Binder1 25 august, 2014 by Newtelegraphonline

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Monday, August 25, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 188

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Nebo: We’ll meet December target for 5,000MW Ojiaku Kalu

inister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, has expressed the commitment of the Federal Government to deliver on its promise to meet the target of generating 5,000

megawatts of electricity by December. Nebo, in an exclusive interview with New Telegraph, said the government was aware of the cynicism of stakeholders following the setting of the targets and assured the nation

that the deadline for ramping up power generation would not be treated lightly. The minister’s assurance came against the backdrop of criticisms from the Nigerian Electricity Workers’ Union, which described the promise as

unrealistic. But Nebo told New Telegraph in his office in Abuja that he was not bothered by such criticism as he has his eyes focused on the target. He said: “It is easy for some people to sit down and think that some

things are impossible. For instance, you have been with me (that’s the interviewer), we were together at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti. They gave us forest to build a university and within six to eight months, CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

S’East PDP rejects polling booths, police promotions lCalls on Jonathan to declare for 2015 presidential race Igbeaku Orji UMUAHIA

he South-East chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the allocation of polling booths by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and recent promotions in the police. The party described the distribution of the 30,000 polling centres newly created by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as being against the spirit of one Nigeria. It also called on President Goodluck Jonathan to indicate his interest in seeking re-election in 2015. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, at a press conference in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, after a meeting of the zonal leaders of CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

FG loses N25.8bn on import duty to Chevron, Indorama, }25 others Lagos

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Former Head of State and Chairman, Nigeria Prays, General Yakubu Gowon (left) and Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, at the South-West National Prayer rally, at St. David’s Cathedral Church, Akure…yesterday.

Hospitals reopen as doctors end strike Appolonia Adeyemi, Kunle Olayeni and Obinna Odoh

octors voted yesterday to end their 55-day-old strike to pave the way for the reopening of public hospitals to take part in the nation’s efforts to check the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) epidemic.

The doctors, under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) after a meeting in Abuja, directed that all public hospitals should resume full clinical and other health care services today.

NMA President, Dr. Kayode Obembe, at a news briefing in Abuja, said the decision to end the industrial action was based on current challenges of EVD in the country. According to him, the

union’s decision to end the strike followed the intervention of prominent Nigerians, including Senate President David Mark, while the government has met some of its demands. The doctors, however,

demanded the immediate withdrawal of the government circular suspending the residency training programme. The association also urged the Federal GovCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Shekau proclaims ‘Islamic caliphate’ in Nigeria

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

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S’East calls on Jonathan to declare for 2015 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

the party, said a situation where the South was allocated 8,000 booths as against the North’s 21,000 posed a threat to the nation’s unity. “The people of SouthEast PDP reject entirely the alleged allocation of polling booths by INEC. We view it as a great disservice to the unity and progress of this country if the entire South will have 8,000 polling booths and the North will have 21,000 polling booths. We demand that this should be suspended forthwith as it is completely against the spirit of one Nigeria, the unity and progress of our dear country,” Metuh said. INEC had in a statement on August 19 announced the creation of 30,000 additional polling units to bring the total number of voting centres in the country to 150,000. The decision to create additional polling units, according to a statement by INEC Director in charge of its secretariat, Ishiaku A. Gali, was reached at a meeting on August 12. The creation of more polling units, it added, was necessitated by the need to comply with the provision of the 2010 Electoral Act, which states that each polling unit shall not have

more than 500 voters. Proportional distribution of the newly created 150,000 polling units shows that Lagos State has the highest number with 2,870 to bring the total number of its polling units to 11,565 to serve its 5,426,391 registered voters while Kano State with 4,751,818 registered voters has additional 2,053 polling units to bring its total number to 9,809. The South-East PDP also called for the extension of registration of voters, especially in areas where there are problems with the registration and the provision of permanent voters’ cards. “The officers in charge are not adequate, the materials provided in terms of handling the situation on the ground requires a bit of adjustment with the timing of the INEC. So we are demanding that the INEC extend the timing accordingly,” it added. The meeting, which was attended by Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji; his Ebonyi State counterpart, Chief Martin Elechi, Deputy Senate President, Senator

Ike Ekweremadu, Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu; Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu and his Aviation counterpart, Mr. Osita Chidoka, as well as five state chairmen of the PDP in the zone, also called on the acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, to revisit the recent appointments and promotions in the police as it affects the zone. “We are worried about the announcement of the postings and promotions in the Nigeria Police Force and we request the IG of police with the Police Service Commission (PSC) to revisit these appointments and promotions with a view to properly balancing the positions. This country belongs to all Nigerians and the South-East is a great contributor to the progress of this country and we demand our fair of the allocation,” Metuh stated. The PSC, in a statement, had announced the promotion of six Assistant Inspectors-General (AIG) of Police and two Commissioners of Police to the rank of Deputy Inspectors-

General of Police. The new DIGs are: Dan’Azumi Job Doma, Mamman Ibrahim Tsafe, David O. Omojola, Solomon E. Arase, Christopher K. Katso, and Salihu Argungu Hashidu, who were all AIGs before their promotion. However, Hilary Opara and Sotonye L. Wakama were promoted from the rank of Commissioner of Police to their new rank. A day later, the PSC also announced the promotion of 19 Commissioners of Police to AIGs. Among those promoted are: Ambrose O. Aisibor, Adebayo Ajileye, Umaru Abubakar Manko, Joel Kayode Theophilus, Wilfred Eje Obute, Godfrey E. Okeke, Chintua AmajorOnu and Mbu Joseph Mbu. The PDP meeting, however, commended the efforts of the Federal Government in tackling the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) scourge. “We commend the president, especially the Minister of Health, our own Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, for the efforts the Federal Government has taken

in containing the Ebola scourge. The South-East PDP identified with all the measures that the Federal Government has resolved to undertake in handling this grave matter of concern to the entire country.” In addition, the meeting also resolved to support President Goodluck Jonathan’s aspiration to seek re-election in 2015. It said: “We have resolved unequivocally to support the president, and the leader of the PDP, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and our people have demanded that he should contest the election in 2015 and the South-East has resolved to support him unconditionally and unequivocally. “We are totally in support; we believe that this country in the past three-and-half years has witnessed great transformation and we want it to continue. We are joining millions of Nigerians in requesting that Mr. President should come out and declare for the 2015 presidential election with the full support of the people of the South-East zone.”

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST ABUJA

32o C 22oC Storms

PORT HARCOURT

22o C 17oC Storms

KANO

36oC 22oC Mostly Sunny

ENUGU

30o C 22oC

L-R: National Vice-Chairman (South-East), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Col. Austine Akobundu (rtd); Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji; PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh; Ebonyi State Governor, Martins Elechi; Minister of Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka; Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu and Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, at a press briefing after the PDP South-East stakeholders’ meeting in Umuahia...yesterday.

Storms

IBADAN

28o C 22oC Storms

CALABAR

26oC 22oC Storms

MAIDUGURI

35oC 23oC Partially Cloudy

ONITSHA

14o C 12oC Heavy Rain

Hospitals reopen as doctors end strike CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ernment to reciprocate its gesture by ensuring that resident doctors whose appointments were terminated following the suspension of the residency programme were reinstated immediately without any punitive measures. Obembe said: “Nigeria is currently faced with health challenges and threats posed by the outbreak of EVD, whereas concerted efforts were being made by stakehold-

ers, including medical and dental doctors despite the strike to contain this outbreak. “Having considered the interventions, delegates resolved to suspend the strike in the interest of urgent national emergencies while negotiations continue. “Delegates demand immediate withdrawal of the government circular suspending the residency training programme and the sacking of over 16,000

resident doctors, who constitute about 70 per cent of doctors’ workforce in Nigeria.” Obembe added that the NMA’s Ebola Monitoring Committee would “continue to liaise with state governments to immediately set up emergency response teams for the prevention and treatment of any outbreak of Ebola virus in their various states.” On demands met by the Federal Government, he said the issue of clini-

cal governance such as restricting the title of consultant solely to medical doctors had been addressed as well as the increment of hazard allowance from a maximum of N6,000 to N100,000. Explaining this demand, a former Chairman of the NMA in Lagos State, Dr. Francis Faduyile, said a single infected needle prick on any medical and dental practitioner is sufficient to expose him to CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

FLIGHT SCHEDULE FIRST NATION AIRWAYS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06.50; 09:30; 11:45; 16:00 (SAT) 06:50; 11:45 (SUN) 11:45; 16:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 11:30; 13:40;18:30 (SAT) 09:00; 13:40 (SUN) 13:40; 18:30 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 14:45 (SAT) 16:15 (SUN) 14:45 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:50 (SAT) 18:20 (SUN) 16:50 AEROCONTRACTORS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06:50; 13:30; 16:30; 19:45 (SAT/SUN) 12:30; 16:45 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 13:00; 19:00 (SAT) 12:30 (SUN) 15:30 MEDVIEW AIRLINES LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:50; 12:00; 15:30 (SAT) 10:00; 15:00 (SUN) 17:30; 18:30 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 14:00, 15:00; 18:30 OVERLAND AIRWAYS LAGOS-ILORIN (MON-FRI) 07:15 LAGOS-IBADAN (MON-FRI) 7:00 IBADAN-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:00 IBADAN-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:30 ILORIN –ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30 ILORIN –LAGOS (MON-FRI) 17:00 ABUJA-ASABA (MON-FRI) 10:00 ASABA-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 14:15 ASABA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 11:30 LAGOS-ASABA (MON-FRI) 13:00 ABUJA-ILORIN 16:00 ABUJA-IBADAN 15:00 ARIK AIR LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:00; 09:00; 11:00 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00; 20:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 09:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 (SAT) 07:00; 11:00; 15:00 (SUN) 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 09:00; 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 (SAT) 07:30; 11:30; 09:00; 13:00; 17:00 (SUN) 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 ABUJA-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30; 16:50 (SAT/SUN) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30 PORT-HARCOURT-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10; 18:30 (SAT/SUN) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10

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Shekau proclaims ‘Islamic caliphate’ in Nigeria lDefence Headquarters denies Boko Haram’s claim lAdamawa imposes 24-hour curfew on Madagali LGA Emmanuel Onani

oko Haram’s selfacclaimed leader, Abubakar Shekau, has proclaimed the establishment of ‘Islamic Caliphate’ in Nigeria in the wake of the occupation of some communities in Borno and Adamawa states. Shekau, in a video, obtained by the Agence France Presse (AFP) yesterday, said he had excised Gwoza, a town in Borno State which Boko Haram insurgents had attacked, from Nigeria. “Thanks be to Allah who gave victory to our brethren in (the town of) Gwoza and made it part of the Islamic caliphate. By the grace of Allah, we will not leave the town. We have come to stay,” Shekau said in the 52-minute video. According to him, Gwoza now has “nothing to

do with Nigeria.” The insurgents had attacked the town on August 6, killing at least 10 persons. The Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Muhammed Timta, had fled the town in the wake of the attack, as the insurgents seized his palace and hoisted the Boko Haram flag in the community. Timta’s father was killed on May 30 on his way to Maiduguri by the insurgents. Witnesses said during the attack, the terrorists had first engaged troops posted to guard the community and seized their weapons which they used to attack fleeing residents. Many of the residents fled to the mountains near Cameroun. Boko Haram is also believed to be in control of other areas near Gwoza in southern Borno, as well as

large swathes of territory in northern Borno. Besides, the insurgents had gained control of Bunu Yadi, in Yobe State and at the weekend, they stormed border communities in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, which is about 20 kilometres from Gwoza, killing scores of residents. In a July video, Shekau voiced support for the leader of the Islamic State (IS) militants Abu Bakr alBaghdadi, who had earlier declared himself “the caliph” and “leader of Muslims everywhere”. But there was no indication from Shekau in the latest video that he was associating himself with Baghdadi, whose Sunni Muslim fighters have taken over parts of Iraq and Syria. As such, it was not clear if Shekau was declaring

himself to be a part of Baghdadi’s call or if he was referring to a separate Nigerian caliphate. In the 19th century, a Sokoto caliphate was proclaimed across most of modern-day northern Nigeria and was considered separate from other Islamic kingdoms, such as the Ottoman Empire. Shekau – who has been designated a global terrorist by the United States and sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council – is shown in the video wearing military fatigues, with a Kalashnikov rifle strapped to his body. He alternates between Arabic and the Hausa language that is dominant in the region. He is pictured standing in front of three Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and flanked by four fighters, who are masked and

L-R: Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Uriel Palti; Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodimma; Chief of Staff to the President, Brig.-Gen. Jones Arogbofa (rtd); Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Mr. John-Kennedy Opara and Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Nnenna Ukeje, at the commencement of second batch of family pilgrimage to Israel in Abuja…at the weekend

2015: APC raises alarm over plot to relaunch acronym battle Temitope Ogunbanke

he All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday raised the alarm that some elements are plotting to sabotage the 2015 general election and win polls by subterfuge. The party disclosed that it has uncovered plot by “unscrupulous and apparently-hired hands” to relaunch the acronym battle against the party through the registration of three new parties that bear the acronyms of the same parties that merged to become the APC. Spokesperson of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement issued in Lagos yesterday, said those behind the phantom parties have applied to the Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC) to register the Al-

lied Council of Nigeria (ACN), Advanced National Patriotic Party (ANPP) and Conservative People’s Congress (CPC). The party alleged: “It is worthy of note that the three applications to INEC for the registration of the three organisations as political parties were made on the same day. Apparently, common sense takes flight in the face of great desperation! “Their plan is simple: Once the parties are registered, they will then apply to change their logos to those of the original ACN, ANPP and CPC, and then hope to be on the ballot for next year’s general election. Just before the elections, the sponsors of the phantom parties will then send out messages saying the APC has splintered into its component

parties for the purpose of the election. Whatever happens, their plan is to confuse the electorate and hamper the electoral fortunes of the APC.” The party recalled that the same people who engineered the acronym battle in the process of registering APC are behind the latest plot. Hence, the party’s spokesman urged INEC not to succumb to the antics of those who are planning to sabotage the 2015 general election and win elections by subterfuge. “This acronym battle is a part of the larger war against our party to prevent its registration. Nigerians will recollect that the same people, apparently, applied to register a phantom APC the moment it became clear that our merger would

succeed and that INEC would register our party, having met all the requirements to consummate the merger. “Thankfully, INEC refused to compromise its neutrality and integrity and chose to act in accordance with the law by registering our party. We urge the electoral body to do the same now, in the face of unprecedented desperation by those who believe they can only win elections by cutting corners,” Mohammed said. It also called on Nigerians to be vigilant as the 2015 elections approach, saying those who are now coming to terms with the reality that the APC is a viable alternative in the country’s political firmament will stop at nothing to seek to mar the electoral fortunes of the party.

armed. It is not clear when or where the video was filmed. There was no indication that Shekau was actually in Gwoza for the filming and his whereabouts remain unknown but another unidentified fighter who speaks later in the video vowed that Boko Haram would keep control of the area. “By the grace of Allah we will not leave the town. We have come to stay,” said the militant wearing a green shirt and a white cap. The United Nations Humanitarian Office (OCHA) earlier this month confirmed reports that Gwoza was under rebel control. After Shekau’s 25-minute speech, the video shows militant fighters on pick-up trucks firing rocket-propelled grenades and other heavily armed insurgents firing weapons as they walk calmly along the road. The footage appears to show them taking over a military base, stealing weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition as well as fuel cans. In one frame, a fighter stands on top of a tank, waving the Islamists’ black flag. The end of the video apparently depicts scenes of grisly executions, similar to those released by IS in recent weeks. Boko Haram has used similar tactics before, however. In one scene, about 20 men in civilian clothing are shown with their hands tied behind their backs and lying by the roadside before they are shot at close range. A second shows two men, whom Shekau said disguised themselves as women to escape the town, beaten to death with shovels. Two others similarly dressed are shot beside what appears to be a trench full of bodies. Experts have described

Boko Haram’s gains in recent weeks as unprecedented, saying the group was closer than ever to achieving its goal of carving out a strict Islamic state across northern Nigeria. But many analysts believe the military has the capacity to reverse the insurgents’ advance. A lack of adequate weapons for troops sent to fight the well-armed rebels has hampered the counterinsurgency and some soldiers this week refused to deploy to Gwoza without better gear in an apparent mutiny, an action which military authorities said could attract a death sentence. In a swift rebuttal of Shekau’s claim, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said he lied over that the sect had established a caliphate in the North-East. In a post on the Twitter handle of the Defence Headquarters, the military said it was firmly in control of Gwoza. “The claim is empty. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nigerian state is still intact. “Any group of terrorists laying claim to any portion of the country will not be allowed to get away with the expression of delusion and crime. “Appropriate military operations to secure that area from the activities of the bandits is still ongoing,” the DHQ tweeted. Meanwhile, the Adamawa State Government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Madagali Local Government Area of the state, following the invasion of the area by Boko Haram. The government in a statement by the Deputy Permanent Secretary, Security and Special Service, Government House, Ahamdu Baji, said yesterday that the curfew followed “volatile security situation”, which lead to the loss of lives and property.

Nebo: We’ll meet December target for 5,000MW CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

we started our permanent site there. “Those who saw what happened back then, especially those that had concluded we were going to fail, turned around and tagged our achievement ‘The Six-month miracle’. Not that I am a miracle worker, but by depending on God and encouraging and equipping my team and urging them on, I usually achieve my target. “So I believe 5,000 megawatts by end of December 2014 is doable, and by the grace of God, we shall cele-

brate it. If they would call it another six-month miracle, so be it. By God’s grace, we shall get there come end of this year.” As part of strategy to achieve the target, the minister said he was working with other ministries and agencies, especially the Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with whose heads he meets on a weekly basis. Nebo also spoke on his recent visit to Lagos durCONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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Monday, August 25, 2014

Judiciary workers threaten to resume strike Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

he Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has threatened to resume the indefinite strike which it recently suspended over

the refusal of the forum of Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) Commissioners to respect the constitution to make judicial funds a first line charge. National President of the union, Comrade Mus-

US donates Ebola machines to Lagos airport Wole Shadare

n a bid combat to combat the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) from spreading in Nigeria, the United States Government has donated equipment worth $5,000 to boost screening of passengers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. Making the donation at the Lagos airport at the weekend, the US ConsulGeneral in Nigeria, Jeff Hawkins, expressed satisfaction with the timely response of the Nigerian Government to the contagious disease since its importation into the country by Patrick Sawyer, a Liberian-American, a month ago. Hawkins commended the measures already put in place at the Lagos airport, pointing out that

EVD is neither a Nigerian nor West-African problem but a problem to humanity as a whole. He said the donation of the equipment was a symbol of willingness on the part of the American Government to assist Nigeria in any way possible to combat the scourge. Known as infrared thermometers or non-contact thermometers, the portable handheld equipment has the ability to measure body temperature of inbound and out-bound passengers for possible Ebola symptoms from a distance. It would be recalled that screening of passengers which was initially restricted to in-bound passengers from the West-African Countries has since been expanded to include all in-bound and out-bound passengers from all destinations.

tapha Adamu, stated this in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja. He lamented that despite the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which was signed between the union and FAAC to ensure the suspension of the strike, the forum is insisting that it cannot meet the union’s demands, due to a shortfall of revenue. Adamu expressed surprised that the FAAC which claims it cannot implement a court order did not bother to appeal the order, yet went ahead to sign an MoU with the union. The union president,

however, announced plans to convene an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) on August 30 to deliberate on what it described as an impasse. “My attention has been drawn to a publication in one of the national dailies in which one Timothy Odaah, Chairman, forum of FAAC commissioners, said that because of the dwindle or shortfall of revenue due to force majeure declared by Shell and a series of shutdown of trunk lines and pipelines at various terminals, including the substantial decline experienced by the Federal

Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in Companies Income Tax collection contributed in dip in revenue for the month, the court order would be difficult to implement,” the statement stated. “So what is difficult, when the figure is there for everybody to see how much is budgeted or what should be given to each of the organs of government due to the available resources,” Adamu further queried. He alleged that since the MoU was signed a few weeks ago, the union has not been invited to any meeting to discuss how to

implement the court order. He questioned how the FAAC forum could have reached that decision without consultations. He added that the union may be forced to resume its suspended strike without any notice. “We don’t know what is difficult in implementing the court order, because when you appropriate money, the figure is there and you know how much is paid every month to judiciary and why must you pay it through that channel, rather than paying it through the National Judicial Council (NJC),” he said.

Nebo: We’ll meet December target for 5,000MW CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

from the Lagos port, 248 container load of electrical hardware – cables and transformers– hitherto abandoned there for about 11 years by contractors who had been awarded various jobs in the power sector. According to him, this recovery will help to aid government’s efforts at meeting the set target. He added that the recovery of the equipment from the port was made possible with the assistance of President Goodluck Jonathan and the cooperation of the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs and Excise, Mr. Dikko Inde Abdullahi. The minister said his ultimate dream was to give Nigerians reliable power supply that would address the needs of the economy from rural to the urban areas. For this, he said, all logistics are being put in place, adding that with the right institutional and legal framework, it will be achieved. He urged Nigerians to

hold the private investors responsible for the delivery of power to the economy as the power sector has been privatised. “The private investors having taken over ownership, should be tasked with doing the very needful by not only liaising with the Federal Government, but indeed, constantly scouting for feelers from the consumers to keep abreast with the power challenge of each individual community within their jurisdiction. “The duty of the Federal Ministry of Power from now on is to supervise the new owners – Gencos and Discos– while expecting periodic reports from the local communities through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC),” he stated. According to Nebo, uninterrupted power is possible in the country and this is the aim of the Jonathan administration. “It would take years of persistent hard work, but we would surely get there,” he said.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio (right), at a thanksgiving service at Methodist Church, Uyo…yesterday.

Hospitals reopen as doctors end strike CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

infection, especially Hepatitis B and other related conditions. “We have many doctors who have died as a result of Lassa Fever, Ebola Virus Disease, among others. “The NMA is also demanding the immediate adjustment of the doctors’ salary to maintain the relativity as agreed and documented for health workers benefitting from Consolidated Health Salary Scale (CONHESS),” he added. The NMA said the Federal Government should, as a matter of urgency, set up a health trust fund that would enhance the upgrading of all hospitals. “The position of Chief Medical Director/Medical Director must continue to be occupied by a medical doctor as contained in the Act establishing tertiary hospitals. This position

remains sacrosanct and untouchable,” Obembe said. He explained that the immediate appointment of a Surgeon General of the Federation, which should be occupied by a medical practitioner, which was one of the demands of the NMA, has been referred to the National Assembly to address. In addition, the association urged the Federation Government to sign the National Health Bill (NHB) into law and extend Universal Health Coverage to cover all Nigerians. Also the new Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Femi Thomas, has pledged to expand health coverage under the scheme to 30 per cent as less that 10 per cent of Nigerians currently benefit from the NHIS. Another demand of the

NMA is that grade level 12 Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS) in the health sector must be skipped for medical doctors. Furthermore, the NMA called for the withdrawal of the circular issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that importers of laboratory instruments for In Vitro (IVF) fertilisation should secure approval from the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN). The association noted that such approval rests with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Shortly after the doctors’ decision to end the strike, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, commended them for suspending the industrial action. Amosun, in a statement

by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Wakama, said the doctors’ decision came at a time when the nation was battling to curb the spread of EVD. He said: “People should always find amicable ways of resolving crisis. I want to commend the leadership of the NMA for having found a way round the issues that led to the industrial action in the first place. “I am happy that the strike has been called off at this very crucial time when the guidance and expertise of our medical personnel are most crucial in containing the Ebola Virus.” Amosun also commended the efforts of Mark and Obembe as well as others who were able to prevail on the concerned parties for the favourable outcome.

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Monday, August 25, 2014

Ijaw, A'Ibom youths bicker over confab Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

risis is brewing between Caegis Ijaw youths under the of Ijaw Youth Coun-

Member, Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Pat Ajudua (left) and the Chairman, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, Dr. Ngozi, during a courtesy visit to Ajudua in Asaba…at the weekend

FAIR PLAY

Falana's legal mind does not show him the imbalance in Nigeria. Five states for S/East is most unfair Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

he resolution of the just concluded National Conference seeking the creation of additional 18 states may provoke further debates and elicit some opposition. Human rights activist and lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, has distanced himself from the recommendation, describing it as oe of the negative and unpopular decisions that came out of the conference. In a chat with New Telegraph, the legal luminary said the idea of creating new states was elitist and not in consonance with

Falana: Why I don't support creation of new states the genuine yearning and aspiration of the citizenry. According to him, creating new states at a time when many of the existing states are finding it difficult to survive was absurd as it would only create further bureaucracy and raise the cost of governance. "I did not endorse that aspect of the report. I did not support creation of states because for me, it makes no sense. Apart from a couple of states, most of the states in Nigeria today, are not economically viable. So, if you now multiply states, or create additional 18, you are simply going to collapse governance in Nigeria. There is no way those states can survive. I think we should be

more interested in creating wealth than in creating sharing points. "We should think of creating the wealth before distributing it. Those proposed states are meant to create further bureaucracy and to allow the elite to become governors and senators and members of the House of Representatives, so that everybody can have a bite at the cherry. It has nothing to do with the ordinary people. But I think for us, we must down play those negative recommendations which are not popular. We must focus on those recommendations that are popular and that are likely, if implemented, to improve the quality of life of our people," he said. The most fundamental decision of the confer-

ence, Falana said, was that Chapter Two of the Constitution be made justice able. He explained that the said chapter contains the socioeconomic rights of the people, including their right to education, right to health, unemployment benefits if they have no job as well as the control of the Nigerian economy by Nigerians and not by the International Monetary Fund(IMF ) or World Bank. He argued that from the point of view of the Nigerian people , making those areas of the constitution that has to do with the economic , social and cultural rights of our people justiceable was more important than creating new states and increasing the already bloated bureaucracy.

Kidnapped Catholic priest Daniel, Rep fault Amosun regains freedom in Enugu over closure of OOU Uwakwe Abugu ENUGU

ev. Fr. Emmanuel Ugwu of the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka in Enugu State, who was abducted penultimate Saturday by suspected Fulani herdsmen regained his freedom at the weekend. But fear over the rampaging armed herdsmen has continued to grip the populace. An official of the Catholic Secretariat at St. Theresa’s Cathedral, Nsukka, told New Telegraph yesterday that “Fr. Ugwu escaped by divine intervention and we thank God for his freedom from the jaws of death”. Across Parishes of the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, there was a perceived fear that there is an influx of Fulani gunmen in many parts of Enugu State in view of the experience of the priest and earlier reports that the same set of gunmen may have been

responsible for the killing of a native of Umunko in Igbo-Etiti council area and another victim in Ezeagu Local Government council area, who may have been killed after being raped. Sources told our reporter yesterday that the priest, who was tortured by the hoodlums was kidnapped along the new Abakpa Nike- Opi Nsukka in the state on his way to Nsukka. He was said to have been taken through many camps in an epic trekking expedition by his captors until he escaped to his freedom around the Trans-Ekulu area of the Enugu metropolis on Saturday. When the spokesman of the Enugu State Police Command, DSP Ebere Amraizu, was contacted last week as the story of the kidnap made the rounds, he had assured that something was already going on in furtherance of plans to free the priest.

Kunle Olayeni ABEOKUTA

ormer Governor of FGbenga Ogun State, Otunba Daniel, yesterday

condemned the closure of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye by the Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led administration. Daniel, who spoke at a Labour Party (LP) summit in Ota in Ado-Odo/Ota local government area of the state, accused the state government of using policemen to harass students of the university. He, however, urged the aggrieved students to comply with the government's directive in order to forestall danger to their lives. Amosun had at the weekend ordered the indefinite closure of OOU following violent protest by students over the reduction of their tuition fees penultimate week by

the state government. But Daniel described the closure of the institution as a wrong measure towards addressing the demands of the students. He said, "For the first time in the history of Ogun State, students went on strike. During my tenure, I ran students-friendly government. They have shut the university and are now using policemen to harass the students. "On no single occasion during my administration did police harass students. I sympathise with the students and I want to appeal to you: don't let anybody waste your lives. You must not engage in any kind of violence." Also reacting to the OOU closure yesterday, a House of Representatives member, Abiodun Akinlade, berated the state government, describing its decision as "lack of tolerance."

cil (IYC) and Frontline Akwa Ibom Movement (FAIME) over recommendations by delegates at the just concluded National Conference in Abuja that parts of Akwa Ibom State oil-rich areas be excised and be part of the proposed Oil Rivers State. Members of the Akwa Ibom caucus had at the National Conference raised an alarm in a letter addressed to the chairman of the Conference, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi that any plan to excise any part of Akwa Ibom State would be resisted. This is coming few days after President Goodluck Jonathan declared the four month Confab closed. Members of the caucus, which include former governor of Akwa Ibom, Obong Victor At-

tah, former Minister of Lands and Housing, Chief Nduese Essien and several others, had stated in the letter to Justice Kuitigi that since they were not consulted before the Conference took its decision to create the new Oil Rivers State, no part of the present day Akwa Ibom State would therefore be ceded to the Ijaws. But Akwa Ibom youths have vowed to defend their state and its resources with the last drop of their blood. The IYC had in a statement last week issued by one Eric Omare, slammed Akwa Ibom delegates, claiming that they lacked the right to oppose the creation of the proposed state. In a statement released by FAIME and signed by its president, Mr Ibanga Isine, the group warned that the peaceful disposition of Akwa Ibom people should not be taken for granted.

Fayose pledges to transform Ado-Ekiti Adesina Wahab ADO-EKITI

State GovernorEose,kiti Elect, Mr Ayodele Fayhas pledged to trans-

form Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. He assured that he is going to make it rank high among its peers in the country. He also promised to complete the multi-million naira ongoing Ado-Ekiti palace pavilion project within one year of coming on board as the state governor. Speaking during the celebration of this year's Udiroko Festival, which took place at the palace of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, on Saturday, the governor-elect said he would continue with the developmental stride going on in Ado-Ekiti. He lauded Oba Adejugbe for what he described as his sterling qualities and the love he has for his people.

Fayose further commended the people of Ado-Ekiti for their massive support and for voting en masse for him during the June 21 governorship election. He urged them to perform a similar feat for his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidates in the 2O15 general elections. "There is no doubt that Ado-Ekiti will continue to be relevant in the state because of its numerical strength and the fact that it is the capital of our state. "My performance will surpass what I was able to achieve during my first term in office," he said. Fayose commended the outgoing governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, for his contributions to the development of the state, saying every government that had ruled the state since its creation had contributed their quota to the development of the state.

$1bn foreign loan: FG misappropriated past security budgets, says Educationist Sola Adeyemo IBADAN

n Ibadan-based eduASaka cationist, Dr Ibrahim Ominiwe, has flayed

the Federal Government over its alleged inability to spend judiciously the budgets allocated to security services, the result of which he said was the prevalent security challenges facing the country. Ominiwe said this at the investiture ceremony and confernment of honourary awards of the Man O' War Nigeria, Ikumapayi Command,

Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on him yesterday. According to him, President Goodluck Jonathan would not have needed to seek $1bn foreign loan to equip the military if the previous budgets had been spent judiciously. According to the President, Educational Legacy College, Ibadan, the Federal Government had not been sincere and lacked the fear of God, while insinuating that such previous budgets must have been diverted to other uses.

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

A’Ibom 2015: Governorship aspirant charges PDP on fairness Tony Anichebe

UYO

governorship aspirant APeoples on the platform of the Democratic Par-

ty (PDP) in Akwa Ibom state, Obong Bassey Albert Akpan has appealed to the ruling party, the PDP to ensure a level playing field for all its aspirants in 2015 election in order to remain one big and united family. Akpan who spoke with

journalists yesterday in Uyo maintained that the decision will equally remove anger, bitterness and rancor from the hearts of members of the party after the Primaries. “For me I think the party should remain neutral until an aspirant emerges as the candidate of the party. In 2006/2007 that was what happened. We the aspirants are praying for a level playing field. "

Confirmed Ebola cases reduce to 3 L-R: Representative of Vicar/Archdeacon, Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion [CNAC], Rev. Ben Odude; Chairman, Education Committee, Mrs. Yinka Adekoya; Youth Coordinator, Yemi Olufidipe and Vice-Chairman, Education Committee, Joshua Oderinde, during the church’s Youth Seminar, in Lagos…yesterday

APGA: Obiano may join PDP Tony Okafor

AWKA

ll may not have been Aecutive" heard about the "exexodus in the

All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA). An insider in the Anambra State Government House (names withheld) yesterday told the New Telegraph that Governor Willie Obiano is giving serious thought to joining the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP). Four APGA members from the state in the House of Representatives: Uche Ekwunife, Chris Azubuogu, Hon. Egwuatu and Victor Ogene, had recently announced their resolve to quit APGA and join PDP, while the former governor of the state, Mr Peter Obi, resigned his position as Chairman of Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party. New Telegraph learnt that “Obiano is now in a dilemma over leaving APGA for the PDP". According to our source, "Certain people will go to Abuja and tell the president that he (Obiano) is not supporting his re-election next year and things like that because he is in APGA, and you know he is not a professional politician with those mastery of double speak. So, what he is contemplating now seriously

is to join the PDP and end all these mischief and intrigues." "This is politics. No one would stand aloof and watch his opponents destroy his political career. So, I'm telling you that the governor is considering this option of joining the PDP seriously." But the governor's Special Adviser on Political Matters, Joemartins Uzodike in a reaction on telephone, dismissed the insinuation, saying "it's not a possibility. Why should that be? Not to my knowledge. Count us out from such arrangement. It's not possible". But our source insisted that Obiano is seriously contemplating the option as a political strategy to beat his seeming detractors in APGA, who are thinking joining the PDP to it. In what looks like a confirmation to that information, Obiano and his political associates have floated a pro-Jonathan non-governmental organisation known as Join Jonathan Journey (J.J.J) apparently to disprove their detractors' claim that they were averse to Jonathan's reelection. The headquarters of the organisation is a stone's throw from Governor's Lodge, in Amawbia, near Awka, the state capital.

Coalition tasks FG to scrap multiple Dan Atori MINNA

n a bid to improve the Icommunities, activities in business a Coalition of Businesses and Professionals have called on the Federal Government to scrap multiple taxation in the country which has led to the relocating of many industries to neighbouring countries if businesses must thrive in Nigeria. Chairman of the group under the auspices of Niger state Coalition of Businesses and Professional Associa-

tion (NICOBPA) Alhaji Abdullahi Sadiq made this known at a press conference over the weekend to mark the end of a one day Security Summit on achieving sustainable Business Growth through provision of effective security in Minna. Alhaji Sadiq said that the NICOBPA is partnering with Kogi, Kwara, Kaduna, Abuja and Nassarawa states to curb the illegal taxation by some thugs who harass businessmen and drivers who ply roads.

Moni Pulo offers free medicare in A’Ibom Tony Anichebe

UYO

ver 4000 patients includOwithout ing a boy who was born testicles yesterday

in Uruan local government area of Akwa Ibom state received free medical treatment through an Outreach Medical Programme provided by an oil Company, Moni Polu in collaboration with the National Petroleum Investment and Management Services (NAPIMS). These comprise 688 general cases, 354 eye prob-

lems 627 Pediatrics cases and 164 dental cases. Others are the laboratory section which recorded 219, Pharmacy with 1,158 while HCT (HIV Counseling and Treatment) as well as physiotherapy recorded 147 and 62 cases respectively The Vice Chairman of Moni Pulo Ltd, Mrs. Seinye O.B Lulu Briggs who disclosed this yesterday during the official opening ceremony of the exercise said: “So far a total of 33 surgeries have been performed.

HADI urges Rep to run for senate Philip Nyam ABUJA

he Hope Arewa Development initiative (HADI) has urged Chairman, House of Representatives services committee, Hon Dogara Yakubu to contest for the Bauchi South senatorial seat in 2015 general elections. The group, which made the call in a communiqué signed by its

national president and secretary general, Alhaji Muhammadu Ibrahim and Mallam Musa Wada respectively, the initiative, noted with pleasure the intellectual disposition of Hon Yakubu since he was elected to represent the people of Bogoro, Dass and Tafawa Balewa local government areas in the lower chamber.

Appolonia Adeyemi he fiancé of a nurse, who died of Ebola has been discharged from the Ebola treatment centre in Lagos after his third test came out negative. According to a report on Saharareporters yesterday, Dennis, who was late Justina Obi Ejelonu’s spouse had been quarantined and later admitted into treatment after two tests confirmed that he was positive. However, following development that subsequent tests conducted for him proved negative for Ebola virus, Dennis was discharged from the treatment centre with a certificate of clearance yesterday. Quoting top doctors

who spoke anonymously, the online medium reported that he walked off the centre in good health. Efforts by the New Telegraph to confirm this report was futile. Special Adviser to the Minister of Health on Media and Communication, Mr. Dan Nwomeh, said he would confirm from the Minister of Health but as at the time of going to press, his response did not deliver. A second spouse of a deceased doctor who had primary contact with Liberian –American, Thomas Sawyer who was admitted yesterday with Dennis remained hospitalised at the centre, currently undergoing treatment.

Osun election: Group distances self from cancellation call Temitope Ogunbanke r. Tunde Bafunsho, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Justice and Equity Organisation (JEO), one of the accredited organisations that observed the August 9 governorship election in Osun State, has dissociated its organisation from a purported report demanding for the cancellation of the Osun election.

Bafunsho in a statement made available to New Telegraph stated that one Mr. James Okoronkwo, who addressed a press conference on behalf of JEO to demand for the cancellation of Osun governorship election is not a member of his organisation and therefore cannot represent the organisation in any way, form or manner as it is a duly registered company.

Julius Berger extends philanthropy to Edo

Tambuwal’s aide eyes Assembly seat in APC

Cajetan Mmmuta

Philip Nyam

BENIN

ultinational construcM tion giant, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc has said its

distributed over 9, 000 mosquito treated nets to pregnant and nursing mothers in the rural communities of its operations in Edo state and its environs. The company’s Public Affairs Advisor, Mr. Clement Iloba disclosed this yesterday during the distribu-

tion of the nets to pregnant women and nursing mothers in two rural communities of Ogiriga and Ogute in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo. He said the company planned to distribute over 20, 000 of the treated mosquito nets in Nigeria within the next few months as part of its contribution to the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP).

Nigerian elected 2nd Vice President of Knights of St. John Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

Dr. Dan AhasNigerian, Anaebo Okekenta been elected world

Second Vice-President of the Knights of St. John Inter national (KSJI), becoming the first Nigerian to assume such prestigious position. The election which

would have been held in Nigeria but for security challenges, took place last week in Columbus, Ohio, in the United States of America (USA). Okenenta, who was conferred with the rank of Lieutenant-General, was elected into KSJI Board of Trustees at the previous convention two years ago.

ABUJA

he Senior Special AssisTAminu tant on Print Media to Waziri Tambuwal,

the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Malam Mohammed Isa has declared his intention to contest for a seat in the Katsina State House of Assembly in the 2015 elections on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Isa, who is contesting to represent Funtua Constituency made the declaration at the weekend when he paid a courtesy call to the APC executive officials in

Funtua local government area. While making his intention public, he said his decision to contest for the seat was informed by his years of experience as a journalist who covered the House of Representatives for a long period of time before being appointed a media aide to Tambuwal. He said if given the chance, he would bring his wealth of experience on the job as someone who interacted with lawmakers at the federal level, saying he had consulted widely on his ambition.

Dansharu emerges Kano PDP chairman Muhammad Kabir, KANO abiu Dansharu has won the election into the office of the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano. Dansharu polled 1,500 votes to defeat his closest rival, Senator Masaud

Eldoguwa Doguwa who scored 420 votes. The new Chairman of the Kano PDP will steer the next coming party primary elections, which will produce who will fly the PDP flag in the 2015 gubernatorial elections.

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/metro

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

MONday, AUGUST 25, 2014

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

0802 393 8212

Isheri-Osun: Residents’ transportation pang Camillus Nnaji

“W

e hardly go to other towns in Lagos. We are totally cut off from the world. Our businesses have collapsed here. This road has been like this for over 10 years.” A resident of Isheri-Osun in Ikotun-Igando Local Council Development Authority (LCDA) under Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State said. His statement represents the views and general feelings of the majority of Lagos residents living in the LCDA. The four-kilometre road, which begins from Isheri-Osun via Ikotun/ Ijegu Road, stretches to Ijegun Jakande end. Plying the road has become a nightmare to many of the residents and visitors to the area. At the beginning of the road is Isheri-Osun plank market. The Chairman of the Plank Market Traders’ Association, Mr Emmanuel Oyedepo, said that for over five years, the road had remained impassable. He said: “There are no drainage channels. Since the completion of Ijegun-Igando Road, Isheri-Osun Road has collapsed and abandoned. The flood from that road flows into this community. The only work we have seen here is when the landlords, through communal effort, poured granites on the road in 2010. In 2011, Garden Rose Hotel and some private schools in this area contributed to manage the road but that was temporary as the road deteriorated thereafter.” Oyedepo said the condition of the road had affected patronage at the plank market. “Is it not when you see people that you do business? Trucks cannot pass this toad, even 10-tyre trucks sink here while others fall inside gullies. Our business requires the use of these vehicles,” he added. A member of the Community Development Association and an Ad-hoc Committee on Road Maintenance in the area, Alhaji Rafiu Kolawale, said the people were tired of the situation. He said: “Even before the admin-

Deteriorated sights of Isheri Osun road

istration of former Governor Bola Tinubu, this road had been neglected. The only thing that was done was by the community through the different Community Development Associations who constituted an Ad-hoc Committee on the Road Maintenance. However, support came from the present Ikotun-Igando LCDA Chairman, Hon. Adesina Williams. The chairman gave us 54 tippers of granite while we bought six tippers to pour on the road.” Kolawale lashed out at the government for its failure to maintain a road in an area where thousands of taxpayers live. On the part of the community, Kolawale blamed the residents for dumping refuse in the canal in the area which, according to him, makes flood to ravage the community.

He said: “CDA in the area has sent several letters to the state government. We are also planning to send another one. Since then, four contractors have assessed the road, but if it had been awarded or when it would be awarded, only God knows.” The committee Chairman, Alhaji Deji Jimoh, said he had spent his own personal money through communal support to fill the road. He said it was time the government responded to the wailings of the people. The committee Vice-Chairman, Mrs Yemi Ojo, also said that businesses had been crippled. She said: “Businesses have collapsed because of bad road. In my own school, we used to have two buses but they are grounded because of this road. For over 15 years, we have been going to Alausa, Lagos State Secre-

tariat and the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure but these visits have been an exercise in futility.” When contacted, the Executive Chairman, Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC), Mr Gbenga Akintola, said the corporation had investigated and confirmed that the contract for Isheri-Osun Road was awarded by the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure. He said: “I have directed an inspection should be carried out to determine any needful palliative that could be done. But note that if it requires such, it is best done in the dry season.” But the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Bamgbose Martins (an engineer), neither picked his calls nor responded to messages sent to his phone for his reaction to the issue.

10 METRO

Robbery suspect arrested after 10 years’ hunt For a decade, a suspected notorious robber ruled the underworld, with blood, tears and sorrow trailing his escapades. His reign of terror, however, ends when he walks into police net Juliana Francis

Okorie

ter operations. “They used to wear military uniforms and pose as task force whenever they want to rob containers,” a police source said. Okorie was arrested with the assistance of Interpol after it was discovered that most of the snatched items in Nigeria were taken to his warehouses in Cameroun. Okorie, who used to tell people that he was actually

Ekiti community mourns Ikere monarch Adesina Wahab ADO-EKITI

ndigenes and residents of Ikere-Ekiti are still mourning the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Adegoke Adegboye, who died on Friday. Adegboye (85), a first class monarch, died during a brief illness. The traditional announcement of his demise was made yesterday. The deceased hailed from Akayejo dynasty, one of the three ruling houses in the town. Adegboye, the longest reigning traditional ruler in the town, who ruled for 43 years, was installed the king on August 22, 1971. Speaking on behalf of his children on the virtues of the monarch, Prince Adesoji Adegboye described the deceased as a peace-loving man, who put the interest of the town above personal gains. Prince Adegboye, a Chief Magistrate with the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice, said his fa-

ther served with zeal and that brought about unprecedented development to the town. He said: “My father died after a brief illness. But one thing is very special about his demise, he died the very day he clocked 43 years on the throne. The people will never forget his strides for development.” The chief magistrate said the town would miss the late monarch sorely because he pioneered a modern Ikere-Ekiti that had become a pride of all. The Caretaker Chairman, Ikere West Local Council Development Area, Mr Gbenga Omole, said he received the death of Adegboye with shock, describing him as a well-focused and hardworking man, who loved Ikere-Ekiti immensely. Omole urged indigenes of the town to strive to ensure the sustainability of the unity the late monarch left behind. He said that the late monarch served the people selflessly and that such must be reciprocated by being peaceful and remaining united after his demise.

Fayemi’s aide, family escape death Adesina Wahab ADO-EKITI

he Special Assistant Ekiti State Governor on Media, Mr Odunayo Ogunmola, was nearly crushed to death alongside six members of his family by a truck in Ado-Ekiti at the weekend. Ogunmola, his wife, three children and other relatives were in their vehicle driving home when a truck in front carrying sand rolled back down a slope. The truck crushed Ogunmola’s car and poured its content on the vehicle. The incident, which happened about 7:10 pm on Deeper Life Camp Ground Road, Ajebamidele area by Bolawole Quarters, Ado-Ekiti, left Ogunmola’s car, a Passat CL marked Lagos EKY 614 AR, badly damaged. Ogunmola and others sustained various degrees of injury. The governor’s aide explained that he had gone with his family for a special programme and was returning home when the incident occurred. According to him, they were returning home, driving behind the truck with registration number Ekiti XA769 MUE, belonging to Peace and Unity Tipper Owners’ and Quarry Operator (No 126) when sud-

END OF AN ERA

olice detectives attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos, have apprehended a suspect described as a notorious robber. The suspect, identified as Obinna Okorie, was said to have been on the police wanted list for more than 10 years. It was gathered that aside from SARS and Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) who were on his trail, police divisions were also frantically trying to arrest him. Okorie became one of the most wanted robbers after several robbery suspects mentioned his name. He was also wanted in other states. Policemen got to recognise the name, but the suspect was like a spirit to them. Okorie was alleged to be a specialist in hijacking containers filled with goods valued at millions of naira. He was also said to be involved in organising robbery operations with gangs he used to raise. It is believed that he used to disband the gangs af-

Monday, August 25, 2014

a businessman selling shoes, said “I have nothing to say. It happened as the police said.” If Okorie was not willing to speak, the police were willing. One of the detectives close to the case said: “Okorie was selling spare parts at Ladipo market before he went into robbery. He used to receive Dominic Adewole, stolen items and sponsor rob- ASABA bery operations. About 15 stolen containers, loaded with LG uck yesterday ran out on two products, were traced to him.” notorious armed robbers - Ifeanyi Okangba (36) and Chibuike Nwankpa (30) - after raiding a luxury bus on its way to Lagos. The suspects, both from Abia State, had disguised as passengers and boarded G.U.O Group of Companies luxury bus with registration number XD 458 AWK from Owerri before nemesis caught up with them. On getting to Asaba, the Delta State capital, the suspects brought out their weapons and

denly the truck stopped midmotion and started coming down the hill. He said: “I noticed the truck, a Mercedes Benz product, fully loaded with white sand, suddenly stopped while going up the hill and started coming down like that, apparently having lost control of its mechanism. “I started reversing the car but the truck kept following me. I quickly swerved to a side of the road I guessed was safe enough but I was wrong. The truck came down exactly where I packed, hitting the car and sending whole thing alongside the occupants tumbling upside down. All of us sustained injuries, except our months old baby who did not sustain any injury.”

Fayemi

Robbers apprehended after raiding Lagos-bound bus

forced the driver to stop. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the robbery attack, said the driver, Ojukwu Mac-Donald, stopped after the suspects threatened to shoot him. “The duo of Ifeanyi and Chibuike robbed one of the passengers by name Promise Okwuake of his lap top, jumped down from the vehicle and took to their heels,” she said. Kalu said men of the ‘B’ Division, Asaba, who got wind of the incident and mobilised to the scene, chased the suspects and arrested them.

Fayose gives 10,000 helmets to cyclists Adesina Wahab ADO-EKITI

The late Adegboye

The chairman praised members of Ogoga-in-Council and the youth for their peaceful conduct while performing the traditional rites for the departed traditional ruler. Former Chairman, Ikere Local Government, Mr Olasunkami Ogunbiyi, who praised the late monarch for his passionate love for the town, said his reign saw the establishment of the College of Education, several secondary schools and other projects. Before his installation, Oba Adegboye was an accountant with the Nigeria Police Force where he worked for many years.

o ensure the safety of commerTcalled cial motorcyclists popularly okada riders on the road,

Ekiti State Governor-elect, Mr Ayo Fayose, at the weekend gave out 10,000 crash helmets to protect them against possible injury. Fayose, who made the donation in Ado-Ekiti, expressed commitment to alleviating the plight of the commercial motorcyclists and expressed the readiness of his in-coming administration to give their welfare priority. He said: “I don’t want to drive you from the roads because of your contributions to transport development of the state.” “And true to our promise, even before swearing-in, your safety is important and I’ve decided to do this out of my personal volition to assist you and to ensure that you

Fayose

are duly protected.” The governor-elect expressed worry on the alarming unemployment rate in the country, saying driving commercial motorcyclists from the road could lead to unexpected increase in social vices. Fayose reminded the riders of the general elections which comprise state, national assemblies and the presidential elections holding next year and the need to ensure Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates emerge victorious at the polls.

MEtro

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

DPO held for ‘aiding’ killer cop’s escape Juliana Francis

he police top hierarchy has ordered the immediate detention of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Okota Police Station. The DPO, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) London Aloba, was said to have been detained for allowing a corporal who shot and killed two civilians who were on motorcycle to escape. The order for the arrest, detention and immediate interrogation of Aloba came from Abuja after family members of the deceased wrote petitions. The family of the victims became uneasy after the case appeared to have suddenly gone cold. But determined to get justice for their beloved ones, they petitioned the Inspector General of Police. The incident happened in 2013 at Idimu/Igando area of Lagos State. The two men who were killed were sent on errand

Manko

by their boss. Policemen on duty along the road had attempted to flag down the motorcycle rider, but he allegedly refused to stop. Another version of the story claimed that when the armed policemen flagged down the rider, he

stopped, but started riding away when they demanded money. The irrefutable fact, however, was that one of the policemen opened fire and killed the two men on the motorcycle. It was later gathered

that the Igando Police Station was almost razed down by angry mob, policemen on duty, however, held sway. Later it was learnt that though the policemen were at the axis between Igando and Idimu, they were actually from Idimu Police Station, not Igando as thought by the irate mob. The shooter, who his colleagues fingered, was detained at the Police Provost Office. Aloba was the Officer in Charge of Provost back then. He was supposed to interrogate the corporal and even carried out an orderly room trial on him. Aloba was also expected to make a recommendation, which many policemen said was usually dismissal and trial at court, for policemen who killed for unjustifiable reasons. “In fact, we heard that the police authorities recommended the killer cop for dismissal and the case file was forward to the Commissioner of Police. We forgot about the

‘Igbere Day lecture will focus on people’s history’ Camillus Nnaji

rganisers of Igbere Day celebration 2014 said the lecture presentation would afford Igbere indigenes, friends, neighbours and well-wishers the opportunity to know about Igbere people’s history, facts and fallacies. The Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC), Igbere Day Celebration 2014, Chief Chinasa Uche, said the lecture presentation on the history of the people would give their friends, neighbours and children the opportunity to know them well. He said: “The lecture has been well-planned to centre on our history, facts and fallacies. The lecturers say they are ready.” Professor M. A. Ijeoma from Abia State University (ABSU), Dr Uwakwe Esseh from the National Achieves and Mr Chukwu Omenka have accepted to do justice on the lecture

topic scheduled to hold on September 6 at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos. Also, the President, Igbere Welfare Union, Lagos branch, Comrade Godswill Okorie, said the lecturers would expose Igbere culture in its entirety to their children such that they would not make mistakes in marriage. He said: “In our place there are kindred that cannot marry between each other because of our culture. The lecture will make it possible for our children to know such, so that again they will avoid sleeping with their sisters.” According to Okorie, when one forgets where he is coming from, he will not know where he is going. The LOC Secretary, Hon. Emenike Anyaogu, added that aside exposing Igbere culture, the aim of the lecture was to market the town as a brand.

Igbere Welfare Union members displaying the T-Shirt for the Igbere Day celebration

case. Everybody thought the corporal had been dismissed. Nobody knew that Aloba, who had become DPO of Okota Police Station, allowed him to go. Families of victims have petitioned the IG. It when the IG called for the corporal that problem started,” a police source said. The source added that Aloba released the corporal on bail, instructing

him to be reporting every day at the Police Command. The corporal reported twice and stopped. “The lawyer of the victims sued the IG, AIG, CP and DPO Idimu Police Station, where the corporal was attached to. When the matter reached the IG, he instructed the Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, to look into the case.

Communal clash: Oloto seeks govt intervention Taiwo Jimoh

he Oloto of Otto, Oba Ganiyu Odesanyan, has called on the Lagos State Government to save his subjects from incessant bloody attacks. The monarch, who spoke on the heels of last week attack on the community, said that he did not know what the hoodlums really wanted. During last week’s violent confrontation between hoodlums at Ilogbo Otto community in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area, at least seven persons reportedly lost their lives.

It was gathered that since the beginning of the crisis, many residents of the area have vacated their houses while about 20 houses have been torched. When our correspondent visited the community, some of the residents said that they were still in shock. Some shops were still under lock and key for the fear reprisal attacks. One of the residents, who gave his name as Wale Ahmed, said that hundreds of people had vacated their houses in the community, while some were still moving their luggage.

Ashafa empowers 1,000 youths, women, artisans Muritala Ayinla Ogunsakin (third left) with some traditional rulers

Ogunsakin seeks police, public cooperation Taiwo Jimoh

iver State Commissioner of Police, Tunde Ogunsakin, has assured the public that any information given to the police would be treated with utmost confidence. Ogunsakin gave the assurance recently at the Police Special Area Division at Rumu-Odomanya in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area during a familiarisation tour. The commissioner expressed joy over the cooperation between the people and the police. He said: “We will bring police closer to everyone by distributing police control room numbers as well as numbers of Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) to the public. It is essential considering the need to keep crime at a minimum rate in the state. “I want to encourage Rivers people to have trust in the police by promptly

giving us information. We assure you that we will not misuse or misdirect any piece of information given. “We are here to do professional policing and would stop at nothing to prevent crime and other vices in the state.” Ogunsakin also spoke with police officers, traditional rulers, and Police Community Relations Committee members. He said: “At the Rivers State Command policemen would be encouraged and motivated to put in their best and show diligence to work.” The commissioner added that his command was not seeking to have ordinary officers but looking out for extraordinary men who would stand out at all times. He also urged the DPOs to respond to distress call on time as that would drastically reduce crime in the state.

orried by the rate of unemployed graduates and artisans in his constituency, the lawmaker representing the Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, has empowered over 1,000 artisans with various vocational equipment. The lawmaker, who donated multi-million naira worth of items to the residents of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, said the rate of unemployed youths and artisans who have become jobless due to lack of basic tools that will engage them in their chosen vocation was alarming. He called on well-meaning Nigerians to embark on aggressive empowerment of people to eradicate poverty in the country.

The donated items

Presenting the tools to the 500 beneficiaries and financial grants to All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts, comprising of 500 women in the local government area, Ashafa said time had come for the wealthy individuals in Nigeria to come to the rescue of the downtrodden. He said that beneficiaries were empowered with tools which would aid their trade, adding that hair dryers and barbing kits as well as gasoline generator sets were given to a hair dresser and barbers. While others got tools suitable for their trades. Among the donated items were deep freezers, vulcanizing machines, sewing machines and provision of financial grants to 500 women party members in Ibeju-Lekki LGA and Lekki LCDA.

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Mimiko’s defection: APC ready to accept aggrieved LP, PDP members lNo official notice of defection yet, says party chieftain CERTAINTY It did not come as a surprise that Ondo governor joined PDP. But APC will talk as usual Babatope Okeowo Akure

he Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday expressed its readiness to accept Labour Party (LP) members who may not want to join Governor Olusegun Mimiko to dump the party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The APC expressed this desire at the weekend even as a chieftain of the LP, Chief Kayode Ajulo, said Governor Mimiko was still consulting with his people to know the next line of action. He said no official notice has been given concerning the alleged defection of the governor to the PDP. But, the APC yesterday said its doors are open to PDP members who may not want to stay in the same political party with the governor, because of his past political records. Publicity Secretary of the APC, Abayomi Adesanya, who described LP as an annex of the PDP, said the progressives in the party, who are dissatis-

fied with Mimiko’s dumping of the party, should join the progressive APC movement in the state. Mimiko at a meeting held with leaders of the LP at the Government House, at the weekend, told the leaders of the imperative of joining the PDP. He directed the House of Assembly members, commissioners and aides to join the PDP at the ward levels. But the APC said the news of the defection of the governor did not come as a surprise as he has been hobnobbing with the PDP at the national level for a long time, even though, he has no good relationship with the state chapter of the party. Adesanya said Mimiko

has succeeded in using the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, to win his second term with a promise to join the PDP three months after been sworn in. He said: “But since he was sworn-in in February last year, he has been playing hanky-panky with Jonathan and the Turkur led-PDP. He wanted to use and dump the President and the PDP, who helped him to win his second term, because that is what he is known for. However, Ajulo in a statement issued in Abuja, said a defection of a high profile, pragmatic and progressive governor in the mould of Dr. Mimiko cannot and will not be handled as it is being presented.

Ondo calls for voters’ registration extension Babatope Okeowo

Akure

ndo State government Odependent yesterday asked the InNational Elec-

toral Commission (INEC) to extend the days allocated for the collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and the registration of new voters in the state. Commissioners for Information and Community Development and Cooperative Services, Messrs. Kayode Akinmade and Clement Faboyede, who spoke on behalf of the government and people, said the exercise has been marred by hiccups since it commenced few days ago. Faboyede, who spoke on behalf of Ondo State Committee on INEC Voters Registration, said the five days allocated for registration were grossly inadequate as 60 per cent of would-be voters are yet to be registered.

Giving details of the problems being encountered by the people, Faboyede said the first day of the exercise was nothing to write home about as the machines sent to the centres were malfunctioning. On the second and third day, the commissioner said the heavy downpour coupled with machine problem did not allow any intended voter to get near the collation centres. He said different factors, including inability to get their permanent voters cards, displacement of some people from their previous abodes and natural disaster, made the number of people seeking fresh registration to be high. Also, he said the last update of voters’ register took place in 2010 and many youths, who have since attained the age of 18 and are now eligible for registration.

We’ll elect competent leaders, say Kwara residents s politicians warm up Ations, for the 2015 general elecresidents of Kwara

Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Dibu Ojerinde (right), presenting a trophy to Senate President, David Mark, during the 2014 Late Mrs. Odusola Ojerinde Memorial Pro-Am Golf Tournament, at St. Mark Golf and Country Club, Akpegede, Otukpo, Benue State…yesterday

Implement confab report in phases, Arogbofa tells GEJ Babatope Okeowo

Akure

ecretary General of pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Basorun Seinde Arogbofa, yesterday advised President Goodluck Jonathan, to start the implementation of the decision of the National Conference in phases. Arogbofa, who was a delegate to the conference, said some decisions in the recommendations call administrative fiat while others needed amendment to the country’s constitution. According to him, the President can start the implementation of those

that did not need amendment to the 1999 Constitution to show his seriousness about the outcome of the conference. He said: “Some of the recommendations are administrative while others are not. Those that are administrative, the President can carry all those through now. “We have advised the President, because he has not called us for fun, he has not assembled elderly people like Chief Ayo Adebanjo, the Lamido of Adamawa and other young people for fun and I am sure the recommendations will be implemented.” The politician said

reaching consensus on all issues was not easy as there were people who were ready to throw spanner into the works of the conference. He continued: “First and foremost, let us thank God, we give glory to God, because even those of us who were going for the conference do not know what was going to happen due to the challenges facing the county, like kidnapping and Boko Haram, the divergent opinion and some agenda for us to be harmonised. “We started on a very rough note with members attacking themselves. I could remember that one of the most prominent tra-

ditional rulers, the Lamido of Adamawa, threatened that they would walk out of Nigeria. “But through the grace of God and good management by those at the helm of affairs, we were able to sail through. “So those of us elders, we were on alert to make sure that young people were not allowed to derail. By the grace of God, yes, we arrived at all resolutions through consensus it was fantastic. We didn't vote. We were very optimistic.” Arogbofa said Nigerians should be ready to go to war if government refuses to implement the decisions of the conference.

State have resolved to encourage and work for the election of political leaders with vision and progressive ideas. Rising from a colloquium held in Ilorin tagged; “The Need for Progressive Leadership in Kwara State,” participants, including labour leaders, civil society activists, the academia and prominent politicians, agreed on the need to expand the political space to enable the people elect competent leaders. Speakers at the event, organised by The Leaders Institute, including Prof. Hassan Saliu, of the University of Ilorin; former Minister, Dr. Amina Ndalolo; former bank executive, Princess Shola Adedoyin, and Vice-

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Issa Aremu, all agreed that the event was auspicious and the theme, a right step in the right direction. “The desirable leader should be one that is accommodating and altruistic; such leader must have the ability to transform a vision to reality. In the search for new leaders therefore, it is imperative for everybody to get involved since the future of the people is too precious to be left in the hands of a few,” the organisers said in a communiqué issued by Alhaji Tajudeen Abdulkareem, the convener. It was noted that as a result of the ‘privatised’ nature of Kwara politics, a large part of the state has remained in limbo with the attendant lack of development and advancement.

‘Nigeria’s unity in God’s hand' Johnchuks Onuanyim

Abuja

Jacob Bamidele Rdraleverend Ibikunle of the Catheof Unity Methodist

Church, Abuja, has called on Nigerians to increase their faith in the power of God, stating that the unity of the country is in God’s hands. He gave the advice in a sermon titled; “Divine Mandate” during his induction ceremony performed by the Archbishop of Abuja Archdiocese, Methodist Church, Most Reverend Joseph Oche Job. Quoting from the bible, Ibukunle traced the instances of national instability among the Jews of old and the miraculous intervention of God who “rules

in the affairs of nations.” He reminded the congregation that the forces of evil can never disintegrate the country as God’s divine grace shall help Nigeria weather the storms of insecurity, poverty, corruption and other evils plaguing it. In his address, the Archbishop, Reverend Joseph Oche Job, urged the new presbyter to be in covenant with the leadership of the conference and work with the archbishop and other ministers of God. He warned against discriminatory practices as the entire congregation was a family of God’s people; “You are therefore committed to serve faithfully the old, young, the rich and the poor.”

Adebanjo: We’ve created foundation for a new Nigeria / PAGE 18

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AkiyodeAfolabi: Confab report should be implemented undiluted

p-17

Who’s Who @ NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2014 For four months, 492 delegates converged on the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Abuja for the 2014 National Conference. They came from all walks of life, representing different segments of the society. They were the elder statesmen, the Federal Government delegates, state government delegates and representatives of the six geo-political zones. Some represented platforms such as Retired Army, Navy and Air Force Officers, Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria, Nigeria Labour Congress, Nigeria Academy of Science, Civil Society Organisations and Youth Organizations. In this first series, LOUIS ACHI and ONWUKA NZESHI showcase the profile of some eminent delegates, their contributions and impact during the conference Dr. Tunji Braithwaite Platform: Elder Statesman Region: South West Committee: Devolution of Power Bio Data: Born in 1933, Braithwaite is a lawyer, pro-democracy activist and founder of the defunct Nigeria Advance Party (NAP). He was the presidential candidate of NAP during the 1979 and 1983 presidential elections. Over the years, Braithwaite has been an advocate of the Sovereign National Conference for the purpose of restructuring Nigeria. He was the Coordinator, South West Consultative Forum to the 2014 National Conference. Contributions: At the conference, Braithwaite canvassed that power should devolve from the centre to the federating units as in a confederation. Dr. Braithwaite said the restructuring of the polity must go beyond cosmetics and sloganeering. He said Nigeria has to go the whole hog to enthrone a confederal system -a loose federation where the zones have reasonable autonomy that will give them the latitude to take their destiny in their hands and develop at their own pace. He has been

Personalities that shaped 2014 confab

Braithwaite

Adebanjo

Gana

Nwachukwu

an ardent critic of military incursion into politics. Braithwaite believes that ex-military rulers should not be allowed to sit at the National Council of States because they violated the constitution by plotting coups and sacking democratically elected governments. He said it was not enough to ask the military to apologise but to take some drastic action that could discourage soldiers from interrupting the democratic

system of governance. Braithwaite said all former Heads of State who came into office through undemocratic means should not have the honour of sitting at the National Council of States. “I believe that Nigerians know some of the worst opportunistic military takeovers and the personae involved know too. I think they should be barred from public office. I would want the so-called National Council of States

scrapped and if it is not scrapped, those who took government by unconstitutional means should have no place there,” Braithwaite said. Chief Ayo Adebanjo Platform: Elder Statesman Region: South-West Committee: Devolution of Power. CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

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Who’s Who @ NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2014

Braithwaite, Falae, Nwachukwu, Nwobodo, CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

Bio data: Adebanjo is a lawyer, politician, elder statesman and one of the living legends of Nigeria’s struggle for independence. He was a close associate of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and a member of the Action Group (AG), one of the three prominent political parties that tackled the colonial masters. When that era passed and Action Group metamorphosed to the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Adebanjo remained in the Awo camp. In the dark days of the military in Nigeria, Adebanjo became one of the key leaders of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), the group that was at the forefront of the campaign for the revalidation of the results of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections and the exit of the military from the political arena. He was also a chieftain of Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation that also fought for the actualisation of the June 12 mandate. He later became the National Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), one of the major political parties at the beginning of the current political dispensation. Adebanjo remains one of the most credible and consistent political leaders in the South-West having been actively involved in politics since 1951 with the formation of the Action Group Youth Wing. He has dedicated his life to fighting for the cause of a better Nigeria. Adebanjo has over the years been an advocate of a sovereign national conference, fiscal federalism, restoration of regionalism and Westminster parliamentary system bequeathed to Nigeria by Britain. Contributions: In plenary and at the committee stage, Adebanjo was a strong advocate for true federalism and relative autonomy for the federating units. He was also one of the eminent voices that campaigned vigorously for the national conference to produce a new constitution to replace the existing one. In one of his presentations at the conference, Adebanjo described the 1999 Constitution as a fraudulent document having not emanated from the people but impersonates the people in its opening statement. He said that much of Nigeria’s problems could be found in its constitution and political structure. According to him, there was no need to waste any further time but to seize the opportunity offered by the conference to produce a new constitution for the country. “We want to make our own constitution. We do not want the military constitution to be amended. For this conference to be successful, we must make a clean break with the past,” Adebanjo said. The campaign succeeded to the extent that a draft constitution came out of the conference. Chief Richard Akinjide Platform: Elder Statesman Region: South West Committee: Energy Bio Data: Born in the 1930s, Akinjide is a politician, lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He had a brilliant early education in Nigeria and proceeded to the United Kingdom in 1951. He was called to the English Bar in 1955 and established his private law firm soon after. He was a Minister of Education during the First Republic

Obada

Akinjide

Falae

Anenih

and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice during the Second Republic when the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) held sway. Contributions: Akinjide was not one of the hardliners when it came to devolution of power, federalism and agitation to return to the parliamentary system. He was among those who canvassed that the report of the conference should be submitted to the National Assembly. During the conference, he taunted those clamouring for a weak central government, stronger and more autonomous federating units and restoration of the parliamentary system. “Unless you have good reasons, you don’t touch the Exclusive Legislative List. The centre is very critical. I don’t believe in transferring anything to the states again at all. If we are not careful and we make the states too strong, we are going to have instability. I was involved when we had a system of states having a lot of powers and there was instability. They (regions) had their own police and the Federal Government also had theirs and we had no peace. I am not an advocate of any unitary system. I want a federal system but you cannot make the centre weak and the states strong in a situation where the Federal Government controls the only source of revenue which is oil. “I have heard the people talking of going back to the parliamentary sys-

tem. Many of the people talking about that don’t know what they are talking about. I was involved in the parliamentary system and I also played some roles during the military era; I was involved when we made the system more tight and made the centre stronger. We had reasons to do those things,” Akinjide stated during the conference. Chief Olu Falae Platform: Elder statesman Region: South-West Committee: Political Restructuring and Forms of Government. Bio Data: Born on September 21, 1938, Samuel Oluyemisi Falae is a politician from Akure, Ondo State. He was educated at Yale University in the United States of America. Falae is an experienced banker and politician who served as Minister of Finance and later, Secretary to the Government of the Federation during the military era. He was a presidential candidate running on the joint ticket of the defunct All Peoples Party (APP) and the Alliance for Democracy (AD) during the 1999 election. As at 2008, he was the pro-term chairman of the Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA), a progressive party. Contributions: He believes that Nigeria lost its way to sustainable democracy and economic prosperity when the military sacked the government of Sir

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa in 1966. He lamented the sacking of the regional governments, the halting of fiscal federalism and canvases a restoration of what he described as the golden era of Nigeria. He canvassed for a new constitution and challenged those who questioned the legitimacy of the 2014 National Conference on the excuse that the delegates were not elected but selected. According to Falae, delegates to the 1957 and 1958 Constitutional Conferences that held in London were not elected yet they produced the Independence Constitution which many Nigerians still regard as a great foundation for the country. Erelu Olusola Obada Platform: Elder Stateswoman Region: South-West Committee: National Security Bio Data: Born on June 27, 1951, Obada is a lawyer and politician who started her working life as an Advertising Officer with the then Nigeria Airways Limited where she rose to the position of Advertising Manager. She was at one time the Deputy Governor of Osun State and contested the senatorial election to represent Ife/ Ijesa Senatorial District but suffered a major setback. She later joined the federal cabinet as Minister of State (Defence) in 2011. Contributions: While at the conference, Obada pursued the agenda of

POLITICS

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Monday, August 25, 2014

Who’s Who @ NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2014

Gana, Aminu advocate for a new Nigeria

Aminu

Nwobodo

unity and better life for all Nigerians. She canvassed the strengthening of security at Nigeria’s borders to curb terrorism and insurgency particularly in the North East. Like most of her colleagues from the South West, she canvassed the production of a new constitution and referendum on the decisions of the conference. Dr. Kunle Olajide Platform: Elder statesman Region: South West Committee: He served in the Committee on Social Sector. Bio Data: Olajide hails from Ekiti State. He is the Publicity Secretary, Yoruba Unity Forum and former Secretary General, Yoruba Council of Elders. Contributions: He was part of the South West agitation for a restructuring of Nigeria into six or nine regions. In his own view the existing states should remain within these regions but the regions rather than the states should be the federating units. He also canvassed for a reduction in the cost of governance. According to him, no nation can grow when about 80 per cent of its revenue is channelled to recurrent expenditure in a bogus bureaucratic and political setting. Olajide believes that there is a systemic plot to marginalise the Yoruba ethnic group by denying them their rightful places in government. He wants this marginalisation redressed.

Bio Data: Born in Sokoto in 1948, Josephine Anenih is a lawyer, activist and politician. She was the Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, Edo State Chapter (1994-2001) and the National Woman Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party between 1999 and 2005. As the National Woman Leader of the PDP, Anenih raised the stakes in the participation of women in politics by creating awareness for gender sensitivity in the system. She is a co-founder of Women Foundation Nigeria (WFN), an organisation that creates opportunities for women to network on global issues affecting the female folk and encourages them to take active part in politics. Anenih is also a member of the International Republican Institute (IRI) WDN Advisory Board as well as a member of the Gender Electoral and Constitutional Memoranda, a committee which works with parliamentarians on electoral reforms. She was a Special Adviser on Women Affairs to President Olusegun Obasanjo and later Minister of Women Affairs under the Goodluck Jonathan administration. Contributions: Anenih was an active delegate at the conference who used every opportunity to promote the interest of women on all issues. She was among delegates that kicked against the conference receiving memoranda from the general public. According to her, the conference would not be able to accommodate the memoranda given the short time it was meant to sit. However, the majority view that the public should submit memoranda prevailed.

Mu’azu

Ahamba

Gen. Ike Nwachukwu (rtd) Platform: Elder Statesman Region: South East Committee: Political Restructuring and Forms of Government Bio Data: Nwachukwu was born on September 1, 1940 in Port Harcourt to an Igbo father and an Hausa-Fulani mother. He had his early education in Lagos before proceeding to the Nigeria Military Training College, Kaduna. He later attended the Royal Canadian School of Infantry, Warminster, United Kingdom. He also studied at the United Nations Peace Academy and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State. Nwachukwu rose to the rank of a Major General in the Nigeria Army and was at various times the Provost Marshall of the Nigeria Army, Military Governor of Imo State, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Employment, Labour and Productivity. On retirement, he joined politics and was elected as a Senator representing Abia State at the National Assembly. He served as Chairman, Senate Committee on Power and Steel and later as Chairman, Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs. He is a recipient of several service medals for his meritorious service to the Nigerian Armed Forces. He holds the National Honours Award of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) of Nigeria as well as

several international awards. Contributions: Nwachukwu made a lot of contributions towards the success of the National Conference. Since he was the leader of the South East delegation to the conference, he was at the forefront of the agitation for the creation of one additional state in the South East to bring the zone at par with the other zones in Nigeria. He was among the six zonal leaders who were always consulted by the leadership of the conference whenever there was a sensitive issue that needed to be resolved behind the scene to avoid chaos. When the conference was almost at a breaking point after the Lamido of Adamawa made pronouncements that suggested some persons from the North were out to scuttle the proceedings, it took the likes of Nwachukwu to calm down frayed nerves. At all times, Nwachukwu emphasised the need for justice, equity and fairness. He believes the conference was “not about maintaining the status quo that has brought us to where we are, but reforming, redesigning and redefining our country so that we can collectively defend it.” Iyom Josephine Anenih Platform: Elder Stateswoman Region: South East Committee: She was the Chairman of the Committee on Social Sector at the National Conference.

Senator Jim Nwobodo Platform: Elder Statesman Region: South East Committee: Energy Bio Data: Nwobodo was born on May 9, 1940 in Lafia, Nasarawa State. He is a sports administrator, businessman and politician. He was a close associate of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and a member of the defunct Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP), the party on whose platform he became the Governor of old Anambra State. He was the Minister of Sports during the Gen. Sani Abacha regime and later served as the Senator representing Enugu East Senatorial District at the National Assembly. Contributions: Nwobodo was among the delegates from the South East who championed the cause of the region. The efforts paid off when the conference unanimously agreed that an additional state be created in the South East zone. Chief Mike Ahamba Platform: Elder Statesman Region: South East Bio Data: Ahamba is a lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and 2007 presidential running mate to former Head of State, Gen. Muhamadu Buhari under the then Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). Committee: Politics and Governance Contributions: Ahamba was among Nigerians who did not believe in the National Conference. He granted media interviews where he questioned the constitutional basis for the conference. Ironically, he later embraced the same conference when he was nominated as one of the delegates. While at the conference, he distinguished himself as one of the learned fellows who provided legal depth to the issues under consideration at plenary and commitCONTINUED ON PAGE 16

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Elder statesmen as stabilisers CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 5

tee stages. Prof. Jerry Gana Platform: Elder Statesman Region: North Central Committee: Gana served as cochairman, Committee on Politics and Governance with former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Olu Falae. Bio data: Born in 1945, at Busu in Doko LGA of Niger State, Jerry Gana is a professor of Geography and was a lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He was appointed chairman of Mass Mobilisation for Social and Economic Recovery (MAMSER) by the General Ibrahim Babangida regime. At various times, he was Minister for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Information and Culture, Cooperation and Integration in Africa and again for Information and National Orientation. Gana, the Dan Hasken Nupe, ran for president in 1992 on the Social Democratic Party, SDP platform. Before then, he was elected Senator in 1983, serving briefly until the military coup that brought General Muhammadu Buhari to power. He was a key force of the 2005 confab. First, he was a member of the eightmember Ahmed Makarfi Committee that prepared the background paper on the defunct confab and later became a delegate in the Special Cases category. Contributions: At the conference, he was linked with the appearance of a mysterious draft constitution. The document was allegedly smuggled in to provide a platform for Jonathan’s third term. But this allegation remained firmly in the realm of speculation. A key arrowhead of his committee’s positions on returning Nigeria to a true federal structure with the states as federating units, Gana gave a powerful voice to the proposal to remove Section 305 on immunity clause from the Nigerian constitution. According to Gana, the Committee was concerned with the abuse of office by public office holders and the corruption that goes with it. He opined that a message should be sent to Nigerians and office holders that no one is above the law. His words: “We took decision on the immunity clause and it was a clear consensus, so that in the interest of zero to elegance for corruption, to promote good governance, to promote transparency and discipline. “The fact that we don’t want people going around that the government being above the law, the issue of immunity clause should be removed from our constitution. This is not yet the decision of the conference though, but this is what we are presenting to the plenary”. Abdullahi Mamman Platform: Elder statesman Region: FCT Bio data: Abdullahi Mamman, a retired army Major General from the Federal Capital territory (FCT), commissioned in 1965, served in the Nigerian army for three decades and was at various times Minister for Internal Affairs, Industry and Technology. He was a member, International Observer Team to Zimbabwe; a member, United Nation’s Interim Force in Lebanon. He also served in the Constitutional Conference of 1993. He was appointed Federal Commissioner at the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) in 1999. He was a member

Olajide

of the 2005 National Political Reform Conference, representing the Federal Capital Territory. He was also a member of the 1994/1995 Constitutional Conference convoked by Sani Abacha administration and served in its Defence Committee. He was born on July 21, 1941 in the Abaji area of Abuja. Committee/Contribution: Mamman chaired one of the most controversial committees – the Conference Committee on Land Tenure Matters and National Boundaries with the Owaoye of OkemesiEkiti, Michael Adedeji, as deputy. After more than six weeks stand-off over the Land Use Tenure Act, the confab plenary finally supported retention of the Act in the constitution with minor adjustments. Mamman’s committee had in its report recommended that the Act should be expunged from the constitution and replaced with new provisions that would guarantee the right of Nigerians to have access to land irrespective of ethnic origin. It held that the Act attempted to codify all laws in Nigeria pertaining to land administration. Mamman notably countered the proposal by Chief B. Leonard, a delegate from the North East that 2015 elections be put on hold and a government of national unity be put in place for the next two years. He warned that the delegates might be walking into a trap if they allowed the ongoing conference to be extended beyond the three months period it was designed to sit. His words: “Nigerian issues are too serious to be considered over a period of three months if we must do justice to them. But since we are here, we just have to make the best of the bad situation we have on our hands and go ahead with it.” Chief Nduese Essien Platform: Elder Statesman Region: South -South Committee: Land Tenure and National Boundaries. Bio data: Essien, 70, is from Akwa Ibom State. He was a member of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2007. During this period, he was the Chairman of the Committee on AntiCorruption, National Ethics and Values. He was also the leader of the South South Parliamentary Caucus. In 2010, he was appointed Minister of Lands,

Essien

Housing and Urban Development, a position he held until May 2012. Prof. Jubril Aminu Platform: Elder Statesman Region: North East Committee: Member, Committee on Devolution of Powers. Bio data: Born in August 1939, Prof. Jubril Aminu graduated in medicine from the University of Ibadan in 1965, and holds a PhD in Medicine from the Royal Post-Graduate Medical School. Aminu was consultant, senior lecturer and sub-dean of Clinical Studies at the University of Ibadan Medical School from 1973 -1975, Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) from 1975–1979, visiting Professor of Medicine at Howard University College of Medicine in Washington DC from1979–1980, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, 1980-1985. He was also Professor of Medicine at the University of Maiduguri from1979 to 1995. Aminu held office as Minister of Education and later Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (1989–1992). He was Nigeria’s Ambassador to the USA from 1999 to 2003 and was elected Senator for Adamawa Central constituency in May 2003 and re-elected in 2007. Contributions: Contributing to the debate on the report of the Conference Committee on Science and Technology, chaired by Dr. Daniel Maddo, Aminu said: “Ajaokuta steel is a victim of the economic hit-men. We made the mistake of giving the contract to the Russians

He was among the six zonal leaders who were always consulted by the leadership of the conference whenever there was a sensitive issue that needed to be resolved behind the scene

because they helped us during the war and the other powers were angry, hence they used some people to run it down. It is a grand conspiracy by international hit-men.” For good measure, he described the moribund Ajaokuta Steel as a victim of economic hit-men, regretting that Nigeria made the mistake of giving the contract to Russians. During the 2014 National Conference, the leadership of the confab rolled out a 49-member truce committee to harmonise positions on the heated issue of discarding the four quarter benchmark prescribed to reach decisions at the confab. Aminu was one of the wise men. Such was the weight of the recognition of his intellect and insight. Adamu Mu’azu Platform: Elder statesman Region: North West Committee: Committee on Politics and Governance. Bio data: Born June 11, 1955, in Boto, Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu is former governor of Bauchi State from 1999 to 2007. He is the National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and was recently appointed PDP. Mu’azu attended the School of Basic Studies at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria and later received a Bachelor of Science degree in Quantity Surveying. In 1983, he received a Master’s degree in Construction Management also from ABU. He later attended Birmingham University in the United Kingdom where he received a second Master’s degree; this time in the area of Construction Economics. From 1984 until his election as state governor in 1999, Mu’azu worked as a businessman in the private sector. Sharia law was adopted in Bauchi State during Mu’azu’s tenure as governor (in June 2001), but he denied approval of sentences of death by stoning and of amputation passed by sharia law courts. Contributions: Curiously, for almost six weeks after the 2014 National Conference got underway, he was off the radar screen. TO BE CONTINUED ON WEDNESDAY

POLITICS 17

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

NATIONAL CONFERENCE Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, a lawyer and Executive Director of Women Advocates’ Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) was a delegate to the National Conference. In this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, the human rights and women advocate says the report of the confab should be implemented undiluted What is your experience like at the National Conference? The conference was an opportunity to further participate in the discussions about Project Nigeria. It has broadened my understanding of our complex political context. The conference had 492 men and women, rich in thoughts and composition. In terms of human resources, it made me to realise that we are a blessed country, with the richness of the committees reports and the quality of some of the debates. Furthermore, it shows that as Nigerians, we are conscious of our problems but our challenge is about our commitment towards addressing the problems. In a way, the gathering gives me hope that we can use dialogue to resolve our differences. What we need to do is to identify the problems and our issues. The differences are very strong but the conference negotiated around them. The leadership was quite impressive and firm on issues. The conference had accomplished people who have been tested and who were ready to share their thoughts to move the country forward. People, who have led this country in different capacities, some have failed while doing so, learnt and ready to share their thoughts. It was a mix breed. Those who brought us to where we are and those who believe we can salvage the situation. Did you nurse any fears before and during the conference? I was worried about the age and character of the majority in the conference, knowing fully that they have been active in bringing us to where we are as a country by their actions or inactions. I was worried that it will be another waste of the resources of this country and that our differences will possibly mar the outcome of the conference. I was more worried about the agenda of the President in putting the confab together; I didn’t want to be used to satisfy personal goals if any. I was also worried as a civil society activist about my decision to participate, whether it was a right thing to do and was afraid that if it turned the other way round, I will carry the burden through my life. I was indeed worried because I was for the first time accepting to serve in a position by a government that is not sure of its agenda. I was consoled with the fact that the clamour for the conference came from the civil society and that it could be an opportunity to share our perspectives on how to move Nigeria forward. I was also worried about the likely outcome of the confab. Were your expectations met? Partly, for example we got some major issues right; we agreed that we should have true federalism. We agreed that we should decentralise as a country and reduce the power at the centre. We agreed on fundamental reorganisation and restructuring of the country. I

Akiyode-Afolabi: Confab report should be implemented undiluted am amazed at some of the progressive decisions, like engendering the polity, we agreed on including 35 per cent affirmative action in the constitution, we agreed on a better citizenship framework, the deletion of Section 29 (4) b from the constitution and also in particular, the justice ability of the Chapter Two of the constitution. Issues of state police and the idea of each state having its constitution though drawing from the national constitution were agreed upon. So also our decision on public finance, the need to draft or amend the constitution. But there were disagreements among the delegates at the conference? Some of them were so strong, I remembered when the committee on religion was presenting its report, we were almost running away from debating the report, until some of us resisted it and voted against the motion that it should not be adopted without discussions. The report was negotiated and had to be stood down for weeks but eventually, we adopted the secularity of the country and agreed to a commission to address issues arising from religion and other forms of discrimination. There were also issues and disagreements around grazing reserves, land use act, devolution of power, resource control, general restructuring, some of those issues took us more than three adjournments to agree. There were caucus negotiations and the leadership seems to have the expertise in mediation, I have a lot of respect for the capacity of the deputy chair, being a diplomat, I think he used this ability to work around a lot of issues. My greatest happiness was the issues we proposed for insertion and review in the constitution, if we follow through them, we would indeed have a real constitution that is people-centred. How do you see the outcome of the confab? The confab presented the reports with over 600 recommendations and we have identified the issues that merit policies, laws and legislations and who should attend to the issues. I believe the government or Mr. President specifically can make decision on what to do with them. I will expect him to show leadership and political will to implement. The President should show by example, take some of these polices and put forward the mechanism to implement them. Do you see government implementing the report? As I said, I hope the President will. We need to hold him accountable to this, we cannot spend that much money in vain. We (all of us) should ensure that the recommendations are implemented. We

cannot spend billions to run a confab and nothing happens to the report. Often time Nigerians allow issues to pass, because of our mindset; I believe this should not just pass. The civil society organisations have decided to go to market with some of the recommendations; we will put them out to the people so that they can attract necessary discussions and we can push for the implementation. How feasible are some of the recommendations? Majority of the recommendations are workable, what we need is the political will. We need to move forward beyond the current leadership. Honestly, the bulk of the recommendations are far-reaching and are beyond politics. Do you see the 2014 confab going the way of previous conferences? It all depends on us. We can determine the way it should go. We must determine what we want with it, but we need to be informed about what the recommendations are all about. I expect that the media should put forward some of the issues. There were 20 committees and they looked at various issues; organisations can also pick issues and run with them. I must tell you, some of the reports of the committees are good for policy makers and development workers. The proposals for constitution review should be considered. The National Assembly proposals were politicised but this looks to me as stronger and more progressive. So, we must insist that they are implemented. Do you have high and low moments at the confab? During the first week when we were discussing the rules of procedure and I raised the objections that the language of the conference should respond to its gender character and we got the house to agree on that. There were attempts to trivialise the objections but eventually the motion for gender responsive language was adopted. Since then, we all had our gender lenses on, the leadership of the confab took judicial notice of the gender concerns and they ensured that women participated actively. Another time was when the confab voted down the inclusion of affirmative action in the proposed con-

I am not sure the National Assembly will support some of the progressive ideas in the recommendation; I don’t think the decision is the best... I am not sure we are on the same page on the proposals

stitution. Women at the confab stood up for about 10 minutes in protest and the proposal was reconsidered and the confab adopted the inclusion of affirmative action in the constitution. Low moments, often when I see issues of importance being politicised and trivialised. I was not happy that all the discussions on devolution of powers were based on economic power; we didn’t look at how the people can own power and how the people can make government accountable. People were busy looking at sharing formula than how ordinary Nigerians can hold government accountable. There were also times when choices of people speaking on a particular issue were also based on prearranged decisions, you just realised that though you have your name on the list to speak, you can’t speak just because your name did not come from your regional/zonal leader, CSOs delegates suffered from this practice more than any other groups. President Goodluck Jonathan has promised to send the confab report to the National Assembly and the Council of State. What is your take on this? What is important is that the report should be implemented undiluted. I am not sure the National Assembly will support some of the progressive ideas in the recommendation; I don’t think the decision is the best, yes, there are ideas that need legislation, which the legislatures can work on. I am not sure we are on the same page on the proposals on the constitution. What next after the confab? I will go back to my full-time work as a lawyer and development worker and possibly pick up a lecturing job in one of the universities.

Akiyode-Afolabi

18 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Adebanjo: We’ve created foundation for a new Nigeria Chief Ayo Adebanjo, an elder statesman and chieftain of pan Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, was a delegate at the just-concluded National Conference. In this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, he implores President Goodluck Jonathan to implement the confab report. Excerpts What were your fears at the beginning of the National Conference? I had no fear at the beginning other than the fact that I knew there were people who didn’t want the conference to succeed; many people didn’t want the conference to come into an existence. And after coming to existence, they wanted to scuttle it. So, anything they could lay their hands on or pick upon, they picked on it to make sure that the conference ends in confusion, indecision and all that. We are very much aware of that but praise God, the majority of responsible Nigerians that were at the conference made up their mind that we were going to make fundamental changes to the structure of Nigeria and settle our differences in order to keep the country one. When we were asking for the convocation of the conference, all we were saying was that we wanted to live together but we don’t want ourselves to be forced together. If we want to live together, what is the module operandi of living together without conflict and clash? We have been living together for over 100 years but we have been having clashes and conflicts. But this time around, we said we don’t want conflict. What are those things that we have to do in order to avoid all the past differences? And that was what the conference was set up for. And that is why those of us who have genuine purpose of convoking this conference, knowing the importance of having a true federal constitution, where every nationality that constitutes Nigeria will develop at its own space, supported it. At a point there were disagreements on some certain issues raised at the conference; how do you see those disagreements? If we are all going to agree, there would not be any purpose for organising a dialogue. The disagreements and other things were anticipated and that was the essence of coming together to discuss our differences. It is in the course of discussing the differences that you find solutions to them. And that is the beauty of the conference. We discovered our differences and we were able to find solutions. How do you see the outcome of the confab? Fantastic! We shamed all those who

believed that nothing can come out of it. We shamed all those who thought that the conference was not even necessary. We shamed those who thought the conference would cause confusion. We shamed those who believed convoking the conference would lead to disintegration. All of that has been put to history. We have told them that Nigerians can come together and discuss their differences in a peaceful atmosphere. What do you think should be done to the recommendations of the confab? Nothing should be done rather than for President Goodluck Jonathan to use his good office as a true Nigerian to implement them in full. And he has promised that he is going to do it. Do you really see the President implementing the confab resolutions? I am not a pessimist. That is the view of those who didn’t want the conference to hold. When the conference was holding, some people said they won’t implement it and that it will go the way of previous conferences. And Jonathan said categorically last Thursday and promised us that this is not going to be one of the documents that would be hanging on the shelve at the secretariat and that he is going to make sure that everything is implemented because of the composition of those who constituted the conference and their recommendation. If 492 eminent Nigerians could come out with the report, those of them who are elected hold the duty to see that the conference report is implemented by all means. What is your take on the decision of President Jonathan to send the confab report to the National Assembly and Council of State? There is nothing wrong about that. He is not going to send it to them for them to amend the constitution. He is not going to add to it. We have done our own duty and it is now left for those who are elected to do their duty to ensure that all the confab recommendations are implemented. He didn’t say he is sending it to them to sort out what is good and bad. And for those who are quarrelling over the language whether it was Sovereign National Conference or not, that was not what we are saying. All we are saying is that once we take a decision, vit must not be subjected to revision by any other body. We didn’t say it must not be subjected to other bodies

When you are doing something that you have been praying for and which would make the country good, you will be alert when you are in the process of doing it. It won’t be a time for dozing

Adebanjo

passing through them. The National Assembly and the judiciary have their own aspects to ensure that the recommendations are implemented. Do you think the various ethnic nationalities really realised their agenda at the confab? The conference is not about any ethnic nationalities. All that we want is that Nigeria must be restructured. That is what should be discussed now. It is not about whether somebody like what is in the confab report or not. It is not about whether people want the conference to be a Sovereign National Conference or not. What people should be concerned about now is the implementation of what we recommended at the conference. People should put pressure for the implementation of the confab resolutions just like we put pressure on President Jonathan to convoke the National Conference. The President and the Senate President didn’t want to convoke it initially but as a result of pressure from the people, they accepted. So, if we all agreed that all that were recommended at the conference are good for Nigeria, they will also put pressure on those that will implement them to put them into action. How it is put into action is not necessary, it is the end result that we want. Don’t you think politics must have informed some of the confab recommendations? The problem of the conference was politics. What others could it have been? Why do we talk of Party A, B and C? It is because these parties are supposed to have different policies, ideologies and manifestoes. The whole thing is about politics. And if there is any politics that worked at the conference, it is the politics that is acceptable to all and sundry. Do you see the 2014 conference going the way of previous conferences? At the beginning of this conference; many people believe that nothing will come out of the conference and that it will go the way of others because nobody will implement it. They said former President

Olusegun Obasanjo convened a conference and nothing came out of it. We have done a conference and the man to implement it is assuring Nigerians that this conference will not go the way of other conferences. So, I don’t belong to the group of people that believe that the report of the conference would not be implemented. What next after the conference? It is implementation. There is nothing after the conference other than implementation. Do you see the conference giving birth to a new Nigeria? We have created the foundation for a new Nigeria. We are moving forward in proper and united Nigeria. We are no more moving forward under a constitution made by the military or made by colonialist. It is a constitution made by different shades of opinion that constituted themselves at the confab. What were your high and low moments at the confab? There are no high or low moments. All that I met there were what to expect in a conference; worked with people with diverse opinions before we resolved issues. The fact that we unanimously made recommendations and agreed on some issues through consensus is a great achievement for those who constitute the conference. And that explained the kudos the President gave us; that we have done a great good job for the nation. Not only that, if you read the statement of the chairman of the conference, all previous conferences spent nine months, one year and under six months we did the work. People should not overlook that; they should give us the credit. As an octogenarian, how were you able to participate actively at the conference? It is the grace of God. When there is a will, there is a way, particularly when you are doing something that you have been praying for and which would make the country good, you will be alert when you are in the process of doing it. It won’t be a time for dozing.

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EDITORIAL

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

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

MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2014

Beyond the N4trillion revenue ecstasies

fter missing the federal revenue targets for three consecutive years, Nigeria now seems to be responding to the right stimuli, generating a princely N4.03trillion within the first six months of the year from mineral and non-mineral sources. Further extractions show that the mineral source of revenues was made up of crude oil sales, oil and gas royalties, rent, gas flared penalty, petroleum profit tax and gas tax. Non-mineral revenue comprised of Value Added Tax, corporate taxes, customs import, excise and fees. Also shows while the sum of N540.87billion was generated in January, N666.75billion was realised in February. The collection for the month of March however, decreased by N52.4 billion to N614.35billion. Further breakdown indicates that the sum of N584.15billion was generated in the month of April. It increased by 44.5 per cent to N844.03billion for May and dropped by N59.15 billion to N784.88billion in June. This measure of success in revenue generation was achieved during the first half of the year despite an orgy of disruptions to oil production and lifting operations spiralling from multiple leaks, pipeline vandalism and theft within the period. The positive development is a reversal to the dip in realising revenue targets three consecutive years before now. However, this development raises

questions on the efficacy of the billions of naira conceded in contract awards to individuals and groups to watch over and ensure the safety, security and protection of pipelines and other oil and gas assets. We should rather muster the necessary courage and will to tweak strategies and effectively plug these leakages permanently. Overall, this is an inspiring switch off the ugly trend witnessed from 2011 to 2013 when the government failed to meet its revenue projections, and by that development had cast doubt in the minds of analysts on its capability to meet the N4.64 trillion budget proposals for 2014 fiscal year. Still, some critical revenue generating agencies of government have left much to be desired in their operations, fueling worries in some quarters over the smooth financing of the 2014 budget. An urgent complete change of attitude becomes necessary, as the agencies must ensure that they neither fail in their core task of meeting revenue generating targets to support government’s strides in improving the wellbeing of the citizenry, nor lend themselves to allegations of not being transparent in fully disclosing and remitting the actual revenue collected by them. It is regrettable that while government still needs all the revenue it can muster to fund projects and raise citizens’ quality of life, some of the 36 core revenue-generating agencies have become drainpipes as individuals in their management and routine

operations tend to do better than the institutions. This, we unreservedly condemn, and call for appropriate sanctions against such erring public office holders. Prominent agencies such as the Nigerian Customs Service , Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigerian Ports Authority, Bureau of Public Enterprise , Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and Department of Petroleum Resources, and others have no good reasons not to consistently meet and exceed their annual revenue targets with higher commitment and dedication to national cause. The FIRS and a few others have been doing a good job in revenue generation and need to be commended for being progressive. A lot still needs to be done to ensure that the experience in the second half of the year and going forward will continually be better than the outcome and profile of revenue generation in the country. The reason stems from a close observation of the revenue profile in the first half of the year which shows that though promising, it lacked colour and character, with fluctuations cutting a swathe through the capacity and overall consistency in delivery. Policymakers and all the implementing agencies should now streamline strategies and ensure that a clear trend indicating monthly growth patterns evolves in generating revenue for execution of government’s programmes and projects.

The revenue mix further amplifies the need for a complete and radical shift away from a mono cultural economic structure to a regime of diversified and costeffective activities. We have for too long concentrated effort and resources on the oil and gas segment of the minerals sub-sector in total negligence of solid minerals, which we also have in abundance. The nation’s rich gas resources need to be comprehensively and profitably harnessed if the lingering electricity power conundrum must be solved. This situation has lingered even when it is evident that many other nations in Africa and beyond earn billions of dollars from mining activities, especially in the sphere of solid minerals and which contribute immensely to their development. Without a doubt more revenue can also be earned using the right tax arms, rates and more convenient and transparent administration to broaden the base, widen the net, and enhance efficiency. This implies that there is a drastic need to look inwards, build capacity and increase the number and categories of taxpayers beyond VAT, PAYE and corporate taxes. We believe that the idea of sharing virtually all accruing revenues among the three tiers of government has done more harm to states’ capacity to up the stake in internal revenue generation, and now needs to be re-appraised. GABRIEL AKINADEWO Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU Deputy Managing Director/DEIC SULEIMAN UBA GAYA Managing Editor YEMI AJAYI Editor, Daily LAURENCE ANI Editor, Saturday EMEKA MADUNAGU Editor, Sunday AYODELE OJO Deputy Editor, Daily EMEKA OBASI Deputy Editor, Daily LEO CENDROWICZ Bureau Chief, Brussels MARSHALL COMINS Bureau Chief, Washington DC SAM AMSTERDAM Editorial Coordinator, Europe EMMAN SHEHU (PhD) Chairman, Editorial Board GEOFFREY EKENNA News Editor TAIWO AHMED Advert Manager UCHEY OKEZIE Ag. Sales/Marketing Manager TIMOTHY AKINLEYE Head, Graphics ROBINSON EZEH Head, Admin.

Sanctity of Truth

OPINION Lamido’s great Ramadan message Adamu Muhd Usman

t has been an important tradition of his in seven years as governor of Jigawa State. Every year during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Alhaji Sule Lamido hosted the Iftar, or breaking of fast, with people from all walks of life. While the Muslim faithful engage in fasting in order to be closer to Allah, the governor hosts citizens, friends and associates to the iftar in order to increase his own closeness to the people. Sir Muhammadu Sunusi II Durbar Ground in Dutse is the usual venue for the event. Political associates, old classmates, clerics, civil servants, students, youth and women groups as well as physically challenged persons are all hosted in turn to break the fast with Governor Sule Lamido. Night after night, he would share meals with the invited guests and citizens who also have the opportunity to speak to the head of the state government. During this year’s Ramadan, members of the opposition political parties, religious leaders, associates of the governor from Kano State and his old mates from Barewa College were all part of this experience. This year’s occasion had added significance because it was the last Ramadan to be observed before the governor completes his second term in office. He, therefore, used it as an opportunity for stock-taking on his administration’s programs, policies and activities in the last seven years. One particular evening, Governor Lamido hosted party leaders from all the 27 local government areas of Jigawa State. Speaking to this august gathering of political associates all of whom have been part of the great journey that has been the Lamido administration, the governor said he thanked Allah for enabling him to deliver on all his election promises. He said during his inaugural speech in 2007, he presented a booklet, which contained his vision, mission and hopes for Jigawa State and its

populace. He said: “Today, I am proud to say that I have accomplished the mission. I have delivered on all the promises I made during the campaign and have even gone the extra mile in developing Jigawa State and bringing the dividends of democracy to my people.” He added: “We provided the best roads, the best airport, the best working environment for civil servants, the best health care services, the best education system, the best judicial system, and we laid a solid foundation for economic and infrastructural development. Above all, we promoted discipline, due process, rule of law, patriotism and respect for human dignity among ourselves and our younger generation.” He has added value to everything and to everyone in Jigawa State including his political opponents, Governor Lamido said, and challenged anyone to judge his statement according to the booklet he launched at his first inaugural in 2007. State indigenes as well as recent visitors to Jigawa State all testify that the face of Jigawa State has been transformed in the seven years that Alhaji Sule Lamido ruled over it. The transformation has been in all sectors and the overall impact has been profound. His dynamic administration has established schools and hospitals, constructed roads and water schemes etc. Economic activities have received a huge boost and the foundations have been laid for rapid industrialization. A first class airport has been built to facilitate the easy movement of goods and services and to facilitate the coming of investors who are set to cash in on Jigawa State’s rich potentials now that the foundations have been laid. A Jigawa State University has been established by the Lamido administration in order to afford state indigenes more access to higher education opportunities. Half of eligible candidates of Jigawa origin who seek admission into higher institutions fail to get it due to lack of opportunities, hence the

Monday, August 25, 2014

enthusiasm with which Jigawa citizens welcomed the establishment of the state university. At that epochal Ramadan iftar session, the governor also used the occasion to call on the Jigawa people to be law-abiding, committed, hard-working, to love one another and to co-operate to move the state forward. He also commended security agencies in the state for ensuring peace and stability in the seven years of his administration. He said they have done their primary task of protecting lives and property very effectively. “I am indebted to the Nigerian Army, police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Immigration Service, Prisons, Customs, NDLEA and FRSC for the maintenance of peace in the state,” he added. Governor Lamido capped his speech with an appeal to the youths to be law abiding, to respect their elders and aspire to be responsible citizens of Nigeria. He urged them to shun drug abuse, armed robbery, bribery, prostitution, fraud, corruption and other social vices and not allow themselves to be used as political thugs. Governor Lamido also spoke on an issue that agitates the minds of politicians and other citizens, namely succession. He made it clear that he is not in the business of imposing candidates in elections. He had earlier said that his likely successor will emerge through a round of consultations that will carry everybody along. He will certainly work within his political party; PDP to ensure that a candidate emerges that will sustain the tempo of the last seven years and disabuse the minds of Jigawa citizens that after the Sule Lamido hurricane, there could be a return to a standstill. That will not be a fitting succession to a dynamic regime and Governor Sule Lamido is not expected to countenance that.

• Adamu is Special Adviser to Jigawa State governor on Media.

Lessons from Osun elections 'Segun 'Bambo Ojomo

he outcome of the Osun State governorship election eventually put paid to speculations that the federal might was positioned to wittingly ensure victory for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) especially by the heavy deployment of securitymen to the state prior to the elections. Several reactions had trailed the action by the PDP-led federal government and some major stakeholders and observers had held that the move was made by the federal government to intimidate supporters of contending political parties in its opposition. What heightened fears in Osun State was the roundup and arrest of major chieftains of the All Progressives Congress prior to the elections, an action which leaders of the party perceived as intended to muzzle and disorganise them in the process. But as events of the day unfolded

to the extent of votes' counting and results' declaration, it became clear that the process was actually in tandem with the generality of the people's wish. A major factor that also beautified the process was that as counting of votes was completed and results released in trickles, it was not difficult for individual party supporters to follow up on their candidates' position while waiting for overall declaration by INEC, a situation which rolled an easy calm on the winning side. It would be recalled that same fears emanated when the federal government deployed several thousands of security operatives to Ekiti State during its last governorship elections that returned Dr Ayodele Fayose as winner. In this case, Fayose did not win the election because of the deployment of heavy security to the state but the people of Ekiti, in their wisdom, voted him. It should not be forgotten that for

some past dispensations, Ekiti had been noted for 'anti second term' against their returning governors and even some major stakeholders in the state had revealed that Fayose would not have returned for second term had he completed his first term during his previous reign. Equally, it would be untrue to claim that it was the descent of federal might on Ekiti that ensured Fayemi's defeat in the last election. An impeccable man of honour in Fayemi willingly declared in his speech after the elections that the outcome of the election was a demonstration of the will of the Ekiti people. Despite Fayemi's feat in terms of his achievements during his reign exemplary in good governance, environment transformation and infrastructural development, the people of Ekiti still voted him out, signifying that the will of the people remains germane in the determination of leadership. And if it is true that the federal gov-

ernment really had brought in troops to the mentioned states during their governorship elections for reasons of intimidation and muzzling and bearing in mind the existence of some other states in the federation having sitting governors in the opposition towards 2015 elections, the Osun case now should be a great lesson for the federal government towards accepting that Nigerians have moved forward in their imbibition of democracy and garrisoning should be limited to our territorial boundaries. By and large, credit should be given to the election's umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for ensuring the overall success of the Osun elections and also to the federal government for upholding the people's wish, bearing in mind that in the nation's political history, a sitting President had cause to annul a universally free and fair election. •'Segun 'Bambo Ojomo, a Media Communication Specialist, wrote from Lagos.

INVESTIGATION MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2014

21 NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/investigation

ISIOMA MADIKE EDITOR, INVESTIGATION

isioma.madike@newtelegraphonline.com isiomamadike69@gmail.com

Rescued from executioner’s jaw (2) They were condemned to death but got respite in a miraculous way. JULIANA FRANCIS, who has been following this pathetic story, concludes the touching tale of these ‘innocent’ Nigerians who had waited to die for years

illiams is the first child of his parents. He has two brothers and two sisters behind him. His parents had tried to secure his bail in 1995 when his ordeal started, but failed. He went on to spend eight years at the Ikoyi Prison before he was transferred on December 4, 2003 to Kirikiri Maximum Prison after he was condemned to death. Before then, the Police had tried to fleece his parents, pretending to be helping them. However, the prompt intervention of the leader of LEDAP, Chino Obiagwu, put a stop to that. The lawyer advised Williams’s parents not to waste any other money because he was sure Williams did not commit any crime in the first place. Obiagwu, thereafter, headed for court since he felt Williams only offence was that of conspiracy. He eventually appealed his case and got Williams out. “Life in the prison was hell. There was a time I even contemplated committing suicide but an acquaintance I met in that dungeon, Ochuko, actually talked me out of it. Olaide, who played a father to me in the cell, was also helpful. If ones’ family members visit, the inmate will go to them in handcuff and leg chain. “There were those, who lost hope, knowing that they may never be set free. Those were the ones that picked up unnecessary fight and tried to kill or blind fellow inmates. To them, life meant nothing as they kept feeling they had nothing to lose. Any one that crossed their path could get killed without qualms. Some of such people had spent over 28 years on death row,” Williams recalled. He also talked about another inmate, Akpos, an Ijaw indigene, who is still in incarceration without any known crime. And yet another, called Martins, who, Williams said, is still waiting for death. He had spent over 30 years in condemned cell. “Those on death row, we know ourselves. We know those who committed the crime for which they were been held

Visitors at the Maximum Prisons. Inset: Inmate behind bars

and those who didn’t. We didn’t hide things from one another in condemned cell. We didn’t lie to one another. We opened up because we felt there were nothing more to hide any longer. We see the condemned cell as the last bus stop,” he said. Several others like Akpos abound in confinement presently, waiting to either die or for a miracle. “They had witnessed many executions over the years, but God was just pushing them aside. One of them is Azubuike. He had spent over 40 years on death row. He was mentally deranged before we left the cell. He went mad after he and some other inmates were taken out to be executed. “The killing had already started, when an order came that they should not be killed. Azubuike witnessed the killing of his mates and instantly ran

mad. He was the only inmate remaining to be shot when the order came. “In spite of this trauma, however, he was not released. God just spared him because he would have been dead for an offence he never committed. Azubuike didn’t commit the offence that took him to condemned cell,” Williams said. But, Azubuike is not an isolated case. Ojo Adebayo, who was condemned at 16 years of age, also evokes pity. He had once attempted suicide out of frustration. Committing suicide was a pastime that many indulged in while waiting for death. Udafe Thomas was in this mould. He committed suicide in 2013. He was 31 years then. “Many of these inmates, who did not commit any crime, ended their lives in a bizarre manner instead of facing the humiliation of execution. Do you know that one of those killed

in Edo State recently was innocent? You may be wondering how we got to know. Some inmates were transferred from Edo State to join us at the Maximum Prison. That was how we knew. There is another, who did not commit any crime too. He is currently on death row. He came to visit his younger brother, who killed somebody and got into trouble. The brother was freed, while the innocent man is there waiting to be executed. Nigeria shouldn’t be wasting innocent souls. This may be part of what the country is suffering from at present. Those that have been waiting for death, who had spent 15 to 20 years, should be pardoned,” Williams begs. Williams did not only lament about life in the condemned cell but outside of it as well. He said: “I’m no longer CO NTINUED O N PAGE 22

22 INVESTIGATION

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

Nigeria's criminal justice, not perfect –LEDAP

Obed (right) and elder brother, Daniel at Kirikiri road after Obed's release from condemn cell

Edet CONTINUED FR O M PAGE 21

a child. Since I regained my freedom, nobody is willing to give me a helping hand. The only person I could call a friend for now is the journalist that has literarily become my brother. I met him on the day I was released. He assisted me with money until I got something doing at Apapa. Later, I travelled out to Dubai and came back a month ago. I got a job at Dubai as a security guard. The salary was okay. But when you enter Dubai with a tourist visa, they will ask you to exit to get employment visa if you care to return back.” The release of Obed and Edet was emotional and dramatic The release of Sopuruchi Obed and Otobong Edet on July 5, was quite emotional and dramatic. They had waited for death until their miracle came. Obed is 26 now while Edet is 27. They were both teens when they got into trouble that changed their world view. For Obed, the excitement of his release was felt in the air when he was released. But he was not happy; reason being that he had spent greater number of his life in confinement as a result of circumstances he could not explain. He acted more like a child as he looked around his new environment, a world he had missed for long with awe. Everything looked strange and different as he kept running to no direction in particular. He was over joyed. His elder brother, who was on hand to receive him into freedom, laughed embarrassingly at the sight of his long missed brother. He took a proper look at him before announcing that their aged

parents kept a kind of vigil waiting to embrace their “lost” child. Edet was not left out of the drama. Though, he appeared to be the quiet type. Suddenly, in what looked like a movie scene, he ran towards his cousin, grabbed him tightly and cried out aloud. Many onlookers could not but joined in the exhibition of tearful joy that lasted for minutes. He, thereafter, posed for photographs before picking up his scanty luggage and headed home where another round of celebration began. The Executive Programme Director of LEDAP, Mrs. Adaobi Egboka, who was equally on hand for the new day and anticipated reunion of the men with their families, said: “We want the government to know that death penalty is not the solution because our criminal justice system is still not perfect. We need to show these deficiencies in the system through practical purposes like the release of Obed and Edet.” Obed was arrested around September 2004, at Obele Road, off Morogbo, Lagos on allegation of conspiracy to commit Armed Robbery. It is a crime contrary to Section 402(2) (a) of the Criminal Code Law CPAC1 & Law of Lagos. They were both said to have been armed with offensive weapons like guns in which they allegedly robbed one Praise Lawani of the sum of N54, 000. They were also set to have robbed their victim of a digital Kodak Camera valued at N60, 000, a Motorola handset, two wrist watches valued at N16, 000, two kitchen knives and a cutlass valued at N130, 000. Recalling the event that truncated the smooth course of his life at a ten-

Inmates with a pastor after baptism

der age 16, Obed said: “Everything happened in 2004. It was after my third term exam in school. I was in SSS2 then. After the exam, I embarked on holiday to Agbara, to stay with one of my uncles. “At Agbara, there was a café around there, which I usually go to browse to kill boredom. I went there as usual on October 16, in the morning at about 10am. I left the place and was returning in an Okada when I saw some policemen rounding up everybody around the place I just alighted. “I asked what was going on, instead of an answer, the Policemen arrested me also. They, thereafter, took us to Morogbo Police Station. It was there they labeled us robbers. They singled me out for a serious beating as I attempted explaining where I was coming from. “They shot sporadically during the raid. And later shot me on the leg. I was scared to the bone because I had

neither been to police station nor shot before then. I replied yes to everything the policemen asked; even when I knew they were lies. “After shooting my leg, the police did not treat me. All the time I was being taken to different places, before I landed in prison, I was in pains. It was at Ikoyi Prison that my wound was looked at,” Obed said. As Obed pondered on what had just befallen him, Edet, sauntered in, in a poll of his blood. “He was bleeding when they brought him to join us. At first, I didn’t pay attention to him because of my own problem. “I was arrested on a Wednesday and he was brought in on Thursday. After my Dad’s visit two days later, they transferred us to the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba. All of a sudden, everything CO NTINUED O N PAGE 23

INVESTIGATION

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

‘Most countries have abolished death penalty' Mrs. Adaobi Egboka is the Executive Programme Manager of Legal Defence And Assistance Project (LEDAP). She tells JULIANA FRANCIS in this interview that there are possibilities of innocent people being condemned to death. Death sentence is said to be part of the Nigerian law. Which offences carry death sentence under the country’s law? The major offences people are convicted of are murder and armed robbery. But there are other offences that also carry death penalty. These are aiding the suicide of a child or lunatic. It also includes fabrication of false evidence leading to the conviction and death of an innocent person, instigating an invasion of Nigeria, kidnapping, treason and conspiracy to treason. However, in states where Sharia (Islamic) penal law exists, the following applies: incest, Liwat (Homosexual), rape and Zina (adultery).

operate Sharia law and in the rest of the northern states.

When was death penalty introduced in Nigeria? It was introduced in the early 1900’s; the colonial government introduced common laws as well as criminal laws to the country, which included the death penalty as punishment for certain offences.

What is mandatory death penalty? It means that a person convicted of an offence carrying a mandatory death penalty must be sentenced to death. The judge in charge of sentencing in this instance has none of their usual discretion to decide an appropriate sentence having considered any circumstance in which the offence was committed, such as spontaneity of the act or the lack of a weapon or, any character of the offender, such as age or previous good character, which might lessen the offender’s culpability. For example, a man who has a history of violence plans and then breaks into a family’s home killing five people by shooting the father, mother and three

Which laws provide for death penalty? There are criminal laws at federal level, and each state has its own criminal laws too. All of them contain provisions for death sentences as punishment for certain crimes. The federal laws apply to federal offences and offences committed in the federal capital territory. In Sharia, Penal Codes are used in the 12 states that

Is there any other country apart from Nigeria that still retains the death penalty? Well, more than two-thirds of countries have totally abolished the death penalty. However, for most of the cases in Nigeria, the mandatory death penalty applies. Murder and armed robbery carry mandatory death sentences and a death sentence for the Sharia offences of incest, rape, adultery are mandatory where the accused is married and sodomy must be punished by death regardless of marital status.

Egboka

children with a gun whilst they lie sleeping. Another man who has never been in trouble before arrives home unexpectedly and finds his wife in bed with another man, he immediately beats the man to death with his hands. A man enters a bank with a gun and shots the cashier and four other people even after he has taken all the money in the bank. Another man uses a kitchen knife to take a mobile phone from somebody standing at the bus stop. Would people charged with offences carrying death penalty be given access to a free lawyer? The court is supposed to find lawyers for such categories of people. But in many cases they will give a young law-

yer; a lawyer from the government legal aid scheme or from an NGO, who may not have much experience in handling such cases. However, there are still cases where no lawyer is given to defendants, particularly under the Sharia system and defendants are convicted and sentenced to death without having received legal representation. Have there been cases of conviction of innocent people that may not have been connected to the offence being charged? Yes! Remember that judges, prosecutors and police officers are human beings. They can make mistakes. There have been many cases where people sentenced to death by a trial court are subsequently found innocent by an Appeal Court.

‘Police wrote our statements, ordered us to sign’

CJN, Mariam Mukhtar

Obiagwu

Popoola

Comptroller of Prisons, Zakari Ibrahim

CONTINUED FR O M PAGE 22

kept shouting at us, calling us robbers. He scared me to the point that I said yes to every of his accusation just to avoid further problem.” But, that was not all. According to Obed, “the policemen asked to know who my buyer was, but I told them I didn’t sell anything. They insisted I tell them who my buyer was. When I couldn’t say anything, they took me

to an uncompleted building, tied my hands and legs and joined them together to the back before putting a rod in-between. It looked like the Policemen were going to kill me. It was at that point that I started mentioning names I never knew, just to stay alive.” Obed said he only realised that Edet was his case mate at SCID. He said: “Everything happened fast and

within three weeks, they charged us to court from where we were taken to Ikoyi Prison and then we started going to High Court. We were not allowed to write our statements. The police wrote for us and just ordered us to append our signatures. “It was like they just copied what

changed to a robbery case. I became confused. I mentioned names I never knew just to stay alive There was a policeman called Abu John. He limped. He had knife with him, which he used to threaten us. He

CO NTINUED O N PAGE 24

24 INVESTIGATION

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

Thinking could make someone die or run mad – Obed CONTINUED FR O M PAGE 23

they wrote in the other station and asked us to sign it. They didn’t even allow us to read it. My case was transferred from another court to one Justice Dada’s Court. He started my case in May 2008 and completed it in May 2009. I never saw the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), who claimed to have taken my statement. “The first day I saw him was when we were being taken to the Ebute-Metta Magistrates’ Court. He lied to my face and I asked why they were doing what they were doing. But nobody cared, as they were bent on sending me to prison for a crime I didn’t commit.” We were tortured to the point of death Obed also experienced a riot in 2005 in which several inmates died at the Ikoyi Prison. “I was writing GCE in prison then. The riot spoilt my result because we didn’t get our result that year. I was transferred to Kirikiri Prison after they condemned me. We were four in a very small cell room. I was the youngest among my group. “Once the prison was locked, anything you want to do will be done inside that room. We urinated and defecated there. We did everything inside a custard bucket; it was not something to imagine at all. The quantity and quality of food was very bad. And, the experience was, indeed, very terrible,” he said. Yet, there were some pluses in spite of all the chastisements. One impressive achievement Obed recorded while on death row was in enrolling in the Open University. By the time he was acquitted, he was already in 300 levels in the school faculty of Law. “I decided to keep faith instead of thinking of death. I also embraced football and music. I became famous for my foot skills,” Obed said. But, for the pastor, who assisted to link me to the pro-bono lawyers, perhaps, things would have taken a different turn. He said: “I met pastor Ariyo Popoola while waiting at the ATM (Awaiting Trial Men). He wasn’t like ordinary pastor. He was close to us. He was like a father to most of us. We got to know LEDAP through him.” Obed also recalled that condemned

Another inmate behind bars

Condemned prisoners

A suspect in handcuffs

cell is not for the faint-hearted. According to him, some, who were not so strong simply dropped dead just because they heard or knew they would be killed. “Many of us died, not because they were in the prison, but because they heard that they would be killed. With-

Tortured by police

out a strong mind and God with you, thinking alone could make someone to die or run mad,” Obed further said. Edet, who was selling cassettes, was also shocked when he was accused of robbery. He said: “I had a shop at Morogbo Bus-Stop, where I sold cassettes. On that fateful day, as I was going home at 8pm, I heard that some policemen came to look for me while I was away. Before I knew it, I was told not to enter my room until I solved the problem with the police. I did not sleep at home that day. I went to the home of a friend of mine to sleep. “The following morning, my friend said that both of us should go to the station, at least to know what the problem was. As we were going to the station, we stopped by the Baale’s place. The police met us there and arrested me. But, they didn’t say what my offence was. They just brought out gun and shot my leg. “They took me to my house and packed everything. After that, they took me to Morogbo Police Station. It was there I saw Obed for the first time in my life. He was already in the cell. One of the policemen asked if I knew Obed, I said no. and honestly, that day was my

first time of seeing Obed.” He was subsequently transferred to SCID where he was tortured to the point of death. “They took us to court on October, 27, 2004 and remanded us at Ikoyi prison. After a year or so, they took us to High Court. We were in High Court when the judge, who was in charge of the case, Justice Nwaka, went for tribunal election. “The election did not allow her step into the court for a whole year. The lawyer in charge of the case had to take the case to another judge called Justice Dada, who eventually sentenced us to death,” Edet recalled. Edet’s long walk to prison started after his father’s death. He had to drop out of school, left Akwa Ibom and came to Lagos State, to become an apprentice to a man selling cassettes. “I served my master for two years. After serving the man, he opened a shop for me to start selling cassettes. I was in prison when I also received the news of my mother’s demise. I didn’t need any soothsayer, when I heard that, to tell me she died because of me.” Concluded.

BUSINESS Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

What's news Nigeria bigger but S’Africa drives continent’s investment In spite of Nigeria’s rebased Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which has catapulted the nation to be the largest economy in Africa, South Africa is still the main driver of investment in the continent, a report by Thaddeus Investment Advisors and research limited has said.

}p-26

Why foreign carriers shun partnership with Nigerian airlines The plans by Nigerian airlines to partner with foreign airlines to retain huge market shares have remains elusive.

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Nigeria/S’Africa trade up by 105% Trade between Nigeria and South Africa has grown from 20.4 billion rand (N309.5 billion) in 2010, to 42 billion rand (N637.3 billion) in 2013, South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mzwandile Masina, has said.

}p-31

Ebola: Concern shifts to wildlife global trade A Vietnamese agency in charge of wildlife has called on local forest protection units to strengthen control over importing wild animals into Vietnam to prevent the spread of epidemic virus,’ including the fatal Ebola virus.

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AYODELE AMINU, Deputy Editor (Business) Simeon Ogoegbulem, Dep. Business Editor BAYO AKOMOLAFE, Asst. Editor (Maritime) SUNDAY OJEME, Asst. Editor (Insurance) SIAKA MOMOH, Asst. Editor (Industry/Agric) Godson ikoro , Asst. Editor (Money Market) JONAH IBOMA, ICT Editor DAYO ADEYEMI, Property Editor ADEOLA YUSUF, Energy Editor

NEW TELEGRAPH

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housing –Minister }p-42-43

ayodele aminu, Deputy Editor, business

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

FG loses N25.8bn on import duty to Chevron, Indorama, others LEAKAGES Individuals and companies are milking the government through reckless import waivers

Bayo Akomolafe

he Federal Government has lost N25.8 billion to some companies operating in the agricultural, health, oil and gas, mines, steel and power sectors of the economy from import waivers between January and May, 2014, New Telegraph has learnt. Waiver is an incentive granted by government to importer, exporter, manufacturers or government agencies, among others. The beneficiaries are Chevron Nigeria Limited, Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited, United Cement Company of Nigeria and NIPCO Plc. Others are the Borno State government, Federal Capital Territory Administration/ Globe Motors, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without borders). Statistics made available to

Executive Director, Enterprise Bank Limited, Mrs Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe (middle) with the bank’s Regional Head, Lagos Island, Mr Ijere Oji (left) and the bank’s Divisional Head, Retail & e-Business, Mrs Ori Ogba at the 2-day “Enterprise Bank Consumer Fair” at Idumota Market, Lagos.

our correspondent, revealed that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) lost over N600 billion to import and export waivers in the past. N276.9 billion was also lost to waivers between 2000 and 2008. In addition, export grants to individuals and firms cost government over N300 billion. A breakdown of the lost

funds revealed that in the first quarter of 2001, N45 billion was waived; 2003 - N12.4 billion; 2004 - N55.8 billion; 2005 - N71.244 billion; 2006 - N54.921 billion, while it was N42.598 billion in 2007. In January and March, 2008 - N9.512 billion; 2011 - N55.96 billion; 2012 -N55.34 billion and 2013 - N59.42 billion. From this year’s loss, Cus-

Luanda and Dar es Salam. The report, which described Africa as the world’s youngest continent, also affirmed that it is expected to have the biggest labour force in the world by 2040. According to the report, “cities are the typical entry points for businesses trying to expand in new overseas markets. This is because they enable closer interaction with customers in a relatively small geographic space, which in turn helps contain distribution costs.

toms source in Lagos revealed that Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited received the highest waiver of N10.5 billion. From the amount, N6.96 billion was waived for Indorama for the importation of machinery, equipment and spare parts, while N3.54 billion was waived on fertilizer equipment, catalysts and chemical pile. Chevron got N4.87 billion waived for the importation of machinery, equipment and pipelines; Galaxy Backbone received N2.49 billion for Information and Communications Technology equipment. Also, United Cement Company of Nigeria and NIPCO Plc got waivers of N1.91 billion and N1.02 billion for the importation of machinery, equipment and spare parts respectively. Borno State government got N984.79 million for agricultural machineries, Federal Capital Territory Administration/Globe Motors received for 290 units of motor vehicles used at the recently held World Economic Forum and Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without borders), N568 million for medical supplies.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 33

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Ibadan, Kano to unleash investment growth in Africa MANPOWER

BUSINESS CREW

We’re targeting low, 25 BUSINESS | BRANDS & ADVERTISING middle income groups for

Africa expected to have the biggest labour force by 2040 Sunday Ojeme

he ancient cities of Ibadan and Kano in Nigeria have been listed among the ‘next 10 cities’ in sub-Saharan African countries that will be of viable investment haven for investors as a result of the pro-

jected population size by 2030. In its August edition of Global Economic Watch, famous research, PWC, observes that as labour costs in Asia start to increase and pressure remains to keep prices competitive, chief executive officers are increasingly recognising the untapped potential of the sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. This is mainly driven by Africa’s unparalleled demographic edge compared with other parts of the world. Other cities listed are Addis Ababa, Ouagadogu, Dakar, Narobi, Abidjan, Khartoum,

WOLE SHADARE, Aviation Editor DELE ALAO, Brands/Marketing Editor CHRIS UGWU, Capital Market Editor Abdulwahab Isa, Finance Editor Chuks Onuanyin, Energy Nnamdi Amadi, Reporter JOHNSON ADEBAYO, Asst. Production Editor

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

LENDING RATE

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at Aug 22)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N170.50 InterBank Rate . . . . . . . . . . 11.57% Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N290 Prime Lending Rate. . . . . 16.93% Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N228 Maximum Lending Rate..25.83% • Foreign Reserves – $39.586bn as at 20/08/2014

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at Aug 22)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N156.73 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N259.43 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N207.57 Source: CBN

26 business | NEWS IRONY No Nigerian bank has made any inroads worth mentioning into South Africa Godson Ikoro

n spite of Nigeria’s rebased Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which has catapulted the nation to be the largest economy in Africa, South Africa is still the main driver of investment in the continent, a report by Thaddeus Investment Advisors and research limited has said. The experts noted: “Nigeria really does not drive investment and development in the continent as it has become a land where South African and Chinese companies plunder and repatriate their profits.” Besides, the analysts observed that South Africa has the largest bank in Africa by assets - Standard Bank, stressing that Eco Bank Transnational International (ETI) is the largest bank in Africa by reach and majority of its staff are Nigerians. Furthermore they argued that South Africa's fourth largest bank (Ned bank) will by the end of 2014 own 20per cent of ETI, emphasizing that a South African bank will have the largest bank in Africa by assets and its fourth largest bank is about to own 20per cent of Africa's largest bank by reach. Moreover, the experts noted that ETI is not even headquartered in Nigeria but is depending on Nigeria to drive its earnings. “Again, Standard Bank's Nigerian arm is the largest equity trader by value in Nigeria, largest portfolio manager, is represented on the council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange,” they added. Furthermore, Standard Bank's has also been selected as the sole broker for the Federal Government of Nigeria and was picked by the government to be the settlement bank for the electronic warehouse receipt

Nigeria bigger but S’Africa drives continent’s investment, says study system introduced by the Nigerian Commodity Exchange; its founder and Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian arm of Standard Bank is on Nigeria's Economic Management Team. Meanwhile, no Nigerian bank has been able to establish a viable foothold in South Africa, the much they have is mere representative offices and non of those who went to South Africa has been able to establish a common branch, the reported stated. It emphasized that no Nigerian Bank has made any inroads worth mentioning into South Africa. On the other hand, South Africa, they argued, receive healthy corporate deposits from DSTV, MTN, and CNBC Africa to name a few all operating in Nigeria. “Another point is that the extreme majority of African funds operating out of Africa are based in South Africa especially Investec with funds under management of $1.1B, Coronation with funds under management of about $600m while Nigeria has no Africa fund investing across the continent but headquartered in Nigeria,” they claimed. Citing other examples, the analysts said that, Templeton has its African investments office in South Africa; meanwhile its emerging market star manager is more excited about Nigeria than South Africa. Also, Renaissance Asset Management has a pure Nigerian fund and so does sustainable capital. Both companies run the funds out of South Africa. In the same vein, MTN Nigeria generated 37 per cent of total revenue for the MTN group worldwide as at H1 2014, while the Nigerian arm's revenue was 41.5 percent higher than that of the home country South Africa. According to them, the Nigerian arm increased revenue by

FG loses N25.8bn waivers C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

It was learnt that President Goodluck Jonathan and the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, jointly approved the waivers and exemptions, While defending the Federal Government’s policy on waivers, Okonjo-Iweala had maintained that they were incentives used to support the private sector as a result of some of the regulatory challenges faced in the domestic business environment. The minister said unlike in the past when waivers were granted to individual businesses, which resulted in rent-seeking behaviours and an uneven playing field for other businesses, President Jonathan had introduced a sector-wide waiver to provide specific incentives for some strategic and job-creating sectors.

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

According to her, the sectors that currently benefit from waivers are hospitality, power, aviation, agricultural machinery, solid minerals equipment, gas-using equipment, steel and manufacturing. She said: “There are also additional programmes such as the Export Expansion Grants Scheme designed to promote Nigeria’s non-oil exports. These sectors are seen as strategic areas, which can stimulate growth, support diversification of the Nigerian economy, and create jobs for Nigerians. “In the past, waivers were granted to individual businesses in an approach that resulted in rent-seeking behaviours and an uneven playing field for other businesses. It was precisely the need to stop such a discretionary approach that led to reforms by the Economic Management Team under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan

21.5 per cent (a significant improvement from a year prior) while the South African arm had a decline in revenue of 7per cent (a worsening from a year prior.) MTN, they insisted, has been in Nigeria for 13 years and the country already contributes more than a third of the revenue for the whole MTN group worldwide. Meanwhile, MTN Nigeria is not listed in Nigeria where it rides the wave of profitability

and repatriates the funds back home. Additionally, Renaissance Capital that competes with Stannic IBTC for most trades in value on a yearly basis runs its African investment and research operations out of South Africa while DSTV will be no different from MTN in terms of where majority of its revenue comes from. “The DSTV vengefully increases its subscription fees every 15 months on aver-

age without commensurate increase in programmes, yet it is not listed in Nigeria,” the report said. On the other hand, China’s National Development & Reform Commission handles issues of pricing in China in conjunction with two others. The organisation, they argued, recently forced automakers such as Mercedes etc. to reduce their CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

L-R: President National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW),Najeem Usman Yasin, Regional Director, Abuja/North Central,Skye Bank Plc, Gbaye Adewuyi and Chief Operation Officer Globalcom, Steve Stretch, during the formal launch of the NURTW official identity card powered by Skye Bank, in Abuja.

Why foreign carriers shun partnership with Nigerian airlines –Experts DESPAIRING Nigeria airlines are not reliable with their schedule hence Wole Shadare

lans by Nigerian airlines to partner with foreign airlines to retain huge market shares have remains elusive. This is because mega carriers from Europe, Middle East and the United States have listed lack of scheduled integrity of local airlines, poor structure of the airlines and lack of being a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), as stumbling block. Some of the airlines chiefs, who spoke to New Telegraph under condition of anonymity, said Nigeria airlines are not reliable with their schedule, stressing that partnering with them would hurt their other networks. They described Nigerian carriers as only operating “point to point.” It has become a big problem for airlines in Nigeria because various Nigerian governments have been very generous in giving traffic rights, concessions, designations and entry points

to non-African and African airlines alike. Meanwhile, Nigerian airlines are now left with just three per cent of the air traffic market to and from Nigeria. African airlines collectively carry only 20 per cent of the air passenger traffic to and from Africa. Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa as well as the most vibrant air transport market in the continent and it is hard to rationalise or justify why Nigerian airlines have such a small share of their own market. Government has maintained its position not to stop any foreign airlines from expanding their operations in the country as they are regularly given additional frequencies or new routes; a situation that has further hampered the progress of the nation’s airlines. One of the sources stated that despite the call for measures against multiple entries, he noted that even if the foreign carriers strictly operate frequencies as stipulated on the BASA, “Nigerian airlines will still fail to reciprocate because they have no capacity to do so, and by capacity, it means schedule, schedule integrity, good safety records, IATA/IOSA certification, poor level of technology”.

He noted that aside Arik Air, others are not members of IATA, a situation he insisted makes it very difficult for them to do reconciliation in the event they enter a code share pact or interlining. Airline members of IATA enjoy the support of an internationally renowned organisation that , leads and serves one of the most dynamic industries in the world. From 57 founding members in 1945, IATA now represents some 238 airlines in over 115 countries from around the globe. Carrying 93 per cent of the world’s international scheduled traffic, IATA members include the world’s leading passenger and cargo airlines. IATA membership is open to airlines operating both scheduled and non-scheduled services that cover two categories ranging from active membership and associate membership. Stakeholders had faulted the opening up of Nigeria to foreign airlines; an action they said has negatively affected the fortunes of indigenous carriers. They equally noted that the Federal Government should have compelled foreign airlines to partner with local airlines in a form of CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

YOUTH CULTURE

Should commercial motorcyclists return to Lagos roads?

Lagos socialite, Kehinde Alamutu, believes the city is home of money

Photos posted on Instagram last week by young residents of the city

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VOX POP

MY CITY, MY WORLD (ALAMUTU)

The Mega City

www.newtelegraphonline.com/megacity

...for the love of Lagos

MONday, AUGUST 25, 2014

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Metamorphosis of Allen Avenue

From residences to a business district F Allen Avenue in Ikeja is today famous for its businesses. It is a one-stop street of shops, where anything, from household items to cars, food and clothes can be obtained. But it was not initially set out to be so. It was mainly a residential area that has been taken over by thriving businesses. OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI reports on the metamorphoses of the avenue.

or early dwellers in Lagos State, Allen Avenue was one serene environment, dotted with fine residential houses. In fact, it was associated with the high and mighty then, a plush hideout for

the financially wellheeled. It was actually likened to today’s Ikeja, Government Reservation Area, GRA. It was devoid of traffic noise. The commercial activities around then were few, ranging from Bureau

CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF LAGOS

De Change at the agelong Alade market, jewelleries (gold) sellers, boutique shops mostly for bankers and a few bank offices. Fast food joint and buka (local joints) were the major businesses on Allen. The

CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

Mass failure: Fashola advocates review of curriculum, teaching methods overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos GState has said the adop-

tion of more exciting teaching methods in schools would enhance performance in the West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The governor spoke at the opening of a three-day retreat in Lagos for the State Executive Council and Permanent Secretaries. He noted that the use of teaching methods that were not appealing to students was one of the major causes of mass failure. According to him, the present

FACT FILE Project: Proposed Office Development Structural Engr: Vibal Associates. Contractor/Builder: Prime Metro Properties Limited. Location: 23,Oba Akinjobi Way, G.R.A. Ikeja, Lagos

H Photo: GODWIN IREKHE

people preferred fast food joints tastes to that prepared in their homes. Hence, both restaurants and local food vendors thrived. Life was simple and carefree. There was

generation of students wants learning to be fun and so, will learn better with exciting teaching methods and tools like computers. Fashola also canvassed for the comprehensive review of schools’ curriculum, to include more practical lessons to stimulate learning. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that only 32 per cent of candidates who sat for the 2014 WASSCE made five credits in five subjects including English and Mathematics. Fashola said, “Performance in WASSCE CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

Court slams N50m bail on company CEO over alleged N217m fraud Federal High Court AFriday sitting in Lagos on slammed a N50

million bail on the Managing Director of Realtime Communications Ltd, Ebung Edet Umo, over an alleged N217 million fraud. The accused, Umo and Realtime Communications Ltd, are standing

trial on a two-count charge bordering on issuance of a dud cheque and fraud. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the duo had pleaded not guilty at their first arraignment on Aug. 20. JusCONTINUED ON PAGE 28

IN NUMBERS Lagosians to Fashola: Don’t compromise safety, security for politics over Okada 8

the total number of doctors already certified to treat Ebola in Lagos State

N500m

the total amount of money to refund to students of the Lagos State University (LASU) who paid their fees before the slash order

the number of Colleges of Education in Lagos

Muritala Ayinla

eactions have continued to trail the continued operation of commercial motorcyclists also known as Okada riders on 475 prohibited highways and bridges in Lagos. There are speculations that the government has relaxed the enforcement of the Lagos Traffic Law 2012, which restricts

the operation of the motorcyclists to some inner city roads and enforce compulsory usage of crash helmet by the operators and their passengers, to enable the operators vote for the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the forthcoming 2015 general elections. Although, the state government has not reacted over the heavy presence of the hith-

erto banned motorcyclists on the major roads, residents are lamenting the consequences of the operators on the major roads, describing their presence as a setback to progress recorded by the state government through the law. Speaking with New Telegraph, a resident, Esther Kayode, who bemoaned the reappearance of commercial

motorcyclists on the roads, said it was unfortunate that few months to the general elections, Lagos was becoming lawless. She added that the development portends serious danger for the populace. Kayode added that with the development, government and security agencies would now CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

28 NEWS /MEGA CITY

Mass failure CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 27

can be improved with better teaching methods. We need to understand that the present generation of students does things more online and less with paper. “We need to teach our students in line with these realities. We need to employ methods that they find appealing and would make them learn better,” he said. The governor said the state had recorded impressive results in the WASSCE in the past few years, attributing the improved performance to the provision of improved teaching and learning infrastructure. He said that the 2014 result for the state was still being awaited and expressed the hope that it would be better than the one recorded in 2013. Fashola said the retreat was organised to review government`s performance and strategise for better service delivery. He said that the budget performance had been impressive so far and the government would continue to do its best to raise the level of development in the state.

Court slams N50m bail on company CEO CONTINUED FROM PAG E 27

tice Okon Abang, who gave the ruling, also ordered that the accused persons must also produce a surety each, in like sum. He said the surety must be a property owner with a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), within Lekki Phase 1, Victoria Island, Ikoyi or Lagos Island. In addition, Abang said the Deputy Chief Registrar shall in writing verify the C of O of the sureties. He said that the surety should also present a three-year tax clearance. The Judge also ordered that the accused should deposit his International Passport with the Chief Registrar and also swear to an affidavit of means. Earlier, counsel to the accused, Mr Sylvester Effiong, prayed the court to grant bail to the accused in liberal terms. He told the court that the accused was a legal practitioner by profession and had no previous criminal record. Effiong supported the bail application with a six-paragraph affidavit and a written address. The Prosecutor, Mr Effiong Asoquo, however, did not oppose the bail application. Asoquo, alleged that the accused committed the offences between September and October, 2012. He said that Umo used his position as MD of Realtime Communications, a firm principally engaged in telecom business support services, to fraudulently obtain N217 million recharge cards from Globacom. Asuquo said that the accused obtained the recharge cards under the false pretence that he would pay at a later date. The prosecutor said that the accused person, however, issued a dud cheque worth N300 million to Globacom, which was dishonoured upon presentation, due to insufficient funds. He said that the alleged offences were contrary to and punishable under Sections 1 (1) (A) (3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act and Sections 1 (1) (b), (2) and 2 of the Dishonoured Cheques Offences Act, Cap D11, Laws of the Federation 2004. NAN reports that the trial judge had on arraignment on Aug. 20, adjourned the case to Aug. 25, 26 and 28, for trial.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Don’t compromise safety, security for politics over Okada CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

have much work to do to beef up security and stem daylight robberies which, according to her, was rampart in the state with the use of okada. She said:” As for me, I’m not happy with the development. It says a lot about the kind of leadership we have in this country. Why will government compromise our safety, security all in the name of election? Why can’t we have leaders that

will stand by their policies? Should we say because of election we not do the right thing or every right thing or policies have to bent for selfish reason? “To say Okada will return to prohibited Lagos roads is to say we should expect more road carnages, more deaths and more people who will be maimed by the nuisance called Okada riders,” she added. Also speaking, Mrs Boluwatife Samson, a trader, frowned at the Lagos State

House of Assembly members for allegedly considering a review the Lagos Traffic Law in a bid to allow Okada riders ply hitherto prohibited roads. She said:” So, in addition to Ebola diseases, doctors should buckle up for Okada accident victim too? Don’t mind the politicians, they reduced LASU tuition fee when election is coming. They once said it was impossible to do so. But how come they suddenly realise they could reverse the fee? But

on compromise over Okada riders, this decision, if it is true, it is sad, terrible, retrogressive. It is all about safety, security. If they want to rubbish their achievement in this regard, they can go ahead and reurn Okada on roads. But for Mr Kayode Ogunmola, the development was good to thing for the operators. He said the fear of losing the state to the opposition might have been responsible for non enforcement of the law.

Metamorphosis of Allen Avenue CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

party culture, otherwise called the Owambe. Almost on weekly basis, they sewed Ankara aso ebi . Life was purely fun on Allen. That was before the famed Allen Avenue lost its virginity to high end businesses and commercial scavengers. It is still fun as then but has now taken a sophisticated dimension. Today, Allen is divided into two categories- Allen during day time and Allen at night. The Allen at day time is strictly that of commercial and business. Banks, boutiques and electronic offices and shops commandeer the day time. To mention a few; Bakers World, a catering outlet, telecommunication companies like, MTN, Glo and Etisalat, have their shares of the daylight Allen, while electronic shops dominate major parts of the day Allen. LG, Samsung, Sony, e.t.c. compete through price differences for customers to their shops. As a matter of fact, Kemi Nelson, former Commissioner of Women Affairs, Lagos State had a giant building that has been turned to an electronic outlet. In front of these shops, are the fleets of colourful umbrellas with tables and chairs and assorted phones for calls. Even with the advent and surplus of phones and affordability of recharge cards, these phone operators eke their living from the phone call businesses. The fleets of banks are not left out. First bank, UBA, Wema, Zenith, GTB, Fidelity, Standard Chartered, Stanbic, Skye, Unity, e.t.c.; they are just too numerous on Allen. Any bank without an outlet there is not in business. As the day gives way to nightfall, Allen at night is entirely a different world. It plays its role as an entertainment spot; home to some notable clubs like the Niteshift Coliseum, Water Parks, Lagos Country club, and Planet one on Mobolaji Bank Anthony way among others that spanned to Maryland, Adeniyi Jones and their environs. There are also small hotels, night clubs and sev-

Allen roundabout, Lagos

photo: godwin irekhe

eral joints that play host to all manners and categories of people. These offices turn the hub of the queen of the nights. Nefarious activities take place at these places at night but hand-in-hand with its own chain of businesses. Gin or alcohol sellers, already made coffee tea hawkers, sweet and chewing gum sellers, even boutiques operate for those who need to grab a change of dress for the evening. Business at night on Allen is brisk and for the strong hearted. On this Saturday night, around Toyin Junction, the link between Allen and the equally famous Opebi road, a bevy of girls in their hundreds line up, peeping into cars. Some guys stop by to quickly negotiate prices for their “lady wares”. Some of the girls end up spending the night with the guys at night clubs or are whisked away to different homes to provide “relaxation” for the workedup men. The girls are usually dressed in skimpy “ready-tokill” dresses. Good evening! Are you looking for somebody!! How are you!!! Want to have some fun?.... Those are the common languages that exit from their heavily painted lips. Investigation by Mega City revealed that some of the girls are university students, who come from all parts of the southern Nigeria to make brisk business over the weekend. Incidentally, Allen is laced with

some stripe clubs that add spice to the fun. Incredibly, on Sundays, these same structures of fun at night, give way to churches in the mornings. Some revert to last minute fun houses before Monday morning. By Monday morning, Allen transforms to serious business corridor that includes Law firms, IT firms, Auto sales outlets, banks, boutiques, salons, supermarkets, eateries, fast foods, business centres, hotels, pharmacies, media services, travel and tours, real estate companies, private schools and private medical centres among others. Allen is tucked in at the centre of Ikeja, Lagos Nigeria. Ikeja is one of the most popular places within the state. According to a Legend, Ikeja was founded by an Awori (A Yoruba tribe in South West Nigeria) hunter with first name Akeja, after whom the area is named. To this day, many of Ikeja’s residents are of Awori descent. Before military regimes took over governance in 1983, Ikeja was a well planned, clean and quiet residential environment with shopping malls, pharmacies and Government Reservation Areas. But, the situation is different today as the city has become disorderly and town planning laws are not followed in situating new buildings, mostly commercial buildings, thereby making Ikeja lose its original master plan.

Ikeja is home to a large computer market since 1997. It started as a small market of only 10 shops. It now has well over 800. While most vendors provide the expected computer sales and repair services, it is also possible to find sales and repair services for various types of office equipment and electronic devices. As the market is unplanned, it has experienced growing pains. Residents are upset at the expanding market. Traffic around the area has become very congested, and it can be almost impossible to find a place to park. According to Adeleye Omoniyi, an Estate Surveyor on Allen, Ikeja, a standard three-bedroom flat rents for between N800,000 to N1,2Mper annum. While a office outlets starts from N600,000 and N350,000 for shop rents, all, depending on the sizes. He added that Allen is easily the best place on Lagos mainland to situate a business because of its strategic location and market structure. Allen/Ikeja, he said has a very strong commercial base, “a large number of businesses, mostly retail and service based businesses operate in the area.” Although population in Ikeja is hard to determine or estimate because of its dual economic state as a commercial town and residential town but Ikeja has between 2 million and 4 million residents making it the most populated Area of Lagos.

LIFE / IN THE CITY 29

Monday, August 25, 2014

VOXPOP

Should commercial motorcyclists return?

Victoria Ewoh and Lydia Famous Commercial motorcyclists shouldn’t return Rosemary Adewale : Personal Assistant. I totally disagree. Lives of people are in danger. The use of motorcycle on the highway is very risky because most of these cyclists we have are very rough and restless. Most times, when I’m on bike, I will be shouting, telling the man to slow down or drop me immediately. The use of motorcycles should be restricted to some particular areas; I like how the operation is running in Lagos State presently. If this idea is not in favour of motorcyclists, the government should find other jobs to support them and their families. I’m against their return Jolly Oponwa: Student, University Of Benin. I’m not in support of motorcycle on the highway. Looking at the population in Lagos State, it is not advisable at all. This action will only cause a lot of accidents, which will lead to loss of lives. Meanwhile, I’m sure that motorcyclists are happy with the current situation. This measure taken does not only favour passengers on bikes but also the riders. Anything can happen on the highway. The government should maintain the former law of restricting motorcycles on highways. Limit them to the streets Samuel Oponwa: Marketer The use of motorcycle on Lagos roads is wrong. The reason why motorcycles are restricted to some areas is because of their dangerous nature on the highway and it is a good preventive measure. Motorcycles on the highway are not proper. We don’t have good roads to even begin with. Street-to-street operations is the best. I want them back because of traffic Ogoh Sunday: Accountant I agree. I love the use of motorcycles on the highway because it’s fast. I can easily reach wherever I am going with speed. Traffic is another issue in Lagos State. With motorcycles on the highway, one can easily avoid traffic or beat it. There are accidents everywhere, even with

he Marine Western Command, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), says it has seized and destroyed 42 cartoons of prohibited frozen poultry products in Badagry, Lagos State. The command’s Public Relations Officer, Ms Ngozi Okwara, told journalists in Lagos that the products were intercepted in Badagry. Okwara said that the products destroyed were valued at N273,000 and urged smugglers to desist from bringing prohibited items into the country. She added that the command’s Controller, Zakka Audu, had zero tolerance for the smuggling of prohibited items

For the past few weeks, there has been speculation that commercial motorcyclists who were banned from the major streets of Lagos State are staging a comeback. That is in the light of the 2015 general elections which is around the corner. But do Lagosians want them back? That is the question we asked a cross section of Lagosians. cars and buses, and trailers. The only measure the government can take is to educate the riders, while advising them to limit their speed to avoid accidents, because too much of speed kills. They shouldn’t return...they are rough Korede Oshokoya: Computer Technologist The use of Motorcycle on the highway is not ideal. To prevent accidents and other dangerous actions, it should be restricted from running on the highway. Motorcyclists are known for overtaking vehicles at very dangerous speed. They are ever impatient and rough. Motorcyclists should not operate on busy roads. They should be doing street to street operations. Accidents have reduced in their absence Samuel Iyoha, a data analyst, in a private telecommunication firm, said commercial motorcyclist riders should not be allowed to ply the roads because they cause major accidents. He also said a research was carried out after the ban of commercial motorcyclists by Lagos State Government; the result of the research showed that the rate at which victims of commercial motorcycle accident were brought to Igbobi has drastically reduced compared to when they were plying the roads. They have a ward specifically for victims with motorcycle accident. Before the ban, the number of patients in that ward is outrageous but the ban has curbed it. He also said that the ban of commercial motorcycle riders has reduced theft rate, in the sense that robbers often use bike to snatch peoples’ bags while they wait at bus stops. He further said that motorcycles have its advantages and disadvantages, though the advantages are a bit lower than the disadvantages. One of the advantages is that it is a means of livelihood for some people but after the ban, they had to look for other means of survival. In his opinion, commercial

Korede Oshokoya

Rosemary Adebowale

Victor Njemanze

Oponwa jolly

Rasak Mohammed

Nwosu joseph

motorcycles should remain banned because he feels safe without having them on the road.

them Nwosu Joseph, A Technical Sales Engineer, believes that the absence of commercial motorcycle riders has affected some activities. He gave example of mobility. That is, when one is going to work and faces traffic and one could park his car somewhere and opt for a bike, so as to beat the traffic. He argued that riders help to locate some hidden places. “All you have to do is tell them to lead your car. One needs no Google for direction” he said. Joseph believes that with or without commercial motorcycles, what will be, will be. He emphasised that even divers of tricycle, commonly called Keke Napep or Keke Marwa get involved in accidents and constitute nuisance. He concluded that he wants commercial motorcyclists to come back because there are some routes which the tricycle cannot ply but motorcyclists would conveniently take those routes.

Samuel Iyoha

They’re a menace Chinedu Ameachi, A security man, is strongly against commercial motorcycle riders coming back to Lagos roads because it causes traffic confusion. In fact, they constitute danger while trying to beat the traffic, thereby putting their lives as well as that of passengers at risk. “It’s one thing to know how to ride. It is another thing to ride safely,” he said. They do more harm than good Yetunde Ogidan, a fuel attendant, is of the opinion that commercial motorcyclists should not be brought back because they do more harm than good. She said riders lack patience, thereby causing accidents on highway. Also, riders find it difficult to halt for pedestrians, who want to cross the road but people driving cars often stop for pedestrians to cross the road. Accidents still happen without

The ban should continue Victor Njemanze, An unemployed said the ban on riders in Lagos State is a very

good decision. He said before the ban of commercial motorcyclists in Owerri, he saw quite a number of accident victims in Federal Medical Centre but after the ban, the number of accident victims drastically reduced. They should be recalled Olivia Micheal, A student, said she feels that government should lift the ban placed on commercial riders because they are faster. Their absence delays movement. “One could stand at the bus stop for 30 minutes without getting a bus,” she said.

Customs destroy prohibited poultry products in Badagry MBAN restates commitment toward take off of Mortgage Refinance Company The Mortgage Banking Association of Nigeria (MBAN) has re-assured Nigerians on their commitment toward the successful take-off the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC). The Executive Secretary of MBAN, Mr Kayode Omotosho, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. NAN reports that mortgage banks are the major shareholders of the company with about

45 per cent equity contribution. According to Omotosho, the association remains hopeful and anticipates the NMRC potency in reinvigorating activities in the nation’s mortgage industry. “Our concern now is the take off of the NMRC. “We are looking at around October for the Refinance Company to open to the public. Once we achieve this l believe that other pending issues in the industry will fall in place naturally,’’ he said. Omotoso said that such issues included the release of

the mortgage banks that met the N5 billion and N2.5 billion capital base by the Central Bank of Nigeria (BCN) to release the list. The executive scribe pledged that the association’s readiness to alleviate the fears of the public and its members concerning the recapitalisation exercise. He assured that no mortgage bank customers would have a tough time migrating to the next step as everything was being taken care of before the release of the names. NAN recalls that President

Goodluck Jonathan launched the NRMC on Jan. 16, with $300 million dollars (N48 billion) from the World Bank. MBAN was the brainchild behind the Federal Government floating of a mortgage refinance company. NAN reports that the Federal Government, Ministry of Finance and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) came together to fine tune the establishment of MBAN, as well as guarantees the institution for the attract funds from international finance institutions.

xxx

30 THE MEGACITY

Monday, August 25, 2014

UPCOMING EVENTS

Cloud Computing Certification Training Exam Prep Lagos, Nigeria Organiser: Invensis Learning Date: Saturday, August 30, 2014 at 9:00 am - Sunday, August 31, 2014 at 6:00 pm Venue: Lagos

Saytaxi Nigeria Launch Organiser:

Saytaxi Lagos Team

Date: Saturday, August 30,

2014 At 2:00 pm Venue: Rhapsody Bar, Shoprite

YOUTH CULTURE,

Webmaker Party In Lagos

Organiser: Power House Csr Date: Saturday, August 30, 2014 From 10:00 Am To 3:00 pm Venue: RCCG Christ Church Block A, Plot 6, Redemption Cir Gbagada Oworonshoki Expressway, Lagos

photos as posted on Instagram by residents of the city

#happy #birthday @ugomatthews by @ effiongeton

#Because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts by @lolaoj

#repost @knowwear #menswear #mensfashion #camo #blackfashion by @the_sauvage

bikini day with my Caro @brawn_shuqa by @nancyblinkss

A man pressed by nature does not know a dirty toilet - Anon by @jidekola

CIROC GIRL @ QUILOX by @ifesinachilinda5

My City, My World Lagos is home of money, says Alamutu

or Kehinde Alamutu, a Lagos socialite, Lagos is FLagos home of money. As such, is her home. She

loves Lagos because of the business life. As long as one is not lazy, there is nothing that does not sell or move fast pace in the state. Business runs smoothly without harassment or terrorism like in some parts of the world. “Lagos is the place that gave me the financial breakthrough. Lagos is like New York and United Kingdom, one just has to be smart and sharp. “There is no dull moment in here,” she said. Another interesting factor for Alhaja Alamutu as she is fondly called is the social lifestyle in Lagos. She described it as lively and fashionable. According to her, it’s a lifestyle that affords her the opportunity to meet and relate with people. For me, my weekend will not be complete without attending a party. There is no party like a Lagos party, just like the popular musician, Banky W put it,” she said. The party life style, she said, does not allow her to wallow in deep thinking about some set-backs in her life. Comparing Lagos with other states of the nation, she described Lagos as a very beautiful and neat State. Though, she hopes the state government would do more in terms of security and shouldn’t reconsider bringing back motorcycles, popularly called Okada to the road as it would encourage robbery and threat to life. “The state government would do better by standing still with their discipline,” she said. She recalled Lagos of the 80s as safe and very civil unlike now that it is over populated with people of various culture, norms and values.

I love Lagos streets trading – Amosu

F Happy Birthday to his Royal Highness Prince Osama Erediauwa by @oakenevent

PHYNO NWANNE by @ifesinachilinda5

Roll the carpet #ballingsince1990 by @ officialbigmo

Happy birthday to my darling @lamide_a by @aishaak49

Happy Birthday to the most special people in my life, my annoying siblings @olivia_ okoli and franklin Okoli by @jay_okoly

Thanks so much for coming @haowabello by @majeayida

TURNT by @davidoofficial

untitled by @henryvex

Mirror Mirror #Me by @laalaalaaav

or Madam Tola Amosu, a business woman, Lagos is a home of fast life, considering the volume of human activities going on in the state. Comparing Lagos of then to now, Lagos has changed drastically i n terms of the realness of the people and serenity of the state. She said there was no plenty vehicle as it is now and there was limited traffic. According to her, there was vast space in the state. It was trekable. There were plenty attractions that were uncountable. But Lagos of now only has one major attraction, which is the economy. She said Lagos, economy, despite the state government’s multiple taxation is booming and relatively safe. She explained that another attraction is the level of development in the state. The Lagos fast life, she pointed out, is obvious and attractive. “Everywhere is developed in Lagos,” she said. She believes that development is at the instant of the population in the state. I believe that Governor Babatunde Fashola has really tried in Lagos State compared with past governors in terms of housing and transportation but his development is more for the state elite. Amosu loves Lagos for its street trading even though the state government prohibits it. As a bank official, who closes late, the street trading has really made life easy for her. She explained that many of them that are career people, especially women, who depend on the street trading for their shopping as they are too busy to go to the conventional market. “In Lagos, you can buy everything you need for your pot of soup in traffic. In fact, you can even buy your household items in traffic.

BUSINESS | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

GROWTH Trade up with S/Africa but skewed largely in favour of Nigeria Siaka Momoh

rade between Nigeria and South Africa has grown from 20.4 billion rand (N309.5 billion) in 2010, to 42 billion rand (N637.3 billion) in 2013, South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mzwandile Masina, has said. “But trade is still skewed largely in favour of Nigeria through oil exports,” he said

Nigeria/S’Africa trade up by 105% at the Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting in Lagos. Crude oil exports accounts for over 80 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings. In his keynote address, Masina agreed that Nigeria and South Africa were strategic trade partners “who need to do more in terms of their level of engagement.” He asserted that an effective collaboration between the major economies was vital to continent’s relevance as a key economic region in the

globe. Giving an insight into the level of investment between both countries, Masina said that South Africa currently has about 100 companies operating in various sectors in Nigeria. On the commitment level of Nigeria and South Africa, the minister stressed that both countries have established a Bi-National Commission as a launch pad to consolidating agreements signed, covering economic and technical levels. Decrying the poor level of

competitiveness of Africa in the global index, he harped on the need for both countries to focus on the building of strong institutions. According to industry informed source, among South Africa’s trading partners, as at 2013, Nigeria accounts for 17 per cent; regarding contribution to growth in imports of South Africa, Nigeria accounts for 40 per cent. Oando, an energy conglomerate based in Lagos is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and the Nigeria-based Dangote Group has invested a record $378 million in South Africa's cement industry. Both as at 2009. In 2008, approximately $2.1 billion was traded between Nigeria and South Africa. By 2012 total bilateral trade had increased to $3.6 billion. In 2012, 83 per cent of trade was taken up by South African imports of Nigerian crude oil. Between 2002 and 2012, South African imports from Nigeria had increased by 750 per

cent (mostly increases in oil imports) whilst Nigerian imports from South Africa have increased by 130 per cent. The resolution at the breakfast meeting was that Africa’s largest and key economies - Nigeria and South Africa - should do more in the areas of cooperation and collaboration, so as to give momentum to the much anticipated transformation and growth of the fastest growing continent. The August 2014 edition of the Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce was jointly sponsored by Brand South Africa and MTN Nigeria. In his assessment of the trade level, Masina urged the economic frontiers of Africa to work more closely and tackle trade imbalance. Nigeria and South Africa are not only the largest economies in the continent, but also critical emerging powers in the globe considering the ‘BRICS’ and ‘MINT’ bloc classification by economist, Jim ‘O’Neil.

S’Africa drives continent’s investment C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 6

President Goodluck Jonathan presenting Best Agric Support Bank Award under Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme (ACGSF) to Emeka Emuwa, the Group Managing Director of Union Bank in Abuja.

New spectrum auction plan’ll hasten broadband drive –Experts TRANSPARENCY Bitflux’s victory portends encouragement for other firms to pursue their dreams Jonah Iboma

xperts in the information technology industry have said that the planned fresh frequency spectrum auction by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), could prove to be the missing link in the country’s quest towards achieving a robust and ubiquitous broadband penetration. According to them, the decision for the auction of two slots of spectrum in the 2.6GHz frequency band represents a major step that the regulatory body needs to make to push in broadband penetration to the next height, given the fact that the 2000 GHz and 700 MHz frequency bands supports faster data transfer rates that other frequency bands. President, Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr Lanre Ajayi, speaking with New Telegraph, stated that one of the issues that have held back broadband development in the country was that limited use of the right frequency for the ser-

vice. He said by this move by NCC a lot of firms would likely show interest to provide broadband service in the country. “The plan by NCC to auction new frequencies is very much desired. This is one of the recommendations of the broadband council,” he said. Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer, Phase3 Telecom, Mr. Stanley Jegede, stated that auction of frequency was needed at this time if the country is to truly deepen broadband penetration. “The release of new frequency by NCC is desired. As you know, frequency is such a scarce resource and whatever can be done to free-up and release additional frequency will help broadband growth in the country.” It will be recalled that NCC published a notice of intention to auction spectrum in 2.6 GHz band and invited stakeholders for a special forum to discuss modalities for the auction later this week. “The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, in line with its usual practice of consulting widely with the industry, hereby announces intention to auction 2 X 70 MHz Spectrum slots in the 2.6 GHz Spectrum Band. “The auction is part of the efforts by the Commission to deepen competition and improve Broadband Penetration in the Country towards achieving the goals of the National

Broadband Plan,” NCC said on its website. The special stakeholders meeting billed for Thursday is set to consider a number issues including, lessons from the last auction in 2.3GHz Band, spectrum packaging including the use of spectrum caps participation restrictions, licensing option: wholesale, retail or combined; rollout obligation among others. Ajayi and Jegede also said that NCC should maintain the use of auction model to determine who wins the right to use the frequency. According to Ajayi, although the bidding process for the 3.2 GHz auction held by NCC recently stopped at the second phase, it is still a better process than any other, including beauty contest. He noted that the auction created little room for people to doubt the authenticity of the process, stressing that NCC should maintain its transparency. He added that it was difficult to fault the use of auction model by NCC given the transparency that it created. Some industry analysts who felt Bitflux was a more innovative firm than Globacom, were afraid that the former would secure the 3.23GHz licence ahead Bitflux, citing Globacom’s better financial might. However, when Bitflux eventually won, it was dubbed victory for firms that believe in pursuing their dreams.

prices, which the Chinese said were selling at prices way in excess of their home markets. This is happening in Asia's most populous nation. The analyst lamented that Nigeria is Africa's most populous nation and the same thing is going on and no one is talking while “those who have the people who have the wherewithal to do something about this are busy discussing how to embezzle more money to afford these exorbitant prices instead of protecting the general populace.” This they argued has also made Porsche to come to Nigeria. DEG (a developmental financial institution) runs its SSA operations out of Ghana while a good chunk of its business in the region comes from Nigeria, the added. Likewise, Tiger Brands has bought a majority stake in UAC Foods and Dangote Flour in its quest to drive earnings, which have stagnated in its home country while Shoprite is working on its fifth or sixth shop in Nigeria presently without disclosing its

profit margins and is listed in its home country and not in Nigeria where it is making a lot more money than it envisaged and continues to have incremental increases in headline earnings. Similarly, they noted that Nigerian banks continue to lend to assets while Kenyan banks have started lending to ideas and reaping the fruits of it. “Nigeria is where everyone comes to make a profit and take back home and South Africa is where they go to make a home and receive the majority of their profit from Nigeria,” they said. Consequently, the experts argued that Nigeria may be the largest economy overnight but it is definitely not seen as the wife of African financial services industry. “It remains a bachelorette that no one is interested to marry because they are getting so much milk without commitment so why proceed further? Nigerians keep talking about potential while South Africa keeps harnessing its potential through smart business deals. Giants get larger by eating others and not allowing themselves to be devoured."

Why foreign carriers shun partnership C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 6

helping international airlines to distribute passengers from their points of entry into the country. Aviation analyst, Olumide Ohunayo attributed the skewed BASA, week regulatory policy and shambolic airline management process as reasons foreign carriers are reluctant to partner with local carriers. According to him, “Our BASA with other countries, giving multiple entry and extra frequencies is inimical to commercial cooperation with our carriers”. Ohunayo disclosed that all Nigerian airlines are too fragmented with poor schedule integrity and glaring poor financial war

chest, stressing that having two aircraft to acquire an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) are retrogressive. “We need a regulatory consolidation process that will raise the bar on equipment ownership. Almost all the airlines in our airspace lack a functioning board. This dismay prospective partners when they realise that decisions are taken by individuals while the system and processes swing at the whims and caprices of personalities. The issue of safety, certification and membership of IATA are other ingredients needed by our carriers. Sadly, they don’t have it”, he added.

BUSINESS | MONEYLINE

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

Experts justify ATM charges

BEST DEALS When it comes to the cost of using ATMs, Nigerian banking customers still have the best deals

Officer of Financial Derivatives Company, (FDC), said that the reinstatement of the ATM charge was appropriate. He said that it was wrong for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to have removed the charges in the first place. Rewane insisted that the charge was necessary given that the dynamics of banking is such that banks will continue to invest and re-invest in infrastructure to make sure that they continue to provide quality services for their customers. He noted that banks are already carrying the burden of paying the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) levies; the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) premium, adding that the commission on turnover (COT), which is also a cash spinner for lenders is also almost being removed by the apex bank.

Godson Ikoro

xperts have lauded restoration of the N65 per transaction charge on remote-on-us automated teller machines (ATMs) cash withdrawals, saying that it is a step in the right direction. Remote-on-us are transactions done by a card holder on another bank’s ATM. The policy, which takes effect from September 1, 2014, had drawn mixed reactions from the public, with some saying that the charges were restored for profit. Commenting on the issue, Mr Bismark Rewane, Managing Director and Chief Executive

Mr Abubaker Suleiman, corroborated Rewane, saying that the re-instatement of cost recovery for the use of other banks’ ATM was intended to limit the cost incurred by banks and does not constitute profit. He said: “Banks are still left with the burden of three free withdrawals a month, which translates to N195 monthly charge. While this cost is less than the income on medium and high value accounts, it is sufficient to render most low value accounts unprofitable, which will force banks to discontinue marketing such accounts.” Suleiman argued that the last thing the country needs at this time is a rollback of the financial inclusion campaign, which has resulted in a noticeable uptick in customer enrollment by banks and has created access to financial services for

Interbank rates fall on budget inflows, OMO maturities

igeria's interbank lending rates eased to an average of 10.5 per cent last Friday, compared with 12 per cent penultimate week, driven by increased cash inflows from budgetary allocations and retirement of matured Open Market operations (OMO) bills. The Federal Government distributed revenue from oil exports among its three tiers of government - federal, state and local last week. Some N260 billion ($1.61 billion) making up the portion to states and local governments, according to

Reuters, hit the money market last week. Traders said an additional N135 billion in matured OMO bills were also repaid last Thursday, which further swelled liquidity in the market and drove down cost of borrowing. The open buy-back (OBB) eased to 10.5 per cent, from 11.75 per cent penultimate week, 1.5

basis points below the central bank's benchmark interest rate of 12 per cent. Overnight placements also fell to 10.5 per cent from 12.25 per cent penultimate week. "Rates will remain flat this week going by the level of liquidity in the market presently, unless the central bank embarks on an aggressive mopping up exercise," one dealer said.

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

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

Description

TTM

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

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

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

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

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

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

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

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

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

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

more than one million Nigerians in just over a year. He stressed that the previous policy on limitless withdrawals might have benefitted those who were already financially included in the short-term but would have harmed mostly poor people with banks scaling back investments for mass market and refocusing on the middle class. Suleiman further emphasized that the current burden on Nigerian banks arising from the combined weight of NDIC premiums and AMCON levy as well as the increasing cost of Cash Reserves gave little room for pushing additional cost to banks. He added that these costs has become a source of concern for investors and could have negative impact on capital flows. “When it comes to the cost of using ATMs, Nigerian bank-

ing customers still have one of the best deals you can find in any jurisdiction” Suleiman averred. Speaking in an interview in Lagos, Director, Banking and Payment System Department, CBN, Mr. Dipo Fatokun, said the policy will not affect the apex bank’s financial inclusion campaign. He also insisted that the policy was not a re-introduction of charges. Fatokun explained that prior to the amendments in December 2012, it used to be N100 on any remote-on-us withdrawal. But he said the N100 was removed then so that people would be encouraged to go to other banks’ ATMs. “But the truth is that, as we said in the circular, that of the N100, N35 goes to the payment bank, which has now been completely waived.

Access bank, Visa Card partner on e-procurement services Godson Ikoro

ccess Bank Plc in conjunction with VISA has announced a business partnership with an online shipping company shoptomydoor.com exclusively for Visa cardholders. The partnership according to a statement, is intended to afford Access Bank Visa Card holders the opportunity to shop online at retailers in the US, UK and China as well as enjoy exclusive shipping discounts directly to their doorsteps. According to Mr. Victor Etuokwu, Executive Director, Personal Banking, the introduction ofShoptomydoor.com platform was a deliberate attempt by the bank to make financial services easy and accessible to its customers. Sequel to this development,

he said, Access bank VISA cardholders could now shop from the world’s major international retailers with more flexibility and convenience. He said customers could also make purchases online in these countries as if they are local residents and also have it shipped in a few business days. “In line with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) cashless initiative, this move is part of Access Bank’s efforts at boosting electronic payments, e-commerce and fostering ease of transactions. Shoptomydoor.com, which is a global player in the e-commerce and e-procurement industry, offers a faster and more effective means of conducting transactions over the internet and is currently being used by millions of customers across the world”, Access said in a statement.

FirstBank praised for training journalists

orporate Affairs Manager of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Paul Rasmussen, has commended First Bank of Nigeria Plc for boosting the capacity of the media houses through a sponsored training for selected Nigerian journalists. The four-day broad-based international Advanced Financial Journalism Course funded by FirstBank took place at the Press Association Centre in London, United Kingdom. Rasmussen spoke when the participants visited the BBC office in Central London. He said such training is necessary in equipping journalists with the requisite skills needed to carry out their jobs. Another lecturer, Mr. Darshan Sanghrajka tutored journalists on social media, highlighting the benefits in today’s socioeconomic development. Participants were taught how to get information from Facebook, Linkedin, Youtube and twitter

and what channels to use as well as when to use them. The international training programme, currently in its second year, falls under the lender’s intervention initiative tagged, “Media Thought Leadership Capacity Enhancement Initiative”. Last year, the journalists from different beats including online, electronic and print journalism were trained in core financial journalism, which covered macro and microeconomics reporting. It also dwelt on reporting and writing on and about corporates. The course took into consideration other aspects of reporting such as health, culture, brand, Corporate Social Responsibility and writing for social media. Managing Director of PMA Media Training, Riva Elliott said the firm was excited to provide training for the second year running, which it believed would greatly improve the quality of work that the delegates do.

BUSINESS | NEWS 33

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

PROHIBITED Illegal trade in rhino horn, tiger parts and elephant tusks that fuels criminal activity is worth $19bn Siaka Momoh

Vietnamese agency in charge of wildlife has called on local forest protection units to strengthen control over importing wild animals into Vietnam to prevent the spread of epidemic virus,’ including the fatal Ebola virus. The call was made by the Vietnam’s Branch of Genevabased Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fau-

Ebola: Concern shifts to wildlife global trade na (CITES Vietnam), under the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. It came amid worries about the Ebola virus disease that has affected nearly 2,000 people in four West African countries (Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea) and killed 1, 229, as reported by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Illegal trade in rhino horn, tiger parts and elephant tusks that fuels criminal activity is worth over $19 billion each year, according to wildlife experts. These wild lives can be found in Nigeria too.

Vietnam is the largest illegal market for rhino horn market coming from the South of Africa. In Vietnam, the last Javan rhinoceros (Sunda rhinoceros) disappeared in 2012. Despite the efforts of the international community to curb the international trade of rhino by putting these species on the appendixes of the CITES convention, rhinoceros populations are still under threat. Vietnam has a law, which prevents trade in rhino horn and regulations on hunting trophy, imports and exports. However, the administration cannot enforce it.

There are still horns going into China, but Vietnam is driving the increase in poaching for horns," said Chris R. Shepherd, deputy regional director for Southeast Asia at the wildlife advocacy group traffic. " The rhino horn craze offers bigger payoffs than other exotic wildlife products such as bear bile or tiger bone paste. American officials say the crushed powder fetches up to NZ$67,000 per kilogramme in Asia - a price that can top the US street value of cocaine, making the hoof-like substance literally as valuable as gold. China has long valued rhino

horn for its purported - though unproven - medicinal properties, but US officials and international wildlife experts now say Vietnam's recent intense craving, blamed partly on a widespread rumour that rhino horn cures cancer, is putting unprecedented pressure on the world's estimated 28,000 remaining animals, mainly in South Africa. Illegal hunters are part of a very organized network. Rhinoceros can be killed in Africa by shooting with guns. Smugglers have started to dehorn live rhinos using immobilisation drugs.

Nigeria is key market in Africa, says Brand Africa

igeria is key market for our African programme, Miller Matola, CEO of Brand South Africa, the agency responsible for creating positive and compelling brand image for South Africa has said. He spoke in Lagos at NigeriaSouth Africa Chamber of Commerce Breakfast. According to Matola, the choice of Nigeria along with Angola, DRC, Ghana, Kenya and Senegal as key markets is informed by South Africa’s foreign policy, both political and economic diplomacy as well as trade and investment imperatives. “Brand South Africa pursues its Africa Programme with an emphasis on promoting the South Africa nation brand as part of the continent brand, ‘Brand Africa’; therefore Africa’s reputation and competitiveness is central to that agenda,” Matola stated. “There is no doubt about the

power of commercial brands to convey the overall brand of their country of origin – be it innovation, excellence or quality – which will result in investment in changing the narrative about how Africa as a continent is perceived,” he said. Matola stressed the importance of the African nations having in-depth working and friendly relationships drawing conclusions from the 2013/14 Project Thrive Study on the familiarity of Nigerians with South Africa. The study, he said, indicated that the average familiarity rate about South Africa amongst Nigerians stands at 46 per cent and only 18 per cent of the sample has a high knowledge base of South Africa. He advised that it is imperative for each of the African nations to reflect a collective unity of the continent in order to improve the perceptions of Africans and Africa as a whole.

Ibadan, Kano to unleash investment growth C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

“Most Western companies already have some presence in at least one of SSA’s ‘Top 3’ populous cities: Lagos, Kinshasa and Johannesburg. “However, we think the real opportunity lies in the ‘Next 10’ large cities in SSA, the populations of which are projected to almost double in size by 2030, growing by around 32 million people. In fact, the latest United Nations projections show that, by 2030, two out of the ‘Next 10’ cities (Dar es Salaam and Luanda) could have bigger populations than London has now.” The report added that by 2030, the ‘Next 10’ cities projected to triple their economic size urban population growth that is expected to lead to more economic activity. “The ‘Next 10’ cities are expected to almost double their population and triple their economic output by 2030,” the report added.

It also estimated that economic activity in the ‘Next 10’ cities could grow by around $140 billion dollars by 2030 (at constant 2012 dollars). This is roughly equivalent to the current annual output of Bangladesh. These estimates are, however, based on the following key assumptions, national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rates following those projected by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its latest World Economic Outlook report (which do not take into account the latest Nigerian GDP rebasing); City GDP per capita, which grows in line with the rest of the country (which may be a conservative assumption); Constant real exchange rates, which could also be a relatively conservative assumption given that real exchange rates might be expected to rise in the long run in dollar terms for emerging economies with relatively rapid productivity growth.

Group Managing Director /CEO, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr Ladi Balogun (left) and Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, at the 8th annual MSME Finance Conference and Entrepreneurship Awards in Abuja…recently

DISINCENTIVE Women and children bear more of the brunt of weeding, investing between 200 and 500 hours

Siaka Momoh

eeding accounts for between 50 and 80 per cent of the total labour budget of cassava growers, New Telegraph can confirm. According to New Telegraph’s International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) source, weeds are major disincentives to African farmers. “And with traditionawl agriculture still predominant, women and children bear more the brunt of weeding, investing between 200 and 500 hours annually in clearing weeds on a hectare of cassava to prevent economic root losses in Nigeria.” IITA notes: “The drudgery involved in weeding places a hard-to-bear yolk on women, compromises productivity, and more importantly, put to jeopardy the education of children of ages 5-14 years as most are forced out of school to assist their parents.” Efforts to control weeds in cassava farms received a boost

Weeding gulps 80% of cassava farmers’ budget with Nigerian engineers joining forces with experts from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to seek sustainable solutions to tackle the menace. The team of engineers drawn from members of the academia, IITA, public and private sectors are exploring mechanical weeding options used elsewhere in the world with the hope of adapting them to African cropping systems. The team intends to build on present motorised weeding equipment already available in the market by studying their limitations in the African farming context, understanding those limitations and modifying the equipment for maximum efficiency. At a meeting in Ibadan to kick off the collaboration recently, Project Leader for the Cassava Weed Management Project, Dr Alfred Dixon described the partnership as key milestone that would redefine mechanical control of weeds in crops such as cassava in Nigeria in particular, and Africa in general. “For us to maximise yield in Africa, we need to mechanise weeding. And the challenge before us is to innovate options

that will take off drudgery from farmers, and make the farms weed-free so that the crops will grow and express their full potential,” Dr Dixon said. He said that unless solutions to weeds are made available, African farmers will not increase their farm sizes and enjoy the gains of agricultural growth. “They can plant only what they can weed,” he added Prof Olawale John Olukunle, Head, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), commended the IITA Cassava Weed Management Project for welcoming the proposal to jointly work with the Nigerian experts; and praised the Institute’s efforts towards addressing the problem of weeds in cassava and other African crops. Launched early this year, the Cassava Weed Management Project is confronting the problem of weeds on several fronts including the use of best-bet agronomic practices by combining improved cassava varieties with proper planting dates, plant populations, plant nutrition options and also focusing on intercropping and tillage research.

business | STOCK WATCH

DECLINE Delay in payment of subsidy claims and frozen margin stagnate performance

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

Total Nigeria: Harsh milieu depresses bottom-line

Share price movement of Total Nigeria Plc 2013

Chris Ugwu

he downstream petroleum sector has witnessed its share of mixed fortunes of the Nigerian economy as it remained a partially deregulated industry. Aside the deregulation, 2013 was a difficult year for the sector’s business environment. Security challenges were and have remain a major concern across the country as petroleum marketers continued to experience violence most especially in the northern part of the country. The industry has also continued to experience sustained pressure on its cash flows due to late payments of subsidies resulting in huge financial expenses. Market pundits believed the sector has been affected by the delay in payment of subsidy claims as the Federal Government works to weed out corruption in the system. Total Nigeria Plc is one of the companies in the industry that some of these challenges have negatively impacted on its sales and profitability. Its 2014 half year results saw profit decline by 10 per cent. Market sentiment on the shares of the company have remained relatively stable and presently ranks number two after Fort Oil, which currently occupy the top position. The share price, which closed at N57.00 per share in September 30, 2013, has recorded a leap in growth. At the close of business, last Friday, the company’s share price stood at N181.02, an increase of N24.02 or 13.26 per cent year to date. Corporate profile Total Nigeria Plc was incorporated in 1956 and was listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange?. Its first petrol station was commissioned at Herbert Macaulay Street, Yaba, Lagos in 1956. Today, it has over 550 service stations, 5LPG-bottling plants, and three lubricants blending plants. It operates out of five aviation storage facilities and also has other facilities spread across the country. Total S.A (the parent company of Total Nigeria Plc) is a publicly –traded oil company with businesses in exploration and production, refining, marketing and trading. It is a major player in the chemicals sector. Financials A cursory look at the numbers showed despite that despite the difficulties, the company’s performance and operating results for 2013 improved slightly. Turnover increased from N217.8 billion in 2012 to N238.2 billion in 2013, while the market share rose from 11.4 per cent to 11.7 per cent. Profit after tax increased

Sept 30

N157.00

Oct 31

N167.00

Nov 30

N165.01

Dec 31

N170.00 2014

Jan 31

N180.00

Feb 28

N173.00

Mar 31

N172.95

Apr

N161.20

May 30

N166.05

Jun 30

N179.60

Jul 31

N171.55

Aug 15

N181.02

made public,” he said. Nguer noted that the company is also faced with rising insecurity and increasing and confusing burden by the proliferation of tax legislation at both federal and local levels. Nguer

from N4.7 billion to N5.3 billion in 2013, 14 per cent higher than the previous year. However, the dwindling fortune set in when the company released its first quarter 2014 financial results, which showed weak performance at both top and bottom line level. For the first quarter of 2014, Total’s revenue slid slightly by 1 per cent year on year to N60.59 billion from N61.05 billion in the same period in the prior year. The company was unable to boost bottom line performance as Profit before tax (PBT) shrank by 8 per cent to N1.71 billion, compared with N1.85 billion as at Q1 2013. Profit after tax also followed the same trend as it declined by 6.5 per cent in the review period to N1.07 billion as against N1.14 billion as at Q1’2013. Earnings per share EPS fell to 315 kobo in Q1’2014 from 337 kobo as at Q1’2013. Gross profits were down 8.03 per cent to N7.10 billion in Q1’14 as against N7.74 billion as at Q1’2013. The trend continued in second quarter of 2014 as Total Nigeria also posted 10 per cent drop in profit after tax during the half year ended June 2014. In a filing with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) the company’s net profit declined from N2.4 billion during the comparable period of 2013 to N2.2 billion, accounting for a drop of 10 per cent. Its half-year pre-tax profit also fell 12 per cent to N3.42 billion compared with N3.90

billion in the same period last year. Gross earnings in the local fuel marketer however, climbed to N120.15 billion from 117.29 billion in the previous year. Why profit declined The company had called on the Federal Government to review the Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) unit margin, which had remained unchanged since 2007. Chairman Total Nigeria Plc and Senior Vice-President, Africa/Middle East, Mr. Momar Nguer, made the appeal at the company’s 36th Annual General meeting (AGM) held in Lagos. He said the marketing margin, which is generating the cash flow has not been reviewed since seven years, while the cost of doing business has increased substantially. “Imagine that your salary which is earning your living has remained the same for seven years when cumulative

The company had called on the Federal Government to review the Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) unit margin, which had remained unchanged since 2007

inflation has been 70 per cent over the period. How would you manage? That’s what is happening to our industry. To my knowledge, there is no other country that has frozen margin for such a long time. This is not sustainable and the margin should be reviewed to really cater for the cost of doing business in the Nigerian environment,” he said. “Not only are we suffering from frozen margin, we are also suffering from huge financial expenses as a result of delay in payment of subsidies. On average, it takes 8 months for the government to pay us back the subsidies. In our balance sheet at the end of 2013, we were owed N12 billion. The financial expenses of that debt represent 10 per cent of our net operating income,” he said. Nguer noted that Nigeria currently is a net importer of refined products and 80 per cent of the fuel is imported. He added that for a marketing company, everything depends on allocations and that Total Nigeria is not getting its fair share of allocation to allow it to serve its customers well. “Is it normal that with 12 per cent market share with 500 stations, three first class storage facilities, a proven record of compliance, Total Nigeria only get about 3 per cent of the import allocations? We would like to advocate that rules and criteria of allocation should be made public and applied in full transparency, and the companies’ performance with regard to the actual importation be

Analysts’ perception Reacting to the half-year results, analysts at FBN Capital said the company’s Q2 2014 earnings came in broadly in line with their expectations, similar to Q1. “We have made negligible adjustments to our EPS forecasts over the 2014-15E period. In spite of this, our new price target of N226.6 is 22 per cent higher than our previous price target because we have rolled forward our valuation to 2015E. Our new price target implies a potential upside of around 25 per cent from current levels. Total shares have outperformed the index this year, gaining 7.1per cent ytd (ASI: 1.2 per cent), while underperforming the oil & gas sector index by 34 per cent. The shares are trading on a 2014E P/E multiple of 13.2x for 4 per cent EPS growth in 2015E. We retain our neutral rating on the stock,” they said. On the outlook, they said: Our views on Total’s H2 2014 remain unchanged. We continue to expect a corporate strategy focused on improving margins, especially under the current premium motor spirit (PMS) subsidy regime. In Q1, white products accounted for less than 90 per cent of sales, reflecting a mild decline from levels seen in 2013. In other business segments, management indicated that it will continue to invest in service station upgrades, vendor management sites and LPG bottles. Total has entered into partnership with Kentucky Fried Chicken, with the food operator planning to open some outlets at some of Total’s stations in 2014”.

BUSINESS | CAPITAL MARKET REPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

RECOUP Stock market closes the week on positive track despite 4 days bear run

Nigerian Stock Exchange recovers

Chris Ugwu

he Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) staged a recovery last week, breaking the jinx of the lull that characterised trading activities in the previous week. This was in spite of the low sentiments witnessed by the investors during the week, leading to decline in investors’ fortune. However, the N146 billion gains recorded last Tuesday due to investment positions taken by bargain hunters on some blue chip stocks, submerged the bearish trend that enveloped the market during the week. Analysts had forecast that the uncertainty surrounding the market following massive sell off by most blue chip companies in the recent times may persist as the country builds up for 2015 general elections. Cumulatively, the NSE AllShare Index and Market Capitalisation appreciated by 0.44 per cent to close last Friday at 41,564.19 and N13.724 trillion respectively. Similarly, all the indices appreciated during the week with the exception of the NSE Banking index (0.18 per cent), NSE Consumer Index (0.06 per cent) and NSE Lotus II (0.15 per cent), while the NSE ASeM index closed flat. Negative start Trading activities on the floor of the Nigerian stock market had last Monday opened the week on a negative note as the bearish sentiments continued to hold sway in the local bourse. The listed equities lost points and remained in the red territory following sell pressure on blue chip companies, which was due to profit taking by market speculators in the wake of the cautious optimism that had prevailed in the market in recent times. The twin market performance measures, the NSE ASI and market capitalisation dropped by 0.22 per cent as the market tempo fell. At the close of trading, 21 stocks appreciated, while 27 others constituted the losers’ table. The twin market indicators, the All-Share Index dropped by 9.43 basis points or 0.22 per cent, from 41,380.05, last Friday to close at 41,370.62. Similarly, the market capitalisation slumped by N3 billion or 0.22 per cent from N13.663 trillion to N13.660 trillion. Further analysis of the day’s trading showed that Forte Oil Plc topped the gainers table with N7.90 to close at N233.90, while Nigerian Breweries Plc followed with N1.80 to close at N173.10 per share. On the flip side, Flour Mills Nigeria Plc led the losers with a drop of N5.44 to close at N68.11, while Guinness Nigeria Plc shed N1.55 to close at N187.45. On the activity chart, the

NSE trading floor

banking sub-sector dominated in volume terms with 80.2 million shares worth N953 million in 1,366 deals. The sub-sector was enhanced by the activities in the shares of Access Bank and Zenith Bank Plc. Other financial services sub-sector boosted by the activities on the shares of Custody Insurance Plc followed with 26.4 million units, worth N193.5 million in 662 deals. In all, investors exchanged a total of 177.8 million shares worth N2.1 billion in 4,484 deals. Equities rebound Last Tuesday, principal market indicators, the NSE All Share Index and market capitalisation ascended 1.05 per cent as blue chip high cap stocks dragged the overall market performance gauges into positive territory. Consequently, the market capitalisation gained N146 billion to close at N13.806 trillion as against N13.660 trillion recorded the previous day while the All Share Index equally grew by 441.52 basis points to close at 41,812.14 index points. The NSE 30, the basket of diversified liquid stocks, edged up 110 basis points as the market closed in an ebullient mood. On the gainers’ table, brewer of alcoholic drinks, Nigerian Breweries gained N6.40 to close at N179.50, while industry rival, Guinness Nigeria, advanced by N2.67 to close at N190.12 per share. Similarly, refined petroleum products marketers, Conoil and Forte Oil, increased by N3.25 and N2.10 to close at N68.45 and N236.00 per share respectively. However, on the flip side, consumer goods company, Nestle Nigeria, moderated by N11.00 to close at N1099.00 per share. Also, producer of building inputs, Ashaka Cement, declined by N0.70 to close at N34.00 per share, while oil palm processing company, Presco Plc, slipped by N0.70 to close at N36.30 per share. Financial services players, Ecobank Transnational Interna-

Five most capitalized stocks@ Aug 22, 2014 Dangote

N3.9tn

Cement Plc Nigerian

N1.3tn

Breweries Plc Nestle

N856.6bn

Nigeria Plc Guaranty

N839.6bn

Trust Bank Plc Zenith Bank

N775.4bn

Plc tional and Fortis Microfinance Bank, pulled back by 0.40 and N0.28 to close, respectively, at N16.80 and N5.42 per share. Stocks retreat on profit taking Nigerian stock market last Wednesday slumped from the impressive rebound the previous day as the bears overwhelmed bulls following profit taking by investors after a day of bullish rally. The key market parameters, the NSE All Share Index and market capitalisation, fell 0.05 per cent each due to low sentiments on blue chip stocks. Consequently, the All-Share Index shed 22.58 basis points to close at 41,789.56 as against 41,812.14 recorded on Tuesday, while, the market capitalisation of equities depreciated by N8 billion or 0.05 per cent as market sentiments turned red. Meanwhile, a turnover of 192.1 million shares worth N1.8 billion in 4,477 deals were recorded in the day’s trading. As usual, the banking subsector of the financial services sector was the most active during the day (measured by turnover volume); with 65.3 million shares worth N682 million exchanged by investors in 1,312

deals. Volume in the banking subsector was largely driven by activities in the shares of UBA Plc and Diamond Bank Plc. Also, insurance sub-sector of the financial services sector, boosted by activity in the shares of Mutual Benefits Insurance Plc, followed with a turnover of 43.4 million shares valued at N35.9 million in 208 deals. The number of gainers was 17, while decliners closed at 25. Forte Oil led gainers’ table with N2.00 to close at N238.00 per share, while Guinness Nigeria Plc followed with a gain of 88 kobo each to close at N191.00. Wapco Plc added 21 kobo to close at N118.21 per share. On the other hand, Seplat Petroleum Plc led on the price losers’ table, dropping at N15.00 to close at N680.00 per share, while Nestle Nigeria Plc followed with a loss of N4.00 to close at N1, 095.00 per share. Nigeria Breweries Plc lost 50 kobo to close at N179.50 per share. Negative sentiments The bears maintained market dominance last Thursday following 0.05 per cent drop in both market performance indices, reflecting profit taking amid a drop in investment activities. The key benchmark indices maintained negative trajectory to close in the red, as activities in the shares of Nestle Nigeria and Total Nigeria further dragged down the equity market. Trading activities on the floor of the Exchange had the previous day also closed in the red following low sentiments of investors. Consequently, the All-Share Index dipped 22.23 basis points or 0.05 per cent to close at 41,767.33 as against 41,789.56 recorded the previous day, while the market capitalisation of equities depreciated by N7 billion or 0.05 per cent as market sentiment remained red. Meanwhile, a turnover of 182.2 million shares worth

N3.3 billion in 4,105 deals was recorded in the day’s trading. Just as in the previous day, the banking sub-sector of the financial services sector was the most active during (measured by turnover volume); with 86.4 million shares worth N904.9 million exchanged by investors in 1,370 deals. Volume in the banking subsector was largely driven by activities in the shares of Access Bank Plc and Fidelity Plc. Also, other financial services sub sector, boosted by activities in the shares of FCMB Plc, followed with a turnover of 30.7 million shares valued at N202.7 million in 556 deals. The number of gainers was 26, while decliners equally closed at 26. Seven Up Nigeria Plc led the gainers’ table with N11.78 to close at N126.78 per share while, GSK Nigeria Plc followed with a gain of N2.49 to close at N65.99. Wapco Nigeria Plc added N1.80 to close at N120.01 per share. On the other hand, Nestle Nigeria Plc led the price losers’ table, dropping N15.01 to close at N1, 079.99 per share, while Total Oil and Guinness Nigeria followed with a loss of N1.00 to close at N181.02 and N190.00 per share respectively. Bearish profile Trading activities on the floor of the NSE last Friday closed southwards as market sentiment remained in the red. The twin market performance measures, the NSE ASI and market capitalisation, dropped by 0.48 per cent on the back of losses witnessed in some blue chips stocks. At the close of trading, 24 stocks recorded price appreciation, while 27 others constituted the losers’ table. The twin market indicators, the All-Share Index dipped by 203.14 points or 0.48 per cent, from 41,767.33 the previous day to close at 41,564.19, while the market capitalisation shed by N67 billion or from N13.791 trillion to N13.724 trillion, representing 0.48 per cent decrease.

Insurance

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

HY: Losses re-echo NAICOM’s worries DISMAL OUTING Insurance industry shareholders may remain unhappy and confined to merely attending AGMs for long without reasonable dividends

…as AIICO, Mansard, Continental Re lead decline

Sunday Ojeme

oming short of calling operators in the industry he presides over as failures, the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel, a few weeks ago, advised shareholders in the sector to stop being onlookers and become more active in the management of the business they invest their hard earned money in. Daniel, who lamented the low input of the sector to the nation’s economy and poor dividend payout to the shareholders, said the Nigerian insurance sector remained one of the most attractive in the world considering the population. He said despite the obvious challenges faced by the industry in the areas of low penetration occasioned by low income level of prospective consumers, low insurance education and, religious and cultural overview, which are beyond the control of the operators, the market still remained attractive, stressing that this was evident in the fact that some few insurance companies, playing in this same market are always able to declare profit annually and consistently pay dividends to their shareholders. According to him, “It is open secret that not many of these listed insurance companies make substantial profit if at all they make any profit. The direct consequence of this is that these companies are not able to pay you dividends, no bonus issue and no capital appreciation. In fact, the price of most insurance stocks in the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) remains at nominal value of 50k.” AIICO Barely two months after the scathing criticism of the operators’ performance, emerging results of 2013 and 2014 half year periods are still nothing to rejoice about. Leading the pack on the half year decline is Aiico Insurance Plc with a 22.60 percent in profit due to what the management attributed to rising operating costs. For the first six months of the year, Aiico’s net income plummeted by 22.37 per cent to N1.13 billion from N1.46 billion the same period of the corresponding period (HY) 2013. Earnings per share (EPS) reduced to 16.43k in HY 2013 from 22.35k as of HY 2013. The not too palatable performance with its underwriting profits also went down by 39.85 per cent to N1.93 billion from N3.21 billion in the preceding year. Total underwriting expenses increased by 21.92 per cent to N9.73 billion in HY 2014, compared with N7.98 billion as of HY 2013, while management expenses surged by 35.98 per cent to N1.62 billion. There were however growth at the top-line level as gross premium income moved by 9.83 per cent to N12.95 billion as against N11.79 billion last year, while net premium income jumped by 7.32 per cent to N10.28 billion. The company’s share price closed at N0.81 – August 18, 2014, on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, while market capitalisation was N7.21 billion.

Daniel

Managing Director, Continental Reinsurance Plc, Femi Oyetunji

MD, Mansard, Yetunde Ilori

MD, AIICO, Edwin Igbiti

Mansard On its part, Mansard Insurance Plc, unarguably the best performing underwriting firm in the country today by market value also had its half-year profit after tax depreciating by 56 per cent. The firm noted that its PAT dropped from N1.842 billion recorded the previous year to N814 million at the end of half-year (H1) 2014. Profit Before Tax (PBT) was not left out as it depreciated to N993 million in the half-year of 2014 as against N2.061 billion achieved in the corresponding year of 2013, this representing a decrease of 52 per cent. Nevertheless, the gross premium appreciated from N7.547billion in the second half of 2013 to N9.611 billion in same second half of 2014 this indicating an increase of 27 per cent.

of 11.40 per cent. Its loss ratio was 47.90 per cent (2012: 47.40 per cent), mainly because there were no major catastrophic events during the year under considering despite the fact that the company was expecting to achieve a strong combined ratio by the end of the year. He said, “The firm’s net acquisition expenses ratio stood at 31 per cent and was higher than last year’s ratio of 27.6 per cent,” he said. Oyetunji also said that the firm’s management expenses for the period under review hovered around N1 billion; a 22 per cent increase over the N830.20 million recorded in the corresponding period of last year. He noted that the ratio of management expenses to net premium income was 10.20 per cent and slightly higher than the 9.50 per cent recorded in 2012.

Continental Re At the level of reinsurance, one of the practicing reinsurers in the country, Continental Reinsurance Plc, recorded a 9.5 per cent drop in profit for the financial year ended December 31, 2013. The company posted a profit after tax of N1.58 billion in 2013 compared with N1.73 billion in 2012. Commenting on the third quarter results, Managing Director of the company, Dr. Femi Oyetunji, however, said, “In the third quarter of 2013, we continued to see favourable trends across our key core business indices. We sustained the momentum achieved during the first half of the year with gross written premium growing by 15 per cent. Overall, we are progressing towards achieving our 2013 performance objectives.” According to Oyetunji, the report for the third quarter showed that Continental-Re raked in retrocession premium worth N 1.40 billion, reflecting a retrocession ratio of 12.40 per cent, which is slightly higher than the previous period

Previous losses Industry observers are of the opinion that the early losses so far recorded might be similar to that of 2012 performance where some of the operators recorded losses in most of their financial dealings. African Alliance Insurance, Lasaco, Mutual Benefits and Standard Alliance were some of the operators that recorded losses that year. According to the details, African Alliance posted a loss of 84.2 per cent for the audited period ended December 31,

It is open secret that not many of these listed insurance companies make substantial profit if at all they make any profit

DG, NIA, Sunday Thomas

2012 with the company’s pre-tax profit recording a loss of N152.405 million in 2012 as against to N970.088 million declared in 2011. Standard Alliance recorded a loss before tax of N1.9 billion which largely arose from a comprehensive impairment review of its trade receivables. It rose to N2.8 billion in 2012 against N.783 billion in the previous year 2011. For Lasaco, the company’s post-tax profit in 2012 recorded a decline of 185.1 per cent from N299.711 million in 2011 to N255.024 million. Similarly, the pre-tax profit also dropped by -136 per cent to N180.090 million in 2012 when compared to N500.310 million recorded in 2011. Mutual Benefits also experienced losses in both profit before tax as well as profit after tax as they depreciated by 222 per cent and 737 per cent in 2012 respectively. In its profit after tax it recorded a loss of N609.261 million compared to N72.814 million reported in 2011 while the profit before tax was N290.607 million in 2012 compared to N238.931 million recorded in the corresponding period of 2011. NAICOM's spat Blaming the insurers further for the shoddy results turned out to shareholders by the operators, the NAICOM boss said the operators were yet to conduct insurance business in a manner that would earn them the requisite profit and also boost the profile of the industry. He listed poor risk pricing among other factors as responsible for the downturn in the industry, saying that no company would make profit if it chose to underwrite risks almost free of charge. According to him, “Pricing of risk is very critical to insurance underwriting. How well an insurance company performs on a particular risk depends largely on how you are able to appropriately price the risk. So, if you are one of such companies that offer prices that are not commensurate with the risk you are taking, there is no way such a company will make profit. “No company will make profit and pay dividends if it writes business for almost free, give rebates and gratis but pay huge claims on risk it collected little or no premium on. This is what most of these insurance companies do. The Group Life insurance of federal workers is a key example in this regards. “The second point is investment decisions. Insurance companies are expected to generate income from investment of premium received from policyholders. So it is imperative that the Board and CONTINUED ON PAGE 37

BUSINESS | INSURANCE 37

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

NAICOM tasks workers on Group Life policy COMPULSORY INSURANCE Nigerians' failure to take advantage of the provisions in the Compulsory Insurance Act worries stakeholders

Sunday Ojeme

he National Insurance Commission has restated the need for every employee in the country to ensure he is covered under the

Group Life Insurance policy. Making the declaration during a meeting with major stakeholders of the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel, said the reason for the insurance policy under the Compulsory Insurance programme was to ensure that employees’ dependants found succour in the event of death in the course of employment and comfort after retirement. The commissioner, who expressed joy over the invitation extended to him by the labour union, said it had afforded him the opportunity to highlight the benefit of the Pension Reform Act 2014 as it relates to Compulsory Group

Life Insurance and Life Annuity for the employees by the employers of all tiers of government and the private sector as contained in Section 4 Subsections 5 and Section 7 Subsections 1c) of the Act. According to him, “The primary purpose of the relevant sections referred to is to ensure that employee dependants have succour in the event of death in the course of employment and comfort after retirement. The pension reform act 2014 is an update of the pension reform act of 2004. “Whilst this act of parliament provides for the security of employees, it would remain a mirage or paper tiger unless conscious efforts are made to

enlighten workers of their rights by respective labour unions to ensure that workers are not short-changed as a result of failure of employer to comply with the provision of the act. “At the moment, compliance is largely effected by the Federal government whilst other tiers of government are yet to fully comply. Compliance by private sector employers will need to be monitored to ensure that workers interests are protected.” He added that a synopsis of the benefits of the Group Life cover and Life Annuity would be provided by the representative of the Nigerian Insurers Association, (NIA), stressing

that the Commission had enjoyed effective collaboration with the National pension Commission in enforcing the relevant provisions of the Pension Reform Act. “It is my prayer that the NLC would leverage on the provisions of the Pension Reform Act 2014 by ensuring that workers are sensitised to demand for their rights as provided and also ensure compliance by all tiers of government and the private sector employers. The proactivity of the NLC and its affiliates will enable workers to access the well-intended welfare provision for the Nigerian workers. Thank you once again for this opportunity,” he added.

Staco boss honoured with Doctorate degree

he Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Staco Insurance Plc, Mr Sakiru Oyefeso, has been conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Business Administration (DBA) by the Commonwealth University, Belize. A statement made avasilable to New Telegraph by the underwriting firm described the award as unique as it is especially reserved for personalities who have distinguished themselves in society through service, selflessness, business acumen and other outstanding contributions through which the lives of many have been touched positively. Commonwealth University Belize is an institution set up under the authority of the Government of the British Commonwealth, State of Belize in Central America and it is one of the best awarding

institutions in the world. Oyefeso is a distinction honours graduate of Insurance at the School of Management & Business Studies of Lagos State College of Science and Technology, now Lagos State Polytechnic. He also obtained a distinction and was the best graduating student of Master of Business Administration Degree (MBA) from the Lagos State University (LASU). He is a graduate of the Chief Executive Programme (CEP) of Lagos Business School (LBS) of the Pan African University and a member of the Nigeria Institute of Management. He is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) and also an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute of London. He has attended several courses on leadership, management and strategy both locally and internationally.

Ebola: Members' Evening to discuss containment

he Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) will Tuesday (tomorrow) offer a platform for its members to be educated on the best ways to contain the spread of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease. A statement by the Assistant Executive Secretary of NCRIB, Tope Adaramola, said the event would be at the councils’ Members’ Evening being hosted by Union Assurance. The statement said the forum would be utilised to add the voice of the insurance sector to the containment of the dreaded Ebola virus through presenta-

tions by health professionals invited to grace the occasion. As usual, the Evening will be utilised by management of Union Assurance, led by its Managing Director, Mr Godwin Odah, to prospect for greater chunk of the nation's insurance market through the brokers, who are believed to control the critical chunk of the country's insurance business. The bi-monthly event has become a veritable platform for professional interaction between brokers and host underwriters, in a bid to make the insurance industry cohesive and robust.

L-R: Vice Chancellor, Commonwealth University, Belize Prof. Michael Addison; Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Bruce Duncan; and MD/CEO Staco Insurance Plc, Dr. Sakiru Oyefeso, at the conferment of Honorary Doctorate Degree on Oyefeso by the university in Belize.

Globacom, NURTW partner on insurance cover for drivers O ne of the leading mobile telecommunication service providers in the country, Globacom, has provided insurance cover for drivers under the umbrella of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). The insurance arrangement worth N1 million each was done to provide succour for the dependants of any of the policyholders who died while on active service. Giving details about the cover, the Head, Glo Gateway, Mr. Steve Stretch, said immediate family members of any NURTW member, who died in

Insurance firms' poor performance C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 6

management of these companies take good investment decisions to invest in ventures that will guarantee returns on investment. “Companies who do this are

the ones succeeding. But majority would rather invest as much as N5billion in failing subsidiaries that will never yield dividends and thus, no return on investment. The situation is made worst because these subsidiaries which are not

insurance related are outside the regulatory purview of the NAICOM. NAICOM has tried to arrest this development by putting a limit of not more than 25 per cent investment of shareholders’ funds in non-insurance entities.”

an accident, would get N1 million. He said the money was meant to cushion the effect of death of their breadwinner while N850,000 would accrue to the family of any member who suffered permanent disability on the road in the course of discharging his daily activities. Stretch revealed this during the official launch of the Security Verified Identity Card (SVID), an insurance scheme instituted by Globacom in partnership with the NURTW, United Bank for Africa and Skye Bank. According to him, “much as no one prays for accidents, we know that such can happen unannounced. When people die untimely in accidents or become incapacitated through accidents, their families suffer untold hardship, especially where such victims were the breadwinners. “This is what Globacom wants to forestall with this scheme. “We also believe that family members of the NURTW, like

any other families in other industries, must enjoy basic things of life such as children education, feeding and clothing. “If the bread winner is incapacitated or is no more available, the SVID card will serve as identity cards and Automated Teller Machine (ATM) code cards for NURTW members.” Commending Globacom for the initiative, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu, said it was innovative and timely as it would be used for financial transactions, identifying imposters and touts and improving the welfare of union members. Speaking in the same vein, the National President of NURTW, Alhaji Najeem Yasin, said the welfare of his constituency propelled the union to partner with Globacom on the project, adding that the SVID would also help the union to have a comprehensive database of all members of the union.

38 business | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

22-Aug-14

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

Bonds

Price

FGN Bonds Issuer

Rating/Agency

Description 9.25 28-SEP-2014 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

28-Sep-07 23-Apr-10 16-Aug-13 27-Apr-12 27-Jul-07 31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

9.25 4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.15

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

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

0.10 0.67 1.98 2.68 2.93 3.03 3.77 4.85 5.17 7.43 9.56 14.27 14.75 15.25 15.92 19.90

10.80 10.90 11.17 11.11 11.12 11.12 11.15 11.19 11.30 11.78 11.94 12.54 12.58 12.63 12.20 12.13

9.35 10.08 11.09 11.04 11.06 11.00 11.05 11.12 11.21 11.72 11.89 12.50 12.54 12.57 12.15 12.09

99.81 95.65 103.25 109.00 96.88 95.55 98.60 117.60 83.49 122.40 112.65 116.09 99.34 72.34 84.70 100.15

99.96 96.15 103.40 109.15 97.03 95.85 98.90 117.90 83.79 122.70 112.95 116.39 99.64 72.64 85.00 100.45

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

4,591.19 Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

***LCRM

Description

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

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

0.19 0.75 1.36 2.30 2.66 2.87

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.39 13.58 13.40 13.15 12.12 12.12

97.88 90.55 104.94 100.97 99.52 97.08

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

0.15 1.02 0.63 1.15 1.15 2.66 1.70 3.36 2.33 4.12 2.53 2.53 2.91 2.98 5.25 3.04 3.66 6.27 6.36 3.84 3.87

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

13.88 15.53 14.11 15.56 14.58 16.71 12.16 12.92 12.94 12.17 12.12 15.90 12.12 12.12 12.32 13.86 12.15 12.63 13.60 12.60 13.11

99.92 97.22 99.68 98.75 101.38 86.00 102.64 102.81 102.26 105.76 105.22 96.41 105.58 108.42 108.19 102.16 107.32 103.62 105.77 105.59 105.53

07-Oct-14 18-Dec-14 31-Dec-14 17-Aug-15 09-Dec-15 06-Jan-16 29-Sep-16 25-Oct-16 30-Sep-17 30-Nov-17 09-Apr-18 09-Sep-18 09-Sep-18 22-Sep-18 18-Oct-18 17-Feb-19 01-Apr-19 14-Nov-20

0.13 0.32 0.36 0.74 0.82 0.89 2.10 2.18 3.11 1.92 1.88 2.05 2.05 4.09 2.16 2.49 3.36 6.23

1.00 5.21 8.71 4.88 1.00 2.63 1.00 1.34 1.00 1.88 3.48 5.20 5.06 1.35 2.29 6.11 2.16 2.76

11.69 15.54 19.13 15.82 11.98 13.66 12.17 12.50 12.12 13.06 14.65 16.38 16.24 12.52 13.46 17.24 13.29 14.38

99.91 99.26 99.13 96.14 100.56 100.76 101.47 103.19 102.18 109.43 102.51 102.99 101.73 104.60 104.55 99.59 107.11 103.43

11-Feb-18

3.47

1.00

12.14

94.63

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,301.62

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

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

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

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

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

6.00 8.50 6.08 6.27 7.37 57.00 29.92 25.00 37.25 9.00 14.96 11.13 27.00 17.28 80.00 28.37 11.40 87.00 5.00 4.78 4.79

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

484.10

Corporate Bonds A+/Agusto; AA/GCR Aa/Agusto Nil Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto BB+/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto A/GCR 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

LAFARGE WAPCO GTB µ NGC *UPDC *FLOURMILLS *CHELLARAMS NAHCO FSDH UBA *C & I LEASING *DANA# *TOWER# *TOWER# UBA *LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS# *DANA NAHCO

11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

07-Oct-11 18-Dec-09 01-Apr-10 17-Aug-10 09-Dec-10 06-Jan-11 29-Sep-11 25-Oct-13 30-Sep-10 30-Nov-12 09-Apr-11 09-Sep-11 09-Sep-11 22-Sep-11 18-Oct-13 17-Feb-12 01-Apr-14 14-Nov-13

11.50 13.50 17.00 10.00 12.00 14.00 13.00 14.25 13.00 18.00 16.00 18.00 16.00 14.00 15.75 17.00 16.00 15.25

11.80 13.17 2.00 3.61 13.62 0.60 15.00 5.53 20.00 0.73 7.20 3.27 0.90 35.00 2.70 0.41 4.50 2.05

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

142.08

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

IFC

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

12.00 Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

4.70

4.56

111.24

112.08

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

3.90

3.70

104.36

105.10

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.03

4.92

109.55

110.33

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

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

AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

3.71

2.96

111.45

112.64

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

4.64

3.92

104.68

105.92

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.12

5.89

99.55

100.38

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.03

6.41

100.59

102.30

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.72

8.14

94.25

96.01

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

7.74

7.04

107.78

109.38

ACCESS BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC AFREN PLC ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.39

6.09

99.41

100.66

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

8.97

8.73

99.15

100.07

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

DIAMOND BANK PLC FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.26

6.56

103.42

105.92

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

AFREN PLC ECOBANK NIG. LTD

6.63 DEC 09, 2020 8.75 AUG 14, 2021

09-Dec-13 14-Aug-14

6.63 8.75

360.00 250.00

09-Dec-20 14-Aug-21

6.00 8.91

5.10 8.63

104.41 99.36

105.89 100.47

B/Fitch; B/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,910.00

**Treasury Bills DTM 13 20 27 34 41 48 55

FIXINGS Maturity 4-Sep-14 11-Sep-14 18-Sep-14 25-Sep-14 2-Oct-14 9-Oct-14 16-Oct-14

Bid Discount (%) 10.65 10.45 10.60 10.50 10.65 10.55 10.60

Offer Discount (%) 10.40 10.20 10.35 10.25 10.40 10.30 10.35

Bid Yield (%) 10.69 10.51 10.68 10.60 10.78 10.70 10.77

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 11.3750 12.7938 13.3506 14.1455

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.58

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

10.83

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M

161.90 162.25 162.51 162.62 164.25

162.00 162.51 162.85 163.78 165.42

O/N Tenor Call

REPO

Rate (%) 10.50

Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Monday, August 25, 2014 Sub-National 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

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

0.19 0.75 1.36 2.30 2.66 2.87

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.39 13.58 13.40 13.15 12.12 12.12

97.88 90.55 104.94 100.97 99.52 97.08

1,301.62 BUSINESS |FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS 39

Sanctity of Truth

FMDQ targets N80tn turnover

NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI Nil *BENUE A+/Agusto *IMO A+/Agusto; A+/GCR LAGOS A-/Agusto *BAYELSA A/Agusto EDO A+/Agusto; A+/GCR *DELTA A-/Agusto; A-/GCR NIGER A/Agusto; A-/GCR† *EKITI A-/Agusto *NIGER A/Agusto; A-/GCR *ONDO A/Agusto; A-/GCR *GOMBE Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR MDQ OTC Plc LAGOS is set to A/Agusto; A-/GCR *OSUN achieve a full year turnover A/Agusto *OSUN of N80AA-/GCR trillion byLAGOS December Aa-/Agusto; 2014. BBB+/DataPro KOGI A-/Agusto; A/Agusto *EKITI The Business Development A-/GCR at FMDQ, Tumi *NASARAWA Officer Seko-

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 competitiveness. 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 “With the concerted efforts 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 of the Dealing Members and 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 FMDQ, the09-DEC-2018 OTC market ini14.50 EKITI tiatives are geared to improve 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 liquidity , transparency , gover15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 ,” Sekoni nance and efficiency said.14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 The Managing Director 14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020 FMDQ Plc, Mr. Onadele 13.50 OTC LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 Koko15.00 had said that the organKOGI 31-DEC-2020 14.50is EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 new reveisation anticipating 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 its listnue lines as it concludes

15-Oct-09 14.00 31-Aug-10 12.50 30-Sep-10 13.00 30-Jun-11 14.00 30-Jun-09 15.50 19-Apr-10 10.00 30-Jun-10 13.75 was excited by the opportuni30-Dec-10 14.00 ties ahead as it makes good 30-Sep-11 14.00 progress towards delivering 04-Oct-11 14.00 2018 strategic 09-Dec-11 vision. 14.50 12-Dec-13 14.00 “Management is confident that as14-Feb-12 these efforts 15.50 advance, 15.50 FMDQ02-Oct-12 will increasingly be po22-Nov-12 14.50 sitioned as a growing,14.75 systemi12-Dec-12 cally important SRO,14.75 market 30-Sep-13 organiser and business. We 27-Nov-13 13.50 31-Dec-13 15.00 lines anticipate new revenue 31-Dec-13 14.50 as we conclude on our listings 06-Jan-14 15.00 and quotations processes.

6.00 15-Oct-14 0.15 8.50 31-Aug-15 1.02 6.08 30-Sep-15 0.63 6.27 30-Jun-16 1.15 7.37 30-Jun-16 1.15 57.00 19-Apr-17 2.66 29.92 1.70 cial market,”30-Jun-17 he said. 25.00 31-Dec-17 3.36 The expert noted that despite 37.25 30-Sep-18 2.33 the challenges of the start-up 9.00 04-Oct-18 4.12 year, revenue 14.96 FMDQ recorded 09-Dec-18 2.53 12-Dec-18in 2013. 2.53 of11.13 N155.65 million 27.00 14-Feb-19 2.91 He explained that transaction 17.28 02-Oct-19 2.98 fee income of N76.47 million 80.00 22-Nov-19 5.25 charged only in December 2013 28.37 12-Dec-19 3.04 accounted for30-Sep-20 49 per cent of3.66 the 11.40 total interest income 87.00 revenue 27-Nov-20 6.27 5.00 sponsorship 31-Dec-20and income 6.36 with 4.78 31-Dec-20 accounting for the balance.3.84 4.79 06-Jan-21 3.87 He noted that to complement

3.29 13.88 99.92 4.44 15.53 97.22 3.23 14.11 99.68 4.46 15.56 98.75 3.48 14.58 101.38 5.59 16.71 86.00 1.00 102.64 troduction of 12.16 defunct products, 1.79 12.92 102.81 such as commercial papers, re1.80 12.94 102.26 structuring of the repo market, 1.00 12.17 105.76 activation of securities lending 1.00 12.12 105.22 15.90 96.41loan and4.78development of the 12.12 will also 105.58 sale1.00market. We com1.00 12.12 108.42 mence feasibility studies on the 1.00 12.32 108.19 derivative market ahead102.16 of our 2.74 13.86 medium term12.15 goals. 107.32 1.00 “Technology major 1.00 12.63 is our103.62 1.94 105.77 enhancer for 13.60 all our initiatives. 105.59 We1.44 intend to 12.60 employ technolo1.95 13.11 105.53 gy regulation and examination

BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO A-/Agusto FSDH A/GCR UBA BBB-/GCR *C & I LEASING BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *DANA# A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR *TOWER# AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR *TOWER# A/Agusto; A/GCR UBA nion Bank of Nigeria Plc Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *LA CASERA has launched the Back to BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS# School MoneyGram camBBB/GCR *DANA paign, which through A+/Agusto; A-/GCRwill run NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 make MoneyGram transfers 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 during the period receive an MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 instant the Bank. 16.00gift DANAfrom II 1-APR-2019 “Union Bank is able to of15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

30-Nov-12 18.00 09-Apr-11 16.00 09-Sep-11 18.00 09-Sep-11 16.00 22-Sep-11 14.00 18-Oct-13 15.75 ando Plc has disclosed that 17-Feb-12 17.00 its subsidiary Oando 01-Apr-14 16.00 Energy 14-Nov-13 Resources Inc.15.25 reduced

0.73 30-Nov-17 1.92 7.20 09-Apr-18 1.88 3.27 09-Sep-18 2.05 0.90 09-Sep-18 2.05 35.00 22-Sep-18 4.09 2.70 18-Oct-18 2.16 “Each unit consists of one 0.41 17-Feb-19 2.49 common share of the Company 4.50 01-Apr-19 3.36 and of one warrant 2.05 one-half 14-Nov-20 6.23to

1.88 13.06 109.43 3.48 14.65 102.51 5.20 16.38 102.99 5.06 16.24 101.73 1.35 12.52 104.60 2.29 13.46 104.55 approximately 93.2 per cent of 6.11 17.24 99.59 the2.16 issued and13.29 outstanding com107.11 mon 2.76shares. 14.38 103.43

A-/GCR

A+/Agusto OUTLOOK A/Agusto

Company seeks to enhance Nigeria's financial market

Stories by Chris Ugwu

ni,TOTAL whoOUTSTANDING made the VALUE disclosure, said the securities exchange is Corporate Bonds strategically and uniquely poA+/Agusto; AA/GCR LAFARGE WAPCO sitioned OTC Aa/Agusto to provide timely GTB µ market data and analytics to Nil NGC *UPDC allBbb-/Agusto stakeholders; and informaA-/Agusto *FLOURMILLS tion on the OTC markets’ global

ing and quotations processes. The revenue lines according to him inWAPCO a bid7-OCT to achieve 11.50were LAFARGE 2014 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 its 5-year strategic plan and 17.00 investment NGC 31-DEC-2014 in the OTC deepen 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 financial market. 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 Koko said the management 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

“We have made great strides in our journey towards empowering the OTC financial 07-Oct-11 11.50 markets to be innovative and 18-Dec-09 13.50 01-Apr-10 credible, in support of 17.00 the Nige17-Aug-10 . We will10.00 rian economy continue to forge09-Dec-10 ahead on our 12.00 business 06-Jan-11 strategy to organise, 14.00 regulate, 29-Sep-11 13.00 disseminate information and 25-Oct-13 14.25 advocate in the Nigeria 30-Sep-10 13.00finan-

Bank unveils MoneyGram back to school promo

the end OUTSTANDING of September 2014. fer this service as an agent of TOTAL VALUE As the new academic year MoneyGram and the service is Supranational the Bondpromotion acapproaches, available to both customers and 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P to a statement IFC from the cording non-customers of the Bank,” he TOTAL OUTSTANDING bank, allows parentsVALUE and guard- said. ians to send and receive money The bank recently said it will Description Rating/Agency Issuer seek shareholders' approval in for school fees and other school related expenses through Mon- June to raise up to $750 million FGN Eurobonds eyGram transfers from Nigeria in medium-term debt instru6.75to JANan 28, 2021 orBB-/Fitch; abroad. ment according agency B+/S&P Commenting on the cam- report. BB-/Fitch; FGN JUL 12, 2018 paign, Union Bank5.13 has embarked BB-/S&PHead of Retail LiabiliBB-/Fitch; ties, Mr Olufunwa Akinmade, on a transformation agenda 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 BB-/S&P said Union Bank’s partner- after new investors recapitalTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE ship with MoneyGram affords ised the lender three years ago bank’s customers a fast, safe following a central bank rescue Corporate Eurobonds and secure money transfer op- of the institution in 2009. 11.50 FEB 01, 2016 B-/S&P; B/Fitch AFREN PLC I Building on its loan portfolio tion to meet their personal and 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 GTBANK PLC I B+/S&P; B+/Fitch cent in 2013, the business needs, especially dur- growth of 55 per6.00 NOV 08, 2018 GTBANK PLC bank had said recently that it ing this ‘back to school’ season. 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC expect to continue to grow its “We are also using the cam6.88 MAY 09, 2018 B/S&P; B/Fitch FIDELITY BANK PLC paign as an opportunity to re- loan book and 10.25 expect a 2019 growth APR 08, B/Fitch AFREN PLC ward ourBB-/S&P customers.ZENITH As part of of about 30 per6.25 cent the end APR by 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BANK PLC theB/Fitch; promotion, customers 8.75 May 21, 2019 B/S&P DIAMOND who BANK PLC of 2014.

484.10 the advancement made on market transparency, focus will also be directed at07-Oct-14 ensuring market 11.80 0.13 efficiency and18-Dec-14 liquidity by driv13.17 0.32 2.00product innovation 31-Dec-14 ing and0.36in3.61 17-Aug-15 0.74 stitutionalising robust market 13.62 09-Dec-15 architecture such as trade0.82 ex0.60 06-Jan-16 ecution, trade repository, 0.89 risk 15.00 29-Sep-16 2.10 management, among others. 5.53 25-Oct-16 2.18 “We will thrive 20.00 30-Sep-17on the rein3.11

franchises in order to position FMDQ as a world class front line1.00regulator,” 11.69he said. 99.91 He 5.21 noted that 15.54 the network 99.26 8.71 of the 19.13 99.13coneffects markets will 4.88 to be improved 15.82 96.14 as tinue upon 11.98 100.56 the1.00 OTC market activates its 2.63 13.66 membership classes in 100.76 pursuit 1.00 12.17 101.47 of 1.34 its mission to integrate the 12.50 103.19 capital 1.00 market. 12.12 102.18

Oando Energy Resources cuts debt by $98m

debt by $98 million through purchase an additional com142.08 conversion to equity. mon share at a price of CAD$ In a notice to Nigerian Stock 2.00 per Common Share (each 11-Feb-13 10.20 12.00 11-Feb-18 3.47 Exchange (NSE), the company whole common share purchase 12.00 announced the conversion to warrant being a “Warrant” up equity of principal and interest until 30 July 2016, a 24 month peOutstanding Value Issue Date of US$ Coupon (%) Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) riod in the amount 98 million, (N'bn) from which the company outstanding under the US$ 1.2 closed the acquisition of the billion facility agreement dated Nigerian upstream oil and gas 07-Oct-11 6.75 500.00 28-Jan-21 10 February , 2014 with Oando Plc. business of ConocoPhillips.” 4.70 It noted that US$ 41 million The terms of the units, the 12-Jul-13 5.13 500.00 12-Jul-18 of principal remains outstandcompany said other than3.90 the ing under the Oando loan and denomination of the conver12-Jul-13 6.38 500.00 12-Jul-23 5.03 an aggregate principal amount sion price and exercise price in of approximately US$ 292 mil- 1,500.00 United States dollars, have the lion remains available to be same terms as the units issued drawn 01-Feb-11 under the loan.11.50 to third party investors 3.71 and 450.00 01-Feb-16 The 19-May-11 company said: “OER has Oando Resources on previous 7.50 500.00 19-May-16 4.64 issued 08-Nov-13 68,144,115 units to Oando tranches. 6.00 400.00 08-Nov-18 6.12 Resources Limited, a subsidiary Prior to the completion of 25-Jul-12 7.25 350.00 25-Jul-17 7.03 of Oando Plc, as repayment of the conversion, Oando Plc 09-May-13 6.88 300.00 02-May-18 8.72 amounts outstanding owned, and exercised control 08-Apr-12 10.25under 300.00 08-Apr-19 7.74 the Oando loan at a conversion or direction 22-Apr-19 over, 677,963,723 22-Apr-14 6.25 500.00 6.39 common shares, representing price of21-May-14 C$1.57 per Unit. 8.75 200.00 21-May-19 8.97

As a result of the Conversion, Oando Plc currently beneficially owns, or exercises con12.14over, 746,107,838 94.63 trol1.00 or direction common shares, representing approximately 93.8 per cent of Offer (%) and Bid outstanding Price Offer Price theYield issued common shares. Prices & Yields Assuming exercise of the warrants previously issued 4.56 111.24 112.08 to Oando Plc on previous tranches 104.36 of 3.70 the loan, Oando Plc 105.10 according4.92 to the statement, would ben109.55 110.33 eficially own, or exercise control or direction over, 1,071,500,708 common shares, representing approximately 95.6 per 112.64 cent of 2.96 111.45 the company's issued and out3.92 104.68 105.92 standing common shares; how5.89 99.55 100.38 ever, Oando Plc is restricted 6.41 100.59 102.30 from exercising any warrants 8.14 94.25 96.01 that would result in its owner7.04 107.78 109.38 ship exceeding 6.09of the company 99.41 100.66 94.68.73 per cent. 99.15 100.07

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.26

6.56

103.42

105.92

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

AFREN PLC ECOBANK NIG. LTD

6.63 DEC 09, 2020 8.75 AUG 14, 2021

09-Dec-13 14-Aug-14

6.63 8.75

360.00 250.00

09-Dec-20 14-Aug-21

6.00 8.91

5.10 8.63

104.41 99.36

105.89

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,910.00

100.47 22-Aug-14

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

DTM Maturity Bid Discount (%) 13 4-Sep-14 10.65 20 11-Sep-14 10.45 FGN Bonds27 18-Sep-14 10.60 34 25-Sep-14 10.50 41 2-Oct-14 10.65 Issuer Description Rating/Agency 48 9-Oct-14 10.55 55 16-Oct-14 10.60 9.25 28-SEP-2014 62 23-Oct-14 10.50 4.00 23-APR-2015 69 30-Oct-14 10.55 13.05 16-AUG-2016 76 6-Nov-14 10.10 15.10 27-APR-2017 83 13-Nov-14 10.60 9.85 27-JUL-2017 90 20-Nov-14 9.75 9.35 31-AUG-2017 97 27-Nov-14 10.70 104 4-Dec-14 10.10 10.70 30-MAY-2018 111 11-Dec-14 10.70 16.00 29-JUN-2019 NA NA 125 25-Dec-14 10.75 7.00 23-OCT-2019 139 8-Jan-15 10.15 16.39 27-JAN-2022 153 22-Jan-15 10.15 14.20 14-MAR-2024 167 5-Feb-15 10.40 15.00 28-NOV-2028 181 19-Feb-15 10.25 12.49 22-MAY-2029 195 5-Mar-15 10.35 8.50 20-NOV-2029 230 9-Apr-15 10.15 10.00 23-JUL-2030 244 23-Apr-15 10.15 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 258 7-May-15 10.15 349 6-Aug-15 10.25 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE *from the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration

Offer Discount (%) 10.40 10.20 10.35 10.25 10.40 Issue Date 10.30 10.35 28-Sep-07 10.25 23-Apr-10 10.30 16-Aug-13 9.85 27-Apr-12 10.35 27-Jul-07 9.50 31-Aug-07 10.45 9.85 30-May-08 10.45 29-Jun-12 10.50 23-Oct-09 9.90 27-Jan-12 9.90 14-Mar-14 10.15 28-Nov-08 10.00 22-May-09 10.10 20-Nov-09 9.90 23-Jul-10 9.90 18-Jul-14 9.90 10.00

Bid Yield (%) 10.69 10.51 10.68 10.60 10.78 Coupon (%) 10.70 10.77 9.25 10.69 4.00 10.76 13.05 10.32 15.10 10.86 9.85 9.99 9.35 11.01 10.40 10.70 11.06 16.00 11.16 7.00 10.56 16.39 10.60 14.20 10.92 15.00 10.80 12.49 10.96 8.50 10.84 10.00 10.89 12.15 10.93 11.36

NIBOR

Bonds

Tenor O/N 1M Outstanding 3M Value 6M (N'bn)

Rate (%) 11.3750 12.7938 13.3506 Maturity Date 14.1455

100.00 28-Sep-14 535.00 23-Apr-15 NITTY 530.27 16-Aug-16 452.80 27-Apr-17 Tenor Rate (%) 20.00 27-Jul-17 1M 10.5817 100.00 31-Aug-17 2M 10.7324 3M 10.9419 300.00 30-May-18 6M 10.9798 351.30 29-Jun-19 9M 10.9911 233.90 23-Oct-19 12M 11.4345 600.00 27-Jan-22 281.35 14-Mar-24 75.00 28-Nov-28 NIFEX 22-May-29 150.00 200.00 20-Nov-29 Current Price ($/N) 23-Jul-30 BID($/N)591.57 161.9000 70.00 18-Jul-34 OFFER ($/N) 162.0000

4,591.19

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.58 10.83

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

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

0.19 0.75 1.36 2.30 2.66 Implied Yield 2.87

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

Rating/Agency

Agency Bonds

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

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

FMBN

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Sub-National Bonds A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto Nil A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR

<3 3<5 >5 Market

NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO

1,041.06 1,147.53 818.00 14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 3,006.58

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

983.07 951.30 872.92 2,807.29

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

28-Dec-11 0.00 978.35 FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX 24-May-10 0.00 24.56 03-Apr-12 17.25 3.30 09-Dec-11 0.00/16.00 112.22 Weighting by Weighting by Mkt 20-Apr-12 0.00/16.50 Bucket116.70 Weighting Outstanding Vol Value 06-Jul-12 0.00/16.50 66.49

35.02 33.89 31.09 15-Oct-09 100.00 31-Aug-10

34.63 38.17 27.21 14.00 100.00 12.50

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

13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50

1,301.620.35

Tenor

Spot 7D REPO Bid Yield (%) Offer 14DYield TTM (Yrs) Tenor Rate (%) 1M (%) Call 10.50 2M 0.10 10.80 9.35 1M 12.51 3M 0.67 10.90 10.08 3M 13.20 6M 1.98 11.17 11.09 6M 13.98 1Y 2.68 11.11 11.04 2.93 11.12 11.06 NOTE: 3.03 11.12 11.00 :Benchmarks 3.77 11.15 11.05 * :Amortising 4.85 Bond 11.19 11.12 µ :Convertible Bond 5.17 11.30 11.21 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 7.43 11.78 11.72 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 9.56 11.94 11.89 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 14.27 12.54 12.50 IFC: International Finance Corporation 14.75 12.58 12.54 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 12.63 12.57 NAHCO: 15.25 Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 15.92 12.20 12.15 O/N: Overnight 19.90 12.13 Company12.09 UPDC: UAC Property Development WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company O/N

0.34 0.31 6.00 1.00 8.50

16.46 34.55 48.98 15-Oct-14 100.00 31-Aug-15

11.14 11.60 12.12 0.15 11.78 1.02

6.08 6.27 7.37 57.00 29.92 25.00 37.25 9.00 14.96 11.13 27.00

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

0.63 1.15 1.15 2.66 1.70 3.36 2.33 4.12 2.53 2.53 2.91

Risk Premium (%) 1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 Implied 1.00 Portfolio Price 1.00

118.9907 135.8236 103.2204 3.29 119.7911 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78 1.00

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

161.90 Price 162.00 162.25 162.51 162.51 162.85 Offer Price Bid Price 162.62 163.78 164.25 165.42 99.81 99.96 165.54 167.17 95.65 96.15 169.22 172.84 103.25 103.40 176.96 183.94 109.00 109.15 96.88 97.03 95.55 95.85 NA :Not98.60 Applicable 98.90 # :Floating 117.60Rate Bond 117.90 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 83.49 83.79 122.40 122.70 †: Bond rating expired 112.65 112.95 116.09 116.39 99.34 99.64 72.34 72.64 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 84.70 Bank for Africa 85.00 UBA: United 100.15 100.45

Valuation Yield (%) 11.39 13.58 13.40 13.15 12.12 INDEX 12.12

Indicative Price 97.88 90.55 104.94 100.97 YTD Return 99.52 (%) 97.08

1,130.17 1,150.10 1,204.15 13.88 1,137.89 15.53

13.0170 15.0103 20.4149 99.92 13.7888 97.22

14.11 15.56 14.58 16.71 12.16 12.92 12.94 12.17 12.12 15.90 12.12

99.68 98.75 101.38 86.00 102.64 102.81 102.26 105.76 105.22 96.41 105.58

Daily Summary as of 22/08/2014

Printed 22/08/2014 14:47:30.030

Daily Summary (Bonds) Activity Summary on Board DEBT Federal

Bond Name 15.10% FGN APR 2017 Federal Totals

Symbol FG9B2017S2

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 108.75

40 business | CAPITAL MARKET

DEBT Board Totals

Bond Activity Totals

Quantity Traded 78 78

Value Traded 88,718.82 88,718.82

88,718.82

Daily Summary as of 22/08/2014 Printed 22/08/2014 14:47:30.030

88,718.82

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at August 22, 2014 Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals

Daily Summary as of 22/08/2014 Livestock/Animal Specialties Printed 22/08/2014 14:47:30.030 LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC.

Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries ActivityA.G. Summary on Board EQTY LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC.

CONGLOMERATES PublishedDiversified by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Industries JOHN HOLT PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 23 4 27

Current Price 36.47 36.30

Quantity Traded 173,848 10,574 184,422

Value Traded 6,105,521.62 382,746.46 6,488,268.08

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 28 28

Current Price 3.21

Quantity Traded 536,592 536,592

Value Traded 1,717,989.96 1,717,989.96

721,014

8,206,258.04

Quantity Traded 70,075

Value Traded 94,651.25

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol AGLEVENT

Symbol JOHNHOLT TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 5

No. of Deals 9 206 89 309

CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

55 Current Price 1.40

Current Price 1.13 5.72 59.00

309

Page Quantity Traded 10,741 13,496,549 814,898 14,392,263

14,392,263

124,600,508.40

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 1.13

Quantity Traded 41,600 41,600

Value Traded 47,549.00 47,549.00

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

Symbol JBERGER ROADS

No. of Deals 8 1 9

Current Price 65.00 8.46

Quantity Traded 31,350 4,000 35,350

Value Traded 2,022,894.00 35,520.00 2,058,414.00

Daily Summary as of 22/08/2014 Real Estate Development Printed 22/08/2014 UACN 14:47:30.030 PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 38 38

Current Price 16.20

Quantity Traded 306,937 306,937

Value Traded 4,958,766.90 4,958,766.90

383,887

7,064,729.90

Real Estate Development Totals

CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Activity Summary on Board EQTY CHAMPION BREW. PLC. CONSUMER GOODS Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Beverages--Brewers/Distillers GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. PREMIER BREWERIES PLC Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC Daily Summary as of 22/08/2014 N NIG.14:47:30.030 FLOUR MILLS PLC. Printed 22/08/2014 UNION DICON SALT PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC.

Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONSUMER GOODS Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Food Products--Diversified Food Products--Diversified Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol GUINNESS INTBREW JOSBREW NB PREMBREW

No. of Deals 33 7 1 120 2 170

Current Price 190.00 27.00 2.46 175.54 1.58

Page Quantity Traded 24,417 8,027 500 435,842 50,812 703,598

2 of 12 Value Traded 4,594,111.53 215,018.20 1,170.00 77,467,100.82 80,261.12 83,831,941.67

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 34 34

Current Price 126.78

Quantity Traded 72,237 72,237

Value Traded 9,512,139.86 9,512,139.86

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM UNIONDICON

No. of Deals 35 90 38 41 16 2 1 223

Current Price 7.50 8.70 68.11 4.11 9.90 21.00 14.11

Quantity Traded 116,897 3,648,350 162,850 1,718,341 393,849 52,000 100 6,092,387

Value Traded 876,390.29 31,689,908.31 10,797,823.48 7,099,730.35 3,902,073.90 1,092,000.00 1,341.00 55,459,267.33

Symbol No. of Deals Daily Summary (Equities) CADBURY 23 NESTLE 28

Current Price 66.70 1,079.99

Quantity Traded 158,855 12,776

Value Traded 10,072,807.25 13,519,192.30

Page Quantity Traded 171,631

3 of 12 Value Traded 23,591,999.55

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 18 1 19

Current Price 4.15 1.25

Quantity Traded 402,418 150 402,568

Value Traded 1,671,718.40 178.50 1,671,896.90

Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 45 28 73

Current Price 36.00 49.00

Quantity Traded 331,667 137,554 469,221

Value Traded 11,844,841.62 6,661,145.64 18,505,987.26

7,911,642

192,573,232.57

Quantity Traded 23,474,559 13,305,467 2,199,246 6,624,656 6,108,755 5,140,046 1,165,948 3,492,421 521,720

Value Traded 225,694,778.33 82,497,190.24 36,420,339.72 13,053,815.07 175,023,919.86 14,975,070.57 2,633,334.28 25,189,758.81 4,262,686.35

570 Symbol No. of Deals Current Price ACCESS 119 9.64 DIAMONDBNK 92 6.20 ETI 98 16.50 FIDELITYBK 93 1.96 GUARANTY 262 28.53 SKYEBANK 120 2.90 Daily Summary (Equities) STERLNBANK 31 2.28 UBA 145 7.22 UBN 46 8.17

SERVICES PublishedFINANCIAL by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Banking UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals

Page

Symbol UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

No. of Deals 9 42 178 1,235

Current Price 0.50 0.98 24.70

Quantity Traded 755,771 1,414,529 3,956,858 68,159,976

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Symbol AFRICAN ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC AFRINSURE AIICO INSURANCE PLC. AIICO CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CONTINSURE CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. CORNERST GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. GUINEAINS CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC HMARKINS INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTENEGINS LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LAWUNION LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC LINKASSURE MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MANSARD MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. MBENEFIT N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NEM Daily Summary as of 22/08/2014 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE Printed 22/08/2014 14:47:30.030 REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC REGALINS SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC SOVRENINS STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. STDINSURE UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC UNIVINSURE Daily Summary (Equities) WAPIC INSURANCE PLC WAPIC

No. of Deals 1 33 11 16 2 45 4 1 1 17 10 26 6 1 1 3 1 76

Current Price 0.50 0.80 0.98 0.59 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 2.50 0.54 0.81 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.76

Quantity Traded 250 5,343,525 3,615,000 644,502 39,288 10,530,000 267,799 11,111 500 442,590 419,609 7,789,154 46,680 500 490 2,000 3,210 2,296,648

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Symbol

No. of Deals 255

Current Price

Quantity Traded 31,452,856

Value Traded 23,027,105.67

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 6 6

Current Price 1.05

Quantity Traded 210,822 210,822

Value Traded 220,363.10 220,363.10

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services INFINITY TRUST MORTGAGE BANK PLC RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Symbol INFINITY RESORTSAL

No. of Deals 4 3 7

Current Price 1.52 0.50

Quantity Traded 5,000 24,472,384 24,477,384

Value Traded 7,850.00 12,236,192.00 12,244,042.00

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

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 39 12 353 52 8 32 47 543

Current Price 3.24 3.86 14.61 4.30 0.61 30.00 2.17

Quantity Traded 574,186 806,352 6,147,064 823,721 125,000 256,595 996,469 9,729,387

Value Traded 1,854,574.12 3,107,108.53 90,227,949.83 3,512,291.99 75,550.00 7,673,582.84 2,163,265.01 108,614,322.32

134,030,425

823,195,934.05

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

2,046

Page

No. of Deals 4 37 9 9 29 7 95

Electronic and Electrical Products AUSTIN LAZ & COMPANY PLC CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals Daily Summary as of 22/08/2014 Printed 22/08/2014 14:47:30.030 Packaging/Containers AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS BETA GLASS CO PLC. GREIF NIGERIA PLC Packaging/Containers Totals

NATURAL RESOURCES Paper/Forest Products THOMAS WYATT NIG. PLC. Published by The NigerianProducts Stock Exchange Paper/Forest Totals ©

Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE PLC. Daily Summary as ofOIL 22/08/2014 MOBIL14:47:30.030 OIL NIG PLC. Printed 22/08/2014 MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

OIL AND GAS Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Exploration and Production Exploration and Production Totals

Value Traded Courier/Freight/Delivery 377,885.50 RED STAR EXPRESS PLC 1,385,978.55 Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals 97,575,343.68 679,090,100.96 Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC

Value Traded TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC. 125.00 Hotels/Lodging Totals Daily Summary as of 22/08/2014 4,280,831.50 Printed 22/08/2014 14:47:30.030 Printing/Publishing 3,564,760.00 ACADEMY PRESS PLC. 380,256.18 LEARN AFRICA PLC 19,644.00 STUDIO PRESS (NIG) PLC. 5,265,000.00 UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. 133,899.50 Printing/Publishing Totals 5,555.50 Activity Summary on Board EQTY 250.00 1,111,657.70 SERVICES Published by The Transportation Nigerian Stock Exchange © 224,642.77 Road ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC 6,233,088.30 Road Transportation Totals 23,340.00

250.00 Specialty 245.00 SECURE ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY PLC 1,000.00 Specialty Totals 1,605.00 1,780,955.22 Transport-Related Services

AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC of 12 Transport-Related Services Totals Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals

Value Traded 127,290.84 11,612,188.89 327,517.22 95,041.65 868,771.75 199,075.50 13,229,885.85

4,518,785

13,229,885.85

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.57

Quantity Traded 15,000 15,000

Value Traded 8,550.00 8,550.00

Symbol CWG NCR

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 5.00 13.72

Quantity Traded 200 4,747 4,947

Value Traded 960.00 62,660.40 63,620.40

19,947

72,170.40

Quantity Traded

Value Traded

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol

No. of Deals

Current Price

Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 46 15 6 33 13 6 11 26 156

Current Price 34.00 9.20 39.05 14.61 229.97 1.15 5.01 118.31

Page Quantity Traded 880,965 226,290 79,113 399,418 20,792 45,352 362,000 101,440 2,115,370

Symbol AUSTINLAZ CUTIX

No. of Deals 1 5 6

Current Price 2.00 1.90

Quantity Traded 70 69,493 69,563

Value Traded 146.30 130,236.70 130,383.00

No. of Deals 3 1 1 (Equities) 5

Current Price 1.75 17.11 12.08

Quantity Traded 7,600 56 200 7,856

Value Traded 12,920.00 1,005.76 2,296.00 16,221.76

2,192,789

59,803,301.12

Symbol AVONCROWN BETAGLAS VANLEER

Daily Summary

167

Symbol THOMASWY

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.79

Quantity Traded 100 100Page

7 Value of Traded12 29,941,484.01 2,079,638.79 3,090,262.65 5,863,772.27 4,767,693.99 51,337.20 1,849,410.00 12,013,097.45 59,656,696.36

Value Traded 76.00 of76.00 12

100

76.00

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 33 33

Current Price 0.53

Quantity Traded 2,558,301 2,558,301

Value Traded 1,345,797.82 1,345,797.82

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 239 239

Current Price 26.45

Quantity Traded 3,274,196 3,274,196

Value Traded 86,287,780.19 86,287,780.19

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 59 23 92 26 14 5 219

Current Price 68.45 3.81 231.20 175.00 58.49 181.02

Quantity Traded 232,867 403,552 225,612 231,028 78,728 7,701 1,179,488

Value Traded 16,079,013.77 1,558,429.02 52,972,102.84 40,496,195.59 4,468,528.80 1,394,798.49 116,969,068.51

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 6

Current Price 680.00

Quantity Traded 17,705

Value Traded 12,044,994.50

Symbol

No. of Deals 6

Current Price

Page Quantity Traded 17,705

9 of 12 Value Traded 12,044,994.50

Daily Summary (Equities)

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

Quantity Traded 63,582 3,569,392 5,144 60,613 740,104 79,950 4,518,785

Symbol COURTVILLE

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

Current Price 2.00 3.33 65.99 1.58 1.20 2.38

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Activity Summary on Totals Board EQTY

Page

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

ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals

Value Traded 1,474,280.00

Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals

FINANCIAL SERVICES Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Quantity Traded 184,000

Current Price

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking Daily Summary as of 22/08/2014 ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC Printed 22/08/2014 14:47:30.030 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Current Price 8.31

No. of Deals 51

IT Services

COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC Daily Summary as of 22/08/2014 NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. Printed 22/08/2014 14:47:30.030 IT Services Totals

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials

No. of Deals 7

CONSUMER GOODS Totals

ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals

ICT Totals

Symbol CHAMPION

Symbol

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH PHARMDEKO

HEALTHCARE Totals

1 of 12 Value Traded 11,600.28 76,611,443.39 47,882,813.48 124,600,508.40

Symbol COSTAIN

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

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

497

7,029,690

216,647,641.02

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 15 15

Current Price 0.86

Quantity Traded 481,751 481,751

Value Traded 431,929.64 431,929.64

Symbol REDSTAREX

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 4.60

Quantity Traded 412,300 412,300

Value Traded 1,902,703.00 1,902,703.00

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL TOURIST

No. of Deals 26 1 27

Current Price 0.78 3.88

Quantity Traded 1,065,900 1,743 1,067,643

Value Traded 826,798.04 6,431.67 833,229.71

No. of Deals 7 10 1 (Equities) 19 37

Current Price 1.55 1.60 2.40 4.37

Quantity Traded 96,900 377,329 75 301,154 775,458

Value Traded 150,284.00 573,993.50 171.00 1,246,956.86 1,971,405.36

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.70

Symbol NSLTECH

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Value Traded 500.00 500.00

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 6 22 28

Current Price 2.16 5.00

Quantity Traded 44,720 397,229 441,949

Value Traded 100,485.70 1,984,130.31 2,084,616.01

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 16 16

Current Price 5.60

Quantity Traded 201,750 201,750

Value Traded 1,133,066.00 1,133,066.00

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA STUDPRESS Daily Summary UPL

SERVICES Totals

Page Quantity Traded 366,500 366,500

10 of 12 Value Traded 256,625.00 256,625.00

138

3,748,351

8,614,074.72

Daily Summary as of 22/08/2014 Board14:47:30.030 Totals PrintedEQTY 22/08/2014

3,939

174,948,893

1,454,007,812.07

Equity Activity Totals

3,939

174,948,893

1,454,007,812.07

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

Name NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF)

Symbol NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 3 2 5

Current Price 2,004.00 18.89

Quantity Traded 65 2,100 Page 2,165

Value Traded 131,860.00 39,669.00 of 12 171,529.00

ETF Board Totals

2,165

171,529.00

ETP Activity Totals

2,165

171,529.00

BUSINESS | MOVERS, SHAKERS & CAREER 41

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

Sterling Bank appoints Ighodalo chairman

terling Bank Plc has announced the appointment of Mr. Asue Ighodalo as the new Chairman, Board of Directors of the lender. Mr. Ighodalo succeeds Alhaji (Dr.) S.A Adegunwa, who retired from the bank after 12 years of service. In a statement, Chief Executive Officer, Sterling Bank, Yemi Adeola, commended the outgoing chairman for contributing immensely to the sustained growth of the bank. The statement noted that in his tenure, “Dr. Adegunwa provided purposeful leadership and demonstrated his undi-

vided commitment to ensuring that Sterling Bank occupies its rightful place in the banking industry, whilst bringing his diverse experience in international business to bear on the fortunes of the bank.” On the appointment of the new Chairman, Adeola expressed optimism that the bank would benefit immensely from Ighodalo’s wealth of experience. He said that Ighodalo selection was based on his track record as an accomplished professional and astute businessman – who typifies the bank’s value system, which is hinged on integrity,

dynamism, and purposeful leadership. Ighodalo is the co-Founder of Banwo & Ighodalo, a leading corporate and commercial law firm in Nigeria, founded in partnership in 1991. His core practice areas are corporate finance, capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, banking & securities, foreign investments & divestments, energy & natural resources, privatization and project finance. A product of the prestigious Kings College, Lagos, Ighodalo obtained a BSc. in Economics from the Univer-

NEXIM MD, Orya, gets second term

resident Goodluck Jonathan has renewed the tenure of Roberts Orya, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank, NEXIM. Orya was appointed Managing Director/CEO of NEXIM Bank on August 14, 2009 and completed the first of his renewable tenure just about a fortnight ago. The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, A. M. Daniel-Nwaobia, in a reappointment letter dated August 18, 2014, said Orya would now lead the bank for a fresh five-year term. “I write to convey the approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, for your re-appointment as Managing Director/CEO of NEXIM Bank for a final period of five (5) years. “The re-appointment is with effect from 17th August, 2014, it stated. “The finance ministry credits Mr. Orya with transforming NEXIM from a bank with over N10 billion nonperforming loan liability in August 2009, to an institution with a capacity to provide about $39.5 billion in financial intervention and guarantees to support non-oil export activities in the country. “In 2009, the loans portfolio of the bank was about N14.6

Orya

billion, out of which about 72 per cent was non-performing, with about N10.03billion, or 69.05 per cent classified lost, in line with the prudential guidelines of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN”, said the Ministry. It added that apart from declaring profits to its shareholders consistently for the past four years, NEXIM also provided support that helped create over 24,000 direct jobs capable of generating estimated foreign exchange of $320.12 million annually to the Nigerian economy. A graduate of Banking and Finance from the University of Ibadan, Orya who also has a Masters degree in Banking and Finance, has over 29 years of experience from

working in several financial investment, commercial and mortgage banking institutions in the country. His banking career began in February 1984 when he joined International Merchant Bank, IMB, Plc, where he worked till September 1990 before leaving to join Credite Bank of Nigeria Limited as a pioneer staff. Orya was then seconded to Prime Merchant Bank Limited in July 1991 as Head of Foreign Operations and subsequently to Pace Mortgage Finance Limited in October 1992 as the General Manager/ Chief Executive Officer. Thereafter, he joined Lobi Bank of Nigeria Limited in January 1994, where he rose to become the Managing Director and Executive Chairman in January 1998 before being reassigned to join Premier Commercial Bank Plc as an Executive Director. Orya was also an Executive Director in charge of Capital Markets, Financial Advisory Services and Research & Strategy with Afribank Capital Limited; Associate Member, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and London; Certified Pension Institute of Nigeria and Nigeria Institute of Management, NIM. He is a member of the Institute of Management Consultants.

sity of Ibadan, an LL.B from London School of Economics and a BL from the Nigerian Law School. A member of several professional associations, he currently sits on the board of notable public and private companies including Dangote Flour Mills Plc, Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc, Boff & Co. Insurance Brokers Ltd, the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, the Christopher Kolade Foundation, the Fate Foundation (an NGO committed to the development of entrepreneurs in Nigeria) and Global Mix Ltd, as chairman

Ighodalo

New ED for NCF

new Executive Director has been appointed for the foremost environmental conservation group in Nigeria, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation. He is Mr. Adeniyi Karunwi. A Chartered Accountant, Karunwi brings in a wide range of experiences from the business world to the nature conservation in Nigeria. The new Executive Director is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA), an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (ACTI) and a full Member of the Chartered Institute of Management (MNIM). He possesses an MBA in Project Management from the University of Ghana Business School and is also an alumnus of the Lagos Business School (LBS), Advanced Management Programme (AMP). He has attended various foreign courses, including the Stanford University Graduate School of Business (GSB) Executive Program in Leadership and the University of Manchester Business School (MBS) Strategic Leadership Development Programme. Before now, Karunwi has had over 25-years experience in audit, taxation, banking operations and marketing, human resources, administration and management, financial strategy and control, budget and planning, performance management and information

technology. Karunwi has varied banking experience and held many important positions including Financial Controller, Access Bank Plc and later its Group Head, Central Operations, with direct supervision of trade finance department, domestic operations department and central cheque-clearing department. He later joined Crusader Sterling Pensions Limited, a licensed Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) and was its Group Head, Corporate Services, overseeing operations department, information technology department and financial control and administration department. He was briefly with Cornerstone Insurance Plc before joining the West African Monetary Institute, Accra, Ghana in January 2009 as its Director, Finance and Administration.

Karunwi

Nnorom becomes Transcorp's president

he board of directors of the Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) Plc has announced the appointment of Mr Emmanuel Nnorom as its president/chief executive officer (CEO). Nnorom will formally assume office on September 1, 2014, succeeding Mr Obinna Ufudo, who has led the company since 2011. In a statement, the firm said the appointment represented a further important milestone in Transcorp’s transformation, as the company moves from stabilisation, following the acquisition of a strategic stake by the Heirs Holdings, to accelerated growth, as investments

in power, oil and gas and real estate and hospitality come to fruition. Nnorom’s key role, according to the firm, will be to lead the acceleration, deepening of the company’s investments in its four strategic business sectors — hospitality, power, agriculture and oil and gas and to build on Ufudo’s achievements in repositioning Transcorp for growth. Ufudo is currently the president/chief operating officer (COO) of Heirs Holdings, and served as a non-executive director of Transcorp earlier this year. Previously, he was an executive director of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, oc-

Nnorom

cupying a number of senior roles leading the group’s Af-

rican subsidiaries. He has also held the position of the group COO at UBA, with responsibility over information technology, operations, corporate services, marketing and corporate communications and regulatory affairs. He is an alumnus of Templeton College, Oxford University, and a fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN). The chairman of Transcorp, Mr Tony Elumelu, thanked outgoing Transcorp boss, Ufudo, for delivering on the company’s objectives under phase 1 of the turnaround programme.

“In his three years as the CEO of the Transcorp Group, Ufudo laid a strong foundation of good governance, achieved significant financial returns for the company and played a key role in transforming an ailing enterprise into an emerging investment powerhouse with a market capitalisation of over $1.2 billion. “He will be handing over a transformed business to Nnorom. With the implementation of phase two of our strategic intent, we expect accelerated growth in all spheres of our business, with a clear objective of $1bn in profits by 2018,” Elumelu said.

42 business |INTERVIEW

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

We’re targeting low, middle income

Eyakenyi

Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi, during an interactive session with some select journalists in her Abuja office last week, unveiled some of the initiatives being undertaken by her ministry to solve the nation’s housing challenges. Dayo Ayeyemi, was there Your ministry is championing the construction of 10,000 houses for the takeoff of the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC). What is the assurance that the houses will be affordable to the low -income group? Thank you very much. Everything we are saying is about affordability. The major problem facing Nigerians has to do with cost of building. The present administration saw that need to intervene because when a civil servant on level four or five work for 35 years and retire, coupled with the problems at home, he would not be able to have a home. So, government under our ministry has interacted with the stakeholders, first to know why the cost of building is on the high side. What makes the cost of building has to do with materials used, the cost of construction and the cost of land. To ensure that we review the high cost of construction, government gives land free. When you talk about unencumbered land, we partnered with state governments who will give us data on what we need, survey the acquired land, and the Federal Government pays compensation and the title is given. The developer now comes in to develop. So the cost of the land is not structured into the cost of the building. Apart from that, we have been able to interact with some stakeholders, I mean the manufacturers of the building materials such as cement and roofing sheet; we negotiated with them so that they do not give their materials to developers at high cost. We negotiated and we would buy at the company price.

By the time you take off the cost of land and then, the materials’ side is under control, definitely the cost of production will be reduced. That is on the side of affordability. Now, for the common person to be able to access this building, government again has moved in to negotiate a mortgage scheme, and that is where the NMRC came in. This is the mortgage bank that will finance the mortgage for the building from offtakers. The offtakers will now pay a stipend every month for the cost of the building over a long period. The structure we are targeting for the lowincome group is ranging between N3.5 million and N4.5 million. If you look at the lowest civil servant, if you stretch that over 20 years, it can afford N2,000, N3,000 or even N5,000 a month. So for affordability, we control the cost of the building. This is the effort government is looking at. For the down payment of 20 per cent or 30 per cent, government has also intervened. Is government considering the rent-toown option like it is normally done in other climes? There are two major options, it is either you buy through outright payment or you do it through mortgage.

The major problem facing Nigerians has to do with cost of building

The other area we are also looking into is the rent-to-own. When you rent, there will be fixed amount and you pay your rent every month or yearly; by the time you cover the cost of the building, it becomes your own. We are looking into that. What is the role of FMBN and FHA in this new arrangement following the launch of NMRC? On the issue of recapitalisation of FMBN, it is the ministry’s major bank for mortgages while the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) is for housing delivery. The emergence of NMRC is not to nullify or rubbish what FMBN is doing, but FMBN alone would not be able to carry the responsibility of the mortgage that Nigerians need. Apart from FMBN, there are other Primary Mortgage Institutions (PMIs) that are also involved. NMRC is going to set out the clearing house of refinancing of the PMIs. As FMBN is undertaking the mortgage of a certain number, other PMIs are also doing. When they declare what they have, NMRC’s responsibility is to refinance them. It is not coming to do the work of FMBN nor the work of PMIs, it is to refinance them. The survey we are doing will show the housing gap as it will reveal under-occupation and over-occupation. When we do the survey, we would know the number of homes will have and whether they are occupied or not. Apart from that, what NMRC is also doing is that, we have opened a website for people to register their names for housing. Is it compulsory you indicate the type of house you need and where you want your shelter to be constructed for you. We would have that record as it affects the civil servants and also the public sector. By the time this is done, you will know the need and the number of houses we have. When the housing survey is completed, definitely we will know the definite number of housing in the country and people that own them. What government is trying to do is about the shelter it is targeting. We are targeting the low and the medium income earners who fall under

the category of civil servants. It is not for me, nor my permanent secretary. It is not for the high-class. The problem of identifying who these people are itself is another thing we are doing to ensure that one person own one shelter by filling their form online. They do not need to carry money to come and buy. If you open the website, you will see the column that asks: Are you a house owner? If you declare that you are a house owner, then don’t come forward, you must allow the next person that do not have to come forward. We have criteria that would detect all these things. We are not saying that we are going to do a 100 per cent, but we would ensure that people that we are targeting for the low and middle income levels have access to the buildings when they are ready. What happens to the private person that may want to do business and want to own as many as 10 housing units for letting to members of the public? If you feel that you have capacity to buy more than one building to rent, that means you are a developer. You must be a developer to do that, so it is not the government’s homes that you will buy. You deal with a developer if you are not a developer to build your own estate and rent it out. You are not going to buy the housing scheme government is handling to provide accommodation for Nigerians to bridge the shortfall. For the rent-to-own, we are talking with the stakeholders. We discovered that rent in Nigeria is high. In Abuja, because of high price, many buildings are lying fallow. We are talking with developers, but the complaint again is this issue of cost of construction that I mentioned earlier. If we are able to control cost, one can address the stakeholders to bring down the prices. If the cost of building materials is reduced, the end result will be low. I don’t think that anyone will want to be that shylock by building a house with N10 million, while the cost of construction is N3 million and you want to be charging N1 million of N2 million

business |INTERVIEW 43

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

groups for housing –Minister BIODATA

If you open the website, you will see the column that asks: Are you a house owner? If you declare that you are a house owner, then don’t come forward, you must allow the next person that do not have to come forward

Education:

Bachelor of Education (B.ED) -19881990; M.ED, 1992-2000; P.HD, 2009 to 2014 Positions held in past: Supervisor for Education, Youth Sport and Culture in Oron Local Government- 1991 Executive Chapter President, Better Life Programme, Oron Local Government – 1986-1991. Executive Director, Yankey Resources Limited, 2005-2013. Commissioner, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Akwa Ibom State, 2000-2005 Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Technical Schools Board, January 2013 till March 2014 Current position: Minister in the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development

you access to apply to own a home of your own. You choose the location where you want the house going by the criteria stipulated.

for rent. If the cost of construction is reduced, definitely that will also bring down rent. We are talking to stakeholders and we believe that we are going to have positive responses Are you going to review the Building Code after the document has been passed into law? On the Building Code that was reviewed, the first one that was done before it that was passed into law was a statement that was made 20 years ago. The technology is changing every year and there is the need for a review of the document to reflect modern building standards. The document is a set of codes that tell you how to do things, maintain them and look after them, it is not a law. The law we are asking for is the law for its implementation. There is a lot of new development in the industry and these new things are being added. The Building Code needs to be reviewed every two years to reflect these changes. With the unveiling of NMRC, what is the fate of the National Housing Fund and its contributors? I want you to really understand what NMRC stands for. When I was explaining I did say that the mortgage for the offtakers will be carried by PMIs. I remember that I mentioned FMBN, FHA and other institutions. While the NMRC will help to refinance, the offtakers in this sector would first be the civil servants, who are contributors to the NHF. The money is being deducted from their salary every month. That is the money that goes into the scheme for them. In the process of the mortgage, that is the 10 per cent or 20 per cent for down payment before the FMBN will pay the remaining for them. This 10 per cent, if you ask any civil servant to come and pay at once, it becomes a problem. When members have been contributing to the NHF, their money would take care of the 10 per cent or 20 per cent of what they have agreed and the rest will be handled by the FMBN. About the informal sector, if you want to target a company, like one company has indicated interest, asking us to come and do the housing scheme for them. If the company is relating with the FMBN, FMBN will handle the project for them. The Management will explain that better. I have a memo presently on my table from the cooperative society of the Federal Medical Practitioners Cooperative Society from Abakiliki.

Eyakenyi

They have been able to work together, save money and bought land through the cooperatives’ contributions. They have started some structures of over 200 housing units. In addition, they have also bought another land for another 100 units, and they are asking that I should come to lay the foundation for them. They are also looking at FMBN to package loan for them to start the project. They are contributors into the NHF. Civil servants can also form themselves into cooperatives

Eyakenyi

and start something for government to back them up. What does 10,000 mortgages mean to ordinary Nigerians? If you go to the website of NMRC and follow the process, what you will have there is a form. If you follow the process and fill the form online and answer all the questions there, it will identify you and you will see options of PMIs that you want to be attracted to. You will make a choice that will give

What is the ministry doing to ensure effective land administration in Nigeria and to ensure that Nigerians have title to their land? If you go through the briefing that I presented, I have 12 numbers of teams that I said have been set up for the implementation of various recommendations for the housing sector. One of these is land titling processing committee. That committee has the responsibility of getting in touch with the state governors and commissioners with a view to review land title. It is a fact that if you own a land without Certificate of Occupancy, you cannot get bank loan to develop the land or home. The committee is working towards that. It used to take very long time to have a title document on land, we are trying to see if we can reduce the time between the date of submission to the date of final allocation so that people can get the support of bank quickly for development. Once the developer gets land without a title, he cannot approach bank for loan, so we have identified this and we are trying to do something about it. One of the states is now taking interest for timely signing of title document.

44 business | NVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

Maintaining excellent customer service

oday’s business world is embedded with so much competition that you cannot afford to lose your customers to your competitors. Therefore as a business owner entrepreneur or marketer, there is an inevitable need to keep your customers continually glued to you and even have them serve as a network for your business. it is interesting to note that the information I am about to share with you has inherent ability to transform your business to become a household name for all target customers. It would also help to draw new clients while maintaining your existing customers bringing about a considerable rate of business growth, which is the desire of every entrepreneur. Whether you sell fruits or food or party planning, your customers are crucial to your success you and you would definitely go out of business without them. What to do •Grow and develop a solid and viable customer relations. Every business should have a policy that will guide its customer service attitude whether written or unwritten. Start yourself right by understanding early that good customers relation will help you achieve your goals. Cultivate good working relationships with people and business that you need to run your business. •Keep your promises: Making promises that you can keep. Do not feel pressured into promising a customer

something you can’t do just to get business. •Consistency: Ensure that once you have established a level of performance, you keep it such that customers have a level of expectation to be met every time they do business with you. Whether it is price, quality, delivery time or terms, you cannot afford to meet their expectations temporarily. Customers are glued to businesses with a proven level of consistency. You may need to sacrifice sometimes to achieve this but on the long run, your business would benefit from this. •Be responsive: A key feature of successful businesses is responsiveness. Ensure you return phone calls, emails and demands promptly. A customer may have an urgent need and they would be glad and develop increased level of trust & satisfaction if their needs are met promptly. •Thank your customers: Simple words of gratitude can play an important part in business. If you have important customers that you want to keep, pick up the phone and call to simply say thanks. You would be surprised how this would work. •Be distinct: Getting and keeping customers is about making them want to do business with you, rather than your competitors. In the light of this, you must create a distinguishing feature for your business as you cannot always know why a person chooses you over a competitor. It therefore pays to offer a bit more than

Ogbeide

your competitors as this would make your business stand out. Please note that this does not always have something to do with price. • H av e customer satisfaction policy. A customer’s satisfaction policy indicates how you respond when things go wrong. Surprising customers are aware that the markets are not always stable or perfect and that mistakes happen, Customers however, would not understand when you fail to take responsibility when mistakes happen. It shows responsibility and business reliability. Make it clear to your staff and be willing to stand by it at all times.

•Strive to preserve relationship even admits conflicts. Your business should have a policy for managing conflicts ethically and cost effectively. This may include preventing disputes as much as you can, early identification and resolution of disputes. You would do well to make litigation the very last resort for dispute reconciliation. You should attempt mediation and arbitration, which are usually less demanding financially and time and relationship wise. •Be relevant and stay relevant. Although it can be hard to know what you, customers want, the best way to find out is to ask them. Do not assume that you know, what you have to do is ask. If you want your customers to feel cared for, ask what they need, then find a way to give them exactly what they ask for in the best way you can. In other words, giving your customers what they want, when they want it and how they want it, keeps them loyal and make them stick to your business. •Always ask for feedback When clients make purchase or use your service, always asks them for feedback. Showing you care about their satisfaction level speaks a lot about your commitment and gives opportunity for adjustment. •Reward loyalty As a tried and tested method of customers retention strategy is, rewarding people for their loyalty and giving customers a reason to come back. This may

include, special pricing and bonuses, gifts, loyalty discounts etc. you would be surprised how much this would add to your organization positively. Things you shouldn't forget: •Communication is key to effective customer service. Communicate, communicate, communicate and when you think you have communicated enough, communicate some more. Your customers need you to communicate with them as this would help convey in many way’s what your business is all about and why they should choose your product or services over your competitors. •You can and should use the customers you have by treating them wonderfully well to bring you the customers you want. In other words, a customer at hand is the link to the next customer a door step. •Building a relationship helps to established a bond and customers can even be willing to pay more for your product or service, if they have a personal connection with your company or business. •Building relationship is cost effective because the only cost is your time. In summary, we believe that the customer is king and should be treated as such, as you make effort towards improving the quality of service you offer your customers, your business will become more profitable. Ogbeide, is a business consultant, columnist and MD / CEO of Business Builders Limited. He can be reacted via email excelogbeide@yahoo.com

GLOBAL NEWS

StandChat fined $300m over money laundering

he new punishment came two years after the bank paid US regulators $667 million to settle charges it violated US sanctions by handling thousands of money transactions involving Iran, Myanmar, Libya and Sudan. The New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) said the British bank’s internal compliance systems had failed to detect or act on a large number of “potentially high-risk transactions” mostly originating from Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates. The new punishment came two years after the bank paid US regulators $667 million to settle charges it violated US sanctions by handling thousands of money transactions involving Iran, Myanmar, Libya and Sudan. A DFS monitor appointed in 2012 to keep an eye on the bank discovered that it had not detected the allegedly highrisk transactions from Hong Kong and the UAE or reported them as it should have, the department said. “If a bank fails to live up to its commitments, there should be consequences. That

is particularly true in an area as serious as anti-moneylaundering compliance, which is vital to helping prevent terrorism and vile human rights abuses," said DFS head Benjamin Lawsky. The department did not give any information on the nature of the transactions or whether they proved to involve laundering or not. In a settlement agreed with the bank, DFS ordered Standard Chartered to halt dollar-clearing operations for unnamed “highrisk retail business clients” of its Hong Kong unit. The bank is already cutting business with high-risk clients in UAE, but will also not be able to process dollar funds through the United States for them. Its New York branch also is forbidden to take on any clearing or deposit accounts from new customers without the approval of Lawsky’s office. “It’s really an oversight on the part of Standard Chartered. They'd already paid a huge penalty still they installed a system that is useless,” Lun said. “It will create tremendous problems with their

international clients who cannot settle their accounts in US dollars. It will be a serious blow to Standard Chartered group’s international business,” Lun said. Standard Chartered is based in London but has traditionally done most of its business in Asia and the Middle East. It said it accepted responsibility and “regrets the deficiencies in the antimoney laundering transaction surveillance system at its New York branch.” It added that it would work with clients in Hong Kong and UAE affected by the DFS requirements “to minimize disruption. “The group remains fully committed to Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates as key markets,” the bank said. Hong Kong-listed shares in the bank fell 0.19 per cent, to HK$157.8 ($20.36) in afternoon trade, while the Hang Seng Index remained flat. “$300 million isn’t a big number...investors will be fine with this penalty,” Tanrich Securities vice president Jackson Wong said.

Justice department recovers $37bn from big banks

he Justice Department said it had so far recovered nearly $37 billion from big banks for their role in selling shoddy mortgages before the financial crisis. Such a large number intended to deter misdeeds in the future suggests that Wall Street is being made to pay for its role in stoking the subprime debacle. Yet the financial pain inflicted by the settlements may not be as great in the end. Take the latest, and largest, mortgage settlement. Bank of America has agreed to a $16.65 billion deal with federal and state authorities. The actual financial burden for Bank of America, however, may not exceed $12 billion certainly a large amount, but one significantly less than the number the government trumpets. At issue is how much of the cost of the $7 billion in “soft dollars,” or help for borrowers, the bank will bear under the settlement. Some of the relief the bank will provide involves cutting the principal of a loan to make it easier for the borrower to pay. The dollar amount of that reduction gets credited toward what it needs to fulfil the settlement. But Bank of

America wrote down many of its troubled mortgages years ago. And investment firms, not Bank of America, may now own some of the loans that get written down, potentially shielding the bank from a financial hit. “The real financial cost to the bank could be considerably lower,” said Laurie Goodman, a specialist in housing at the Urban Institute. “This is helping consumers, but it may not be costing the bank.” The actual pain to the bank could also be significantly reduced by tax deductions. Tax analysts, for instance, estimate that Bank of America could derive $1.6 billion of tax savings on the $4.63 billion of payments to the states and some federal agencies under the settlement. Shares of Bank of America jumped 4 per cent on Thursday, suggesting investors believe that the bank could take the settlement in stride. “The American public is expecting the Justice Department to hold the banks accountable for its misdeeds in the mortgage meltdown,” said Phineas Baxandall, an analyst with the US Public Interest Research Group, a consumer advocacy organization.

NEWS 45

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

FOURTH TERM

Time to leave the stage for others, that is the song in Abia North Igbeaku Orji UMUAHIA

ormer Speaker of the ECOWAS parliament, Chief Mao Ohuabunwa, has said that his desire to go to the senate in 2015 for Abia North senatorial zone arose out of the general feeling that

Ohuabunwa: Why I want to replace Chukwumerije the zone has lost out in the share of political and infrastructural development in the last 12 years. Ohuabunwa, who represented Arochukwu/Ohafia in the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2003, said he had to forego an appointment from the presidency so that he will not be distracted from the pursuit. The former lawmaker, who is a foundation member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), lamented that Abia North

The sex ratio of men above 60 years per 100 women in Belize in 2012. Source: Un.org

senatorial zone has nothing to show for the 12 years of Senator Uche Chukwumerije, saying the zone does not have a vibrant senatorial representation. "I am surprised that after 12 years, he is still mounting bill boards, saying he has projects he wants to complete." Ohuabunwa, who declared his intention in Umuahia, said the last time the zone had a feel of representation was in

$443.3m

The capital importation of the Financing sector of Nigeria in 2012. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

1999 when Gen. Ike Nwachukwu was the senator, adding that the synergy between them raised the bar of representation which was felt everywhere in the zone. “In 2007, I returned on my volition because I felt that I should move. As you grow, you give others chance, and as we grow in democracy, zoning will no longer matter, merit will take over. “At the time I wanted to go to the senate, the state

C375,000

The world record transfer fee paid for Angelo Sormani by Roma 1963. Source: Goal.com

had been polarized along political lines and then the agreement of return of all political office holders in the PDP in the state denied me the opportunity,” he said. According to him, “I want to go to the senate because I want to contribute to the legislative growth; it helps to increase the value of your people.” He added that the opportunity to be in the senate “creates a wider opportunity to assist people and be their voice.”

Bye-election: Niger PDP, APC trade words Dan Atori MINNA

electorate await Arialsthethe Niger East Senatobye-election by this

L-R: Assistant General Manager, Ecobank Plc; Mr. Bolaji Martins; DPR representative, Joseph Odiong; Secretary-General, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Mr. Obafemi Olawore and General Manager, Sales and Marketing, Mr. Babajide Olufemi, during the breakfast session at the first Nigeria Lubricant Summit Day 2, organised by CMC Connect Limited in Lagos

Police quiz journalist over report on Ebola Cheke Emmanuel LAFIA

journalist with the Guardian newspaper in Nasarawa State, Mr. Msugh Ityokura, was on Friday, quizzed by the police over a report he wrote on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) scare in Nasarawa and Benue states respectively. The state Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Criminal Investigation Department CID, Mr. Ibrahim Tarfa, who sought to know the journalist's source of information for the report, said the invitation was at the instance of the state government. Tarfa said the state Commissioner of Health, Mr Emmanuel Akabe, had in his complaint, denied

speaking with The Guardian over the matter before the report captioned: "Nasarawa, Benue records first Ebola cases" was published in the newspaper's weekend edition of August 16, in which it was clearly stated that the commissioner declined to confirm whether the reported case of an outbreak of a disease with similar symptoms with Ebola in some parts of the state was Ebola or not. After taking his statement in which he stood by the report, Ityokura was released in the evening after a written bail application by the state secretary of the correspondents chapel, Mr Isaac Ukpoju. He was asked to report back at the state CID today for further action. The latest development,

according to sources, is seen as another deliberate move by the state government to clamp down on the media, particularly the independent print organisations with reporters in the state as Akabe had spoken with not only The Guardian , but some reporters with other national dailies as well who also published the report the same day. The commissioner had in the telephone conversation of Friday August 15 confirmed an outbreak of a disease in Taka Lafia, a community in Karshi near Abuja where he posited that five people were down with stooling, vomiting, fever, body weakness, and diarrhoea which are some of the symptoms of Ebola. The commissioner's press conference on Au-

gust 18, which allayed fears of a possible Ebola outbreak in the state and government efforts to contain any eventuality was carried in The Guardian of Tuesday, August 19. It has been observed over time that the state government has not being comfortable with reports in most of the national dailies even before the state Governor, Tanko AlMakura's impeachment saga began. A former magistrate in the state, Zechariah Zamani Alumaga, who condemned what he described as the state government "highhandedness on journalists" in the state, berated AlMakura for the woes of journalists carrying out their constitutional responsibility.

EU sponsored peace initiative begins in Ogoni community Emmanuel Masha PORT HARCOURT

peace building initiaAEuropean tive, sponsored by the Union (EU)

has commenced in Kpor, a rural Ogoni Town in

Gokana Local Government Area. The initiative, titled: ‘Tomorrow is a New Day’, is in its second phase, and it includes training, advocacies and town hall meetings to entrench peaceful

living among the people of Kpor. It is expected to last for 18 months. The programme, which is being implemented jointly by Search For Common Ground (SFCG) and the Centre

for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) is part of a wider programme to ensure long term stability and peace in the Niger Delta region in 2015 and beyond.

Ohuabunwa said: “As a senator, your people should be able to reach you but Chukwumerije is so aloof and inaccessible to the people. The people should be able to look up to their senator, who should have a shoulder to carry them. “We have not had a vibrant senatorial representation,” he said, adding, “I believe that why you are elected is to add value to your people. Even some of the projects are still the way we left them.”

weekend, both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Peoples Party (APC) have accused themselves of having plots to cause disruption. The Deputy Chairman of the PDP, Tanko Beji, revealed that the APC has concluded plans to unleash thugs on the electorate to disrupt the conduct of the election. Beji, in a signed press statement, made available to our correspondent, said the thugs have already been paid and handed maps of places to attack, adding that their primary mission was aimed at causing maximum confusion to either manipulate or completely frustrate the process. Beji, who expressed sadness at the way and manner the Niger State APC is going about the

bye-election, said the planned action of the opposition only shows that they are far from prepared in the next general election. When Our Correspondent spoke with the APC spokesman, Comrade Jonathan Vatsa in a telephone chat, he said; "the PDP is only afraid of losing to its candidate (Barrister David Umaru) because their candidate (Dr Shem Nuhu Zagbayi) is not popular in the senatorial zone." Vatsa said that if there was any party that plans to disrupt the elections, it was the PDP, adding that "they have paid thugs and have planned to use security agents to intimidate the electorates." Beji said: “The opposition in Niger State needs to be schooled on the basic values of electoral practices. They have failed to realize that politics is not all about thuggery, blackmail or laughable propaganda. Niger APC must understand that election is not a do-or-die affair.”

Mark, Ojerinde harp on education for development Chukwu David ABUJA

of the Senate, Pandresident Senator David Mark the Registrar of the

Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, Professor Dibu Ojerinde have advocated functional education of citizens, especially youths as the antidote to the multifarious problems confronting the nation. Mark and Ojerinde spoke in Otukpo, Benue State during the weekend at the closing ceremony of the 2014 Professor Odusola Ojerinde(late wife of the JAMB Registrar) memorial golf tournament. Their position was hinged on the belief that most of the problems facing the country at the moment including insurgency, violence, armed robbery and drug abuse, among others, were traceable to illiteracy. In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the

Chief Press Secretary to the President of the Senate, Mr. Paul Mumeh, Mark told the audience that he was particularly committed to the development of education because he believed that a well educated citizenry would be an asset to the nation. His words: "Besides being the foundation for any development, education liberates the people and curbs all forms of antisocial behaviours. "Whatever I can do to support education, I will not hesitate to do it. I want to bequeath education to our people especially in my constituency as a legacy. For me, it is the most important investment". He also explained that he had been promoting sports as the needed companion to education, saying, "because a combination of both will enhance peaceful coexistence, eradicate crimes, promote unity and development".

46 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

Delta 2015: Ibori’s kinsmen reject Ika man REJECTION

The Urhobo want to decide for Igbo in Delta, the next governor of the state Dominic Adewole ASABA

he race to succeed the Delta state Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan as the governor of Delta State at the weekend assumed a new twist in Delta Central Senatorial District with the Urhobo Political Forum (UPF) and Urhobo Political Congress (UPC), jointly expressing preference to power shift to Anioma ethnic nationality.

74.25%

The pressure group categorically rejected the choice of an Ika man becoming the next governor of the state. The leadership of the groups, led by the Senior Political Adviser to Governor Uduaghan, Chief Ighoyota Amori and the Commissioner, representing Delta State on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Sir Tom Amioku, stated why the Urhobo’s may not support Ika man. In Ika axis of the state alone, about five aspirants, including Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Festus Okubor, former acting Governor

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Australia in 2009. Source: Itu.int

of the state, Hon. Sam Obi and the Permanent Secretary, Government House, Asaba, Mr. Anthony Obuh have declared interest. Receiving Chief Johnson-Ossai-Opone, a PDP governorship aspirant at Mosogar, Chief Amori said the Urhobo’s would support Delta North ambition if their candidate is from Ndokwa, comprising Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency. According to him, since Asaba has the state capital, which forms part of the old Benin Province, “it was only fair to concede the 2015 governorship to Ndokwa, which though is part of Delta North, but was

26,000

The number of people in refugee-like situation in Western Sahara at the beginning of 2010. Source: Blatantworld.com

originally in the old Delta Province.” “In the interest of equity and fairness, Ndokwa area that produces the bulk of the oil and gas in Delta North Senatorial District should be favoured, at least to give the area a sense of belonging”, he said. Speaking for UPC, Amioku who received Ossai-Opone at Egborode Community in Okpe Local Government Area, acknowledged that the Urhobos’ of Delta Central were at home with Ndokwa because of several years of convivial relationship through inter-marriage, culture and language in the old Delta Province.

23.8%

The percentage of urban population of Afghanistan in 2012. Source: Un.org

Oru sure of East-West road Joe Obende WARRI

inister of Niger Delta M Affairs, Dr. Steve Oru has given his word that

the East-West Road under construction in the SouthSouth Geo-Political Zone will not be abandoned by the Goodluck Jonathan administration as being speculated. Oru made the pledge when he, the minister of state, Darius Ishiaku, and other top officials of the Niger Delta Affairs ministry paid a maiden inspection visit to ascertain the level of work executed on the road at the weekend. The inspection tour took off from the Delta Steel Company Roundabout in Effurun, Warri up to Kaiama in Bayelsa State. The minister, who decried the low pace of

work, however, said it was gratifying that that portion of the project had been completed. He appealed to three firms, Setraco Nigeria Limited, Reynolds Construction Company and Gitto Construction Company to speed up work on the project which construction giant, Julius Berger, had backed out of just before commencement of work. Oru said it was the desire of the president to see the project completed in the shortest possible time as the road would ginger commercial activities and encourage development in the region. The contract for the project was awarded by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration in 2006 through the Ministry of Works but was later handed over to the Niger Delta ministry at creation.

‘No Ebola in Oghara' Joe Obende

WARRI

t was a great relief for IState the residents of Delta as a female patient

(names withheld) suspected to have contracted the Ebola hemorrhagic fever was certified free of the dreaded viral disease at the weekend. The patient who had been admitted at a private hospital in Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area, had presented ultrahigh fever when she was brought in. This disclosure was made at the weekend by the Chairman of the Transition Committee of the council area, Mr. Precious

Ajaimo. Jolted by this presentation, the doctor on duty had raised the initial alarm that the patient could be Ebola infected. She was therefore quickly isolated and quarantined as a standard acceptable precaution if she was indeed an Ebola patient. The state ministry of Health was alerted and it took over the case from that point. Further precautions included the refusal of other patients into the hospital while her blood sample and other specimens were collected and dispatched to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) for analysis.

PUBLIC NOTICE PREVAILING FAITH MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL L-R: Chief Executive Officer, MainOne, Funke Okpeke; Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher and Director, Brands and Communications, Etisalat Nigeria, Enitan Denloye, at the Etisalat Prize for Innovation Judges Dinner in Lagos

Voters’ registration: Lawmaker berates INEC over shoddy exercise Dominic Adewole ASABA

he member representTstituency ing Warri South 1 conat the Delta

State House of Assembly, Mrs. Omawumi Udoh, yesterday slammed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its shoddy handling of the voters registration exercise.

The lawmaker was angry that the commission deployed only one capturing machine for the exercise in her constituency. She said INEC goofed by failing to deploy enough kits to the constituency. Speaking during her visit to some registration centers in her constituency, Udoh decried

the long queue, maintaining that the situation has further dampened the enthusiasm shown by eligible voters. Although she lauded the peaceful conducts of the people as well as the large turnout for the exercise in all the visited units, she charged those who could not see their names in the 2011 exercise, including those who

were not up to 18 years then to avail themselves of the opportunity. She reminded them that their power to vote and be voted for lies in the possession of the voter’s card. The House adjourned plenary for one week to enable members visit their constituencies to sensitize their constituents for the exercise.

The general public is hereby notified that the above mentioned MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration in accordance with Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act LFN (cap 20). The Trustees are: 1. Apostle Kolawole Adegboyega Faith — President 2. Pastor (Mrs) Kolawole Bosede Adenike — Vice-President 3. Bro. Dada David Ogunleye — Member AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To conduct strategic mass soul winning crusades across the entire nations of world. 2. To reach the unreached, and saturate the nation with the undiluted word of God. Any objection should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Irosi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

Cleric admonishes govt over incessant strikes Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

he Anglican Bishop TKubwa, of the Diocese of Abuja, Rt. Rev. Duke Akamisoko yesterday charged the Federal Government to take serious the welfare of its workers so as to reduce the rate at which differ-

ent groups and associations go on strike. This was just as the clergy man condemned the strike action embarked upon by members of Nigerian Medical Association, adding that it has caused more harm and loss to Nigerians than good. The clergyman who stated this in Abuja said

doctors are meant to save lives going by their training and not to kill. He added that the strike action had caused the death of many Nigerians who are suffering from one sickness or the other and needed medical attention but which could not get it because of the strike action.

Bishop Akamisoko however called on public officers to see their office as a call to serve and not one to enrich their pockets. He also called on the Federal Government to always include the right set of people in its team while negotiating with various associations and organizations.

Speaking on the measures the church had taken to prevent the spread of Ebola virus, the clergy stated that the church had started a campaign on the need for people to maintain cleanliness. He called for a total cleanliness of every household items and the opening up of all drainage around

places of worship and homes. He also urged all those rearing domestic animals to vaccinate them. Bishop Akamisoko further called on religious leaders to make provision for water or sanitizer for worshippers to wash their hands before the exchange of pleasantries.

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

Adamawa guber: Submission of forms ends today INTRIGUES There is more to the by-election than meets the eye. Fintiri and Gulak may have been schemed out Onyekachi Eze, Ibrahim Abdul and Johnchuks Onuanyim

ubmission of nomination forms by aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the governorship byeelection in Adamawa State ends today. But, indications emerged yesterday that PDP stakeholders in the state may have zoned the party's governorship ticket to Adamawa Central senatorial district.

61%

If this resolution is implemented, Acting Governor Ahmadu Fintiri and former Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, who have already obtained nomination forms for the governorship primary, may have been zoned out of the contest. Fintiri and Gulak are from Adamawa North senatorial zone. PDP has given intending aspirants between Friday, August 15, and Monday, August 25, to obtain and submit their Expression of Interest (EoI) and nomination forms to the party’s secretariat. Last week, former Lagos State Military Administrator, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa, and Alhaji Gulak, were the first to submit their

The percentage of hydropower generation potential in North America estimated to have already been developed. Source: Unesco.org

nomination forms. Former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Modibbo, former Minister of State for Health, Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong, and former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, are among aspirants expected to beat the August 25 deadline. In Yola, after the stakeholders’ marathon meeting, party leaders noted that zoning the governorship ticket in the upcoming gubernatorial byelection to the Adamawa Central senatorial district, is a way of replicating fairness to the zone that has never produced the governor of the state. But, one of the PDP aspirants, Dr. Umar Ardo,

17.2m

The total population of men in Canada in 2012. Source: Un.org

yesterday alleged that the October 11 governorship election has opened the state to public treasury looters, who are aspiring to govern the state. Ardo, who was speaking against the declaration of the former EFCC boss, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and former UBEC boss, Dr Ahmed Modibbo, the aspirant said: “For politicians whose entire lives have been in the public sector domain to dole out unbelievably large amounts of money and materials to the PDP in the name of helping the party, confirms only one thing – they are looters of public treasury; either directly or by leveraging on their offices to corruptly enrich themselves at the expense of the public good. “But the era of Adamawa people being blindfold-

17,914

The number of refugees and people in refugee-like situation in Syria at the beginning of 2010. Source: Blatantworld.com

L-R: Nasarawa State Governor/bride's father, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura; his Imo State counterpart, Owele Rochas Okorocha; bride, Maimuna; groom, Moyi Mai-Dunama; Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tanbuwal and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, during a dinner in honour of the governor's daughters’ wedding in Abuja... at the weekend

I’m not defecting to PDP to fight Jang, says Dariye Musa Pam

Jos

ormer Governor of Plateau State and senator representing Plateau Central senatorial district at the National Assembly, Senator Joshua Dariye, has said that he is not going back to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to fight Governor Jonah Jang, but to work for President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 presidential election. Dariye disclosed this to New Telegraph yesterday in Jos. According to him, he is joining the PDP because he believed in the project called Goodluck Jonathan

2015, saying after wide consultations with his constituents, he is coming back to the PDP. “I’m not coming back to PDP to fight Governor Jang, there is no conflict of role, he is the outgoing governor, everybody will come and go, Late Baba Lar was there, Tapgun, Dariye has come and gone and Jang will come and go, so the chain continues and what corporate entity that remains is Plateau State, that is why we called it Project Plateau. Nobody should feel unsecured, we must collectively protect that for generations unborn, and all we are talking about is the Unity of Pla-

teau State,” he said. Dariye, however, revealed that he is ready to re-contest the senatorial seat under the platform of the PDP. Meanwhile a political group under the aegis of the PDP Youth Vanguard has advised Governor Jang to consider one of his loyalists who is credible, transparent, God-fearing and has the capacity to continue with the redemption agenda as his successor come 2015. President of the group, Ambassador Joel Jonathan, stated this in Jos, saying the determination of governor Jang to hand over power to a youth during the 2015 general

election is a project for the entire PDP Youths in Plateau. Jonathan noted that Jang should consider a youth, who has proper understanding of the redemption agenda, who will uphold the rule of law and has the political will to unite all ethnic nationalities for the overall development of the state. “We are in support of the governor's pronouncement to hand over power to a youth and we will support him. But, he must be someone who is credible and God-fearing, who absolutely understands the concept of the redemption agenda and must be a PDP loyalist," he said.

ed and deceived by money from corrupt politicians is over,” he said. Another aspirant from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Dahiru Bobo, over the weekend, said APC will apply the Osun State tactics for the election on October 11. Speaking at the party’s national headquarters, the aspirant said APC was not threatened by the defection of Nuhu Ribadu to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Ribadu, a presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria in 2011 was a chieftain of the APC before his defection. Bobo, who was full of optimism that the APC would reclaim Adamawa State, picked his Expression of Interest (EoI) and

nomination form at the APC national secretariat in Abuja. Meanwhile, the Campaign Organisation of Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Modibbo, said it has stepped up its campaign strategies and approaches. Speaking in Yola yesterday, Director-General of the group, Hon. Fanuel Mosu, explained that as political events unfold, the group was working ahead of time. He added that the group now depends on massive grassroots mobilisation and constant consultations across the board. Mosu said the group, despite its past achievements, was now looking at new strategies that would put Modibbo ahead of other aspirants in the election.

Lagos denies plan to review Traffic Law Muritala Ayinla he Lagos State Government yesterday debunked any plans to review the Lagos Traffic Law 2012 to enable the commercial motorcyclists also known as Okada riders to ply restricted roads. The motorcyclists had returned to the hitherto major highways in the state following insinuation that the Lagos State House Assembly was planning a review of the law in order to reduce the prohibited 475 major highways and bridges in the state roads. In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Lateef Raji, the state government said Governor Babatunde Fashola, has no plan to reverse the policy on regulated operation of commercial motorcycles in the state.

The statement read: "Our attention has been drawn to sponsored insinuations, most especially in the social media, stating that the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola, SAN has concluded plans to review the Road Traffic Law 2012, especially the aspect concerning the restriction of commercial motorcyclists from plying major highways and bridges in the Centre of Excellence. "This is far from the truth. This administration does not have the intention to reverse itself on this important issue now or in the immediate future. The reason is simple. By enacting the Law of 2012, we have made considerable gains in discharging the primary responsibility of government to our people in the area of protection of life and property."

28th annual Qur’an recitation competition opens in Jos Buhari Bello

Jos

he Caretaker Committee TLocal Chairman of Jos North Government Coun-

cil, Dr. Danjuma Sanda Wakili, has harped on the true doctrine of Qur’anic teachings, just as he called for peaceful coexistence among communities even as he decried the complete absence of basic amenities the in the area. He said Islam is a religion of truth, peace and tolerance, whose teachings and values must be upheld by adherents to the letter. He stated this yester-

day, while speaking as chief host at the opening ceremony of the Jos North 28th edition of the annual Qur'an competition, held at the conference hall of the Jos Central Mosque. “It is not only expected that the competition is to recite the Qur'an, but that its peaceful teachings and core moral values will be put into practice. “The competition is a way of impacting the true, core values of Islam.” Wakili said the people of Jos have been living in peace with mutual respect devoid of tribal and religious divides in the past.

48 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

Communication, education, key to national development, says Akpabio overnor Godswill Geffective Akpabio has identified communication,

L-R: Director, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Graduate School, Prof. Gab Agu; Registrar, Chief Chris Igbokwe and ViceChancellor, Prof. Cyprain Onyeji, at the inaugural board meeting of the institution in Enugu …yesterday

22.69%

The percentage drop of air travel passengers of Katsina airport (2012-2013) Source: National Bureau of Statistics

160,000

The total number of internet users in Barbados in 2005. Source: Blatantworld.com

The number of attacking shots blocked from Brazil at the Brazil 2014 World Cup. Source: Fifa.com

Kaduna, a failed state, says ex-PDP chair Ibraheem Musa

Kaduna

aduna state has not witnessed any meaningful develop-ment since Governor Ahmed Makarfi left office in 2007, Alhaji Audi Yaro Makama Rigachukun, the for mer state chairman of PDP said yesterday. Rigachukun who defected to APC last December, said Kaduna state is in dire need of change. He made this known in Zaria after the inauguration of Hon. Isa Ashiru campaign coordinators in zone one. The former PDP chairman pointed out that it is not a must that Ashiru should be the next governor of Kaduna state. “All we want is to prevent PDP from get-

ting re-elected in 2015”, he stated. Rigachukun promised that Ashiru’s supporters will back whoever emerges as gubernatorial candidate in free and fair primaries. He advised APC leaders to ensure a level playing field during the primaries and to be fair and just to all aspirants. Rigachukun warned that an unnamed APC chieftain had earlier boasted that there will be no primaries in Kaduna state because ‘’he and a select few will sit down and write out all the results.’’ He warned the APC chieftain that that will not be possible. Earlier, the Director General of Hon Isa Ashiru Campaign Organisation, Ambassador Sule Buba had al-

leged that the present PDP state government operates an apartheid system in Kaduna state. He said that only a few club members enjoy government’s patronage and dividends of democracy. The Director General further said that the infrastructure in schools have decayed as most of their roofs have been blown off and primary pupils sit down on floor to receive lessons in some areas. Buba promised that this sorry state of events will change when an APC government comes to power. He advised the people to be steadfast and not to be swayed by deceitful appointments and SURE-P palliatives. In his address, Hon Ashiru noted that although the journey to

Government House Kaduna is tough and arduous, victory is assured. The gubernatorial aspirant advised APC members to gird their loins for the task ahead. Ashiru also debunked the insinuations that he will return to PDP. “My supporters and I have left PDP and there is no retreat and no surrender”, he added. According to him, his campaign team had already inaugurated a 13 member committee to draw up a blueprint on how to overhaul Kaduna state. “Next week, their interim report will be ready”, he promised. Members of the committee include Professor Andrew Nkom, Dr. Kabiru Mator, Hajiya Nafisa Babajo, Dr. Adamu Jamfalan and Dr. Abdullahi Adamu amongst others.

continuous prayers and formal education as growth indices of a successful nation. Chief Akpabio, who stated this Friday when the Chairman, Board of Directors, Chief Patrick Ogbu and the management of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) paid him a courtesy visit at Governor's Office, Uyo, thanked NTA for enlightening the country more through effective communication. "As a state we have partnered NTA by constructing internal roads that lead to the station in the state. Nigerians are very proud of NTA because your station, just as your slogan say, 'You can't beat the reach' is the

largest television network in Africa with about 5,000 staff,” he noted. He appreciated the NTA for naming "Governor Godswill Akpabio Administrative block" of the NTA in Akwa Ibom, pointing out that "and assured them all of the continuous support of the state government." The Governor then thanked the management of NTA for bringing the management board meeting to the state and he also thanked President Jonathan for the inclusion of some Akwa Ibom state indigenes as members of the board. He then directed for the delivery of a 18-seater Toyota bus and a Toyota Hilux to the NTA station in the state.

Ebola: Auchi poly cautions against handshake, hugging Cajetan Mmuta

BENIN

he management of the TAuchi, Federal Polytechnic, Edo state yesterday

warned its students to desist from handshakes and hugging as part of an awareness campaign aimed at curtailing the spread of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). Registrar of the institution, Dr. (Mrs.) M.I. Aashikpelokhai stated this in a statement on the scourge of the outbreak of Ebola diseases. She said adequate attention and care must be paid to personal hygiene especially as it relates to washing of hands and handshakes. Aashikpelokhai explained that the disease is transmitted to humans from infected bats and monkeys and spreads through body fluids in human to human physical contact.

She advised staff and students to report serious cases of sickness to the School of authorities and to see doctors immediately one feels ill. Meanwhile the Polytechnic through the Rector, Dr. Philipa Idogho has approved the appointment of Mr. Fred Agboinghale as deputy Rector for Administration and Jafaru Buraimah as deputy Rector, Academics. Until their appointments, Mr. Agboinghale was a chief lecturer and Dean, School of Applied Science and Technology and Chairman Committee of Deans while Buraimah was a chief lecturer and chairman, Housing committee of the Polytechnic. The rector also approved the appointments of Dr. S. G. Eshiotse, the former deputy rector, Administration as the Director of Degree programmes.

Voters registration: Complaints galore in Cross River

NUJ boss tasks Niger Delta youths on peace

Clement James

Lateef Ibrahim he Vice President, Zone F (South-South) of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Comrade Seiyefa Uzaka has advised Niger-Delta youths to embrace peace in the interest of development which they have long been craving for. Uzaka, according to press statement personally signed by him, gave the advice during his visit to the temporary site of the Maritime University of Nigeria, at Kurutie community in Delta State. The NUJ Zonal Vice President equally advised youths in the Niger-Delta to take ad-

Calabar

ross River State residents who are eligible to register for the voters registration exercise are expressing worries that many of them may be disenfranchised in the 2015 elections due to their inability to register during the just concluded voters’ registration exercise. The exercise was allegedly marred by inadequate manpower and Direct Data Capture Machines (DDCM), with all the registration centers having only one machine each despite the large turnout of eligible voters. To make matters worse, only one registration center was located in each ward, making the process very

difficult as each center recorded a huge crowd of potential voters. Our correspondent who monitored the exercise at the weekend was told by those who came out for registration that they had made efforts to register since Wednesday when the exercise commenced without success, due to the huge crowd at the various centers and the fact that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not seem to envisage the large turnout. New Telegraph was at the Cultural center venue on Saturday when the Divisional PoliceOfficer(DPO)incharge of Atakpa Police Station, bulldozedhiswaytoberegistered. Hehadcomplainedtothelady in charge that he had been

“coming to this place since Thursday” and would want to be registered there and then. He had his way amidst subduedprotestbecauseof the presence of Policemen who came with him. After he was registered, New Telegraph approached him to ask questions but he turned the request down, saying, “You know I am not supposed to talk to the press. You are a Journalist, so you know that.” He then jumped into his waiting Police jeep and drove off. At the Presbyterian Church Primary School, IBB Way, Akim, soldiers were seen keeping watch over the exercise while the agitated crowd simply bemoaned the slow pace of the exercise.

vantage of the rear opportunity of the University, facilitated through the wisdom of the Director General and Chief Executive Officer, of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Akpobokemi Ziakede. Uzaka described Ziakede as a patriotic son of Izon- land. In the words of the NUJ Vice Chairman: "It is important for all Niger-Delta Youths to embrace peace for the development we have sincerely been agitating for in this area." Comrade Uzaka who also visited the Dock Yard where ship building and repair works

would take place in Delta State being facilitated by the same NIMASA, pleaded with youths of the Niger-Delta, to seek admission in the institution so as to get trained and be gainfully employed. He expressed optimism that the institution would help young ones in the area to gain admission to study various maritime courses as well as creation of job for the employment of people in the region. He therefore commended the DG/CEO of NIMASA for his thoughtfulness and foresight by bringing such a University to the Coastal Niger-Delta.

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Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

DAMAGES Security agencies are in court to cought out over N1.5m for humiliating some 15 voters Adeolu Adeyemo

OSOGBO

ivilians who claimed to have been harassed and humiliated by security operatives during the August 9, governorship election in Osun State, have threatened to challenge their alleged maltreatment at

Osun 2014: Victims of harassment sue DSS, army, police the court of law. Fifteen of the claimants, have concluded arrangement to sue the Department of Security Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Police for their illegal arrest and detention. The complainants in an application for a court order enforcing their fundamental rights, slated to be filed before a Federal

High rate of unqualified teachers worries UBEC boss Yekeen Nurudeen

Abuja

xecutive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Dikko Suleiman, has expressed worry over the high rate of unqualified teachers engaged at both primary and secondary schools across the country. This, according to him has been partly responsible for the mass failure of Nigerian students in the annual West African Examination Council (WAEC), National Examination Council (NECO) and other public examination bodies in the country. Suleiman stated this in Abuja, when he received members of the House of Representatives Committee on Education on oversight visit, at the weekend. He blamed the situation on the low level of political will and commitment by some state governments on issues of basic education. Basic education is under the purview of state governments in Nigeria. The UBEC boss said this lack of political will by some governors to the development of basic education was responsible for the slow rate of assessment of FGN/UBE matching

grants to the states for improvement of teaching and learning infrastructures in schools. He revealed that about N53 billion of this Federal Government’s intervention fund through UBEC, has not been accessed by some state governments as a result of their refusal to provide their requisite counterpart fund. Sulaiman, however, said that the commission has been able to mainstream early childhood care and education such that children in public schools can benefit from early stimulation that is associated with this level of education. He said the infrastructural expansion that has resulted from the utilisation of the FGN-UBE intervention fund has gone a long way in increasing participation, especially in rural areas that were hitherto either unserved or under-served. According to him, the commission’s Federal Teachers’ Scheme (FTS) and procurement of textbooks for primaries 1 to 6 in Mathematics, English Language, Basic Science and Technology, have helped in improving the quality of basic education delivery.

Nigerien minister arrested for baby trafficking iger Re p u b l i c NAbdou Agriculture Minister, Labo, has been

arrested over his alleged involvement in a babytrafficking scandal that has shaken the country's political class. Making the allegation yesterday in Niamey, capital of Niger Republic, was a relation of the victim, Issa Ali. Ali said Labo was transferred on Saturday to a prison in the town of Say, 70 kilometres south of the capital. He was arrested on Friday. According to Associated Press, Labo’s wife

had already been arrested along with 16 other people over their suspected links to the network involving babies from neighbouring Nigeria. The suspects have been scattered in prisons across the country. A wife of National Assembly President, Hama Amadou, was also arrested, and there have been calls to lift his parliamentary immunity so he can be questioned. Amadou is a political rival to President Mahamadou Issoufou, and his allies have decried the arrests as politically motivated.

High Court in Osogbo today, a copy of which was made available to newsmen in Osogbo, demanded for an unreserved apology from the security operatives or face the wrath of the law. In the application, they stated that; “We pray for an order directing the respondents to pay N100, 000, 000 each as damages and tender public apology to each of us. “Our arrest and detention prevented us from exercising our franchise in the August 9 poll and vote for the candidate of our choice. The applicants, however, sought these reliefs

as contained in an originating summon pursuant to Section 34, 35 and 46 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 5, 6, 12, 13 and 20 of the African Charter on Human and People Rights, Cap A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; Order II Rule 1, 2 and 3 of the Fundamental Right (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009. The applicants in the first relief are seeking the declaration of the court that their arrest and detention was unconstitutional, illegal, null and void and in violation of their right to personal liberty.

They also prayed the court to declare that their arrest and manhandling by officers of the respondents, constitute a violation of their freedom from torture, inhuman and degrading treatment. The detainees are High Chief Sola Ogunsanya, Isaac Onajide, Babatola Segun, Ogungbangbe Suliman, Obayemi Ayo, Awo p e t u O d u n ayo, Esther Olamijulo and eight others. In an affidavit he sworn to, in support of the application, one of the applicants, High Chief Sola Ogunsanya,

who is the Regent of Iloko-Ijesa and a registered voter said that; “I was arrested on August 8, by armed officers of the respondents in my house, while other detainees were arrested on August 9, at Iloko-Ijesa and Ijebu-Jesa.” He said: “After the arrest, I and two other applicants were taken to the DSS office in Osogbo and Iloko police post, where we were detained, stripped naked and ordered to lie down for several hours in the open without allowing us to move an inch and later beaten, tortured and humiliated.”

Replacement of the expansion joints and bearings on Eko Bridge in Lagos…yesterday

Osun governorship poll, most Okubor urged to run for controversial ever – Group 2015 Delta governorship Adeolu Adeyemo

OSOGBO

group under Adateconcern the aegis of Osun ManInitiative (OMI), at

the weekend, frowned on the attack on members of opposition parties in the state, particularly PDP members from the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration and appealed to security operatives to call the party to order. The group, which described the election as the most controversial ever, in a statement signed by its Protem Chairman and Secretary, Bimbo Adunola and Femi Odofin respectively, and made available to newsmen in Osog-

bo, affirmed that; “if APC is confident of its self-acclaimed victory, why attacking innocent members of the public. “APC is now compelling the citizens, especially civil servants, to participate in an unnecessary celebration of this most controversial election that ever held in this state. “We want to advise the public to be wary of the spiritual atonement food in the guise of APC electoral victory party being distributed across the state now.” The statement stated that “the electoral fraud that accompanied the election was unprecedented and called for concern.”

hief of Staff, GovernCFestus ment House, Asaba, Dr. Goziem Okubor, is

being entreated to run for the governorship seat in Delta state. The Delta Oshobe 2015 Group, at its inaugural meeting of delegates from the 25 local governments of the state held at the weekend at the country home of Chief Olori Magege, made the call in a communiqué released after their meeting. The communiqué titled; “Run for Governorship, Dr. Festus Goziem Okubor, run; Deltans are waiting for you reads: “The delegates from 25 local government areas of Delta State after a painstaking and exhaustive deliberation hereby unequivocally resolve that; Upon reading

the impeccable profile of Dr. Festus Goziem Okubor, and in recognition of his sterling record as a public servant in various capacities in Delta State since 1999 to date; “In consideration of his total and unalloyed loyalty to the great party, the PDP; In consideration of his being a completely detribalised Deltan, who is at home with all tribes in Delta State; In consideration of his development plan for the state, which if implemented will be a consolidation of Governor Uduaghan’s great stride: “It is herebyresolvedthatateamof Delta Oshobe 2015 representing all local government areas in Delta State be sent to Dr. Okubor to demand of him to declare for the governorship race for Government House, Asaba 2015 unfailingly.”

WORLD | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

Ukraine marks defiant national day, rebels parade captives

kraine marked its independence day yesterday with a military march past in Kiev intended to send a message of defiance to Russia, but pro-Moscow rebels countered by parading captured Ukrainian troops through the streets in their stronghold. The rival events showed the divide that will need to be bridged if a compromise on Ukraine is to be reached Tuesday when Russian President Vladimir

Putin meets his Ukrainian counterpart for the first time in months. Ukrainian forces are trying to snuff out a pro-Moscow separatist rebellion in the east of the country, and yesterday intense artillery fire could be heard around the rebel stronghold of Donetsk. In Kiev's Independence Square - scene of the protests that pushed out a Moscow-backed president and precipitated the crisis - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko

reviewed columns of men and armoured vehicles. Some of the troops in the march-past were, Poroshenko said, shortly heading to the front line in eastern Ukraine. In a defiant and emotional speech, Poroshenko said his country was fighting "a war against external aggression, for Ukraine, for its freedom, for its people, for independence." That was directed at Moscow, which Kiev alleges is behind the rebellion.

"It is clear that in the foreseeable future, unfortunately, a constant military threat will hang over Ukraine. And we need to learn not only to live with this, but also to be always prepared to defend the independence of our country." Poroshenko announced about $3 billion would be spent on reequipping the army in 2015-2017. Ukraine's armed forces are only a fraction of the size of those in Russia.

After protests ousted Ukraine's Kremlin-backed leader, Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in March and parts of the Russian-speaking east rebelled against Kiev. Kiev and its Western allies say Moscow has responded to advances by government forces by funnelling weapons and men clandestinely into eastern Ukraine to shore up the struggling rebellion, an allegation that Moscow denies.

Strong California quake causes injuries, damage

large earthquake caused significant damage and left three critically injured in California's northern Bay Area early yesterday, igniting fires, sending at least 87 people to a hospital, knocking out power to tens of thousands and sending residents running out of their homes in the darkness. Two adults and one child have critical injuries and Queen of the Valley hospital has treated 87 people, the city of Napa in California wine country said in a statement Sunday. Most patients have cuts, bumps, bruises, said Vanessa DeGier, spokeswoman for the hospital in Napa. She says the facility has treated a hip fracture and heart attack, but it's unclear if it was related to the 6.0-magnitude earthquake. The hospital has set

up a triage tent and many people are still coming in, DeGier said. The quake caused six significant fires, including at a mobile home part, Napa Division Fire Chief Darren Drake said. Four mobile homes have been destroyed and two others damaged, the city said. Several other smaller fires have been reported and firefighting efforts have been complicated by broken water mains. The earthquake struck just before 3:30 a.m. about 4 miles northwest of American Canyon, which is about 6 miles southwest of Napa, said Leslie Gordon of the U.S. Geological Survey said. It's the largest earthquake to shake the Bay Area since the 6.9-magnitude Loma Prieta quake in 1989, the USGS said.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Extremists not true muslims'

he top Islamic authority in Egypt, revered by many Muslims worldwide, launched an Internet-based campaign yesterday challenging an extremist group in Syria and Iraq by saying it should not be called an "Islamic State." The campaign by the Dar el-Ifta, the top authority that advises Muslims on spiritual and life issues, adds to the war of words by Muslim leaders across the world targeting the Islamic State group, which controls wide swaths of Iraq and Syria. Its violent attacks, including mass shootings, destroying Shiite shrines, targeting minorities and beheadings including American journalist James Foley, have shocked Muslims and non-Muslims alike. The Grand Mufti of Egypt, Shawki Allam, previously

said the extremists violate all Islamic principles and laws and described the group as a danger to Islam as a whole. Now, the Dar el-Ifta authority he oversees will suggest foreign media drop using "Islamic State" in favor of the "al-Qaida Separatists in Iraq and Syria," or the acronym "QSIS," said Ibrahim Negm, an adviser to the mufti. This is part of a campaign that "primarily aims to correct the image of Islam that has been tarnished in the West because of these criminal acts, and to exonerate humanity from such crimes that defy natural instincts and spreads hate between people," Negm was quoted as saying by Egypt's state news agency MENA. "We also want to reaffirm that all Muslims are against these practices which violate the principles of Islam."

Armed pro-Russian separatists escort a column of Ukrainian prisoners of war as they walk across the centre of Donetsk.

War planes attack Tripoli again

nidentified war planes attacked targets in Libya's capital Tripoli yesterday, residents said, hours after forces from the city of Misrata said they had seized the main airport. Tripoli residents heard jets followed by explosions at dawn but no more details were immediately available. In recent weeks Libya has seen the worst fighting since the NATO-backed campaign to oust Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Renegade general Khalifa Haftar has declared war on Islamist-leaning forces, part of growing anarchy in the oil producer. His forces claimed responsibility for air raids on Tripoli, Saturday and last Monday, targeting a group called Operation Dawn. But this group, consisting mainly of fighters from Misrata, said on Saturday that it had captured Tripoli's main airport from a rival faction from Zintan in western Libya. In the campaign to overthrow Gaddafi, fighters from Zintan and Misrata were comrades-in-arms.

But they later fell out this year and have turned parts of Tripoli into a battlefield. Libya's neighbours and Western powers worry Libya will turn into a failed state as the weak government is unable to control armed factions. Libya faces the prospect of two competing parliaments, after the claimed Misrata victory at Tripoli airport which Reuters could not immediately confirm. In a challenge to the parliament elected on June 25, a spokesman for Operation Dawn called for the old General National Congress (GNC) to be reinstated. Misrata forces have rejected the new House of Representatives, where liberals and lawmakers campaigning for a federalist system have made a strong showing. In a sign of deep divisions between Libya's regions and political factions the House of Representative declared the Operation Dawn as well as militant Islamists like the Ansar al-Sharia as "terrorist groups". The House of Representa-

tives, which has fled to Tobruk in the east with senior officials to escape fighting, asked renegade general Haftar to fight the Operation Dawn forces. Haftar launched a campaign against Islamists in the eastern city of Benghazi in May and threw his weight behind the Zintan fighters. His air defense commander, Sager al-Jouroushi, told Reuters on Saturday that his forces were responsible for the air strikes Saturday and a similar attack Monday. Misrata forces have blamed the air strikes on Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, two countries which have cracked down on Islamists. Libya's government says it does not know who is behind the attacks. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi denied his country had conducted any air strikes or other military operation in Libya, state news agency MENA quoted him as saying. Western and NATO officials have also denied any involvement.

Powerlifting coach demands contract Ajibade Olusesan

ational coach of the Nigerian powerlifting team, Aare Feyisetan, is unhappy that he is yet to be offered a contract as the handler of the team. Feyisetan led the team to World Para Powerlifting Championship last April and his side emerged the overall

winner of the tournament. The Paralympics silver medallist what also led the team to success at the just concluded Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. They cleared all the four gold medals available and still won two silver and two bronze medals to become the overall winners in powerlifting event of the

SPORT

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

games. Feyisetan said he had worked hard to achieve results despite the fact that there was no contract. “When I was going to Glasgow, I promised that we were going to win everything there and you can see what we have achieved. I expect government to do the right thing. It is funny that a

coach will be working without a contract and will still achieve so much. Let them do something about that, let them give us contracts, let them do the right thing,” he said. The coach said that the special athletes deserved support from government as that was the only way they can bring more glory to the country.

Did you know? NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/sports

ADEKUNLE SALAMI, DepUTY Editor, SPORTS kunle.salami@newtelegraphonline.com adekunles@yahoo.com

MONday, August 25, 2014

Alex Song picked up Cameroon’s eighth red card in their World Cup history. His relative Rigobert Song is one of only two players (along with Zinedine Zidane) to be sent off twice at World Cups, meaning the Song family is responsible for three of Cameroon’s eight reds.

Keshi cannot arm-twist us – Garba Lawal Lawal

Charles Ogundiya

ormer Super Eagles midfielder, Garba Lawal, has described the latest threat by Coach Stephen Keshi to end his deal with the national team, as another way of armtwisting the Nigeria Football Federation. Lawal says Keshi’s demand is outrageous and he can go to any other country if he believes he is good enough. Speaking with New Telegraph, La-

wal, popularly called ‘Chindo’ in his playing days believes Keshi should have waited for the new board members to be voted in before threatening the country adding that the demands of the coach were outrageous. “Asking for N15m monthly to me is outrageous. It was difficult to pay him the N5m the last time, how easy would it be now that he is asking for N15m?” Lawal asked. The former Roda FC of Netherland star noted that Keshi should have wait-

ed till the new board members were voted in before making such demand. “What happens if this current board agrees on a new contract and the next board fails to fulfill the terms of the contract? “This is someone that was given a mandate to take the country to the semifinal of the last World Cup and failed despite the resources at his disposal. “He cannot rush Nigeria into making a promise is will become an embarrassment to the country in the future,”

Lawal said. Stephen Keshi, recently rejected the new deal by the football federation, saying NFF’s failure to improve on his first contract was an indication that he was not wanted. “If really NFF was serious, won’t to propose the same condition that I had for two and half years, and expect me to take it for another four years. That means they don’t want me, indirectly they’re telling me they don’t want me, we can understand that,” Keshi said.

Danagogo back-pedals on NFF election, as congress holds Tuesday

} p 52

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Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

Keshi: Edobor faults NFF over aborted contract talks Ifeanyi Ibeh

ormer Nigeria international, Humphrey Edobor, believes the Nigeria Football Federation will be making a ‘huge mistake’ if they fail to reach an agreement with Stephen Keshi and allow the former Super Eagles captain to continue as coach of the national team. Keshi and the NFF have been in negotiations since the end of the World

Cup in July with the former seeking an improved deal on the five million naira monthly salary he previously earned. But Edobor, a former national team star, who won two AFCON silver medals in 1984 and 1988, has called on the NFF to do all they can to get Keshi back on the negotiation table. “They must not make the huge mistake of letting Keshi go. That will be a step in the wrong

direction,” said the former national team winger in an interview with New Telegraph. “It has been almost two months (since the end of the World Cup) and nothing is happening. “Keshi has done a good job and he deserves to be given a better contract, so why are they wasting time,” queried Edobor. “Maybe they feel a caretaker coach can get us results against DR Congo and South Africa,

but even if they do get a caretaker coach, or even a new one before those matches, they must by now know that there are no more easy games. “We don’t pray for it, but with the way things are currently DR Congo can come to Nigeria and shock us. After all, Kenya almost did it,” stressed Edobor, referring to the Super Eagles’ fortuitous 1-1 draw against the Harambee Stars last year in Calabar, in a World Cup qualifier.

Supporters Club office NTTF training camp excites remains shut junior tennis players Vincent Eboigbe

Charles Ogundiya

he offices of the Nigeria Supporters Club, which were shut nearly four weeks ago, following clashes between the two factions in the club, don’t look likely to be re-opened any time soon. The warring factions, apparently, are yet to beat their swords into ploughshares, hence the clubhouse remains under lock and key. A visit by our correspondent to the club’s offices over the weekend revealed desolateness in the hitherto bubbly complex. A young man who lives in the other part of the house where the club’s offices are located told New Telegraph that the place has been like that for one month now. “The members of the club have been coming here but they just hang around the gate. The place has been locked for about one month after members of the club were engaged in serious fighting, I think over elections,” said the neighbour who hesitated when asked his name. However, an official of the club, who preferred not to be named, hinted that high-level meetings have been taking place in the past weeks to get the place re-opened. “Reconciliation meetings have been going on and the place is likely to be re-opened this week. We have another meeting on Monday (today), where hopefully a decision regarding the date to do this will be taken,” said the source. “Both factions have called a series of meetings and the outcome has been very positive. Rest assured that we will re-open the place very soon.”

layers taking part at the ongoing maiden Nigeria Table Tennis Federation elite junior and cadet training camp continue to praise the organisers even as the program enters itsfinal week. The two-week camping exercise was initiated by one of Africa’s most decorated table tennis players, Segun Toriola with assistance from national coaches, Nosiru Bello and Friday Aba. According to some of the 18 players drawn from Lagos, Ogun, Kogi, Kwara, Ondo,

Ekiti and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja who are between the ages of seven and 16, the exercise has made impact in their lives. Tosin Oribamishe, one of the most travelled junior player and the current national junior champion said,“We have never had this kind of camping before and I want to appeal to the federation not to make it a one-off event especially with the presence of Toriola, who has played to the highest level in the world. “This exercise should be sustained especially for the young players”.

Danagogo backpedals on NFF elections Ajibade Olusesan

ederal Government, on Sunday, accepted Nigeria Football Federation decision to hold the August 26 Congress without the elections into the Executive Committee of the football body. Minister of Sports, Tamuno Danagogo, had kicked against the decision of the NFF to go hold the Generalm Assembly without holding the elections. But after a five-hour meeting between the Secretary of the Federal Government, Anyim Pius Anyim, Danagogo

and other football stakeholders it was agreed that the Congress should go ahead without the elections but venue was shifted from Warri to Abuja. Our correspondent also learnt that stakeholders agreed in the meeting that the General Assembly should reconstitute the electoral committee and fix a new date for the exercise. It also agreed that purchase of form should commence afresh and all aspirants should be given a level playing ground. NFF spokesperson, Demola Olajire confirmed the development.

Record entries for Akpabio Cup

Oribamishe

GNPN plans national U-19 football competition

he Global Network for Peace in Nigeria, a grassroots mobilisation NGO, has finalised plans to stage an under-19 football championship tagged GNPN NATIONAL U-19 CUP, across the 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT. The event is planned to be used as a means of mobilizing the sports loving youths of Nigeria to embrace and preach

Nigeria’s Joseph Yobo challenging Iran’s Ashkan Dejagah

peace across the nation. GNPN`S National Director of Project, who also doubles as the Chairman Organising Committee (LOC) Raymond Darlington, said that sports, football in particular, has a special way of bringing people from different religions, tribes and culture together. He added that as complex as Nigeria is, with uncountable tribes and dialects, the language

of football is understood by everyone irrespective of tribe and religion and this is going to be one of the ways the organisation will contribute to the peaceful coexistence of Nigerians so as to allow President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan continue with the transformation agenda and the fresh air being experienced in most parts of the country since coming into office in 2011.

Also speaking, the Public Relations Officer of the Organisation, Aburime RC Pollard, said, “Enough mobilization has been made to make sure we have a successful game and everyone is enthusiastic about it.” He said the game begins at the end of September, 2014, after the official inauguration of the organisation at the International Conference Centre, Abuja on August 18th.

ore than eighty teams and clubs across Nigeria are expected to compete for honours when the Akpabio Cup competition for Under 18 boys kicks off on September 12. According to the Tournament Director, John Ekpenyoug, “It is a thing of joy to see youths develop interest in a competition that has over the years given them the desired lift, but I must confess that the number of entries we have received so far is overwhelming. We thought last year’s

edition was big but we have been proved wrong. He added that: “We have put in place maprocesses to disqualify players that are over the age limit and no compromise would be entertained. So I want to enjoin team delegations to do their homework by selecting players that are not above the age limit to avoid disqualification.” Similarly, the LOC Chairman, Uko Akpabio has enjoined Akwa Ibom state football fans to support the teams at different match venues.

SPORT | EURO FOOTBALL

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

Man City, Liverpool clash as Balotelli waits in the wings

rendan Rodgers will play his current attacking hand as Mario Balotelli looms large over Liverpool’s Premier League trip to Manchester City. Enigmatic former City striker Balotelli arrived at Liverpool’s Melwood training ground on Friday in the hope of concluding a transfer from Milan, widely reported to be worth £16million. The Italy international is likely to dominate much of the prematch narrative, with Liverpool playing a club where he remains something of a cult hero despite a combustible two-and-a-half year stay in Manchester. Liverpool were unable to conclude a deal by midday on Friday, meaning their prospective new

signing cannot feature in Monday’s game and the front three of Philippe Coutinho, Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge deployed last weekend against Southampton are set to start once more as the Etihad Stadium provides the backdrop for an early reprise of last season’s gripping title battle. England duo Sterling and Sturridge were both on target in a 2-1 opening win at Anfield and manager Rodgers - who will be without Adam Lallana, Jon Flanagan and Daniel Agger (all knee) - is hopeful of an open contest that will allow such talents to shine. “If you look at both sets of players, there’s lots of invention and creativity - both teams will be creative and want

Mourinho warns ‘lazy’ Chelsea stars

ose Mourinho has warned his players not to become complacent after watching Chelsea pick up their second Premier League victory of the season. The Blues beat Leicester City 2-0 at Stamford Bridge with goals from Diego Costa and Eden Hazard enough for victory. The win follows on from Monday night’s 3-1 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor but Mourinho is not completely happy with his team despite their perfect start to the season. “The team was lazy in the first half and I didn’t like it, but in the second half we improved. The most important thing is we won,” he told reporters. “This weather pushes players to be a bit lazy,

lose a bit of tension and sharpness in their body. When that happens you pass slow, you move slow and you don’t react to the ball. At half-time we had to be a bit emotional with them and make them realise. “I told them ‘If you have the same feeling and vision that I have, we are not in trouble, because we can change. If you don’t agree we are in trouble, because if we don’t change we won’t win this game’. They understood, they had the same feeling and the second half from minute one was immediately different. “I told them the way we were playing was not good enough to win the game and we were at risk. Basic things but important things.”

Di Maria agrees to United deal

Man City’s Yaya Toure chasing Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge

to score goals,” he said. “We know we need to be compact and solid when we haven’t got the ball, we need to be aggressive and press well. That’s the nature of our game.

“We know we have the freedom, movement and pace that can hurt teams. We understand it’s early on, but it’ll be a good game for sure. It’s been a great start to the league campaign.”

anchester United and Real Madrid have finally agreed a fee for Angel Di Maria’s pending move to Old Trafford, sources in Spain have told ESPN FC. The English side will pay 75 million euros upfront, with up to 15 million euros of addons and incentives attached, split into three potential payments of five million euros. ESPN FC was informed by the Spanish sources that, with the way the deal would be structured, United will most likely end up paying 80 million euros for the 26-year-old. It remains to be seen whether that figure will tally with the figures publicly released by United, given recent disputes over exact money paid in deals between English clubs and the Spanish giants, most notably those for Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale.

Wenger unconcerned by slow Alexis start

rsene Wenger insists he has no worries over Alexis Sanchez’s stuttering start to life at Arsenal, and expects the Chile star to come good. Alexis completed a £35million move to the Emirates Stadium from Barcelona in July and has started all three of their competitive games so far this season. However, the Chile star has failed to find the net yet and substituted at half-time on Saturday with Arsenal

2-0 down to Everton after disappointing in a central role. When quizzed on Alexis’ form, Wenger explained: “At the moment he is not completely ready physically, but I do not worry for him. “He knows that he’s not at his best physically but once he’s at his best physically, the confidence will come back, it’s all linked together. “It’s always difficult to know why the confidence is not at the best, I believe it is mainly physical.”

Di Maria

Klopp: Blame me for Dortmund loss

B Klopp

orussia Dortmund coach Jürgen Klopp believes a period of introspection is necessary after his side’s 2-0 home defeat to Bayer 04 Leverkusen in their opening match of the season. “We have plenty to work on,” said the BVB tactician, whose

side fell behind just nine seconds after kick-off as Karim Bellarabi netted the fastest goal in Bundesliga history. “When you start a match like that, it really hurts.” As disappointing as going behind early on was, Klopp was far more concerned with

Milan better without Balotelli - Inzaghi

Mourinho

ippo Inzaghi said Milan will “gain in team spirit and hunger” with Mario Balotelli’s move to Liverpool. The coach spoke to reporters at the Forte dei Marmi beach resort. “When a player leaves, it means all the parties involved took this decision. We are

certainly losing a great player, but we gain something more in team spirit and hunger. “I wish Balo all the best at Liverpool.” The search is on for a replacement with Jackson Martinez, Mattia Destro, Leandro Damiao, Fernando Torres and Alvaro Negredo mentioned.

“The directors know what I want on the market. I have to train the players at my disposal and we have a squad up to the task. If someone else arrives then even better, but otherwise we’re fine as we are.” Inzaghi hinted the key to a post-Balotelli system would be using a ‘False 9.’

Balotelli

the reasons why it happened. “We simply weren’t there, we didn’t turn up,” he said. “We’ll have to take it on the chin, or at least I will. Making sure the team is awake is my responsibility and their attitude and so on is also largely down to me.”

SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

There was a Glass House

Monday, August 25, 2014

Comfort Chukwu tells the tale of NNF’s shattered Glass House.

glass house, ostensibly, is a sign of affluence, peace, wealth etc. Nigerians are no doubt enamoured with football and rate it higher than even politics, which has offered nothing to the people compared to the joy a football fan derives from watching beautiful football by any of the National teams. It is sad however that the glasshouse which harbours the many brains that deliver this joy to over 160 million Nigerians stands shattered today due to “power tussle” and the mystery fire. While the August 20th inferno which razed a large part of the beautiful glass house of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was suddenly tagged “mystery fire” is a ruse looking at antecedents of the crisis witnessed in the past few weeks at the NFF. IN THE BEGINNING: The Nigerian contingent, who went to Brazil for the World Cup, fell apart, and the centre could not hold as a discord was created by those who felt that they were not carried along in management of the “funds” not the welfare of the players. There was a report of pressure on the NFF president, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, which led to impeachment threats. Events in Brazil also led to a fall-out, between the Sport Minister Dr. Tamuno Danagogo and some members of the board. Of course the minister was warned to “watch his back” and that his predecessors who carried on like him were removed, he would not be difficult to eliminate from the football business. The post World Cup impeachment ritual of presidents of the federation, which four years ago saw Sani Lulu out of office and Maigari a direct beneficiary again came knocking. Maigari returned from world cup to meet his waterloo, in what seem like paying him back in his own coin, there was a grand plan to remove him from office on arrival, he was whisked away by security operatives on arrival at the airport. On the eve of his return, a Jos high court had barred board members from functioning and ordered a senior staff of the NFF to take over the sectariat, hence out went Musa Adamu the General Secretary and Lawrence Katken emerged as acting sectary general of the NFF. The whole debacle attracted FIFA, the world football governing body attention and a ban was placed on Nigeria from participating in football activities. Nigeria quickly did the needful, and Mrs. Rumsom Baribote who instituted the court case was made to withdraw the suit, and FIFA suspension was lifted early enough for the falconets, who have soared even higher than expectation of many during the U-20 women World Cup, to participate.

AND THE WAR BEGAN: Of course it was not yet Uhuru, but a case of one leaping from a hurdle to a bigger hurdle. In the first office board meeting after his reinstatement. Magari was impeached, July 24th, by a simple majority of the board, and a congress in line with the demand of the NFF statute conveyed for July 31st to ratify the impeachment was subsequently postponed on July 29. But a group of the 26 state FA Chairmen met in Abuja, pledging allegiance to Maigari apparently nullifying and annulling the impeachment. This was however termed illegal by the board now under the leadership of the acting president Chief Mike Umeh. The battle got fiercer as the faction of the board who were giving their allegiance to Maigari maintained that the impeachment did not exhaust the impeachment procedure as contained in the statue of the NFF. Subsequent correspondent between NFF sort clarification vis-a-vis the Maigari’s removal for instant FIFA request for agenda of the meeting were Maigari was removed, saddled the progress made. But it was obvious, that Nigeria was sitting on a gun powder. THE ELECTORAL PROCESS: The Amoni Biambo led electoral committee tasked with conducting and ensuring a smooth transition from the current NFF to the next didn’t help matters as many stakeholders and intending contestants for the electoral congress slated for 26th of August were denied forms. Some who had forms claimed there was no one on ground to receive the forms. In this chaotic situation, the date for collection and submission of forms elapsed. This event caused a more chaotic situation at the glass house, to the extent that Jaret Tenebe was close to fighing with a lawyer attached to NFF over his inability to access forms. Not a few eyebrows were raised when the electoral board finally released a list of cleared candidates for the election. The likes of Mike Umeh, Segun Odegbami, and Taiwo Ogunjobi were not cleared while Chris Giwa was cleared as a sole candidate for the presidency. At that point all the rumours that the electoral committee may have come to some point of compromise were justified as they could only produce an unopposed candidate. The Mike Umeh faction did lead their displeasure to the sport minister, Dr. Tamuno Danagogo, who had before then rumoured to be the brain behind the excesses of the electoral committee, in a swift move; Dangogo turned “Pontius Pilate” because he needed to wash his hands off the entire mess. He

Aminu Maigari

Mike Umeh

Anyim Pius Anyim

Dr. Tamuno Danagogo

summoned a press conference where he urged the NFF to do the needful and ensure credible election in August 26th, hours later the NFF board announced the dissolution of the electoral committee pending when they get ratification. Things indeed started happing fast; call it “one day, one trouble”.

work on Monday. The Monday ushered in heated tension at the glass house, where two presidents occupied one office. Umeh, the acting president arrived at 7.45 and made his way to the office, while Maigari arrived at 11.25, with security men to clog up possible aggression from anyone. At this point, power did not change hands, but they twisted. Both men welcomed each other, sat in the same office, but intervention from some stakeholders did keep Umeh on the fence that day. The next day, Tuesday Umeh appeared from the blues and informed journalists that Maigari “is on his own” for returning where he is not wanted. The president however ignored the ranting and precided over the board meeting of the day. It was indeed a divided house, some members of the board who signed to the impeachment at this point turned to the side of the president again. The politics at the glass house got thicker and hotter, when Umeh dashed out of the glass house, walking out of the meeting the president was presiding over. Wednesday, the darkest day of the glass house, the intense heat of the crisis in the house turned to physical inferno. This story will not say whose oil spilled until the investigation is completed, but the beauty and happiness attached to a glass house has been gutted by fire. Who knows what 26th holds for NFF, whether the congress will still hold in Warri, or the election in Abuja, Tuesday will tell.

ONE DAY ONE TROUBLE: The next day came the news that Maigari had resigned his position, a statement he vehemently denied even as the board members insisted that he resigned his position but Amedu, the General Secretary denied being in possession of such letter, one didn’t know who to believe at this point. It is also note worthy that three days earlier, there was a meeting between the NFF board members, the secretary to the government of the federation (Anyim Pius Anyim) with the aim of ending the crisis and reinstating Maigari, so the purported Maigari resignation came as a surprise to everyone and yet came the mother of all confusion, the FIFA letter, on Thursday 14th of August, ordering the reinstatement of the impeached president. In football circle, a letter from FIFA is incontrovertible, but did FIFA really write those letters?. THE REINSTATEMENT: The next day, Friday the minister summoned a press conference where he presented Aminu Maigari as the president, and was expected to resume

SPORT 55

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, August 25, 2014

Osaze, Musa, others fire blank

• As Ideye makes Baggies debut Ajibade Olusesan

ey Super Eagles players are yet to hit top form as new season takes shape in Europe with a number of them firing blank for their clubs at the weekend. Osaze Odemwingie was reinstalled to Stoke City’s starting line up but he fired blank in their 1-1 draw at Hull City. His compatriot, Victor Moses, was not even listed by Coach Mark Hughes just as Hull City manager, Steve Bruce, did not consider Sone Aluko. Brown Ideye made his much-awaited debut for West Brown but he could not help them to victory at Southampton. The club’s record signing replaced his compatriot, Victor Anichebe, in the 46th minute, although the former Dynamo

Kiev striker added urgency to the team’s attack he could not break the deadlock as the match ended in goalless draw. Mikel Obi was rooted to the bench as Chelsea labored to a 2-0 win over visiting Leceister on Saturday. La Liga returned over the weekend but Ramon Azeez was not even listed by Almeria in their 1-1 home draw with Espanyol just as Isaac Success only found a place on the bench in Granada’s 2-1 win over Deportivo. In Russia, Super Eagles striker Ahmed Musa played the full 90 minutes for CSKA Moscow in their 2-1 away loss to Rubin Kazan. He is yet to score this season and has played five times. Anthony Ujah was in action for 90 minutes in Cologne’s

US OPEN

Serena targets 18th Grand Slam

erena Williams is taking nothing for granted as she vies for a third straight US Open title, which would put her alongside two greats of the game. The 32-year-old once known for stepping up her game when it mattered most has thrice been thwarted in 2014 in her bid to join Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova

as 18-time Grand Slam singles champions. “Yeah, Australian, Wimbledon, and French also could have been 18,” she said. “Didn’t quite happen.” “I’m in some of the best shape I’ve been in,” said the world number one. “I can play long points and be ready to go again. I feel really fit — 32 is the new 22, right?”

West Brom’s Brown Ideye heads the ball wide during their 0-0 draw against Southampton

goalless draw with Hamburg but did not score while Chinedu Obasi was not even listed by Schalke in their 2-1 loss at Hannover. He is yet to return to fitness after suffering a knock during training. it was a good day at the office for goalkeeper Vincent

Enyeama after Lille beat Lorient 2-0. Chukwuma Akabueze broke the hearts of fellow Nigerians Seyi Olofinjana and Solomon Owello in Norway as he scored for Odd Ballklubb in a 4-1 thrashing of IK Start on Sunday.

S’ African squad not strong to beat Nigeria -Barttlet Emmanuel Tobi

ormer South African striker, Shaun Bartlett, has played down the chances of Bafana Bafana to beat Nigeria when they battle in the Africa Nations Cup qualifiers on September 10 in Cape Town. Bartlett who now coaches Golden Arrows, maintained that coach Shakes Mashaba’s squad which was announced on Friday lacks the depth to compete favourably with Sudan and Nigeria for the 2015 Nations Cup ticket. “Yes I saw the squad and saw the inclusions. I’m quite surprised by the changes; it’s a big step and huge risk obviously

for the coach. I think considering the fact that it’s not just any game but qualifiers, so it’s a big risk in that sense to feature such team against Sudan and Nigeria,” Bartlett said. “It’s great to see young players coming into the team but the coach must do it gradually. Like I said, as much we’re building into the future, we must not lose sight of the Afcon tournament which we must qualify for,” he added. Bafana will kick off their Africa Nations Cup qualifying campaign on September 6 with a tough encounter away to Sudan before hosting Nigeria in Cape Town on September 10.

Cameroon footballer dies in Algeria

Serena

Djokovic: I’m focused on competing

orld number one, Novak Djokovic has said fatherhood will not change his focus on US Open. The 27-year-old Serb tied the knot with his childhood sweetheart Jelena Ristic four days after winning the Wimbledon trophy last month and with fatherhood looming he knows his life

will be forever changed. “Without doubt, life changes. You know, priorities change,” Djokovic told reporters over the weekend ahead of Monday’s start of the US Open, the last grand slam of the season. “My priorities, my family, my wife, my future kid. You know, tennis is not definitely not number one anymore.”

he football world was thrown into mourning over the weekend when a Cameroonian football player, Albert Ebosse, died after being hit by an object thrown by spectators following a game in Algeria. The incident happened after Ebosse had scored in his team, JS Kabylie’s 2-1 home defeat to USM Alger on Saturday. The 24-year-old was taken to hospital in Tizi Ouzou, east of the capital Algiers, after fans started throwing objects – alleged to be rocks – at the players as they returned to the changing rooms following the game. Ebosse was pronounced dead with a head injury shortly afterwards with

the Algerian interior ministry confirming that an investigation will be launched into the incident. The player’s club confirmed the loss while opponents USM Alger published a press release on Saturday in which they said they were saddened to hear of the 24-yearold’s death and described the tragic incident as a “bombshell”. Ebosse was the leading scorer in the Algerian league last season with 17 goals to his name. Meanwhile, CAF president, Issa Hayatou, has called for appropriate sanctions against perpetrators of the act, stressing that African football cannot be a breeding ground for hooliganism or any form of violence.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE Team

Pts

1. Tottenham

2. Chelsea

3. Swansea

4. Arsenal

5. Hull City

6. Aston Villa

7. Man City

8. West Ham

9. Liverpool

10. Everton

11. West Brom

12. Sunderland

13. S’hampton

-1

14. Stoke City

-1

15. Leicester

-2

16. Newcastle

-2

17. Man Utd

-1

18. C’ Palace

-3

19. Burnley

-3

20. QPR

-5

RESULT NPL MATCH DAY 25 Gombe Utd

2-0

Crown

Kano Pillars

1-0

Abia Warriors

Sunshine

2-1

Rangers

Dolphins

0-0

Sharks

Nembe

0-0

Akwa Utd

Enyimba

3-0

FC Taraba

El-Kanemi

2-0

Bayelsa Utd

Nasarawa Utd 1-0

Heartland

Kaduna Utd

1-0

Lobi Stars

Giwa

2-0

Warri Wolves

PREMIER LEAGUE Sunderland

1 - 1 Man Utd

Hull City

1 - 1 Stoke

Tottenham

4 - 0 QPR

Aston Villa

0 - 0 Newcastle

Chelsea

2 - 0 Leicester

C’Palace

1 - 3 West Ham

S’hampton

0 - 0 West Brom

Swansea

1 - 0 Burnley

Everton

2 - 2 Arsenal LA LIGA

Malaga

1 - 0 Bilbao

Granada

2 - 1 Deportivo

Sevilla

1 - 1 Valencia

Almeria

1 - 1 Espanyol BUNDESLIGA

Paderborn

2 - 2 Mainz 05

M’gladbach

1 - 1 Stuttgart

Frankfurt

1 - 0 Freiburg

FC Cologne

0 - 0 Hamburg

Hannover 96

2 - 1 Schalke 04

Hertha Berlin

2 - 2 Bremen

Hoffenheim

2 - 0 Augsburg

B’Dortmund

0 - 2 Leverkusen LIGUE 1

Lyon

0 - 1 Lens

Saint Etienne

0 - 0 Rennes

Guingamp

0 - 1 Marseille

Bastia

1 - 0 Toulouse

Lille

2 - 0 Lorient

Montpellier

2 - 0 Metz

World Record

On Marble

A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.

– Mark Twain

Sanctity of Truth

w w w. new tel eg rap ho nl i ne. co m

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2014

N150

The first fatal aviation accident occurred in a Wright Model A aircraft at Fort Myer, Virginia, USA, on September 17, 1908, resulting in injury to the pilot, Orville Wright and death of the passenger, Signal Corps Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge.

Creativity is the new money (1)

onight like every night, Africa’s creative talent will be showcased across the continent. In Cape Town, South African opera stars Andiswa Kedama and Pauline Malefane’s voices will captivate audiences while they perform U-Carmen eKhayelitsha, a Xhosa adaptation of Bizet's famous opera. In Agadez, internationally acclaimed guitarist and songwriter Bombino, dubbed the next Jimi Hendrix, will mesmerize an audience with his music and lyrics for change. In Accra, more than 30,000 people will dance the night away at a concert of Nigeria’s famous hip-hop duo, P-Square. Similar excitement will occur in Luanda as Big Nelo and C4 Pedro take the stage. In Dar es Saalam, 28-year old fashion designer Anisa Mpungwe, will showcase her creations – probably next week she will do the same in New York. In Kinshasa, crowds will gather to appreciate the paintings and sculptures created by award winning artist Rhode Bath-Schéba Makoumbou. Households across the continent will be glued to their television screens watching Egyptian or Nollywood movies as will Africans in the diaspora. African personalities are breaking stereotypical and geographical boundaries to make their mark. From Lupita Nyong’o, Kenyan Oscar winner; to 17 year old Congolese Rachel Mwanza, once a street child, today the first African recipient of the Berlin Film Festival Best Actress award; to multi-platinum award winning South African singer Lira; or a range of African young literary champions like Ondjaki, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie or NoViolet Bulawayo. African contemporary artists are also generating a stir. Just last year, London’s Tate Modern Gallery displayed the works of Benin’s Meschac Gaba and Sudan’s Ibrahim el-Salahi; for the first time the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale for best national pavilion went to an African country, Angola. These examples only scratch the surface of the enormity and variety of the creative talent that Africa has to offer. Africa’s informal sector breeds tens of thousands of individuals and communities making a daily living from creativity. The contribution of this sector remains unknown for lack of reliable data; but it is significant. All this talent is a key ingredient of the creative economy, a term that encompasses visual arts, crafts, cultural festivals, paintings, sculptures, photography, publishing, music, dance, film, radio, fashion, and video games to ar-

Guest Columnist

Carlos Lopes

chitecture. It is not just about providing entertainment. It also captures self-expression, innovation, and education to improve lives and build social cohesion. It is serious business, one of the most rapidly growing sectors globally. In 2012, the entertainment and media industry alone injected around $2.2 trillion in the world economy, while world’s trade in creative goods and services, generated US$624 billion in revenues. In the UK, Sweden, the Netherlands and Australia, creative industries account for about 5-8% of total income and employment , or 2 to 4% of the GDP in countries such as Argentina, China, Colombia, Malaysia, Poland, Romania Singapore and South Africa. Nigeria’s recent national accounts rebasing show that motion pictures, sound recording and music production alone, account for 1.42% of its GDP. Reaping the benefits While there is clearly no shortage of talent in the continent, Africa has been relatively poor in profiting from it. In 2010, Africa’s contribution to the world export of cultural goods was reported as marginal, amounting to less than 1%. A lot has happened since then, but the figure speaks to the need to transform these opportunities. Africa’s presence in global markets for creative goods and services has been stagnated by its limited sup-

ply capacity, lack of intellectual property knowledge, obsolete policies and regulations, as well as underinvestment in the industry, particularly infrastructure. For example, in the US there are 40,000 movie theatres; India has 20,000; China 13,000; but the whole of Africa has less than 1,000 which accounts for 1 cinema per million people. Such gaps signify an untapped potential for growth. Creativity is the new money and it is time for Africa to reap its benefits. What is in Africa’s favour? It is already recognized for its music, film, performing arts and craft; and there is demand for its creative talent. There is a need to understand how these value chains work, how art is commercialized and how the incentives are applied. Lessons can be learnt from the world’s leading creative economies, such as the USA, where the creative sector is estimated to account for at least 6 per cent of GDP; the result of an aggressive and deliberate strategy. The time is ripe for Africa now for a number of reasons. With 7 to 10 million youth looking for jobs every day, all opportunities should be seized. Africa’s creative economy can trigger a value chain between artists, entrepreneurs, distributors and support services across multiple sectors to provide modern jobs. Cape Verde, said to have the greatest number of musicians

per square kilometer, is a good example of how a country can leverage such resources to place the creative economy at the cornerstone of its development strategy. With few exportable resources, Cape Verde is enabling its cultural assets to be a significant contributor to the country’s economy. Efforts have made it easier for artists and producers of creative goods to produce locally as well as for export. For instance, a micro-credit facility referred to as a Culture Bank was created in 2012 to facilitate access to seed money for small entrepreneurs and creators across the islands. To further encourage the creative drive, networks of crafts, art, museums, venues and festivals have been set up across the islands so that everyday culture and arts are stimulating the economy .The recent Atlantic Music Expo that took place earlier this year in the capital Praia, was also a significant step that brought together a wide range of music industry professionals from across the world, connecting then to local musicians, entrepreneurs and distributors, to trigger the value chain. There is a growing class of new consumers associated with rapid urbanization and hefty incomes that have brought about a rise in domestic consumption and demand for products and services closely aligned with their lifestyle. This is propelling public spending and private investment in culture. Lagos has a larger consumer market than Mumbai and spending in the continent’s households exceeds those of India and Russia.

OMOBABA

STRIKE WILL BE SUSPENDED SOON - NMA

– Is it after EBOLA has been defeated?

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