Binder1 19 september, 2014

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS Friday, September 19, 2014

Vol. 1 No. 213

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APC to FG, N'Assembly: Probe $9.3m arms deal Chukwu David, Philip Nyam and Johnchuks Onuanyim

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he All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday called on the Federal Government and the Na-

tional Assembly to probe the seizure of $9.3 million cash smuggled into South Africa by two Nigerians and an Israeli national on board a jet belonging to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President,

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.

However, hours after its call, the two chambers of the National Assembly initiated moves towards probing the incident.

In a statement in Abuja by its National Publicity

Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the APC stated that the silence of the National Assembly on the issue was deafening, unfathomable and unacceptable.

It said: “It is absolutely urgent for President Jona-

than to clear the air on this alleged off-the-shelf equipment or arms purchase, which runs against all known protocol for such purchases anywhere in the world. Military equipCONTINUED ON PAGE 5

APC Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun

PDP: It's Jonathan

lRuling party endorses president for 2015 }3

L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan; Vice-President Namadi Sambo; Deputy National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio; Senate President David Mark (standing) and Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, at the 66th PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: nan

Service chiefs, eight governors, others make National Honours list lagos

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Anule Emmanuel and Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

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resident Goodluck Jonathan has approved the conferment of National Honours on 305

Nigerians, including service chiefs, the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Suleiman Abba and eight governors.

A statement yesterday by the Secretary to the Government of the Fed-

eration (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, also named the honourees to in-

Full list on page 7 clude the National Chairman, All Progressives

Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and a traffic warden.

According to the statement signed by the Director, Special Duties in the Office of the SGF, Mr. AdCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Quick Read Editorial Rising cost of medical tourism }19 Oil workers' strike takes toll on power supply, refineries }4 Extradition: US court insists on Kashamu’s trial }5

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Friday, September 19, 2014

NEWS

Friday, September 19, 2014

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PDP clears way for Jonathan's re-election Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

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he series of endorsements of President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reached a denouement yesterday as the party's highest decision making organ, the National Executive Committee (NEC), confirmed him as its candidate.

Earlier, the PDP Governors’ Forum and the party’s Board of Trustees (BOT) had at separate meetings on Wednesday, adopted the president as the party's sole candidate for the election.

Their adoption, which came after the endorsement of the president by each chapter of the party in the six geopolitical zones, facilitated yesterday's exercise, witnessed by the only known challenger of Jonathan to the PDP's ticket, Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State.

With the decision, the party's presidential primaries, slated for December 6, will be a mere formality for Jonathan, who is expected to declare his intention to seek a second term ticket, after months of hedging, in the next six weeks.

Yesterday's NEC meeting started with the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, informing the members that the PDP Governors' Forum had an urgent message to deliver. He invited

Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, to do so.

Aliyu told the gathering that they had unanimously adopted the president as the sole candidate of the party.

He invited Lamido, who had kicked when the North-West chapter of the party last month adopted Jonathan as the party's presidential candidate at a meeting in Kaduna, to collaborate his statement.

Lamido's acknowledgement drew cheers from his colleagues and NEC members.

After Lamido's collaboration, Aliyu informed the NEC that the decision to adopt Jonathan by the governors was for the PDP to go into the 2015 general election as a united front so as to recover more states lost to the opposition.

"We want to recover our mandate in Kano, Rivers, Kwara, Sokoto, Adamawa and Nasarawa and to win many more states", he added.

Thereafter, the BOT and PDP Caucus in the National Assembly also told the meeting that they had adopted the president to be the party's candidate.

Former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedekun, who spoke on behalf of the trustees, said they took the decision in consideration of the need to further consolidate on the gains so far achieved by the Jonathan administration.

Also, Senate President David Mark said if there

2015: PDP begins reconciliation of aggrieved members Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

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head of the forthcoming primary elections and 2015 polls, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has embarked on a reconciliation exercise designed to win back the hearts of aggrieved members of the party to ensure they all worked together in the interest of the party.

Senate President David Mark yesterday met with members of the Integration Committee which has the mandate to reconcile aggrieved members of the party in the South-West.

The inaugural meeting was attended by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), National Vice

Chairman (South-West), Chief Ishola Filani, Dr. Musa Babayo, Mrs. Josephine Anenih, Senator Emmanuel Paulker, Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu and Alhaji Sani Toro.

Although the meeting held behind closed doors, New Telegraph learnt that Mark, who heads the committee, had fruitful deliberations with the committee members on the way forward for the party.

Also yesterday, the Senate President played host to the State Working Committee of the PDP, Ondo State chapter in his office in Abuja.

Mark told his guests to remain faithful to the PDP, describing it as the party for today and tomorrow.

was any arm of government interested in continuity in government it was the National Assembly.

He said the PDP Caucus in the National Assembly wanted a legacy to be bequeathed to the nation and had a long time ago adopted the president as its sole presidential candidate.

After the speeches, a former acting National Chairman of the party, Dr. Haliru Bello Mohammed, moved the motion for the adoption of the president as the party's candidate, which was seconded by a former Governor of the old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo.

When the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu put the question to vote, it was unanimously adopted.

In his speech, Jonathan said he was overwhelmed and humbled by his adoption.

Although he said he

would reserve his formal declaration for a later date, the president said he was short of words to appreciate NEC for the adoption.

"Events of yesterday and what happened now, adopting me as the sole presidential candidate of the party, has humbled me; I am totally overwhelmed.

"When the governors came up with a jointly signed paper, though House of Representatives started it, it was like an atomic bomb.

"I am so overwhelmed that I lack words to express myself. For today, for you to express that kind of confidence in me, I am extremely challenged. It means that whatever we had done in the past three years, we will triple it. That is the only way Nigerians will appreciate it. I will not disappoint you," he added.

Jonathan described the activities of Boko Haram as tantamount to secession

"because a situation where they install emirs is secession."

"Nigeria is having an unfair share of terrorism.

When terrorists install leaders, it is no longer terrorism, it is like secession.

Between now and October, things will change," he stated.

Jonathan also spoke on the effects of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) epidemic and the decision to reopen primary and secondary schools.

He stated that having completely treated 12 out of the 17 people that contacted the virus, government in liaison with other stakeholders had decided to reopen the schools so as not to bring about unnecessary discrimination against Nigerians by the international community.

Earlier in his welcome address, Mu'azu told the meeting that the suspended zonal rallies of the

party would begin again on September 20 and 27 in Edo and Lagos States respectively.

According to him, the PDP National Convention, which will be held on December 6, will be for the ratification of the appointments of the national chairman, national secretary and national auditor as well as the amendment to the party's constitution so that people appointed will be allowed to serve their tenure.

The National Chairman added that since Jonathan has been adopted as the sole candidate of the party, the nomination of the party's presidential candidate, which will form part of the convention, would not present much difficult.

He promised to be fair and just, and provide a level playing field for all aspirants during the primaries.

L-R: Former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd); Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Wamakko and former governor of the state, Malam Yahaya Abdulkarim, at the inauguration of a 250-bed Orthopaedic Hospital constructed by the state government in Sokoto... yesterday.

PHOTO: nan

NCAA laments non-certification of Nigerian airports Wole Shadare

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he Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Benedict Adeyileka, has lamented the failure of Nigeria's airports to meet global aviation standards.

This, he said, has been responsible for non-certification of the airports.

He further stated that the inability to get any of the major international airports certified to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards is one of the challenges of sustaining aviation safety in Nigeria.

Adeyileka spoke on the sideline of the Aviation Safety Seminar with theme, "Sustaining Safety in the Nigerian Aviation Sector," held in Lagos yesterday.

Nigerian airports are not certified because they lack adequate fire cover, good perimeter fencing, frequent accidents on the ramps and huge security gaps.

To him, foreign airlines pay high insurance premium because of the risk associated in operating to Nigeria and other African countries.

He said: "Once an airline says it wants to oper-

ate to Nigeria, the insurance increases and the airlines in turn increase their air fares. The airlines are ready to take the high risk because of the high traffic in Nigeria.�

The premium charged on aviation insurance by indigenous insurers, he said, is relatively high compared to premium charged by other countries while re-insurance charges by the foreign reinsurers on Nigerian aviation industry is extremely high compared to those charged in other nations.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria

(FAAN) had in 2006 signed an undertaking with the NCAA to certify the international airports in Nigeria.

Based on this agreement, Nigeria was able to scale through the ICAO Universal Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP).

Recently, FAAN has set up a certification team which had taken the inspection of some international airports to appraise the requirements for certification.

Adeyileka noted that Nigerian banks shy away from financing the aviation sector because of the high risk involved.

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NEWS

Friday, September 19, 2014

Oil workers' strike takes toll on power supply, refineries lAlison-Madueke, NNPC, unions shun Reps

Adeola Yusuf, Philip Nyam and Johnchuks Onuanyim

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inister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, yesterday lamented the effects of the ongoing strike by oil workers on electricity supply nationwide.

The minister said in a statement in Abuja by his Special Assistant on Media, Kande Daniel, that the strike had disrupted gas supply to the power plants and called on the workers to call off their industrial action.

The strike has also disrupted the operations of the nation's four refineries and has aggravated concern that the current fuel scarcity in Abuja and some parts of the country may spread nationwide if the industrial action lingers.

Nebo said the actions taken by members of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), had impaired gas supply to major power stations, including Egbin, AES, Olorunsogo, Geregu and Sapele.

Also, activities at the four refineries in the country, with 445, 000 barrels

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total refining capacities, have been grounded as a meeting between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the striking oil workers has ended in a deadlock.

However, the two parties returned to the table yesterday to find a common ground that would lead to the suspension of the strike.

The four refineries; two in Port Harcourt, one each in Kaduna and Warri, were grounded by NNPC workers, who are protest-

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House of Representatives to broker truce between the feuding parties also flopped yesterday.

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke as well as NUPENG and PENGASSAN leaders failed to honour the House invitation to a meeting by the Joint Committee on Petroleum (Downstream and Upstream) and Gas Resources to discuss the strike.

Only the NNPC Group Managing Director, Mr.

Joseph Dawah, sent a letter to the committee explaining that the lingering crisis is “an internal affair.”

The committee members, who waited in vain for the invited stakeholders, could not hide their frustration as the presiding Chairman, Hon. Muraina Ajibola, who chairs the Committee on Petroleum (Upstream) said there was need for Nigerians to know that “the committee is at the verge of making history.”

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

L-R: Special Assistant to Dr. Orji Kalu, Mr. Sola Arogun; Chairman, Slok Group, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu; Chairman, Galanz Group, Leung Chiu Yin; Managing Director, Slok Toro Hong Kong Ltd, Thomas Sheng and General Manager (Export), Galanz Group, Johnny Lee, at a breakfast meeting at Galanz headquarters in China...on Wednesday.

President's chef, taxi driver, Mimiko, Omisore, make National Honours list CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

PORT HARCOURT

ing the corporation's noncompliance with the Pension Reform Act. The meeting, called by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, involving the management of the NNPC and the oil workers to resolve the crisis, ended on Wednesday without an agreement.

A source at the meeting told New Telegraph that none of the parties shifted ground on the issues in contention.

Another attempt by the

FLIGHT SCHEDULE

eyemo Tunde, Nigerians and friends of the country have been captured in the 2013\2014 National Honours Award.

It said the conferment ceremony would hold in Abuja on September 29.

However, unlike in the last two years when President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Chairman, Globacom, Dr. Mike Adenuga (Jnr) were respectively honoured with the nation's second highest national honours, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), that had been hitherto reserved for a sitting vice-president, nobody was listed for the GCON category this year.

Rather, the list shows that 24 persons will bag the nation's third highest honour, Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) award.

Among them are the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh; the Chief of Army Staff,

Lieutenant General Kenneth Minimah; the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jubrin; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu; the acting IGP, Mr. Suleiman Abba; National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd); the Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi; the Chief of Staff to the president, Brigadier General Jones Arogbofa (rtd) and former Chief Economic Adviser, Chief Philip Asiodu.

The list shows that 59 people, including OdigieOyegun; former Delta State Governor, Chief Felix Ibru; PDP governorship candidate in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, eight governors, including Dr. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State; eight ministers and seven state chief judges were selected for the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) category.

In the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) category, Jonathan ap-

proved for the honours to be conferred on the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi with four Secretary to State Governments.

Also on the OFR list are the Chairman, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh; Managing Director, Diamond Bank, Mr. Alex Otti; Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri; the Auditor General of the Federation, Mr. Samuel Ukura; Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Johan Otunla and Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Sani Sidi.

Listed as recipients for the Order of the Niger (OON) are seven immediate past Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs); the State House Counsel, Jalal Arabi; former Provost of the Nigerian Army,

Major General Felix Iorshase and a former Head of Service in Lagos State Akinsanya Ajose.

Others on the list for OON include Chairman, Silver Bird Group, Mr. Ben Murray Bruce; former Chairman, Zenith Bank Plc, Sir Steve Omojafor; Chairman, Enterprise Bank, Chief Chukwuemeka Onwuka and the Chief Coach of the National Under 17 football team Manu Garba.

Among the 53 people listed for the Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) category are publisher of The Guardian, Mrs. Maiden Ibru; a veteran journalist, Mrs. Moji Makanjuola; the Chief Catering Officer in the State House, Katherine Adamu; a taxi driver, Imeh Usuah and an activist, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin.

The Head of Presidential Steward, Onuh Isaac Michael will receive the national honours awards in the Member, Order of the Niger (MON) category.

OVERLAND AIRWAYS LAGOS-ILORIN (MON-FRI) 07:15 LAGOS-IBADAN (MON-FRI) 7:00 IBADAN-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:00 IBADAN-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:30 ILORIN –ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30 ILORIN –LAGOS (MON-FRI) 17:00 ABUJA-ASABA (MON-FRI) 10:00 ASABA-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 14:15 ASABA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 11:30 LAGOS-ASABA (MON-FRI) 13:00 ABUJA-ILORIN 16:00 ABUJA-IBADAN 15:00 ARIK AIR LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:00; 09:00; 11:00 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00; 20:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 09:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 (SAT) 07:00; 11:00; 15:00 (SUN) 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 09:00; 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 (SAT) 07:30; 11:30; 09:00; 13:00; 17:00 (SUN) 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 ABUJA-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30; 16:50 (SAT/SUN) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30 PORT-HARCOURT-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10; 18:30 (SAT/SUN) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10

NEWS

Friday, September 19, 2014

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DHQ: Senior Boko Haram leader captured l60 terrorists killed in Borno, hardware recovered Emmanuel Onani

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he full-scale war declared against Boko Haram in the North East, may be recording appreciable gains, as the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday, announced the capture of a high-ranking terrorist leader, during a fierce encounter between troops and insurgent fighters.

The disclosure was made by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, in a post on DHQ's twitter handle.

Though, Olukolade was silent on the identity

of the captured Boko Haram leader, a highly-placed military source, told New Telegraph that the suspected terrorist "is likely the deputy to their leader (Abubakar Shekau)."

The source further hinted that "we (military) are fast recovering some of our hardware that we lost to the terrorists, and very soon, I tell you, the country will sing victory song.

In the posts, the DDI said: "A seriously wounded high ranking terrorist leader is being treated in a Military medical facility, after he was captured in the operation.

"He is among those

captured yesterday," he disclosed.

Olukolade also confirmed the statement earlier released by the Army, when he said: "Sixty of his (captured leader's) fighters died during the series of attacks they launched to gain access to Konduga and environs.

"One soldier, however,

died, while four, who were wounded, are receiving treatment," he noted.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army yesterday said troops on Wednesday killed over 60 members of Boko Haram in Konduga, a town about 30 kilometres to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

The killing took place

barely 24 hours after soldiers were reported to have killed over 200 suspected insurgents in the same area, in a renewed counter-insurgency offensive, to rid the North East of terrorist elements.

The disclosure was contained in a statement signed by the Director of Army Public Relations

(DAPR), Brig. Gen. Olajide Laleye.

Military hardware recovered from the suspected insurgents, according to the statement, include 13 AK 47 rifles, 5 Rocket Propelled Gun (RPGs) tubes, 2 General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), 1 AntiAircraft Gun and 2 Ford Ranger pick-up vehicles.

APC to FG, N'Assembly: Probe $9.3m arms deal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ment and weapons are not bean cakes to be purchased by the road side. There are globally-acceptable protocols for such purchases by governments, otherwise what differentiates a government from an insurgent group that is shopping for arms?"

According to the party, in the spirit of fairness, it will give the president and his administration the opportunity to provide answers to the following posers: Is the money indeed meant to purchase a helicopter as has been reported? To which arm of the government or security force does the money belong? Who appropriated it and for what purpose?

Why was the money being ferried in cash by the same government that has been spending huge time and money to promote a cashless policy? Is the resort to cash to avoid a paper trail for the transaction, in which case it is illegal?

The party said the answers to the questions would help in showing Nigerians that their government was not clandestinely buying equipment and weapons to fuel the Boko Haram insurgency and then profit from its own act of perfidy.

But later in the day, the two chambers of the National Assembly, the Senate and House of Representatives, announced plans to probe the botched transaction.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence and Army, Senator George Sekibo, said the Senate had summoned the National Security Adviser

(NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd); Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh and Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah, over the arms deal.

Sekibo said the military leaders and the NSA were requested to appear before his committee next Tuesday.

He said: "I have just called the Chief of Defence Staff, National Security Adviser and Chief of Army Staff. I don't want to pre-empt issues because I have not heard details about it but they will be here Tuesday, next week."

Reacting to the death sentence passed on 12 soldiers that were accused of mutiny during their military operations to contain the Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State, the senator said they were tried "according to military laws.”

The House of Representatives will also debate the seizure of the $9.3 million cash next week.

Deputy Minority Whip of the House, Hon. Suleiman Kawu Sumaila, had on Tuesday intimated the speaker in line with the amended House Rules of his intention to raise the issue under matters of urgent national importance.

The matter was consequently listed for debate at yesterday’s plenary but could not be taken as the sitting was brief.

Sumaila is seeking the leave of the House to mandate its Committees on Defence and Aviation to “thoroughly investigate the matter and report back to the House within two weeks.” The motion will be taken next week.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (third right) with survivors of Ebola Virus Disease during their visit to the governor in Ikeja...yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Extradition: US court dismisses Kashamu’s appeal, insists on trial Wale Elegbede

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n appeal filed by the chairman, mobilisation and organisation committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West, Buruji Kashamu, to quash his indictment for smuggling drugs into the United States has been quashed by the United States Court of Appeal.

The outcome of the appeal as reported by an online portal, Premium Times, indicates that the Circuit Judges Posner, Kanne, and Tinder; noted that Kashamu did not want to be extradited to the U.S. to stand trial on the “very serious criminal charges” against him.’

Kashamu and 14 others were, in 1998, charged by a federal grand jury for their alleged involvement in an international conspiracy to smuggle heroin into the US. But Kashamu allegedly fled to the United Kingdom where repeated efforts by the U.S. to extradite him failed, before he returned to Nigeria.

In the court ruling delivered on September 15

by Judge Posner and seen

by Premium Times, the US

court noted that Kashamu has remained in Nigeria, where he is living openly as a prominent businessman and a politician belonging to the ruling party.

Judge Posner said: “Although the United States has an extradition treaty with Nigeria, our government has made no effort to extradite him.

“He is correct that the district court has no jurisdiction over him at present. But should he ever come to the United States, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, he could be put on trial in the federal district court in Chicago, since the indictment has no expiration date.

“In opposing the petition for mandamus, the Justice Department tells us that the prospects for extradition [from Nigeria] have recently improved and, as a result, the government is optimistic about extraditing Kashamu.

“The implication is that Kashamu’s motion to dismiss the indictment against him is premature, as he may soon find himself in the district court in Chicago, able to present a fuller case that his right to a speedy trial is being violated,” the judge noted.

The judge admitted that the US government’s optimism on extraditing Kashamu may be a “whistle in the dark” because the government had shared a similar sentiment when it had tried to extradite the appellant from the UK. “Given Kashamu’s prominence in Nigerian business and government circles, and the English magistrate’s findings and conclusion, the probability of extradition may actually be low,” the judge added.

“One of his co-defendants was sentenced to 10 years in prison. If Kashamu was indeed the ringleader of the drug conspiracy, as he may have been, he might if convicted be given an even heavier sentence – quite possibly a life sentence for a conspiracy to import at least a kilogramme of heroin.

“If he wants to fight the charges, he has only to fly from Lagos to Chicago; there are loads of reasonably priced flights….

“How then can he argue with a straight face that the failure of the United States to extradite him entitles him to dismissal of the charges? He can’t; and

the petition for a writ of mandamus is therefore denied,” Judge Posner said.

In 2009, Kashamu had, through a local counsel in the U.S., filed a motion to quash the arrest warrant and to dismiss the indictment against him on the ground that the English court had found that he was not the one charged with smuggling drugs into the US. In his 17-page ruling, Judge Norgle said: “Kashamu’s ability to manipulate Nigerian officials, or at least his ability to create forged documents, was also apparent from the proceedings. This manoeuvring, and the wall of protection Kashamu built around himself, made it clear that efforts to extradite Kashamu from Nigeria would be futile.

“It was testimony and evidence produced by the Nigerian government which led to Kashamu’s release in England. Furthermore, Kashamu’s status as a political figure in Nigeria and his relationship with Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan likewise suggest that an extradition attempt would have been futile,” the judge had added.

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NEWS

Friday, September 19, 2014

Boko Haram: Elections will hold in North-East –Jega lTambuwal kicks against plot to postpone polls lBuhari expresses fears over use of military Chukwu David, Philip Nyam and Umar Ado

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hairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, yesterday gave assurance that the Boko Haram insurgency won’t stop the conduct of 2015 elections in the North East.

Jega spoke at a meeting with the Senate Committee on INEC. He explained that while the security situation in the area could not be underestimated, elections could still hold in the three affected states (Yobe, Borno and Adamawa), saying, "if elections could hold in more volatile areas, it could hold in Nigeria’s North-East where the situation is being brought under control."

He noted that elections were held in several volatile nations including countries which are having problems like Nigeria in terms of security, such as Afghanistan, Iraq and so on.

“We hope and pray that states where emergency is will stabilise sufficiently for us to be able to conduct elections that are relatively peaceful in those areas and

we must plan for that eventuality,” he said.

The INEC boss said the commission was obliged to make preparations to hold elections in all parts of Nigeria even where there is the case of displaced people as long as there are registered voters.

On the Adamawa State governorship by-election, Jega said preparations were in top gear to conduct the exercise across the state, informing the senators that from the briefing he received from the state resident electoral commissioners, life was gradually returning to normal in most parts of the state.

Jega explained that there was nothing unusual about the increase in the number of polling units across the country because it was done based on need.

His words: “We are having displacement of people, with people leaving where they live and live in camps; it is a serious challenge. Nobody can underestimate it but the hope of everybody in this country is that this is a temporary problem and you cannot begin to plan long term based on a temporary thing.

Commenting on the is-

sue, Senator Alkali Jajere (APC, Yobe South) said there was “no Jupiter on earth” who could stop elections from holding in his state.

Also, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal has said that in spite of the growing insecurity in the country, the 2015 general election should be held.

Tambuwal gave the advice yesterday when he received the president of the

Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Austine Alegeh (SAN) and other members of the bar who paid him a courtesy call.

“We are about going into elections, and some people are already saying that there may be no elections. But I firmly believe that we are going to have elections. The 2015 elections should be held.

"But above all, I believe 2015 elections should be held. If elections were con-

ducted in Afghanistan that is almost engulfed entirely by war, then we should be able to do it here," he said.

He also charged the leadership of the NBA to rise against worsening corruption and poor leadership in the country.

Meanwhile, former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has expressed fears over the use of military for elections duties.

Buhari, who spoke in

Sokoto yesterday, noted that the large number of military presence in the recently held Ekiti and Osun governorship elections were enough to rescue the over 200 Chibok schoolgirls if rightly deployed.

He advised that the military resources should be deployed for solving the security challenges confronting the country rather than for elections duties.

L-R: General Secretary, King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA), Lucky Idike; former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi; Chairman, Board of Trustees, KCOBA, Chief Phillips Asiodu; President, Mr. Hakeem Belo-Osagie and former Ekiti State Governor, Chief Segun Oni, during the 2014 Founder’s Day lecture in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Alleged torture: Rights Commission to investigate Amnesty report –FG lGroup indicts police, army over maltreatment lReport smacks of indecency, say police

Emmanuel Onani and Tunde Oyesina Abuja

T

he Federal Government has said that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) will investigate allegations of torture levelled against the Police, by the Amnesty International (AI).

AI in its report tagged "Welcome to hell fire; Torture and other ill-treatment in Nigeria,” gave details of how people are often detained in large dragnet operations and tortured as punishment, to extort money or to extract “confessions” as a shortcut to “solve” cases.

The report indicted the Nigerian police and military of inhuman treatment of suspects in order to obtain confessional statement from them.

But, the Federal Government yesterday in Abuja, enjoined the public to wait for the outcome of an investigation, which it noted, the

NHRC had promised to carry out.

The position was disclosed by the DirectorGeneral of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri.

Omeri, who doubles as the Coordinator of the National Information Centre (NIC), said: "The National Human Rights Commission has promised to investigate the allegation of human rights abuses levelled against the military by the Amnesty International, and thereafter, advise the Federal Government appropriately."

Omeri stated that the government "has zero tolerance for all forms of human rights abuses," and will not allow the latest allegation go without investigating it.

In a report presented in Abuja yesterday, the group identified the methods being used by the security agencies to include beatings, shootings and rape.

According to Amnesty International's Research

and Advocacy Director, Netsanet Belay, the inhuman treatment goes far beyond the appalling torture and killing of suspected Boko Haram members.

The group, however, called on the National Assembly to immediately take the long overdue step and pass a law criminalizing torture, adding that there is no excuse for further delay.

Compiled from hundreds of testimonies and evidence gathered over 10 years, the report exposes the institutionalised use of police torture chambers and routine abuses by the military in a country that prohibits torture in its constitution but has yet to pass legislation outlawing the violation.

The report also reveals how most of those detained are held incommunicado – denied access to the outside world, including lawyers, families and courts.

The reports revealed that torture has become such an integral part of

policing in Nigeria that many police stations have an informal “Officer in Charge of Torture” or O/C Torture. They use an alarming array of techniques, including nail or tooth extractions, choking, electric shocks and sexual violence.

In one of the confessions, reported by AI, one Abosede, aged 24, told the group how sickening police abuse left her with a permanent injury: “A policewoman took me to a small room, told me to remove everything I was wearing. She spread my legs wide and fired tear gas into my vagina… I was asked to confess that I was an armed robber…

I was bleeding… up till now I still feel pain in my womb.”

The reports further stated that Nigeria’s military is committing similar human rights violations, detaining thousands as they search for Boko Haram members.

It further stated that military in Yobe State even arrested and beat

a 12-year-old boy, poured alcohol on him, forced him to clean vomit with his bare hands and trod on him.

Belay said: “Soldiers pick up hundreds of people as they search for those associated with Boko Haram, then torture suspects during a ‘screening’ process that resembles a medieval witch hunt.

“Torture happens on this scale partly because no one, including in the chain of command, is being held accountable.

Nigeria needs a radical change of approach, to suspend all officers against whom there are credible allegations of torture, to thoroughly investigate those allegations and to ensure that suspected torturers are brought to justice.”

Meanwhile, the Police took exception to the allegation of torture levelled against its men by Amnesty.

A statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr.

Emmanuel Ojukwu, an Acting Commissioner of Police, described the report by AI, as one which "smacks of indecency and intemperate language."

While not questioning AI's right to freedom of speech, the statement, however, noted that the report under scrutiny "contains some blatant falsehoods and innuendos."

It noted that the police has, since the return of democracy in 1999, been undergoing fundamental reforms, especially as personnel were periodically being trained in the areas of respect for human rights, community policing as well as attitudinal change.

The police further stated that it has a code of conduct, which is consistent with international best practices.

It challenged AI to furnish it with specific details of alleged human rights breaches, in order that the course of justice, may be better served.

7

Friday, September 19, 2014

2013 AND 2014 NATIONAL HONOURS AWARD S/No Names

CLASS OF MEDAL 1.

Air Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh CFR 2.

Maj. Gen. Kenneth Minimah CFR 3.

Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin CFR 4.

Air Vice Marshal Adesola Amosu CFR 5.

Alhaji Sulaiman Abba CFR 6.

Hon. Justice Bolarinwa O. Babalakin CFR 7.

Hon. Justice Abubakar Bashir Wali CFR 8.

Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad CFR 9.

Hon. Justice Christopher M. Chukwuma -Eneh CFR 10. Hon. Justice Muhammad S. Muntaka Coomassie CFR 11.

Hon. Justice John Afolabi Fabiyi CFR 12. Hon. Justice Olufunlola Oyelola Adekeye CFR 13. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki CFR 14. Bukar Goni Aji CFR 15. Mr. Danladi I. Kifasi, OON, MNI CFR 16. Amb. Ayo Oke CFR 17.

Hrm Oba Dr. Victor Ademefun A. Kiladejo CFR 18. Chief Philip C. Asiodu CFR 19. Brig. Gen. Jones O. Arogbofa (Rtd) CFR 20. Hrh Alayeluwa Oba (Dr.) Jimoh Oyewumi A. CFR 21. Chief Kolawole Babalola Jamodu, OFR CFR 22. Chief Oludolapo Ibukun Akinkugbe CFR 23. Chief (Dr.) Emmanuel C. Iwuanynwu CFR 24. Jimoh Ibrahim Folorunsho, OFR CFR 25. Alhaji Ibrahim Adejoh Idris CON 26. Hon. Justice Olatokunbo Oduyinka Olopade CON 27. Hon. Justice Aloy Nweke Nwanko CON 28. Hon. Justice Isua Idongesit Nfem Bassey CON 29. Hon Justice Nasiru A, Ajanah CON 30. Honourable Justice Hakila Yalah Heman CON 31. Honourable Justice Kate Abiri CON 32. Alh. Abdulkadir Saidu Tambuwal CON 33. Hon. Justice Amina Adamu Augie CON 34. Hon. Justice Abubakar Jega Abdul-Kadir CON 35. Dr. Peter Odili CON 36. Engr. Muhammed Abba Gana CON 37. Chief Thomas Ikeokwuadem Aguiyi-Ironsi CON 38. Hm Oba (Dr.) Fredrick E. Obateru Akinruntan CON 39. Amb. Dan Suleiman CON 40. Olorogun Felix O. Ibru CON 41. Chief Olusegun Oladipo Osunkeye CON 42. Hon Justice Ali Umar Eri CON 43. Hamidu Gambari Erubu CON 44. Justice Obande Festus Ogbuinya CON 45. Chief John E. Kenneth Odigie Oyegun CON 46. Chief Tom Ikimi CON 47. Ahmad Rufa'i Sani CON 48. Hrh Muhammodu Isa Muhammadu CON 49. Erelu Olusola I .A. Obada CON 50. Mr. Mutiu Olaniyi A. Sunmonu CON 51. Hon. Justice P.d. Damulak CON 52. Chief (Dr.) Michael Olawale Cole CON 53. Chief (Dr.) Mrs. Onikepo Akande CON 54. Sen. Nkechi J. Nwaogu CON 55. Sen. Christopher Babajide Omoworare CON 56. Dame Virgy N. Etiaba CON 57. Senator Iyiola Omisore CON 58. Sen. Marafa Kabir Garba CON 59. Umar Ayinla Saro CON 60. Funso K. Lawal, OON CON 61. Chief (Dr.) Theodore Ahamefula Orji CON 62. Mallam Isa Yuguda CON 63. Barr. Sullivan Iheanacho Chime CON 64. Dr Olusegun Mimiko CON 65. Alhaji Sa'idu Usman Nasamu Dakingari CON 66. Da David Jonah Jang CON 67. Senator Ibikunle Amosun CON 68. Dr John Kayode Fayemi CON 69. Brig. Gen. Raji Rasaki (Rtd) CON 70. Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau CON 71.

Prof. Chinedu O. Nebo, OON CON 72. Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe CON 73. Arc. Mike Onolememen CON 74. Mr. Labaran Maku CON 75. Hajiya Zainab Maina, MFR CON 76. Arc. Musa Mohammed Sada CON 77.

Amb. Bashir Yuguda CON 78. Mr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike CON 79. Senator Femi Okunronmu CON 80. Mr. Olatunde John Ayeni CON 81. Mr. Godwin Emefiele CON 82. Senator George Thompson Sikibo JP CON 83. Major Gen. Suraj Alao Abdulrahman CON 84. Dr. Abduallahi Umar Ganduje OFR 85. Amb. (Dr.) Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi OFR 86. Kobis Ari Thimnu OFR 87. Alh. Sahabi Isa Gada OFR 88. Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa OFR 89. Garvey Achen Yawa OFR 90. Hannatu Inti Ugah (Mrs) OFR 91. Maj. Gen. Shehu Usman Abdulkadir OFR 92. Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN OFR 93. Engr. (Chief) Amin Ibrahim Moussalli OFR 94. Chief Gafar Kayode Animasahun OFR 95. Pa. Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi OFR 96. Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome (SAN) OFR 97. Chief Simon Nsunndu Okeke OFR 98. Hrh. Abubakar Umar Suleiman OFR 99. Chief Victor Umeh OFR 100. Alhaji Buhari Bala OFR 101. Senator Umar Abubakar Argungu OFR

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Prof. Oloyede Is-Haq Olarewaju Dr. Gregory Ikechukwu Ibe Chief Joe Kyari Gadzama, San, MFR Sir Emmanuel N. Maduekwe Chief Adenigba F. Fadahunsi Hrh. Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal Jude Nnodum, SAN Dafe Akpedeye, SAN Dr. Igwe Aja-Nwachukwu Mr. Erico Monfrini Prof. Peter T. Akper, SAN Engr. Bekinbo R. Dagogo-Jack Amb. Godson Onyemachi Echegile Prof. Williams Barnabas Qurix Alahaji Sani Sidi Sheikh Abdulhafeez Abou Brig. General Nnamdi Okorie Affia Rt. Hon. Bathel Nnaeka Amadi Dr. Alex C. Otti Engr. M. A. K. Abubakar, MFR Lt. Gen. Chikadibia Isaac Obiakor Mr. Mike Omeri Agbo-Omeri Ukura Samuel Tyonongo, FCA Mr. Jonah Ogunniyi Otunla Bashorun Seinde Arogbofa Mr. John Kennedy Opara Dr. Valerie Azinge Mr. David Shikfu Parradang Honourable Arua Arunsi Prof. Bartholomew Okolo Mrs. Catherine Uju Ifejika Faith Tuedor Mathews Prof. Kimse Amaebi Biye Okoko Prof. Epiphany Azinge Dig Suleiman Dauda Fakai Atiku Yusuf Kafur Emmanuel Onyedikachi Udeoji Peter Yisa Gana Dig. Marvel Enajero Akpoyibo Abdel Rahman Olajide Akano Philemon Ibrahim Leha Jalal Ahmad Arabi Hon. Justice Gabziu Ademola Bakre Maj. Gen. Felix O. A. Iorshase (Rtd) Adamu Muhammed Garin Gabas Chief (Dr.) Fabian Nwaora Prof. Osita Ogbu Mr. Akinsanya Sunny Ajose Maj. Gen. Sunday Nlemchukwu Chikwe Prof. Israel Olatunji Orubuloye Prof Andrew Jonathan Nok Prof. Cyprian Ogbonna Onyeji Prof. Opeoluwa Oladeinde Adekunle Mr. Oscar Onyema Dr. Patrick I. Okpah Amb. Aliyu Dala Hassan Folusho Olaniyan (Mrs) Mohammed Sani Kallah Otunba Theophilus Oluwole Akindele Ben Murray - Bruce (Mr) Hrm. Ovie Richard L. Ogbon Sir Steve B. Omojafor Mr. Chukwuemeka Godswill Onwuka Alh. Suleiman Yahaya Chief (Sir) Emmanuel Umeohia Abubakar Ladan Zaria Mr. Bernard O. N. Otti Dr. Aminu Ladan Sharehu Mr. Joseph Oluremi Akande Amb. Chukwudi N. Okafor Mr. Adeyemo M. Tunde Dr. Shehu Yahaya Cecilia Akintomide Mahmood Ahmadu Dr. Ado Jimada Gana Muhammad Dr. Abdullahi Y. Shehu Amb. Bina Citip Selchum Amb. Esther Audu (Mrs) Manu Garba (MFR) Mrs. Beatrice E. Jedy-Agba Obong Michael A. Afangideh His Eminence Ime A. Umoette Hrm Offong (Eng) Effiong Robin Asabi Alhaji Muhammadu Nadada Umar Alhaji Gimba Ya'u Kumo Boma Ozobia, LLM Prof. Shehu Arabu Riskwa Dr. (Chief) David Ogba Onuoha Ibrahim Mohammed Mera Peter Dedevbo Dr. Akilu Ndabawa Prof. Abdu Iganiyu Ambali Idris Abiodun Jawando Stella Ugboma Mrs. Katherine Philip Adamu Hamalai Jummai Gwalem Mr. Felix Ikumapayi, FDC Olalekan Odugbemi, FDC Hon. Faruk Malami Yabo Hon. Gabriel Hamadama Elder (Dr,) Mrs. Hannah Odepo-Yama Mr. Knut Ulvmoen

OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OFR OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON OON MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR

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Eng. Yuval Levy Hajiya Zainab Abu Bello Alh. Kabir Alkali Muhammed Prof. Hafez Abubakar Doukpola Francis Amaebi Alh. Nuhu Abdulkadir Mr. N. G. Patel Amb. Adamu Saidu Daura Chief (Mrs.) Leila Euphemia Apinke Fowler Kenneth Emeka Nwabueze (Engr.)

Barr. Joel Sabo Aninge Blessing Okagbare Bishop Dr. (Mrs.) Ireyeesoriseone Akumagba Chhief (Dr.) Christian Obidinna Ogedazi, BL Idris Ibrahim Ginsau Chief (Mrs.) Doherty Bolajoko Bimbola Mr. Udeme Onofiok Ufot Prof. Oluwole Daniel Makinde Mrs. Maiden Ibru Mr. Imeh Usuah Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin Prof. Niyi Akinnaso Alh. Ahmad Badamasuiy Chief (Dr.) Murtala Adebayo Prof. Kevin Michael Ogon Etta Rt. Hon. Atoza Ihindan Adedapo Oluseun Abiodun Akande Mr. Ebere Young Acharaike Chief (Mrs.) Moji Makanjuola Elder Urum Kalu Eke Muhammad Babandede Davou Timothy Pwajok Hrh. Haruna Tanko Jibrin Kuje Hrh. Alh. Hassan Attahiru Bungugu Emmanuel Amuneke Nduka Ugbade Emeka Amadi Mr. Engeniusz Lac Howski Patience Okaeme Chief Mrs. Nkechi Okemini Mba Hajia Ramatu Bala Usman Mr. Kenneth Nnebue Omotola Jalade Ekeinde Ajoke Sylva Jacobs Nnimmo Bassey Chief Oladeji Fasuan Se-Alabo (Amb) Dagogo Claude-Wilcox Abraham Ndana Yisa Hassan Muhammad Liman Esq, SAN Chief (Dr.) Sylvanus O. Ebigwei Salihu Sintalma Abubakar Aliyu Omar Hrm. Oba Jacob Olufemi Omolade JP Hrh. Ezekwo Samuel Onuh Isaac Michael Ado Ahmad G. Dabino Cpl. Solomon Dauda Mrs.mairo I. London Odo Claire Kalango Dr. Nathaniel Chidi Nwaneri Oba Michael Adesina Alh. Shitu Muhammed Yusuf Kunle Egbaiyelo Temitayo Ayodeji Olarinoye Gabriel Oyenuga Morakinyo Abodunrin Suleiman Abubakar Mohammed Kafa Musa Muhammed Sunday Alampasu Abdulazeez Abubakar Uzoho Odinaka Zaharadeen Bello Aliu Abubakar Obasi Chigozie Musa Yahaya Samuel Godwin Okon Chidiebere Nwakali Akinjide Idowu Salihu A. Baba Godwin Saviour Alfa Abdullahi Makanjuola Habeeb Chidera Ezeh Success Isaac Kelechi Iheanacho Awoniyi Taiwo Dennis Okon Nya Japhet Raymond Prof. Alashile Abimiku Asisat Oshoala Aminat Adeniyi Abdulazeez Ibrahim Ese Brume Loveline Obiji Maryam Usman Oduayo Adekuoroye Oluwatoyin Adesanmi Paul Kehinde Adekoya Jamiu Sgt. Jafaru Wadzani

MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MFR MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON MON FRM I FRM II

8

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

FG to check N200bn annual capital flight

...tinkers with return of Nigeria Airways ECONOMY Foreign airlines are bleeding the nation dry and are not offering enough jobs Wole Shadare

T

he permanent secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Mr Yemi Adelakun, yesterday said his Ministry was working on ways to stem capital

flight in aviation, occasioned by the domination of foreign airlines in the nation’s aviation industry.

He posited that the absence of a national airline has further threatened the place of the country as aviation hub in West Africa, stressing that “we cannot allow Togo to take over the hub from us. It is not acceptable. All the foreign airlines are making a lot of money out of Nigeria”.

Adelakun made the

Reps seek removal of PCC from presidency Philip Nyam

Abuja

peaker of the House of SAminu Representatives, Hon. Waziri Tambuwal,

yesterday said that the Public Complainants Commission (PCC), as presently constituted and operated in Nigeria has failed to meet the purpose for which it was established.

This is just as the House is seeking the removal of the commission under the supervision of the Presidency to the National Assembly.

Tambuwal disclosed this while declaring open a one day public hearing on "The Bill for an Act to establish the Public Complaints Commission with wide powers to inquire into complaints by members of the public concerning the administrative actions of any public authority and companies or their officials, mandate other matters ancillary thereto”, organized by the House committee on pub-

lic petitions in conjunction with the UKaid and Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC).

The bill seeks the repeal and re-enactment of the public complaints commission Act. The speaker submitted that "The failure of ombudsman in our country contributes to the failure of government institutions in Nigeria. The consequence is that it has transformed into a citizenry with a lot of grievances against government.

"By removing the commission from the presidency to the National Assembly, it has made it more effective. The constitution of the board is a landmark achievement."

Earlier, chairman of the House committee on public petitions, Hon. Uzor Azubuike, stated that the country needed a strong and impartial arbiter which would fairly protect the interest of all Nigerians without compromise.

Senate hails plan to revive auto industry Chukwu David

Abuja

T

he Senate yesterday lent support to President Goodluck Jonathan's move to revive and develop the automotive industry in the country by passing the Nigeria Automotive Industry Development Bill for the second reading.

The bill, which is an executive proposal was sponsored by the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba.

Leading debate on the general principles of the Bill, Senator Ndoma-Egba, explained that the Bill was designed to confer pioneer status, provide tariff incentives and income tax reliefs on automobile and automotive components as well as specify federal government's assurances and guarantees to the automobile and tyre enterprises under the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development plan.

According to him, the Ni-

gerian automotive industry represented by Peugeot of Nigeria, Volkwagen of Nigeria Lagos, Tyre Nigeria Bauchi, Leyland Nigeria Ibadan, ANAMCO Enugu, NTM Kano, etc at its peak, had a combined annual output of well over 150,000 automobiles at an estimated value of N450 billion.

He further stated that employment by the sector hovered around 20,000 Nigerians and local value added exceeded 27 per cent on the average.

Ndoma-Egba also disclosed that in 2012, for instance, N600 billion worth of automobiles were imported into Nigeria, with three quarters of the figure being second hand products.

He lamented the disappearance of Nigeria's tyre plants along with all the quality jobs, a development which outcome had led to the exportation of rubber and importation of tyres worth over N100 billion annually.

disclosure yesterday during a tour of facilities at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

He further stated that the development has led to loss of jobs, promising that government was trying to normalize the situation.

A report from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) three years ago put the amount foreign airlines repatriate from Nigeria at over N200 billion annually.

Consequently, the lack

of national carrier and the inability of Nigerian carriers to compete have put them at great disadvantage, leaving international carriers to have a field day and determine fares because of lack of competition.

He disclosed that the government was looking at the possibility of bringing back Nigeria Airways.

“If Gabon or Gambia can have their airways why not Nigeria”?

“We are complaining

91,000

about employment. This is an industry that can employ so many Nigerians. So, we want to bring that back."

Meanwhile, Adelakun has requested to know who authorized the use of Skypower Catering Limited facilities to First Nation Airlines.

He directed the management of the firm to explain who gave them approval to lease its facilities to the airline.

He tasked the man-

58.91

agement of the firm to ensure that it furnishes it with the relevant documents of the operation of the airline at its facility, which he described as illegal.

He said: “We are trying to see how we can take aviation section to the next level. So, we want to go back and see the wrongs of the past and see where we can correct them. That is why we decided to come for this tour to see for ourselves what is on ground."

2,402

The total area (in sq. km) of French Guiana. The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions The number of pending asylum seekers of Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com per 100 inhabitants of Korea Republic in 2010.

Poland at the beginning of 2010.

Source: Itu.int Source: Blatantworld.com

L-R: Senior Detective Superintendent, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ekene Iheanacho; Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe; Deputy Director, Banking and Payments Department, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Biyi Dosunmu and Head, Group Compliance and Internal Control, Access Bank Plc, Pattison Boleigha, at a workshop on Combating Fraud and Money Laundering, during Access Bank’s Anti-Fraud and Compliance Awareness Week in Lagos…yesterday

Ebola: FG to provide equipment for tertiary health institutions ...We are not yet free- LASG Obinna Odoh and Muritala Ayinla Abuja

I

n a drive to strengthen the fight and attain an Ebolafree status, the Federal Government has pledged to provide hand-held infra red thermometers and Personal Protective Equipment for all tertiary health institutions throughout the federation.

That was even as the Lagos State Government said that the state cannot relax over the outbreak with the assumption that it is over.

The Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja during a meeting on strategies for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) control with the chief executive officers of Federal Tertiary Health Institutions (Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors) across the federation.

Chukwu explained that the objective of the meeting was to ensure continuity on the efforts recorded so far on the containment of EVD and to collaborate with all the tertiary health institutions in all the states of the federation to maximize progress and keep alert against emergency of any kind in the future.

"We will provide each of you with hand-held infra red thermometers and some personal protective equipment for use in your respective hospitals.

"As our ambassadors in the states, you are required to have the right information and competence to deal with any suspected case of EVD in your various states and as such, you will also be provided with the right information on what to do in the event when you are confronted with a case," the minister added.

Rivers PDP, APC bicker over Mbu Emmanuel Masha

Port Harcourt

T

he Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have disagreed over the performance of former Commissioner of Police in the state, Mbu Joseph Mbu. The APC in the state described him as an agent who carried out the bidding of First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.

The APC, which faulted the comments credited to Mbu, who was recently promoted to Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), that as a Lion, he tamed Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, noted that Mbu did not work as a professional policeman, but came “to execute a hidden agenda from enemies of Rivers State in Abuja.”

The APC chairman, Dr. Davies Ikanya, who stated this in a statement, said that Mbu nearly ruined both the security and economy of

our dear state, noting that “Mbu ought not to be in a disciplined and respected profession like the police.”

He said it was shameful that Mbu has been promoted to enviable rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police, which he presently occupies, despite not fighting crime and ensuring the security of Rivers while he was the commissioner.

But the PDP accused the Governor and his party of plotting to intimidate the new Commissioner of Police, Dan Bature by labelling Mbu as an officer who only came to do the biddings of the First Lady in his stint in Rivers.

“We know all this is a gimmick to either intimidate the new Commissioner of Police to do Amaechi’s bidding or to provoke him to find ground to accuse him of a witch-hunt, just as he did against CP Mbu Joseph Mbu, now an Assistant Inspector General of Police all in a bid to garner public sympathy,” the PDP declared.

news

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

9

Ebola: FG alleges poor treatment of Nigerians abroad Mojeed Alabi

he Federal Government yesterday criticised the stringent measures introduced by some countries against travelers from West African countries, including Nigeria, on account of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

The government said some of the measures were against the guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, the government said it has strongly protested the treatment meted out to Nigerians in some of these countries while promising not to allow Nigerian citizens to be subjected to unfair treatment anywhere in the world.

Meanwhile, as part

T

of efforts to protect the interests of Nigerians, the Federal Government has also advised travelers outside the country to always be guided by the measures put in place by their countries of visitation to avoid any embarrassment and possible humiliation.

The statement reads in part: “In order to avoid any embarrassment, Nigerians are hereby advised to check on the websites of embassies and consulates of the countries they are visiting for updated travel information before embarking on their journeys.”

For further information, therefore, travellers are advised to check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs websites on www. foreignaffairs.gov.ng or the consular and immigration services division of the ministry.

National Assembly approves five directorates Chukwu David

Abuja

he Clerk of the National TSalisu Assembly (CNA), Alhaji Maikasuwa, yesterday announced the establishment of five new directorates and the appointment of five respective secretaries to manage the directorates by the National Assembly Service Commission.

In a statement signed and circulated to journalists in Abuja, the CNA said the approvals were in compliance with the provisions of the National Assembly Service Commission Act 2014, recently passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The directorates and their secretaries are: Directorate of Corporate Affairs (Alhaji Suleiman Mohammed); Directorate of Legal Services (Mr. Adem Daniel Tongu), Directorate of Procurement, Estate and Works (Mr. Adelami, Owolabi Olayide); Directorate of Finance and Accounts (Alhaji Bukoye Lasisi), and Directorate of Common Services (Mrs. Moma Efretuei).

Maikasuwa said the appointment of the five directors was in recognition of their individual work, their dedication to duty and responsible conduct since they joined the service, noting that their appointments took effect from September 4, 2014.

Shekarau calls for homeland security Muhammad Kabir

KANO

inister of Education, M Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, has called

for the adoption of homeland security model in the nation’s tertiary institutions as a means of curtailing the attacks on schools.

He said such attack has resulted in the killing of hundreds of innocent students in the nation’s institutions.

The minister, who led a Federal Government delegation to the Federal College of Education (FCE), Kano, where there was an attack on the college by some suicide bombers, expressed concern over the rising spate of attacks on educational institutions in

the north.

Shekarau directed the FCE management to adopt measures in form of a home land security by also making sure that every person that comes to the premises of such institution is but with a high reason and he has something that will clearly identify him.

He said: “We should not forget that one sector problem is a case for everybody, both parents, teachers and the government; that is why it has become imperative to join hands and ensure that these ugly happenings are been brought to its knees, and that what is happening is an additional challenge for all of us to quickly come up with a strong strategy that will tackle it.”

L-R: Director, Public Health, Kaduna State Ministry of Health, Dr. Ado Zakari Mohammed; Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Adetola Oduyemi; Kaduna State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Thot Joseph Dogo and Health, Government and Community Relations, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Mohammed Suleh-Yusuf, during the presentation of mobile phones, recharge cards and sim cards to the Kaduna State government ...yesterday

Controversy continues as schools resume on Monday EBOLA Discordant tunes all over the country as teachers and government think of the deadly virus Babatope Okeowo, Cheke Emmanuel, Cajetan Mmuta and Musa Pam

T

he controversy surrounding the resumption of primary and secondary schools in the country continued yesterday with the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) in some states directing their members not to resume unless some demands are met.

The NUT in Nasarawa State specifically demanded for equipment for preventing and detecting the Ebo-

la Virus Disease (EVD) in schools before they resume, their counterparts in Ondo, Edo and Plateau States have directed their members to resume work next Monday, September 22.

While teachers of secondary schools under the auspices of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) yesterday directed members in Ondo State to resume work, the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) in Edo also directed their members to prepare for resumption as planned.

Plateau State government, through the Ministry of Health, also directed primary and secondary schools in the state to resume work next week.

Chairman of ASUSS in Ondo State, Mr. Hanney Dayo Adebiyi, who gave the instruction to his members to resume on Monday,

said the situation in the state on the Ebola Virus Diseases does not warrant the extension of their resumption date as directed by both the state and the Federal Government.

Adebiyi, who disagreed with his counterpart in the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) on the resumption date, said parents should allow the wards to resume from Monday.

In Edo State, teachers yesterday resolved to resume on Monday in compliance with the directive of the Federal Government. The teachers, however, asked for conditions to be met by the state government for the resumption to hold.

Members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) at an emergency meeting in Benin, the state capital, resolved to resume school as scheduled on the ground

...Rivers budgets N1bn to fight disease Emmanuel Masha

Port Harcourt

R

ivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Samson Parker, yesterday said that the state government has budgeted N1 billion monthly to fight the spread of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the state.

Parker said it was in line with a six-month plan to effectively tackle the disease, explaining that; “The total cost of containing the spread of the virus can only be ascertained after the disease has been effectively contained.”

He also disclosed that President Goodluck Jonathan has approved N200 million to complement the efforts of the Rivers State government in combating the spread of

the virus, he also noted that the state government has recognised the threat posed by Ebola and swung into action to combat it.

Parker, who stated this while briefing reporters on the state of the disease in Port Harcourt, said schools in the state would not open on September 22 as directed by the Federal Government.

Parker said it was impracticable to pick a definitive date on the resumption of schools while managing 264 primary and secondary contacts currently under surveillance, stating that he had written to operators of private schools on why schools will not resume on September 22.

He said: “The date of resumption of schools in Rivers State has become a debate. We still have

264 people under surveillance, so it not within us to say when our schools will resume. We hope that by September 22, a huge number of them would have passed out.

We want our children to go back to school, but we want them to go back safe.

“We are in the middle of a battle. The number of people under surveillance is too huge for us to declare that schools should resume on September 22. I don’t see us resuming on September 22.

“I have to work it out with the Ministry of Education. I will also have to put our position across to the state executive council for onward consideration and approval.

It may not be on September 22, but a little after that,” he said.

that the government must provide them with necessary equipment for use in all the schools to screen the pupils and teachers and to contain any outbreak of the virus.

State NUT Chairman, Mr. Mike Uhunmwangho told newsmen that the state must also train two teachers in each school on how to handle the anti-Ebola screening equipment.

NUT Chairman in Nasarawa, Comrade Francis Tete Jatau, warned teachers in the state not to resume work as directed by the Federal Government unless equipment for testing and prevention of Ebola virus disease are supplied to schools.

He gave the warning during a chat with newsmen shortly after a meeting with the branch of the union in Lafia, the state capital.

change of name

SALAWU

I, formerly Miss Oyesola Omolara Asifat, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS Oyesola Omolara SALAWU. All former documents remain valid. General public note

NJIDEKA

I formerly known and addressed as IHENACHOR STEPHANIE NJIDEKA now wish to be known and addressed as OKELUE STEPHANIE NJIDEKA.All former documents remains valid.The general public should take note.

DANIEL

Former ETIM OKON EKPO now IME ITA DANIEL. All former documents remain valid. General public note

SAMPSON

Former MISS BLESSING PETER MOSES now wish to be known and addressed as MRS BLESSING ONOSIKE SAMPSON. Former documents remain valid. General public note

10

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/metro

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

FRIday, SEPTEMBER 19 , 2014

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

0802 393 8212

Man beheads 45-year-old woman for son’s offence Ewa Nnanna

A

45-year-old woman, Philomena Nwega, has been murdered in Ebonyi State because her son, Friday, allegedly raped another man’s pregnant wife.

The suspect, Chinedu Nweke (32), yesterday told journalists that he beheaded the woman as a revenge for her son’s offence.

Nweke, who hails from Amuda in Ezza North Local Government Area of the state, was paraded at the police headquarters.

He said Friday’s action also led to the termination of his wife’s pregnancy.

Briefing journalists in his office, the state Com-

missioner of Police, Mr Maigari Dikko, said the people of the community alerted police about the incident, before the suspect was arrested.

He said: “On 6th of September, 2014, the suspect, Mr Chinedu Nweke, waylaid and cut off the head of Philomena Nwega, 45-yearold woman from the same village while she was returning from the farm.

“According to the suspect, his motive was that the son of the deceased, Friday Nwega, raped his (suspect’s) wife sometimes ago. After committing the murder, the suspect threw the headless body into Ogbor stream in Amuda and buried the head in a nearby bush.”

Dikko disclosed that

Suleiman Abba, IG

the body and head of the deceased had been recovered by the police.

Giving details of other breakthroughs, the police chief said that in August,

the command arrested about 31 suspects whose offences ranged from armed robbery to possession of illegal arms, cultism and murder.

143 suspects arrested in Niger Dan Atori MINNA

police in Niger Tit he State said yesterday arrested 143 suspects

for various criminal offences in August and September.

In his maiden meeting with journalists in Minna at the State Police Command headquarters, the new Commissioner of Police, Mr Olusola Emmanuel Amore, disclosed that a total number of 65 raids were carried across the state.

He said: “Crime wave in Niger State between August and September has drastically reduced and this is due to regular patrols and constant raids of criminal hideouts and black spots.

“In the period under review, a total number of 65 raids were carried out across the state and a total number of 182 suspects were arrested; 39 suspects

were screened out and 143 suspects were charged to court with first information report (FIR) for different offences.

“A total of 124 suspects were convicted while 19 others awaiting trial and 103 exhibits were recovered in connection with the cases.”

Amore, however, disclosed that the welfare of the men and officers of the police in the state was paramount.

The commissioner added that the command had re-strategized its modus operandi in order to reduce the crime wave to the barest minimum by focusing mainly on community policing.

“My slogan is ‘Together we can’. We will fight crime; protect lives and property; add value to governance. We will bring police service closer to the people; we will serve the people and not harass or intimidate them.”

Synagogue: Fumigation begins as recovery operations end Muritala Ayinla and Taiwo Jimoh

R

escue and recovery operation at the scene of the collapsed guest house of the Synagogue Church of All Nations ended yesterday with immediate fumigation of the area.

The fumigation, according to government officials, is to prevent an outbreak of epidemic in the area.

It was gathered that over 100 worshippers died in the tragedy while many of the said survivors died before reaching the hospital.

But the officials of the National Emergency Agency (NEMA) and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) insisted that 80 people died while 131 people were rescued and taken to different hospitals in the state.

It was also learnt that DNA test would be conducted on some of the decomposed bodies this weekend to avoid a mix up and ensure that the bodies were not given to wrong families.

Synagogue Church, it was gathered, is very influential in South African politics such that the General Overseer, Temitope Balogun Johsua, determines which candidate or party wins elec-

tion. Hence, the majority of the dead worshippers were South Africans.

More than 300 South Africans worship in the church.

Some of the church buildings were also marked by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).

But the General Manager, LASEMA, Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the marks showed that investigation had commenced on the buildings suspected to have no evidence of approval by the government.

Briefing journalists, Osanyintolu said the agencies had finished their rescue operation at the site, adding that the number of the bodies evacuated from the rubble were 80 while 131 survived.

He said: “One of our major challenges is that we don’t have the roll call of the people in the building before the unfortunate incident.

“However, we have been working with the top echelon of the Synagogue Church of All Nations to get the list. We have reached ground zero and there is nobody in the place again.”

Asked whether he was aware that some of the rescued victims died on their way to the hospital, Osanyintolu said he did not know.

He said: “We have told you earlier that we have issues concerning the list of people in the building before it collapsed; the artisans working on the building and those residing in the guest house.”

The GM said the information relayed on the victims and survivors was based on their experience as emergency officers at the site.

When prodded to comment on South African ambassador’s claim on the number of dead victims, Osanyintolu retorted: “Are the church members performing the rescue operation? Was the South African ambassador at the rescue site? The church people are not the ones performing the rescue operation, we are the ones and we are talking based on our experience.

“We have personnel of NEMA, Fire Service, Red Cross and policemen from disaster unit are here. The total bodies are 80 and the rescued persons are 131.

We used our equipment called ‘Delser’ to locate and ascertain that no more bodies are under the rubble and we have also reached the ground zero.”

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, said the remaining activities at the scene of the collapsed building

Mattresses recovered from the site. Inset: Osanyintolu addressing journalists yesterday

was investigation into the cause, saying relevant state agencies would be left with the investigation.

Farinloye said the identification of bodies would be carried out to ensure that there was no mix-up in the release of the bodies to the relatives and countries whose citizens died in the incident.

Also, the authorities of Synagogue Church of All Nations, which released the video of the

interview of the survivors, insisted that the church was attacked.

The church said the collapse of the church building was targeted at T. B. Joshua.

While commiserating with the families of the victims, the church said it was ready to corporate with relevant authorities in establishing the cause of the collapse.

In a statement released yesterday but

dated September 12, the church said it “views this tragedy as part of an attack on the Synagogue Church of All Nations and in particular, Prophet T. B. Joshua. In due course, God will reveal the perpetrators of this unfortunate tragedy.”

It also confirmed the death of South Africans and other nationals, describing those who lost their lives as martyrs of the Kingdom of God.

METRO

Friday, September 19, 2014

11

28 die in Osun road crashes A

t least 28 people died in road traffic crashes in Osun State last month.

The state Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr Muhammad Husaini, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Osogbo.

Husaini said that 241 people were involved in the 29 road traffic crashes that occurred in the state within the month under review.

The sector commander attributed the crashes to over speeding, poor condition of roads and sometimes failure by motorists to comply with road traffic rules and Boboye Oyeyemi, FRSC Corps Marshal

FRSC arraigns 53 traffic offenders Camillus Nnaji Federal Road Safety Commission Thashe(FRSC) Lagos/Ogun Zonal Command arraigned 53 traffic offenders in

court for flouting various traffic rules.

Senior Magistrate Olayinka Idowu of Abigi Iwopin Magisterial District in Ogun State, who presided over the mobile court at RS2.23 Mowe Unit, convicted 41 offenders and discharged 12 with minor traffic offences.

The highest number of the offences was the issue of driving licence violation (DLV). Other offences include mechanically defaulting vehicles (MDV), expired and worn out tyres (EWT), lane indiscipline (LI), over-loading, seatbelt violation and overtaking.

The offenders were convicted with options of fine after undergoing a threehour compulsory public education class on safety tips.

Speaking with journalists after the court session, Zonal Commander, FRSC Lagos/Ogun, Assistant Corps Marshal Godwin Ogagaoghene, said the sitting of the mobile court was part of the commission’s programme tagged: “Operation Shield V”.

Ogagaoghene, who spoke through Coordinator, Operation Shield V, Assistant Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, emphasised FRSC’s commitment to ensure zero-tolerance to traffic offence.

He said: “Nobody is interested in suing any motorist. We have to do so in order to save their lives and those of others. We are not interested in the fine they have to pay, that is why we introduced the Public Education Programme which they must undergo before paying their fines.”

regulations.

He said: “Some of the accidents recorded could have been avoided if the drivers were not speeding or driving within the speed limit.

“Most of the roads are not in good condition and if drivers were not over speeding, they would have had the advantage of manoeuvring the ditches and potholes on the road and avoiding accidents.’’

Husaini, however, commended the state government for addressing the situation through road reconstruction and rehabilitation.

He called on motorists to observe road safety rules, adding that the commission was deter-

Court remands eight family members in prison for murder ine persons, including State Director of Public Nsame eight members of the Prosecutions (DPP). family, were yesterday She said: “I hereby orremanded in prison by an Igbosere Magistrates Court in Lagos for alleged murder of a man over land dispute.

The accused are Latifu Olarinde (67), Sanni Olarinde (32), Yusuf Olarinde (31), Idris Olarinde (26), Jide Olarinde (27), Shola Olarinde (24), Temitope Olarinde (31), Usman Olarinde (24) and Samuel Adebisi (22).

They are facing charges of conspiracy and murder.

The Magistrate, Miss Olanike Olagbende, who gave the ruling, said the accused should be remanded at Ikoyi Prisons for 30 days pending advice from the

der that the defendants be remanded in prison till October 20 pending advice from the office of the DPP.” Earlier, the prosecutor, ASP Charles Odii, told the court that the accused committed the offences with others still at large on July 15 at Abule Ado at Satellite area of Lagos.

He alleged that the men shot and killed one Olajuwon Olawepo over land dispute.

The accused also opened fire on policemen who were dispatched to the scene to restore order, but luckily they escaped unhurt, he added.

Odii said that Latifu, the oldest among them and

self-acclaimed Baale, led the group.

The trial, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), took another dimension when Idris, the fourth accused, told the court that

Olawepo was an armed robber.

He said: “The person we shot was an armed robber, my lord.”

The offences contravened sections 221 and 231 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Emir tasks wealthy Muslims on Zakkat Jos crisis: 25 orphans Sabo Ahmad ZARIA

he Emir of Zazzau, AlTcalled haji Shehu Idris, has on wealthy Muslims to be mindful of Zakkat as a way to sanitise their wealth apart from earning God’s favour both here and hereafter.

Idris made the call during the inauguration of Zakkat Committee of Northern Kaduna Senatorial District in his palace in Zaria.

He said: “Let me use this opportunity to plead

with wealthy Muslims to fear Allah and be prompt in giving out alms.

“You must be mindful of the fact that Zakkat is one of the pillars of Islam which implies that it is obligatory upon each and every wealthy Muslim.”

The emir also prayed God to give the committee members the wisdom to discharge their duties effectively.

Earlier, the Chairman, Kaduna State Committee on Zakkat, Alhaji Bashir Aminu, said members of the committee were sad-

dled with the responsibility of collecting Zakkat at various levels.

Aminu, who is also the Iyan Zazzau, said they had decided to transfer the committee, which was previously under the local government chairmen, to the emirate council to ensure continuity.

He said: “This is because when the committee was under the local government chairmen, it became ineffective immediately when such chairmen vacated their offices indicating that there was no continuity.

Ogba Rotary Club gets new president, board Rotary Club of Ogba, dara, praised his predeces- donated several insecticide- put those in attendance at Tgothe District 9110 Nigeria, has sor for a job well done in treated nets to hundreds of the edge of their seats.

Each rendition of varia new president, Rotar- the 2013/2014 Rotary year, residents of Aguda commuian Emmanuel Eze, for the 2014/2015 Rotary year.

Eze was installed as the 32nd president of the club recently at a colourful ceremony in Lagos.

Besides Eze, board members for the current Rotary year were also inducted, while the star club projects were launched.

The events were held at the Bank PHB Hall, Rotary Centre, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.

Eze, who was handed over the mantle of leadership of the club by the immediate past President, Rotarian Samson Omo-

mined to ensure the safety of lives on the roads.

The sector commander also called on commuters to plan their trips ahead, understand the routes they planned to ply, and use alternative routes to avoid traffic jams during the ‘ember’ months.

According to him, the commission has put safety measures in place to protect the lives of road users at all times and that the commission will not relent in its efforts at achieving zero accidents on the roads.

He said that anyone caught violating road traffic rules would be apprehended and prosecuted according to the Federal Road Safety Law.

pledging that he would improve on it in the new year.

He listed such projects executed by the club in the outgone year as a borehole at Aguda community, Ogba, donation of thousands of stationaries to many schools in and around Ogba and health enlightenment campaigns, among others.

According to Eze, the club has impacted positively on its area of jurisdiction, even as he promised that a health centre in Ogba community had been for upgrade in the new Rotary year, adding that it recently

nity in Ogba.

The Special Guest Speaker on the occasion and Chairman of Vitafoam Plc, Dr Dele Makanjuola, urged members of the club not to relent in their efforts to assist the poor.

He also appealed to other Nigerians to emulate the giving spirit of the Rotary Club as a way of complementing the efforts of the government.

A major highlight of the occasion was when students of the Berthstrand School for the Blind entertained the guests with their highly emotional performance, which

ous songs was followed with a loud applause, as the students proved that there is ability in disability.

Other members of the new board of the club include Rotarians Kola Okunola (vice-president), Tony Eloh (secretary), Kayte Pinto (treasurer), Bosun Oladele (member), Chodozie Mba (special projects), Tony Egboko (history and achieves), Debo Adeyemo (Rotary Foundation), Bayonle Lawal (Club Administration), Olumide Bernard (Youth Development) and Steve Omolale (Public Relations).

get guber aspirant’s scholarship

Buhari Bello Jos

wenty-five orphans in Plateau State Tcrisis whose parents died in the recent Jos have been awarded scholarship

from primary school to tertiary level.

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial aspirant in the state, Mr Godfrey Miri, who gave the scholarship, it was to give children of the less privileged the opportunity to go to school and become responsible citizens.

He said: “I feel highly touched by their plight so I decided to offer scholarship to 25 orphans.”

Miri promised to rid the state of orphans by giving them scholarship from secondary school to tertiary level.

The politician made the promise in a speech at the launch of N5 million for a community hall, organised by the Bogghom Development Association, Jos branch.

He said: “Presently, I have over 25 orphans studying at the Bethel International School, Jos.” The former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commission (REC) in Gombe State also enumerated the importance of education to a child.

According to him, education is one of the best things that can be given to an orphan as education is the future of every child.

He said: “Asking the Bogghom community to give me orphan to train is part of my passion. Benevolence is not only made for the Bogghom community alone but the gesture cuts across all the 17 local government areas of the state.”

12 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

Chime’s senatorial bid receives endorsement STRATEGY Enugu governor leaves no stone unturned in his bid to go to the senate in 2015 Uwakwe Abugu

Enugu

T

he bid by the Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime to wrest the Enugu West senatorial ticket from the deputy senate president, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, has received a boost.

Elders and traditional title holders in Awgu Local Government Local Government Area of the state yesterday endorsed him for the slot.

€12m

They symbolically consummated the endorsement in Enugu by handing over the traditional symbol of authority which would enable the governor to not only win the race but to represent the zone effectively in the senate.

The development counters the stand of the pan-Awgu pressure group - Save Awgu Forum, Enugu (SAFE) - which had last weekend insisted that one of their own must pick the senatorial ticket of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and that they would not abide by the zoning arrangement of the party in 2015.

The deputy senate president’s local council, Aninri, was carved out of the present Awgu local government area and he is the main challenger to the

The world record transfer fee paid for Roberto Baggio by Juventus in 1990.

Source: Goal.com

governor.

While the elders of Awgu were categorical in endorsing the governor, SAFE leaders were not specific on who Awgu people would support for the senatorial race when they issued a communiqué on their one-day maiden Awgu summit last week.

In the West senatorial zone of the state, home base of both Chime and Ekweremadu, it is believed that Awgu and Aninri council areas which used to be one under the old Awgu local government council relate more closely as brothers.

The governor is from Udi local government council, a reason the endorsement may be seen as a surprise by political watchers in view of the touted influence of

39,143

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

Source: Blatantworld.com

Ekweremadu within the Aninri/Awgu axis.

Operating under the umbrella of “Ndi Nze N’ Ozo Awgu Egbeleli”, the leaders paid a solidarity visit to Governor Chime at the Government House, Enugu and formally endorsed him for the senatorial contest next year.

Led by the traditional Prime Minister of Awgu, Chief Stephen Onuoha and the Chairman of Awgu local government council, Mr. Mathanus Nze , the group said they “have followed the people oriented administration of Governor Chime and noted the land mark achievement it recorded in the provision of social services, peace and security as well as the equitable distribution of amenities.”

11.8m

The total population of Chad Republic in 2012.

Source: Un.org

Enugu Assembly begins hearing on law to control herdsmen Uwakwe Abugu

Enugu

State House Aoffsof Enugu Assembly flaggeda three-day public

hearing on the law to prohibit illegal cattle rearing in the state, the speaker, Hon. Eugene Odo, allayed the fear apparently being expressed in some quarters that the coming law was targeted at a section of the society.

At the House of Assembly yesterday, many Fulani residents in the state attended the event and security operatives had a hectic time frisking many of those, who made it to the gallery in view of the tension already caused by the development and the thinking that when passed into law, the bill would make grazing very difficult for the herdsmen.

The bill, which had during the previous sitting of the assembly passed through its second reading and titled, “A law to make provisions for the control of nomadic cattle rearing in Enugu State and other matters related thereto” is being sponsored by the Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture and mem-

ber representing Nsukka East Constituency, Hon. Chinedu Nwamba.

Debate of the members of the House on the bill during that last sitting pointed to the desire to provide grazing reserve for the cattle herdsmen in all the 17 local government areas of the state.

Speaking while declaring the public hearing open, Odo stated that the bill was not targeted at any section of the country but aimed at promoting peace, mutual cooperation and security in the State.

However, the reference to security appears to be one of the main reasons for the introduction of the bill, which has been overwhelmingly supported by the legislators and the members of the public alike in view of alleged criminal tendencies of many a herdsmen in parts of the state," Amange added.

The Speaker, who was represented by the Leader of the House, Hon. Sunday Ude-Okoye, expressed hope that the bill when passed into law, would bring an end to clashes between the Fulani herdsmen and farmers in the state.

FG releases N200bn capital vote for Q3 Abdulwahab Isa

AbujA

he Federal GovernTleased ment yesterday rethe sum of N200

L-R: Widow, Mrs. Christy Ade-Ajayi; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; his wife, Erelu Bisi and the former Governor of the defunct Western Region, Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo, during the commendation service in honour of late Prof. Festus Ade-Ajayi, in Ado-Ekiti... yesterday

Apologise to Edo people, PDP tells Oshiomhole Cajetan Mmuta

BENIN

T

he Edo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday called on Governor Adams Oshiomhole to apologise to the people of the state on what it described as reckless waste of public funds.

The party in a statement by the Publicity Secretary, Matthew Urhoghide put the wasted resources to the tune of about N428m in two months.

Besides, the State’s opposition party also demanded the immediate resignation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) state chairman, Anslem Ojezua, the State Commissioner for Information Mr. Louis Odion and the APC Publicity Secretary, Mr. Godwin Eghahon.

But the APC in its reaction said the Chief Dan Orbih led PDP lacks the moral justification to question Governor Oshiomhole's expenses.

The ruling party stated that the memo which contained the travel expenses of the governor as read by Orbih was an indication that the expenditure was authorized from the appropriation law passed by the Edo State House of Assembly.

APC chairman, Barrister Anslem Ojezua recalled that the World Bank had hailed Oshiomhole's administration due to its transparency in award of contracts and other government expenditures.

He said Orbih should commend Oshiomhole for being transparent by putting up a memo which he claimed he saw unlike

his PDP that does not follow due process when it comes to expenditure.

Ojezua added: “The party should be worried with the scandal as regards the $9.3million smuggled into South Africa by the PDP led government.

“Orbih is making mountain out of a mole hill because from the documents he exhibited, you could see that the document was a memo done in accordance with the public service rules, indicating compliance with the law as it relates to public expenditure. It is also evident that the expenditure itself is authorised from the appropriation law from the Edo state House of Assembly.”

Urhoghide said the APC executives and the commissioner for Information and Orientation should resign from their

positions for willfully distorting the facts about the waste of government resources on personal and social engagements.

billion as capital vote for the third quarter of 2014 bringing to N600 billion, the total capital votes released for Q1, Q2 and Q3 2014.

A statement issued yesterday in Abuja by Paul C Nwabuikwu on behalf of Coordinating Minister for the Economy/finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala said the funds will help ensure further progress in the execution of capital projects across the country.

The statement was silent on whether the release was cash backed as telephone calls put across to Mr. Paul for clarification were not answered.

The government fully cash-backed the N400 billion capital votes released for the first and second quarters (Q1 and Q2) spending, and had assured a faster implementation of the slowing capital spending.

Government’s clarification came following fierce public criticism that trailed the implementation of key capital projects captured in 2014 budget

Scotland referendum: ARG demands full devolution of power in Nigeria Temitope Ogunbanke

he Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has said Nigeria's disintegration can only be averted if the wisdom now on display in the United Kingdom on devolution of power and self-determination would urgently be brought to play in the country’s governance model.

ARG in a press release signed by its National Chairman, Hon. Olawale Oshun and made available to New Telegraph

T

yesterday, demanded for “full devolution of power to the constituent units in Nigeria, including corresponding fiscal powers and resource control.”

The group noted that the world would wake up on September 19 to the outcome of the Scotland referendum and it is thrilling that it is taking place “at this critical time in the life of our country, Nigeria.”

ARG noted: “The United Kingdom, our erstwhile colonial master, recognises that a union of a multi-na-

tional and multi religious groups must of necessity listen and hearken to the voices of its component parts, were it to remain a great and indivisible unit.

“Consequently, the United Kingdom had consistently, since 1921 till 2012, been devolving power to the constituent units. Cumulatively the Anglo Irish Act 1921, the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the Wales Act 1998 and the Scotland Act 1998 all had the effect of devolving powers to the constituent units."

Hamzat: Religion, indigeneship won’t play role in Lagos guber / PAGE 16 | Ikedife: INEC chair shouldn’t be trusted with 2015 polls / PAGE 15

POLITICS

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/politics

ayodele Ojo

Deputy Editor, politics

ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

ayodeleojo@yahoo.com

Friday, September 19, 2014

13

Ofor: Only women can sanitise Nigeria’s politics

p-17

Amaechi vs Mbu: The battle rages The power game that threw Rivers State into crisis last year is gradually returning, given the rekindled face-off between Governor Chibuike Amaechi and a former Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Joseph Mbu, writes FELIX NWANERI

A

fresh political battle looms in Rivers State ahead of the 2015 general election, following the resonation of the war of words between the Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi and a former Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Joseph Mbu. Coming at a time the people of the state are gradually getting over the era, when activities of government were almost brought to a halt in the oil-rich state, the unfolding drama, if not checked may see a relapse to the notorious days when public office holders and some agents of government took to stage and talked to each other in disrespectful tunes.

There is no love lost between Amaechi and Mbu, no doubt, but analysts say the already tensed political situation in Rivers State needs not another round of face-off between both men. The Rivers governor had been locked in a power battle with the presidency, while Mbu’s tenure as the state Police boss was characterised by public mistrust and political mudslinging over his alleged partisanship in the handling of the political crisis in the state.

Mbu, now an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 7, had while speaking at the handing over to his successor in the FCT, where he moved to from Rivers State, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu, narrated how he checked Amaechi’s “excesses” while he was in the state.

He was apparently responding to Amaechi’s comment on politicians in police uniform last Thursday, while receiving Mbu’s successor in Rivers State, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, also promoted AIG. According to Mbu, as a “lion,” he was able to tame the “leopard” in Port Harcourt.

“What the force needs is a strong leader who leads by example. It is only the lion that can tame the leopard. I tamed the leopard in Port Harcourt; each time he remembers my face, he would remember how I tamed him. A lion is a lion,” Mbu said.

Amechi had said Mbu nearly crippled the economy of the state with his partisanship when Ogunsakin called at the Rivers State Government House to bid him farewell and introduce his successor, Mr. Dan Bature.

His words: “Unlike Mr. Mbu, who

Mbu

Amaechi

It is only the lion that can tame the leopard. I tamed the leopard in Port Harcourt; each time he remembers my face, he would remember how I tamed him. A lion is a lion

Which lion? This character called Mbu Joseph Mbu completely lacks the courage, steel and strength of character of a lion. Rather he’s a shameless, corrupt puppet of a woman

clearly showed us that he was a registered member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in your own case (Ogunsakin), you know that we had disagreement, but you realised your responsibility to ensure the security of lives and property as the paramount responsibility of the Nigerian Police. It was important you kept the peace. And I thank you for that peace. I am also sure, Rivers people are happy about that.

“And the way Mr. Mbu was going, Rivers economy would have collapsed completely. Fortunately for us, they took him away and brought you and you restored calm. You tried to create a platform for all parties to have access to you. And as you go, please, go with that same spirit. The Police in Rivers State should discharge their responsibility as it concerns the protection of lives and property.”

He advised the new commissioner of Police to ensure social justice rather than partisan politics, warning that the absence of social justice may breed resistance and breakdown of law But in a swift reaction, Amaechi dismissed Mbu’s claim of being a lion, describing him as a shameless, corrupt puppet and toothless attack dog of a woman.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, David Iyofor, Amaechi said that contrary to his claims, Mbu completely lacks the steel and strength of character of a lion. “Indeed, it is very sad, pathetic, however ironic that Mbu called himself a lion. Which lion? This character called Mbu Joseph Mbu completely lacks the courage, steel and strength of character of a lion. Rather he’s a shameless, corrupt puppet of a woman,” he said.

He added: “This is a man paid by taxpayers to protect, secure and serve the interests of the people.

But when he was in Rivers State, he spurned the people, he trampled on the masses and rather elected to be the partisan servant of one woman, to be the woman’s tool in causing disaffection, confusion and crises in Rivers State. Mbu shamelessly and corruptly turned himself into the toothless attack dog of this woman to fight the government and people of Rivers State.

“How can a man who has no strength of character to be himself, be a man and stand up to a woman, a man who willingly submits himself to serve as the puppet of a woman call himself a lion? How ironic! Mr. Mbu, no lion behaves like that! You are a disgrace and shame to the Nigerian Police Force.”

Amaechi maintained that Mbu epitomizes everything that is wrong with the police in Nigeria. According to him, the former commissioner of police not only disobeyed the Inspector General of Police during his time in Rivers State but also clearly acted lawlessly, like a man who is above the law and in fact, turned himself into the law.

“All these, Mbu did because he was the puppet of one woman, a woman who clearly has no constitutional role to play in the governance of Rivers State or Nigeria. Mbu’s only claim to fame and prominence is because he has turned himself into a willing tool and servant of this woman. Mbu is a very bad example of a police officer.”

Amaechi recounted that when the former Rivers police commissioner finally left the state, Mbu disobeyed the instruction of the Inspector General of Police to pack out of his official residence in Rivers State.

“Mbu refused to pack out because he said he would come back here (to Rivers State) as the commissioner to organise the 2015 elections. When eventually he packed out and this is a long time after his successor had resumed here, he took everything including the carpet and nothing has happened to him, nobody has punished him for that. During his time here, when we hold Security Council meetings in Rivers State, he goes to report the proceedings of the meetings, what everyone said, to his woman puppeteer. What a shame. Mbu is a disgrace to the Police Force,”he said.

The Rivers governor assured that a thousand Mbus cannot “tame” him or the people of Rivers State to surrender their constitutionally guaranteed democratic rights to anyone, no matter how highly placed.

While analysts are of the consensus that both camps are entitled to right of reply, they however appealed to them to give peace a chance and avoid puncturing the relative peace in the state.

14 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

OPEN FORUM

.... Calls for Jega’s removal over new polling units

Nwosu: Jega’s removal not the ultimate Ralph Nwaosu is the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC)

Sacking is not the ultimate thing, but bringing the nation to a stable state and to a point where equity is appreciated

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he South-East elders and most of the voices I have heard from the southern statesmen have some serious points with regards to what the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has done so far. And I will also say that any articulate and unbiased mind will definitely see what they are seeing.

But as far as I am concerned, sacking is not the ultimate thing, but bringing the nation to a stable state and to a point where equity is appreciated.

Sometimes I feel uncomfortable when a Nigerian of certain region is given a national assignment, and the person tries to take advantage of his position to tilt the job to favour one section of the country, or the other without being just.

One of the cardinal things that facilitates nation-building is fairness and justice. And if INEC should have this, the nation will grow because nobody cares whether you are from here or there because the underlining thing is fairness and justice.

In as much as I believe that sack is not the ultimate thing, it is important that INEC listens to the voice

Olisa Agbakoba, a lawyer and human rights activist, is a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)

W

hat is all this call about sacking Jega for? Has he stolen money?

He did not do anything wrong.

On complaints concerning the creation of additional polling units, he was not biased. First of all, the polling units in Nigeria are only 120, 000.

And the framework for these units were created as far back as 1995, and even the population appropriation is now outdated.

In fact the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been conducting elections all these years contrary to the constitutional stipulation that there should not be more than 500 people to a unit. And what he has done is to create more polling units to make it easier for us to vote, and we are complaining.

Nwosu

of wisdom and pay attention to the problem that has been raised by the southerners. I have seen the point and almost everybody in the country are in agreement with what the southerners are saying.

This is not the best of times to take that kind of decisions because of the polity. The clear tendency is that people are moving from the Northern part of the country in droves to the

southern part because of the insurgency.

It is either that INEC do it well or leave it the way it was because nobody has complained before now.

This is not the time for the country to enter another phase of crises, after Boko Haram and Ebola that it has not come out from.

So, all these things boil down to doing the right thing. I read the other day where some persons were calling for the sack of the Chief of Defence Staff. Such call is common in Nigeria. Occasionally, when things happen, we should look for solution and continue hinging on justice and professionalism and not sentiment.

The INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has done a lot of nice jobs, so talking about outright sack is more

of a political language; rather, I want to believe that what these people are calling for is for him to do the right thing that will enhance democracy in Nigeria.

There’s one thing our leaders are doing which is completely outside democracy, and that is lack of consultation before taking a decision.

There is always need for our leaders to make appropriate consultation before arriving at certain decisions.

We worked very hard to get the military out so that we can experience democracy, but some of the leaders we have now in some agencies and institutions are even more undemocratic than the military. There is need to have consultation with the stakeholders before making some decisions. And occasionally when you take some decisions and people come out with superior arguments, leadership requires that you listen to superior argument, rather than saying I am all and all.

So I believe that Jega is not an autocratic leader, and as the chairman of INEC, I also believe that he has quality commissioners who are working with him. We cannot see an Abacha. So as a democratic institution, I believe Jega’s INEC will show the way.

Interview by CHINEDU EKEJA

Agbakoba: Jega did nothing wrong Jega did it in good faith, for easy access to vote, because we were the first to complain that the lines were too long. Now that he has made it easy we are complaining I took my time to analyse the criteria for which Prof Attahiru Jega did it, and I’m satisfied that there was a need to increase the polling units.

I was unable to see the bias to any particular state or zone, and so, if

Agbakoba

everybody is complaining, then you know the man is doing something

right. Because from what I read in the newspapers, even yours, everybody, all the parties, virtually every single stakeholder is complaining.

So I took to asking, why the complaints? And my conclusion is that; having carefully studied the electoral law, and the way the delineation was done, I’m satisfied that Jega did it in good faith, for easy access to vote, because we were the first to complain that the lines were too long. Now that he has made it easy we are complaining. They should give the guy a break. Let him work, let him prepare for 2015.

There is absolutely no need for anyone to call for Prof. Jega’s removal, on this basis at least. But as to whether he will conduct good election in 2015, I hope he will, but I cannot say he will, because I’m not a prophet.

Interview by EDIRIN ETAGHENE

Ajayi: Calls for INEC chair’s removal unnecessary Kola Ajayi is the chairman of Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Lagos State ega might have reasons but when you Jmula, look at the spread of the sharing forit is not justified. You can’t have

just 8,000 polling units in the South, while you take the bulk of it to the North. Let us use Lagos as a test case, there was a time we were with the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, he said they are working on increasing the number of polling units in Alimosho, Ejigbo and Isolo.

Ajayi

So, I don’t know the criteria they used in arriving at such distribution. When you look at the voting population too, we are more here in the South than

the North. There are some areas in the South that need more polling units because during election some people walk more than one kilometre before they cast their votes. So, I think they should adjust it rather than call for the sacking of Jega.

If you look at INEC under Jega, he has been fair in the discharge of his duties. It is under Jega that we are seeing incumbent governor losing his seat. Instead of criticizing and crucifying him on the pages of newspapers, we should go to him with our side of the facts and figures. Like I said, places like Alimosho, Ejigbo and Mushin need more polling units. Rather than call for his removal, we should go and parley

with him and not throw the baby out with the bath water. Maybe the Northerners went to him with facts; we should do the same from here. When you compare Jega with his predecessors, he is far better. Look at the elections he conducted in Osun, Ekiti and even Edo. It is only that when the All Progressives Congress (APC) lose election, they start to shout that there was rigging but anytime they win, they say Jega is good. So, we don’t need to call for his sack because of an amendable mistake. I honestly believe that INEC under Jega would conduct a good election in 2015.

Interview by WALE ELEGBEDE

POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

OPEN FORUM Dr. Dozie Ikedife is an elder statesman and former President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo

I

don’t know Prof. Attahiru Jega’s justification for creating more polling units in the North than in the South.

If there is no proper justification, then it would become obvious that since he has lost sense of neutrality going by being committed to Northern position or interest, then he is no more the person we want. It is as simple as that.

We have always expected that election processes would continue to improve with more enlightenment of the populace and by the process, irregularities would begin to be a thing of the past. So, the improvement in Nigerian elections is not necessarily as a result of Jega being the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) but as a result of expectation, improvement, better understanding and commitment of the populace. Obviously, some of the credits would go to him but not all of them.

The performance of INEC in recent times, especially in the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states should not be used as a yardstick to assess Jega’s performance because there are many areas he performed very

Comrade Mashood Erubami is a human rights activist and President of Nigeria Voters Assembly

.... Calls for Jega’s removal over new polling units

Ikedife: INEC chair shouldn’t be trusted with 2015 polls His uneven distribution of new polling units is an indication of a hidden agenda and anybody who has a hidden agenda should not be trusted with such a big assignment poorly in spite of being a single election rather than a national one. The elections people have commended INEC for, were smaller polls like by-elections for House of Representatives and Senate, and gubernatorial elections in a few states. So, it cannot be compared to holding elections throughout the country simultaneously.

Second, Jega gives an impression

Prince Omayemi Fregene is the national leader of Itsekiri Youth Forum (IYF) (Ijaw group) cannot ask the presiTthehey dent to sack Attahiru Jega now over fact that they see him as their broth-

er, son or whatever. When issues affect the Ijaws, and they have passionate concern, they should not always think that the president is at their beck and call, to satisfy their whims and caprices. He is not, he is a president for all, and he has his own political advisers, plus other interests to look out for. They should not always look at things from their own parochial side all the time. They don’t have monopoly access to Mr. President. There are other conditions that are keeping Mr. President on that seat today.

For instance, the David Mark factor is one that you cannot wish away, or undermine, because as far as I’m

Ikedife

that he is a superman; he never admits to suggestions and advice from people. For example, in terms of the sequence of elections; which one goes

first? Should they all go together? Or should we have one before the other and have a bandwagon effect? All these are issues that have been raised, argued and presented to the INEC chairman but he turned deaf ears to them.

I don’t think Jega should be trusted for credible elections in 2015. Certainly, his uneven distribution of new polling units is an indication of a hidden agenda and anybody who has a hidden agenda should not be trusted with such a big assignment such as national elections, otherwise there would be explosion and we don’t want any explosion.

My advice is that Jega should resign and somebody else should be appointed, after all he has done some elections, let him go and retire. He should retire whenever it’s convenient for him but if he runs the 2015 elections, he may not run it well; that is people’s anxiety.

But, I agree that it is too near to an election to have a new person.

Interview by Temitope Ogunbanke

Erubami: He should conduct 2015 elections

I

don’t agree that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, should be sacked because of specific issue of allocation of new polling centres.

People are just personalising issues. Jega is at the top there and everything stops on his table but we need to ask him the criteria used in allocating those polling centres. It is only when we know about the criteria and they are not satisfactory that we can call for his sack.

It is not everything that is wrong in INEC that we just blame on Jega because the INEC chairman has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he is not in any fraudulent alliance with anybody or fraudulent affiliation with the hawks that call themselves politicians these days. So, I am very sure that he would not have willingly or for ethnic consid-

15

Erubami

eration allocated more polling units to the North than the South. We should ask INEC, how did they arrive at the

decision? So, if we now find out that the criteria used were not good, then we can call for correction, not sacking.

Before Jega came in, we knew what we were going through in INEC. And for him to be there and get our election improved, it will not be good to start calling for his removal. Nobody can say Jega has not improved our election because we know the history of elections in this country and how we started having better elections when Jega became the INEC chairman. We knew what we went through under former INEC chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu and when Jega came in, he introduced a lot of reforms that made 2011 elections improved against what we were having before. And ever since, there have been mistakes here and there, but he has been making efforts to correct those mistakes, and that was very visible in the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections. He has promised that he will continue to improve on that.

The usual transportation and logistics problems we always complain about are no more there. The inadequate distribu-

tion of election materials and officials are no more there. So, the performance of INEC is improving every day. Hence, it is wrong to be calling for Jega’s sack. It is not every mistake that INEC makes, that we should condemn Jega for. INEC is an institution, so it is not every mistake that is made by INEC that should call for the sacking of Jega. We have to remember and look at all the acts he has done and weigh it against any inadequacy we find with him.

Jega should be allowed to conduct the 2015 elections. Who else can we vouch for that will do it better than Jega? In as much Jega is there and we know that he is not in any fraudulent affiliation with politicians, he should continue. And hopefully, we will improve to meet up with international electoral standards.

He should be there. There is nothing that we are facing now that made him incapable or inappropriate to conduct the 2015 elections, all things being equal.

Interview by Temitope Ogunbanke

Fregene: It’s uncalled for concerned, David Mark as the Senate President is the stabilising factor for Mr. President over time, especially since President Umaru Yar’Adua died.

On the ability of INEC under Jega to conduct credible election in 2015, the body has over time demonstrated fairness and the same people crying foul now, were the ones hailing Jega when it favoured them, now that they sense that the thing is not to their advantage, they’re crying that he should be removed, especially our elder statesmen and fathers, Chief Edwin Clark and Ayo Adebanjo. It’s a gang-up as far as I see it.

On the accusations that he was biased in the creation of additional polling units, my impression is that we should not run away from the fact that the north is larger than the south, and elections or any form of electioneering process is by number. And if that is correct, they are larger in persons and

land space, so they deserve allocation of more polling units. I don’t see it as anything to make so much noise over.

INEC under Jega has exhaustively defended the creation of the additional polling units, and I think we should give him the benefit of doubt and wait till election time. There are so many factors that can contribute to election rigging, not just necessarily the polling units. It is the human factors involved that we should watch out for.

On whether Jega can conduct credible elections next year, so far he has done well, and I’ve not seen anything to make me doubt him yet. Don’t forget that he wants to be a man of history who will be remembered for bringing justice, fairness and impartiality to the electoral process in Nigeria. He would like to have his name written in gold, so the hews and cries that surrounded Prof Maurice Iwu will not be associated

Fregene

with him.

I see him as a man ready to do a good job, as at today, though as humans other things may come to play tomorrow.

Interview by etAGHENE eDIRIN

16 POLITICS Dr. Obafemi Hamzat is the Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure.

In this interview, the trained engineer speaks on his governorship ambition, his chances at the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries in November and controversies trailing his indigeneship of Lagos among other issues.

WALE ELEGBEDE reports Why do you want to be governor of Lagos State?

You have asked a very serious question and about nine months ago, I asked myself this same question. All of us learn through various means. I was reading the speech of President JF Kennedy in 1961. I could not believe that somebody could write something like that as far back as 1961. The popular one is, “ask not what your America can do for you but what you can do for America.” That is a nation that has done so much for its citizens. But he went further to say that as a nation, whether you wish us ill or you wish us well, we will at any point in time go through all hardship and rigours to make sure that we defend freedom of human beings across the world. For me, I see that the challenge of the black man generally is lack of sustaining development.

Of course, there are different reasons why we don’t sustain development, but one of them is that we deal a lot with things we cannot measure. And people say if you cannot measure something, you cannot manage it. As a nation, for example, we don’t know our population.

That is the truth.

We must take governance the way it is, it is a serious business. So, what exactly is our expectation? The reality is that we can afford not to move forward but we can agree as a people that we must not reverse. I went to the (United States) and I finished my PhD at the age of 26, and I have seen that Nigerians are probably one of the best people; there is no single hospital from New York to California that you won’t see Nigerians.

We are people that can pull our weight anywhere. So, what is the problem?

The issue is that we deal with the wrong things at home! We talk about Igbo, Yoruba and South-South, does it matter? The currency we spend has no coloration. The road that you drive on does not know or ask where you come from. When a plane crashes, it doesn’t know if you are from the South or North.

So, why then do we focus on the wrong things? That is one of the reasons I said we must look at the right approach to solve our problems. We must have somebody that possesses the experience, humility, integrity and what it takes to do the job. I believe I represent those values.

That is one of the reasons I am presenting myself as a candidate for the office. Our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), is lucky because we have enormous amount of people who are qualified to do the job. We don’t need to go and hire people from outside, borrow someone or be begging. Within that number as well, there will also be ratings based on various factors that as a people we must determine, in terms of experience, background, education and the rest.

But I believe that at the end of the day, I will carry the day.

What are the challenges that will confront the next governor of Lagos?

The biggest challenge is not just Lagos State but the continent of Africa. If you read Thomas Friedman’s book, a bril-

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

Hamzat: Religion, indigeneship won’t play role in Lagos guber

Hamzat

liant Nobel Economist that teaches at Yale University, he asked when is it that we can ascertain that the African nation will sustainably climb out of poverty?

His answer: It is a time when we are able to reduce the energy deficit in Africa.

What does that mean? Nigeria has a population of 167 million and they said we generate 6000 megawatts but we can only use 4000 megawatts.

The challenge for Lagos is resources.

Many people have the notion that Lagos is a rich state but it is not. The budget of Lagos is about $2 billion, population over 17 million, as at now; if you go about the increase of 2006 we will be clocking 22 million. Therefore, the resource to manage all these people is the challenge because they said that by 2050 we will be 40 million people in Lagos. How do you build the infrastructure to sustain all these people are the challenge and the way to move our economy to knowledgebased is technology?

The challenge would be how can you raise the profile of the state to make it friendly to investors. How do you raise the revenue of the state in such a way that you don’t paralyse economic activities again. That is, not increasing the tax burden but making it easy for people to pay? People say Lagos generates N20 billion but they don’t say how much you use to generate it. If the cost of recovery is high then the net does not make sense.

Our challenge is how we would convince people on voluntary taxation without needing to pursue people. The challenge is, given the enormity of the infrastructure deficit and population increase, how do you match your resources, and I think one of the ways to confront it is sustainable technology.

Ile-Ife, setting up the first Television station in Africa. I don’t know what religion Nelson Mandela practised but there are many Christians and Muslims in South Africa who took money from the white government and betrayed their people.

I think Bishop Mathew Kukah said it well that why do we expect our governors to be nice, if you want a nice man, go to Mosque or Church. He said what we want our governor to be is efficient.

The job of a leader is not to call people to come and worship; his job is to deliver irrespective of anybody’s religion, ethnicity or class. So, let us look at the job description then we can fit in who can do the job. In my view, it has absolutely nothing to do with religion and I think we are getting it wrong as a people especially when we start that in Lagos. It is absolutely ridiculous and I think as a people we must not allow those types of nonsense to happen. What is important is how to move Lagos forward.

How would your party handle the issue of religion in the choice of who emerges as your candidate?

I don’t know where that is coming from. Every time I remember Chief Obafemi Awolowo or Nnamdi Azikwe, I don’t even remember their religion. What I remember Awolowo for is the building of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)

How would you assess your chances among those who are jostling for governorship and what is your take on the indigeneship issue?

Whatever I want to do, I face it. So, if I don’t believe in my chances, I would not waste my time. In November, I am going to win the primaries. You know what is interesting; Kabiyesi tells me more about my grandfather than my mum does. My

The job of a leader is not to call people to come and worship; his job is to deliver irrespective of anybody’s religion, ethnicity or class. So, let us look at the job description then we can fit in who can do the job

mum and Kabiyesi, they are like family.

My mother is from Ija Egbe in Lagos Island, my maternal grandfather is Pa Collins, he (Kabiyesi) tells me more about him than my mum. I learnt more about him from Kabiyesi.

But you see my dad wrote a book “Reflection of A Public Man” in 2004 where he said his father, Chief Oyeyinbo Ajiborisa is from Epe. You know with religion, they dropped Ajiborisa altogether.

General Leo Ajiborisa, the first Military Administrator of Osun State is from the family. We are the same family, they are in Epe. So, it is the same tree and at the right time, we will talk in the public about it. The reality is that my tree, my foot, my leg is in Lagos. Even when my father became a king in Ewekoro, Ogun State, his title was Ajiborisa I. Like I said, people move around, but it is the same root in Epe. Indigeneship is not going to be an obstacle because it doesn’t matter; it is not that there is a law that restricts you. It is okay for anybody to lie about his root. I will never lie because, where then do you get your integrity from? If you lie about your heritage, or root, then you will lie about anything. I cannot even lie because a lot of people know my dad and if my father had said he is from Epe, nobody can dispute it because your integrity is key.

What exactly is your agenda for Lagos?

It is very interesting, it is a document I keep reading and writing. It is called, Building A State That Lasts. This will be the manifesto. Now in there, there are four major pillars. The first one is building a knowledge-based economy.

The well-being of the people is also a priority. Nigerians spend billions of dollars treating diarrhoea; we are second only to India. We spend more money treating the side effect instead of using that money to build water works, among others. Those type of infrastructure must also continue. The truth is that we have identified seven rail lines in Lagos, we are building one now. The truth is that no foreign investors wants to invest in rail in West Africa, forget it.

POLITICS 17

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

Leading

Woman What does it take to be the female Publicity Secretary of a party like the All Progressives Congress?

There is no difference; it is just a professional work and anybody can do it.

There is not much stress over it. In any case, it is my profession. I read Mass Communication in the university and I retired as a Public relations officer, so it is not a new thing for me.

What actually motivated you to venture into politics?

I want perfection in our country. I am a mother and grandmother, so I crave for the future of my children and I want the best for my country. For Nigerians not to be enjoying constant electricity today is a shame. Take Ghana for example, I knew when Ghanaians were sent out of this country just because they are aliens, but today Nigerians are going to Ghana and the country recently celebrated 10 years of constant power. A lot of things are attached to electricity. Nigerian roads are not in good condition. What has happened to our railway? When I was younger, railway was the major means of transportation in Nigeria, but today the railway is not in good condition. So, we want good things for our children and I don’t want my children to suffer what I have suffered. So, that motivated me to venture into politics.

What are the challenges of being a female politician and a spokesperson of a major opposition party in your state?

To combine the home front and politics needs extra strength, but there is no commitment or sacrifice that is too much for my nation. To keep my home and at the time play politics is not easy.

Have you ever been sexually harassed in politics?

There is nothing like that. The perception that women in politics are immoral is not true. Morality is personal and it bothers on your integrity. If you have integrity, you won’t go into that nonsense. We joined politics just to get things reformed. But there is that erroneous misconception that women in politics are sexually harassed; it is not true. For example, I am the only APC state female Publicity Secretary; they respect me instead of insulting me because I respect myself. If you are anywhere and you insult yourself, you will be insulted, but if you respect yourself, people will respect you.

How have you been working as APC Publicity Secretary in Enugu State?

I have been doing it very effectively and I know that I have been working.

Like I said earlier, I am a professional and it is a novelty to me.

Is your party well positioned in Enugu State ahead of the 2015 polls?

Enugu is predominantly Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but we are struggling and we know that by the time we get to 2015, we will roll the ball and take the flag.

Do you see APC winning in Enugu?

I think so; we are determined and we will do it. We are focused; we are poised.

We have the structure and we would do it. We are working very hard to take the seat of government.

How do you see women involvement in politics?

That is exactly what we want. We want more women to be involved in politics.

We control the population of the country and we are more focused, motherly and reliable. If you look at the offices women held, you will see how they have handled them with expertise. We can

Ofor: Only women can sanitise Nigeria’s politics Mrs. Kate Ofor is the Enugu State Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC). She believes that there cannot be any reformation without the involvement of women. In this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, the only state female APC spokesperson speaks on her challenges, women participation in politics, and the 2015 general election point to late Dora Akunyili and others as examples of women who have distinguished themselves in public offices. So, we want women to reform this country.

The reformation won’t come without the involvement of women because if you train a woman, you train a nation. But if you train a man, you train an individual.

So, we are the custodian of the family.

Therefore, we should come out and start from our families to train and leave good examples so that reformation would be realistic.

Would you advise more women to venture into politics in 2015?

Yes, more women should come into politics. To sanitise the country, we need the women. To reform effectively, we need the women because we are more humane than the men. There is no gainsaying that we are mothers and we have subtle ways of approaching issues. We don’t believe in vandalism, barbarism and tarnishing people’s image. We believe in clarity, propriety, neatness and that is why we are saying more women should come into politics.

Politics shouldn’t be a barbaric exercise; it should be a refined exercise. People should be allowed to air their views and cast their votes and chose whoever they want.

Do you think APC is really encouraging women participation in politics?

Of course, it is and very well. For example, I contested for the position of a publicity secretary and I won. I contested against men and I defeated them, so nobody is restricting anybody from doing anything.

What do you think distinguishes you from other aspirants that actually led to your emergence as APC Publicity Secretary in Enugu State?

Because I am a professional and they know that I have something to offer.

So, they decided to pick me.

How do you see APC’s quest to take over power from PDP in 2015?

If you go to the public to seek opinion on the

Ofor

present government, you will discover that people are tired. Monopoly is not the best in life, there should be a change.

Everybody wants some changes. Many people don’t believe in the monopoly of the ruling party. People are saying that there is diminishing return in PDP; therefore there is need for a change.

So, you believe APC will bring the change

To reform effectively, we need the women because we are more humane than the men... we are mothers and we have subtle ways of approaching issues

if voted into office in 2015?

Of course, we are going to bring the change; people would see it and Nigeria would be better for it.

But people believe that there is no difference between PDP and APC. It is not true. There is a lot of difference. We have young and dynamic politicians in the APC and we people who believe in due process in the party. But in the PDP, there is autocratic democracy.

We are saying that we want real democracy, where people would be allowed to air their views; where people will say what they want; where and when they want it. We want democracy of social responsibility, not authoritarian and autocratic democracy. If you come to some states like Enugu State, all they are saying is; who is the governor going to bring out? That is not democracy; that is autocracy. We want democracy of social responsibility, where somebody would come out like I came out to be the publicity secretary of our party. I contested for without being handpicked by anybody.

There is imposition in the PDP and we don’t want it.

APC is also known for imposition...

No, we don’t do that. Imposition is different from consensus. There is consensus in APC. People can say they want to be this or that; then there is a consensus. It is not the same thing as imposing somebody on the people. For example, somebody can be penalised because he says I want to be this in PDP, but we don’t do that in APC. So, APC consensus is a normal arrangement.

APC doesn’t have money because we don’t control over finance like the PDP that controls the country’s resources.

So, instead of wasting money, we do come to a conference table and there is a consensus, agreement, friendship and somebody emerges. It is not like somebody sitting down in an office and says XYZ would go to this place and no other person speaks.

It is not done like that, otherwise I wouldn’t be publicity secretary.

18

Sanctity of Truth

OPINION Saints, seers, sinners and Synagogue N

eo- Christianity does not appeal to me as much as the old order. It appears that as the number of churches and denominations grows, we throw up a mammoth crowd of seers and sinners. There are fewer saints in this our age of jets and tablets.

I would not call myself a damn good Christian, although I would very much want to be one and I also pray God to give me a final address in heaven.

How difficult it is for anyone who lives in Lagos to go meet the Lord up above the sky. The Bible says it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to make heaven.

Hmmm, the Bible may be going too far. Today, I think it is easier for thread to go through the hole in a needle, than for many of us to spend eternity with our heavenly father. Life is so hard in Nigeria that sin becomes second nature. I always have a snappy response to some compatriots who know nothing about the Holy Book but go about preaching to others.

Sin is sin, I remind them. There is no small or big sin. If you stay in Lagos, and are Sunday service regular, just drive from your church into terrible traffic.

There, you must rain curses on fellow motorists. You know the driving in Lagos is so terrible that the best Christians are compelled to lose their sanity. And that is sinful.

That brings me to the Pastor Temitope Joshua’s Synagogue and the calamity that befell the place last Friday. May God accept the souls of those who died seeking divine intervention.

T.B. Joshua is not my friend, he is also not a foe.

Infact, when he began this work of salvation, I never took him serious. He was neither flashy nor eloquent.

His church environment did not offer any magnificient architectural features.

The latter day Joshua turned out as a huge peace maker and foreign exchange earner for the country. I always feel happy when I see the number of foreigners that throng Ikotun, Lagos to receive the message of T.B. Joshua. Once on a flight to South Africa, over 50 percent of the passengers were returning from the Synagogue.

One of the moving scenes was when Yormie Johnson, the chief executioner of Samuel Doe was brought face to face with the late Liberian leader’s son and widow. They made peace and worshipers saw forgiveness.

I also remember that Frederick Chiluba of Zambia visited much later to seek divine help. I followed the story because I met the former Zambian President in Lusaka in 1991. The man from Luapula province offered so much hope to his people when he floored Kenneth Kaunda.

Zambia had never won a continental soccer trophy, until Chiluba came. Power Dynamos rode on the back of defending champions, BCC Lions of Nigeria to lift the Winners Cup in 1991. His people celebrated him.

However, the former unionist looted them dry and was kicked out only to come to Nigeria for prayers.

At least, he spent some money in Ikotun.

Friday, September 19, 2014

And Joshua does not put on airs. I watch him once in a while giving out rice and Tokunboh cars to all and sundry. Beggars ride horses in his church, and I see a lot of expatriates working for him. That is good for church business, you know.

The man does not sound tribalistic, even if he is controversial. His wife is from Delta while he is Yoruba. The woman does not impose her frame on followers. Come to think of it, I hate all these places where the boss is Daddy and madam pastor is Mummy. At my age, I detest such titles. If you are not old enough to be my parents, I cannot call you daddy and mummy.

You could be sir or anything, not Daddy, no mummy.

Now, Joshua is swimming in more controversy. Unlike Ghana, there was no stampede. It was a building that went down, so many died. Rescue workers were not allowed to do their job, and as you read, there is no confirmation of the exact figure of the dead.

And this is where I blame the church. There was a disaster, no doubt. Blocking emergency workers was even more criminal than the collapse. Journalists were not spared. Too bad for a church that enjoys a lot of publicity.

And because of the manner of reaction, Joshua has not been able to fly his aircraft theory. I make bold to say that I was at the old Alimosho Local Government secretariat on that day, and actually saw an aircraft hovering in the air. Honestly, I thought it was a military aircraft in distress. The colour was grey.

I am reporting what I saw. I took my time to watch the aircraft. But I am not offering any defence. That does not explain the inability to provide approved building plan as demanded by the Lagos state government. And I dare say, let justice prevail.

Another 27th August has slipped by (2) Bashorun JK Randle Continued from yesterday n faraway Rio de Janeiro, Brazil a friend of mine called to say that he was staying in the same hotel as Lt General TY Danjuma who on learning that the government had changed in Nigeria coolly declared straightaway: “Ibrahim Babangida is going to be the new Head of State. It is his boys who are behind the coup.”

He was right on the bottom. It was a pre-emptive strike. Only the previous week, Buhari /Idiagbon regime had announced the retirement of Brigadier Aliyu Mohammed Gusau who was Babangida’s right hand man.

The active participation and presumed leadership of the coup by the erstwhile Chief of Army Staff, Major-General Ibrahim Babangida (“IBB”) triggered off the alarm bells. Some of my friends were in panic as they remembered that only a few days earlier IBB had invited me to Minna, Niger State as the Guest Speaker at the Chief of Army Staff Conference under the auspices of TRADOC” (which I believe stands for Training and Doctrine) then headed by Brigadier Ishola Williams.

The venue of the conference was the Shiroro Hotel where we lodged for three

I

days. Colonel David Mark who was then the Military Governor of Niger State was the host. Unknown to me, the conference was a camouflage for coup plotting!!

David Mark rose to become Minister of Communications as well as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Indeed, he is now the President of the Senate and the “number 3” citizen (after the President and Vice-President).

Brigadier Ishola Williams has since retired from the army after a spell as a feisty anti-corruption crusader. I understand he has a position in the United Nations and is now based in New York.

Anyway, the only other civilians at the Minna conference were Chief MKO Abiola who would eventually win the 1993 presidential election and Professor Isawa Elaigwu who was then serving at the Military Defence Academy in Kaduna and had been a contemporary of IBB at the academy while then Brigadier Ibrahim Babangida was a lecturer/instructor.

By 9 pm Abacha was back on the air.

This time the announcement was short and sharp. “Major-General Ibrahim Babangida has been appointed as the new Head of State and Commander-In-Chief Armed Forces of Nigeria.”

While some were jubilating that the general with the ready smile and gap in his teeth had emerged as the new leader,

others panicked that should the coup fail heads would roll; and matters could become bloody and messy. This was no picnic or tea party. The stakes were very high indeed.

As usual a curfew was announced. It would last till dawn. In any case, there was little evidence of resistance or a counter-coup. Regardless, it was a sleepless night combined with anxiety over the direction the new regime would follow.

Most of the telephone lines had been out (or disabled) but somehow news started filtering through that the former Head of State, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari had been arrested by a detachment of soldiers led by then Lt Colonel Lawan Gwadabe a Babangida loyalist. It was the “Daily Times” which would confirm that Gwadabe formally saluted Buhari before announcing: “You are under arrest, Sir.” Buhari apparently replied: “No problem. I have been waiting for you.”

Within a matter of days the roles played by junior officers – Major Abdulmumin Aminu, Major Dangiwa Umar; Colonel Tunde Ogbeha, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (who is now the Naional Security Adviser), Colonel David Mark etc would dominate the grapevine.

Anyway, for me it was a great shock

that come the following day the group of triumphant senior military officers that assembled at Bonny Camp Military Cantonment on Victoria Island, Lagos to sing

“Hail to the Chief” were those same officers who were with IBB in Minna --- namely, Major Anthony Ukpo; Brigadier Joshua Dongoyaro; Colonel John Shagaya (who is now a Senator); Colonel Tanko Ayuba; Colonel Haliru Akilu; Major General Sani Abacha; Brigadier Aliyu Mohammed; Navy Commander Murtala Nyako, Lt Colonel Ahmed Abdullahi, Colonel Abubakar Umar e.t.c.

Announcements were soon made that before the day was over the new Head of State and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria would address an international press conference followed by an address to the nation on radio and television.

Subsequently, news filtered out that the new boss would opt for “President of Nigeria” as his formal title rather than Military Head of State.

Equally remarkable was that on his first day in office the new President ordered the release of politicians who had been clamped into detention in various jails all over the country for allegedly looting the treasury, financial crimes, election rigging, chicanery, fraud, etc.

19

EDITORIAL

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

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

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2014

Rising cost of medical tourism must be halted now

F

or decades, the phrase, 'Health is Wealth' has been strictly adhered to by many European countries, the United States and Canada. This is because healthy individuals will transform the society to a healthy, wealthy nation. Cuba, China, India, Russia and other countries are also leading examples of how the state should cater for the medical needs of the citizenry. For example, in Canada, the national health insurance programme, known as "Medicare", is designed to ensure that all residents have reasonable access to hospitals and physicians.

Pitiably, the reverse seems to be the case in Nigeria. Annually, medical tourism costs this country a massive N250 billion ($1.6 billion) a year, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit. Also, at least 5,000 Nigerians travel monthly to seek superior medical attention overseas. This means an average of 167 Nigerians travel out of the country and spend hard-earned N685 million everyday on medical tourism alone. To add to the ugly trend, Nigeria loses 2,300 under-five year olds and 145 women of child-bearing age daily, making it the world’s second largest contributor to the under-five and maternal mortality rates. Unfortunately, policy restrictions, corruption, inadequate and poorly maintained facilities, very high

patient-to-doctor ratio and uninspiring bureaucratic hitches still work in league with other numerous negative factors to inhibit healthcare delivery in the country.

With months remaining until the deadline for achieving the globallyendorsed Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), this scenario is appalling for a country like Nigeria with huge human and financial resources that should turn its healthcare sector into a reference point in Africa. Clearly, the country now needs a miracle to meet the Millennium Development Goals 4, 5, and 6, which focus on reduction of child mortality, improving maternal health and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other major diseases by 2015.

This regrettable situation requires that the wide gap existing in the country’s healthcare sector, which is neither acceptable nor sustainable be urgently capped. Indeed Nigeria, in its national vision NV20: 2020, targets to place the country in the Human Development Index (HDI) ranking of not less than 80 by 2020, and support a life expectancy of not less than 70 years.

However, it takes more than entertaining stakeholders with vision statements that would be confined to archives while citizens are still afflicted by diseases that could be controlled even with minimal commitment by all, to achieve these goals. Nigeria is

committed to the MDGs and to saving 400,000 children’s and 20,000 mothers’ lives by the end of 2015. As stated by Ray Chambers, the United Nations’ Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Nigeria’s Public-Private Acceleration Plan to Achieve the Health mugs of the MDGs in a recent meeting with the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN), these lives are Nigeria’s most precious commodity that must be jealously taken care of.

We firmly believe that while focusing on traditional curative approach to medicine, extra emphasis needs to be laid on preventive medicine, which should lead the nation in the improvement of national health indices and economic growth. We also demand rapid response in the need to exceed provision of primary and specialty care and continually conduct researches in addressing illnesses prevalent in subSaharan Africa.

To attain sustainable and affordable healthcare for all by 2020, the Nigeria Vision 20: 2020 Economic Transformation Blueprint recommends aggressive implementation of siting, at least one primary healthcare (PHC) facility in each ward with the appropriate complement of staff, development and implementation of a health infrastructure policy that will guarantee minimum standards and ensure that the referral systems to secondary and tertiary

healthcare facilities are strengthened and able to support primary healthcare, provision of adequate infrastructure and well maintained equipment through partnership with the private sector, and expansion of secondary and tertiary healthcare to include the sitting of at least, one General Hospital in each Local Government Area, among others.

The problem in healthcare delivery is self-inflicted as the country has failed to invest and make the environment attractive to investors, leading to crass negligence of the healthcare sector. Therefore, it must look inwards for solutions to the anomaly as specialised services rendered by various hospital groups from African, Asian, Arabian and Western countries to tackle the problems come at exorbitant costs.

We are encouraged by the awakening of private sector interest in the challenges of the sector and urge the government and all related authorities to give maximum support to the fresh initiative, whether in form of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement or as stand-alone private enterprise effort.

We demand that all efforts must be harnessed and encouraged with special concessions to sustain their impact and attract other investors in reinvigorating the nation’s healthcare delivery system.

MANAGING DIRECTOR/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Eric Osagie DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTORS

Gabriel Akinadewo Felix Oguejiofor Abugu MANAGING EDITOR

Suleiman Uba Gaya EDITOR, DAILY

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Emeka Obasi Ayodele Ojo BUREAU CHIEF, BRUSSELS

Leo Cendrowicz BUREAU CHIEF, WASHINGTON DC

Marshall Comins EDITORIAL COORDINATOR, EUROPE

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Robinson Ezeh

20 POLITICS

Jonathan

Hamisu Abubakar argues that President Goodluck Jonathan should not be blamed for the underdevelopment of the North

I

n this centennial season of blame game over everything that has gone wrong with Nigeria since 1914, it is not surprising that President Goodluck Jonathan has become the whipping boy. Yes, the buck stops at the President’s desk – and he knows that. That is why he takes all manner of criticisms from all manner of people in his strides knowing that he asked for a difficult job in 2011 when he offered to serve the people as their President.

In one of his recent chats with the media, President Jonathan did accept that Nigerians, including this writer, are justified to be angry and frustrated at the slow pace we have made as a people in the journey of development since independence in 1960.

While it is justifiable to criticise the president fairly for what he does or does not do, yet that does not confer on any person or group of persons the right to distort facts, misinform the people and accuse him (Jonathan) for offences, which even a day-old baby can exonerate him from. It is in this category that the wicked accusations of Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie and his Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) fall.

According to the ACF, President Jonathan has not only failed the North but also hates our people from the North.

Coomasie had said this at the recent emergency meeting of ACF and NonGovermental Organisations (NGOs) in the North.

Needless to point out that the ACF, under Coomasie, has become a group of ethnic jingoists devoid of any nationalistic sentiments and aspirations. The once respected northern association has succumbed to the parochialism and the personalist littleness of its present promoters like the former inspector general of police. Lest we forget, the same Coomasie now attacking Jonathan and blaming him for the insecurity and the failings of the North headed the

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

Coomasie

Yakasai

Northern leaders, not Jonathan, failed North Nigerian Police at its lowest and most notorious period. This was the era when Coomasie donated the force to the arbitrary pleasures of the former dictator-head of state to persecute and eliminate Nigerian citizens from all parts of the country.

It is only in our country that people who brought opprobrium and ignominy to their fatherland are given yet another platform to further insult the sensibilities of citizens. Just as Nigerians thought they have heard the last of Coomasie, he suddenly re-emerged from obscurity at the recently concluded National Confab with even a more vindictive and divisive spirit, which nearly ruined the honest efforts of many other patriotic Nigerians tired of ethnic politics and atavistic regionalism.

And to face the issues raised by Coomasies’s ACF, it is not true that President Jonathan has failed in protecting the North. If anything, it is some northern leaders like Coomasie that have failed the region. The insurgency ravaging the North-East of Nigeria began even before Jonathan became president and that is, perhaps, the only fact that Coomasie could not twist. Although many scholars and strategists have given many reasons for the emergence of the deadly insurgence in the North, an eclectic position is that bad leadership that manifestly impoverished the people of the area for a long period of time is one certain factor.

For many years, northern elite wielded power and did absolutely nothing to improve the access and quality of education in the region.

And neither did they build a culture of enterprise and industry there. Instead, what they promoted was personal wealth at the expense of the people, rural and mass poverty that Boko Haram is feeding off for its recruitment. The schools that Jonathan

is building and funding in the North today to take children of school age off the streets and make them less vulnerable to radicalisation and other abuses ought to have been done decades ago. And who was in charge then? Coomasie and some of his cohorts at the ACF are directly complicit of the crime against the children and people of the North. What did Coomasie do when he was in office to help the North? Perhaps the most important service he rendered to the North was to receive from General Sani Abacha the corpse of the late leader and nationalist, General Musa Yar’ Adua and brought him home to the Katsina people!

If Coomasie is weeping that the North has become divided politically today, how is that the problem of President Jonathan? The concept of the monolithic North has always been problematic. The high-handedness of people like Coomasie who hid under the rally cry of “one North” to promote a certain ethnic group while subjugating the others in a well-orchestrated internal colonialism policy has found them out. The logic of

It is not true that President Jonathan has failed in protecting the North. If anything, it is some northern leaders like Coomasie that have failed the region

democracy and the freedom of speech are responsible for the boldness that the hitherto subjugated peoples and groups in the North are displaying against an oligarchy that is slow in coming to terms with the reality of the modern Nigeria.

Those who are nostalgic about the “unity” of the North are perhaps jittery to explain in whose interest this unity had been in the past. If the monolithic North is disintegrating, it has nothing to do with the president. If anything, those now pointing fingers at different directions need to re-examine the power relations in the North and how much power had been put in the service of the ordinary people all these years. If it takes an Ijaw man from Otuoke to improve the life chances of the ordinary citizens in the North who have borne the brunt of prebendal use of power by their own elite for many decades, who cares about the selfish moaning of Coomasie and his ACF? It is unfair and wicked to suggest that Jonathan hates the North and that he is doing nothing to secure the northern parts of our country. Sometimes it amazes to grasp the position of some of the so-called northern leaders on the matter of Boko Haram insurgency. The same people barraging the president and accusing him of not doing enough to protect the North are the same people who insisted on the withdrawal of soldiers from the flashpoints in the North-East. These are the same people who have asked the president to treat the insurgents with kid gloves as was done to the Niger Delta militants. What do these people really want from Jonathan?

But the good news is that Coomasie is not speaking for the entire north, and Tanko Yakasai and his Northern Elders Council (NEC) have given us their word on that!

•Abubakar writes from Kaduna

ARTS FRIDAY, September 19, 2014

CULTURE

Professor Jerry Buhari is a lecturer in Painting, Drawing, Design, Theory of Art and Painting, Department of Fine Arts, A.B.U. Zaria, Nigeria. In this interview, the renowned artist argues that there is a general drop in students seeking admission to tertiary institutions to study visual art in the country, and that the quality of competent art teachers is also continuously declining. He blames parents and guardians, sponsors as well as the general apathy of our youths against education today. TONY OKUYEME writes

21 NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/arts

TONY oKUYEME tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

okuyemeogom@yahoo.com

It is imperative that we continue to support the arts and arts education both on the national and local levels.

The strength of every democracy is measured by its commitment to the arts" ― Charles Segars, CEO of Ovation

Visual arts needs structure, says Buhari

“Y

es, there is a general drop in students seeking admission to tertiary institutions to study art in the country. Some of the reasons that may account for this include: strong reservation of the discipline from parents, guardians, sponsors and others. This impact negatively on the number of students who choose to study the visual arts,” renowned artist, Prof. Jerry Buhari said. He also said that the quality of competent art teachers is continuously in the decline across all levels of education.

Added to this, according to him, is what could be regarded as the general apathy of some of our youths against education today in general, (rightly or erroneously), because they do not seem to see how that translates into job opportunities or ability to use the certificate to create self-employment.

“This seeming apathy to education is further strengthened by the questionable wealth of politicians and certain individuals whose educational background can be said to be rather vague. However, in Zaria, we do not seem to have problems meeting our quota for admission.

“So we can go back to see that the poor perception of art generally by our society as an important subject at both primary and secondary school level of education account for why even interested students fail to get the opportunity to take the subject. I have met many graduates at art events who lamented how they lacked opportunity to study art even at primary school.

Many of them believed that if they had studied art their worldview would have been richer and that their capacity to appreciate the intangible aspects of life would have been better,” Buhari said, adding that because of this situation the quality of art teachers at primary and secondary schools impact negatively at the entrance to tertiary level. And this has become a predictable circle. Of course we know that the crisis of education in the country is a subject for continues debate.

“I humbly submit that the quality of competent art teachers is continuously in the decline across all levels of edu-

Hanging water by Buhari

cation. There are a number of reasons that account for this. Part of it, at least at the university level, is the unfortunate perception about the scholarship or what constitute the scholarship in the visual arts. In my opinion this has dealt a devastating blow on the morale of the teachers leading many to abandon art practice almost completely.

Some have taken refuge in the theory of art and have completely stopped practicing. Over time I question the nature and content of what they would deliver to the students in the studio.

What inspiration would they offer to their students?

On the evidence of success in the career of artists that should have encouraged a change of attitude, we must recognize that Nigeria is a country that can be said to be stereotypical rather than critical. Till date “educated” parents are still forcing their children to read courses that are considered the “main courses” or “real courses” rather than the “soft courses”. Sadly, authorities and educational policies advance these perceptions also. We are therefore witnessing the cumulative consequences of this myopia. It would be an interesting research topic if we investigate the extent to which prejudice effect choice of course and performance among our students.

“I recall that as a young man after graduating as an artist in 1981, I was sent out of a prospective father-inlaw’s house on account that his daughter has brought a prospective fiancé who “draws” as a future husband. His argument was, how could he feed his daughter? It would be interesting if we can talk today on that question.

“As a university teacher of over three decades, I have seen the destructive consequences in the lives of children whose parents, guardians, or sponsors of students insisted that their wards must read certain courses.

Buhari

Today, I can only say, perhaps fairly authoritatively that, it is not what you read that matters but what you make out of it. For example, the first person that bought a new four-wheel drive in my university read one of the so-called “soft courses”. (That is if we want to judge these things by material acquisition). And, to me this is part of the problem. Where is the place of passion, where is the place of excellence?”

For Prof. Buhari, government policy towards arts and culture has really not changed in the last decades, as there is still no working policy for the arts and culture.

“What has government done for the visual arts? Let us take an inventory.

Do we have a working policy? Can we be made to account for its implementation? Where are artists and creative people when we formulate strategies for national development? I dare say that the visual art discipline in tertiary institutions in the country has the poorest structures and facilities.

Some date back to colonial times. In a global village what can you expect from this situation? So, I think the vibrant and excellent works that are coming out of the studios of Nigerian

There are many issues working against art development in Nigeria.

We have said earlier that public perception is one.

Governments have often paid lip service to art promotion or have bluntly declared war on it

artists should be commended and considered as works of miracle.

“There are many issues working against art development in Nigeria.

We have said earlier that public perception is one. Governments have often paid lip service to art promotion or have bluntly declared war on it. In an environment like this, it is no wonder that you cannot identify a working structure that can be used for sustaining the visual arts or develop it. A simple example may suffice. Has it occurred to us that despite the rich cultural heritage of this great country, the only national museum that we have is one bequeathed to us by our colonial masters? The ones scattered around the country are in deplorable condition. This includes the staff in these institutions. Has it occurred to us that till date we do not have a single befitting National Art gallery? There is no established grant for artists as can be found in other countries where culture is considered a major factor in its heritage and national development. Whatever development you see in art today is majorly driven by the individual artists themselves, the private sector and a few individuals who intervene from time to time. I stand to be corrected.”

On the state of art appreciation in Nigeria today, he argues that it has greatly improved despite the negative atmosphere. “This is not contradicting my earlier observations. The truth is Nigerians have developed alternative structures for survival independent from government. The increase in private art galleries in response to the absence of government museums and galleries is one good example. The development of art auction is another example. The rise in the price of art works sold at exhibitions, auctions CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

22 ART

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

MUSON gets new Artistic Director ahead of annual festival Tony Okuyeme

A

s part of efforts to make this year’s edition of the annual Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) festival spectacular, the management of MUSON has announced Tunde Jegede as the new Artistic Director of the facility. The 10-day MUSON Festival 2014 featuring a potpourri of high-quality artistic and cultural productions, holds from October 16 through 26, 2014, in the premises of the Society at Onikan, Lagos.

A composer, multi-instrumentalist and musician par excellence, Jegede takes over from Mr. Thomas Kanitz, a German, who was noted for his exemplary service while at the Centre. Jegede is assuming duties just as the MUSON Festival committee is about to officially release the full programme of the festival, which in 18 years has become a yearly landmark in the Lagos and Nigeria cultural calendar.

Born in 1972 to a Nigerian father and an Irish mother, Jegede had his education at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama (1990-1992) and Purcell School of Music (1981-1999). His appreciation of African Diasporic culture was initiated and nurtured at the famous Keskidee Centre, Britain’s first Black Arts Centre. From an early age he was exposed to resident and visiting artists who worked in a multi-disciplinary mode such as Bob Marley, Walter Rodney, Edward Braithwaite, Angela Davis and Linton Kwesi Johnson. It was here, his path as an artist began.

Jegede’s apprenticeship in African music began in 1978 and was further developed in 1982 when he first went to the Gambia to study the ancient Griot tradition of West Africa, with Amadu Bansang Jobarteh, Master of the Kora (the Harp-Lute found in West Africa).

The Jobarteh family are one of five principle musician families within this

unique hereditary Oral tradition, which dates back to at least the 13th century.

His appreciation of Western Classical music began with his grandfather’s love of Bach and by observing his work as a church Organist. Tunde also studied Cello from the age of eight and over the years was taught by esteemed luminaries from the Classical world including: Alfia Bekova, Elma de Bruyne, Joan Dickson and Raphael Wallfisch at the Purcell School of music and later the Guildhall School of music.

In 1988 Tunde became fascinated with Jazz and worked and toured with exmembers of the Jazz Warriors founded

by Courtney Pine & Cleveland Watkiss.

He formed his own Jazz Ensemble, The Jazz Griots, with the sole purpose of exploring the connections between African and African Diasporic forms of music.

Jegede has vast and thorough knowledge in African and European Classical Music spanning over three decades. His music has been performed all over the world in concert halls such as; Carnegie Hall (New York), the Royal Albert Hall (London), and the Basilque (Paris) by international Orchestras and artists including: the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Philharmonia, London Sinfonietta, Brodsky Quartet, Smith Quartet and the percussion soloist , Evelyn Glennie.

Jegede has risen to be among the pioneers in the continent and his vast experience has taken him around the world where he served and performed in various capacities.

Besides his outstanding achievements in music, he is also the author of two books: The Silenced Voice (1987); and African Classical Music (1994) both published by Diabate Arts. He has numerous articles, journals, lectures and conferences of international accolades to his credit.

The Musical Society of Nigeria (MU-

Jegede

SON) was formed in 1983 through the interaction and commitment of some friends who love and appreciate classical music. Sir. Mervyn Brown, then British High Commissioner in Nigeria and Lady Brown, along with other distinguished Nigerians -- Mr. Akintola Williams, Mr. Louis Mbanefo, Chief Ayo Rosiji, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi and Mrs. Francesca Emanuel thought it wise to stimulate the interest and awareness of Nigerians, especially in Lagos to the richness and elegance of classical music. The motive was also to promote the understanding and enjoyment of classical music; to educate children and the youth in the performance and theory of

music, encourage interaction between Nigerian and non-Nigerian musicians, encourage performance of serious music with emphasis on classical music, and as well provide facilities for realization of the objectives and raise funds from persons and organizations for the realization of the objectives.

Aside it’s annual MUSON Festival, the successful operation of its MUSON Choir (since 1995) and the MUSON Symphony Orchestra (since 2005), the Society, since 1989, has been running high-quality musical training through its MUSON School of Music, which has become the hub for professional music artistes.

From Harmony, Chocolate in praise of African woman Tony Okuyeme

A

fro Pop music act, Emike Ekwe, popularly known as Harmony, has released her official debut single entitled Chocolate, under the stables of HF Music label. Produced by Popito, Chocolate, the talented musician, dancer, performer and song writer said, is a metaphour for the beauty of the African woman.

With the release of the single Harmony joins Zeez (formerly known as DJ Zeez) of the “Fokasibe” and “Boobie FC” fame at HF Music. The Lekki, Lagos based music powerhousse, which signed Zeez early this year, is taking giant strides in the industry with this move.

“Chocolate’, Harmony said, is her metaphor for African beauty. “I see that a lot of men love African women, and it is just a way to tell people whether at home or abroad, African women are the best. I don’t look like a ‘Chocolate’, but I am Chocolate inside; I’m a typical African woman,” she said.

Harmony started singing while in primary school at the tender age of seven as a member of the Anointing International Primary School Choir, Warri, Delta State. “I have been singing for a long time. Since I was in primary school, I have been singing.

Then, we used to go to occasions from the school and I always take the lead vocals,” she recalls.

“I studied Public Administration in Lagos State University (LASU), and I graduated in 2011. Professionally, I have been in music for over four years. But I actually dropped my first

Chocolate, is my metaphor for African beauty. I see that a lot of men love African women, and it is just a way to tell people whether at home or abroad, African women are the best single before getting signed. In 2011, I did a single and I featured some record label owner. I featured DCCR Record label owner in the single, but we did not really try to promote the song.

So after getting signed, I decided to rebrand the single and drop it, the video just got shot by Pogan beat, and it is going to be out in a week time.

On why she prefers Afro Pop music, Harmony said: “Firstly, Pop is known as the popular type of music for the youth or something that anybody could identify with. Afro is

known as the black people’s song. So I decided to go into that because it is firstly my passion, and I believe that when you mix your passion and business together, you will get the best out of it.”

She is confident that she has what it takes to make it in the music industry. “My biggest asset is my voice. I know I have a very beautiful heart, I could sing, I’m an amazing soul. I don’t know, but maybe other people could tell me what is unique about me. But personally, I think I got a beautiful soul,” she enthused.

“My second single which I featured Zeez; the former DJ Zeez, is titled ‘Obim’, and it is talking about Love.

Then my other singles before I get my album out is going to talk about much more important stuffs. So right now, we are just dropping as it comes,” Harmony explained.

She disclosed that did not want her to be in the music industry. “He wanted something else for me, but I am grown up and I know what is best for me, so I decided to do music because it is the best for me,” she said. “He has not been reacting nicely, but he will get over it. My Dad is actually an actor. My Dad’s name is Ignis Ekwe.”

MEDIA 23

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

Seconds from disaster: Echoes of 9/11 Ebere Ameh

I

n memory of the victims of September 9, 2011 (9/11) attacks, the US Consulate in Lagos, penultimate Thursday, invited a cross section of Nigerians, including Journalists, students, lecturers, civil servants, and youths to a film screening of the events of that faithful day. Titled Seconds from Disaster, the documentary captures the details of the attack even as it x-rays the security lapses that led the country to fall to terrorists.

Earlier in her address of welcome, Dehab Ghebreab, Public Affairs Officer of the US Consulate, Lagos, explained that the essence of the gathering and film screening was both in memory of the victims of 9/11 attacks and an opportunity for Nigerians to learn from their mistakes and fight Boko Haram with more precision and unity.

Reading an excerpt from President Obama’s speech at the Foundation Hall below the World Trade Center site, as he marked the dedication of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York that day, she said: “Here, at this memorial, this museum, we come together, we stand in the footprints of two mighty towers graced by the rush of eternal waters. We look into the faces of nearly 3,000 innocent souls, men and women and children of every race, every creed, from every corner of the world. And we can touch their names and hear their voices and glimpse the small items that speak to the beauty of their lives—a wedding ring, a dusty helmet, a shining badge. Here we tell their story so that generations yet unborn will never forget.”

On her part, Ghebreab said that there are still a lot of people out there trying to harm people. “Here in Nigeria, we are also contending with the terrors of Boko Haram.

I want you to know that all of us together, wherever we are, have to stand up against terrorism... The US gover nment is out to support the government of Nigeria to defeat the horrors of Boko Haram,” she said.

Some of the security lapses revealed in the documentary were bureaucratic bottlenecks, which made information flow and feedback more cumbersome; legislative lapses, which allowed the movement of people with knives of certain sizes into aircrafts and indeed everywhere; disunity among agencies and officials, leading to discordant tunes and the ones making the difference became the ordinary people; procrastination by the security operatives and underrating of suspects, which made some of the suspects to live and move unhindered in in the US before they finally struck; and many more.

As Nigeria battles insurgency, the participants were unanimous in proclaiming that there are indeed lessons to be learnt from the 9/11 attack. Among the lessons as identified by some of the participants are the need for unity to be able to fight ‘our collective enemy’, the need for unity among the security agencies, the need to report suspicious individuals and share information with the authorities, and the fact that everybody is a stakeholder and so, all hands must be on deck, with each working as if he is the last line of defense. Others are the need to stop apportioning blames and doing one’s part, the need for justice and equity to avoid agitations and

L-R: US President, Barrack Obama, wife, Michelle and Vice President, Joe Biden during the 2014 memorial of 9/11

attacks, and the need for us to shun the ephemeral monetary gain that Ebere Ameh

T

he Lagos Comic Con, Africa’s first and only comic convention is set to host the crème de la crème of the creative and entertainment industry at this year’s edition.

The event has grown from just an industry event to one that accommodates all things creative in Visual arts, animation, gaming, technology, music and film.

The show in its third edition promises to grow bigger every year with greater participation of brands and enthusiasts from home and abroad.

With the support of corporate organisation’s like Nigeria’s number one instant noodle, Indomie Instant Noodle who are our Major Sponsor for 2014, WACOM NIGERIA, EASY TAXI, Cytech, Iread Africa and many more, this year’s event will offer more excitement and lots of prizes for competitions within the event.

Events scheduled for this year include; Training sessions in Story writing, Animation, visual arts and Make up workshop. Others include Gaming competition at the Game zone; short Film screening at the Nollywood Zone, Exhibitions and several other entertaining activities.

Speakers at this year event include British based Comic Artist Morak Oguntade, AMVCA winnersr Tope

leads many to assist terrorists, because ‘it is the rat in the house that

tells the one outside that there is fish in the kitchen,’ a participant noted.

Lagos Comic Con 2014 set to hold

Tadela, Stanley ohikhuare, Abolaji Alusa (Creatve Director at Noahs Ark), Shina Ajulo (Sporedust), Iquo Eke (Award winning writer), Sola Alamutu (CATE) and many others.

Participants can also win great prizes like WACOM and UGEE

graphic tablets, Indomie packs and discounts on Easy taxi rides while competing in slated competitions.

You can also like us on facebook / Lagos Comic Convention or follow us on twitter @lagcomiccon to also win free tickets and Indomie packs.

‘Visual arts sector in Nigeria needs working structure’ CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 1

and other forms represent good art appreciation. Many artists are gradually choosing to live off their practice.

This means that the number of art collectors is increasing. Not long ago a student of mine came to me to say that she wants to start collecting art.

Many friends of mine are now asking me to give them one of my art

works; this was not the case in the early eighties. I think that these can be considered to be sufficient indicators of improved art appreciation.

But we are not there yet. In addition to critical art publications we need art historians to specialise in the various areas of art practice in order to develop critical discourse and authority in the discipline.

“I can summarise and simplify the challenges as follows: lack of a structured institutional patronage and sponsorship that is appropriately funded; lack of good and affordable exhibition venues; and a lack of creative approach of many artists in generating alternative ways of creating markets for their work,” Buhari said.

24 TOURISM

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

Stories by Andrew Iro Okungbowa

W

hile Nigeria may be ahead of other countries in African in terms of its current number of hotel rooms and new hotels in the pipelines stretching to 2015, which many see as a positive development and a boost for the economy and tourism, the high rates of rooms in the country is also drawing the ire of many travelers.

They said Nigeria is too expensive for business travellers and out of the reach of many a leisure tourist. As this accusation continues to gain ground, operators in the hospitality sector have also become vocal and persistent in their defensive of their operations. One of such high profile operators is Mr. Oladele Coker who given his position and antecedents in the sector should know better.

He is a former employee of Lagos Sheraton until October 1990 when himself and two other colleagues of his, also former staffers of Lagos Sheraton stepped aside to form their own outfit, Hotel Support Services Limited (now HSSL Global), which is the first Nigerian consultancy and hotel management chain. The success of the company in almost the 24 years of its existence has not only impacted on the development of the sector but has inspired a lot Nigerian hotel management outfits now in operation.

A member and fellow of the Institute of Hospitality UK, Nigeria branch among others, Coker, a director in HSSL Global, in an exclusive interview with the New Telegraph sheds light on the reasons for the high room rates and other issues affecting the development of tourism in the country.

While admitting that the average room rates charged by Nigerian hotels are on the high side in comparison with other countries, he says this should, however, not be treated in isolation otherwise Nigeria would be labelled wrongly; and this, he said, is not good for the business. ‘‘If you look at the rates in isolation they do seem exorbitant. When you compare the average rate of rooms in our five, four star and even three star hotel to what is obtainable abroad they do seem disproportionate. That is a fact,’’ said Coker, but he blamed the high cost of operation for this increasingly high rates.

“However, the underlying reasons for this must also be considered,” he also said, even as he pointed out that every hotelier in Nigeria basically operates as a ‘mini – local government.’ His words: “To run any form of hotel in Nigeria you must become a mini - local government for that hotel to survive. You generate your own water, you generate your own light, you generate your own sewage and refuse disposal. Everything you must provide for yourself and by yourself; so there is a cost to that.”

Besides, increasing overhead of operation, he fingered the heavy and multi – level taxation and charges by the different arms of government as a big factor.

De Santos Poolside

Govt should reduce, streamline taxes on hotels, says Coker

“Especially now, with this proliferation of hotel people in government think the hotel business is booming now; so they show up with different levels of taxation rates. We are suffering from these multi – level taxation and all these things are adding up to the bottom line. It is worse in big cities like Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt,” said Coker.

“The truth is that it is much more expensive to run hotel in Nigeria. Even operationally, a 30 room hotel in Lagos will run a full kitchen, a full laundry and 24 hours services. But a 30 room abroad will not and will just outsource them. You can’t do that in Nigeria,” Coker stated, adding that, “it is simply because the cost of operating hotels in Nigeria is much higher than in many places. If the i nv e s t o r s are going to make returns on their investment they have no choice but to put the Coker rates high”.

Accord-

ing to him, without these two debilitating factors, the average room rates in Nigeria could be as competitive as others if not even lower. “Many hotels, including us, could probably be able to drop their rates to at least 25 percent straightaway if the government could give us 24 hours light. Just give us light, provide us water, no need to run boreholes and treatment plants. Give us clean, clear pipe borne water; you can get another 10 percent off straightaway and many of the others,” he explained.

Also, Coker wants to see some streamlining in the taxes and collections to make it easier and less cumbersome for the hoteliers. “They should streamline our taxes; we don’t want to be dealing with about 10, 15 government agencies. Let us pay these things in one central place and then you will probably be able to drop some percentage again because this is where the cost is coming from.”

The inability to grade and classify Nigerian hotels is also a source of worry for Coker. According to him, it is not a matter

for the government. “Grading and classification of hotel is really not a big thing and it is not something that the government should be doing unless that government is working with the practitioners,” he said.

Furthermore, “it should be an industry based issue and not a government based issue. If the government really wants to know how to grade and classify hotels then they should talk to the Nigerian Hotel and Catering Institute (NHCI), get them involved, talk to the Institute of Hospitality (IOH), talk to everybody who is involved in the industry. But people seat down in their offices and begin to take decisions about issues that they really don’t know much about,” he said.

Another area of concern for the HSSL Global director is the missed opportunities in developing Nigeria tourism, which according to him should have been on the top burner but for the fact that people running the industry are not the right people as they lack the skill, knowledge and managerial experience to move the industry forward.

The policy somersault and the lack of initiative by these administrators, who he described as square pegs in round holes, are pointers to this. However, he said all hope is not lost as the industry is at its revolutionary state and with time, the right people and advocates would stand up for the industry. But until such a time comes, we may just have to continue to bear with the misrule of tourism all over the country.

Akwaaba 2014: Organisers assure exhibitors over fear of Ebola A idmst concerns and fears raised over the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) affecting this year’s edition of Akwaaba, a travel and tourism trade exhibition bill to hold next month in Lagos, Nigeria, the organisers have given assurance that all is well and that the tourism expo would hold as planned.

Speaking on the level of preparedness for the yearly event holding from October 26 – 28, at the expo hall of Eko Hotels and Suites, Mrs. Rita Ikechi Uko said all is in top gear and that the country is free from EVD and safe for the expected travellers, adding that there is nothing to fear.

Furthermore, she said that the organisers hope to use Akwaaba platform as a rallying point and show of solidarity for the industry and Africa countries that are being ravaged by the deadly disease. Rather than stigmatise countries affected by it, she called for solidarity and understanding.

“We are deeply touched by the high number of victims both dead and infected and do sincerely commiserate with the people of the region that have suffered the disease and the attendant stigmatisation that is currently ongoing against the besieged countries. It is our belief that Africans must stand by

their brothers in this hour of their need, this is not the time to abandon anyone and race to the bottom as we are currently doing.’’

Akwaaaba 2014 offers an opportunity to stand in solidarity with our industry which is currently the most ravaged in the region. With airlines most of them exhibitors at Akwaaba losing billions of dollars due to EVD and most hotels in the region empty, Akwaaba 2014 will be an opportunity to rekindle hope in travel business,” Mrs. Ikechi Uko said, adding that “with gloom all over the travel and tourism sector, it is not time to roll over and die. The tourism

community must fight back; we have to continue in providing services to the best standards expected of us even if it is to a few persons.”

She also assured that all the rules prescribed by the government of Nigeria would be observed during the expo. ‘‘As organisers we want to reassure our exhibitors that we will observe all the rules established by the federal ministry of health and the Lagos State government for such events. These rules include use of thermometer guns to scan all visitors, the use of hand sanitisers for visitors and frequent hand washing. We will also restrict attendance to only

registered persons.”

Also, she commended the Nigerian government for effectively curtailing the disease, and that Nigeria is now free from the disease or caring for any sufferer with the result that schools in the country are now ready for resumption by next week ahead of the travel event, which over the years has been acclaimed as Africa’s best forum for the world to meet with Africans.

As part of its show of solidarity, all exhibitors, trade visitors and the public attending the event are expected to wear a black arm band during the three days gathering.

Entertainment

NEW TELEGRAPH

25

www.newtelegraphonline.com/entertainment

SOny Neme Entertainment Editor

sony.neme@newtelegraphonline.com 0811 181 3096

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2014

Gulder Ultimate Search begins hunt in Anambra stories by sony neme

C

ontestants for the Gulder Ultimate Search, GUS 11, have begun the hunt for The Mission in earnest.

The fourteen young men and women began their journey on Tuesday, September 16, with a visit to the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano, who received them in government house Awka, Anambra State.

The visit afforded Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigeria Breweries Plc, Kufre Ekanem, used the opportunity to present the new Gulder bottle to the governor\who said, “The bottle is innovative,” and that the eastern region, especially Anambra State has a large drinking community. He also affirmed that the Gulder brand is doing well, recalling the Lagos Business School case study to buttress his point, just as he challenged the breweriy giants to establish a plant in the state.

Dressed in the traditional Anambra State ceremonial attires, the ultimate 14 had touched down at Awka, full of grace and hope. Also in the train was, Michael Nwachukwu, former winners of GUS. They were accompanied by top management staffs of Nigerian Breweries PlC, owners of the well packaged reality show.

On Wednesday, the journey continued to Aguleri, as they finally landed at the Aguleri forest after a brief courtesy visit to the royal father, Eze Augustine Chukwuemeka, Akajiofor of

….New bottle unveiled by Obiano, Aguleri royal father

Gulder Ultimate Search contestants in government house, Awka...on Tuesday

Igbo land.

The marketing manager, Gulder, Legend and Life of Nigeria Breweries Plc, Emmanuel Agwu had set the ball rolling with a brief introduction of those in is entourage. There after he briefed the royal father about their mission to his kingdom.

Agwu recalled thatAnambra was chosen for so many reasons. His words: “It may interest you to know that out of ten ultimate men crowned so far, three are from Anambra, while two out of the three anchor of

the reality show are also from Anambra State. That encouraged us to focus our search for a site in Anambra. At the end of the day we decide to end up in Aguleri. And they will be here for 28 days.”

He explained that Gulder has been in market since 1970, and has remained a leading brand because of its unique qualities that has made it the ultimate drink for the real men.

Earlier, the royal father had prayed for the success of the search. As tradition demands, kola was cast n it came up suc-

cessfully and a hen was given to Nigeria breweries, as his token if acceptance.

The king rounded off the visit as he led in praise worship in his palace before proceeding to the sacreed tree, which is a shouting distance from the palace. There he prayed for them after explaining the mystery trees that grew on the grave of the first king of Aguleri. that done the contestanstants were driven to River Otuocha Before the visit to the palace for royal blessing, Chief Edward Onanze Aguleri, for-

Raypower celebrates 20 years of pioneering efforts

H

ow times flies. It is already 20 years when High Chief Raymond Dokpesi chairman of Daar Communications Limited, broke all barriers to begin what has become a lucrative commercial broadcast in Nigeria Thanks to then Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida who, in his wisdom, put paid to the monopoly by the state in that sector. General Babangida achieved that through the deregulation of the broadcast industry by a decree in 1992, thereby encouraging a situation that has turned the industry around for good today.

That pioneering effort of High Chief Dokpesi, has today made it two decades since Raypower FM 100.5 officially hit the airwaves, of commercial broadcasting in Nigeria. and ever since radio broadcast has remained the better for it as a healthy competition and jobs have been created. And it has in no small measure helped in the booming music industry in Nigeria.

Expoectedly it has been pomp as pioneers staffs of the station led by its managing director, Kenny Ogungbe, took time off to share

their harrowing experience. While Dayo Adeneye (better known as D1) recall with some nolstagic feeling how on a particular day they had to kill and share a ram within the premises after working for hours on end. for others, there is course for celebration as they started off without any form of comfort within the premises, which is today a far cry, as they now enjoy the fruit of their efforts in building a rputable organization, despite all odds.

Owners of the Alagbado based station, had laid the foundation in 1993, on the outskirts of Lagos, as the pioneer private radio station in the country, but began came air on September 1, 1994. No sooner had they began that they encountered a near suffocation when late General Sani Abacha came to power and brought all arrangements, which had been concluded at the time for transmission, to an abrupt halt.

The delay enforced by the military government, which took over from the interim government headed by Ernest Shonekan, was to last for eightOlamide months. It finally ended in August 1994 when Dokpesi, got the nod to commence transmission.

mer president of Aguleri had taken the crew to St.Joseph Catholic Church, where, Rev Fr. Dr.. Christopher Odina, took the entourage on the historical church, that late Reverend Father Tansi was ordained, and the antiquated building where the revered man of God served as a priest in the early 1920s.

Rev Fr Odinna further explained in details, about Father Tansi times and the place of Christianity in Aguleri also took time off to pray for the contestants

Best of Nollywood radio on City 105.1FM new page in the movie inASunday dustry will be unfolded on as Best of Nollywood

Chief Raymond Dokpesi

Radio debuts on City 105.1 FM radio station. The hourlong broadcast will be known as City BON Office. This was made known to New Telegraph by its promoters on Monday.

According to an excited CEO of the new outfit, Seun Olukotoye, “We are delighted to inform you that come next Sunday, September 21st, Best of Nollywood would premiere its radio version on City 105.1FM. Tagged City BON Office, the hour-long program promises to be a revealing, interesting, interactive and informative potpourri of news, interviews and analyses of happenings, events and trends in Nollywood.’

He also said, “As Nollywood's most prolific and dynamic watchdog, City BON Office will be there when the news breaks.

While thanking you for being part of BON's episodic odyssey over the past five years, we implore you to be a part of this new chapter.”

Friday, September 19, 2014

Sefiya on consistency run P op singer Sefiya has been on a consistency run ever since her emergence on the music scene. With hit songs like Love Me Jeje, Lollipop, Have Fun and recently Ur Ma Faya featuring dancehall maestro General Pype; the sexy beauty is bent on staying relevant in the ever competitive Nigerian music industry.

Steadily following the styles of female music stars like Tiwa Savage, Waje, Omawunmi, Asa, Seyi Shay, Chidinma to mention a few; Sefiya has been able to show her versatility with different genres of music. Having worked with the likes of Del B, El Emcee, Amir and Cashsonbeatz, the soft spoken lady has since carved a niche for herself in a space of 18 months.

The pretty faced talent who started out as a model has also proved her mettle as a thespian could; a fete she showcased in a cinema rate movie titled ST MARY. There she starred alongside Nollywood heavy weights like Zack Orji, Benita Nzeribe and Ibinabo Fiberesima, Keppy Ekpeyong,. as well as Joseph Benjamin among others..

The movie premiered on August 8 at the Odeon Cinema in London, and the sexy diva was on ground to grace the red carpet with her charming personae.

After the premiere, the singer went on a tour of London in promotion of her career and most recent song Ur Ma Faya (ft General Pype). During the tour she was guest on major media houses in London including Ben TV. interestingly, the diva

Sefiya

Leonard, Maisamari evicted from MDA 8 Academy T he Leonard and Maisamari families have been booted out of the on-going Maltina Dance All 8 academy. They could not stand the twist, turns, frills and intensity of the show as they became the first two families to be evicted from Nigeria’s number one family dance spectacle. The first eviction showdown had four families locking horns to remain in the Academy.

With their eviction, the picture is gradually becoming clearer and the dance battle for the N10 million grand prize getting intense as the academy makes steady progress.

They got the judges sledge hammer because of their inability to creatively satisfy them with their performances. They left the show after performing the Wazobia (Nigeria’s indigenous dance) and Jive dance routines.

We reliably gathered that the Dide and Leonard families had earlier been placed on possible eviction list after their Wazobia performance show, while Oladapo and Maisamari could not impress the judges: Muyiwa Osinaike, Comfort Fedoke and Jeffery Page.

After the trio had described their performance as unsatisfactory, they got an opportunity to justify their stay in the academy.

According to an isider, “While the Oladapo Family got on well for the Wazobia performance at the eviction night with nkpokiti dance from Eastern Nigeria, Maisamari and Leonard families rocked with owigiri/ agene respectively, before Dide family nailed it with bata dance from the South West”.

In his remark, thereafter, Osinaike reportedly said “Most of the families who have participated at the eviction show down from the

Leonard Family

past till present always come back to the stage with so much vibrancy and determination.”

The performance, which turned out to be a night of emotion, began with an energetic display by Dide family. Next was the Leonard family before leaving the stage for the Maisamaris, while the Oladapos brought the entertaining night to a blissful end.

High point of the night was when the judges announced the families that would be evicted.

Expectedly, the tension was quite intense as they found it challenging determining the two families that would leave the academy. One of the judges, Comfort Fedoke, a professional dancer said, “The Jive performance has seen the family performance as an improvement from the initial show.”

After the judges deliberations, they collectively reached the conclusion that the Leonard and Maisamari families did not prove that they could make it to the next phase of the competition, thereby handing them their evictions.

One of the judges, Jeffery Page, disclosed that one of the criteria that they based their facts is that,

“The evicted families lacked the basic elements of Wazobia and Jive and their performances was a comedy of error, because I did not feel the power and technique needed for them to perfect the routines.”

This notwithstanding, the evicted family representatives commended Maltina for the opportunity granted them to display their inbuilt talent and learn new dance styles. They promised to keep working on the key defect areas noticed by the judges’ corrections and improve on the dance routines even outside the academy.

Apart from the N10 million grand prize, the first and second runners-up in the competition will take home N3 million and N1 million respectively.

The show, which hit the airwaves on September 7, 2014, is being shown on AIT (7-8pm) daily, Silverbird TV (9-10 pm) and Ebony Live TV (7pm) Weekdays and (8.30pm) weekend, while the grand finale would be aired live on AIT and Africa Magic channels on DSTV. Viewers who miss any edition can still catch all the action on YouTube, Facebook and the Maltina website.

is set to dish out more enjoyable sounds to keep her teeming fans entertained. For her, slow and steadily determined would be the phrase best suited to describe the progression with which this charming personality is using to climb to the A-List cadre of entertainers across the continent.

According to feelers from her managers, “She also hinted about a future collaboration with a popular Tanzanian, JUX. This is also in the works. Whether it is striding the red carpet, creating entertaining buzz online, gracing cover pages of tabloids or sonorous tunes; Sefiya is on a mission to super stardom in no distant future. We can be sure to see her at the top where her resilience rightfully belongs.”

More updates can be scooped from her website www. sefiya.com It’s time to have fun in Sefiya's way.

Finding Goodluck steals show at Calabar Movie awards

is surely a harvest time for sexy actress, Shan Tuedhis George, as her film, Finding Goodluck has continto enjoy massive endorsement. the film recently

earned her eight awards at the second edition of the Cross River State Nollywood Awards on September 13.

At the end of he beautifully organized event, she went home with the Best Cinematography, Best Costume, and Best Sound Quality. Her effort was also adjudged the Best Producer, Best Director, and Best Movie of the Year. Best New Discovery (male) Best Actor (English) and Best Picture Quality to cap a rewarding night of fun and blitz. in a chat with New Telegraph, the celebrated actress said, “I am excited. It was a beautifully organised event.

CRMA 2014 has made me proud, and it will encourage me to work harder. for a better industry” The event was spiced so many artistes on parade. among them were awards winning Kukere crooner, IInyanya, Orezi, Sparkxz and Jaga. Others were Cynthia Morgan, Rayce, lil kesh, Vector, Reelpee, Splash, sunny Neji, Runtown, Mista Xto, Effiom T-bone and Spyda Man among others.

Nollywood Stars who made it a spectacle were hilarious Charles Inoje, Keppy Ekpeyong and Abu (Actors’ Guild of Nigeria secretary general). also in attendance were Bond Emerua, Emeka Enyiocha, Andy Amenechi, Teco Benson, Alex Ekubo, Ubong Bassey Nya, Emma Ogugwa, Zik Zulu Okafor, John Njama, Imeh Bishop (okon lagos), and Ifeanyi dike Desmond Elliot, Mr Ibu, Barbara Ossai, Susan Patrick, Kate Henshaw, Mosses Armstrong, Mosses Escore, Archi Sam, Edi Esang, Kenneth Ekanem, Emmanuel Williamson (Lokome),Emma Ehumadu(Totolos), Dorothy Esin,Ekere Nkanga,Emmanuel Fullaz(Funnyman),Princess Maureen Ihua, Majid Michaels, Frank Atus, Frances, Fidelis Duker. Chidi Nwokoabia,Chelsea Eze, Magnus Edet, Beverly Naya,Halima Abubakar,Adunni Ade,Roselyn Ngissa,Matina Obi,Alex Lopez,Arinze Okonkwo,Ekanem Uya,Kingsley Bassey and many more others.

According to the executive Director, Mr Eric Anderson, CRMA is the only movie award where individuals are not allowed to vote-in, we open the entries on the day of the awards.

"The awards is a source of encouragement to practitioners to reward excellent performances and contribution as well as boost the morale of home based producers for optimal imputs" Anderson stated.

He further explained that apart from the honourary category, the awards are divided into two categories.

They are erformances and production for Actor of the year, Actress of the year, New discovery, Director of the year, Producers of the year "We have repackaged to make sure that this second edition is better than that of 2013, if we build the industry big enough then the private sector investors will be able to come in and support us grow the sector" he submitted. he further said, "The awards is a source of encouragement to practitioners to reward excellent performances and contribution as well as boost the morale of home based producers for optimal inputs.”.

Shan-George

26 Entertainment

Entertainment

Friday, September 19, 2014

CinemaWatch (Radio/TV/Events Guide)

27 LYRICS for the week

SEPT. 19 — SEPT. 26 Highlights

Vanderpump Rules airs on Lifetime on Mondays at 20:45 CAT stories by sony neme

B

2Face ft Huma Lara Higher

est known as one of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Lisa Vanderpump is a successful restaurateur with a dry British wit, an affinity for fancy dining and an almost cartoonish love of big, gaudy diamonds. Now, with this reality show, she opens the salacious kitchen doors of her exclusive Hollywood restaurant and lounge, Sur. Declaring it the sexiest establishment she has ever owned and "the place you take your mistress", Lisa rules the place and its lively and mischievous staff with a platinum fist.

Breaking the Faith premieres on TLC Entertainment from Tuesday 16 September at 20:55 This series shares the story of eight young men and women who are trying to build a new life outside of the Mormon church. The young men, known as ‘lost boys’, are cast-out from their homes and not welcomed back, while the women are intent on escaping the controlling ways of the community – including arranged marriage and a life of complete submission – and are hoping for a better life on the outside. For this group, being faced with making lifealtering choices in their effort to win their freedom comes with the fear of the consequences that may come for leaving the compound forever.

Spiritual Healing Verse 1 Every time we spend together There is fire in our eyes All the things we said to each other Are just nothing but truthful lies I go dey think say I know you well Until you choose to do me so

Snack off on MTV

Snack off on MTV on Friday at 20:30 CAT Snack-Off the new hilarious competition series from the belly of mastermind Rob Dyrdek, brings food and laughter to MTV. Amateur chefs take everyday munchies and battle it out using creativity in the kitchen to transform snack foods into full-fledged meals. In each half hour episode, host. Eddie Huang brings his snackexpertise to help guide contestants through a series of unique challenges which range from making an entrée using potato chips as the

"Mystery Munchie" to creating a gourmet dessert using jelly beans. Supermodel and food fanatic Chrissy Teigen, comedian Yassir Lester and master chef Jason Quinn sit at the judges table where they taste, debate and determine the amateur chefs' fates. This is one show that promises to leave fans hungry for more.

More Than Friends on AfricaMagic Entertainment on Sunday 21 September at 20:30 CAT. A handsome young man who solely believes that a man cannot be just friends with a woman he finds sexu-

ally attractive. Sharon an intelligent working class woman totally disagrees and believes not all men are the same. Friendship with an opposite sex doesn't always have to involve intimacy... this is not your typical love story. It’s karma, its fate; it's an emotional roller coaster.

Baggage Claim on M-Net Movies Premiere Sunday 21 September at 20:30 CAT A romantic comedy that sees Paula Patton play a flight attendant with 30 days to scour the country for eligible exes and other potential candidates in a bid to get engaged.

GOtv he is struggling to get approval from the authorities to roll out the prototype.

NAT GEO WILD Caught in the Act. Catch it at 6pm on Thursday, September 18, 2014. GOtv presents amateur and professional filmmakers always on the lookout for wildlife in its natural environment.

Every now and again, something incredible happens - a lion " murders" a Hyena, a great white shark gracefully leaps out of the ocean, a baby hippo miraculously escapes the jaws of death - and somehow, someone captures that unbelievable instant on film.

All Africa Music Awards AFRIMA Project Director Adenrele Niyi and AFRIMA Juror South Africa Christian Syren

M

ore exciting highlights this week on GOtv; keep a date with your decoder.

Some of this week’s must-see are: Al Jazeera (Channel 21)

The Slum starts on the 18th September at 9:00pm Al Jazeera spent six months in the slums of Tondo living alongside the extraordinary people who inhabit the overcrowded and squalid environment. Yet, they uncovered some vibrant and enterprising stories which show thtinge optimistic spirit of those people

who triumph in the face of adversity. Their compelling stories are told in this six-part series. Tune in for the premier episode tittle Deliverance. It tells of a self-taught midwife Remy who is on the frontline of the battle with a booming population in this staunchly Catholic country. She helps neighbours give birth on the floor of a shack and is an advocate for family planning, working to educate women about having smaller families.

Rebel Architecture The Rebel Architecture series

continues throughout September. Tune in Mondays at 11:30pm On the 15th September, in the series titled Working on Water, Nigerian Architect Kunlé Adeyemi's studio came up with an easy-to-build, lowcost, sustainable prototype for a floating building. The prototype is designed to solve issues of flooding and land occupation that affect hundreds of thousands in Nigeria and other African coastal cities, including the 85,000 residents of Lagos's Makoko slum. Despite his award-winning work

BLACKBELT TV Enter the Invincible Hero. airs on the 21st September at 5:00pm. A loner and a martial arts expert team up to avenge a village that was slaughtered by ninjas, only to come across an unsavory security firm with unexpected skills.

•Dynamo. When a cab driver bearing a striking resemblance to Bruce Lee is spotted by a talent agent, he is set on a course to become the next big sensation as he deals with exploitation, womanizing, and intense training and fighting.

On at 3:30pm on the 19th September.

Chorus Now I see Now I see I see Higher than Higher than the height of the mountain Deeper than Deeper than the depth of the ocean Further than Further than the eyes can see When we talking spirituality I see Wider than Wider than the width of the desert Lower than Lower than the depth of the ocean Further than Further than the eyes can see When we talking spirituality Bridge Spiritual healing…….

Open your eyes Spiritual healing……..

Free your mind from hate Spiritual healing…….

Hanhan…

Spiritual healing……..

Verse 2 We never got a chance The chance to make it right Cause right from the beginning Some people don dey fight They’re fighting for the same thing This is not bright And brightness only come from when you see the light light Life is so simply but they make it complicated To be civilized, you don’t have to be educated Let’s make it happen So we time will not be wasted Most of the things anticipated Like don’t trample upon another man to be elevated Inflated egos can surely be deflated The power of forgiveness is under rated But with love and equality we all were created I keep saying these things Cause I know I keep on saying these things Until I go Chorus And Now I see Now I see I see Higher than Higher than the height of the mountain Deeper than Deeper than the depth of the ocean Further than Further than the eyes can see When we talking spirituality I see Wider than Wider than the width of the desert Lower than Lower than the depth of the ocean Further than Further than the eyes can see When we talking spirituality Outro Spiritual healing…..

Spiritual healing…..

Spiritual healing….

Spiritual healing…

Compired by Shola Adefuwa

28

Friday, September 19, 2014

Gabosky tackles piracy with online movie marketing  There is no platform like this before, says Mba stories by sony neme

W

ith the launch of G-media last week, Gabosky Film Incorpration, a media and entertainment company took a bold step that would not only aid return on investment, but frontally tackle piracy. The effort would also, no doubt, promote creativity and good content.

Expectedly the event which was held in Lagos attracted stakeholders in the media and film industry in Nigeria.

For the G-media boss, Igwe Gabriel Okoye, better known as Gabosky, the journey started long before Chief Kenneth Nnebue popularized the Direct-ToHome Video (DTH) delivery of motion picture., just as he hailed the pioneering works of the electronic merchants at Idumota, Upper Iweka, Pounds Road, Aba and later on Alaba will never be well documented without mention of Gabosky and Chezkay films.

Present at the unveiling were heads of various bodies in the film and media industry, as different speakers bared their minds on the new dawn in movie marketing. The launch of G-media, attracted all critical stakeholders in the media and film industry in Nigeria.

The promoter of G-media, Gabosky in his speech he titled, The Journey, welcome to G-media, For him, prior to that motion picture was either delivered to cinemas or on television. His words: “We joined the train at the station with Nneka, the pretty serpent in 1993 and continued the journey with Nneka 2 and then the first epic in 1996, The Battle of Musanga. The inadequacies of our past system created chasms on the journey to evolution of Nollywood into a worldclass economic sector.”

The Director General, National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, Mr. Emeka Mba, who noted that the entertainment and content industry in Nigeria is making progress with the birth of G-media, stated that promoters and the brains behind G-Media should be commended and congratulated.

Mba further explained that, “The industry has shown quite capacity to produce content but has not been able to successfully commercialized it. And the big question has always been how to monetize content. With the G-Media, the Nollywood industry is at a turning point as its stakeholders have the opportunity to use the platform to create a new landscape as it was done at the birth of Nollywood.

“I really admire what is happening here. When you place a higher value on content, then it means you are

Gabosky

In the early days of Nollywood, millions of VHS tapes and later VCDs were sold using a very simple wholesale/retail shop model willing to invest more money on content in order to have something good. So, let’s recognize the fact and work towards that,” he preached.

He however urged practitioners to be alive to the realities of digital in their planning and projects and apply themselves to the future by being forward thinking because it all fused towards having a dynamic industry.

For the DG of Nigerian Film and Video Censorship Board, NFVCB, Mrs Patricia Bala, expressed her joy with Gabosky and his team. The DG who was represented by the Director of Operations of NFVCB, Mr. Cornel Agim, with the coming of G-Media, distribution framework has been taken to the next level. for the Bank of Industry, knowing that distribution is key to making a success of the film industry, they did everything possible within the books to make the project work. It also believed with this effort the

ATM Releases ‘Confam’

is one act that is waiting Isicftothere explode in the Nigerian muindustry, it is Taiwo Ogungbe,

simply known as ATM. The young dynamic and creative artiste is gradually carving a niche for himself as one male singer with potentials to be great. Her latest singles ‘Confam’ is a testimony.

The fast rising music sensation, recently dropped his highly anticipated single titled 'Confam'.

Laced with witty lyrics and a captivating hook, 'Confam' is poised to dominate the music charts for longer periods.

With the production imprints of relatively known hit-maker,

Chykeyz, the song prides itself with a perfect blend of guitar and drums meant for the delight of music lovers in different folds in the Nigerian music arena.

Currently signed unto music label, Campus Entertainment a subsidiary of Campus Alive Initiative LTD with base in Nigeria, South Africa, USA and the UK, ATM revealed 'Confam' was inspired by his love for nature and happenstances around him. 'I usually derive inspiration and a feel to my song with things that happens around me and on the streets. Nature contributes a lot to my songs and lyrics'.

industry will translate from a primitive platform to an enviable one.

Earlier in his speech, Gabosky had said that, “The world route of movie distribution is usually from cinema (exhibition) release to rental, pay per view, DVD sales and TV premiere.” He further explained that the distribution and sales are often by regions or territories and the article of sale is intellectual property and rights to exploit the contents on its various formats through various windows with the DVD being the more enduring, lucrative and ubiquitous.

He noted that in Nigeria, the route is usually the VCD sales and TV premiere. in his words, “Cinema is virtually by hiring a hall and hosting the viewing with the article of sale usually the VCD and there are no territorial intellectual property sales. TV sales is on batter for advertising and promotions of the film.

This is what we call bottom up approach.

He further stressed that, “In the early days of Nollywood, millions of VHS tapes and later VCDs were sold using a very simple wholesale/retail shop model.

This method of distribution in Alaba, Idumota, Iweka and Pounds Road is unstructured, limited and inauditable. It has become inadequate for the 40 titles a week being produced and the huge demand for Nollywood films as they were tagged and UNESCO acclaimed second biggest motion picture industry in the world.”

For him, the vacuum created by the absence of a structured distribution became quite obvious in the mid 2000 as supplies became very difficult, sales per movie dropped with pirates picking up the stacks and consequently genuine film-makers staying away.

Hear him: “The entertainment industry struggled with the problems of cinema releases, street shops, second tier market, wheel barrows and mini buses distributors, Keke Marwa, one room and tent viewing centres. There were frustrations and confusion. Then enter in 2007 Emeka Mba led NFVCB with a wellarticulated framework, NDF, to structure distribution along world best practices. The main feature of the framework was to segment the market into regions, states and communities for ease of market delivery and spread, accountability and auditability.

He described Mba as the biblical Joseph with a dream who was instructed by God to take Nollywood and the entire Nigeria creative industry to the promise land. Even though there were self destructs on the part of NFVCB with the implementation of NDF, but the major challenges Prince Emeka Mba faced came from the marketers and his colleagues at NFVCB who were bent on sabotaging his efforts.”

According to Gabosky, these career politicians in civil service were feeding fat on the confused marketers. “In all, we the loyalists observed that there was a generational gap between Prince Emeka Mba and the marketers on one hand and the career politicians in civil service on the other hand,” he said adding that while Mba was busy planning for a digital transition and a structured Nollywood in line with the global best practices, his detractors were contented with the one-man, one-table analogue Nollywood or entertainment content distribution.

“NFVCB succeeded only to the extent of producing licensed national and regional distributors who are the wholesalers in the distribution chain. These national distributors were charged with the responsibility of evolving their own distribution structures.

Unfortunately, the licensed distributors owing largely to lack of funds have not been able to effectively activate their licensees.”

As a result, he insisted that, ‘The industry continued to suffer and stagnate in its pool of self-inflicted miseries though some licensed distributors began the journey from strategy consultations and research to technical design to finance engineering. We would not have gone this far without the foresight of Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government who made available the $200 million Creative Industry loan domiciled with the Bank of Industry (BOI).”

He said that his team recognized the inputs and support of the Bank of Industry who have gone beyond the call of duty to understand and support his project.

He also commended the FCMB for being proactive, saw the future and decided to key into the project.

“Today, we present to you our years of gruesome effort to provide Nigeria and indeed Africa a clean, efficient, technology driven, auditable motion picture distribution system in all windows, which would rival the best in the world.

We present G-Media stores, your neighbourhood retails stores that would galvanise and organize the government licensed regional and community distributors into an organized whole so as to deliver authentic African entertainment content to their enthusiastic audience.

“We present to you G-Media On-line streaming portal for movie and music downloads that has complete DRM protection. We present to you www.g-media.ng that will enable Nigeria entertainment content to be streamed across the globe.”

BUSINESS Friday, September 19, 2014

What's news India boosts pharmaceutical exports to Nigeria with perks As part of measures to boost export of pharmaceutical products to Nigeria, the India government has resolved to provide perks to businessmen in that line of trade, as a new facility of marketing cooperatives from next year.

}p-30

100 financial institutes to ride on Interswitch network

A new partnership between the pan-African integrated payments company, Interswitch Transnational Holding and Paynet Group, will make it possible to more financial institutions to run electronic transactions business further seamlessly in Africa.

}p-30

FG pensioners’ angst spreading nationwide The agitation by pensioners for payment of their benefits appears to be taking a heightened dimension as it is almost becoming a weekly routine across the country. The retirees from different sectors are frustrated as the Federal Government failed to meet their demands of regular payment of monthly pension, harmonisation as well as implementation of attached increments.

}p-32

FG attracts $5.6bn to agric in four years The Federal Government has said that the country attracted $5.6 billion (N896 billion) from private investors to the agriculture sector in the last four years.

}p-35

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

KUNLE AZEEZ, Senior Correspondent Chuks Onuanyin, Energy Nnamdi Amadi, Reporter JOHNSON ADEBAYO, Asst. Production Editor

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/business

NNPC pension crisis: PenCom raises hope of early resolution }p-31

ayodele aminu, Deputy Editor, business

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

Imports cutback: Customs' August revenue drops to N48bn DEPLETION Nigeria's oil savings usually get depleted during an election cycle Abdulwahab Isa

cent.

Consequently, transfer to the Federation Account by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the month amounted to N48,727,314,213.15, while charges deducted by the designated banks stood at N24,029,660.90.

Besides receipt from oil,

revenue generation by NCS remains the largest source for revenue income for execution of budget by government.

The FAAC, at its August meeting, complained of drop in revenue remittances to the Federation Accounts, a development that significantly cut back

the amount available for sharing by the three tires of governments, to N611, 767 billion from N654,585 billion shared in July.

This indicated a fall of 6.9 per cent.

FAAC Chairman and MinCONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Abuja

C

ontinuous decrease in the volume of imports through Nigeria’s major entry points has translated to a drop in revenue by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) as the agency’s August income remittance dropped to N48,059,321,791.88.

This indicated a fall of 4.5 per cent or N2.27 billion compared with the previous month’s (July) N50,237,194,302.33.

According to a breakdown of the revenue data of the Service exclusively obtained by New Telegraph, the decrease in revenue for review period was as a result of fall in volume of imports.

This led to a drop in revenue remittances by the Customs to the Federation Accounts Allocations Committee (FAAC), the statutory organ that shares on monthly basis, the accruals to federation accounts to the three tiers of governments (the federal, state and local governments).

Customs’ revenue collection profile during the month under consideration, which was presented to FAAC last Tuesday in Abuja, revealed that, of N48,059,321,791.88 collected, import duty was N42,648,981,022.79, Excise duty accounted for N3,247,807,093.09; Fees N204,002919.00, while CET levies stood at N1,958,530,757.00.

Further analysis of the data showed that the collection was lower than the 2014 approved monthly budget of N83,77,465,243.94

by N35,678,143.61, representing 42.61 per cent; and lower than June collection of N50,237,194,302.33 by N2,177,872,510.45 or 4.34 per

CHRIS UGWU, Capital Market Editor Abdulwahab Isa, Finance Editor

29

L-R: Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, Edo State, Mr Haruna Idris; winner of a LED television, Mr Idemudia Airuoyuwa and Zonal Head, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, Owerri, Mr Okey Ogelle, at the bank’s 30th Anniversary Promo Reloaded in the South-East/South-South Regional draw in Benin City, Edo State .

Insecurity threatens Samsung's growth, says director MUFFLED Crisis-ridden states such as Adamawa and Borno have stifled the company’s business plan

Kunle Azeez

S

amsung Electronics West Africa has lamented that the current spate of insecurity in the country is af-

fecting market expansion for businesses.

Director, Consumer Electronics, Business to Business and IT at Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr Sunil Kumar, stated this during a press briefing on the activities of the company in Lagos.

Using Samsung as a case study, Kumar said that the company has, in recent times, embarked on a programme to expand its retail services across the country, which, he said, had resulted in successful rollout of 90 retail outlets

within the last six months across the country.

However, Kumar said that while each state currently has multiple Samsung retail outlets for customers to have better experience of the company’s products, “we have found it extremely difficult to expand similar retail outlets to crisis-ridden states of Adamawa and Borno because of the extant rife insurgency in those states and this, to a great extent, affects business plan.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

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

LENDING RATE

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at Sept 12)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N168.80 InterBank Rate . . . . . . . . . . 11.57% Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N283 Prime Lending Rate. . . . . 16.93% Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N220 Maximum Lending Rate..25.83% • Foreign Reserves – $39.6bn as at 16/09/2014

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at Sept 12)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N156.73 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N255.32 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N202.76 Source: CBN

30 BUSINESS | NEWS TRADE FACILITATION Government’s support with infrastructure paves the way for smooth trade facilitation Sunday Ojeme

A

s part of measures to boost export of pharmaceutical products to Nigeria, the Indian government has resolved to provide perks to businessmen in that line of trade, as a new facility of marketing cooperatives from next year.

Under the scheme, exporters would be provided subsidised warehousing facility by the Pharmaceutical Export Pro-

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

India boosts pharmaceutical exports to Nigeria with perks motion Council (Pharmexcil), as part of a scheme to be supported by the Ministry of Commerce.

This development was revealed by Chairman, Pharmexcil, Ashutosh Gupta, on Wednesday.

According to Director-General of the Council, PV Appaji, exporters will be offered a subsidy of 75 per cent of the rental in the first year, which would come down to 50 per cent and 33 per cent in the second and third year of operations respectively.

Nigeria in recent time gets a larger chunk of its pharmaceutical products from Asia especially India, where most Nigerians also visit to carry out major surgeries on some specific and life threatening ailments.

Last week, the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Shri Ajjampur Rangaiah Ghanashyam, said that the volume of trades between Indian and Nigeria, which currently stands at $19.5 billion, would increase to over $20 billion by the end of this year.

He said that the trade relationship between the two countries spanned different sectors of the economy including education, health, industry and Information Technology (IT).

According to him, "this is the only country where Indian companies are run by Nigerians and Nigerian companies run

by Indians, so, there are many sectors of businesses that bring about collaborations. This kind of relationship is unique only to these two countries. You may not find it in any part of the world.”

He also observed that the Nigerian government was currently partnering with the lndian government in the development of Nigeria’s power sector, adding that Nigeria was exploring ways of adopting the lndian power sector model as a way of transforming her energy sector.

He disclosed that Nigeria was currently in partnership with TaTa of lndia to produce 10,000mw of electricity.

Speaking on the problem of insurgency, the High Commissioner advised that all hands must be on deck to crush the problem.

He said: “In fact, we believe that those areas that currently experience the challenge of insurgency need some kind of assistance. We cannot stop connecting with some areas just because they have some challenges today.

"The last figure I have about volume of trade between India and Nigeria as at April 2014 was $19.5 billion and it is still growing. The relationship is growing by the day, by the week, months and year. And the trade will shoot beyond $20 billion before the end of the year."

Insecurity threatens Samsung's growth CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

L-R: Managing Director, RAK Unity Petroleum Plc, Mr James Ogungbemi; Chairman, Mallam Muhammad Lawan Buba and Director, Mr Obumneme Chukwumobi Okonkwo, during the Annual General Meeting of the company in Lagos .

100 financial institutes to ride on Interswitch network MERGERS Paynet’s existing shareholders will become shareholders of Interswitch

Kunle Azeez

A

new partnership between the pan-African integrated payments company, Interswitch Transnational Holding and Paynet Group, will make it possible for more financial institutions to run electronic transactions business further seamlessly in Africa.

The Interswitch partnership with the East Africa’s leading multi-institutional payments provider creates an unrivalled payment infrastructure across East and West Africa, as the new combined network will connect over 100 financial institutions.

Interswitch will acquire a majority shareholding in Paynet Group and Paynet’s existing shareholders will become shareholders of the Interswitch Group.

According to the key highlights of the deal, Paynet’s existing shareholders will become shareholders of Interswitch.

The duo’s expansion, according to a statement, by Interswitch, “will be accelerated as we are now present in nine African countries. The partnership will also support Interswitch strategic objective of becoming the truly pan-African electronic transactions business.”

Both companies emphasise that the deal will enable both to take advantage of fast-growing East-West Africa trade and continue to provide their customers, both businesses and government, with a trusted partner.

The new company, according to the statement, will create an unrivalled payment infrastructure across East and West Africa, uniting financial institutions on a single network, integrating transaction solutions seamlessly into businesses, and creating a secure and convenient way to make cross-border transactions.

The new combined network will also connect over 100 financial institutions in West and East Africa.

Paynet was founded in Kenya in 2003 by the current senior management team and since then it has provided services to some 70 financial institutions and over 2,000 companies as well as numerous public sector entities.

It’s offering comprises three brands, Paynet, PesaPoint and Electronic Financial Technologies (EFT). PesaPoint is found at 1,200 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) locations, some of which are owned by the company and over 1,300 agent locations in Kenya.

Group Managing Director of Interswitch, Mr Mitchell Elegbe, said: “To build a successful payments business, customers are looking for trust, scale, efficiency and a proven track record of execution.”

According to him, the partnership will significantly expand Interswitch’s footprint in East Africa and uniquely positions Interswitch in the market. The new business will provide comprehensive solutions for regional and international businesses looking to take advantage of growth opportunities in Africa.

He called on government not to rest on its oars in ensuring that the issue of insecurity in the country is tamed for the economy to thrive.

Stating while Samsung embarked on the retail services expansion programme, Kumar said: “We noticed mid last year that retail service in Nigeria was fast expanding. It is not a surprise because it is a global trend. So, we came to the conclusion that Samsung needed to expand its retail footprint in Nigeria in a way that brings values to the customers.”

He claimed that Nigeria is at par with other advanced countries in terms of entry time and availability of technologically-advanced products.

“Nigeria is not behind other countries. What is currently trending abroad in terms IT innovation is also available here in Nigeria. Therefore, rolling out such retail outlets will al-

low Nigerians to experience the products,” he said.

Kumar also said that apart from the 90 retail outlets so far opened by Samsung, 38 service centres where trained technicians attend to customers’ product needs had been created over the years.

“However, it need be said that we do not own any of the retail shops. Rather, we brand the shops working with Samsung’s trade partners and distributors. This is because building physical infrastructure from the scratch would not allow us achieve our rollout target,” he said.

Kumar further stated that, as a way of confirming its commitment to the Nigerian market, the company has set up two assembly factories in Lagos, where over 350 people have been directly employed to engage in assembling Samsung mobile devices and other home and office electronic devices.

Customs revenue drops to N48bn CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

ister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, while confirming the figures to newsmen, attributed the lower revenue accruals to the force majeure declared by Shell, including series of shutdown of trunk lines and pipelines at various terminals.

Of net statutory allocation of about N496.799 billion, the Federal Government got highest allocation of N238.089 billion (representing 52 per cent), followed by states N120.762 billion (26.72 per cent) and local government councils N93.102 billion (20. 60 per cent), while N44.846 billion was paid to oil producing states as 13 per cent derivation.

There was no augmentation

during the month under review but the sum of N35.549 billion was shared as Sure-P, while the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) paid N10 billion as its debt refund to FAAC. Meanwhile, Nigeria's oil savings account stood at $4.1 billion as at September 16, broadly flat compared with $4 billion in August.

The Excess Crude Account (ECA) had around $11.5 billion in January 2013 but after several bouts of spending had fallen to $2.5 billion at the beginning of this year.

Nigeria's oil savings usually get depleted during an election cycle, when the demands of patronage surge. The country faces presidential polls in February 2015.

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

Pension

31

NNPC Towers, Abuja

DOUBTS Happenings at the NNPC over pension deductions and deficits cast doubts on the honesty of CPFA operators

NNPC pension crisis: PenCom raises hope of early resolution

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The NNPC noted that since the commencement of the scheme in 2006, the staff and management of the corporation had made a lot of sacrifice to maintain the existing scheme, adding that any premature cancellation of the scheme might lead to avoidable labour disaffection across board.

Deficit in contribution According to the source, “the thing is more of an internal problem between the NNPC workers and the management. The commission has to intervene when the defects were discovered.

“There are guidelines to be followed in terms of contributions and remittance, which make the scheme perfect.

It becomes a problem when one starts noticing deficits in what should be remitted. The workers are agitating because of the deficit noticed in the amount contributed.”

The workers had threatened to embark in an indefinite strike pending when the matter would be resolved.

NNPC management, through its Group Public Affairs Manager, Mr Ohi Alegbe, in a subsequent statement, said that it was prevailing on the workers to put a halt to the planned action.

The management had assured the workers that it would avert an indus-

Bridging funding gap While acknowledging the existence of some funding gaps in the scheme, the corporation informed stakeholders that measures had since been put in place to steadily bridge the funding deficit which stood at N298 billion in 2010 and has now been provisionally reduced to N85 billion as at June, 2014.

The PenCom source added that, “The only thing the commission can do in this situation and in any other is to advise the management to follow the appropriate guidelines and put things right.”

The source also expressed hope that the corporation would resolve the crisis within the shortest possible time in order to halt the crisis from escalating.

New Telegraph also gathered from Oke on Wednesday that the workers were in a crucial meeting to resolve the imbroglio. He added that the outcome of the meeting would determine whether the industrial action would be called off or not.

Closed Pension Fund Administrator (CPFA) operators are organisations granted licence to operate their pension scheme internally following the guidelines provided by the National Pension Commission. They are to operate in accordance with Sections 39, 40, 41, 44 and 97 of the Pension Reform Act. Some other organisations operating CPFA are Chevron CPFA Limited, Nestle Nigeria Trust Limited, Nigerian Agip CPFA Limited, Progress Trust CPFA Limited, Shell Nigeria CPFA Limited Total (E&P) Nigeria CPFA Limited and UNICO CPFA Limited.

Sunday Ojeme ollowing the disagreement between the management of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the workers over pension contribution deficit, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) has advised the oil corporation to tread with caution and put its house in order.

A source, who spoke with New Telegraph on condition of anonymity, said that the problem at the corporation came up because the management failed to do the necessary things required of Closed Pension Fund Administrators.

The source, however, expressed hope of an early resolution of the matter, saying the commission only did the appropriate thing to protect the workers in whose interest the Contributory Pension Scheme was put in place.

DG, PenCom, Chinelo Ahonu-Amazu

trial action by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria in the NNPC. The corporation added that the National Pension Commission had given a 12-month window for the corporation to comply with the Pension Reform Act 2014 as amended.

Strike In a twist to the matter, the spokesperson of the workers’ union, Mr Babatunde Oke, said: “We have total shutdown at NNPC offices and all their subsidiaries, and that may affect the exports. The refinery workers are also not working.

He said staff operating flow stations that pump crude to export terminals were joining the action, meaning a protracted strike could disrupt cargoes, Domestic gasoline supplies may also fall short as the workers protest.

NNPC said that measures had been taken to reduce the pensions’ deficit to N85 billion ($520 million) currently from N298 billion in 2010.

The National Pension Commission

GMD, NNPC, Joseph Dawha

had earlier directed the NNPC to “immediately take all necessary steps to transit to the Contributory Pension Scheme under the PRA.” In a fresh directive dated September 15, 2014, PenCom stated: “In order to accommodate your concerns, the commission hereby grants the NNPC a transition period of 12 (12) months within which to ensure full compliance with the provisions of the PRA 2014.”

The corporation appealed to the leadership of the industrial unions to exercise restraint while it embarked on extensive engagement with PenCom to resolve the issues.

We have total shutdown at NNPC offices and all their subsidiaries, and that may affect the exports. The refinery workers are also not working

32

business | PENSION

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

FG pensioners’ angst spreading nationwide AGITATION Retirees are not giving up in their quest to make Federal Government pay their outstanding benefits Sunday Ojeme

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he agitation by pensioners for payment of their benefits appears to be taking a heightened dimension as it is almost becoming a weekly routine across the country. The retirees from different sectors are frustrated as the Federal Government failed to meet their demands of regular payment of monthly pension, harmonisation as well as implementation of attached increments.

Barely one month after the national body of the National Union of Pensioners (NUP) protested in Abuja, some chapters of the union have also called on the nation’s leadership to heed their cry by paying up whatever is due to them.

The agitation by pensioners under the aegis of National Union of Pensioners (Electricity chapter), for instance, has gone beyond Lagos to the North Central, precisely Kwara State where the retirees on Monday called on the Federal Government to do something about the N25 billion owed them.

They embarked on the protest just two weeks their Lagos counterparts carried out theirs.

The pensioners, who also appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan in a letter for the payment of their outstanding four-month pension arrears, said they had been subjected to various forms of hardships due to irregular payments of their pension since the beginning of the year.

Speaking on behalf of the aggrieved retirees, the state NUP chairman, Deacon John Akande, pleaded with the president to resolve the issue of delay in payment of monthly pension permanently by directing the

We are tired of waiting endlessly minister of finance to always fund appropriate agency to enable it pay as at when due just as workers’ salary.

He further called on the president to think of the punishment being meted out on the electricity sector pensioners after diligently working for their fatherland and retired to enjoy fruits of their labour.

“We believe the Transformation Agenda of Mr President is anchored on fairness and equity, peace and tranquillity,” he said.

The pensioners, who called on the Ministry of Finance and NELMCO board to apologise to families of late members, the union and the Federal Government for allegedly facilitating untimely death of PHCN pensioners added that the step was necessary to ameliorate sufferings and stem frequent resultant deaths of members.

About two weeks ago, some of the pensioners under the same body in Lagos protested the alleged compromise of their welfare by the union executive.

The protest, which was organised by the factional group of the union and meant to rouse the NUP leadership into doing something more serious to compel the Federal Government pay he arrears of pensions, was held just as the union executive had already issued a communiqué warning the federal government of an impending protest on September 15.

In the communiqué, the union had asked the Federal Government to effect the payment of three-month of pension arrears owed its members, failing which it would stage a peaceful protest to the presidency on September 15 to press home its demand.

The communiqué signed by the union’s President, Chief Temple Ubani, and its Secretary, Comrade Olukayode Ogunbiyi, expressed disgust over the delay in the payment of pension arrears of its members nation-

Pension to benefit from Nigeria’s rise in bonds

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s financial experts expect Federal Government bonds to rise slightly, local pension operators are expected to be well positioned at the auction of the bonds.

The development is expected to be in tandem with the previous week’s market sentiment, and some offshore investors and local pension are believed to have positioned themselves ahead of the auction.

Traders said some offshore and local pension were shielding weight ahead of bids at the auction on Wednesday, where N100 billion ($614.06 million) in 3, 10 and 20-year bond will be of-

fered by the Debt Management Office (DMO).

“Most offshore investors and local pensions are selling down their holdings in preparation to take position at the auction next week,” one dealer said.

Dealers said bonds bought at the auction usually attracted better returns for investors, hence the sell-off ahead of the auction on the secondary market.

Yields have climbed around 50 basis points across the board on the most active traded bonds on the secondary market this week due to profit taking by investors, traders said.

wide, stressing that the exworkers were being owed June to August 2014 pension arrears by the Federal Government.

According to the communiqué, “We denounce the persistent delay by the Federal Government of Nigeria in the payment of our monthly pension which is already in months of June, July and August, 2014 in arrears, and we urge the Minister of Finance, the Chairperson of NELMCO Board to take necessary step to release the fund to NELMCO/PTAD.” It noted that the National

Executive Council of the union had empowered the national leadership of the union to take all necessary steps towards payment of the three months arrears and to work for timely payment of subsequent pensions.

The union also enjoined its members to fast and pray on the day of the protest with a view to ensuring its success.

The decision to embark on the peaceful protest was taken at the union’s National Executive Committee meeting, which held in Lagos on September 3,

2014.

However, just as their protest plan was still being put together, the other group comprising the sick, frail and amputees took the battle to the secretariat accusing the leadership of conniving with the Federal Government to delay their pensions.

After the Kwara protest on Monday, it was again the turn of another group in Abuja, who on Tuesday blocked the main entrance to the National Assembly while protesting the failure of the Federal Government to pay members of the union the 53.40 per cent arrears agreed to by both parties in July, 2010.

L-R: Executive Director, Maritime and Operations, Nigerian Ports Authority, Mr David Omonibeke; Board Member, Alhaji Baba Danagundi and Managing Director, Mallam Habib Abdulahi, at the inauguration of Electronic Ship Entry Notice (e-Send), in Lagos. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

IEI-Anchor's profit falls by 78% I EI-Anchor Pension Managers has recorded 78 per cent or N42 million drop in profit, from N54 million in 2012 to N12.8 million in 2013.

The results were disclosed by the company’s Chairman, Jonathan Zwigina, during its first Annual General Meeting held in Abuja.

According to the chairman, despite decline in revenue in 2013, a modest profit after tax of N12.8 million was recorded; it was however lower than the N54 million in 2012.

He assured that the company was on track for third consecutive year of profitability.

During the meeting, shareholders of the company also voted to increase the company’s share capital from N2.222 billion to N3 billion in a move to accommodate increasing strategic partners’ interests that could help expand the business further.

The company, within eight years grew shareholders’ funds

more than eight folds from N150 million in 2005 to N1.240 billion in 2013.

Apart from the dip in profit, the revenue also declined to N286 million in 2013 from N340 million in 2012 owing to several expansion efforts meant to reposition the company for better results in the years ahead.

Asset under management rose by 30.27 per cent in 2012 to N26.2 billion from 2011 records and also 23.22 per cent in 2013 to N32.3 billion.

The company’s customer base also increased to 63,574 in 2013 from 53,161 in 2012 and 45,136 in 2011.

Zwigina said: “We continue to deliver above industry average return on investment for our account holders and providing a conducive environment for our employees to advance their careers. We are committed to profitable growth without losing sigh of our responsibility to our customers.”

On his part, the Managing Di-

rector, Solomon Okoli, pointed out that the company had overcome its teething problems and was now positioned for sustainable growth and profitability.

According to him, at the moment the company had extended operations to 30 states of the federation, servicing over 75,000 customers and managing a couple of states’ staff pension, adding that the short term plan was to sustain operational capability and profitability and ensure that the right people were attracted to serve the customers.

He said: “Our expansion may not be profitable immediately, but as we scale up over time, we will get through this and we are already seeing this in 2014.

We are already seeing a lot of improvements.

“We are seeing some of the locations that we opened last year being more profitable now.

We are expanding our customer base, and the contribution level is beginning to yield and adding to the bottom line.”

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

Agric

BUSINESS 33

World hunger falls, says report DATA A new report says lesser people now feel hungry

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new report has said that the number of hungry people worldwide is declining.

The report tagged: State of Food Insecurity in the World (SOFI 2014) confirmed a positive trend which has seen the number of hungry people decline globally by over 100 million over the last decade and by over 200 million since 1990-92.

The report is published yearly by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP).

MDG goal According to the report, the overall trend in hunger reduction in developing countries means that the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of halving the proportion of undernourished people by 2015 is within reach, “if appropriate and immediate efforts are stepped up.

“To date, 63 developing countries have reached the MDG target and six more are on track to reach it by 2015. This is proof that we can win the war against hunger and should inspire countries to move forward with the assistance of the international community as needed,” the heads of FAO, IFAD and WFP, José Graziano da Silva, Kanayo F. Nwanze and Ertharin Cousin, wrote in their foreword to the report.

They stressed that “accelerated, substantial and sustainable hunger reduction is possible with the requisite political commitment,” and that “this has to be well informed by sound understanding of national challenges, relevant policy options,

broad participation and lessons from other experiences.”

Access to food SOFI 2014 noted how access to food has improved rapidly and significantly in countries that have experienced overall economic progress, notably in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia. Access to food has also improved in Southern Asia and Latin America, but mainly in countries with adequate safety nets and other forms of social protection including for the rural poor.

Despite significant progress overall, several regions and sub-regions continue to lag behind. In sub-Saharan Africa, more than one in four people remain chronically undernourished, while Asia, the world’s most populous region, is also home to the majority of the hungry - 526 million people.

Latin America and the Caribbean have made the greatest overall strides in increasing food security.

Meanwhile Oceania has accomplished only a modest improvement (1.7 per cent decline) in the prevalence of undernourishment, which stood at 14.0 per cent in 2012-14, and has actually seen the number of its hungry increase since 1990-92.

63 nations meet MDG target The agencies heads noted that of the 63 countries which have reached the MDG target, 25 have also achieved the more ambitious World Food Summit (WFS) target of halving the number of undernourished people by 2015. However, the report indicated that time has run out on reaching the WFS target at the global level.

With the number of undernourished people remaining “unacceptably high,” the agencies heads stressed the need to renew the political commitment to tackle hunger and to trans-

form it into concrete actions.

In this context, the heads of FAO, IFAD and WFP welcomed the pledge at the 2014 African Union summit in June to end hunger in the continent by 2025.

“Food insecurity and malnutrition are complex problems that cannot be solved by one sector or stakeholder alone, but need to be tackled in a coordinated way,” they added, calling on governments to work closely with the private sector and civil society.

Raising agric productivity The FAO, IFAD and WFP report specifies that hunger eradication requires establishing an enabling environment and an integrated approach.

Such an approach include public and private investments to increase agricultural productivity, access to land, services, technologies and markets and measures to promote rural development and social protection for the most vulnerable, including strengthening their resilience to conflicts and natural disasters. The report also emphasizes the importance of specific nutrition programmes, particularly to address micronutrient deficiencies of moth-

The overall trend in hunger reduction in developing countries means that the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of halving the proportion of undernourished people by 2015 is within reach

ers and children under five.

This year’s report includes seven case studies - Bolivia, Brazil, Haiti, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malawi and Yemen - that highlight some of the ways that countries tackle hunger and how external events may influence their capacity to deliver on achieving food security and nutrition objectives. The countries were chosen because of their political, economic - particularly in the agricultural sector - diversities and cultural differences.

Bolivia, for example, has created institutions to involve a range of stakeholders, particularly previously marginalised indigenous people.

Brazil’s Zero Hunger programme, which placed achievement of food security at the centre of government’s agenda, is at the heart of progress that led the country to achieve both the MDG and WFS targets. Current programmes to eradicate extreme poverty in the country build on the approach of linking policies for family farming with social protection in a highly inclusive manner.

Haiti's struggle Haiti, where more than half of the population is chronically undernourished, is still struggling to recover from the effects of the devastating 2010 earthquake. The report notes how the country has adopted a national programme to strengthen livelihoods and improve agricultural productivity by supporting small family farmers’ access to inputs and services.

Indonesia has adopted legal frameworks and established institutions to improve food security and nutrition. Its policy coordination mechanism involves ministries, NGOs and community leaders. Measures address a wide range of challenges from agricultural productivity growth to nutritious and safe diets.

Madagascar is emerging from a political crisis and is resuming relationships with international development partners aimed at tackling poverty and malnutrition. It is also working in partnership to build resilience to shocks and climate hazards, including cyclones, droughts and locust invasions, which often afflict the island nation.

Malawi in hunger target Malawi has reached the MDG hunger target, thanks to a strong and persistent commitment to boost maize production.

However, malnutrition remains a challenge - 50 per cent of children under five are stunted and 12.8 per cent are underweight. To address the issue, the government is promoting community-based nutrition interventions to diversify production to include legumes, milk, fisheries and aquaculture, for healthier diets and to improve incomes at the household level.

Conflict, economic downturn, low agricultural productivity and poverty have made Yemen one of the most food-insecure countries in the world. Besides restoring political security and economic stability, the government aims to reduce hunger by one-third by 2015 and to make 90 per cent of the population foodsecure by 2020. It also aims to reduce the current critical rates of child malnutrition by at least one percentage point per year.

The report will also be a focus of the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) in Rome from 19-21 November, which FAO is jointly organising with the World Health Organization (WHO). This high-level intergovernmental meeting seeks, at a global level, renewed political commitment to combat malnutrition with the overall goal of improving diets and raising nutrition levels.

34 BUSINESS | AGRIC PARLEY Stakeholders identify new ways to boost cocoa production

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ome stakeholders including farmers are strategizing on how to identify other means of improving cocoa production in the country.

At the Second Kokodola Farmers’ Day, held in Ilesa, Osun State, recently, the programme coordinator, Farmers Development Union (FADU), Mr Victor Olowe, said that key to alleviating hunger, poverty and combating climate change may lie in fresh, small-scale approaches to cocoa farming.

Olowe noted that what farmers need to produce more food

Group to distribute 3,350 vitamin A cassava stems etermined to combat VitaDernmental min A deficiency, a non-govorganisation (NGO),

Harvest Plus, has put measures in place to distribute no fewer than 3,350 vitamin A cassava stems in about eight states before the end of this year.

Its Database Administrator, John Alamu, said that the project was conceived and funded by donor agencies to address the global challenge of malnutrition.

He added that it started with four pilot states, namely Oyo, Imo, Benue and Akwa Ibom and is expected to be extended to other states in phases yearly.

Alamu who noted that the NGO is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Federal Ministry of Health disclosed that so far the enlightenment campaign is going on alongside the distribution of the cassava.

He explained that vitamin deficiency is the major cause of some illnesses, adding that vitamin A helps to improve eye sight and boost immune systems in human body.

Alamu further said that most of the foods people consume are deficient in essential vitamins, hence the deliberate effort to develop the Vitamin A-enriched cassava.

The cassava, according to him, has a natural vitamin A and therefore different from the development of the controversial genetically modified crops, which he admitted when consumed in large quantities could pose serious health risks.

He said that the new cassava which debuted in 2011 could be used to prepare various types of foods such as moin moin, garri and fufu, among other forms of foods consumed by Nigerians.

He however admitted that research was still on-going to produce the vitamin A cassava in high commercial quantity with nutritional value.

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

Stakeholders meet on improved cocoa production to meet the growing population’s needs, a more effective way to address food security issues and climate change, is to encourage self-sufficiency and waste reduction in wealthy and poor nations alike.

On the exhibition hosted by his organisation, Olowe explained that it was meant to showcase local efforts by farmers to improve cocoa production.

He disclosed that FADU is involved in promoting community credit associations to enable farmers access credit.

To enable cocoa farmers add value to their cocoa beans

and earn more income, Olowe added that his organisation partners Sygenta, CRIN, Continaf, Oxfamnovib and other international organisations to train farmers on responsible farming practice.

The FADU programme coordinator said that small farmers stand to gain from improvements in certified cocoa production as an integral part of strategies to promote agricultural output and productivity growth.

Also, the Managing Director, Continaf Nigeria Limited, Mr Arajulu Olatunbosun, said that when his organisation

started the Kokodola project, farmers were skeptical about it, adding that “it was difficult for most of the farmers to adopt the changes the project brought.”

The Continaf boss, who noted that one problem facing cocoa farmers was how to transport the dried cocoa beans from farm settlements to the warehouse, promised that Continaf would provide vehicles to ease transportation.

He praised the cocoa farmers for their immense support which led to the success of the project.

A representative of Oxfam Novib, Mr John Ajigo, reiterated the commitment of his organisation to fight the use of child labourers on the farms.

While he supported early introduction of young people to agriculture, Ajigo urged older farmers not to deprive their children of education which is the bedrock for their future.

The Farmers’ Day is an occasion where farmers are brought together to interact and share the success stories and challenges faced in carrying out their activities, with the hope that they will copy good practices from each other.

A farmer harvesting cocoa

Osun commissions two oil palm processing plants BOOST BoI and Agric Ministry offer succour on palm oil processing

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joint effort of the Bank of Industry (BoI) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture have resulted in the commissioning of two new oil palm processing cottage industries in Osun State.

Both have however expressed optimism of an increased investment in the sector.

On the development, industry stakeholders noted that the initiative would serve as a catalyst for expanding industrial capacity and enhancing value addition efforts to the nation’s raw materials.

Special Adviser to Osun State governor on Agric and Food Security, Festus Agunbiade, said at the event that most farmers are challenged at the stage of processing because when they sell without adding

value they are bound to get a poor price.

He said: “If we don’t take care of processing facilities then we would just be producing for wastages and if you are sure that your commodities would be processed you will be encouraged to add more value. From today, in Osun State, you can be assured that farmers would be encouraged to grow oil-palm because they are sure that their incomes will increase as wastages are being drastically reduced.”

He added that the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, understands the challenges of farming and the farmers and his efforts have resulted in the increased production capacity.

“We are also witnessing a better approach to the issue of funding by BOI because they have come down to the real issues; farmers can no longer bear the high costs of commercial bank facilities; it is very good that BOI has now come down to its real mandate and

is financing agriculture by charging single digit interest rates. I will advise them that they increase their monitoring activity so that such facilities will be well monitored,” he said.

Company Secretary of one of the beneficiary firms, E99 Oasis Integrated Services Ltd, Bola Adebowale, commended the initiative as a worthy one under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) championed by Adesina.

“Let me sincerely thank the Bank of Industry for the support provided on this project.

This is a clear indication of a financial institution building strong support in the actualisation of agricultural programmes, especially in the oil palm cottage processing mill.

Today’s commissioning is a great event and a milestone in the annals of the history of farm E99 that was established to aid food production in the country as well as enhance stable food availability to the people. With this Mill, I am sure palm oil produced in

the farm will meet the international standard,” Adebowale said.

Chief Executive Officer, Process Concepts and Technologies Ltd, the fabricator and installer of the machines at the industries, Victor Olomo, said that the machines would be used to process oil from harvested bunches from the oil-palm plantation.

“The idea is that we want to produce palm-oil that is of high enough quality that can be safely consumed, used by industries and meet export specifications and this facility here meets the requirement.

“Another great thing about this project that is being supported by BOI is that part of the terms is for us to train the equipment operators and we have trained those presented by the cottage industries to ensure that there will be no problem with operation and maintenance of the installed equipment,” he explained.

BUSINESS | AGRIC

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Friday, September 19, 2014

35

FG attracts $5.6bn to agric in four years INVESTMENTS The country’s agriculture sector is buoyed by more investments

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he Federal Government has said that the country attracted $5.6 billion (N896 billion) from private investors to the agriculture sector in the last four

years.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, who expressed this in Abuja at the inauguration of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Policy Working Group, said that government was able to attract the investments through the development of the agricultural value chains.

The minister said: “The private sector has woken up to see

agriculture as the new wealth sector. Between 2011 and 2014, the agriculture sector attracted over $5.6 billion of private sector investments. Private sector investments in fertilizer manufacturing have also expanded, with $5 billion of private sector investments in fertilizer manufacturing within the past three years. To drive this new approach, we decided to focus on promoting investments and the development of agricultur-

al value chains. Not only will we produce more food, we will add value to all the commodities all across the agricultural value chains.”

The minister noted that the Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending of the Central Bank of Nigeria had reduced the risk of banks’ lending to farmers.

He said that government must ensure that farmers were

encouraged and supported through sustainable and subsidised agriculture inputs.

“Nigeria cannot become a museum of poverty. Poverty is not tradable and is not an industry; so, we must not grow poverty,” the minister said.

Meanwhile the minister said that the group would help to document the agricultural policies of government and institutionalise them.

FAO DG lauds Malaysia’s agric aid to Nigeria, others KUDOS FAO says Malaysia has done well to some countries in offering agriculture expertise of the Food Dtionirector-General and Agriculture Organisa(FAO), José Graziano da

Mobile fish pond

‘Maize farmers operating at a loss' A farmers’ organisation, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), has raised an alarm that maize farmers are now operating at a loss.

The association has, therefore, called on the Federal Government to come to the aid of maize farmers.

AFAN’s secretary in Kano State, Alhaji Garba Bichi, said: “Most farmers are now operating at a loss as the cost of producing a bag of maize is about N4,800 but it hardly fetches N5,000 when it gets to the market. So, government has to come in if farmers are to be encouraged to remain in the business.”

He added that no fewer than 450,000 farmers who registered under the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme in Kano State benefitted from Federal Government’s fertilizer programme this cropping season.

Bichi said that each of the farmers got two bags of fertilizers, which were distributed at 94 designated centres across the 44 local government areas of the state.

He expressed optimism that aside from the fertilizers given to farmers, the state would record abundant harvest this year in view of the amount of rainfall already recorded.

At the beginning of the cropping season, he said, many farmers were afraid of

what their yields would be due to inadequate rainfall but later the rains increased and things stabilised.

“So, this year, we are expecting bumper harvest in rice, maize, sorghum and beans, especially in Kano State,” he said.

Bichi called on the Federal Gover nment to put measures in place to assist the farmers by purchasing the excess or surplus grains

from them.

He said that the measure would encourage the farmers to remain in the business in view of the fact that farming was no longer lucrative.

The farmers’ secretary commended the Federal Government for the additional support it was giving to rice farmers, saying that the gesture had attracted more farmers in the country to rice production.

Silva, has commended Malaysia’s experience in food and agriculture issues, including agricultural technologies as well as its land management expertise in Nigeria, Mali, Malawi, Suriname and Brunei.

The DG expressed this when he met with Malaysia’s Minister for Agriculture and Agrobased Industries (MARDI), Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri bin YaaKob, to discuss collaboration between FAO and the country and signed a letter of intent to establish a liaison office in Malaysia.

Many states in Nigeria have benefited immensely from the Malaysia expertise in agriculture.

For instance, Osun State government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation and collaboration in the area of agriculture and agro-allied industry with a Malaysian firm,

Asa Palmilk, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The agreement, which particularly covers cocoa-based food products, was signed by Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti and Director General, Office of Economic Development and Partnerships, Dr. Charles Akinola, on behalf of Osun State, while Executive Director, Nor Azlinda Dato’s Shaari, signed on behalf of Asa Palmik.

Also, the Ogun State government said it was looking at partnering with the Malaysian government to revamp the state’s agricultural sector for the state’s industrial development.

The partnership would focus on rice and cassava production, palm oil plantation, cotton and the establishment of green houses for tomatoes and vegetables in 10 targeted local government areas of the state.

At a meeting with a delegation of the Malaysian Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry led by the SecretaryGeneral of the ministry, Dato Mohammed Hashim Abdullah, Ogu State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, said that the ministry had the competence and wherewithal to assist the state in all areas of agricultural development.

17 states get rice, cassava mills l FG mulls importation blackout

fewer than 17 states in Nto othe country are expected get both rice and cassava

mills any moment from now.

The rice mills will be located in Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Ogun, Bayelsa, Niger, Kogi, Anambra, Benue and Bauchi states while the cassava mills will be located in Ondo, Ogun, Abia, Delta, Cross River and Nassarawa states.

According to the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, each of the rice mills have a capacity to mill 36,000 metric tons of paddy rice, making it a total of 360,000 metric tons of paddy rice to be finely processed across the country.

The minister, who noted that there are currently a

total of 21 rice mills in the country, also said that more integrated mills were needed because three out of those mills currently on ground do not have parboiling capacities.

He said that the Federal Government realised the need for more integrated rice mills across the country as it is currently working at the total blackout of rice importation.

He said that the mills would not be owned or run by government. “They are going to be owned, managed and operated by the private sector. It is part of government’s way of making this available at a term of financing that can be afforded by the private sector. The acquisition of

this will be done by the Bank of Industry. It will select the private sector people, they will have the down payment, and the plants are going to be constructed and they have a financing facility for them to own it.

“Government is just doing its job which is to get things to happen, but the private sector will do every single thing about it,” the minister said.

Adesina added that government would no longer fold its arms and watch the private sector do the job, rather it is taking the lead and doing the right thing.

“There are still those who go around trying to get waivers to import rice and throw us into poverty, this will no longer be possible,” he said.

Adesina

36

BUSINESS | AGRIC

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

Nigeria to legislate on agric policies REFORMS The Federal Government says it is ready to instutionalise all reforms in the agric sector

T

he Federal Government has said that plans are under way to ensure that agricultural policies and reforms embarked upon are protected through legislation.

To achieve this, a 14-member Policy-Working Group to develop innovative policies and institution that would facilitate the actualisation of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda has been constituted.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, said that the committee’s inauguration is to institutionalise agricultural policies and ensure that there are legislations to protect the reforms embarked upon by the current administration.

“We must not lose sight of the need to avoid policy reversals. We must do all possible to ensure that the policies and institutional reforms are institutionalised and backed by legislations to secure the future of our farmers,” he stated.

We will work very closely with the leadership of the National Assembly, especially the Committee of Agriculture, to ensure that legislations are passed to protect the policies driving the Agricultural Transfor mation Agenda (ATA), assuring that the committee report would be presented to President Goodluck

Jonathan and the Federal Executive Council for appropriate actions,” he said.

The committee made up of distinguished economist, policy experts, macroeconomist and Nigerian-American professors were given two months to come up with its report and part of it was to document various policy instruments and also to come up with new generation of instrument to sustain Nigeria’s agricultural policy.

He said they are to conduct impact assessment on the rural household and economy, build the capacity of staffs of the ministry and do a general analysis of agricultural policy.

The minister, who noted that policy framework that would sustain agricultural growth must expand public financing for agricultural research, said that there are plans to overhaul the entire agricultural research system to make them demand-driven and relevant to the needs of the private sector.

The minister harped on the need for farmers to jettison the idea of using crude implements.

He said: “To achieve Nigeria’s goal of being a global powerhouse in agriculture, we must move away from hoes and cutlasses. We must face the fact: hoes and cutlasses simply connote suffering. We must address Nigeria’s ageing farmer crisis and take decisive policy steps to get the youth into agriculture. That is why we have set the deliberate policy to establish the Youth Employment in Agriculture Program with the goal of developing 750,000

Global cropland expansion may rise by 1.8m hectares –Research

A

Professor of Agricultural Economics, Thomas Hertel, has said that in an integrated world markets scenario, ramping up agricultural productivity in Africa over the years 2025-2050 could increase global cropland expansion by 1.8 million hectares (4.4 million acres) and global carbon emissions by 267 million metric tons.

“The sharp differences between the global impacts of a prospective African green revolution and those of previous green revolutions can be traced to several factors, Hertel said.

He added: “In an African green revolution, the relatively lower yields of African croplands would require more area to be converted to agriculture to make up for the displaced crop production in the rest of the world. The area converted would likely be carbon intensive and have a low emissions efficiency that is, crop yields would be low relative to the carbon emissions released by converting the land to crops.

But the potential negative

effects of an African green revolution will diminish over time. If sustained over several decades, agricultural innovation in Africa would eventually conserve land and decrease carbon emissions, especially if yields improved quickly. The most carbon-rich land, however, should be immediately protected from conversion to cropland.”

He noted that agricultural advances in Africa, however, could have the reverse effect, increasing globally the amount of undeveloped land converted to cropland and raising greenhouse gas emissions.

“Increasing productivity in Africa - a carbon-rich region with low agricultural yields could have negative effects on the environment, especially if agricultural markets are highly integrated. This study highlights the importance of understanding the interplay between globalisation and the environmental impacts of agricultural technology. They are deeply intertwined,” Hertel said.

new cadres of young commercial farmers and agribusiness entrepreneurs over the next five years.”

Adesina said that there was the need for institutional framework that would see to the scale-up of the budgetary allocation to the sector as 10 per cent recommendation by

the Maputo Declaration, so as to meet growing need of the sector and sustain the gains that have been achieved.

The minister, who lamented that access to farmers’ finance was still very low, called for the urgent need to revamp the Bank of Agricultural and also expand the capacity of rural

finance institutions.

He also stressed the need for fiscal and agricultural trade policies to protect the gains being made in the agriculture sector so that the country do not become a dumping ground for cheap subsidized food and agricultural products from other countries.

Farmers packaging tomatoes for the market

Food price index drops by 3.6% T

he Food and Agriculture Orgainsation’s (FAO) has said that food price index for the month of August averaged 196.6 points and represents a decrease of 7.3 points (3.6 per cent) from July 2014.

This drop continued a fivemonth downward run and reached its lowest level since September 2010. With the exception of meat, prices of all the commodities measured by the index dipped markedly.

FAO’s sub-index for dairy products averaging 200.8 points in August, down 25.3 points (11.2 per cent) vis-a-vis July and 46.8 points (18.9 per cent) compared to a year ago - the result of abundant supplies for export coupled with reduced import demand.

Russia’s prohibition at the beginning of the month on the imports of dairy products from several countries helped depress prices, while slackening the imports of whole milk powder by China (one of the world’s largest importers) also contributed to market uncertainty.

FAO’s price index for cereals averaged 182.5 points in August, down 2.8 points (1.5 per cent) from last month and 24.2 points (11.7 per cent) vis-a-vis August 2013.

With 2014 being another record year for wheat production, prices for the staple grain continued to slide in August, reaching their lowest value since July 2010. Similarly, near-ideal growing condi-

tions in key producing areas, coupled with abundant stocks, have seen maize prices retreat to a four-year low.

However, rice bucked the trend in grains, with its prices rising in August, reflecting an increased import demand, lower-than-expected releases from stockpiles by Thailand, and unfavourable weather affecting some crops in Asia.

FAO economist, Concepción Calpe said: “Rice supplies appear to be ample worldwide, but stocks are very much concentrated in a small number of countries, and often owned by governments. This means that these countries can very much influence world prices, by deciding whether to let those supplies flow to the market or not.

“The fact that Thailand is still limiting sales of the huge rice volume held in public warehouses has been one of the principal factors underpinning world prices in recent months,” she added.

FAO’s Food Price Index is a trade-weighted index that measures the prices of five major food commodities on international markets. In addition to the sub-indices for the prices of cereals, it also tracks meat, dairy products, vegetable oils, and sugar.

The vegetable oils sub-index clocked in at 166.6 points in August, 14.5 points (8 per cent) less than the previous month, and the lowest level since November 2009.

FAO’s index of sugar prices averaged 244.3 points in the last month, down by 14.8 points (5.7 per cent) from July, but 2.2 points (one per cent) higher than it was a year ago.

And its meat sub-index averaged 207.3 points in August, 2.5 points (1.2 per cent) higher than it was in July, but 25 points (14 per cent) above last year.

Meanwhile, FAO’s monthly Cereal Supply and Demand Brief has upped the Organisation's forecast for 2014 world cereal production by 14 million tons.

At 2.5 billion tons (excluding rice in milled terms), the new projection would be 0.5 per cent (13 million tons) short of last year’s record.

More optimistic wheat forecasts were mostly behind the revision in cereal production compared to last month. Wheat production is now expected to reach 716.5 million tons - also just shy of last year’s record harvest.

Wheat crops in China, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States are now projected to be larger than previously anticipated, while production in Argentina, Brazil, China, the European Union (EU), India, and the Russian Federation has increased significantly, offsetting reductions in Australia, the United States and, especially, Canada - where the latest official forecast points to a decline of almost ten million tons (26 per cent).

autoBEATS

37

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/metro

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2014

Trailblazer upgraded to balance comfort with off-roading Paul Ogbuokiri

T

he all-new Trailblazer has finally arrived the Nigerian market.

Chevrolet representative in Nigeria, Intermotors, a division of CFAO Motors Nigeria Limited, said that in addition to the new MyLink infotainment feature of the vehicle, the 2014 Trailblazer has been equipped to build on the solid reputation bothering on versatility, offroad ability and on-road stability – without losing what it takes to deliver luxury sedan comfort.

According to Ladi Abiodun, Head Intermotors, the

vehicle which was created out of one of the American SUV market’s nameplates, it embodies Chevrolet’s SUV know-how, which stretches as far back as 1936 when the original Chevrolet Suburban was first introduced.

New Telegraph learnt that the Trailblazer name first made a debut in 2002, when the Chevrolet brand gave launched a large SUV with a balance between comfort and off-road ability being pinpointed as its most prominent aspects.

Abiodun said the 2014 Trailblazer feai s tures a reversing camera

standard, just as the interior wears a new dark ash grey colour. The front side airbags are mounted in the seats, he adds.

Meanwhile, motoring journalists who test derived that vehicle say it’s multiinformation central LCD display panel features the usual trip computer readouts as well as two new menus for additional vehicle particulars. The vehicle information display imparts critical information like battery voltage, an adjustable speed warning, transmission fluid temperature, engine hours and an oil life indicator, the said.

According to them, other economy gauges include an instantaneous throttle position indicator which indicates when economical driving is being achieved, as well as a historical fuel

Chevrolet sells 3-millionth Cruze

T

he best-selling Chevrolet model, the Cruze, crossed the milestone recently, just 16 months after selling its 2 millionth model. From South Africa to the US and Canada, to Laos and the Philippines, Lebanon and Qatar, the Chevrolet Cruze has proved itself a global player among mid-sized cars.

In Nigeria, where the Chevrolet brand is sold by Intermotors, a division of CFAO Motors, the Cruze is one of the most admired medium-size cars on the road.

“The Cruze is an extremely adaptable car that can cater to the demands of nearly every market in the world,” says Alan Batey, GM Executive Vice President of Global Chevrolet, speaking in Detroit. “It is a testament to Chevrolet’s global focus and capabilities to offer a car that is so highly regarded in so many places,” he stressed According to him, the Cruze has to date collected 39 product awards in China,

27 in the US and 12 in Brazil.

He said that Chevrolet is committed to building products in the markets they are sold, adding that the Cruze is built in 11 different countries on five continents.

He noted that GM design teams in South Korea and Germany had the global consumer in mind when developing the car in just 27 months in the late 2000s before debuting in South Korea in November of 2008.

“Medium to small car sales around the world have been growing exponentially as emerging markets, in Asia and South America, increase car ownership while mature markets, like the US, downsize for fuel economy,” says Michelle Krebs, senior analyst for AutoTrader.com.

“Smaller cars, like the Cruze, are driving sales globally and will continue to do so,” he said Head Intermotors, Ladi Abiodun said that the Cruze also endured intensive durability testing, including extreme

weather tests and more than 210 crash tests tailored to the regulatory demands of the countries where it is sold.

To appeal to different market tastes, the vehicle, according to him, is available in three body styles, including a four-door sedan, five-door hatchback and station wagon. Cruze is powered by five different engines globally – 1.4-, 1.6-, and 1.8-litrepetrol engines, and 1.7- and 2.0-litre diesel engines.

New Telegraph learnt that Chevrolet recently also launched a new version of the Cruze catering to the styling and packaging demands of Chinese customers.

Cruze sales in China lead all countries with 1.13 million sold since launch in 2009.

In South Africa, the Chevrolet Cruze is sold as a seven-model range comprising two hatchbacks and five sedans, powered by either 1.6-litre or 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engines or the 2.0-litre diesel motor.

Since launch in 2009, Cruze sales in South Africa have totalled 27 000.

economy graph which shows fuel consumption history for the last 50 km.

Abiodun, also said: “The tried-andtrusted 3.6-litre petrol V6 engine fitted to the range-topping 3.6 LTZ AT model which remains unchanged for 2014, is the Trailblazer Intermotors is providing in the Nigerian market.”

He said that the vehicle is flaunting seven practical seats, ample room for luggage, a comfortable cabin and a refined drive, and offers the best combination of all-round attributes which culminate in an infinitely practical SUV. Also featuring advanced 4x4 drivetrain design and technology, Trailblazer, according to him, is as comfortable and capable off-road as it is in the city, where generous ground clearance (up to 230 mm), excellent critical angles and a sturdy 4x4 system allow for exceptionally easy off-road driving.

New Telegragh that the vehicle is able to switch drive modes at the turn of a dial, 4x4 Trailblazer models offer 2-High, 4-High and 4-Low modes. Combined with the pulling power available from the 3.6-litre petrol V6, the Trailblazer is endowed with class-leading towing capacity - making the SUV a true all-rounder.

He said that the vehicle is backed with a three-year/ 100, 000 km warranty, as well as service interval of 5, 000 km. According to him, efficient after-sales support, with adequate replacement parts, are provided for all Chevrolet products sold in Nigeria by CFAO Intermotors, including Spark, Aveo, Cruze and the all-new Trailblazer, at its service/maintenance facilities across the country.

Toyota set to reveal Nissan Juke rival

T

oyota looks set to produce its own crossover model, combining the size and shape of a five-door hatchback with the raised ride height and chunky styling of a small 4x4.

The new model will be aimed squarely at the Nissan Juke, the car which started the craze and which has proven popular across the world.

Toyota will preview its Juke rival with a concept car called the C-HR, which will be displayed at the upcoming Paris Motor Show.

The concept will feature a hybrid drivetrain, which strongly suggests that a hybrid version of the production model will be made available when it arrives in showrooms.

Toyota says that the C-HR will combine “a powerful new design language with an engaging driving experience”.

It has also confirmed that it will show the finalised exterior design for the production version of its Fuel Cell Sedan, which will be launched across Europe next year.

38

FEMINIQUE

NEW TELEGRAPH

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EBERE AMEH

ebere.ameh@newtelegraphonline.com ebereameh@gmail.com

Friday, September 19, 2014

Yemisi Iranloye: Passion led me to farming, now we are major players Yemisi Iranloye is a Biochemist whose passion for Agriculture has led her to establish one of the largest starch processing factories in Nigeria. The multiple award winning entrepreneur, is also the President of the Nigerian Chapter of African Women Entrepreneur Program. EBERE AMEH was in her factory recently

W

hen the federal government decided to focus on not just agriculture but improving the value chain - moving away from production of raw materials for export, to agro-processing into semi-finished product, especially in food production, Yemisi Iranloye, a seasoned Biochemist and top-notch entrepreneur knew that the time to be her own boss had come. She worked hard and won laurels for others but she had always dreamt of establishing her own company. Would her gender or finance stop her? Nothing of such comes in the way of a determined woman. And so, armed with lots of experience in cassava processing, Iranloye who who was the Executive Director of Ekha Agro Company decided to go into a similar field, leading to the establishment of Psaltry International limited.

Situated on a 500 hectares of farmland, inside a 5000 hectares community farmland, Psaltry, which started production a year and half ago, is now a leading player in cassava starch production in Nigeria. With a vision to empower the farmers too, through training on improved agronomic practices, facilitate their access to improved variety of crops and buy back for agro processing, Iranloye is already planning to build a second factory and looking back is what she is not contemplating.

“It is actually a very simple project but very novel. Most times in Nigeria, you don’t see people take the bull by the horn. The only challenge is that you can’t manage this kind of project in absentia and get the people to do it the way you want it done, so I have to relocate here to ensure that things are done properly. We are following the international standard and that is what we are teaching the farmers to do,” Iranloye said.

With their raw material as cassava, Psaltry’s style is to have back up and also to have farmers farm for them. Providing extension services for the farmers, Psaltry has trained them on how to produce economically viable cassava.

“Because we can’t rely 100% on farmers until we run the programme for some years, the factory cultivated about 40% of its raw material requirement just to cushion the third party effect. And because farmers don’t have money and we don’t want to give them cash, we provide tractors, which plow for them and give them stem and chemicals to spray,” Iranloye said.

In their bid to practice sustainable agriculture, Psaltry is situated very close to its raw material, eroding the problem of farmers not seeing a market or having to transport their product to very far distances.

That makes it good both for the farmer and the investor.

After barely one and half years of production, Psaltry is now a leading starch factory in Nigeria with 85 permanent staff, 80 contract staff and about 1000 farmers.

“I have passion for Agriculture. I just love it and because I love it, I am able to withstand the stress and the hurdle. We now have a very extensive African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) programme and we are in the process of building a second factory,” Iranloye, who was the ‘Best Oral

Presentation’ award winner of the Global Cassava Partnership, sponsored by the Bill Gates &Melinda Foundation said.

Talking about her challenges as a women in agriculture, a supposedly male dominated sector, Iranloye said her challenge has nothing to do with gender.

“I think a lot of women are equally playing major roles in agriculture now. We are not as many as the men but a couple of us are coming up very strong and taking our place in the market place. But I can assure you, our challenge has no gender bias. Our major challenge is electricity. As I talk to you we are still in the process of connecting the factory to the power grid. Even though the federal government gave directive to that effect last year, they did not give us light. We are doing it ourselves and it has been our major challenge.”

Iranloye was honoured as the female leading agro entrepreneur in Nigeria in 2010. An award given her by the American department of state for her strong and continuous contribution to cassava and rural poor farmers in Nigeria. She has bagged many more awards of which space may not allow us to enumerate.

Reminiscing on the time of her humble beginnings, Iranloye, said that Psaltry, which is now a beehive of activity was a tick forest. Situated in Alayide Village in Osin Local Government Area of Oyo State, she added that the village was landlocked and bereft of basic amenities until Psaltry was established there.

“When we came in here it was all forest.

It w a s

Iranloye

difficult uprooting the trees and turning the place to what you see today. There was no single road here.

“We started with maize, cassava and even yam. We were doing all these to raise cash. Later, we settled for only cassava. We opted for the cassava because that is what we want to use as our raw material. We started gradually acquiring the land before we felt we are ready to expand it and build the factory.”

The community on their part has derived a lot of benefits from the company.

Iranloye, who is the President of AWEP Nigeria, a conglomerate of women entrepreneurs from different sectors of the economy, encourages entrepreneurs to always encourage the host rural community for willingly giving out their lands.

“This community has only one stream that dries up during the dry season and many of the villagers have elephantiasis, a situation which we felt needed attention.

Consequently, we built a manually operated borehole in Alayide village and we are building another for another village. Now, their GDP has increased and they now buy cars and build houses as they adjust to their new status and the migration of people to the village. Young farmers who would hitherto do one hectare now have average of about 30 to 50 hectares each because we assist them to do mechanized agriculture.”

The villagers all seem happy with this wondrous woman who has turned their lives around.

“We did not see government and they did not do anything for us.

We depended on a foot path that used to be here (pointing to the road) before and drank from a stream on the right side of the road because we had no other choice. When the stream dries up during the dry season, we dig the ground so water could gather in it. All that has become a thing of the past since the coming of this woman and her company,” Baale Alayide, the paramount ruler of the community told Feminique.

An obscure agrarian and multiethnic community, Alayide, which is made up of about 20 villages or rather, hamlets, is located in Iseyin local government area of Oyo State. With no water, no road, no school, no health centre, let alone electricity, the villagers had carried on with their primitive agriculture praying for day the government will remember and come to their aid.

With an air of gratitude and so much pride, the Baale told of how he was an object of criticism and ridicule after selling a large expanse of the community land to Psaltry. “Now, we are happy that we were the ones who gave out the land and happier for what they are doing for us. Now that we have one, we want more companies to come.”

“This woman is God sent,” Alhaji Kasali, an Alayide elder said excitedly. Now, whenever they have visitors, they bring them here and we are mingling with educated people. Through them our plight will get to the outside world.”

Because of their peculiar situation with no graduate, let alone a civil servant, the community could not benefit from the fund made available to farmers by the government, which required that a civil servant signs and stands surety for every farmer that intended to access the loan. To get fertilizer, Psaltry had to assist them.

“I had to get the forms for them, assist to fill it and personally took it to Abuja to ensure that my farmers got fertilizer. The fact is that these people don’t know what you are talking about when you are speaking English on radio.” Iranloye said.

With the pasion to make a change in the lives of the community, Iranloye who is looked on by the community as not only their friend but their messiah is planning to site a school and also provide solar points for them as well.

This woman is God sent, Alhaji Kasali, an Alayide elder said excitedly.

Now, whenever they have visitors, they bring them here and we are mingling with educated people.

Through them our plight will get to the outside world

feminique sex and soul

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

39

The surprising health benefits of sex (2) Taiwo Fadeyi

S

ex Boosts Immunity- We all know the roles immunity plays in our lives. Simply put, the higher your immunity, the less your chances of falling victim to any disease or infection. And the better your chances of a cure or getting better fast. Even the scary ones such as Cancer, HIV/AIDS and the much dreaded Ebola virus. Actually, having regular sex such as twice or three times a week, or even once a week does wonders.

It results in higher levels of immunoglobin A. Also known as IgA. This is an antibody and protects you from virus attacks such as common cold and other infections. To buttress this, Wilkes University in Pennsylvania, USA (United States of America, not United States of Africa O!!), brought together 112 college students for a study. They were told to keep records of their sexual activities. They also provided saliva samples regularly for the study. That is the result you just read above.

Your twice weekly sexual activities actually boost your immunity as much as 30%.

So why not enjoy sex and be healthy at the same time? Yes, you can combine this with all other sources of immune boosters such as fruits and vegetables, balanced and healthy food and immune boosting supplements. But believe it or not, sex is the most natural, fulfilling and most enjoyable immune booster. Or don't you think so?

Pain Reduction- Do you as a woman have menstrual pain or dysmenorrhea? Arthritis, chronic back pain, and even unexplained headaches? Then have regular mutually enjoyable sex with your partner about twice or thrice weekly. But please remem ber that the keywords are mutually enjoyable. Not one sided. Do that for a period of time whilst you continue with your doctor's medications.

You will happily discover that over a period of time, your dependance on drugs will become either totally eliminated or drastically reduced. Why am I so confident? Science, that's why. This is the pathway. Immediately

after that earth shaking and fire brigade attention (to douse the flames) of that orgasm, you release an intensive dose of oxytocin.

This overload then releases endorphins. Endorphins are actually brain chemicals with Opiod like properties. The endorphins then help to alleviate pain from headache, arthritis and guess what? Even premenstrual and menstrual cramp. The happy, loving marriage between active sex and pain reduction has been studied and proven scientifically.

Penile/ vaginal stimulation produces a very powerful pain blocking effect. G spot and A spot stimulation of your woman (do you know where they are?) alone can elevate her pain threshold to over 80%. This increases to over 100% with orgasm.

Prostate Gland- This is only for Men. The Prostate gland briefly, is the organ responsible for producing the semen in men and

other functions. As we grow older it enlarges.

The condition is known as Benign Prostate Enlargement (BPH). This eventually disturbs urine flow and sexual performance.

End result is usually surgery or herbal treatment. Frequent sex helps to prevent BPH. So ride on men and just keep on doing it.

Finally, as at last count there were at least 20 surprising health benefits of sex. Including the almighty prostate gland. Space will not allow us to do justice to them all here. We will definitely come back to them in the nearest future.

Meanwhile, why not enjoy sex and get all the benefits? Kill the proverbial two birds with one stone. Just forget about that old fish wives tale that sex is bad for you. Such unbelievably erroneous beliefs are always been peddled by armchair, home and pseudo or wannabe doctors, quacks and charlatans.

One of them is an elderly bricklayer who does odd jobs for me occasionally. He is so proud about his sexpertise. He even once told me once that although he respects me as a doctor, his knowledge about sex is better and greater than mine. Want to know why he is more experienced? Because he is ‘older than me and also a polygamist with three wives,’ he said. I GO DIE O!!!

Dr. Taiwo Fadeyi is a Western trained medical practitioner and one of the very few certified Sexologists in Nigeria. He is also a marriage counsellor and would be bringing his immense knowledge and experience to bear in writing this column.

Make it a date with him every Friday for that expert advice on sex and relationship.

He can be reached on drtaiwofadeyi@ gmail.com or 08033148899 (sms only)

Ego: Diary of a single mom

From Whispering Palms to pocket doctor

I

think this week has been both exciting and hectic. You know, it’s that kind of excitement that could the capability of erasing months of stress. Though we worked hard to combine our normal work with meeting and planning for the Away Day, it was worth the effort.

With a full attendance of all the staff in our department, we had a nice time at the Whispering Palms, venue of the event on Friday. All dressed casually in our uniformed T-shirts, black jeans, we frolicked and partied as if there was no tomorrow. You needed to see Mr Omoregie, our departmental Head dancing with all of us. It was so much fun.

Nnamdi's group won the ..... we gave out for the best in quiz. The talks given

by Kabiru and Gladys were good and relaxing. It was dance galore even as different kinds of food from different ethnic groups were served. Everyone got a food flask and towel as memorabilia.

Spoiling for a restful and relaxing weekend, I got home by9.pmto meet fire on the mountain. Tosin had been stooling and threw up once. Poor Ekaette was clueless as to what to do to arrest the situation. Together with Tobi, they had called my phone over 20 times and I did not know. Chai! I felt like the worst mom in the world. As one of the organizers of the Away Day, I had to switch off my phone to avoid distractions.

Now, where do I start from? What do I do? I temporarily forgot how tired I was as I ran from the visibly weak Tosin to

the kitchen, to the First Aid box and back to her again, in apparent confusion.

OMG! tufia! God forbid! Ebola is not my daughter’s portion in Jesus name, I ejaculated tweaking my finger in rejection. I reject it in Jesus name, I said, as I continued in my emergency profession of faith.

No, Tosin can’t have Ebola virus, I muttered to myself again. Though I was trying hard, to convince myself, what about the diarrhoea, the vomiting and headache? Are they not symptoms of

the disease? I'm done for! What do I do now? Take her to the hospital this night all alone? Call Nnamdi to come over? He would gladly come in spite of the obvious fact that he should be tired too. But I will be exposing him to the disease too. No, let me carry my cross. Only yesterday that mom left.... God help me!

If I had taken her to the hospital, we'd have been treated like pariahs and referred to Yaba Infectious Disease Centre. So I rushed out and luckily met the neighbourhood pharmacy shop still

open and got some relevant drugs to arrest the high temperature and the vomiting.

Waking up ok around 8.30 on Saturday, I felt I should monitor her progress first before taking her to the hospital.

Though she was weak at first, she was already playing hide and seek with Tobi in the afternoon.

As I feel proud of myself for being a wonderful pocket doctor, I earnestly thank God it wasn’t Ebola. Ah, what would I have done?

I have always advocated that every mom be vigilant because we are the 'doctors' and 'dieticians' of our families. See how my pocket doctor paid off.

When I was with Segun, he would not take any drug without consulting me.

'Dr Ego darling, come and tell me what to take for my cold, it can’t prove this stubborn when there is a doctor in the house,' he would joke. We always had fun role playing - I as the doctor and him the patient and he respected my opinions on health fitness and diet. Despite the fights, he was also caring and romantic. His caring nature was always more pronounced a day after he must have physically abused me. I remember how he would swear not to lay a finger on me again, how he will shower me with so much love that I will relax again. Whenever I remember his romantic nature I wonder if leaving him was the right decision. But no, maybe I'd have been dead by now. God, I thank you for keeping me alive, for healing Tosin.

E X H O RTAT I O N

40

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/islam

adeolaomoyusuf@yahoo.com 0803 438 0340 FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2014

l 24 Thul- Qedah 1435 AH

“AND PROCLAIM THAT THE PEOPLE SHALL OBSERVE HAJJ PILGRIMAGE. THEY WILL COME TO YOU WALKING OR RIDING ON VARIOUS EXHAUSTED (MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION). THEY WILL COME FROM THE FARTHEST LOCATIONS.” QURAN 22:27

Hajj: 13, 000 Nigerians arrive as Saudi deports 4,100 illegal pilgrims

Holy Kaabah

BLACKLIST Saudi government has blacklisted 80 pilgrims’ accommodation Stories by Adeola Yusuf

O

ver 13, 000 Nigerian pilgrims have arrived Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the first batch of airlifting for 2014 Hajj operations, New Telegraph has gathered.

This came as the Saudi security authorities said that they had started to take penal action against 4,100 pilgrims who performed Haj without permits.

A source at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) told New Telegraph that the commission is still taking stock of Nigerian pilgrims as they arrive., “So far, over 13, 000 or thereabout have arrived the kingdom through King Abdul-Azeez International Airport, Jeddah,” he said, adding that more “pil-

grims are still expected as the airlifts still continue.”

The Saudi authorities have trim down the number of visas issued for this year’s Hajj due to the on-going renovation at the Holy Mosques in Kabbah, Makkah and Masjid Nabawiy in Medinat.

Commander of the Passport Forces for Haj, Maj. Gen. Ayed Al-Harbi, however, expressed dissatisfaction that 4,100 pilgrims came to perform Haj without a permit.

Al-Harbi, was reported by

Saudi Gazzette to have said that the name of these people have been included in the list of those against whom punitive measures will be taken soon.

The authorities earlier disclosed that those who are caught performing Haj without permit would be deported and banned from entering the Kingdom for 10 years. Similarly, owners of vehicles used to smuggle illegal pilgrims to the holy sites would be detained and fined, and their vehicles will be impounded.

Al-Harbi said that a total of 525,558 pilgrims arrived in the Kingdom to perform Haj by Tuesday. A number of pilgrims were sent back after discovering that they came on fake Haj visas or defying a ban after being deported from the Kingdom.

Meanwhile, a total of 80 residential buildings were put under the blacklist by the committee for the pilgrims’ accommodation after discovering that they are unfit for accommodating Haj pilgrims.

Interior Minister Prince Muhammad Bin Naif chaired a meeting of the Supreme Haj Committee in Riyadh on Tuesday. The meeting discussed a report about construction of buildings on mountaintops of Mina to find more space for pilgrims in the tent city.

MURIC demands probe of $9.3m arms deal, cash-loaded jet

M

uslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has demanded a probe into the $9.3 million arms deals involving two Nigerian and an Israeli, who were arrested in South Africa.

MURIC, which said this in a statement, maintained that this becomes necessary because of what it called the on-going conspiracy against Muslims in Nigeria.

Calling on “the National Assembly to save Nigeria from total disintegration,” Director MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola said that this “jet and cash story is a scandal of monumental proportion and it must not be swept under the carpet. The National Assembly must intervene in order to calm nerves.”

He noted: “Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor was alleged to have admitted ownership of a private jet seized last weekend by South African authorities. The aircraft was stashed with $9.3 million in cash meant for arms purchase. In the same vein, the Federal Government (FG) issued a statement yesterday admitting ownership of the

cash. Oritsejafor has sought to extenuate the deal by claiming that the jet was hired out by Eagle Air in which the pastor himself has “residual interest.” The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) is alarmed by this scandalous development.”

According to him, muslims in Nigeria “have every reason to reject FG’s explanation and it is hereby rejected. Government is being economical with the truth. We suspect a grand conspiracy against Nigerian Muslims in this latest revelation.

“Nigerian Muslims are enveloped with apprehension.

All the ingredients of a plot are here for those who care to look beyond their noses,” the statement read.

“For instance, was the intended arms purchase really meant for the Nigerian Armed Forces? What is the guaranty that it was not meant for Niger Delta militants, or Christian crusaders masquerading as Boko Haram? Afterall, underthe-table assistance for Boko Haram has been noticed in the

past. Where did the arms and food drops for Boko Haram by helicopters come from? Only the Israelis are capable of doing that.

“We urge those fanning the embers of war and amassing weapons to remember the plight of Liberia, Congo, Sierra Leone, Bosnia Herzegovina, etc. The ravages of war, the sufferings of millions of innocent young and old are better imagined than experienced.

“Finally, we appeal to Muslims throughout Nigeria to allow the National Assembly to wade into the matter. Meanwhile, we charge them to remain calm and law-abiding.

“MURIC is shocked by the huge amount involved: $9.3 million! Conservatively, $1m is N163m. $9.3m is therefore N1,514,502,583.61 at the current exchange rate of N163 to $1. It is very disturbing for this to be happening in a country bedeviled by serious security challenges bordering on religious rivalry and ethnic jingoism. There is definitely something sinister about all

these.”

Akintola continued: “We assert that Nigerian Muslims are not safe any longer. We are not safe in the hands of Israeli military advisers breathing down the neck of the Nigerian government and encouraging it to arm the Christians to the teeth.

The fate of Nigerian Muslims is therefore not certain.

“We have lost confidence in FG and its security agencies, particularly with the involvement of Israel. Islamic scholars are disappearing at will all over the country. FG relies heavily on Israel, a wellknown anti-Muslim country for its security matters. Palpable fear of religious cleansing has therefore gripped Muslims.

“Whole Muslim communities are already being wiped out in the North East under the guise of ‘Boko Haram’.

Just two months ago, 34 Muslims who were followers of Shaykh Ibrahim Alzakzaky were massacred by soldiers in Zaria and nothing has been heard of it.

Nigerian pilgrims on red alert against Mers virus Mojeed Alabi health officials on Nhajjigerian medical team to this year’s pilgrimage in Saudi Ara-

bia have expressed their commitment to guide Pilgrims from contracting the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) coronavirus, one of the world’s newest deadliest diseases.

According to a health official accompanying the team from Osun State, who craved anonymity because he was not authorized to comment, the medical teams from Nigeria like their counterparts from other parts of the world are not unaware of the deadly virus and are leaving no stone unturned to make sure that no Nigerian is infected.

The virus, also termed EMC/2012, which was first discovered in 2012 in Saudi Arabia after genome sequencing of a virus isolated from sputum samples from patients who fell ill in a 2012 outbreak of a new flu has been described as a positivesense, single-stranded RNA novel species of the genus Betacoronavirus.

According to the World Health Organisation, the virus which is said to be passed from camels to people probably via secretions from the nose and mouth of infected animals, and could according to scientists also be contracted through raw camel milk.

Scientists say the symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness in breath, and that it can also cause pneumonia and kidney failure with nearly 40 per cent of those infected so far reportedly dead.

According to a report, as of June 2014, MERS-CoV cases have been reported in 22 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Jordan, Qatar, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Algeria, Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, and the United States, among others, with almost all cases somehow linked to Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, the virus has reportedly killed 302 people in Saudi Arabia since it first emerged in 2012 and more than 723 people infected so far.

Reports have also indicated that health officials in Saudi Arabia are doing all they can to avoid an outbreak of the virus at the annual Hajj pilgrimage with sensitization already stepped up among camel traders. The WHO says anyone working closely with camels should wear protective gear like masks and gloves.

CRIME

41

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/entrepreneur

JULIANA FRANCIS juliana.francis@newtelegraphonline.com

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2014

Bassey: No big deal using military in elections Mr. Rekpene Bassey is the Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Governor of Cross River State. In this interview with CLEMENT JAMES in Calabar, he argues that there should not be controversy over the issue of using military in elections, especially, “given the level of security threats and actual violence that often occur in some election cases.” Bassey also talks about a number of security issues, including the threat which Boko Haram poses to Nigeria. Excerpts: There have been cases of murder in the state. Are you aware of them? Especially the one of the Bakassi Monarch, killed a few weeks back?

When you say cases of murder, you sound rather apocalyptic. You cannot use an isolated case or incidence of homicide to allude to such general expression as cases of murder in the state.

To that extent you are not correct.

But having particular regards to the traditional ruler in question, I must assure you that the police are on top of the situation with a view to ensuring that the perpetrators face the full wrath of the law.

It was also rumored some months ago that some Bakassi Militants were killed by the Navy during a patrol on the high sea in the area. Are you aware of this?

You call it rumour. In security, we don’t deal with rumours, we deal with facts. If you have the facts and desire to ascertain its veracity then I might be able to proffer some answers. You need to understand that the Nigerian Navy has statutory responsibility for the safeguard of our maritime territory. In the course of patrols, if they encounter pirates and other criminal elements, they would be right to take appropriate operational actions after due recourse to the rules of engagement.

There have also been reports that car snatchers have been on duty at gun point in some parts of Calabar. Is this true?

What I am aware of, are activities associated with One-Chance criminality and not so much of car snatching.

The city of Calabar is generally too saturated in terms of security for car snatching criminality to thrive. Criminals who contemplate car snatching in Calabar know they would not go far before they get caught. Apprehending car snatchers here is even made easier because we have only one major ingress and egress highway into and out of Calabar. If a criminal snatches a car, how will he move it out? By water? Again, having said that, I will tell you that generally speaking, cars may be snatched

state in Nigeria.

In less than two months from now, the National Sports Festival is going to hold in Calabar. What’s the security arrangement like?

If and when the National Sports Festivals holds here, there would be no security issues at all. In fact, among others, the reason our State won the hosting right in the first place is because of serenity, safety and security records of the state. That also explains why Calabar has become the preferred destination for most national and international events. But for the Sport Festival in particular, we have put together an elaborate and comprehensive security action plan that encapsulates surveillance, intelligence gathering, intensive patrols and static deployments at all venues of the various events and accommodation for athletes. Adequate human factor deployment in this regard would be complemented with state-of-the-art structural measures, high level supervision and monitoring. It will be one of the best organised events in Nigeria to date in terms of security.

Bassey

for three purposes; to purloin its content, dismembered and sold in parts or used for commission of robbery and other crimes. In some cases, for decoy

or getaway operations. Neither of these are rampant here, if any. Let me reassure you that the last time I checked, Cross River State remained the safest

CRIME QUOTE “In a few weeks, the truth behind the collapsed building will be revealed. The last time the Boko Haram issue occurred, the press was against the church, including the police but after some weeks, the truth behind the attack was revealed.” – Spiritual Leader, Prophet Temitope Joshua

There have been controversies surrounding the use of the military during elections. Do you support the use of soldiers during this period?

Controversy is one part of our many ways as a people. There should be no controversy about inviting the military to support civil security in the conduct of elections given the level of security threats and actual violence that often occur in some election cases. That does not however take away the statutory duties of the police as first responders in all civil matters. Military deployment in such cases cannot therefore be thought of as an aberration altogether as long as it is deployment in aid of and subsumed under civil authority.

On the flipside, though, I’m hoping and looking to someday in the years ahead when the police in Nigeria will CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

42

CRIME

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

‘Politics makes Boko Haram war tough' CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 4 1

be in a position by way of equipment and capability to tackle all civil security challenges devoid of military involvement, so they can focus on their key primary duty, which is the defence of the country from external aggression.

This has to be so in order to protect the military from undue involvement in mostly civilian affairs in line with their professional dictates.

Very soon, the various political parties are going to start campaigns. Is there a specific code of conduct, security wise, that would be given to them for violence-free campaign?

The Senator Liyel Imoke Administration places optimum priority on zero crime tolerance. And this is in all ramifications, not excluding election violence.

In furtherance of the administration’s resolve to promote violence-free political activities, the fight against cultism was adopted as part of the state’s official policy.

In this state, nobody takes the oath of office without the oath of renunciation of cultism.

That is besides deliberate subtle exclusion of known cultists from political positions. The reason government decided to do so is because in the past, political top dogs in the state procured the services of cult groups to perpetrate violence during election. We certainly would not lower the bar of security alertness in the forth-coming political campaigns. Talking straight, I would say that our code of conduct for next election is in one straight line, to wit: those that get on the wrong side of the law will be decisively dealt with within the limit of the law. It is as simple as that.

There was this case of one Derek Maurice who was killed and sold for N11, 000 to the Anatomy Department of the University of Calabar. Can you tell us more about this matter?

The matter is under police investigation. But certainly there is no such thing as Derek Maurice being killed and sold for such amount of money to the Anatomy Department of the University of Calabar. That is highly pejorative. The press, particularly the print media has to be extremely careful about sensational reporting of issues, particularly at times like this. Reports not investigated before publication, are very dangerous and destructive. Let’s please be careful about that.

Have you been able to resolve the matter, permanently, between Usumutong and Ediba?

The matter between Usumutong and Ediba is, to say the least, one of the most challenging situations that I’ve ever handled in my present capacity. The matter has to do with land dispute that dates back to over 100 years, which unfortunately resulted in loss of lives. As you may well know, I’m from one of the communities, whereas both are of a common ancestry and extraction under the Bahumono nation. As we speak, peace has returned to

The 3rd Eye

A rotten force, threat to democracy (4) Okechukwu Nwanguma

A

Shekau and his members

both communities to the Glory of God. But credit must be given to the Paramount Ruler of Ugep, Obol Ubi Ujong, not to mention the subtle dexterity of Governor Liyel Imoke, Deputy Governor Efiok Cobham, Elder Bolaji Anani and Goddy Etta Etta.

The present Service Commanders of the Police, Army and the Department of State Services in the State must be highly commended for their roles in resolving the crises; not leaving out significant elders and youths of both communities. We shall continue to appeal to both communities to embrace peace so that development does not elude them.

Do you think the Federal Government is doing enough to cage the Boko Haram insurgents given some of the reversals the military has experienced in the last few weeks, especially the occupation of Gwoza and recently Bama?

I think the federal government has put in substantial efforts into the fight against Boko Haram. Nonetheless, more needs to be done, and can be done. Suffice it to say that it would appear that measures taken to tackle the menace were rather reactive instead of proactive. Taking reactive measures against a group that applies ideological sentiments and asymmetrical tactics can be extremely difficult.

Insurgency is not like conventional security operation or warfare where you have known and clearly defined enemy and rules of engagement.

It is therefore not exactly fair to conclude that government is experiencing reversals in the war against Boko Haram.

Let me also note here that there are political issues to contend with when dealing with insurgents. Are you, for instance, not aware that some politicians have been disparaging and even clamoring for the prosecution of the immediate past Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army for

the way he dealt with Boko Haram insurgents? It is situations like that and the politicisation of security issues, that make the war even more difficult. But

by God’s grace, the war would be won somehow soon.

Do you have a security blueprint for the state as you prepare to round off your stay as the S.A on Security Matters?

Yes, of course. The state’s security strategy is centered on one basic approach. This approach is reciprocity of citizen’s responsibility to government and governance in reflection of the alternative security doctrine. Engrained in this is citizen’s welfare and enlistment in the state’s security ideology and architecture which propels prompt reporting of security and emergency situations for quick intervention.

Part of this architecture is integrated in our emergency strategy. It encapsulates intelligence and deployment of physical security to ensure target hardening. A very rugged surveillance technology is part of the blue print, and has been kept in abeyance for the time being because of competing needs.

What is your plan after leaving office, politically?

I get very lethargic when it comes to inordinate ambition. It won’t be so difficult to cross the bridge when I get there.

What more can I say, my future depends entirely on God and His Divine providence. I see myself as a professional in the midst of politicians. I will either go into big time security consultancy practice and authorship or consider accepting another opportunity for public service if found fit and so called upon.

Meanwhile, I desire to finish well and strong in my present call to the service of my people as a public officer.

ll the petitions calling on the IGP and the Chairman of the PSC to discipline Bala Hassan fell on deaf ears.

Reacting to the failure by the PSC to act on the findings of the police report which indicted Bala Hassan and the further decision by PSC to promote him despite his indictment for ‘conspiracy, forgery and stealing’, NOPRIN said that it ‘considers it an act of debauchery that the PSC could promote such a man who carries a heavy moral baggage rather than sanctioning him, as deterrence. Ironically, ‘according to a statement by Ferdinand Ekpe, Chief Information Officer of the Commission, the elevation of the senior officers (including Bala Hassan), which is in furtherance of repositioning the Personnel Management Affairs of the Nigeria Police Force, is aimed at giving the nation the security organization it truly deserved.’

Emboldened, Bala Hassan hired some hatchet writers who launched media attacks on NOPRIN and Punch Newspapers for reporting the matter. However, they failed to address the substance of the issue raised.

The list of similar acts of debauchery within the Nigeria police force is endless.

Recently, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, while he was CP Rivers State, engaged in reckless acts of partisanship and abuse of office- inconsistent with the principles of neutrality and professionalism required of a police officer in dealing with citizens. The details are too fresh to be rehashed. Again, rather than discipline him for his clear acts of misconduct, the PSC in utter disregard of public demands on it to discipline Mr. Mbu, rather redeployed him to FCT where he has continued with his excesses.

However, the consequences of this for democracy and public safety are too obvious and too dire to ignore.

Concluded

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BUSINESS | MONEY LINE 43

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

Bank of Industry floats N5b CAP fund direct and indirect jobs across the country.

Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Bank, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, disclosed this at a press briefing held at the BOI’s corporate Head Office in Lagos yesterday.

He said that the fund is targeted at small and medium industries at the low – technology, labour intensive end of the agro-processing spectrum of the economy.

JOB CREATION The Fund will create about 20,000 direct and indirect jobs

T

he Bank of Industry (BOI) yesterday launched a N5billion Cottage Agro Processing Fund through which it intends to finance about 1000 agricultural projects and create about 20,000

According to him, the fund, which was designed to enable the development finance institution play its catalytic role, represents BOI‘s direct intervention in the agro sector.

He added that an all-inclusive growth is the primary motive behind the fund.

The BOI boss said: “We are demonstrating to others how to lend to small and medium industries in perceived high risk sectors of the economy”.

Nigeria’s showbiz, media revenues to hit N1.3trn KEY DRIVER

Television in the form of advertising and subscriptions and licence fees, will also exceed $1billion market in 2018, while the market will grow steadily, the report said.

The report puts Nigeria’s projected revenues ahead of Kenya, which recorded $1.7 billion in its entertainment and media revenues in 2013, forecast to rise to $3.1 billion in 2018.

South Africa’s entertainment and media market is expected to grow by 10.2 per cent compounded annually (CAGR) from 2014 – 2018 to a value of R190.4 billion.

Commenting, Entertainment & Media Industries Leader for PwC South Africa, Vicki Myburgh, said, “Growth in the South African entertainment and media industry is largely being driven by the Internet and by consumers’ love of new technology, in particular mobile technology, such as smart-

Internet is a key driver for Nigeria Kunle Azeez

E

ntertainment and Media (E&M) industries’ revenues in Nigeria are estimated to reach $8.5 billion (about N1.3 trillion) in 2018, more than doubling from the 2013 figure of $4.0 billion at a CAGR of 16.1 per cent, according to a report by PriceWaterhouseCooper (PwC).

According to the report, the projected revenue represents one of the fastest growth rates in the world, even as Internet is identified to be a key driver for Nigeria, where the number of mobile Internet subscribers is forecast to surge from 7.7 million in 2013 to 50.4 million in 2018.

phones and tablets, as well as applications powered by data analytics and cloud services.

The outlook also includes detailed information for South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya in each of the 12 industry segments.

Nigeria’s E&M industries have been recording increasing growth in recent years with industry with the film industry estimated to be worth $5.1 billion (about N853.9 billion) this year.

The industry produces hundreds of home videos and films per annum, a development, and currently ranks as the second largest film industry in the world in number of annual film productions, placing it ahead of the United States and behind only Indian cinema.

Nigerian cinema is Africa's largest movie industry in terms of value and the number of movies produced per year.

Economic Indicators 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

Amadi Nnamdi Abuja

Nigeria Investment ProCouncil (NIPC) and TOyohemotion State government have

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

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

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

FX

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

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

full utilisation of the N5billion.

However, he warned the loan applicants to come prepared with viable business plans, stressing that entrepreneurs who fully repays funds granted under CAP would have cleared the path to bigger project loans from BOI and greater wealth creation opportunities for their companies.

BOI also announced the redesignation of its Executive Director, Business Development to Executive Director SMEs, in the person of Mr. Waheed Olagunju, to ensure that the bank focus on SMEs segment of the Nigerian economy, thereby driving the SME financing initiatives outlined in the National Enterprise Development Program (NEDEP).

Giving a background to the floating of the fund, the BOI boss said that significant progress have been made by major companies such as Olam and Dangote Group, under the agric transformation agenda of the Jonathan administration.

11.49 per cent, 37 basis points higher than 11.12 per cent the paper fetched in August.

It also sold N50 billion of 10-year debt at 12.23 per cent against 12.22 per cent previously.

The debt office sold N35 billion worth of 20-year paper at 12.29 per cent, lower than 12.38 per cent at the previous auction.

All the debt notes were reopenings of previous issues, while total demand was up marginally to N175.99 billion compared with N174.01 billion at the previous sale.

NIPC partners Oyo to boost economic potential

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

The loans, which have tenure of five years with a moratorium of six months, will be granted at a single digit interest of 9 per cent and total management fees of 1 per cent, Olaoluwa said, emphasising that it will create about 20,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Specifically, he said that the CAP fund will provide loans to beneficiaries to establish small and medium scale plants or mini mills to process Nigeria’s agricultural products such as cassava, oil palm, paddy rice, groundnuts, yam, maize, sorghum and cashew among others. He explained that these products are grown all over the country.

Ola oluwa said that the projects financed will be located very close to the source of the agricultural products to be processed, stressing that its business plan must address its primary and secondary sources of energy to power the plant.

In addition, he said that the equipment supplier for the projects must be accredited by BOI and the promoters will provide a performance bond and enter into a maintenance agreement.

The BOI boss explained that these measures are to ensure that the projects will grow uninhibited by the previous generic factor that led to failures of SMEs. Sounding very optimistic that the fund will succeed, Olaoluwa said that the N5billion for cottage industry is just the beginning, as BOI intends to deploy a second phase after the

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

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

resolved to partner in the development of the economic potential inherent in the state.

This resolution was made yesterday in Abuja when the NIPC and Oyo State Government represented by the Deputy Governor, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build a link that will further attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The relationship is also expected to boost domestic direct investment in Oyo State.

In her speech at the MoU signing ceremony, the Executive Secretary of NIPC, Mrs Saratu A. Umar, acknowledged that Oyo is one of the states of the Federation with very attractive competitive and comparative advantages, blessed with arable land upon, which varieties of agricultural resources thrives.

“Oyo state should therefore be able to attract more quality investments into agriculture to develop its value-chain. Oyo state is also home to a number of companies engaged in the manufacturing of consumer products, including Procter and

Gamble, which has also benefited from the services of NIPC”, she added.

The NIPC Executive Secretary informed the Deputy Governor that NIPC undertakes investment facilitation services and supports incoming and existing investors through the doing business and after care committees.

Umar said the commission hosts and co-ordinates the activities of the One Stop Investment Centre (OSIC), which currently has 27 relevant government agencies and regional bodies that provide prompt and efficient business entry service to investors.

Umar hinted that Ogun, Bayelsa, Delta, Cross River, Niger and Rivers States have successfully Undertaken the programme and established their state IPAs and OSSs, while some are at various stages of implementation.

She disclosed that with solid minerals deposit such as marble, gold and granite, the full potential of which were yet to be exploited, active and constructive collaboration with both local and foreign investors would ensure full exploitation of the resources for the rapid socio-economic development of the state in particular and the nation at large.

44 business | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

18-Sep-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)

28-Sep-07 23-Apr-10 16-Aug-13 27-Apr-12 27-Jul-07 31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

9.25 4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,591.19

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,642.26

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

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

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

0.03 0.59 1.91 2.61 2.86 2.95 3.70 4.78 5.10 7.36 9.49 14.20 14.67 15.17 15.84 19.83

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

10.72 11.04 11.60 11.51 11.55 11.55 11.58 11.61 11.73 12.19 12.29 12.48 12.48 12.47 12.30 12.33

5.42 10.76 11.51 11.45 11.48 11.49 11.48 11.54 11.64 12.13 12.24 12.44 12.43 12.42 12.25 12.29

99.95 96.04 102.40 107.85 95.94 94.62 97.36 115.70 82.21 120.00 110.54 116.51 100.04 73.19 84.10 98.60

100.10 96.19 102.55 108.00 96.09 94.77 97.66 116.00 82.51 120.30 110.84 116.81 100.34 73.49 84.40 98.90

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

0.12 0.68 1.29 2.23 2.59 2.80

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.72 13.66 13.47 13.59 12.55 12.55

98.65 91.38 104.69 101.08 99.43 96.91

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

0.07 0.95 0.55 1.07 1.08 2.58 1.63 3.29 2.26 4.04 2.46 2.46 2.84 2.91 5.18 3.06 3.59 6.19 6.29 3.77 3.80

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

14.01 15.44 14.27 15.51 14.53 17.14 12.42 13.35 13.39 12.60 12.55 16.33 12.55 12.55 12.76 14.29 12.58 13.06 14.03 13.03 13.54

99.94 97.47 99.30 98.95 101.51 85.55 102.26 101.62 101.26 104.31 104.23 95.66 104.47 107.15 106.41 101.08 105.95 101.78 103.90 104.30 104.25

1,301.62

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,284.94

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

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

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

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

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

6.00 8.50 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 27.51 11.40 87.00 5.00 4.78 4.79

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Corporate Bonds

483.24 487.57

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-/GCR BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR A/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR BBB/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

FSDH

A/GCR

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

*C & I LEASING *DANA#

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

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

*DANA NAHCO

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

07-Oct-11

11.50

11.80

07-Oct-14

0.05

1.00

11.72

99.96

18-Dec-09

13.50

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.25

5.21

15.93

99.29

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.28

8.71

19.48

99.14

17-Aug-10

10.00

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.67

4.88

15.91

96.67

09-Dec-10

12.00

13.62

09-Dec-15

0.74

1.00

12.02

100.57

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.60

06-Jan-16

0.82

2.63

13.65

100.92

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

2.03

1.00

12.62

100.65

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

2.10

1.34

12.95

102.29

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

3.03

1.00

12.55

101.09

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.73

30-Nov-17

1.85

1.88

13.42

108.64

09-Apr-11

16.00

7.20

09-Apr-18

1.81

3.48

15.00

101.79

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-18

2.23

5.20

16.79

102.16

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

09-Sep-18

2.23

5.06

16.65

101.65

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

4.01

1.35

12.95

103.20

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.70

18-Oct-18

2.08

2.29

13.90

103.56

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.41

6.11

17.67

98.95

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

3.29

2.16

13.72

105.81

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

6.16

2.76

14.81

101.68

11-Feb-18

3.40

1.00

12.57

93.58

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

141.62

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

143.69

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 11.23 Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

4.83

4.69

110.35

111.17

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.03

3.84

103.81

104.51

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.17

5.06

108.44

109.25

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

1,613.01

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

AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

3.05

3.05

111.13

111.13

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

4.31

4.31

105.04

105.04

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

6.57

6.57

101.72

101.72

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.59

8.05

94.75

96.36

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.00

5.69

99.99

101.11

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

8.69

8.69

105.75

105.75

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.03

6.03

100.85

100.85

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

8.94

8.69

99.28

100.20

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.44

7.44

103.01

103.01

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

AFREN PLC III

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

7.70

7.70

94.77

94.77

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC II

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

24-Jun-14

9.25

400.00

24-Jun-21

8.61

8.49

103.75

104.38

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

7.52

7.52

101.63

101.63

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

8.45

8.30

100.64

101.43

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,760.00 4,859.63

**Treasury Bills DTM 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56

FIXINGS Maturity 25-Sep-14 2-Oct-14 9-Oct-14 16-Oct-14 23-Oct-14 30-Oct-14 6-Nov-14 13-Nov-14

Bid Discount (%) 10.55 10.70 10.60 10.40 10.30 10.50 10.50 10.65

Offer Discount (%) 10.30 10.45 10.35 10.15 10.05 10.25 10.25 10.40

Bid Yield (%) 10.57 10.74 10.67 10.48 10.40 10.63 10.65 10.83

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 11.3750 12.5232 13.4910 14.3201

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.67

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

11.00

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

163.70 163.59 163.85 164.45 165.62 166.74

163.80 163.84 164.18 165.07 166.89 168.54

O/N Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 10.67 12.27

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

4,642.26 Description

Issuer

Agency Bonds

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

AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM

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

0.12 0.68 1.29 2.23 2.59 2.80

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.72 13.66 13.47 13.59 12.55 12.55

98.65 91.38 104.69 101.08 99.43 96.91

business | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS 45 1,301.62

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Nigerian stocks down by N15bn

1,284.94

IOSCO unveils risk standards for derivatives

Sub-National Bonds

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

RECOIL

NIGER 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

Seplat, Dangcem led others to deflate investment activities

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Stories

by Chris Ugwu TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

M

Corporate Bonds

arket fluctuation that LAFARGE WAPCO pervaded the equities Aa/Agusto GTB market yesterday conNGC Nil Bbb-/Agusto tinued, as *UPDC the bears A-/Agusto *FLOURMILLS struggled to deplete market BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS activities after a day A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCOgain in A-/Agusto the local bourse, necessitating FSDH UBA in both aA/GCR 0.11 per cent drop BBB-/GCR *C & I LEASING market performance indices.

BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *DANA The key benchmark A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR *TOWERindices AAA/DataPro†;to A+/GCR *TOWER route, returned the negative A/Agusto; A/GCR UBA as activities in the shares of SeBbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *LA CASERA plat and Dangote Cement furBBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS BBB/GCR ther dragged down*DANA the equity A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO market.

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Trading activities on the TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION floor of Nigerian Stock ExSupranational Bond change (NSE) had the previous A+/Agusto; AA/GCR

µ

#

# #

#

AAA/S&P

day closed in the green territory following positive sentiment of investors.

Consequently, the All-Share Index fell by 46.04 basis points or 0.11 per cent, to close at 40,683.45 as against 40,729.49 recorded the previous day, while the market capitalisation of equities depreciated by N15 billion 11.50 or 0.11 per cent, as market LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014 sentiment remained negative.

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 Meanwhile, a turnover of UPDC 17-AUG-2015 273.410.00million shares worth 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 N2.714.00 billion in 4,188 deals was CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 recorded in the day’s trading.

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 as FSDH 25-OCT-2016 Just in the previous day, 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 the banking sub-sector of the 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 financial sector was MPR+7.00services DANA 9-APR-2018 MPR+7.00active TOWER 9-SEP-2018 the most (measured by MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 turnover volume); with 110.07 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 million shares worth N1.04 bil15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 lion MPR+5.00 exchanged by investors CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 in DANA II 1-APR-2019 1,23516.00 deals.

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 Volume in the banking subsector was largely driven by activities in the shares of Diamond Bank Plc and Unity Bank

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

11-Feb-13

10.20

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 27.51 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

0.07 0.95 0.55 1.07 1.08 2.58 1.63 3.29 2.26 4.04 2.46 2.46 2.84 2.91 5.18 3.06 3.59 6.19 6.29 3.77 3.80

12.00

11-Feb-18

3.40

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

250.00

14-Aug-21

he International Organisation T(IOSCO) of Securities Commissions has published the con-

Plc. Also, insurance services subsector, boosted by activity in the shares of Cornerstone Insurance Plc, followed with a turnover of 41.8 million shares valued at N25.4 million in 173 deals.

The number of gainers at the close of trading session was 26, while decliners closed11.50 at 25.

07-Oct-11 Guinness Nigeria Plc led 18-Dec-09 13.50 01-Apr-10 table with 17.00 the gainers’ a gain 17-Aug-10 10.00 of N5.88 to close at N176.88 per 09-Dec-10 12.00 share, while Unilever14.00 Nigeria 06-Jan-11 Plc followed gain of 29-Sep-11 with a 13.00 25-Oct-13 14.25 Forte N2.41 to close at N50.61.

Oil Plc30-Sep-10 added N2.00 to13.00 close at 30-Nov-12 18.00 N220.0009-Apr-11 per share.

16.00 On the other hand, Seplat 09-Sep-11 18.00 09-Sep-11Plc led the 16.00 price Petroleum 14.00 losers’22-Sep-11 table, dropping N23.00 18-Oct-13 15.75 to close at N652.00 per 17-Feb-12 17.00share, 01-Apr-14 while Dangote Cement16.00 Nigeria 14-Nov-13 Plc followed with a loss15.25 of N2.00 to close at N220.00. PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc shed 90 kobo per share to close at N34.08.

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

IFC

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

sultation report on risk mitigation standards for non-centrally cleared OTC derivatives.

The report proposes nine standards, which are aimed at mitigating the risks in the non-centrally cleared OTC derivatives markets.

According to a statement obtained from IOSCO’s web483.24 site, the nine areas the pro487.57 posed risk mitigation standards covered are scope0.05of 11.80 07-Oct-14 coverage, trading relationship 13.17 18-Dec-14 0.25 2.00 31-Dec-14 0.28 documentation, trade confir3.61 17-Aug-15 0.67 mation, valuation with coun13.62 09-Dec-15 0.74 terparties and reconciliation.

0.60 06-Jan-16 0.82 Others are portfolio compres15.00 29-Sep-16 2.03 5.53 dispute resolution, 25-Oct-16 2.10 sion, imple20.00 30-Sep-17 3.03 mentation and cross-border 0.73 30-Nov-17 1.85 transactions.

7.20 09-Apr-18 1.81 The global 09-Sep-18 securities regula2.90 2.23 0.80 09-Sep-18 2.23 tor said the proposed risk miti35.00 22-Sep-18 4.01 gation standards are expected 2.70 18-Oct-18 2.08 to0.41 bring about17-Feb-19 three main ben2.41 4.50 which include: 01-Apr-19 promoting 3.29 efits, 2.05 14-Nov-20 6.16 legal certainty and facilitating 141.62 timely dispute resolution, fa143.69 cilitating the management of counterparty credit and other

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

14.01 15.44 14.27 15.51 14.53 17.14 12.42 13.35 13.39 12.60 12.55 16.33 12.55 12.55 12.76 14.29 12.58 13.06 14.03 13.03 13.54

99.94 97.47 99.30 98.95 101.51 85.55 102.26 101.62 101.26 104.31 104.23 95.66 104.47 107.15 106.41 101.08 105.95 101.78 103.90 104.30 104.25

1.00

12.57

93.58

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

risks as well as increasing overall financial stability.

It noted that the proposed risk mitigation standards would contribute to the G20 effort to strengthen the OTC derivatives market in the wake of the global financial crisis. ‘’One of the key plans of the G20 reform programme has been to encourage the central clearing of standardised OTC derivatives. However, a substantial proportion of OTC derivatives are not standardised and11.72 hence not suit1.00 99.96 able5.21for central clearing.

15.93 99.29The 8.71 19.48 proposed standards are 99.14 aimed 4.88 15.91 96.67 at these non-centrally cleared 1.00 12.02 100.57 OTC derivatives,’’ IOSCO said.

2.63 13.65 100.92 The noted 1.00 regulator 12.62 further 100.65 102.29 that1.34the risk 12.95 mitigation stan1.00 101.09 dards, which 12.55 are developed in 1.88 13.42 108.64 consultation with the101.79 Basel 3.48 15.00 Committee on16.79 Banking Supervi5.20 102.16 16.65the Committee 101.65 sion5.06 (BCBS) and 1.35 12.95 103.20 on Payments and Market Infra2.29 13.90 103.56 structures (CPMI), would com6.11 17.67 98.95 2.16 105.81 plement the 13.72 margin require2.76 14.81 ments developed by the101.68 BCBS and IOSCO in September 2013 in strengthening the non-centrally cleared OTC derivatives market.

NSE is committed to leading Africa, says Onyema P TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

of the FGNart Eurobonds

Nigerian Stock Exchange’s (NSE’s) corpoBB-/Fitch; B+/S&P rate strategy is to solidify BB-/Fitch; its leadership position asFGN AfBB-/S&P BB-/Fitch;foremost securities exrica’s BB-/S&P change, and also to increase TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE its footprint in the region and TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION internationally, by creating a market Corporateplatform Eurobonds that is compelling for domestic andPLC global B/Fitch; B-/S&P AFREN I B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I issuers and investors.

B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC The Chief Executive OffiB/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC cer, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC disclosed this yesterday in LaB/Fitch AFREN PLC II gos, while speakingZENITH on the next B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P BANK PLC B/Fitch; B/S&P PLC phase of growth, DIAMOND at theBANK 2014 B-/Fitch; B/S&P BANK PLC Annual BusinessFIRST Luncheon B-/Fitch; B/S&P PLC III of Capital Market AFREN Solicitors.

B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC II He said the NSE has started B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK LTD B-/S&P

12.00 11.23

Issue Date

work on its new medium-term strategic direction, covering 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 the 2014-2019 corporate strate5.13 JUL 12,outlined 2018 gic plans with clearly objectives leading up to 2019.

6.38 JUL 12, 2023 “To attract more companies to list, and to attract and retain a larger pool of investors, at the minimum, we must en11.50 FEB 01, 2016 sure that we maintain stable MAY 19,regimes, 2016 and consistent 7.50 policy 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 and uphold fair and orderly 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 markets based on just and 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 equitable principles that 10.25 APR 08, 2019 will generate and preserve issuer 6.25 APR 22, 2019 8.75 May 21, 2019 and investor confidence in our 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 markets.

6.63 DEC 09, 2020 We realise that to attract 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 more companies to list, we 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

must partner with policy makers07-Oct-11 to take full advantage 6.75 of developmental initiatives, 12-Jul-13 which require massive5.13 mobilisation of capital; for instance, 12-Jul-13 6.38 sector-wide policies calling for recapitalisation of or consolidation by operators, and other privatisation/commercialisa01-Feb-11 tion programmes in11.50 sectors 19-May-11 7.50 such as telecommunications, 25-Jul-12 extractive industries,7.25and so 6.88 on,” he09-May-13 said.

08-Nov-13 6.00 Onyema noted that the ex08-Apr-12 10.25 change22-Apr-14 business development 6.25 21-May-14 8.75 take team continues to actively 07-Aug-13 8.25 steps to encourage Nigerian 09-Dec-13 6.63 companies in general to list 24-Jun-14 9.25 in Nigeria, 23-Jul-14adding that 8.00initia-

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Coupon (%)

14-Aug-14

8.75

tives in this area focus on direct communication with 4.83 list500.00 28-Jan-21 ed and unlisted firms, as well 500.00 12-Jul-18 4.03 as seminars/dinners targeted at500.00 specific industry groups.

12-Jul-23 5.17 He noted that in terms of 1,500.00 capital market development, 1,613.01 the NSE is committed to the integration of African Ex450.00 01-Feb-16plays an changes and thus, ac3.05 500.00role in the 19-May-16 4.31 tive West African 350.00 25-Jul-17Integration 6.57 Capital Markets 300.00 02-May-18 8.59 (WACMI) programme.

400.00 08-Nov-18 6.00 Onyema listed the value 300.00 08-Apr-19 8.69 proposition for integration 500.00 22-Apr-19 6.03to 200.00 8.94 include large21-May-19 consumer base 7.44 of300.00 over 290 07-Aug-20 million people 360.00 09-Dec-20 7.70 with significant domestic sav400.00 24-Jun-21 8.61 ings 450.00 and investing 23-Jul-21 potential; 7.52 8.45

facilitation of momentous Prices & Yields growth in the markets,111.17 which 4.69 110.35 will empower the region to 3.84 103.81 in attracting 104.51 remain relevant investment flows, by creating 108.44 5.06 109.25 a much larger market for local and international businesses; and opportunity for a deeper pool to raise capital for local companies.

3.05 111.13 111.13 4.31 said the 105.04 105.04 He integration will 101.72 101.72 also6.57allow Exchanges the lati8.05 96.36 tude to use a94.75 single platform 5.69 99.99 101.11 across West Africa, allowing 8.69 105.75 105.75 the6.03 Exchange100.85 to offer co-host100.85 100.20 ing8.69 services 99.28 to other African 7.44 103.01 Exchanges utilising the103.01 power 94.77 94.77 and7.70 efficiency of the X-Gen 8.49 103.75 104.38 platform.

7.52 101.63 101.63 8.30

4,760.00 4,859.63

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

100.64

101.43

18-Sep-14

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

DTMPLC Terms of Use and Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%) NIBOR 7 25-Sep-14 10.55 14 2-Oct-14 10.70 21 9-Oct-14 10.60 FGN Bonds28 16-Oct-14 10.40 35 23-Oct-14 10.30 42 30-Oct-14 10.50 Issuer Description Rating/Agency 49 6-Nov-14 10.50 56 13-Nov-14 10.65 9.25 28-SEP-2014 63 20-Nov-14 10.30 4.00 23-APR-2015 70 27-Nov-14 10.80 77 4-Dec-14 10.04 13.05 16-AUG-2016 84 11-Dec-14 10.70 15.10 27-APR-2017 98 25-Dec-14 10.30 9.85 27-JUL-2017 105 1-Jan-15 10.90 9.35 31-AUG-2017 112 8-Jan-15 10.45 10.70 30-MAY-2018 119 15-Jan-15 10.90 16.00 29-JUN-2019 126 22-Jan-15 10.40 NA NA 133 29-Jan-15 10.90 7.00 23-OCT-2019 140 5-Feb-15 10.40 16.39 27-JAN-2022 154 19-Feb-15 10.30 14.20 14-MAR-2024 168 5-Mar-15 10.50 15.00 28-NOV-2028 203 9-Apr-15 10.15 12.49 22-MAY-2029 217 23-Apr-15 10.25 8.50 20-NOV-2029 231 7-May-15 10.10 322 6-Aug-15 10.20 10.00 23-JUL-2030 350 3-Sep-15 10.15 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 *from the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration

10.30 10.45 10.35 10.15 10.05 10.25 Issue Date 10.25 10.40 28-Sep-07 10.05 23-Apr-10 10.55 9.79 16-Aug-13 10.45 27-Apr-12 10.05 27-Jul-07 10.65 31-Aug-07 10.20 30-May-08 10.65 29-Jun-12 10.15 10.65 23-Oct-09 10.15 27-Jan-12 10.05 14-Mar-14 10.25 28-Nov-08 9.90 22-May-09 10.00 20-Nov-09 9.85 9.95 23-Jul-10 9.90 18-Jul-14

10.57 10.74 10.67 10.48 10.40 10.63 Coupon (%) 10.65 10.83 9.25 10.49 4.00 11.03 10.26 13.05 10.97 15.10 10.59 9.85 11.25 9.35 10.80 10.70 11.30 16.00 10.79 11.35 7.00 10.83 16.39 10.77 14.20 11.03 15.00 10.76 12.49 10.92 8.50 10.79 11.21 10.00 11.24 12.1493

Bonds

Tenor O/N 1M 3M Outstanding 6M

(N'bn)

Value

4,591.19

**Exclusive of non-trading t.bills TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,642.26

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON Buckets Modified Duration FMBN <3

NA

3<5 ***LCRM >5

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Market

Description

Porfolio 31-OCT-2014 Market Outstanding 0.00 AMCON (SR.5Total TR.1) Value(Bn) Volume(Bn) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 1,031.34 983.07 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 1,126.45 951.30 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 872.92 0.00/16.50 LCRM 808.51 III 06-JUL-2017 2,966.31 2,807.29

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

FMDQ FGN BOND

Weighting by 28-Dec-11 Outstanding Vol

24-May-10 03-Apr-12 35.02 09-Dec-11 33.89 20-Apr-12 31.09 06-Jul-12 100.00

Maturity Date

100.00 28-Sep-14 NITTY 535.00 23-Apr-15 Tenor Rate (%) 530.27 16-Aug-16 1M 10.4981 452.80 27-Apr-17 2M 10.5917 20.00 27-Jul-17 3M 10.8663 100.00 31-Aug-17 6M 10.9265 300.00 30-May-18 9M 10.9615 351.30 29-Jun-19 12M 11.2369 233.90 23-Oct-19 600.00 27-Jan-22 NIFEX 281.35 14-Mar-24 75.00 28-Nov-28 Current Price ($/N) 22-May-29 BID($/N) 150.00 163.9950 200.00 20-Nov-29 OFFER ($/N) 164.0950 591.57 23-Jul-30 70.00 18-Jul-34

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE #

Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums

Rate (%) 11.3750 12.5232 13.4910 14.3201

Weighting 0.00by Mkt Value

0.00 17.25 34.77 0.00/16.00 37.97 0.00/16.50 27.26 0.00/16.50 100.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Outstanding Value INDEX(N'bn) Bucket978.35 Weighting

24.56 3.30 0.35 112.22 0.34 116.70 66.49 0.31 1.00

1,301.62

OBB

10.67

O/N

11.00

Tenor

REPO

TTM (Yrs) Call 1M 0.03 3M 0.59 6M

Rate (%)

Bid10.67 Yield (%) 12.27 10.72 13.20 11.04 13.72

Tenor

Spot 7D 14D Offer 1MYield 2M (%) 3M 5.42 6M 10.76 1Y

1.91 11.60 11.51 2.61 11.51 11.45 2.86 11.55 11.48 :Benchmarks 2.95 11.55 11.49 * :Amortising Bond 3.70 Bond 11.58 11.48 µ :Convertible 4.78 Management Corporation 11.61 11.54 AMCON: Asset of Nigeria FGN: Federal 5.10Government of Nigeria 11.73 11.64 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 7.36 12.19 12.13 IFC: International Finance Corporation 9.49 12.29 12.24 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 14.20 12.48 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 12.44 14.67 12.48 12.43 O/N: Overnight 15.17 12.47 Company 12.42 UPDC: UAC Property Development WAPCO:West Cement Company12.25 15.84Africa Portland 12.30 19.83 12.33 12.29 NOTE:

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

% Exposure_ 31-Oct-14 Mod_Duration

0.12 Implied Yield

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 16.02 09-Dec-16 34.17 20-Apr-17 49.81 06-Jul-17 100.00

0.68 1.29 11.55 2.23 12.01 2.59 12.29 2.80 12.08

# Risk Premium (%)

Implied 1.00 Portfolio Price

2.63 2.27 119.0955 2.00 134.8828 1.00 103.0115 1.00 119.4440

Bid ($/N)

163.70 163.59 163.85 164.45 Bid Price 165.62 166.74 99.95 170.43 96.04 177.84

Offer ($/N) 163.80

Price 163.84 164.18

165.07 Offer Price 166.89 168.54 100.10 173.80 96.19 186.15

102.40 102.55 107.85 108.00 95.94 96.09 NA :Not Applicable 94.62 94.77 # :Floating Rate Bond 97.36coupon bonds 97.66 ***: Deferred 115.70 116.00 †: Bond82.21 rating expired 82.51 120.00 120.30 110.54 110.84 116.51 116.81 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 100.04 100.34 UBA: United Bank for Africa 73.19 73.49 84.10 84.40 98.60 98.90

Valuation Yield (%) 11.72 INDEX

13.66 13.47 1,131.16 13.59 1,142.14 12.55 1,201.71 12.55 1,134.59

Indicative Price YTD 98.65 Return (%)

91.38 104.69 13.1165 101.08 14.2136 99.43 20.1713 96.91 13.4591

1,284.94

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

NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO

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

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

14.00 12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00

6.00 8.50 6.08 6.27 7.37 57.00

15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17

0.07 0.95 0.55 1.07 1.08 2.58

3.29 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59

14.01 15.44 14.27 15.51 14.53 17.14

99.94 97.47 99.30 98.95 101.51 85.55

46 business | CAPITAL MARKET

Daily Summary as of 18/09/2014 Printed 18/09/2014 15:01:26.026

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

Daily Summary as of 18/09/2014

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at September 18, 2014

Printed 18/09/2014 15:01:26.026

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Daily Summary (Bonds)

FINANCIAL SERVICES Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

No Debt Trading Activity

Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals Daily Summary as of 18/09/2014 Printed AGRICULTURE 18/09/2014 15:01:26.026 Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. CHELLARAMS PLC. JOHN HOLT PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY S C O A NIG. PLC. CONGLOMERATES TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries

Diversified Industries Totals

Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real as Estate Development Totals Daily Summary of 18/09/2014 Printed 18/09/2014 15:01:26.026

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

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto CONSUMER GOODS Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER Automobiles/Auto PartsPLC Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

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

No. of Deals 73 173

Current Price 0.74

Quantity Traded 8,532,235 41,876,071

Value Traded 6,151,618.20 25,485,769.21

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

Symbol FORTISMFB NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 1 4 5

Current Price 5.42 1.00

Quantity Traded 10,000 188,926 198,926

Value Traded 54,200.00 188,986.00 243,186.00

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC

Symbol RESORTSAL

No. of Deals 16 16

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 13,300,000 13,300,000

Value Traded 6,650,000.00 6,650,000.00

No. of Deals 37 10 343 52 4 31 76 (Equities) 553

Current Price 3.20 3.93 14.43 4.19 0.51 30.62 2.05

Quantity Traded 296,260 40,205 8,241,164 4,403,596 392,149 288,169 9,394,702 23,056,245

Value Traded 952,793.65 159,720.05 119,046,407.09 18,123,908.50 200,610.49 8,760,546.38 18,851,339.92 166,095,326.08

188,506,994

1,239,341,622.01

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals Current Price 51 0.50 19 34.00 11 37.50 81

Quantity Traded 11,271,173 365,659 34,540 11,671,372

Value Traded Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals 5,798,296.69 Other Financial Institutions 12,401,995.84 AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC 1,256,079.50 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC Daily Summary as of 18/09/2014 19,456,372.03 FBN HOLDINGS PLC

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals Current Price 13 3.00 13

Quantity Traded 117,150 117,150

Value Traded 352,560.00 352,560.00

11,788,522

19,808,932.03

94 Symbol

No. of Deals Current Price 28 1.38 2 3.95 4 1.08 1 4.67 311 5.84 55 Current 57.00 No. of Deals Price

Daily Summary (Equities) AGLEVENT CHELLARAM JOHNHOLT SCOA TRANSCORP UACN Symbol

401

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

Symbol WAPIC

401

Quantity Traded 336,185 16,837 900 85,150 23,043,233 Quantity845,217 Traded

Printed 18/09/2014 15:01:26.026 FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

24,327,522

48,161,457.23 Value Traded 186,299,098.07

24,327,522 Page

186,299,098.07 1 of 12

No. of Deals Current Price 19 1.01 19

Quantity Traded 458,968 458,968

Value Traded 465,463.43 465,463.43

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals Current Price 12 64.00 12

Quantity Traded 47,718 47,718

Value Traded 3,048,231.20 3,048,231.20

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals Current Price 7 15.18 7

Quantity Traded 7,000 7,000

Value Traded 105,440.30 105,440.30

No. of Deals Current Price 1 9.13 1

Quantity Traded 2,000,000 2,000,000

Value Traded 18,260,000.00 18,260,000.00

Symbol UPDCREIT

Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol

DUNLOP Symbol

39

2,513,686

No. of Deals Current Price 0.50 Current Price

No. of Deals2 2

Activity Summary on Board FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals EQTY

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals Value Traded EVANS MEDICAL PLC. 468,074.48 Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC 67,348.00 GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. 927.00 MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC 397,650.50 PHARMA-DEKO PLC. 137,203,640.86 Daily Summary as of 18/09/2014 Pharmaceuticals Totals Printed 18/09/2014 15:01:26.026

Symbol COSTAIN

Quantity Traded Quantity629,185 Traded 629,185

Page

ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Activity Summary Board Totals EQTY Computer Basedon Systems ICTIT Services (NIGERIA) PLC. IT NCR Services TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. IT Services Totals Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals

ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC Daily Summary as of 18/09/2014 DANGOTE CEMENT PLC Printed 18/09/2014 15:01:26.026 21,879,134.93 PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC PREMIER PAINTS PLC. LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Value Traded Building Materials Totals

314,592.50 Value Traded 314,592.50

Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic GOODS and Electrical Products Totals INDUSTRIAL Value Traded Packaging/Containers 4,693,767.80 BETA GLASS CO PLC. 104,924.80 Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange Packaging/Containers Totals ©

of

12

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

No. of Deals 17 3 48 10 1 109 1 189

Current Price 9.00 0.80 176.88 28.13 2.46 177.75 5.12

Quantity Traded 520,400 131,156 171,352 32,770 10,000 1,306,464 52,000 2,224,142

29,990,576.60 925,362.60 23,400.00 231,400,443.18 266,240.00 267,404,714.98

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 7 7

Current Price 134.00

Quantity Traded 8,080 8,080

Value Traded 1,136,856.00 1,136,856.00

No. of Deals 2 67 54 (Equities) 35 42 4 204

Current Price 7.25 8.35 62.30 4.03 8.92 21.99

Quantity Traded 7,068 1,704,317 375,308 890,002 534,555 11,347 3,522,597

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Value Traded CONOIL Daily Summary as of PLC 18/09/2014 49,468.52 ETERNA PLC. Printed 18/09/2014 15:01:26.026 14,168,513.69 FORTE OIL PLC. 22,852,578.77 MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. 3,590,167.04 MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. 4,789,205.51 TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. 237,174.55 Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals 45,687,108.08 Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 54 52 106

Current Price 52.39 1,010.65

Quantity Traded 386,992 Page 267,221 654,213

Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 22 11 33

Current Price 4.24 1.38

Quantity Traded 438,703 194,244 632,947

Value Traded 1,810,184.10 267,260.06 2,077,444.16

Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Daily Summary as of 18/09/2014Products Totals Personal/Household Printed 18/09/2014 15:01:26.026 CONSUMER GOODS Totals

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 77 38 115

Current Price 34.08 50.61

Quantity Traded 833,389 452,573 1,285,962

Value Traded 28,286,502.19 22,576,070.75 50,862,572.94

8,957,126

657,659,427.07

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

Value Traded 8,065,448.93 143,836,221.01 55,381,893.92 8,670,224.05 318,410,293.31 Value Traded

Printed 18/09/2014 15:01:26.026 Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC Activity Summary Board EQTY N NIG. FLOURon MILLS PLC. Food Products Totals CONSUMER GOODS Food Products--Diversified CADBURY PLC. © Published by The NigerianNIGERIA Stock Exchange NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. Banking

SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANKStock NIG.PLC. Published by The Nigerian Exchange © UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. UNIC INSURANCE PLC. UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL Daily Summary HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM

656

ACCESS DIAMONDBNK ETI FIDELITYBK GUARANTY Symbol

SKYEBANK STERLNBANK UBA UBN UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE CORNERST EQUITYASUR HMARKINS INTENEGINS LASACO LAWUNION MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM PRESTIGE UNIC UNIVINSURE

25 9.59 55 6.23 84 18.97 52 1.95 306 Current Price 28.48 No. of Deals 116 2.69 47 2.16 199 6.78 71 9.52 8 0.50 30 0.90 242 24.60 1,235

841,027 23,027,663 2,906,048 4,445,059 11,146,766 Quantity Traded

No. of Deals 17 10 10 1 3 13 1 4 5 7 24 3 1 1

Quantity Traded 469,003 1,818,247 17,680,778 4,000 3,200,000 3,586,990 5,000 1,000,000 74,700 633,674 4,615,724 202,000 46,720 7,000

Current Price 0.81 0.96 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.52 0.50 0.50 2.55 0.54 0.82 0.50 0.50 0.50

No. of Deals 2 9 18 30 13 3 75

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

Exploration and Production

Value Traded SEPLAT OIL AND GASPETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD 320,021,387.76 of 12 Exploration and Production 270,154,750.65 Exploration and Production Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © 290,176,138.41

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

17,203,100.52

Quantity Traded 99,427 99,427

Value Traded 54,684.85 54,684.85

0.55

Symbol NCR Symbol TRIPPLEG

No. of Deals 3 No. of Deals 1 4

Current Price Current 13.50 Price 1.88

Quantity Traded 4,000 Quantity Traded 5,000 9,000

Value Traded 52,830.07 Value Traded 8,950.00 61,780.07

Symbol CHAMS

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

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

Value Traded 500,000.00 500,000.00

1,108,427

616,464.92

7 Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM PORTPAINT PREMPAINTS WAPCO

No. of Deals 62 11 9 13 58 2 1 65 Daily Summary (Equities) 221

Current Price 32.10 8.60 39.00 14.00 220.00 5.34 10.93 124.90

Page Quantity Traded 707,603 60,112 67,130 358,959 762,269 2,010 43 401,830 2,359,956

7 of 12 Value Traded 22,607,170.17 517,769.69 2,662,168.50 5,029,725.80 167,774,690.35 10,731.90 446.77 49,497,361.51 248,100,064.69

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 14 14

Current Price 1.92

Quantity Traded 293,897 293,897

Value Traded 563,782.24 563,782.24

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 18.85

Quantity Traded 219,311 Page 219,311

Value Traded 4,135,909.00 8 4,135,909.00 of 12

239

2,873,164

252,799,755.93

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 21 21

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 4,188,030 4,188,030

Value Traded 2,094,015.00 2,094,015.00

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 312 312

Current Price 24.22

Quantity Traded 7,622,186 7,622,186

Value Traded 184,017,840.31 184,017,840.31

No. of Deals 33 17 96 21 15 (Equities) 5 187

Current Price 47.99 3.80 220.00 180.00 56.00 175.10

Quantity Traded 102,781 206,236 307,946 30,865 16,059 4,220 668,107

Value Traded 4,915,100.54 797,030.66 68,227,837.04 5,379,184.76 833,615.43 743,310.02 80,896,078.45

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 5

Current Price 652.00

Quantity Traded 34,898

Value Traded 22,739,327.42

Symbol

No. of Deals 5

Current Price

Quantity Traded 34,898 Page

Value Traded 922,739,327.42 of 12

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS Daily Summary TOTAL

525

12,513,221

289,747,261.18

Current Price 0.94

Quantity Traded 841,815 841,815

Value Traded 776,695.33 776,695.33

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

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 14 1 15

Current Price 4.40 1.63

Quantity Traded 1,180,000 100,000 1,280,000

Value Traded 5,201,000.00 163,000.00 5,364,000.00

Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 30 30

Current Price 1.96

Quantity Traded 15,147,727 15,147,727

Value Traded 29,689,454.92 29,689,454.92

Symbol ACADEMY

No. of Deals 9 1 23 33

Current Price 1.41 2.40 4.13

Quantity Traded 121,061 20 520,000 641,081

Value Traded 170,696.01 45.60 1,959,735.00 2,130,476.61

No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 11 0.67 No. of Deals Current Price Quantity312,400 Traded

Value Traded 211,408.00 Value Traded

Daily Summary as of 18/09/2014 Hotels/Lodging Totals Printed 18/09/2014 15:01:26.026

Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. STUDIO PRESS (NIG) PLC. UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY Road Transportation SERVICES

ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC

12

1,362,886

No. of Deals 16 16

Value Traded SERVICES Totals 382,858.14 1,768,697.79 EQTY Board Totals 8,840,389.00 Equity Activity Totals 2,000.00 1,600,000.00 1,863,338.09 Daily Summary as of 18/09/2014 2,500.00 Printed 18/09/2014 15:01:26.026 Exchange Traded Fund 500,000.00 Name 189,272.00 NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) 342,183.96 VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals 3,715,052.03 101,000.00 ETF Board Totals 23,360.00 Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © 3,500.00 ETP Activity Totals of

Value Traded 60,400.00 of 12 1,354,609.92 14,888,848.93 668,972.20 227,032.47 3,237.00 17,203,100.52

6

Symbol RTBRISCOE

Support and Logistics Totals

5

Quantity Traded 30,200 Page 403,484 229,377 478,123 220,402 1,300 1,362,886

2 2

OIL AND GAS Totals

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

Current Price 2.10 3.37 65.00 1.40 1.07 2.38

75

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Road Transportation 6,771,051 18,416,373.11 Road Transportation Totals 6,761,344 14,689,986.97 Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © 5,191,097 35,231,394.75 Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC 345,512 Page 43,308,552.13 of 12 NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC 30,505,259 15,252,629.50 Transport-Related Services Totals 955,338 865,801.81 Support and Logistics 17,179,588 418,738,521.23 CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC 110,075,752 1,040,867,340.72

Page

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH PHARMDEKO

ICT Totals

Symbol CHAMPION GOLDBREW GUINNESS INTBREW JOSBREW NB PREMBREW

Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Daily Summary as of 18/09/2014

1,982

HEALTHCARE Totals

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Building Materials

2

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP Daily Summary

STUDPRESS Daily Summary (Equities) UPL

Symbol ABCTRANS Symbol

11

312,400

Page

10

211,408.00

of

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 18 34 52

Current Price 2.00 5.05

Quantity Traded 400,242 748,623 1,148,865

Value Traded 802,482.00 3,782,414.43 4,584,896.43

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 13 13

Current Price 4.70

Quantity Traded 111,819 111,819

Value Traded 516,712.62 516,712.62

170

19,483,707

43,273,643.91

4,188

273,435,255

2,728,628,440.57

4,188

273,435,255

2,728,628,440.57

12

Daily Summary (ETP) Symbol NEWGOLD

VETGRIF30 Daily Summary (ETP)

No. of Deals 1 2 3

Current Price 1,933.00 18.53

Quantity Traded 28 40,000 40,028

3

40,028

3

40,028

Page

Value Traded 54,124.00 741,550.00 795,674.00 11

795,674.00 of

795,674.00

12

NEWS 47

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

FCT high court disposes of 14,969 cases Tunde Oyesina Abuja

T L-R: President, Nigerian Army Officers' Wives Association (Ogun State chapter), Mrs. Marcella Ahmad; wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun and wife of the GOC, 81 Division, Mrs. T. Dibi, during a courtesy call on the governor's wife by Mrs. Dibi in Abeokuta...on Wednesday

‘Chukwumereije can't do fourth term' Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

enator Uche ChukwuSterm mereije’s bid for a fourth in the senate has suf-

fered a setback as a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the General Manager of Abia Transport Company, Hon. Ugochukwu Uwaeke, yesterday called on the senator to give place to younger politicians, having done 12 years as for the district.

Uwaeke told journalists in Umuahia that age was not on the side of the senator and advised him to use his experience as an elder

to promote the cause of Igbo nation rather than using respected Igbo leaders like the former Vice-President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme and Prof. Ben Nwabueze, as cover for his ambition.

The general manager, who is from Umunneochi, the same local government area with Chukhumereije, wondered why the senator, who fought against the return of the House of Assembly member from the area, Hon. Matthew Ibe, because he had done three terms, and former President Obasanjo’s tenure elongation, now wants to return to the

senate for the fourth term.

According to Uwaeke, who is also the chairman of Umunneochi Unity Forum, the call on the senator became necessary in order to entrench equity, fairness and justice “We are asking him to drop that ambition, anything short of that would amount to incurring the wrath of the youth. We want to tap his experience from Biafra; age is not on his side.

“In 2007, he said his campaign slogan was ‘Let’s Complete the Projects,’ now he is saying ‘Bumper Harvest.’

“He is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, but he can’t boast of any person from the area that is a board chairman in any of the parastatals under the ministry.

“What we expect from a first class senator like Chukwumereije is empowerment, but even his public relations is zero,” he said.

Uwaeke argued that representation is about being in touch with the people, but that Chukwumereije is inaccessible. He is also worried that the district has little to show for the senator’s 12 years in the saddle.

Seized aircraft: Group seeks details of transaction Temitope Ogunbanke

A

non-gover nmental association, the Advocacy for Societal Rights Advancement and Development Initiative (ASRADI) yesterday called for proper investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the $9.3 million allegedly smuggled by two Nigerians and an Israeli citizen into South-Africa in a private aircraft.

Also yesterday, a former presidential candidate and National Chairman of National Action Council (NAC), Dr. Olapade Agoro, called on the Federal Government to lay bare the circumstances surrounding the seized aircraft, the money and the men involved in the saga.

Speaking with journalists at the 2014 Annual General Convention and CACOL Integrity Award organised in Lagos by the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), where he was honoured with ‘Icon of Integrity Award,’ Agoro said it was shameful to carry corruption beyond the shores of Nigeria to South-Africa.

He said: “I see the issue as carrying corruption beyond Nigeria to SouthAfrica. The circumstances

surrounding the $9.3 million must be probed. Who owns that aircraft? Where did they buy the dollars and at what rate? Who authorised it? Was that aircraft meant for that?

Why did they carry corruption beyond the shores of Nigeria to South Africa to humiliate us before a nation we salvaged from the horror of apartheid.

“I thought the aircraft was a private jet, not for leasing, so we want to be told who leased it. We want to see the papers that were signed. We want to know the source of the $9.3 million before flying it all the way from Nigeria to South-Africa.

It is a shame on a nation.”

ASRADI in a statement made available to New Telegraph by its Ex-

ecutive Director, Adeolu Oyinlola, also demanded a public inquiry on the incident, warning that anything short of a transparent public inquiry would not be acceptable to Nigerians.

“We in ASRADI demand a full scale public inquiry into how a government department or agency would carry loads of cash in a private jet overseas, ostensibly to transact official business.

“While we do not intend to set an agenda for the proposed inquiry, ASRADI believes the following posers would assist in unraveling how the surreptitious trip to South Africa was hatched and embarked upon.

“How often does money get spirited out of Nigeria

in this clandestine manner? How was the cash sourced? Was the money appropriated by the National Assembly? If, as we are assuming, the cash came from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), how regularly does this happen? Does government just ask CBN to throw its vault open at it’s (government’s) pleasure?

“Oyinlola raised more questions, what is the total value of the contract in question? Was there any advance payment?

If so, how was it made, in cash too? Were bids invited for this contract as prescribed by the Public Procurement Act? Is government aware of platforms like Telegraphic Transfer and Letter of Credit?

he Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Justice Ibrahim M. Bukar, yesterday said that of the 26,575 cases recorded for the 2013/2014 legal year; about 14,969 were disposed while 11,606 are pending.

Justice Bukar stated this in Abuja at a special court session to mark the commencement of the 2014/2015 legal year of the FCT judiciary.

According to him; “The high court has recorded for the year 2013/2014, a total of 26, 575 cases, out of which 6, 946 were brought forward from the preceding year. “Out of this number, 14, 969 were disposed while 11, 606 are pending.”

The chief judge noted that apart from the solemn nature of the occasion, it provided an opportunity to take stock of the activities of the court for the out-going year and make projections for the year ahead.

Speaking on efforts made to enhance speedy administration of criminal justice, Justice Bukar said: “We have designated all the court

houses in Apo to attend to criminal cases. Consequently, moving inmates around the FCT has become needless as with one stop all inmates can be before their court.”

While calling for increased funding for the judiciary, Bukar urged judges to continuously update their knowledge in order to discharge their duties satisfactorily.

Speaking on behalf of the body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Ade gboye ga Awomolo, commended the court for its achievements in the out-going year, urging the court to speed up the delivery of rulings and judgements.

Similarly, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), charged the chief judge to discourage judges of the court from giving unnecessary ex parte orders and long adjournments.

The AGF, who was represented by Prof. Peter Akpen, assured the judges of adequate security to enable them carry out their duties without fear or favour.

He further urged judges to be impartial in the discharge of their responsibilities.

Gombe to get 403 additional polling units Ugo Willies Gombe

ombe State may get Gunits additional 403 polling if the proposal by

the State Resident Electoral Commissioner to INEC headquarters in Abuja scales through.

According to the REC, Prof. Istifanus Dafwan, who spoke to newsmen yesterday, this would bring the number of polling units in Gombe State to 2, 611.

He said the decision was hatched out of the need to decongest some of the existing polling units with a view to hastening the process of voting during election.

Dafwan also noted that the need for the creation of new or additional poll-

ing units was announced

by INEC headquarters after the 2011 general elections and states were presented with guidelines on how to go about the creation of the additional polling units.

According to him, the proposal followed exclusive scrutiny of the 2011 voters’ registration across the country and also the downsizing of the registers and ghost registration that was experienced, which was also removed, thus bringing down the number of voters.

He explained that based on the 37,000 polling units, each state would receive 120 while 25, 000 was shared among the states, which gave Gombe State 403.

Northern stakeholders reiterate concern for Nigeria’s unity Walter Uba Kaduna

of the NorthCcilhairmen ern Traditional Coun(NTRC) yesterday re-

iterated their concern to ensure that Nigeria survives as a united, indivisible, peaceful and prosperous nation.

The council in a communiqué signed by the

Etsu Nupe, Dr. Yahaya Abubakar, for the chairman, NTRC after its one day exhaustive meeting in Kaduna, said they will support programmes and projects meant to restore peace to the country.

The body also said it will support efforts at entrenching massive rehabilitation and economic re-

construction of the north proposed by all levels of government in the country.

The council frowned on the spate of rising insurgency and cattle rustling in the north as well as the challenges facing security agents in their bid to combat the menace.

The body also decried the challenges facing the people in securing land

and maritime borders even as it laments the nonimplementation of recommendations of reports on past security challenges.

The council said it was planning to deliver food and medications to refugee camps in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States to cushion the effect of the hardship being faced by displaced

persons in the region.

It condemned the bomb blast at the Federal College of Education, Kano that killed and destroyed lives and property in the ancient city while condoling with the Kano State government, the emirate council and families of the victims and wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

48 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

Ilomuanya slams N10bn suit against Okorocha, Nwangwu  Obinugwu ostracises new ruler Steve Uzoechi Owerri

C

hair man, South East Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya has instituted a N10 billion suit against Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and two others over the Obinugwu stool controversy.

Joined with Okorocha as second and third respondents in the suit are the Attorney General of the state and Chief Stanley Nwangwu reported to have been appointed by Okorocha as the new traditional ruler of Obinugwu Community in Orlu Local Government Area

of Imo State, in place of Eze Ilomuanya.

In suit N o.

How/609/2014 filed in an Owerri High Court by his counsel, Obiora Obianwu, SAN, Eze Ilomuanya who the court had earlier ruled as recognized Chairman of Imo State Council of Ndi-Eze, described the action of the governor as “reckless and brazen desecration of customary and statue laws applicable in Imo State”.

According to Ilomuanya, the Court of Appeal judgment of July 5, 2013 which reinstated him as the Chairman of Imo State Council of Ndi-Eze also “restrained the governor or his agents or who-

ever from truncating his tenure as Chairman and member of the Council”.

He averred that even though the first and second defendants had appealed to the Supreme Court in Suit No. SC/573/2013 and had also written a letter to the Commissioner of Police, Imo State dated June 4, 2014 in which they argued that the parties in the suit before the Supreme Court should “refrain from any act that could foist on the Supreme Court, a state of fait accompli” as provided by law, they still acted contrary to their own postulation and announced the purported withdrawal of his certificate of recognition as a monarch on June 6, 2014 through a press release.

The monarch further stated that, ”the third defendant, Nwangwu, is not an indigene of Obinugwu Community but from Ndiuche Okoro Aniche, Arondizuogu in Ideato North LGA of Imo State and cannot under native law and custom, the Constitution and Bye-Laws of Obinugwu Autonomous Community, 1996 and the Imo State of Nigeria Traditional Rulers and Autonomous Communities Law No. 6 of 2006, be the traditional ruler of the community”, adding that Nwangwu cannot relate his fore-fathers to the origin of Obinugwu as his father was not from Obinugwu.

Ilomuanya stated that Nwanguw’s mother, Mrs. Margret Oyiridiya Nwangwu is from Igiri family in Umudim village, Obinugwu Autonomous Community hence his relationship with Obinugwu”.

The monarch berated Okorocha for unilaterally selecting and installing a ‘foreigner’ as the traditional ruler of Obinugwu Community, insisting that Obinugwu people neither identified nor selected Nwangwu just as he was never presented anywhere as the traditional ruler of the Community.

Ilomuanya therefore, urged the court amongst other reliefs, to declare Okorocha’s action unlawful, null and void and of no effect.

In their separate affidavits in support of the suit, the former Vice Chancellor of Madonna University, Okija, who

is also the Traditional Prime Minister of Obinugwu Community, Prof. Romanus Unegbu and the Town Union President, Sir Fred Okeke, averred that “Obinugwu Community has ostracized Nwangwu as he is not and can never be our traditional ruler”.

They maintained that his only connection with Obinugwu is that his mother, Mrs. Margret Oyiridiya Nwangwu was from Igiri family in Umudim village in Obinugwu while his father is from Arondizuogu in Ideato North LGA of Imo State.

“Our Community passed a vote of implicit confidence on our traditional ruler, Eze (Dr.) C.I. Ilomuanya, CON on June 10, 2014 and also issued a communiqué to that effect after an emergency meeting of Obinugwu Development Union (O.D.U) on August 23, 2014”, they alleged.

JNI condemns Kano blast Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

ama'atu Nasril Islam Jshock (JNI) has expressed over the bomb

L-R: Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Commission, Boboye Oyeyemi; Director-General, National Environmental Standards Regulation Enforcement Agency, Dr. Ngeri Benebo and Deputy Corps Marshal, Operations, Abu Adei, during an advocacy visit to the commission to check vehicle emission in Abuja… yesterday.

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Enugu Assembly begins hearing on law to control herdsmen Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

State House Aoffsof Enugu Assembly flaggeda three-day public

hearing on the law to prohibit illegal cattle rearing in the state, the speaker, Hon. Eugene Odo, allayed the fear apparently being expressed in some quarters that the coming law was targeted at a section of the society.

At the House of Assembly yesterday, many Fulani residents in the

state attended the event and security operatives had a hectic time frisking many of those, who made it to the gallery in view of the tension already caused by the development and the thinking that when passed into law, the bill would make grazing very difficult for the herdsmen.

The bill, which had during the previous sitting of the assembly passed through its second reading and titled, “A law to make provisions for the control of nomadic cattle rearing

in Enugu State and other matters related thereto” is being sponsored by the Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture and member representing Nsukka East Constituency, Hon. Chinedu Nwamba.

Debate of the members of the House on the bill during that last sitting pointed to the desire to provide grazing reserve for the cattle herdsmen in all the 17 local government areas of the state.

Speaking while declaring the public hearing

open, Odo stated that the bill was not targeted at any section of the country but aimed at promoting peace, mutual cooperation and security in the State.

However, the reference to security appears to be one of the main reasons for the introduction of the bill, which has been overwhelmingly supported by the legislators and the members of the public alike in view of alleged criminal tendencies of many a herdsmen in parts of the state.

Suswam charges Muslim pilgrims to pray for peace Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

enue State Governor Bcharged Gabriel Suswam has the 410 Muslim pilgrims from the state participating in this year's hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia to pray for the return of enduring peace to the North East ravaged by Boko Haram insurgents.

He admonished them to also conduct themselves

in a manner that they will not fall foul of the law.

The governor who was represented by his Deputy, Chief Steven Lawani challenged religious leaders to educate their followers on the need to respect other faiths to avoid conflict even as he promised to create an enabling environment where various groups will practice their faith with peace and harmony.

Speaking earlier, the chairman of the state Muslim Welfare Board, Alhaji Musa Plato noted that necessary steps have been taken by the board to forestall cases where members falsify medical report in order to meet up with lay down procedures.

Plato also said the board has designated Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi and the Benue state University

Teaching Hospital, also in Makurdi as the only centres where pilgrims are to go for medical checks.

He commended the Suswam administration for supporting the board, stressing that intending pilgrims were advised during a workshop not to shake hands with others indiscriminately in order to avert contacting diseases like Ebola, among others.

explosion and senseless killing of innocent students which occurred on Wednesday at the College of Education, Kano.

In a press statement signed by Dr. Khalid Aliyu, JNI Secretary General yesterday, the group condemned the killings, describing it as senseless and callous.

JNI wondered what the perpetrators want, asking whether the attack was a conspiracy.

“Who are these bloodthirsty fellows? How did they gain access to the college? Why were they not prevented or arrested? What was the motive behind such heinous act?

Isn't intelligence gathering supposed to aid security operatives and why is it not yielding the desired results? Indeed there is much more

than meets the eyes,’’ the statement noted.

According to the Islamic group, the sporadic gun shots that ensued after the blast was very worrisome it called for investigation which must bring the perpetrators to face the wrath of the law and find ways and means of stopping future occurrence of such devilish act.

JNI noted that in spite of “the visible security check points all over the state, it is hardly imaginable that such a dastardly act could still occur.’’

However, as Muslims we find solace that there is the day of retribution which all souls shall account for their deeds, the statement added.

While commiserating with Kano state government, the Emir of Kano and the families of those who lost their lives, JNI also called on governments at all levels to do everything possible to stop these evil acts of terror being unleashed on innocent souls.

Anyaso tasks youths on change Felix Nwaneri s electioneering activiAgeneral ties ahead of the 2015 election begin to

gather momentum, youths have been charged to seize the opportunity to effect change in the system and clamour for 50 per cent inclusion in governance.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of CEECON Energy Oil and Gas Ltd, Mr. Chima Anyaso, who made the call while speaking at the 28thAnnual Symposium of the University of Lagos Association of Dental students, said the country cannot make the desired progress if the same set of leaders

continueto be recycled.

He said: “Youths should strive for a change in the society. If we fold our hands, that change we yearn for will never come because power is not served but struggled for. Also, we must demand 50 per cent representation in government.

We cannot continue to have the same politicians recycled all the time.”

Anyaso reminded the students that it is their time to tell those who have remained in power for too long to quit the stage, so that Nigerian youths who have proved to be enterprising can take the country to the next level.

NEWS 49

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

Aregbesola promises more transformation Adeolu Adeyemo

Osogbo

sun State Governor, OgOyesterday beni Rauf Aregbesola launched Rural

Mobility Project and flagged off construction of 225 Kilometre road in the state in Ira Open Square off IlesaAkure road with the assurances that there would be rapid transformation in all the nook and crannies of

the state.

Giving the assurances, Aregbesola said: "This project, supported by the World Bank and French Development Agency, have gone a long way in furthering our objective of linking our food production centres in the rural areas with their supply centres mainly located in the urban areas both within and outside the state."

2015: Ondo APC sets up committees Babatope Okeowo

Akure

he All Progressive ConTState gress (APC) in Ondo yesterday set up a 23-

man committee to settle the disputes that arose among party members from the conduct of the last congresses of the party.

Also, the party set up Publicity, Finance, and Legal committees to help in the executives of the party

in the day to day activities of the party and to reposition the party for next year general elections.

The Chairman, Mr. Duerimini Isaacs Kekemeke who inaugurated the committees said the reconciliation committee headed by Dr. Samuel Akerele is to move to some local governments where there are disputes among party members over the congresses of the party.

More women join political race in Delta Joe Obende

Warri

the general elections Aer,sinmore the country gets closwomen are com-

ing out in Delta State to slug it out with their male counterparts for elective positions.

The latest entrant in this category is a philanthropist, Mrs. Alero Ogbemi-Barlow, who has declared her intention to contest the House of Rep-

resentatives for the Warri federal constituency under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Addressing PDP faithful at the party's secretariat in Koko, Warri North Local Government Area of the state, OgbemiBarlow said she was propelled to contest the position to enable her contribute her quota towards "moving the nation forward."

Don't quit APGA, Obiano's aide urges Obi Tony Okafor

the party at this auspicious moment.

Special AssisSlieenior tant to Governor WilObiano of Anambra

Addressing reporters yesterday in Awka, the Anambra state capital, Ben Obi, who is also the chairman of Join Jonathan Journey, (JJJ), a President Goodluck Jonathan’s support group put in place by APGA, said it would amount to one destroying the house he built if the former governor abandons the party.

Awka

state on inter-party matters, Chief Ben Obi has urged the immediate past governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi not to quit the All Progressives Party(APGA).

He described Obi as the pillar of the party who could not abandon

Southern Borno wants Mshelizza to contest Ahmed Miringa

Maiduguri

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he people of Southern Borno Senatorial District have called on Mr. Nicholas Mshelizza to contest the zone's Senatorial seat in 2015 general elections.

The Spokesman of the zone, Alhaji Nuhu Isuwa who spoke to newsmen on Wednesday said: "We the people of Southern Borno have unanimously decided to call on Mr. Nicholas Mshelizza to contest the zone's senate seat because he will give us effective representation and protect our in-

terest. Mr. Nicholas has touched our lives in so many ways and if elected he will surely bring projects that will give a new lease of life to our people.

"He has endeared himself to us by assisting us each time there is the need to do so and we are convinced that if he agrees to answer to our call, he shall win with landslide victory as all of us will work for his success.

"As you can see for yourselves, all the nine local governments are represented here to show the degree of acceptance he has among our people."

L-R: Executive Director, Small and Medium Enterprises, Bank of Industry (BoI), Mr. Waheed Olagunju; Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa and Executive Director, Large Scale Enterprises, Alhaji Mohammed Alkali, during a press conference to announce the launch of Cottage Agro Processing (CAP) Fund in Lagos… yesterday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Lagos schools will resume on Monday, says Commissioner Kayode Olanrewaju and Mojeed Alabi

he controversy trailing the September 22 resumption date for primary and secondary schools nationwide, especially in Lagos State is yet to abate as both the state government and the teachers are still at loggerheads over the preparedness of the state for resumption of the new academic calendar.

The state government yesterday said all is set for its primary and secondary schools and all privatelyowned schools across the state to reopen on Monday,

T

insisting that most of the conditions necessary for resumption have been met.

Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, who stated this yesterday at a sensitisation programme organised by her ministry in conjunction with the Ministry of Health for proprietors and principals as well as head teachers of private primary and secondary schools in the state on the prevention of Ebola Virus and other diseases, added that such forum had held earlier for their counterparts in public schools.

She insisted that every preventive measure to con-

tain the outbreak of the virus had been and would continue to be taken. She said the essence of the sensitisation exercise, which she explained was the second leg in three weeks, was to further educate school administrators and teachers on how to live safe and healthy as the pupils are going back to school.

Meanwhile, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has announced Monday, October 6, as the resumption date of primary and secondary schools in the state. He said the new date “would enable the principals and teachers receive adequate training

to prevent Ebola epidemic in schools and in the state in general.”

This was contained in a statement issued yesterday by the Deputy Governor and Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, and made available to newsmen.

The statement said Governor Aregbesola gave the directive that the 2014/2015 academic session should commence in the state on October 6. It therefore called on school managers to ensure daily practical demonstration of hand washing by the pupils, students and teachers.

‘Give more funds to first generation varsities’

Sacked NAMA boss seeks reinstatement

Sola Adeyemo

he Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole, yesterday urged the Federal Government to recognise and fund first generation universities in the country in order to aid development and promote healthy competition.

Wole Shadare

former Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nnamdi Udoh, is seeking to be re-absorbed back into the sector six months after he and three others were unceremoniously sacked by the government.

Udoh had in a letter to Minister of Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka, dated Au-

T

Adewole made the call yesterday in Ibadan during the visit of the House of Representatives Committee on Education to the university.

The committee, chaired by Hon. Aminu Suleiman, was in the institution as part of its oversight functions on education.

UPN calls for Amosun’s impeachment confessing that he Ftoorhelped his predecessor falsify his origin during

a political rally in Odeda on Wednesday, the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in Ogun State has made a call to the state House of Assembly to commence impeachment process against Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

The call was contained in a statement signed by the party's Chairman in the State, Otunba Olufemi Soluade, in Abeokuta, the state capital.

According to him, “Amosun is guilty of a crime similar to treason, having deliberately assisted a nonindigene to have governed the state for eight years.”

A

A’Ibom to benefit from EU assistance Tony Anichebe

Uyo

our local governments Fsenatorial drawn from the three districts, Ibiono Ibom, Onna, Essien Udim and UrueOffong Oroko, are to benefit from

Foreign Ministry issues travel advisory Louis Achi

ABUJA

he Federal Ministry of Tyesterday Foreign Affairs (FMFA) issued a travel ad-

visory to Nigerians, informing them of the stringent measures many countries have deployed to curb the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

gust 13th, 2014 made available to New Telegraph, indicated his appeal to be taken back under the ministry.

The former NAMA boss in the letter, explained that he was employed in the ministry on May 19th 1980 and had received several trainings in the course of his employment, pledging to “dutifully discharge his duties if re-engaged.”

In the advisory, the FMFA strongly protested the measures adopted by these countries, which it declared were the guidelines of WHO and therefore unacceptable.

one hundred and eight projects of the European Union Niger Delta Support Programme Component 4.

The Commissioner for Economic Development, Mr. Ante Okwong, gave the hint during a meeting with council chairmen from the four benefiting local governments.

Okwong reaffirmed the commitment of the government to continue to attract development to the grassroots to boost the living standards of the people.

50 WORLD | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

Scottish independence: Voters have their say

P

eople in Scotland yesterday voted on whether the country should stay in the United Kingdom or become an independent nation.

Voters answered "Yes" or "No" to the referendum question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"

With 4,285,323 people â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 97 per cent of the electorate registered to vote, it was the busiest day in Scottish electoral history.

Votes were cast at 5,579 polling stations until 22:00 on Thursday. The result is expected on Friday morning.

Strict rules mean the BBC

- in common with other broadcasters - was not allowed to report details of campaigning until after the polls close.

A voter at Peebles polling station was pleased to have made his mark First-time voters had also been out in force, like this

one at Peebles A number of councils around the country have said polling stations are busy, with some seeing queues both ahead of the polls opening and throughout the morning.

Stirling Council area counting officer Bob Jack

said: "There has been a steady stream of voters and we have been very busy."

In East Renfrewshire, there were queues before the polls opened and a steady stream since, a council spokeswoman said. Some voters have been kissing their ballots, she added.

TB Joshua Lagos church collapse: South African rescuers in Nigeria

A

South African rescue team has flown to Nigeria to help locate missing South Africans believed to have been inside a church hostel when it collapsed last week in Lagos.

The team will be able to sign death certificates and check that survivors are getting adequate treatment.

Of the 80 confirmed deaths, at least 67 were from South Africa.

They had gone to Nigeria to attend a gathering organised by famous Nigerian TV evangelist TB Joshua.

Joshua, referred to by his

followers as a "prophet" is the founder of the Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN) church ministry, which is popular across Africa and elsewhere.

More than 130 people survived, including one South African woman who was pulled from the rubble on Monday - three days after the building collapsed.

South Africa's International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane has said 20 South Africans are currently being treated in Nigerian hospitals after the collapse.

The multi-story building which collapsed served as a guesthouse on Mr Joshua's campus.

Aussies foil public execution terror plot

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wo men were charged yesterday in connection with a terror plot that Australia's prime minister said involved plans to carry out a public execution.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said authorities obtained intelligence about a "demonstration killing" - a killing, Australian media reported, in which alleged assailants planned to kidnap a member of the public, behead the victim and then drape him or her in an ISIS flag.

The foiled plot comes just days after the country raised its terror alert to high and in the midst of Australia committing to helping the United States and a broad international coalition to beat back the Islamic State, or ISIS. The militant group has been slaughtering people and taking over villages in Syria and Iraq.

One of its members beheaded two Western journalists and an aid worker -- brutality that was videotaped and broadcast throughout the world. ISIS vows that it will stop at nothing to create a caliphate governed by the intensely strict Sharia law.

Earlier Thursday, at least one person had been arrested and charged with terrorism offenses and another 14 were detained as

police conducted more than two dozen searches in Sydney, acting Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin said at a news conference.

Hours later, police said nine people who were detained have been released.

A 24-year-old man from Merrylands has been charged with possession of ammunition without a license and unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon, authorities said. Another man has also stood in court, charged with conspiracy to commit acts in preparation of a terrorist act and financing terrorism, police said, and two women were issued notices to appear later in court.

Their names have not been released.

Authorities declined to give details about the threat, citing an ongoing operation.

But Abbott told reporters that intelligence revealed that Islamic militants inside Australia were planning to kill.

"The exhortations, quite direct exhortations, were coming from an Australian who is apparently quite senior in ISIL (Islamic State) to networks of support back in Australia to conduct demonstration killings here in this country," he said.

Voters queue up in West Glasgow to answer the question: Should Scotland be an independent country

PHOTO: AFP

Ebola: Guinea searches for missing health team

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uinea has sent a team to find missing health officials who were attacked two days ago while visiting a village to raise awareness about Ebola.

Unconfirmed reports suggest they may have been kidnapped or even killed.

The officials had fled Wamey village in Nzerekore region after their group was pelted with stones.

The Ebola outbreak has now

killed at least 2,622 people in Guinea, as well as Liberia and Sierra Leone, the World Health Organisation says.

It is the world's worst outbreak of the deadly disease, with officials warning that more than 20,000 people could ultimately be infected.

A three-day lockdown is starting in Sierra Leone at 00.00 GMT on Friday in a bid to stop the disease spreading.

The BBC's Umaru Fofana

I

China's Xi Jinping signs landmark deals in Delhi

ndia and China have signed 12 agreements in Delhi, one of which will see China investing $20bn (ÂŁ12.2bn) in India's infrastructure over five years.

At a news conference with Chinese President Xi Jinping, India's PM Narendra Modi said "peace on the border" was important for progress.

Talks came as India accused China of fresh territorial incursions in Ladakh.

China is one of India's top trading partners but they vie for regional influence and dispute their border.

Mr Modi and Mr Xi made separate statements at the end of their talks in Delhi on Thursday.

Under the investment plans, China pledged to: Help bring India's ageing railway system railway system up-to-date with

high-speed links and upgraded railway stations; Set up industrial parks in Gujarat and Maharashtra; Give more market access to India to products, including pharmaceuticals and farm products.

Both sides also focussed on increasing co-operation in trade, space exploration and civil nuclear energy.

Mr Modi called for an early settlement on the disputed common border between the two countries and said the "true potential of our relations" would be realised when there was "peace in our relations and in the borders."

There have been reports in the Indian media of Chinese troops trying to construct a temporary road into Indian territory across

says frenetic shopping had been taking place ahead of the lockdown in Sierra Leone Last month, riots erupted in the area of Guinea where the health workers went missing near where the outbreak was first recorded - following rumours that medics were contaminating people when they started spraying a market to disinfect it.

The missing people are thought to include journalists as well as local officials.

the Line of Actual Control (the de facto boundary) in the disputed Ladakh region over the past week.

Mr Xi said he was committed to working with India to maintain "peace and tranquillity" on the border.

"China-India border issue is a problem which has troubled both sides for long as the area is yet to be demarcated, there may be some incidents," he said.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said: "After timely, effective communication, the relevant situation has already been appropriately bought under control. Border issues are leftover issues from history."

Nigeria drop in FIBA rankings lD’Tigers now 24th in the world, 3rd in Africa Ifeanyi Ibeh

N Tijani Umar, NBBF president

igeria’s men’s national team, D’Tigers, have dropped six places in the FIBA world ranking and are now the 24th best team in the world following their absence at the FIBA World Cup, which was concluded at the weekend in Spain.

Prior to the commencement of the World Cup, D’Tigers were ranked 18th in the world, and second behind Angola in Africa.

But having failed to qualify for the World Cup, following a sixth-place finish at last year’s Afrobasket Championship in Cote d’Ivoire, D’Tigers have now been overtaken by Tunisia

SPORT

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

and are now ranked third in Africa after dropping six places in the FIBA rankings.

Tunisia, who finished ahead of Nigeria at the 2013 Afrobasket but failed to qualify for the World Cup, are now ranked 23rd in the world.

Senegal, who overcame Puerto Rico and Croatia

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/sports

ADEKUNLE SALAMI, DepUTY Editor, SPORTS kunle.salami@newtelegraphonline.com adekunles@yahoo.com

FRIday, SEPTEMBER 19, 2014

51

in the group phase of the World Cup before falling to Spain in the Round of 16, were the highest climbers in the latest ranking, climbing 11 spots to the 30th position, while Africa’s other World Cup representatives, Egypt and Angola, are now ranked 41st and 16th respectively.

World champions, the United States, Spain, Argentina and Lithuania remain the top four countries in the FIBA rankings.

Wenger: Ronaldo was my biggest regret } p 53

Yobo in action

Yobo(right)

AFCON qualifiers: Eagles will bounce back –Yobo Ajibade Olusesan

F

ormer Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo, believes Nigeria will qualify for the 2015 Africa Nations Cup despite their terrible start to the qualifying series.

The African champions opened their campaign with a disappointing 3-2 loss to Congo Brazzaville at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar and followed that up with a lack-lustre goalless draw in Cape Town against South Africa.

The results have placed the Super Eagles third in Group A with just one point. Congo and the Bafana Bafana have six and four points respectively.

Their poor showing in the series has attracted widespread criticisms, but Yobo said Nigerians don’t need to press the panic button yet, insisting that the Super Eagles will still make it to Morocco.

The former Everton of England defender said the players were willing to give their best and get good results but in football nothing is guaranteed.

“Nigerians have the right to criticise the team now because of those poor results but I don’t think that is what the players need at the moment. They are professionals, they love this country and will want to give their best at all times but in football sometimes things just don’t work the way you want them.

I agree that one point out of a maximum of six is not good enough but they still have four matches to play. They will rise to the occasion and qualify for the tournament. I know the lads in the team, they are fighters,” he said.

He also said that Eagles’ next opponents, Sudan, will be tough despite being bottom of Group A. Yobo added that Nigeria should be able to beat the Sudaness home and away. The two teams will meet in back-to-back matches in October with the first leg coming up in Omdurman and the second leg in Nigeria.

“We have gotten good results in Sudan a couple of times and I know that this team can do the same. They just have to remain focused, play their game and go for it,” Yobo said.

52

SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

FIFA rankings: Eagles drop to sixth in Africa Ifeanyi Ibeh

T

he Super Eagles are now the sixth ranked side in Africa after dropping globally to the 37th position in the monthly FIFA rankings.

The Super Eagles were previously ranked 33rd in the world but following their poor start to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers they have now dropped four places to the 37th position in the latest monthly ranking.

The Super Eagles slumped to a 3-2 loss to Congo in Calabar before playing out a goalless draw with South Africa in Cape Town.

Those results against lesser ranked opponents have been taken into con-

Onazi(right)

sideration in the latest ranking with the Super Eagles now ranked sixth in Africa after being overtaken by Senegal, Tunisia and Ghana.

Senegal are now ranked 36th; Ghana 33rd and Tunisia 31st. Senegal moved up 23 place in the month under review.

Congo on their part, after recording wins over Nigeria and Sudan in the 2015 AFCON qualifiers, are now ranked 48th in the world, the highest position ever attained by the Central African nation since the advent of the FIFA ranking.

Meanwhile, Algeria have broken into the top-20 after climbing four places to hold 20th spot, followed by Cote d’Ivoire, who are now ranked 22nd in the world.

A

Thousand Naira) to the team should they make good their promise to beat Gabon and pick one of the tickets to Niger 2015 Championship.

Prince Udofia, Golden Eaglets’ coordinator, has therefore, commended Uche’s magnanimity while calling on eminent Nigerians as well as Corporate Nigeria to rally behind the team in their quest to qualify for the CAN championship.

“This is an exemplary conduct and we want to believe this would ginger other well-to-do Nigerians to come and motivate the players in the crucial game against Gabon,” he said.

Ezeli eager to get back to action Ifeanyi Ibeh igerian-bor n NBA Neager star, Festus Ezeli, is to get back to the

court even as he continues his recovery from a long-term career threatening injury.

The 24-year-old Golden State Warriors centre, 15 months ago underwent surgery to reinforce the medial collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee.

At the time, Ezeli was expected to be out of action between six to nine months, but 15 months have since gone by and the big Nigerian is eager to get back on the court and competing with the best the NBA has to offer.

“I’m hungry. I’m itching,” said Ezeli, in Oakland.

“At this point, I can’t even explain how bad I want to

N

be out there. I just can’t wait to get out there and do what I love.”

Ezeli tried to persuade his club’s trainers that he was ready to play back in May, during last season’s playoffs, but he hadn’t advanced past one-on-one drills.

He was also set to play in the Las Vegas Summer League in July, but shin inflammation kept him out of action.

Ezeli disclosed that most of the inflammation has subsided, and that he is now looking forward to playing in a competitive game.

“I don’t think I’ll be 100 percent until I actually start playing in games, but I’m close enough,” Ezeli said.

“I’m getting ready for training camp, which will give me a chance to start running and doing all of that stuff I love on the court,” he said.

Ifeanyi Ibeh

frica’s fastest woman, Blessing Okagbare, Super Falcons star, Asisat Oshoala, and players and backroom staff of Nigeria’s victorious Golden Eaglets team to the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, have all been shortlisted for the 2013/2014 National Honours Award Recipients.

The investiture will take place on Monday, September 29, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja with Okagbare, who emerged as Nigeria’s brightest star at the last Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, set to be conferred with the title of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).

Also to be awarded MFR’s are the trio of Emmanuel Amuneke, Nduka Ugbade and Emeka Amadi, who were all members of the Golden Eaglets coaching crew at last

long awaited MediaVision Extreme TatheGames (MX Games) has been held the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Su-

rulere.

The MX Games witnessed participation from twenty-eight (28) athletes from Lagos State and Ogun State competing in Rollerblades, Biking, Mixed Bikes and Unicycle.

In the rollerblades event, Ernest Otagharwa of Lucky Stars Skaters Club came first while Tunde Ajiroba also of Lucky Stars Skaters Club came second with Samson Omotosho claiming the third spot.

In the Biking category, Temitope Mathew emerged winner after a grueling contest which saw Oriyomi Azeez and Opeyemi Adeniran of Storm Riders Biking Club claiming second and third spots respectively.

The Mixed Bikes event had Fatai Sharafa, Mary Okunola of Dynamic Bikers Club and Akanji Alimat of Storm Riders claiming the top three positions respectively.

Falconets captain, Patience Okaeme, will also be conferred with the MFR award, while her teammate Asisat Oshoala, who emerged as the top scorer and Most Valuable Player of 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014, will be conferred with the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) award.

Players of the 2013 Golden Eaglets side will also bag MON’s along with six members of the team’s backroom staff, including the team’s media officer, Morakinyo Abodunrin.

Eight of the country’s gold medallists at the 2014 Commonwealth Games will also be receiving MON’s at next Monday’s ceremony, where Falconets coach, Peter Dedevbo, will be conferred with the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) award after leading the Falconets to a second-place finish.

Title fight: 200 companies turn down Bashi Ali’s proposals fewer than 200 companies Nforohave turned down proposals the sponsorship of Bash

Ezeli

Winners emerge in MX Games

Okagbare, Eaglets foryear’s national honours U-17 World Cup in the UAE.

Eaglets get cash boost to beat Gabon A good hearted Libreville-based Nigerian businessman, Chief George Uche, has offered a handsome cash reward to the Golden Eaglets if they win next weekend’s African U-17 Championship final qualifying match against Gabon.

Uche who owns a thriving freight business in the Gabonese capital said he was impressed with the perfor mance of the team despite the odds placed before them before their 2-1 loss to Gabon on Sunday hence the reason behind the dinner reception he hosted before their departure.

Apart from doling out $500 to the players, Uche pledged the sum of One Million French Francs (about Three Hundred

Friday, September 19, 2014

Ali’s “Guinness Book of World Record’’ title fight.

Bala Ka’oje, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the fight, disclosed in an interview in Abuja on Thursday.

He said that the development was a major setback for the staging of the fight.

“From what I can see, the hope of this fight taking place is very slim because we have written and followed up letters in a number of places.

“More than 200 letters have been sent to both government and private organisations, but we have not gotten any serious response. I don’t know why people are not convinced.

“I know that Bash can fight this fight and perhaps win it; it

will also be a history making for him and the country. But others might not see it that way.

Ka’oje, who was former Minister of Sports, also told NAN that Bank of Industry (BoI) gave a false hope to the project.

“I don’t know the arrangement Bash has with Bank of Industry (BoI). All I know is that we wrote them a letter but we never got a reply from the bank, from my investigation I found out that they actually do not have money to fund sports.

He noted that the condition given by the International Boxing Union (IBU), which mandated the LOC to pay $29 million before the fight could be stage, was discouraging.

The 58-year-old Bash Ali was scheduled to fight 32-year-old IBU champion, Rick Camling of America.

ITF Africa Circuit: Ubon beats Malian, qualifies for semifinal

igeria’s Joseph Ubon puts up a flawless display on Thursday as he defeated Yacouba Maiga of Mali 6-0, 6-0 to set up a semifinal meeting with top seed, Gueninle Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire at the ongoing 2014 ITF West and Central Junior Circuit in Togo.

The third-seeded 17-year-old is the only Nigerian left in the boys singles and he showed that his winning of the first-phase

of the tournament, remarkably without dropping a set, was no fluke wrapping up the one-sided contest in less than 45 minutes.

Ubon’s good run is making up for the disappointment of his compatriots, five of whom were eliminated in the second round of the point-earning tournament on Tuesday.

Ubon was brought down to earth as his combination with Mohammed Moham-

med, whom he paired to win the doubles in the first phase, were defeated by fellow Nigerians Emmanuel Audu and Abubakar Tswako 6-4, 6-3 and will now battle Ouattara and Chisomo Luweta of Malawi in the final.

Elizabeth Garos-Pam also gave Nigeria something to cheer in the event which is featuring players from over 20 countries across the world as she defeated Nairuti

Vyas of India 6-3, 6-3 in the girls semifinal and will now face top seed Nicole Dzienga of Zimbabwe in the final. The duo are also in line to retain the doubles title as they face Indians Vyas and Rutvi Shah in the final.

Nigeria Tennis Federation President, Engr Sani Ndanusa, commended the Nigerian players for their dominant outing pointing that their success highlights the federation’s developmental programmes.

SPORT | EURO FOOTBALL

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

Wenger: Ronaldo was my biggest regret

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rsene Wenger has revealed his biggest regret as Arsenal manager was failing to sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Sporting in 2003.

Ronaldo ultimately signed for Manchester United in a deal worth just over £12 million and has gone on to achieve global superstardom at Old Trafford and Real Madrid, as well as being voted the best player in the world in 2008 and 2013.

The Portuguese also won three consecutive Premier League titles and a Champions League crown with United between 2006 and 2009 while Arsenal were trophyless over the same period, and Wenger admits he wishes he had acted differently.

“My biggest regret, I was so close to signing Cristiano Ronaldo,” Wenger revealed in a Huawei question and answer

Mourinho ‘happy’ with Drogba showing

J

ose Mourinho refused to criticise Didier Drogba following his disappointing UEFA Champions League showing versus Schalke.

Starting for the first time since returning to Stamford Bridge, Chelsea striker Drogba endured a frustrating evening as the Germans held on for a 1-1 draw in Group G. He was unable to convert passes from Willian and Eden Hazard as Chelsea struggled to follow up their 100 per cent start to the Premier League campaign.

But Mourinho was suitably impressed with Drogba, telling reporters: “He had a positive game. I’m not disappointed with the striker because of one inch, he scores a goal or doesn’t score a goal.

“I am happy with what he did. If he scores that goal in this moment we’re speaking about 2-0, not 1-1. We had very good chances to score the 2-0 and we didn’t.

“After the 1-1 we had a fantastic reaction and chances to win the game, but that’s football, that’s Champions League, that’s normal.”

53

Guardiola lauds Bayern fight ayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola hailed BChampions his team’s fight after their last-gasp UEFA League win over Manchester

City.

The Bavarian giants required a stunning 90th-minute strike from ex-City defender Jerome Boateng to settle the Group E contest in Munich on Wednesday.

City started brightly but could not find a way through a stubborn Bayern defence at the Allianz Arena.

Guardiola tinkered things to cope with the Premier League side’s presence out wide and saw his side improve before Boateng fired into the top-right corner in the dying stages.

“We played really well but in the first 20 minutes, Manchester City were the better team,” Guardiola said afterwards.

“We started with four players in our defence because I knew that City planned to Ronaldo stay really close on the byline with [Samir] session.

Nasri and [Jesus] Navas, especially Navas.

“And not only did I not get him, “Nevertheless we couldn’t dominate the but he signed for Manchester Unit- game. We had a lot of problems with Nasri ed. That, of course, still hurts to- and Navas.” day.”

Wenger added that the Premier League player he would have most liked to manage is Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, who often proved a scourge of Arsenal in his first spell at Stamford Bridge.

“I would have loved to have managed Didier Drogba, for two reasons,” the Frenchman added.

“One, I missed him when he played at Le Mans in France, not even in the top league. I knew there was a good player there and I missed him.

“And secondly, because he hurt us so much in big games that all this pain would not have happened.”

Guardiola

Varane signs Real extension

R

eal Madrid defender Raphael Varane has signed a contract extension which will keep him at the European Champions until 2020.

The 21-year-old France international moved to the Bernabeu from Lens in 2011, initially signing a six-year deal.

Since then, he has made 74 appearances and caught the eye of several other leading clubs, among them Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea, but appears to have snubbed all interest by adding another three years to his existing con-

Drogba

Cardiff City axe Solskjaer

tract.

The club announced in a statement: “Real Madrid CF has extended Raphael Varane’s contract with the club until 30 June 2020.”

The young defender has picked up five titles in his three years with Real; the UEFA Champions League, Spanish La Liga, UEFA European Super Cup, Spanish Super Cup and Copa Del Rey. He also played all five games in France’s run to the 2014 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals.

Marseille to sell Andre Ayew in January

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rench giants Olympique Marseille are weighing up the chancManchester United forward with es of selling Ghana international Danny Gabbidon and Scott Young Andre Ayew during the January for their trip to Derby County this transfer window. weekend.

Cardiff - relegated from the Premier League after finishing bottom last ter m - have made a poor start to the season.

Tuesday’s 1-0 home defeat to oma defender David Astori has Middlesbrough left them 17th in the table with just eight points from sprained his right knee and will seven matches. likely be out of action for about Cardiff chair man Mehmet Dal- three weeks. man said, “Having spoken with Ole Astori injured his knee in on deciding the best course of ac- Wednesday’s 5-1 victory over CSKA tion for all parties, I’m sorry to say Moscow in the Champions League. that we have agreed that it is in the Roma says the Italy defender, best interest of the club for us to go who has also injured his medial our separate ways. collateral ligament, has already “Ole has been a wonderful profes- started treatment.

Solskjaer sional to work with since his arrivNo timeframe is specified for ardiff City have lost patience al at the Club. Due to a difference Astori’s return but he is likely to with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and in philosophy of approach to the be out for two or three weeks, missparted company with the Norwe- game, we have decided to part com- ing the Serie A matches against gian after less than 10 months in pany amicably. He and his family Cagliari, Parma and Hellas Verona, will always be welcome at Cardiff and the Champions League match charge.

The Championship club an- City. I know I have gained a good at Manchester City. nounced the decision on Thurs- friend whom I wish well and remain The 27-year-old Astori could reday and will replace the for mer confident in his future success.” turn for the visit to Juventus on Oct. 5.

Roma defender Astori out with knee injury

R

Ayew will be available on a free transfer next summer and Marseille want to cash after the winter break.

According to the French publication Le Phocéen, the 24-year-old is available for 8 million euros with AC Milan and Napoli said to be interested.

Ayew was close to signing for an English Premier League team but a deal could not be reached on transfer deadline day.

He has been playing for Ligue 1 giants since 2009/10 and has developed to become one of their key players the past seasons.

C

Ayew

SportL

54 SPORT

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ifestyle

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

NNAMDI ODUAMADI AC Milan and Super Eagles midfielder

Best food: Rice and plantain Best drink: Pepsi Best colour: Red Best city visited: Monaco, France Best club supported: Ac Milan, Real Madrid Best car: Audi Best designer: Best perfume: Bvlgari Best musician: Tuface, Solidstar Best actor: Morris Chestnut Best actress: Ini Edo Best competition ever attended: 2013 Confederation Cup Best boot: Puma Best jersey no: 7

Okagbare, Enyeama, Oshoala for Nigerian Sports Award

while runner’s up and third place teams will cart home N.5m and N300, 000 respectively.

Novandi said that his company had supported table tennis in the past with the Procold Championship, adding that the idea of supporting football was borne out of their interest in the youth of Nigeria.

In his remarks, Coordinator of the competition, Ola Okunnu said that with the kickoff of the divisional qualifiers, 16 teams are expected to emerge for the knockout stage scheduled for October 20 at the Campos Stadium.

Epe, Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja and Lagos Island are the divisions that will host the qualifiers, which will start on Monday in Epe. Sixteen teams will compete in Epe with two making it to the knockout stage, while 24 will jostle for the three slots in Ikorodu. From Badagry, 32 teams will slug it out for the three slots while Ikeja, which has 32 teams, will produce four teams.

Similarly, Lagos Island has 32 teams competing with four making it to the knockout stage.

Winners from each division will get N50, 000 for their Country Manager, Kalbe International, Didik Novandi (Right) efforts ahead of the final takpresenting the Extrajoss Football Championship trophy to ing place on October 26 at the Lagos Sports Commissioner, Enitan Oshodi on Wednesday. Campos Stadium.

A

bout 136 teams have been registered for the Season 3 of the annual Extrajoss Football Championship which kicks off on Monday September 22 in the five football divisions of Lagos.

Unveiling the package for this year’s tournament, Country Manager, Kalbe International, Didik Novandi, said that they would continue to support sports development in Lagos State, adding that the competition would also continue to improve.

The winners of the Okagbare (middle) competition will get N1m,

Emmanuel Tobi

N

igeria’s golden girl, Blessing Okagbare, Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama and Super Falcons new kid on the block, Asisat Oshoala top the list of nominees for the voting phase for the 2014 edition of the Nigerian Sports Award.

Speaking during the unveiling of the top three nominees for all the categories on Thursday, the General Manager, Unmissable Incentives Limited, Kayode Idowu noted that the panel received overwhelming nominations for the 2014 editions of the award from members of the public adding that it was a tough job selecting the top three nominees for each category.

According to Idowu, Okagbare and Enyeama were each nominated in two categories. Okagbare who won double gold medals at the just concluded Commonwealth Games was nominated for the Track & Field Star of the Year and SportsWoman of the Year Awards while EnSerena

136 teams for Extrajoss football championship

yeama was nominated for the Sportsman of the Year and Footballer of the Year Awards.

Oshoala, who won the Golden Boot and Ball at the just concluded Women U-20 World Cup, has been nominated alongside Desire Oparanozie and Dike Courtney for the Footballer of the Year (Women) cate gory.

Enyeama, Emmanuel Emenike, Ogenyi Onazi are nominated for the Footballer of the Year (Male) In his own remarks at the press conference,

the Chairman of the Award Panel, Ikeddy Isiguzo stated that public voting, which commenced on Thursday 18th September, 2014, will end on 2nd November, 2014 for the Sportsman and Sportswoman categories while other cate gory winners would be decided by the panel.

Isiguzo explained that voting will be via SMS at the cost of N50 per SMS and for participants to vote, they would be required to text the abbreviation of the category to 33140.

CONTROVERSY

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 19, 2014

SPORT

55

Who is Nigeria’s best ever indigenous coach?

N igeria has been blessed with a lot of indigenous coaches such as Daniel ‘Dan’ Anyiam who, back in 1964, became the first Nigerian to take charge of the national team.

There was also Peter ‘Eto’ Amaechina, who

The crew Emmanuel Tobi Ifeanyi Ibeh Charles Ogundiya

coached the national team from 1969 to 1970; Adeboye Onigbinde, who became the first Nigerian-born coach to lead the national team to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, and Christopher Udemezue, who became the first indigenous coach to qualify Nigeria for the finals of a global tournament when he led the Flying Eagles to the 1983 FIFA U-20 World Cup. There was also Shaibu Amodu, who having

conquered Nigeria and Africa with BCC Lions of Gboko, led the Super Eagles to a fourth-place finish at the 1995 FIFA Confederations Cup long before he secured a 2002 FIFA World Cup ticket for the side, as well as Samson Siasia, who became the first Nigerian coach to lead a Nigerian team to a podium finish at the 2008 Olympic Games, three years after becoming the second indigenous coach, after Tunde Disu,

to grab a silver medal at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. And then there is Stephen Keshi, who became the first Nigerian coach to lead the Super Eagles to success at the Africa Cup of Nations.

But who among these respected coaches merits to be called Nigeria’s all-time best?

New Telegraph spoke to some of the country’s football luminaries and below are excerpts of their views.

Keshi, Onigbinde, Amodu lead the race – Adepoju

I

t’s a tough call as there are so many coaches who have achieved so much domestically and internationally. But in no particular order, I will pick Stephen Keshi, Adeboye Onigbinde and Shaibu Amodu.

Keshi has achieved so much, becoming the first indigenous coach to lead Nigeria to the Africa Cup of Nations title and the second round of the World Cup. He has also coached the national teams of Mali and Togo at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Onigbinde is a coaching icon in Nigeria and was the first Nigerian coach to win a Cup of Nations medal and coach at the World Cup. He has also won domestic titles like Amodu who, even though he has not won the Africa Cup of Nations, has won everything there is to win domestically, as well as on the continent.

Amodu also qualified us for the 2002 World Cup before he was sacked a few months to the tour nament, and for me, these are the top three indigenous coaches Nigeria has ever had.

Mutiu Adepoju (Ex-international)

Agu: Keshi remains Nigeria’s best A

lthough we have numerous coaches that have handle the national team in the past, but I will surely go for Stephen Keshi any day because of what he has achieved for the country.

We have been struggling to win the African Nations Cup for many years, we even failed to qualify in 2012, but he won it after 19 years.

He also qualified us for the World Cup and not only that, he was able to get to the second round after failed attempts

in two editions of the World cup.

You might say you don’t like his tactics, but honestly he has been getting the results and that is the most important thing for us as a nation.

He has been given the home based professionals opportunity in the team which was an added advantage to the Nigerian league.

Alloy Agu (ex-Super Eagles goalkeeper)

Amodu is the best - Lawal

know the criteria you are looking at, but if you Ifordon’t ask me, Amodu Shuaibu, has done exceptionally well Nigeria. Apart from doing well in the national team,

his club records were superb.

If you look at his record for BCC Lions of Gboko in the late 80’s, no coach can rival his achievement. Also in the national team, he qualified the country for the World Cup twice but was not allowed to lead the team to the Mundial.

In 1995, he led the national team to fourth place at King and was at three Fahd Cup d i f f e re n t Nations Cup where he won silver a n d b r o n z e twice.

What else do you from a man want that has shown that the local coaches can also do it well if given sary support the necesagement? and encourIf we are talking of others, then we will mention someone like Christian Chukwu, those are men managers and not just coaches.

Garba Lawal (ex-Super Eagles midfielder)

Sofoluwe: Udemezue, Onigbinde way above others have been lots of top knows how to get the best out Tandhere coaches in Nigeria – past of his players. His style is difpresent – but for me, my ferent from Udemezue’s but choice is split between Christopher Udemezue and Adeboye Onigbinde.

Udemezue changed the way a lot of us viewed and played football with his approach to coaching. He believed in one-touch football and to play for him the way he wanted, you must be able to use both feet. All the teams he coached played football that was not only pleasing to the eyes, but was result oriented, and that was why we were able to qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 1983.

Onigbinde is a coach who

Keshi has no equal – Iroha have been a lot of great Tlisthere Nigerian coaches, and the is endless.

There is Shaibu Amodu, who has won every club title in Nigeria and led BCC Lions to the Cup Winners Cup; Kadiri Ikhana, who has won lots of titles in Nigeria and the CAF Champions League; Okey Emordi, who also won the CAF Champions League, Christopher Udemezue, who was the first to qualify us for a global tournament, and Adeboye Onigbinde, who was the first indigenous coach to win a Cup of Nations medal.

There is also James Peters and Christian Chukwu, even Fanny Amun and Yemi Tella, but Stephen Keshi is, in my opinion, the best of the lot.

He has been able to follow up his success as a player by becoming a

James Peters stands tall –Dosu

played and worked directly or indiIofhave rectly with many Nigerian coaches but some the finest include Willy Bazuaye, Shuiabu

Amodu, Musa Abdulahi, Stephen Keshi, SamsonSiasiaandJames Peters.

I love Willy Bazuaye because he was the engine room of the coaching crew of the 1996 AtlantaOlympics alongsideMusaAbdullahi.

For Amodu Shuiabu, he gives room for playerstoexpressthemselvesbothinsideandoutside thepitchbecauseheisagoodlistener.Hewillnot over push you beyond your limit because he is technically and tactically gifted. Stephen Keshi is also like Amodu because his players love him

he was always after the result and knew how to get his players to do that, and that was why we were able to get to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in 1984 and with a very inexperienced team.

Coaches have great respect for him because of his vast knowledge of the game and that’s why he was for many years on the technical committees of both FIFA and CAF. Yisa Sofoluwe (ex-Green Eagles defender)

very successful coach, winning the Nations Cup last year and taking us to the second round of the World Cup. He has also coached in other countries, and was able to secure a World Cup ticket for little Togo.

Ben Iroha (ex-Super Eagles defender)

andalwayswanttoplayforhimeven.Also,Siasia hascharisma,respectforhisplayersandbelieves somuchinflairandphysicalfootball.

But above all, I rate James Peters as Nigeria best ever coach because he has won everything in the local scene even though he wasn’t too successfulwiththenationalteams.Heisthecoaches’ coach.

He is tactically disciplined and technically sounds. His match reading ability is second to none and he is good in players’ management because he knows how to get the best out of a player.

Dosu Joseph (1996 Dream Team goalkeeper)

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The cash, the jet and Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor

M

uch ado has been made about recent events in South Africa concerning the Nigerianowned jet that was found loaded with millions of dollars and that was in the process of procuring arms and a fighter helicopter for the Nigerian military and security agencies.

As a former Minister of Aviation, I wish to assure the general public that the flying of large sums of cash by security and intelligence agencies for the purchase of arms in a time of war and conflict is something that is quite normal and that it happens quite often.

As a matter of fact, it has happened under successive Nigerian governments, both military and civilian.

Obviously in the case of the jet that flew to South Africa with $9.3 million, there must have been a breakdown of communication between the South African authorities and ours and a few lapses in procedure here and there which is what has led to the seizure of the money and all the ensuing suspicion and confusion. However, the idea that there was anything untoward or sinister about the whole transaction has no basis in logic, sense or rationality. Perhaps the only failing was the fact that the cash was not declared to South African Customs as is required by law.

The fact that our intelligence agencies have said that they were the ones that sent the money and that they have told us what it was for is good enough for me. It appears to me that this was a lawful and legitimate exercise and that there is nothing for anyone to worry about. I am aware of the fact that the British, the French, the American, the Chinese, the Israeli, the Saudi Arabian and the Russian intelligence and security agencies, amongst many others, have indulged in such covert 'cash for arms'' transactions on numerous occasions in different parts of the world.

They either sell such arms at short notice and off the cuff or they procure them for themselves or for unknown third parties.

Even the South Africans themselves have done so on numerous occasions in the past.

These are legitimate transactions that are covert and secret in nature but they are certainly not illegal.

Such is the murky and dark world of intelligence and security worldwide. There is plenty that we do not know about their day to day operations and they have their own unique way of doing things. We should not assume the worse or constantly denigrate them simply because we are not familiar or comfortable with their modus operandi. Suffice it to say that anyone that is in the process of getting arms to help our boys at the war front to fight Boko Haram and protect our citizens and our country ought to be regarded as heroes and not villains.

The attempt by certain elements in the op-

Guest Columnist Femi Fani-Kayode

position and the Nigerian media to stigmatise all those involved in this transaction and make the whole thing appear like something that is out of the ordinary or sordid and criminal in nature really does nauseate me. Those that know no better ought to appreciate the fact that this is how the real world operates and they should learn to live with it.

The Nigerian intelligence services operate in no different a way to their colleagues in the international community and they do so with as much patriotism, professionalism and commitment as their counterparts from other parts of the world. And yes, we do have our very own 'James Bonds'' in our intelligence services even though, more often than not, they are not recognised, celebrated or appreciated. I counsel that we should cut these men and women that work in the shadows and in secrecy some slack and that we should not be too quick to label them as sleazy rogues who are attempting to indulge in all manner of criminal activities.

Since we are on this topic I would like to take this opportunity to say one or two things about the way in which Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has been vilified, maligned and treated with the utmost disdain and contempt in this and other matters by elements within the leading opposition party in our country.

The truth is that contrary to what some of the leading lights in the opposition would have us believe he is not an arms smuggler, a money launderer, a murderer or a Boko Haram sponsor. Going to a foreign land and telling the Parliament of that country that the President of CAN in Nigeria is the head of Boko Haram, as one or two of them have just done, is not only a pernicious and vicious lie but it is also utterly shameful and disgraceful. Worst of all it is an affront to the Christian community in Nigeria and a reckless provocation.

On the South African matter, it is clear that Pastor Oritsejafor was not the owner of the $9.3 million and neither was he aware that the cash was being flown on the plane. Though he has confirmed that he was the owner of the plane he has also pointed out the fact that he had leased it out to a company on a long term basis who were themselves subleasing it out to other companies for regular trips.

He has also said that he had no idea about who they were subleasing it to, where they were flying it to or who or what they were carrying in it in any of their operations. The

Oritsejafor

two companies that were involved, both the one that leased it from Oritsejafor and the one that subleased it from them for the journey to South Africa, have since confirmed and corroborated what he has said. In my view that ought to settle the matter. Yet some people, fuelled and egged on by a ravenous and desperate opposition with a dark and sinister hidden agenda, have refused to let go of the matter and allow sleeping dogs to lie.

Those in our land that are trying to divide our ranks and denigrate us by alleging that Oritsejafor is involved in gun-running, money-laundering, Boko Haram or any other filthy and unsavoury criminal activity are the lowest of the low. They are wicked and cruel and I have no doubt that such people are in desperate need of prayer.

They need deep intercession and deliverance from the demons that have taken control of them and that are using them. The truth is that it is a grave insult to the Christian community for anyone to suggest that the leader of the umbrella organisation of the over 80 million-strong Christian faithful in Nigeria is a sponsor of a vicious and barbaric Islamist sect that has killed and abducted more Christians and burnt more churches than any other terrorist organisation in the history of the African continent.

The same people may as well tell us that the leaders of the Christian community in Syria and Iraq are the ones behind ISIL and ISIS. They can also tell us that the Christian leaders in their respective countries are the ones behind Al Shabab, the Taliban, the Al Nusra Front, Islamic Jihad, Al Qaeda, Daesh,

Hamas, the Janjaweed, the Islamic Brotherhood and all the other terrorist organisations that have recently afflicted the world with their vile inhumanity, their sheer evil and their venal barbarism.

It is only in Nigeria that the leadership of the Christian community would be accused, by a supposedly serious-minded opposition, of wanting to wipe out the Christian faith, wanting to kill all the Christians and moderate Muslims in the country and wanting to establish an Islamic fundamentalist state where 6th century sharia law applies, where little girls are subjected to serial rape and where women are enslaved.

Calling the President of CAN a moneylaunderer and arms-smuggler and accusing him of murder and sponsoring terror will not help to create religious harmony in our country. As a matter of fact, it will completely destroy it. Those that are doing so and the Janjaweed political party that is stirring up the hornets’ nest and encouraging them ought to think very carefully about the implications of what they are doing.

We know that they have a religious agenda but they should not take this too far or push us to the wall. Our meekness and humility should not be taken for weakness or stupidity.

It is in their own interest and in the interest of the unity of our nation for them to leave the President of CAN alone before matters get out of hand and before all hell breaks loose.

He deserves to be accorded the same level of respect from the Muslim community in our country as the Sultan of Sokoto, the leader of the Muslims in Nigeria, is accorded by the Christians. What is sauce for the goose is surely sauce for the gander. A word is enough for the wise.

OMOBABA

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