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Wednesday, August 27, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 190

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Imported vehicles hit 154,846 in six months Bayo Akomolafe

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espite the new automotive policy of the Federal Government, which seeks to discourage the importation of vehicles, Nigeria has brought in more vehicles through

the ports in the first six months of the year than it did in the previous year.

New Telegraph investigation indicated that a total of 154,846 units of vehicles were handled at the ports in the period under review, indicating a surge

of 16.5 per cent over 132,930 units in the corresponding period of last year.

Although the breakdown of the total figure was not immediately available, it was learnt that Tin Can Port alone took delivery of 11, 563 units of both

used and new vehicles in January, 7,400 units in February and 475 units were delivered in the same port this month.

The national automotive policy seeks to ensure the survival and growth of the Nigerian automo-

tive industry using local, human and material resources.

It also seeks to, among others, discourage the importation of vehicles and encourage patronage of locally-made ones in a bid CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Ebola: FG fixes Oct 13 for school resumption

lNigeria close to stopping disease as only one case remains lWHO laments ‘heavy toll’ on health staff Apollolonia Adeyemi, Muritala Ayinla, Yekeen Nurudeen and Obinna Odoh

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he Federal Government yesterday directed schools to shift their resumption date till October 13 to enable government adequately deal with the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) epidemic.

Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, told reporters in Abuja after a meeting of the National Education Council, attended by Commissioners of Education from 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

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L-R: Governors Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Shehu Shema (Katsina), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) and National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, after a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN.

Enugu lawmakers sack deputy gov lOnyebuchi heads to court to challenge ouster Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

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he Enugu State House of Assembly yesterday impeached the state Deputy Governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, after con-

sidering the report of the seven-man panel earlier set up to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against him.

The lawmakers, at a plenary session in Enugu during which they considered

the report of the panel, which indicted Onyebuchi on all the allegations of gross misconduct levelled against him by the legislators, unanimously voted to impeach the deputy governor.

The lawmakers began proceedings at 10:21a.m. yesterday with the Speaker, Eugen Odo, reading the first item on the day’s Order Paper, which is for the adoption of the probe CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Akunyili will be difficult to forget, says Jonathan

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Wednesday, August 27, 2014

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Wednesday, August 27, 2014

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Jonathan holds crucial talks with PDP govs lTukur to defectors: Don’t derail democracy Lateef Ibrahim and Anule Emmanuel Abuja

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resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday met behind closed doors with some governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the presidential villa, Abuja.

Although no official reasons were given for the meeting, Presidency sources said it is not unconnected with developments within the party especially the rallies that have been held in the South-West and South-East organised by the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) with the purpose of urging the president to

contest in the 2015 election.

TAN within the two geo-political zones gathered over three million signatories calling on the president to contest the 2015 elections.

The source said the governors and the President may have also met to review preparations for the forthcoming governorship election in Adamawa State.

Among those who attended the meeting were Governors Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe), Ibrahim Shemma (Kastina) and Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom).

National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, and Secretary to

the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Ayim Pius Ayim also attended the meeting.

They refused to speak with journalists after the meeting.

In another development, former National Chairman of the PDP and Ambassador-at-large, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday expressed worry at the spate of instability in political parties in Nigeria, most especially with unrestrained manner of cross-carpeting by members of different parties in the country.

Tukur said the trend, which has already been making mockery of Nigeria’s politics, is capable of derailing democracy if not

checked on time.

Tukur said he personally took exception to what he described as the ongoing bastardisation of party system in Nigeria where political players switch camps at will while portraying themselves as cheap, desperate, insatiable and inordinately ambitious.

He noted that such trend was only synonymous with politics in Nigeria such that personal integrity, morals, self-confidence, consistence and trust no longer count in the considerations of political players.

Tukur made this known at his residence in Abuja, when some members of the PDP youth leaders

from the North Central, led by Engr. Yalla Ibrahim, paid him a private visit.

He said: “These days, we have politicians who had had stints with all existing parties by simple desperation to push their nebulous political ambitions. This is not good for democracy and it is totally unacceptable.

“Why would politicians not stay to help in building his party, but must be on constant drive to prostitute with available parties in the name of ambition. What kind of ambition would not make our politicians to demonstrate maturity, integrity, dignity, patience and contentment?

“We say we are building democracy and we want it to be strong. Can we do that by being just lousy and opportunistic? Can we really

build democracy by creating political platforms for personal interests and selfaggrandizement? Will democracy ever grow in Nigeria when we the players don’t allow enough time and space for the political parties to grow? I am saddened by this trend and I feel it must stop.”

Tukur also took umbrage in the application for waiver by defectees, who, he said, often considered themselves more important than members of the political parties they are decamping into.

He said it amounted to bequeathing wrong political values and ideas to upcoming generation, when a defectee from a party begin to apply for waiver, just to seek a political office and not to work for the promotion and progress of the party.

Nigeria close to stopping Ebola CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Supporters of Accord party at the defection of All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Femi Lanlehin, and others to the party in Ibadan...yesterday.

Onyebuchi heads to court to challenge ouster CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

panel’s report.

The House Leader, S.K.E Ude-Okoye, therefore moved a motion for the consideration of the report of the investigative panel, headed by Mr. Uchenna Franklyn Oraekeyi, which was submitted on Monday to the leadership of the Assembly.

In moving the motion, Ude-Okoye said: “Whereas the panel of investigation came to the conclusion that the ‘allegations of gross misconduct levelled against the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, by the Enugu State House of Assembly have been proved’, that the House having carefully considered the report on investigation of the allegations do adopt it

and it is hereby adopted.

Be it moved and is hereby moved.”

Chairman, House Committee on Information, John Kevin Ukuta, seconded the motion. Odo called for a voice vote on whether the report of the panel should be adopted or rejected and all the lawmakers voted for its adoption.

Answering questions from journalists after the plenary on whether the deputy governor could be impeached just through a voice vote adopting the report of the investigative panel without pronouncing that Onyebuchi has been impeached, Ukuta said the 1999 Constitution made it clear that adopting the report of the panel by two-thirds majority of the Assembly meant the

deputy governor had been removed from office.

According to him, the onus is now on Governor Sullivan Chime to nominate a candidate to replace Onyebuchi, which will be considered by the legislature.

But Onyebuchi in a swift reaction, told reporters in Enugu that he would be heading to the court to challenge his impeachment.

According to him, the impeachment will not stand before the court.

Also, Enugu Rescue Group (ERG) condemned the impeachment of the deputy governor by the state lawmakers.

The group, in a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Martin Okenwa, described Onyebuchi’s ouster as “a

travesty of democracy, glorification of sadism and ratification of political terrorism.”

It accused the lawmakers, in connivance with Chime, of using impeachment to settle scores with Onyebuchi.

It commended Onyebuchi for his bravery by refusing to be intimidated and called on him to challenge his impeachment in court.

It also urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Innocent Umezulike, on his role in the impeachment and also for the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to punish its members on the panel “for bringing the bar to disrepute through their kangaroo conduct and verdict.”

that all public and private primary and secondary schools nationwide should not reopen before then.

President Goodluck Jonathan had in the wake of the Ebola outbreak last month directed the indefinite postponement of resumption of schools pending when the Federal Government would have contained the disease.

Before his directive, schools which had been on holidays since July, were expected to resume on September 8 for a new academic session.

However, Shekarau’s counterpart in the Ministry of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said yesterday in Abuja that Nigeria was close to ending the Ebola saga as only one case was still outstanding.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) also lamented the toll of the EVD outbreak on health workers, saying over 240 medical personnel, including doctors and nurses, have been infected with the virus in West Africa.

The Lagos State Government in its update on the epidemic, said no fewer than 331 persons had been screened for EVD, adding that out of the five deaths recorded in the outbreak of the endemic in the state, three bodies were cremated while two corpses were properly buried in line with global best practice.

Shedding more light on the new date for school resumption, Shekarau said the new date became imperative to allow the Federal Government take

adequate preventive measures against the spread of EVD before pupils return to schools.

Shekarau said the meeting was called to address the Ebola contagion.

“We intend to address the apprehension associated with it, the community, the parents and all of us in the education industry.

“It is for us to be wellguided and to be well-informed, the ministry decided to invite the people in charge; that is, the Federal Ministry of Health to address us, tell us what Ebola is all about, what measures we need to take not only at our personal level but in particular as it concerns innocent children that are placed under our care.

“This is the most important primary responsibility. The well-being of the children that are placed in trust under our hands.

“We have the moral responsibility to ensure that before we call in these children, we put in place measures that will assure parents of their safety and will allay the fears of their parents,” he stated.

The minister had summoned the commissioners to Abuja to brainstorm on the modalities to be adopted in preventing the spread of EVD to schools on resumption.

However, before the minister and the commissioners and other stakeholders went into a closed-door technical session, Director, Port Health Services of the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Akunyili will be difficult to forget, says Jonathan lHusband: Doctors gave her seven months to live lKukah: She left a legacy for all Anule Emmanuel

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resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday described the late Minister of Information, Prof. Dora Akunyili, as one person that would hardly be forgotten both in Nigeria and around the globe.

The president explained that Akunyili’s sterling achievements especially as Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) stood her out among many.

President Jonathan stated this at a requiem mass held in honour of the former minister at the Pro Cathedral Area 3, Garki, Abuja.

Speaking at the event, President Jonathan said he would have been extremely sad if he had missed the requiem mass as a result of his private visit to Germany.

“This is our last assignment in honour of our sister,” he noted.

The president, who recalled his first encounter with the deceased as a deputy governor of Bayelsa State, said “ Akunyili went into NAFDAC and changed the story of the agency and now everybody

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST ABUJA

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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

Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi (left) consoling the widower, Dr. Chike Akunyili, during a service of song for the former Minister of Information, Prof. Dora Akunyili, in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

knows about NAFDAC.” He said though she has held several positions including Minister of Information and Communication under Umaru Yar’Adua administration but her days at NAFDAC was the most renowned because of her service to the nation.

The president, therefore, urged Nigerians to emulate Akunyili whom he described as diligent, intelligent, extremely patriotic, extremely brave.

“Dora was a professor of medicine, at the public level she served in Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), NAFDAC and then minister. Dora was more known as DG NAFDAC more than when she served as a minister. Most Nigerians knew Dora because of her service. So, most of the offices we look for, anybody who has opportunity to serve we should all serve because what will endear you to people is not necessarily the office you hold but the service you render.

“As a minister, Dora was good. We were very happy to work with her. She was diligent, intelligent, very forthright, extremely patriotic and above all she was extremely brave and could say anything right or wrong and did not care whose ox is gored. That was Dora for you.

“She sought to protect the lives of Nigerians as DG of NAFDAC and never compromised as regards those who traffic fake drugs.

“One thing that endeared her to me is that, probably I’m one president that has worked with so many women. At times you noticed rivalry amongst

women but with her you never noticed any rivalry.

“Today, our dear sister has left us but to my brother, her husband, as the Bishop has told us about the virtues of a good wife, you have to thank God you will get that respect as her husband because of her achievements.”

“Let me thank the Akunyili family, the people of Anambra State, of course the people of Nigeria and the Nigerian women for which Dora was a role model, her dressing represented the Nigerian woman, her love, character, she is a lady that will hardly leave our memory. She is one of the few Nigerians that has made the whole country proud. I condole you all and may her soul rest in peace,” the president said.

In his remark, husband to the late NAFDAC boss, Dr. Chike Akunyili, on behalf of her family, recalled how Dora who was an American citizen as a result of winning American lottery choose to drop her green card at the immigration post in the US when she was asked to choose between being a US citizen or a Nigerian, when she handed her diplomatic passport to be cleared. He noted that she demonstrated her true love for her country both in words and deeds.

Dr. Akunyili described his wife as an elephant and thanked the President and his wife, Patience, for the comfort they offered him in his moment of grief.

“When Dora died I saw the special Federal Executive Council (FEC) session in her honour. That helped me in my grief. When I also had the opportunity to meet the President in

his office, he held my hands and comforted with kind words, saying “give me any date for Dora, I will be there and today he is here.”

“Dorathy is an elephant and if I start talking about her we will not leave here.

We went to Florida, and there at the immigration, they told her look you are an American citizen (because she won the lottery and that was what favoured us). And here you are you have a Nigerian diplomatic passport, you must surrender one. She used her left hand to drop her green card and retained her diplomatic passport. So, you can see the level of her love for this country.

“Once in her local government, they brought a trailer load of fertilisers, what did Dorathy do? She shared all to the community. They told her that this was not how it is done and she said, this is how it will be done.

“Even as a professor if you see her in the home, she will hold water for me to wash my hand. And I will tell her, mummy you are a professor and she will say, I married Nkem before I became a professor.

“One day, we went for medical check-up and we found a lump at her lower abdomen. Doctors said she had seven months. But she said are you not the husband I married, you are always dejected what happened? And I told her that the doctors said she had seven months to live.

She said doctors have spoken, God has not spoken.

Seven months became two years and three months,” he added.

In his homily at the requiem mass, the Bishop

of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Hassan Matthew Kukah, eulogised the virtues of Dora.

“The reason why Nigerians mourn Dora, is not because of the contracts she gave but she had the ability to see the future.

Your encounter with her was not ordinary. In politics, public life, family, she demonstrated indeed that power was not everything and that power comes from God.” “But to some of us, when we pray that the will of God be done we are simply saying your will correspond to ours on earth. That is why we have a lot of violence in politics. She demonstrated to us that public life can be an opportunity to be noble.

“When we surrender our lives to God, He has a way of turning it around to something we never can imagine.

“She left a legacy for her family and children will be proud of. We will go to heaven not because of the extraordinary things we do in life but the simple things we do extraordinarily. She did ordinary things in extraordinary manner.

“When we live with good people, we tend to take so many things for granted.”

The First Reading was taken by one of her daughters while one of her sons took the Second Reading.

Also present at the event were former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, members of National Assembly, members of the FEC, Chief Edwin Clark, Andy Uba, Stella Okoli, former ministers Pauline Tallen, Odien Ajumogobia, and Olusola Obada among others.

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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APC to Jonathan: Stop campaigning, address national embarrassment Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

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he All Progressives Congress (APC) has charged President Goodluck Jonathan to stop all political campaigns and address the national embarrassment the country is facing due to Boko Haram insurgency.

The party stated that the disintegration of the country and the increasing seizure of Nigerian towns by the terrorist group, Boko Haram, and the reported fleeing of 480

Nigerian soldiers to Cameroun during an attack on a military base in Gamboru-Ngala on Monday was unprecedented.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party called on President Goodluck Jonathan to urgently address Nigerians on the worsening security situation in the northern part of the country that has allowed Boko Haram to proclaim its rule over a part of the nation’s territory.

The party called on the

president to put away partisanship and rally the nation against Boko Haram, which by all indications seems to be getting bolder and stronger, to such an extent that the group is now hoisting its flag over parts of the nation’s territory.

It restated its call for an urgent national stakeholders’ conference on security that will cut across party lines to help fashion a solution to what has now become a clear and present danger to the survival of Nigeria, while pledging its unalloyed support for any

sincere effort by the Federal Government to end the insurgency as quickly as possible.

To address this present security situation, the party calls on President Jonathan to immediately halt the illegal election campaign by his ministers, other appointees and supporters, saying Nigeria must survive as a nation before any party or individual can rule over it.

It said: ‘’These campaigns, ostensibly by the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN)

but in truth being bankrolled by the Federal Government, offends national sensibilities at a time our citizens are being daily slaughtered and our troops are struggling against the terrorists who are bent on balkanizing our nation. Needless to remind Nigerians that over 200 schoolgirls remain missing more than 130 days after they were abducted. ‘’The President must put politics aside for now and lead the nation to defeat Boko Haram.’’

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Also, the party in the statement charged the military high command and its civilian leadership to quit politicking and fashion out ways for the military to live up to its constitutional responsibility of maintaining Nigeria’s territorial integrity.

APC said: ‘’The issue that should agitate the minds of Nigerians now is whether our troops are adequately equipped to battle Boko Haram and, if not, what has happened to the funds allocated for such in the past. As we said in our earlier comments on this issue, between 2010 and 2014, a total of US$14 billion was allocated for defence, security and the police. What has happened to these funds?”

‘Fleeing’ Nigerian soldiers resurface in Adamawa Ibrahim Abdul Yola

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L-R: Executive Director, Business Development, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri; Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mrs. Sola David-Borha and Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited, Mr. Olumide Oyetan, at the signing ceremony of the Stanbic IBTC Exchange Traded Fund 30 in Lagos…yesterday

2015: Lanlehin, PDP members defect to Accord in Oyo Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

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housands of political leaders and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State yesterday defected to the Accord party in Ibadan.

Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District and former Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) gubernatorial aspirant, Chief Olufemi Lanlehin, led the defectors to Accord party.

Lanlehin was elected on the platform of the APC. The former PDP and APC members were received by former Oyo State Governor and national leader of the party, Senator Rashidi Ladoja.

In his address, Ladoja, who noted that the gathering was not for campaign, said: “Our party is no longer an Ibadan party as some people said in 2011. It has transcended to all the zones of Oyo. Our party

has become a very big ‘Araba’ tree. Oke Ogun, Ibarapa, Ogbomoso and Oyo people have challenged us and so we must wax much stronger. All those who had joined the party in 2010 and those joining now have the same opportunities. Whatever position they want to contest for, they are free to do so.”

The former governor told the gathering at the Mapo Hall that up till the time of the reception, he was yet to receive his permanent voter’s card, adding that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had however assured that eligible voters in the state would be given the permanent voters card.

Ladoja said that the administration of Abiola Ajimobi of the APC did not have the quality of appreciation, reason many of the defectors decided to move over to Accord.

“Like the chairman of our party has said, by God’s grace in May 2015, Ladoja

will be elected as governor.

Four months after, we shall conduct local government election. If the APC government is confident of itself, let them go and conduct local government election and see if they will win.

“Our party is that of peace. We don’t have hooligans amongst us. We are friends of the police who will at all times protect us against hoodlums and thugs. Please go and get your cards and get qualified to vote for Accord in 2015,” he advised.

Lanlehin described Ladoja as ‘Senior Senator’ and potential Olubadan of Ibadanland, who had demonstrated immeasurable leadership qualities which made him and many others to follow him.

“Two things brought me here: One, the Accord party; and two, Senator Ladoja. I had been in another party and when we weighed the two parties with their leaders, we have seen the difference.

Our party is going to elect

those to be in the various legislative houses by 2015.

By May 29, 2015 at Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, formerly Liberty Stadium, Oke Ado, we shall all be there to celebrate our governor, Senator Rashidi Ladoja.

I will stand beside him to sing the National Anthem by the grace of God,” he said.

One of the sons of the late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Semiu AlaoArisekola, who also defected from the APC said: “It is the broom of the APC that we are going to use to sweep them away. Accord is the party to beat in Oyo State. Vote Senator Ladoja for governor in 2015.”

Deputy Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Olaniyan, called on teachers to have a rethink because it was during Ladoja administration that they really enjoyed their benefits.

Ladoja later presented the party flags to the new members in all the local governments in the state.

bout 500 soldiers who fled to Cameroun following the fierce battle with Boko Haram militants in Borno and Adamawa states yesterday resurfaced in the commercial border town of Mubi in Adamawa.

The soldiers returned in torn uniforms.

A resident, Joseph Baba, said: “We saw some of them purchasing second hand clothes at the Mubi main market and are in torn uniforms.

“Initially, we were afraid; people panicked when they sighted the troops. They arrived in the wee hours and people scampered for safety because no one knows their mission. I thought they were Boko Haram militants who disguised in military uniform, as they used to do.”

Basuma Muhammed, a resident of Gamboru-Ngala, a town neighbouring Cameroun where the clash took place on Monday, told AP that the soldiers joined hundreds of civilians who fled into Cameroon.

Cameroon army spokesman Didier Badjek, in an interview with the BBC, put the number of Nigerian soldiers who fled across the border at 480.

Nigeria’s defense headquarters said in a statement posted on the Internet Monday that the soldiers were on their way back to Nigeria after following protocol by handing over “their weapons in order to assure the friendly country that they were not on a hostile mission.”

Initially, the soldiers in the town were able to repel an attack by Boko Haram, killing many of their fighters, Muhammed said: “But hours after the attack, a

bigger number of the Boko Haram gunmen arrived from the other side of the town and engaged the soldiers who could not stand their superior force and had to join us in running into Cameroon.”

The defense headquarters statement said the Nigerian soldiers had performed a “tactical manoeuvre” when they found themselves in Cameroun.

In Maiduguri, Borno State, a junior officer said his colleagues who spoke with him from Cameroun said they ran out of ammunition and faced wellarmed Islamic fighters.

The soldiers’ desertion came barely one day after the leader of the sect, Abubakar Shekau, declared Gwoza, in Borno State as part of an Islamic Caliphate.

In a video released on Sunday, which also showed scenes of Nigerian soldiers running for safety and arms recovered from the troops, the sect leader congratulated his fighters for seizing the town of Gwoza earlier this month.

In the meantime, residents of Madagali town in Adamawa said insurgents told them to defy the 24hour curfew imposed by the state government.

Acting Governor Umar Fintiri had on Sunday imposed the curfew after Boko Haram’s fighters invaded the town.

Residents said the insurgents, who are moving freely in the town, brandishing their guns, asked them to continue with their normal businesses, without fear of attack.

“They asked us to ignore the 24-hour curfew, promising not to attack us. They (Boko Haram) told us that they are not after us now; rather, they are pursuing troops being deployed,” a resident said.

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Gunmen kill Bakassi traditional ruler in Calabar Ebola: WHO laments ‘heavy toll’ on health staff Clement James Calabar

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he traditional ruler of Efut Esighi Isu Ekom in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State, Muri Okon Effiong Odionka, has been shot dead by unknown gunmen in his residence in Calabar.

Speaking to newsmen yesterday, the late ruler’s wife, Mrs Sarah Okon Effiong, said her husband left Esighi village in Bakassi last week Thursday to Calabar, only to be “butchered” same day in his house at the Bayside axis of Calabar South by men suspected to be hired assassins.

She said: “I was in the

village that day but at about 11.30p.m., my son called and informed me on phone that my husband had been killed. The killers, who were about six, came with his photograph, traced him to his bedroom where they tied him to a cushion chair, shot at him and then butchered his head into pieces with axes.

“Before they killed him, they put a call through to someone, who probably sent them, to confirm whether my husband was actually the one they went for and the person answered in the affirmative after which they slaughtered him.”

Sarah put the blame of her husband’s death on some family members who

she said had alleged that her husband and some elders were responsible for the death, a few months ago, of one of their relatives, Mr. Benjamin Etim, through witchcraft power.

Before her husband’s death, she said one Madam Ikwo, aged 79, was already kidnapped same day and her whereabouts was still unknown, adding that those who are accusing family members of masterminding Etim’s death were using Bakassi militants to terrorise the people.

Corroborating her mother’s statement, Mr. Odionka Okon Effiong, the second son to the slain traditional ruler, said the dismembered body of his

father was deposited that night at the mortuary of the General Hospital, Calabar by the Police team from Atakpa Division who arrived the scene of the crime after the killers had escaped.

The remains of the traditional ruler has since been buried in line with the tradition of the Efut people which does not allow a dead body of departed traditional leaders to lie unburied for more than 72 hours.

In an interview with our correspondent, Cross River State Police spokesman, ASP Hogan Bassey, confirmed the death of Odionka, adding that the matter was still under investigation.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (left) and Oba of Lagos, Alhaji Rilwan Akiolu, during the governor’s meeting with Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs in Lagos…yesterday

Imported vehicles hit 154,846 in six months CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

to conserve the nation’s scarce foreign exchange and create more job opportunities for Nigerians.

As part of the efforts to achieve the objectives, the Federal Government had slammed a 35 per cent tariff on importation of cars.

Besides the car imports, the ports took delivery of 41,317,962 million metric tonnes of cargo from 2,719 ocean-going vessels in the first half of 2014.

The cargo throughput also showed an increase of 15.4 per cent over the 35,812,858 metric tonnes achieved in 2013.

The breakdown of cargo throughput obtained from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), revealed that Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) shipment stood at 10,418,248 metric tonnes, a growth of 23 per cent over 8,462,535 metric tonnes in first half of 2013.

Also, general cargo was 5,975,098 metric tonnes, indicating a rise of 1.3 per cent over 5,900,817 metric tonnes recorded in the cor-

responding period of 2013.

Dry bulk cargo was 4,841,816 metric tonnes as against 4,573,322 metric tonnes achieved in 2013, depicting a rise of 5.9 per cent.

Refined petroleum products were 10,189,177 metric tonnes, an increase of 3.6 per cent over the 2013 figure of 9,835,719 metric tonnes.

Laden container throughput was 509,946TEUs, a growth of 14 per cent over 447,388TEUs figure of 2013.

In addition, empty containers, amounted to 364,745TEUs, showing a growth of 14.2 per cent over the 2013 figure of 319,467TEUs. During the period, the total Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of the vessels that called in the first half of year was 70,659,820 metric tonnes, indicating an increase of 17.57per cent over the corresponding 2013 first half ’s GRT of 60,096,179.metric tonnes.

From the figure, Lagos Port Complex (LPC) recorded a gross registered

tonnage of 17,367,180, an increase of 7.2 per cent over 16,189,825 gross tonnes achieved in 2013.

A total of 727 vessels were handled in the period under review.

Tin can Island Port also registered a gross registered tonnage of 23,493,612, indicating an increase of 0.1 per cent over 19,666,634 gross tonnes recorded in the corresponding period of 2013.

A total number of 892-ocean going vessels were handled within the period.

Rivers Port complex witnessed a total gross registered tonnage of 3,676,757, showing 7.6 per cent growth over 3,418,309 gross tonnes achieved in the corresponding period of 2013. A total of 228-ocean going vessels were handled within the period under review.

Onne Port complex recorded a GRT of 19,769,896, reflecting an increase of 12.4 per cent over 17,586,716 gross tonnes recorded in the corresponding period of 2013 with 425 vessels

handled within the period, while Calabar Port complex registered a total GRT of 2,011,358, depicting a rise of 50.3 per cent over 1,337,475 gross tonnes of 2013.

One hundred and thirty-seven ocean-going vessels handled in the period under review.

Delta Port Complex recorded 70,659,820 gross tonnes, showing an increase of 17.6 per cent over the 2013 figure of 60,096,179 gross tonnes, with 2,719 vessels handled.

Commenting on the cargo traffic, NPA’s Assistant General Manager, Mr. Musa Iliya, said the level of operational activities at the port locations had witnessed positive variance.

He said the success recorded so far in the operations at all ports was largely traceable to the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, which had provided the enabling environment for increased participation of both foreign and local investors in the maritime sector.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

Sanni Gwarzo, who was invited to brief the meeting, gave instances through which the Ebola virus could become endemic in the society.

While making a presentation, he said the government must come up with a proactive policy statement before re-opening the schools, particularly how to protect an individual’s right when he or she is being suspected of having the disease and has to be quarantined.

He lamented the low public awareness on the dangers of the disease just as he said it would be difficult to contain the disease if schoolchildren become carriers of the virus.

Gwarzo also said the Federal Government had not banned the eating of bush meat, noting that due to the high risk of contracting the Ebola disease during preparation of the delicacy, it is advisable to temporarily stop its consumption.

Gwarzo told the gathering that Ghana has instituted a training programme for its teaching personnel to prevent the spread of the disease.

He advised the Federal Government to immediately do the same, possibly to employ more personnel to guard the entry points into school premises.

Also speaking on the epidemic, Chukwu said at a press briefing in Abuja that two Ebola patients receiving treatment in Lagos have tested negative thereby leaving only one person with the EVD in Nigeria.

According to him, one the patients discharged is a medical doctor while the second is a nurse.

Chukwu explained that Nigeria has successfully managed and able to contain the Ebola virus but has not completely eliminated the deadly virus.

He said: “Today is the 38th day since the Ebola Virus Disease was imported into Nigeria by a LiberianAmerican.

“As of today, August 26, 2014, Nigeria has had 13 cases of EVD, including the index case. Of these 13, five, including the index case unfortunately did not survive the disease and are now late.

“However, seven of the infected persons were successfully managed at the isolation ward in Lagos and have been discharged home.

“Two of the treated patients, a male doctor and a female nurse, were discharged yesterday evening (Monday) having satisfied the criteria for discharge.

“As I speak to you, Nige-

ria has only one confirmed case of EVD, a secondary contact of Mr. Patrick Sawyer’s and spouse of one of the physicians who participated in the management of the index case. She is stable but still on treatment at the isolation ward in Lagos.

“So far, all the reported cases of the EVD in Nigeria have their root in the index case, the late Mr. Patrick Sawyer. This is an indication that, thus far, Nigeria has contained the disease outbreak.”

Fielding questions from journalists on how the N1.9 billion given by the Federal Government to fight the EVD will be spent, the minister assured all that the money will be accounted for.

At another press briefing in Lagos on the contagion, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, said out of the 331 contacts screened so far, 159 contacts have been cleared and discharged on completion of their 21-day surveillance while psychosocial counselling was ongoing for the contacts as well as the families of the confirmed cases.

He called for timely report of every death and for bereaved families to obtain Ebola-Free documentation to facilitate the interstate movement of corpses.

He also said the sister of the doctor who contracted the Ebola virus that killed her while treating the late Sawyer, Dr Stella Adedavoh, had been screened and tested negative to EVD. The late Adedavoh’s sister had been rumoured to have been infected by the EVD, the Commissioner debunked the report, saying she had since been screened and discharged after she was tested negative to the Ebola Virus Diseases. .

Meanwhile, WHO has said of the over 2,600 people in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone infected since March with EVD, more than 240 of them are health care workers.

It said in a statement that the “heavy toll on health care workers” had consequences that further impeded control efforts, such as the closure of health facilities.

“Ebola has taken the lives of prominent doctors in Sierra Leone and Liberia, depriving these countries not only of experienced and dedicated medical care but also of inspiring national heroes.

“In many cases, medical staff are at risk because no protective equipment is available – not even gloves and face masks,” it stated.

7

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Finally, Ikimi resigns from APC

F

ormer Minister of Foreign Affairs, and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Tom Ikimi yesterday announced the withdrawal of his membership of the party.

Ikimi, a vice national chairman (South-South) of the party said in a statement yesterday in Abuja that he would cease to be a member of the party from

toda.

According to him, he would be consulting in the days ahead to decide his political future.

Ikimi has been at loggerheads with the party since the last national convention when he was frustrated out of his chairmanship ambition.

He said: “I am at the stage of currently critically re-examining the two dominant political parties

in our country, which are the APC and the PDP, in both of which I have had close working knowledge.

“I have not ignored the other political parties but in the light of the foregoing, I must now search to really ascertain where indeed my true political friends exist. I need to be, at this time of my life where I have friends who share a common vision with me and where my

freedom, respect, honour and dignity would be guaranteed.

“Notwithstanding my enormous contributions over the past 12 years or so to building the alternative platform, after very deep thought and the widest consultations I have made the decision to withdraw my membership from the All Progressives Congress from today, Wednesday 27th August 2014.”

Ebonyi Assembly charges EEDC on improved power supply

E

bonyi State House of Assembly yesterday compelled the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to take practical steps to improve on electricity supply and make available pre-paid meters to all consumers in the state.

Meanwhile, residents of the state have threatened that they would no longer pay electricity bills to the Company, EEDC, until the pre-paid meters are distributed to all the people in the state.

In a motion of urgent public importance, moved

by Hon. Oliver Nwachukwu representing (Abakaliki North), the lawmakers lamented that power has moved from epileptic to zero in the state in the last one month culminating in both economic and social losses to the masses.

Nwachukwu noted

"the transformation in the power sector of the Federal Government is grossly threatened by activities of the EEDC, Ebonyi State District".

After adopting the motion, the Speaker, Hon. Chukwuma Nwazunku further directed the clerk to communicate the resolution of the house to all relevant authorities for prompt actions.

Also, in a press briefing, the National President of Ebonyi Youths Assembly, Comrade Chinedu Ogah, warned that the company was given one month to distribute the meters or face legal actions.

The Youth Leader noted with dismay that the company has resorted to charging customers on estimated billing, thereby, "defrauding the people of Ebonyi state of their meager income."

Dickson lights up Bayelsa Chris Ejim

Yenagoa

I L-R: Former Edo States Governor, Chief Lucky Igbinnedion; Alhaji Abubakar Audu and former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, during a courtesy visit to IBB in Minna, Niger State…yesterday. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Enugu PDP slams former National Auditor Uwakwe Abugu

Enugu

s the news of the ouster Amade of the deputy governor the rounds in the

state yesterday, the Enugu state chapter of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) issued a statement, attacking the former national auditor of the party, Chief Ray Nnaji for claiming that he won the position of the state chairman of the party, now occupied by Chief Vita Abba, who is an ally of Governor Chime.

Nnaji who hails from the same Nkanu land as the now impeached deputy governor is believed to be fighting on the side of his kinsmen with whom he also served under the regime of former governor, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani.

Sources within the party in the state yesterday alleged that Nnaji’s poser which came on the evening of the sitting of the house to consider report of allegations against Onyebuchi was to further stall the move to oust his kinsman.

The PDP statement signed by its state publicity secretary, Dr. Okey Eze, referred to the new stance of the former national au-

ditor to the effect that he would return to court to claim his victory, saying that “Nnaji among other false and baseless issues alleged that he conceded his position as Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State in 2008 to Abba ‘on certain conditions”.

On the allegation that the current leadership of the party was a rubber stamp of the executive governor and the threat to “return to court to reopen the legal issue over the authentic Chairman of the Party in the State” in 2008, the state PDP accused Nnaji of spotting a peculiar “style of politicking and penchant for blackmail, but since he has raised some fundamental issues that could mislead the public and tarnish the image of the Party, the need to react becomes imperative.

“The Party therefore wishes to state categorically that the allegations made by the former National Auditor of the Party are false, unfounded, baseless, laughable and smacks of a grand design by those who are uncomfortable with the steady progress being made by the Party and its Government in Enugu State."

Mbanefo wants culture, tourism in school curriculum

lAlaafin extols NTDC boss on promotion of culture

Kenneth Tyohemba

Abuja

he Director General of TDevelopment the Nigeria Tourism Corpora-

tion (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Mbanefo has advocated for the inclusion of Culture and Tourism in school curriculum to enable children grasp the basics of their culture.

Mbanefo made this call during the Osun Children's Cultural Fiesta in Osogbo, Osun state, where she also launched the festival as a major component of the Annnual Osun-Osogbo Festival.

Also, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olawola Adeyimi III has lauded Mbanefo on the promotion of culture and tourism in the country.

Oba Adeyemi eulogized the NTDC boss while welcoming her to this year's World Sango Festival held in the Oba's Palace in Oyo. The royal Father commended the giant strides of Mbanefo in the culture and tourism sector, pointing out that the presence of the NTDC boss to the festival is a way of promoting domestic tourism.

The NTDC boss expressed optimism that the Children's Cultural Fiesta has come to stay as part of NTDC's promotion of culture and hinted that the Corporation is in talks with schools across the country towards incorporating culture/tourism in their curriculum.

"As one of the subjects in school curriculum, it will acquaints the children to learn Nigerian Cultures, grow with it and be proud to speak their mother tongue anywhere in the world", she stated.

She also extolled the Yoruba culture for its rich content adding that all the cultural festivals in the country will be promoted and marketed internationally in line with Federal Government's drive to turn tourism into a major revenue spinner for the country's economy.

The Fiesta which aimed to motivate children to embrace their cultures featured categories in drumming, dancing, cultural fashion parade and Yoruba spelling among others, where respective winners went home with prize of N200,000 in each category.

n its drive to industrialize the state and diversify its economy, governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State says plans are on to launch what he called, ‘Operation Light Up Bayelsa.’

Dickson, who gave the hint in an interview with newsmen in Yenagoa, noted that in realization of the significance of power to industrial growth, his administration has already awarded a number of contracts to connect the 8 local government areas with electricity.

Responding to a question on the ongoing electricity projects in Brass and Sagbama local government areas, the Governor emphasized that projects meant to enhance the standard of living of the people would not be left abandoned by his

administration.

His words: “Our policy is not to abandon any project.

No project that will make life more meaningful to our people would be abandoned.

“In Sagbama, work is going on at the sub-station.

We awarded that contract.

Already, the investment we have made is to take light to Ofoni community, because we are connecting all the areas in Bayelsa”, he said.

According to him, communities such as Ogbogoro, Akaba, Ogu, Ayama, Famgbe in Yenagoa Local government Area, communities in the axis of Kolokuma/Opokuma local government to Trofani in Sagbama local government, as well as Amassoma, Southern Ijaw local government, Ogbia local government areas are benefitting from the ongoing power projects across the state.

Cabinet shake-up looms in Gombe Ugo Willies

Gombe

atmosphere of immiAinnnent cabinet shake-up Gombe state executive

council has overwhelmed residents even as some joyfully anticipate such.

While some salute Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo’s courage to take such a decision at last, many others feel it is coming too late, over three years after he was sworn in as governor.

Some residents believe that some of the political appointees have become arrogant as a result of the sittight posture, accusing them of being unproductive.

Inquiries have also revealed that the imminent shake up may not be unconnected with the forth coming 2014 general elections which

the Governor is interested in re-contesting.

“One would have expected the Governor to have done this before now because he seems to be only working alone, neither his cabinet nor his aides are of any help to him,” said Abba Sani, a market trader.

A Government House source said members of the governor’s cabinet, his aides and principal officers in the government are now jittery and are lobbying seriously for retention.

He said the Governor’s decision is hinged on revelations from recent caucus meetings which indicate that most of his cabinet members only pay lip services while they are distant and detached from the electorates, a situation that would obviously affects his re-election bid.

8

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Ndigbo demand urgent reversal of top police postings Cultural Society Nlinedigbo of Nigeria (NCSN) in with the leadership

L–R: Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy/Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; President/Chairman of Council, The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Mrs. Debola Osibogun; Acting Registrar/CE, Mr. Seye Awojobi; first Vice-President, Dr. Segun Ajibola and second Vice-President, Dr. Uche Olowu, during the institute’s courtesy visit to the Minister in Abuja

of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-East yesterday condemned the recent posting by the new Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba.

The group said Ndigbo predominantly occupies two geo-political zones of South-East and the SouthSouth in addition to the millions residents in Lagos State and also has substantial representation in all other states of the federation, could not get a single police zonal command out

of the 12 zones in the federation, is totally unacceptable.

“Ndigbo Cultural Society of Nigeria (NCSN) demands immediate and urgent withdrawal of the postings and a new posting that should at least have four AIGs from the Igbo extractions of the South-East and South-South.

Ndigbo Cultural Society of Nigeria (NCSN) petitions President Goodluck Jonathan, and our lawmakers to ensure that this act of marginalisation of the 21st century does not see the light of the day."

Wada warns politicians against violence, intimidation ‘Why Yenagoa flyover is waiting' Muhammad Bashir

Lokoja

K

ogi State Governor, Idris Wada, has warned politicians to stop taking advantage of the state’s programmes to campaign, warning against violence and intimidation in the state.

The governor gave this warning yesterday at Igalamela/Odolu Local Government in continuation of his local government thank you tour in the state.

“I have noticed that my initiated thank you tour have been turned into a

political rally by aspirants seeking elective positions.

The local government tour is designed for me to go round and thank the people for their support to my administration.

“In as much as aspirants are allowed to come up the podium to speak, the idea of aspirants using their supporters to shout down or disrupt their opponent’s speech will not be tolerated.”

The governor, who said all aspirants contesting various elective positions in the ruling party, must be treated equally

as they must go through primary election, when a consensus candidate could not be agreed upon.

He equally warned politicians to desist from using youths as thugs, saying that anyone found involved in fomenting trouble will face the full wrath of the law; “Because it is out of place for some to lose his or her life, because of any political aspirant.

The governor, however, advised politicians to think of how to sell themselves positively before the electorate, but not true intimidation and

harassment.

Speaking earlier, Chairman of Igalamela/Odolu Local Government, Comrade Zakito Umar, commended the governor for his interest in grassroots’ development.

He, however, appealed to Governor Wada to help in the construction of Aya-Ibochi-OgajogwuAjaka road, among other feeder roads in the area.

He said the road, if constructed will ease transportation within the local government and subsequently open more opportunities to the area.

Women urge Oduah to contest for senate INEC pledges fairness in Katsina omen of Anambra W North senatorial district, comprising Anam-

bra East, Anambra West, Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Ayamelum, Oyi and Ogbaru Local Government areas yesterday inaugurated local government coordinators in support of the senatorial aspiration of the former Minister for Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah.

The women numbering over 4, 000 from the various local governments had earlier signed a com-

muniqué adopting the former minister as their preferred choice for the senatorial seat for Anambra North.

While appreciating the women’s support for Oduah, a former PDP Chairman in the state and Director-General, Stella Oduah Campaign Organisation, Chief Pandolla Okwuosa, expressed satisfaction with the overwhelming response showed by the women of Anambra North irrespective of their party affiliations.

College boosts agriculture Ugo Willies

GOMBE

T

he Federal College of Horticulture, DadinKowa, Gombe State, in collaboration with the West African Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) Abuja, and the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), is distributing 65, 000kg of certified seeds of maize and rice to about 800 farmers in three villages.

Speaking shortly after the event marking the distribution exercise, the Acting Provost of the College, Mallam Salisu Yusuf, said

the two villages to benefit from the programme are Baure and Hinna, in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government of Gombe State.

He explained that over 70 percent of the people are farmers, adding that if the certified seeds are utilised efficiently, it would yield bumper harvest and contribute to food security as well as the economic growth of the country.

According to him, the improved seeds have resistance to environmental changes in Africa and would also ensure that farmers would get higher yields if properly utilised.

Ahmed Sani Mohammed Katsina

National ElecIriandependent toral Commission of Nige(INEC) will work with all political parties to ensure credible 2015 election.

INEC Katsina electoral commission Mohammed Wara while receiving executives of All Progressive Congress (APC) Katsina chapter, said the doors of the commission will remain open for any

suggestion from the parties.

He described political parities as partners to INEC in the discharge of its duty and called for support and cooperation from the parties.

His words: “There will be no INEC without political parties. We are here to work with you and do everything possible to ensure success of 2015election.INECisworking hand in hand with all politicalpartiesandwewillensure fairness to the parties.”

Oshiomhole appoints new commissioner Adams OshiomGtheovernor hole yesterday approved appointment of Mr. Den-

nis Idahosa as Commissioner-designate in the state.

According to a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, the

swearing-in ceremony of the Commissioner-designate will be announced ‘as soon as his nomination has been confirmed by the House of Assembly.” Members of the state house are presently on recess and will reconvene after one month.

Yero assures corps members of safety Ibraheem Musa

Kaduna

K

aduna State governor, Muktar Yero, has assured corps members serving in the state of their safety ahead of the 2015 general elections.

This he said was to forestall what happened in 2011, when corps members were attacked during the post-

election violence that took place in the north, following the general elections that year.

The governor, who made this known at the closing ceremony of the Batch ‘’B’’ orientation exercise, said the measure becomes necessary because there is a high probability that this set of corps members will take part in the 2015 elections.

ayelsa State Governor, Bterday Seriake Dickson, yesadduced paucity of

funds as the reason for the delay in the commencement of construction work on the proposed second flyover at the Etegwe area of Yenagoa, the state capital.

The governor, who spoke through a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, however, said other imperatives preparatory to

the successful take-off of the project were being addressed.

According to the statement, the government has paid about N500 million as compensation to residents and property owners, whose property will be affected by the project, which the governor described as masterfully designed by construction giant, Julius Berger, to ease traffic and add to the aesthetic beauty of the city.

Girls Brigade seeks prioritisation of girl-child education Musa Pam

Jos

isturbed by the prevailDorchestrated ing security challenge by insur-

gency in the country, a group under the name ‘Girls Brigade Nigeria,’ Northern States Council, has decried the insecurity and social vices in the north, calling on the Federal Government to prioritise girl-child education in the country.

Leader, Girls Brigade, Northern States Council, Mrs. Binta Dodo, made the called yesterday during the girls’ camp and investiture

of patrons for the Zonal Girls Brigade Nigeria, held in Jos. Dodo lamented that the wave of insecurity in the north has claimed several women and children, while many have been abducted, depriving the girls opportunity to acquire education She noted that despite the prevailing security situation in the country, the church has been able to put on ground training for young girls on how to identify enemies and empower them economically and socially for the development of the state.

Igbinedion, Audu visit Babangida Tunde Oyesina

ABUJA

ormer Governors of FChief Edo and Kogi States, Lucky Igbinedion

and Prince Abubakar Audu, yesterday paid a courtesy call on the former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Banbagida (IBB), in his Minna Hilltop Mansion, Niger State.

The duo, who arrived at IBB’s house at about noon, said their visit was not po-

litical, but was to pay homage to the former leader.

The former military president welcomed the former governors after which they retired into his office to have a private meeting which lasted for about one hour.

Speaking after the meeting, Igbinedion said he was in Minna to invite the former president to his father’s 80th birthday anniversary, which comes up on September 11.

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

9

Daniel, Ogun LP chieftains under pressure to return to PDP Kunle Olayeni

the meeting became imperative following the reported move by Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, to dump the LP for PDP. As a result, Daniel was said to have met with various LP aspirants in the Gateway State on Tuesday and intimated them about the pressure being mounted on him.

At the meeting, the former governor was quoted to have told his associates that he could not reject the pressure in view of its strategic connection to the 2015 bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Daniel, who was South-West coordinator of Jonathan’s campaign in 2011, was said to have urged the aspirants to work harder and consult adequately with their supporters.

"As at now, the former governor is 85 percent in PDP. All things being equal, his defection and that of his associates will be formalised and made public soonest," a reliable source said yesterday.

The source added that the "strategic committee" being constituted by the party leadership would meet with LP chieftains in the state who left the PDP due to factional tussle.

ABEOKUTA

ormer governor of FGbenga Ogun State, Otunba Daniel, and no-

L-R: Chairman, Unity Bar, NBA, Abuja branch, U.M Yamah; Mrs. Ngozi Okogbue; Director of Administration, Nigerian Law School, Yenogoa, Mrs. F. A. Amene and General Manager, Commercial Legal, MTN Nigeria, Mrs. Oghenerume Rotimi, at the 54th Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference in Owerri, Imo State

FG launches action plan against child labour EXPLOITATION

Labour Minister tackles child labour as ILO tasks Federal Govt Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

T

he federal government has launched National Policy and National Action Plan on Child Labour to facilitate synergy and effective coordination of interventions aimed at eliminating the practice in the country.

This was as the government reiterated its commitment to eliminating child labour in all its various forms through intervention strategies that

would eliminate the need for such.

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu while speaking at the launch of the policy in Abuja yesterday noted that child labour should not be taken as a form.

He lamented that it constitutes a critical obstacle to Nigeria’s developmental efforts.

Wogu however cited some of government’s efforts at eliminating child labour to include rallies, enforcement of laws and regulations, withdrawal of child labourers, research and data generation and other empowerment activities at both local state and national levels.

He added that the government has shown commitment in addressing socio-economic factors

that encourage the use of children in all forms of labour exploitation that are dangerous to their health, moral development and deny them opportunities of formal education or skills acquisition.

The Minister remarked that Community Services, Women and Youth Empowerment Scheme has also reduced the high level of poverty in rural areas where child labour is more common, therefore becoming a critical strategy for fighting the factors that have fuelled child labour and child trafficking in the country.

The Director of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Country Office for Nigeria, Ms. Sina Chuma- Mkandawire called on government to ratify and domesticate

Osun PDP Legal Adviser dumps party for APC

T

he fold of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun state Chapter yesterday depleted as its legal adviser, Prince John Abolarinwa Abidoye crossed over to the All Progressive Party (APC).

Abidoye, as at the time of his defection on Tuesday, was the Secretary of PDP's Legal Committee, the committee saddled with the responsibilities of compiling the party's petition on the August 9 governorship election.

Abidoye hinged his

crossover to APC on the outstanding performance of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who is striving diligently to reposition Osun so as for it to be ranked among the comity of states in the nation.

He said the result of August 9 governorship election in the state was a true reflection of the peoples wishes and aspiration.

According to the new entrant, the people spoke with one voice across the state saying they wanted

continuity under Aregbesola.

He stated that Aregbesola's government is government of the people, saying there is nothing to be feared about petition as PDP has been boasting it would reclaim victory through the tribunal.

"The people of Osun truly voted for Aregbesola. Across the states, they spoke loud and clear.

They have demonstrated that they wanted continuity; they wanted development."

‘Mimiko, Ribadu's defection calls for celebration' Adesina Wahab, ADO-EKITI kiti State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe, has said the defection of prominent politicians such as Governor Olusegun Mimiko and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to the party is a confirmation that the PDP is the most democratic of all parties in the country.

Speaking in a chat in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, Og-

E

undipe said President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, should also be commended for providing a level playing field for all.

He was speaking on the defection of the former boss of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Ondo State governor from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Par-

ty (LP) to the PDP. According to him, many more opposition figures would soon join the PDP. "When we say the APC is a party run like a cult and headed by a one-man mafia, some people think we are only playing politics, but that is the true position and nature of the APC. Look at what Chief Tom Ikimi said about the APC regarding it being run by their lord in Lagos."

ILO’s Domestic Workers Convention 1011 to ensure better protection of victims from exploitation.

She listed the trade activities where hazardous child labour has been identified to include agriculture, mining and quarrying, textile (traditional tie and dye), traditional tannery, child domestic work, scavenging and recycling, commerce (hawking, street begging) construction, transport and manufacturing.

table chieftains of the Labour Party (LP) in the state are under pressure to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2015 general elections.

The pressure is reportedly being mounted by the Presidency and some top shots of the PDP in a move to reposition the party in the South West geo-political zone.

New Telegraph gathered that a "strategic committee" is expected to be set up to harmonise the contending camps and rival interests, especially in Ogun PDP, which Daniel left in 2011.

The development came on the heels of a closeddoor meeting held at the weekend at the Lagos residence of a PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) member, Chief Olabode George.

The meeting had in attendance George, Daniel, Chairman, Mobilisation and Organisation Committee of South West PDP, Prince Buruji Kashamu; and business mogul, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, among other party chieftains.

Impeccable sources told New Telegraph that

FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ZARIA P. M. B. 1041, ZARIA, KADUNA.

INVITATION FOR PRE-QUALIFICATION AND TENDER FOR THE YEAR 2013 TETFUND SPECIAL INTERVENTION PROJECT. The Federal College of Education, Zaria is desirous of undertaking a prequalification and Tender exercise for the “PROCUREMENT AND INSTALLATION OF 152 NO. IMMOVABLE FOUR SEATER (IMPORTED) CLASSROOM TABLE/CHAIRS”. Consequently, the College wishes to invite reputable contractors to submit their technical and financial bids for the project.

TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL BID REQUIREMENTS To be considered, potential Companies are required to submit all the under listed verifiable documents: 1. Evidence of Company registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and evidence of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in case of joint ventures to include names of Directors and Shareholders.

2. Tax Clearance Certificate for the last three years (20112013).

3. Current Company’s Audited Accounts for the last three years (2011-2013) duly stamped by registered Auditor.

4. Annual Turn-Over of the Company.

5. Evidence of Financial Capability and Banking support (Bank reference from reputable Bank).

6. Verifiable evidence of similar jobs successfully executed or being executed within the last five (5) years, indicating type, cost, location and evidence of award and completion certificate.

7. List of names of key personnel to be involved in the project stating their qualification, year of cognate experience and professional registration where applicable (Enclose photocopy of (Credentials).

8. Evidence of compliance with Pension Reform Act, 2004 by inclusion of clearance Certificate from National Pension Commission (PENCOM) 9. List of plants and equipment to be used for the project stating owned, leased or hired (where applicable).

10. Evidence of compliance with Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Amendment Act by inclusion of compliance Certificate from ITF. 11. Copy of VAT registration and evidence of past VAT remittances for completed projects.

12. Original Bank Statement for the past 12 months.

13. Company’s registered Address, functional contact Address, GSM phone number and e-mail address.

14. Reference letter from three previous clients of similar projects satisfactorily completed.

15. Sworn Affidavit satisfying that: a. The Documents submitted for Technical Bid must not only be genuine but correct. b. The Directors of the company seeking for Technical and financial bid had never been a trouble maker or convicted by any court of law. c. The company shall not be bankrupt. d. None of the Officials of FCE, Zaria is a former or present director of the company.

16. Original copies of the documents would be requested to be made available for sighting whenever required.

OBTAINING TENDER DOCUMENTS Tender documents can be obtained from the Estate Department upon payment of N 15, 000. 00 only nonrefundable fee for the project to the Bursary Department of the College and quote the reference number of the project on the receipt issued.

SUBMISSION OF PRE-QUALIFICATION AND TENDER DOCUMENTS The Financial and Technical documents arranged in the order listed above are to be submitted neatly bound and sealed in an envelope with the outer envelope marked “pre-qualification and Tender documents for “PROCUREMENT AND INSTALLATION OF 152 NO. IMMOVABLE FOUR SEATER (IMPORTED) CLASSROOM TABLE/CHAIRS” boldly written on the top right hand corner of the envelope) and deposited in the Tender box in the office of the Registrar, Federal College of Education, Zaria to reach him not later than 8th October 2014 at 12:00pm.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION A) Failure to comply with the above requirements will automatically result in disqualification.

B) The College reserves the right to verify the authenticity of any claim made on the Pre-qualification and Tender documents submitted by companies.

C) The College reserves the right to reject any prequalification and tender document and is neither committed nor obliged to give reason for the rejection of any of the company responding to this invitation.

OPENING OF TENDER DOCUMENTS Contractors or their representatives are hereby invited to the public opening of Technical and Financial bids documents scheduled to hold on 8th October, 2014 at 12:30pm in the College Conference Room.

PLEASE NOTE: The execution of these projects will depend on the release of fund by the appropriate funding organs. F.C.E Zaria will not be liable if there is any delay and/or failure in the release of funds for the projects.

(Signed) Danlami Saidu Head, Procurement Unit

10

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/metro

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

WedneSDAY, August 27, 2014

Germany, Falconets’ match: Car crushes man to death Chris Ejim Yenagoa

T

ragedy struck during the final match between the Falconets of Nigeria and the German female team as a car crushed a 26-year-old man to death at a popular club on Sani Abacha Road in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The incident, which occurred about 1.30am on Monday at the club known as ‘Stop Over,’ caused pandemonium as fun lovers and those watching the final match of the Under-20 Women World Cup scampered to safety.

While many witnesses could not explain how the Honda ‘Jeep’ crashed into the crowd of football fans and fun seekers inside the club, others said the driver was drunk.

It was gathered that the driver, said to be an indigene of Bayelsa State, attempted to navigate the vehicle away from where it was packed at the car wash part of the premises, drove straight into the crowd.

A customer, identified as

Biggy, who narrowly escaped death, said that the victim, who worked at a bakery, was caught unawares.

He said: “The driver must have stepped down hard on the accelerator and drove straight at us. Some people and I dived away from its path but the victim was unlucky. The vehicle crushed him and dragged him into the club. Some people dancing inside the club were injured.”

A senior manager with the club told our correspondent that the deceased was not a club member but came from a bakery across the road to watch the match between Nigeria and Germany.

He said: “We are trying to get across to the management of the bakery where he worked and his family.”

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Alex Akhigbe, said the incident was not part of the Monday’s weekly security briefing by divisional heads.

He said: “I will find out and get back to you.”

Akhigbe, however, did not call at press time.

Police intercept 248 bags of Indian hemp in Maiduguri

IG, Sulaiman Abba

Ahmed Miringa Maiduguri

P

olice have intercepted a large quantity of dried weeds suspected to be Indian helm worth over N20 million in Maiduguri, the Bor no State capital.

The police also arrested the driver of the truck carrying the weeds, identified as Kola Alade.

Parading the suspect at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) office, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Gideon Jibrin, said the arrest followed a tip off.

Jibrin said the bags of

the Indian hemp were concealed in a green Mercedes Benz lorry with registration number KWA 336 XA around Legacy Garden, Bulunkutu, Maiduguri.

He said the 248 bags of cannabis were carefully concealed in the second compartment of the lorry while the first compartment was covered with cheese balls.

According to him, Alade from Akure, Ondo State is assisting the police in their investigation.

Jibrin called on the general public, especially the criminally minded who engaged in nefarious activities to desist and turn a new leaf or face the full wrath of the law.

He added that the police were leading the other security operatives in the fight against production, circulation and the use of dangerous drugs.

Alade told jour nalists that he was a mechanic and did not know what was concealed in the truck.

He claimed the driver asked him to repair the truck and thereafter to go with him to Maiduguri.

The suspect added that the driver fled before he was arrested.

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

0802 393 8212

Herdsmen’s attack: Bodies litter Enugu forests

File picture of an armed_herdsman.

Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

B

odies of several people killed and dumped inside the bush by suspected Fulani herdsmen have been recovered in parts of Enugu State.

This was reported yesterday on the floor of the state House of Assembly.

The gunmen also allegedly raped a physically-challenged girl, identified simply as Perpetua, in Ezeagu Local Government Area.

Security sources said that the remains of the victims of the herdsmen’s attack were discovered in the forests of Agu-Abor in Udi, home council of Governor Sullivan Chime, as well as within the forests of Agu Ekwegbe and Agu Ukehe in IgboEtiti Local Government Area.

Also last week, the gunmen kidnapped the chairman of a local council development area in Udi Local Government. He was rescued on Saturday by policemen on the trail of those who kidnapped Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Ugwu of the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka.

The seriousness of the development prompted a long debate on the floor of the House.

The member representing Ezeagu state constituency, Hon. Cecilia Ezeilo, announced while contributing to a Bill for a Law to make provisions for the control of Nomadic Cattle Rearing in Enugu State sponsored by Hon. Chinedu Nwamba, representing Nsukka East that a report from her constituency showed that some Fulani herdsmen raped the physicallychallenged said to be deaf and dump.

She said that the development was

now a huge source of security concern in her constituency and across the state.

Hon. Michael Onyeze, representing Igbo-Eze North Constituency 1, said that those rescued in Agu Abor forest said bodies littered the area.

Other lawmakers, who contributed to the debate on the motion, were Hons Matthias Ekweremadu, John Kevin Ukuta, Iikechukwu Ezugwu, Nkechi Omeje-Ogbu and Paul Ogbe.

Ekweremadu said that the matter had also been a source concern to his people who had had a dose of the adverse effect of the herdsmen’s activities.

On his part, Ukuta said that the bill was tailor-made for his people in view of the untold loss of lives and property the people of Uzo-Uwani had suffered in the hands of the rampaging herdsmen.

NLC shuts flour mills over workers’ sack

Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

T

he Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has shut a company in Aba, the commercial city of Abia State, for sacking and casualisation of its workforce without justification.

The state NLC Chairman, Comrade Sylvanus Eyeh, who led the team of labour leaders to the company, Valeumbra Flour Mills, told journalists yesterday that the picketing was successful because the workers were driven out of the company and the machinery shut down.

According to him, the congress decided to picket the company because it pays less than the N18,000 minimum wage approved by the Federal Government and, to worsen the matter, it decided to sack 76 workers for joining the labour union.

Eyeh argued that the company had no reason to refuse to recall the workers after it acquired the raw materials which the management said was the reason for the sack in the first place.

He said the company would remain ny, Anthony Olekibe, was said to be locked until the management reversed outside the country but the General its anti-workers’ policies.

Manager could not be reached. EfAt the premises of the company at forts by senior staff of the company the Osisioma Industrial Layout, Aba, to persuade the GM to come to the workers were chanting labour songs company to meet the labour leaders and carrying placards with various in- failed. scriptions such as: “Organised labour Also, efforts to reach the GM for says no to casualisation,” “NUFBTE comment on the development failed and NLC Abia State say no to victimi- as he refused to either speak on phone or appear in person. sation.”

One of the workers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Valeumbra Flour Mills, Aba pays them between N7,500 and N14,400. He said the problem started when the workers decided to join the labour union which the management did not want. Consequently, 76 of them were sacked. The worker said the problem had lasted for three months.

He said that rather than recalling the workers, management decided to replace them with casual workers and over labour the few workers remaining.

At the time of the picketing, the Managing Director of the compa- NLC President, Abdulwaheed Omar

METRO

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

VIO impounds 500 commercial buses over official paint Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) has imTinhepounded a total of 500 commercial buses Kaduna State for not being painted in the

state official colours of Green-Yellow-Green.

The state VIO Director, Ali Dantsoho, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Kaduna that the vehicles were impounded within one month.

He said: “Of the commercial buses arrested, 150 are Suzuki buses which carry five passengers each and 350 are 10-seater buses.”

The director said the exercise would continue and the VIO would make sure all commercial buses complied with the state government’s directive on the approved paint before plying the roads.

Dantsoho said no commercial bus which was impounded would be discharged without being painted.

He said the need to have an approved state paint was for security reasons because the state government was concerned about the security and safety of citizens in the state.

The VIO boss also commended the state government for banning the operations of commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as “Okada,” in the state.

“This has helped to reduce accidents in the state,” he said.

Dantsoho urged motorists in the state to go and update their vehicle particulars to avert being arrested.

He urged motorcycle owners to go through the proper channels in processing their particulars to avoid falling victims of fraudsters.

Amosun, others bag Egba Diaspora awards

G

overnor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and other eminent Egba indigenes will be honoured this year by the Egba National Association Inc. USA and Canada.

The event, to be hosted by the Egba Descendants Association, Dallas, and holds on August 31 in Texas, US, is the highpoint of the fifth biennial convention of the association with the theme: “Celebrating our Heritage.”

Amosun, who bagged the prestigious “Award of Excellence” for his outstanding performance, leadership

qualities, visionary guidance and dedicated services to the people of Ogun State, will receive the award alongside Egba high chiefs – Jaguna, Chief ‘Yinka Kufile; Agba Akin, Chief Rasheed Raji, former administrator of Bauchi and Sokoto states; Asoju Oba, Chief Lamidi Sofenwa and Otunbade Aje, Chief Tunji Sunmonu.

“The event is part of the ENA three-day activities lined up to mark the fifth biennial convention of the association which comprises of Egba and Yewa indigenes

Amosun

of Ogun State, Nigeria, but live in US and Canada, and it begins on Friday, August 29, 2014,” a statement signed by the association’s National

300 women benefit from NDE’s soft loan Cajetan Mmuta BENIN Federal Government has disclosed plans grant soft loan of N10,000 each to T300he women in the three senatorial districts

of Edo State.

The gesture is part of efforts by government through the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to alleviate poverty and support women to be engaged in one form of activity or the other.

The NDE Director-General, Mallam Abubakar Mohammed, said this yesterday during the presentation of the money to 100 women in the South Senatorial District to kick start the pilot scheme in the South/ South geo-political zone.

Mohammed, who spoke through the Director, Special Public Works, Don Umoru, said the scheme was aimed at supporting the women to start small business enterprises so that they could meet their needs in their various homes.

Majority of the beneficiaries, who were chosen through the state-based Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), community associations, churches and mosques, are petty traders who are engaged in the sale of ‘pure’ water, fruits, firewood, recharge cards and others.

The DG explained that the scheme was the initiative of the NDE to ensure that the very poor in the society were taken care of to alleviate their suffering and also support their families.

He said: “We discovered that even those doing petty businesses also generate little income to support their households. We are taking 300 in Edo State, each senatorial district will get 100 beneficiaries and they are getting N10,000 each with no collateral attached.

“We felt that since we support small and medium enterprise business owners we should also extend the same to those at bottom of the ladder.”

The state NDE Coordinator, Ayo Edegbai, represented by Mrs Reginald Razu, lauded the Federal Government gesture and urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the token.

11

Mrs. Ukiri-Esho flanked by the group’s 1st Vice-President, Mrs. Olubunmi Oshiyemi (right) and Rev Apostle Mother Helen A. Odele (Adviser) at the press briefing.

C&S women empower members

T

he Cherubim and Seraphim Women’s wing of the United Aladura Churches said it was planning to empower its members to be strong financially to help their husbands.

The President of the group, Mother Captain Yetunde Ukiri-Esho, disclosed this in Lagos on Monday at a press briefing to herald its maiden World Conference and Award Presentation programme with the

theme: “Arise courageous women of C & S to build the wall of Cherubim and Seraphim.”

Ukiri-Esho said that the body had to reduce the five-day event to three days because of the Ebola scare.

She said a Health Screening Day planned for August 28 had to be cancelled owing to a directive from the Lagos State Government.

According to her, although the

Publicity Secretary, Mrs Adesola Abeke Ayoola, who is also the Social Secretary of Olumo Progressive Association, Canada Inc, explained.

church believes in divine healing, it will not succumb to sentiments when it comes to matters of health.

She said: “We believe Jesus can heal all diseases, but the Bible tells us to watch and pray. We are just being watchful.”

However, the event, Walk for Jesus will take place today as scheduled from Palm Grove to Obanikoro by 10a.m. This will be followed immediately by a seminar to be held at the association’s secretariat at Salem Evangelical Church of Christ Model Parish on 211, Ikorodu Road by noon. Guest Speaker at the seminar is Prof Toyin Oluitan from the University of Lagos.

The Olugbo of Ugboland, Ilaje, Ondo State, Oba Fredric Enitolorunda Obateru Akinrutan, is expected to be the chairman and chief l a u n ch e r at t h e p ro g r a m m e ’s g rand finale and award presentation on Friday, August 29, at the Chapel of Christ the Light Hall, Alausa, Ikeja from 11a.m. to 3p.m. where deserving dignitaries, as well as men and women of the C & S would be honoured.

Present at the press briefing were Rev Apostle Mother Helen Odele, Rev Apostle Mother Oluyemisis Badeniyi, Rev Apostle Mother Alice Oluyemi Ghanni Mother General Olubunmi Oshiyemi, Apostolic Mother Prophetess Helen Bola Aladesanmi, among others.

PVC: We’ve been disenfranchised, Ogun community residents, monarch say physically-challenged persons at war over Oro festival, shrine Dominic Adewole ASABA

hysically-challeng ed Pyesterday persons in Delta State said they had

been disenfranchised because they were not captured in the registration of Per manent Voters’ Card (PVC).

The people spoke at a camp given to them by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for skills acquisition in Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area.

According to them, since the Independent National Electoral Commission

(INEC) commenced the exercise last week, neither the state nor the commission deemed it fit to reach out to them.

Mr Tombra Ayabotu, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said that if they were not incapacitated they would have gone out to participate in the registration.

He said: “Every single one of us here is over 18 years and we are supposed to be registered. We have been waiting for them to come and register us but so far nobody has come. Or does it mean that we can’t vote during elections because of our disabilities?

Temitope Ogunbanke he residents of Onigbedu comTernment munity in Ewekoro Local GovArea of Ogun State have

kicked against a move to build a shrine for ‘Oro’ cult (Igbo Oro) in the community.

The residents claimed that they have been assaulted and harassed owing to their opposition to the plans to create an Oro shrine in the community.

The Chairman of the Onigbedu Community Development Association (CDA), Lukman Kazeem, said the illegal Oro shrine posed a major threat to lives and development of the community.

Kazeem added that the residents condemned move to celebrate Oro but to their surprise the mon-

arch, Oba Mathew Ajibulu, went ahead with the festivities without informing the community. He said: “A week after our meeting at 9pm, they went ahead with their plans, most people were caught unawares, especially our women. According to tradition, it is a taboo for women to witness any Oro ritual. Most workers in industrial companies nearby, who closed late on that fateful day were not spared, as many slept in the bush to avert being kidnapped for rituals.”

When contacted, Oba Ajibulu said the Oro festival was an annual event in the community.

But the monarch alleged that those kicking against the festival and spearheading the crisis in the community were non-indigenes.

12 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

NYSC dismisses 281 fake corps members in Minna Dan Atori MINNA

o fewer than 281 fake Nfound corps members who their way into the orientation camp in Niger state were sent parking as only 3,259 batch B corps members on Tuesday successfully completed their three weeks orientation in the state.

Also, another 230 corps members made up of pregnant and nursing mothers were disallowed from taking part in the normal routine during the three weeks orientation exercise.

Speaking with Journalists in an interview shortly after the closing ceremony of the 2014 Batch B orientation course in Paiko on Tues-

day, the state coordinator of NYSC, Mr. Steven Ehoda-adi said all the fake corps members that were sent out of the orientation camp have nothing to show that they qualify to be admitted into the camp.

He disclosed that while some of them gave the excuses of being attacked by armed robbers on their way to Minna and their call up letters taken away from them, others claimed to have misplaced their call up letters.

Mr. Ehoda-adi also said that in some instance, some of the corps members presented only photocopies of the call up letter and the NYSC authority does not accept such for admitting corps members into the camp.

C’River 2015: Bekwarra youths endorses Idagbo Clement James CALABAR

he governorship ambiTState tion of the Cross River Commissioner for

Works, Legor Idagbo, received a boost on Monday, when he was endorsed by elders of the Concerned Bekwarra Youths as well as stakeholders in Bekwarra politics ahead of the 2015 general elections.

In its August 22 edition, New Telegraph had reported that the former Bekwarra council chairman had formally declared his intention to contest the governorship position, citing the approval of the governor as his motivation.

Rising from a meeting which took place at Bekwarra Local Government Council headquarters, Abuocchiche, the stakeholders, who included some members of the

northern caucus of the northern senatorial district; a former Speaker, Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. Mike Idoko; former Deputy Governor, Walter Eneji; Chairman of Bekwara Council Area, Mr. Augustine Onyi and some members of the House of Assembly from the area, among others, said their support was informed by the antecedents of Idagbor.

Spokesperson of the group, Linus Etalong Adie said; “Having carefully watched his performance in office and his developmental strides and innovations as chairman of Bekwarra Local Government from 2007 to 2011, from where he was made a commissioner, we have no doubt that he is the right and best material for the office of the governor in 2015.”

Group berates Daniel over comments on students’ protest political group, ‘Ogun Aberated In SafeHands’ has the former gov-

ernor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel, over his comments on the recent studens’ unrest that trailed the 61 percent reduction of tuition fees by the state government.

The administration, had in a move designed to bring succour to parents, slashed tuition fees in all its 10 tertiary institutions by as much as 61 percent.

While some students hailed the government’s gesture and visited OkeMosan to thank the governor, some students of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) denounced the gesture, contending that the 61 percent was not far-reaching enough and that the reduction should commence immediately

and not from the next academic session as proposed by the government.

But the former governor at a political rally in Ota, over the weekend, criticised the handling of the unrest by the government, inciting the students against the government.

He claimed that there was no unrest throughout his administration and that he ran a students-friendly government during his eight years in power.

The group, however, berated Daniel’s comment saying; “It is a shame that Gbenga Daniel attempts to re-write history by spewing barefaced lies. If anything, students in Ogun State endured the most torrid time in the hands of Daniel."

L-R: United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle; Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and US Consul General, Lagos, Mr. Jeffrey Hawkins, during a visit to the governor’s office in Abeokuta...yesterday.

81%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Andorra in 2011.

Source: Itu.int

COMPLAINTS Malfunctioning machines, political calculations, time limit are part of the frustration Gabriel Choba UGHELLI

A

s the voters’ registration exercise in Delta State ended on Monday, residents of the state have expressed frustration and dismay at the time limit given to the exercise.

They called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reverse its decision and extend the exercise.

When New Telegraph visited some local government areas during the exercise, there were large numbers of people struggling to register while some INEC machines were seen to be malfunctioning, thereby increasing the population of unregistered people.

345,134

The number of refugees and people in refugee-like situation assisted by UNHCR. Source: Blatantworld.com

7.22%

The growth rate of air travel passengers of Benin airport (2012-2013).

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

Voters’ registration: Delta residents express frustration over closure At Ughelli South, Udu, Ughelli North, Sapele and Uvwie, it was discovered that majority of the machines were malfunctioning and in most cases, took hours to register one person. As at 7.00pm on Monday, August 25, in Ovwian Town Hall, Udu, about 2, 000 people were seen waiting to be registered.

However, the people of Delta Central and Delta South senatorial districts have raised the alarm over the shoddy manner the exercise was conducted.

They appealed to INEC to reverse its decision by extending the exercise to enable people register for the coming election.

In a statement on behalf of the people of Delta Central through a group known as Crusade for Democracy and Good Governance, the Urhobos alleged that the decision by INEC to close the exercise

is political.

The statement, which was signed by National Chairman, Urhobo Transformation Struggle (UTS), Olorogun Austin Oruma, and made available to newsmen yesterday, expressed disappointment over the exercise in Delta Central.

The statement reads in part; “We the people of Delta Central are highly irritated by the statement made by INEC that there will be no extension to the voters’ registration exercise. Before the emergency meeting in Ughelli yesterday, we had visited the eight local government areas making up Delta Central and we discovered that the machines were malfunctioning, thereby slowing down the process in the various council areas.

“And when we read online that INEC has rejected

the call to extend the registration process, we decided to address the issue and urge INEC to quickly reverse its earlier decision, because this is an attempt or calculated plan to reduce our voters’ strength in Delta Central and Delta State in general.”

In another statement addressed to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, by the people of Delta South through a group known as Delta South Youth Political Forum, the people also frowned on the earlier closure of the exercise.

In a statement signed by its spokesman, Hon. Godsbest Moses, and made available to journalists, the group said many registration centres visited by appointed delegates of the group were marred by ineffectiveness of the computers and the power to sustain them.

Bayelsa communities warn Agip against implementation of agreement Chris Ejim YENAGOA

B

ayelsa communities in Biseni area of Yenagoa Local Government Council yesterday warned Italian oil giant, the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) over its alleged reluctance to implement agreement reached on community development obligations, threatening that failure to commence full implementation may lead to the closure of existing oil wells in the area.

The communities had last month shut down five oil wells in Idu Oil Fields over alleged non-fulfillment of community development obligations to

host communities. The oil wells 3, 6, 8, 11 and 12 earlier shut down and put out of production by youths of the area, were reopened after a meeting between community representatives and Agip officials on August 5, 2014.

But, Secretary to Egbebiri community, one of the aggrieved communities, Chief Solomon Ogiama, said yesterday that the refusal of NOAC to commence implementation of the agreement reached on the re-opening of the shut oil wells, is generating tension and that the communities have written to the government to warn the oil company.

“We are appealing to Bayelsa State government

to wade into this and ensure that we do not have to resort to disrupting oil production, which has a direct bearing on revenues accruable to the state. Agip officials pledged to immediately pay off all outstanding debts to surveillance contractors once the wells were reopened, but nothing has happened.

“From the timeframes they gave us during the meeting, they ought to have done a lot as we were assured that in just a few days they will pay contractors who were owed for up to one year.

“The community leadership conveyed the resolutions at the meeting to the entire community

and now all eyes are on us and the pressure is mounting on us, we want government to come in and further mediate,” Ogiama said.

The secretary explained that the intervention of Bayelsa State government was necessary to forestall revenue loss if the oil wells were shut again, adding that the community had communicated the development to the government.

Ogiama said the community resolved to give peace a chance to show its readiness to provide a peaceful environment to the oil firm to operate while it expects Agip to honour its agreements with the community.

Yakasai: Implementing confab report’ll make Nigeria stronger / PAGE 17 | Leadership tussle tears Ebonyi Assembly apart / PAGE 41

POLITICS

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ayodele Ojo

Deputy Editor, politics

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Attah: Creation of new states, a contradiction of fiscal federalism

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WEDNESday, August 27, 2014

29TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BABANGIDA COUP From December 31, 1983 to August 27, 1985 when MajorGeneral Muhammadu Buhari was the Head of State and Nigeria’s seventh Commanderin-Chief, was he “too rigid and uncompromising in his attitudes to issues of national significance” as alleged by Major-General Ibrahim Babangida when he overthrew the former in a bloodless coup? Was Buhari’s deputy, Major-General Tunde Idiagbon, “similarly inclined in that respect, failing to exhibit the appropriate disposition demanded by his position and arrogating to himself absolute knowledge of problems and solutions”? Today is the 29th anniversary of the coup.

GABRIEL AKINADEWO writes on the mistakes of Buhari and the survival strategies of his successor

A

fter one of the meetings of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) in early July 1985, the then Chief of Army Staff, Major General Ibrahim Babangida, told the Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, that it would be necessary for him to embark on tour of army formations in the country.

Babangida was not asking for too much as those formations were under his office. The Chief of Army Staff also told the Commander-in-Chief the need to boost the morale of officers and upgrade the infrastructural facilities in the various divisions, brigades and barracks. The request was granted by Buhari.

When Babangida left, Buhari thought about what some officers told him a few weeks earlier of an impending putsch. Although the details were vague, he was told that Babangida was part of the plot to remove him from office. But the problem was that Buhari was not the type of officer crazy about office and power. Again, before he made any move, Buhari would demand for a cast-iron evidence. So, when Babangida came, telling him the need to make the army boys happy, he dismissed the earlier thought. What he did not know was that Babangida was

L-R: Babangida, Abacha and Dogonyaro on the day Buhari was overthrowned

Day Babangida overthrew Buhari

only using the tour as a decoy to perfect the final strategy for the plot which after its success on August 27, 1985 was hailed as a ‘palace coup.’

It was no accident of history that Babangida became head of state 10 days after his 44th birthday.

To observers, he had, for years, planned to become the most powerful Nigerian. He was only waiting for the right time and when the chance came, he grabbed it immediately.

During the December 31, 1983 coup which ousted Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Buhari was the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3rd Armoured Division, Jos. Babangida was the Director, Army Staff Duties and Plans. Although Babangida was older, Buhari was senior in hierarchy and he commanded troops. So, it was generally agreed that Buhari should lead the new regime but the moment Babangida was made the Chief of Army Staff, he put machinery in motion which paid off 20 months later.

Three factors contributed to the success of the coup. The first was that the then Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Major General Mamman Vatsa, did not really push Buhari enough to move against Babangida.

Vatsa was closer to Babangida than Bu-

Buhari

hari because they were course and soul mates. And most of the officers used for the August 27 coup, especially the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2nd Mechanised Division, Ibadan, Major General Sani Abacha, were also close to Vatsa. Vatsa knew that the plot was

thick and he tried to warn Buhari but Buhari’s attitude weakened him. When he also told the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Major General Tunde Idiagbon, of the plot, Idiagbon merely CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

14 INTERVIEW

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

NATIONAL CONFERENCE Brig-Gen. Don Idada Ikponmwen (rtd) is a former Provost Marshall of the Nigeria Army. He came to the conference on the platform of the Retired Army, Navy and Air force Officers. In this interview with ONWUKA NZESHI, he reviews some of the decisions of the National Conference and concludes that not much has been achieved in terms of devolution of powers. Excerpts: After months of plenary and committee work, what would you say the national conference has achieved?

The conference has had wonderful times, joyful times, difficult times and even turbulent times; but at the end of the day we are happy that it ended on a happy note. Everybody may not be happy with every decision taken, but that is the nature of things in life. I think that the most important thing is that the conference has given Nigeria the opportunity to discuss, identify problems and proffer solutions. But all the solutions to a country’s problems cannot be gotten in one fell swoop. I believe that if on the whole we are able to achieve a good number that will take us out of our predicaments, I think we can say that it has been successful.

How relevant are the decisions of this conference to resolving the challenges facing Nigeria?

I can tell you as a delegate that many of the decisions that were taken, if implemented by government, would put this country on a better pedestal for good governance, better democracy, more transparency and for greater unity. A lot of decisions were made in so many facets of our national life but we may not be able to go into all of that at this interaction.

But one must be frank to say that there are people, including me who feel that one of the greatest things that this conference would have achieved should have been to come up with better measures or prescriptions that will guarantee the real spirit of federalism. Fiscal federalism was indeed the pivot of Nigerian unity.

Nigerians came together as a group of ethnic nationalities; coming together to promote a stronger union at the centre even as they retained their peculiarities, individual identities and to make progress at their own pace. To that extent, I believe that the concept of federalism is very central to Nigeria’s existence.

When I look at the decisions taken especially in terms of devolution of powers, I find that we are still dancing around the same spot. Indeed, most of the powers in the governance of this nation still remains at the centre either in the form of the Exclusive or the Concurrent Legislative Lists. We know very well that even when an issue is on the concurrent list, the Federal Government has the upper hand in the final analysis. When the Federal Government decides to pass a law that is intended to cover the whole field, any other law made by any other state or federating unit would become null and void. So, I think that we did not come out clearly to give authority to the federating units to have powers over certain aspects of the nation’s life and to that extent, we are still far from true federalism.

What are your thoughts on the decision

Ikponmwen: We’re still far from true federalism

Ikponmwen

to create 18 additional states in Nigeria?

The decision to create more states much as it may be very appealing to some segments of the country, I believe that the solution to our problem as a country does not lie in the proliferation of states. I know that there are many states in the United States of America, but we are not exactly in the same condition with America. When we have states that are hardly viable, small and almost inconsequential, all trooping to the centre to collect allocation, honestly, that is far from federalism. I therefore believe that the idea of creating more states and having more states will not help in giving Nigeria the spirit and import of true federalism. These are some of the areas that I feel, we as delegates could have done better. But you see, we are human beings; many people were here, distinguished as they may be, the truth is that somehow, they were sponsored by states and regions and they could not but follow the directions that those who sent them wanted them to go.

In other words, it was not a question of what some delegates believed was right; it became a matter of group interest and counter group interests. You could see that from the various inside meetings that were held and the subcommittees that came up all with a view to achieving compromise in the course of this conference.

We just thank God and maybe we

When we have states that are hardly viable, small and almost inconsequential, all trooping to the centre to collect allocation, honestly, that is far from federalism

should console ourselves with the fact that some time in the future, there may be another conference. It may take some time, but it will come. As long as we are talking about federalism as the main thing holding us together, there might still be need for revisiting some of these issues in the future. On the whole, we thank God that the conference has ended on a happy note. We might have a few reactions here and there, but nobody has fought anybody and we are done with the assignment given to us.

What are you taking back to the SouthSouth and Edo State in particular?

Well, I told you that so many decisions were made to counter corruption, improve agriculture and improve the economy. Decisions have also been made to enhance the security of our borders and ensure that the individual citizen gets the dividends of democracy. I think that these are good decisions for every Nigerian including my people from Edo State and the South South. As far as the South- South is concerned, there are many people who are going to ask why the area that produces the oil which is the mainstay of the nation’s economy was unable to improve on the 13 per cent derivation formula. The constitution says it should be a minimum of 13 per cent and that has been on since 1999. If we were not able to agree with each other to increase it, to a reasonable extent, it may give the impression that some people have not taken into consideration the hardship those who live in the oil-producing communities face. On that note, one would have to tell them to be patient, and that time may cure this injustice. May be government in its wisdom, may seek better support to achieve more success in this direction.

As a former Provost Marshall of the Nigeria Army, what would you say this conference has achieved in terms of national security?

First and foremost, we have been able to emphasise the point that there has to be respect for seniority and merit in appointments especially at the top because

if that is lacking there will be no confidence in the command. We advocated that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) should be the visible head of the Armed Forces and as such his position must be such that he is not bypassed. We have to ensure discipline. We have also said that many areas of the Armed Forces Act requires to be amended. The role of the military, for example, must be in tandem with what the constitution advocates – to use the military primarily for the defense of this nation and for the military to act as aid when there is break down of law and order.

We pointed out in this conference that the military has tended to be used for routine law enforcement duties and that not only makes the military lose its dignity and pride but also subjects it to so many dangers like exposing them to corruption. We also agreed that in every country, there is a minimum standard for funding the military and we said that 2.1 per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund should go to the military in terms of budget. We also agreed that a certain percentage of the funds that go to the military should go for research and development to ensure that we develop some home-made technology and reduce our reliance on imported foreign military hardware. We talked a lot about solving the problem of the porosity of our borders. By and large, we made very important decisions that will lead to better professionalism in the military.

There is this trend now where soldiers have become the main security outfit drafted to keep vigil during elections. Do you think this is healthy for the military?

Well, there are always more ways than one to look at an issue. As a soldier and an old one for that matter, because I was in the Army for about 28 years and I was a stickler to the law. The teaching was that the military should face their primary responsibilities of protecting the territorial integrity of our country. Elections are things that are supposed to be done freely. It is a civil matter. When you now use the military as a way of guaranteeing security, there is also the possibility that people will see it negatively.

Some people will say it is a means of intimidation while others will say it is a means of harassing political opponents of the government in power especially when soldiers are seen primarily as being loyal to the government of the day.

If, for example, the incumbent president wants to contest in an election, it will be difficult for you to convince the average person that the soldiers deployed to police the election can be neutral. So, generally, I think that the military ought not to be involved in electoral procedures at all, but many Nigerians think differently.

I have raised this point several times in military fora to draw attention to the legal and law enforcement implications and the question that people always ask me is: Did anybody go to court? As if going to court is the only way to know that something is right or wrong.

To be very precise, I think that we must learn to gear towards having our elections in a civil environment devoid of massive military presence and even devoid of massive police presence. Policemen who go to provide security during elections are not supposed to be heavily armed to the extent that they will intimidate voters.

INTERVIEW 15

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

NATIONAL CONFERENCE Obong Victor Attah is a former governor of Akwa Ibom State and Co-Chairman of the Committee on Devolution of Power at the just-concluded National Conference. In this interview with ONWUKA NZESHI, Attah said the confab was a huge success and believes a new constitution could emerge from the discourse, among other issues. Excerpts:

Attah: Creation of new states, a contradiction of fiscal federalism self-contradiction. We are now insisting that fiscal federalism is the issue and in fiscal federalism there is no room for sharing money. So why does the number of states still remain important? It is because some of us want the sharing to continue that we are agitating for more states. But when we now reach the point of fiscal federalism where each federating unit takes care of its resources and pays a certain amount of tax to the Federal Government, what does it matter if the number of states in my zone is more or less than what you have in your zone?

This is the problem we have that we think we should now split Nigeria further and which I personally did not agree with at the conference. But that is not to say that the conference was wrong because we reached every decision by consensus.

The conference has been described as a success by many. As one of the leaders from the South-South, would you say it was truly a success for your region?

Why do you want to split Nigeria again? Why couldn’t it be a success for Nigeria? I cannot see why you have decided to focus on the South South. We all came here to solve the problems of Nigeria; I believe that by God’s grace, we’ve done that and now you are asking me whether it is a success for the South- South. It is a success for Nigeria.

We are not trying to divide Nigeria but you may recall that each group or zone came with an agenda and the South-South came with a demand for total resource control, or upward review of derivation percentage. With the way the conference ended, would you say you have achieved that goal?

You have talked about the SouthSouth, now let me ask you, did the other regions or zones get all that they wanted from the conference? You didn’t talk about the South West; you didn’t talk about the South-East and the North.

Did they not come with their positions as well? Have you wondered whether they too attained exactly what they wanted? If we did not attain exactly what we wanted but we finally attained what we think is good for all of Nigeria, what is wrong with that? Because if you ask me now, did we achieve exactly what the South-South came with, I will ask you, did the others attain exactly what they came with as agenda?

The South-West was determined to push for regionalism. They were determined that the states must disappear and regions would become the federating units. Did they attain that?

But they are satisfied that we attained something that will be good for all of Nigeria. So, please, let us leave it at that and not begin to point out that this region did not get this particular item. So, the outcome of the conference was not satisfactory. That is not how we should look at it. We should look at it that every region came with something, but after our deliberations we all agreed that as of today, this is what is good for Nigeria.

What are you expectations in terms of the fate of the report of this conference?

You could see the physical, emotional and mental agitation in the whole place and out of it something significant and something different is going to grow. It does not matter if the solutions come today or are coming tomorrow, but the truth of the matter is that the sort of consciousness that has been aroused in people as a result of this conference means that by tomorrow, we are going to have a better Nigeria.

While the report has been submitted, the president promised to send it to the Coun-

Sani

cil of State and the National Assembly. Are you confident that this is the right route to follow in actualising the goals of this conference?

I want to sincerely hope that he would add a third body because I believe that those things that are for policy reviews and administrative in nature, he should pick them up and handle them immediately. The things that have to do with legislation, bills should be drafted and sent to the National Assembly. But those issues that are constitutional should go to a Constituent Assembly.

We were not elected, so we cannot write a new constitution for this country. The National Assembly was not elected to write a constitution for us, so they too cannot write a constitution.

So we must either have a general referendum or what you might call a limited referendum through a Constituent Assembly. This is why I want to hope that there is a third body the president would talk about which should be the election and constitution of a Constituent Assembly that can now give us a completely new constitution. When you’ve corrected something to a point that the original is no longer relevant, it becomes a new thing. So let me use the word new but it is only the Constituent Assembly that can give us a new document out of the current constitution. They should take all the amendments we have done, and the amendments the President was able to bring about through the Ike Ekweremadu-led Senate Ad hoc Committee on Constitution Review and put all these things together.

Are you recommending that the Constituent Assembly should be constituted immediately to look at the draft constitution that emanated from this conference and produce a new constitution?

I am recommending that there ought to be a referendum; either a general public referendum or through a Constituent Assembly out of which a constitution that can only be described as

We are now insisting that fiscal federalism is the issue and in fiscal federalism there is no room for sharing money.

So why does the number of states still remain important? a new constitution will emerge.

Nigerians have been complaining about the rising cost of governance but now this conference has recommended the creation of additional 18 states, don’t you think this would further compound the problem of cost of governance? Do you think we are going in the right direction?

Well, that is what the conference recommended, but my intervention on this particular issue of state creation was that this matter needs a lot more thought than we had time for. The criteria should be better spelt out and certain necessary things should be put in place before we can definitely say that we want this state or that state created.

I said that we cannot deny the agitations that are being thrown up in places like Southern Kaduna, Southern Yobe, Southern Borno, Southern Bauchi, some areas in Niger as well as Yorubas in Kogi and Kwara states. My position was that just as we recorded the setting up of a Technical Committee to look into the final decision on derivation, I was hoping that we were going to set up a Technical Committee to look into this matter of state creation. Some of them might just be a matter of boundary adjustment instead of presenting them as creation of new states.

But what I objectively know in the whole concept of splitting Nigeria further was that we did what I consider as

You chaired one of the most sensitive committees at this conference – the Committee on Devolution of Power. But some Nigerians including delegates have criticized your report on the premise that not much has changed in the power equation between the centre and the federating units. What is your comment on this?

By the same token they are saying that the management of that committee is what kept the conference together till the last day. If my co-chairman (Ibrahim Coomassie) and I had not managed that committee as we did, the conference would have broken up a long time ago. And that is a fact.

But do you agree that not much has changed in terms of the items on the Exclusive and Concurrent Legislative Lists?

What do you mean by not much has changed?

The power equation between the centre and the federating units.

What power? Tell me the power that has not changed? Tell me the power that has not changed? I believe in making statements that have foundation in facts or in reality. So much has changed with the devolution of power. People who tried to improve on our committee’s report created the problem. That’s where the problem was coming now that we have to set up a technical committee, but like I said earlier, it is that Committee on Devolution of Power that kept the conference till the last day. Before you tell me not much has changed tell me the much you wanted changed that hasn’t changed.

Some Nigerians wanted the bulk of the powers of the Federal Government in areas such as education, agriculture and health transferred to the states but your committee still left them with the central government. Why? Do you realise that as we speak today, the Federal Government has established universities in every state? Do you realise that as we are talking, the Unity Schools are still there? So how could you have wanted us to send such matters to the states? What would you do with those federal universities and the unity schools?

They could have changed hands if your committee had decided in that direction.

When they change hands the states could take over but until they change hands, they remain on the Concurrent List.

16 INTERVIEW

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Who’s Who @ Confab 2014

Clark, Odili, Danjuma as stabilisers In this report started on Monday, LOUIS ACHI and ONWUKA NZESHI showcase the profile of some eminent delegates from the just-concluded National Conference, their contributions and impact at the event Peter Odili Platform: Elder statesman Region: South South Committee: Political Restructuring and Forms of Government Bio data: Born on August 25, 1948, Odili is a medical doctor and politician from Ndoni in Rivers State, SouthSouth , Nigeria. He was educated at the University of Nigeria, Nsuka and later pursued a post-graduate Programme in Tropical Medicine at the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom. He was elected member and leader of the Rivers State Delegates to the 1988/89 Constituent Assembly and elected the Deputy Governor of Rivers State in 1992. After the ill-fated Third Republic, he was again elected to the National Constitutional Conference where he served as Chairman of the Committee on State Creation. Thereafter, Odili became the National Secretary of the defunct Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN). He is a foundation member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and was elected the Governor of Rivers State in April 1999.

At the expiration of his eight year tenure as governor, Odili joined the presidential race but stepped down from the contest at the last minute.

Contributions: As one of the elder statesmen at the conference, Odili was part of the elite group called the 50 wise men whom the conference leadership relied on each time there was a deadlock in the proceedings of the conference.

King Alfred Diete- Spiff Platform: Elder statesman Region: South -South Committee: Land Tenure and National Boundaries Bio data: Alfred Diete-Spiff is the Amanyanabo (king) of Twon Brass, Bayelsa State. He was born on July 30, 1942. At the age of 25, he became the first Governor of Rivers State after it was carved out of the old Eastern Region by the military regime of General Yakubu Gowon. In 2009, he was appointed National Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Auctioneers.

He was part of the 2005 National Political Reform Conference during which he served in the Committee on Models and Structures of Government.

Contributions: Apart from supporting the agenda of the South -South at conference, the royal father canvassed the issue of encouraging farmers to grow mushroom for local consumption and export but the proposal did not see the light of day.

Tanko Yakassai Platform: Elder statesman Region: North West Committee: Committee On Devolution of Powers Bio data: Eighty-seven year old

Odili

Danjuma

Clark

Malam Tanko Yakassai was Special Adviser to President Shehu Shagari and currently leads the Northern Elders Council (NEC), a platform believed to be favourably disposed to Goodluck Jonathan’s bid for re-election in 2015.

Yakassai from Kano recently lost the bid to head the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF).

Perceptions are rife that NEC was birthed after he lost his bid to head the ACF. He is from Kano and he was a delegate on the elder statesmen category.

Against the backdrop of criticism by the parallel Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Yakassai insisted from the outset that the confab offered an opportunity for Nigerians to sit down and sort out their differences, saying that the group was prepared for the dialogue.

It could be recalled that Yakassai disagreed sharply with Prof. Ben Nwabueze’s Sovereign National Conference (SNC) model, saying it would mean surrendering sovereign powers vested in the president and the legislature to an appointed or nominated body.

Contributions: Yakassai in a memorandum he submitted to the conference Committee on Political Restructuring held that central to the issue of governance in Nigeria is the role of leadership.

His words: “Leadership at any level is crucial because by definition, it is the driving force of a group or any organisation. In government, great leadership requires a great vision, which inspires the leader to inspire the nation and set it on the path of greatness.

“A leader must have vision that would inspire and mobilise his people to achieve objectives of government.

He must set great goals. One of the greatest elements of leadership is the ability to think big, dream great dreams and set high targets. For a leader to lead effectively, he must be visionary; have foresight into the future and above all, have the capacity to translate his vision into reality and achievements. And that is the crux of the matter.”

born on May 25, 1928 in Kiagbodo, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State. He had his early education in the old Delta Province before proceeding to the Holborn College of Law, London where he bagged a law degree in 1964.

He was a Commissioner for Education in Mid-West Region and later became Minister of Information during the General Yakubu Gowon regime.

He was a member of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and was elected Senator representing the Delta Central District in 1983.

During the political transition programme of the Babangida era, Clark joined the defunct National Republican Congress (NRC) and later became a foundation member of the PDP. He led the South-South delegation to the ational Political Reforms Conference in 2005.

Contributions: As the leader of the South South delegation to the conference, Clark played a prominent role in stabilizing the conference, particularly during moments of turbulence. When the issues of religion, ethnicity and the challenge of insurgency threatened to tear the conference apart, Clark rose to the occasion and ensured that the conference did not break up.

the delegates that maintained a low profile at the conference. Daisy rarely spoke except when it was absolutely necessary. She agreed that the conference was a platform for dialogue but believed that much of what was discussed had been discussed at previous conferences.

“The solution to all our problems have been identified long before now but our problem have been leadership, corruption, lack of sustainability of policies and programmes geared towards solving these problems.

“We need to sustain the momentum with good governance, security of lives and property and fight against corruption. If we can handle corruption, ensure security of lives and property, provide employment and promote sustainable development we can make democracy work. These issues are being addressed at this conference and by the time we are done with our report, I am sure that it would be a good working document for the future.”

Chief Edwin Clark Platform: Elder statesman Region: South- South Bio data: A teacher, lawyer, politician and community leader, Clark was

Mrs Daisy Danjuma Platform: Elder statesman Region: South South Bio data: Daisy is a former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and wife of former Minister of Defence, General Theophilus Danjuma.

Committee: Public Service Contributions: She was one of

In government, great leadership requires a great vision, which inspires the leader to inspire the nation and set it on the path of greatness

Prof. Ibrahim Gambari Platform: Elder Statesman Region: North Central Committee: Foreign Policy and Diaspora Matters Bio data: Gambari was born on 1944 in Illorin, Kwara State. He attended the Columbia University, New York, USA where he obtained an advanced degree in Political Science and International Relations in 1974. Ten years later, he was appointed Nigeria’s Minister of External Affairs and later rose to become the country’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations. He is currently the Special Adviser to the UN Secretary General on the International Compact with Iraq and other issues.

Contributions: Gambari availed the conference with his wealth of knowledge and experience on issues of diplomacy and international relations.

He made meaningful interventions when the clamour by some delegates for Nigeria to reclaim the Bakassi Peninsula resonated at the conference.

He was however part of the league of northern delegates who worked assiduously to frustrate the South-South agitation for an increase in the derivation formula in respect of petroleum and other minerals.

POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

17

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Yakasai: Implementing confab report’ll make Nigeria stronger Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, the Chairman of Northern Elders Council (NEC) and one-time Special Adviser to former President Shehu Shagari, was a delegate at the National Conference. He told TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE that Nigeria would be stronger, richer and more peaceful if the report of the confab is implemented. Excerpts At 88, what really motivated you to take part in the National Conference?

I have been taking part in nation building in Nigeria for over 60 years. It is not that I am just starting; I have been doing it for the last 63 years. I have children and grandchildren. At the moment, I have 20 children and over 40 grandchildren and other Nigerians also have children and grandchildren. I want to be part of those to build a solid country.

What is your take on the conference?

It was a huge success. All the desires and aspirations of Nigeria and Nigerians were expressed at the conference and the confab adopted a number of recommendations that the National Assembly can work on. If most of them are implemented, Nigeria would be a better place; Nigeria would be stronger, richer and more peaceful.

Were your expectations for the National Conference actually met?

Yes. I had no private agenda, all I wanted was for Nigerians to come together and express their opinion and what they want the country to be, and that has been done. People were advocating for Sovereign National Conference (SNC) and some felt that with the democratic structure on the ground, SNC is not possible but they believed in National Conference and it took place.

At the conference we had 492 people; Nigerians of different perceptions met and expressed their views and discussed the issues affecting the country and at the end, after five months of continuous meetings and deliberations, we were able to come to conclusion on a number of issues and like it was said, all our decisions were unanimous and we made recommendations.

Are you satisfied with some of the recommendations of the conference?

What we did was recommendations.

It was committees that submitted resolutions to the main conference and the main conference took a decision, which constituted advice to the president.

During the conference, there were disagreements from different quarters on some of the issues raised.

Disagreement is expected because naturally two people cannot have the same views or attitudes on issue. But where eventually one is able to convince the others, you accept the superior argument.

Yakasai

Many ethnic nationalities went into theNational Conference with different agenda; do you think the agenda of ethnic nationalities were met at the confab?

About 500 people from different parts of Nigeria took part in the National Conference and if you analyse it critically, you will discovered that more than 70 per cent of the different ethnic nationalities in Nigeria were represented at the conference. So, whatever that was decided at the conference was actually connected to the Nigerian people.

What about the North; do you think the North actually achieved the purpose of taking part in the National Conference?

Indeed, the North is for national unity.

We are opposed to anything that would divide this country. I can tell you that the North achieved more than 90 per cent of its aspirations at the conference. The most important thing as far as the North is concerned is the issue of national unity and we achieved that during the conference to ensure unity in the country for future generations.

A lot of recommendations were made in the confab report, which has already been submitted to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Do you see government implementing the conference recommendations?

Certainly, the government will implement it. The recommendations are in three categories. There are recommendations that deal with policy, which would be the responsibility of the government; president and his cabinet to implement.

The second one is the legal; that the law of the land would be modified through a bill submitted by the president to National Assembly and when it is passed then the president would sign it into law. The rest concerns the amendment of the constitution, which concerns the National Assembly and various state assemblies in the country. If they agree to pass them, the constitution would be

The North achieved more than 90 per cent of its aspirations at the conference. The most important thing as far as the North is concerned is the issue of national unity amended to meet the aspirations of the people who want the constitution to be changed. So, specific recommendations would be made on how the constitution would be reviewed.

As an elder statesman, what would you advise President Jonathan to do with the report of the National Conference?

The President should act on recommendations that are related to policy implementation. And he should do the one that requires him to send a bill to the National Assembly. He should also see to the recommendations that require amendment of the constitution by passing it on to the National Assembly, which has the legal authority to change the constitution.

So you support the decision of President Jonathan to send the confab report to National Assembly and the Council of State?

Yes, he has to do that; that is a process.

The report after going through the National Assembly will also go through the Council of State, where former Heads of State, former Chief Justices and governors in attendance will assess it.

But some people are of the view that the confab report should have been subjected to referendum.

I agree with them but the only problem is that we have no provision in our

constitution for national referendum.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) itself has no power to conduct national referendum because the constitution has not given it that power. So, the problem is either we wait until we amend the constitution to give condition for national referendum and empower the INEC to conduct it or will go ahead with the provision or process of amending what we already have in the constitution. It is either this or the other one.

What do you think is the next thing after the conference?

It is the implementation of the recommendations of the conference.

And do you think implementing the report will give birth to a new Nigeria and meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians?

Yes. I can tell you that from 1953, when the first constitutional conference was held till date, I have been there all along and I can tell you that apart from the 1953 Constitutional Conference, which took place in London and Lagos, we have never had a conference with the calibre of people that we had in the 2014 National Conference.

Don’t you think the 2014 confab would go the way of previous conferences whose reports were not implemented?

By nature, I am not a pessimist. So, I will look forward to positive outcome of the implementations of the conference’s recommendations.

What were the challenges of the conference?

The delegates were Nigerians and they made their points. The delegates suggested lot of issues, some were taken by the conference and some were not taken in arriving at the final outcome of the conference.

More stories on Pages 40-43, 48

18

ARTS

LITERATURE

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2014

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/arts

TONY OKUYEME

“IT IS IN LITERATURE THAT THE CONCRETE OUTLOOK OF HUMANITY RECEIVES ITS EXPRESSION.” ―ALFRED NORTH WHITEHEAD

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

Blind ambition, power struggle in The Queen’s Gambit Author: Ikenna Ezuma Title: The Queens Gambit Publisher: Magic Wand Publishing, Lagos Year of publication: 2014 Number of pages: 207 Reviewer: Ebere Ameh

I

kenna Ezuma’s The Queen’s Gambit belongs to those ‘impossible to put down’ category of books. Compulsively readable, the story grabs the reader’s attention until the last line.

Set in the 17th century Benin Empire, Ezuma, though of Igbo descent, wrote with an outstanding descriptive mind that portrays him not just as an indigene of Benin but as though he was there when the events happened.

The story is about Oziegbe, the great Warrior of Ogbe kingdom, who was blinded by selfish ambition to pre-empt the will of the gods as prophesised by the elusive Oboh. Impatiently and ambitiously, he killed the ailing king who had no heir apparent, in order to ascend the throne but ended up bringing untold calamity upon himself and his kingdom.

Clinging tenaciously tight to the throne, he refused to listen to the voice of reason to relinquish it. But the cries of the people did not go unanswered as Akenzua, the surviving son of the late King Okoduwa, who was born on the day his father was killed but protected by the gambit of the Queen Mother, came back to sack the reigning King, Oziegbe. In union with Ovie, his twin brother, whom Oziegbe thought was his son, after killing his own son in error; and the warriors from Yenogoa and Ogbia, where Akenzua took refuge from the wrath of Oziegbe, he conquered the armies loyal to Oziegbe and took over the throne.

The survival of Akenzua, the heir apparent and his twin brother, Ovie, was made possible by the Queen Mother, the wife of the late King Okoduwa. Her patriotic gambit led to the survival of the twins and the salvation of Benin kingdom.

Writing in a confident and easy to read language, the author portrays the continued conflict between the forces of good and evil. His action packed story with well-defined characters and a great plot transports the reader to the land of the 17th century Benin Empire. Savouring the intrigues and well applied suspense, the reader is pulled in, asking for more and itching for what would happen next.

With the use of a few Benin sayings translated into English, he adds credibility, colour and character to the story. With his confident style and flowing narrative, he portrays the flaws and virtues of arrogance, jealousy, pride, greed, bravery, honour and many more in a very candid way.

sayings and culture would have made it richer. As it were, it did not adequately portray the rich culture of the old Benin Empire.

There wouldn’t have been any need for an illustration of the characters or scenes in the work as the author’s penchant for details and vivid description of scenes would have sufficed. The few illustrations used did not vividly capture the essence and form of the characters they are supposed to portray.

As with many books published in Nigeria, the typesetting and binding needed a little more touch. While the binding is weak and the pages may start falling off with constant use, typesetting without leaving some margins and leaving too many spaces between quotes or direct speeches do not make for elegance and reader friendliness.

Despite the author’s excellent characterisation, the character of Abeyuwa is a bit hyped. She is portrayed as almost a superwoman and no mention was made of her parentage, her apprenticeship to a master or her early years. Like the Biblical Melchizedeck who has no beginning, she just came into the picture from nowhere and despite being a woman, became the strongest warrior and saviour of the kingdom. These make her character less realistic.

Unrealistic also is the case of the warriors from Ogbia. It is almost impossible to believe that a people could be so nice as to accept and embrace fugitives so fast.

There should have been a storm before the calm. One also wonders how a kingdom would send hundreds of her great warriors to fight in another land because of a story told to a king of another kingdom by two women. But that is why it is fiction, an interesting and compulsively readable one at that.

Fast paced and interesting, the author kept bringing in new characters to tell different sides of the story. The introduction of Majekodunmi who made known the existence of the identical twin in Ekiadolor is a typical example. Allowing for a few

loss of lives on the side of Abeyuwa and Akenzua makes the story realistic. A very interesting story, good triumphed over evil as justice was served at the end.

However, even though the book is in English, an infusion of some Benin words,

Tony okuyeme

Eriri for National Troupe’s Creative Station

P

articipants of the National Troupe of Nigeria Creative Station Workshop will stage Eriri (The String) to close the 2014 edition of the workshop. The play is written by Mike Anyanwu and directed by Josephine Igberaese, a Director in charge of the Drama of the National Troupe and Coordinator of the workshop.

The Children Creative Station Workshop (CCSW) also called the NTN CCSW was conceived as a long vacation theatre workshop for children between the ages of 5 and 17. It is primarily aimed at exposing participants to general theatre practice and appreciation of the creative arts.

Scheduled to be staged at the Cinema Hall 2 of the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, on Sunday August 31, 2014, Eriri shows the actualisation of the political will that led to the amalgamation of the North and Southern protectorate by the

British Imperialist and the struggle that led to Nigeria’s independence.

Ms. Igberaese explained that the play was chosen to inform and educate the children and their peers that will be attracted to the command performance on Nigeria’s political history. “We want to educate them not just as citizens of this great and indivisible entity called Nigeria but also as future leaders of this noble entity” she said, adding that the command performance would detail all that the workshop participants, who have been rehearsing for three weeks now, have learnt during the near onemonth training period. “We took them through various aspects of the theatre. We got them involved in acting, improvisation, miming, dancing, creative writing, singing and voice training” she explained.

Respected arts patron, Professor Paulina Adebusoye is expected as special guest of

Artistist Director, NTN, Martins Adaji

honour at the event, while Engineer Solomon Uwaifo will serve as father of the day. Also, foremost arts matriarch Mrs. Francesca Emanuel, former President of the National Council of Women Societies Mrs. Emily Aig-Imoukhuede, author and arts matriarch Mrs. Mobolaji Adenubi and Mrs. Diagbonya Uwaifo will grace the command performance as mothers of the day.

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

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

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19

EDITORIAL

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Sanctity of Truth w w w.new telegraphonli ne.com

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

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2014

Positively projecting Nigeria’s image

resident Goodluck Jonathan utilized the platform of the recent US-Africa Summit in Washington, to launch the international edition of the “Nigeria: Our Heritage Project”. It is an initiative geared towards a global positive perception of the country by promoting its tourism potentials in order to diversify the revenue over dependence on oil and gas. The event showcased the very best of Nigerian music and culture put together by the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation.

The Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, advised that Nigerians must rise above the ashes of mocking their own, a self-derision that stands at variance with our national ethos and pride; to renew our belief and faith in the fatherland, a new patriotism for a new country.

He said, “The essence of revamping our global image cannot be overemphasized-attract a better respect for the country, and her citizens. If Nigeria is viewed positively, so would Nigerians be treated with respect and honour both home and overseas similarly, so would the brighter reflect on the influx of foreign investors required to create jobs for millions of our youth” He further said that every nation has its own problems and those problems are meant to be solved. “Solving

our problems cannot come without an effort to reinvigorate our spirit positively about our country”. The minister said “Through the Nigeria, Our Heritage Project we shall celebrate the rich cultural inheritance and vast economic endowment of Nigeria as well as the large market and country offers.

In the same vein, the former ambassador to the US and board chairman of the new cultural initiative, Professor George Obiozor, said that the challenge posted by generally negative perception of Nigerian is not insurmountable. “We know that we are not who some people across the world think that we are. We are a progressive nation, abundantly endowed with rich human and material resources.

The average Nigerian is intelligent, honest hardworking. If you look at our contributions to the global community, be it in the sciences or in humanities, you will agree with me that Nigeria is a great nation”.

“Nigera: Our Heritage Project” is about engendering a new but positive global perception of Nigeria such that Nigeria would be enabled internally and externally to realize her full potentials. The core essence of the dream is that Nigeria should be one of the top five economies in the world by the year 2114”. Professor Obiozor called on other like-minded individuals, progressive companies, government ministries and departments and friends abroad to join this movement. “We recognize the bright future of Nigeria

as a rising business destination in the continent of Africa. Above all, we recognize the impact that a rebranded Nigeria, collectively supported by all Nigerians, will have on businesses, the economy and our people”.

It would be recalled that, in a report recently published by Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC’s) macroeconomics team ranked Nigeria among the world’s top 20 economies from now to 2050 if it can realize her full potentials. According to the latest report published by the team, Nigeria has the potentials to be one of the fastest growing economies in the next 37 years. With a projected Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of nearly $4 trillion by 2050 and an annual average real GDP growth rate of around six per cent, as well as a youthful and growing working population, Nigeria is projected to rank 13th among the world’s largest economies by 2050. According to the report, a growing, prime working age population, together with rising average rates of schooling and technological progress, drive Nigeria’s strong growth prospects. However, the report’s projections rely on the country using its oil wealth to develop a broader-based economy with better infrastructure and institutions (as regards rule of law and political governance) which will support long term productivity growth.

A partner with PwC Nigeria, Andrew S. Nevin, said: “Nigeria’s projections for population, education levels and technological progress are

very strong. Nigeria lags behind with regard to its investment rate, however.

Productivity is lower in Nigeria due to weaker infrastructure and institutions, as well as an over-reliance on oil revenues. By investing in these areas and diversifying its economy, Nigeria can realize its full potentials by 2050.

Therefore, with the new initiative with the acronym NHOP, Nigeria can truly realize her full potentials based on the transformation agenda roadmap.Added to this, the issues of corruption, bad leadership and governance, infrastructural decay, policy somersault, mono-cultural based economy, unemployment, poverty, insecurity and other critical issues that affect Nigeria’s political economy like transparency and credible elections, operation of true federalism and promotion of new revenue sharing formula in favour of the component parts to mention but a very few must be aggressively tackled and addressed.

The government must also invest heavily in agriculture, aviation, tourism, entertainment, sports, gas, solid minerals and not just oil alone, in the same way, the twin issue of poverty and unemployment must be frontally tackled. The pursuit of these reforms must be properly and systematically linked; and the people must be the end and essence of such reforms, and government policies must be as a matter of priority nationalistic geared towards national rebirth and development with sincerity of purpose.

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 EMEKA OBASI Deputy Editor, Daily AYODELE OJO Deputy Editor, Daily LEO CENDROWICZ Bureau Chief, Brussels MARSHALL COMINS Bureau Chief, Washington DC SAM AMSTERDAM Editorial Coordinator, Europe EMMAN SHEHU (PhD) Chairman, Editorial Board GEOFFREY EKENNA News Editor TAIWO AHMED Advert Manager UCHEY OKEZIE Ag. Sales/Marketing Manager TIMOTHY AKINLEYE Head, Graphics ROBINSON EZEH Head, Admin.

20

Sanctity of Truth

OPINION Tattoo and its generational fade Prince M. Arayuwa Wilkie

T

attoo is a design on the skin with indelible ink or colour by pricking or with other means. It dates back to about 6,000 BC in South America.

It was also a hobby in Great Britain and Indian to the extent that the Anglo-Saxon Kings were tattooed during the period in question. The first recorded use of tattoo was in 1769 in Tahiti.

In the 19th century, the practice of tattoo had already spread to the British enclave, which was actually associated with sailors, criminals, public school boys, prisoners, the Royalty and other interested persons. Tattoo became a generational fashion between 1840 to the 1870’s especially amongst the upper class in European society. However, archeological research has revealed that the specimens of tattoo tools were much pronounced about 60,000 years ago.

As far as the Chinese were concerned, the use of tattoo was a reflection of Barbaric practice which expresses banditry, folk heroes and ex-convicts. Ancient slaves in China were also beneficiaries of tattooing. In America’s 18th and 19th centuries, tattoos were regarded as a mark of identification and self expression. In 1796, however, the Congressional Act was passed for the purpose of safe-guarding the American seamen from impressments and other acts of coercing them into Government services.

During slavery and the slave trade in America, Europe, the Latinos, Africa and those who purchased their fellow human beings, tattoos were used as a mark of identification in order to know the actual ownership of such slaves.

Apart from this form, tattoos’ inscriptions on the skin were regarded as a healing process capable of curing some ail-

ments. This was the historical belief of people in the Far East and Asia Minor.

In contemporary times, the mark of tattoo has become a craze and generational fad when viewed from global perceptive. At my date of birth on February 9, 1950, I grew-up to pin-point a visible tattoo mark on my mother’s right arm.

As a young boy, I was inquisitive to know what the mark was all about. Her response was that it was a mark her parents put there to indicate that she belonged to the Royal family of the Benin Monarchical Institution. I was satisfied with her explanation and I did not bother to probe further.

For now, both the temporary and permanent tattoos are very common amongst celebrities especially in the entertainment industry. Such celebrities include: musicians, actors and actresses, male and female wrestlers, footballers, athletes, militants and all those who regard tattoo as a fashion of the moment. Perhaps, I will like to add that models including those who are involved in show business take advantage of it to design and re-design their skins to soothe their interest.

In the ancient and primordial period, some of those who patronized tattooing belonged to high profile personalities in society especially the Royalty and Nobility in order to promote class consciousness. Same cannot be said of the slaves, convicts, ex-convicts, bandits and other criminals who were forced to have tattoo permanently placed on their skins as a mark of derogatory identification. However, this was a deliberate act also to put them in an everlasting class till death. It was further a design to indicate that they belonged to a caste system for which people would be scared or careful of when having any dealings with them. From all intent and purposes, the latter class carried with them

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

this indelible social stigma permanently.

The modus operandi of the present day tattoo designs and designers are difficult to defend in the sense that it has been recklessly abused. For instance, a prominent young Nigerian actress in the movie industry is said to have the 58th tattoo designs on her body. Perhaps, she may have also designed the lower abdomen of her body. And, I ask: of what relevance are these to her natural skin? I wish to say that the aforementioned young actress has a glittering skin, light complexioned, pretty and of course, a paragon of beauty who is capable of winning any beauty pageant.

So, why tattoo?

It is obvious that some of the tattoo practitioners may liken it to a form of identification. I find it extremely difficult to understand what they are identifying and for what purpose when, in fact, this category of persons can easily be known and identified facially. What other form of identity does a person want apart from that of God’s creation? The face of a person alone is a natural identity and such tattoo identity defies nature.

Medical research has also revealed that tattooing can lead to serious skin infections if unsterilized needles are used in the operations which may result to the dreaded HIV. The ink used for the purpose contains some deadly substances or chemicals. Other likely infections are hepatitis, tuberculosis, malaria, syphilis, leprosy, eczema, scarring and so on.

Tattoos are expensive to design or to remove them from the skin. They are painful too. Apart from this high risks, some tattoos are irritating and offensive to sight. The scenario calls for worry in view of all the attendant defects of tattooing.

• Prince Wilkie (pmikky1950@yahoo.com), 08023097251

Jonathan, National Conference and Transformation John Udumebraye

F

or an advert daring to compare President Goodluck Jonathan with great world leaders such as Martin Luther King, Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore, Nelson Mandela of South Africa and Barack Obama of the US, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, was quoted to have described the publication as “blasphemous.”

His political ally, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, who thinks the advert was “cheap and brassy”, joined yet another political ally and presidential aspirant, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, in calling on the former Singaporean President to drag Jonathan to court for the comparison.

The reactions from these opposition leaders show clearly their level of intolerance and degree of resentment against President Jonathan. Why? First, the advert does not say that Jonathan has already accomplished the achievements of the world leaders; simply that he is on a similar path of transforming Nigeria, the way those leaders transformed their countries. Secondly, the advert does not claim that Jonathan is the only Nigerian capable of changing the country. And thirdly, it does not even arrogate to Jonathan any claim that he is better than all the previous Nigerian leaders.

Perhaps, the only claim implied in the advert is that President Jonathan has the good luck of being around at this critical point in time and that he has the opportunity and capacity to make a difference. Would Fashola, el-Rufai and Nda-Isaiah regard this as an

offence? Certainly, no member of the justconcluded National Conference would say so because they, too, are men and women of good luck whom destiny has chosen to play the important role of moving Nigeria to the Promised Land. Which is not to say that they are better than other Nigerians who were not chosen to participate in the Conference?

When, on Thursday, 21st August, 2014, the report of the National Conference was submitted, in 22 volumes, to President Jonathan, it became obvious that the most critical part of the President’s transformation agenda was being accomplished by these delegates representing the people of Nigeria. The work of the Conference is, indeed, the most critical component of the change that Nigeria needs to move to a new level. And, what’s wrong in saying that, like President Lee Kuan Yew did for Singapore, Jonathan is working to take Nigeria from Third World to First World?

But, before considering the role of the Conference in taking us to the Nigeria of our dream, the question to ask is: why are some Nigerians so perverted in their assessment?

In my opinion, the only reason critics like Fashola, el-Rufai and Nda-Isaiah think we cannot even credit President Jonathan with anything positive is because they believe that Jonathan was never divinely chosen to rule this country. As far as they are concerned, he is an interloper, a misfit and a usurper, occupying a position meant for someone else. This arrogance is built on a false sense of cultural or historical superiority manifested every now and then in the conduct and utterances

of many of our opposition leaders.

Otherwise, why would an el-Rufai or NdaIsaiah ever perceive Jonathan as an intellectual inferior? For the benefit of those who may not have reflected deeply on the matter, it is this mentality that is responsible for almost all the challenges confronting Nigeria today - the problems of inequality, injustice, lack of fairness, corruption, economic and other material deprivation, ethnicity, social and political marginalisation, illiteracy and educational backwardness, poor infrastructure development, etc.

Many participants at the Conference might not have realized that they were taking on the challenge of revolutionizing Nigeria; that they were doing a major restructuring of the economic, social and political institutions and that they were working to change the mind-set and conduct of Nigerians. The over 600 recommendations contained in the report of the Conference are not about road construction or electricity generation or construction of houses or production of goods and services; they are about reforms in our value orientations, mode of governance, structure of political institutions, moral attitudes, beliefs, inter-personal and inter-group relationships. Above all, they are about reforms in the laws that govern this country.

There can be no doubt that the greatest challenge to the unity and continued survival of Nigeria is the problem of social injustice, inequality, oppression, exploitation, etc. The national economy, for instance, is mainly extractive, with petroleum as the dominant

source of revenue on which the entire country depends. Unfortunately, the Niger Delta region where the resource comes from is grossly neglected and its environment degraded and polluted. This has been a major source of social injustice and cause of friction between Government and the communities.

For many years, the imbalance in the structure of states and local government councils across the country has been perceived as unjust. For instance, Lagos and Kano States have almost the same population size. Yet, whereas Lagos has only 20 Local Government Councils, Kano has 44. This is plain injustice, especially as revenue allocation to states is determined on the basis of existing local councils.

In a number of other areas, such as access to educational institutions, qualified students from some states are denied admission whereas less qualified ones are admitted, thus violating the principle of merit as a legitimate criterion. These forms of social injustice are the sources of ethnic conflicts and social tension.

What the National Conference handed over to President Jonathan on Thursday was a package of instruments with which to transform Nigeria. Not to have faith in the on-going process is to be self-centred, if not mischievous. Today, Jonathan is the Messiah. We do not need to love him to accept the salvation that he brings to our land. He deserves commendation for setting up the National Conference.

•Mr Udumebraye sent this piece from Port Harcourt.

CAMPUS

UNN ALUMNI }p-23 PLAN TO REBUILD ZIK’S HOSTEL

EDUCATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2014

COCA-COLA TASKS STUDENT WRITERS TO SENSITISE CAMPUSES ON EBOLA }p-29 NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/education

KAYODE OLANREWAJU, EDITOR, EDUCATION

kayode.olanrewaju@ newtelegraphonline.com kayolanre@gmail.com 08037127417

FALLOUT

Following the Federal Government’s directive to postpone the resumption date of schools, over the Ebola scare, parents and school owners are divided over the directive.

Mojeed Alabi

T

he nation’s ailing education sector may be facing another setback.

No thanks to the outbreak of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), which found its way into the country last month through the late Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer.

Since its outbreak in the country in July, there has been palpable fear among the government and the people not to contact the dreaded disease, and how to curtail its spread in all ramifications.

To the government at all levels, whatever could be done to prevent its spread could not be said to be too much, giving the ravaging effects of the disease.

Like every other sector of national development, the education sector has not been spared with its attendant consequences.

With the rate of fatality of the disease, Nigerians are, however, worried about how to nip the spread in the bud.

But in a swift reaction, the Federal Government, as part of moves to curtail the spread of the disease, immediately ordered postponement of resumption date of all public and private schools in the country, while parents should keep their children and wards at home, foreclosing summer classes, where school owners make brisk businesses.

If the words of the World Health Organisation (WHO) that “no one knows when the Ebola outbreak will end,” and that its roadmap on curbing the disease will span between six and nine months, are anything to go by, then the future of the nation’s already collapsing education sector, believed to be the bedrock for national development, may be in for more trouble.

Following the Federal Government’s directive to put on hold schools’ resumption date, the parents and pupils are unsure of when the schools will be reopened, pending when the government would determine the safety of the people.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government through its Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Students Matters, Mr. Jude Imagwe, had

Cross section of pupils in a classroom

Ebola scare rattles education sector said there was yet no new specific date for schools’ resumption.

Worried by the development, many parents, ever before the government’s directive, had decided to play safe by keeping their children and wards at home and barred them from participating in summer classes, while some decided to bring teachers to teach their children at home.

In a related development, the West African Examination Council (WAEC) also issued a release warning its prospective candidates for the November/ December 2014 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) diet, with symptoms of sickness/illness to stay away from centres of the examination, which is scheduled to begin soon.

The Head of Nigeria’s Office (HNO) of WAEC, Mr. Charles Eguridu expressed the preparedness of the examination body to support the government’s measures to curb the spread of the Ebola virus.

At the higher institution level, all seems not well too, as many of the students are already afraid to resume to their schools, even as those attending schools across the nation’s borders are already facing challenges of stigmatisation.

At the Obafemi Awolowo University campus, which reportedly houses the largest concentration of fruit bats in the West Africa, students have expressed

the fear of returning to the campus, following the reopening of the institution, after more than two months closure over students’ protest against fees hike.

But, the university has allayed the fears of the students, insisting that bats or no bats, the campus was free of the disease and so no students or worker should hide under that to advocate for continued closure of the campus.

It said: “The bats on our campus had been there for decades and the disease was never reported in the country until a Librarian came to Nigeria in July with the sickness. So, while we are not ready to take anything for granted, the university remains committed to the safety of lives and properties on campus. There is, therefore, no cause for alarm.”

The institution’s management had also in a statement on its website, warned the inhabitants of its campus to avoid “touching, holding or eating bats,” as well as “avoid pathways through which they may come

All we need now will be for government to provide basic hygiene facilities to public schools and ensure that the private schools do not default

21

in contact with the faeces/droppings of the bats.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian students currently admitted into various universities in the United Kingdom (UK), America and other European countries are now facing thorough screening to determine the health status, as the nations' education authorities have placed the campuses on danger alert posed by the Ebola Virus Disease.

A recent report said the alert

by Universities UK, the umbrella body of the country’s stakeholders in university system, was issued since the universities are expecting new students to arrive from West Africa.

The fear is rife, based on the fact that Nigeria, one of the four West African nations – Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, which are ravaged by the Ebola virus, according to some survey, is the fourth largest supplier of international students to UK universities, with a record of 9,630 students that enrolled during the 2012/2013 academic session.

A spokesman for Universities UK had reportedly said: “The issue is very much on universities’ radars. We circulated to universities the publicly available guidance on the topic.

The guidance told university workers that, “evidence from outbreaks strongly indicates that the main routes of transmission of infection are direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membrane) and indi-

rect contact with environments contaminated with splashes or droplets of blood or body fluids.”

Meanwhile, stakeholders are already apprehensive about the fate of their wards, even as they are lamenting the pressure already placed on them by the development and the fear of the long-term effects the situation may have on the future of their children.

One of the parents and a member of the executive council of the Parent Teachers' Association (PTA) in a school in Lagos, Mr. Kola Olapoju, confirmed the worries of some parents, saying they expressed fear of allowing their kids to attend summer schools over the Ebola scare, but suggested that the government at all levels should lay more emphasis on sanitation activities and increase inspection of schools by competent health officials.

He stressed: "But is that the solution to the crisis? Apparently not. All we need now will be for government to provide basic hygiene facilities to public schools and ensure that the private schools do not default.

If we leave the schools closed for as long as eternity, it does not mean the students are safe until the needful is done.

"We need to understand the basic details that this disease is neither airborne nor waterborne, and if we consider the results of the last May/June SSSCE released by WAEC it calls for even additional time in schools for the students because their counterparts in other countries will not wait for them."

He also called the attention of government to the forthcoming general elections in the country, saying the school calendar would already be altered by the elections and so efforts should be spared to save the children from wasting so much time at home.

In the same vein, the Proprietress of Arit Private School, Akute, Ogun State, Princess Titilayo Oyebowale appealed to stakeholders in the nation's health sector to intervene quickly and support the government in its fight against the Ebola disease.

To her, keeping the schools closed for too long will further add to the volume of work for the teachers and the administrators, and as well bring the standard of education in the land.

Similarly, the spokesman of the Lagos State chapter of the Association of Formidable Educational Development (AFED), Deacon Abiodun Owolana said: “If you say schools should not reopen CO NTINUED O N PAGE 23

22 EDUCATION

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Should schools be closed for fear of Ebola spread?

— Mr. Nwosu Joseph, (Engineer) Technical Sales I think the action of the Federal Government is a good one.

There are no vaccines yet. I just agree with the idea until we are able to contain it. I am not prepared. All I just do is fuel my prayer life and admonish them to wash their hands regularly. I put my faith in God and live a free life.”

— Oseni Bolu, Director of New Life School, Obanikoro, Lagos.

It is for the good of the people, but that is if the postponement will be to achieve its purpose and not just postponing it without doing anything. The Federal Government should provide vaccines, sanitizers, and other protective measure in ensuring that everybody is safe from this deadly virus, but the postponement should not be something that would be elongated unnecessarily."

— Adeyemo Adetayo, Director, Effortswill Academy, Lagos The Federal Government action is not logical. Originally, primary and secondary schools are scheduled to open for the new school year in September ending and not August, whatever they want to do, should be done now, so that it will not affect resumption dates of schools.

Have we even thought of our economic system, and how this action can affect the economic system? However, interfering in school activities is not the way out of this present health challenges. What we need right now is good education and enlightenment about the deadly disease called Ebola. The government should provide schools with screening machines, while schools should endeavour at all times to provide pupils with soap and clean water.”

— Mr. Quaque Andrews AlHassan, Head-teacher, Mbari Mbayo Schools, Yaba, Lagos State:

— Mr. Chinedu Ameachi, Security Agent “I quite agree with the Federal Government. I have implored my children to step up the level of hygiene. Be more conscious and never stray from cleanliness. I have purchased a lot of sanitizers, read the fatality and prevention to the ears of my kids. Now, we are left in the hands of God.” — Mr. Victor Njemanze, Photographer.

To be honest, I support the Federal Government on that idea. Let us stay back until a reliable solution is achieved. If you ask me of my preparedness, I will reply saying, I am not prepared.

I have not taken any step into securing the lives of my children. But from now on, I will make it a point of priority."

— Mrs. Josephine Chikeka is the Head-teacher of Temitope Nursery and Primary School, Shomolu, Lagos.

Although the postponement is going to affect us, I still agree with the government because it is for the betterment of the society. However, prayer is paramount. The level of awareness should also be stemmed further. The only problem is that the children might forget what they have learnt in such an indefinite break. Children require continual reminder of lessons thoughts.”

“The idea is a good one because prevention is better than cure. But on the other hand, the extension is going to affect the school calendar. We pray that the medical experts will get back to work so that everything it takes for the nation to return to its healthy position is attained.

“Basically, my school is a proactive one.

Immediately we heard about the information, we started working towards hand sanitizers in the school environment. We have sent notices to parents to enlighten them.

We have even gone a step further to get the equipment that screens people. So, if the Federal Government says our pupils should resume tomorrow, we are ready.”

— Adebowale Rosemary The decision is good, but on the other hand it is also not necessary. If schools are to resume, we can only pray for God’s protection for our children, because they are kids and as a parent, I will not be with them in school to protect them, the school as a body can also assist by providing clean water, soap and sanitizer, as a protective measure to protect this little ones."

— Mohammed Rasak, teacher.

Ebola virus has nothing to do with education, the government should work in ensuring that Nigerians are protected from this deadly virus. However, postponing of resumption dates is not the solution. We have a problem, let us face it and ensure we handle it well; we should not let it affect our education system because this action of postponing resumption dates will affect our education system and economy badly."

VOX POP, Compiled by SHADRACK YUSUF and VICTORIA EWOH

Ebola scare rattles education sector CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

because you want to avoid contacts among the pupils, are they not going out on holidays? Are their parents not going out? Would they be barred from going to religious centres too? These are questions government needs to provide answers to except it is only interested in crippling education activities. " On his part, the immediate past Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Prince Ayo Shonubi, while lauding the efforts of the Federal Government at safeguarding the lives of Nigerian children, insisted that preventing schools from resumption could not in any way curtail the spread of the disease.

Rather, he explained that massive investment in enlightenment campaign and reorientation of the people would work better and go a long way to empower the people against its spread.

He added that other factors such as the economic implications of the decision on parents and school owners, and what the pupils would miss during the period for not attending summer classes, should be put into consideration.

Okojie berates professional bodies for usurping NUC’s mandates Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

T

he National Universities Commission (NUC) has expressed worry that some professional bodies are encroaching on its mandate on accreditation and development of curriculum for degree awarding institutions in the country.

The NUC Executive Secretary, Professor Julius Okojie, who said this while receiving members of House of Representatives Committee on Education at the Abuja headquarters of the Commission, noted that such friction has continued to create unhealthy development for the growth of the university system, especially in the area of quality assurance.

However, investigations by New Telegraph revealed that some professional bodies such as the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), and Nigerian Medical and Dental Council among others have been in conflict with the NUC over accreditation and development of curriculum for some programmes run by universities in the country.

Okojie, who was represented by the Deputy Executive Secre-

tary (Administration), Mr. Akinbode Agbaoye, said: “One of the biggest problems we have is that most of the professional bodies are competing and usurping the mandate of NUC in terms of accreditation of academic programmes in universities.

“NUC has the sole responsibility of accrediting all degree programmes in Nigerian universities, but some of these professional bodies have gone beyond their mandate to concern themselves with programmes accreditation and curriculum development,” he said.

The NUC boss stressed that the mandate of the any professional body should be post-graduation, saying: “That is to say that when the fellow has graduated and you want to admit him into your profession; this should be when they should start regulating.”

He said unfortunately, some of the professional bodies have gone to the universities to harass them that they have to approve programmes for them and carry out curriculum review and “all the rest”.

Okojie, who called for urgent review of the NUC regulatory framework, noted that the Commission's laws are weak and do not give it enough teeth to be

Okojie

able to deal with those who infringe on its regulations.

He pointed out that under the current NUC legal framework, if someone established an illegal institution, the only thing the Commission could do was to clampdown on that institution and then relied on existing laws of the country to see how such a person could be prosecuted.

Besides, he stressed the need for NUC to be vested with the power to criminalise some of the activities of the universities, running illegal and unaccredited academic programmes.

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary told the lawmakers

that the delay in the release of budgetary allocation to the Commission has continued to hamper its ability to carry out programme accreditation for the 2014 in line with its mandate of ensuring quality assurance.

He noted that only N37 million had so far been released to the Commission for overhead in 2014, stressing that this was grossly inadequate to carry out programme accreditation in the institutions.

Okojie said: “We have some challenges because we have been experiencing the release of the allocation in arrears for about three months on the average. As at date, we have only received allocation up to the month of May. We have not received fund for June, July and August.

“The greatest challenge we have right now is about how to carry out our quality assurance mandate, in terms of accreditation. If you look at our overhead, it cannot take care of our operations and at the same time allow us to carry out the usually expensive programme accreditation since one single accreditation exercise will gulp about N400 million.

“Usually, programmes qualify for accreditation at different

times of the year. Some may be in the beginning of the year, despite we have not been able to carry out the accreditation due to paucity of funds and delay in release of funds.”

Okojie explained that it is only when the Commission has a quantum of money that it could be able to embark on programme accreditation.

The Executive Secretary said the Commission has been running from pillar to post to ensure that programme accreditation is carried out, adding that “ it will set a very dangerous precedence if NUC is not been able to carry out accreditation of programmes in our universities as at when due.”

According to him, what this suggests is that students will graduate from programmes without due accreditation.

He, however, expressed hope that before the end of year, the Commission should be able to carry out the accreditation based on availability of funds.

Suleiman, who expressed dismay over the delay in the release of allocation to the Commission, insisted that such had impacted negatively on the performance of ministries, department and agencies (MDA).

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

UNN alumni plan to rebuild Zik’s hostel Uwakwe Abugu

I

The abandoned Zik Hostel

 Award scholarships to students as well as donation of books and award of scholarships, among others,” he said.

Oru, who led members of the association on a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor, commended Prof. Ozumba over his recent appointment, and described him as “a perfect gentleman whose personality is required by the institution at this time.

He said: “The association is ably equipped with the requisite experience to assist in several ways in terms of information flow, human capital, materially and otherwise. We shall offer and dedicate every effort needed by this administration towards the restoring the eroded standards and infrastructural development.”

As part of the developmental programmes rolled out by the association, Oru presented cheques for the scholarship to six deserving students of the university across various departments.

Responding, Vice-Chancellor noted that alumni of every institution are main stakeholders in the institution, while he stressed that the recognition of the alumni by any institution is

Ozumba, VC

the beginning of wisdom.

Ozumba, who assured the visitors of his administration’s plans to lay the foundation stone of the new Senate building very soon, praised the alumni for their magnanimity, saying they are sowing a seed in the lives of the students who were offered scholarship.

He urged the recipients (students) to fly the flag of the university wherever they go, even as the Vice-Chancellor pledged that his administration would

ensure 100 per cent ICT connection of the institution within a few months, while the students would pay ICT services at a reduced rate of 50 per cent, and the members of staff would pay an affordable price in order to boost research.

He reiterated the university’s commitment to build a functional research centre, adding: “UNN has the best library in West Africa and I trust that the university can also have the best agricultural farm through the production of fresh milk, meat and egg.”

Members of executive of the alumni association during the visit include the National Financial Secretary, Alhaji N. A. Gbadamosi; National Secretary, Chief Emeka Nwanevu; President UNAA Makurdi branch, Nathaniel N. Afaor; President UNAA Enugu branch, Comrade Patrick Okey Emeter; former President Nsukka Alumni, Associate Prof. Chris Uzondu; National Legal Adviser, Mr. Greg.

G. Okoro; Warri President, Omon-Irabor Casely Esq; SouthWest Zonal Vice-President, Elder Biodun George-Akintola (JP); UNN-USA Treasurer, Jonathan Okpukpara and VicePresident Atlanta UNN-USA, Kate Okpukpara, among others.

N67bn TETfund account unaccessed, Executive Secretary

Bogoro

Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

T

ertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Executive Secretary, Professor Suleiman Bogoro, has disclosed that the fund has in its coffer a whooping sum of N67

Mojeed Alabi

he leadership of the NaTtechnic tional Association of PolyStudents (NAPS) and

ENUGU

f the current plans of the Alumni Association of the University of Nigeria (AAUNN), Nsukka, is anything to go by, the age-long abandoned Zik’s Flat Hostels at the Nsukka campus of the university will soon wear a new look.

The association has unfolded plans to reinvent history by rebuilding and remodeling the hostel donated to the institution some decades ago by the founding father of the university, late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

The move of the UNN alumni to rebuild the hostels, is said to have been received with jubilation by the university community, especially the students and those who have continued to lament over the abandoned facilities which has remained the talk of the town among the students since the 1980.

However, lack of hostel accommodation has remained the bane of some of the students of the institution, due to neglect amplified by the abandoned hostel facilities by succeeding administrations in the institution.

Worried by the development, they said the uncompleted building has become habitat for rodents, reptiles and hoodlums, a situation that negates the motive of the late nationalist and first President of the country, who built the hostels which if completed, would have accommodated some hundreds of students.

Announcing the move by the alumni association to reconstruct the building, the President of the association, Chief Andrew Oru, explained that the group would partner with the current administration, led by its Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

Benjamin Ozumba, to effect “improvement and complete overhaul of the Information Technology infrastructure of the institution.

“We will embark on re-modeling and revamping of the hostel accommodation with an immediate investment in the Ziks Flats as a pilot scheme, construction of an Alumni Centre

EDUCATION 23 NAPS, ASUP praise YABATECH rector

billion that has laid there unaccessed by various tertiary institutions in the country.

According to Bogoro, who disclosed in Abuja while receiving members of House Representatives Committee on Education, led by its Chairman, Mr. Aminu Suleiman, who were at the Commission as part of their oversight functions, the trend has become worrisome in view of the general outcry of poor funding to education, and especially tertiary institutions.

He said this had resulted to incessant strikes by the various workers’ unions over the years and decayed facilities.

He told the Committee that TETFund has not recorded

any failed or abandoned project in any of the institutions across the country due to its stringent guidelines for the disbursement of its funds and execution of projects.

Bogoro, however, called for collaboration of the National Assembly towards the execution of the mandate of the Commission, specifically designed to transform tertiary education in the country.

He reiterated the commitment of the Commission towards ensuring transparency and due process in the application of the funds.

Suleiman, in his remarks, said the National Assembly was concerned with the unfortunate state of the educa-

tion sector, even as he pledged that his Committee would continue to do all it could to assist in the concerted effort to return the country’s education to its glorious past.

The lawmaker, expressed delight that TETFund has justified the reason for its establishment, applauding the management team for transparent and prudent management of the resources allocated to the commission.

He said several tertiary institutions in the country would have collapsed if not for the intervention of TETFund, assuring that the National Assembly would ensure that nothing impedes the smooth operation of the agency.

the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has applauded the leadership style of the Rector, of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr. Margaret Kudirat Ladipo.

NAPS in a statement by its Senate President, Salahudeen Lukman, said through her administrative competence, Ladipo, has set a high standard for other institutions to emulate.

Lukman gave the commendation shortly after a nationwide campus tour of the association.

His words: “On stepping into the campus of great YABATECH, everything appears exceptional, the beauty of the campus and the standard of the academic activities call for a revisit.

“Despite the age of the institution and with the constraints of land space, it is gratifying to note that the entire landscape has been modernised.

So, we feel this college has set standards that all other polytechnics should aspire to meet especially as they are clamouring to become degree awarding institutions.

“Our inspection team, thereby, conferred the crown of outstanding performance on the management team, staff and students of the great college, led by Dr. Ladipo.”

In a related development, the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Comrade Chibuzor Asomugha described Dr. Ladipo as a pace setter and prudent manager of resources.

He gave the commendation during the 77th National Executive Council of the union in Lagos, where Asomugha said he was astounded by the ‘sudden transformation of the YABATECH’ in the last few years.

He lauded the Rector for her support for the union during the last strike in the polytechnic sector, saying: “We know the efforts you and the Chairman of Council, Chief Ebenezer Babatope made in ensuring that the lecturers returned to class.”

He added: “We are aware of the efforts you personally made to restore ASUP at YABATECH. We are also aware that you are an influential member of the Committee of the Heads of Polytechnics (COHEADS).

We want to say thank you for what you have been doing and your contributions to the larger polytechnic community.”

Dr. Ladipo, Rector

24 EDUCATION

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

LASU, experts unite against Ebola disease Kayode Olanrewaju

T

he need to conduct comprehensive research on fruit bats, especially at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) with the largest concentration of bats in West Africa, and other communities in the country, has been stressed by medical experts.

Such research, they said had become imperative, to determine whether the Nigerian fruit bats are reservoirs of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) ravaging some West Africa countries, including Nigeria, as well as intensifying scientific research into vaccines that could cure the disease.

This was part of the consensus of the experts from medical professionals, last week, who relocated their offices to the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos, for a one-day seminar on how to curtail the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

The one-day event, tagged: “One-Day Seminar on Ebola Virus Disease,” was organised by the authorities of the university, as part of the efforts of the institution to reduce the myths characterizing the disease, its mode of transmission and prevention.

At the seminar were principal officers of the university, led by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Oladapo Obafunwa, members of staff and students, who thronged the university’s new auditorium, the venue of the seminar.

They include Deputy ViceChancellor (Academic), Prof.

Senapon Bakre; Deputy ViceChancellor in charge of Administration, Prof. Fidelis Njokanma; Registrar, Mr. Lewis Akinwunmi Oladapo; Bursar, Mr. Adetayo Hassan and University Librarian, Dr. Adebambo Oduwole; as well as Deans of Faculties, heads of departments and heads of units.

The medical experts were the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, Lagos, Prof. Innocent Ujah; Dr. Rosemary Audu of Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, who spoke on: "Overview of Viral Haemorrhagic Fever"; Dr. Bola Oyefolu, of the Department of Micro-Biology Faculty of Science, LASU, whose paper was on: "Overview of Ebola Virus - Characteristics and Transmission."

Also in the roll of the guest speakers at the seminar were Dr. A. Arigbabuwo, Chairman, Association of General Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGMPN), who spoke on "Ebola Virus Disease in the Community - Myths and Prevention"; Dr. A. Adedokun, Director of Clinical Service, LASUTH, Ikeja, whose paper was on "Coping with Ebola Virus Disease Epidemic in Hospital."

Setting the tone of the seminar, the Vice-Chancellor, said the talk-shop was organised primarily as a platform for medical experts to sensitise the public about some grey areas about the disease, such as the causes, mode of spread, myths, prevention and how to curtail the spread, as well as generating more awareness about the Ebola virus.

Obafunwa, who described Ebola as a ravaging disease in

 Urge govt to fund research on Nigeria’s bats

600 pupils to benefit from holiday coaching Esther Odili o fewer than 600 pupils in NArea Kosofe Local Government of Lagos state will ben-

L-R: Obafunwa, Arigbabuwo, Ujah and Dr. Audu

some West African countries, including Nigeria, where about five deaths had been recorded, said the seminar has become necessary in view of the urgency required to curtail its spread and reduce the level of panicking among the people.

He described the efforts of the Lagos State Government in curtailing the spread of the disease as excellent, saying without such proactive and prompt response to the emergency, the issue would have gone haywire.

Meanwhile, in his paper: "Clinical Features and Management of Ebola Virus Disease," Ujah, expressed satisfaction over the Lagos State Government and Federal Government response to the outbreak, saying this would be the first time the government would respond to emergency or infectious disease like this.

While lauding Governor Fashola and the Health Commissioner for their proactive response, the Director-General said the country would today have been in a serious mess if the late Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian, who brought the Ebola disease to Nigeria, had come through other states.

He described Ebola as a tragedy in the life of the country and its people, and which must not be trivialized, said it is a Bioterrorism in which Nigeria is carrying the mystery of other countries.

“This is the first time in several years the government will respond promptly to an emergency such as this. Lagos has demonstrated that it is a serious government, because if the Ebola virus had come through other states, the fatality would have been high,” he said.

The experts said the virus could be contacted through blood, body fluid, semen, person to person, sexual intercourse, hospital acquired, and through handling of infected animals – monkeys and rodents, among others.

While warning that the people should avoid eating of bush meats, the experts, who said there is no vaccine available yet for the cure of Ebola, said good sanitation such as cutting of bushes or grasses around our homes, well-fitted windows with nets, regular washing of hands, and guard against contact with

rodents.

While listing some of the most deadly and dangerous species of Ebola virus are the Zaire, Sudan and Bundiburgyo, the medical experts said there is no need for the people to entertain too much fear, but that they should take precautions.

“The incubation period of Ebola Virus is between two and 21 days, but a man who has recovered from Ebola can still transmit the virus through semen for up to seven weeks after recovery,” they added.

They said: "There is the need for aggressive treatment of Ebola cases, while after this

emergency, the response and awareness should be sustained and not subject to the usual fire brigade approach. More importantly, there is high need for the country to reinforce campaign about the disease with a view to curtailing the spread in the face of the widespread myths surrounding the prevention of the illness.

“There is need for a research on fruit bats, the reservoirs of the virus, in order for the country to get to the root of the disease, while our thinking should be scientific than living with the various myths associated with Ebola Virus Disease."

efit from the holiday coaching programme instituted by the council to assist pupils in the public primary school during long vacation.

This was disclosed by Head of the Education Department of the council, Mrs. F. Ajayi in a chat with New Telegraph, where she said that the programme would last for four weeks.

While pleading with parents residing within the council area to register their children and wards for the coaching exercise, she said: “We want to ensure that for four weeks, these children are equipped and prepared adequately for the next school year. And it is available to pupils whose parents are allowed to participate in the exercise and children who are willing to learn. We also provide them with writing materials and T-shirts as a form of identification.”

The programme, which had since kicked off on August 11, according to her, will hold at two centres located at Ogudu Primary School and Oworoshoki Primary School between Monday and Friday.

She pointed that the programme, which had been instituted since 2011, by the Chairman of the Council, Mr. Babatunde Sofola, has so far registered over 2,000 pupils.

UTME: Top six candidates get UI scholarships

Adewole, VC

Sola Adeyemo IBADAN

F

or their excellent performance in the University of Ibadan (UI) Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME), the six candidates who scored the highest marks have been awarded full scholarships by the authorities of the university.

They were among the 8,618 candidates that sat for the screening examination conducted on August 16.

The overall best candidate, Animashaun Oluwakayode Daniel, who applied for Medicine, scored 90 per cent, while the other five candidates scored 88 per cent respectively.

The other five students are

Oteri Efeturi Deta, Ojo Olawale Oluwadamilare, Omitoyin Oluwaferanmi, Aremu Matthew Oluwadamilola and Ajari Erioghene Esther.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Isaac Adewole, who announced the results, noted that no fewer than 9,986 candidates who scored 200 marks and above, and chose the university in the last UTME conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) wrote the examination.

According to him, the university’s admission committee recommended that the top three candidates in the PostUTME into the university should be awarded scholarships.

The peculiarity of the nation’s premier university and the number of highest scorers, he said however did not give any room to pick only three best candidates.

“So, we decided to award the best six candidates scholarship throughout their university education in the university. The scholarship will cover all their needs, including tuition and accommodation,” the Vice-Chancellor said.

Adewole, however, warned that the scholarship would be

subject to the full clearance of the candidates by the institution’s Admissions Office and their sustained excellent performance at the university throughout their course of study.

Of the 8,844 candidates that registered for the PostUTME, 6,267 scored 50 per cent and above, the ViceChancellor pointed out, adding that 2,351 candidates failed, while 226 candidates were absent on the examination day.

Giving further breakdown of the results, he said of the candidates 55 per cent were male, while 45 per cent were female.

While explaining that 71 per cent of the candidates passed the screening examination, Adewole hinted that this year’s result was better than that of the previous year, even as the Vice-Chancellor said the most subscribed discipline is Medicine (MBBS), where no fewer than 1,965 candidates subscribed.

“Of that figure, 1,701 candidates scored 50 per cent and above,” he said, adding that of the 92 best candidates, 74 applied for MBBS, four applied for Law, three for Pharmacy and 11 candidates for other courses.

EDUCATION

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Kalu institutes N.5m award for UNN best graduating student

Kalu

F

ormer Governor of Abia State and Chairman of SLOK Group, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, has instituted a N500,000 grant for the best graduating student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). The

cash award was instituted the award, last week, when the former governor donated 20 sets of laptop and desktop computers to the Department of Economics of the university.

Besides the N500,000 cash award for the overall best graduating student of the university, he announced another grant of N250, 000 to the best graduating student in the Faculty of Social Sciences and N250, 000 to best graduating student in the Department of Economics.

“The awards will continue to run until I die”, Kalu said, while presenting the computer sets to the department.

The business icon, who said the computers were the first products of SLOK Technology with100 per cent local content, noted: “I am proud to present to you a product of SLOK Technology; it is very efficient and reliable and it is proudly Nigerian.”

The former governor expressed the willingness of SLOK Technology to partner the university towards ensuring that every student in the university owns a laptop at an affordable rate.

Kalu had on March 11, while delivering this year’s edition of the Department of Economics Public Lecture series, pledged to donate computers to the department to enhance efficient teaching and learning.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

Benjamin Ozumba, who had earlier received the former governor in his office, thanked him for donating the computer sets to the department, saying his philanthropic gesture and business ingenuity would continue to be a source of inspiration to the younger ones.

He eulogised for giving voice to voiceless Nigerians through the Daily Sun and New Telegraph newspapers.

Oshiomhole set to end crises in state-owned institutions Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

E

do State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has intensified moves that will end crises in the state-owned tertiary institutions.

Towards this end, the governor has ordered the newly sworn-in governing councils of the state- owned tertiary institutions to within seven days look into the circumstances surrounding the strike embarked upon by members of the Coalition of Unions of State-Owned Tertiary Institutions (CUSOTI) in the state.

The move, it was gathered, has raised the hope that the sit-at-home order on the members of the union might soon be over.

Members of the council are to investigate the demands of the striking staff with a view of resolving the impasse.

The union had last week embarked on a seven-day warning strike to press home their demands among which is the payment of the 16-month-old salaries arrears owed the staff by the state government.

The arrears include differentials in the implementation of salary structure of CONPCASS and CONTEDISS from July 2009 to October 2010.

The affected institutions are College of Agriculture Iguoriakhi; College of Education, Ekiadolor; Institute of Management Technology, Usen and College of Education, Igueben respectively.

Oshiomhole gave the order when he swore-in the members of the Governing Councils for all the institutions, at a ceremony which took at the Government House, Benin

City, the state capital.

While administering the oath of office on the council members, he said: “By some coincidence, your board is being inaugurated today and it coincides with the reports in some national dailies that the academic and non-academic staff members of these institutions are on strike over alleged nonpayment of salaries arising from some upward review among others.”

The governor, who noted that workers are entitled to their wages and that his administration does not believe that people should be given a job without being paid, added: “As a matter of policy, I have directed the commissioners on their first few months on assumption of office to ensure that workers’ salaries are given priority in their ministries.”

The governor expressed the belief that the pay day is sacrosanct, saying no reason could be good enough why a worker, whether at the lowest level or at the highest level in an organisation should not attract his pay at the end of a working day.

“So, whatever the reasons could be either non-payment of salaries or not, I want you to investigate and advise me between today and next week so that the government can take appropriate steps to rectify these anomalies,” the governor said.

According to him, “I don’t believe that people should go on strike; there must be something that is not right; there must be something that is not in place”.

Oshiomhole’s words: “I know for sure that we have not defaulted in our monthly subvention to any of our institutions of higher learn-

25

SSCE: Fashola seeks review of teaching methods Victoria Ewoh rked by the mass failure in this Irican year’s 2014 May/June West AfSenior School Certificate

Examination (WASSCE) released two weeks ago, by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola has called for a reappraisal of the teaching methodologies in schools.

He said there was the need for the adoption of exciting teaching methods in schools that would enhance the performance of students in the SSCE. The governor spoke at the opening ceremony of the threeday retreat in Lagos for the State Executive Council and Permanent Secretaries.

Fashola, who canvassed for a comprehensive review of the school curriculum, to include more practical lessons that would stimulate learning, however noted that the current teaching methods that were not appealing to students was one of the major causes of mass failure in schools.

According to him, students will learn better through exciting teaching methods and tools like computers, I-pad and other modern gadgets.

In the just released results by WAEC, only 32 per cent of candidates scored five credits in five subjects and above including English Language and Mathematics.

The governor said: “Performance in WASSCE can be improved with better teaching methods. We need to understand that this generation of students do things more online and less

Fashola

with paper.

We need to teach our students in line with these modern realities. We need to employ methods that they find appealing and would make them learn better."

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 modern teaching and learning infrastructure.

Fashola pointed out that the full results of the 2014 SSCE for the state is still being awaited, even as he expressed optimism that the results would be better than that of 2013.

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 education development in the state, while encouraging students to be more focused and hard-working.

Parents on why summer school is important Shadrack Yusuf espite the fear of the spread D(EVD) of the Ebola Virus Disease and the government diOshiomhole

ing, in spite of the financial crunch which many state government and federal government is presently going through.

“Many states are going through financial crisis. So if we are paying salaries as at when due, it is not because we are richer; actually, those states in reference earn more monthly than we received from the federation account.

We have decided and it has been part of our tradition now to manage whatever we have judiciously.

“We know that a small thing could be beautiful if we manage it very well and that is the reason I am proud to say that we are not in arrears of salaries to any worker in the employment of the Edo State Government.”

He commended the chairman of one of the councils, Rev. Peter Obadan, for his dedication to duty and hard work, even as he urged him to bring his wealth of experience to bear in the repositioning of the institute.

rective that schools should close for academic activities, some parents have stressed the importance of summer coaching to kids during the long holiday.

In an interview with New Telegraph, Mr. Dada Yusuf, a banker, said that Ebola or no Ebola outbreak, his child would spend this long vacation attending summer class at Mbari Mbayo School, Yaba, Lagos, where he is currently attending.

He said: “We are only paying N5,000. I have decided to do this because he has to be preoccupied during the holiday learning the syllabus of the new class. He also has to revise the topics of the previous class, rather than staying at home doing nothing or palying.”

Buttressing the position of Yusuf, another parent, Mrs. Kemi Iyinoluwa, a marketing executive, with two children said her plan is to make the children experience what she called ‘friend interface’ during the holiday.

According to her, after visiting some family members or relatives in the first few weeks of the holiday, they will attend summer coaching for four weeks. But this will entirely be in another school different from

the one they are attending. The coaching fee is N20,000 for the two children, but that is better than keeping them at home watching home video.”

Also, Mr. Joseph Okoronkwo, a business man, said his three children in primary school, will spend the holiday acquiring knowledge and learning by attending summer lesson in their school, where they charged N2,000 per child and see this as the best for them.

This, to me, will help them to grow academically and will also be kept busy throughout the holiday.

To Mr. Akindele Bello, a security agent, the presence of Ebola will not stop me from enrolling my children for holiday coaching.

“They are attending a summer coaching at a school in Shomolu, where I paid N5000.

It is better to keep them busy at this long holiday. We have to prepare them for the next school year,” he added.

But, Dr. Fakiye Omotosun, a medical expert, differs in his views about summer school.

He said: “I will hire a home tutor for my son, because keeping him indoor will reduce the risk of being infected with the Ebola virus. I am paying N2,000 per week for that. But, I strongly believe that learning should not stop because of the Ebola outbreak.”

26 EDUCATION

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Ibidapo-Obe: Nigerian varsities’ survival at risk

Edumark to host seminar on education Mojeed Alabi

head of the resumption of Amary the new school year by priand secondary schools

nationwide, an educationfocused marketing firm, Edumark has unfolded plans to organise a seminar which aim is to discuss issues of school marketing for school owners and particularly their marketers.

Tagged: “The Dynamic World of School Marketing,” the seminar is scheduled to hold at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Lagos next month.

The seminar is expected to address various issues including, growing and maintaining enrolment, using the media effectively in the teaching and learning process, understanding target market and the marketing process and writing marketing plans, among others.

Dr. Ajayi; Ibidapo-Obe; Fasakin, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development, Prof. Tolulope Akinbogun, shortly after the lecture.

Mojeed Alabi

F

ollowing the infrastructural challenges facing the nation’s universities, the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, has painted a gloomy picture of the nation’s university, saying if urgent steps are not taken, the ivory towers are at risk of survival.

Ibidapo-Obe, who is currently the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Ndufu Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State, while urging the universities to choose specialised research areas and innovation as areas of concentration, also advised the institutions to embrace the revolution brought by Information Communication Technology (ICT) in order to impact the society.

He disclosed this in a paper: “Universities of the Future: Roles of Stakeholders,” he delivered at the sixth Registry Annual Lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, last week.

He said: “It is obvious that unless urgent revamping of the system is undertaken, the survival of the universities in Nigeria, the way we know it, is at great risk. One of the gaping flaws in the system is that there is too much of government interference in the set-up and operation of the institutions while such bureaucracy kills innovation, creativity and

inventiveness.”

The don added that future university will always occupy the “driver’s seat” in knowledge generation and transfer because a university is expected to proffer solution to the challenges of the society.

“It is established to provide succour to the society in times of challenges such as poverty, war, insurgency, terrorism, famine, flooding, among others,” he said, adding that Nigerian universities need constant collaboration with other world class institutions and research centres in order to remain relevant.

Ibidapo-Obe, while lamenting poor funding of the university system by their proprietors, especially federal and state government, he, therefore, called on concerned authorities to critically look into the issues of funding, deteriorating infrastructure, university autonomy, students’ unrest and incessant industrial action, among other critical variable stagnating the growth and development of the system.

Ibidapo-Obe also lauded FUTA for its uniqueness, innovation and excellence, saying the university has always excited him for several reasons, which include its uniqueness in the area of research and proposal writing.

His words: “The research proposals I have come across from FUTA are always excellent. To me, this is as a result of

the synergy between the academic and the Registry. I urge you to sustain your tradition of excellence so that others can learn from you. Also, university administrators should strive to look at the future of Nigerian universities with a view to sustaining quality.”

In his address, Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof.

Adebiyi Daramola, who was represented by the Deputy ViceChancellor in charge of Academic, Prof. Adedayo Fasakin, said that “to build a university of the future, there is the need for the university to first assess its relevance and level of competitiveness in terms of output and professionalism.

“Since the Registry is the hub of the wheel that runs the university and a reflector of its reputation and attainment, it is important to build the capacity of its members to ensure its efficiency and relevance,” he said, noting that here at FUTA, “we have long realised this and we are systematically exploring all avenues to ensure we parade the best array of professional administrators all the time.”

Earlier in her address, the Registrar of the university and the chief host of the lecture, Dr. Modupe Ajayi said the need to appraise the system with a view to knowing what is missing and the requirements for improved productivity and ranking, is the collective challenge and responsibility of all stakeholders.

The session will be anchored by seasoned marketing communication professionals, Mrs. Yinka Ogunde and Mrs. Hannah Oyebanjo.

According the company’s Client Service Executive, Ms Tope Abisuga, the seminar would provide stakeholders the opportunity to get tailored answers to questions affecting school marketing.

“Our desire to see schools flourish has been our driving force. We are also aware that each school has peculiar marketing concerns so we would try to address as many questions as possible during the seminar,” he said.

Marketing in today’s world, Abisuga noted, had taken a more dynamic look, saying if one failed to keep up with the innovations, he or she is bound to be out of business before he realises it.”

Proprietor harps on how illiteracy hinders development he high level of illiteracy Parents should teach them Tdemocracy in the country is hindering moral qualities like hard work, and development, integrity, discipline, patience the proprietress, Darforte International School Ahmaddiya Lagos has said. She spoke to our correspondent after the 2013/2014 graduation ceremony of the secondary school.

Her words “Let me say that we need to eradicate illiteracy in this country. With over 40% illiteracy level, the vast majority of our people cannot understand government policies. Illiteracy makes it easy to oppress people especially when they cannot know or pursue their rights. Illiteracy makes poverty very common in society. So, I want government to work harder to eradicate illiteracy in this country so as to promote democracy and development.”

Also speaking, during the graduation ceremony, a psychologist and an education consultant, Mrs. Ena Agodo has called on parents to set good examples for their wards.

Her words “Charity begins from home. No matter what the school puts in place for the children if the home environment is not conducive to learning, the children cannot excel.

So I want to tell the parents to make the home peaceful, neat and caring. Let the children learn how to use their time.

and friendship. Let all parents set good examples for the children to follow” the consultant said.

Mrs. Agodo advised the grandaunts’ on how to choose a career. “The best way to decide the profession to pursue is to follow your natural abilities and interest. Do not base your decision to choose a career on money.” She said.

The consultant also emphasized the importance of deep thinking in the journey of life and advised the graduating students to embrace rigorous thinking as a way of life.

She told the grandaunts’ to have a focus and refuse to be distracted.

The proprietress, Princess Titilade Ijiwole disclosed that the school bought Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) in response to the deteriorating security situation in the country. According to her, the CCTV Camera will enable the management to monitor movement around the school so that appropriate action can be taken in case there is a security challenge. She assured the parents that the school will continue to maintain a very high standard in every aspect of the education of the children.

NGO lauds Lagos for investing in special schools Taiwo Jimoh OrganAicyNon-Governmental isation, the Disability Poland Advocacy Initiative

(DPAI), has commended the Lagos State Government for putting into consideration the physically challenged pupils in the construction of school buildings.

This commendation was made in Lagos during the presentation of a research finding book on inclusive schools for persons living with disabilities

in the state by the group.

According to the group’s Assistant Secretary, Mrs. Emmanuella Akinola, a survey conducted by the organisation on the number of schools in Lagos State revealed that the newly constructed school buildings by the state government have provisions for the persons living with disabilities.

She said: “The Lagos State Government started the programme in 2003, we carried out the research to know if the purpose for which the law

was passed has been implemented. We also want to find out if through the research, the facilities provided for this group of people were properly utilised for them. Our belief is that with this research we would be able to know where the remaining problems are.”

Mrs Akinola, however, commended the state government for the full implementation of inclusive education at primary and secondary schools across the state.

“Since 2003, the state has es-

tablished 38 inclusive units in 31 primary schools and seven secondary schools, while the units currently accommodate about 1,845 pupils with various forms of disabilities,” she added.

The baseline Assessment Survey of the 38 Inclusive Units in the state, according to her, was conducted by members of the NGO and Lagos State Civil Society Partnership (LASCOP), with the support of DFID’s State Accountability and Voice Initiative (SAVI).

Oladunjoye, Commissioner

EDUCATION 27

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Emeka Onwudinjo UNIZIK

I

t was encomium galore last week as the Department of Mass Communication, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, inaugurated its newly refurbished ultra-modern auditorium, named after a foremost Professor of Mass Communication, Prof. Chinyere Okunna.

The auditorium, which was renovated by the Head of Department, Dr. Ifeoma Dunu and supported largely by Prof.

Stella Okunna (immediate past Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning in the state) through her N1million donation to the project, was inaugurated by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku.

The event that took place at the Mass Communication complex was attended by the Director of Physical Planning of the institution, Dr. Godson Okafor, as well as principal officers of the university, lecturers and students of department.

While commissioning the auditorium, the Vice-Chancellor lauded the efforts of Prof.

Okunna and her uncommon feat and support, while urging other departments to emulate Dr. Dunu in using development funds for common good.

His words: "This is a very wonderful event and we thank God because, through the leadership of Mass Communication Department, we are able to realise that mentoring is very important. I know that Prof.

Okunna mentored a lot of people in the department. She also stimulated members of teaching and non-teaching staff.

"Even when she was serving the government, her eyes and attention was here. She donated generously to the institution in the area of facilities, and today the department is really leaving up to the expectations by honouring and appreciating

UNIZIK Mass Communications Departmental building

UNIZIK Mass Communication Dept the best, says VC her role and qualities in this department over the years.

"Today, this department has grown from strength to strength, producing Professors and excellent scholars. I am indeed happy and deeply delighted to be here to commission this refurbished auditorium for the Department of Mass Communication, which Prof. Okunna indeed attracted in the first instance. She served the government and now returned to the department to further her contribution in the area of human capacity development.

"It is on this note that I cut the tape of a centre of research; a place where knowledge will be propagated; where good ideas will be initiated for the development of common humanity

and for the advancement of this university, as well as the development of the people and Igbo nation, and Nigeria at large".

Ahaneku, who assured the students that, under his administration, the university would prosper and progress in all ramifications, warned them to ensure that the auditorium is well maintained.

He urged other departments, specially the Diploma Programme to learn from the Mass Communication Department, on how to utilise university funds judiciously.

He further expressed gratitude to Prof Okunna for always being there for the university and for attracting support from the government to the university.

While lauding her gesture

for the development of the department, the Vice-Chancellor called on others to emulate Okunna and Dunu in their strides in making the department best in the university.

The Vice-Chancellor said: "For in this institution, we must provide the necessary facilities for our students to study properly. As communicators, they have identified their auditorium as an essential facility and refurbish it. I know that what they have done today is to lay a great foundation for good learning in the department and for the Mass Communication students".

In her response, Prof Okunna, former Chief of Staff to former Governor Peter Obi and Commissioner for Economic Planning, pledged to do more

for the department, even as she commended the Vice-Chancellor for the university’s feat in the post-UTME, which to her, was the beginning of the good things to come describing.

She pledged to continue to support Dr. Dunu, whom she described as a young scholar, full of ideas and vibrant, to invest her resources for the common good of the department.

According to Dunu, the auditorium is to create a conducive reading atmosphere for the students.

Her words: "We embarked on the auditorium project so that it would be given a new face look and for a conducive reading culture. Before now, we had ordinary chairs in the auditorium but when Prof Okunna came back from her sojourn as Commissioner in Governor Peter Obi’s administration, I approached her as the HOD on the need for the auditorium to be given a facelift and she gladly bought the idea. She donated N1 million to the department to complement the funds released by the university to make the project a reality."

However, a 300 Level student of the Department and the Public Relations Officer of the Association of Mass Communication Students (ASOMACS), Franklin Onwubiko described Dr. Dunu ‘as very supportive to the students in all ramifications.’

Onwubiko said: "The department publishes a magazine and newspaper and it is doing very well in the broadcast aspect. It won award as best campus radio station in the South-East.

Unlike some student unions that spend their association's levies on parties and social events, but through mentorship in judicious use of students' funds, ASOMACS has in the past two years spent its funds in refurbishing the departmental library which it also stocked with new books."

Your destiny, success in your hands, provost tells students Oladele Oge UNN

F

resh students admitted into the Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu, Enugu State have been urged to work hard in order to excel in their studies.

The Provost of the college, Prof Ben Mbah, who gave the advice during the college 20th matriculation ceremony in which 1,420 fresh men and women took the matriculation oath of the college, reminded them that their success and destiny are in their hands.

“A student determines his success and failure in school ether by working hard or loafing around, wasting time on frivolities,” the Provost said.

He further advised the students: “Do not love sleep or you make poor grade on graduation, learn how to burn your midnight lamp because your success is in your hands and I urge you to go for it.”

Mbah, who reiterated that the college has zero tolerance for all forms of anti-social, however, warned the students to “shun violence, cultism, examination malpractice and indecent dressing, but to abide by the rules and

A cross section of the students during the matriculation ceremony

regulations of the college.

He said it is by obey the law and order of the college that they would not find themselves in trouble, saying the college will not hesitate to show any student or group of students engaging in these acts the way out.”

The Provost reminded students that though the college is a co-educational institution, it does not allow male and female

students into other sex’s hostels without due process and permission.

“There is time set aside by the management for both sexes to go into each other’s hostels and you must strictly adhere to the rule and regulation guiding your movement within the college,” he said.

Recalling that the matriculation could have been

held on March, the Provost attributed the delay to the indefinite nationwide strike by the College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) across colleges of education in the country, which he added lasted for more than nine months.

Mbah told the students and other members of the college community that the college FM

Radio station, the Stallion FM 106.5 has begun a test transmission, adding that the radio station would be run on a volunteer mode, where broadcasting skill, language, culture and extension of activities of students would be nurtured.

“The radio will help in dissemination of information as well as helping to project activities of the college, “he said.

Mbah advised the members of staff to embrace ICT deployment in their academic activities in order to face the challenges of globalization, even as the Provost added that the college has provided more computers and interactive boards as way of boosting information technology in the institution.

“We must prepare ourselves so as to face the challenges of globalisation, if we must become relevant in world economy,” he stressed.

In separate chat with New Telegraph, Henry Agboeze of the Department of English/ Social Studies and Uju Ishiwu of Biology/Integrated science, promised to work hard, abide by the rules and regulations of the college, in order to protect their families’ names and project the college in good light.

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seeks for faculties synergy ENACTUS country director Don for national development visits Rufus Giwa poly A

Ifedi (middle)and staff and students of the university

Dayo Ojerinde

A

s part of its familiarization tour of institutions of higher learning in the country, the Country Director of the Entrepreneur Action in Us (ENACTUS), Mrs. Ifedi Adesuwa and her team were at the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, last week on a courtesy visit.

The ENACTUS team was received at the Council Chamber by the management of the institution led by the Rector, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun.

While welcoming the team to the polytechnic, the Primary Faculty Adviser of Enactus, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic chapter, Dr. Patrick Adeyeye, introduced members of the Enactus Country team to the management.

In his address, the Rector promised the Enactus Coun-

A

worker of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State and the institution’s Chief Supplies Officer, Mr. Olumide Fawehinmi, has been installed the Akungba Charter President of the Rotary Club International.

He was installed by the Akure Charter President of the Club, Rotarian Adams Abu, at an investiture ceremony which took place at the AAUA Guest House.

In his inaugural speech, Fawehinmi pledged the Rotary Club of Akungba’s readiness to take the club to enviable heights during my tenure.

He added that he would adhere strictly to the Four-Way Test of the club, anchored on - Is it the TRUTH?; Is it FAIR to all concerned?; Will it built GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIP?; Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?.

The new President promised that the club under his leadership will embark on some projects in his one-year tenure: donation of exercise books and other writing materials to schools in Akungba

try officials that the polytechnic management would key into the of organisation’s vision and supported in its entire ramification in view of its global recognition and relevance.

Responding, Mrs. Adesuwa explained that Enactus is an institution-based outfit with headquarters at the United States of America (USA), recognised by the National Universities Commission and the National Board for Technical Education.

She explained further that Enactus is a platform to raise the generational leaders being an International organisation that brings together a diverse network of higher institution students, academic professionals and industry leaders, who share the vision of creating better and more sustainable world

through the positive power of business by combining their talent to improve the life of people worldwide.

“Enactus participant are demonstrating that individual with the knowledge and position of business can be powerful agents of change”, she noted.

Also in his remarks, the polytechnic’s Secondary Faculty Adviser of Enactus, Mr. Akintan Akinyemi thanked the Country Director and her team for accepting Rufus Giwa Polytechnic as part of the Enactus programme.

He, therefore, expressed gratitude of the management of polytechnic and the Enactus Country office for creating the sustainable environment for Enactus to thrive successfully in the institution less than a year it joined the programme.

Ajasin varsity staff named Rotary president community; provision of reliefs materials to hospitals and orphanages; launching of emergency disaster funds; hoisting of warning road signs; erection of the club’s awareness billboards; and donation of textbooks on Mathematics and English Language to some schools in the community.

Towards this end, he solicited the support of other Rotarians, friends and other wellmeaning individuals for his administration in its quest to deliver on these promises.

The high points of the event was a national conference take-home experience of the Vice- Chancellor, Prof. Femi Mimiko, who was represented

by Mr. Dare Arowolo of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration of the university; induction of the board of directors; fund-raising and conferment of award of ex-

cellence on the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Sports Commission, Mr. Gbenga Elegbeleye.

university don and guest lecturer of the third Faculty of Arts public lecture series of the Ajasin Adekunle University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, has stressed the need for synergy among the faculties of Humanities, Social Sciences, Sciences and Technology towards achieving the nation’s desired development in the 21st Century.

This was part of the views of Prof. Aderemi Raji-Oyelade, Dean, Faculty of Arts at the University of Ibadan (UI), in the lecture, entitled: “Creativity and the Dimensions of Literacy for Nation Building in 21st Century Nigeria.”

According to Raji-Oyelade, a lecturer at the Department of English, “the knowledge of the abstract sciences, the interventionist grind of the clinical sciences, the enterprise of technology, the developmental engagement of the social sciences, the inventive creation of the arts and other disciples must be fully harnessed for the achievement of national development.”

While urging the creative class to be more proactive and challenged in moving the nation towards sustainable and genuine development, the don hinted that the creative class deserves more engagement and attention by the government and corporate organisations.”

The guest lecturer, however, noted that the emergence of certain literates – the e-literate literate, the e-illiterate literate, the illiterate e-literate and the ‘pretendant’ e-literate, is in relation and reaction to new digital media.

Prof. Raji-Oyelade defines the e-literate literate as the classical networked person, a welleducated and virtual web citizen – netizen of sort, who feels at home with the operative manual of the new media.

Besides, he identifies the e-illiterate literate as a person who has conventional literacy but lacks the lateral literacies of the new media, saying this group of people is capable of finding his path in the labyrinth of the digital space; and belongs to the group of impaired elite; even though academic, he is illequipped with the demands of the digital web-age.

Raji-Oyelade describes the illiterate e-literate as different groups of poorly educated or mis-educated folks, under-educated or informally educated

people, who are self-trained in the half-measure use of the basics of internet and electronic knowledge.

Meanwhile, he classifies the ‘pretendant’ e-literate as the group of people who counts on assistance of e-literates to cover their own e-illiteracy.

The don, who said the cost of illiteracy is mis-education, which is also the foster child of ignorance, added that the 2013 Human Development Index report of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) ranks Nigeria 153 out of 187 countries listed under illliteracies, while the adult illiteracy rate for both sexes is 61.3 per cent.”

He said: “The resultant effects of mis-education include acts of insurgency with its attendant violence and displacement, poverty, individual and group low self-esteem, an irredeemable degradation of people’s cultural intelligence and invariably the retrogression of the intellect.”

He, therefore, stressed the need for laying the general ideology of literacy with specific priority on the cultural education of the human mind towards cultural self-awareness, political will, social sense of worth, and sense of creativity.

He charged Nigerians to embrace all-round education which emphasises versatility and the total development of the human mind for national development.

In his remarks, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rotimi Ajayi, on behalf of the ViceChancellor, Prof. Femi Mimiko, praised the guest lecturer for the stimulating lecture and for sharing his wealth of experience with members of the university community.

Ajayi commended the Faculty of Arts under the Deanship of Prof. Oluyemisi Adebowale, for embracing and upholding the age-long tradition of the university in organising public lectures and seminars and for keying into the vision of the present administration towards make the university a bastion of academic activities that hallmark a 21st Century university.

He said public lecture is an academic feast that must be desired by all academic staff as a veritable platform to learn, share and cross-fertilize ideas, crystallize thoughts, process and develop policies for the nation’s public policy drivers.

L-R: The University Librarian, Mr. William Akinfolarin; Raji-Oyelade; Deputy Registrar (Postgraduate School), Mr. Sunday Ayeerun; Ajayi; Adebowale; and Deputy Bursar (Resource Management), Mr. Tobi Orina at the lecture.

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Muslim students hold lecture, name leaders Moses Adeyemi and Babalola Seyi, LASU

T OOU students during a recent protest

ERC describes OOU closure as mockery of democracy

T

he closure of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU, Ago-Iwoye by the Ogun State government over the persistent protest against the hike in the institution’s fees by the students has been described as undemocratic and draconian.

This position was expressed by an education-focused pressure group, Education Rights Campaign, which insisted that the description of the non-violent protest by the government as constituting threat to the public peace was unfair, and an opportunity for the Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led administration to clamp down on the students’ union leadership.

In its statement that was

signed by the organisation’s National Coordinator and the Secretary, Hassan Taiwo and Michael Ogundele respectively, the group urged the public to prevail on the state government to yield to the demands of the students not to charge fees beyond N50,000.

The statement read in part: “The Education Rights Campaign (ERC) condemns the forced closure of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) by the Ibikunle Amosun administration. We are equally opposed to the militarisation of the campus.

“Governor Ibikunle Amosun should not have described ordinary students and young people who are merely protest-

ing for their rights as "threat to peace". It is highly damaging to the image of the students who are the nation's future leaders and moreover, it is an insult to their parents. We, therefore, demand the immediate reopening of the university and the meeting the students all demands for substantial reduction in their hiked fees and improved funding of the education sector as a whole.”

The group also called on the Ogun State Police Command not to allow its officers to be used against members of the public, saying the legitimate demands of the students should be encouraged “because children of police officers will also benefit from it if achieved.”

he Muslim Students’ Association of Nigeria, MSSN, Adebola Adegunwa School of Communication, Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo chapter, recently held its annual postRamadan lecture to appraise the activities conducted by both the organisation and its individual members and to sensitise them on reasons they should stay glued to the lessons thought by the month.

The lecture, which held on the Ojuelegba campus of the university, featured scholars including Mr. Izkeel Lawal of the Sterling Faith Chambers, a law firm, who spoke on the theme: Living a Life-time in the Spirit of Ramadan, while the Chief Imam of the University of Lagos Central Mosque, Dr. Tajudeen Yusuf also discussed: The De facto Leadership: Agenda for the Muslim Youth in Higher Institutions.

In their submissions, the duo scholars charged the congregation to remain committed to the good teachings of the holy month by offering prayers regularly, fasting during other specified periods and that the lessons learnt must also reflect in their behavioural patterns too.

Yusuf said the Muslim youths by default are leaders and should not behave like followers, saying; “The Muslim community is the best community ever evolved because it forbids for people what is wrong

Shekoni

and enjoin what is good.”

Welcoming the guests to the event, the society’s immediate past President, Musbaudeen Shekoni, said the lecture became necessary as part of the efforts to reawaken the consciousness of the students towards building a just society by encouraging them to be of good characters and good ambassador to Islam as a religion of peace.

Meanwhile, the society also appointed new officers to direct its affairs for the 2013/2014 academic session. They include Abubakhr AddulSalam as the Amir (President); Zaid Adesina as Deputy President; Zaynab Anifowoshe as Amirah (Female President) and Shukrah Ogunleye as Deputy Amirah, among others.

The new executive members were charged to direct the affairs of the society with the fear of God while not letting their academic activities suffer in anyway.

Coca-Cola tasks student writers to sensitise campuses on Ebola Shadrack Yusuf part of efforts to stem the Aolasspread of the ravaging EbVirus Disease (EVD), one

of the global leading beverage companies, Nigeria Bottling Company Limited (NBC) through its franchise partner, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited (CCNL), has tasked student writers on Nigerian campuses to assume the responsibility of sesitising their campuses against the scourge of the disease.

The company, which hosted more than 50 students across various campuses nationwide at the weekend in Lagos, said apart from honing their writing skills and cultivating in them the ethics of journalism, ways of impacting their imme- Officials of Coca-Cola Company, facilitators and participants at the workshop diate environment positively was an important value that ability Lens,” the Executive ways aspire to be better. Ensure must be built in them.

Director, Youth Empowerment you learn every day, because it The event, which was the Foundation, Ms. Iwaola Akin- is a competitive environment."

13th edition of the annual The Jimoh, charged the students Ms. Akin-Jimoh urged the Nation Newspaper's Campus to carry out awareness cam- youth to be at the frontline in Life Correspondents' Work- paign on Ebola Virus Disease the fight against drug abuse as shop, themed: “Towards a Sus- not only on their campuses key stakeholders in the quest tainable Environment,” was but also their institutions' host for a drug-free society. held at the Citilodge Hotel, communities.

Similarly, an award winning Lekki.

She said: “Let us use our journalist with The Nation The event attracted sea- writing dexterity to reach out Newspaper, Mr Seun Akioye, soned writers and communi- to the public on the issues that reiterated the importance of cation experts, who instilled matter. And not only Ebola, but ethics to quality writing. ethos of discipline and the other health related issues like “Let these ethics remain at culture of community service drug abuse and cancer, among the back of your mind. Ensure in the participants. others. Remember that the pro- they guide you. Do not take In her lecture entitled: “Re- gramme must amount to a sig- bribe and stay objective in your thinking Active Healthy Life- nificant change in your lives. reports,” she added. style: Through the Sustain- Never remain on one spot, alThe Community Affairs

Manager of Coca-Cola, Mr. Emeka Mba, said the company (was) aware of the potentials that reside in the youth and that the initiative was one of the cardinal programmes of the organisation's corporate social investments in the country.

He said: “NBC and CCNL are happy to be involved in initiatives that serve to empower the youths and point them in the right direction towards our collective wish for a drug-free and non-cultist generation.

“Speaking about our achievement on the scale of one to ten, I will say we have eight over ten. This is because

we need more of government participation and collaboration in driving some of our objectives. A concept we coined and defined as “the golden triangle”, which seeks to attain that strategic partnership between business, civil organisation and government cannot be overemphasized because we can’t do without the government.”

He, however, encouraged the participants to be good ambassadors of the newspaper and report happenings in their environment objectively.

The Coordinator, Writers Segment of The Nation Newspaper, Mr. Agbo Agbo, urged the students to embrace the culture of reading, saying avid reading equals good writing.

"We must obey all journalistic rules and we should also focus on news story, feature story, investigative story and not opinion writing," he advised them.

Also, the Editor of The Nation Campus Life section, Mr. Wale Ajetunmobi, who spoke on the theme: “Writing and Phone/E-mail Communication Rules and The Ethics of Journalism Practice," encouraged participants not to be carried away by the dark sides of social media but to deploy them to their advantage.

Meanwhile, the participants lauded the initiative, pledging their readiness to build on the lessons learnt at the workshop.

30

EDUCATION

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

School owner urges FG to free Chibok girls John Edu and Sinmiloluwa Sokunbi

T

he Federal Government has been told to accede to the demand of the Boko Haram Islamic sect, to swap the about 276 school girls abducted by the insurgents from the Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State almost five months ago for their members currently in the custody of security agents.

The Administrator of Petros Hall Schools, Egbeda/Idimu in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos, Mrs. Elizabeth Irabor, made the plea during the school’s graduation/prize-giving day ceremony, which took place at the school premises.

Mrs. Irabor said: “I’m not impressed by the attitude of our leaders towards the issue of the abducted Chibok girls. It’s been over 100 days that these girls were abducted and the government has not done enough in ensuring the girls were brought back.

“The best bet would have been to accede to the leader of the group, Abubakar Shekarau’s demand that the girls be swapped for his men, who are being held by the security agents. The President and members of his cabinets should do

everything possible to bring back the girls. It is high time the girls were rescued, because if not most of them will end up being impregnated by the terrorists. Some may even be killed for refusal to oblige their desires. A good number of them may even be lured into one form of crime or the other, and such an experience will leave indelible memories in their young minds.”

On measures put in place by the schools to ensure the safety of the pupils and protect them from being kidnapped, Mrs. Irabor said that part of the school’s policy is for parents to bring their children to school in the morning and pick them in the afternoon.

But, in a situation a parent wants someone else to pick her child or children from school, such parent has to come with that person to the school for proper introduction and idetification.

Her words: “When parents cannot come to pick their kids, messages are sent to the school on time, to notify us of who will come for the kids. No teacher leaves the school until every pupil, in each class has been picked.”

The proprietress, who said

the management, had heard several false rumour about Boko Haram writing to schools, threatening to invade or abduct pupils in the South West, said Petros Hall Schools, had started teaching the pupils, including nursery classes, about Boko Haram.

This was even as the school had hired more security personnel to man the school gate and maintain security in the school.

She added: “We want th2e pupils to know the activities of the Boko Haram members and how they can be avoided.”

While lamenting that Boko Haram came into being due to its detest for Western Education, she argued that without education, the people would not only be blind, they would also be unaware of what is happening in their society.

She added: “I can’t understand why anyone would want or support the scrapping of western education in the country. The effect of that on the society and economy will be devastating. Even the Boko Haram men are making use of gadgets from the western world to carry out their evil and inhuman acts.

Why should they say western education should be discouraged in the first place?”

Mrs. Unemadu surrounded by the pupils to cut the anniversary cake

Author accuses publishers of making writing unattractive Abike Olubade

O

ne of Nigeria’s budding writers and author of two novels - Societal Fragments and A Man Like Me, Adebayo Coker, has criticised Nigerian publishers for what he described as the imposition of some unfriendly conditions, which he insisted could hamper the potentials of the nation’s young writers.

The author, who lamented his difficulty to get his works published in Nigeria, said the same manuscripts were accepted without demand for a penny

by American publishing firms.

According to Coker, his love for writing had propelled him to seek help across the country’s border, when many of the publishers he approached turned him down.

He said: “Once you are not

Coker

yet an established writer the chance of getting encouragement from Nigerian publishers could be very slim. It is either they despise you or they impose unaffordable charges on you.

And this is very bad for a country where the reading culture is at its low ebb. The publishers too are already complaining of low patronage even when the situation is created by them.”

However, since Coker’s books have arrived Nigeria

from America, he said he has also become his own marketer and promoter, saying the few book sellers he approached were pricing below production costs.

The graduate of the Department of English from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, and holder of Masters in Public Administration from the University of Lagos, explained that he chose to quit his job with one of the country’s leading communication firm, MTN, to pursue his writing career “because that is where I receive peace and fulfillment.”

He, therefore, enjoined the government and corporate organisations to encourage young writers with relevant scholarship programmes as parts of efforts to build a virile reading and writing community for the country.

EDUPEACE

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

Shame upon shame

T

he West African Examinations Council (WAEC) recently announced the results of the May/June 2014 examinations conducted by the body. The results are a national tragedy, our collective shame.

Almost 70 per cent of the candidates failed to obtain five credit passes in English Language and Mathematics. Specifically, only 529,425 candidates (or 31.28%) of the 1,605,613 candidates whose results were fully processed technically passed, that is, in five subjects including the two compulsory subjects.

“While 649,156 candidates representing 38.81 per cent of the total number who wrote the exams obtained five credits with English Language and Mathematics in 2012, 610,334 candidates representing 36.57 per cent passed the examinations in 2013. In other words, 61 per cent failed in 2012, about 63 per cent failed in 2013 while about 69 percent failed in 2014”, the WAEC Head of the National Office, Mr Charles Eguridu, said at a press conference.

Rather than stop at doing his work, Mr Eguridu went on to add a bit of what I am constrained to say a “dorononsense” when he attempted to rationalise the situation. According to him, “we cannot totally say that the students performed woefully because when you compare the performance of Nigerian candidates with others in the sub-region…we can say it was never a bad performance for Nigerians after all.”

When did we begin to measure our standards with “other English speaking countries within West Africa” that we are obviously more blessed than?

The warped logic is analogous to someone rationalising our security situation by saying afterall, we are still better than Somalia. When does Somalia become the basis of comparison?

It is a shame that part of our national problems is that rather than address issues frontally, we justify the unjustifiable and rationalise the irrational. This is not desirable.

The truth is that students could not have performed better because we have not significantly done better in the education sector between 2012 and now. It has been business as usual and stagnant water can only get messier.

Those who express shock and outrage about the results should learn from Albert Einstein. He said the definition of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”.

Scores of problems can be attributed to the increasing failure rates but I prefer to sum them all up as ATTITUDE. On attitude, there is this small but profound truth that if A B C D E F G H I J KLMNOPQRSTUVWXY Z is equal to 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26, H+A+R+D+W+O+R+K will be 8+1+184+23+15+18+11 =98%; K+N+O+W+L+E+D+G+E will be 11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5

Attitude is everything and your attitude determines your altitude =96%; G+O+O+D+L+U+C+K will 7+15+15+4+12+21+3+11 = 88%.

What then makes 100 per cent? Money, wealth, success?

None of them is 100%. It is attitude! A+T+T+I+T+U+D+E is 1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 =100.

Attitude is everything and your attitude determines your altitude. What is our general attitude to education? It is negative and shameful. The negative attitude is on the part of the government, the teachers, the parents, the students themselves and the entire society. Serious learning is deemed a waste of time by a vast majority in a situation where dropouts and “educated illiterates” call the shots.

Then, as if the poor performance in WAEC is not enough, another shame that assails our national conscience is the failure of the Federal Government to pay the allowances of the 322 Nigerian students who are on scholarship in Russia.

According to media reports last week, the (un)lucky students who won the competitive Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarships Award two years ago have been struggling to survive in Putin’s country.

Some of them are “circumventing the laws”, a euphemism for engaging in crime, to survive.

A student of Medicine and Surgery at Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, David Ikenna, laments that they are exposed to risk. “The Nigerian government has failed us miserably”, he said.

“Even with the illegal jobs we still find it hard to make ends meet. It is shameful that we have got no alternatives but to beg for food and money from Ghanaians, Namibians, Ugandans and Sierra Leoneans who are on the same bilateral education scholarship like us”, he added. It is truly shameful.

If our best students are made to suffer abroad after winning competitive scholarships on merit, the signal we are sending to the younger minds is that education does not matter. If education doesn’t matter, then there is no point striving and toiling to excel in it so as not to end up in Russia!

To revamp our education sector as evident in the results of the WAEC students and the Russian shame, we all need attitudinal change.

FEEDBACK

Re: Big men, small character Dear Sir, after reading your article today, “Big men, small character”, I wonder how the next generation of our youth will learn to survive the waves of challenges ahead to come. God bless.

Adekunle

BUSINESS Wednesday, August 27, 2014

What's news African telecoms market revenues to hit $65bn by 2018 The sub-Saharan African telecoms market is leading the world in growth while also transitioning, with growing revenue from mobile data services increasingly matching mobile voice growth, according to a report by research firm, Analysys Mason.

}p-32

Global prices of maize, rice, wheat collapse –IMF Prices of food items such as maize, rice and wheat have fallen, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said, fuelling the believe that the world may experience deflation.

}p-32

Ebola: Ship owners insert clauses, increase freight Ship charterers have been compelled by Shipowners to nominate alternative safe discharge ports and pay more for their voyages to Nigerian and other West African ports.

}p-38

FG unveil electrooptic surveillance plane to fight sea robbers A new aircraft to tackle high-seas pirates and oil thieves off the country’s coast has been unveiled.

The high-tech plane is one of the seven to be jointly operated by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Air Force.

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PROMISING Nigeria currently has a total local fish production estimated at 600,000 metric tons per annum Bayo Akomolafe

C

hile’s jack mackerel exports have fallen by 26.4 per cent to N11.7 billiob ($73.3 million) in the first five months of this year as Nigeria radically reduced its fish import.

A data from Chile’s Under Secretariat for Fisheries and Aquaculture (USFA) revealed that Nigeria’s cut in export represents the biggest drop in Chile’s fish exports year-on-year.

Some companies engaged in jack mackerel export to Nigeria have been forced to shift volumes from frozen to fishmeal.

Nigeria currently has a total local fish production estimated at 600,000 metric tons per annum, which is expected to rise to about 700,000 metric tons next year, while the importation is estimated at 700,000 metric tons.

However, it is believed that if fish is readily available, the nation’s consumption may rise to 2.6 million tons valued at $612 million, with a per capita consumption of 13.5 kilogrammes.

It was learnt that Chile’s sales of jack mackerel specie to Nigeria were down 28.1 per cent year-on-year by end of May, due to contract cancellations in the African market.

Chile’s frozen fish export markets are Nigeria, US, South Korea, Spain and others.

SINKING FUND Lenders would not contribute to the sinking fund beyond 10 years

BUSINESS CREW AYODELE AMINU, Deputy Editor (Business)

Chris Ugwu

Simeon Ogoegbulem, Dep. Business Editor

T

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

he banking sub-sector of the financial services industry has lost about N179 billion in the past eight months following the sell pressure that has charecterised trading activities on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

Checks by our correspondent last Monday, showed that

31 NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/business

‘Agric, real sector key to Nigeria’s growth' }p-34

ayodele aminu, Deputy Editor, business

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

Nigeria’s cut in fish import costs Chile N11.7bn Nigeria started introducing restrictions on fish imports in late 2013, capping fish imports to between 125,000 and 180,000 tons in the first half of the year.

Having 52 per cent share of Chile’s frozen exports, jack mackerel is the most important pelagic specie for human consumption.

Jack mackerel is supposed to emerge as a promising resource for frozen exports for 2014.

Lamenting, Blumar’s Sales

and Marketing Director, Eduardo Goycoolea, said that the Nigerian restrictions had affected trading.

He said: “Frozen jack mackerel exported to Africa has performed fairly well, as there has been an important change since five years back, when prices averaged $500 per ton and now they have reached prices ranging from $1,400/t to $1,500/t.”

In a report by Austevoll, the owner of Chilean pelagic pro-

ducer, FoodCorp, said its frozen sales had been hit by the Nigerian restrictions.

The report noted: “As of the start of 2014, Nigeria introduced import quotas for fish, resulting in a decline in sales volume for frozen horse mackerel at the end of June 2014, when compared with the same period in 2013,” said the report.

“The company has chosen to CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

L-R: Retail Cluster Head, FCT 3, Abuja, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr Inyang Aniedi; Branch Manager, Wuse 2, Mr Ogazi Oseiza and Co-ordinator, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Abuja, Mr Enweonwu Azubike, at the NYSC Interplatoon session at the NYSC Orientation camp, Kubwa in Abuja.

Banking sector lost N179bn in eight months the sub-sector, which opened at N2.939 trillion in market capitalisation on January 2, 2014, when the stock market commenced business this year, has depreciated in overall growth value to N2.760 trillion due to market depression, losing about N179 billion or 6.5 per cent year to date.

Meanwhile, market analysts believe that the run in equities market might not be unconnect-

ed with recent reports that the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) may have began to offload some of the shares it acquired from the non-performing loans of banks and other companies due to the upsurge in prices of shares quoted on the local bourse.

According to reports, AMCON spokesperson, Mr Kayode Lambo, who confirmed the upsurge in the share prices of

listed stocks, said that the corporation knew that the stock market has started bouncing back.

He added that the shares that AMCON acquired by way of buying non-performing loans are being sold or will be sold.

AMCON is holding shares in many quoted companies.

The shares were used as colCONTINUED ON PAGE 32

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

32 business | NEWS PROSTECT Telecoms service revenue in the SSA market will increase at a 6 per cent compound annual growth rate Jonah Iboma

T

he sub-Saharan African telecoms market is leading the world in growth while also transitioning, with growing revenue from mobile data services increasingly matching mobile voice growth, according to a report by research firm, Analysys Mason.

The report titled: “Sub-Saharan Africa telecoms market: trends and forecasts 2013–2018,” said the African telecommunications market was set to be one of the main growth success stories for the telecoms sector in the next five years.

Telecoms service revenue in the SSA market will increase at a 6 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during the period, jumping from $49 billion in 2013 to more than $65 billion in 2018, according to Analysys.

It identified increased 3G coverage and capacity, the widespread introduction of low-cost smartphones, investments in broadband fixed wireless access (BFWA) and fibre technology as factors that would continue to drive the adoption of fixed broadband.

It added that these developments would help support the take-up of mobile data services, as well as the increasing usage of adjacent digital economy offerings – notably, mobile financial services.

“SSA’s telecoms market is growing faster than that of any other region and will increase its share of worldwide telecoms revenue over the next five years, although this will still remain small compared with other regions,” Analysys Mason regional analyst, Mpho Moyo, said.

African telecoms market revenues to hit $65bn by 2018

The SSA market accounted for only 2.9 per cent of worldwide telecommunications revenue in 2013, increasing to 3.6 per cent by 2018. In addition, mobile penetration in Africa was below 80 per cent in most countries in SSA in 2013, with the exception of Ghana and South Africa.

According to the report, mobile services, which accounted for 86.5 per cent of telecoms revenue, will continue to dominate SSA revenues and contribute an even higher 89.4 per cent in 2018. Mobile voice and handset data revenue will together deliver 90 per cent of the total telecoms revenue growth in the region in the next five years.

Report co-author, Alexandra Rehak, said: “Under-penetration of fixed and mobile data services in SSA represents a major growth opportunity for service providers and other market players, as does the growing demand for valueadded digital economy offerings such as mobile financial services. However, affordability, coverage and effective regulatory and market structures remain major challenges for successful telecoms development in Africa.”

The report draws on Mason’s core forecasts for SSA. It analyses the most important trends that are affecting fixed and mobile telecoms services and assesses the impact of these trends during the next five years.

The report also provides a five-year forecast of over 90 mobile and fixed telecoms key performance indicators (KPIs) for the SSA region as a whole and for seven key countries. It also gives an in-depth analysis of the trends, drivers and forecast assumptions for each type of mobile and fixed service.

Banking sector lost N179bn C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 1

lateral for the non-performing loans that AMCON was mandated to purchase and resolve.

The shares came to AMCON's possession as a result of settlements /resolutions.

When asked the volume of shares with AMCON, Lambo said: "We cannot get you the right figure now, but remember that AMCON did not acquire all of them; some were given to AMCON in settlement of debt."

Continuing, he said: "AMCON acquired non-performing loans, backed by shares of listed companies. The end process is that the corporation takes delivery of the non-performing loans, and the banks, instead of being stuck with illiquid, nonperforming assets, have bonds that they will cash as they make new loans, and use the proceeds to fund the new loans.

“They can create new portfolio of loans in line with CBN's prudential guidelines. And as they make loans, they will be

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

able to fund them."

On the issue of sinking fund, the spokesperson for AMCON, had reassured banks under its debt recovery administration that contributions to the sinking fund would not go beyond the repayment period of their loans.

Some shareholders have repeatedly claimed that commercial banks' contributions to the sinking fund had eroded their dividend. The sinking fund was set up to assist AMCON meet its goals and also ensure that government will not bear the cost of financial crisis.

Under the sinking fund arrangement, each bank contributes 0.5 per cent of its total asset and another 0.5 per cent of 33 per cent of their off balance sheet items to the sinking fund.

Mr. Lambo said that banks would not contribute to the sinking fund beyond the 10 years when AMCON’s assignment would have been completed. He said that the loan (bond) was used to rescue the banks during the financial crisis that affected the financial industry in 2008.

L-R: Managing Director\CEO, Oamsam HQCF Processing Plant, Ayede, Ekiti State, Mr Femi Salami; Special Adviser on Cassava to Minister of Agriculture, Mrs Toyin Adetunji; Commissioner for Agriculture, Ekiti State, Mr Jide Arowosafe; Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina and Principal Manager, Agribusiness, Bank of Industry, Mrs. Lolo Kadafa, during the commissioning of Oamsam High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) Processing Factory, financed by Bank of Industry in Ayede-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

DEFLATION Deflation increases the real value of outstanding debts in the economy.

Bayo Akomolafe

P

rices of food items such as maize, rice and wheat have fallen, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said, fuelling the believe that the world may experience deflation.

In a report by Qatar National Bank (QNB), IMF said that maize price fell 41per cent, rice 31 per cent and wheat price declined 20 per cent.

The Fund said that it was projecting a further decline in global food prices (averaging -3.8 per cent in 2014-15) on record yields.

But a report on food subindex by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said that food prices rose by 9.9 per cent (year-on-year) in July, marginally higher from 9.8 per cent recorded in the previous month.

“This is the highest price increase observed in a year, and an advancement in the pace of price increases for the fifth consecutive month,” the NBS report said.

Global prices of maize, rice, wheat collapse –IMF The global food production outlook continues to remain favourable, with the supply of major grains and oilseeds projected to surpass demand growth for the next two years.

It was learnt that the large declines are feeding into lower food prices for consumers around the world.

This decline comes at a time when inflation is already very low in advanced economies and could turn inflation negative, namely deflation, it noted.

According to the Qatar National Bank (QNB) report, declining food prices have in turn contributed to lower inflation in the Eurozone, the UK and the US. It noted that the trend, coupled with a weak Eurozone recovery and mixed economic data in the US, suggests that the risk of global deflation remains high.

The report stressed: “As such, major international banks like European Central Bank (ECB), the Bank of England and the Federal Reserve can be expected to keep record-low interest rates for an extended period of time.

“Since the peak in 2011, global food prices have dropped significantly, largely in response to recent bumper harvests.

“This is a cause of concern as deflation increases the real value of outstanding debts in the economy, which can in turn reduce the available income available for consumption and lead to lower growth.

“Furthermore, China expects increased production of corn and wheat as a result of favourable weather, while global rice supplies continue to be plentiful.”

For the global economy, the report noted that lower food prices for the next 18 months could mean a higher risk of deflation.

“At the current juncture, Eurozone inflation has fallen to its lowest level in July 2014 (0.4 per cent year-on-year) since the height of the financial crisis in 2008-09, sliding further into what the ECB has described as a 'danger zone'.

“Overall, global inflation is very low by historical standards and the QNB report warns it is heading lower,” the report added.

Nigeria’s cut in fish import C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 1

use parts of its quota for production of fishmeal and oil, a decision made necessary by the difficult market situation for frozen horse mackerel.”

The report added that pelagic volumes have been going from the Faroe Islands, Iceland and the Netherlands to Nigeria in recent weeks.

In its quarterly report, Austevoll explained that Nigeria had issued a new import quota from August onwards, but does not

specify any details.

In December 2013, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, declared its intention to commence the structured embargo on the importation of fish into the country, with the implementation of the backward integration policy for the fisheries sector beginning January 2014.

The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, said that government was working on an integrated policy that would gradually deliver the country

from the wasteful importation and embrace Nigeria’s abundant aquatic resources, which has remained untapped.

To further effectively regulate the importation of frozen fish into the country, the ministry decided to regulate and monitor quantity and species that each fish importer would be allocated to ensure that Nigeria does not become a dumping ground but only imports what she needs and stop the practice of stock piling frozen fish in cold rooms.

33

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

FG begins audit of MDAs projects PROBE Govt moves to prevent fraudulent projects Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

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rojects being executed by ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) located across the country are to be assessed to ascer-

tained their level of completion by September Minister of National Planning Commission (NPC), Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman, confirmed the impending project monitoring in Abuja when he received the management team of the University of Abuja, led by its Vice Chancellor, Prof. Michael Adikwu, at the commission’s office recently.

The minister said that no fewer than 20 members of the academia have been enlisted in

the team, which will visit projects located across the country.

The idea of incorporating academia, the minister said, was to create a better synergy between the NPC and the academia, adding that this will bring integrity to the exercise.

“20 members of the academia will participate in the monitoring of the Federal MDAs projects across the country with 12 coming from the University of Abuja. The effort is geared towards bring-

L-R: Medical Director, County Hospital, Dr Amos Azun, Senior Sales Manager, Multipro Enterprises Limited, Hypo Division, Jude Nzeata and Chief Matron, County Hospital, Mrs Chinwe Ogbonna, during the Hypo nationwide sanitisation exercise in Lagos

NIPC restates commitment to sustain FDI Amadi Nnamdi

T

he Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) has reiterated its commitment to sustain the inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Nigeria.

Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mrs Saratu Umar, stated this in a keynote address to the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) Trade, Investment and Competitiveness Commission (TICPC) in Abuja.

She disclosed that the Commission was putting various strategies in place in order to make it more pro-active to investor’s needs and demands.

Mrs Umar said that (NIPC) is ever poised and positioned to give a handholding support to both local and foreign investors that have decided to make the country their preferred investment destination.

She stated that NIPC is a private sector company within government, adding that as such, it has a big role to play in the economic growth and advancement

of the country.

She said: “NIPC is one of the strongest vehicles to drive investment into the economy and it is being re-engineered for better service delivery.”

The Executive Secretary who doubles as the co-chair Public Sector of the NESG, Trade, Investment and Competitiveness Commission (TICPC) noted that with the economy being the largest in Africa and consistently among the top three investment destinations on the continent, the economy has shown a strong resilience despite the security concerns, stressing that the NIPC is reviewing the Pioneer Incentives currently being granted to investors in order to cover only critical activities.

In translating the FDI benefits into realities, the NIPC chief executive maintained that it has continued to contribute immensely to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and national product; enhance export potential; promote import substitution industrialisation; facilitate skill enhancement and human

capital development; improve international image; facilitate technology acquisition transfer; increase capital stock; enhance market development and increased tax generation.

Speaking on the various measures being implemented by government to sustain the inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country, Mrs Umar stated that “Government remains committed to transparent, fair and peaceful electoral process as the country is now on the threshold of her fifth democratic transition process, and is building efficient socioeconomic infrastructure and strengthening the financial and insurance sectors.”

She further stated that government has continued to sustain the simplification and streamlining of business entry procedures as the One Stop Investment Centre (OSIC) of NIPC is providing platform for coordinated service delivery and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) is committed to 24 hours incorporation of businesses across the country.

ing integrity to the exercise and also exposing them to the practical aspect not just the theory of what government is doing,” he said.

Speaking, Prof. Adikwu

harped on need for research to be accorded priority in the university as, according to him, if research were given its rightful place in the university system, Ebola virus epidemic

Ebola: FG flag-off hand washing campaign at markets Kenneth Tyohemba he Ministry of Water ReTnational sources has flagged-off hands washing cam-

paign as part of efforts geared towards containing the spread of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country.

The campaign, which is being carried out in collaboration with National Task Group on Sanitation (NTGS) and Wash Sector Emergency Response Working Group was flagged-off at the popular Wuse Market, old Federal Secretariat and the Jabi motor park.

Government said that the campaign is aimed at sensitizing the general public on the need to adopt the culture of washing hands as part of deliberate strategy to prevent the spread of the virus.

Flagging off the campaign, Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, said that government was leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to curb the spread of EVD that has claimed the lives of 1,400 people across West Africa.

Mrs Ochekpe maintained that the Water Resource Ministry embarked on the campaign for proper hands washing as one of the

ways of preventing the spread of Ebola. She enjoined Nigerians to stop the spread of the virus by always washing hands with soap and running water especially during critical times.

She expressed optimism that the war against Ebola would be won, but however cautioned on the need for the public not to be complacent with preventive measures aimed at keeping the virus at bay.

“Ebola must go, but we must do things that would help prevent the spread of the disease.

As we embrace the culture of hands washing, we should also be reminded of the need to keep our surroundings clean,” she cautioned.

Mrs Ochekpe also hinted of government’s plans to sink a bore hole each at the Jabi motor park and Wuse Market to give both the traders and their customers as well as travellers ready access to clean water.

In a goodwill message, Country Representative, Water-Aid, Mr Michael Ojo, advised the public to desist from indiscriminate excretion of metabolic wastes, which is also capable of spreading the virus and restated the agency’s commitment to the provision of potable water.

Foundation’s portfolio hits N1.4bn Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

anaging Director/Chief ExM ecutive Officer of Growing Business Foundation (GBF),

Ndidi Nnoli-Edozien, has put the Foundation portfolio in excess of N1.4 billion which has been administered on behalf of the private sector clients to fund micro-enterprises across the country.

Besides, Edozien said that the Foundation has also provided capacity building and technical assistance services to over 200,000 micro-entrepreneurs at the bottom of the pyramid (BoP) since its establishment.

Speaking in Abuja, she listed Foundation’s portfolio to include, BOP services information and communication technology, energy, water, agriculture, innovation in finance, artisan support and cooperative development.

Conceived in 1999, the Foundation has positively impacted no fewer than 2,300 communi-

ties with an estimated population of two million.

The Foundation is aimed at promoting ‘sustainable economic development led by responsible businesses and individuals.’

To achieve the feat, the Foundation has established strategic linkages with over 6,000 local institutions including cooperatives, community-based organisations (CBOs), Microfinance Institutions/Banks (MFIs/ MBFs) and other rural financial intermediaries (RFIs).

The Foundation in collaboration with Citi Bank recently rewarded some of the entrepreneurs who distinguished themselves in their various ventures at the just-concluded CBN Annual MSME Conference and Awards held in Abuja.

Dignitaries at the 2014 Micro-Entrepreneurship award included governors Idris Wada of Kogi State, Willie Obiano, Anambra State, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Gombe State, Godwill Akpabio, Michael Wong, Country Director World Bank, Sylvanus Ikhide, among others.

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FCT | BUSINESS WATCH

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

‘Agric, real sector key to Nigeria’s growth' Godwin Ukah is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), a renowned economist and tax administrator. In this interview with NNAMDI AMADI, he takes a look at sundry issues affecting the economy. Excerpts How would you assess the economic status of Nigeria?

I think the Nigerian economy is making progress that people are not recognising. Look at Power sector for instance; it is very obvious that power has improved.

Now we are enjoying the benefits of an improved system. One good thing government did was to make sure that those who took up the Discos and Gencos in all the zones are from that particular zone. For instance, the one at the East is handled by an Easterner and so on like that. So, when there is no power in the East, the people will go and knock on his door. Of course, he knows the implication of not giving his people adequate electricity.

Recently, I went to Enugu and throughout my stay there, I noticed that the hotel I stayed barely used generator.

We are beginning to see power stability; I am assuring you that if the trend continues up to December, you will see people going back to manufacturing. Many people are not into manufacturing now because of power constraints. For instance, I came from a manufacturing background, if I had power then, I wouldn’t have been in practice today. In 1992, I was an Assistant General Manager in charge of Finance and Commercial at Ferdinand Oil Plc. What led to the collapse of the company was simply lack of power. Heavy amount of money was spent in fuelling the power generating sets, so when the price of diesel went up, the factory could not cope anymore.

So economy wise, I believe we are moving in the right direction. In telecommunications, it is near perfect, Nigeria is regarded as the fastest growing in the world.

In Agriculture, I think government is doing quite a lot.

The huge volume of loans government has provided for farmers through the Bank of Agriculture is boosting agricultural development. People are beginning to take agriculture seriously and in the near future, the country will achieve food self-sufficiency. The area government should further concentrate on is the power sector. Power sector holds the key to transforming the entire economy. I believe if power stabilizes, people like me who still have eyes on manufacturing will go back to it. You know, manufacturing sector creates massive em-

ployment. In the palm oil production company where I worked, we had so many machines that employed many people. We had 36 expellers, two lines of refinery that turns it into palm oil and palm kernel oil.

What measures do you think tax authorities should adopt to halt the incidence of tax evasion in Nigeria?

It is regrettable that a lot of people are still outside the tax net. Those who do not have anything to do with government are outside the tax net. However, my interactions with both tax payers and tax authorities as a consultant revealed that taxpayers are not happy with government because of the level of facilities and infrastructure in the country. They feel that the money they are paying is not been channelled to the development of infrastructure so that they can get value for their money. So that is just the mind-set of so many taxpayers. On the part of the tax collectors, especially the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), I think the FIRS is doing its best; a lot of reforms have taken place as far as tax administration is concerned in Nigeria.

FIRS introduced the Tax Identification Number (TIN).

Right now, you cannot operate business without it, both as an individual and corporate entity. The tax offices too are also under staffed. They don’t have enough people to go round to ensure that people pay their taxes like what was obtainable then when we had people who go around the streets demanding people’s tax receipts, failure to provide it leads to your been arrested. Then, you dare not move about without your tax clearance.

What we have now is a situation where only people who have need go to FIRS for payment of taxes or civil servants whose taxes are deducted at source. There should be adequate public enlightenment campaigns to sensitise people on the need to generate their TIN, access it themselves and go and pay, because what we do now is self-assessment. I will encourage Nigerians to endeavour to pay up their taxes, as government needs proper funding to deliver services. I know that when people hear of all the controversies surrounding oil revenue they begin to ponder why they should pay more taxes when the available funds are not well utilised. I also believe that when there is an improvement in infrastructure people will be willing to pay taxes. Take Lagos State, for instance, what they did is a model, which states should copy including the Federal Government. Now, whatever you are doing in Lagos, you must pay your tax. It took the authorities there a lot of time to go round Lagos, number the houses and identify everybody who is taxable. Also their tax clearance certificate is like a card which everybody carries about because you can be halted on the street for your tax clearance. Basically, to curb the trend, there should be proper utilisation of funds and then public sensitisation is very crucial.

For the sake of accountability and transparency there is nothing wrong in government publishing the annual account of the country. The Minister of Finance is doing this in piecemeal. She only comes out to say how much money is spent not how it is spent. The question is where is the balance sheet of the federation? There is the need to examine how the inflow was expended and how much was the balance carried forward, that is how it is done in accounting. If we got six trillion (naira) from FIRS and we have whatever number of trillion from oil revenue, why is our national budget always hovering around five trillion?

Are we saying oil revenue is only N1 trillion?

How can multiple taxation be checked in order to streamline layers of taxes currently obtainable which tax payers complain about?

Multiple Taxation affects business negatively, it kills small businesses. Curbing multiple taxation is a matter of policy.

For instance, we are in FCT. FIRS administers companies only, the states which in this case is FCTA should administer enterprises and individuals, but FCT has no tax board unlike Imo State which has an Internal Revenue Board o f

which I was a member, as well as other states that have revenue boards. Companies that are not Limited Liability Companies are supposed to be administered by State Boards of Internal Revenue, so there is a clear cut distinction from what FIRS can administer and what the state Board of Internal Revenue can administer. When you come to Abuja, FIRS also administers that portion that is supposed to be administered by the Board of Internal Revenue. I think they are trying to do something now. If these things are done, the Board of Internal Revenue of FCT will streamline the number of taxes that can be collected. They will now announce it so that people will know what they are supposed to pay. For instance, FIRS collects company income tax, education tax, VAT and petroleum profit tax. Then when it comes to individual tax, it is supposed to be administered by FCT where we live, because tax is based on residence.

So, for a resident of FCT, the tax deducted from your salary monthly is supposed to go to FCT Board of Internal Revenue, which is currently not in existence. I think a bill has been sent to the National Assembly to allow FCT operate like a state for the purpose of revenue collection.

When this is done, this issue of multiple taxation will be a thing of the past.

What is your take on unemployment in Nigeria?

This army of unemployed in Nigeria can be absorbed within two years if proper policies are put in place. The agriculture and manufacturing sectors can absorb the whole crowd. What everybody is running into is the service sector - banking, insurance, accounting and the rest. Nobody is going into agriculture or manufacturing. These two sectors hold the key to our industrial development. The other thing government needs to do urgently is to revive the steel plants that are now moribund. The Ajaokuta Steel, Katsina Rolling Mill, Jos Rolling Mill, Delta Steel and the Aluminium plant at Cross River State, all of them. How do you industrialise without steel? Steel and aluminium are twins that spice up industrial development. So, whatever government can do to make sure those plants are working will be good. These industries need to be working and they need heavy power supply. We have about 774 local government areas in Nigeria and if every one of them is mandated to have an agricultural centre that can employ people, it will go a long way to improve the agric sector and also create employment.

What is your assessment of FIRS’ performances in terms of tax administration and your suggestion for improvement?

I score them very high. I started my business since 2003, that’s 11 years now and I have seen so many chairmen of FIRS and I think the turnaround came under the leadership of Mrs Ifueko Omoigui Okauru, the immediate past chair. She turned FIRS around for the better.

Since that time, the revenue collection has shot up from hundreds of millions to trillions. But a lot still need to be done. Everybody taxable should be in the tax net. Once that is done, that means you have your tax number, if you don’t pay and you are apprehended, there should be some consequences.

How do you see Nigeria beyond oil?

The oil sector has done us a lot of good but the oil revenue aside; Nigeria has everything to be a large economy competing with the United States of America and China. Look at the massive agricultural land, green round the year, rain falls in large quantity enough to grow anything. In Abuja, for instance, you don’t need sticks to plant yam like we do in the east, yet the yam will develop and yield good result without fertilizer. If we specialise in just planting yam in the North, cassava and palm plantation in the East and cocoa in the West, we will produce enough. Now the question is, what do we do with those products? That automatically should be manufacturing. It is the generation into the next stage. When your manufactured products are of World Trade Organization’s standards, then you can export to any country of the world. Exportation on its own is very competitive, what you should now do internally is to reduce your manufacturing cost so that your price at the international market will be low enough to compete favourably with others. Nigeria would do well because our wages are low and they will remain low for quite some time because of the level of unemployment. So if low wages go into the manufacturing process, the cost of the final output would be low. If you then add your margin, your international price for quality products can then compete favourably with international competition. So Manufacturing is the way Nigeria should go.

FCT | BUSINESS WATCH 35

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Curbing multiple taxation in Nigeria Simeon Ogoegbulem Abuja

F

or small business operators across the country, the news emanating from the meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) was refreshing.

NEC is made up of the 36 state governors, Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Solicitor-General of the Federation and is chaired by the Vice President.

At the end of their meeting last week in Abuja, NEC banned the use of non-revenue officials for collection of taxes and levies by states and federal agencies. The act of using nonrevenue officers to collect revenue runs contrary to Section 2 of the Taxes and Levies Act. Revenue collection ban on roads NEC also outlawed mounting of roadblocks by revenue agents on highways across the country.

Until this new directive, business operators have been left at the mercy of revenue agents of the 774 local governments across the country who mount road blocks to collect revenue on behalf of their councils.

The decision of NEC to outlaw the use of non-revenue agents and the banning of revenue collection on the highways were all parts of the recommendations of a technical committee on review of multiple taxations across the country at various levels.

The committee on the review of incidences of multiple taxation across the federation at various levels and its effects on the manufacturing sector was set up in response to the presentation by Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) to NEC. The acting chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Kabir Mashi, headed the technical committee while Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwanbo, headed the substantive NEC committee with representation drawn from one governor each from the six geo-political zones of the country.

Other members of the committee were drawn from the National Planning Commission (NPC), the Federal Ministry of Justice, the presidency, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), MAN, and secretary to the National Planning Commission (NPC) who represented NEC secretariat.

Approved list of taxes, levies The committee had also recommended that tax authorities should publish the approved list of taxes and levies within the states and local governments to educate the public and facilitate compliance.

With the acceptance of most of the recommendations of the committee, NEC directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to dismantle all ‘road blocks’ mounted on highways for revenue collection.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the NEC meeting, Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, who briefed alongside the governors of Gombe, Ibrahim Dankwambo; Kogi, Idris Wada; Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, John Jonah Gboribiogha, as well as the Ministers of National Planning, Abubakar Suleiman and the acting chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), said that council took the resolution following a briefing of the Ministerial Implementation Committee (MIC) on the harmonisation of taxes presented by the chairman, FIRS, on behalf of the CME/HM finance.

Taxes, levies review Obiano stated that some of the findings of the MIC are that: the 1998 Taxes and Levies Act is overdue for a review; there is duplication of some taxes and levies at states and local governments while taxes and levies administered by some states are not backed by appropriation legislation.

His words: “Some of the recommendations by the MIC include: the discontinuation of the practice of using non-revenue officials for collection of taxes and levies by states and federal agencies as this is contrary to Section 2 of the Taxes and Levies Act.” The Anambra State governor further announced that “All states’ revenue boards should be empowered to automate their tax operations for effectiveness, process, accountability and reduce leakages.

NEC further resolved that the MIC committee should work with states’ attorneys-general representing the six-geopolitical zones to incorporate the inputs

Mashi

The irony of the multiple tax is that most of the revenue collected by the agents end up in coffers other than that of the state or local government treasury and comments of the members of the council and report in the next meeting.

The zonal representatives

FG mulls renewable energy for rural electrification Nnamdi Amadi

T

he Federal Government has unfolded plans for the utilisation of renewable energy for rural electrifications.

Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil, confirmed government's plan while receiving a delegation of the Renewable Energy Centre of the Economic Community of West Africa (REC-ECOWAS) led by its Executive Director, Mr Mahamah Kappiah.

He said that renewable energy was adopted by world leaders at various fora to address need for sustainable energy development.

A statement from his Media Assistant, Rasheed Olawale, quoted Wakil as saying: “Our peculiar need to add other

sources of electricity to the conventional routes has informed this position. We are also working on the creation of a Presidential Initiative on Renewable Energy (PIRE) which is designed to create a focal coordinating point as well as provide the needed political backing for implementation of renewable energy projects,” Wakil disclosed.

The minister noted that government will hold a validation workshop for the ratification of the National Policy on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency for quick implementation.

Responding, Kappiah said that the path taken by Nigerian Power Sector Reform is the best option, which most countries are afraid of embarking on.

include Enugu for South-East, Lagos for South-West, Bayelsa for South-South, Plateau for North-Central, Kebbi for NorthWest and Borno for North-East.

The decision of NEC to ban the use of non-agents and removal of revenue agents from the highways is indeed a welcome development. Business operators are already heaving a sigh of relief following the announcement by the council.

Demerits of multiple taxation Aside from cost of power generation to keep industries running, multiple taxation account for the high cost of doing business in Nigeria. At the last

count, there are over 500 different forms of taxes paid by Nigerians in the course of moving goods.

The taxes vary from one local government and state to the other. Thus, the more one move goods from one local government or state to the other, the more taxes are paid. The irony of the multiple tax is that most of the revenue collected by the agents end up in coffers other than that of the state or local government treasury.

In most cases, the local government chairmen see revenue collection on the highways as the easiest way to compensate the thugs who worked for them during elections. With such background, it is therefore not surprising that most of the revenue so generated develop wings and remain unaccounted for.

Stories have been told of how goods worth millions of naira have been impounded by revenue agents on the nation’s highways simply because the motorists who have been paid to convey the goods could not pay for one tax or the other to the council agents.

It is therefore a welcome relief that NEC is coming up with this laudable decision to rid the nation’s roads of revenue agents. This initiative, no doubt, will go a long way in helping to bring down the cost of production in the country.

The decision of NEC will also sanitise the nation’s highways of dubious characters who masquerade as revenue agents to attack innocent commuters. It is hoped that the IGP would move fast and ensure the maximum implementation of the directives from the council.

NHF collections rise by 300% in 4 years -FMBN boss Dayo Ayeyemi anaging Director of the M Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Mr Gimba

Ya’u Kumo, has disclosed that the bank has been able raise collection of the National Housing Fund (NHF) by almost 300 per cent.

Disclosing this to journalists, the managing director of the bank said that the collection of NHF has improved from N700 million in 2010 to N2.5 billion.

He said: “The first thing we did was to strengthen the collection process of the bank.

We were able to mop the collection of the National Housing Fund by almost 300 per cent from N700 million we met in 2010 to about N2.5 billion as at date.”

Besides, he said that the bank’s operations have been computerised, adding that the bank has now introduced electronic collection for contributors.

He said: “We now came up with NHF e-card, which we

have started to distribute to NHF contributors and this was launched in January during the launch of Aviation Estate in Abuja.

The e-collection is an effective tool for contributors to the NHF to easily access and monitor their contributions and transactions with the Fund.

It is part of President Goodluck Jonathan administration’s objectives to promote openness in government business, boost contributors’ confidence and encourage defaulters to start complying by making their contributions as at when due.

Commenting on the launch of the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company, Ya’u Kumo lauded the efforts aimed at providing affordable housing for Nigerians and described the initiative as the beginning of a revolution in the housing sector in the country.

He said that FMBN had concluded arrangement to introduce a housing scheme for Nigerians in the Diaspora before the end of this year.

36

BUSINESS | MONEY

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Godson Ikoro

T

he recent re-introduction of N65 remote-on-us Automated Teller Machine (ATM) withdrawal charge per transaction by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has generated controversies, which analysts said should not have arisen on a mere policy review aimed at ensuring a seamless operation.

Justification The ATM charge reinstatement, which came after 20 months review of an ongoing policy is akin to the business of today, which faces changes on all fronts – economic, competitive, regulatory, customer and access to resources.

And just like every company adjusts its strategy to achieve results, the apex bank, having shifted the payment of ATM withdrawal charges on the banks, decided to review it to reflect the current realities. The success of any regulator’s strategy depends on the regulator’s willingness to implement the strategy to achieve its goal of financial stability among others.

Studies have shown that the hallmarks of a good strategist are the “ability to understand the significance of events without being influenced by current opinion, changing attitudes, or his own prejudices. Indeed, the ability to make decisions quickly and to follow the indicated action without being deterred by a perceived danger, is one of the attributes, which Governor Emefiele has demonstrated within his 100 days in the office.

The contention In order to understand the undercurrents behind the policy, it is pertinent to review the arguments for and against the new charge.

In a circular coded BPS/DIR/ GEN/01/010 and signed by Dipo Fatokun, CBN’s Director of Banking and Payment Systems Department, which was sent to all banks, the apex bank reintroduced the remote-on-us ATM cash withdrawal charge of N65 per transaction. The charge, the CBN said is to cover the ATM monitoring, and fit notes processing by acquiring banks.

The CBN and Bankers’ committee had transferred the payment of the charges to the issuing bank. The fee was shared between the acquirers, issuers and switches. Bank however, decided to waibe the issuer fee of N35 in December 2012, which should have ordinarily been an income to them.

Since then, it became an issue in the public domain as customers, analysis, civil rights activists and card holders have condemned the charges, stressing that it was a step in the wrong direction.

Benefits of ATM At the wake of ATM technology in Nigeria, customers heaved a sigh of relief as it helped to improve the turnaround time of banks. Customers on longer crowd the banking halls as some banks made it express that customers who are withdrawing less than N100, 000 should use the ATM. The technology made nonsense of Saturday banking while some banks that still do it reduced the number of branches offering such services. It reduced the customers’ stress, particularly on public holidays. It also reduced the excess loss of manpower on the corporate and individuals as banks saved cost on personnel, by reducing the tellers across branches.

The magnitude of profits/earnings that accrued to banks depended on the quantity of ATMs and distribution of the branch network. Those whose branches are ubiquitous are likely to earn more than those whose branches are few and far between.

To date, with about 13,000 ATMs in the banking industry, the banks that earn more are those who have a greater number with a robust IT that ensures that they are up time is 24/7 Banks’ grouse The complaint of some banks with

Jonathan

Emefiele

ATM charge: Contest, service delivery to improve robust Information Technology practices is that they spend so much to provide these servers, which ensures that their ATMs are up almost all the time 24/7. Because of their consistent uptime, customers of other banks literally abandoned their own banks, (card issuers, where there accounts are domicile) and over-labour the machines and IT of others.

Some banks ATMs hardly functions while there are lengthy queues at the ATM points of some banks. Others even when they work do not get enough patronage. It then follows that; the perceived efficient ATMs are under intense pressure, with attendant costs higher than the others. Although the CBN said that the N100.00 remote-on-us was borne by banks, it was far less than the actual cost of maintenance. Thus, banks with perceived higher reputation saw themselves as being punished for being IT Savvy. Some have had to increase personnel that manage their ATMs. The cost of procuring alternative security to the windows XP OS is another factor. Some have done it, but majority are yet to do so. Thus, the IT Savvy banks are yet to benefit commensurately, hence, they agitated strongly for the return of remote on us to apply so that customers who abandoned their card issuers could go back or pay the price of using their ATM facility. But in circumstances where the card holder’s are from the location of their card issuers, they have to consider to either pay the N65 from the fourth withdrawal or bear the cost of transportation to and from the location of its card issuer.

Banks also argued that the CBN should consider their plight. Given that they are paying the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) levy and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) premium, incuding the impact of reduced commission on turnover, as well as the running costs of infrastructure, they confronted the CBN Governor, praying that the policy on ATM management be reviewed.

CBN’s decision The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, was faced with the very strong agitation of lenders to return the Remoteon-us cost of transaction. Given his earlier pledge to be a listening governor,

Emefiele knew that agitations of banks were true, especially after installing antiskimming devises on their ATMs. He was also aware that 9000 ATMs machines out of about13, 000 ATMs in the country, which use window XPOS were secured with alternative security.

The CBN was also aware that the banks were actually paying the NDIC premiums, AMCON levies and reduced COT. He was also aware that the banks are complying with section 3.2 ATM operations and section 3.4 of the ATM security of the standards and guidelines on ATM. Faced with these facts and given the fact that he was once a bank Managing Director and knows in greater detail what the banks are saying, he had to accede to their request.

The cons According to some analysts, the N65 per transaction is a step in the wrong direction that could hurt ongoing efforts to promote electronic banking and cashless transactions in the country. They claimed that was also at variance with the policy, which seeks to make banking transaction convenient to the average customer. They also explained that the electronic platforms of banks were overloaded.

Besides, they argued that the apex bank should maintain the status quo that allows customers to use the ATM that are most convenient to him them at no extra cost. This argument was predicated on the fact that commercial banks’ profit motive may be the underlying principle of the activities in a capitalist economy, but they still need to perform certain services that would increase the customer base and not shrink it.

The complaint of some banks with robust Information Technology practices is that they spend so much to provide these serves, which ensures that their ATMs are up almost all the time 24/7

Disenchantment Increasingly, the public is getting disenchanted with the long queues to use the ATM. The rising incidence of ATM fraud, as fraudsters clone customer ATM cards and withdraw money from customers account.

They are not impressed by the frequent breakdown, and the message of temporarily out of service or unable to dispense cash is getting on the nerves of people who needed money urgently.

Above all, the most annoying thing about the ATM is the debiting of customers without dispensing cash. Consumers who had been victim of this had to wait till four weeks, with repeated visits to the banks.

The issue of network from telecom services provides to facilitate inter or intra-connectivity for transaction is another problem.

The pros Experts including bankers have however, supported the reinstatement of the ATM charge, saying it was not reintroduced for profit motive.

Specifically, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Financial Derivatives Company, (FDC), said that the reinstatement of the ATM charge was appropriate. He insisted that it was wrong for the banking watchdog to have removed it in the first place.

The expert insisteed 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 keep pace with the global trend.

Rewane pointed out banks are carrying the burden of paying AMCON levies, NDIC premium, while the commission on turnover is almost being removed by the apex bank.

Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, Executive Director of Sterling Bank Plc, 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.

According to him, “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 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.

Furthermore, 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 ratio, 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 banking customers still have one of the best deals you can find in any jurisdiction” Suleiman averred.

Conclusion The apex bank with a helicopter view of the global practice should stick to what will ensure that its mandate and core function of financial stability is achieved and maintained

BUSINESS | INTERVIEW 37

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

NSE should hasten the process of demutualisation –Chukwu the different instruments tradable on both exchanges?

When you compare the two of them you will find out that they are poles apart. So I do not see the Kenya Stock Exchange posing a threat to inflow of portfolio investors in the Nigerian stock market. The Exchange is not in competition with Nigerian Stock Market because they don’t have the depth that the Nigerian Stock Exchange has, neither do they have the breadth that the NSE has. So I'm not worried but that does not mean we should rest on our oars; with demutualisation our market will be broaden.

Mr Johnson Chukwu is the Managing Director, Cowry Asset Management Limited. In this interview with Chris Ugwu, he speaks on the implication of Kenya Stock Exchange overtaking Nigerian Stock Exchange in demutualisation and other issues affecting the local bourse.

Do you think the NSE is doing enough on fund laundering?

When we talk about illegal funds, we always worry on how it will be eliminated or reduced to the barest minimum. They are funds that are not coming from legitimate sources and are trying to clean up its illegitimacy by coming into the stock exchange. We are talking about funds that are coming from illegal drug-related activities, terrorist funds, funds from fraudulent activities like 419. And I think one of the things NSE has done recently is that it insist that every stockholder, every person that have been investing in stock exchange must have a bank account.

And the bank must even indicate even the day the account was opened. Under the KYC rules you must provide identification that show that you have driving licence, national passport or international passport and you must have evidence of place of residence or place of work. So there is a solid process to validate the authenticity of the individual who is opening accounts. It also requires that your first investment funds come from your account and that account will also show that you have a legitimate source of income. These are measures put in place to prevent illegal funds coming to the system. And now that we are talking about e-payment system so that your payments move straight to your accounts, it means you must have legitimate bank accounts.

So if you look at how effective these measures are, I think to a large extent we have seen reduction in possibilities of illegal funds that may come in or through the NSE. I think those measures are relatively effective and must have moderated if not completely eliminated the incidence of illegal funds coming to the market.

Do you think the offshore listing being embarked upon by some companies have a direct impact on the Nigeria economy?

When companies go to list outside, what the companies are doing is to create liquidity for their stocks outside the shores of Nigeria.

The liquidity if it is effective then will stimulate foreign investors patronising the companies in terms of capital injection. Quoted companies ordinarily find it easier to borrow and if Nigerian companies are quoted outside the country and they want to borrow outside, it will be easier because they would have achieved visibility and also achieve liquidity for their shares and again if they want to gain additional capital and their stocks are traded

On recapitalisation of Stock brokers Today, less than 20 per cent of market operators control over 80 per cent of the market. What that mean is that we have fringe market players that their regular income from business of stock market or the process of business of acting as stock brokers as broker dealers are not enough to cover their operating cost, and because of that they are not properly staffed.

They don’t have the necessary control and balances required to function.

So if they did not have the level of income to sustain the effective and efficient of operation as a stock broker, the appropriate thing to do is to merge and become viable entities. So what SEC is trying to do is to compel by way of use of regulatory instrument of capitalisation to bring standard in the business of market operators and to have viable entities that have the capacity to run as profitable organisation. That is why stock exchange is saying that companies that are inactive for the period of six months will be delisted. But beyond that, there are several houses that trade randomly because they don’t have customers order, so in effect they are keeping stock broking licenses but they are doing something else.

Chukwu

offshore, it then means that foreign investors will be more interested and disposed to buying their shares knowing full well that they can actually sell those shares outside the shores of Nigeria and that attract appeal and that’s why they celebrate it particularly when they go outside the country and see favourable responses to the offer, it means that foreign investors have endorsed them and having implemented the same global standards expected of international quoted companies.

Recently, Kenya overtook Nigeria in demutualisation. What does this portend for NSE? As you are aware NSE has been in the process of demutualisation, but for the challenges the market face between 2008 and 2011, probably it would have been demutualised by now and I also know that the management of stock exchange has set up the process of demutualisation. And what that of Kenya portend for NSE simply means that Nigeria has to step up the speed to demutualise. And demutualisation is to make the major stakeholders to be the shareholders of exchange and exchange becomes a quoted company tradable on the exchange and also elsewhere in the world. Like I said, it was slowed down by the challenges where SEC has to start the management of stock exchange and appoint the interim management and now that we have management employed by the exchange, they have given the mandate to champion the process of

What that of Kenya portend for NSE simply means that Nigeria has to step up the speed to demutualise demutualisation so that the exchange becomes a quoted institution to the same standard expected of other companies and that will increase the level of transparency, increase the quality of the management and create more confidence in the market.

Nigeria mooted this initiative about 13 years ago and Kenya just five years ago, don’t you think this will affect Nigeria as an investment destination in Africa?

I don’t think that is a major challenge, Kenya market is significantly smaller market than Nigeria. Kenya economy is a fraction of Nigerian economy. Though Kenya has done it before Nigeria, but Kenya's market compared to Nigeria market is a far cry to what we have. So we have to look at the depth of the market, how many stocks are quoted on the Nairobi Stock Exchange compared to what is quoted in the Nigeria Stock Exchange.

What is the volume of transactions traded on the Kenya Stock Market compared to Nigerian Stock Market, what are

Some market operators still think that authorities should revisit the issue of recapitalization in the banking sector, what is your take on that?

That is medicine after death. The issue has happened, no matter what opinion anybody might have. But the fact is that the law does not pass judgment that will amount to trying to revive the death. So the judge cannot pass judgments that will try to do what cannot be undone. Take for instance, Intercontinental Bank was completely taken by Access Bank, it is surprising to see some people agitating that the process should be reversed, it cannot be revised, you cannot bring back the dead. For me, there is one thing I try to avoid and that is living in the past, whether I say now that the action is proper or not will amount to living in the past. If we want to reverse the action, there will be no end to it, do we want to say go and start paying compensation to shareholders? There are several issues, what happened to the amount of money AMCON invested in the bridged banks to resuscitate and revive them? On what cost do you return the money to AMCON? There are several issues but for me that issue is in the past. The only advice is to assess the processes that was taken to rescue the financial industry and see if there is mistakes and then document those mistakes and avoid the repeat occurrence.

38 BUSINESS

REVENUE Nigeria pays $2.4 billion in eight years to service providers Stories by Bayo Akomolafe

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Customs saves Nigeria $200m at port

N

igeria Customs Service (NCS) has saved $200 million for the Federal Government in the last eight months at the seaports and border.

A customs broker and Deputy National President, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Prince Obums Anen, said that the country had been wasting $25 million every month before NCS took over the administration of the Destination Inspection scheme at port.

Also, Anen stressed the need to harmonise the relevance and operations of the two legislative instruments to achieve professionalism and compliance level on the part of freight agents and shippers in the customs ports and approved border stations.

He said: “We also will want the management team of the NCS to increase their efforts in lobbying the National Assembly and the Presidency with a view to ushering in a new Customs law that seeks to grant partial autonomy in Customs administration Anen noted that government paid service providers $2.4 billion in eight years and urged the Customs boss to work towards bridging the gap between the letters of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) and that of the Council for Regulations of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria (CRFFN).

He added: “However, what we think should attract the attention of the CGC at the moment is the division between CEMA and CRFFN.

L-R: US Consul General, Mr Jeffrey Hawkins, in a warm handshake with Habib Abdullahi, MD Nigerian Ports Authority, during his visit to the NPA head office, Marina

Reacting to the recent media reports, the customs broker also accused the media of fuelling tension on the tenure of Customs’ Comptroller General, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi Anen chided journalists for promoting “avoidable distraction on issues that would not grow the industry.

“I’m disgusted that a cross section of misinformed maritime reporters had failed to realise that Customs and its current management took away the jobs of Destination Inspection (DI) Service providers, a group which government wastefully paid $2.4 billion under eight years, through a very costly fight.

“It is sad to note that most

Nigerians and our resident reporters may not have realised that this young man, Dikko, and his administration, struggled with their last breath to dislodge the service providers from undertaking Destination Inspection in Nigeria. Well over $2.4 billion may have been paid to the service providers in the past eight years and yet young Nigerian graduates are roaming the streets in search of gainful employment.

“The point herein canvassed is to state clearly from our vantage point that the Dikko administration has done so well in the area of revenue collection, anti-smuggling function, trade facilitation, post-audit function, international col-

Ebola: Ship owners insert clauses, increase freight

S

hip charterers have been compelled by Shipowners to nominate alternative safe discharge ports and pay more for their voyages to Nigerian and other West African ports.

They have inserted clauses into charter parties to avoid the risk of their vessel being quarantined in Nigeria and other Ebola-infected areas.

A further clause in a charter party stated that the master of the vessel would not be required to discharge or load into any port where the cargo or crew would be exposed to disease.

It was also learnt that tanker freight rates have been increased for vessels heading to the ports in West African region from the United Kingdom because of the disease, which sickened and killed people within a few days.

It was revealed that many

shipowners carrying clean products now refuse to take the risk of going to West Africa, which could in turn push rates higher.

According to Platts: “Clauses inserted into charter parties by shipowners carrying clean products stipulating that charterers will have to nominate alternative safe discharge ports and pay more for further travel should there be any risk of their vessel being quarantined or detained.

“Some owners do not want to take the risk of going to West Africa because of the Ebola crisis, and that will tighten up tonnage. At this stage, it is not affecting rates, but with less vessels around, they could well rise soon.”

Rates on medium range clean tankers, basis 37,000 metric tons, going to UKC-West Africa were assessed at Worldscale 110.

It said that this rate could rise to around w115-120 soon if fears over the disease spread among shipowners.

It was revealed that Supramax owners were no longer willing to take vessels to West Africa, and that vessels operating in the region could start to receive a premium if more owners pulled out.

On the dirty side, shipping sources said that there would be limited impact from the outbreak, particularly for the Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs).

The VLCCs were said to be safe because they did not come into ports to load, instead doing so at offshore loading terminals.

“The VLCCs are loaded about 60 nautical miles off the coast of West Africa so the Ebola outbreak should not have any impact on them,” said a VLCC broker.

laboration, capacity building and training, infrastructural development and ICT compliance.”

“It is on record that the tenureship of civil servants is either 35 years in service or 60 years of age, whichever comes first.

“In the particular case of the CGC, the truth remains that he (Dikko) is yet to reach 35 years in service or 60 years of age and he has not been found guilty of any offence against Civil Service rules or Customs law.

“The point herein canvassed is to state clearly from our vantage point that the Dikko administration has done so well in the area of revenue collection, anti-smuggling function, trade facilitation, post audit function, international collaboration, capacity building and training, infrastructural development and ICT compliance,” he explained.

1,480 cartridges intercepted Nigeria Customs Service Thashe(NCS), Ogun State Command, intercepted 1,480 cartridges

of live ammunition concealed in 15 bags of rice along the Abeokuta-Igboora bush path.

Controller of the command, Comptroller Haruna Mamudu, disclosed that his men got wind of the illegal movement of the ammunition and had laid an ambush for the criminals, who appeared to have got wind of customs’ plan.

He noted that the smugglers later abandoned the ammunition cleverly stuffed in the bags of rice and fled.

Also the controller said that the command seized nine sacks of Indian hemp at the Imeko area of the state.

He explained: “This is one of the tactics being adopted by smugglers, which we are already aware of. Recently we made the same type of seizure of ammunition at the Imeko area.

“Given the security challenges in the country occasioned by insurgency, the command has re-arranged its anti-smuggling strategy and the result is what you are seeing today.”

The area controller said that the command would hand over the ammunition to the police, the appropriate government agency concerned with arms and ammunition.

However, Mamudu said that the border areas were more secured, saying that those who were into smuggling should desist or face the wrath of the law.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)’s Ogun State principal staff in charge of intelligence, Abdullahi Sardauna, who was invited to the briefing, said that each of the bags of Indian hemp weighed eight kilogrammes, adding that the agency has a good working relationship with the Nigeria Customs Service.

Fuel smugglers burnt at border petrol smugglers have met their untimely death at Tthehree Temitope axis of Idiroko

border town of Ogun State following an accident involving two vehicles.

The trio was roasted when two vehicles used in smuggling petroleum products collided and caught fire while making effort to avoid arrest by officials of the Nigeria Custom Service (NCS).

It was gathered that the smugglers were returning from one of their black market trips to a base between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin when their Nissan Sunny car marked (Lagos) AKD 194 BS collided with an unmarked Ford bus loaded with fuel and the vehicles caught fire.

One of the victims, iden-

tified as Fatai, his younger brother and a woman believed to be a customer died in the resultant fire.

It was further gathered that the unmarked Ford bus laden with 200 units of 50-litres jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) was heading to the same black market when the accident happened.

Sympathisers watched helplessly as Fatai’s family members from Idologun village, a satellite town in Idiroko, came to the scene to pack the remains of their children.

Police officers from Idiroko Divisional Headquarters arrived the scene later in the morning and towed away the carcass of the two burnt vehicles to their station.

BUSINESS | MARITIME

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

39

Maersk raises profit forecast at $4.5b IRONY Nigeria pays $2.4 billion in eight years to service providers at seaports and borders for poor service

M

aersk Line has forecast earnings excluding discontinued operations, impairment losses and divestment gains would total $4.5 billion compared with a previous forecast of $4 billion this year.

The company raised its fullyear profit forecast after its container-shipping lines are rising in Nigeria and other countries in Asia and Africa because of higher freight volumes and lower costs.

Maersk Line, which transports about 15 per cent of the world’s containers, has been

battling industry overcapacity after a boom in ship orders that coincided with the global recession triggered the worst price slump since containerisation became global in the 1970s.

The unit raised its 2014 forecast, saying net operating profit after tax would exceed last year’s $1.5 billion, versus a previous forecast of a figure above that level.

“It’s impressive that Maersk Line can continue to lower costs,” Jesper Langmack, head of investments at Copenhagen- based pension fund PFA, which owns about $450 million of Maersk stock, said It’s certainly a positive news that Maersk chooses to launch this share buyback. It’s a good signal that management constantly seeks to create value for shareholders.”

Maersk jumped as much as 5.6 per cent, the steepest intraday gain since Aug. 16,

2013, and was trading up 4.7 per cent at 14,140 kroner as of 11:52 a.m. in Copenhagen.

The stock has risen 20 per cent this year, compared with a 2 per cent advance in the Stoxx Europe 600 Index.

The company would buy back shares for about $1 billion in the next 12 months as Maersk’s capital structure is “almost too strong,” Chief Executive Officer Nils Smedegaard Andersen said in a Bloomberg Television interview. It will be the first “formalised” buyback in the company’s 110-year history, and it won’t reduce dividend payments, he said.

“We find it highly positive that they show clear commitment to return on capital and distribution of this to shareholders through share buybacks and dividends,” Frode Moerkedal, an analyst at RS Platou Markets, said in a report

Containers awaiting clearance at AP Moller Terminal, Lagos Port

US envoy lauds NPA over Ebola at seaports PROMISE US Government to assist NPA to tackle Ebola diseases

T

he Consular General of the United States of America, Mr Jeffrey Hawkins, has commended the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), for combating the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Hawkins said that the American Government was ready to collaborate with Nigeria to tackle the dreaded disease and explained that this was why the country’s Centre for Disease Control (CDC) provided some experts who are ready to work with the Port Authority on how to handle and control any suspected case of EVD. The Consular General said that Nigerian ports are the lifeblood of the Nigerian economy and the key element in Nigeria’s inflow and out flow of business concerns.

In a statement by the NPA’s Assistant General Manager,

Malam Musa Iliya, the envoy said it was important to consolidate on its efforts in the prevention and control of the disease.

He added that the efforts would translate into a much safer ports in Nigeria.

Hawkins advised that a strict protocol of getting sick people into isolation by health officials should be enforced, check on them and every other person they make contact with.

Managing Director of the authority, Malam Habib Abdullahi said that all relevant departments and agencies such as the medical, health, safety and environment (HSE) the ports health, the Federal Ministry of Health and Lagos State Ministry of Health had been placed on high alert for preventive and curative measure in case of any suspected EVD case in the Port.

He said that the port health officials were the first to enter vessels and conduct checks before other legitimate officials such as Customs, Immigration among others, could be allowed on board.

Abdullahi noted that the number of people who board

the vessels have been reduced drastically.

The managing director also added that since Nigeria do not operate cruise ships and hardly receive vessels from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea for now, the possibility of passengers with the EVD coming in through the port was very low.

to clients, reiterating a buy recommendation on the stock.

Supply and demand in the container market will continue to be unbalanced in the short and medium term because some shipping lines were still too aggressive in adding capacity, CEO Andersen said.

Second-quarter earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization rose 9 per cent to $3.09 billion, beating the $3.05 billion median estimate of four analysts surveyed

by Bloomberg News. Maersk

Line’s net operating profit after tax jumped 24 per cent to $547 million. Volume increased 6.6 per cent, while costs declined by 4.4 per cent in the quarter.

Maersk also raised profit forecasts for its oil-exploration and port-terminal divisions.

The oil unit, which posted a $1.7 billion write down on its Brazilian assets last month, will report an underlying profit in 2014 in “line with” last year’s $1 billion, compared with a previous forecast for declining earnings, Maersk said.

Shippers’ Council advises youths on import/export Bayo Akomolafe igerian Shippers’ CounNyouths cil (NSC) has advised the who wish to engage in

the import and export business to seek guidance and get adequately equipped before venturing into the murky waters of international trade.

Its Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer, Hassan Bello gave the advice in Warri, the Delta State capital at the eighth Annual Shipping Career Summit organised by a media firm, Ships and Ports Communication Company.

Over 200 persons including youths and adults were exposed to the numerous career and investment opportunities that abound in the nation's maritime sector during the summit held at the Petroluem Training Institute (PTI) Warri, Delta State.

The participants were drawn from states in the country’s south-south geo-political zone.

The NSC boss who was represented by an Assistant Chief Operations Officer, Miss Adaora Nwonu, while speaking on the topic: “How to become an effective exporter/importer” said the importing and exporting business was very exciting and potentially lucrative..

He explained that the Federal Government’s policy thrust was that of diversifying the nation’s foreign exchange earning base in the realisation that the country needs other sources of revenue apart from oil for its economic revival.

Bello stressed: “International trade business is a tool for achieving government’s yearning for drastic reduction of poverty in our nation.

“Would-be international traders need to realize, however, that unlike domestic trade, international trade entails greater caution and imposes enormous responsibilities because of the differences in regulations, cultures, currencies, languages and dispositions of the trading partners involved.

He advised importers and exporters to take advantage of the various agencies and facilities established by government for the promotion of international trade “to ensure they become effective in their business.”

In her own presentation titled “How To Become An Effective Maritime Lawyer,” President, Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria, Mrs Jean Chiazor Anishere said that Maritime Lawyers are among the highest paid professionals in the shipping sector.

Anishere stated: “Our legal fees are quite attractive. Sometimes, we are paid in dollars, shipping being an international subject. However, like in Taiwan, maritime lawyers do not necessarily work on an hourly basis. This is because unlike the foreign clients, indigenous clients are not willing to accept hourly rates. They prefer fixed fees and/or contingency fees on a percentage basis only."

FG unveil electro-optic surveillance plane to fight sea robbers Bayo Akomolafe aircraft to tackle highseas pirates and oil thieves Aoffnew the country’s coast has

been unveiled.

The high-tech plane is one of the seven to be jointly operated by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Air Force.

It was revealed that the 20seat plane could fly as low as 200 feet (60 metres) above the sea and passes on information about maritime traffic to the

navy, who would then intervene with fast-attack craft if necessary.

According to an Air Force officer, Sergeant Sunday Olalekan Omotosho, the plane is fitted with sensors, radar and Electro-Optic Surveillance and Tracking (EOST) equipment, which houses three cameras to monitor ships in Nigerian waters.

He said when fully operational, no vessel could escape the coverage.

Air Group Captain Enobong Eneh Effiom said the aim of

the Federal Government was to fight all manner of maritime crimes in the country.

He explained that the aircraft could spot any vessel hundreds of kilometres away.

Early this month, global maritime watchdog, the International Maritime Bureau said West African piracy made up 19 percent of attacks worldwide last year.

The plane was demonstrated by flying from Lagos to Escravos in the Niger Delta and over offshore platforms in the oil-producing southeast.

40 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Abaribe: I’m consensus builder in Abia Senate spokesman, Dr. Enyinnaya Abaribe, is a leading governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State. in this interview, he speaks on the challenges of governance and why he is best suited for the job.

AYODELE OJO reports In the last eight years, how well have you represented your district in the Senate?

I had said it earlier that what I bring to the table is not theoretical; it is something that has already been done and among all the things I have done when I was talking about exposing our people to the 21st century. We did something that was very unique and never been done by anybody before; Aba is the key to the industrial sector in the South-East. In Nigeria, things made in Aba used to enjoy wide patronage until we started having the twin problem of lack of physical infrastructure and the problem of power.

We think that if those two things are dealt with, Aba will rise again to continue to fulfil her potential.

But we did something that was unique. We did a made-in-Aba trade fair in Abuja. We brought the different groups that manufacture things in Aba – from people who were manufacturing petrol pumps to people who are now manufacturing shoes and bags, belts and so forth. We brought all of them to Abuja and we did an exhibition in which we now brought the key people in government. We brought the Minister of Trade and Industry. We also brought different heads of the military – the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the head of the police, the head of the civil defence and so forth; we just wanted to expose to them that most of the things that they import and give to their people, we could make them in Aba. These are the things that we intend to do when we come into government; to do practical things. The way we are going to go is to start from the things that are doable. From the things that are doable, we go to things that are possible. And when we get to things that are possible, you now find that those things that we call impossible are actually possible.

Do you think you have done well in the Senate to deserve being trusted with the governorship of Abia State?

Of all the people who have been in the Senate from Abia, I think I have done more than anybody. If what you have done for your people is the criteria, then I deserve to be governor based on that and the evidence is clear. This is not evidence that is coming just out of my mouth but the evidence is pictorial and otherwise.

It does appear you have taken advantage of the fact that the governorship has been zoned to your area and that’s why you decided to contest?

I started my consultations in April; so, between April and May, we went round the state. Ultimately, by the time we completed the consultations in May, June had passed and it was in July that the state party now took the decision to zone the governorship fortuitously to my zone – Abia South. So, I could not have come because of the zoning. Actually, I would want to think it was because we had sufficiently told the party the reasons why they needed to take the best decision that also may be part of what made the party to zone it to Abia South.

we have the ticket. We have not been talking about other parties because we know those other parties are actually PDP people who for one reason or the other found themselves in those places and I know that a consensus builder coming into the race will bring each and every one of them back to PDP.

Abaribe

What are you bringing to this race that will distinguish you from your competitors?

Three things: Character, competence and integrity. All the political actors in Abia knows for one thing that it’s not just enough to talk the talk. You should also be able to demonstrate by your actions the type of person that you are. I can say this without any fear of contradiction that anybody in Abia knows that if it is in terms of character, uprightness and being able to be your own person and actually work for the people of Abia, they will not find me wanting. If it is in terms of being competent enough to do the job of a governor, they will also not find me wanting because I have been at various levels and demonstrated at various times that I have the ability to run a state.

There are reports of people coming up that the incumbent governor has endorsed them for the governorship. How do you see the development?

Let me say this very unequivocally that at the time which we heard some people making claims of being anointed or so by the governor, I contacted the governor. I called a meeting of Abia South Senatorial zone, being a political leader of the area and we needed to deal with that matter. The governor told me that I should please tell the people when I meet with them that he has never anointed anybody and that he didn’t have any intention of anointing anybody. Subsequently, the government of Abia also went on air, on radio and disowned any such statement. I’m sure those statements died down but people who do not have anything to sell themselves with usually try to do reflected glory of saying this man is bringing me. I just call it reflected glory because that means you got nothing yourself to offer when you now have to wait for somebody else to do so.

Also recently when the governor swore in the transition chairmen, he said he was not going to influence anybody; that what he is going to do is to ensure that the field is made in such a way that everybody will have an equal chance

If I am given the ticket of PDP in Abia, there will be an exodus from every other party to PDP because... I know that a consensus builder coming into the race will bring each and every one of them back to PDP of being able to emerge as governor and he said it very clearly that the person who will become governor will be made by three persons – the first person will be God himself because everything that we do as human beings, it’s only when God wills it; secondly, that he himself as the incumbent will also have a say on how the process is done; thirdly is the party apparatus, that is those within the party who will eventually be the delegates to the congresses that will bring out the nominee.

After making that point, he has also subsequently made several points along this line. When the party made the decision for zoning to Abia South, there was a meeting called of all the stakeholders of the state to come and look at what the party has said and decide. When the stakeholders met, I couldn’t go. I had to send the governor a text and he responded and told me that we should continue to sing the song of equity and fairness in Abia and that it’s only fair that somebody from the senatorial zone that has not been governor before to have the opportunity to be so.

In the event you become the candidate of the PDP, what are your chances at the election?

I can make a prediction today and I want you to take the prediction to the bank; if I am given the ticket of PDP in Abia, there will be an exodus from every other party to PDP because most of the people who are in the other parties and all that are just waiting for PDP to make their decision. I know that they will not have anything to challenge PDP for once

What are the problems the next governor of Abia State will inherit from the outgoing governor?

Let me say that the challenges of development in every state in Nigeria will also be exactly the same that if you are in Abia, you will have to confront – underdevelopment, massive unemployment, infrastructure that is not up to par with what you need for a 21st century economy and then of course the basic ones of education, health, environment and agriculture.

Basically, what I think is the biggest challenge you have to face will have to do with all the young men and women who are coming out of schools without a job.

First, we will need to deal with how do we produce people that are functional in our state at the moment. Abia stands at a very good vantage position being at the top of the whole Niger Delta and all the ancillary industries in the Niger Delta – the oil and gas and all the other things that go with it and Abia will provide manpower, provide skill that is already burdened on the ground. Usually, when people want to do anything within the Niger Delta, they can come to Aba to get it.

The other challenge that you have to meet if you are governor of Abia is infrastructural challenge. This is as a result of the low amount of money that comes to the state which forms the basis of spending compared to the surrounding states. So, whoever is going to be governor will have to do two things: first prudence, which means that whatever money that you get, you are going to get the optimal use of that money. That is the only way to go.

Secondly, you must also start to seek newer ways of funding things and you must have to get better ways of doing both internally generated revenue (IGR) and what comes from the federal purse.

For IGR, what happens today as we have seen, in fact the governor, recently in an interview also bemoaned the fact that it was so low and there was so much leakages within the system. That means that you will have to deploy technology to reduce leakages.

One of the biggest problems in our governance structure in Nigeria has always been that a new government would always want to do something different from what the previous government has done. I don’t have that kind of ego problem of completing what another person has done and giving the person credit.

By my background as a university lecturer, it’s drilled into you that when you are doing a paper, you will acknowledge the person who you are taking from his work so that you avoid the charge of plagiarism.

We need to develop our state and we are really in a hurry to catch up.

What are the challenges you see in the pursuit of your governorship ambition?

I do not see any challenge. I have been in the field; I have done consultations at all levels; I’ve done consultations with stakeholders in the state – individually and collectively. I’ve done consultations with the party people in Abia North, Abia Central and Abia South. I come from Abia South and I have also done consultations with people at the state level of the party. I can tell you that I had a lot of enthusiasm from people when I went. No other aspirant in Abia has been able to traverse the state in the way that I am doing.

POLITICS 41

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

CHARLES ONYEKWERE writes on the leadership tussle rocking the Ebonyi State House of Assembly

T

he leadership tussle rocking the Ebonyi State House of Assembly is far from being over with the arrest and quizzing of 14 members of the Assembly by the police last week.

Since the creation of Ebonyi on October 1st, 1996 and return of democracy in 1999, the legislative house was known as the most peaceful Assembly in the country. But peace eluded the legislative body on Monday July 21, 2014 when impeachment saga rocked the Assembly.

Indeed, impeachment is nothing new in the House. It has been a recurring decimal. The former speaker, Rt. Hon. Ikechukwu Nwankwo, was impeached in 2011 over gross misconduct. In 2012, a former deputy speaker, Hon Val Okike, was removed for wearing boxers to public functions.

The recent, which has led to the leadership crisis, was the purported impeachment of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chukwuma Nwazunku, wherein the lawmakers accused him of gross misconduct and abuse of office among other offences that paved the way for his ouster.

The motion for the impeachment was moved by Chris Usulor representing Ezza South Constituency and chairman, Committee on Education and seconded by the minority leader, Enyi C. Enyi representing Ezza North-West Constituency.

Eighteen of the 24 lawmakers that make up the Assembly reconvened, signed the notice and impeached him while on recess.

Since then, the Assembly complex on Nkaleke Road, Abakaliki has been under lock and key with heavily armed security personnel cordon off the area to avoid breakdown of law and order.

Parallel speakers There are two people laying claim to the speakership which has resulted to a parallel sitting between the supporters of the impeached Speaker Nwazunku and the newly-elected Speaker, Mrs Helen Nwaobashi. Two different maces, the symbol of authority of the House of Assembly, are being used at the separate parallel sittings.

The new Speaker, Nwaobashi, is leading 14 members of the legislative body while the embattled former speaker is with 10 lawmakers.

Nwazunku has filed a suit at the state High Court challenging his purported impeachment, alleging that the action did not follow due process. The matter is before Justice Chinyere Ken Eze while the new Speaker, Nwaobashi, also filed her own suit at the same court urging the court to declare her the authentic speaker, saying that due process was followed.

Nwaobashi at her faction’s first sitting at the Women Development Centre (WDC) in Abakaliki, dissolved all the committees put in place by the former Speaker.

Due process Reacting to his purported removal, Nwazunku said he remained the authentic speaker, alleging that the whole exercise was illegal and unconstitutional because the House was on recess when the action was carried out.

According to him, his impeachment was null and void and he still remained the number three man in the state.

“The journey in which they carried out the impeachment against me was a breach of law. I am not bothered. I still have the majority of the House. There was no impeachment. I have the original mace of the Assembly and have the security,” he said.

Nwazunku, who visited the Ebonyi State Government House few hours after his impeachment, said Nwaobashi and her group sat without the mace and

Leadership tussle tears Ebonyi Assembly apart

Ebonyi State House of Assembly

Nwankwo

that the Clerk of the House, Mrs Rose Nwokporo, was not present when he was impeached.

He added that the lawmakers neither formed two-third majority nor gained access into the legislative chambers.

But at a press conference, Eni Uduma Chima representing Afikpo South-West, said the former speaker was impeached following conduct likely to cause a breach of the constitution.

According to him, “section 104 of the Nigeria constitution provides that any House of Assembly of every state must sit for a minimum period of 181 days in a year.

Under Nwazunku, as at July 21, 2014, a period of more than half of the year, the House has only sat for 17 times exclusive of today’s emergency sitting.”

Speakers court gov, wife Nwazunku is counting on the sup-

Nwaobashi

port of Governor Martin Elechi who has thrown his weight behind him.

While Nwazunku has the support of the governor, Nwaobashi is courting Elechi’s wife, Josephine. Shortly after her purported election, the new Speaker led 18 lawmakers to a private audience with the wife of the governor. The meeting lasted for over an hour.

PDP wades in Following the crisis, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) summoned an emergency meeting at its secretariat along AbakalikiEnugu Road, where the leaders of the party gathered to find ways of resolving the crisis. The meeting was chaired by Governor Elechi.

At the end of the meeting, the state chairman of the party, Chief Ugorji Ama-Oti who briefed newsmen said that the deliberations was successful.

Oti stated that they discussed like

one united family adding that in couple of weeks the hallowed chamber would come together like before.

The parley had in attendance both Nwazunku and Nwaobashi.

The governor, who briefed reporters after the meeting, said that Nwazunku was never impeached.

After the meeting, it seems like the parley did not hold any water as the two embattled speakers engaged each other with litigations.

As things stand now, the House has no authentic Speaker, and only a court of competent jurisdiction will resolve the crisis rocking the hallowed chamber.

Arrest amidst litigation Last week, the crisis took another dimension as operatives of Ebonyi Police Command arrested 14 lawmakers believed to be loyal to the factional speaker, Nwaobashi.

They were arrested at the gate of the state High Court while coming out from the court shortly after filing their case CONTINUED ON PAGE 48

42 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

29TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BABANGIDA COUP CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

replied: Let them try.

When the Babangida group knew about this, the rumour came out that Vatsa was ambitious to become the Chief of Army Staff and that was why he wanted to discredit Babangida. With that, Vatsa ‘soft-pedalled’ and that gave Babangida the advantage he needed.

Also, since Buhari became the Head of State, he did not promote himself till he was removed. A disciplinarian, he believed that the rot left by the civilian administration must be cleared first.

He thought first about the country before himself. Believing that Babangida was loyal to him, he left the army completely under his care. That was why he was easily overwhelmed. When any report came to him, his belief was that the evidence must be strong before any move was made. That was why it took months for him to retire Lt.Col Mohammed Aliyu Gusau because he was waiting for evidence indicting him in the import licence scam, an evidence which was eventually supplied by the Nigerian Security Organisation (NSO) led by Alhaji Rabiu Rafindadi. With the retirement of Gusau, Babangida, his closest ally, felt threatened and moved swiftly to actualise the plot against Buhari.

In other climes, half of the evidence gathered was enough to nail Babangida. In Adolf Hitler’s Germany, Hitler was told about the impending move against him by General Ernst Rohm.

Röhm was Hitler’s long-time, righthand man. They were arrested and imprisoned, together with others, after the Beer Hall Putsch fiasco in 1923.

Rohm also worked for the emergence of Hitler in 1933 as the Fuhrer. But the moment Hitler learnt that Rohm was plotting against him, he decided, alongside Heinrich Himmler and Herman Goring, that Rohm must be sacrificed.

Rohm was executed without trial during the purge of the SA - the so-called ‘Night of the Long Knives’ in June, 1934.

Following his arrest by Hitler himself at the resort of Bad Wiessee on June 30, Röhm was held at Stadelheim Prison in Munich. On July 2, he was visited by SS-Brigadeführer Theodor Eicke (then the Kommandant of Dachau) and SS-Sturmbannführer Michael Lippert. Lippert, on Hitler’s order, shot Röhm at point-blank range after he refused to commit suicide with a pistol given to him.

Also in Ethiopia, the plot against General Mariam Mengistu failed because he moved fast. Mengistu, who was in East Germany, returned to crush the rebellion. He ordered the Presidential Guard, supported by militia units, to surround the Ministry of Defence, isolating the key plotters. He locked the entire Ministry of Defence and detained the Commanders of the four Ethiopian Armies; grounded the Ethiopian Air Force and summarily executed hundreds of officers. The Commander of the 2nd Army, General Demissie Bultu, was beheaded.

So, the procrastination of Buhari led to the success of the coup against him.

The third success factor was that Babangida planted key loyalists in strategic units of the military, a move Buhari was not aware of.

As Head of State, Buhari’s isolation from the military was given a high priority by the Babangida group. It began almost as soon as he came to power in 1984. While he was fixated on purely political national issues with religious fervour, he did not notice that loyal officers were being strategically placed in specific operational positions to lay in wait like ‘sleepers’ until they would be called upon to strike by the very service chiefs he had placed his trust in to run the armed forces on his behalf.

Lt. Col. Halilu Akilu, a Grade 1 Staff

Day Babangida overthrew

Idiagbon

Officer in the Directorate, was transferred to the office of Director of Military Intelligence while Lt. Col. M.C. Alli went to Britain and the United States for an official engagement. Alli deputised for Col. Aliyu Mohammed who had left for a course at the Royal College of Defence Studies after assisting to overthrow Shagari. Akilu was Babangida’s ‘main-man’ in the intelligence community, a counterweight to Alhaji Muhammadu Lawal Rafindadi, Buhari’s loyal head of the NSO. In the actual execution of the coup, Babangida also played a smart one. He chose the celebration of the Eid-el-Kabir, when he knew security would be relaxed and alertness not at the peak, to

Text of General Ibrahim Babangida’s coup speech on August 27, 1985 Fellow Nigerians, hen in December 1983, the former military leadership, headed

by Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, assumed the reins of government, its accession was heralded in the history of this country. With the nation at the mercy of political misdirection and on the brink of economic collapse, a new sense of hope was created in the minds of every Nigerian.

Since January 1984, however, we have witnessed a systematic denigration of that hope. It was stated then that mismanagement of political leadership and a general deterioration in the standard of living, which had subjected the common man to intolerable suffering, were the reasons for the intervention. Nigerians have since then been under a regime that continued with those trends. Events today indicate that most of the reasons which justified the military takeover of government from the civilians still persist.

The initial objectives were betrayed and fundamental changes do not appear on the horizon. Because the present state of uncertainty, suppression and stagnation resulted from the perpetration of a small group, the Nigerian Armed Forces could not as a part of that government be unfairly commit-

W

Abacha

strike.

On August 26, Muslims headed for mosques for morning prayers on Sallah day at the Ikeja Cantonment, but there were strong indications that a change of government was imminent. Buhari, the Commander, Brigade of Guards, Lt. Col. Sabo Aliyu and Buhari’s Aide-deCamp (ADC), Major Mustapha Haruna Jokolo, tried to find out details to no avail.

Idiagbon had already travelled to Mecca, together with Vatsa and a few others. Aliyu was reported to have asked Akilu, his friend if it was true ‘some boys’ were planning to overthrow Buhari but Akilu told him there was ‘nothing to fear.’ Determined to

Bali

know what was about to happen, Aliyu and Jokolo left the State House to find out happenings in the barracks. They were driving round Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Ikeja, seeking information and checking on the status of units, unaware that they were being monitored by Akilu’s men. About 9 p.m. (the time for the actualisation of the operation was close), the order was given for their arrest at the Ikeja Cantonment gate. Buhari tried to reach Abacha in Ibadan to no avail. He also told one of his aides to get in touch with Babangida in Minna. All the efforts were fruitless. It was then he realised that he had been outsmarted because Major General Domkat Bali, the Chairman,

Why Buhari must go, by ted to take responsibility for failure.

Our dedication to the cause of ensuring that our nation remains a united entity worthy of respect and capable of functioning as a viable and credible part of the international community dictated the need to arrest the situation.

Let me at this point attempt to make you understand the premise upon which it became necessary to change the leadership. The principles of discussions, consultation and cooperation which should have guided decision-making process of the Supreme Military Council and the Federal Executive Council were disregarded soon after the government settled down in 1984. Where some of us thought it appropriate to give a little more time, anticipating a conducive atmosphere that would develop, in which affairs of state could be attended to with greater sense of responsibility, it became increasingly clear that such expectations could not be fulfilled.

Regrettably, it turned out that MajorGeneral Muhammadu Buhari was too rigid and uncompromising in his attitudes to issues of national significance.

Efforts to make him understand that a diverse polity like Nigeria required recognition and appreciation of differences in both cultural and individual perceptions, only served to aggravate

these attitudes.

Major-General Tunde Idiagbon was similarly inclined in that respect. As Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, he failed to exhibit the appropriate disposition demanded by his position. He arrogated to himself absolute knowledge of problems and solutions, and acted in accordance with what was convenient to him, using the machinery of government as his tool.

A combination of these characteristics in the two most important persons holding the nation’s vital offices became impossible to contend with. The situation was made worse by a number of other government functionaries and organisations, chief among which is the Nigerian Security Organisation (NSO). In fact, this body will be overhauled and re-organised.

And so it came to be that the same government, which received the tumultuous welcome, now became alienated from the people. To prevent a complete erosion of our given mandate therefore, we had to act so that hope may be rebuilt.

Let me now address your attention to the major issues that confront us, so that we may, as one people, chart a future direction for our dear country. We do not pretend to have all the answers to the questions which our present

POLITICS 43

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

29TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BABANGIDA COUP

Buhari

Vatsa

Joint Chiefs, had no Army to command to counter the impending putsch. At the designated and pre-arranged time, units in Lagos sped toward their objectives. Officers and soldiers of 123rd Battalion, 245 Recce Battalion, 201 Armoured HQ Battalion, the 6th Battalion at Bonny Camp and the 93rd Battalion at Ojo Cantonment were mobilised.

To prevent anti-riot policemen (MOPOL) from being used, even if it was going to be a fruitless exercise, the Lagos State Police Command headquarters at Ikeja was cordoned off.

Lt. Col John Shagaya, the commandant of the 9th Mechanised Brigade, Lt. Col. John Madaki, commanding officer, 123 Guards Battalion, Ikeja and Major

Babangida problems have put before our nation.

We have come with the strongest determination to create an atmosphere in which positive efforts shall be given the necessary support for lasting solutions.

For matters of the moment which require immediate resolutions, we intend to pursue a determined programme of action. Major issues falling into this category have been identified and decisions taken on what should be done.

Firstly, the issue of political detainees or convicts of special military tribunals.

The history of our nation had never recorded the degree of indiscipline and corruption as in the period between October 1979 and December 1983.

While this government recognises the bitterness created by the irresponsible excesses of the politicians, we consider it unfortunate that methods of such nature as to cause more bitterness were applied to deal with past misdeeds. We must never allow ourselves to lose our sense of natural justice. The innocent cannot suffer the crimes of the guilty. The guilty should be punished only as a lesson for the future. In line with this government’s intention to uphold fundamental human rights, the issue of detainees will be looked into with despatch.

As we do not intend to lead a country where individuals are under the

Kefas Happy Bulus, acting commanding officer, 245 Recce Battalion, Ikeja, played active role in this. Armoured vehicles and storm troopers were detailed to move to the Radio House, Ikoyi and State House, Dodan Barracks.

Babangida gave the task of arresting Buhari to officers he trusted. When Majors Abubakar Umar Dangiwa, Lawan Gwadabe, Abdulmumuni Aminu and Sambo Dasuki arrived the State House, Buhari was waiting for them.

He was later whisked away after he was given the chance to dress in his official uniform. After the arrest of Buhari, it was clear that the coup had become a success story.

Then, Colonel Joshua Nimyel Dogonyaro, Director of Manning (“A” Branch) and concurrent Director of the Department of Armour at the Army Headquarters, announced that the Buhari regime had been deposed.

Hours later, about 1p.m., the more familiar voice of Abacha, who was to become the Chief of Army Staff, announced the appointment of Babangida as the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

Babangida immediately took the title of ‘President’. The position of Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters was eliminated. Navy Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, then Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, was appointed to the new position of Chief of General Staff (CGS) at the General Staff headquarters.

The first thing Babangida did was to remove the control of service chiefs and GOCs from any other officer.

They reported directly to the new Commander-in-Chief. Obviously, he didn’t want what happened to Buhari to repeat itself in his regime. He scrapped the NSO and detained Rafindadi for close to three years. Gusau was recalled from retirement, promoted Brigadier, and became National Security Coordinator, later GOC of the 2nd Division and Chief of Army Administration.

Akilu was promoted Colonel, retained directorship of the Military Intelligence and became a member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC).

Interestingly, eight years later, Babangida stepped aside from office. fear of expressing themselves, the Public Officers Protection Against False Accusation Decree 4 of 1984 is hereby repealed. And finally, those who have been in detention under this decree are hereby unconditionally released. The responsibility of the media to disseminate information shall be exercised without undue hindrance. In that process, those responsible are expected to be forthright and to have the nation’s interest as their primary consideration.

The issue of decrees has generated a lot of controversies. It is the intention of this government to review all other decrees.

The last 20 months have not witnessed any significant changes in the national economy. Contrary to expectations, we have so far been subjected to a steady deterioration in the general standard of living; and intolerable suffering by the ordinary Nigerians have risen higher, scarcity of commodities has increased, hospitals still remain mere consulting clinics, while educational institutions are on the brink of decay. Unemployment has stretched to critical dimensions.

Due to the stalemate, which arose in negotiation with the International Monetary Fund, the former government embarked on a series of countertrade agreements. Under the countertrade agreements, Nigerians were forced to buy goods and commodities at higher prices than obtained in the CONTINUED ON PAGE 48

Dogonyaro: Nigeria is drifting

Text of a broadcast by Colonel Joshua Nimyel Dogonyaro, announcing the removal of Buhari , Brigadier Joshua Nimyel DogoImake nyaro, of the Nigerian Army, hereby the following declaration on be-

half of my colleagues and members of the Nigerian Armed Forces. Fellow country men, the intervention of the military at the end of 1983 was welcomed by the nation with unprecedented enthusiasm.

Nigerians were unified in accepting the intervention and looked forward hopefully to progressive changes for the better. Almost two years later, it has become clear that the fulfillment of expectations is not forthcoming.

Because this generation of Nigerians and indeed future generations have no other country but Nigeria, we could not stay passive and watch a small group of individuals misuse power to the detriment of our national aspirations and interest.

No nation can ever achieve meaningful strides in its development where there is an absence of cohesion in the hierarchy of government; where it has become clear that positive action by the policy makers is hindered because as a body it lacks a unity of purpose.

It is evident that the nation would be endangered with the risk of continuous misdirection. We are presently confronted with that danger.

In such a situation, if action can be taken to arrest further damage, it should and must be taken. This is precisely what we have done.

The Nigerian public has been made to believe that the slow pace of action of the Federal Government headed by Major-General Muhammadu Buhari was due to the enormity of the problems left by the last civilian administration.

Although it is true that a lot of problems were left behind by the last civilian government, the real reason, however, for the very slow pace of action is due to lack of unanimity of purpose among the ruling body; subsequently, the business of governance has gradually been subjected to ill-motivated power play considerations.

The ruling body, the Supreme Military Council, has, therefore, progressively been made redundant by the actions of a select few members charged with the day-to-day implementation of the SMC’s policies and decision. The concept of collective leadership has been substituted by stubborn and illadvised unilateral actions, thereby destroying the principles upon which the government came to power. Any effort made to advise the leadership, met with stubborn resistance and was viewed as a challenge to authority or disloyalty.

Thus, the scene was being set for systematic elimination of what, was termed oppositions.

All the energies of the rulership were directed at this imaginary opposition Dogonyaro

rather than to effective leadership. The result of this misdirected effort is now very evident in the country as a whole.

The government has started to drift.

The economy does not seem to be getting any better as we witness daily increased inflation. The nation’s meager resources are once again being wasted on unproductive ventures.

Government has distanced itself from the people and the yearnings and aspirations of the people as constantly reflected in the media have been ignored.

This is because a few people have arrogated to themselves the right to make the decisions for the larger part of the ruling body.

All these events have shown that the present composition of our country’s leadership cannot, therefore, justify its continued occupation of that position.

Furthermore, the initial objectives and programmes of action which were meant to have been implemented since the ascension to power of the Buhari Administration in January 1984 have been betrayed and discarded.

The present state of uncertainty and stagnation cannot be permitted to degenerate into suppression and retrogression. We feel duty bound to use the resources and means at our disposal to restore hope in the minds of Nigerians and renew aspirations for a better future.

We are no prophets of doom for our beloved country, Nigeria. We, therefore, count on everyone’s cooperation and assistance. I appeal to you, fellow countrymen, particularly my colleagues in arms to refrain from any act that will lead to unnecessary violence and bloodshed among us. Rest assured that our action is in the interest of the nation and the armed forces.

In order to enable a new order to be introduced, the following bodies are dissolved forthwith pending further announcements: (a) The Supreme Military Council (b) The Federal Executive Council (c) The National Council of States.

All seaports and airports are closed, all borders remain closed. Finally, a dusk to dawn curfew is hereby imposed in Lagos and all state capitals until further notice. All military commanders will ensure effective maintenance of law and order.

Further announcements will be made in due course.

God bless Nigeria.

business | MONEY LINE

44

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Money market assets hit N51.12bn, says SEC

MUTUAL FUND The Nigerian mutual fund industry also expanded 23.6 per cent to N186.5billion

ily invest in short-term liquid assets like Nigerian treasury bills and commercial papers.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said in its August 2014 report, that the assets of the funds grew by 122.9 per cent to N51.12billion, from N29.5billion at the beginning of this year.

Nigerian Treasury Bill yields chalked up an average of 11.29 per cent across 90-days, 180-days

Godson Ikoro

T

he assets of money market funds have grown to N51.12 billion, New Telegraph has learnt.

Money market funds primar-

and 360-days tenors from January up to August.

The Nigerian mutual fund industry also expanded 23.6 per cent to N186.5billion. The report attributed the expansion to performances by specific funds, as well as by new entrants into the Nigerian mutual fund scene.

Meanwhile, major money market fund players - Stanbic IBTC Money market fund, FBN Money market fund, UBA

Accenture to banks: Digitalise or lose customers TECHNOLOGY New technologies are changing the way customers and financial service providers interact

at the 2014 Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria’s (CIBN’s) graduate induction and awards in Lagos.

He said: “New technologies are changing the way that customers and financial service providers interact and introducing a new demand for how banking services are delivered.

“In particular, millennials—under 30 years of age— have distinct preferences regarding financial services and digital technology.”

He said it was imperative that banks take a fresh look at digital customers as well as the opportunities in paying attention to such class of customers He said a survey on banks customers recently published

xxxx

Ayodele Aminu

B

anks that refuse to move with the trend of digitalisation, risk losing customer and revenue to other more digitally focused financial services providers, the Managing Director, Accenture Financial Services, Mr. Toluwaleke Adenmsoun, has said.

She stated this in a paper themed: “Competitive Response to Digital Disruption in Banking,” delivered

by Accenture had shown that although a lot of banks have been able to retain their customers through traditional channels and digital service offerings. He also pointed out that a customer-driven blueprint for digital experience is imperative for competitiveness.

According to him, banks understand that they need several channels to interact with customers.

However, he noted that rather than “bolting on” new channels and engineering internal processes to evolve to a digital world, banks should look at outcomes they want to deliver to customers and reverse-engineer to identify what must change in channel mix and capabilities.

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

FX

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

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

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

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

Money market fund, and ARM Money market fund, were highlighted in the report.

It would be recalled that the Vetiva Griffin 30 Equity Traded Fund (VG 30 ETF) launched on March 4th, 2014. The launch deepened the entire mutual fund industry by an additional 2.4 per cent or N2.75 billion.

The ETF sub-sector was boosted by 1,012 per cent to a N3.12 billion industry from a previous value of N277.8 million at the end of Q4 2013.

Furthermore, the VG 30 ETF net asset size grew by three per cent the fund and returned 8.8 per cent year to date, after returns fell from a high of 13.43 per cent in July.

The VG 30 ETF tracks the performance of the constituent companies of the NSE 30 Index.

New Gold ETF, which tracks gold prices denominated in

South Africa’s local currency, the Rand, has also seen its NAV grow by 10.9 per cent since the turn of the year. The fund has returned 10.73 percent year to date.

The Bond based fund subsector also recorded a 10.02 per cent increase in net asset value, while Real estate funds registered a marginal uptick of 2.27 percent.

Other funds have however, recorded underwhelming performances.

Equity based funds, which primarily invest in NSE-listed stocks, have seen a 3.8 per cent dip in their net asset value as at August.

Balanced-based funds, which tried to balance out their investment portfolio in order to mitigate the risk of any one kind of asset, have recorded a subsector-wide dip of 12.6 per cent.

Mobile money transactions’ volume rise 300% Godson Ikoro

D

espite the teething problems that buffeted the nation’s cashless policy, mobile money (MM) transactions have increased by 300 per cent, between January to July this year, Mr. Emmanuel Okoegwale, Principal Associate, MobileMoneyAfrica has said.

According to him, as at the end of January, the monthly value of transactions across different networks stood at N300 million but increased to N1.2billion by end of July.

Noting that a recent report showed that this figure did not include transactions carried out within individual networks, he said that the volume of transaction within the same period also increased from 12,000 deals in January to 35,000 in July; representing 199 per cent increase.

While this showed the increasing ability to replace cash with digital money transferred via mobile phone, he said that the ability of a mobile money user of a mobile scheme to send money directly to the wallet of a user on any other service provider was made possible by connectivity service being provided by National Central Switch (NCS).

Okoegwale said that financial inclusion has become the buzz word within the regulatory, policy, financial, innovators, and technology circles and in the formal financial services space but significant barriers still stand in the way of reaching the bottom of the pyramid in Africa.

However, he pointed out that the removal of the former governor of CBN governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, affected business at beginning of the year, as it heralded uncertainty due to his expected exit.

According to him, many of the innovations from the mobile network operator and other stakeholders had been

long planned but were kept in the cooler awaiting the change of baton of the chief regulator, which was smooth and brought in a new era.

Consequently, as witnessed in the last few months, stakeholders like the mobile network operators were becoming more active in the emerging mobile financial services space in Nigeria.

Furthermore, he said that collaboration in terms of agency network sharing and roll out had also grown over the months, though usage at agent level cannot be quantified, but noted growing.

Noting that MTN and Diamond Bank launched the Yello account, he said that Glo is actively working with three licensed operators to deploy agency network, adding that that a recent agent accelerator study conducted by the Helix institute on agent network in Nigeria, highlighted all that was not well with the mobile money sector.

He averred that it was becoming increasingly clear that mobile money is a distribution business and not a technology play as some providers thought.

As the report clearly indicated, the major challenge faced by operators in Nigeria which is the recruitment, development, management and sustainability of a viable agent network, which is still a major challenge across board.

Godwin Emefiele, Governor, CBN, also corroborated Osuji. He said at the launch of GloXchange in Lagos that the apex bank is determined to use telecommunications to deepen financial services in the country in order to reduce the 46 per cent of the population that does not have access to financial services.

The governor added that a functioning payment system would bring about economic growth.

Daily Summary as of 26/08/2014

Printed 26/08/2014 14:42:37.037

Sanctity of Truth

Daily Summary as of 26/08/2014 Printed 26/08/2014 14:42:37.037

Daily Summary (Bonds)

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

business | CAPITAL MARKET 45

No Debt Trading Activity

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at August 26, 2014 Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

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

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 3 57 9 69

Current Price 0.50 34.65 36.30

Quantity Traded 50,960 660,237 58,346 769,543

Value Traded 25,480.00 23,134,194.51 2,098,024.39 25,257,698.90

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 30 30

Current Price 3.28

Quantity Traded 1,783,591 1,783,591

Value Traded 5,714,225.15 5,714,225.15

2,553,134

30,971,924.05

Quantity Traded 169,521 30,000 60,950 17,558,269 688,238 18,506,978

Value Traded 239,158.83 112,800.00 66,585.64 100,728,663.08 40,215,196.10 141,362,403.65

AGRICULTURE Totals

Daily Summary as of 26/08/2014 CONGLOMERATES Printed 26/08/2014 14:42:37.037 Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. CHELLARAMS PLC. JOHN HOLT PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY Diversified Industries Totals

99 Symbol AGLEVENT CHELLARAM JOHNHOLT Daily Summary TRANSCORP UACN

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

No. of Deals 10 1 6 (Equities) 246 83 346

Current Price 1.46 3.95 1.13 5.71 58.75

346 Symbol COSTAIN

18,506,978 Page

No. of Deals 19 19

Current Price 1.13

Quantity Traded 351,736 351,736

Value Traded 404,831.68 404,831.68

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 65.00

Quantity Traded 15,550 15,550

Value Traded 983,770.50 983,770.50

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

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 30 30

Current Price 15.40

Quantity Traded 283,302 283,302

Value Traded 4,374,445.53 4,374,445.53

Symbol UPDCREIT

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 8.70

Quantity Traded 50,000 50,000

Value Traded 416,030.20 416,030.20

700,588

6,179,077.91

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 50.00 50.00 Value Traded 21,582,500.00 of 13

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Activity Summary on Parts Board EQTY Automobiles/Auto Totals

63

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

CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION PLC. Published by The NigerianBREW. Stock Exchange © GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. PREMIER BREWERIES PLC Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC Daily Summary as of 26/08/2014 NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC Printed 26/08/2014 14:42:37.037 U T C NIG. PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Summary Products--Diversified Totals Activity on Board EQTY

1 1

0.50

Symbol CHAMPION GUINNESS INTBREW NB PREMBREW

No. of Deals 10 45 8 116 2 181

Current Price 8.31 185.00 27.00 175.00 1.65

Quantity Traded Page 200,000 91,683 47,460 688,288 20,400 1,047,831

16,994,710.03 1,272,210.00 120,546,439.27 36,892.00 140,432,751.30

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 17 17

Current Price 126.78

Quantity Traded 39,502 39,502

Value Traded 5,144,949.40 5,144,949.40

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON UTC

No. of Deals 33 73 48 19 61 9 243

Current Price 7.50 8.70 68.11 4.10 9.50 0.50

Quantity Traded 140,959 1,141,530 102,346 192,863 1,744,712 500,000 3,822,410

Value Traded 1,010,483.54 9,854,841.06 6,677,951.21 790,383.59 16,888,493.21 250,000.00 35,472,152.61

Symbol

No. of Deals 40 35 75

Current Price 60.21 1,079.99

Quantity Traded 197,264 30,440 227,704

Value Traded 11,897,821.21 31,893,368.80 43,791,190.01

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 21 3 24

Current Price 4.15 1.14

Page Quantity Traded 98,607 105,000 203,607

3Value of Traded13 411,547.59 119,950.00 531,497.59

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 41 62 103

Current Price 36.00 49.00

Quantity Traded 421,787 1,010,865 1,432,652

Value Traded 15,069,212.64 49,341,017.76 64,410,230.40

6,773,806

289,782,821.31

Quantity Traded 58,141,451 1,966,526 444,925 1,896,807 7,200,192 4,157,376 988,322 6,137,147

Value Traded 569,343,915.09 12,087,291.11 7,294,744.90 3,787,312.74 203,468,910.35 12,270,515.22 2,199,907.02 44,312,121.53

Quantity Traded 378,251 1,493,422 Page 661,286 2,989,085 86,454,790

Value Traded 3,064,071.13 746,711.00 4 629,561.10 of 13 72,532,745.69 931,737,806.88

Daily Summary (Equities) CADBURY

CONSUMER GOODS

Durables Published byHousehold The Nigerian Stock Exchange © VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals

NESTLE

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking Daily Summary as of 26/08/2014 ACCESS BANK PLC. Printed 26/08/2014 14:42:37.037 DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC

644 Symbol ACCESS DIAMONDBNK ETI FIDELITYBK GUARANTY Daily Summary SKYEBANK STERLNBANK UBA

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. MANSARD INSURANCE PLC Daily Summary of 26/08/2014 MUTUALas BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. Printed 26/08/2014 14:42:37.037 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Activity Summary on Board EQTYTotals

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banks © Published by TheMicro-Finance Nigerian Stock Exchange NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC DEAP CAPITAL MANAGEMENT & TRUST PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Symbol UBN UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE CORNERST EQUITYASUR INTENEGINS LASACO LAWUNION MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM NIGERINS PRESTIGE SOVRENINS STACO Daily WAPIC

No. of Deals 318 51 53 48 (Equities) 352 87 30 174

No. of Deals 66 14 19 184 1,396

Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Current Price 8.10 0.50 0.95 24.25

No. of Deals Current Price 23 0.80 27 0.98 17 0.59 1 0.50 6 0.50 1 0.50 2 0.50 7 2.50 7 0.54 26 0.82 1 0.50 3 0.50 1 0.50 Summary (Equities) 1 0.50 82 0.80 205

Quantity Traded 767,199 7,592,000 595,250 300,000 103,347 50,000 679,489 150,900 537,778 2,583,991 8,870 27,624 200 500 7,120,480 20,517,628

Value Traded 613,973.74 7,242,903.00 334,678.82 150,000.00 51,673.50 25,000.00 339,744.50 378,340.00 290,405.12 2,114,895.62 4,435.00 13,812.00 100.00 250.00 5,576,403.27 17,136,614.57

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price Traded PageQuantity 5 of 13 1.10 1,910,000 1,910,000

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS DEAPCAP FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 79 8 1 417 40 8 22 87 662

Current Price 3.25 3.85 0.87 14.10 4.30 0.58 30.00 2.16

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers UNION DIAGNOSTIC & CLINICAL SERVICES PLC Healthcare Providers Totals

Current Price 9.80 6.10 16.50 1.98 28.06 2.90 2.21 7.23

2,266

Quantity Traded 1,023,572 286,431 50 8,211,110 2,910,685 5,827,247 48,300 2,552,005 20,859,400 129,741,818

Symbol UNIONDAC

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 50 50

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH

No. of Deals 4 20 22

Current Price 2.02 3.20 65.99

Quantity Traded 126,500 1,041,859 176,935 Page

Symbol MAYBAKER NEIMETH PHARMDEKO

No. of Deals 10 20 9 85

HEALTHCARE Totals

Processing Systems Daily Summary as of 26/08/2014 CHAMS PLC Printed 26/08/2014 14:42:37.037 Processing Systems Totals

CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals

Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals Packaging/Containers BETA CO PLC. Daily Summary as GLASS of 26/08/2014 Packaging/Containers Printed 26/08/2014 14:42:37.037 Totals

Value Traded 2,000.00 74,250.00 4,654.00 80,904.00

Symbol CHAMS

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 155,500 155,500

Value Traded 77,750.00 77,750.00

164,000

158,654.00 Value Traded 23,043,392.14

Symbol ASHAKACEM

No. of Deals 68

Current Price 32.00

Quantity Traded 710,365

Symbol BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM PAINTCOM PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 3 16 26 35 3 5 70 226

Current Price 9.00 39.05 14.60 228.50 1.60 5.00 120.00

Quantity Traded 8,914 Page 32,389 433,722 72,350 15,000 112,500 1,329,648 2,714,888

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 1.84

Quantity Traded 331,236 331,236

Value Traded 640,729.20 640,729.20

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 17.11

Quantity Traded 7,002 7,002

Value Traded 125,755.92 125,755.92

3,053,126

207,316,488.01

Quantity Traded 1,662,717 1,662,717

Value Traded 869,490.79 869,490.79

240

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

Value Traded 79,873.44 of 13 1,282,151.40 6,358,151.73 16,417,437.83 24,080.00 564,125.00 158,780,791.35 206,550,002.89 7

53 53

0.52

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 343 343

Current Price 25.05

Quantity Traded 5,277,881 Page 5,277,881

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 58 22 69 26 12 20 207

Current Price 71.50 3.80 232.11 174.00 58.90 182.00

Quantity Traded 485,653 606,340 98,531 25,788 63,290 21,157 1,300,759

Value Traded 34,209,294.96 2,304,839.50 22,892,283.59 4,498,906.12 3,547,015.60 3,814,703.81 71,267,043.58

Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 680.00

Quantity Traded 21,800 21,800

Value Traded 14,810,230.80 14,810,230.80

8,263,157

221,702,361.60

OIL AND GAS Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

OIL ANDasGAS Totals Daily Summary of 26/08/2014 Printed 26/08/2014 14:42:37.037 SERVICES Advertising AFROMEDIA PLC Advertising Totals Automobile/Auto Part Retailers

T BRISCOEon PLC. ActivityR Summary Board EQTY SERVICES Published by The Nigerian Stock Automobile/Auto PartExchange Retailers© Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

613 Symbol AFROMEDIA

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 11,000 11,000

Value Traded 5,500.00 5,500.00

No. of Deals 13

Current Price 0.88

Quantity Traded 196,239

Value Traded 174,416.68

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol RTBRISCOE

Page Quantity Traded 196,239

9 of 13 Value Traded 174,416.68

Current Price 4.80

Quantity Traded 182,820 182,820

Value Traded 852,625.64 852,625.64

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 217,000 217,000

Value Traded 108,500.00 108,500.00

Symbol TANTALIZER

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 3,071 3,071

Value Traded 1,535.50 1,535.50

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 27 27

Current Price 0.81

Quantity Traded 860,246 860,246

Value Traded 702,672.46 702,672.46

No. of Deals 1 13 18 Daily Summary (Equities) 32

Current Price 1.55 1.58 4.30

Quantity Traded 150 194,883 306,068 501,101

Value Traded 232.50 301,908.62 1,308,560.71 1,610,701.83

Current Price 0.71

Quantity Traded 1,483,374

Value Traded 1,036,828.06

No. of Deals 13

Current Price

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Symbol REDSTAREX

No. of Deals 11 11

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Symbol CILEASING

Hospitality TANTALIZERS PLC Hospitality Totals

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC

Activity Summary on Board EQTY SERVICES Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Road Transportation Road Transportation Totals

Specialty SECURE ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY PLC Specialty Totals Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals Daily Summary as of 26/08/2014 Support14:42:37.037 and Logistics Printed 26/08/2014 CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals SERVICES Totals

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 19

Page Quantity Traded 1,483,374

10 of 13 Value Traded 1,036,828.06

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 180 180

Value Traded 90.00 90.00

No. of Deals 5 41 46

Current Price 2.08 5.00

Quantity Traded 217,977 2,719,413 2,937,390

Value Traded 458,392.16 13,614,083.78 14,072,475.94

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 5.32

Quantity Traded 35,118 35,118

Value Traded 194,202.54 194,202.54

Symbol

No. of Deals 19

Current Price

Symbol NSLTECH

No. of Deals 1 1

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO Symbol CAVERTON

Daily Summary (Equities)

EQTY Board Totals Activity Summary on Board ASeM CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC Value Traded Food Products Totals

Symbol MCNICHOLS

2,100,800.00 2,100,800.00 CONSUMER GOODS Totals

SERVICES Value Traded Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Food/Drug Retailers and Wholesalers 3,325,137.78 JULI PLC. 1,099,101.04 Food/Drug Retailers and Wholesalers Totals 41.50 117,083,163.45 SERVICES Totals 12,329,026.05 3,379,803.26 ASeM Board Totals 1,428,649.06 Equity Activity Totals 5,537,074.35 144,181,996.49

Value Traded 134,755,596.43 8 of 13 134,755,596.43

No. of Deals 1 1

Symbol

Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals Daily Summary as of 26/08/2014 Printing/Publishing Printed 26/08/2014 14:42:37.037 ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

160

6,427,539

18,759,548.65

4,522

178,411,728

2,027,633,923.15

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 1.41

Quantity Traded 10 10

1 Symbol JULI

No. of Deals 1 1

10 Current Price 1.84

Page Quantity Traded 10 10

1

10

Value Traded 13.40 13.40 13.40 11 of 13 Value Traded 17.50 17.50 17.50

2

20

30.90

4,524

178,411,748

2,027,633,954.05

Daily Summary (ETP)

1,095,157,217.94

Exchange Traded Fund Daily Summary as of 26/08/2014 Name 14:42:37.037 Printed 26/08/2014 Value Traded NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF 25.00 Exchange Traded Fund Totals 25.00 Value Traded ETFbyBoard Totals Stock Exchange © 255,000.00 Published The Nigerian

3,341,290.11 11,385,267.14 ETP Activity Totals of

16,243,426.03

Quantity Traded 400 5,500 2,600 8,500

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Activity Summary onand Board EQTYTotals Energy Equipment Services

2,227,582 Current Price 5.00 13.50 1.88

5

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials BERGER PAINTS PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © CAP PLC

Value Traded 348,172.78 604,866.00 308,805.00 16,243,401.03

No. of Deals 1 1 1 3

Daily Summary (Equities)

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEMon PLC Activity Summary Board EQTY

Quantity Traded 230,578 518,560 133,100 2,227,532

Symbol CWG NCR TRIPPLEG

ICT Totals

6

Current Price 1.51 1.14 2.38

86

ICT IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. IT Services Totals

141,362,403.65 1 of 13

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

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Daily Summary as of 26/08/2014 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals Printed 26/08/2014 14:42:37.037

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

13

Symbol NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

Daily Summary (ETP)

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 2,019.00 18.68

Quantity Traded 20 10 30

Value Traded 40,380.00 186.80 40,566.80

2

30 Page

12 40,566.80 of 13

2

30

40,566.80

46 business | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

26-Aug-14

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

Bonds

Price

FGN Bonds Issuer

Rating/Agency

NA

NA

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

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

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

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

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,591.19

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,674.22

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM

Description

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

0.09 0.66 1.97 2.67 2.92 3.01 3.76 4.84 5.16 7.42 9.55 14.26 14.74 15.24 15.91 19.89

10.44 10.90 11.36 11.30 11.33 11.33 11.37 11.40 11.50 11.87 12.06 12.46 12.48 12.50 12.20 12.20

8.82 10.06 11.28 11.24 11.26 11.20 11.27 11.33 11.41 11.82 12.01 12.42 12.44 12.45 12.15 12.16

99.86 95.72 102.90 108.50 96.39 95.06 97.96 116.70 82.82 121.85 111.90 116.66 100.01 73.01 84.70 99.60

100.01 96.22 103.05 108.65 96.54 95.36 98.26 117.00 83.12 122.15 112.20 116.96 100.31 73.31 85.00 99.90

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

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

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

0.18 0.74 1.35 2.29 2.65 2.86

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.90 13.58 13.47 13.35 12.33 12.33

97.91 90.68 104.82 100.71 99.18 96.70

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

0.14 1.01 0.62 1.14 1.14 2.65 1.69 3.35 2.32 4.11 2.52 2.52 2.90 2.97 5.24 3.03 3.65 6.26 6.35 3.83 3.86

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

13.97 15.54 14.10 15.59 14.62 16.92 12.30 13.14 13.15 12.39 12.33 16.11 12.33 12.33 12.52 14.07 12.36 12.77 13.73 12.81 13.32

99.91 97.24 99.65 98.74 101.36 85.67 102.43 102.23 101.83 105.04 104.76 96.03 105.06 107.85 107.39 101.65 106.67 103.04 105.21 104.95 104.89

1,301.62

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,276.70

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

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

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

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

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

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Corporate Bonds

484.10 491.61

A+/Agusto; AA/GCR

LAFARGE WAPCO

11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014

Aa/Agusto

GTB µ NGC

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014

Nil

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto

*UPDC

BB+/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

*FLOURMILLS

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto

NAHCO

BBB-/GCR BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR A/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR BBB/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

FSDH

A/GCR

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

*C & I LEASING *DANA#

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

*DANA NAHCO

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

07-Oct-11

11.50

11.80

07-Oct-14

0.12

1.00

11.57

99.93

18-Dec-09

13.50

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.31

5.21

16.35

99.03

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.35

8.71

19.78

98.93

17-Aug-10

10.00

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.73

4.88

15.82

96.23

09-Dec-10

12.00

13.62

09-Dec-15

0.81

1.00

11.98

100.57

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.60

06-Jan-16

0.88

2.63

13.66

100.79

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

2.09

1.00

12.37

101.10

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

2.17

1.34

12.70

102.80

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

3.10

1.00

12.33

101.65

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.73

30-Nov-17

1.91

1.88

13.24

109.09

09-Apr-11

16.00

7.20

09-Apr-18

1.87

3.48

14.83

102.20

09-Sep-11

18.00

3.27

09-Sep-18

2.04

5.20

16.58

102.60

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.90

09-Sep-18

2.04

5.06

16.44

101.70

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

4.07

1.35

12.73

103.90

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.70

18-Oct-18

2.14

2.29

13.66

104.14

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.48

6.11

17.44

99.23

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

3.35

2.16

13.51

106.51

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

6.22

2.76

14.52

102.86

11-Feb-18

3.46

1.00

12.35

94.08

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

142.08

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

144.67

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

IFC

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

12.00 11.29 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

111.23

112.08

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

3.90

3.69

104.37

105.13

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.02

4.91

109.61

110.41

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,626.01

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

AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

3.42

3.42

111.13

111.13

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

4.62

3.84

104.70

106.04

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

6.87

6.87

100.97

100.97

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.73

8.14

94.24

96.01

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.13

5.89

99.51

100.41

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

8.20

7.81

107.73

109.28

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.35

6.35

99.58

99.58

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

8.98

8.77

99.09

99.89

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.42

7.42

103.01

103.01

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

AFREN PLC III

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

7.38

7.38

96.25

96.25

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC II

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

24-Jun-14

9.25

400.00

24-Jun-21

8.66

8.49

103.25

104.13

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

8.00 JUL 23 2021

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

7.54

7.54

101.40

101.40

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

8.68

8.46

99.38

100.52

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,760.00 4,850.28

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

FIXINGS Maturity 4-Sep-14 11-Sep-14 18-Sep-14 25-Sep-14 2-Oct-14 9-Oct-14 16-Oct-14 23-Oct-14 30-Oct-14

Bid Discount (%) 10.75 10.50 10.40 10.10 10.60 10.60 10.60 10.50 10.55

Offer Discount (%) 10.50 10.25 10.15 9.85 10.35 10.35 10.35 10.25 10.30

Bid Yield (%) 10.78 10.55 10.47 10.18 10.72 10.74 10.76 10.68 10.75

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 11.2500 12.3322 13.2476 14.1539

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.96

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

O/N

11.21

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

162.10 162.33 162.58 162.69 164.33 165.61 169.30

162.20 162.59 162.92 163.86 165.50 167.24 172.92

Tenor Call 1M 3M

REPO

Rate (%) 10.83 12.17 12.98

Agency Bonds

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

AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

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

978.35 24.56 3.30 112.22 116.70 66.49

BEARISH

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

he bears maintained their dominance yesterday in theOUTSTANDING local bourse, triggering TOTAL VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION a 0.25 per cent drop in both market indices, Corporateperformance Bonds reflecting profit taking, amid A+/Agusto; AA/GCR LAFARGE WAPCO drop in investment GTB activities.

Aa/Agusto NGC indices NilThe key benchmark Bbb-/Agusto *UPDC maintained negative trajectory A-/Agusto *FLOURMILLS toBB+/GCR close in the red, as activities *CHELLARAMS inA+/Agusto; the shares A-/GCR of Cadbury NAHCO NigeA-/Agusto FSDH ria and Guinness Nigeria furA/GCR ther dragged downUBA the equity µ

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

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

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

15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 30-Sep-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21

0.14 1.01 0.62 1.14 1.14 2.65 1.69 3.35 2.32 4.11 2.52 2.52 2.90 2.97 5.24 3.03 3.65 6.26 6.35 3.83 3.86

*C & I LEASING *DANA#

market.

Trading activities on the floor of Exchange had the previous day also closed negatively following low sentiments of investors.

Consequently, the All-Share Index dipped 104.23 basis points or 0.25 per cent to close at 41,235.25 as against 41,339.48 recorded the previous day, while the market capitalisation of equities depreciated

by N35 11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014 13.50 TRUST 18-DEC-2014 billion orGUARANTY 0.25 per cent.

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 Meanwhile, a turnover of 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 178.412.00 million shares worth FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 N2.0214.00 billion in 4,524 deals were CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 recorded in the day’s trading.

14.25as FSDH Just in25-OCT-2016 the previous day , 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 the banking sub-sector of the 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

financial services segment was the most active during the day (measured by turnover volume); with 86.4 million shares worth N93.7 million exchanged by investors in 1,396 deals.

Volume in the banking subsector was largely driven by activities in the shares of Access Bank Plc and GTB Plc. Also, Insurance services sub sector, boosted by activities in the shares of Continental In07-Oct-11 11.50 18-Dec-09 surance Plc, followed13.50 with a 01-Apr-10 17.00 turnover of 20.5 million shares 10.00 valued 17-Aug-10 at N17.1 million in 205 09-Dec-10 12.00 deals. 06-Jan-11 14.00 The number of gainers 29-Sep-11 13.00 was 25-Oct-13 19, while decliners 14.25 equally 30-Sep-10 13.00 closed at 33.

Conoil Nigeria Plc led the gainers’ table with N2.50 to close at N71.50 per share, while Nigeria Breweries Plc followed with a gain of N2.49 to close at N175.00. Wapco Nigeria Plc added N2.00 to close at N120.00 per share.

A/Agusto; A/GCR

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

G

BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

*TOWER#

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

uaranty Trust*DANA Bank Plc A+/Agusto; A-/GCR (GT Bank) has NAHCO announced TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUEof N7.4 an interim dividend TOTAL MARKET billion for theCAPITALISATION half-year ended June 30, 2014.

Supranational Bond The dividend, which transAAA/S&P IFC lates into 25 kobo dividend per TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE share, be CAPITALISATION paid on SeptemTOTAL will MARKET ber 18, 2014 to shareholders whoseRating/Agency names would appearIssuer on the register of the bank as at FGN Eurobonds September 4.

To be paid out of the N44 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P billion profit after tax recorded BB-/Fitch; FGN BB-/S&P for the half year, the dividend isBB-/Fitch; similar to what was paid out BB-/S&P last year.

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE GTBank has a policy that TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION gives shareholders dividends twice a year and the bank has Corporate Eurobonds been consistent withAFREN thisPLC policy B/Fitch; B-/S&P I ofB+/Fitch; paying interim and final diviB+/S&P GTBANK PLC I B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC dends.

B/Fitch; PLC TheB/S&P bank postedFIDELITY 7 perBANK cent B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC growth gross earnings during B/Fitch AFREN PLC II the half year ended June 30, B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC 2014.

B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC TheB/S&P company in aFIRST filing B-/Fitch; BANKwith PLC B-/Fitch; B/S&P PLC III the Nigerian StockAFREN Exchange B-/Fitch; B/S&P BANK PLC II (NSE), and LondonACCESS Stock ExBBB/GCR

97.91 90.68 104.82 100.71 99.18 96.70

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

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

change (LSE), said its gross 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020by 7 per earnings increased cent to N132.985 billion during the six months to June 30, from N124.202 billion recorded during the period of 10.20 comparable IFC 11-FEB-2018 2013.

However, the half-year net earnings decreased from N49.014 billion in 2013 to N44.008 Description billion, accounting for a drop of 10 per cent.

Pre- tax profit equally fell to 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 N53.396 billion down 7 per cent 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 from N57, 364 billion in the same period last year.6.38 JUL 12, 2023 This impairment charge according to the company, “was as a result of a significant loan that we decided to provide for FEB 01, 2016 following the 11.50 demise of the MAY 19,our 2016 laid obligor; in line7.50with 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 down corporate governance 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 practices.”

6.00 NOV 08, 2018 The bank’s loan book grew 10.25 APR 08, 2019 by 16 per cent,6.25 from N899bilAPR 22, 2019 lion recorded 8.75 inMay June 21, 2019 2013, to N1.04trillion8.25inAUGJune 07, 20202014, 6.63 DEC 09,deposits 2020 while total customer 24, 2021 increased9.25/6M by 8USD perLIBOR+7.677 cent, toJUN N1.54 8.00 JUL 23 2021

On the other hand, Cadbury Nigeria Plc led the price losers’ table, dropping N6.49 to close at N60.21 per share, while Guinness Nigeria followed with a loss of N5.00 to close at N185.00.

Okomu Oil shed N1.82 per share to close at N34.65.

11.80

07-Oct-14

0.12

1.00

11.57

99.93

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.31

5.21

16.35

99.03

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.35

8.71

19.78

98.93

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.73

4.88

15.82

96.23

13.62

09-Dec-15

0.81

1.00

11.98

100.57

7.54

101.40

101.40

8.46

99.38

100.52

S

0.60

15.00

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

7.54

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

8.68

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

99.91 97.24 99.65 98.74 101.36 85.67 102.43 102.23 101.83 105.04 104.76 96.03 105.06 107.85 107.39 101.65 106.67 103.04 105.21 104.95 104.89

Stanbic IBTC floats N1bn exchange traded fund

tanbic IBTC Asset Manage06-Jan-16 0.88 ment Limited 29-Sep-16(SIAML), 2.09 a 5.53 25-Oct-16 asset man2.17 wholly owned 20.00 30-Sep-17 3.10 agement subsidiary of Stan30-Nov-12 18.00 0.73 30-Nov-17 1.91 bic IBTC Holdings Plc, 1.87 has 09-Apr-11 16.00 7.20 09-Apr-18 concluded arrangements to 09-Sep-11 18.00 3.27 09-Sep-18 2.04 09-Sep-11 16.00 0.90 Stanbic09-Sep-18 2.04 float IBTC Exchange 22-Sep-11 14.00 35.00 4.07 Traded Fund22-Sep-18 (ETF 30).

18-Oct-13 15.75 2.70 18-Oct-18 2.14 The directors of SIAML and 17-Feb-12 17.00 0.41 17-Feb-19 2.48 trillion01-Apr-14 as at June 2014.16.00 all4.50other professional parties 01-Apr-19 3.35 14-Nov-13 2.05 14-Nov-20the deal 6.22to signed Commenting on the15.25 results, yesterday 142.08 10,000,000 units of the Mr. Segun Agbaje, the Manag- issue 144.67of 100 each at par for the ing Director/CEO of the bank, fund attributed the lender’s perfor- offer which opens on Monday, mance 11-Feb-13 for the period,10.20 “to the 1512.00 September11-Feb-18 2014 and closes 3.46 hard work of its staff, commit- on Wednesday, 15 October 2014.

12.00 Minimum subscription is ment of its Management Team 11.29 and more importantly, contin- 10,000 units and multiples of Outstanding ued support custom5,000 Value units thereafter.

Issue Date from its Coupon (%) Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) (N'bn) ers.”

Approvals for the registraHe stated that the second tion and listing of the units of half of 07-Oct-11 the 2014 financial the fund, according 6.75 year 500.00 28-Jan-21 to a state4.70 will be a stronger period during, ment, have been obtained from 12-Jul-13 5.13 500.00 12-Jul-18 3.90 which the bank will make posi- the Securities and Exchange tive improvements in its market Commission (SEC) and The 12-Jul-13 6.38 500.00 12-Jul-23 5.02 positions across its key prod- 1,500.00 Nigerian Stock Exchange ucts and business segments.

(NSE). Stanbic IBTC Capital 1,626.01 A major objective for the Limited is the Issuing House bank this year, according to to the offer.

01-Feb-11 450.00 01-Feb-16 Mr. Segun Agbaje, “is11.50 to offer An Exchange Traded Fund 3.42 19-May-11 7.50conve500.00 is an investment 19-May-16 our customers greater (ETF) vehicle 4.62 25-Jul-12 7.25to our 350.00tracks an 25-Jul-17 6.87 nience and accessibility that index, a basket 09-May-13 6.88 02-May-18 services using internet and of300.00 assets, or a commodity8.73 but 6.00 400.00 08-Nov-18 6.13 mobile08-Nov-13 solutions and we have, trades like regular shares on a 08-Apr-12 10.25 300.00 08-Apr-19 8.20 to date22-Apr-14 achieved over a mil- stock exchange.

The objective 6.25 500.00 22-Apr-19 6.35 lion downloads of our8.75mobile of200.00 the Fund 21-May-19 is to replicate 21-May-14 8.98as banking app and experienced a closely as possible re07-Aug-13 8.25 300.00 07-Aug-20the total 7.42 09-Dec-13 in active 6.63 360.00 of The NSE 09-Dec-20 30 Index. 7.38 The 25% increase internet turn 24-Jun-14 9.25 400.00 will invest 24-Jun-21 8.66 Fund 100 per cent banking users.

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

47

13.97 15.54 14.10 15.59 14.62 16.92 12.30 13.14 13.15 12.39 12.33 16.11 12.33 12.33 12.52 14.07 12.36 12.77 13.73 12.81 13.32

484.10 491.61

N7.4b interim dividend for GTBank shareholders AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR

11.90 13.58 13.47 13.35 12.33 12.33

business | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

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

Investors lose N35bn at NSE

Stories by Chris Ugwu

BBB-/GCR

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

2014

Negative sentiments dominate investment activities

T

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

1,276.70

Sub-National Bonds Sanctity of Truth

0.18 0.74 1.35 2.29 2.65 2.86

1,301.62

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

A-/GCR A+/Agusto Wednesday, August 27, 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

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

of its the same100.79 portfo2.63assets in 13.66 lio of 1.00 securities 12.37that comprise 101.10 12.70 102.80 The1.34NSE 30 Index in propor12.33 101.65 tion1.00to their weightings in the 1.88 13.24 109.09 underlying Index.

3.48 14.83 102.20 Speaking at the signing 5.20 16.58 102.60cer5.06 16.44 101.70 emony, Mr Olumide Oyetan 103.90 the1.35 MD/CEO12.73 of SIAML said 2.29 13.66 104.14 “the NSE 30 Index comprises 6.11 17.44 99.23 of 2.16 the top 30 companies 13.51 106.51 in 2.76 of market 14.52 102.86 terms capitalisation. The index serves as the flagship benchmark for the stock market as it represents 92 per cent of12.35 The NSE’s mar1.00 94.08 ket capitalisation” Oyetan said: “The Fund represents a convenient and efficient for investors Offer Yield (%) way Bid Price Offer Price to have access to the top 30 most Prices & Yields capitalized and liquid stocks on 4.56 the NSE, in a cost effective 111.23 112.08 manner. We believe that it will 3.69 104.37 105.13 appeal to sophisticated and institutional investors that 109.61 4.91 110.41 believe in the growth story of companies listing the NSE and by corollary in the abundant growth opportunities that exist 3.42 in Nigeria."

111.13 111.13 The Chief104.70 Executive 3.84 106.04 Of6.87 Stanbic 100.97 100.97 ficer, IBTC Capital 8.14 96.01 Limited, Ms 94.24 Yewande Sadiku 5.89 99.51 commended the board100.41 of SI7.81 107.73 109.28 AML for their efforts towards 6.35 99.58 99.58 the8.77 deepening of the Nigerian 99.09 99.89 capital market via the 103.01 listing 7.42 103.01 96.25 96.25 of 7.38 new and innovative prod8.49 103.25 104.13 ucts.

4,760.00 4,850.28

26-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 FIXINGS Money Market Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement on www.fmdqotc.com.

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

**Treasury Bills FMDQ OTC PLC

DTM Maturity Bid Discount (%) 9 4-Sep-14 10.75 16 11-Sep-14 10.50 FGN Bonds 23 18-Sep-14 10.40 30 25-Sep-14 10.10 37 2-Oct-14 10.60 Issuer Description Rating/Agency 44 9-Oct-14 10.60 51 16-Oct-14 10.60 9.25 28-SEP-2014 58 23-Oct-14 10.50 4.00 23-APR-2015 65 30-Oct-14 10.55 72 6-Nov-14 10.20 13.05 16-AUG-2016 79 13-Nov-14 10.55 15.10 27-APR-2017 86 20-Nov-14 9.10 9.85 27-JUL-2017 93 27-Nov-14 10.80 9.35 31-AUG-2017 100 4-Dec-14 10.10 10.70 30-MAY-2018 107 11-Dec-14 10.70 16.00 29-JUN-2019 121 25-Dec-14 10.75 NA NA 135 8-Jan-15 10.85 7.00 23-OCT-2019 149 22-Jan-15 10.50 16.39 27-JAN-2022 163 5-Feb-15 10.50 14.20 14-MAR-2024 177 19-Feb-15 10.25 15.00 28-NOV-2028 191 5-Mar-15 10.55 12.49 22-MAY-2029 226 9-Apr-15 10.20 8.50 20-NOV-2029 240 23-Apr-15 10.25 254 7-May-15 10.15 10.00 23-JUL-2030 345 6-Aug-15 10.25 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 *from the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration #

Offer Discount (%) 10.50 10.25 10.15 9.85 10.35 Issue Date 10.35 10.35 28-Sep-07 10.25 23-Apr-10 10.30 9.95 16-Aug-13 10.30 27-Apr-12 8.85 27-Jul-07 10.55 31-Aug-07 9.85 30-May-08 10.45 29-Jun-12 10.50 10.60 23-Oct-09 10.25 27-Jan-12 10.25 14-Mar-14 10.00 28-Nov-08 10.30 22-May-09 9.95 20-Nov-09 10.00 9.90 23-Jul-10 10.00 18-Jul-14

Bid Yield (%) 10.78 10.55 10.47 10.18 10.72 Coupon (%) 10.74 10.76 9.25 10.68 4.00 10.75 10.41 13.05 10.80 15.10 9.30 9.85 11.11 9.35 10.39 10.70 11.05 16.00 11.15 11.30 7.00 10.97 16.39 11.02 14.20 10.79 15.00 11.17 12.49 10.89 8.50 10.99 10.92 10.00 11.35 12.15

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON

Modified Duration Buckets

FMBN

NA

<3 ***LCRM 3<5

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

>5 Market

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

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

Value

Rate (%) 11.2500 12.3322 13.2476 Maturity Date 14.1539

100.00 28-Sep-14 535.00 23-Apr-15 NITTY 530.27 16-Aug-16 Tenor Rate (%) 452.80 27-Apr-17 1M 10.2862 20.00 27-Jul-17 2M 10.6475 100.00 31-Aug-17 3M 10.7797 300.00 30-May-18 6M 10.8254 351.30 29-Jun-19 9M 10.9967 12M 11.4390 233.90 23-Oct-19 600.00 27-Jan-22 281.35 14-Mar-24 NIFEX 75.00 28-Nov-28 150.00 22-May-29 Current Price ($/N) 20-Nov-29 BID($/N) 200.00 161.8500 OFFER ($/N) 161.9500 591.57 23-Jul-30 70.00 18-Jul-34

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.96

O/N

11.21

REPO TTM (Yrs) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%) Call 0.09 1M 0.66 3M 6M 1.97

10.83 10.44 12.17 10.90 12.98 13.75 11.36

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

31-Oct-14 % Exposure_ 24-May-15 Mod_Duration

Implied Yield

Tenor Spot 7D Offer 14DYield 1M (%) 2M 8.82 3M 10.06 6M 1Y 11.28

2.67 11.30 11.24 2.92 11.33 11.26 3.01 11.33 11.20 :Benchmarks 3.76Bond 11.37 11.27 * :Amortising 4.84 11.40 11.33 µ :Convertible Bond AMCON: Asset of Nigeria 5.16 Management Corporation 11.50 11.41 FGN: Federal 7.42Government of Nigeria 11.87 11.82 FMBN: Federal of Nigeria 9.55 Mortgage Bank12.06 12.01 IFC: International Finance Corporation 14.26 12.46 12.42 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 14.74 Aviation Handling 12.48 Company 12.44 NAHCO: Nigerian 15.24 12.50 12.45 O/N: Overnight UPDC: UAC Property Development 15.91 12.20 Company 12.15 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company 19.89 12.20 12.16 NOTE:

Bid ($/N) 162.10 162.33 162.58 Bid Price 162.69 164.33 99.86 165.61 95.72 169.30 177.04 102.90

Offer ($/N)

Price 162.20 162.59

162.92 Offer Price 163.86 165.50 100.01 167.24 96.22 172.92 184.02 103.05

108.50 108.65 96.39 96.54 95.06 95.36 NA :Not Applicable 97.96Rate Bond 98.26 # :Floating 116.70 117.00 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 82.82 83.12 †: Bond121.85 rating expired 122.15 111.90 112.20 116.66 116.96 100.01 100.31 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 73.01 Bank for Africa 73.31 UBA: United 84.70 85.00 99.60 99.90

4,591.19

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

Rating/Agency

NIBOR

Bonds

4,674.22 Description

Issue Date

FMDQ FGN BOND

0.00Porfolio AMCON Market 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) Total Outstanding 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 Value(Bn) Volume(Bn) 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 1,036.94 983.07 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 1,141.07 951.30 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 815.89 872.92

2,993.89

Coupon (%)

2,807.29

28-Dec-11 Weighting by 24-May-10 Outstanding Vol

03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 35.02 20-Apr-12 33.89 06-Jul-12 31.09

100.00

0.00 Weighting

by Mkt 0.00 Value

17.25 0.00/16.00 34.64 0.00/16.50 38.11 0.00/16.50 27.25

100.00

Outstanding Value INDEX(N'bn) 978.35 24.56 3.30 112.22 0.35 116.70 0.34 66.49 0.31

Bucket Weighting

1,301.62 1.00

03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 16.41 20-Apr-17 34.53 06-Jul-17 49.06

0.18 0.74 1.35 2.29 11.33 2.65 11.73 2.86 12.16

100.00

11.87

# Risk Premium (%)

1.00 Implied 2.63 Portfolio Price 2.27 2.00 118.7307 1.00 135.3296 1.00 103.1063 119.4971

Valuation Yield (%) 11.90 13.58 13.47 13.35 1,127.70 12.33 1,145.92 12.33 1,202.82

INDEX

Indicative Price YTD 97.91 Return 90.68 (%)

104.82 100.71 12.7700 99.18 14.5919 96.70 20.2818

1,135.10

13.5095

13.97 15.54 14.10 15.59 14.62 16.92 12.30 13.14 13.15 12.39

99.91 97.24 99.65 98.74 101.36 85.67 102.43 102.23 101.83 105.04

1,276.70

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

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

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

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

14.00 12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00

6.00 8.50 6.08 6.27 7.37 57.00 29.92 25.00 37.25 9.00

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

0.14 1.01 0.62 1.14 1.14 2.65 1.69 3.35 2.32 4.11

3.29 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00

48 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

29TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BABANGIDA COUP

Why Buhari must go, by Babangida CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 3

international market. The government intends to review the whole issue of counter-trade.

A lot has been said and heard about our position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Although we formally applied to the fund in April 1983, no progress has as yet been made in the negotiation and a stalemate has existed for the last two years.

We shall break the deadlock that frustrated the negotiations with a view to evaluating more objectively both the negative and positive implications of reaching a mutual agreement with the Fund. At all times in the course of discussions, our representatives will be guided by the feelings and aspirations of the Nigerian people.

It is the view of this government that austerity without structural adjustment is not the solution to our economic predicament. The present situation whereby 44 per cent of our revenue earning is utilised to service debts is not realistic. To protect the danger this poses to the poor and the needy in our society, steps will be taken to ensure comprehensive strategy of economic reforms.

The crux of our economic problems has been identified to centre around four fundamental issues: 1. A decrease of our domestic production, while our population continues to increase.

2. Dependence on import for both consumer goods and raw materials for our industries.

3. A grossly unequal gap between the rich and the poor.

4. The large role played by the public sector in economic activity with hardly any concrete results to justify such a role.

These are the problems we must confront.

ON FOREIGN POLICY: Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foreign policy in the last 20 months has been characterised by inconsistency and incoherence. It has lacked the clarity to make us know where we stood on matters of international concern to enable other countries relate to us with seriousness. Our role as Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spokesman has diminished because we have been unable to maintain the respect of African countries.

Babangida

The ousted military government conducted our external relations by a policy of retaliatory reactions. Nigeria became a country that has reacted to given situations, rather than taking the initiative as it should and always been done. More so, vengeful considerations must not be the basis of our diplomacy.

African problems and their solutions should constitute the premise of our foreign policy.

The realisation of the Organisation of African Unity of the Lagos Plan of Action for self-sufficiency and constructive co-operation in Africa shall be our primary pursuit.

The Economic Community of West African States must be reborn with the view to achieving the objective of regional integration. The problems of drought-stricken areas of Africa will be given more attention and sympathy, and our best efforts will be made to as-

sist in their rehabilitation within the limits of our resources. Our membership of the United Nations Organisation will be made more practical and meaningful. The call for a new International Economic Order which lost its momentum in the face of the debt crisis will be made once again.

Nigeria hereby makes a renewed request to the Non-Aligned Movement to regroup and reinvigorate its determination to restructure the global economic system, while we appeal to the industrialized nations to positively consider the debt plight of the developing countries and assist in dealing with the dangers that face us. We shall remain members of the various multilateral institutions and intergovernmental organisations which we belong to and do what must be done to enhance the membership and participation within them.

Fellow Nigerians, this country has had since independence a history mixed with turbulence and fortune. We have witnessed our rise to greatness, followed with a decline to the state of a bewildered nation. Our human potentials have been neglected, our natural resources put to waste. A phenomenon of constant insecurity and overbearing uncertainty has become characteristic of our national existence.

My colleagues and I are determined to change the course of history. This government is determined to unite this country. We shall not allow anything to obstruct us. We recognise that a government, be it civilian or military, needs the consent of the people to govern if it is to reach its objective. We do not intend to rule by force. At the same time, we should not be expected to submit to unreasonable demands. Fundamental rights and civil liberties will be respected, but their exercise must not degenerate into irrational expression nor border on subversion.

The War Against Indiscipline will continue, but this time, in the minds and conduct of Nigerians, and not by way of symbolism or money-spending campaigns.

This government, on its part, will ensure that the leadership exhibits proper example. Criticisms of actions and decisions taken by us will be given necessary attention and where necessary changes made in accordance with what is expected of us.

Let me reiterate what we said in 1984: This generation of Nigerians and indeed future generations have no other country but Nigeria. We must all stay and salvage it together. This time, it shall be pursued with deeper commitment and genuine sincerity.

There is a lot of work to be done by every single Nigerian. Let us all dedicate ourselves to the cause of building a strong, united and viable nation for the sake of our own lives and the benefits of posterity.

Finally, I wish to commend the members of the Armed Forces and the Nigeria Police for their mature conduct during the change.

I thank you all for your co-operation and understanding.

God bless Nigeria.

Leadership tussle tears Ebonyi Assembly apart CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 1

against the leadership of Nwazunku.

They had prayed the court to restrain Nwazunku and his group to stop parading himself as the Speaker of the House.

Nwazunku and nine other lawmakers also filed a suit asking the court to restrain Mrs. Nwaobasi from parading herself as Speaker.

The court had adjourned ruling on the matter to September 1.

A police source, who spoke with New Telegraph, stated that the lawmakers were arrested in connection with the petition before the Commissioner of Police, Dikko Maigari from Nwazunkuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s group alleging forgery, impeachment threat and disloyalty to the leadership of the House.

Those arrested and later released included the Minority Leader, Enyi C. Enyi (APC) and Minority Whip, Joseph Nwaobasi (APC), Deputy Speaker, Blaise Orji (PDP); Eni Uduma Chima and Ikechukwu Nwankwo, the former Speaker among others.

Peace of the graveyard Following the intervention of the PDP and Elechi, Nwazunku last week

resumed as the authentic speaker amidst tight security.

The legislators during the sitting which lasted more than two hours deliberated on several issues including explanation on constituency matters, the committee report on the suspended members of the House after which a vote of confidence was passed on Speaker Nwazunku.

Presenting the report of the five-man committee set up by the House to investigate and make recommendations on the alleged misconduct, corrupt practices and the impeachment threat to the Speaker by the suspended Deputy

As things stand now, the house has no authentic Speaker, and only a court of competent jurisdiction will resolve the crisis rocking the hallowed chamber

Speaker, Hon. Blaise Orji, Hon. Eni Uduma Chima and Hon. Frank Onwe, the committee chairman, Hon. Vincent Nwibo, stated that the committee found the three lawmakers guilty.

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

According to him, the three lawmakers in a letter addressed to the Speaker pledged their unalloyed loyalty to the leadership of Nwazunku, adding that they would not do anything that would undermine the legislative arm or bring disrepute to the legislative chambers.

Nwibo said that they were suspended for their involvement in demanding gratification from the Speaker before carrying out legislative functions as well as threatening to mobilise members of the House to impeach the Speaker if he fails to ensure they are given huge sums of money before passing any bill from the executive arm.

The committee recommended the lifting of the suspension slammed on the three lawmakers as well as invoking the same suspension if after recall, they en-

gage in any act that is capable of causing a breach of the peace of the House.

The motion for the lifting of the suspension was moved by the member representing Onicha East State Constituency, Hon. Odefa Obasi Odefa and seconded by the member representing Ohaukwu North, Hon. Mabel Aleke. Contributing to the deliberation, the member representing Abakaliki North, Hon. Oliver Nwachukwu and the member representing Ikwo South, Hon. Ogiji Chike Imo, all urged the House to lift the suspension.

Speaker Nwazunku put the motion to a voice vote and it was unanimously adopted by the members.

Also moving a motion for a vote of confidence on the Speaker, the member representing Ikwo South, Hon. Chike Imo, described Nwazunku as a peacemaker and God-fearing. He enjoined other House members to give the motion the needed support. The motion was seconded by Hon. Oliver Nwachukwu which led to a standing ovation for the Speaker.

When contacted, one of the suspended members, Onwe, representing Ohaukwu North State Constituency said that they had to apologise to ensure a lasting peace in the state.

NEWS 49

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

FUTURE

Knowledge is power.

Illiteracy is terror. If you are planning for a lifetime, educate a person

T

he United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has advised state governments in the country to address the issue of illiteracy in the country.

The Regional Director of UNESCO, Prof. Hassana Alidou, gave the advice in Abuja, at a one-day advocacy meeting on revitalising adult and youth literacy programme.

The 19 commissioners for education in the northern part of the country attended the meeting.

Alidou was represented by the Senior Programme Specialist on Education, Dr. Daidou

74.25%

UNESCO urges state govts to tackle illiteracy Jallow.

The director said the meeting was aimed at strengthening the national capacity for designing, delivering, evaluating and monitoring the quality of literacy programmes in the country.

According to her, UNESCO has provided the technical support for all phases to ensure the development of strategic framework for literacy and non-formal education in Nigeria.

She said UNESCO, in collaboration with National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC), had trained 5, 264 facilitators across the six geo-political zones to address illiteracy in Nigeria.

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Australia in 2009.

Source: Itu.int

“These facilitators have been picked from 146 local government areas of the country under the project.

“The facilitators, however, will not be able to contribute to raising the literacy level in their respective states if they are not engaged by the states for which they are trained.

“The role of the states in engaging these facilitators is therefore crucial,” she said.

She, however, called for collaboration from all stakeholders in the various states to address the issue of adult and youth illiteracy.

The Executive Secretary of NMEC, Mr. Jibrin Paiko, advocated for proper funding of facilitators

26,000

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

Source: Blatantworld.com

to enable them actualise their objectives.

Paiko said the commission has advocated for a stipend of N7, 500 to be paid to facilitators in each state, adding that only few states have keyed into this policy.

He commended the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and Rivers States on their efforts to eradicate illiteracy in the country.

“The major challenge faced by NMEC is the payment of N7, 500 as salaries to facilitators as only few states are doing this by paying more than the fixed amount.

“But, we are hoping to get sustained funding nationwide, especially at state and local government levels,” he said.

23.8%

The percentage of urban population of Afghanistan in 2012.

Source: Un.org

L-R: Vice-President, Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria, Mr. Olaide Afolabi; President, Mr. Moses Ogunleye and Secretary General, Mr. Idris Salako, during the association’s 2014 Annual General Meeting in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

War against crime: Tsav rates ex-Benue CP low Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

F

ormer Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, has rated the performance of the immediate past Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adams Audu, as abysmally low.

Tsav’s assessment of the ex-police boss came just as he described as an affront on Nigeria, the declaration of Gwoza in the North-East as a caliphate by the Boko Haram sect.

The former Lagos State police boss, who said this in a telephone chat, added that Benue

State witnessed high rate of crime under Audu’s administration, pointing out that he was not firm in handling security issues that affected the state, while criminals were not prosecuted to the letter.

“As far as I am concerned, he was too slow on security issues. He was rather busy chasing politicians, leaving his duty of securing the state. Even the criminals he arrested he failed to prosecute to the letter,” Tsav stated.

He also took a swipe on the police commissioner, who retired recently from the force for the role he played during the Tiv/ Fulani crisis, accusing

him of not cooperating with the joint committee set up by Benue and Narasawa States.

Tsav urged the next commissioner of police to be proactive and firm in handling security issues in the state.

On the declaration of Gwoza as a caliphate, Tsav described it as an affront on the Federal Government and blamed the President for paying lip service to security situation in the country.

He said the declaration was occasioned by lack of interest on the part of the Jonathan administration to crush this life consuming insurgency, rather than muster troops to up-

root the menace, the President appears more interested in deploying troops to rig elections, to aid and abet the impeachment of opposition governors.

Tsav, who is a member of National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIF) also alleged that the Federal Government has not shown commitment to the rescuing of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, who have been in captivity for over 133 days; and further took a swipe at the leadership of the Northern Elders Forum, led by Alhaji Tanko Yakasi, for not advising the President on the way forward to restore sanity in Nigeria.

Lawyer flays Imo govt for hosting NBA conference Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

lawyer and govAthesenior ernorship aspirant on ticket of the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State, Chief Charles Onyeagbako, has described as imprudent, the decision of the Imo State government to host the 54th annual general conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in view of the challenge of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country.

According to Onyeagbako, across the continent and the country, conferences and events likely to attract large crowds are being called off.

He said: “It is estimated that no fewer than 10, 000 lawyers would be in Imo for the conference and much as it is considered a milestone to host the Bar conference, it is absolutely indiscreet on the part of the Imo State government and an indictment

on the Commissioner for Health, who should have advised against such a massive gathering at a time fears are still rife over the Ebola disease.

“Some West African countries have already shut their borders with countries and states calling off gatherings and conferences. In fact, same Monday the conference was declared open in Owerri, Benin Republic announced the postponement of the African Health Ministers Meeting, scheduled to hold in the country over fears of the Ebola threat.”

He argued that for the Federal Government, it had been a Herculean task to contain the 13 infected Ebola patients, maintaining that Imo State lacks the capacity to conduct a conclusive screening of delegates at the points of entry or handle any Ebola crisis that may result from the seeming indiscretion.

Teachers await 27.5 % peculiar allowance from FG Unity Colleges’ teachers’ welfare was Triahe wing of the Nige- paramount to the develUnion of Teachers opment of the education (NUT) has appealed to the Federal Government to implement the 27.5 per cent peculiarity allowance to its members.

The association’s Coordinator, Mr. Emeka Okonta, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday that the teachers were being denied of this and other allowances such as core science and mathematics teachers’ allowance, house master and house mistress allowance as stipulated in the Civil Service book.

According to Okonta, unlike teachers, nurses who work as civil servants outside the hospital environment received whatever benefits paid to their colleagues.

Okonta stressed that

sector.

“When a teacher’s salary cannot take him home, it is not going to be easy for that teacher to put in his best. If you are asking a teacher to manage, he cannot improvise.

“When we were employed, we saw our money being deducted under the Association of Senior Civil Servants. Why we became jittery about the whole thing was that in 2010, the Federal Government said it was going to give what was called 13th month to civil servants.

He said, “as civil servants, we were happy, but when it was approved, we were excluded, and upon inquiry, we were told that as teachers, we would not benefit from the 13th month.”

Union kicks against merger of institutions in Plateau

Musa Pam JOS

he Joint Union of PlaTInstitutions teau State Tertiary (JUPTI) has kicked against the merger of the University of Bokkos and the College of Arts, Science and Technology (CAST).

Addressing journalists yesterday in Jos, Chairman of JUPTI, who is also the Chairman, Plateau State Polytechnic chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Mr. Victor Dawurung, said the people of Plateau should not blame the union as it

seeks to resume its earlier suspended strike action on the matter.

According to the union leader, the laws establishing the Plateau State College of Arts, Science and Technology and the Plateau State University, Bokkos, are two separate laws passed in 2000 and the year 2006 respectively.

“The purpose of establishing the two institutions are different, CAST Kurgwi was established to run remedial, IJMB and diploma courses in science, while the Plateau State University was established to run degree courses,” he said.

50

WORLD | NEWS

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Gaza: Israel, Hamas accept ceasefire Borno sponsors 20 female

I

srael and Hamas yesterday announced that they have agreed to an open-ended ceasefire in the Gaza war after seven weeks of fighting that killed more than 2,200 people, the vast majority Palestinians.

The cease-fire was to take effect at 7 p.m. local time (1600 GMT), but violence persisted until the last minute.

In Israel, mortar shells fired from Gaza killed one man and seriously wounded two people, authorities said.

In Gaza, police reported that an Israeli airstrike

collapsed a seven-story building in the town of Beit Lahiya, the sixth high-rise to be toppled since the weekend. Booms from Israeli strikes could be heard in Gaza after the truce announcement was made.

In Gaza, massive celebratory gunfire erupted after 7p.m. Chants normally reserved for Muslim holidays could be heard from mosque loudspeakers.

Earlier, officials from Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the main groups fighting Israel, had said the ceasefire included an

Israeli agreement to ease its blockade of Gaza to allow relief supplies and construction materials into the war-battered territory.

Talks on more complex issues, such as Hamas’ demand to build an airport and a seaport for Gaza, would begin in a month, said Ziad Nakhala, a senior Islamic Jihad official.

The details of the ceasefire would effectively mean Hamas and Islamic Jihad settled for terms that are similar to those that ended more than a week of fighting with Israel in 2012.

students to study medicine

A

hmed Miringa and Umar Danladi Ado Borno State government has sponsored another set of 20 female students to study medicine at the College of Medical Sciences Khartum, Sudan.

This was even as Sokoto State government yesterday said it is sending no fewer than 143 indigenes for degree programmes at various universities in Bangladesh, Niger and Sudan.

Presenting the award letter and a laptop computer each to the 20 female

student at the Government House, Maiduguri, Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, said he is passionate about women education, as according to him, “when you educate a man, you educate an individual, but when you educate a woman, you educate a nation.”

The governor said “all of us are product of public schools and posterity will judge us harshly if we allow the public school system to collapse.”

Meanwhile, Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Wamakko, revealed the new gesture

at a farewell reception party in respect of the third batch of benefitting students held at the state Government House, Sokoto yesterday.

He said a net estimated sum of N246, 174,425.00 have been released for the smooth execution of the programme.

Governor Wamakko said the students were selected to depart for the study at International Islamic University Chithangang, Bangladesh; Republic of Sudan and Abdulmumin University, Niamey, Niger Republic respectively.

Gwoza attack: Police say eight missing policemen found

T A Palestinian boy cries as he stands in a debris-strewn street near his family’s house, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

South Sudan crisis: UN helicopter crashes near Bentiu

O

ne the cargo helicopters of the United Nations (UN) has crashed in South Sudan, with unconfirmed reports saying it was shot down.

Three crew died, while one survived, said the UN mission in South Sudan, adding that an inquiry was under way.

A UN official told the AP news agency that the Mi-8 helicopter had apparently

been shot down.

Thousands of people have been killed this year in bitter fighting between South Sudan’s army and rebel forces.

Bentiu, capital of the oil-rich Unity state, has changed hands several times but a ceasefire agreement is currently in place.

On Monday, the two sides were given 45 days to form a power-sharing government.

A government official

has accused forces loyal to rebel commander Peter Gadet of shooting down the helicopter, AP reports.

His forces have not yet commented.

The UN plays a vital role in getting food to the 1.8 million people who have fled their homes since fighting broke out last December.

Many have sought shelter in UN bases around the country, including Bentiu.

Factional crisis claims 17 in Central Africa

A

t least 17 people were killed in fighting between rival factions of the former rebel movement Seleka in the Central African Republic, an officer in the African peacekeeping force there said yesterday.

The dead were all exrebels who battled two days ago in the heart of the central town of Bambari, where the Seleka forces set up their headquarters in May, said

the officer in the MISCA force deployed by the African Union, asking not to be named. “One side was the group of General Joseph Zoundeko, head of the Seleka general staff in Bambari, and the other is that of General Ali Djarras, made up of armed ethnic Peuls (Fulani)” active in the region,” he added.

The death toll was provisional, the officer said,

“in light of the heaviness of the fighting and the weapons used. Some used rocket-launchers.”

The Seleka coalition, drawn mainly from the Muslim minority, took power in the poor and highly unstable country for 10 months in March 2013 after a coup, but its forces were driven out of the capital Bangui last January by French military intervention alongside MISCA troops.

he police yesterday said that eight of its 35 personnel missing during an attack on the Police Mobile Force training camp at Gwoza, Borno, have been found.

The camp was reportedly attacked by the Boko Haram insurgents.

Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojuk-

wu, who confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said the officers were found in the last two days.

Ojukwu expressed hope that more of the men would be found with the ongoing search and rescue efforts.

NAN recalls that the

insurgents attacked the camp on August 20, having attacked it earlier on August 7, and was repelled by the personnel.

Following the incident, the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, ordered that security be tightened in and around all police facilities across the country.

40 bishops for episcopal ordination in Awka Tony Okafor AWKA

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o fewer than 40 bishops across the country and beyond will be in Awka, the Anambra State capital on Friday, for the episcopal ordination of the axillary bishop of the diocese, Monsignor Jonas Benson Okoye.

The Diocesan Bishop of Awka, Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor, disclosed this yesterday in a press briefing, preparatory to

the ordination.

He said the Vatican Ambassador to Nigeria, Archbishop Augustine Kasujja, would perform the ceremony at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka.

Ezeokafor said the ordination of Okoye would bring to four, the number of axillary bishops that had served the diocese since its creation 37 years ago.

The bishop said the purpose of appointing an axillary bishop is for administrative convenience and

not for the splitting of the diocese as thought by some people.

He noted that although the diocese is one of the largest dioceses in the country with about 600 priests, it is only the universal church in Rome that has the powers to create dioceses as appropriate.

The Bishop-elect (Okoye) was born in 1963 and was ordained priest in 1992. He has a doctorate degree in Cannon from Lateran University Rome.

Alleged corruption: Benue Assembly grills LG boss Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

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he Benue State House of Assembly has directed its Committee on Local Government, Security and Chieftaincy Affairs to investigate allegations made against the Opkokwu Council Chairman, Hon. Juliana Obeta that led to her suspension from office by the legisla-

tive house.

Obeta is facing an eight-count charge bothering on absenteeism, embezzlement of SUREP funds, executive rascality, misappropriation of the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), abysmal performance, incessant foreign trips, non-compliance with budgetary procedures and award of contracts to personal com-

panies and cronies, among others.

The directive of the House, which came barely three months to the expiration of the tenure of local government chairmen in the state, was handed to the committee at yesterday’s plenary of the 7th Benue Assembly, following a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House by the Okpokwu legislative council.

Man United confirm Di Maria signing Ifeanyi Ibeh

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igeria’s participation at this year’s World Wrestling Championships has come under threat after tournament hosts Uzbekistan threatened to prevent the country’s wrestlers from entering the Asian nation due to the outbreak of the Ebola virus in some West African countries.

} P 53

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Ebola scare: Nigerian wrestlers face elimination

The Uzbekistani government is keen to ensure that the virus does not get into its country and has threatened to prevent West African wrestlers from taking part in the World Championships, which runs from September 8 to 14 in the city of Tashkent.

Seven wrestlers from Nige-

ria and two from Sierra Leone were billed to take part in the world championships.

But in the light of the threat from the Uzbeks, wrestling’s governing body, FILA, on Monday, called on the tournament hosts to allow Nigerian and Sierra Leonean athletes to compete at next month’s event.

SPORT

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

On Tuesday, the Uzbeks however requested for additional information about the wrestlers from Nigeria and Sierra Leone before reaching a decision.

President of the Nigerian Wrestling Federation, Dr Daniel Igali, in an interview with New Telegraph, said all the necessary information would

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/sports

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

be forwarded to FILA just as he called on the Uzbeks to have a change of heart, especially as the Ebola virus has been contained in Nigeria.

“The federation has taken proactive steps to ensure that our athletes who are billed to go to the World Championships CONTINUED ON PAGE 54

Did you know?

51

That the official world record attendance at the 1950 Soccer World Cup final was 199, 854.

However, the actual paying attendance was 172, 772 people

tuesday, August 26, 2014

Maigari’s arrest ignites fresh row l l

Maigari

Green, Amadu also arrested by DSS 25 FA Chairmen storm DSS for Maigari, shun congress lFIFA ban looms again

State FA Chairmen on the Road side at Shehu Shagari way, Abuja protesting the arrest of Aminu Maigari , Chris Green on Tuesday by the DSS

FA Chairmen addressing the press

Ajibade Olusesan

T

he arrest of President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Aminu Maigari, by the operatives of the Department of State

Services on Monday has sparked off a fresh row in the Nigerian football.

The Congress of the federation was expected to hold yesterday but Maigari, as well as Secretary General of the federation, Musa Amadu, and chairman of the Technical Committee, Chris Green, were picked up by the security agents few hours to the start of the Congress in Abuja and at 6pm, the exercise was yet to commence because of the latest development.

Our correspondent learnt that 25 FA chairmen reportedly stormed the office of the DSS on Shehu Shagari Way, Abuja to demand the release of their leader.

In fact, they threatened that CONTINUED ON PAGE 55

Nigeria’s Kenneth Omeruo contesting with France’s Olivier Giroud

52

SPORT

Nigerian League Rendezvous

Sanctity of Truth

with charles Ogundiya

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Babangida, Taraba Perm Sec Referee Udoh makes history clash over team with vanishing spray charlesog2001@yahoo.com,

Ajibade Olusesan

C

hairman of the Nigeria Premier League outfit, FC Taraba, Tijani Babangida, is facing a turbulent time as he battles for the soul of the club with the Permanent Secretary in the state’s sports ministry.

Babangida, was given a contract by the state government to run the club but the former Super Eagles winger has seen his responsibility usurped by the Perm Sec, Hussaini Modddib, League Rendezvous can authoritatively reveal.

Some players who spoke with our correspondent said that the development has been affecting the fortunes of the club.

They lamented that Babangida who was given the contract to manage the

club had been reduced to a mere ceremonial chairman, noting that funds meant for the running of the club are always in the custody of the permanent secretary.

“The situation here is so pathetic because the chairman who was once a professional footballer and understands what it takes to manage a football team has been relegated to a ceremonial chairman,” one of them said.

“Money is not released to him to run the club the way he wants. When the club wants any little amount they have to go to the permanent secretary to beg him,” another player said.

One of them also told our correspondent that the permanent secretary recently reduced their winning bonuses, and their salaries don’t come as at when due.

O

ver the weekend, referee Ferdinand Udoh displayed his ingenuity in the league match involving Nasarawa United and Heartland with the usage of the newly introduced vanishing spray.

League Rendezvous learnt that it came as a surprise to the fans at the stadium when the referee made use of the spray.

Vanishing spray paint, used by the referee to mark the spot a free-kick is taken and the minimum required distance for the defensive wall, took the world by storm at the World Cup in Brazil. It

08098042287

was originally introduced at the last U-17 World Cup in United Arab Emirates.

According to a member of the League Management Company who craved anonymity, the referee took the decision of getting the spray on his own, a decision which is very commendable.

The official said the spray would be provided for all the referees at the beginning of next season to be used across all the stadia in the country.

“I was surprised when I saw the referee using the spray, it shows that the man is moving with the trend around the world.

“Now that FIFA has sanctioned the use of the spray, the LMC will make it available to all the referees at the beginning of next season,” he said.

In 2013, Udoh emerged the best of the 33 referees drawn from all over Africa that took part in a CAF Young Talent Referees Course held in Cairo, Egypt.

Speaking with League Rendezvous, the media officer of Heartland said, the use of the spray allowed the referee to take a firm grip on the game especially when there were infringements very close to the goal post.

win over the Oluyole Warriors as the battle for promotion reaches its climax.

The coach who spied on his opponent on Sunday, informed our correspondent that he would be working on 3SC’s weaknesses with the aim of picking at least a point in Ibadan.

“I actually spied on shooting stars in their game against First Bank on Sunday to knowtheir weaknesseswhich I am going to work on with my team’s strength so that we will

be able to pick at least a point in Ibadan,” he said.

MFM defeated Gateway 2-1 to move to the third position on the league table, two points behind joint leaders, 3SC and Gabros.

Despite losing the weekend game against First Bank in Lagos, head coach of 3SC of Ibadan, Franklin Howard, informed League Rendezvous that he was not losing sleep over the loss as the team would bounce back against MFM in Ibadan.

MFM bank on 3SC victory for promotion

AyorindeDurojaiye

A

fter a hard fought victory over Gateway FC at the Agege Stadium at the weekend, head coach of Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries football club, Fidelis Ilechukwu, says he is taking the club’s promotion battle to Ibadan against Shooting Stars.

The club currently two points behind the Nigeria National League group B league leader, 3SC, will take the initiative in the group with an away

Kwara United forward Stanley Dimgba (left)against Rangers

US Open 2014: Sharapova, Britain’s Johanna Konta beaten in first round Djokovic ease through B M aria Sharapova started her bid for a second US Open title with a 6-4 6-0 firstround win over fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko.

The2006championtrailed 4-2 in the first set but won the next 10 games on her way to victory in 90 minutes.

In the men’s draw, world numberoneNovakDjokovic also eased through.

Djokovic outclassed Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman, taking just 98 minutes to beat the world number 79 6-1 6-2 6-4 and reach round two.

Australian teenager Nick Kyrgios came close to being disqualified after receiving threewarningsforswearing.

Kyrgios, who shocked Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon, beat 21st seed Mikhail Youzhny 7-5 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 7-6 (7-1).

But the 19-year-old received two code violations in

Sharapova

the third set and then a third warninginthefourth,which saw him penalised a game.

Elsewhere, third seed, Stanislas Wawrinka, progressed in straight sets.

The Australian Open champion was pushed to two tie-breaks by Czech Jiri Vesely but came through 6-2 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-3).

Two-time US Open champion Venus Williams fought back from a set down to win 2-6 6-3 6-3 and end 43-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm’s US Open hopes.

ritish number two Johanna Konta was beaten in straight sets by Israel’s world number 155 Shahar Peer in the first round of the US Open.

Peer, 27, broke the Briton’s serve four times as she won 6-2 6-3 in one hour and 25 minutes on Court 11.

Konta, ranked 118, had direct entry into the main draw of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career.

Konta, 23, claimed her only previous win at a Grand Slam two years ago in New York but could not repeat the performance.

After recovering an early break, the Briton fell 5-2 behind and dropped the set in a dramatic 13-minute game.

Peer, the world number 155, needed just one break in the second set, fending off two late break-back points and sealing victory when Konta netted a backhand.

“I created opportunities

for myself but I just wasn’t able to take them today, which is frustrating and upsetting for me,” said Konta, who was playing her third match back af-

ter four weeks off with a wrist injury.

“It was frustrating but she played tough on those points, credit to her.”

Konta added: “It’s a bonus getting direct acceptance but I want to be getting deeper into these tournaments and start winning more matches.”

My body failed me, says Murray A

ndy Murray said his body let him down as he suffered with cramp in his opening match against Robin Haase at the US Open.

The Briton won 6-3 7-6 (8-6) 1-6 7-5 after three hours

Murray

and eight minutes on a hot afternoon in New York.

However, he struggled physically from the start of the third set and was in danger of a shock first-round exit inside Louis Armstrong Stadium.

“I was in a good position, and then my body failed me,” Murray told BBC Sport.

“I panicked, because you don’t know what to do. I got broken at the beginning of that third set, and you think: ‘What do I do? Do I try to conserve energy or do I try to finish it in three sets?’

“I don’t really know how

I managed to get through.”

Murray, 27, said he felt cramping in several parts of his body and he was unable to serve at much over a tame 100mph in the third and fourth sets.

“It’s not the worst I have ever felt necessarily, but it’s the worst I have ever felt after an hour and a half of a tennis match,” he added.

“That’s what was worrying about it, is it came after such a short time.

“I’ve played four-and-ahalf, five-hour matches and felt pretty awful afterwards, but not after an hour and a half.”

SPORT | EURO FOOTBALL

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

A

rsenal will be without five key players for their Champions League qualifier against Besiktas today.

Olivier Giroud has been ruled out with a foot injury. Aaron Ramsey is suspended after being sent off in the first leg in Istanbul while midfield colleague Mikel Arteta is missing with an ankle problem.

Full-back Kieran Gibbs and winger Theo Walcott are absent with respective hamstring and knee injuries.

However, Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal’s comeback against Everton is the perfect preparation for his side’s crucial clash with Besiktas.

Arsenal trailed 2-0 at Goodison Park with seven minutes remaining

UEFA Champions League

Arsenal miss five players for Besiktas clash

but rescued a point thanks to late strikes from Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud.

“It [Everton draw] makes us strong in our belief and that’s an important quality for Wednesday night,” Wenger told Arsenal’s official website.

“This game was very physical – let’s prepare well and then I believe we have a good chance.

“The task is clear. We want to win the game at home. It’s the Champions League so it will be a thriller because [Be- Giroud siktas] are a good side.”

Lampard announces international retirement

E

ngland midfielder Frank Lampard has announced his retirement from international football.

The 36-year-old former Chelsea man - currently on loan at Manchester City from newly formed MLS franchise New York City - scored 29 goals in 106 appearances for his country after making his debut in 1999.

“I have taken the decision to retire from international football,” he said in a statement released by his management com-

pany.

“It has been a very tough decision for me to make which is why I have given it so much thought since the World Cup. “I have always been exceptionally proud and honoured to represent my country and have to say looking back I have enjoyed every minute of wearing the England shirt.

“Due to my club career now going in a different direction it is of utmost importance for me to consider my family first.

Also, to concentrate on how I can perform consistently to the best of my abilities over my next few years in club football.”

Lampard

United confirm Di Maria signing

M

anchester United have confirmed the signing of Angel Di Maria.

The Argentine attacker has completed his deal from Real Madrid for a British record fee.

The fee for the Real Madrid star - who the MEN revealed was a Reds target last month - is a new club record buy at 59.7m.

The coup of securing the 26-year-old Champions League winner will take Louis van Gaal’s summer spending - already at an all-time high - to a Reds’ all-time high of £120m following the arrivals of Luke

Jovetic refuses to take plaudits S

tevan Jovetic refused to take the plaudits for his role in Manchester City’s 3-1 win over Liverpool and praised a collective team effort.

The Montenegro international striker was on target twice in Monday’s clash at the Etihad Stadium, as the defending Premier League champions set an early marker by beating last season’s runners-up.

Jovetic endured an injury-hit debut campaign in England, but he impressed throughout preseason and once more showed his Jovetic (left) quality by aiding his team’s cause

against Brendan Rodgers’ side.

“I’m satisfied with two [goals],” Jovetic told the club’s official website. “[But] this is about the team, the group and the three points is the most important [thing].

“I’m happy that I had a good pre-season, but then again against Newcastle I didn’t score.

I’m going to forget this because in five days we have another game with Stoke.”

Jovetic warned that Monday’s victory will have little bearing on the destination of the title with the season still in its infancy and he is well aware of the challenges City still face.

Simeone: My suspension makes no difference

S

uspended Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone said his team would have drawn at Rayo Vallecano even if he was on the touchline.

With Simeone watching from the stands serving the first of his eight-game ban, Atletico drew 0-0 in the first match of their La Liga

53

title defence on Monday.

The Argentine was suspended for his protests and tapping the fourth official on the head during his side’s Supercopa de Espana second-leg win over Real Madrid.

“Being so high up you couldn’t see it as well. I don’t think that having me on the field

would’ve improved anything,” he said.

“We came from playing on Tuesday and Friday and the effort from these days could be felt in the second half.”

Simeone lamented his side’s failure to take their chances in the first half, but believes the hosts were the better outfit after Simeone the break.

Shaw, Ander Herrera and Marcos Rojo.

Di Maria was smuggled away from Manchester Airport in a club car late on Monday night - barely visible in the back seat before being taken to United’s Carrington training ground.

And after completing a medical, the player has finalised his move.

It is a huge boost for the Reds to land a player who was named as UEFA’s Man of the Match in last May’s 4-1 Champions League final triumph for Real over Madrid rivals Atletico.

Moses set for Stoke debut M ark Hughes has confirmed that Victor Moses is likely to be handed his Stoke City debut against Portsmouth in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday evening.

The Chelsea forward arrived at the Britannia Stadium on a season-long loan from the Blues earlier this month, but was not part of the travelling party at Hull on Sunday.

Hughes says the g ame ag ainst the League Two challengers provides him with the perfect opportunity to hand the Nigerian international his first appearance for the Club.

“Victor is very much part of my thinking for the game, and hopefully we can get him on the ball and allow him to play his natural game,” the Welshman said.

“He will start the

Moses(left)

game for us. It is important for him to get the shirt on and get out there because he hasn’t had as much game time as he would have liked over the past 12 months.

“He is a very good footballer and somebody that we are very happy to have here. It is a win-win situation for us all to be honest.”

He added: “He is strong and powerful, and I am sure that if we can get him up to speed quickly we will have a great player on our hands.”

UEFA Champions League Fixtures

Capital One Fixtures

Arsenal v Besiktas

Aston Villa v Leyton Orient

Bilbao v Napoli

Birmingham v Sunderland

Leverkusen v Koebenhavn

Bradford v Leeds United

Malmo v Salzburg

Burton v QPR

Razgrad v Bucuresti

Stoke City v Portsmouth

54

SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Milito: Messi, Falcao, Costa world best strikers

Winning seven trophies in the ten years he spent in Europe scoring 196 goals in 386 games for Genoa, Inter Milan in Italy and Real Zaragoza in Spain, Diego Mililto has gone back to his roots at Racing, where he won the Argentinian title in 2001.

The 35-year old striker speaks with FIFA.com on many salient issues.

Not so very long ago virtually every Argentinian player chose to return home, but now more and more of them are deciding to end their careers in Europe and stay there. Why the change?

It’s hard to explain, but I think the decisions players make need to be respected. I can only talk about what I’ve done. I can’t tell you why others have chosen not to come back. Players who stay in Europe deserve every bit as much respect as the ones coming home.

So where does your return fit in?

I’d always planned on coming back and, all being well, finishing my career wearing the shirt of the club where it all started for me. It’s a very personal thing, though. I’m happy because it’s a decision I took with my heart and I don’t think I’m going to regret it.

Who are Racing? How would you describe the club to someone who doesn’t follow Argentinian football, where River and Boca have traditionally been the big names?

It’s hard to describe. You have to experience it to understand it. I grew up here. I’ve spent so much time here, and it’s like home to me. When people in Europe asked me what kind of club Racing were, I told them that the biggest thing about them was the passion of the fans. It’s a really big club, with a lot of history, but with a very special set of fans. They suffer a lot but they really know how to celebrate too.

You’re a hero here. Are you not worried about putting that status at risk, especially as you’ve become involved in other areas of the club too?

Not at all. And I’m very sure of that because I had a lot of people come up to me and say: ‘Are you going back to Racing? You’ve already won the title with them… Argentina’s a tough place to go… Stay in Europe and retire here’. I came back in spite of all that because I’m chasing a dream here. I’m very sure

about it and I’m feeling positive.

When you left Inter you said you still felt full of life and that you wanted to be involved again. How much did your lack of involvement at Inter play a part in your decision?

Obviously the chance to get the firstteam football I didn’t have with Inter last year because of a serious injury (a torn cruciate ligament in his left knee) came into it. But I’ve always said that I wanted to come back fighting fit and give the club something. The idea of coming, playing and being in good shape had a lot to do with it.

How difficult is it for a player to put up with being on the sidelines, especially in a position like yours, where goals and success are one and the same?

There are some people who maybe just accept the situation because they’re happy with their lot. I lived really well in Milan and so did my family. Everything was in place for me to carry on, but this was what I wanted and my wife and my children supported me. You have to respect the decisions people make.

If you had to choose one highlight from your time in Europe, what would it be?

It’s hard to pick out just the one.

It would be easy and a bit obvious to say 2010, when we made history with Inter. No other Italian team had won the treble before and we won the Champions League for the first time in 45 years. They were special moments that will stay with me forever, but I also had some very intense experiences in Genoa, especially when I returned from Zaragoza, and in Spain too, where I lived with my brother Gabriel, even though we weren’t playing together.

Given your knowledge of Italian football, how do you explain the national team’s

And what about your international career? Do you think you could have had more opportunities or luck even?

(Laughs) A little bit of both. I can’t really say that I deserved to have more opportunities, especially when you consider all the class players Argentina has had up front. All the same, and even though I made the squad a lot of times, I’m still disappointed I didn’t play more. I always tried to contribute whatever I could. elimination from the group phase at the last two world finals?

That’s another tough one to answer, especially as Italy had a fantastic team, not least at this last World Cup. The midfield was so strong, with players like (Thiago) Motta, (Marco) Verrati, (Claudio) Marchisio, (Andrea) Pirlo and (Daniele) De Rossi. Some are better than others, but they’re all above average in terms of skill. You still have to respect them despite what happened.

Out of all the players you’ve played with is Lionel Messi the best?

Yes. Lionel is the best in the world, no question. It’s a privilege to have played and trained with him.

Which of your fellow centre-forwards are you most impressed by at the moment?

I like (Radamel) Falcao a lot. He’s a fantastic player. Diego Costa has come on an awful lot too.

Ebola scare: Nigerian wrestlers face elimination C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 5 1

are not in direct contact with the general public. Since we came back from the Commonwealth Games, we’ve had them in a closed camp training for the World Championships,” said Igali.

“We have been taking every necessary precaution: washing our hands, avoiding handshakes and hugs from people, and generally doing the right thing.

“Also, the government has done well to contain the situation. But be that as it may, we’ve had some issues which caused a few

embarrassments with the Youth Olympic Games athletes.

“FILA has been very supportive and we are urging the Uzbekistani government to allow our athletes to compete because we do not really, in the real sense of the word, have a widespread case of Ebola in Nigeria.”

Only last week athletes from Ebola-hit countries in west Africa, including Nigeria, were barred from competing in some sports at the Youth Olympics, which got underway in China at the weekend, because of Ebola fears.

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

ITTF World Tour: Quadri begins quest for honours

CharlesOgundiya

N

igerian top table-tennis player, Aruna Quadri, will today begin his campaign at the International Table Tennis Federation World Tour championship in Czech Republic.

The championship which is one of ITTF’s points hauling event serves off on Wednesday in Olomouc with over 296 players from 40 countries competing for honours.

The unseeded Quadri will open his first group match against Serbian Valentin Nemedi Nad in the men singles event while his last match will be on Thursday against Spaniard Alvaro Robles.

QuadriwillpartnerPolishDanielGorakin the men’s doubles event.

Speaking ahead of his first match on Wednesday, the African champion said his main objective was to ensure he improved his world rating as well as cause one of the upsets in the tournament.

“It is going to be a tough tournament considering the quality of players. Some of the world’s best are here and all the players are ready to outsmart one another.

“I want to ensure I qualify from the preliminary and also make it to the main draw where I am targeting upsets. This will surely help my ranking as well as improve my game,” he said.

In the doubles, Quadri and his Polish partner will battle Slovak pair of Samuel Kaluzny and Alexander Valuch on table 11.

The tournament is a major series in the ITTF World Tour with a total prize money of $100,000.

NFF crisis: Ikpeba sues for peace

lWary of AFCON title defence Emmanuel Tobi

F

ormer Super Eagles striker, Victor Ikpeba, has called on football stakeholders to work in harmony for the sake of football development in Nigeria.

The Nigeria Football Federation has been beset by leadership tussle since the elimination of the Super Eagles from the 2014 World Cup and the crisis culminated in a ban by world soccer ruling body, FIFA, but the sanction was later reversed.

The 1997 African Footballer of the Year appealed to the administrators to shelve their personal interests for the growth of the game in the country.

“We need to appeal to all these gladiators to sheath their sword for the interest of the country because our

football will only develop when there is peace.

“We must channel all our resources, both human and capital, to develop the game and for the sake of our footballers, our clubs and various national teams, we must embrace peace,” he added.

Ikpeba who is also a member of the NFF Technical Committee while commending the Falconets for their heroic performance at the just concluded U-20 Women World Cup in Canada called for caution as the Super Eagles begin their qualifiers for the 2015 Nations Cup. “The Falconets should be commended for excelling despite the crisis that is rocking our football but I’m very worried for the Super Eagles because AFCON qualifiers are always tougher considering the fact that we are the defending champions.”

Cold reception for gallant Falconets Comfort Chukwu Abuja

I

t was surprisingly a cold reception for Nigeria’s U-20 women football team, the Falconets, on Tuesday as they arrived Nigeria from Canada where the team settled for silver at the global football competition which lasted three weeks.

Oshoala

The team under the tutelage of coach Peter Dedevbo won four matches drew one and lost just one. The only defeat was in the tension-soaked final against Germany. The Germans won 1-0 after extra time in a match the Nigerian team controlled but failed to convert many glaring scoring chances that came their way.

Falconets arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja at 4.15pm aboard Lufthansa Airline without any form of fanfare. The 31-man contingent with 21 players and 10 officials was received by the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye. Other NSC officials at the airport were Dr. Bolaji Ojo-Oba and Abdukadri Muazu. NFF’s Deputy General Secretary, Emmanuel Ikpeme, was also at the airport to welcome the team.

Despite their impressive outing at the global meet, the players wore long faces as they told our correspondent that the final match could have been won on Sunday.

SPORT 55

Quadri

Maigari’s arrest ignites fresh row C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 5 1

the Congress would not go ahead until Maigari and two others were released.

However, our correspondent learnt that the Sports Minister, Tamino Danagogo, secured the release of Amadu so that the Secretary General can preside over the Congress with an intension to give the General Assembly some kind of legitimacy.

But the chairmen rejected the idea, insisting that the Congress could proceed only if Maigari were allowed to chair it.

The Bauchi state-born administrator and Green were still in the custody of DSS as at time of filing this report.

Spokesperson of NFF board and a delegate, Emeka Inyama, confirmed the incident and said the implication of the latest development will be bad for Nigerian football.

“We are on the Shehu Shagari Road and our position is clear. We want Maigari to be released before we can start the Congress. He was arrested with two board members and we learnt that some powerful people facilitated the release of one of them, the Secretary General (Musa Amadu), but it won’t work and the implication is going to be bad for our football. Those behind this distraction want to kill football in Nigeria and it is unfortunate,” Iyama told our correspondent at 6.30pm on Tuesday.

Reasons for their arrest were unclear but New Telegraph learnt that it may not be unconnected with the allegation

of financial misappropriation levelled against Maigari shortly after the end of the World Cup. Our sources also revealed that the recent fire incident at the headquarters of the federation may also be another reason. Sources said Federal Government suspected that the incident may be an arson hence the invitation of Maigari and his people for questioning.

Maigari’s arrest may be regarded as another form of external interference in the running of football in the country

by FIFA after the world governing body had ordered Maigari to preside over Tuesday’s Congress. There are now fears that FIFA may be forced to wield the big stick against Nigeria again.

Elections into the Executive Committee of NFF had attracted controversies. In fact, the Maigari-led board clashed with sports ministry over the agenda for the Tuesday’s Congress, while Sports Minister, Tamuno Danagogo, wanted elections to hold, NFF put it off till a date that will be decided by the Congress.

Although peace seemed to be in sight approaching after stakeholders agreed in a meeting presided over by the Secretary to the Federal Government, Anyim Pius Anyim, on Sunday that the Congress should be a non-elective one, the latest development may have ruined it.

However, our sources said Maigari’s supporters have viewed his arrest as politically-motivated and vowed to resist attempts to harass the NFF boss into doing the bidding of his opponents.

C’River wins NDDC athletics championship Charles Ogundiya

H

ost Cross River over the weekend won the 4th edition of the Cross River/Niger Delta Development Commission South-South All Comers Athletics Championships.

The three-day event saw Cross River state topping the medal table with a total of 122 medals, 51 gold, 38 silver and 33 bronze medals, followed by Rivers State, 43 medals (15 gold, 17 silver and 11 bronze medals), and Delta State 49 medals (10 gold, 22 silver and 17 bronze medals) in second and third positions.

While declaring the championship closed, the State Commissioner for Youth & Sports Development, Mr. Patrick Ugbe,

commended the Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, for initiating the comprehensive sports programme which has afforded a platform for the athletes to perform.

According to the commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Egwu Egeh, the state is blessed with young people who will readily take advantage of any opportunities in sports to build their talents to become champions.

More than 24 teams from all over the country participated in the championship which featured athletes in three categories, the primary, secondary and the elite.

As an added incentive, winners at the championship went home with cash prizes ranging from N2,000.00 to N20,000.00.

World Record

On Marble

Love says ‘I am everything.’ Wisdom says ‘I am nothing.’ Between the two, my life flows.

– Nisargadatta Maharaj

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 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2014

Leyla M. (Iran) is known to be one of the youngest girls to have twins. She first got pregnant at the age of 9 yrs old. At the age of 14 she had twins. She was prostituted out by her mother.

N150

We live in an unequal world (2) Continued from last Wednesday our task, more than anything else, would be to deliver solutions. You would be expected to find the best approaches in water and sanitation that will help millions of poor people lift themselves out of poverty. In my opinion, you and your 200 experts would have the best jobs in the world in your field.

Our entire leadership at the World Bank Group, including the heads of global practices, will be responsible for spreading knowledge and then scaling up successful programs -- what we have called a “science of delivery.” Delivery is about ensuring that the intended results reach the intended beneficiaries at or near the expected cost. In order to deliver at scale, we need to curate knowledge, excel at problem solving, deal with complex systems, address social goals, and measure effectiveness. If we can deliver on our promises, we will have a transformational impact on the world.

The world’s development needs, of course, far outstrip the World Bank Group’s abilities to address them. But we can do much, much more. In order to meet the increased demand that we are expecting as we get better at delivering knowledge and solutions to our clients, we’re strengthening our financial capability to scale up our revenue and stretch our capital.

I’m very pleased to announce today that with the support of our Board, we now have the capacity to nearly double our annual lending to middle-income countries from $15 billion to as much as $28 billion dollars a year. This means that the World Bank’s lending capacity – or the amount of loans we can carry on our balance sheet -- will increase by $100 billion dollars in the next decade, to roughly $300 billion dollars. This is in addition to the largest replenishment in history of IDA, our fund for the poorest countries, with nearly $52 billion dollars in grants and concessional loans.

At the same time, we are also increasing our direct support to the private sector.

MIGA is planning to increase its new guarantees by nearly 50 percent over the next four years. IFC expects it will nearly double its portfolio over the next decade to $90 billion.

In 10 years, we believe IFC’s annual new commitments will increase to $26 billion dollars.

Taken as a whole, the World Bank Group’s annual commitment, which today is around $45 to $50 billion dollars, is expected to grow to more than $70 billion in the coming years.

This increased financial firepower represents unprecedented growth for the World Bank Group. We are now in a position to mobilize and leverage, in total, hundreds of billions of dollars annually in the years ahead.

At the same time, as a matter of integrity we needed to look inside our institution and

Y

Guest Columnist Jim Yong Kim

identify savings. Almost every large organization can become more efficient. We announced a goal of saving $400 million dollars in the next three years, and in the days ahead we will give details about the majority of those savings, which we will then reinvest in countries. I believe we must get leaner in order to get bigger.

In the coming years, what will we be doing? We will follow the evidence and we will be bold. The fact is that two-thirds of the world’s extreme poor are concentrated in just five countries – India, China, Nigeria, Bangladesh, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. If you add another five countries – Indonesia, Pakistan, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Kenya – the total grows to 80 percent of the extreme poor. Expect us to focus on these countries. But we will not ignore the others. We will have a strategy that ensures no country is left behind as we move toward the target in 2030.

So how will we be bold?

Well, one example is in China, where last week we launched our report with the government on the future of China’s cities.

This report included the work of more than 100 World Bank Group staff and has already spurred China to make policy decisions that address critical development and urbanization challenges, including green growth, pollution, and land rights for farmers. This report will help China shift its focus from the quantity of growth to the quality of growth in order to improve the lives of its citizens.

We hope these lessons from China will be benefit cities around the world.

A second example is our work on the Inga hydroelectric project. Just two weeks ago, our Board approved a $73 million dollar grant to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Grand Inga could be the world’s largest hydropower site, generating more 40 gigawatts of power, which is equal to a half of all the installed capacity of all of sub-Saharan Africa today.

Moreover, it would prevent the emission of 8 billion tons of carbon over 30 years if coal was used to generate the same amount of power. We need this power desperately in Africa; today the combined energy usage of the billion people who live in the entire continent of Africa equals what Belgium offers to its 11 million residents. This is a form of energy apartheid that we must tackle if we are serious about helping African countries grow and create opportunities for all Afri-

Jim Yong Kim, World Bank President

cans.

A third example of being bold is our work in supporting conditional cash transfer programs. These programmes provide monthly payments to poor families if, for example, they send their children to school or go to the doctor for a check-up. The results have been astounding. Before conditional cash transfer programs, school attendance by poor children in parts of Cambodia was 60 percent; today, after the program started, nearly 90 percent of the children attended school. In Tanzania, along with the country leaders and the United Nations, we have decided to greatly expand the conditional cash transfer program, which was started in 2010 for 20,000 households. By the middle of next year, we estimate it will reach 1 million households – covering 5 to 6 million of the country’s poorest people. This is what we mean by identifying successful programs, working with partners, and taking transformational solutions to scale.

This is the path we are taking in order to serve countries better. The World Bank Group is committed to working in more effective ways with key partners and stakeholders, including those in civil society and the private sector. We need partnerships, strong global institutions, a vibrant private sector and committed political leaders. Most important of all, we need to unite people around the world in a global movement to end poverty.

As a physician, health activist and later health policymaker, I had the privilege to be part of the international HIV/AIDS movement that emerged in the 1990s. The AIDS fight is a story of vast human suffering—but

it’s also one of history’s most inspiring examples of successful global mobilization to reach shared goals.

When HIV treatment appeared in the late 1990s, organisations reached across borders to build a genuinely global AIDS movement, committed to making treatment available to everyone. The 200-fold expansion in access to AIDS treatment in developing countries over the last decade is the fruit of this movement. Millions of lives have been saved, and millions of children still have a mother and a father.

Social movements can produce solutions to problems that appear insurmountable. We need to take the lessons from such efforts and apply them to nurturing a movement around today’s great challenges: ending poverty … boosting shared prosperity … and ensuring that our economic progress does not irreparably compromise our children’s future because of climate change.

Last fall, I had the opportunity to discuss these issues with Pope Francis. When I described our commitment to build a global movement to end extreme poverty by 2030, the Pope answered simply, “Cuenta conmigo.” Count on me. With leaders like Pope Francis, a global movement to end poverty in our lifetime is possible.

All parts of our global society must unite to translate the vision of a more just, sustainable economy into the resolute action that will be our legacy to the future. In global institutions, governments, companies, and communities around the world, people have begun to work to make the vision real. To all those people, to all of you, I say: We stand with you.

Concluded

OMOBABA

KESHI MAKES U-TURN ON EAGLES JOB – News

– What about the seven options he bragged about?

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