up by the of Federal Capital

Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed continues to look for ways to curtail the spread of the deadly virus in the nation's capital, the FCT administration has cautioned residents to avoid crowded areas, where they can have body contact with an infected person.

The Director, FCT Department of Emergency Management, Alhaji Abbas G. Idris, said residents

should particularly avoid body contacts at motor parks, where people from across the country are using to enter the city.

He told New Telegraph that the measure became imperative pending the Technical Committee's action on how to screen people coming from motor parks into the city.

Idriss reiterated that passengers entering Abuja through the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport are being daily screened, thus allaying fear of any passenger importing the virus to the nation's capital.

Benue bye-election: INEC pledges credible poll

Ebola: Rivers Assembly invites health commissioner Ekere: Industrialisation of

Cephas Iorhemen

Emmanuel Masha

Makurdi

he Benue State IndepenTCommissioner dent Resident Electoral , Alhaji Abba

Yusuf has reiterated the determination of the Commission to conduct a credible, free and fair election into Buruku Federal Constituency seat this Saturday.

Alhaji Yusuf who stated this yesterday while briefing stakeholder in Makurdi said the bye-election followed the Supreme Court judgment which ordered the Commission to conduct

fresh election there.

He announced that the Supreme Court judgment ordered the Commission to repeat the election of the Buruku federal constituency seat which will be devoid of party primaries.

Alhaji Yusuf stated that candidates who had participated in the last election on the ticket of the defunct CPC, APC and ANPP will not participate in the election but that PDP will feature the same candidate in the last election while newly registered APC will field a candidate.

Port Harcourt

he Rivers State House of Tcommissioner Assembly has invited the for Health Dr. Samson Parker to ascertain the measures put in place to combat the dreaded Ebola Virus.

The lawmakers, who took the decision at a session, presided by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Dan Otelemabama Amachree said concrete steps should be in place to handle the virus.

They sat at the old Gov-

ernment House, where they have turned to a temporary lawmaking chamber, following the deployment of security operatives to the main lawmaking complex following the fracas that engulfed the Assembly last year.

The motion on Ebola was raised by the Deputy House leader, Robinson Ewo and was accepted as an issue of urgency by his colleagues who also called for awareness programmes across the state in order to enlighten the people on the virus.

Akwa Ibom, my priority

Tony Anichebe

Uyo

he immediate past DepTIbom uty Governor of Akwa state Mr. Nsima

Ekere has said that massive industrialization of the state and sustainable people’s development will be his priority if elected Governor.

Mr. Ekere spoke yesterday when he consulted and received royal blessings from the

Apex Ibibio traditional ruler’s council and the foremost socio- cultural and ethnic nationality groups in Ibibio and Annang land.

Mr. Ekere emphasized his human development plan through a ready – made industrialization blue print for the state which, according to him, was designed to build on the massive infrastructure put in place by governor Akpabio.

news

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Northern identification: CLO urges EFCC to investigate Enugu lGovernment distances self from alleged scheme Uwakwe Abugu

Enugu

T

he Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) has petitioned the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), urging him to institute investigation into alleged fraudulent collection of N11.2 million from members of the Hausa Community in Enugu state “under the guise of procuring identity cards for Northerners in Enugu” in view of the Boko Haram scourge.

The CLO in a statement made available to our correspondent in Enugu explained that state government has clearly disowned the governor’s aide, explaining that at no time has the government been connected with any form of collection of money from the Northern people

living in Enugu for whatever reason.

The rights group said the brain behind the said extortion of money from members of the Hausa community is a Senior Special Adviser to Governor Sullivan Chime on Inter Community Matters and those identified simply as his cohorts, and it wants the EFCC to arrest and prosecute those behind the scam.

In the statement signed by its Eastern zonal coordinator, Olu Omotayo, the group said: “Since the State government has denied sending anybody to collect moneys from the members of Northern community, then the moneys collected from the members of Northern community by the official and his cohorts never got into the account of Enugu State government but their

respective private pockets.

“This is a fraud on the members of the public and we demand a thorough investigation into this matter and also demand that these fraudsters be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law”.

The official in question is of Northern extraction.

The rights group told the EFCC chairman that it was acting “on behalf of Alhaji Lawan Ayavga and other members of Northern Community resident in Enugu” who are now crying foul since the Enugu state government has denied any link with the alleged fraud.

Part of the CLO’s petition to the EFCC boss sent through the EFCC zonal office in Enugu reads: “According to the complainant, the Special Adviser on Intercommunity matters to the Enugu State governor had

sometimes in the 3rd week of May 2014, in conjunction with others (names withheld) and their cohorts, informed the members of the Northern Community resident in Enugu that the State government has introduced a new identity card for all citizens of Nigeria of Northern Nigeria extraction (both male and female) resident in Enugu.

“Alhaji Lawan Ayavga and some other elders and members of the northern Community vehemently opposed this and told them that the decision is unacceptable and that the National Identity card for all Nigerians is enough to cover and identify Northerners in the state and argued that the policy which is targeted at only citizens from the northern part of the country resident in Enugu state was unacceptable.”

APC woman leader tasks women on PVC collection Johnchuks Onuanyim

Abuja

ational Woman Leader NCongress of the All Progressives (APC) Hajiya

Ramatu Aliyu has charged women to ensure full participation in the ongoing nationwide distribution of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) exercise by Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) for effective participation in the 2015 general elections.

In a statement issued

by Aliyu yesterday, she described the exercise as a very important step towards ensuring that the inviolable power of the vote is not injured in our nation’s electoral process.

Her words: "It is important to emphasize that our democracy can draw immeasurable strength from the ex-

ercise because it represents a veritable instrument to ensure that the people to whom power resides exercise their franchise in the legitimate pursuit of free choice and popular sovereignty."

She posited that without the sacred power to vote in a democracy, women can hardly effect the change which they desire for the sake of our collective happiness and fulfillment.

She said: "Nigerian women constitute over fifty percent of active voters during elections in the country. It is therefore important that they avail themselves of the historic opportunity offered by the exercise to strengthen their electoral value and consolidate their demographic advantage, especially as we approach the 2015 general election," she added.

Ebola: Abia buys protective kits, debunks death rumours Igbeaku Orji

Umuahia

of measures to proAthestectpart health personnel in state in the event of an

L-R: Representative of Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Wale Adeoye; Mr. Femi Falana (SAN); author of the book, Kolawole Olaniyan and Oba of Lagos, Riliwan Akinolu, during a public representationof a book entitled, "Corruption and Human Rights Law in Africa"in Lagos. PHOTO: ADEYANJU OLOWOJOBA

9

Ebola outbreak, Abia State government has procured protective kits.

Governor Orji told journalists last week that the state Commissioner for health Dr. Okechukwu Ogah had gone in search of the equipment.

Speaking in his office in Umuahia, Ogah said the state is well prepared for the war against Ebola, which he maintained was not yet in the state, having procured the necessary equipment for the protection of its health workers that will be engaged in the fight against the dreaded disease.

He said contrary to the rumour that a women hit by the virus and was brought back from Lagos has died in Ndiolumbe, Isiala Ngwa

South LGA, the woman’s aliment has nothing to do with the dreaded disease.

The Commissioner for Health said the woman was alive and responding to treatment.

Ogar said the woman never had the disease and had never been in close contact with a victim of the dreaded ailment. He explained that the woman was not living in Lagos but only went there for a church programme and came back when she fell sick.

Ogar said that the woman was sick with malaria when she travelled to Lagos for the programme and like most Nigerians bought some drugs which were not good to her system. He further explained "that she was suffering from what we call in medical term as Steven-Johnson syndrome and not from Ebola virus as was written in some newspapers."

‘Deposed’ Ebonyi speaker resumes

Bayelsa NUJ threatens to boycott 2015 elections

Charles Onyekwere

Chris Ejim

ABAKALIKI

F

ollowing the intervention of the leadership of the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP)in Ebonyi State at the behest of Governor Martin Elechi, Hon Chukwuma Nwazunku has resumed duties as the authentic speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly amidst tight security.

His resumption happened after a meeting of the State Working Committee of the Party which was convened last week appeared to have resolved the impasse.

Lawmakers and staff of the Assembly, Journalists and others who attended

the seating all drove in convey together with the Speaker and other security personal to the Assembly complex. At the entrance of the complex, security operatives numbering over 50 including Police, State Security Service, SSS and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC stationed at the Assembly gate had to screen everybody including the legislators.

The legislators during the seating which lasted for over 2 hours deliberated on many issues which includes the personal explanation on constituency matters after the recess, the committee report on the suspended members of the House and a Vote of Confidence passed on

the Nwazunku.

Reading the report of the 5 man committee set up by the House to investigate and make recommendations on the alleged misconduct, other corrupt practices and the impeachment threat to the Speaker, by the suspended Deputy Speaker, Hon Blaise Orji, Hon Eni Uduma Chima and Hon Frank Onwe, the committee Chairman, Hon. Vincent Nwibo stated that the committee found the three lawmakers guilty of the offense.

Nwibo stated further that the witnesses invited testified against the lawmakers, adding that when also invited, the suspended lawmakers admitted to all the allegations leveled against them.

Yenagoa

F

ollowing the continued security challenges in Bayelsa such as sea piracy and kidnapping, the Bayelsa state chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has threatened to boycott the coverage of 2015 general elections if measures are not taken to curb the menace.

Traveling in the waterways in major parts of the state has become a source of worry and fear to marine transporters due to the incessant activities of sea pirates and kidnappers who have caused a major havoc in the area.

Speaking yesterday in

Yenagoa during the Security Stakeholders Forum organized by the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) as part of the activities marking the 2014 Inter-Agency security week, the Bayelsa state NUJ Chairman, Comrade Tarinyo Akuno decried the increasing wave of sea pirates and kidnapping, while describing maritime security as very important to the people.

He pointed out that the issue of sea piracy and kidnapping has become a big challenge for the people and as such has made the people to become apprehensive of their environment.

"Maritime security is becoming very important to Bayelsa. It has become a big challenge for us as

the issues of sea pirates are becoming rampant, and we are becoming apprehensive. We may not cover the 2015 election due to the issue of piracy and other kidnapping activities", Akuno stated.

The NUJ Chairman also condemned the burning of oil and barges seized from the illegal oil bunkerers by the JTF operatives, saying such acts further destroys the environment.

Earlier in his address, the deputy Commander of JTF, Commodore Imeh H. Ekpa noted that the forthcoming Inter-Agency security week slated to hold from August 20 - 22 would give them the platform to discuss the security challenges.

10

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ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

tuESday, AUGUST 19, 2014

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

0802 393 8212

Gunmen kidnap four dredging workers in Bayelsa

File picture of suspected kidnappers

Chris Ejim Yenagoa

A

t least four workers of a dredging company attached to construction giant, Setraco, have been abducted by gunmen along the creeks of Nembe in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The abducted workers were taken about 9pm on Saturday at Agbakabriye at the site of the multi-million naira contract of the Ogbia-Nembe Road.

The victims are identified as Caleb Agene, Otuke Magic Kingdom, Gabriel Oghene and Godwin Odukpong.

The abduction of the dredging workers came a few days after the state government set up an 11-man Security Task Force headed by former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Ebikabowei

Victor-Ben. “The dredging crew members were seized and whisked away from their dredging base by the armed men who came in a speedboat. We heard sporadic shooting Saturday night but we did not know it was from the dredging firm base,” a security source said.

The source disclosed that the Southern Ijaw communities and Nembe creeks have become the hub of violent crimes in the state.

According to the source, gunmen and sea pirates freely engage in kidnapping, pipeline vandalism and oil theft.

“The activities of the hoodlums also extend to neighbouring communities of Azuzama and Ekeni in Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state,” the source added.

Meanwhile, the operatives of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) codenamed Op-

eration Pulo Shield under the leadership of Major General Emmanuel Atewe ordered a security action against identified kidnappers’ camps in the Southern Ijaw area.

In the statement issued by the spokesman of the JTF, Lt. Col. Anka Mustapha, the anti-illegal bunkering squad of the task force led by the Commanding Officer of 5 Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Shu’aibu Nuhu, in collaboration with the air component of the task force stormed a camp at Meibegbemo located at Zobia of Faropo community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, dislodging the camp, recovering arms and ammunition before setting it ablaze.

The statement reads in part: “During a shootout, miscreants escaped to the creeks with several gunshot wounds sustained during the exchange of fire. No arrest was made but catches of arms and ammunition were recovered. Other items include six fiber boats with 75hp bow out engine mounted on them, seven pieces of 65hp engine, 12 pieces of mattress, two generating sets, four smoke grenade and five cell phones with 15 sim cards belonging to different communication companies.

“Others include foodstuff, refrigerators, freezers and video camera with microphone belonging to African World Web Television presumed to belong to a victim of the criminals.

“The hoodlums, it was learnt, are responsible for robbery activities on vessels, boats and ferries plying the Forupa channel, while their kidnapped victims are kept in the camp.

“The recent hostages and attacks on the Bayelsa waterways which sometimes led to death of their victims alleged to have been perpetrated by the camp operators. The attack on the camp made the waterways of the Niger Delta unsafe for the oil company workers and marine operators and the general public.

Commercial motorcyclists’ ban not lifted, says Lagos Camillus Nnaji

the position remains the same.”

Okada riders were acting on he Lagos State Ministry the insinuation that the Lagos of Transport has de- House of Assembly is planning bunked claims by some commercial motorcyclists that the government has lifted restriction on some routes in the metropolis.

The ministry’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Thorpe Sina, told NT Metro yesterday that those saying that had been misinformed.

According to him, commercial motorcyclists, popularly called okada riders, that have started operating on those routes do so at their own risks.

He said: “I don’t know where such reports came from, obviously not from the Ministry of Transport. If there are any changes in that regard, the government will make it official. Before then, Okada riders

T

a review of its traffic law, with ban on some restricted routes to be lifted.

While addressing the people,

the lawmaker representing Ifako-Ijaiye Constituent 2 in the House of Assembly, Ipoola Omisore, said that the Assembly would review the ban.

Omisore, who organised a public awareness campaign on the traffic law at Jankara, Ojokoro Local Council Development Area, said since the power rest more on the electorate than politicians, it was time to come together and delist some routes preventing okada riders from doing their businesses.

He said: “I decided to organise this forum so as to ensure that we put an end to clashes between okada riders and the police.”

Since then, okada riders have started to flood the Lagos metropolis.

Robbery suspect dies in shoot-out with police Dominic Adewole Asaba

notorious armed robber yesAwithsuspected terday lost his life during an encounter the police at Abavo in Ika South Local

Government Area of Delta State.

The robbers engaged operatives of the Dragon Patrol Team of the police in a gun duel after they robbed some persons of their belongings in the locality.

The hoodlums were escaping on their Lifan motorcycle with registration number AGB 278 QN on Urhonigbe Road in Edo state when the patrol team, acting on a tip-off, swooped on them.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Celestina Kalu, who paraded the body at the command’s headquarters in Asaba, said the hoodlums opened fire on policemen during a ‘stop-and-search’ operation.

She said: “In the ensuing exchange of fire, one of the suspects was shot and arrested while the other escaped. The injured suspect, however, gave up the ghost on the way to the hospital.

“Later on, the Dragon Team in conjunction with Abavo vigilantes combed the bush and arrested the fleeing suspect, one Sunday Ngozi, who hails from Agbor-Obi and now battling between life and death.”

Kalu listed the items recovered from them to include one cut-to-size locally-made gun and the Lifan motorcycle.

The PPRO also narrated how the thief who had been vandalising the state House of Assembly Hilux vans was arrested.

According to her, the police operatives attached to the Speaker have been on the trail of the thief, “but yesterday, one Chimere Chibuike, was caught in the act with nine stolen brain boxes and other tools used in committing the crime”.

Ondo begins construction of shopping mall Babatope Okeowo Akure

Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State yesterday kicked off the construction Gof overnor modern international shopping mall in

Akure, the state capital, as part of efforts to industrialise the state.

Mimiko said the shopping mall, when completed, would be an international commercial centre, which would include a shopping mall and car park that would not only ensure the steady supply of genuine and affordable goods and services, but also, that would make Akure a commercial hub.

The governor said the need for an urgent intervention, both on the physical and social infrastructural facilities of the state in order to positively impact the life of the people, therefore, became imperative when the administration came on board in 2009.

In order to industrialise the state, Mimiko said his government commenced an aggressive infrastructural development of Akure with the construction of roads with street lights; construction of modern markets with stores to take traders off the street and the traffic routes and invested heavily on securing the lives and property of the people.

He said: “We did this because we know that infrastructural development and good governance breed confidence among investors. Already our urban renewal drives have sparked surging interests and our insistence on good governance has enabled us to attract businesses that will create jobs.

METRO

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

11

‘I murdered my girlfriend for trying to jilt me’ Taiwo Jimoh

A

35-year-old Raphael Effiong has told the police that he stabbed his girlfriend to death in a hotel room in Ketu area of Lagos because she was about to jilt him.

“The suspect claimed that the late Gift Sunday was planning to jilt him

and elope with another man on the grounds that he could not cope with

‘Ogun agro-cargo airport will boost economy’ he proposed Agro-Cargo Airport projTharness ect in Remo area of Ogun State will the economic potential of the

people.

A chieftain of the Labour Party in Ogun State, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, said this during the inauguration of Ward 5 secretariat of the party in Ilara Remo, recently.

He said: “The Cargo Airport which was conceptualised by former Governor Gbenga Daniel’s administration is a project that will harness the economic potential of the people of the host and neighbouring communities as various businesses, such as hospitality, agroallied, real estate, transportation etc. will thrive.”

Adebutu, a House of Representatives aspirant for Remo Federal Constituency on the platform of Labour Party, urged the people to ensure they register during the forthcoming voters’ registration exercise.

He also appealed to the people to vote for Labour Party in the 2015 general elections in order to guarantee a politics of inclusion, where everyone would be regarded and treated as a stakeholder, and most importantly, when laudable projects such as the Cargo Airport would become realisable.

Party secretariats were also inaugurated at Isara wards 1, 2 and 3, while Plasma Television sets, DSTV systems and generators donated by the Ladi Adebutu Democratic Organisation (LADO) were unveiled at the various secretariats.

Earlier, the team had visited Sagamu Local Government Area to perform similar exercise at wards 1 (Epe); 2 (Ipoji); 3 (Ayegbami); 11 (Ojumele/Makun) and 15 (Agbowa).

The donor, Adebutu, implored party executives to see to the proper maintenance of the items donated which, according to him, are meant to educate, inform and entertain viewers.

Effiong and the decease

1,242 drug traffickers convicted in six months Juliana Francis

I

n the first six months of this year, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has secured conviction for 1, 242 drug peddlers.

The NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, said the agency successfully won the conviction of the drug traffickers at the Federal High Courts.

Giade noted that since drug trafficking was a highly lucrative crime, the

punishment must be commensurate.

He said: “Drug trafficking is a highly lucrative crime. It is therefore logical that there should be stiffer punishment to serve as deterrent to others. The NDLEA shall remain committed to its legal policy of making drug traffickers accountable for their criminal acts. Every infringement against the provisions of the Act must be pursued to a logical conclusion.”

Most of the convicts, ac-

Dominic Adewole Asaba

placed embargo on burial ceremonies in his domain.

The monarch immediately ordered the Council of Elders in all the six subclans of his kingdom to ensure strict adherence to the pronouncement.

According to him, the fear the spread of the fast-killer virus has generated within the few days of its arrival in Nigeria was enough to threat human life.

In a statement routed through the Secretary of Agbon Traditional Council, Chief Emmanuel Avworo, in Asaba, the monarch also banned any form of religious crusade by way of vigil, pending when an antidote would be discovered for the virus.

The monarch equally directed that no corpse should be brought into “Agbon clan,” warning everyone in the locality to stop the consumption of bushmeat, especially bats, till further notice.

cording to him, were sentenced to between three and a half to 15 years imprisonment. Some notable cases include that of Asirah Onyongha who was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment on a two-count charge of cultivating and dealing in hemp in Cross Rivers State.

In Nasarawa State, one Chinonso Onuchukwu was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for unlawful dealing in cannabis.

Another convict, Bala Garba, also got 10 years im-

prisonment for dealing in cannabis in Niger State.

In Lagos, Okafor Tochukwu Benjamin was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for attempting to export cocaine. Onwuka Ichi Ukaeagbu was in addition to three and half years imprisonment made to forfeit $8,800.

The NDLEA Head, Media and Publicity, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the success was contained in the prosecution scorecard of the agency in the first half of this year.

Fashola pledges assistance to Ojodu market fire victims

Ebola: Delta monarch bans burial rites, vigils orried over the spread of Ebola viW rus, the Ovie of Agbon Kingdom in Delta State, Ogurimerime Ukori I, has

him anymore,” Effiong reportedly told men of the State Criminal Investigative Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos.

A police source, who spoke with our correspondent yesterday in Lagos, said during interrogation the suspect confessed to have stabbed the lady with a scissor in their hotel room.

“The suspect has made an attempt to kill this same girl that he finally killed. The lady’s elder sister was not around, she we went on a trip outside Lagos. But their neighbour told them that the suspect came and threatened the deceased with a dangerous weapon.

“Immediately the elder sister arrived and heard of the incident, she warned her sister to end the relationship,” the source said.

The policeman added that the lady’s body had been deposited at the Ikorodu General Hospital Mortuary.

“We are not relenting on the investigation; the staff of the hotel where the incident happened would also be invited for interrogation before he will be charged to court,” the source said.

Oke-Osanyintolu (second right) during inspection of the burnt market

Muritala Ayinla nor Babatunde Ghasover Fashola of Lagos State promised to provide suc-

cour to traders whose shops and wares were destroyed by a recent inferno at Ojodu market.

The General Manager

of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Femi OkeOsanyintolu, who made this disclosure during his visit to the market, also appealed to traders in the state to insure their businesses.

Osanyintolu said the governor was deeply touched by

the incident and that he had promised that government would do its best to put smile on the faces of victims.

He said the governor had ordered enumeration of traders who suffered losses with a view to supporting them to restart their businesses.

An inferno, caused by a surge in electricity supply, had on August 8 destroyed no fewer than 66 stalls at the market.

It was learnt that the fire which raged between 7pm and 12 midnight also destroyed wares worth millions of naira.

Osantintolu said: “We are here to commiserate with you over this great loss and to ascertain the scale of damage

Borno to prosecute sanitation offenders Ahmed Miringa Maiduguri

n its efforts to effectively tackIBorno le the problem of flooding, the State Environmental

Protection Agency (BOSEPA) said defaulters of sanitation laws would be made to face

the full wrath of the law.

The BOSEPA General Manager, Alhaji Nasiru Surundi, gave the warning in his office, while speaking with journalists on what his agency was doing to check flooding in Maiduguri and its environs.

He said: “Anyone who catch-

es someone dumping refuse in a drainage will be rewarded with N5,000, while the culprit will be fined N10,000. Which I believe will help in controlling refuse dumping in drainages, which is one of the factors causing flooding in Maiduguri and its environs.”

caused by the unfortunate incident.

“The governor of the state, Mr Babatunde Fashola, is deeply touched by incident especially as many shops and wares were destroyed.

“While thanking God that no life was lost, the governor has directed me to inform you that the state government is with you at this time of need and will do everything possible to support you.

“Right now, we are working on the enumeration of those who suffered one loss or the other in the incident and the governor has asked me to tell you that government will provide succour to all victims.”

According to him, the agency is proposing to send a bill to the state House of Assembly to enact a law thereby making the Sanitation Courts effective.

He added that the agency was also planning to recruit 300 persons as Sanitation Youth Vanguard to enforce the law when enacted.

12 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Rivers PDP accuses northern elders of politicising Chibok girls UNCONDITIONAL Trying to force President Jonathan against the people's wish irks politicians in Rivers Emmanuel Masha and Yekeen Nurudeen

R

ivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday accused the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) of politicis-

ing the abduction of the over 200 Chibok schoolgirls, who have been in Boko Haram’s captivity for more than three months.

The PDP said the ultimatum given to President Goodluck Jonathan, by the northern elders to ensure the release of the girls in October or forget running for a second term, was a threat to the country’s democracy.

But a group loyal to President Jonathan yes-

Hong: Ribadu not a threat to my governorship ambition Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

governorship aspiAAdamawa rant to the October 11 State gover-

norship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong, yesterday said he is not threatened by the defection of the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP. Hong, who was former minister of state for health, spoke yesterday at the PDP national secretariat after collecting his Expression of Interest (EoI) and nomination forms for the party's governorship primary.

Though Ribadu, who joined PDP last week, has not declared his interest in the governorship seat, Hong said even if he even-

tually declared interest, the PDP has not thought of him as a sole aspirant.

“The party has the prerogative of giving waiver to whoever it wishes, but the idea of him becoming a sole candidate is not founded, it is not true. As a democrat, it is about expression of interest, it is about politics, it is about the will of the people, so I am not afraid of anything,” he added.

He, however, expressed optimism that the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu, has insisted on internal democracy, adding that; “He has insisted that nomination will take place, so we have absolute confidence in this party.”

The former EFCC chairman was the presidential candidate of the now defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which has now merged with other political parties to former the APC.

terday described such call by the northern elders as an empty threat, adding that the re-election of the President in the 2015 general elections is unconditional.

The group under the umbrella of Abuja Indigenes Coalition Group for Jonathan described such condition by the northern elders as “unnecessary and unprogressive,” stressing that terrorism has no political or religious border.

Rivers State Chairman of the PDP, Felix Obua, who accused the northern elders of politicising the abduction of the girls, said in a statement said that President Jonathan was not responsible for the Boko Haram insurgency and wondered why the elders sounded as if the abduction had been staged to

113,500

get at the PDP and the Jonathan administration.

“The threat to the President to forget the 2015 presidential election unless the girls are released, smacks of conspiracy and a grand plot to thwart the nation’s democracy, using the security challenge in the country as a camouflage,” he said.

While praying for the safe release of the girls, the party urged the elders to be more concerned about the Chibok girls and their families, and to also assist the Federal Government in stopping the entire Boko Haram menace.

“Peaceful and conducive atmosphere remains the best for all and for any meaningful development; and should be the prayer of all, because

The total number of internet users in Namibia in 2008.

Source: Blatantworld.com

neither party, nor tribe, nor group can survive under convulsive environment,” the PDP said.

Coordinator of the Abuja Indigenes Coalition Group for Jonathan, Danjuma Bussa, told journalists in Abuja, at the weekend, that the elders of the region should objectively appraise Jonathan’s performance as a precondition for his election rather than attaching the release of the abducted schoolgirls as a condition for his re-election.

Danjuma noted that terrorism is a global trend that should not be blamed on any leader.

He maintained that no political gimmicks or blackmail would alter the position of Abuja natives as regards the 2015 general elections, pointing out that the de-

C228,000

The world record transfer fee paid for Luis Suarez by Inter 1961.

Source: Goal.com

velopmental strides in the Federal Capital Territory are enough testimony for the natives to vote overwhelmingly for the president.

According to Danjuma; “Our situation could be likened to the biblical case of the Pharisees and the blind man, who was healed by Jesus with clay on a Sabbath.

The Pharisees were not happy over the restoration of his sight. They put this man to question.

“The man told them that Jesus put clay upon his eyes and he watched and regained his sight.

When the Pharisees faulted the healing process and accused Jesus of being a sinner, the man replied; “Whether he is a sinner I do not know, one thing I do know, that, whereas I was blind, I see at present.”

18

The life expectancy (in years) of men at age 60 years in Bahamas in 2010-2015.

Source: Un.org

Lanlehin promises to assist Aleshinloye Market fire victims Sola Adeyemo IBADAN

enator representing Sdistrict, Oyo South senatorial Chief Femi Lanlehin, has promised to assist victims of last Friday’s fire incident at the popular Aleshinloye Market in Ibadan, with a view to ameliorating the hardships they might be facing.

Lanlehin gave the assurance yesterday during a sympathy visit to the market, where he commiserated with the victims.

After going through the rubbles, Lanlehin bemoaned the loss, praying God to assist the victims recoup their losses.

To facilitate the assistance, the Senator invited executives of the market to a meeting with a view to ascertaining areas that required his intervention.

It will be recalled that goods worth over one billion naira were destroyed

in the fire that ravaged parts of the market before it was eventually put out early Saturday morning.

The burnt items included jewelries, fabrics, shoes, handbags and traveling bags, as well as wrist watches, among others.

One of the affected traders, Mr. Adeoye Soyemi, who deals in jewelry, said no fewer than six hundred shops were affected by the inferno.

He, however, put his loss at close to one million naira.

According to him, the fire started as a result of power surge, which affected one refrigerator in one of the shops.

Further investigation revealed that when the fire initially started, five shops were affected while the guards on duty alerted men of the Oyo State fire service, but due to insufficient water to contain it, the situation worsened.

L-R: Board member, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Collins Chikeluba; CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele and Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, Dr. Kingsley Moghalu, during the 8th Annual Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Finance Conference and Entrepreneurship Award in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Oshiomhole seeks punishment for oil thieves, vandals Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

G

overnor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has asked the Federal Government to take drastic action against pipeline vandals and oil thieves to serve as deterrence to others.

The governor, who expressed worries during a courtesy visit to him by the Joint Task Force on Protection of Oil & Gas Pipelines led by the CommandantGeneral of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr. Ade Abolurin at the Government House, Benin, said: “We are very worried about the scale, not only of oil theft but the seeming ease with which pipelines are vandalised by all kinds of criminals leading to huge losses.

“What they steal is nothing to compare to the net loss arising from those activities. Many communities and many villages have been ruined, including my village”.

Oshiomhole argued further: “I am told that a lot of the vessels that were seized in the course of tracking these characters, whether at sea or around the riverine areas or in the creek. They try to preserve the exhibit for legal purposes. In the cause of these, one thing leads to another. Either they are able to manipulate the system and you have interventions from some quarters and you are asked to let the people go or that they succeed in turning round to again recover what is taken from them.

“My argument then and

it still my argument today that rather than put a man in prison for 10 years, I will rather sink his ship that is worth millions of dollars because at the end of the day, the judicial process can be quite difficult in dealing with this kind of criminals especially when huge sums of money is involved. So the exhibit should be completely destroyed as soon as it is taken before they start manipulating their way and trying to find a way to get round the system.

“We do need to make a statement that we can’t hand over this country to criminals and as we have seen, from security issues in some part of the country, when criminals made so much money from activities like this, they become so rich that they can

afford sophisticated weapons with which they now use to overwhelm the formal security system and that compound the issue of national security. So, be assured of my support and I have no doubt that your visit to Edo will be of benefit to all of us in this state and indeed Nigeria.

Abolurin said the Federal Government set up a committee on oil theft for the protection of national infrastructure, including gas.

He said the government was concerned with oil theft and illegal tampering of oil facilities which necessitated the setting up of the committee, adding that the Committee is on inspection of oil facilities across the country to know how best to secure them.

Ali, Nwaoboshi beating drums of war in Delta / PAGE 17 | Ibadan guber aspirants’ caveat / PAGE 18

POLITICS

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Deputy Editor, politics

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13

Will Idoma break 38 years governorship jinx?

p-14, 15

ayodeleojo@yahoo.com

TUESday, AUGUST 19, 2014

Renewed brickbats between former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Prince Buruji Kashamu seems to be threatening unity and reconciliation in the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), writes KUNLE OLAYENI

Ogun: Daniel, Kashamu’s feud threatens PDP comeback

E

kiti State governor-elect, Ayodele Fayose, made strenuous attempts recently to mend fences among feuding leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State. Basking in the euphoria of his victory against Governor Kayode Fayemi in the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti, Fayose elected to mobilise his party men across other South West states on a mission to re-enact his electoral magic in subsequent polls in the region.

“In life, you look for more friends and not more enemies. If we are serious about winning the 2015 elections in this state, we must bring back those leaders and elders who had left the party,” Fayose told PDP stalwarts during his sensitisation visit to Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

“Again, we must also go to our wards and local governments and bring back all our members and even win new converts into the party. Once you unite, you will discover that the opponent will run into the bush,” he added.

As part of his troubleshooting to help restore the PDP in South West, the governor-elect met with former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, pleading with him to return to the party.

He also held separate peace talks with notable Ogun PDP chieftains, including the chairman, Mobilisation and Organisation Committee of South West PDP, Prince Buruji Kashamu; PDP National Auditor, Alhaji Adewole Adeyanju and state party chairman, Chief Adebayo Dayo, among others.

During the visit, Fayose hinted at the possibility of a merger between PDP and Labour Party (LP), which is being promoted by Daniel. He declared that total reconciliation had become imperative towards unseating the All Progressives Congress-led government of Senator Ibikunle Amosun in Ogun State in 2015.

But hard as he tried, Fayose’s mediation soon suffered a setback when concerned gladiators in the Gateway State disagreed over the desirability of any alliance between the PDP and LP for the 2015 project. While Daniel expressed willingness to accept the proposed working arrangement subject to his followers’ consent, Kashamu rejected the idea outright, saying the PDP does not need another political party to win elections in the state.

“We don’t need any alliance with Labour Party or any other party in Ogun State before we can win because we have done our homework very well and have put our house in order. Let me make this categorical statement without any fear of contradiction that PDP will never work with Labour Party both for the governorship and presidential

Daniel

Kashamu

The person who spoke, I would put it to lack of experience in this matter... So, if his own boss is still looking for allies, how can somebody, who is not even sure where he stands, be saying otherwise?

elections. Let each party test its popularity and strength before the electorate,” Kashamu declared.

The PDP chieftain maintained that Daniel betrayed the party in the past and may not hesitate to do it again if given another chance.

But Daniel fired back, describing Kashamu as an “inexperienced politician.” The former governor said Kashamu was not in the appropriate position to talk about the proposed alliance between PDP and LP, saying only the Presidency reserves that right.

He said: “Even the people who are sitting at the centre in Nigeria will not say they don’t need anybody. If anybody says they want to work with you, they are most welcome; that is what an expe-

It was Daniel that is suffering from overdose of political prostitution... It is laughable that a renowned political prostitute like Daniel can refer to someone, who has defeated him several times as inexperienced

rienced politician will say. So, the person who spoke, I would put it to lack of experience in this matter.

“As far as I’m concerned today, the strongest political structure in Ogun State is the Labour Party. But nobody can talk until the election day. So, if his own boss is still looking for allies, how can somebody, who is not even sure where he stands, be saying otherwise? No, that is not how politics is played.”

Daniel explained that his disposition was borne out of the desire to prevent a repeat of the 2011 scenario when the PDP and breakaway Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) lost the governorship election due to divided votes which, according to him, paved the way for the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to win.

He, however, stated that his party’s willingness to cooperate with any other political party would not necessarily be towards the PDP, stressing that the LP could also proceed on its own to win the forthcoming election.

The brickbats did not abate as Kashamu again replied Daniel. He said the ex-governor was suffering from overdose of political prostitution.

“It was Daniel that is suffering from overdose of political prostitution as a result of his serial defeat in the battle for the souls of the various parties he sought to ply his trade. It is laughable that a renowned political prostitute like Daniel can refer to someone, who has defeated him several times as inexperienced and over-confident,” Kashamu said.

From all indications, the latest clash of interest between the two politicians poses a serious threat to the resurgence of PDP in Ogun State. The development CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

14 POLITICS The Idoma people, one of the major minority tribes in Benue State is poised to make history 38 years after the creation of the state to produce the next governor after the exit of Governor Gabriel Suswam in 2015.

CEPHAS IORHEMEN x-rays the intrigues that may count against the Idomas in this onerous task

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Will Idoma break 38 years

A

s the campaigns over who succeeds Governor Gabriel Suswam in 2015 takes centre stage in the politics of Benue State, the agitation for power shift by the Idoma people seems to be gaining ground as contenders for the governorship seat from Benue South dominated by Idoma and Igede appear to be working tirelessly to take over the helm of affairs of the state.

While the Idoma ethnic group which is yet to taste the seat since 38 years of the creation of the state feels they should be given the chance, nothing suggests the willingness of the Tiv dominated state to relinquish the seat.

Both the Igede and Idomas are concentrated in nine out of the 23 local government areas of Benue State while the Tivs occupy the rest 14.

The Idomas and Tivs have been trading accusations of marginalisation in the political scheme of things both at the state and national levels. While the Idoma accuse their Tiv brothers of not ceding the governorship position to them since 1976, the Tivs are in turn accusing the Idomas of marginalisation in the area of federal appointments, especially in the Police, Navy, Air force, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Immigration, among others where Interior Minister, Comrade Aba Moro holds sway.

But ironically, even among the 14 Tiv speaking local government areas, there is internal wrangling over who emerges governor in 2015 as diverse interests are being articulated. For instance, the zone ‘A’ where Suswam hails from are still bent on holding unto power arguing that their tenure under the first civilian governor, Aper Aku, was aborted by a military coup and should be allowed probably to complete that tenure.

This argument has not gone down well with politicians in zone ‘B’ who have refused to shift ground at all, insisting that it’s their turn after Suswam to mount the seat of power. Findings however showed that they may resort to a consensus arrangement in order not to lose the position to zone ‘A’.

At the moment, the clamour for the governorship seat by the three zones has heated up the political landscape of the state, as Governor Suswam has remained adamant over who to present to the people of the state as his likely successor.

Meanwhile, as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is yet to decide on who should fly its flag in the 2015 governorship election, the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) is strategizing seriously to present a formidable aspirant to take the state by storm.

Among those vying for the position on APC’s platform include a member of the House of Representatives representing Makurdi/Guma constituency, Hon. Emmanuel Jime and former Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Internal Affairs and Boundaries in the George Akume’s administration, Chief Akange Audu.

The argument within the Tiv circles again is that with component areas such as: Kwande, Sankera, Jerchira, Jemgbagh and Masev Iharev and Non-

Suswam

gov Development Association (MINDA) making up the Zone A and B districts of the Tivland, there are no clear signs to relinquish power in the next dispensation to the minority Idomas until the last in the Tiv component; the Minda, is allowed to take its turn.

Even though, the MINDA position has come under criticism by some who think the zone is asking too much since the current paramount ruler in Tiv land, Tor Tiv, HRH Dr. Alfred Torkula comes from the axis, the argument no doubt has become a subject of controversy lately among the indigenes.

On the other hand, the Idoma people are pressing hard their demand which in their estimation would strengthen the bond of brotherhood between them and other tribes. For instance, at the recent defection of two prominent APC members in zone C, Ralph Igbago and Godwin Ukpoju in Otukpo, the traditional home of the Idoma people, Deputy Governor Steven Lawani among other speakers openly canvassed the need for their Tiv brothers to concede the position to them.

Lawani, who was in Zaki Biam recently in continuation of his consultation to govern the state, appealed to the traditional rulers to consider the many years the Idoma people did not produce governor of the state and concede the position to them this time around, adding that if elected, he will run an inclusive administration to fast-track development in the state.

So far, four governorship aspirants from the Idoma nation have indicated interest in Suswam’s job on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Steven Lawani The deputy governor of the state is believed to have what it takes to succeed Governor Gabriel Suswam in 2015. He hails from the Idoma speaking Ogbadigbo Local Government Area in the zone ‘C’ senatorial district of Benue State. Popularly described as a ‘loyal deputy’, Lawani is said to have garnered wide experience in politics and enjoys a healthy relationship with his boss and PDP chieftains across the state. Popular opinion from his zone favours his candidature above

Mark

While the Idoma accuse their Tiv brothers of not ceding the governorship position to them since 1976, the Tivs are in turn accusing the Idomas of marginalisation in the area of federal appointments Speaking to New Telegraph on why the Idoma people have failed to produce governor for 38 years, former Minister of State for Education, Prof. Jerry Agada linked the misfortune to the population of the Idoma and Igede people put together, which he said cannot make an impact in usurping power from the majority Tivs. Agada opined that the only saving grace for the Idomas is for the Tivs to show understanding since they have coexisted over the years.

“Let me tell you that the agitation by the people of zone C for governorship is not zeroed down to any individual. The

point is, there are three zones in Benue State, zones A and B have produced governor before, only zone C has never produced a governor. So, let it go to zone C. Whoever it falls on in zone C is a matter of conjecture.

“So, it’s not a question of zone C getting something wrong; it is a question of our number and that is what we are saying that if it is done by rotation from zones A, B and C, then one can have the assurance that yes it can turn to you, but if it’s not done on the basis of number, definitely zones A and B will always defeat zone C. This is why we are appealing for understanding from our Tiv brothers,” said Agada.

Meanwhile, serious politicking has already triggered off with various interest groups queuing behind their preferred choices with no fewer than 25 aspirants jostling for the plum seat.

Statistics available to New Telegraph show that in the zone ‘A’ axis of the state, five contenders led by former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN) is leading four others including the Managing Director, Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, Mrs. Ada Chenge; Suswam’s campaign director in the 2011 governorship election, Dr. Terhemba Shija as well as Mr. Peter Chieshe and Daniel Mailumo who are plotting to occupy the position at all cost.

In the Zone ‘B’ bloc, 14 aspirants led by Minister of State for Trade and Invest-

The Idoma gubernatorial his peers, but his greatest obstacle remains the absolute resolve of the Tivs at this instance not to concede power to the Idoma. If he loses the PDP ticket, he cannot be a running mate having served for a mandatory two terms.

Senate will be a no-go area as Senate President David Mark is not ready to leave the stage yet. As such, Lawani may have come to the last lapse of his political career.

Sam Ode The former Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs enjoys very vibrant relationship with people across the three zones of the state. Ode, who hails from the Idoma ethnic stock of Benue South, was a caretaker chairman of Otukpo and later, special adviser to two governors of the state. He is loved for his generosity. Many people regard

him as a friend of the incumbent governor while some describe him as a philanthropist par excellence. His aspiration had been announced severally at public functions by youths bearing banners and posters with his inscription boldly written, “Vote Sam Ode for Governor 2015.” Political watchers, however, contend that his chances of becoming the first Idoma man to govern the state will depend on if the Tivs concede the governorship to Idoma.

Ada Chenge Engr. Chenge is presently the only visible female aspirant eyeing the 2015 governorship position in Benue State.

She contested the position in 2007 but lost to the incumbent governor at the primaries. This time, Chenge who is currently the Managing Director, Lower Benue River Basin Develop-

POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

15

Kashamu’s feud governorship jinx? Daniel, threatens Ogun PDP CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

Lawani

ment, Chief Samuel Ortom and House of Representative member for Makurdi/Guma constituency, Hon. Jime are leading 12 others including Dr. Eugene Aliegba, Prince Andy Uwouku, Mr. Alex Adum, Mr. Hinga Biem, Comrade Simon Anchaver, Dr. Tivlumun Nyitse, Mr. Mbachiantim Manger, Mr. Felix Atime, Hon. Simon Aondoana, Mr.Terhemen Tarzoor, Mrs. Shimave and Prof. David Ker to fight for the position.

While in Idoma land otherwise christened zone ‘C’, and home of the Senate President David Mark, Suswam’s deputy, Chief Steven Lawani is leading three others including former Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Sam Ode; former Managing Director, Federal Medical Centre, Dr. Mathias Oyigeya and Mr. Paul Harris Ogbole to succeed Suswam in next year governorship election.

Keen political observers have concluded that with the political calculation in the state now over refusal of the Tivs to concede the position to Idomas, political stakeholders in the area are finding it tough over who to present as a running mate to whoever may emerge from the Tiv side. While majority of the Idoma people are working for Ode to take that office, others are kicking against the decision saying that Oyigeya, a close ally of Senator Mark, should get the slot.

New Telegraph learnt that if this argument turns out to be the last resort of the Idoma people, the incumbent deputy governor, Lawani, may be out

aspirants ment Authority, Makurdi, is making a comeback on three counts; one, that her background as an Idoma by birth, Tiv from Jechira by marriage and a female engineer by profession would be harnessed to make her dream a reality. She is believed to have beautiful ideas that could transform the state but would need to convince the political class to buy into the idea of having a female governor in the state.

Mathias Oyigeiya He retired as the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi to contest for the governorship election. He owes so much loyalty to Senate President David Mark.

It was gathered that he had resigned on the directive of Mark, although it is alleged that he his being positioned for deputy governor.

Chenge

of the boxing ring, because his boss, Suswam, had even ruled him out of the contest. Suswam’s argument, analysts say, is tenable for the reason that Lawani deputised him for eight years and it will be improper for him to dream of stepping into his shoes to rule for another eight years as governor.

It would be recalled that Suswam had during a meeting between him and stakeholders in the Tiv extraction at government house where the Gen. Atom Kpera-led peace and conflict resolution committee investigating the Fulani invasion of Tivland submitted its final report, has ruled out the possibility of Lawani and Aondoakaa succeeding him.

A source from the meeting who confided in our correspondent, quoted the governor as saying it was only justifiable to present one person from the Masev Iharev and Nongov Development Association (MINDA) bloc to become governor in 2015 to heal the wounds of the carnage inflicted on the people by the Fulani insurgents.

“Let me be frank with you, the governor’s pronouncement ignited a thunderous applauds amongst the delegates from that axis when the governor made the statement. But the facial expression on the faces of others showed displeasure,” the source said.

New Telegraph gathered on good authority that some PDP aspirants contesting various elective positions such as Senate, governorship and state Assembly among others, who may lost out at the party’s primaries may massively defect to either the APC or Labour Party (LP) to fight the ruling party. This is just as the leadership of APC in the state has said it is ready to accept aggrieved members of the PDP into their fold during the forthcoming general election.

Also interesting to note is the fact that the Igede people that coexist with the Idomas in zone ‘C’ are agitating vehemently that if the bloc is to produce deputy governor, the slot should come to them. They are arguing that during the George Akume administration, Chief Ogiri Ajene (an Igede man) was made deputy governor, and when Suswam succeeded Akume, he made the incumbent Lawani his deputy, and so if the next deputy governor is to go to the zone, it should come to them. But the Idoma people are of the view that even among the minorities there are seniors and so the cry of marginalization by Igede people cannot hold any water.

has subtly halted reconciliatory moves and dampened the spirit of many party supporters who are rather sceptical that the opposition, as currently configured, lacks the required capacity to oust the ruling APC. Perhaps, the defeat suffered by PDP in the August 9 gubernatorial election in Osun State has also compelled concerned members to do some reality check. Some analysts attributed the party’s loss to its failure to manage internal conflict and reconcile aggrieved members before heading for the crucial poll.

There are palpable fears already that the same misfortune may befall Ogun PDP at the general election. Despite having a legally recognised state executive headed by Chief Adebayo Dayo, the party is still apparently divided with pervading mistrust and exclusionist tendency threatening its stability.

Today, four known camps exist in the party whose interests and influences had often been at cross-purposes. While two groups are loyal to Daniel and Kashamu, the remaining two belong to former President Olusegun Obasanjo and two-time minister, Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye. Though Kashamu controls the “mainstream” structure of the party, other chieftains who are obviously displeased with his grip on the party are plotting to upstage him.

In the last seven years, the Ogun PDP has been crisis-ridden. Various reconciliatory efforts have failed to pull it out of the doldrums and no end seems in sight over the party’s woes with about six months to the 2015 elections.

In 2003, the PDP rose to power when Daniel defeated the then incumbent Governor Olusegun Osoba of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). In the years that followed, the PDP bestrode the state’s political landscape like a colossus. But shortly after Daniel was re-elected in 2007, serious hostilities erupted within the party, which later transformed it into an abyss of factionalisation.

The party became polarised with Elder Joju Fadairo and Chief Dayo Soremi leading each of the factions as state chairmen. Daniel’s supporters backed Fadairo while Obasanjo and other forces worked behind the Soremiled “parallel exco.”

In the build-up to the 2011 elections, the two camps conducted parallel primaries which produced Prince Gboyega Isiaka and General Adetunji Olurin (Rtd) as their governorship candidates respectively.

But the judgement of Justice Abdul Kafarati of an Abuja Federal High Court eventually altered the party structure and decided the state PDP governorship candidature in favour of

Bankole

Olurin. This forced Isiaka to defect to PPN. Both Olurin and Isiaka eventually lost the governorship election to Amosun.

Amidst the crises, Kashamu had appeared on the scene, helping the Obasanjo group to decimate Daniel’s camp with his financial strength. But he and the ex-president later parted ways over the sharing of ministerial slots and federal board appointments allocated to the state. The disagreement further shredded Ogun PDP. With series of judicial victories, one of which led to the sacking of some PDP national officers loyal to Obasanjo, Kashamu upped his political relevance and concretised his hold on the party structure. As a result, many aggrieved loyalists of Obasanjo in the state chapter have defected to the APC although some still stayed back in PDP. With the Daniel group now operating under the LP platform, one would have thought that the coast was clear for the Kashamu-backed executive. But the PDP is not yet settled as the MartinsKuye camp appears to be spoiling for showdown. Loyalists of the former minister are said to be at the vanguard of those championing the gubernatorial ambition of former House of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole.

But Kashamu is not favourably disposed to Bankole. In fact, the PDP chieftain recently chided the former Speaker over his 2015 governorship aspiration.

He warned him against dropping the name of President Goodluck Jonathan to boost his campaign.

“Bankole should stop dropping Mr. President’s name. Mr. President has not anointed anybody. The man is a man of rule of law. The man believes in due process; he does not believe in imposition. He doesn’t have anything to do with this. In Ekiti, Jonathan allowed all the aspirants to go for primaries.

If somebody should drop Jonathan’s name, it should not be Dimeji Bankole,” he added.

There are feelers, however, that the PDP national leadership would still wade into the political situation in Ogun, even as the state executive has commenced preparations towards primaries. Already, the party had asked aspirants for various elective positions to come forward and obtain their forms of intent at the party secretariat in Abeokuta on or before August 25.

Amidst rising concern about the party’s loss in Osun and the obvious disaffection among members in the Gateway State, some concerned stalwarts are beginning to drum support for urgent, total reconciliation to enhance the party’s comeback.

But the Ogun PDP chairman dismissed any apprehension over the outcome of the Osun governorship election. He urged party members to remain steadfast with the party towards winning the 2015 polls.

Dayo said: “Notwithstanding the result, PDP in Ogun State remains strong and confident. No cause for alarm. Although the election has been won and lost, we must remember that all wars and battles are not won by a careful and gallant warrior.

“We urge our teeming members and supporters across the state not to allow the outcome of the election to dampen their enthusiasm but should re-energise us to return to the drawing board for strategic planning and clinical execution.

“Ogun State is different from Osun State; so are the issues and personalities involved. It is therefore incumbent on us all to work together in order to translate our Redemption Mission into reality.”

16 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

As the 2015 general election approaches, the battle to annex each of the six zones in the country for votes is getting vicious among political parties. In this report, WALE ELEGBEDE examines possible effects of the outcome of the Osun governorship election on the incursion of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the South-West

A

fter the unpleasant experience it suffered during the 2011 general election in the South-West, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seems to have put on its thinking cap by way of initiating a silent blueprint to capture the zone ahead of the next election.

The approach gradually paid off as the party in the zone got recognised with pockets of appointments at the federal level notwithstanding the infighting among members of its state chapters. Perhaps the biggest feat for the party was the June 21 Ekiti State gubernatorial victory where the party’s candidate, Ayodele Fayose, swept the polls in all the 16 local governments of the state, and currently bidding time before his October 16 inauguration.

With the euphoria of Ekiti election still thick in the air, the party got invigorated for the Osun election, fully motivated that its moving train would also crush the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration in the state. That was not meant to be as the party despite the volume of mobilisation was roundly defeated at the poll. The PDP candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, lost to the incumbent governor, Rauf Aregbesola.

Though the party said it has commenced the process to challenge the victory of APC at the Election Petition Tribunal, it is believed in some quarters that the party was only gasping for breath with the move as the election was generally classified as fair, even by international observers.

For the PDP and APC, the battle was not just for the state, but for the calculations towards the 2015 elections.

The South-West, with its high voting population, obviously has a voice on where the pendulum of the presidential election would swing in 2015. The zone has a voting strength of 14,296,163 voters, coming second to the North-West zone which leads the chart of voters from the six geopolitical zones with 18,900,543. Both zones account for about 49 per cent of the country’s total voting population.

Though President Goodluck Jonathan has not made public his intention to run for a second term, his body language has literally given him, especially with his solidarity visits to prominent traditional rulers including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade; Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana; Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; and Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu.

Thus, the PDP desperation to retain power at the centre and that of APC to take over power has brought the zone into focus. Recently, the chairman, PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih, removed the lid on Jonathan’s ambition for the presidential election in 2015 when he said: “I want the national chairman, Adamu Mu’azu to go home with a

Jonathan

Aregbesola

Osun poll whittles PDP’s onslaught in S’West word from the father that come 2015, Jonathan will run for president for the second time.”

The condition of the Electoral Act (as amended) for a winner in the presidential election is clear. A candidate must obtain 25 per cent of the total votes cast in two-thirds of the 36 states in the country and should have a simple majority of the total votes cast nationwide to be declared winner.

The permutation is simple: As things stand today, the PDP is expected to sweep the South South and South East overwhelmingly. As being envisaged, if Gen. Muhammadu Buhari emerges as APC flag-bearer, the bulk of his support would come from North West and North East.

With both parties expected to split the votes in the North Central, the final battleground would be the South-West with its very unpredictable voters.

For political pundits, the defeat of the PDP in Osun election would likely lower the tempo of the party in the region owing to the antecedent of the party in the area of managing postelection crisis in its chapters. Already, pockets of brushes and jibes are oozing out among members of the party.

A case in hand was the opinion of a chieftain of the party in the state, Tunde Odanye, who said the PDP lost the election by not putting its best foot forward, adding that the primaries were fractious and aggrieved aspirants were not reconciled thereby going into the election divided as a party.

He said: “Any honest observer would tell you we started laying the foundation for our defeat at our primaries. Up until that time Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was a goner but from that point onward the party started to fragment. Even putting it back together in time for the 2015 elections would take some effort.”

On the flip side, it is opined in some quarters that Osun election has not removed any feather from the

PDP as the party knew that the state would be a very hard-nut to crack unlike in Ekiti where it had a field day.

This line of reasoning is predicated on the outcome of the presidential election in 2011 where it was only in Osun State, President Jonathan did not win in the South-West. The state queued behind the candidate of the now defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Nuhu Ribadu, who defected to the PDP last weekend.

With former President Olusegun Obasanjo who was the staunch backer of Jonathan in 2011 almost out of the fray, it is believed that the PDP is not ready to go the path it took in 2011 by negotiating with some leaders in the zone. As such, the dependency theory it used in 2011 may not come to play again in 2015, hence the need to muscle their way into the region. With Ekiti in the kitty, the party believes it has Ondo by proxy and will expect its remaining chapters to domesticate their campaigns for the party.

Though some consider the defection of former governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola from PDP to the APC as a deflation of the rank of the party owing to his influence and privileged information on the state, others aver that the Presidency and the party had weighed their options and came to the conclusion that its former National Secretary was

For the PDP and APC, the battle was not just for the state, but for the calculations towards the 2015 elections

a political lightweight who doesn’t enjoy the popularity adduced to him among his people.

Speaking with New Telegraph on the state of the party in the zone after the Osun election, the chairman of the South-West zonal caretaker committee of the PDP, Chief Ishola Filani, said the party is up and kicking despite the loss in Osun and that each chapter in the region has its own peculiarity.

“We would not allow the seeming setback in Osun to in anyway affect us because we will take each case as it comes and we are sure that success shall be ours during the general election. The issue of whether the president would not get votes in the South-West does not arise at all.

What has the APC achieved that we didn’t achieve? There were two elections; we won one convincingly, they won the other, Albeit questionably.

So, how would that now affect the chances of the party and the president in 2015?

“Does it now mean that because we lost the election in Osun, which may have been as a result of some domestic feuds which were beyond our control; does that now apply to the presidential election? That conclusion is faulty because the outcome of the election would not deter us from bringing the South-West into the mainstream politics of the country.

By the grace of God, we will take the governorship election in the remaining states serious and 2015 will usher the party into electoral victories. So, Osun won’t determine our 2015 performance.”

As the tactical gambits continue to flash itself for the soul of south west, it is only left to be seen how much of scrutiny the parties would give to their approach. For once, the much-touted stomach infrastructure that worked for the PDP in Ekiti did not come to fruition in Osun. Head or tail, the very dynamic South-West surely holds an ace for 2015 election.

POLITICS 17

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Dominic Adewole writes on how the battle for a senatorial ticket has deepened the crisis in the Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

T

he scuffle that recently set the wife of former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mrs. Mariam Ali, against the state chairman of the ruling party, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, is an attestation to the surprises that are associated with partisan politics in the oil-rich Delta State.

Mrs. Ali reportedly slapped Nwaoboshi over the seating position of Deputy Governor Amos Utuama (SAN) at a party meeting. Close observers know that the fight is all about the Delta North Senatorial District seat, which presently occupied by Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, who now happens to be a major contender in the race to succeed Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan next year.

Nwaoboshi and Ali have indicated interest in the senatorial seat.

For Ali, a native of Oshimili South Local Government Area, she has contested the seat twice, on PDP platform but lost. So, the race to replace Okowa, who wants to be governor in 2015, is a battle royale.

But for Nwaoboshi, who hails from Oshimili North Local Government in the same Delta North, he has told anyone who care to listen that the zone cannot continue to associate itself with failure, hence the need to push forward a vibrant person like himself to step into Okowa’s shoe.

Unfortunately, Nwaoboshi who has been Ali’s political associate since 2003 when former Governor James Ibori threw him out of his cabinet was out to step on the viper’s tail. He soon littered the Asaba metropolis with his campaign posters and billboards to replace Okowa. But when Ali, who had positioned herself for the race, heard it, she felt betrayed.

“When Nwaoboshi fell out with the former Governor Ibori, he was stripped of his appointment as the Commissioner for Agriculture before they chased him out of the state. Mrs. Ali was a helper close at hand in Abuja where he sought asylum for years. He actually received favour from the woman (Mrs. Ali) after the powers that be then shattered his ambition. So, I am not surprised that Mrs. Ali is aggrieved.

She must be angry that the ‘boy’ she shielded during trials is the same person standing on her senatorial ambition. The woman was expecting him as the state chairman she installed, not to only give her the party’s ticket for Delta North Senatorial seat but work to see that she comes out victoriously,” a PDP chieftain in Oshimili South stated.

The opportunity to pay Nwaoboshi back in his own coin came when the state PDP summoned a stakeholders’ meeting ahead of the local government elections after the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) declared October 25 for its conduct. The meeting was presided over by Governor Uduaghan at the party’s secretariat along Mariam Babangida Way, Asaba.

Ali who, New Telegraph gathered was not invited to the meeting suddenly appeared, went straight to occupy the deputy governor’s seat.

Nwaoboshi who attempted to evacuate her from the seat got a full dose of her slap. Besides the exchange and blows that flew up in the air, they hurled unprintable words at each other.

Nwaoboshi, who was visibly angry, later said: “I restrained myself from retaliating because I was properly brought up and I did not want to betray the confidence the party reposed in me.

Hence, I sued for peace and prevented

Ali, Nwaoboshi beating drums of war in Delta

Nwaoboshi and Ali at a party function when the going was good

our boys from lynching her.”

The reason for their love-lost is not far-fetched. They fell apart because Nwaoboshi declared for the senatorial seat she was eyeing. Ali contested the seat in 2007 and 2011 respectively but lost to Senator Patrick Osakwe and the incumbent Senator Okowa. Though Ali got PDP ticket, Ibori ensured that Osakwe defected and won on the platform of Accord Party (AP) for a third term.

Undeterred by her performance in 2007, Ali joined the race again in 2011, but this time, it assumed a new twist.

The then Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to Uduaghan, Okowa, had developed interest in the seat.

Okowa in 2007 was one of those who helped Uduaghan become governor. He stepped down for him when he was to engage him in a run-off primary election in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area of the state. So, when Okowa wanted to go to the Senate, the governor also had no alternative than to help him realise his ambition, to the detriment of Mrs. Ali again.

That was how Ali lost at the Cenotaph in Asaba during the PDP primary election, which produced Okowa, despite Nwaoboshi’s support for Ali as the state chairman of the party.

Nwaoboshi’s emergence as the state chairman of the party was not outside Ali’s making. He was a product of the peace, reconciliation and harmonization crisis among the ex-national chairman’s wife, former Governor Ibori and Governor Uduaghan, who brokered the peace. Nwaoboshi was used to end the crisis.

But shortly after he emerged party state chairman, he allegedly sacrificed his political camp.

On his part, Governor Uduaghan has refused to be dragged into the lingering crisis between ‘mother’ and ‘son’.

Recently, the party’s Woman Leader, Barr. (Mrs.) Felicia Adowei-Ajagu, who

If you slap us, we will wait for you during election... those who know me very well know also that you can’t slap me and get away with it.

If you don’t get it now, you will get it later led hundreds of PDP women on a solidarity visit to Nwaoboshi, condemned Mrs. Ali’s behaviour as a “taboo” even as she disowned the women that protested against Nwaoboshi in Asaba and Abuja, describing them as “rented urchins.”

Joined by the Agu-nwanyi Lolo (Lioness) of PDP in the state, Chief (Mrs.) Nkem Okwuofu, the women that took to the streets last week maintained that: “By their fruits, you shall know them.

Unfortunately, last week, some hired women wore black clothes, protesting against an innocent man. They are not PDP women. In PDP, women don’t wear black; we don’t troop to streets to get what we want. We are not in the class of hired protesters.”

Okwuofu, who claimed to be an eyewitness of the successive slap Mrs. Ali dished on Nwaoboshi, said “the perpetrator (Mrs. Ali) was lucky that the traumatized women who were around and saw what happened did not react.”

While Ali has cried to the highest echelon of the ruling party, seeking justice over how Nwaoboshi manhandled her, he has vowed to pay her back in his own way. He said: “If you slap us, we will wait for you during election.

For her to go about in the name of Mr. President and other national leaders of our party in Abuja as the people sending her it is a lie, those who know me

very well know also that you can’t slap me and get away with it. If you don’t get it now, you will get it later.”

The war did not stop at the brawl and protest. Elders, leaders and stakeholders of the PDP in Oshimili South Local Government Area met and reviewed the saga at the council’s PDP secretariat. The stakeholders slammed Ali with an indefinite. The motion for her suspension was moved by one Ngozi Okolotu and was seconded by Dr. Mordi Ononye before it was unanimously upheld.

A six-point statement was immediately issued and signed by Evangelist Ebialim Maduemezia, the council party chairman, and the chairman of the area’s Elders’ Council, Ogbueshi A. Eluaka, urging the national body of the party to record her action as “embarrassing”.

The elders described Ali as “the assailant” who having reported the faceoff to the police in Delta State dumped the matter and escaped to Abuja. While the elders lauded Governor Uduaghan for leading the party in the state to greater height, it called on President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately drop her as his Special Adviser.

“Until she came, we have been doing very well in Oshimili South Local Government. She came in as a fighter.

This was a woman that failed her elections twice between 2007 and 2011. We will not allow her to destroy the local government area for us. Her indefinite suspension letter should be prepared immediately.

“She is not a major player in the day to day politics of the council area. She only joined PDP five years ago in Oshimili South. Therefore, if PDP must continue to win in Delta, we should not allow people who are not relevant in the politics of the state to destroy the fortune of the party,” Maduemezia said.

Ali will definitely challenge her suspension in court. If she wins, getting the PDP senatorial ticket would be a major task with the state party machinery against her.

18 POLITICS

Folarin

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Alao-Akala

Oyelese

Ibadan guber aspirants’ caveat A group of seven (G7) governorship aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is pushing for an Ibadan consensus candidate in the 2015 election, a decision that is targeted at preventing the return of former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, writes SOLA ADEYEMO

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hen on Sunday, July 20 some gubernatorial aspirants of Ibadan extraction on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) met at the residence of a former Minister of Special Duties, Elder Wole Oyelese, and came out with a communique that the next governorship flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2015 election in Oyo State should come from Ibadan, it became clear that the agelong leadership crisis in the party was far from being over.

The party leadership had until then boasted to have formed a united force to battle the administration of Senator Abiola Ajimobi to a standstill and unseat the All Progressives Congress (APC) governor in 2015.

The disclosure that Ibadan people would not submit to accepting any candidate from outside the town, therefore threw unimaginable spanners in the works of cohesion within the party.

Ibadan people who constitute about 53 per cent of the state population had always strove to rule the state using one of their sons at every political dispensation. This had been a marginalisation technique to the detriment of the other zones including Oyo, Ogbomoso, Oke Ogun and Ibarapa, who have almost been performing second fiddle roles since 1976 the state was created.

Former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala who hails from Ogbomoso fortuitously broke the jinx in 2005 when as Deputy Governor to an Ibadan indigene, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, he rode on the crest of powerful elements in the country including former President Olusegun Obasan-

jo and the late ‘Garrison Commander of Ibadan politics’, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, to become governor through an illegal impeachment process.

The 11-month interregnum was rancorous as the government was vehemently pitched against the interest of Ibadan elites, even though Alao-Akala’s deputy Hazim Gbolarumi, was an Ibadan man. The major Ibadan socio-cultural groups under the umbrella of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) kicked and made all efforts to ensure that Alao-Akala did not win the 2007 election, moreso that Ladoja had won at the Supreme Court and was ordered reinstated.

Unfortunately, Adedibu, operating under the influence of the then president (who had a grouse with the reinstated governor), truncated the ambition and ensured that Alao-Akala emerged as the standard flag bearer at the primaries conducted at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, formerly Liberty Stadium.

Ladoja, supported by many Ibadan elites, Akala through the formation and sponsoring of Accord party which within four months in 2011 ensured that the PDP lost to the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Even though Alao-Akala, with two of his former aides, is currently facing some graft charges brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), his looming popularity, coupled with calls for his return in 2015 by his teeming supporters, has so much inundated the political class in Oyo State, particularly in Ibadan. The PDP aspirants of Ibadan extraction apparently felt jittery when Alao-Akala stole the show when the Ekiti Governorelect, Mr Ayodele Fayose visited Ibadan.

The maxim: “Once bitten, twice shy” has stared them in the face to the extent that they had decided to plug all avenues through which Alao-Akala would return to the Agodi Government House in 2015.

One of such ways was to block all possibilities of his emerging as the standard flag bearer for the party.

The aspirants including: Gbolarumi (Alao-Akala’s deputy), Prof. Taoheed Adedoja (former Sports Minister), Prof.

Soji Adejumo (former SUBEB Chairman), Senator Teslim Folarin (former Senate Leader), Engr. Seyi Makinde (a businessman) and Dr. Azeez Adeduntan (an American-based neuro-surgeon) met at the Ibadan residence of Oyelese (also an aspirant), and resolved that the party must present an indigene of Ibadan as

its flag bearer.

In a communiqué released at the end of the meeting, the aspirants promised to work together as a team to ensure victory for PDP in the 2015 elections and deliver the state for President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Given the political reality on ground, the PDP candidate who by the grace of Almighty God will be the next governor of Oyo State must come from Ibadan land. We take cognisance of the importance and political interest of other zones and resolved to work assiduously with them to achieve victory for our great party at all levels,” the communiqué read inter alia.

The group then called on the people of the state to be assured of better government from 2015 when PDP would have taken over governance, just as it called on members who have joined other parties to return to PDP. “We appreciate the patience of our supporters and indeed the good people of Oyo State for enduring all the inhuman treatments inflicted on them by the current administration of APC, and we assure them of a responsible and responsive government as from May 29, 2015. We appeal to our teeming and loyal supporters of the party to work together and for those who have defected from the party to return into the fold for a collective victory,” the communique added.

With the publication of the communique in many national dailies, political watchers jumped to the conclusion that the ethnic decision was targeted against Alao-Akala. Even one of the aspirants from Ibadan, Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan, who was not invited to the meeting, described it as a gang-up.

“I don’t believe in gang-up. I want the best aspirant to emerge. The meeting in question was a private initiative of a candidate. I am not in any way bothered about the meeting. Whoever called the meeting only wanted to win the support of others. Talking about the grassroots, I am more on ground and believe in my ability to deliver,” he said.

As was expected, another political group within the PDP, tagged: “Ibadanland and Ogbomoso PDP Forum” the following day, addressed the press after a meeting held at Mokola area of Ibadan, frowning at the statement issued by the

Oyelese-led group.

The group led by Alhaji Nureni Akanbi said in the communique that it was surprised at the former group’s demand, having passed through similar gang ups that ended badly for the party.

“We have passed through this stage before and similar gang ups and conspiracy cost us the mandate to rule the state again in 2011. Similar gang ups anywhere only results to nullity, fear, failure and unpopular choices. We therefore enjoin the aspirants to have a rethink in the interest of our party.

“We must all embrace level playing ground to pave way for a popular and acceptable candidate that will guarantee victory for the party in Oyo State come 2015,” the forum stated.

It further stated that: “We are surprised that those who are supposed to be vanguards and promoters of equality of all Nigerians could be promoting such division. The demand negates the party’s constitution and 1999 Constitution which allows Nigerians to aspire for elective positions irrespective of ethnic, religious, sectional or political background.

“How could they gather somewhere and arrogate to themselves the privilege to determine which part of the state should produce governor of Oyo State without having regards for others.”

Similarly, Chief Bayo Oyewusi, a PDP leader in Ogbomoso, condemned the Ibadan aspirants’ demand, saying that it was a selfish agenda that would not hold waters.

Oyewusi said that Ogbomoso people are ready to support the most popular and acceptable candidate that would emerge from a level playing field of the party as preached by the National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu M’uazu and espoused by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Adewusi said that those who were demanding an Ibadan candidate should always remember that there are five zones in the state, adding that Ibadan is just one of the zones.

Apparently conscious of the fact that the Ibadan meeting in the residence of Oyelese was hatched against his ambition, Alao-Akala also reacted, describing the move as an exercise in futility.

“That demand is undemocratic and will definitely fail. So, candidates that come from the other parts of the state have no right to the slot? We will soon define those who are from Ibadan and Ijebu,” he said.

EDITORIAL

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

OUR VISION To build a newspaper organisation anchored on the sanctity of truth.

OUR MISSION To publish a newspaper of superior value, upholding the fundamental ethics of journalism: balanced reporting, fairness, accuracy and objectivity.

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

TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2014

Woeful WAEC result an indictment

he latest Senior School Certificate Examination result released by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) indicates mass failure in Mathematics and English Language by Nigerian candidates. Announcing the result last Monday at the WAEC office in Lagos, the Head of National Office, Mr. Charles Eguridu said: “A total of 529,425 candidates, representing 31.28 per cent, obtained credits in five (5) subjects and above, including English Language and Mathematics.” He noted that when compared to the 2012 and 2013 May/June WASSCE diets, there was marginal decline in the performance of candidates as 38: 81 percent was recorded in 2012 and 36.57 percent in 2013.

Eguridu who disclosed that the results of 145,795 candidates, representing 8.61 per cent, are being withheld in connection with various types of examination malpractice said “the cases are being investigated and the reports of the investigations will be presented in November to the Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC).”

According to him, out of 1,692,435 candidates that sat for the examination, 791,227 candidates, representing 46.75 per cent, obtained 6 credits and above, just as a total of 982,472 candidates representing 58.05%, obtained 5 credits and above. In addition, he stated that 1,148,262

candidates, representing 67.84 per cent, obtained credits and above in 4 subjects, while 1,293,389 candidates, representing 76.42 per cent, obtained credits and above in 3 subjects.

The continuous and dismal performances of pupils in national and international examinations in recent years provide a sad statement on the failure of our public school education and the educational system in general.

The breakdown of this year’s result shows that an overhaul of our education system urgently needs to take place to stem the tide of examination failure among pupils in our public schools. After all, the pupils of today are the future leaders who will form the bulk of tomorrow’s professionals and thinkers.

In recent years when funding of the sector slightly improved, allegation of corruption has dogged efforts to revamp the sector. For several years, the Nigerian government has consistently failed to meet the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) prescription that national education should be funded to the tune of 26 percent of overall budgetary allocation. With poor funding, public schools began a downward slide resulting in dilapidated and overcrowded classrooms, absence of functional libraries, laboratories and low-morale educators.

For several years, teachers in

public schools were owed backlog of salaries. As a result, teachers were no longer dedicated to their profession. They sought instant gratifications and lost the commitment that had been a hallmark of their predecessors. Massive brain drain hit the sector and pupils’ learning suffered.

Parents are also part of the problem. Poor economic situation in most homes means that they stayed late at work and were no longer in charge of their children’s activities. Indeed, very few parents bother to be directly involved in monitoring on a regular basis the performance of their children or wards, and offering necessary encouragement as the need arises. Yet, it is a known fact that parents are their children’s first educators.

Poor reading culture among students and the influence of the media have also contributed to failures in examinations. With the boom in the entertainment industry, pupils prefer to be on the internet, make quick money, be instant celebrities, instead of studying hard to pave the way for a secure future.

This is coupled with the fact that teachers all over Nigeria remain poorly paid. Equally disturbing is the fact that the competence of Nigerian teachers has become a serious issue in public education discourses. Several are unqualified and are only teaching because there is no other job

elsewhere. Besides, many of them are involved in several other businesses and there is no strategy of checkmating this ugly development.

It is no surprise that a nongovernmental organization, the Education Rights Campaign, has described the result of this year’s May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination as “not only poor but also an absolute disaster.”

The starting point in ensuring an upward trend in WASCE pass rate is for the government to adequately fund public education.

The second step, which naturally stems from adequate funding, is for government to remunerate public school teachers adequately.

It is only when teachers are well paid that they will pay more attention to the academic needs of their pupils than to their private businesses. The third, and equally very important, is for school authorities to enforce discipline in public schools. In this way, pupils will be properly guided and made to strictly follow laid-down rules and regulations, which in turn will engender a healthier attitude to work and play.

The time to secure the future of our children and, by extension, the country is now. We must confront the challenge that this year’s dismal performance in WASCE by our kids has presented with a new sense of urgency.

GABRIEL AKINADEWO Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU Deputy Managing Director/DEIC SULEIMAN UBA GAYA Managing Editor YEMI AJAYI Editor, Daily LAURENCE ANI Editor, Saturday EMEKA MADUNAGU Editor, Sunday AYODELE OJO Deputy Editor, Daily EMEKA OBASI Deputy Editor, Daily LEO CENDROWICZ Bureau Chief, Brussels MARSHALL COMINS Bureau Chief, Washington DC SAM AMSTERDAM Editorial Coordinator, Europe EMMAN SHEHU (PhD) Chairman, Editorial Board GEOFFREY EKENNA News Editor TAIWO AHMED Advert Manager UCHEY OKEZIE Ag. Sales/Marketing Manager TIMOTHY AKINLEYE Head, Graphics ROBINSON EZEH Head, Admin.

20

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

OPINION A virus called Ebola and the secret club from hell (1) Femi Fani-Kayode

I

disagree with those who have described Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian/American that single-handedly brought the deadly Ebola virus into our shores, as a madman. He was not mad at all but just evil. He was a man that was on a mission. That mission was to spread the Ebola virus to Nigeria and infect and kill as many people as possible with it.

He was an evil man with an evil intention and purpose. Worst still, he was not working alone. Some people, and I mean rich, powerful and well-connected people, were working with him. As a matter of fact they sent him on the mission.

They cultivated him, took care of him, paid him, brainwashed him, gave him all that he wanted in life and finally asked him to go on a suicide mission to destroy the lives of others and spread the deadly disease.

This was a clear case of bio-terrorism and Sawyer was simply a pawn in a bigger game and a wider picture. The motive of those who sent him was to spread fear and panic, to kill as many people as possible, to create a need for a solution to the problem, to prepare the ground for a new wonder drug that could cure Ebola, to create a massive market for that drug and to ensure that there would be massive profits from its sale.

As usual, it is the unbelieving, unprepared, undiscerning and naive Africans that have been used as the prime guinea pigs in this satanic venture. When will they stop destroying us and treating us with such contempt? When will they begin to see and treat us as human beings?

I guess the answer to that is when we cultivate the courage to stand up and say ‘’no more’’ and when we have the good fortune of being blessed with a ruling elite and a political class that truly cares, that is incisive, insightful, properly educated, enlightened and historically literate.

Just a few days ago, a Russian website magazine

The epidemic of the deadly Ebola virus that was born in the depths of the jungle, has been spreading around the world with an unprecedented speed lately.

The number of victims, according to official figures, has already exceeded a thousand people. The number of infected individuals nears almost two thousand people known as Pravda.ru considered what they described as the very real possibility that the American government actually created the Ebola virus as a lethal and effective biological weapon solely for the purpose of biological warfare. They wrote the following: ‘’The epidemic of the deadly Ebola virus that was born in the depths of the jungle, has been spreading around the world with an unprecedented speed lately.

The number of victims, according to official figures, has already exceeded a thousand people. The number of infected individuals nears almost two thousand. The WHO declared the disease a threat of global significance. Are there ways to combat the fever? It turns out that there is a vaccine against Ebola. Pentagon scientists were developing it for 30 years, and all the rights for the drug belong to the government of the United States. Two infected US medics received injections of the vaccine and they started recovering from the disease immediately. Why has this been made public only now? Why is it the USA that holds all the rights for the use of the vaccine? There can be two most obvious answers found to these questions. As one can see, Ebola is a perfect biological weapon: it spreads quickly and gives nearly 100 per cent mortality. Those having the

life-saving vaccine can dictate any conditions to others.

The second answer is a purely commercial interest. It is enough to arrange panic with the help of the media, as it was the case with several epidemics before, such as avian flu. Afterwards, it will be possible to sell the life-saving medicine at any price.”

This is an interesting contribution from the Russians and it is indeed food for thought. Yet even though many may harbor deep suspicions about the role of the United States of America in this ugly episode and even though many may finger the country and indeed the entire western world, as being the sole culprits and co-conspirators behind the creation and unleashing of the Ebola virus on Africa, in my view, this may not necessarily be the case.

I say this because even though majority of the leading players in this small and exclusive club from hell known as the Illuminati that are involved in this strange narrative are undoubtedly from America and Western Europe, it is by no means an exclusive club of Americans and Western Europeans. As a matter of fact, some leading and well-known Third World and African leaders and business people are also deeply involved, even though they may not rank very high up on the ladder or in the pecking order.

Before anyone gets swept away with the idea that this is all about the evils of America, we must make it clear that the American people themselves, as opposed to their leaders, are as much victims of this secret cabal of wickedness as is anyone else. They are also wallowing in the throes of abysmal ignorance about what is really going on behind the scenes almost as much as the average African.

In order to get a clearer picture, it is important to take note of the following observations. The forces that are behind this evil are well beyond America and they are inflicting as much evil on America, and indeed the entire western world, as they are on the rest of humanity.

Africa and the African people are not their only victims and they are not their only prey.

The agony of monogamy (2) Tola Adeniyi Continued from yesterday

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have schooled, worked and lived virtually in all the continents of the world and I make bold to say with all emphasis at my disposal that no culture on planet earth truly practices monogamy.

My Greek, Italian, Russian, British, American and other Caucasian friends routinely visit their other wives [called by other names] with whom they have children. But back in the homes shared with the one carrying the ring, they are monogamists!

If God had wanted humanity to be monogamous, He or She would not have made the pigeon the only monogamous creature.

The cultures that practice polygamy had always known that at any given time, the number of available marriageable women would far out-number available men plus the fact that an 80-year-old man, if he has money, is still very much in the market whereas a 60-year-old wom-

an may not be that lucky. The biological limitation to a woman’s productive age is also a factor. Why should a woman therefore remain on the shelf till age 45 when she could jolly well get married as second or sixth wife to a man who can afford to share life’s responsibilities with her? Why should a woman leave a man with whom she is No 1, simply because he took a second wife and end up being numberless in the hands of several men with whom she naturally shares bed just because of some doctrine she hardly understands?

All the women who should go and marry but are saying they do not want to share their man with another woman in a polygamous setting, are sharing current boyfriends with several other women.

Where is the logic? The argument that children in a polygamous house are always at each other’s throat does not hold water. Many siblings of monogamous families are known to have had worse and irresolvable, irreconcilable squabble, with dirty bitterness over inheritance than children from different

mothers.

The agony suffered by both men and women in the hand of unnatural laws and doctrines is too stifling for comfort.

In 2002, 502 Reverend mothers were reported to have died while procuring abortion in Rome. Nigerian Tribune wrote an editorial on the unfortunate incident. And stories of Reverend fathers having children and sodomising young men in their care are legion! Why the hypocrisy? Why should the world continue to live the life of Ostrich?

A well-known Nigerian journalist hid his other wives from his wife because his religion would not permit of it and his wife, living in monogamy should not hear of it. At his funeral, nine funeral service programmes by his nine wives surfaced and the woman parading the ring collapsed. It was the grace of God that prevented double interment that day!

The Western world which had not learnt the art of living amicably with more than one partner under the same roof has indulged in multiple serial mar-

riages, divorcing innocent wives under flimsy excuses so that another woman can move in should not be measure of standard for the world. Thank God that Mrs. Hillary Clinton of the United States and Mrs. Cook of England were much wiser. They refused to allow some indiscretion on the part of their husbands to ruin their marriages.

There was a well-known American actor who passed on about a decade ago and all his 11 ex-wives with their numerous children attended his funeral. To ridicule the lie of their hypocritical existence, all the women were recognised and addressed as wives. As far as records show, the man had 11 wives!

Society must rethink this issue of pretentious monogamy vis-à-vis polygamy so that in the not-too-distant future, we do not end up with millions of unmarried women whose life style would be worse than prostitutes’ and millions of children whose fathers would be nowhere to be found.

Concluded

ARTS TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2014

21

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TONY OKUYEME tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com okuyemeogom@yahoo.com

“ALL PLAYS ARE ABOUT DECAY. THAT IS WHY THE THEATER HAS ALWAYS BEEN ESSENTIAL TO HUMAN PSYCHIC EQUILIBRIUM.” ― DAVID ALAN MAMET

THEATRE

Thespian family mirrors ecclesiastical order through theatre Ebere Ameh

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t was an evening of fun and laughter at Terra Kulture penultimate Saturday when the Thespian Family Theatre Productions performed their stage adaptation of The Trials of Brother Jero. A Wole Soyinka play, it satirizes the activities of some ‘men of God’ who capitalize on the naivety of the people (worshippers) to prophesy falsely in order to have a large congregation and enrich themselves through their tithes and offerings.

Directed by Femi Oke, the play, which features Toritseju Ejoh as Brother Jero had the audience laughing and clapping most of the time as the ‘revered’ brother soliloquizes his strategies to confuse, in order to swindle his potential ‘customers’ with his fake prophecies. It is reminiscent of current happenings in the society where ‘men of God’ feed fat on the sweat of poverty stricken parishioners who are coerced into giving almost all they have to the be blessed

by God. Characteristic of the Thespian Family whose slogan is ... building the community, a stage at a time, the play was carefully chosen to entertain as well as awaken the consciousness of the people to be smarter and less gullible. It is also the company’s own way of continued celebration of the author and nobel laureate,

Prof. Wole Soyinka’s birthday.

Speaking with Ayo Jaiyesimi, the founder of the company, she said it is a seven week performance that started on the 16th of July.

“More than anything, we felt that the plays were worth staging and Prof. Wole Soyinka is worth celebrating. We have some people who are celebrities and are more like a flash in the pan. But in the case

of Wole Soyinka, he is somebody that has substance. One of the things we are praying for is to have a generation of more Wole Soyinkas when we are talking about the literary field, citizenship and passion for the country. That is why we are still celebrating him.”

According to her, the plays are popular, having been read in by secondary school students and so people would

more readily, identify with the characters.

On The Trials of Brother Jero, the great thespian who has written and staged three beautiful plays said that behind the comedy is a lot of seriousness.

“The trials of brother Jero is simply hilarious but behind the comedy is a lot of seriousness. It features a charlatan preacher who is trying to make

money out of his ‘customers’ – the worshippers. But for us in thespian, it is about the system. Even beyond the ecclesiastic body, you see that people who are held in high esteem, like governors, chief executives and various highly placed people within the society, who other people look up to for either a solution end up not only disappointing the people, but making money out of them.”

Nigeria must explore cultural dimension of development — Ayakoroma

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he Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, has called on Nigerians to take advantage of the cultural dimension of development for the much-needed advancement, not only in governance and the democratic process, but in every area of our national life, if the country must stand tall in the comity of nations.

Ayakoroma gave this advice in his welcome address at the 5th NICO Annual Public/ Convocation Lecture held on Friday August 15, 2014, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos. He also said that the NICO Lecture Series was fast becoming, a veritable platform for scholars to express quantum of intellectual ideas in cultural administration, thus making every NICO Lecture, “the Inaugural after the Inaugural.”

Earlier on in his opening re-

Repositioning Nigeria’s cultural industries will serve as a catalyst for the rapid socio-economic development of the country

mark, the Director-General of Centre for Management Development (CMD) and the Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Kabir Usman, applauded the choice of the topic, “Repositioning Nigeria’s Cultural Industries for Economic Empowerment and Social Security,” for this year’s NICO Lecture.

Noting that a vibrant cultur-

al industry will tremendously mitigate youth unemployment and curb the security challenges facing Nigeria today, he said, “repositioning Nigeria’s cultural industries will serve as a catalyst for the rapid socioeconomic development of the country, in line with the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan”.

The Guest Lecturer, Professor Effiong Etim Johnson of the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, in his lecture, underscored the relevance of culture to development. He emphasised on the indispensability of indigenous language as a vehicle to convey full meaning of the repository of rich values contained in Nigerian cultures, positing that, “if you want people to get the real meaning of what the indigenous culture says, you have to present it in

the vernacular”.

The erudite scholar advocated that Nigeria must look beyond oil and use the window of opportunities presented by the rebasing of the country’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP) to develop the tourism industry and properly reposition and transform the cultural industries; and to effectively achieve this, the country needed to harness the positive cultural values found in the diverse rich cultures of Nigeria and discard the negative ones.

The lecture, which was organised to herald the convocation ceremony for graduands of the Diploma and Post Graduate Diploma in Cultural Administration programmes of NICO Training School, Lagos, for the 2012/2013 Academic Session, was the 2nd in the Convocation Lecture Series, the 1st having been presented by Professor Ayo Akinwale of the University of Ilorin, on Friday, 16th August, 2013, at the same venue.

22 ARTS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Dammy The Enterkraner, renewed voice for Fuji, Afropop Dammy Krane has been chosen as Digifon’s brand evangeliser to connect the brand to youths in the market, who have penchant for listening to music via their handsets

Tony Okuyeme

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hen Oyindamola Johnson Emmanuel, popularly known as Dammy Krane, made his debut in the Nigeria music scene in 2010 with the single, “I Like Girls” Feat Piper and Flowsickk", not many people believe he could go very far, given the array of other musicians doting the landscape, despite the quality of his voice and lyrical power.

But he soon proved them wrong with the series of singles that followed: "Uni Girls" (2010), “Below” and "Pooner" (2011); "My Dear", "Shalala Feat E.L.", "Ligali feat Pasuma", "Condom Sir (Gangnam Style Cover)", and "My Dear" (2012); "Really Love You (Yvonne Nelson) Leak", "Gratitude", "Xteristics", "Lobatan", and "Sabi Dance" (2013). His mega hit singles such as “My Dear”, “Lobatan”, and “Ligali” have earned him fame and respect among his contemporary.

“Xteristics” is ‘fuji infused mid-tempo’ single .

Today, the multitalented Nigerian singer, composer and performer, Dammy Krane, has carved a niche for himself as an artiste with a difference; he also demonstrates that his love for Fuji music is not an accident, but something that is deep rooted.

While he demonstrates his versatility by exploring with characteristic finesse other genres of music, such as Afropop, Hippop, and R&B, Fuji and Afropop remain recurring beat, rhythm and feature in his music.

Known for his melodic voice, engaging lyrics and his exciting genre of alternative music, with strong influences from the Fuji environment, Dammy Krane began cultivating his knack for musical expression at an early age of six, and thereafter joined the children’s choir and ministered in various churches.

Inspired by artistes such as Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Femi Kuti, Lagbaja, King Sunny Ade, 2Face Idibia, DBanj, Saucekid and International artistes alike, Dammy Krane signed to Hypertek Records

(currently Hypertec Digital/960 Music Group) in 2012, at age of 18. Playful in his lyrical content and his versatility, he has no doubt, become a favourite of the teeming Nigerian music enthusiasts especially the youths.

Dammy “The Enterkraner” as he is now called, honed his craft as a hugely independent (solo) artiste in Nigeria. He is currently signed onto Hypertec Digital alongside 2Face Idibia, RockSteady and Sir Victor Uwaifor) and 960 Music Group. A development which he said was made possible due to a chance meeting with 2face Idibia at a birthday party. He says 2face Idibia had seen him perform and made the decision to sign him.

Recently, he released two new singles titled, “Amin”, and “In Case of Incasity” featuring Davido, off his highly anticipated debut album, “The Enterkraner”, which according to 960 Music Group will officially be released his on August 21. The announcement generated a lot of excitement and interest among Dammy kranes teeming fans, culture enthusiasts and critics.

The record company and management firm also announced that the Afro-beat singer will be performing all the songs in the album with a full life band backing on August 22 — a day after the album drop — at the The New Afrika Shrine, Ikeja, Lagos state.

Described as the “perfect blend of classic Fuji and Modern-day Afrobeats music”, no one else in the industry, it has been posited, has his sound right now, and that’s a major plus. “His “Xteristics” is a “well-produced song with the kind of delivery that made 2face put his faith and trust in this kid by making him the future of Hypertek”.

Although, his music cuts across various genres, The Enterkraner exponent who describes himself as a jolly good fellow has a passion for Fuji music. “I do the genre of music which I call the new age. My kind of music cuts across all genres. But I love Fuji music. My mum is an event manager for a Fuji musician,’ he recalls. “So I grew up with music especially Fuji music. I love Fuji music,” he also said, adding that God and environment led him to music. “I would have been a medical doctor or a caterer (because I love cooking) if I was not into music.”

Ahead of the official release of his debut album, The Enterkraner, Wireless technology solution provider, Digifon, announced its partnership

with Dammy Krane to launch the Digifon Boom Wireless Media player in Nigeria.

According to the founder of Digifon Inc, Rowland Dapo Okotore “The device will evolutionise the way Africans experience digital music and will enable users to experience the best of music from their mobiles phones, tablets, laptops or as a standalone media player.

“Dammy Krane has been chosen as Digifon’s brand evangeliser to connect the brand to youths in the market, who have penchant for listening to music via their handsets, Okotore stated, adding that “Digifon is passionate about music and has partnered up with 960 Music Group to jointly grow the music industry by partnering with 21st Century Fuji Artiste, Dammy Krane on his debut album, The Enterkraner”.

The CEO of 960 Music, Mark Redguard stated that “the “Boom” has great sound quality and exceptional clarity providing a great audio experience for their favorite Nigerian Hits, and users can play music from vain Bluetooth for their handsets, or their SD Card as a standalone system with their handsets”.

Redguard expressed 960 Music’s excitement to introduce the Digifon Boom to the youth segment through Dammy Krane, as the 1st Nigerian artiste brand ambassador.

“The 960 Music Group is excited to partner with new media and technology companies to help grow the Nigerian music landscape and offer African music lovers great audio experiences.”

Battle of The Wives journeys in October Ebere Ameh

T

he Make it Happen Productions, producers of Open Mic and V Monologues are set to make it happen at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos this October with a three-day presentation of The Wives, a play

by Ahmed Yerima. Featuring some of Nigeria’s leading actors icons including Joke Silva, Jide Kosoko, Iretiola Doyle, Kate Henshaw, Kemi Lala Akindoju and others, the play will be showing on October 9, 10, and 11, 2014.

The Wives focuses on the intriguing character called Chief Theophilus Gbadegeshin Olowookere, his sister and his three wives, Angela, Cecilia and Tobi.

“We are excited about this play,” says Kemi Lala Akindoju, who is producer of the play and Creative Director of Make it Happen Productions. “In The Wives, the question of ‘Whether a man keeps his most cherished secrets forever is the central theme of the play. There lies a sordid little secret and no one wants to talk about it. It is a dark comedy rich in sensuality and scathing humour.”

MOM&PARENTING

NEW TELEGRAPH

23

www.newtelegraphonline.com/mum&parenting

OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI oluwatosin.omoniyi@newtelegraphonline.com tosin042001@yahoo.com

TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2014

When mothers compete for their children Every human being is supposed to struggle for himself in life. That is also the fate of children, who must climb the step of life one at a time. But what happens when the mother takes up the battle for a child, manipulating things to push him ahead of his peer?

Does it make the child really better than his mates? Asks OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI

I

s it really not ridiculous seeing mothers becoming aggressively competitive for their children? Or putting their children through unhealthy competition?

Some parents channel their strengths in the negative way just to put their wards ahead of their mates. One wonders if the competition is for the kids or for the parents themselves.

Mercy Ogundoro, a mother of six, is one typical example. By her conduct among other parents, she’s is regarded as unruly and even carefree. She gives no qualms to her actions or utterances to her fellow mothers.

During the Parents Teachers Association, PTA, meeting, she must be heard and seen; else, that meeting would not go smoothly.

Even, by appearance, it is possible to conclude that she is desperate and wayward, a trait also noticeable in her children. When Ngozichukwu, her last born, passed the common entrance in primary five at age 10, she encouraged him to go to secondary school from primary five. But there is a snag! He would need his First School Leaving Certificate testimonial of which he cannot obtain except he gets to primary six.

In order to get this done, she withdrew him from the primary five and registered him in a Public School not far from the school somewhere in Ikeja. The arrangement is that, Ngozi would not attend the school in person but he would get the government school testimonial certificate through a special arrangement between the school authorities and Ogundoro.

During a school inter-house sports, a parent lashed out at a teacher for not making her child come first during a relay race. “How could you betray me? I gave you N15,000 as you demanded to make my child top at the relay race but you failed. You are a cheat and betrayer”. The teacher was probably too stunned to reply or was too ashamed to reply.

Chinwe Walters, was as desperate as to date her daughter’s teacher to register her daughter for a competition taking place in London. The school was supposed to choose three best students to represent the school

Getting involved in her daughter’s education

at the international school literature competition. She did all she could to make sure her daughter-Laura was chosen. According to the head teacher of the private school in Lagos, Laura is a passive student, who was not fit for such competition. Well, the school authority discovered the truth during their analysis of why the school was not successful, going by their long records of success.

Her real name is Monilolaoluwa Daniella but she prefers to be called Princess because that is the name one of her classmates’ answers in the classroom. She came home to complain to her parents that Princess got attention in the class and was favoured by the teachers. Her father chided her but her mother encouraged her to change her name to princess.

But that didn’t change anything. The mother made body fitted T-shirt, or body hug and gave them to her daughter to share to those who called her Princess. By so doing, she would get the desired attention.

According to her father, she was too vain to make excellence in her school leaving certificate at one sitting. He disclosed to New Telegraph that his daughter wrote WAEC, thrice before she could even get her English and Maths.

These competitions do not only happen in schools. It happens within families and among neighbours. Alice Makae, was a young mother of one. She almost killed her nine-month-old daughter out of ignorance. Because her neighbour’s child started walking at seven months old, she wanted

PHOTO: WWW.BET.COM

Essen

same, thereby mixing different herbal concoction to give the child in order to quicken her walking. How wrong she was! The poor child was rushed to the hospital the following day due to severe bleeding from the ear and nose, coupled with vomiting. Well, her daughter was saved but at age five, she is yet to get up to walk. These mentioned cases are familiar cases to most parents but not many of them pay attention to the consequences of unnecessary competition and the impact on the children. According to experts on parenting, it is peaceful and gladding for parents to set healthy competition among children, healthier to make them look forward to greater height but disastrous to place them high on a platter of gold

without earning it.

Grace Essen, founder and President of Mum to Mum Support Initiative, said that being a parent is not some form of entry into a competition, but more of a responsibility bounded by love and not a sprint to the finish line. “Actually, there is no finish line. Your goal as well as mine is to raise a healthy, happy, confident child irrespective of what others say or do” she said.

She added that it is all too easy to get caught up in this whole race without even knowing it. She stated some eight steps to help parents get off the track and have some peace: 1. Keep in mind that you, your siblings and old childhood friends may have changed after you have all had children. It is possible that someone may have harboured old competitive feelings, which may begin to manifest after you have had children (especially if your children are the same age). Keeping this in mind will help eliminate some shockers and help you manage situations better.

2. Because a friend’s child is walking at nine months, while yours is still crawling at 12 months, sleep has disappeared from your eyes? Every child develops at a different pace. Maybe I should remind you that Einstein, my child didn’t speak until he was four years old. Instead of jumping into conclusions on your child’s development based on what other moms have to say, look for reputable sources of information instead.

3. Children have different gifts and talCO NTINUED O N PAGE 24

24

MOM&PARENTING

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Running the race for their children C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 3

ents; so comparing them with others is not wise. While your friend’s child may be topping his class, your child may be a gifted artist.

Don’t try to shove your child into a box. Allow him or her to develop talents naturally and intuitively, while providing love and support along the way.

4. Refrain from bragging to friends about your child’s milestones in a way that looks like throwing the information into the mommy ring. Doing this may only set you up for another round of combat and you never know what the other mom will come up with. Find a way to tell close friends and family what your child is doing in a manner that they are truly happy for your child and not want to compete.

5. Be understanding, not condescending toward the competitive

mom. She is most likely driven by fear and pride, so it’s best to avoid pointing out her shortcomings, rather, simply shorten any time spent around such parents, their fear and competitiveness feel kind of contagious and can cause you to worry unnecessarily.

6. To put a halt to the comparisons, let your friend feel that she’s won her self-initiated contest.

Once someone has won a competition, the race is over. Decide not to respond when she boasts about her child’s developmental milestones. Simply say, “that’s great, congratulations”, or “good for your child”. Don’t add to the conversation or try to tell her what your child is doing most likely she doesn’t even care and would only want to hear about it in order to use it as a parameter for her own child’s development.

7. Keep an open mind if you find yourself in situations where

moms may be inclined to make comparisons. Certain environments such as children’s sports events may produce some boastful parental behaviour about childhood milestones. If you really hate having your child up for comparison, avoid such. Instead, do something much more constructive with your time.

8. Find and spend more time with mom friends who are more supportive rather than competitive with you. Be open to what you can pick up from them and apply to your parenting style.

She concluded that, a child’s development need not be a direct extension of one’s parenting skills. A lot of parents take their child’s development too personally; believing that the child’s performance in school or his or her overall ability has something to do directly with the parents’ abilities.

Day chivalry went pop in golden letters

L

ove was in the air, all roses stayed sweetly tuned in red as Uchechi Obasi,(Chekky), son of Sir Sidney and Lady Josephine Obasi walked down the aisle with Chinyelu Izukanne, daughter of Col (retd) and Mrs Paul Izukanne, in Abuja recently.

It was not just a holy wedlock at the St. Mathew’s Anglican Church,Asokoro. Tradition and culture played significant roles. A carnival could not have been more colourful. From the Igba Nkwu in Atani, Ogbaru Local government area, Anambra State to the matrimony, there was no dull moment.

The reception ,which held at the Army Headquarters Command mess Maitama, Abuja attracted more grandeur. There was royalty, as well as panache.

Politicians mingled with bureaucrats. Even Nollywood did not escape attention.

Bride’s father is a member of the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), Course 22,that produced the immediate past Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba. So, the military were very much at home in their mess. There were more senior officers, like Gen. Sam Momah, a former Minister of Science and Technology, and Adm. Francis Ebhaleme.

Politicians had a field day.

Groom’s father was a stalwart in the Second Republic. Chairman of the day was Hon. Emeka Nwajiuba, an ex-member of the House of Representatives. The present House was represented

by Hon. Afam Ogene. From the Imo House of Assembly came

Left to right: Couple with Col. and Mrs. Izukanne, Hon. Afam Ogene, Lady Josephine Obasi and Mr. Emeka Obasi

Left to right: Couple with Mrs. Ada Wendy Alaribe, Mrs. Chinwe Anorue, Mrs. Ezii Ijomah and Mrs. May Obasi.

Left to right: Couple with Dr. Dan Anorue, Mr. Chigbo Obasi, and Mr. Chidi Ijomah.

Hon. Ogonna Ozuruigbo.

Traditional rulers were led

by Eze Nelson Obasi, Dim II of Dim-Na-Nume, Nwangele Local Government area of Imo State and Eze Igbo Abuja Nwosu Ibe. For Nollywood, Chioma Toplis

held sway. There were also Mr. Chijindu Asika of the Nigerian Immmigration Service, Engr. Sam Ahams of Vitafoam, Dame Adeline Uwanaka , Lady Joy Iwuanyanwu and Chief Kelechi Akwiwu of Shell.

Mom’s Alert The multi-tasking queen!

Grace Essen

M

um, quick…look at that lady!” My fourteen-yearold son shouted as we were headed down the road on an errand-running Thursday afternoon. “She should not be doing that,” he added for emphasis.

Next to us was a woman cradling her cell phone on her right shoulder, holding an open fast-food salad container in her left hand; ripping open a salad dressing packet with her teeth and her right hand…all while steering her car with her knees!

I concluded that the woman in question must see herself as super human, a multitasking queen that is. And if she keeps up this habit while driving, she would likely cause a crash sooner or later and unfortunately that may involve some innocent person(s).

What was she doing?! But let’s take a look at this from another perspective. We may not all dangerously multitask when driving, thereby risking collision but we may be doing so in our day-to-day lives, in our schedules, in our“sure-I-cantake-on-one-more-responsibility-so-everyone-will-like-me” or ‘If- I -don’t- take- care –of-themwho- will? We sometimes dangerously multitask to the point we are headed for a crash and unfortunately our families get the better part of it. As mums, we sometimes feel like super humans with the need to display our super abilities at any given opportunity.

Taking on too many responsibilities, no matter how “good” or ‘urgent’ they may be, can often render us ineffective for what matters the most. Yet, we most times don’t seem to notice because we are so busy, we don’t get to see warning signs coming from a neglected spouse, children, friends and family, our health and also our relationship with God. And when we crash, it’s so bad and all that could have saved the day would have been just a gentle step on the brakes. You want to know a few of the consequences of a crash?

Death. Maybe that sounds too extreme. But that is reality. We could also risk a failed marriage, unruly and irresponsible children, financial crisis, stress, burnt food. Have you ever been in the kitchen cooking and yet your food is burning right under your nose? Oh yes, excellent multitasking ability on display!

We should recognise that we are just humans, with limitations. We should understand our capacities and our deficiencies. Having those at the back of our minds will help us navigate better the busy nature and activities that often trigger us up.

However, when you found you are caught up in one of those so-busy-I-couldn’t-breathe days, this is my little suggestion— slow down, take a deep breath, accept that you only have 24 hours in a day, accept that you cannot do all things, accept that everyone needing a little bit of you actually means no harm, accept that you are a person of value if not, nobody would need you. And there you will realise that your real enemy is ‘busyness’. Too many activities and responsibilities are about to do you in and ultimately hurt you. Just hold out your too-full plate and begin scraping off all the activities and responsibilities that can wait, reschedule them for a later time or even a later date. If need be, reject out rightly activity that is asking for more than you can afford to give. Make sure to call the people concerned and let them know, be polite and they will understand. Suddenly you will feel lighter and you will have a renewed energy and vigour to tackle the sizable chunk left on your plate.

Never be in a hurry to say yes.

Learn to say no when necessary and never feel guilty about it. You cannot be all things to all people.

Always make allowance in your schedule for rest, quite time/ meditation, and quality time with your family, consciously put them in your schedule and let nothing displace them.

Learn to ask for help when you need it and graciously accept help when it is offered. Don’t put up a front – ‘I can manage alone’, and give yourself more than you can handle. But always remember not to expect too much from other people, they can never do things as well as you would have done it. Just see it as a little help and accept it with gratitude.

This way we can create space in our calendars to spend more time on things and those that matter the most, we can retreat, rejuvenate and be much more productive. Our lives will be richer, less stressful and much more meaningful.

Enjoy your life Mum! •Grace Essen is the founder and president Mum To Mum Support Initiative.

BUSINESS

25 NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/business

Tuesday, AUGUST 19, 2014

What's news Nigeria’s lubricant usage hits 600m litres per annum The lubricant consumption in Nigeria has hit 600 million litres in one year, lubricant expert, Kayode Sote, has said.

}p-26

Rewane lists impact of Ebola on air transport While a small part of the Nigerian economy is already benefitting from the Ebola scare through the sales of sanitizers, a larger percentage, including air travel, is experiencing losses.

}p-26

Nigeria's refineries processed 497,000mt in Feb –NNPC The four refineries in Nigeria processed 497,000 metric tonnes of crude oil last February the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said in a report at the weekend.

}p-30

Mixed tales over landgrabbers’ activities in Ogun, Ikorodu communities It was a bitter tale as residents of some communities in Ogun state and Ikorodu area of Lagos State narrated their ordeals in the hands of miscreants, popularly known as Ajagungbales, who they alleged have forcibly evicted them from their homes and farmlands.

}p-35

BUSINESS CREW AYODELE AMINU, Deputy Editor (Business) Simeon Ogoegbulem, Dep. Business Editor BAYO AKOMOLAFE, Asst. Editor (Maritime) SUNDAY OJEME, Asst. Editor (Insurance) SIAKA MOMOH, Asst. Editor (Industry/Agric) Godson ikoro , Asst. Editor (Money Market) JONAH IBOMA, ICT Editor DAYO ADEYEMI, Property Editor ADEOLA YUSUF, Energy Editor

ANXIETY US, Nigeria’s hitherto biggest crude importer, is also planning to end imports from Nigeria by 2025 Adeola Yusuf

Chuks Onuanyin, Energy Nnamdi Amadi, Reporter JOHNSON ADEBAYO, Asst. Production Editor

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

major importer of Nigeria’s oil after the United States shunned over one million barrels oil imports from the country due to the discovery of oil from shale; another unconventional means.

US, Nigeria’s hitherto biggest crude importer, is also planning to end imports from Nigeria by 2025, according to Energy Information Agency (EIA). Nigeria, Africa’s biggest crude producer, depends largely on proceeds from crude

to service over 85 per cent of its budget.

The country now depends largely on Asia as market for its 2.3 million daily crude production and gas production.

Managing Director, Nigeria Liquified natural gas (NLNG), Mr. Babs Omotowa, confirmed this threat to New Telegraph.

He said that this may be a bad news for Nigeria and other oil proceed-dependent nations.

Japan and others, he said,

have already made huge investment for exploration of Fire Ice. Methane hydrates, also known as Fire Ice, is methane trapped in water, deep under sediments on ocean floor.

“Japan has already invested in exploration for this gas and the bad news is that when they find this hydrocarbon it would make the whole of Asia to be self-dependent on gas,” OmoCONTINUED ON PAGE 26

T

he Nigeria’s oil and Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) exports are facing new threats posed by the on-going aggressive exploration for oil and gas in Fire Ice in Asia, New Telegraph gathered yesterday.

Asia is the new hub for Nigeria’s crude exports after the United States (US) crashed crude imports from Nigeria by over one million barrels per day.

A data obtained from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) showed at the weekend that the US has also reduced imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipment to just 2.3tcf, representing one per cent of total LNG export to the US. Stating that Nigeria’s LNG exports to the US is under more pressure from rising America’s domestically-produced crude, the corporation revealed that this was as a result of increasing shale gas production by the US. “Nigeria LNG share is declining even faster. In 2011, Nigeria exported just 2.3tcf representing one per cent of total LNG export to US compared to about 12 per cent (95tcf) in 2007,” the NNPC data showed.

Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer, exports LNG from its six train, 22 million metric tonnes per year Bonny Plant.

The country has plans to raise LNG production from the plant to 30 million mt/year by adding a seventh train.

Also, oil production and exports from Nigeria is under threat posed by the on-going aggressive exploration for hydrocarbon in fire ice in Asia.

Countries such as China and Indian have recently become

DELE ALAO, Brands/Marketing Editor Abdulwahab Isa, Finance Editor

ayodele aminu, Deputy Editor, business

Nigeria’s LNG, oil exports face new threats

WOLE SHADARE, Aviation Editor CHRIS UGWU, Capital Market Editor

Gulfstream, others scramble for Africa's private jets market }p-37

L-R: Director, Enterprise Development Center, Mr Peter Bamkole; Minister for Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga; Head, Business Segment, Marketing, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr Bidemi Ladipo and Director General/CEO, Small Medium Enterprise Development Agency Of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Mr Bature Masari, during the Etisalat-sponsored Market Access Nigeria in Abuja.

ORDER Ministry of Mines and Solid Minerals Development had been directed to ensure the take-off of the first large scale coal-to- power project Adeola Yusuf

F

oreign contractors and their local counterparts have started scheming for the N752 billion pow-

Foreign, local contractors eye FG’s N752bn power projects er transmission expansion projects, New Telegraph has learnt.

Vice President, Namadi Sambo, had, last Thursday, announced that the Federal Government had earmarked N752 billion for expansion of power transmission.

A source at the Presidency told our correspondent that some highly placed politicians with high stakes in the power transmission equipment supply and servicing, have called to make further enquiries on

the projects.

“The minister of power had hardly announced this plan before calls started coming-in. The scheming is normal but the government of President Goodluck Jonathan will always follow the due process, no matter the level of pressure,” he said.

The Final Investment Decision (FID) on the project, which is a five-year plan, was announced by Sambo at the inauguration of the National CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE June 2014................................8.2% May 2014....................................8% April 2014.................................7.9%

LENDING RATE

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at Aug 15)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N162.00 InterBank Rate . . . . . . . . . . 11.57% Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N262.78 Prime Lending Rate. . . . . 16.93% Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N209.50 Maximum Lending Rate..25.83% • Foreign Reserves – $39.6bn as at 14/08/2014

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at Aug 15)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N155.73 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N259.94 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N208.51 Source: CBN

26 business | news DUMPING GROUND The lube market has become a dumping ground for sub-standard and offspecifications imported lubes of questionable quality Adeola Yusuf

T

he lubricant consumption in Nigeria has hit 600 million litres in one year, lubricant expert, Kayode Sote, has said.

Sote disclosed this in a document made available to New Telegraph, maintaining that the country is now the third largest lubricant consumer.

Nigerian lubricants market will earn an estimated N175 billion in revenue in 2014, up from the N150 billion generated in 2013.

Sote, who doubles as the Principal Partner, Lubeservices Associates, noted that about 75 per cent of the total needs of lubricating oils is produced in Nigeria, while the remaining 25 per cent are specialised products imported by marketing companies into the country.

He said that despite the obvious contribution and potential of the lubricant market to the nation’s economy, the lubes market is awash with about 720,000 metric tonnes of base oils (240,000 metric tonnes in excess of local requirement for lubes blending, different grades and types of products both locally blended by the majors, independents, fake and illegal producers.

Sote declared that Nigeria consumes about 600 million litres or one per cent of the world total demand with gross earnings of N150 billion in 2013.

The Nigerian lubes markets

Nigeria’s lubricant usage hits 600m litres per annum have been projected to hit N250 billion by 2015.

Giving an overview of the lubricants market in Nigeria, Sote said there are 32 registered blending plants with a total installed capacity of about 965 million litres per annum,adding that the plants are all currently producing at a cumulative average of 45 per cent of their total installed capacity. He also said that the cumulative assets-base of the blending plants is about N20 billion, generating about N45 billion profit margin in 2013.

Sote expressed concern that the lube market has become a dumping ground for substandard and off-specifications imported lubes of questionable quality, adding that these infractions are a threat to the survival of the lube manufacturers in Nigeria.

He said the summit, scheduled to hold between August 19 and 20 in Lagos, became necessary in order to draw the attention of the government, its statutory agencies, public and industrial consumers alike to the challenges in the lubricants market.

Moreover, he said the forum is an opportunity to showcase the fact that locally blended lubes meet and in some cases exceed both the national and international quality standards in the choice of raw materials, product formulations, packaging, quality sustainability, performance level and original equipment manufacturers’ (OEM’s) specifications and approvals.

Foreign, local contractors eye FG’s N752bn power projects C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

Council on Power in Abuja.

Sambo, represented by the Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo, said that government would continue to expand the national transmission grid to all parts of the country.

He said that this would be done through additional resources leveraged from Development Finance Institutions (DFIs).

The VP said that government was also committed to adequate provisions within the national annual budget in the years ahead.

He added that government also hoped that more innovative approaches would be adopted to fund the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) by opening private sector investment window in future.

Some institutions, he said, had been established to earn investors’ confidence by further enhancing the environment for doing business in the sector.

Sambo said for the sector to grow in the direction government intended it to be, metering gap amongst consumers must be bridged to shore up market revenue, adding that it was for this reason that government was

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

sourcing for various funding.

Sambo said this included opening an initial N33 billion soft-term credit line to enable the distribution companies to acquire smart meters.

He stated that the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of Mines and Solid Minerals Development had been directed to ensure the take-off of the first large scale coal-to- power project.

Sambo called on the council to come up with clear roles and mandates for stakeholders in the sector, as well as set targets and strategies toward achieving the power reform objectives.

The minister of power, who is also the chairman of the council, said that the project would facilitate the progress needed to adequately advance the sector.

Nebo said the council would ensure the transformation of power to launch the country into an era of massive industrialisation and double digit GDP growth rate.

He told the stakeholders that the ministry would create consistent policies to support access to power, energy diversification and energy security for the country.

He listed the challenges facing the lubricant market as indiscriminate importation of base oils far in excess of the installed capacity of the operating and functional lube oil blending plants; open market attraction that encourages the importation

of finished lubricants of questionable quality and standards from the far east countries; low duty tariff on base oils and imported lubes both, which are housed under the same H. S CODE “2710. 1939” and thus attract duty tariff of 10 per cent.

Others hindrances include adulteration of lubes by illegal lube blending plants; and open marketing of base oils erroneously displayed as finished lubes and easy asses to customised moulds by third party marketers of lubes.

L-R: Marketing Manager, Guinness, Dr. Obinna Anyalebechi; General Manager, Marketing, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr Martin Mabutho; Head, Sponsored Assets, Globacom, Mr Gbenga Moses and Head, Corporate and Consumer Electronics Marketing, Samsung, Mr Koye Sowemimo, during the live screening of new football season in Lagos

LESS TRADE A reduction in the number of international flights literally means a reduction in international trade flows Wole Shadare

W

hile a small part of the Nigerian economy is already benefitting from the Ebola scare through the sales of sanitizers, a larger percentage, including air travel, is experiencing losses.

Chief Executive, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr Bismarck Rewane, in the firm’s August 2014 monthly economic bulletin, said that air transport was 0.09 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in first quarter in 2014 and the second most used means of transportation after road.

He however noted that since the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa, several airlines including Arik Air, Asky, British Airways and Emirates suspended flight operations to and from any of the Ebola-affected countries.

Saudi Arabia also suspended giving out visas to Muslim pilgrims from West African countries. Serious screening for Ebola has also begun at several international airports before passengers are allowed to board

Rewane lists impact of Ebola on air transport an airplane.

MTN workers were moved out of West Coast as flight options became limited. Rio Tinto Group, the second-largest mining company in the world, has also restricted staff movement to essential travel only in Guinea.

Four people have died so far in Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer and largest economy.

Should it spread further, “the consequences for the west African oil and gas industry would be considerable,” Moody’s Robinson said.

Ghana, the second-largest economy in West Africa, urged its citizens to avoid traveling to Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea and canceled all international conferences it plans to host in the next three months, Foreign Minister, Hannah Tetteh, had told reporters in Accra, the capital.

Rewane stated that they expect revenues in the aviation sector to plunge downwards, which would affect both airplanes and the support industry such as handling companies, oil marketers, catering, duty free shops, among others.

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, said recently that the economies of Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia might lose

one percentage point of growth because of the disease.

Meanwhile, preliminary information shows that due to Ebola scare, inbound travellers have canceled many hotel and airline bookings in Lagos.

Rewane noted that this is not surprising since India and Greece have openly advised their citizens to avoid nonessential travel to Nigeria and other Ebola-affected countries.

According to him, “it is estimated that restaurant visits in Lagos have already declined by 50 per cent. The accommodation and food services sector was approximately one per cent of total GDP in first quarter of 2014.

This amount is not negligible considering the importance that restaurants play in the lives of working class Nigerians.

“In addition, a direct implication of the low turn out to social events is a decline in the events management business.”

He reiterated that in first quarter of 2014, trade contributed 17.35 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP, adding that trade and investment flows are critical to the external sector of Nigeria and the West African region.

The region is said to enjoy almost a custom union with common external tariff and movement of visitors without visas.

Nigeria’s LNG, oil exports face new threats C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

towa said.

He, however, stated that his company, notwithstanding this threat, commercialised over four

trillion cubic feet (4.0 TCF) of natural gas to lead Nigeria’s aspiration for flare reduction at oil production sites in the country.

Meanwhile, the NNPC data projects that Nigeria’s LNG ex-

ports may shrink further, given a steady climb in shale gas share of total gas supply, from eight per cent to 32 per cent, and the US becoming a net exporter of natural gas this year.

27

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

NEMESIS The Navy has intercepted vessel laden with stolen Nigeria crude Adeola Yusuf

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he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun the probe of two foreigners - a Ghanaian and a Cameroonian, for oil theft in Nigeria.

They were arrested at the weekend by Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy.

The suspected oil thieves were arrested with 18 Nigerian accomplices by the Central Naval Command in Nigeria in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, while loading their vessel MV ELMINA with stolen crude at Nigerian Agip Oil Company trunk line at Brass, in the state.

Commanding Officer, FOB Formoso, Captain Noel Madugu, who disclosed this, maintained that the EFCC probe came after the suspects were handed over to the commission by the Navy.

He said that the suspects were arrested at Sangana river in Brass Local Government Area of the state.

Madugu gave the names of suspects as Lucky Osiebe, captain; Adakole Onmoniji, Chief engineer; Monday Esemutoye, Tonwoye College, Collins Ograko, Odaba Divine, Dutie Ezetu, Frederick Onwoievbe, Bonley Atangeho and Dover Abruda.

Others, according to Madugu, are Joe Richard, Campala Lewis, Efe Godday, Aaron Amohefe, Reuben Dabbi, Joseph Koey, Ponmile Gideon, Wafo Marcel, Dominion Agbo and Akinbolu David.

He said during the time of arrest, the captain of the ship could not provide the relevant documents to lift crude oil.

“They were arrested on August 7, 2014 around 1.30 am by Naval operatives patrolling the area,” he said.

The suspects and the vessel have, according to him, been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for prosecution.

“The handing over of the suspects took place on Wednesday at the command’s Forward Operating Base, Formoso, Brass, Bayelsa State,” explained.

Madugu also said that the suspects declared they were loading Automated Gas Oil (diesel), but when the products were tested, it was discovered to be crude oil.

Madugu paraded the suspects before handing them over to the officials of the EFCC, Port Harcourt office.

The commanding officer said, “About 1.30am, August 7, 2014, MV ELMINA was intercepted coming out of the creeks of Sangana River entrance in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

“The vessel and her crew were intercepted by NNS BOMADI while on routine patrol of the area.

“Upon arrest, the actions of the crew during interrogation indicated that they had carried out the dubious activity as

Oil theft: EFCC probes two foreigners, 18 others they refused initially to answer their radio until several warning shots.”

Madugu said the ship was however, boarded and discovered that it was loaded with crude oil.

He said as of the time of interception, the ship had not been sounded to verify the exact amount of cargoes.

He said the vessel was safely escorted and anchored at Brass river where she was detained for further interrogation.

Madugu said the handover of the suspects were in compliance with the directive of the Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Peter Agba.

In the same vein, Nigeria

is losing an estimated $35 million (20.6 million pounds) a day from oil theft and needs to put a "full, final stop" to the growing black market for crude exports, according to a national conference report seen by Reuters on Tuesday.

Africa's largest economy and top oil producer has been struggling with oil theft for years,

with much of the stolen crude leaving the country in tankers.

The energy committee of Nigeria's national conference said in a report submitted this week the losses were "equivalent to $35 million each day," or roughly a quarter of Nigeria's annual revenue. It called on Abuja to "bring this racket to a full, final stop".

Workers at an illegal refinery

SUBSIDY Electricity consumers want the FG to provide financial intervention for DISCOs and GENCOs Adeola Yusuf

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onsumers of electricity in Lagos and Ogun states have expressed fear that the new gas-pricing regime would lead to further hike in electricity tariff.

Some residents of Blessed Estate, Ijagba, Ota and Ogba, Lagos, told New Telegraph that the new gas price may raise the tariff, which is currently under review through the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO), by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

Chairman, Blessed Estate Landlord Association, Iyiola Popoola, who spoke on behalf of landlord and residents of the area, said that government should subsidise the distribution companies as parts of measures to ensure that the new gas pricing regime does not create

New gas pricing heightens fear of electricity tariff hike big holes in the purse of electricity consumers.

Olumide Alaka, a resident of Haruna Street in Ogba, corroborated Popola’s view.

“We know that the review of tariff is on-going but the fear that this new gas price may worsen the tariff for us is real,” he said.

NERC had recently announced its approval of a new benchmark price of $2.50/mcf for gas supply, and $0.80/mcf as transportation cost for new capacity, from 2014. The new benchmark is expected to rise with US inflation annually.

NERC Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi, disclosed the increase in gas prices during a recent briefing in Abuja, where he noted that the price review was done to reflect the current cost of gas production.

Amadi noted that the new gas price and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s, expected in-

Nebo

tervention in gas supply in the power sector are contingent on and have been captured in the Multi-Year Tariff Order. MYTO is a five-year tariff recovery plan, which is based on capturing the real cost of power production.

He argued that the $2.50/

mcf for gas was based on the real cost of production of gas or other sources of power, which is benchmarked against the prevailing global market rate.

“The price of $2.50/mcf is deemed to be a reasonable price when you consider the cost of gas processing and what other industries pay for gas. The price was arrived at through consultation with both the gas producers and the generators, and the power people are prepared to pay a cost that will ensure a much more sustainable supply of gas,” Amadi stated.

With the DISCOs already agitating for a hike in tariff due to operational challenges that had reportedly seen them cup up heavy in their first six months of operation, the hike in gas price could see them raise the tempo of their agitation, leading to a possible hike in tariff by NERC.

28 business | ENERGY REVENUE NLNG claimed that the blockade of its facility led to over N76 billion losses Adeola Yusuf

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he Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) has began the prosecution of the Nigerian Maritime Safety and Administration Agency (NIMASA) and Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd (GWVS) over the alleged $140 million tax feud.

NLNG, which said it lost more than N76 billion over the blockade of its facility by NIMASA at the heat of the crisis in 2013, said that it would not look back in its resolve to ensure justice.

NLNG General Manager, External Relations, Kudo EresiaEke, who said this, maintained that the company has began plans to slam a law suit on the two companies.

The company’s spokesperson had earlier maintained that the recent verdict by the Court of Appeal in its favour gave it the boost to go ahead with the new suit.

Spokesperson for NIMASA, Mr. Isiche Osamgbi, however, could not be reached on phone for his comment.

A text message sent to his mobile phone was, as well, not replied, as at the time this newspaper went to bed.

The Court of Appeal in Lagos had last week Monday, upheld a preliminary objection

by Nigeria LNG Limited and dismissed an appeal filed by Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, challenging an earlier Federal High Court decision to continue a substantive suit over the blockade of NLNG’s jetty in Bonny, from where the company exports cargoes of liquefied natural gas and allied products.

Butnthe NLNG spokesperson insisted that her company would get the court’s nod in its bid to be exempted from paying freight levies on its gas cargoes.

This action, the company said earlier in a statement, was sequel to a ruling on August 11th, 2014 by Nigeria’s court of appeal sitting in Lagos, which upheld NLNG’s request to sue a private security company, Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, employed by state maritime security agency NIMASA to carry out blockades of shipment of LNG cargoes in between May and June 2013.

The statement read: “In a

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

$140m tax: NLNG begins trial of NIMASA, GWVS

lead judgment delivered by Hon. Justice Rita Nosakhare Pemu, with which the other Justices that heard the appeal concurred, the Appeal Court ruled that the Notice of Appeal filed by Global West was “incompetent” as contended by NLNG, having been filed without leave either of the Federal High Court or the Court of Ap-

peal.

“The ruling affirms a previous one by the Federal High Court in Lagos dismissing Global West’s Notice of Preliminary Objection against a substantive suit by NLNG on the ground that Global West was a proper party to the suit.

“Following the refusal by the Federal High Court, Global

West then proceeded to the Appellate Court to set aside the decision and stay proceedings at the lower Court pending the determination of the appeal.”

The Nigeria LNG Limited, the statement added, “in 2013 filed a case at the Federal High Court against the Attorney General of the Federation and Global West, seeking a judicial

NLNG facility

U-TURN The minister of power has denied report of alleged promise to generate 10, 000 by December Adeola Yusuf

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abour leaders have insisted that the federal government is deceiving Nigerians on its target to generate 10, 000 Mega Watts (MW) of electricity by December.

Rising under the auspices of Nigerian Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies, SSAEAC, the workers declared that there is no way the Feder-

10,000MW target: FG deceiving Nigerians, electricity workers insist al Government could achieve 10,000 megawatts, MW, capacity of electricity generation by December this year.

They were reacting to a statement credited to the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo.

Although the minister came out to promptly debunk the report he had been widely quoted in the media to have told a delegation from India that the government would organise a forum for all electricity distribution and generation companies, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC; Nigerian Electricity

Management Liability Company, NEMLC; and Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company, NBET, work out modalities for the achievement of the 10,000MW target.

He was also reported to have said the government would hold the National Council on Power this month to look at measures to further boost electricity supply to Nigerians.

“We may need to consider NBET a body that will outlast the current proposition. With the new thinking, the NBET can be structured on a PublicPrivate Partnership model

Petronas signs PSC for Gabon offshore block

M

alaysia's national oil and gas company Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas), via its wholly owned subsidiary Petronas Carigali International E&P B.V., has signed a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) for Block F14 with the Republic of Gabon.

The offshore block is located in southern Gabon and measures an approximate 965 square miles (2,500 square kilometers) surface area in water depth ranging from 6,561 feet to 9,842 feet (2,000 meters to 3,000 meters).

Petronas will operate the

determination on, among other things, the legality or otherwise of certain levies sought to be imposed on NLNG by Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), an agency of the Federal Government and the consequent blockade of NLNG vessels by NIMASA and Global West as a result of the dispute.”

block with an 80 per cent interest, while the Government of Gabon owns the remaining 20 per cent interest.

The signing of the PSC took place at the Arambo Building, Libreville. Petronas was represented by its Vice President of Exploration International, Effendy Cheng Abdullah.

The Republic of Gabon was represented by H.E. Etienne Dieudonne NGOUBOU from the Ministry of Petroleum and Hydrocarbons and H.E. Christophe AKAGHA MBA from the Ministry of Economy and Prospective.

Speaking at the event, Effendy Cheng said, “The signing marked an important milestone as Petronas is re-entering the Republic of Gabon,nnow focusing on the deep water pre-salt play.”

In the same vein, Malaysia's state oil firm Petroliam Nasional (Petronas) has said its second quarter net profit rose 38 per cent, driven by stronger oil production and sales of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Net profit in the April to June period rose to 21.06 billion ringgit ($660.8 million) from 15.26 billion ringgit a year earlier, Petronas said. Revenue in the

quarter increased 14.7 per cent to 85.36 billion ringgit from 74.42 billion ringgit a year earlier.

Petronas, which finances more than a third of Malaysia's government budget via dividends, has in recent years invested heavily in Canadian shale assets, Iraqi oil fields and explored for new reserves in Malaysia as part of its five-year 300 billion ringgit capex programme that ends in 2015.

Chief Executive Shamsul Azhar Abbas said declining oil prices and rising operational cost could dent earnings in the second half of this year.

that is permanent in nature, as electricity is always an ongoing concern,” the minister was quoted as saying.

NUEE Secretary-General, Mr. Joe Ajaero, who maintained that the problem of gas supply to the generation companies has not been resolved, stated that achieving that figure would also be impossible considering other factors.

“Is it (the generation of 10,000MW) based on the availability of gas? Is it based on the enhanced transmission network? Is it based on the refurbished distribution network?

Where is he (Minister) basing his analysis of giving Nigerians 10,000MW on? Is he talking of sustainable 10,000MW?,” he queried.

He stressed that the Federal Government has not done enough work to guarantee the target.

President, Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies, Mr. Bede Opara corroborated Ajaero's view.

Opara stated that Nigeria could only achieve that through the inauguration of new power stations as he maintained that, for the old ones taken over last year by private investors, “I am yet to know of any that has been rehabilitated to produce that kind of power”.

BUSINESS | ENERGY 29

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

COMPETITIVE RATE Contractors participating in the scheme will have access to competitive loan rates from participating banks that would otherwise be unavailable to them Adeola Yusuf

E

xxonMobil’s contractor financing scheme was launched for vendors seeking access to better funding options to fulfill contracts and procurement orders, its Chairman/Managing Director, Upstream affiliates in Nigeria, Mark Ward, has said.

Ward said this in a statement on ExxonMobil’s website.

ExxonMobil affiliates in Nigeria had formally launched the ExxonMobil Nigeria Contractor Finance Scheme (EMNCFS), an initiative in partnership with 12 Nigerian banks - that offers competitive financing options to the company’s business partners in Nigeria.

Ward, in line with this, said that the EMNCFS is targeted at Nigerian vendors seeking access to better funding options to fulfill ExxonMobil awarded contracts and procurement orders.

Contractors participating in the scheme will have access to competitive loan rates from participating banks that would otherwise be unavailable to them.

Additionally, loan processing times will also be significantly reduced due to upfront defini-

Why we launched financing scheme, by ExxonMobil tion of eligibility criteria by the banks.

Ward, according to the statement, “expatiated on the importance of the Contractor Finance Scheme’s to the company’s Nigerian content development plan.”

He said: “ExxonMobil’s National Content programme has three key elements – workforce development, strategic community investments and local supplier development. This contractor finance scheme underscores the development of local suppliers to form a competitive base, through their access to better and quicker funding options.”

Engr. Ernest Nwapa, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) commended ExxonMobil for addressing the challenge of raising capital that many Nigerian contractors face, in addition to the company’s other Nigerian Content initiatives that had opened new doors to Nigerian contractors.

He said: “Now, Nigerians can participate in things that they never even dreamed of participating in a few years ago. Just a few years ago, some of the things that were required of Nigerians were not even conjectured. But today, it is reality that we are getting these things done in Nigeria, and by Nigerians.

“I believe that if we do more of this, we are going to get to the vision of the Nigerian people, that is to create more employment opportunities, and then begin to innovate so that in a

few years’ time we will begin to look at an industry that is supporting the economy, and creating enough opportunities for our young people.”

Since the EMNCFS was in-

troduced in November 2013, at least 24 contractors have been able to access funds under the scheme. About $8.6 billion is available for contractors under the programme.

No citations for fatal Chevron well fire

T

he United States federal authorities will not issue any citations to Chevron for an explosion at a well site in Pennsylvania that killed a worker, despite findings by a state agency that suggested the death was the result of human error.

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Osha) said that its investigation of the February fire on Chevron’s Lanco well pad in Greene County “concluded that the exact cause of the incident could not be determined.

“At the conclusion of an indepth, six-month investigation, Osha determined that no citations would be issued,” it said.

Osha’s announcement comes about a week after Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued a report saying Chevron may have allowed an untrained contractor to work without proper approval or supervision on a well shortly before that well blew up and caught fire.

A 27-year-old employee of contractor Cameron International named Ian McKee was killed in the blast. Another worker was injured. The fire burned for days and affected two other wells on the pad.

The DEP report implicated a loosened lockscrew assembly that allowed gas to leak from the well as the cause of the blast.

“Although the exact reason why the gland nut and lockscrew were ejected from the wellhead is not conclusively known, the suspected cause of the failure is that the assembly was loosened several days before this incident and was not properly re-secured,” that report said.

Investigators believe the assembly was loosened when two Cameron workers attempted to remove tubing hangers from the Lanco-7H well. One of the workers had three years’ experience and the other “greenhat” worker had almost no oilfield experience, according to the report.

Chevron’s management policies require any worker with less than six months’ experience to be approved by the well site manager or upper management but this step seems to have been overlooked by Chevron’s representative on location.

Chevron said penultimate week that it was reviewing the DEP report: “Chevron is committed to safe operations. We look forward to continuing to work with the Pennsylvania DEP and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration in order to fully understand what happened with this incident, and we are determined to prevent it from happening again.”

McKee’s family filed a wrongful death suit against Chevron in June

Oil rig

Shell targets $15bn from assets’ sale in Nigeria, others COST CUTTING Energy firm sells more US gas assets amid cost cutting drive Adeola Yusuf

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oyal Dutch Shell Plc would go ahead with its cost-cutting drive to boost revenue that will include the sale of $15 billion of assets in Nigeria and around the world, the company said in a statement on its website.

Royal Dutch Shell said that it was divesting itself of onshore gas assets in Pinedale, Wyoming and Haynesville, Louisiana while adding acreage in the Marcellus and Utica shale areas.

The deals will see Shell receiving approximately $2.1 billion in cash.

Shell announced the sale of

onshore US shale gas assets as the energy company restructures its North America production and reins in costs.

In an agreement with Ultra Petroleum, Shell will acquire 155,000 net acres in the Marcellus and Utica shale areas in Pennsylvania, and receive around $925,000 from Ultra in exchange for 100 per cent of Shell's Pinedale asset. In a separate agreement with Vine Oil & Gas and Blackstone, Shell has agreed to sell 100 per cent of its Haynesville asset for $1.2 billion in cash.

Shell Upstream Americas Director Marvin Odum commented in a company statement: "We continue to restructure and focus our North America shale oil and gas portfolio to deliver the most value in the longer term.

With this announcement, we are adding highly attractive exploration acreage, where we have impressive well results in the Utica, and divesting our

more mature, Pinedale and Haynesville dry gas positions."

Shell's net production from Pinedale during the second quarter of 2014 was 190 million cubic feet per day of dry gas.

Ultra's net production from the assets Shell is acquiring in Pennsylvania averaged 109 million feet per day during the first half of the year.

Shell's Haynesville asset includes 107,000 net acres in in north Louisiana. The transaction includes 418 producing wells, 193 of them operated

by Shell. As of July 1, 2014 the gross production from the Haynesville asset was approximately 700 million cubic feet per day of dry gas, with Shell’s net working interest share at approximately 250 million cubic feet per day (43,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day).

The agreement is expected to close during the fourth quarter of this year.

30

BUSINESS | ENERGY

AVERAGE CAPACITY NNPC put the combined average capacity of the refineries in February at 35.55 per cent Adeola Yusuf

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he four refineries in Nigeria processed 497,000 metric tonnes of crude oil last February the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said in a report at the weekend.

The refineries are the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company (KRPC); Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC); and Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC).

The report, which centred on February, 2014, was obtained by New Telegraph. It revealed that the combined average capacity of the refineries in the month under review was 35.55 per cent.

"443,000 metric tonnes of dry crude oil, condensate and slop was received by the refineries in the month. With an opening stock of 460,000 metric tonnes, total crude oil available for processing was 903,000 metric tonnes, out of which 497,000 metric tonnes was processed,” the corporation said in the report.

Putting the combined average capacity of the refineries in the month under review at 35.55 per cent, the NNPC stated that the respective average capacity utilisation of the refineries during the month was 33.57 per cent, 12.75 per cent and 50.39 per cent for KRPC, PHRC and WRPC respectively.

In the area of production returns, the NNPC said the refineries turned out a total 415,000 metric tonnes of finished and intermediate products.

NNPC noted that the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), which lifts products from the refineries, evacuated 244,000 metric tonnes of products.

Altogether, the NNPC noted that 35.27 metric tonnes of products were used by the three refineries as fuel while some volume out of this was lost.

Consumption as fuel amounted to 6.15 per cent while loss and flare accounted for 0.94 per cent of production.

Giving details on domestic petroleum products distribution in the country, the data revealed that NNPC Retail Limited and independent petroleum products marketing companies distributed about 577.13 million litres of various petroleum products in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in February 2014.

This, according to the Corporation, showed an increase of 83.89 million litres or 17.01 per cent when compared with the total volume of 493.24 million litres distributed in January.

The data revealed that NNPC Retail Limited distributed 152.17 million litres, representing 26.37 per cent of the total sales of petroleum products, while the independent marketing companies distributed 424.96 million litres, representing 73.63 per cent.

The NNPC stated: “Distribution by product shows Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) had

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Nigeria's refineries processed 497,000mt in Feb –NNPC the highest figure of 390.50 million litres, representing 67.66 per cent of the total, reflecting average daily sales of 13.47 million litres.

“This was followed by Household Kerosene (HHK) with total sales figure of 76.20 million litres, representing 13.20 per cent, averaging 2.63 million litres per

day.

“Gas Oil (AGO) came third in the petroleum products distribution slate with total figure 74.50 million litres or 12.91 per

cent, giving an average daily figure of 2.57 million litres. Low Pour Fuel (LPFO) and others constituted the remaining part of the distribution.”

A section of the Port Harcourt Refining

Alison-Madueke, others open lubricant confab today

T

he Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke and her counterpart in the Ministry of Trade and Investments, Mr Olusegun Aganga, are billed to lead major stakeholders to the first lubricant summit in Nigeria today.

Organisers of the summit, who disclosed this in a statement, said that major stakeholders in the industry have given their support to the summit.

“Themed: The Nigerian Lubricants Market: Opportunities and challenges,” the summit will have Mrs Alison-Madueke delivering keynote dddress, while Aganga, is expected as Special Guest of Honour,” the statement read.

The summit aims, among others, to promote a better understanding and appreciation of the nation’s hydrocarbon reserves, potential and diverse investment opportunities therein, present the investment profiles of lube manufacturers and their commitment to sustainable job creation and contribution to the technical and economic growth of the nation.

It also seeks to examine the challenges in the market.

Speakers at the event, according to the statement, will include Mr Alexis Vovk, Man-

aging Director, Total Nigeria Limited; Mr. Taiye Williams, Managing Director, Lubcon International; Mr. George Abiodun Osahon, Director, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR); and Dr. Joseph Odumodu, Director, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

Other resource persons are Hon. Dakuku Adol Peterside, Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Federal House of Representatives; Chairman, Lubricants Producers Association of Nigeria (LUPAN) and Chairman, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria among others. They would chair four different sessions and panels.

Panelists, according to the organisers, have been selected from a cream of distinguished resource persons with proven track records and relevant expertise. They will also demonstrate and share their practical experiences with the stakeholders and participants.

“These facilitators are indeed a mixed-grill of professionals and administrators from the private and public sectors and with experience in the relevant topics of discourse,” the statement added.

Eland agrees to buy 40% interest in Ubima field SUSPENSION The Ubima 1 well was suspended and identified for completion and production by the previous operator Adeola Yusuf

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est Africa-focused Eland Oil and Gas has reported that its subsidiary, Wester Ord Oil and Gas, agreed to buy a 40-per cent participating interest in Nigeria's Ubima field from Allgrace Energy Limited.

Ubima lies onshore in the northern part of Rivers State, adjacent to Oil Mining Lease 17. Four wells were drilled on the field between the 1960s and 1981, with hydrocarbons being encountered in all four wells in multiple, stacked reservoirs.

Eland said that the most-recent independent 2C resources estimate for Ubima is 34 million barrels of oil, with "significant upside" in a 3C resource estimate of 66.9 million barrels as well as an extra 2C resource estimate of 97 billion cubic feet of non-associated gas in two

reservoirs.

The Ubima 1 well was suspended and identified for completion and production by the previous operator, but this programme was not executed and Wester Ord is planning to re-enter this well and perform an extended production test, oil produced will then be trucked to the nearest sales point prior to the Ubima export pipeline being in place.

Eland believes that subsequently an initial four development wells can be drilled and put into production 9 to 12 months from commencement of the full work programme. The full work programme is estimated to require development capital expenditure of $125 million, however, a proportion of this is anticipated to be met from early cash flows from the extended production test, the firm added.

Eland CEO Leslie Blair commented in a company statement: "The acquisition of Ubima is a very attractive and accretive deal for Eland on very positive terms. As the technical and financial partner, we will be able to lead the development and move quickly to bring these assets into early production generating strong cash flow for the benefit of all stakeholders."

BUSINESS | ENERGY

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

BEGINNING Gas supply to Ibom Power Company, owned by the Akwa Ibom State government has formally commenced Adeola Yusuf

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he Uquo Gas Gathering facility is set to supply 131 million standard cubic feet per day, mmscfd, of gas to the Calabar National Independent Power Plant (NIPP) and the Ibom Power Station, beginning from the fourth quarter of this year.

The gas gathering facility, was inaugurated last Thursday

by President Goodluck Jonathan in Esiet-Eket Local

Calabar NIPP, Ibom Power to receive 131m scuf gas supply Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. It is a joint venture between Frontier Oil Ltd and Seven Exploration and Production Limited.

The facility will be supplying the gas to Ibom Power Station and Calabar NIPP power station to enable them provide 750 megawatts of electricity generation capacity, equivalent to some 10 per cent of Nigeria’s generating capacity.

Frontier Oil Ltd and Seven Exploration and Production Limited said the gas delivery plan was designed in a way that would ensure the safety of

NNPC GMD makes first presentation at NAEC confab IOCs NAEC has lined up Cheif Executive Officers of IOCs and their local countaparts for its confab

T

he new Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC), Dr Joseph Dawha, and the Managing Director of Niger Delta Petroleum Company (NPDC), Dr Layi Fatona, will make their first public presentations at the August conference of the Nigerian Association of Energy Correspondents (NAEC) in Lagos.

NAEC, which said this in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Mr. Yusuf and Secretary, Mr. Tundxe Dodondawa, added that a host of other captains of the oil and gas sector are also expected to gather in Lagos this week to discuss and proffer solutions to challenges facing the oil sector at the conference.

The experts, who will converge on Lagos according to

the organisers of the conference, will brainstorm on the topic “Pipeline vandalism and its socio –economic effects on the nation.”

The conference will be chaired by Dr Fatona.

This year’ conference the organisers noted, is a shift from other conferences and exhibitions organised by the National Association of Energy Correspondents in the past as panel sessions was introduced to enable experts brainstorm and proffer solutions to the current challenge of crude oil theft and the way forward.

The discussants will also talk on the effective implementation of gas master plan for adequate power supply in the country.

The Group Managing Director of Oando Mr Wale Tinubu, the Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, Mr Mutui Sunmonu, The Managing Director of Addax Petroleum, Mr Cornelius Zegelar and of Managing Director of Energia Mr Felix Amieyefori, will discuss the impact of crude oil theft and the way forward at the first session of panel discussion.

Aker solutions awards DNV GL global frame pact

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ker Solutions has awarded DNV GL a global frame agreement to pave the way for better technology collaboration, more efficient project execution and considerable cost savings.

The frame agreement covers the following business segments: Subsea, Umbilicals, Engineering and Maintenance, Modifications and Operations (MMO) in Aker Solutions’ business.

"Finding smart solutions, innovating and streamlining the value chain is critical to address the cost issue in the industry," said Elisabeth Tørstad, Chief Executive of DNV GL - Oil & Gas. "The contract provides a framework for technology cooperation that gives us the opportunity to work closely with one of the leading technology providers and developers in the industry.

31

Our experts and global outreach will support Aker Solutions in achieving its international growth strategy and create unique and cost-effective technologies. So, this agreement enables technical experts from both organisations to work closely together and learn from each other," she said.

The agreement will cover services and cooperation in all the important oil and gas regions (Norway, UK, USA, Brazil, Malaysia) and can be extended to other countries and regions as required. The agreement provides mechanisms for specific joint activities, such as cooperation in front-end engineering and design (FEED) phases and integrated engineering teams (IET). A web-portal will also be set up to allow for exchange of technical and commercial information.

communities located along the pipelines routes.

The inauguration ceremony last Thursday marked the formal commencement of gas supply to Ibom Power Company, owned by the Akwa Ibom State government.

According to the Uquo Gas Gathering facility Joint Venture partners, the gas facility is the biggest projects of its nature undertaken by independent indigenous partners in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“With Trains 1 and 2 of the Uquo Gas Processing Facility fully operational and once the connecting pipeline to Calabar is commissioned, the Joint Venture will be supplying gas to provide 750 megawatts of electricity generation capacity

at the Ibom Power station and the Calabar NIPP power station, equivalent to some ten per cent of Nigeria’s generating capacity,” said Engr Dada Thomas, Managing Director of Frontier Oil. He recalled that the Uquo Field was one of the 24 marginal fields that were awarded to indigenous companies by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in 2003 as part of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Marginal Field Programme, aimed at increasing reserves, production, employment, local content and indigenous participation in the Nigerian upstream oil and gas business.

Mr. Philip Ihenacho, Chief Executive Officer of Seven Energy, the JV partner that pro-

vided the technical services and 100 per cent of the funding for the gas facility, informed that the gas delivery plan was designed in a way that will ensure the safety of communities located along the pipelines routes.

According to him, “The introduction of high pressure gas into the Uquo Gas Processing facility and the pipelines has been accompanied by a focused education programme along the pipeline’s Right of Way to ensure the safety of the communities located along the pipeline right of way for the safety, security and continuity of supply to Ibom Power Company.”

He maintained that the project will boost power generation in the country and generate employment for Nigerians.

Gas plant

Conoil 2013 pre-tax profit quadruple

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onoil Plc has said its 2013 full year pre-tax profit rose 301 per cent to N4.57 billion ($28.12 million), compared with N1.14 billion in the previous year.

Revenue also climbed to N159.53 billion as against N149.99 billion in the same period of the previous year.

The oil firm, which is majority owned by billionaire oil and telecoms tycoon Mike Adenuga, said it will pay a N4 dividend per share to shareholders on its book by Aug. 25, 2014, compared with N1 paid in the previous year.

Income generated from other sources outside normal busines contributed to catapulting Conoil’s profit, analysis of the financial statement of the company that sells gasoline, shows.

For the year ended December 2013, the company’s net income soared by 329.97 per cent to N3.07 billion from N714.01 million same period of the corresponding year (FY) 2013, while sales increased by 6.36

per cent to N150billion.

Earnings per share (EPS) spurted by 329.12 per cent to 442kobo in 2013, from 103kobo in 2012.

The growth at the bottomline level burgeoned as a result of 853.77 per cent increase in other operating income to N2.55 billion in (HY) 2013, from N266.1 million as of (HY) 2012.

Other operating income comprises of income from outside the normal activities of the company such as investment interest, foreign exchange gains and rent income.

The downstream giant has seen ballooning profits after rebounding from the 2012 subsidy gloom that hampered growth of firms operating in the sector.

A lot of companies in the downstream oil and gas sector had their subsidy payments delayed by the Ministry of Finance over a potpourri of scams that rocked the industry.

Consequently, these firms were unable to settle debts owed to banks to finance the importation of petroleum products,

thus leading to huge finance debt in their capital structure.

Steady cash flow has helped reduce finance cost by 45.89 Per cent to N2.25 billion in FY 2013, as against N4.16 billion as of FY 2012.

Furthermore, the company has also reduced debt in its capital structure as debt ratio dropped to 65.55 per cent in HY 2013, from 189.088 per cent as of HY 2012.

The company has upgraded and expanded its lubricant blending plants at its depots at Apapa, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano, with a view to meeting and surpassing customers’ ever increasing demand for its quality engine oil brands.

The board of directors of the oil marketing firm recommended a total dividend payment of N2.78 billion for its 2013 financial year at N4 for every 50 kobo share.

The dividend payment is expected to be rectified by the shareholders at the annual general meeting (AGM) of the company to be held in September.

32 BUSINESS | ENERGY

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

217 students for PTDF overseas programme ENFORCEMENT PTDF has said that there is actually a bond for the PhD students on its programme Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

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wo hundred and seventeen postgraduate students have been inducted for the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 Masters of Science and Doctor of Philosophy scholarship programmes of the Petroleum Technology Development Funds award.

Executive Secretary of PTDF, Mr Femi Ajayi, who inducted the students, said that this has brought the total number of beneficiaries of PTDF scholarship programme to 2, 974.

He said: "The Fund has so far

trained 2412 MSc in Petroleum Engineering, Gas Engineering, Geo-science, Off Shore Engineering, Geology and other related Oil and Gas courses and 488 PhD scholars have also been trained overseas in related fields since inception. "The Fund has also trained 74 university lecturers in its University Lecturers Skills Enhancement Training Program ( A train-thetrainer program) in Newcastle, UK, and Grenoble in France.

Twenty others will be leaving Nigeria for Grenoble France September this year."

Giving the breakdown, Ajayi said: "Today we are inducting 217 scholars including 170 fresh MSc scholars, four deferred as well as 43 fresh PhD scholars.

“You must all consider yourselves lucky as this laudable programme could not hold last year due to financial challenges faced by the fund. I salute the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and the Minister of

Petroleum Resources whose timely intervention made it possible for the Fund to conduct a joint aptitude test and interview for the 2013/14 and 2014/15 applicants of whom you are the products and beneficiaries.

"It is important to note that the prevailing trend in the petroleum industry apparently depicts a wide gap between technology advances in the global scene and the limited capacity of Nigerian professionals.

“Also, the non-availability of some core courses in the Nigerian universities, which are paramount to oil and gas development, necessitates the need to send Nigerians abroad to acquire relevant knowledge and state-of-the-art technology to fill up the skills gap in the industry.

"One of the main objectives of the overseas scholarship scheme is to encourage and stimulate continuous learning and technology development

in the petroleum industry, to expose Nigerians to the latest technology advancements in the global petroleum industry and to accelerate the development of local capacities in an international competitive environment thereby enhancing local content participation.”

Besides, he noted that it was noteworthy that the overseas scholarship scheme at the MSc and PhD levels has recorded a resounding success in the UK and has also gained international recognition “as we take steps to move into the United States, Canada, as well as other parts of Europe, Asia Australia.”

While congratulating the students for their brilliant performances during the recently concluded selection exercise, he implored them to be diligent in their endeavor, not forgetting the mission and vision of the awarding body, the PTDF, the Nigerian quest and the current government policy thrust for the indus-

try.

Consequently, he urged them: ‘Let us work together to actualise the visions that we all share".

On the issue of some scholars that come back to help build the country after study, the Executive Secretary reminded the PhD students: "There is actually a bond for the PhD students, though we have not been enforcing that bond because we believe that you should be patriotic to serve your country".

Also, he told the beneficiaries of the PTDF programmes on the need for them to excel with greater grades so that the issue of job back home would be easy for them.

He noted that it would be a disservice to the nation if so much would be spent on the students and they come back home to be roaming the streets.

Over 500 students sat for the examination of the Fund before the final selection of 217.

Brent rises on supply risks, US crude down as stockpiles build

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rent crude oil rose by nearly $1 per barrel in choppy trading, recovering from a 13-month low as turmoil in Iraq and Libya kept concerns about potential supply disruptions in focus.

The sale of several Nigerian cargoes in the West African cash crude market also gave Brent prices a lift.

US crude prices edged higher, paring earlier modest losses after the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported crude oil inventories rose 1.4 million barrels last week, against expectations stocks would be lower.

The US crude oil stocks build included a 418,000-barrel increase at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery point for the US crude contract traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Oil barrels

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long simmering turf war for control over associated gas from the jubilee fields could be playing out on the eve of the first processing of the commodity from the oil fields.

The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has confirmed to The Chronicle, a media report that the Jubilee partners are ‘demanding’ a full audit of the gas processing plant before it is connected to the floating vessel, FPSO Kwame Nkrumah, offshore.

State newspaper Daily Graphic, quoting sources close to the project, reported that an initial plan to create a by-pass to carry gas onshore from the FPSO to pipelines leading to the Aboadze Thermal Plant was ignored by Ghana Gas Company, despite huge investments made by the partners in purchasing equipment for that purpose.

This has raised fears of further delays in the country’s quest to deliver gas from the fields for cheaper power generation. Communications Manager at the GNPC, who confirmed the report to The Chronicle, said

Power play as Ghanaians await first gas from Jubilee fields that the audit was only “a common sense approach” to testing the integrity of the facility for safety reasons.

But, Dr. George Sipa Yankey, explained that the by-pass idea could have extended the delivery period of the gas from the field for another nine months.

He said the need for the by-pass was part of the initial plan, but noted that the partners could not readily get a heater component to regulate the heat for Aboadze to receive the gas, as initially anticipated.

Secondly, there was a need for a more detailed engineering works to be done before the by-pass could be constructed, due to the fact that the plant’s systems are computerised, and the by-pass facility needed to be configured into them. Thirdly, the gas pipelines were not de-

signed to take wet gas straight from the fields, noting that this could pose some serious challenges for the power plants.

He further explained that the idea of the by-pass was within the programme of the Ghana Gas Company, but due to constraints with getting the heater component, it was decided to construct it to coincide with a turbo expander project to help save the plant in the event of upset conditions, and also ensure continued gas flow even during plant maintenance.

He insisted that the company was in constant touch with the lead partners, Tullow, to get the by-pass done.

Speaking on the subject of an audit, he said that the impression being created by a section of the public, who remain skeptical about the proj-

ect, to the effect that Tullow was demanding an audit was not true, as an agreement had long been reached for the audit to be done. To this effect, he said, the quality assurance group of Sinopec, the company working on the project, will be coming to assess the project by next week.

Furthermore, an independent party would also be conducting an audit this month.

“It is the taxpayers’ money, and we want everything to be okay,” he emphasised.

He noted that all components at the plant are all captured at a motor control center to detect problems and either solve them or prompt for personnel to be sent to fix it. “You see, people do not appreciate that the system is computerised.”

Ahead of the front-month September contract's expiration last Thursday, Brent crude rose $1.26 to settle at $104.28 a barrel. The session low of $102.37 was the weakest price since July 2013. The Brent contract for October delivery rose $1.17 to close at $105.06 per barrel.

"It sounds like the cash market for Brent is getting up a little bit; there are less unsold Nigerian cargoes, which of course had been weighing on the market," said Andy Lebow, vice president at Jefferies Bache in New York.

US crude, also known as West Texas Intermediate or WTI, rose 22 cents to settle at $97.59 a barrel. Its discount to Brent narrowed to $5.21, the lowest in almost three weeks, earlier in the session, before widening to settle at $6.69.

Brent has fallen 9 per cent since mid-June as Islamic State militants in northern Iraq have not yet created major supply outages, while global production has risen.

But traders said market participants remained cautious, with buying expected as Brent prices neared the $100 level.

"Brent was due for a correction," said Carsten Fritsch, analyst at Commerzbank.

Even as traders and analysts continue to worry about the potential for turmoil in Libya and Iraq to disrupt supply, increasing production from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the United States has curbed some of the concerns.

"Brent prices have been in a steady decline and I think the background of that is that the market is forming the view that any supply disruptions are not on the immediate horizon," said chief market analyst Ric Spooner of CMC Markets.

PROPERTY&ENVIRONMENT PAGE 33, Tuesday, August 19, 2014

EXECUTION Government needs to speed up actions on the implementation of National Building Code Stories by Dayo Ayeyemi

Stakeholders renew calls for robust building policy

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orried by the spate of collapsed buildings across the country, concerned citizens that converged on Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, at the weekend, have renewed calls for a robust construction policy and code to eliminate the dangerous trend.

The calls served as a reminder to both the Federal and State governments on the need to activate actions to enhance the general implementation of the National Building Code (NBC) document across the country.

Lending support to the call during the Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) was the Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji (Dr.) Abdulfatah Ahmed.

The theme of the conference was: “Construction Industry development: Collaboration, Innovations and Capacity Development.”

Expressing worry over the incidents, the governor stated that he was convinced that the incidents were caused by untrained builders and unscrupulous developers who, he said jeopardised lives and property while seeking to cut corners.

The governor noted, anyone who has recently constructed a building or visited some building across the country would indeed be disappointed with the low standard of work.

“I therefore recommend a law to ensure that only trained and experienced construction professionals and artisans are allowed to construct buildings in the country based on the proposed construction code,” the governor said.

This, he said, would create uniform construction standards

One of the resent scenes of building collapse in Lagos

It is therefore of vital importance that we develop our construction industry to grow our economy as well as enhance the welfare of the people in tangible ways across the country “so that no matter where you are in the country, you can be assured of quality and save buildings.”

For safety, economics and aesthetics reasons, the governor said the introduction of the

Lasabi

Ahmed

uniform standards became imperative in order to clearly spell out building policy including a building code that would bind

the builders and those who engage them across the country.

The governor also raised concern on NIOB’s determina-

Analysts hopeful of vibrant real estate activities EMPLOYMENT The construction of Jabi Lake Mall is expected to create about 350 jobs

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ith the on-going construction works on Jabi Lake Mall in Abuja, the Heritage Place and Eko Atalantic City projects in Lagos, real estate’s analysts are hopeful of increased construction activities as the last quarter of the year beckons.

These projects, they said, would spur activities in the sector for the rest of the year. This stemmed from the face that Le-

Model of on-going Jabi Lake Mall project in Abuja

kki axis, which has remained attractive to foreign investors due to upcoming developments

Despite the heightened security issues, analysts, according to the latest report of the

Financial Derivative Company C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 3 4

tion to sensitize people on the need to avoid engaging quacks for their building projects in order to avoid wastage, and tragic loss of lives.

He described the conference as a clarion call to enhance partnerships and capacity building to boost professionalism in the building sector, adding that one could decipher the quality of life from the quality of housing that a people dwell in.

Expressing the importance of the construction industry to the nation, he said the sector is one of the first to suffer when an economy goes into recession.

“It is therefore of vital importance that we develop our construction industry to grow our economy as well as enhance the welfare of the people in tangible ways,” he stated.

According to him, NIOB on its part must justify the expectations by ensuring that members complied with high quality standards especially the provision of the proposed building code.

He said: “On our part, a concern for high standard in vocational trades such as building and construction as well as the need on plug gaps in middle level manpower led to the establishment of International Vocational Centre, Ajase-Ipo where building and construction is a major course.”

The center, he said was affiliated with City and Guilds of London to provide skills bench marked against global standard and trends.

He expressed readiness of the state government to partner with NIOB to ensure high standard building and construction in the country through capacity building and vocational centre.

He said the government is also keen to partner with private sector and the institute to provide low cost housing for the people through Public Private Partnership (PPP) ventures backed by cheap mortgage service.

Justifying the choice of the conference’s theme, the President of NIOB, Mr. Tunde Lasabi, said it was derived from a deep concern to explore the potentials of research, collaborations and professionalism, in the positive growth and development of the building industry.

The annual general meeting, he stated, was set in an international context to provide opportunity for peer review in global best practices.

According to him, as builders, the foremost concern is to ensure that the construction of buildings would not be left in the hands of quacks but that builders in Nigeria would continue to play their role effectively as the critical link in production management.

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property & ENVIRONMENT

Sanctity of Truth

Fashola returns homes to 16 senior citizens PROMISE KEPT

New 48 winners emerge in the sixth edition of the programme Stories by Dayo Ayeyemi

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or cooperating with government during the reconstruction of their estate after some houses caved in and others developed structural defects due to incessant flooding about five years ago, Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has returned 16 home owners, who are senior citizens to the regenerated Shogunro Estate in Ogba Lagos, amist fanfare.

Those senior citizens were earlier relocated from the estate.

Their return was announced during the sixth edition of the LAGHOMS’S open draw at the premises of Lagos Television, Agindingi, Ikeja.

On the regeneration aspect of the scheme, the governor cited the experience of the Shogunro Housing Estate whose inhabitants were forced by industrialisation and flooding to relocate around 2009 when their houses became structurally defective and were collapsing.

According to him, when some of the buildings collapsed about 2008-2009, the state government offered to relocate them but some of them refused to move, adding that when later the buildings started falling apart, they were finally forced to move after

which government moved in to rebuild the place as part of the Lagos HOMS. He said that 16 of the families in the estate cooperated with government while reconstruction went on, adding that by returning the 16 families to the regenerated estate, his administration has demonstrated the compassionate side of the Lagos HOMS Policy.

While handing certificate of allocation to the 16 senior citizens, the governor declared: “Two things are instructive in this experience; that we make a promise to you and we intend to keep it, and that our regeneration initiatives, that are going across in this state, will not leave anybody who is already a beneficiary behind.

“All I need to say to you is that

if you want this to continue, remember that the party that owns me is the All Progressives Congress. They are the owners of this policy.

“Let me say, houses are being built, construction is going on in over 23 sites and we will do more. So this policy has come to stay. It is in your hands now whether it continues, whether I am here or not. Without me being here the draw will continue and the draw will be here. If you want it to stay, the power to do so is in your hands,” Fashola said.

Advocating cooperation, sacrifice and patience on the part of citizens, the governor also cited the on-going regeneration in Adeniji-Adele, the regeneration initiative and experience garnered in other areas like the Isale Gangan which the Lagos

State Urban Renewal Authority (LASURA) is coordinating and directing the regeneration experience under Lagos HOMS. Noting that the policy has witnessed and will continue to witness adjustments based on new experiences and revelations going forward, Fashola said that the adjustments are necessary in order to accommodate all segments of the society who are qualified to participate in the scheme.

Meanwhile, a total of 48 winners emerged in the sixth edition of the popular Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS) monthly draw last week. The governor urged Lagosians to ensure continuity of the policy by voting the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next general elections.

Shogunro Estate, Ogba, Lagos

Analysts optimistic on vibrant real estate activities C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 3

(FDC), are hopeful that Jabi Lake Mall would be completed in 2015 as planned.

They noted that several measures were being undertaken to prevent and reduce security risks but at a costs, disclosing that such measures include terrorism insurance and hiring/training of additional security personnel.

Considering these measures by the developers to tackle the security issues, they said that tenants are still keen to lease spaces in the mall.

Real estate activities, they said, were expected to improve in August after the rains, pointing out that strong growth potential in Nigeria coupled with huge housing deficit has remained an attraction to investors in the sector.

Despite this, the analysts have listed title and documentation difficulties, high cost of infrastructure, election year uncertainties, and spread of insurgency as risk factors that may inhibit investment.

Also, information reaching

New Telegraph showed that real estate activities in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is picking up, thanks to the biggest luxury gated estate tagged “Rainbow World” which completion has reach 75 per cent, Located on Trans Amadi, the housing estate comprises of 1,181 units made up of 1081 flats and 60 terrace houses Financed by First Bank and Diamond Bank, major attraction of the estate include security, adequate infrastructure facilities and availability of mortgage for would-be subscribers.

Its prices range from N37.5 million to N234 million.

On the general outlook on increased real estate activities, the experts added that strong growth potential in Nigeria and huge housing deficit have been an attraction for investors in the real estate sector Meanwhile, the construction of Jabi Lake Mall is expected to transform Abuja into one-stop leisure, restaurant and retail destination for both residents and visitors.

The completion of the mall, located on the shores of Jabi

Lake, is scheduled for 2015. It is expected to be the country’s largest mall worth $100 million on 30,000 square metres of land.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, had recently announced a $9.5 million investment in Jabi Lake to assist the $120 million retail centre project to create about 350 construction jobs and 900 long-term, retail-sector jobs. The project’s primary sponsor is the Actis Africa Real Estate Fund II. Duval Properties is the joint venture partner alongside Actis.

Essentially, Jabi Lake Mall follows the success of other Actis malls in Nigeria, such as The Palms and Ikeja City Mall in Lagos.

Jabi Lake Mall development and construction is managed by Laurus Development Partners.

The project team comprises MDS (architecture), Chapman BDSP (MEP); L&S Consulting (structural engineering), Davis Langdon and Tilliyard (quantity surveyors/cost consultants) and MIC Mobility in Chain (traffic consultants).

Director, Actis Africa Real Es-

tate Fund II, Ms. Amanda Jean Baptiste, said: “Investing in the Jabi Lake Mall demonstrates Actis’s commitment to developing world-class retail destinations and adding to the domestic infrastructure in Nigeria, as well as our support for the growing demands of a rapidly changing economy. Our partnership with IFC will help us draw on their expertise in international best practice in the environmental and social aspects of the project that affect property development.”

Besides, they stated that Actis is looking to invest in three other shopping centres in Lagos and in other parts of West Africa - Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, adding that it is investing in office spaces and helping firms build their head offices One of them is the Heritage Place situated at the crossroads of Lugard and Alfred Rewane, which its completion targets 2015 Heritage Mall is the first commercial building in Lagos to achieve LEED certification and it boasts of 35 per cent lower energy consumption and lower occupancy costs, setting standards for future developers.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Ogun gets modern survey equipment

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gun State government has procured modern survey equipment to aid proper survey work on any land matters for surveyors, engineers and environmentalist in the state.

Special Adviser/Director General Bureau of Lands and Survey, Mr Adewale Oshinowo, disclosed this while receiving the equipment on behalf of the state government at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

He said that the equipment would boost activities on land related matters in terms of survey, adding that it would also reduce the work hazard and stress of the survey and lands officers in the field.

Oshinowo said that the Global Positioning System (GPS 1200) and Global Navigational Satellite System (GNSS) has the capacity to read and survey lands faster than one can imagine. According to him, it would drastically reduce the stress of land matters and ease the process of survey data collection in the state.

He pointed out that application programmers, road runner alignment suite and seamless data equipment, when put into use, would increase the productivity and optional application programmers for special task.

Some of its functions, he said, include reading time kinematic system (RTK), “which can be easily connected to the Continuously Operating Reference System (CORS) established within the state and has high accuracy of positioning’’ Oshinowo further said that the equipment would also aid and fast-track the documentation of land processes and issuance of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to those who had keyed into the Homeowners’ Charter programme, adding that it has good establishment of first order and ideal for topographical survey across the state.

Lagos to commence Sari Iganmu road

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here are indications that the reconstruction of Sari Iganmu and Gaskiya College Roads within the ApapaIganmu Local Council Development Area of Lagos State will commence next month.

The two roads, awarded in 2014, measuring about 3.13km, have been planned as 13.4 metres width dual carriageway with service ducts, asphalt pavement, pedestrian walkways and two new bridges.

Special Adviser to the state governor on Works and Infrastructure, Mr Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson, an engineer, who re-echoed the commitment of the contractors to the project, Messrs Julius Berger, noted that, barring all disturbances from the community, the project would be delivered in 20 months.

property & ENVIRONMENT

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

35

Mixed tales over landgrabbers’ activities in Ogun, Ikorodu communities SAVE OUR SOUL Affected residents call on government and all relevant bodies for aid Stories by Dayo Ayeyemi

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t was a bitter tale as residents of some communities in Ogun state and Ikorodu area of Lagos State narrated their ordeals in the hands of miscreants, popularly known as Ajagungbales, who they alleged have forcibly evicted them from their homes and farmlands.

Some of the affected communities include Adeekun Lambo Lasunwon, Teele Ewujebe, Ilu Oloye, Ewumi, Oke Arobi Ilisa Oba Lire, and Aro Ofolu, Salagberu, Tile, Igbosoro Oke-Ibu, Igbosoro Oloride all in Ogun State, as well as Jaajo, Oke-Agbo, both in Lagos State The group, under the auspices of the Association of Communities Against Terrorism in Lagos and Ogun states (ACALTO), while lamenting the situagion they suddenly found themselves, have sent a Save Our Soul (SOS) message to the leadership of the country and all relevant bodies to come to their aid.

The group, at a press briefing in Lagos, decried what they described as "great injustice" meted on them by a group

Fashola

Amosun

of ajagungbales, who they insisted had driven them out of their ancestral properties and reselling same to anyone who wish to buy it.

The group alleged that the ajagungbales, whose kingpins were identified as Mutairu Owoeye, Kamoru Lamina (Sir K), Hakeem Alabi, Elede, Doyin, among others, apart from usurping their land and merchandising it, had also committed many heinous crime in the communities where they held sway.

These, according to them, include rape, murder, illegal possession of arms, which they allegedly used as tools and weapons to unleash mayhem on residents.

General Secretary of ACALTO, Prince Babatunde Olade-

hinde, noted that over eight communities had been sacked by the miscreants, adding that the affected communities had been turned into ghost towns.

Narrating how it started, Oladehinde said: "The ugly incident started some years back when we just woke and found that the hoodlums had attacked Eyin Ogbe villages and spread to other communities, shooting, killing, raping and maiming innocent people.”

Oladehinde also disclosed that after the petitions written by members of the affected communities (through their legal team) to the Office of the Attorney of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police were eventually ] successful, a team of police offi-

cers dispatched to investigate the developments was stunned at the level of devastation wreaked in the communities by the miscreants.

Reacting swiftly, one of the major individuals mentioned as an ajagungbale kingpin, Mr Kamoru Lamina, has dissociated himself and his business enterprise from the entire development.

In a chat with the media, Lamina who is also known as Sir K presented some documents to back up his claim, insisting that he legitimately bought and invested in property in some of the troubled communities, including IluOloye whose Baale was sent packing.

He re-emphasied that his company, Omo Lamina Venture, has dealings with some of the communities, but that such relationship was based on business.

He said: “Being estate developers, we legally and legitimately buy land in communities, including those in question. I am not an ajagungbale, neither do I have dealings with any of them.

As a matter of fact, I have never had any problems with any of the communities where I have landed properties.

“One of the beauties of democracy is the freedom of speech and association but it should not be used to spread lies, destroy hard-earned reputations and sow the seed of discord in the society. We

should work together to build the society, not to destroy it,” Lamina stated.

Also, one of the key members of a family who sold land to Lamina, and who identified himself as Kamson, insisted that all the land sold to Lamina were legitimately carried out, adding that all the lands have valid documents.

Kamson said: “Sir K duly and legitimately bought those lands from us. All documents pointing to this are complete.

We have a legal backup for all that we did. Therefore, any negative report by any individual or group of individuals should be ignored.”

Meanwhile, Oladehinde, who acted as the mouth piece of all members of the affected communities, had alleged that the ajagungbales, led by Sir K, even spurned a court injunction over the issue which was in their (members of the community) favour.

Even the traditionally leader (Baale) of Ilu Oloye - one of the communities mostly affected by the development - Chief Ganiyu Ali, disclosed that he had not stepped into his ancestral palace since July 3, 2014 - the day the supposed ajagungbales drove him away.

Apart from the estranged Baale, several members of other affected communities also made claims which also indicated that they had been deprived of their real estate by the ajagungbales.

Accra: Ambassador Heights developers target 2015 A mbassador Heights, a highend residential development being built adjacent to the Moevenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra is rapidly rising, the Sales Manager for the project, Robert Davis, has stated.

He said that late 2015 has been set as target for its completion.

The sales manager for the

project said: “50 per cent of our residences have been sold to Nigerian buyers who are purchasing for our location and design, association with the Moevenpick Hotel, and the high level of quality they are confident we will deliver.

These discerning individuals are further excited about the prospect of allowing the hotel professionals to fully

maintain and manage their residence.”

Ambassador Heights realized sell-out of its initial phase of inventory and has a limited number of homes remaining through a Phase II release.

An extension of the 5 star luxury hotel, the project completes the 3rd Phase of the overall complex and will deliver the ultimate in luxury

Aerial view of Ambassador Heights, an on-going residential development in Accra, Ghana

living.

Owners within Ambassador Heights, he said would enjoy a fully serviced lifestyle experience to include pool, spa, fitness, restaurants, retail, and meeting and event facilities.

He said: “In addition the luxury services of the hotel will be extended to the residences allowing homeowners to enjoy housekeeping,

in-room dining, laundry, valet services, and much more.”

With only 18 exclusive homes, Ambassador Heights offers an attractive investment opportunity for those seeking the potential to make solid appreciation and yields. Homeowners will have the flexibility of renting long-term or through the hotel on a shortterm basis.

36 property & ENVIRONMENT

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Innovation, quality vital for furniture industry, says expert

I

nnovation, creativity and quality are basic ingredients that the Nigerian industry needs to compete in the emerging global furnishing industry, Managing Director of Raumplus, Mr Adeyanju Adelakun, has said.

Adelakun, an international interior and furniture design expert, pointed out that these were basic imperatives for the Nigerian furnishing to align with global standards to engender growth in the industry.

He said that Raumplus is aligning with the lifestyle of Nigerian consumers with the unique styling of its furniture design for homes.

Raumplus’ newly commissioned showroom in Nigeria showcased different designs of international standards to provide solutions in sliding door, room dividers, mobile furniture hinge door, walk-in closet, fitted closets and sloped ceiling.

According to him, individual solutions for living rooms and workplaces would require flexibility in utilisation and diversity when it comes to design and well-engineered technique.

These requirements, he said, have been met by his company’s sliding doors, room dividers and cabinet systems for over 25 years.

“In this long time, we have in

many cases contributed to the clever organisation and lovely designing of living rooms and offices, thanks to our customized products,” he said.

Speaking on some of the Raumplus customised product design, Adelakun said one product that would appeal to Nigerian women is the walk-in closets, noting that most people especially women would love to have a walk-in closet in their bedroom.

With a huge variety of design options like floor-to-ceiling sliding doors and flexible interior systems, he stated that his company could make sure that the personal interior design dream

becomes reality for Nigerians by creating a closet with generous storage space that makes bedrooms look more desirable.

He added, “For a fitted closet option, Raumplus with its innovative and international design can transform the ordinary into something extraordinary, giving customers opportunity to choose from five different interior systems, all of which guarantee practical tidiness that will ultimately give you a stylish feel.”

Adelakun said that the Raumplus’ sliding door and wall partitioning system could be used to create personal space in offices and homes.

“It is a flexible and variable

room structuring system consisting of wall partitioning components, sliding doors, folding doors and hinge doors. It can be used ceiling-high as partitioning or sliding panel. The system can be supplemented or reconstructed anytime without any great effort,” he said.

The mobile furniture system is another classic product of Raumplus; it combines sliding door technology with a closet interior system to create an innovative interior design object.

The major advantage of this concept is the high flexibility, meaning that the series can be assembled without any structural construction work being required.

West African Ceramics wins NIA award Dayo Ayeyemi or its outstanding contribuFbuilding tion to development of the industry, the Abuja

Council member, Commonwealth Association of Architects, Arc. Mansur Kurfi; and General Manager, West African Ceramics Ltd, Bhaskar Rao, during the presentation of NIA’s Recognition Award to the company by NIA Abuja Chapter recently

chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), has endorsed foremost manufacturer of tiles in Nigeria, West African Ceramics Limited with a special recognition award This endorsement came on the heels of the bi-annual General Meeting and 30th Anniversary Ceremony of the professional body of architects which took place in Abuja.

Themed: "Architecture and Contemporary Challenges III," the architects, at the event, elected new executives and of-

Climate change: ‘Investment in adaptation can promote income of 65% Africans' I n order to halt the future impacts of climate change which include increased droughts, flooding, and sea-level rise, a new report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has revealed that investment in climate change adaptation can help ensure that its impacts do not reverse decades of development in Africa.

One of the impacts of climate change mentioned includes a projected 20 – 50 per cent decline in water availability.

The report includes examples of successful adaptation projects that have provided the impetus for large-scale government investments and policy action.

Keeping Track of Adaptation Actions in Africa (KTAA) - Targeted Fiscal Stimulus Actions Making a Difference - is the first graphical report that presents practical examples of successful low-cost adaptation solutions from around sub-Saharan Africa in one concise handbook.

According to the report, by 2050 Africa’s population will

have doubled. The continent will then be home to 2 billion people, the majority of which will still largely depend on agriculture for their livelihoods Commenting, UN-Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner, said: “With 94 per cent of agriculture dependent on rainfall, the future impacts of climate change may reduce crop yields in some parts of Africa by 15 – 20 per cent.

“Such a scenario, if unaddressed, could have grave implications for Africa’s most vulnerable states.”

Using projects implemented in various countries in subSaharan Africa, the UNEP boss pointed that the KTAA report has clearly demonstrated how investment in adaptation actions could provide, not just low-cost solutions to climate change challenges, but to actually stimulate local economies through more efficient use of natural capital, job creation and increased household incomes.

“By integrating climate

change adaptation strategies in national development policies governments can provide transitional pathways to green growth and protect and improve the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of Africans,” he added.

The practical publication responds to the 2013 Africa Adaptation Gap Report which was endorsed by the African Ministerial conference on the Environment (AMCEN), and which identified the potentially crippling costs of climate change for Africa.

The President of AMCEN and Minister of State for the Environment, United Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Dr. Binilith Mahenge, said: “Incipient threats posed by climate change, particularly in terms of potentially overturning decades of development efforts in Africa, suggest that future development efforts should incorporate greater resilience to climate change impacts.

“The KTAA report is an action guide that showcases ways to do this in various sectors and

African countries should use this as the guiding document for investments in adaptation to climate change.”

The first part of the report provides snapshots of the current and predicted future impacts of climate change on livelihoods, agriculture, and human and eco-system health in Africa, detailing impacts by region, country and even city.

The second half of the report describes how countries through low-cost climate adaptation actions can improve the health and functioning of ecosystems; build community capacity to sustainably manage eco-systems; improve agricultural productivity; and innovatively store water.

For example, an aquatic ecosystems project in one local community in Togo led to an increase in access to water for human use, agriculture and livestock of 488 per cent.

Other key reports take-aways of UNEP climate change adaptation projects.

ficers, addressed the challenges of the practice, education, security, and other relevant concerns and awarded certain persons and organisations for their contribution.

West African Ceramics bagged the ‘Special Recognition Award’ for its outstanding contribution to architectural practice and commitment to the development of the building industry.

Speaking, the immediate past chairman of the chapter, Mr Stanley Kolo, said that the institute recognised the immense support by the company in alleviating some of the challenges facing architectural practice and its unmatched footprint in the tile production sector of the building industry.

He said: “We paid a courtesy call to the company’s manufacturing complex at Ajaokuta and were astounded by what we saw. We didn’t know earlier that such facility existed in this country. The company has modern state-of-the art machinery to produce tiles that will adequately serve the needs of architects. The NIA president at that time said that there’s no reason to import tiles from China or other countries. The risk which importation may pose may as well been taken care of if we patronise West African Ceramics as they have all the systems and processes to deliver to our demands no matter the size of the project.”

Receiving the award from Council Member, Commonwealth Association of Architects, Mr Mansur Kurfi, was the General Manager, West African Ceramics Limited, Bhaskar Rao, Rao thanked the body of architects for recognising the contributions of the company over the years. He said that, the company considers architects and builders as strategic partners to drive positive development in the industry and support the local content policy.

All eyes on Chidoka

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

BUSINESS 37 p–38

Private jets on display on an airport apron

Gulfstream, others scramble for Africa's private jets market A new economic scramble for African markets is unfolding and aircraft makers, particularly those reputed for making private jets, are now seeing Nigeria as a huge market, writes Aviation Editor, WOLE SHADARE

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ith a population of over 160 million sandwiched moneybags that are far richer than most African nations, aircraft makers are really in for a field day.

Economic analysts have predicted that the African economy would grow to $2.6 trillion by 2020. These companies have equally taken interest in countries in West Africa such as Ivory Coast, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar.

Attraction Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales and Marketing, Gulfstream, Scott Neal, said: “Business aviation is growing in this part of Africa, especially in Nigeria, and shows no signs of slowing down, SkyJet is a company with a strong and positive name in the aviation sector and will be an invaluable resource as the need for business jets continues to increase.”

SkyJet is a private charter airline and aircraft maintenance provider and was incorporated in 2006. SkyJet’s owner and chief executive officer, Alhaji Kashim Bukar Shettima,

and director of aircraft sales, Bruce Fullerton, will work closely with Gulfstream’s Pete Buresh, regional vice president, Africa, and Trevor Esling, regional senior vice president, International Sales.

The company is headquartered in Kaduna, a city in central northern Nigeria, and has additional offices in Lagos and Abuja.

Lately, Bombardier, Gulf Stream, Falcon and other plane makers have stepped up the plate to the point that they are winning the small aircraft trade in Africa.

Top aviation officials disclosed that a significant number of the companies from Europe, the US and Canada were already submitting applications through local representatives to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Aviation to bring aircraft into the country for charter operations.

It was also learnt that some foreign private jets had started coming into Nigeria in preparation for the boom, expected to begin as early as the first quarter of 2015. The source said: “I think 2015 is going to be a very booming year for private jet operators in the country.

The local operators are warming up for this seriously.

But the interesting and surprising thing about this is that a number of foreign companies, especially from Europe, the US and Canada, have submitted documents, seeking permission to bring in private jets into the country for charter operations.

Private jet market growth While the international private jet market was badly affected by the global economic crisis of 2008–09, the number

of jets sold in Africa continues to increase.

Embraer estimates that there were 420 business jets operating in Africa in 2012 and forecasts that this figure will rise to 670 by 2022. Bombardier roughly agrees, predicting an increase to 810 by 2032. Such precise figures make interesting reading but exact statistics are difficult to obtain. Owners often register their planes with offshore companies and then lease them back in order to maintain privacy. Indeed, the African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) estimates that the number of private jets in Africa could be anywhere from 400 up to 600. Nigeria is believed to be the world’s second-fastest-growing private jet market, after China. There were just 20 such aircraft in the country in 2007 but the fleet has now grown to about 170, with estimated expenditure of $6.5 billion over the past six years.

The AfBAA was set up last May to promote the private jet indus-

Embraer estimates that there were 420 business jets operating in Africa in 2012 and forecasts that this figure will rise to 670 by 2022.

Bombardier roughly agrees, predicting an increase to 810 by 2032

try. AfBAA chairman, Tarek Ragheb, cited the problem of a lack of connectivity within Africa as a main motivation behind private jet acquisition.

He said: “If you have a requirement for an NGO or an entrepreneur or a government agency to be able to conduct its business, the options of using rail or a good highway are simply not there. So, for the growth of the continent, there must be an ultra-efficient means of travel and that is where business aviation could come in.

“Flying out of Africa is not difficult. You can go from Lagos to London; you can go from Kinshasa to Belgium; that’s not a problem, Ragheb added.

Challenge in intra-Africa flights And you find that for African growth you’re going to need intra-Africa flights and this is where the focus is going to be. Popular models include the Gulfstream 450, 550 and 650; and the Bombardier Challenger 604 and 605. Other manufacturers include Hawker Siddely, Embraer, Cessna and Dassault.

Gulfstream Aerospace secured certification for its ultra-longrange G550 from the South African Civil Aviation Authority late last year, 12 years after the aircraft was introduced. Scott Neal, the senior vice president for sales and marketing at Gulfstream, said: “South Africa accounts for 24 per cent of the entire Gulfstream fleet in Africa.

Having this certification is important to our growing customer base because it streamlines the registration process for our South African operators.” With a range of 6,750 nautical miles, it can fly nonstop from South Africa to East Asia, South America or Europe. There is plenty of scope in the sector for new

financial products. More highnet-worth individuals can afford private jets through leasing than via direct purchase. Private jets can cost $60 million but it is also possible to buy an old, secondhand aircraft for $500,000.

Gap in the market Securing financing from global banks has become more difficult since the global economic crisis, not least because the value of second-hand aircraft has declined. In addition, such banks often require collateral in North America or Europe.

Alternatively, potential buyers can seek to finance their aircraft through chartering them out. Again, there is a gap in the market for companies that can arrange charters. The sector can also create employment at airports, as jets must be maintained and stored in hangars.

Experts’ perspective Speaking at the Nigerian Business Aviation Conference recently, the managing director of Guaranty Trust Bank, Segun Agbaje, said: “Aircraft financing is a way to deepening banking relationships with top private banking customers and corporate organisations, but there are some challenges in the financial institutions as most of us don’t realise yet the importance of support for the industry. “Nigeria provides a huge opportunity for development in the aircraft manufacturing industry. Risks and problems associated with commercial aviation are one of the problems confronting the sector. However, most financial institution will prefer to support business aviation at the expense of commercial aviation. Business aviation has fewer risks when compared to commercial aviation.”

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Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

WITH

‘You can’t catch Ebola AIR RAGE from passenger on plane’ All eyes on Chidoka l Airline maintains schedule to W'Africa Wole Shadare

S

outh African Airways (SAA) has said that its decision to continue to operate to West Africa despite the deadly Ebola virus ravaging the sub-region was consistent with the position adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The airline, in a statement, stated that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has addressed the fears of international travellers by indicating that there is no risk of catching the virus from a fellow passenger on a plane, because Ebola is not an airborne disease; as it only spreads from the direct contact of bodily fluids.

The carrier noted that at present, WHO has not issued any travel restrictions to the region or closure of borders, adding that it would apply all decisions and leads prescribed by the global health agency such as SAA services to Abidjan (Ivory Coast); Ac-

cra (Ghana); Cotonou (Benin); Dakar (Senegal) and Lagos (Nigeria) will be maintained as scheduled.

The airline advised passengers that all airline personnel are trained to respond to passengers who display the symptoms of being infected with the disease, stressing that precautions include separating sick travellers from other passengers, covering faces with a surgical mask, having air personnel wear disposable

gloves, among others.

“Reporting potential sick passengers to our operations control; will be applied in accordance to IATA guidelines,” SAA said.

The airline stated that it remains committed to ensuring the enforcement of international health protocols associated with air transport, noting that it will remain in liaison with its local health authorities to monitor the situation on a continuous basis.

…Announces frequency increases to Jo'burg S outh African Airways (SAA) has increased frequency between Lagos and Johannesburg from 7 to 8 services per week effective September 2, 2014. Strong passenger demand and an additional state of the art A320s inducted to the fleet, are among the reasons that prompted SAA to add frequencies to its developing Lagos route.

SAA’s Country Manager in Nigeria, Thobi Duma, explained that “SAA stands ready to offer seamless customer service to our valued passengers. This will ensure increased connectivity and better connecting times to flights in the evening out of Johannesburg.

“We are noting a steady

growth and we maintain that the increases in frequency will provide both business and leisure passengers travelling to and from these destinations with more flexibility and greater choice to connect onto SAA’s extensive global network,” adds Duma.

Owing to the increased frequencies, passengers connecting from Lagos to other cities such as Abuja will be able to connect without challenges as opposed to the current schedule where they spend the night in Lagos before connecting.

Furthermore, passengers from South Africa will be afforded more time to engage in their activities before flying out at 23h00 on Tuesday nights.

This is part of SAA’s “Gain-

ing Altitude” strategy to add flights in developing routes like Lagos and offering passengers convenient connections to the rest of the world. SAA will continue to look at new opportunities to add capacity to its existing network and further strengthen its brand presence around the world.

“As SAA, we are committed to be a catalyst for the growth of business and investment in Nigeria by ensuring that our passengers receive the comfort of flying with a very safe and secure carrier that has consistently been Africa’s most awarded airline, and recently voted by Skytrax as the Best Airline in Africa for 12 consecutive years,” concludes Duma.

NCAA DG charges BA on aviation devt

A

ware of the increasing needs to promote the Nigeria Aviation sector, the Director General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Benedict Adeyileka, has charged corporate organisations in the airline industry to put in place programmes that would enhance the development of the aviation sector in the country.

Adeyileka gave the charge when winners of the British Airways’ Leaders of Tomorrow paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Lagos.

He said that initiatives such as the British Airways Leaders of Tomorrow programme could play an important role in bringing new expertise and international best practice to the Nigerian aviation sector.

The programme gave six students of the Nigeria Aviation College an opportunity to gain some valuable first-hand insight into the operations of a modern international airline during a two-week internship in Lagos and London.

The NCAA boss commend-

ed the airline for choosing the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, as its partner in the programme.

“We must commend British Airways for this laudable initiative. This is a development programme for the youth in the aviation industry and has proved that British Airways is not only concerned about its commercial operations in Nigeria, but also giving back to the country in a big way,” he said.

C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 3 9

F

rom a distance, one finds it extremely difficult to assess the newly appointed Minister of Aviation, Mr. Ositadimma Chidoka. It is still very early to begin to know what he has to offer the industry.

He did what was expected of him to do. He met with the chief executives of the various aviation agencies and stakeholders. He must have learnt one or two things about aviation. He is smart but needs to be smarter if he really wants to know more about one of the most vibrant sectors.

The truth is that aviation needs to be rescued and Chidoka comes as somebody who has the magic wand to move the sector forward and give it a new direction.

Like every other Minister before him, they promised so much but left the sector in ignominy owing to corruption and alleged high handedness that characterized the tenure of the immediate past Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah.

In truth, Oduah started well. She showed a lot of zeal to succeed but got herself enmeshed in one of the biggest scandals that not only dented her image, but one that was difficult to explain. Many attributed her down fall to greed and lost of focus. That was characteristic of politicians; the more reason stakeholders in the sector clamoured for technocrats to be appointed as Aviation Minister.

One hopes that Chidoka has studied the tragedy that befell not only Oduah but two other past Aviation Ministers from the South West whose tenure were marred by alleged corruption that forced the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest and prosecute them for their alleged involvement in the Safe Tower Project (STP).

The Minister’s tour of most of the projects last week should serve as an eye opener.

His countenance showed disappointment and the extent of rot in the sector especially the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, in spite of the several billions of naira reportedly spent on airport remodeling.

One area the Minister should look into is the overbloated workforce in the various agencies. Majority of them do not have business in aviation. Many of them are more of rock stars than aviators. They do not have offices.

Over 2000 unskilled people were brought in and posted to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology

Wole Shadare

(NCAT) and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

The agencies do not need some of these dead woods.

It is very heartwarming that Chidoka has directed that “all the parastatals stop all irregular employments, stop further payment on all capital projects until after verification of project, all recruitment and promotion, ensure that contractors comply with specifications on all contracts awarded, forward the list of all on-going projects payment status.”

The minister equally directed that all Information and Communication Technology (ICT) related contracts be put on hold to allow for an audit/appraisal of existing infrastructure, establish relationship between service, professional staff and identify areas of need and to steadily increase remittances of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in line with fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 and to prepare/update condition of service and scheme of service.

The directive was handed to the Managing Directors of FAAN, NAMA, NIMET, the Director General of NCAA, Rector, NCAT, Zaria and Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB).

In a letter entitled, “Re: Briefing of the Honourable Minister of Aviation: Matters Arising”, dated August 11, 2014, signed on behalf of the Minister by Deputy Director, (Planning), Stephen Okon, with reference number: CA012/003/764/T copied to all the agencies, read in part, “Please recall that several directives were issued during the briefing of the Honourable Minister of Aviation by chief executives of agencies on August 5, 2014”.

Experts have however, welcomed Chidoka's decisions on these important matters, saying he needed to take those decisions if he really wants to sanitize a sector that has come under heavy criticisms for the way and manner most of the airports remodeling projects were carried out.

They noted that not only were the projects shambolically executed; many were of the view that the extent of work does not match the huge amount of money that was reportedly expended.

Many of the employed had no experience in the sector, just as the employment cuts across the lower to the highest cadre of directors and general managers with the creation of more directorates without recourse to the Act establishing the agencies.

They noted that the Minister needs to look at NCAA and NAMA and cause investigation into why the aviation regulatory body lacks aircraft inspectors and shortage of air traffic controllers.

BUSINESS | AVIATION

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

ALLIANCE Airline partnerships have shaped the landscape

39

Airlines partnering for success

Peter Berdy

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or decades, airlines have been looking for the best path to sustain their business and increase shareholder value in the face of stiff competition and uncertain economic environments.

When organic growth options require taking on higher risk, or barriers to entry exist (such as bilateral limitations), partnerships with other airlines become increasingly attractive.

There are a host of options used by airlines to form partnerships, including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, codeshares and alliances.

Airline partnerships have shaped the landscape, with global alliances playing the dominant role. Approximately 58 per cent of all capacity is operated by airlines in one of the big three alliances -Oneworld, Star Alliance or SkyTeam. Some carriers prefer to stay out of alliances and opt instead for expanded codeshare agreements.

For example, Etihad and Emirates list codeshare agreements with 33 and 12 airlines, respectively, and Alaska Airlines has agreements with 13 airlines.

However, many of the fundamental tenets of alliances are now being challenged and new alliance approaches are being tested. Airlines are looking to greater flexibility and exploring options in developing business relationships.

Recent partnership trends Recognition that alliances do not offer everything, members are turning to other places outside their alliance to fill gaps in their network as they grow or look for new opportunities. IAG Chief Executive Officer, Willy Walsh, said that Oneworld is relaxed about its members looking beyond the alliance. Some examples prove this point: Oneworld founding member, Qantas, signed a fiveyear partnership with Emirates to replace Singapore for Dubai as a stopover point for European services. All Qantas flights to Europe will operate through Dubai under a comprehensive partnership to coordinate pricing, sales and flight scheduling. There will also be a profit-sharing agreement on flights between Australia and the United Kingdom. The partnership will help Emirates reach into the lucrative corporate market in Australia, which is also being targeted by rival carrier Etihad. Meanwhile, Oneworld member, Airberlin, is in codeshare discussions with SkyTeam member, Air France.

Terminating codeshares Within Star Alliance, Lufthansa ended its codeshare agreements with Turkish Airlines. The speculation was that the relationship ended due to the strong growth by Turkish and its presence in secondary cities in Germany.

British Airways' B747-400

Low-cost carriers are being included in the mix. Airlines are looking into forming links that were unthinkable a few years ago as traditional network airlines’ service offerings have blurred and some LCCs have moved to hybrid models.

In some instances, working with LCCs may be the only viable option when competition is limited (such as West Air in Canada) or where other airlines are already involved in other partnerships and the only dance partner is an LCC. LCC subsidiaries of full-service carriers are becoming more common. There should be 20 alliance members with LCC subsidiaries or affiliates by the end of 2014. These subsidiaries are likely to fill gaps in markets assigned by the parent companies.

There are many groups and holding companies managing portfolios of airlines ranging from full to partial ownership.

A few examples include IAG, Lufthansa Group, Etihad Aviation Group, Hainan Group, Irelandia Aviation and Indigo Partners. The central goal is to leverage purchasing power, coordinate planning and expand network reach, as well as to realize synergy benefits overall.

Changing rules of the playing field Similar to preclearance facilities in Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, pre-clearance at Abu Dhabi will help passengers avoid long U.S. Customs lines when they arrive in the United States by instead clearing customs at the new facility in Abu Dhabi. The benefit is that passengers may be lured to fly direct from Abu Dhabi on Etihad Airways. Etihad happens to be the only nonstop service to the United States from Abu Dhabi. The airline is likely to reduce passenger connect times to further take advantage of pre-clearance.

Following Abu Dhabi’s lead, Qatar has also applied for U.S. Customs pre-clearance.

Joint ventures to form new airlines Singapore Airlines and Tata

There are a host of options used by airlines to form partnerships, including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, codeshares and alliances of India, for example, have joined forces to launch a new airline in India and have funded it with an initial investment of $100 million. SIA expects commercial synergies by expanding in the important Indian market, while Tata Group will continue to build its aviation-related businesses such as catering, ground handling and engineering.

Due to government restrictions on domestic ownership and control, the battleground for alliances continues to focus on access to emerging international markets.

In the United States, the big three network airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, control nearly 60 per cent of U.S. domestic capacity. In Europe, the big three groups, Lufthansa Group, IAG and Air France/ KLM, control only 20 per cent of E.U. domestic capacity with the bulk controlled by LCCs such as RyanAir and easyJet. Economies in Brazil, China, India and Asia have made mergers and acquisitions and new business models (example: long-range LCCs) more pronounced in the global market to gain market share and stimulate new business. The result of these trends and activities are the breaking and formation of new partnership models.

Successful partnership models Fifty-eight per cent of capacity, measured by ASKs, is controlled by the three global alliances Oneworld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance. Despite their

dominance, other successful partnership models have evolved including holding companies, LCCs and joint ventures.

Reasons to partner One of the fundamental reasons that airlines engage in partnerships is to address competition. Airlines have found that consolidation will allow them a stronger market presence and power to claim a position of dominance.

With intense pressure on airlines to cut costs and earn profits, acquisitions offer a channel to increase scale and leverage the sheer size of the resulting partnership. Carriers have resorted to acquisition to reduce costs, increase loads and improve profitability. Strategic alliances also allow companies to leverage each other’s core competencies.

Mergers and acquisitions are usually resorted to either for increasing scale or cutting costs, while alliances are often used as a way to enter new markets. Some markets may have high barriers to entry such as regulatory constraints, established competitors or highly volatile markets that do not justify initial entry investments.

In such cases, alliances are the preferred option because they allow airlines to leverage their existing knowledge and resources through collaboration.

On the other hand, where barriers to entry are low, airlines can gain a very strong foothold in the market either through merger or through acquisition.

Synergies and resources Along with the previous factors, synergies and resources are equally important in deciding among the options available to airlines. Mergers and alliances between companies have been proven to work efficiently if there is a high level of synergy between companies.

Synergies can be found in corporate culture, product portfolio, strategic goals, and supply chain or logistic systems. When such synergies exist, companies can productively implement a merger or form an alliance.

“Alliances don’t guarantee success,” IAG’s Willy Walsh said. “You need to have a robust, profitable business in its own right.”

Analyzing partnerships Key components to evaluating partnerships include addressing several “how tos”, specifically, how to assess the partner fit, how to access an expanded passenger base, and how to realise efficiencies and economies of scale.

Depending on the type of partnership, there is a range of levers that can be pulled to realize synergies - network rationalization as well as airport and other facility consolidation - removing duplicate overhead, fuel purchasing and engineering savings, and working capital and balancesheet restructuring, such as renegotiating aircraft leases.

To evaluate and measure the benefits of potential partnerships, there are steps in analysis that are typically performed.

US, EU domestic capacity share The United States is characterised by high concentration due to mergers: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines control 63 percent of U.S. domestic capacity, measured by ASKs. In Europe, IAG, Air France/ KLM and Lufthansa Group control only 23 per cent of EU domestic capacity, with the remainder spread between LCCs and smaller national carriers.

Codeshares The value of codeshares can be measured by simulating traffic that would move over flights with codeshares and comparing results to a baseline prior to adding the codeshare flights. To perform this simulation requires a suite of tools and data.

A scheduling tool, such as Sabre AirVision Schedule Manager, is used to modify the baseline schedule to place the partner’s code on the operating airline’s flights. A forecasting tool, such as Sabre AirVision Profit ManC O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4 0

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RISK ASSESSMENT West Africa is a key battleground for African airlines pitted against the Gulf giants

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ollowing reports that several members of parliament in Nairobi had demanded that the national airline, Kenya Airways, halt flights to West African countries affected by the current Ebola outbreak, the airline has confirmed that a new risk assessment will be made and that the decision to continue flights be reviewed. A decision will likely be announced later today (Thursday) and details will be reported here as soon as information has become available whether the airline will remain on the routes or follow the likes of British Airways and Emirates which have already stopped flights last week.

The announcement by KQ comes hot on the heels of the World Health Organisation, very likely prompted by the continued flights, declaring Kenya a high-risk country. A number of other African airlines however continue to fly to the affected countries after similar to Kenya Airways taking extra precautions for ground staff and crews and introducing a screening process for passengers. IATA in a statement earlier this week also made it clear that the risk of infection is considered ex-

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 9

ager, is used to forecast traffic, revenue costs and profits. Databases containing schedules, market sizes and fares as well as costs are needed.Sabre Airline Solutions develops inputs such as market sizes, fares and schedules using a variety of data sources including its own airport data intelligence, which contains global O&D and MIDTadjusted data, and schedules.

To analyse results, two forecasts are made: a baseline forecast representing the state prior to the codeshare, and a future forecast to measure the codeshare flights. Comparing results of the two forecasts will reveal the increased traffic, revenues and profits related to adding the codeshare flights. Detailed analysis of the results will indicate where the benefits occur.

Alliances, joint ventures, M&A Complex analysis for alliances, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions include examining ways to unleash value to obtain the greatest benefit from these types of partnerships. Similar to codeshares, a “before-and-after” evaluation takes place.

For alliances, the application of codeshare flights is extensive. In the case of mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures, analysis will typically examine the value of using a single code instead of separate codes.

Furthermore, these types of partnerships may incorporate significant network adjust-

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Kenya Airways after WHO warnings: Taking a fresh look tremely low.

Earlier in the week was a passenger from West Africa admitted to the Kenyatta National Hospital’s isolation unit but later cleared when the tests conducted showed no trace of the virus.

WHO has added Kenya to the Level 2 countries on their list for Ebola risk, with the affected countries (Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria) on a Level 1 alert.

Social media interactions over the past few days have become increasingly vocal about the issue and some passengers who allegedly arrived from West Africa

via Cairo have added to the general concerns when they mentioned an absence of screening staff at Nairobi’s main airport.

The Kenya Airport Authority in conjunction with Kenya Airways and the Ministry of Health have however instituted measures to screen all passengers arriving on flights directly from the affected countries and the staff at the national referral hospital KNH, where an isolation unit has been set up, have undergone special training.

West Africa is a key battleground for African airlines pitted against the Gulf giants

for traffic to India and the Far and South East and both Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways see the key West African markets as a major revenue generator.

Said a regular aviation source from Nairobi when discussing the issue: ‘The real question which has to be asked is if the world community is ready to effect a total travel ban from and to the affected countries until the outbreak has run its course. While people can still cross land borders over panya routes (A Kiswahili expression for using illegal border crossings) at least they would no longer be able,

if infected and no signs showing at the time, to fly to any point in the world and then fall ill there with the potential of creating new Ebola outbreaks in places which are perhaps not prepared for it. If there is a global ban of course every airline will stop flying but until that is done, the choices are with the airlines and their respective governments. If our government would tell KQ to stop flights they will of course.

It is a hard choice to make and either way there will be much criticism after all of this is over.” l Culled from Top on Travel

Kenya Airways aircraft in flight

Airlines partnering for success ments to further enhance alliance value, such as: Retiming and adding flights in overlapping markets to get better and more complete timeof-day coverage, Re-assigning fleet to optimize aircraft utilization, Synchronisation of bank timings between hubs to optimize traffic feed between partners, Adding new flights to accommodate spill that results from converting interline traffic to online, Testing the addition of new markets to take advantage of a stronger network, Partnership studies may include identifying the “S” curve effect, the benefit associated with partnerships offering a more complete range of services, thereby resulting in improved airline preference by consumers.

Ethiopian enters into Codeshare Ethiopian Airlines has announced that it has entered into a codeshare agreement with United Airlines, which became effective August 30th, 2014.

The biggest airline in Africa Ethiopian Airlines, currently flies to 82 international destinations across five continents operating a young and modern fleet, such as Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft. The carrier provides daily services to Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) using the

B777 or B787 aircraft with convenient and easy connections through its main hub in Addis Ababa (ADD) to 49 cities across Africa.

The new codeshare agreement between the two Star Alliance member airlines covers the Addis Ababa–Washington, D.C. trunk route, as well as points in Africa and the U.S. With this codeshare agreement, travellers between the US and Africa will be able to enjoy unmatched and seamless connectivity options thanks to United’s strong network in the US and Ethiopian’s unparalleled coverage of East, Central, Southern and Western African destinations.

Marking the occasion, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam, said: “We are very pleased to start

codeshare flights with fellow Star Alliance member, United Airlines. This agreement will enable our two carriers to tap into new market opportunities and be competitive in the fastgrowing Africa-US travel market. It will also give a wider choice of connectivity options to our customers travelling between Africa and the US. “United is pleased to join Ethiopian in providing new codeshare options for our mutual customers traveling between the US and Africa,” said Jim Compton, United’s vice chairman and chief revenue officer.

“In addition to nonstop flights between the US and Ethiopian capitals, the new service will provide Ethiopian’s customers with convenient connections to destinations throughout the Americas from our Washington

South Africa Airways airplanes on the tarmac of OR Thambo airport, J'burg

Dulles hub, and will offer United customers access to more destinations in Ethiopian’s extensive network.”

Ethiopian is a global Pan-African carrier currently serving 82 international destinations across five continents with over 200 daily flights and using the latest technology aircraft, such as the B777s and B787s. l Culled from Ascend

NCAA DG lauds airline C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 8

Adeyileka urged other corporate organisations in aviation to emulate the airline by making meaningful contributions to Nigerian aviation sector.

British Airways Country Commercial Manager, West Africa, Mr Kola Olayinka, said that he hoped that initiatives such as Leaders of Tomorrow would contribute in no small way to the Nigerian aviation sector reaching its potential.

“As the largest economy in Africa, Nigeria needs a strong aviation sector. Leaders of Tomorrow is our contribution to this and we expect big things from the winners in the coming years.”

BUSINESS | MONEY LINE 41

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

PenCom licences Nigeria Police Pensions NPF to transfer N300bn contributions

CAPABILITY Viability of the NPF Pensions is assured by the performance of other ventures owned by the NPF

tributions of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force under the Pensions Reform Act 2014, is already taking steps to receive the transfer of the over N300 billion pension contributions of all the personnel of the Nigeria Police from the other 20 Pension Fund Administrators, which are currently managing the funds in line with the conditions for the licensing of the Police PFA. The NPF Pensions was set up and licensed to cater for the personnel of Nigeria Police as a compromise to prevent NPF from exiting the Contributory Pension Scheme.

Following the enactment of the Pension Reform (Amendment) Act 2011, which exempted the personnel of the Military and Intelligence Agencies, the Nigeria Police and other agencies brought heavy pressure to bear on the Presidency to also be excluded from the Contributory Pension Scheme. After careful considerations, following several meetings and consultations, the Federal Government decid-

Godson Ikoro

T

he National Pension Commission (PenCom) has granted an operating licence to the Nigeria Police Force Pensions (NPF Pensions).

Consequently, NPF Pensions has become the 21st Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) after “fulfilling very stringent licensing requirements,” according to a statement from PenCom’s former media consultant, Mr Tony Ede. NPF Pensions had since commenced operations.

Ede said the NPF Pensions, which was specially licensed to administer the pension con-

ed that the Nigeria Police personnel should remain under the Contributory Pension Scheme, but with special administrative solutions to address the grievances of their personnel within the framework of the Scheme.

Furthermore, with the granting of operating licence to the NPF Pensions, in the spirit of compromise whereby the police remains under the Contributory Pension Scheme, being regulated by PenCom but own their PFA to cater for their specific needs and address their genuine complaints against the PFAs, which amongst others include poor service delivery has now been realised.

All police pension contributions are currently being transferred to First Pension Custodian, which has custody of the funds whereas NPF pensions manages the funds and required to publish its account annually like any other PFA. So, the safety net that covers contributors fund in other PFAs is also covering police pension

Naira gains 0.11% as lenders sell dollars

T

he naira gained 0.11 per cent against the US currency on the interbank market yesterday, supported by inflows from lenders selling dollars to stay within a regulatory limit for holding hard currencies, dealers said.

The unit according to Reuters, closed at N161.90 to the dollar, up from N162.07 it closed last Friday.

The naira eased to a fiveweek low against the greenback two weeks ago but recovered some ground last week after

dollar sales by some oil companies, including the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Dealers expect some oil companies to supply dollars this week, meaning that the naira may see further support.

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

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

Description

TTM

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

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

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

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

FX

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

Offer 163.38

L

enders in Nigeria lost about N2billion to electronic fraud between January and June this year, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Enterprise Bank Limited, Mallam Ahmed Kuru, has said.

The Enterprise Bank boss disclosed this in a statement from his Head, Corporate Communications, Igwe U. Igwe.

He spoke while delivering a keynote address titled “When All Goes Wrong: Mediation and Arbitration Best Practices,” at the just concluded August 2014 meeting of the Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum (NeFF) in Lagos.

Kuru, who was represented

by Mr. Chuks Ekpunobi, the bank’s Head, Strategy & Corporate Transformation, noted that if the e-Fraud should persist, about N5 billion would be the estimated loss by the end of this year.

He noted that statistics provided by the Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC)

K

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

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80

Banks lost N2bn to e-fraud in H1, says Kuru was frightening because it showed that electronic fraud has been in an upward trend since 2010. Kuru said this is worrisome because the increase is both in terms of the number, volume and sophistication that are driven by highpowered technology.

‘If this is not checked, the trend will lead to unbearable levels of capital erosion in the system,” he added.

Consequently, he called on banks to establish anti-fraud departments as a way of curbing the menace.

Unfortunately, however, he argued that bankers, auditors and internal control officials of financial institutions may not be as knowledgeable as the fraudsters themselves. “Therefore, if we are to make progress in this direction, banks need to as a matter of urgency, establish anti-fraud departments with staff that would always be ahead of the fraudsters in every sense of the word,” he added.

Keystone Bank takes financial to NASFAT

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

fund and members of the Nigerian Police desirous of owning their PFA in order to serve their unique needs and also use any profits from there to improve their welfare.

However, the viability of the NPF Pensions is assured by the performance of other ventures owned by the Nigeria Police Force, which are profitable companies that operate under relevant regulatory authorities. For example, the NPF Micro Finance Bank is one of the best run of its

peers, the Police Insurance Company, Health Management Company and Police Cooperative welfare schemes are all doing very well.

Ede noted that the NPF Pensions started the process of obtaining a PenCom’s PFA licence two and a half years ago.

The company has its operations Headquarters behind Force Headquarters, Abuja, with six regional offices in Lagos, Portharcourt, Enugu, Abuja, Gusau and Gombe to ensure that pension services are brought nearer to their clients – Police personnel.

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

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

eystone Bank Limited has taken the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) financial inclusion policy to the NASRUL-LAHI-L-FATIH Society (NASFAT).

The lender at the weekend taught children at a holiday camp ground at Homat Group of School in Ikorodu, Lagos State, the benefits of savings.

Speaking at the event, the Keystone Bank Executive Director, Corporate Banking and Treasury, Mr. Hafiz Bakare, said that the programme is specifically targeted at school children to raise awareness on finances.

He noted that the bank in conjunction with other stakeholders in the financial literacy steering committee and the Ministry of Education is developing the financial literacy curriculum to be included in the Nigerian school system from 2015.

Bakare said this programme was designed to raise awareness in finances amongst children and youths in primary and postprimary schools. He said that financial literacy constituted an integral part of developing tomorrow’s leaders.

“Children can begin to build

a culture of saving from an early age”, he enthused, adding that the essence of the programme is financial literacy, and the ability to educate children.

He added that the programme is also seeks to imbibe knowledge in the children and educate them on use of money within the financial system.

Besides, he said it is also in fulfilment of one of the pillars of the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) thrust, geared towards taking education to young Nigerians and encouraging financial literacy amongst the youths.

Bakare stated that a couple of banks had embarked on a lot of financial inclusion programmes within the last couple of months.

“What we are doing is taking a step forward beyond what other banks has done by taking the programme to society groups and religious groups where we can educate our youths and ensure we improve the level of financial inclusion,” he explained.

Bakere said Keystone Bank will take the programme to different parts of country.

42 BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

18-Aug-14

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

Bonds

Price

FGN Bonds Issuer

Rating/Agency

NA

NA

Description 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)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

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 12.15

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

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

0.11 0.68 2.00 2.69 2.94 3.04 3.78 4.86 5.18 7.44 9.57 14.28 14.76 15.26 15.93 19.92

10.97 11.00 11.38 11.37 11.41 11.42 11.49 11.55 11.69 12.13 12.27 12.35 12.33 12.30 12.19 12.34

9.66 10.19 11.30 11.31 11.35 11.29 11.39 11.48 11.60 12.08 12.22 12.31 12.28 12.25 12.14 12.30

99.77 95.52 102.90 108.40 96.18 94.81 97.60 116.15 82.12 120.45 110.65 117.54 101.05 74.05 84.75 98.55

99.92 96.02 103.05 108.55 96.33 95.11 97.90 116.45 82.42 120.75 110.95 117.84 101.35 74.35 85.05 98.85

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,591.19

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,659.61

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM

Description

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

#

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

0.20 0.76 1.38 2.31 2.67 2.88

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.74 13.64 13.45 13.40 12.40 12.41

97.69 90.38 104.88 100.34 98.76 96.26

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

0.16 1.04 0.64 1.16 1.16 2.67 1.71 3.37 2.34 4.13 2.54 2.54 2.92 2.99 5.26 3.05 3.67 6.28 6.37 3.85 3.88

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

14.14 15.50 14.22 15.56 14.58 16.99 12.30 13.24 13.19 12.52 12.39 16.17 12.41 12.41 12.72 14.16 12.48 13.02 13.99 12.94 13.45

99.87 97.22 99.62 98.72 101.36 85.44 102.42 101.97 101.76 104.61 104.64 95.88 104.89 107.68 106.64 101.45 106.36 101.95 104.11 104.59 104.52

1,301.62

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,273.31

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

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

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

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

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

6.00 8.50 6.08 6.27 7.37 57.00 29.92 25.00 37.25 9.00 14.96 11.13 27.00 17.28 80.00 28.37 11.40 87.00 5.00 4.78 4.79

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Corporate Bonds

484.10 489.51

A+/Agusto; AA/GCR

LAFARGE WAPCO

11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014

Aa/Agusto

GTB µ NGC

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014

Nil

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto

*UPDC

BB+/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

*FLOURMILLS

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto

NAHCO

BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR A/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR BBB/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

UBA

BBB-/GCR

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

FSDH

A/GCR

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014

*C & I LEASING *DANA# *TOWER *TOWER

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

#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

*DANA NAHCO

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

07-Oct-11

11.50

11.80

07-Oct-14

0.14

1.00

11.91

99.88

18-Dec-09

13.50

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.33

5.21

15.95

99.11

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.37

8.71

19.50

98.99

17-Aug-10

10.00

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.75

4.88

15.89

96.00

09-Dec-10

12.00

13.62

09-Dec-15

0.83

1.00

12.02

100.51

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.60

06-Jan-16

0.91

2.63

13.66

100.73

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

2.12

1.00

12.40

101.05

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

2.19

1.34

12.74

102.75

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

3.12

1.00

12.42

101.42

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.73

30-Nov-17

1.93

1.88

13.26

109.08

09-Apr-11

16.00

7.20

09-Apr-18

1.89

3.48

14.85

102.20

09-Sep-11

18.00

3.27

09-Sep-18

2.06

5.20

16.60

102.61

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.90

09-Sep-18

2.06

5.06

16.46

101.75

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

4.10

1.35

12.87

103.48

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.70

18-Oct-18

2.17

2.29

13.69

104.11

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.50

6.11

17.50

99.07

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

3.37

2.16

13.61

106.27

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

6.24

2.76

14.77

101.84

11-Feb-18

3.49

1.00

12.46

93.77

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

142.08

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

144.42

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

IFC

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

12.00 11.25 Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

4.75

4.60

111.00

111.88

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

3.93

3.71

104.29

105.08

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.06

4.95

109.29

110.14

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

1,622.83

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

AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

3.71

2.96

111.45

112.64

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

4.67

3.95

104.67

105.93

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.16

5.89

99.39

100.40

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.03

6.41

100.59

102.30

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.69

8.11

94.33

96.08

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

7.89

7.13

107.31

109.28

6.25 APR 22, 2019

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

B/S&P; B/Fitch

FIDELITY BANK PLC

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

AFREN PLC

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.39

6.09

99.41

100.66

B/Fitch; B/S&P

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

8.94

8.69

99.25

100.22

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

DIAMOND BANK PLC FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.26

6.56

103.42

105.92

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

AFREN PLC

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

6.00

5.10

104.41

105.89

ZENITH BANK PLC

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,660.00 3,761.13

**Treasury Bills DTM 10 17 24 31 38 45 52 59 66

FIXINGS Maturity 28-Aug-14 4-Sep-14 11-Sep-14 18-Sep-14 25-Sep-14 2-Oct-14 9-Oct-14 16-Oct-14 23-Oct-14

Bid Discount (%) 10.50 10.80 10.40 10.70 10.55 10.70 10.60 10.65 10.65

Offer Discount (%) 10.25 10.55 10.15 10.45 10.30 10.45 10.35 10.40 10.40

Bid Yield (%) 10.53 10.85 10.47 10.80 10.67 10.84 10.76 10.84 10.86

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 13.5417 13.9099 14.4475 15.0776

NITTY

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

14.00

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

14.25

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

161.90 162.39 162.64 163.24 164.42 165.68 169.32

162.00 162.65 162.98 163.89 165.62 167.31 172.92

O/N Tenor Call 1M 3M

REPO

Rate (%) 13.83 13.83 14.22

(N'bn)

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

***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

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

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

0.20 0.76 1.38 2.31 2.67 2.88

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

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

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

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

6.00 8.50 6.08 6.27 7.37 57.00 29.92 25.00 37.25 9.00 14.96 11.13 27.00 17.28 80.00 28.37 11.40 87.00 5.00 4.78 4.79

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

0.16 1.04 0.64 1.16 1.16 2.67 1.71 3.37 2.34 4.13 2.54 2.54 2.92 2.99 5.26 3.05 3.67 6.28 6.37 3.85 3.88

Pre- tax profit equally fell to N993 billion, down 52 per cent, from N2,061 billion last year ansard Insurance Plc has

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE posted a CAPITALISATION 56 per cent deTOTAL MARKET

cline in post-tax profits Corporate Bonds for the half year ended June A+/Agusto; LAFARGE WAPCO 30, 2014.AA/GCR Aa/Agusto GTB The company , in a filing with NGC Nil the Nigerian Stock*UPDC Exchange Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto said its half-year (NSE) *FLOURMILLSnet BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS earnings decreased from N1.842 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR billion in 2013 to N814NAHCO million, acA-/Agusto counting for a drop ofFSDH 56 per cent.

A/GCR UBA Its pre- tax profit *C equally fell BBB-/GCR & I LEASING toBBB+/DataPro†; N993 billion, BB+/GCR down *DANA 52 per A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR cent, from N2, 061 billion *TOWER in the AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR *TOWER same period last year.

A/Agusto; A/GCR UBA Gross premium however, inBbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *LA CASERA creased by 27 per cent to N9.611 BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS µ

#

# #

#

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

97.69 90.38 104.88 100.34 98.76 96.26

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

14.14 15.50 14.22 15.56 14.58 16.99 12.30 13.24 13.19 12.52 12.39 16.17 12.41 12.41 12.72 14.16 12.48 13.02 13.99 12.94 13.45

3.61

17-Aug-15

13.62

09-Dec-15

0.75

4.88

15.89

96.00

0.83

1.00

12.02

100.51

Mansard’s net earnings drop by 56 in H1

BBB/GCR

11.74 13.64 13.45 13.40 12.40 12.41

BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS 43

Sanctity of Truth

M

Price

1,273.31

Sub-National Bonds Tuesday, August 19, 2014NIGER A-/GCR

PLUNGING

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

(%)

1,301.62

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

A+/Agusto A/Agusto Nil A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto A-/GCR

(%)

*DANA NAHCO

billion, from N7.547 billion.

Mansard had recorded a 48 per cent increase in its profit after tax for the full year ended December 31, 2012.

Its results released to the Exchange recently, showed that its profit, which stood at N930million at the end of 2011, rose by 48 per cent or N45million to close at N1.38billion in the year under consideration.

Similarly, its premium revenue rose by 24.4 per cent or N2.44billion to close at 11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014 N12.44billion in 2012, up from 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 N10billion a year earlier.

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 According to the result, invest10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 12.00 income FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 ment and other operating 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 income also rose on the back of 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 proactive portfolio management, 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 from N644million in December 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 2011 in the year 18.00to C&IN1.69billion LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 under review .

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 The company’s balance sheet MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 revealed that the total assets 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 stood at N27.29billion, represent15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 ing an increase 14 per cent MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMSof II 17-FEB-2019 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

from N24.02billion in 2011 to N27.29billion, while insurance liabilities were up by 26 per cent to N5.87billion, indicating growing security shield for existing policyholders.

Shareholders’ funds also rose

by N36million or 2.6 per cent to N14.42billion in the year under review, up from N14.06billion recorded the previous year.

Commenting on the result, the Chief Client Officer, Mansard Insurance, Mr. Tosin Runsewe, said the performance 07-Oct-11 11.50 was based on improved strate18-Dec-09 13.50 gies, which boosted its business.

01-Apr-10 17.00 He17-Aug-10 added that the10.00 company 09-Dec-10 to ensure 12.00 was poised increased 06-Jan-11 returns in the next14.00 financial 13.00 year.29-Sep-11 25-Oct-13 14.25 He30-Sep-10 said, “We achieved better 13.00 results in the year by18.00 maintain30-Nov-12 ing best practices in our cor09-Apr-11 16.00 09-Sep-11 porate governance18.00 structure 09-Sep-11 16.00 on our and remaining focused 22-Sep-11 14.00 growth strategy .

In the medium 18-Oct-13 15.75 to long-term, we will17.00 introduce 17-Feb-12

more innovative products to the market and expand our retail branch network in a bid to improve accessibility by a growing customer base.

“These, combined with a continuous up-scaling of our technology infrastructure, will ensure our place as a leading independent insurance company.”

He added that the company 484.10 had increased its business with 489.51 banks in a better way than before, adding that this had en11.80 07-Oct-14 0.14 abled the firm to expand with13.17 18-Dec-14 0.33 out compromising the existing 2.00 31-Dec-14 0.37

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Supranational Bond

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

AAA/S&P IFC Stories

by Chris Ugwu TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

T

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

rading activities on the floor of the Nigerian Stock MarIssuer ketRating/Agency yesterday, opened the week on a negative note as the FGN Eurobonds bears overshadowed the bulls.

BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P The listed equities lost points BB-/Fitch; and remained in the red terriFGN BB-/S&P tory following the sell pressure BB-/Fitch; on blue chip companies, which BB-/S&P was dueOUTSTANDING to profit taking by marTOTAL VALUE ket speculators in the wake of TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION the cautious optimism that had Corporate Eurobonds prevailed in the market in reB-/S&P; B/Fitch AFREN PLC I cent times.

GTBANK PLC I The twin market perforB+/S&P; B+/Fitch GTBANK PLCASI mance measures, the NSE B+/S&Pmarket capitalisation, ACCESS BANK PLC and B/S&P; B/Fitch FIDELITY BANK PLC dropped 0.22 per cent as the B/Fitch AFREN PLC market tempo lowered.

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC

At the close of trading, 21 stocks recorded appreciated, while 27 others constituted the losers’ table.

Description The twin market indicators, the All-Share Index fell by 9.43 basis points or 0.22 per 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 cent, from 41,380.05, last Friday to close at 41,370.62, while the 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 market capitalisation dropped 12, 2023

by N3 billion6.38orJUL0.22 per cent, from N13.663 trillion to N13.660 trillion.

Further analysis of the day’s trading showed that Forte Oil 11.50 FEB 01, 2016 Plc topped the gainers’ table 7.50 MAY 19,at 2016 with N7.90 to close N233.90, 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 while Nigerian Breweries Plc 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 followed with N1.80 to close at 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 N173.10 per share.

10.25 APR 08, 2019 On the flip6.25side, Flour Mills APR 22, 2019

relationship that it had with other companies.

The Chief Financial Officer, Mrs. Rashidat Adebisi, said, “We closed with a Gross Premium of N12.4billion, up by 24 per cent from the previous year.

We also grew our profit before tax by 45 per cent to N1.7billion, while investment income and other operating income increased by 162 per cent from N644million to N1.7billion.

“Our insurance receivables and other receivables went 1.00 11.91 99.88 from N4.3billion to N3.8billion, 5.21 15.95 99.11 reflecting a 12 per cent decrease.

8.71 19.50 98.99

Nedbank to own 20% of Ecobank after debt conversion

0.60

06-Jan-16

0.91

2.63

13.66

100.73

15.00

29-Sep-16

2.12

1.00

12.40

101.05

5.53

25-Oct-16

2.19

1.34

12.74

102.75

20.00

30-Sep-17

3.12

1.00

12.42

101.42

0.73

P

30-Nov-17

1.93

1.88

13.26

109.08

an-African lender Ecobank 09-Apr-18 1.89 3.27 expects South 09-Sep-18 Africa's2.06 Ned0.90 bank to convert 09-Sep-18 a $2852.06 mil35.00 4.10 lion loan to 22-Sep-18 shares in Ecobank 2.70 18-Oct-18 2.17 before the end of the year,2.50 Eco0.41 17-Feb-19 bank's chief01-Apr-19 executive said3.37yes01-Apr-14 16.00 4.50 14-Nov-13 15.25 2.05 14-Nov-20 6.24 terday.

Albert Essien said he was 142.08 confident Nedbank would ex144.42 ercise the conversion option and also top up the conversion 11-Feb-13 10.20 11-Feb-18 3.49 Nigeria Plc led the losers with a 12.00 amount with $206 million to drop of N5.44 to close at N68.11, 12.00 give it a 20 per cent stake in while Guinness Nigeria Plc 11.25 Ecobank. shed N1.55 to close at N187.45.OutstandingAfter Value the Nedbank deal EcoIssue Date Coupon (%) Maturity Date Yield (%) On the activity chart, the (N'bn) bank expects its capital Bid adequabanking sub-sector dominated cy ratio to hit 18.7 per cent of in volume terms with 80.2 mil- assets by year-end, up from 17.5 07-Oct-11 6.75 28-Jan-21 4.75 lion shares worth N953 million 500.00 per cent in the first six months in 1,366 deals. The sub-sector of the year, Essien ana12-Jul-13 5.13 500.00 12-Jul-18 told an3.93 was enhanced by the activities lysts conference call on its half12-Jul-13 6.38 5.06 in the shares of Access Bank 500.00 year results.12-Jul-23 and Zenith Bank Plc. "The Nedbank stake is 1,500.00 Other financial services sub- 1,622.83 capped at 20 per cent. If they sector boosted by the activities do convert ... I think that will on the shares of Custody Insur- strengthen the business rela11.5026.4 mil450.00 01-Feb-16 3.71 tionship that we have (had) ance 01-Feb-11 Plc followed with 19-May-11worth N193.5 7.50 million 500.00 lion units, since 2008," 19-May-16 Essien said. 4.67 6.00 400.00"The conversion 08-Nov-18 will trigger 6.16 in 66208-Nov-13 deals.

7.25 350.00 25-Jul-17 reciprocal board seats. We7.03 see it In 25-Jul-12 all, investors exchanged 09-May-13 6.88 02-May-18 8.69 as very positive and we expect a total of 177.8 million shares, 300.00 08-Apr-12 10.25 300.00 08-Apr-19 7.89 worth N2.1 billion in 4,484 deals. 500.00 that it will happen."

22-Apr-14 6.25 22-Apr-19 6.39 7.20

Stock market opens on negative path TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

99.87 97.22 99.62 98.72 101.36 85.44 102.42 101.97 101.76 104.61 104.64 95.88 104.89 107.68 106.64 101.45 106.36 101.95 104.11 104.59 104.52

Nedbank's14.85 chief executive, 102.20 5.20 Brown, 16.60 102.61 two Mike told Reuters 5.06 16.46 101.75 Noweeks ago that its had until 1.35 12.87 103.48 vember to decide if it will take 2.29 13.69 104.11 the 20 per cent stake in the Togo6.11 17.50 99.07 based bank, 13.61 under a strategic 2.16 106.27 2.76 14.77 101.84 alliance it has with Ecobank.

Shares in Lagos-listed Ecobank, which is up 6.3 per cent this year, rose 2.79 per cent yesterday to N17.20 each.

1.00 12.46 93.77 Essien also said he expected another institution EIB to convert about $58 million of debt into shares.

Offer Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price Last month Ecobank, which hasPrices a presence in 36 African & Yields countries, reported 27 per cent 4.60 111.00 111.88 rise in its first-half pre-tax profit 3.71 to N41.67 billion.

104.29 105.08 Chief Financial Officer 4.95 Laurence do109.29 Rego said110.14 on the conference call that the lender was aiming for a 15 per cent growth in lending in 2014, after it achieved 8 per cent in the first 2.96 of which 111.45 112.64 half, Nigeria account104.67 of total 105.93 ed3.95 for 40 percent loans.

5.89 99.39 Essien said Ecobank100.40 had re6.41 102.30 cently set up100.59 operations in Mo8.11 94.33 zambique and secured 96.08 a bank7.13 107.31 ing licence in Angola. 109.28 6.09 99.41 100.66 3.48

DIAMOND BANK PLC FIRST BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

8.94

8.69

99.25

100.22

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.26

6.56

103.42

105.92

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

AFREN PLC

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

6.00

5.10

104.41

105.89

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,660.00 3,761.13

18-Aug-14

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

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

**Treasury the FMDQBills OTC PLC

DTM Maturity Bid Discount (%) 10 28-Aug-14 10.50 17 4-Sep-14 10.80 FGN Bonds 24 11-Sep-14 10.40 31 18-Sep-14 10.70 38 25-Sep-14 10.55 Issuer Description Rating/Agency 45 2-Oct-14 10.70 52 9-Oct-14 10.60 9.25 28-SEP-2014 59 16-Oct-14 10.65 4.00 23-APR-2015 66 23-Oct-14 10.65 73 30-Oct-14 10.50 13.05 16-AUG-2016 80 6-Nov-14 10.20 15.10 27-APR-2017 87 13-Nov-14 10.60 9.85 27-JUL-2017 94 20-Nov-14 10.20 9.35 31-AUG-2017 101 27-Nov-14 10.75 10.70 30-MAY-2018 108 4-Dec-14 10.10 16.00 29-JUN-2019 115 11-Dec-14 10.75 NA NA 129 25-Dec-14 10.80 7.00 23-OCT-2019 143 8-Jan-15 10.30 16.39 27-JAN-2022 157 22-Jan-15 10.25 14.20 14-MAR-2024 171 5-Feb-15 10.40 15.00 28-NOV-2028 185 19-Feb-15 10.40 12.49 22-MAY-2029 199 5-Mar-15 10.40 8.50 20-NOV-2029 234 9-Apr-15 10.10 248 23-Apr-15 10.25 10.00 23-JUL-2030 262 7-May-15 10.15 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 353 6-Aug-15 10.20 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE *from the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration

Offer Discount (%) 10.25 10.55 10.15 10.45 10.30 Issue Date 10.45 10.35 28-Sep-07 10.40 23-Apr-10 10.40 10.25 16-Aug-13 9.95 27-Apr-12 10.35 27-Jul-07 9.95 31-Aug-07 10.50 30-May-08 9.85 29-Jun-12 10.50 10.55 23-Oct-09 10.05 27-Jan-12 10.00 14-Mar-14 10.15 28-Nov-08 10.15 22-May-09 10.15 20-Nov-09 9.85 10.00 23-Jul-10 9.90 18-Jul-14 9.95

Bid Yield (%) 10.53 10.85 10.47 10.80 10.67 Coupon (%) 10.84 10.76 9.25 10.84 4.00 10.86 10.73 13.05 10.43 15.10 10.87 9.85 10.48 9.35 11.08 10.70 10.41 16.00 11.13 11.23 7.00 10.73 16.39 10.72 14.20 10.93 15.00 10.98 12.49 11.03 8.50 10.80 11.02 10.00 10.95 12.15 11.32

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

Rate (%)

OBB

14.00

O/N

14.25

REPO TTM (Yrs) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%) Call 0.11 1M 0.68 3M 6M 2.00

13.83 10.97 13.83 11.00 14.22 14.84 11.38

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

AMCON ModifiedFMBN Duration Buckets

***LCRM <3

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3<5 >5

Market TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Tenor Spot 7D Offer 14DYield 1M (%) 2M 9.66 3M 10.19 6M 1Y 11.30

2.69 11.37 11.31 2.94 11.41 11.35 3.04 11.42 11.29 :Benchmarks 3.78Bond 11.49 11.39 * :Amortising 4.86Bond 11.55 11.48 µ :Convertible AMCON: Asset of Nigeria 5.18 Management Corporation 11.69 11.60 FGN: Federal 7.44Government of Nigeria 12.13 12.08 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 9.57 12.27 12.22 IFC: International Finance Corporation 14.28 12.35 12.31 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 14.76 Aviation Handling 12.33 Company 12.28 NAHCO: Nigerian 15.26 12.30 12.25 O/N: Overnight UPDC: UAC Property Development 15.93 12.19Company 12.14 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company 19.92 12.34 12.30 NOTE:

Bid ($/N) 161.90 162.39 162.64 Bid Price 163.24 164.42 99.77 165.68 95.52 169.32 177.11 102.90

Offer ($/N)

Price 162.00 162.65

162.98 Offer Price 163.89 165.62 99.92 167.31 96.02 172.92 184.09 103.05

108.40 108.55 96.18 96.33 94.81 95.11 NA :Not Applicable 97.60 97.90 # :Floating Rate Bond 116.15coupon bonds 116.45 ***: Deferred 82.12 82.42 †: Bond120.45 rating expired 120.75 110.65 110.95 117.54 117.84 101.05 101.35 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 74.05Bank for Africa 74.35 UBA: United 84.75 85.05 98.55 98.85

4,659.61 Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

Agency Bonds NA

Tenor

4,591.19

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

Value

Rate (%) 13.5417 13.9099 14.4475 Maturity Date 15.0776

100.00 28-Sep-14 535.00 NITTY 23-Apr-15 530.27 16-Aug-16 Tenor Rate (%) 452.80 27-Apr-17 1M 10.5697 20.00 27-Jul-17 2M 10.6439 100.00 31-Aug-17 3M 10.7110 300.00 30-May-18 6M 10.9623 351.30 29-Jun-19 9M 10.9800 12M 11.3609 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) 200.00 162.2500 OFFER ($/N) 162.3500 591.57 23-Jul-30 70.00 18-Jul-34

#

Rating/Agency

NIBOR

Bonds

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00Porfolio FMB 24-MAY-2015 Market Total Outstanding 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 Value(Bn) Volume(Bn) 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 1,037.39 983.07 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 1,130.79 951.30

812.11 2,980.28

872.92 2,807.29

28-Dec-11

24-May-10 Weighting by 03-Apr-12 Outstanding Vol

09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 35.02 06-Jul-12 33.89

31.09 100.00

0.00

0.00 Weighting

by Mkt 17.25 Value

0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 34.81 0.00/16.50 37.94

27.25 100.00

978.35 24.56 3.30 112.22 116.700.35 66.49 0.34

Bucket Weighting

1,301.62 0.31 1.00 1,273.31

31-Oct-14

09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 16.54 06-Jul-17 34.44

0.20 0.76 1.38 2.31 2.67 11.33 2.88 11.96

49.02 100.00

12.23 11.99

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

Implied Yield

#

Risk Premium (%) 1.00

Valuation Yield (%)

2.00 1.00 118.4489 1.00 133.8662

11.74 13.64 13.45 13.40 12.40 1,125.02 12.41 1,133.53

102.4112 118.6865

1,194.71 1,127.39

2.63 Implied 2.27 Portfolio Price

INDEX

Indicative Price 97.69

90.38 YTD Return 104.88 (%)

100.34 98.76 12.5023 96.26 13.3528

19.4710 12.7395

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

NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA

14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

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

14.00 12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00

6.00 8.50 6.08 6.27 7.37 57.00 29.92 25.00 37.25

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

0.16 1.04 0.64 1.16 1.16 2.67 1.71 3.37 2.34

3.29 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80

14.14 15.50 14.22 15.56 14.58 16.99 12.30 13.24 13.19

99.87 97.22 99.62 98.72 101.36 85.44 102.42 101.97 101.76

Daily Summary as of 18/08/2014

Printed 18/08/2014 15:08:44.044

44 BUSINESS | CAPITAL MARKET

Daily Summary as of 18/08/2014 Printed 18/08/2014 15:08:44.044

Daily Summary (Bonds)

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

No Debt Trading Activity

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at August 18, 2014 Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals

Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 24 10 34

Current Price 36.47 37.00

Quantity Traded 185,345 24,752 210,097

Value Traded 6,510,740.86 899,627.20 7,410,368.06

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 35 35

Current Price 3.28

Quantity Traded 1,187,841 1,187,841

Value Traded 3,830,730.89 3,830,730.89

1,397,938

11,241,098.95

Quantity Traded 30,760 14,164,032 317,204 14,511,996

Value Traded 42,647.55 79,305,703.49 19,032,628.27 98,380,979.31

14,511,996

98,380,979.31

AGRICULTURE Totals

Daily Summary as of 18/08/2014 CONGLOMERATES Printed 18/08/2014 15:08:44.044 Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

69 Symbol AGLEVENT TRANSCORP UACN Daily Summary

No. of Deals 5 220 51 (Equities) 276

Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Construction ARBICO PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange Building Construction Totals ©

Current Price 1.40 5.60 61.00

276

Symbol ARBICO

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 5.30

Quantity Traded 1,000 Page 1,000

Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 7 7

Current Price 1.20

Quantity Traded 72,210 72,210

Value Traded 85,280.40 85,280.40

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

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 31 31

Current Price 65.00

Quantity Traded 245,140 245,140

Value Traded 15,470,816.89 15,470,816.89

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

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 34 34

Current Price 16.20

Quantity Traded 903,797 903,797

Value Traded 14,670,400.44 14,670,400.44

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

Symbol UPDCREIT

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 8.70

Quantity Traded 14,000 14,000

Value Traded 119,000.00 119,000.00

1,236,147

30,350,537.73 Value Traded 19,179.50 19,179.50

UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Daily Summary as of 18/08/2014 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals Printed 18/08/2014 15:08:44.044 CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Activity Summary onParts Board EQTY Automobiles/Auto Totals CONSUMER GOODS

Published byBeverages--Brewers/Distillers The Nigerian Stock Exchange © CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. PREMIER BREWERIES PLC Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC Daily Summary as of 18/08/2014 NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC Printed 18/08/2014 N NIG.15:08:44.044 FLOUR MILLS PLC. UNION DICON SALT PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC.

75

Daily Summary (Equities)

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 38,359 38,359

Symbol CHAMPION GOLDBREW GUINNESS INTBREW NB PREMBREW

No. of Deals 7 1 37 23 157 2 227

Current Price 8.31 0.71 187.45 27.50 173.10 1.20

Quantity Traded Page 163,708 8,500 44,502 397,396 823,046 51,382 1,488,534

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 26 26

Current Price 115.00

Quantity Traded 38,576 38,576

Value Traded 4,658,052.00 4,658,052.00

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM UNIONDICON

No. of Deals 35 55 98 44 49 2 3 286

Current Price 7.50 8.90 68.11 4.13 10.00 22.10 14.11

Quantity Traded 106,750 620,751 709,007 1,646,863 577,522 42,000 21,062 3,723,955

Value Traded 790,132.93 5,516,768.90 48,340,070.00 6,776,174.54 5,744,131.65 943,680.00 282,441.42 68,393,399.44

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

Quantity Traded 123,510 93,921

Value Traded 7,872,377.16 103,104,751.05

Symbol

No. of Deals 101

Current Price

Quantity Traded 217,431

Value Traded 110,977,128.21

Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 22 3 25

Current Price 4.05 1.37

Quantity Traded 560,778 5,000 565,778

Value Traded 2,296,745.75 6,550.00 2,303,295.75

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

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 39 44 83

Current Price 36.00 49.00

Quantity Traded 318,220 231,239 549,459

Value Traded 11,302,964.86 11,185,210.74 22,488,175.60

6,622,092

371,418,009.88

Quantity Traded 13,027,157 3,406,406 1,744,897 13,066,715 9,500,793 4,531,569 3,078,571 7,619,939

Value Traded 126,355,559.99 21,098,875.50 30,556,980.49 26,341,946.50 274,134,019.45 14,030,519.17 6,510,015.31 54,952,899.75

Page

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking

ACCESS BANK PLC. Daily Summary as of 18/08/2014 DIAMOND BANK PLC Printed 18/08/2014 15:08:44.044 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

FINANCIAL SERVICES Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Banking UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC

750 Symbol ACCESS DIAMONDBNK ETI FIDELITYBK GUARANTY SKYEBANK Daily Summary STERLNBANK UBA

No. of Deals 143 40 91 120 219 95 (Equities) 47 174

Current Price 9.78 6.20 17.20 1.98 28.85 3.05 2.12 7.13

No. of Deals 64 7 35 331 1,366

Current Price 8.18 0.50 0.95 24.10

Page Quantity Traded 736,318 5,401,000 1,906,073 16,137,592 80,157,030

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Symbol No. of Deals AIICO INSURANCE PLC. AIICO 38 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CONTINSURE 11 CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. CORNERST 7 GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. GUINEAINS 2 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTENEGINS 10 LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LASACO 2 MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MANSARD 6 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. MBENEFIT 11 N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NEM 12 Daily Summary as of 18/08/2014 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. NIGERINS 2 Printed 18/08/2014 15:08:44.044 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE 6 SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC SOVRENINS 4 STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. STDINSURE 2 UNIC INSURANCE PLC. UNIC 1 Daily Summary (Equities) WAPIC INSURANCE PLC WAPIC 72 Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals 186

Current Price 0.81 1.00 0.51 0.50 0.50 0.50 2.50 0.54 0.81 0.50 0.52 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.78

Quantity Traded 3,740,217 1,079,343 376,580 6,985 787,134 131,608 62,570 412,665 1,238,274 6,000 134,855 501,170 52,800 10,325 5,375,333 13,915,859

Banking Totals

Symbol UBN UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banks Published by Micro-Finance The Nigerian Stock Exchange © FORTIS MICROFINANCE BANK PLC NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers UNION DIAGNOSTIC & CLINICAL SERVICES PLC Healthcare Providers Totals Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

3

of

Quantity TradedPage 10,092,125 8,001,161 18,093,286

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 52 20 407 67 14 28 74 662

Current Price 3.24 3.96 14.63 4.28 0.60 29.70 2.16

Quantity Traded 514,029 10,684,400 7,916,673 3,966,667 678,150 378,314 2,319,656 26,457,889

Value Traded 1,663,997.04 42,510,990.47 115,842,875.12 16,904,516.41 409,945.00 11,168,126.87 5,016,006.97 193,516,457.88

138,624,064

1,223,125,941.91

2,221

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals Packaging/Containers AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS Daily Summary as GLASS of 18/08/2014 BETA CO PLC. Printed 18/08/2014 15:08:44.044 Totals Packaging/Containers

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

12

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 50.00 50.00

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH

No. of Deals 4 10 8

Current Price 2.26 3.10 63.50

Quantity Traded 5,828 210,000 6,110

Value Traded 13,078.40 640,880.10 383,769.77

Page

6

of

Value Traded 281,627.78 249,167.59 268,642.00 1,837,165.64

723,282

1,837,215.64

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.55

Quantity Traded 35,500 35,500

Value Traded 18,815.00 18,815.00

Symbol CWG

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 5.00

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Value Traded 4,800.00 4,800.00

Symbol CHAMS ETRANZACT

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 0.50 2.21

Quantity Traded 1,000 12 1,012

Value Traded 500.00 25.20 525.20

37,512

24,140.20

Quantity Traded 737,662

Value Traded 25,210,262.25

6

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol ASHAKACEM

No. of Deals 64

Current Price 34.70

Page

7

of

Symbol BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER PAINTCOM PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 7 13 54 48 1 5 9 87 288

Current Price 9.00 39.52 15.00 226.00 1.15 1.60 5.09 118.00

Quantity Traded 66,432 24,787 1,048,041 176,962 500 315,542 89,400 515,110 2,974,436

Value Traded 594,517.28 970,813.32 15,424,324.33 40,137,601.00 550.00 504,888.20 475,538.00 60,607,225.28 143,925,719.66

Symbol CUTIX NIWICABLE

No. of Deals 4 1 5

Current Price 1.91 0.50

Quantity Traded 204,820 25,000 229,820

Value Traded 391,307.66 12,500.00 403,807.66

Symbol AVONCROWN BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 5 2 7

Current Price 1.75 17.11

Quantity Traded 134,195 15,000 149,195

Value Traded 234,952.65 269,400.00 504,352.65

3,353,451

144,833,879.97 Value Traded 693,908.20

300

Daily Summary (Equities)

12

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 35

Current Price 0.51

Quantity Traded 1,358,320

Energy Equipment and Services Energy Equipment and Services Totals

Symbol

No. of Deals 35

Current Price

Quantity Traded 1,358,320

Value Traded 693,908.20

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

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 249 249

Current Price 26.39

Quantity Traded 3,283,829 3,283,829

Value Traded 86,134,583.74 86,134,583.74

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

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 70 36 126 17 21 10 280

Current Price 65.20 3.90 233.90 175.00 54.00 180.00

Quantity Traded 317,484 529,431 371,830 29,587 39,722 4,332 1,292,386

Value Traded 21,008,197.93 2,001,215.80 85,120,582.28 5,217,695.65 2,040,263.60 782,767.52 116,170,722.78

Exploration and Production

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 27 27

Current Price 695.00

Quantity Traded 29,726 29,726

Value Traded 20,133,568.00 20,133,568.00

5,964,261

223,132,782.72

Quantity Traded 465,987 465,987

Value Traded 425,657.36 425,657.36

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Daily Summary as of 18/08/2014 Exploration and Production Totals Printed 18/08/2014 15:08:44.044

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

Page

591 No. of Deals DailySymbol Summary (Equities) RTBRISCOE

Current Price 0.92

14 14

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © SERVICES

8

Page

9

of

of

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

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 20 1 21

Current Price 4.40 1.79

Quantity Traded 1,485,000 4,800 1,489,800

Value Traded 6,532,390.00 8,352.00 6,540,742.00

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 153,500 153,500

Value Traded 76,750.00 76,750.00

Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 0.78

Quantity Traded 775,530 775,530

Value Traded 604,862.90 604,862.90

Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Media/Entertainment Totals

Symbol DAARCOMM

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 20,000 20,000

Value Traded 10,000.00 10,000.00

Symbol LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 7 3 10

Current Price 1.64 4.50

Quantity Traded 254,000 22,000 276,000

Value Traded 404,761.25 94,160.00 498,921.25

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

Quantity Traded 977,810 977,810

Value Traded 686,393.20 686,393.20

Daily Summary as of 18/08/2014 Printing/Publishing Printed 18/08/2014 LEARN15:08:44.044 AFRICA PLC

UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation TotalsEQTY Activity Summary on Board

20 20

0.71

Symbol NSLTECH

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded Page 300 300

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

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 7 33 40

Current Price 2.10 5.00

Quantity Traded 59,500 1,072,766 1,132,266

Value Traded 126,220.00 5,364,730.00 5,490,950.00

Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 5.90

Quantity Traded 70,003 70,003

Value Traded 410,453.46 410,453.46

131

5,361,196

14,744,880.17

EQTY Board Totals

4,484

177,831,939

2,119,089,466.48

Equity Activity Totals

4,484

177,831,939

2,119,089,466.48

SERVICES Specialty Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © SECURE ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY PLC Specialty Totals

ABCTRANS

SERVICES Totals

12

12

Value Traded 10 of 12 150.00 150.00

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

Daily Summary Nameas of 18/08/2014 Printed 18/08/2014 15:08:44.044 NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF)

VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Symbol UNIONDAC

Quantity Traded 174,316 213,828 113,100 723,182

Symbol COURTVILLE

OIL AND GAS Totals

Value Traded 5 of 12 57,525,121.50 7,921,185.39 65,446,306.89

Current Price 1.60 1.17 2.38

65

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © OIL AND GAS

Value Traded 3,031,254.52 1,071,571.00 192,554.10 3,492.50 396,583.02 65,804.00 156,504.00 222,015.80 993,154.49 3,000.00 69,217.50 250,585.00 26,400.00 5,162.50 4,176,267.81 10,663,566.24

Current Price 5.70 0.99

No. of Deals 13 22 7 64

ICT Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

953,499,610.90

No. of Deals 4 3 7

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC Daily Summary as of 18/08/2014 PrintedProcessing 18/08/2014 15:08:44.044 Systems Totals

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC

4 ValueofTraded 12 6,027,035.13 2,700,500.00 1,844,575.23 388,946,684.38

Symbol FORTISMFB NPFMCRFBK

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC IT Services Totals

Traded 12 2Value of 1,293,293.20 6,290.00 8,347,049.09 10,925,267.00 141,945,240.79 61,639.30 162,578,779.38

67.02 1,110.00

Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © CONSUMER GOODS Food Products--Diversified Food Products--Diversified Totals

CADBURY NESTLE

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

Value Traded 5,040.00 of 12 5,040.00

Symbol DUNLOP

Symbol MAYBAKER NEIMETH PHARMDEKO

HEALTHCARE Totals

1

45 56

NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. EQTY Activity Summary on Board

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

Exchange Traded Fund

Name Exchange Traded Fund Totals

12

Symbol NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 2 3

Current Price 2,066.00 18.76

Page

Daily Summary (ETP) Symbol

Quantity Traded 22 125

No. of Deals 5

Current Price

Value Traded 45,164.00 2,348.95 11

of

Quantity Traded 147

Value Traded 47,512.95

ETF Board Totals

5

147

47,512.95

ETP Activity Totals

5

147

47,512.95

12

FEATURES

TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2014

Adams Oshiomhole, Edo State gov.

Chukwu

45

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/entrepreneur

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES EDITOR

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

Bushmeat sellers

Edo and the crippling effect of Ebola The report of Ebola infection in Nigeria is crippling socioeconomic life in Edo State as sellers kick against government’s ban on consumption of bushmeat, reports CAJETAN MMUTA

T

he fear of the deadly Ebola scourge seems to be the beginning of wisdom in Edo State.

This is understandable based on the frightening record of almost 1,000 deaths so far in four West African countries of Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

The tales about the manner of the spread, transmission, sources, possible vectors and the seeming incurability of the disease have left millions of people in utter despair.

More worrisome at the moment, is the rate of deaths and its impact on the nation’s economy.

Millions of people are awe-stricken about the health hazards of consumption of bushmeat, which is a major source of protein for the people both in the rural and urban centres in most West African countries.

The demand for bush meat has drastically dwindled in the past few weeks following reports of the spread of Ebola virus and the bushmeat as a major vector.

In parts of rural communities and even urban centres of Edo State, people now shun bushmeat consumption.

In ancient town of Benin, the Edo State capital, women who are the major dealers on bush meat and make contacts on daily with hunters, are threatening fire and brimstone.

Their grouse is the mounting campaign by states and the federal ministries of health against bushmeat con-

sumption.

According to them, the campaign has pushed them out of the traditional and ancestral business hence their means of livelihood is now in jeopardy.

In New Benin, Oliha, Ewotubu and Igbuyoko markets in Oredo and Egor local government areas of the state, bushmeat sellers have closed shops and their tables for the once thriving business have been overturned.

Mrs Victoria (surname withheld) said it was very bad for the sellers and their dependants.

She said: “How do we feed our families? Ebola is not in Edo State but since government and people started this campaign, we have packed our tables because customers have stopped coming to buy from us.”

Victoria also blamed officials of the state Ministry of Health for destroying the bush meat business which, according to her, is the source of her livelihood.

The mother of five said they should rather tell the public not to eat bats and monkeys.

She explained that she started the bush meat business, which she inherited from her mother, before she got married.

“We sell mainly antelope meat and complement it with other types of bushmeat. But now nobody is asking for the meat and that was why we folded up.

“Before the Ebola issue, the antelope meat was very expensive because it was in high demand. People from Edo North were always requesting for it for traditional marriage ceremonies or other things. They used to buy it in whole but now you can see there is no one asking for it again.

“I came here early in the morning but up till this evening I have not sold anything. Yesterday, it was the same.

What do I do now because of Ebola?” she asked.

Another seller, who did not want her

name in print, said that they were going to sustain the protest against the ban on bushmeat consumption since they had no other means to cater for their families.

During a visit, dried whole antelope went for N4,000 while porcupine was N5,000 yet no one asked for them from the sellers in Oliha and New Benin markets.

An old woman, who had a good number of bush meat on display at Oliha market, appeared desolate as there was no one in sight to buy from her.

But Madam Ayo, who is a reputed supplier of bush meat, dismissed the claim that Ebola is contacted through eating of bushmeat.

Ayo said in a telephone interview that bush meat was still in high demand by her customers.

She said: “The Ebola thing does not affect my business; I still sell at the same rate as before. The Ebola problem is not from bushmeat. They said it comes from the consumption of monkey meat and we don’t sell monkey.”

But despite her assurance, there is apprehension among residents of the state over repeated warnings by various media outfits and government agencies on the dangers associated with the Ebola outbreak and the need for absolute clean environment, individual hygiene and emphasis on regular washing of hands.

As citizens and the world wait for possible drugs and treatment option against Ebola, the government recently announced that there was no trace of the deadly disease in the state.

The government, however, advised the people to remain vigilant and report any suspicious case to the nearest health facility.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Aihanuwa Eregie, at a press briefing, said the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other health partners had carried out disease surveillance in

all parts of the state to ensure early detection of any outbreak and the timely containment and control.

The commissioner said since case of the deadly Ebola Virus had been confirmed in Nigeria, there was need for everyone to be extra-vigilant to prevent the virus in Edo State because of the highly contagious nature of the disease.

Eregie explained that Ebola virus is a deadly infectious viral haemorrhagic disease that affects humans and is usually transmitted from infected person to another by direct contact through body fluids and secretion.

She said that many animals, including monkey, chimpanzee, bat, antelope, porcupine, gorilla, among others, were known to be primary hosts.

Eregie added that signs of the disease included sudden fever, weakness, muscle pains, headaches and sore throat followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash and impaired kidney and liver functions.

The commissioner said the disease might progress to internal and external bleeding, organs failure and consequently death, noting that the disease might initially manifest like other ailments like malaria, typhoid fever, hepatitis, cholera, diarrhoea, Lassa fever and meningitis.

She added that the disease could be diagnosed through laboratory tests and could be prevented by avoiding contact with likely infected animals (dead or alive) and infected persons and corpses of victims, in addition to adhering to strict personal hygiene.

Eregie said that any suspicious case in the community should be reported to the nearest health facility, the local government or state Ministry of Health immediately.

“There is no cure and vaccine to prevent it yet,” she said while advising health workers to observe standard precautions at all times, including hand washing and use of personal protective equipment.

46 FEATURES

Sanctity of Truth

Widows: Groaning under neglect

T

here is joy when a woman finds real love in a man. And when that love is officially consummated, there is an attendant celebration which heralds self-emancipation as well as an affectionate integration.

The attendant bliss emanating from this relationship is such that the parties involved tend to build a pseudo-kingdom and surrender their individual fate to the loving and caring hands of each other.

In this atmosphere, the parties settle down to enunciate their dreams for the future, generating a work plan that will accommodate additions to the family, and putting a contingency plan in place for unexpected circumstances; a contingency plan that includes all but death.

Some women have been lucky to enjoy their marital bliss for 20 years or more, while many others have not been that lucky. At the end, however, widows share one thing in common – perpetual grief.

According to Deaconess Gloria Asuquo, a mother of eight and chairperson of Widows’ Association, Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State, every moment without the man you once loved and lived with is a moment of grief and sorrow.

“It is better not to be married than be left in widowhood,” Asuquo said as she lowered her face to fight back tears during an interview.

She insisted that the society was not fair to widows and that succeeding administrations had continued to use widows as publicity tools to achieve political gains.

Asuquo is particularly irked by the attitude of some wives of state governors who, according to her, “organise phony programmes for widows and bring television crew for the purpose of publicity.

After that, you will never hear from the First Lady again and her aides will keep telling you that she is too important for you to see her like that”.

Narrating her experience, Asuquo said she was married to Francis Olumiwe, a Superintendent of Police (SP) from Delta State. The man retired in 2004 but was struck down by stroke, which eventually claimed his life on May 10, 2006.

With eight children left behind, the leader of widows in Calabar South said life had brought sorrow to her hitherto convivial family.

She said: “My husband was from Nsukwa in Aniocha Local Government Area of Delta State. Immediately after he died, his father advised that we should leave his body in the mortuary and pursue his pension entitlements. This was strange because we didn’t see the connection between the burial and his pension. Our refusal therefore, generated ill feelings till date.

“Since my husband’s death, paying the children’s school fees has been a herculean task and feeding has generally been difficult.”

Asuquo, who oversees about 400 widows in the thickly populated Calabar South, disclosed that most widows she interacted with go through the same neglect “and this has pushed some of them to do what they wouldn’t do, ordinarily”.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Nobody really cares for the widows despite hypes about government’s intervention programmes for them, writes CLEMENT JAMES

Participants at a workshop for widows recently.

Apart from the psychological trauma that follows the loss of a dear one, the burden of survival becomes heavier, with the woman lost in the search for resources that would sustain her children and help transmit their dreams into reality.

In this case, the woman must necessarily source, project and budget for, as well as allocate resources in a manner that can cater for planned and unplanned needs that may arise, a duty she was never used to but now foisted on her by cruel fate.

The problem of indiscipline among the children also presents another headache for widows. Children would normally cower before their father. In his absence, some mothers find it extremely difficult to instil discipline in their children.

This, according to the mother of eight, constitutes a serious moral problem to the family and security threat to the society.

According to another widow, Mrs Veronica Omini, the society views widows with disdain and treats them as such.

Her husband was working with the University of Calabar until his death.

She said the policy of the university was to employ the next of kin to the deceased.

However, about four years after the unfortunate incident, she is yet to be employed.

Some widows are summarily disgraced by their husbands’ relations.

A few years ago, a woman had to escape from Abak, Akwa Ibom State to Calabar because she was allegedly told to “jump over” her husband’s corpse and thereafter would drink the water used to bathe the body.

Her refusal stirred the anger of her captors who beat her to pulp until a Good Samaritan rescued her.

Asuquo confirmed that a similar tradition applies in Nsukwa community, her late husband’s home town and they wanted to administer the “queer” oath on her but for divine intervention.

Curiously, her father-in-law was instrumental to her not taking the oath.

Interestingly, over the years, many governors’ wives have purportedly marshalled out programmes meant to better the lot of widows.

Often, however, such programmes have been enmeshed in politics and ethnic considerations, which ultimately make nonsense of the official hype on widows’ empowerment.

In fact, many political watchers have consistently argued that most of these programmes said to be in widows’ interest are meant to attract international donors and their donations to these governors’ wives’ Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) which, they insist, are personal properties of and dedicated bureaux for directing public and corporate resources into their personal accounts.

Many widows are apparently disillusioned about the way some governors’ wives gather them and invite journalists to take pictures and do stories of empowerment when in fact, no real empowerment programme had been initiated to honestly and dispassionately assist them.

For instance, Asuquo queried the rationale behind gathering widows from the 18 local government areas in the state only to give one sewing machine to each local government area.

She wondered how over 400 widows in her local government area will share one sewing machine.

Even then, she claimed that those machines were given by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and not the governor’s wife, “so I see no reason why she should claim credit for the little gesture of NDDC”.

She regretted that aides of the governor’s wife have made it difficult to see her “because they are benefitting so much from the neglect of widows in the state”.

Reacting to the allegation on telephone, one of the aides to the governor’s wife, Mrs Tammie Kamonke, said: “We do not owe any widow anything.”

According to her, the governor’s

wife’s NGO, Partnership Opportunities for Women Empowerment Realization (POWER), only looks for opportunities for widows.

Kamonke, who is the Executive Director of POWER, added: “It depends on what you want to write. We are only looking for opportunities for them. Where we see opportunities, we contact them. We have collaborated with NDDC to give them 18 sewing machines, one per local government.”

It is also worth mentioning one noticeable trend in the widow empowerment saga. Some politicians now take advantage of the widows.

Last year, when Prince Bassey Otu, the senator representing Southern Senatorial District, invited widows for empowerment, politicians, including chapter chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fell over themselves to benefit. Even young ladies, who never married but who shuttle political corridors, were empowered.

Only last month, widows in Calabar South were deprived of their benefits when the member representing Calabar/ Akpabuyo and Bakassi Federal Constituency, Hon. Essien Ayi, gave out empowerment items to widows. Most of those who benefited were young ladies who were conscripted into the programme.

But while today’s widows are being subjected to unimaginable derision and disdain, and their rights either usurped or trampled upon, especially by fellow women with skewed advantage, it is consoling to note that like the rain which falls on every roof, widowhood is not an exclusive reserve of a particular set of people, neither does death have regard for any person.

Many who are widows today were in vantage positions yesterday. And because death is never known to hold a predatory meeting with anybody, it is wisdom to respect the widows of today. That the day is still bright does not mean darkness will not come.

47

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

PDP kicks against sales of Owena Motel Babatope Okeowo

Akure

he Peoples Democratic TState Party (PDP) in Ondo yesterday kicked

L-R: Ogun State NYSC Coordinator/member of the board, Mrs. Theresa Isioma Anosike; Commissioner for Youth and Sports/ Chairman of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Governing Board, Prince Lanre Tejuoso and Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, during the inauguration of the newly reconstituted NYSC Governing Board in Abeokuta…yesterday

5%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Cameroon in 2011.

Source: Itu.int

65%

The percentage of hydropower generation potential in Europe estimated to have already been developed.

Source: Unesco.org

2,063

The total number of air travel passengers of Makurdi airport in 2012.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

Confab shows our determination to succeed, says PDP chairman Adesina Wahab

Ado-Ekiti

E

kiti State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe has said the successful completion of the National Conference is an example of the determination of President Goodluck Jonathan and Nigerians to succeed as a nation despite all odds.

Speaking in a chat in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, the PDP boss said deliberations during the conference also showed the desire of Nigerians to resolve issues amicably in spite of their differences.

"When the conference was proposed, some people did not give it any

chance of succeeding at all. Critics of Federal Government, especially in the All Progressives Congress (APC), said nothing good will come out of it, but now, the reverse is the case.

"The voice of the people really echoed during the conference and nobody was tele-guided to do anybody's bidding.

I really commend the participants for showing maturity in handling of contentious issues.

"The conference really achieved a lot and I am sure Nigeria will be better for it. I am appealing to politicians to discard the attitude of not seeing anything good in their opponents. The PDP-led Federal Government is poised to give Nigerians

a new lease of life," he said.

Ogundipe gave the assurance that the resolutions of the conference would be adopted by the authorities and that Nigerians should have the hope that the country would rank well among its peers.

He also lauded the quick response of the FG to the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in the country and appealed to striking medical doctors to call off their ongoing strike.

"I plead with our doctors to put an end to their industrial action. What we are having on hand now is an emergency and our doctors should see it as that and complement the efforts of the FG to

curb the menace," he stated.

On the expectations of Ekiti State people concerning the incoming PDP-led administration, Ogundipe assured that the Governor-Elect, Mr. Ayo Fayose, would live up to expectation.

"The governor-elect and our party made a number of promises to the people and we are not going to disappoint them. By God's grace, as soon as we take over in October, the positive changes people are expecting will start materialising," he added.

Ogundipe stated that Fayose had already started the process of ensuring that the incoming administration takes off off on a sound footing.

Olanrewaju: Don’t sell your voter’s cards Biodun Oyeleye

Ilorin

M

inister of National Planning, Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman Olanrewaju, has advised Nigerian voters not to sell their voter’s cards for any amount, even as he drummed support for President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the 2015 general elections.

The minister according to a statement by his special Assistant (media), Abdulrahman Abdulrauf gave the advice during inspection

visits to polling units in some parts of Ilorin West, Ilorin East and Asa Local Governments of the state to observe the process of collecting permanent voters cards by registered voters .

The visit took the minister to Otte/Bala, Danialu/Gaa Akanbi, Okelele/Amule and Ikhwan polling centres.

Addressing a crowd of Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) supporters at the centres, the minister who addressed them in Yoruba language said: “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.”

Olanrewaju who intermittently asked his audience on the level of performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, was greeted with a sharp response of poor performance by the crowd.

While pointing at some dilapidated structures in some schools hosting the centres, the minister told the PDP supporters that

“we have had enough of oppression and slavery in the state,” adding that the time was up for both the APC and its godfather.

While urging Kwarans to reject APC next year, he said that was the best way the people could get out of the present ‘regime of exploitation’. In their various responses, party leaders including Saka Isemin, Fatai Gataa and Sulaiman Idris all assured the minister of their readiness to ensure PDP victory in next year’s general election at both the state and national levels.

against the sales of Owena Motel to private individuals by the state government.

The party through its Publicity Secretary, Chief Wale Ozogoro said the move by the government was aimed at selling the legacies bequeathed on it by the previous administration.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko yesterday performed the ground breaking ceremony of what he called the biggest shopping mall in Akure, the state capital.

However, the party said the decision to demolish part of Owena Motel, which was built by the administration of late

Chief Michael Adekunke Ajasin showed that the Labour Party(LP) administration in the state was not out to benefit the citizens of the state but to destroy it.

Ozogoro said the government should have given another parcel of land to Shoprite instead of selling the state legacies to family members and friends of the governor.

According to him, the government supposed to have refurbished the hotel and make it to generate revenue to the coffers of the government instead of outright sale.

Ozogoro said during the immediately past government of Dr Olusegun Agagu, what the PDP's government did was to lease it to Jimoh Ibrahim's company in order to turn it around and make it profitable.

Kano blames Shekarau for spread of polio Muhammad Kabir

Kano

ormer Governor of FIbrahim Kano State, Mallam Shekarau now

a Federal Minister of Education, should be held responsible for the failure of both Federal, States and International Community to curtail the spread of the deadly Polio-Virus in Nigeria, says, Kano government.

Speaking to reporters in his office, the State deputy governor who is the state chairman of fight against Polio, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje alleged that Kano was indeed on the track of stopping the spread of Polio virus, when Shekarau’s government introduced religion and

sentiment to stop the campaign.

According to him, that singular act resulted in many children becoming permanently deformed and some even died while the government at that time insisted that, ‘religiously there is something wrong with the polio vaccinations and as such it must be stopped’.

Ganduje said: “Attempt made by Shekarau in stopping the campaign gave way to the serious problems facing Nigeria in tackling the polio immunization and spread, thereby making the cells to quickly spread and make it difficult to stop and also created non-compliance and resistance.”

Adeyeye: What APC gained from Ekiti poll Adesina Wahab

Ado-Ekiti

inister of State for M Works, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye, has de-

scribed the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors' change of their anti-masses policies as a fallout of the scandalous defeat the party suffered in Ekiti State.

Speaking in Ise-Ekiti on Monday, he commended the people of Ekiti State for showing how to deal with the APC. "Ekiti people deserve kudos for liberating the Yoruba people from the bondage of APC and its bad governments in Lagos and other states," he said.

He said the reversal of tuition fee from over N300, 000 to N25, 000 by the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, and the planned review of the ban on Okada in the state was an "act of deceit propelled by the fear of an impending rejection by the people in 2015."

The minister said he was proud to be part of the June 21 governorship election, which according to him had forced the APC governors to embark on desperate review of their anti-people policies, saying: "Ekiti people can now hold their heads high having liberated the South-West from the oppression of the APC.”

48 NEWS Uwakwe Abugu ENUGU

T

he Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) says it would work hard to get all employers of labour in the country to compulsorily maintain enhanced group life assurance policy for their employees “with a minimum benefit of three times the total emolument in line with the provisions of the Pension Reform Act 2014".

The NLC leaders took time during its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Enugu to review the nation’s democracy, saying that although the country has had 15 years of unbroken democracy, there is little to show as dividends of democracy”.

And it noted acts of serial impunity beclouding the practice of the nation’s brand of democracy, urging the government to

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Ebola: NLC insists on life assurance for workers  Laments Impunities Dragging Nigeria’s Democracy make democracy more worth the while by making more benevolent and beneficial to the people of Nigeria.

The NEC of the NLC, which rose from a meeting held at the Villa Toscana Hotels, Enugu, also noted with concern “the delay by government in implementing the 33.3% in pension payment approved by the stakeholders and vowed to secure its implementation”.

The leaders noted with concern the vulnerable environments in which Nigerian workers have continued to find themselves, especially the outbreak of the Ebola Virus

US$1.6trn

The nominal GDP of Russia (World Bank) in 2009.

Source: Blatantworld.com

disease (EVD)and while commending the Federal Government for the salvage actions taken so far, urged it “to secure the entire populace while creating the utmost workplace safety for the exposed healthcare personnel battling to control its spread”.

According to a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting signed by the National President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar and acting General Secretary, Comrade Chris Uyot, the NLC NEC “frowned at attempts by some officials of the Ministry of Labour to fragment industrial unions by way of creating illegal dichotomies and

13,500

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Afghanistan in 2012.

Source: Itu.int

accordingly advised the government not to court controversy”.

Also of utmost concern to the NLC leaders is the state of insecurity in parts of the country as exemplified in the Boko Haram insurgency and the continued crude oil thefts in the South South area of the country, and it urged the government not relent in the current efforts in the area of securing the country.

The labour leaders urged the government and all the political players to ensure that the coming 2015 generals come off peaceful, free and fair.

80

The life expectancy (in years) at birth of women in Albania in 2010-2015.

Source: Un.org

NIMASA, Airforce partner on Exclusive Economic Zone Bayo Akomolafe igerian Maritime NSafety Administration and Agency (NIMASA) has partnered with the Nigerian Airforce to monitor and secure the Nigeria’s territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The move is also to check the rising incidences of pirates, armed robbery at sea and other unlawful activities in Nigerian waters.

The Director General of the agency, Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi, at the

Maritime Stakeholders’ Sensitization Conference on the Partnership between the agency and the Nigerian Airforce on maritime safety and security held at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, explained that as part of efforts in giving expression to its statutory mandates in relation to Maritime Security, Safety and Search and Rescue, the agency had opted for collaboration with relevant agencies of government in order to have a seamless execution of its mandates.

Oil spill: Again FG reads riot act Adeola Yusuf Government TacthehastoFederal again read the riot International Oil companies (IOCs) and their local counterpart on reckless oil spills in the Niger Delta.

The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), an agency of the Federal Government, said on Monday that no community or individual should suffer any more of those indignities because Nigeria produces crude oil.

Chairman of the Governing Board of NOSDRA, Major Lancelot Anyanya (Rtd), according to a statement by the agency said that nega-

tive medical conditions hitherto unknown to the locality are already being observed due to colossal environmental degradation from oil spills.

Anyanya had led a delegation from NOSDRA to assess the impact of oil spills in Omoku area of Rivers State, in the course of which he paid a courtesy visit to the Oba of Ogbaland, His Eminence, Eze Chukwuemeka Nnam Obi. “He commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his exemplary leadership in solving the myriad of problems Nigeria has accumulated over the years,” the statement signed by Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Henshaw Ogubike read.

Suswam promises support to military formations Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

he Benue State governTsupport ment has promised to all the military

Senate President, David Mark (right) and President, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Kayode Obembe, during a meeting of NMA executives with Mark in Abuja

Adamawa bye-election: PDP Stakeholders endorse Ribadu POLITICS

This may not be political competition, but Ribadu must be a Czar to win hearts overnight Ibrahim Abdul and Onyekachi Eze The governorship ambition of the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, got a boost yesterday as a group of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders across the 21 local governments of the state endorsed his gubernatorial aspiration.

While speaking in

Yola, during an event that was convened by Concerned Youths for Good Governance in Adamawa, the stakeholders extolled Ribadu’s virtues, which according to them, was responsible for the endorsement.

The leader of the youth group, Alhaji Isa Ibrahim Toungo, said his group’s clamour for Ribadu’s candidature was an honest and patriotic effort to entrench good governance in the state, following the decay that embedded the state as a result of poor leadership.

He noted that over the years, Ribadu has earned a reputation of being a fearless, dedicated and patriotic citizen, who did well in all his areas of

calling, adding that they can vouch for his credibility anytime.

Meanwhile, Auwal Tukur, the son of the former National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday joined the ranks of those seeking to fly the flag of the party in the October 11 governorship election in the state.

There has been speculation that the former PDP national chairman was trying to impose his son on the people, which was one of the reasons the people rose against him when he was chairman.

But Auwal yesterday said it was wrong for people to insinuate he

was riding on his father’s back to the office, asking rhetorically “would it be wrong for a butcher's son to eat meat?”

He said his father should be left out of his political ambition while adding that the people should not tie him to the apron strings of his father, he said; “It is an honour to have an astute politician like him as a father.”

He also dismissed rumours making the rounds that he has stepped down for former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, insisting, however, that he has nothing against consensus ticket.

formations in the state for effective operations.

Secretary to the State Government SSG, Dr. David Salifu, stated this yesterday when the state Comptroller of Prisons Service, Mr. Oyigoche Ogbole, visited him in his office.

Salifu, who noted the central prison service

plays in maintaining a peaceful society, expressed the readiness of the state government to contribute in improving the status of prisons across the state towards actualizing the purpose for which they were set up.

The SSG expressed worry over the high number of Benue citizens in the prisons and called on all well-todo Benue indigenes both at home and in the Diaspora to assist the service to effectively take care of inmates.

Jonathan, Utuama mourn Aziza Anule Emmanuel and Gabriel Choba, UGHELLI resident Goodluck Jonathan and the Deputy Governor of Delta State Prof. Amos Utuama, yesterday expressed sadness over the death of the President-General of the Urhobo Progressive Union, Major-General Patrick Aziza (rtd).

The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, commiserated with the Urhobo people of Delta State on the death.

He extended condolences to the Aziza family, the government and entire people of Delta State as

P

well as the late General’s friends, associates and former military colleagues.

Jonathan joined them in mourning the passage of the former Minister and one-time military governor of Kebbi State.

He said; "As they grieve over his death, President Jonathan urges members of the Aziza family, the Urhobo Progressive Union, his friends and former colleagues in the Nigerian Army to accept the will of God Almighty and be comforted by the knowledge that General Aziza served his people and country to the best of his God-given abilities while he lived.”

NEWS 49

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Widow replaces husband at Abia Assembly Igbeaku Orji

Umuahia

W

idow of the former member representing Aba South constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Nwogu Iheasimuo, has been elected to replace her late husband in the

House. She is Mrs. Nkemdirim Nwogu Iheasimuo.

The late Iheasimuo died last February.

When INEC announced the timetable for the conduct of the bye-election for his replacement, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under which platform he won, chose his widow as his

2015: Rivers elders, leaders push for consensus candidate Emmanuel Masha

Port Harcourt

elders and Persrominent political leaders in RivState yesterday met

to begin the process of adopting a candidate for the 2015 governorship election, following the rumoured ambition of the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike.

At a well-attended meeting in Port Harcourt, the elders and leaders, mostly card-carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the riverine communities, especially Kalabari, deliberated for hours on how to forge a common front in selecting a candidate that can win on the platform of the PDP. The meeting was held under the Rivers Mainstream Coalition, a group many say is taking over from the Rivers Democratic Coalition. One of the governorship aspirants, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, was in attendance.

One of the elders, His Highness Anabs Sara-Igbe, who the leadership of

the Rivers PDP described as a suspended member, said he remains a member of the party, and that he and others were working round the clock to ensure that the PDP wins the governorship election in 2015.

He also said that there was need for real members of the party to close ranks and work as a unit to ensure that President Goodluck Jonathan wins convincingly in the state.

Sara-Igbe also said that despite the All Progressives Congress (APC) being at the helms in the state, he noted that Rivers remains a PDP-controlled state, and that members of the party were not losing sleep over a contest with the APC. “The Rivers Mainstream Coalition is a body of elders and prominent Rivers sons and daughters. We want to ensure fairness, equity and justice in the politics of the state,” he said.

Sara-Igbe said that the body was also working on a document that would serve as a roadmap in 2015.

replacement.

In the election described by many as a walkover for the PDP, Mrs. Iheasimuo beat her closest rival and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Elder Smart Ebere, with a wide margin of 1, 655 votes to 313.

The candidate of the

51%

All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Chimaobi Akwara, came a distant third with 252 votes.

Dr. Mgborie Obasi, who announced the result, gave the breakdown as follows; total number of registered voters in the constituency is 122, 900, while 2,

The fatality rate of Ebola virus outbreak in Congo DR in 2012.

Source: Who.int

772 were accredited by INEC for the election.

The total valid votes were 2, 220, rejected votes 36, total votes cast were 2, 256.

The election was seen by many as a foretaste of the 2015 election in the area and the reason all the candidates jostling for political offices

267,667

The total area (in sq. km) of Gabon.

Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

in the state are bent on realising it in PDP. Governor Theodore Orji, while congratulating the winner, said her emergence was victory for democracy. He also commended the security agencies, the electoral commission and the electorate for the peaceful conduct of the election.

155,000

The total number of internet users in Nicaragua in 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

Former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi (right) and World Bank Country Director, Francois Marie Nelly, during the Presidential Summit on the MDGs and Post 2015 Development Agenda in Abuja…yesterday

Ebola: Nasarawa establishes isolation centres, trains medical personnel

Olubolade seeks support for Jonathan on insurgency lPlateau NMA inaugurates committee Adesina Wahab

Ado-Ekiti

ormer Minister of PoFubolade, lice Affairs, Caleb Olyesterday called

on Nigerians to support President Goodluck Jonathan, in his efforts at tackling insurgency in the country.

Olubolade also advised the outgoing Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to cooperate with the Governor-Elect, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, on the running of the government even after leaving office in the interest of the state.

Addressing journalists in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, the former Bayelsa State military administrator said it would be a great disservice to the country and its citizens to have the impression that security challenges could only be tackled by the government, saying that it was the responsibility of all.

Olubolade, who was a governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before the emergence of former Governor Ayo Fayose, as the party's candidate, said he had donated a landed property in his hometown, Ipoti-Ekiti, to the military for the successful take-off of a military formation in Ekiti State.

He said the gesture was not only a way of showing appreciation to the military for contributing to his rise to stardom, but to reinforce the security of the state against any form of insurgency.

“The task of security is for all. The police and the military and other security agencies cannot do it alone. I donated my personal house, farmland and convinced my kinsmen to add more parcels of land for a military base to take off, so that our people can sleep with their two eyes closed,” he said.

Cheke Emmanuel and Musa Pam

asarawa State government yesterday said it has put in place measures to check any outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the state.

This was just as the Plateau State chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) said it has instituted a committee to take care of any outbreak of Ebola virus in the state.

Besides, the Nasarawa State government said it has established two isolation centres, one at Medical Research Center in Lafia, a 50-bed capacity and another one at the Federal Medical Centre in Keffi, to handle any case of Ebola disease in the state.

Nasarawa State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, stat-

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ed this at a news briefing in Lafia yesterday, said though there was no reported outbreak of the disease in the state, the steps taken by government is to contain any eventuality of the disease.

He said: “For emphasis, as I speak, there is no Ebola Virus Disease in Nasarawa, government is on top of the situation, because of the steps taken to contain any case of outbreak of the disease.”

Akabe said the state government has ordered for an ambulance fully equipped with life-saving gadgets apart from the one ordered for the state by the Federal Government and additional 100 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in readiness to contain any outbreak of the Ebola virus disease in the state.

The government has also trained over 200

medical personnel on the prevention and combating of the disease.

The commissioner added that government has engaged the services of medical experts in collaboration with the Centre for Disease Control in Abuja, to train more health personnel on how to handle such PPE at designation centres in the state.

The commissioner added that government plans to pay advocacy visit to traditional and religious leaders to sensitise them and their subjects and followers about the virus.

He said government has dedicated three phone numbers to enable members of the public get in contact with medical personnel in case of emergencies. They are 08171008767, 08114051588 and 0814474615.

Meanwhile, Plateau

State Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association, Dr. Bupwatda Pokop, yesterday while inaugurating the committee on Ebola in Jos, condemned the recent Federal Government’s sack of over 16, 000 Resident Doctors and the suspension of residency training in the country.

He said NMA is in the forefront of fighting the Ebola virus scourge in the country.

Pokop said the committee would collaborate with the state government to prevent the disease from spreading to the state.

According to him; “Despite the strike action, the NMA is contributing and committed to the control of Ebola virus disease epidemic, hence the constitution of the committee to work towards the control of the disease.”

50 WORLD | NEWS

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sraeli police two days ago blocked more than 200 farright Israeli protesters from rushing guests at a wedding of a Jewish woman and Muslim man as they shouted “death to the Arabs” in a sign of tensions stoked by the Gaza war.

Several dozen police, including members of the force’s most elite units, formed human chains to keep the protesters from the wedding hall’s gates and chased after many who defied them. Four protesters were arrested, and there were no injuries.

A lawyer for the couple, Maral Malka, 23, and Mahmoud

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Israeli wedding of Jew, Muslim draws protesters amid war tensions Mansour, 26, both from the Jaffa section of Tel Aviv, had unsuccessfully sought a court order to bar the protest. He obtained backing for police to keep protesters 200 metres (yards) from the wedding hall in the Tel Aviv suburb of Rishon Lezion.

The protest highlighted a rise in tensions between Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel in the past two months amid a monthlong Gaza war, the kidnap and slaying of three Israeli teens in June fol-

lowed by a revenge choking and torching to death of a Palestinian teen in the Jerusalem area.

A group called Lehava, which organized the wedding demonstration, has harassed JewishArab couples in the past, often citing religious grounds for their objections to intermarriage. But they have rarely protested at the site of a wedding. The groom told Israel’s Channel 2 TV the protesters failed to derail the wedding or dampen its spirit.

“We will dance and be merry until the sun comes up. We favor coexistence,” he said. Protesters, many of them young men wearing black shirts, denounced Malka, who was born Jewish and converted to Islam before the wedding, as a “traitor against the Jewish state,” and shouted epithets of hatred toward Arabs including “death to the Arabs.”

They sang a song that urges, “May your village burn down.” A few dozen left-wing Israelis held a counter-protest nearby holding flowers, balloons and a sign that read: “Love conquers all.”

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, sworn in last month to suc-

ceed Shimon Peres, criticized the protest as a “cause for outrage and concern” in a message on his Facebook page. “Such expressions undermine the basis of our coexistence here, in Israel, a country that is both Jewish and democratic,” Rivlin, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rightwing Likud bloc, said.

Lehava spokesman and former lawmaker Michael Ben-Ari denounced Jews intermarrying with non-Jews of any denomination as “worse than what Hitler did,” alluding to the murder of 6 million Jews across Europe in World War Two.

S.Sudan security shuts key radio for broadcasting rebel views

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Protesters hold signs and shout slogans against the wedding

Unidentified warplanes bomb Tripoli

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nidentified warplanes bombed militia positions in the Libyan capital Tripoli yesterday, the government said, in what could mark a sharp escalation of fighting between armed factions that has thrown the North African state into anarchy.

Several Libyan TV channels said planes targeted bases of militiamen from Misrata who have been battling brigades from the western Zintan region to gain control of Tripoli in Libya’s worst violence since Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011. Tripoli residents said they heard several jets flying after midnight, followed by loud explosions. No more planes were heard but fighting resumed in some parts of the city in the morning. A Zintani source said fighters of his unit saw planes bombing a Misrata emplacement.

“Our forces at the airport saw massive and accurate

bombings (on a Misrata position),” he said. .

Pro-Misrata news websites accused renegade General Khalifa Haftar of responsibility for the air strike. Haftar has previously used some aircraft from an air base under his control in Benghazi to attack militant Islamists in eastern Libya. Haftar’s spokesman declined to comment “at the moment” when Reuters asked whether his planes had attacked Tripoli targets. The weak central government in Tripoli said it did not know to whom the warplanes belonged.

“The government does currently not have any convincing indications to establish which side was behind this,” it said in a statement.

The fighting hitherto was limited to ground action with artillery and rockets. None of the militias are believed to own warplanes, while the central government has only an outdated air force badly in need of repair. Libyan news channels speculated that the country’s

neighbors might be behind the overnight air action.

A U.S. official and an Egyptian security source, both speaking on condition of anonymity, said their countries had not been involved. A NATO official said: “There are no fighter jets under NATO command involved in operations over Libya.”

The central government of the OPEC member state has no functioning national army and almost no control over the capital, with most officials working from Tobruk in Libya’s Far East where the new parliament has set up to escape the violence. An Egyptian security source said air traffic between the two countries had been interrupted for six hours and that Libyan air controllers had cited security reasons. Some Tripoli residents, tired of daily fighting disrupting power and food supplies, hope NATO will intervene in Libya as it did in 2011 when the alliance sent jets to bomb Gaddafi forces in support of the uprising that toppled him.

ecurity forces in war-torn South Sudan have shut one of the country’s main independent radio stations and arrested its news editor after it broadcast rebel views, the station said yesterday.

The Juba-based Bakhita Radio, run by the Roman Catholic Church as part of a network of community-run stations, was shut Saturday after reporting on renewed fighting between rebels and government. News editor Ocen David Nicholas is in “detention for balancing a news story” and the station remained closed yesterday, Bakhita said in a statement.

Radio director Albino Tokwaro has since written a letter of apology to security forces “for broadcasting opposition’s views”, added the station, one of the most popular in the capital. Earlier this month

rights groups warned that security forces had cracked down on journalists, suffocating debate on how to end the fighting, which has now entered its ninth month. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said South Sudan’s feared National Security Service had created a “growing atmosphere of fear” by intimidating and unlawfully detaining journalists.

Thousands of people have been killed and more than 1.5 million have fled fighting between government troops, mutinous soldiers and ragtag militia forces divided by tribe. Aid agencies have warned of the likelihood of famine if fighting continues. Fighting broke out in December, sparked by a power struggle between President Salva Kiir and his sacked deputy Riek Machar. The United Nations and regional nations have all warned of sanctions if fighting continues.

Female warriors and U.S. airstrikes help Kurds take back crucial Iraqi Dam

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consortium of Iraqi and Kurdish forces, backed

by American airstrikes, captured the Mosul Dam back from the ISIL yesterday, delivering the biggest blow to the radical Sunni group yet.

Alarmed by the militants advance, the U.S. and Iraqi airstrikes pounded the area in the past two days. The U.S. military said U.S. forces conducted nine strikes on Saturday and another 16 on Sunday in efforts to help the Iraqis retake the dam.”

As we noted earlier, a pitched campaign delivered control of part of the dam to Kurdish forces earlier this

weekend before the entirety of what’s been called “the most dangerous dam in the world” was seized yesterday.

As Daniel Pipes told CNN after the structure was initially seized by the marauding group just two weeks ago: Last week, we mentioned the growing role of the PKK, the Kurdish Workers’ Party, in the fighting. Despite being designated a terrorist group by the United States for waging a decades-long battle against Turkey, the group has become a formidable opponent in the battle against ISIL.

200m: I am not under pressure – Oduduru Charles Ogundiya

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igeria’s new track star, Divine Oduduru, has said he was not under pressure to perform as he is actually working hard to excel in athletics.

The reigning national 200m

champion has been tipped to take the athletic world by storm, and he has said that he will not let the pressure get to him.

Speaking with New Telegraph, Oduduru said he was ready to live up to everyone’s expectation while also setting

personal target for himself.

He said; “The season has been a good one for me because I won silver at the world juniors which wasn’t easy. I was part of the relay team at the Commonwealth Games and also got to the final of the 200m at the African Senior

SPORT

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

51

Championships.

“It was a great priviledge to run with senior athletes like Isaac Makwala and Wilfried Hua. This is my first time of competing in the African Senior Championships so I guarantee Nigerians a gold medal at the next edition.”

Did you know?

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/sports

ADEKUNLE SALAMI, DepUTY Editor, SPORTS kunle.salami@newtelegraphonline.com adekunles@yahoo.com

That Brazil’s 7-1 defeat to Germany was the biggest losing margin by a host nation at a World Cup

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Glass house of confusion lMaigari resumes as crisis continues lUmeh kicks, succumbs lWe are one big family-Inyama lI will do the right thing -Maigari

Maigari

Inyama

Umeh

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nother twist to the current impasse at the Nigeria Football Federation played out on Monday as the leadership crisis in the football house deepens in Abuja.

Early on Monday, impeached President of the NFF, Aminu Maigari, who was returned to office courtesy of a FIFA letter, was being expected in office as plainclothes policemen

took over the secretariat of the federation. When he arrived, Acting President, Chief mike Umeh, was in the President’s office and for some hours it was a case of two Presidents presiding over the round leather game in the country.

Umeh refused to vacate office for Maigari despite the endorsement given to the embattled President by Sports Minister, Tammy Da-

nagogo, on Friday.

According to Umeh, “I don’t know who was asking who to resume, I still remain the substantial acting president of the NFF and nothing changes for now.

“If he is here because the minister instructed him, what the minister has done by implication is interference because it was not the government that asked us to impeach him. This is what

he did to Sani Lulu and Ibrahim Galadima so his own cannot be an exception.”

But Maigairi however pledged to work together with the entire Nigerian football family ahead of the coming elections into the NFF Executive Committee.

Maigari who arrived at the NFF Glasshouse about 11:30am amidst tight security provided by the officers of the Nigeria Police and De-

partment of State Security, immediately received some state FA chairmen who paid him a solidarity visit.

His entourage was led by the Chief Security Officer of the Super Eagles, Abubakar Baba NFF Secertary General, Musa Ahmadu, and suspended board member, Ahmed Yusuf-Fresh.

Others are Lagos FA Chairman, Seyi Akinwumi, and his Kano counterpart, Sheriff Rabiu-Inua as well as the chairman of NFF Appeal s’ Committee, Ibrahim Mark.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 54

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SPORT

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Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Hughes defends Moses’ poor run at Liverpool Emmanuel Tobi

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toke City manager Mark Hughes has defended Super Eagles winger, Victor Moses’, poor run during his loan spell at Liverpool last season.

Moses who joined from Chelsea struggled to impress at Liverpool but Hughes said the former Wigan upstart was a victim of circumstances at a big club.

“They (Liverpool) found a way of playing they stuck to and he was left out,” Hughes told Stoke Sentinel.

“I don’t think it was his fault, he just didn’t get back into the team. That can happen when you go to a big club.

“We’re pleased we’ve been able to get him in, we feel he’s a player that can give us power and pace, we’ve probably

lacked that a bit,” added Hughes.

He however maintained that the Super Eagles star who got injured at the 2014 World Cup would be given opportunities to force his way into Stoke City’s starting line-up.

“He hasn’t played a great deal in the last couple of seasons, so he wants to play and he will be given that opportunity. It’s up to him if he takes it and am sure he will,” continued the Stoke manger.

2015 AYC: Flying Eagles get CAF nod Ifeanyi Ibeh

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Moses

D’Tigersstar,Ibekwe,joinsAussieLeagueside

Ibekwe

Ifeanyi Ibeh

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igerian power forward, Ekene Ibekwe, has joined Australian National Basketball League club side, New Zealand Breakers.

Ibekwe, who led Nigeria in rebounding at the 2006 FIBA World Championships and was one of Nigeria’s standout play-

ers at the 2012 London Olympic Games, has spent most of his career playing across Europe and the Middle East, playing last season in Spain for San Sebastian Gipuzkoa.

And the US-born Ibekwe, who grew up in Los Angeles after his parents moved there from Nigeria, is looking for a fresh start.

“I was at University of Mary-

land for four years in their programme and since have played all over the world,” he said at his unveiling.

“I have played in (amongst others) Israel, Germany, France, Turkey and most recently in Spain. I have enjoyed also my time in the Nigerian national team.

“I have been back plenty of times to Nigeria to see family, I have grandparents, uncles, aunties and cousins back there so it is great to catch up each time I go back.”

The 206cm tall Ibekwe has friends who have played in the ANBL so knows what to expect.

“I have heard it is close to the NBA for its professionalism and all my friends who have played out there loved it,” he said. “They told me I am going to be happy in this environment and I only hear good things about the league and the country itself, I can’t wait.”

he Confederation of African Football has confirmed the qualification of Nigeria’s Flying Eagles for the 2015 African Youth Championship coming up in Senegal.

On Saturday, the Nigerian U-20 team walked over Lesotho in a final qualifying match in Kaduna after the southern African nation failed to travel to Nigeria after expressing concerns over the recent outbreak of the Ebola virus in Nigeria.

CAF Secretary General, Hicham El Amrani, in a letter addressed to the Lesotho Football Federation on Sunday, said the decision was reached in line with Articles 54 and 55 of the regulations for the competitions.

According to the letter, “the referee followed the provisions of article 55 of the regulations of the competition which states ‘a team which shall not be present on the ground, dressed to play at the time fixed for kick-off or at most 15 minutes later, shall forfeit the match. The referee shall register the absence of the team and shall write it in

his report. The final decision in this respect shall be taken by the Organising Committee.’

Article 54 also states ‘if for any reason whatsoever, a team withdraws from the competition or does not report for a match except for cases of force majeure accepted by the Organizing Committee, or if it refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorization of the referee, it shall be considered to be the loser and shall be eliminated immediately from the competition. The same shall apply for the teams which were declared to be disqualified by decision of CAF.’ “Consequently, Lesotho is considered loser in the said match and eliminated from the competition and Nigeria is qualified to the next round.

The second leg match is automatically cancelled,” the letter added.

Hosts Senegal and Nigeria have thus qualified for the eightteam tournament, which gets underway on March 8, while six other countries will book their passage in a fortnight’s time following last weekend’s first leg qualifiers.

The top four teams at the end of the 2015 AYC will qualify for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

L-R: Top golf players, Ik Allagoa, Hassan Adeyemo and Reuben Eguche at the tee point during the Eastern Regional Qualifiers of the MTN World Golfers Championship held at the Port Harcourt Golf Club over the weekend.

Rwanda to appeal against Nations Cup expulsion R

wanda will appeal against the decision to disqualify them from the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers for fielding an ineligible player.

The country’s football federation has confirmed to BBC Sport it is ready to file its appeal and is willing to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Rwanda were expelled from the competition on Sunday by the Africa Cup of Nations organising committee.

The ruling followed a protest made by the Congolese Football Federation regarding the eligibility of Rwandan player, Birori Dady.

Dady had featured in the first leg of the second round quali-

fier between the two nations last month in Pointe-Noir.

Congo claimed that Dady, who plays for AS Vita Club in Kinshasa, has a different name and age in his passport.

A subsequent Confederation of African Football investigation looked at documents provided by the federations of Rwanda, Congo and DR Con-

go and also heard a testimony from the player on 11 August at Caf headquarters in Cairo.

Rwanda had beaten Congo on penalties over two legs to reach the group phase but it is the beaten side who now progress to Group A of qualifying for Morocco 2015, where they will meet Nigeria, Sudan and South Africa.

SPORT | EURO FOOTBALL

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Real ready to beat Atletico R eal Madrid and Atletico Madrid meet again in the Supercopa de Espana today in a re-run of last season’s Champions League fi-

nal.

The city rivals met five times in all competitions last term, including the Champions League showpiece in Lisbon - which Real won 4-1 after extra time.

Real also came out on top when the clubs clashed in the Copa del Rey - running out 5-0 aggregate winners in the semifinals before beating Barcelona in the final - but Atletico had the edge in La Liga, taking four points off Real on their way to winning the title.

Carlo Ancelotti’s European champions picked up where they left off last season by seeing off Sevilla in the UEFA Super

Cup last week, and Atleti have also got their hands on some silverware already by winning the Ramon de Carranza Trophy.

While Real’s win in Cardiff represents a bigger achievement than Atletico’s close-season successes against Wolfsburg, Cadiz and Sampdoria, midfielder Mario Suarez feels his team-mates can build on last season’s momentum - starting in Tuesday’s first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“We play every game like it’s our last. Every game is important. The team played well and we felt good [against Sampdoria],” said Suarez.

“On Tuesday we have to play for an important title against our long-time rival and we’ll face it as we always do.

“We’ll go to win and everyone knows it. It will be very difficult.”

Man United prepare £100m package to lure Di Maria

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anchester United are prepared to commit as much as £100million to their pursuit of Angel Di Maria as the ailing Premier League club try to beef up Louis van Gaal’s squad before the end of the summer transfer window.

United manager Van Gaal is desperate for world-class additions and has told executive vicechairman Ed Woodward to do all he can to bring winger Di Maria to the club from Real Madrid.

It is understood United have told Di Maria the Argentine that, with perfor-

Wenger ‘desperate’ as Arsenal face Besiktas

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rsenal manager Arsene Wenger is “desperate” to beat Besiktas and reach the Champions League group stage for a 17th successive season.

For the second year running the Premier League side has been drawn against TurkReal vs Atletico

Ba blasts Mourinho

emba Ba has hit out at Jose Mourinho, claiming that the Chelsea boss is more concerned with reputation than statistics.

The Senegal striker joined Besiktas in the summer after struggling to get regular playing time at Stamford Bridge, with the signing of Diego Costa from Atletico Madrid further blocking his path to the starting XI. “Sometimes when you are at a club with a lot of big stars, the name counts for more than the statistics.

Unfortunately, it was like that in my case.

“But I am happy I moved from Newcastle to Chelsea and achieved what I did. I have lots of friends there.

Ba who came close to joining the Gunners before Mourinho pulled the plug, can understand why his move to the Gunners did not come off.

“I always said the move to Arsenal was close. I thought the deal was done and I would just go and do the medical but it went another way.

“Jose has said why it didn’t happen. He was honest; he just didn’t want to give them a striker who could score goals, especially with the arrival of [Mesut] Ozil.

‘I set Messi on way to Barca stardom’

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ormer Argentina coach Carlos Bilardo insists it was he who set Lionel Messi on his way to stardom.

While it is widely regarded that former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola was responsible for bringing out the best in the Argentine, Bilardo claims otherwise.

He told TyC Sports it was on his

suggestion that Messi was taken away from the wing position and played through the middle.

“I said, ‘he must be taken from the wing and be put in-between the lines (midfield and strikers),” said Bilardo.

“I told them (Barca) to take him off the wing. It was me. Now he is worth millions.”

mance-based incentives, they will pay him around £200,000 a week.

Over a five-year deal that would take the club’s investment to £100m when a transfer fee of around £50m is included.

A salary that size would put the 26-year-old in the same bracket as Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie.

Di Maria is aware of United’s capacity to pay big wages and has told his family of his surprise that theEnglishclub’sofferoutstripsanything made by other suitors, including mega-rich Paris Saint-Germain.

UEFA Champions League

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Higuain

apoli coach Rafael Benitez says it would not be a tragedy if his side were to fail to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League, but

ish opposition in the play-off round, with Wenger hoping to repeat last season’s 5-0 drubbing of Fenerbahce.

Besiktas comfortably beat Feyenoord 5-2 on aggregate to reach this stage and the Gunners boss has concerns about the recovery time afforded to

Benitez plays down Napoli fears he is counting on the fans to help them get there.

The Partenopei host Athletic Bilbao today in a tie which could go a long way in defining the Serie A club’s season. Losing to the Liga club and playing instead in the EuropaLeaguewouldleadtoareassessment, but Benitez says things could be worse.

“I’ve seen people talking about tragedies but it’s not a tragedy if we don’t go through,” he said at a news conference in Castelvolturno, near

Dzeko will renew contract - Pellegrini

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his squad ahead of Tuesday’s game following their Premier League exploits, but he remains convinced that the importance of the tie will ensure that his players are fully focused.

“We are desperate to do it because we want to play in the Champions League and we know how big these games are,” Wenger told the club’s official website.

“We had to give a lot [against Crystal Palace] hopefully we will recover and be ready for Tuesday night.

“No matter what it costs, we want to go through. We always have a difficult draw; we had Fenerbahce last year, this time we have Besiktas.

It’s difficult.”

Naples.

“Just look at Manchester United --theyarenotinEuropeatallthisyear andtheyareoneof theclubswhoare always involved; Napoli do not have that same tradition.”

anuel Pellegrini expects Edin Dzeko to be the next Manchester City star to sign a new contract at the Etihad Stadium.

The Bosnia-Herzegovina star bagged 26 goals in all competitions last Dzeko season and after securing the futures ished – but yes, he will renew his of Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero contract,” the Chilean said after and Silva last week, Pellegrini expects the win at St James’ Park. “He’s Dzeko to be next. a very important player for us.

“I don’t think it’s 100 per cent fin“It’s very important that we

UEFA Champions League Fixtures

Besiktas v Arsenal Koebenhavn v Leverkusen Napoli v Athletic Bilbao Salzburg v Malmo FF Bucuresti v Ludogorets Spanish Super Cup Real Madrid v Atletico have four top strikers because we have so many games in four competitions.

“I think that Edin finished last season playing very well.

“Of course for me, he was one of the best players of the game (against Newcastle), not only because he participated in the first goal, [but] because he worked the whole game.

“He won a lot of aerial duels, he supported the ball, it was a very complete game, but I repeat, I think that Edin finished last season playing the same way as he’s started now.”

54 SPORT

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Nigeria’s super Sunday

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here were seven minutes remaining of Nigeria’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014 quarter-final with New Zealand on Sunday when Super Falconets’ coach Peter Dedevbo decided to freshen up his front line.

Although 2-0 up and well in control, the Africans had failed to trouble the Kiwi keeper for some time, prompting Dedevbo to look for someone to shake things up and cap his side’s impending win with a flourish. The player he turned to was the appropriately named Uchechi Sunday, and she did not disappoint.

As she explained in an interview with FIFA.com after the final whistle, the substitute made an instant impact.

“I scored with my very first touch,” said the bubbly striker.

“That’s football, though, isn’t it? Sometimes you play well

and things don’t work out.

But today I went out there and found the back of the net straightaway.”

Sunday did not finish there either. With the game moving into stoppage time, she struck again to complete a 4-1 win for Nigeria, who will now meet Korea DPR in the semi-finals.

Sunday’s brace showcased her innate finishing skills.

Firing into the roof of the net from a corner to open her account, she then used her pace to score her second, bursting into the box with the ball at her feet, powering past a Kiwi defender and clipping the ball neatly over the keeper.

Laughing as she tried to describe her style of play, she said: “I suppose you could say I’m a goal specialist. I just try to get in the area so I can round moves off by putting the ball in the back of the net.

That’s what I’m there for.”

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Sunday

Making an impact This is not the first time Sunday has jumped off the bench to steal the show, as Sierra Leone’s U-20 side can confirm. Taking up the story, the smiling Sunday said: “We played them during the qualifiers for the World Cup and I came on in the second half in that game too. By the end of it I’d scored five goals.”

She finished the Canada 2014 qualifying competition as her side’s leading scorer with ten goals, nearly a third of the 31 they amassed in to-

Olarenwaju faces ban in Israel F

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Olarenwaju

ormer Nigeria youth international Olarenwaju Kayode has landed in hot water with Maccabi Netanya following his straight red card in the Toto Cup Ligat Al clash against Hapoel Tel Aviv on Sunday.

The referee gave the attacker his marching orders in the 53rd minute, barely eight minutes after his introduction, after hitting the face of Hapoel Tel Aviv’s defender, Lior Levy.

Before Kayode’s dismissal,

the First Division champions were trailing their opponents 1 - 0 but went on to lose the tie 2 - 0, and the management is incensed by the behaviour of the Nigerian.

“Leave me to take care of these matters. I do not have to announce and declare what I’ll do,” manager Yossi Mizrahi said in his post-match comments.

“Kayode’s offense is very serious. He will face a Disciplinary Committee. Do not worry, it will be dealt with.”

Apart from the financial penalty Kayode will face at his club, the Israeli Federation is likely to suspend him for at least two matches.

If that is the case, the 21-year-old will miss the Toto Cup clash against Hapoel Ra’anana as well as the league opener with Hapoel Tel Aviv on Saturday.

Kayode has accumulated three yellow cards and one red in his last seven matches in all competitions.

our parishes have qualified from their respective deaneries for the archdiocesan stage of the Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins football tournament in the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos.

The parishes are St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Owode-Ibeshe, St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Epe, St Stephen’s Catholic Church, Agboju and St Joseph’s

tal, a figure made all the more impressive by the fact they did not concede once.

The striker has yet to start a game at the finals, however, and has found it hard so far to keep her nerves under control: “It’s impossible not to be nervous when you’re on the bench! It’s far worse than starting because you want to get out there and help your team-mates. And when they make a mistake you think: ‘Ahhhh. I would have done it this way or that way’. Sometimes, though, you just have to sit there and watch and cheer

them on.

After her rapid double against New Zealand, is there a chance that Dedevbo might be tempted to give her a start against the North Koreans?

Pondering that question, she replied: “I’m dreaming about that semi-final. I don’t know if I’ll start the game – that’s up to the coach – but I do know that no matter who plays, they will have to give their all because we want to be in the final.”

With that final falling on another Sunday, it is understandable why Nigeria’s super Sunday wants to be a part of it.

Qualifiers emerge for Archbishop Martins Cup Catholic Church, Kirikiri.

In the last round of games, St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Owode-Ibeshe beat Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Owode by a lone goal to top the Ikorodu Deanery table.

At the Epe Deanery, St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Epe played

a 2-2 with Regina Caeli Catholic Church, Bodije to secure a point that put it ahead of other contenders on the log.

St Stephen’s Catholic Church, Agboju picked the ticket in the Festac Deanery with an emphatic 4-1 victory over St Monica’s Catholic Church, Maza-Maza.

Glass House of confusion CONTINUED FROM PAGE 51

“I did not resign my position; if I had resigned I would not be here with you. You cannot resign when you are outside, that is very simple. Mike Umeh is my first vice, he is my friend and colleague just like every other board member and we will remain colleagues whether we are in office or out of office.

“I believe that they are right in all the decisions they have taken while I was away because they could not be wrong. I have in my mind right now the desire to bring each and every member of this family to work together

because this is a teamwork.”

On his aspiration regarding the August 26 election, Maigari noted, “I do not want to run a one-man board. I hope to sit down with the board members to go through all the process and do the right thing. We must carry ever body along. I have in my mind that we should create a window to allow every individual that is interested to have the form because it is their civic right. That is my prayer and what I will present to the board,” Maigari said.

Similarly, Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Com-

mittee, Emeka Inyama, further stressed that, “In the interest of football, we have all resolved to bury our differences and rather work towards evolving a roadmap for the coming elections.

There will be a meeting of the Executive Committee on Tuesday, 19th August.”

Late on Monday however, Chief Umeh again called a news conference and said that he was ready to quit for Maigari.

“I have resolved that we should bury the hatchet so that we do not destroy the house we have all built in the interest of the game in Nigeria,” Umeh said.

SPECIAL PUBLICATION 55

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

The Lord’s Chosen Amukoko Lagos set for Ondo crusade The two-day Holy-Ghost International Crusade of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries titled: THERE COMETH ONE MIGHTER THAN ALL will hold on Saturday August 23 and Sunday August 24, 2014, by 8am daily at Stadium site, Araromi, Akure, Ondo State. Science Reporter, STANLEY CHIBUIHEM, writes on the significance of the Crusade.’

W

orshipping with the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries is such an exciting and enriching experience that no one will ever like to miss.

For the first time ever, in the history of the 11-year old Mega ministry, aside from Lagos, the Lord’s Chosen will be having its international crusade in South-West Nigeria. The event titled: There cometh one Mighter than all will be held on Saturday 23rd August and Sun-

day 24th August 2014 at Stadium site, Araromi, Akure, Ondo State.

According to Pastor Lazarus Muoka, General Overseer of the Ministry in his characteristic nature and love to humanity to rescue the dying souls for Christ, “I am not the one Mightier than all.

Jesus is the one Mighter than all.

The theme of the crusade is taken from the book of Mark Chapter 1 verse 7. We are inviting people from all parts of the world. This years crusade as usual, will witness un-

precedented power of God as of old because there will be freedom for the captives, salvation for sinners, deliverance for the oppressed, succour to the sick, joy to the broken hearted, and victory for all. A Christian is not a sinner and a sinner is not a Christian. As you come, give your life to Jesus and maintain a consistent Christian life, Jesus the Mightier than all, must surely meet you at the point of your needs.

Stanley Chibuihem 08035624538

Sister Livina Olisa, 12yrs barreness gone

Sister Livina Olisa, 12yrs barreness gone

Sister Cordelia Oguike delivered from arm ed robbers

Pastor Lazarus Muoka, General Overseer of the Lord’s Chosen

A section of Amukoko church of the Lord’s chosen under construction

A sign post of the church at Amukoko Lagos

Brother Daniel Oriaku delivered from building wave disaster

Master Uloko Samuel saved from poison

Sister Anthonia Emeka delivered from poison

Horse evangelism group of the church

World Record

On Marble

Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.

President Benito Juárez of Mexico reportedly the shortest world leader, standing at 4 ft 6 in (1.37 m).

Sanctity of Truth

– Vince Lombardi

w w w. new tel eg rap ho nl i ne. co m

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2014

A

N150

Need for Africa to prosper Guest Columnist

midst almost perpetual darkness, there remain glimmers of hope in the #BringBackOurGirls movement.

Indeed it was but a few weeks ago (and reports are only coming out now) that photos from U.S. reconnaissance planes flying over Nigeria surveyed and revealed large groups of girls in remote yet strategically organized locations raising hopes that they may be some of the two-hundred-plus pupils abducted in April.

It has been reported widely that American officials running now-routine surveillance flights over northeastern Nigeria spotted a group of 60-70 girls being held in a remote field. And late last month, a second flight spotted a group of 40 girls in a different location, however a similar scenario.

Tragically, albeit unsurprisingly, the locations were abandoned by the time aircraft were able to return to confirm the sightings, according to official statements.

Although the en masse abduction from Chibok was anything but commonplace, the kidnapping, detainment and often trafficking of women and girls is an unfortunate reality, an illegal commercial enterprise in even the most ‘emergent‘ of states. However, the defensive capability of governments to check this brutality and violence like it, found in many of those states and here with specific regard to ‘rising’ Africa, is categorically abysmal.

There are many reasons why those couldn’t be Nigerian aircrafts flying surveillance over Borno State, a known hotbed of the militant insurgency Boko Haram. There are also explanations as to why radical fundamentalist regimes host armories in Mali, Cameroon and Somalia, each matching those of the governments they look to challenge, to destabilize or overthrow.

One can point to the often-unfortunate realities of internal bureaucratic corruption purportedly squandering resources once sought to be relegated toward equipping those who so choose to protect their nation’s territorial integrity. However, this is a global phenomenon, not endemically African.

I contend that we must also take a holistic view at the venerable international establishments that have chosen to neglect Africa by not refreshing their understanding state by state and aiming to trust those developing governments presently unable to craft tangible security infrastructures of their own and comparatively due to such distrust, defend their citizenries.

Ivor Ichikowitz

Chibok girls

For the arduous security challenges we collectively face are systemic in part due to outdated, binding restrictions having been imposed on Africa’s capacity to protect itself.

I participated at the U.S.-Africa Business Summit in Washington D.C. with high hopes earlier this August, optimistic that the insecurity created by misguided forces in Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon, or by the Shebab in Somalia and insurgent movements spreading through Kenya for that matter, would be overwhelming to ignore. Perhaps security would be pushed to the forefront of the Summit’s agenda and that of the Obama administration and encourage from it newfound public and private sector cooperation to tackle, at the very least reactively, shared, truly globalizing threats.

And though I am aware there is a reluctance abroad to increase military support for many diverse yet beleaguered African governments, I was disappointed that President Obama’s objective for the Summit, in-part to work with “strong partners” that have “pretty effective security forces” resonated abroad at its conclusion as the window-dressing that many fear it was designed to be; a ‘nod’ to a continent deprioritized in a period of ‘reset’ buttons and ‘pivots’ to contain what were perceived to be greater geopolitical rivals.

Conversely, it is absolutely true that the U.S. is providing logistic, training and intelligence assistance to those African troops fighting in Somalia and Nigeria.

And yet another glimmer of tangible hope arrived in the agreement on the creation

Ichikowitz

of an African rapid response military force with the assistance of the U.S. through its Africom Command Centre.

This development was received as a welcome indicator of potential for dynamism in what is a complex, multilateral security relationship. It is the type of development the Obama administration would like “to build on”, according to statements from Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes.

However, if the United States truly hopes to have lasting impact on the continent (economically or otherwise, as compared to that of China or Brazil) it will have to, as Mr. Mwangi S. Kimenyi, Director of the Africa Growth Initiative suggests, include concrete strategies and plans to institutionalize future summits so that they are a credible facet of U.S. foreign policy. Moreover, the U.S. should embrace innovation (a tenet which has helped make Africa the rising collective power as it exists today) and further, embrace change in the institutions that

consider certain current partners ‘pariah’ states and modern-day governments aiming to defend themselves ‘untrustworthy’.

Further, western bodies should not simply pivot toward intrepid opportunities in Africa and assist as global stewards in defending our assets, including the bevy of human capital, from the evernetworking forces that would do us harm (as witnessed in the bombings in Uganda’s capital in 2010 and gun attacks in Nairobi’s Westgate shopping centre last year); they should reevaluate supporting institutional initiatives such as that under the International Monetary Fund (IMF), one which controversially would perpetuate unabated violence and conflict in Africa as it deters African governments from creating deterrence of their own; discouraging the creation of a strong domestic security capability.

Last week, we launched the Advanced High Performance Reconnaissance Light Aircraft - The AHRLAC, a global first, addresses a key industry need by performing the combined tasks that previously required four separately configured planes. It integrates models from attack helicopters, surveillance platforms and reconnaissance aircraft with the ability to carry surveillance, weapons, radar and electronic warfare systems.

• Ichikowitz is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Paramount Group, Africa’s largest privately owned defense and aerospace business, a leader in defense and security innovation with a renowned reputation for developing and delivering integrated solutions for internal security and peacekeeping forces across the world. The views expressed are his own.

OMOBABA

DANGOTE SPENDS N250M DAILY ON DIESEL AT OGUN CEMENT FACTORY – News

– Hmmm, a good excuse for increase in cement price !

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