Binder1 27th march, 2014

Sanctity of Truth Facebook.com/newtelegraph

Thursday, March 27, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 37

Philip Nyam Abuja

T

he House of Representatives Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream and Upstream) and Ju-

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www.newtelegraphonline.com

N150

Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

Reps summon Alison-Madueke over diversion of 500m litres of petrol lTrafigura, Vitol, Taleveras, Aiteo, Ontario indicted in $8 billion loss

diciary yesterday summoned the Minister of Pe-

troleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke,

over the alleged diversion of 500,075,239.3 litres of

products worth $8 billion

Senate confirms Emefeile as CBN Governor

lBulkachuwa too

Page } 5

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Sultan, Shehu, Uwais lead Muslim protest to Jonathan

lLamido Adamawa ignores Kutigi, threatens secession lConfab adjourns as 50 ‘Wise Men’ fail to break voting deadlock Louis Achi, Onwuka Nzeshi and Anule Emmanuel

S

ultan of Sokoto, Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday led some members of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) to President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja to protest what they described as marginalisation in representation at the National Conference.

Secretary-General of the NSCIA, Ishaq Oloyede, who spoke to State House correspondents after the meeting, which lasted for over C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4

STOPPAGE

Nigerians with old number plates may now heave a sigh of relief as court stops FRSC’s plan to arrest them

L-R: Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Umar Garbai Ibn El-Kanemi; Vice President Namadi Sambo; President Goodluck Jonathan; and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar... yesterday Photo: Timothy Ikuomenisan.

Court: FRSC’s new number plates illegal new number plates on motorists, the Federal High Court in Lagos held yesterday.

“The issue of rede-

Joseph Jibueze

I

t is unconstitutional for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to impose

signed new number plates by the respondent is not covered under the provisions of any law in Nigeria.

AT A GLANCE

NEWS

POLITICS

Drama at FRC hearing as Akingbola says ‘matter is subjudice’ Page 6

National Conference, healthy for democracy, says Babangida Page 13

“The respondent cannot force Nigerians to acquire new plate numbers by impounding cars, without the backing of any leg-

INSIDE

LAW

BUSINESS

Osipitan, Igbokwe, Nwobike fault FG on oil theft Page 21

Porosity of Nigerian airports worry experts Page 29

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2 12 13 20 21 25 33 51

islation to that effect.

“I hold that the act of the respondent amounts to an arbitrary use of C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 5

LAGOS

Partially cloudy

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Sultan, others lead Muslim protest to Jonathan CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

one hour, said Muslims in the country were not comfortable with the composition of membership to the dialogue.

“Those feelings, may be because you are not a Muslim, if you are a Muslim, you will know the feelings of the Muslims presently about the composition of the National Conference,” Oloyede noted while responding to reporters.

He said they came to discuss with the President and were happy that they

met him to table their grievances.

“What we came to discuss with the President is to consult with him and we are happy we consulted with him. He has given us reasons to re-assure the Muslims that Muslims in Nigeria are not deliberately marginalised and he has asked us to convey the feelings of the government, the genuineness of the government, the fairness of the government to the entire populace.”

It will be recalled that

the apex body for Islamic organisations in the North, the Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI), had accused Jonathan of having a hidden agenda with the convocation of the National Conference.

The JNI, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, who is also the President General of the NSCIA, had said that despite the concerns expressed by well-meaning Nigerians, the President had gone ahead to inaugurate the conference in

Abuja.

It also said that Muslims were short-changed in the selection of delegates to the conference.

JNI’s Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Aliyu, at a news conference last week in Kaduna, said no amount of conferences would solve the myriad of problems confronting Nigeria, except “when our leaders lead with justice and equity in the country.”

He said the process of selecting delegates to the conference negated the spirit

of democracy as majority of delegates to the conference were Christians.

According to him, 62 per cent of the delegates to the conference are Christians while the remaining percentage is shared by Muslims and other religions in the land.

On the outcome of yesterday’s meeting between the President and the NSCIA, Oloyede explained: “We just felt that we must convey the feelings of the Muslims in Nigeria to Mr. C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 6

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

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (middle), with first set of beneficiaries of the Homeowners’ Charter programme initiated by the state government to enable home owners regularise their legal status at a discounted rate after they were presented with the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and title documents of their properties at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta...yesterday.

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST PORT HARCOURT

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

33 23 o

o

Thunder storm

ABUJA

36o 26o Rain storms

KANO

40o 20o Partially cloudy

ENUGU

35o 24o Isolated storm

IBADAN

34o 26o Thunder storm

CALABAR

31o 23o Storm

MAIDUGURI

43o 28o Partially cloudy

ONITSHA

Alison-Madueke to explain loss of 500m litres of petrol

34o 24o Thunder storm

in year 2011.

The summon was issued yesterday at the resumed investigation of the joint committee led

by Hon. Muraino Ajibola, into the “the alleged connivance by NNPC with Swiss oil dealers to rob Nigeria billions of dollars”.

Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) had in its report submitted to the House accused some oil traders of under-delivered 500,075,239.3 litres of products worth $8 billion in year 2011.

The indicted companies, according to the NEITI report, are Trafigura (173,786,600 litres); Vitol (654,440.7 litres); Taleveras (152,308,878 litres); Aiteo Nigeria Limited (193,046,590 litres) and Ontario Oil and Gas (180,278,732 litres).

Meanwhile, other indicted companies testifying at the ongoing investigative public hearing on the ‘crude swap undersup-

ply of petroleum products under the subsidy regime’ are Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Ontario, Aiteco, Vitol, PPPRA, Mercuria Energy and Eterna Oil and Gas. Appearing before the joint committee yesterday, MD/CEO Ontario Oil and Gas Limited, Ada Ugo-Ngadi, who was earlier docked by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), failed to justify the quantity of crude oil lifted against the refined products supplied during the period under review.

Ugo-Ngadi, who argued that the selection of buyers of Nigerian crude was done on a transparent and competitive basis, noted that “Ontario’s SWAP arrangement with NNPC/ PPMC is in line with international standard, transparent and complies with all audit requirements. It is transparent and conducted in line with global best practice.

“The publication is a

figment of the writers’ imagination seeking to distract Nigerians and cause distrust of indigenous oil companies. It is baseless, faulty and deserves no serious attention.”

On his part, representatives of AITECO Energy Resources, Mr Nnamadi, said that the company lifted a total of 10,231,122 barrels of crude oil valued at $1.170,732,027.62 and supplied refined products worth $1,111,972,698.18.18 in year 2011.

He added that “at the last reconciliation exercise with PPMC, Duke Oil/Aiteco Energy Resources Ltd had lifted 26,425,738 barrels of crude oil from 2011; valued at $3,010,308,113.08 and supplied refined products valued at $2,976,663,203.01” as at June 2013.

Nnamadi added that the value of the demurrage expense incurred by Aiteco Energy Resources Ltd from 2011 to June 2013 and reimbursement

by PPMC was $60.269 mil-

lion.

But the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in its submission, dismissed the exchange rate quoted

by NEITI in its report to the National Assembly, adding that “the NNPC’s lifting’s of crude oil are normally received by the CBN into NNPC account three months after the liftings”.

The CBN, via a letter with reference No: GVD/ DGO/CON/GOV/01/016 dated March 24, 2014 signed by Kingsley Moghalu, Deputy Governor (Operations), dismissed the rates presented by NEITI in its report to the National Assembly.

The letter reads: “The average exchange rates presented by NEITI in its report to the National Assembly are not CBN quoted rates. CBN does not use average rate in conducting monetisation or any foreign exchange deal.

Average rate is only a statistical information to indicate central tendency C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 5

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

NEWS

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Thursday, March 27, 2014

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Senate confirms Emefeile as CBN Governor I won’t devalue Naira, says Emefiele Bulkachuwa is President, Court of Appeal AGENDA

New CBN governor unveils plans for the manufacturing sector

A

fter a rigorous twohour screening, the Senate yesterday confirmed Mr. Godwin Emefiele as the new Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

With the confirmation, Emefiele, who is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank, will replace the suspended CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, whose tenure expires in June, 2014.

Also, the Senate confirmed the appointment of Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa as the President of the Court of Appeal.

She has been functioning in the same office in acting capacity since November, 2013.

Responding to questions from the senators, Emefiele assured Nigerians that he would do everything within his jurisdiction to ensure economic stability, which would facilitate growth and development of the economy.

He said: “I am aware that the core mandate of the Central Bank of Nigeria is to achieve the monetary and price stability.

Another core mandate of the CBN is to ensure that we have a strong and build strong foreign reserve. We are also expected to ensure that we have a strong financial system in Nigeria.

“On the back of this mandate, we would work very hard to ensure that we achieve macro-economic stability in this

country where inflation rate shall be seen to continue to come down, where interest rate shall be seen to continue to come down.

And where we would as much as possible continue to maintain a strong exchange rate for the country and build a strong foreign reserve.

“We would ensure that whatever monetary policy decision approved would improve the level of employment in Nigeria. This is so because we know that employment is very important. We know today that we have an employment emergency in Nigeria. And we must ensure that whatever decisions we take at the CBN in the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) would be those that would lead to improvement in the level of employment in Nigeria.”

He, however, promised that devaluation of the Naira would never be contemplated amongst the monetary and other economic measures he would introduce to strengthen the economy, stressing that devaluation is harmful to the economy.

“Devaluation will hurt the economy. So, devaluation will not happen because it will hurt the economy; people will lose their jobs, inflation will be high and some industries will close down,” Emefiele noted.

The banker promised to work with the manufacturing and other productive sectors of the economy in an effort to revolutionise the economy, and shift it from its current importdependent status to a productive economy.

According to him,

Oil firms indicted in loss of $8bn CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

of data for research and policy direction purposes.

CBN uses spot rate for oil receipts and monetisation transactions.

“The NNPC’s liftings of crude oil are normally received by the CBN into NNPC account three months after the liftings.

The rates used during the year’s liftings cannot be the same throughout

the year, hence the cause of the observed difference by the Honourable Committee.

“CBN cannot confirm the exchange rate used by the NEITI Audit as CBN Average Exchange Rate, since CBN uses the spot rate for the receipts and not an average. Also, CBN cannot ascertain how NEITI derived these average rates.”

“We would ensure that we work with the manufacturing companies to ensure that we improve on their level of production and by extension ensure that we improve and achieve economic growth in Nigeria.”

Emefiele said he would introduce development banking model towards achieving economic

growth, so that Nigeria will not fall behind other economies of the world.

“We would do this through the Development Banking Model (DBM).

The DBM is a model that have been tried and tested in different jurisdictions in the world. In fact, in some of the frontiers and emerging markets in the world, we have seen

development banking model used as a tool towards achieving economic growth, development and industrialisation.

“In the Latin American countries of Brazil and Mexico, development banking was used to achieve economic growth and development in these areas. And today, Brazil is seen to be one of the

BRIC states in the world,” he said.

To achieve the desired growth and development in the nation’s economy, Emefiele insisted that there must be collaboration and harmonious relationship between the Federal Ministry of Finance and the CBN in the handling of the monetary and fiscal policies.

L-R: Minister of State, Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro; Minister of State, Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan; and Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Abduljalil Adesiyan, during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House, Abuja...yesterday

Photo: Timothy Ikuomenisan.

96.9%

The male percentage of internet users in Iceland in 2012.

Source: Itu.int

N62.1m

The IGR realized from road taxes of Ekiti State in 2012.

Source: Itu.int

4.2%

The percentage of households with internet access in Africa in 2011.

Source: Itu.int

Court: FRSC’s new number plates illegal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

power, and is, therefore, illegal and unconstitutional. “Judgement is, therefore, entered in favour of the plaintiff, and all the reliefs sought are hereby granted,” Justice James Tsoho held.

The judge was delivering the judgement in a suit filed by a lawyer, Emmanuel Ofoegbu, against the FRSC. He challenged the commission’s power to impound vehicles whose owners failed to acquire the new numbers. Justice Tsoho held that it was unlawful for the respondent to impose the new number plates on motorists.

The plaintiff filed the suit on September 30 last year, seeking a declaration

that the threat by the respondents to impound vehicles which still had old number plates was invalid and unconstitutional.

The plaintiff said the old number plates were issued under the provisions of the National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR) 2004, which is a subsidiary legislation made under the FRSC Act. He said the NRTR, even though amended in 2012, provides in its Regulations 230 (2) that “the revocation of the 2004 Regulations, shall not affect anything done, or purported to be done pursuant to that Regulation.”

The lawyer argued that there is no law made in accordance with the 1999

Constitution (as amended), which prohibits the use of the old number plates, or declares its use as an offence.

He said the threat by the respondent to impound vehicles and arrest motorists who failed to comply with the October 1 last year deadline, was in gross violation of the provisions of 36 (12) of the Constitution which guarantees the rights of individuals.

Ofoegbu also sought an order of injunction restraining the defendants from impounding vehicles or otherwise arresting or harassing motorists who failed to acquire the new number plates. FRSC had said that the enforcement

of new vehicle number plates will commence throughout the country on June 30, this year, having extended the deadline from last October.

Assistant Corps Marshal, Administration and Strategic Section, Operations Department, National Headquarters, Mr. Ademola Lawal, was quoted as saying that when the enforcement begins, nobody would be spared.

He said: “The commencement for enforcement of new number plates will begin on June 30, 2014. Once this starts, nobody, irrespective of his status, will be spared.

I urge Nigerians to make use of the available windows to procure theirs.”

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Thursday, March 27, 2014

Drama at FRC hearing as Akingbola says ‘matter is subjudice’ Ayodele Aminu

A

mild drama ensued yesterday at the two-day hearing initiated by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, (FRC) to investigate activities of the Central Bank of Ni-

geria (CBN) for financial years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012, as the Managing Director of the defunct Intercontinental Bank, Dr. Erastus Akingbola, declined to make his presentation.

Sources said that the session, which had audio-

visual mechanisms installed for ease of presentation by the individuals invited to appear before the FRC’s investigating panel had in attendance all the concerned parties, including local and international lawyers.

Akingbola was said to

have informed the Panel that he was constrained due to the fact that the subject of his petition is currently before a court of competent jurisdiction and that based on the advice of his lawyers, it would be wrong for him to comment on the same

L-R: Associate Prof. Abdul Mustapha; Prof. Okechukwu Oko; Mr. Odein Ajumogobia (SAN); Moderator, Chief Emeka Anyaoku and discussant, Prof. Wole Soyinka, during a public debate entitled: ”Will Nigeria Be Better Served By Parliamentary System of government?” organised by St. John’s Forum in Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

N5.5bn

The internally generated revenue of Ogun State in 2010.

Source: National bureau of Statistics

141m

The number of fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions of the Americas in 2011.

Source: Itu.int

5.1

The number of active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Arab States in 2010.

Source: Itu.int

issues before the Panel.

Following a recent petition by Akingbola claiming that Intercontinental Bank was illegally snatched from him, the FRC had invited the immediate past Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, Mr. Aigboje AigImokhuede; and his successor, Mr. Herbert Wigwe for interrogation.

The drama at the hearing came barely 48 hours after one of Akingbola’s properties located at 19, Embassy Court, London NW8 9SX was said to have been sold for £5.7 million pursuant to the Judgement of Mr. Justice Burton of the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London ordering him to refund N165 billion to Intercontinental Bank, now a part Access Bank Plc. The hearing session continues today with Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Tunde Lemo, former Deputy Governor (Operations), CBN, Ms. Evelyn Oputu, Managing Director, Bank of Industry

(BOI), the acting Governor of the CBN, Dr. Sarah Alade, Deputy Governors of the CBN, Dr. Kingsley Moghalu and Alhaji Suleiman Barau.

Others interrogated yesterday were Mr. Babatunde Dayo; Mr. Gabriel Okpeh and Mr. Ezekiel Ejedele, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Security, Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC), Mr. Ehi’ E Okoyomon, who was relieved of his appointment by Sanusi; Alhaji Ahmed Barmali and Mr. Igho Dafinone.

Following his revelation that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had failed to remit oil revenue to the Federation Account, the presidency, last month, suspended Sanusi ostensibly on the grounds of financial recklessness, breach of the Public Procurement Act, unlawful expenditure by the Central Bank on “intervention projects” across the country, and misstatement of the CBN 2012 financial results, among other charges.

Lamido Adamawa ignores Kutigi, threatens secession CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

President and he has given us his words to re-assure the Muslims community that he is a genuine and committed Christian who will not be unjust to others.

“That if there are issues that are not as they ought to be, they were not definitely deliberate and we want to believe that Mr. President told us his mind but we also want to believe that it is proper to protest, it is also proper to assume that a leader will always be just, even if there are mistakes thereafter.”

Those who accompanied the Sultan on the visit are the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Umar Garbai Ibn El-Kanemi; a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mohammed Lawal Uwais; and a former Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, among others.

Meanwhile, the Lamido Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammed Barkindo Mustapha, yesterday threatened

to dump Nigeria for Cameroon.

The Lamido Adamawa is one of the 13 monarchs representing the Traditional Rulers Council of Nigeria at the conference. The threat cast a cloud of uncertainty on the conference, forcing it to adjourn abruptly for five hours.

However, 50 eminent delegates drawn from across the six geo-political zones have been assembled to broker peace and save the conference from collapse. The royal father had in an address, expressed dismay at the trend of events since the conference resumed on Monday and warned that those fanning the embers of disunity could force others to stage a walk-out.

He said that if the conference failed to achieve its purpose and Nigeria breaks up, he would lead his people to join the Republic of Cameroun. The threat came just as the conference opened for the third day and delegates

were considering whether the conference should take memoranda from the general public. Chairman of the conference, Justice Idris Kutigi, had yielded the floor to the traditional ruler on the presumption that he was going to contribute to the debate on the matter at hand. But the Lamido veered off course to issue the threat. The royal father criticised the delegates who have been agitating for the adoption of twothirds majority votes in the decision-making process at the conference. According to him, President Goodluck Jonathan had already set the rule that delegates should reach consensus on all issues or resolve them through three-quarters votes or the endorsement by 75 per cent of delegates. “Mr. Chairman, I want to sound a note of warning. I have been sitting here for three days now watching and listening. We should not take a cue from the so-called civilised peo-

ple of Western countries because they are always after their own interest and they can use anything, including coercion, to protect that interest. “Listening to the debates and behaviour of some of the delegates here, it beats my imagination why a gathering of people like us will behave the way we are behaving,” he said. Given the tone with which the Lamido addressed the conference, there were protests from some delegates who called on Kutigi to intervene and stop him before it was too late.

Although Kutigi made an attempt to call him to order, the royal father ignored the intervention and insisted on concluding his address. “The President delivered an address and laid down what we are supposed to discuss and what not to discuss. But many people here, some of them elder statesmen, who claim to be strong loyalists of the president unfortunately....

these people are in the forefront to contradict what the president has said. “In the long run, if we are not careful, this conference will flop. God forbid. If it flops, the resultant effect will not be imaginable. If anything happens and the country disintegrates, God forbid, many of us who are shouting their heads off may not have anywhere to go. “My people and the people of Adamawa have got somewhere to go. I am the Lamido of Adamawa and my kingdom extends to Cameroun. The larger part of my kingdom is in Cameroun. Part of that kingdom is today called Adamawa State in Cameroun. You see, if I run to that place, I will easily be assimilated,” he boasted. In spite of shouts of disapproval and murmuring that greeted his speech, Lamido urged Kutigi to take charge of the conference and not allow himself to be pushed to do the wrong thing. He warned that he and his

people may stage a walkout at the conference if the current trend of events continued. As soon as the Lamido ended his speech, Kutigi returned to the issue of whether the conference should take memoranda from the public to enrich its deliberation and recommendations. Opinions were divided as some delegates said the time allotted to the conference was too short to entertain fresh memoranda from the public.

Others argued that since the Presidential Advisory Committee headed by Senator Femi Okunrounmu had, in the course of its nationwide consultations, collected several memoranda from the public, the conference might rely on such memoranda. Among those that contributed to this debate were Dr. Kunle Olajide, Dr. Bello Mohammed, Mrs Josephine Anenih, Alhaji Mohammad Maigari and Chief Dozie Ikedife. ThereC O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 9

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Thursday, March 27, 2014

MOTTO

Attempt to change Nigeria's motto divides lawmakers in the House

Philip Nyam Abuja

M

embers of the House of Representatives were at yesterday’s plenary divided over a bill that seeks to change the nation’s motto from ‘Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress’ to ‘Justice and Equity, Peace and Progress.’

The bill titled; “A Bill

Reps divided over attempt to change Nigeria’s motto for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) by changing the motto of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from ‘Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress’ to ‘Justice and Equity, Peace and Progress,’ thereby creating strong political will to achieve political objectives in the country and for other related matters,” was sponsored by Hon.

Mark’s convoy not attacked in Imo, says Police Commissioner Steve Uzoechi Owerri

A

s the controversy over the attack on the convoy of Senate President, David Mark, continues, the Imo State police command yesterday said the attack on Mark’s convoy was not carried out in Imo State but in the boundary between Abia and Enugu States.

Since the controversy broke out, leading to uncomplimentary exchange of words between the governments of Imo and Abia States, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abdul Majid Ali, has for the first time, authori-

tatively disclosed the location of the said attack.

Speaking to newsmen in his office, the commissioner said it was just coincidental that the convoy of the Senate President ran into an armed gang operating between the boundaries of Abia and Enugu States.

Although, he said the Senate President and his ADC were not in the convoy when it happened, he said that information the command gathered said that the robbers, on sighting the convoy, shot sporadically while the security attached to the convoy returned fire before the armed robbers escaped into the bush.

Anambra: Tribunal admits INEC document in favour of Obidigbo Uwakwe Abugu Awka

T

he Anambra State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Awka, yesterday admitted a document from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in favour of Dr. Chike Obidigbo, currently at the tribunal seeking a declaration that he was validly nominated as the candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

At the resumed hearing of the petition brought by Obidigbo, who is loyal to Chief Maxi Okwu's faction

7

of APGA yesterday, the Justice Ishaq Bello-led threeman tribunal admitted in evidence the acknowledged endorsement by INEC of a letter sent to it by Chief Maxi Okwu, showing that he (Obidigbo) was the candidate of APGA for the Anambra governorship election.

Obidigbo, who had vied for the ticket of APGA alongside Obiano and other contenders, had a few days before the inauguration of the latter’s government, made spirited effort to stop the function through the court, but the relief he sought did not materialise before Obiano’s inauguration.

Chris Emeka Azubogu (APGA, Anambra).

Trouble, however, started after the sponsor, Hon. Azubogu, moved a motion that the bill be read the second time, appealing to his colleagues to also amend the bill to read ‘Unity and Faith, Justice and Equity, Peace and Progress.’

Azubogu had, in his presentation, said there was a compelling need to

69.4%

change the motto to a new one to reflect the realities on ground, stressing that the absence of justice and equity was part of the problems bedeviling the country today.

He was supported by Hon. Matthew Omegara (APGA, Imo), who argued that it was not out of place to amend the motto, because it can foster the unity that is already contained in the motto.

The male percentage of internet users in the United States of America in 2011 Source: Itu.int

However, the bill met stiff opposition in Hon. Chris Etah (PDP, Cross River), who argued that there was nothing wrong with the subsisting motto of ‘Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress.’ He argued that unity and peace are inherent in the ‘unity and faith,’ so they should discountenance the proposal.

Also kicking against bill, Chairman of the House Committee on For-

eign Affairs, Hon. Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, said the proposed amendment was too long, explaining that the present motto was apt and should not be tampered with.

But Hon. Friday Itulah (PDP, Edo), observed that 50 years after independence, there was need to review the entity called Nigeria, saying that that was what the ongoing conference was all about.

1,269m N7.3bn

The number of individuals using the internet in the Asia & Pacific region in 2013 Source: Itu.int

The internally generated revenue of Kwara State in 2010 Source: National Bureau of Statistics

L-R: Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), San Amadi; Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda and Vice-Chairman, NERC, Lawal Mohammed Bello, during the presentation of an embedded generation license to Yankari Power Company Limited in Abuja… yesterday.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Ekiti 2014: Fayemi cries out over destruction of billboards

Court dismisses fraud suspect's bid to stop prosecution

Adesina Wahab

Joseph Jibueze

Ado-Ekiti

E

kiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Wednesday cried out over the destruction of his campaign billboards in parts of the state.

Speaking through his Commissioner for Information, Mr. Tayo Ekundayo, at a press briefing in Ado-Ekiti, the governor accused the opposition of being behind the act. He said the state government was not really disturbed by the action, but the impact such action could have on the polity.

In his reaction, Ekiti State

Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Victor Babayemi, said they were investigating the matter. He gave the assurance that the culprits would be brought to book accordingly.

Babayemi warned those planning to cause trouble in the state to have a rethink, as Ekiti would never be their base.

Ekundayo said; “I’m disturbed that some desperate politicians are hell-bent in their sinister plan to unleash violence and disrupt the prevailing peace and security in the state in the last three and a half years."

T

he Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday dismissed a suit filed by an oil subsidy fraud suspect, Oluwaseun Ogunbambo, seeking to stop his arrest by the police Special Fraud Unit (SFU).

He had sought an injunction restraining the police from arresting him on the basis of a N1.3 billion fuel subsidy fraud charges.

Justice Mohammed Yunusa held that the police had the statutory right to declare suspects wanted and to arrest them where there is evidence that they

have committed a crime.

“Section 24 of the Police Act confers on the police the right to arrest, detain and prosecute offenders.

“The police possess the constitutional right to investigate allegations of fraud or criminal offences levied againstanyindividualincluding the applicant.

“They can also arrest any suspect with or without warrantandwhereinvestigations reveals a prima facie case againstthesuspects,suchwill be charged to court.

“It is my view that the applicant cannot restrain the police from carrying out its statutory duties."

8

ACROSS THE NATION

lagos ikeja

Patients stranded in LASUTH as workers’ strike worsens Hundreds of patients seeking care at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) were yesterday stranded as the strike embarked upon by health workers in the hospital entered the third day.

Also, the striking health workers under the auspices of LASUTH Workers Forum (LWF) have given the management of the hospital up till today to fully implement the Consolidated Health Salary Scale (CONHESS) and meet other demands so as to end the strike.

Rising from a congress of LWF yesterday, Chairman of the LWF, Comrade Rasheed Bamishe, told New Telegraph that if the management fails to meet their demands, the health workers would march to the Lagos State House Assembly tomorrow to continue their protest and press for their demands.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

FCT

oyo

ABUJA

ibadan

Chinese, Nigerian investors sign MoU on power plant A consortium of companies in Nigeria and a group of Chinese investors have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on power plant projects, assembly and manufacturing of prepaid power meters and oil and gas pipes.

The agreement, facilitated by the Nigeria-China Business Council National Coordinator, Chief

Matthew, took place yesterday at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

A statement by the ministry listed companies that participated in the agreement to include, Skydeep International Limited, Mattek Oil Services Limited, Temps Engineering and Gestric Limited, Craag Nigeria Limited and JMET Corporation and others.

N3.89bn

The internally generated revenue of Sokoto State in 2010.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

Oyo PDP berates Ajimobi on security Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has berated the state government on the issue of security in the state, considering the recent discovery of kidnappers’ den and rising cases of robbery in Ibadan, the state capital.

Noting that the government was merely paying lip service to security, the party called on Governor

32.7%

The percentage of individuals using the internet worldwide in 2011.

Source: Itu.int

NASARAWA Lafia

Ajimobi to wake up from his slumber and do his job.

In a statement made available by the Public Relations Officer of the party, Hon. Kehinde Salawu and made available to newsmen in Ibadan, the PDP lamented what it described as the growing spate of insecurity despite the Ajimobi government’s noise about ‘Operation Burst’ and other efforts to ensure security of lives and property.

36.2%

The percentage of households with a computer worldwide in 2010.

Source: Itu.int

The Nasarawa State Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) chairman ,Chief Yunana Iliya has said that the outcome of just-concluded council elections in the state is a quit notice to the All Progressive Congress ( APC ) government in the state.

Speaking to New Telegraph in an exclusive interview in his office, Lafia, Iliya said that despite the abnormalities in the elections, PDP has proven to the world that its candidates were on ground.

fct abuja

Lottery commission issues two licences to operators

ONDO AKURE

Top cleric, Akinadewo loses mother Secretary, Lagos State chapter of the Organised African Instituted Churches (OAIC), Elder (Dr) Isreal Akinadewo has lost his mother, Senior Lady Superintendent Comfort Febisola Akinadewo. She died on Sunday March 23, 2014.

According to a statement by Akinadewo who is the Supervising Head, Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphin World wide, Sub-headquarters Alakuko, Lagos, the late Comfort Akinadewo will be buried on Saturday at the church Headquarters, Mokola Area New NEPA, Ademulegun Road, Ondo town, Ondo State on March 29, 2014.

The burial service will be preceded by Christian wake keep on Friday March 28, 2014 by 4pm in Ondo town. She is survived

by Elder Israel Akinadewo, Most Senior Apostle Joseph Akinadewo, Most Senior Apostle Zacchaeus Akinadewo, Most Senior Apostle Johoshaphat Akinadewo and Mrs Tabitha Akinyemi.

'Nasarawa LG poll, a quit notice to Al - Makura'

Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, (middle); Chairman, Post-Primary Schools Service Commission, Lady Joy Ulasi, (left); Commissioner of Education, Anambra State, Dr. Uju Okeke (third right) and some students of Nnamdi Azikiwe Secondary School, Abagana at the governor's first meeting with school principals at Abagana...yesterday.

OGUN

EDO

LAGOS

CROSS RIVER

Abeokuta

BENIN

IKEJA

Calabar

Amosun presents C of O to home owners

Edo re-awards Central Hospital project

Tukur bags Igbo title, preaches peace

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has given out Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) and other title documents to the first set of beneficiaries under the Homeowner’s Charter, an initiative of the state government introduced last December to enable homeowners regularise their legal status at a discounted rate.

The governor was presenting the documents to ten beneficiaries at the Conference Room of the Governor’s Office, OkeMosan, Abeokuta yesterday.

Edo State Government has re-awarded the 5-Star Central Hospital Complex along Sapele Road, Benin to Messrs S & A Construction Company with completion time of nine months.

Gover nor Adams Oshiomhiole, who announced this to reporters, yesterday, during his inspection of projects in the state capital, said the contractors were expected to mobilize to site and start construction within the next 14 days.

The hospital had suffered a setback, about two years ago.

Ex-national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has called on the Igbo people to always be peaceful and law-abiding wherever they found themselves.

He also pleaded with them to maintain unflinching support for President Goodluck Jonathan so that “the transformation agenda could continue”. Tukur made the remarks recently when the Igbo-speaking community in Lagos conferred a traditional title on him in recognition of his service to the nation and his detribalized posture.

UCTH doctors begin strike Patients are now deserting the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital as a result of an indefinite industrial action embarked upon by doctors under the aegis of Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MEDICAN).

The strike, which began yesterday, has paralysed activities at the hospital, as patients with special cases have started making arrangements to relocate to private clinics within the town. Checks at the hospital revealed that junior doctors and nurses were taken aback by the consultants’ action.

The National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) has issued two additional licences to two new operators to do business in Nigeria. The licences were issued to Mobile Lotteries Nigeria Limited and EMI Systems Limited to enable them commence lottery business in any part of the country.

The licences were presented to the two organisations during the last meeting of the Governing Board of the commission held at its headquarters in Abuja.

Chairman of NLRC Governing Board, Mr. Damian Dodo (SAN), advised the operators to ensure they commence their business immediately.

SOKOTO SOKOTO

Wamakko tasks Nigerians Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State has called on Nigerians in the United Kingdom to make greater efforts towards investing their professional skills and resources to develop their fatherland .

The Governor who was speaking at the 6th British African Diaspora Conference held at the Grand Committee Room, Parliament Westminster London, reminded the audience that Nigeria's amalgamation was not an accident or mistake.

NEWS 9

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Nwachukwu, Ahamba, Aminu, others fail to break voting deadlock CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

after, Kutigi put it to a voice vote and majority of the delegates affirmed that there was need for the conference to collect memoranda from the general public.

The conference, therefore, resolved that members of the public desirous of submitting such memoranda should do so within two weeks. Apparently jolted by the threats issued by the royal father and the negative mood it generated across the conference hall, Kutigi adjourned sitting at 10:50 am and announced that proceedings would resume at 4:00pm.

Immediately, some delegates were called to meet with the chairman and other principal officers of the conference to resolve the crisis brewing over the voting procedure and benchmark votes for arriving at decisions. Vice Chairman of the Conference, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, read out a list of 49 delegates selected for the strategic intervention. The list of the 50 “wise men” comprises: Major-General Ike Nwachukwu, Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN), Chief Olu Falae, Dr. Kunle Olajide, Dr Peter Odili, Chief Edwin Clark, Prof. Jubril Aminu, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Prof. Jerry Gana, Alhaji Adamu Waziri, Mallam Tanko Yakassai, Senator Ibrahim Idah, General A. B. Mamman, Chief A.K Horsfall, Chief Josephine Anenih, Mr. Issa Aremu, Mrs Hauwal Shakarau, Hajiya Bola Shagaya, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Ambassador Vincent Okobi, Prof.

Lawrence Ekpebu, Mr. Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Dr. Joe Nwaogu, Honourable Mohammed Umara Kumalia, Prof. Auwalu Yadudu, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, Obong Victor Attah, Senator Khairat Abdulrazak Gwadabe, Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba, Alhaji Adamu Aliero, Mr. Peterside Atedo, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Prof. Isah Mohammed, Alhaji Ibrahim Kashim Imam, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, Senator Ken Nnamani, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, Alhaji SuleYahya Hamma, Dr. Abubakar Sadique Mohammed, Chief Olusola Akanmode, Justice Lawal Hassan Gumi, Mr. Ledum Mitee, Chief Fola Ade-

ola, Senator Mimibariya Amange, Rt. Hon. Anayo Nnebe, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Chief Benjamin Elue, Lt-Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd) and Chief Nduka Obaigbena.

Later in the evening, the stalemate between northern and southern delegates over how to arrive at decisions forced the conference to adjourn abruptly for the second time in one day.

The conference had adjourned at 10:50am following rising tension over

whether two thirds (66 per cent) majority or three quarters (75 per cent) majority should be adopted in their Rules of Procedure.

Kutigi had at the first adjournment announced that a committee of 50 delegates would meet with the principal officers of the conference to mediate in the crisis with a view to resolving it.

However, when the conference reconvened at 4pm and delegates were expecting to be briefed on the out-

come of the intervention, proceedings were again adjourned ostensibly because the issues that led to the meeting of the wise men had failed to break the deadlock.

Kutigi, who adjourned proceedings till Monday, said the one day break (Thursday) was to enable the intervention committee conclude its assignment and brief their constituencies on the outcome of meetings.

“We adjourned in the

morning, we held a meeting with the 50 delegates we selected. We made a lot of progress. But I want to inform you that we may not be able to proceed with the plenary today. We have to adjourn because we have to go back to continue with our meeting. When we finish, the delegates we selected will come back to brief you on the outcome.

“We have to adjourn till Monday because they will have to make extensive briefing to you. If you

watched the television yesterday, it was a disgrace how some of us behaved.

The plenary stands adjourned till Monday . By the grace of God, we shall succeed,” Kutigi said.

The time was 4:15pm and the delegates filed out of the Andrews Obaseki Conference Hall, clutching their bags and documents.

Many of them wore long faces but others struggled not to betray their feelings of disappointment at the turn of events.

10 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Osun PDP governorship aspirants are unserious politicians – Aregbesola CREDIBILITY

Governor alleges that his opponents in PDP have credibility crisis

Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

O

sun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola yesterday described all members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) parading themselves as aspirants of the party for

the 2014 gubernatorial election against him as unserious politicians that would be defeated in the forthcoming election in the state.

Speaking with newsmen in Osogbo, through the State Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Barrister Ajibola Basiru, the governor described them as paper weight politicians who would eventually bury their heads in shame at the end of the contest.

The commissioner said: “Irrespective of any candi-

date the PDP will present at the end of the day they will be defeated by the APCled administration in the state, because all the party aspirants have credibility crisis.”

He argued that the aspirants didn’t have pedigree of politics and politicking, talk less of possessing the technical and practical skills of the game, adding that “they are toddlers in the field of politics and still need to pass through some stages to make them qualify as seasoned politicians.”

Aregbesola remarked

that the party which its centre has fallen, which has completely fictionalized and totally discredited with lies and falsehood can never defeat the organized party like the APC. While reacting to the rumour going round the state that the former governor of the state, Alhaji Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke of the PDP has been romancing with the APC in the state and that it was Aregbesola that instructed him to go and collect gubernatorial form, so as to serve as a spy for him, the commissioner

described the statement as comical, saying it could only come from “persons suffering from acute illegality in thinking.

“At the end of the day, PDP will have its own candidate, so what is our business in any candidate that emerges for the party.

Is it Adeleke who did not perform when he was governor of the state that will now be spying for the APC? Adeleke’s administration was a failure.”

“Even, look at his statement some days ago when he said he was not prepar-

NDLEA nabs man over drugs at Lagos airport

SON reiterates zero-tolerance to substandard products

Wole Shadare

T

he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos yesterday, arrested an electronics merchant for attempting to smuggle 8kg of Diazepam injections on-board an Arik flight to Liberia.

The drug was said to have been detected at the luggage screening desk at the departure hall of the airport and the suspect is being investigated.

The 39-year-old suspect allegedly disguised the diazepam as packs ofAlabukun powder which is not a controlled drug.

NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar said that the suspect would be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction soon.

According to Umar, “Officers discovered 8kg of Diazepam injections in a luggage brought by one Udoji Chike. The luggage was meant for export to Liberia. He has accepted ownership of the drug and he will be charged to court soon after investigation”.

According to the suspect, he agreed to send the bag so as to give the wife some money for her upkeep.

ing to contest for the governorship position of the state, but that the presidency has chosen him to contest for the race. What result would you expect from such a person who did not have any template to govern the state talk-less of mission or vision.

Speaking on the achievements of the present administration in the state, the commissioner described them as pacesetting and intimidating, saying even the deaf and dump could feel the outstanding performances.

Sylva Okereke

I

L-R: Senior Executive, OJ & T Limited, Mr. Henry Oligbo; Chief Financial Officer, Slok Group, Mr. Adebisi Adeola; Chief Accountant, Mr. Uche Abba; Group Company Secretary, Mrs Ngozi Nwanze; SA-Chairman, Mr. Kunle Oyewumi; HR Administrator, OJ & T Ltd, Mrs. Bukola Olawuni, CNN Account Manager (EMEA), Ashley Hogan-Gancarz, and Managing Director, BENDE Export Import Limited, Barr. Benjamin Kalu, during a visit of CNN team to Slok Group Head Office in Lagos...yesterday

Kwara Muslims condemn use of ‘old people' at confab Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

M

uslims in Kwara State condemned yesterday the selection of 'old people' as participants in the on-going National Conference, saying it poses danger to the future of the country.

The group, made up of over 35 Islamic organizations in the state, organised under the aegis of Kwara Muslim Council, is also worried about the poor representations of muslims in the conference, saying seats are supposed to be shared on basis of population.

Spokesman for the group and former Grand Khadi of the state's Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Abdulkadir Oriire,told newsmen at a press conference, that Muslims are in the majority in Nigeria.

In condemning the selection of members in the conference based on age, the group expressed concern that statistical evidence available to it showed that the members were aged citizens, as "more than 70 per cent of them are between the ages of 60-80 years. This is bad for a country seriously yearning for rapid scientific and technological growth."

131 job seekers defrauded in Osun Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

E

gbedire Busayo, former aide to the Committee Chairman on Education, Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Femi Bamisayemi has been arrested by the police for defrauding job seekers into the state Universal Primary Education Board (SUPEB) to the tune of N4.5 million.

He allegedly promised them automatic employment after collecting the money.

Also being quizzed in connection with the fraud was one Gbolahan Ayegbayo who claimed to be a personal assistant to a legislator representing OdoOtin Local Government in the state House of

Assembly.

He reportedly acted as the arrow-head for the collection of the said substantial amount of money. Out of this N4.5 million, Egbedire collected N1.4m, while Ayegbayo collected N3.1m from the job seekers put at one hundred and thirty one (131).

New Tele graph investigations revealed that the former personal assistant who also said to be a clerical staff in the House of Assembly allegedly boasted to all job seekers that his former boss was in-charge and that any list sent to the state government by him would be given express approval without being questioned.

n its renewed bid to stem the tide of substandard products, the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) has formed a synergy with other agencies to fight producers as well as dealers of counterfeit products in the country.

This synergy is coming on the heels of the agency, crowning the royal father and religious leader, Sir Sa’ad Abubakar III as the agency’s ambassador, aimed at reindustrializing Nigeria through quality and standards.

Director-General of the SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, who announced the coalition with other stakeholders during a working visit to members of Sultanate Council in Sokoto State, maintained that winning the campaign against counterfeiting and sub-standard products requires concerted efforts of every Nigerian.

He said the support and co-operation of ordinary people were needed in the fight against sub-standard goods in the country while underscoring the role of traditional institutions towards getting rid of adulterated products.

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 27, 2014

11

‘Ensure passage of Yoruba culture to next generation’ Oluwatosin Omoniyi

A

call has gone to the Yoruba race to ensure the passage of the Yoruba culture, value and norms to the next generation.

Speakers at launch of a book entitled ‘Akojopo Eedagbaaje owe ati asayan oro Yoruba’ - meaning the compilation of 13,000 Yoruba proverbs and wise sayings - by Oladimeji Olawuyi, yesterday agreed that unlike other languages in Nigeria, the Yoruba language is threatened with extinction over the inability of children of the ethnic group to understand and speak it.

Dr. (Mrs) Esther Titilayo Ojo, of the Department of

Linguistics, African and Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos, who reviewed the book, described the book as an archive of Yoruba proverbs especially suitable for the younger generations. She highlighted the essence of Yoruba proverbs as promoting the culture and values.

Proverbs, she explained, are a window to the culture of a people, are often concise, and used to speak the naked truth without necessarily bruising an ego. She further described them as a way of knowing a people and their culture, adding that Yoruba proverbs preserve the language historically and methodologically.

A death trap along the Maryland/Ojota pedestrian walkway in Lagos as students leisurely walk home…yesterday. PHOTO:GODWIN IREKHE

112.5

The number of mobile-cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of developed countries in 2009 Source: Itu.int

428m The number of individuals using the internet in Europe in 2011 Source: Itu.int

588m

The number of fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions worldwide in 2011 Source: Itu.int

2015: PDP slams APC over Disquiet in Kano PDP over ministerial nomination comments on minister Joe Ezuma Port Harcourt

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State on Wednesday slammed the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), over its comment on the alleged adoption of the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, as its candidate for the 2015 governorship election in the state.

The APC was said to have declared a sevenday fasting and prayer session on the choice Wike, saying that it was a good omen for the APC.

This was even as the PDP created more confusion in the politics of the state when it declared that it has not endorsed anybody as its candidate for the election.

The APC in a statement in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, expressed satisfaction about the development, saying; “We have read with profound gratitude reports of the adoption by the leadership of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, of Chief Nyesom Wike, the Supervising Minister of Education, as the party’s candidate for the 2015 gubernatorial election in the state.

Bayelsa calls for striffer laws against oil pollution

T

he Bayelsa State government has called for stricter laws against oil pollution in order to protect and preserve the environment against such abuse and other activities occasioned by oil exploration and exploitation in the Niger Delta.

State governor, Seriake Dickson, who made the call when members of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) led by its

Chairman, Major Lancelot Anyanya (rtd), paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Yenagoa, said an environmental summit would be organised soon to discuss ways of mitigating the effects of oil and gas exploration and exploitation in the region.

He expressed his administration’s desire to collaborate with NOSDRA to facilitate the speedy passage of the amended act of the agency.

NOMINATION

Confusion in Kano over nomination of ministerial candidate

Mohammed Ya'u Kano

T

here has been disquiet in the Kano State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following political intrigues that led the Senate to suspend the screening of the second ministerial nominee from the state.

President Goodluck

Jonathan had nominated Barrister Jamila Ahmed Salik for a ministerial position, she was consequently screened by men of the State Security Service (SSS), but was dropped by the Senate in unclear circumstances.

Sources said Salik became a victim of the political reconfiguration in the state following the defection of former governor of the state, Ibrahim Shekarau, to the PDP in reaction to Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso's defection to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Presidency was

said to have stopped Salik to accommodate Shekarau in the bid to empower him to checkmate Governor Kwankwaso.

Our correspondent, however, reports that a chunk of the PDP membership in Kano is enraged over the decision to drop Salik.

In an open letter to President Jonathan, a group known as PDP Forum for Equity and Justice said the President was being advised by "people who mainly not from Kano and who were are therefore not conversant with Kano politics.

In the letter published by many national dailies, the group said it would amount to injustice to Salik’s personality if after coming this far; she was dropped for no offence of hers.

Besides, the PDP group noted that; “If the Kano electorate conclude that Shekarau’s defection to PDP was based on inducement and offer of ministerial appointment in order ‘to capture’ Kano for the PDP, electoral revolt may ensue that may defeat the beneficial political essence of his defection.”

Strike: FG insists on paying CONTISS 15 arrears in two installments Emeldah Ogene Abuja

F

our months into the strike by lecturers of Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, hope of its suspension soon dimmed yesterday, as the Federal Government yesterday, insisted that it could only afford to pay the arrears of Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS-15) in two installments.

The Polytechnics and Colleges of Education

lecturers, under their respective unions - Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) - have been on strike for over four months now.

The strike action was triggered by demands for improved infrastructure, enhanced pay packages and other issues affecting the institutions.

However, in an exclusive interview with New Telegraph yesterday, Senior Special Assistant

to the Supervising Minister of Education, Simeon Nwakaudu, maintained that the Federal Government had shown sincere commitment towards the resolution of the strike action.

Nwakaudu charged the striking lecturers to, in the interest of students and the nation, call-off the strike, while giving government the benefit of the doubt.

He explained that due to budgetary constraints, it will not be possible for the federal government

to clear the outstanding CONTISS 15 arrears once.

The Senior Special Assistant further stated that the ministry of education, under the supervision of the Minister, Nyesom Wike, has since met 90 per cent of the lecturers' demands.

change of name

Ayo-Ilori

Formerly Miss Ifeoluwaposimi Temitope Babalola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ifeoluwaposimi Temitope AyoIlori, all former documents remain valid. General public take note.

metr

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/metro

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com

THURSday,March 27, 2014

The bulldozer demolishing the warehouse

0802 393 8212

L-R: Ayodeji - Aleshinloye, Adeleke and Babalola at the site...yesterday

Police stop demolition of Ibadan horror site STOP WORK Police, according to Oyo State Government, halt the demolition of kidnappers’ den Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

T

here was confusion at the ritual site in Soka area of Ibadan, Oyo State yesterday, as the demolition of the warehouse where victims were rescued was halted midway.

Bulldozer was halfway through when it was stopped for what was said to allow a team of forensic experts from the police headquarters in Abuja carry out its investigations.

During a visit to the forest on Monday, Governor Abiola Ajimobi ordered the demolition of the warehouse and the clearing of the bush to allow for visibility of the area.

The governor also directed environmental health officers to fumigate the forest and the entire area to prevent outbreak of epidemic.

But while the demolition was going on yesterday, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Ndabawa, called the Chairman of Oluyole Local Government, Prince Ayode AbassAleshinloye and informed him of the need to stop the exercise to allow the forensic experts from the police headquarters in Abuja carry out their investigations.

Abass-Aleshinloye, according to a statement issued the Special Adviser to the governor on Media, Dr Festus Adedayo, was at the site, in company with his Ibadan South-West Local Government counterpart, Mr Taoheed Adeleke and the General Manager of Ibadan Local Governments Property

Development Company, Mr Lekan Babalola, to supervise the exercise.

Ndabawa, according to the statement, reasoned that should the exercise be allowed to continue as earlier planned, concrete evidences that would help the police in their investigations would have been destroyed.

But Adedayo said the demolition and the clearing of the bush would resume on Friday.

The forensic experts are expected to complete their investigations today.

Meanwhile, the state chapter of the Accord Party yesterday that the state Ajimobi’s administration should be held responsible for people’s death at the Soka forest.

The party reiterated that the forest was acquired in 2011 by the Ajimobi administration for rehabilitation of the destitute taken away from the streets “in its effort to beautify the environ-

ment, but the effort could not be sustained as no provision was made for their maintenance”.

Former Permanent Secretary and former Secretary to the State Government, Chief Ayodele Adigun, raised the allegation at a press conference attended by some chieftains of the party.

He said: “The premises in question, until the time of unearthing the dastardly acts, have always been in custody of Oyo State Government.

“Between 2011 and 2013, it was gathered that the state government in its effort to beautify the environment set up a committee headed by Yomi Oke, a Special Adviser on Environment and Habitat and started gathering lunatics and the destitute on the streets of Ibadan and depositing them at the premises.

“The efforts could, however, not be sustained as no provision was made for

their maintenance.”

Responding to the allegation, the state Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dauda Kolawole, said the issue at stake should not be politicised.

According to him, people of the state are still in grief and shock at the horrendous discovery of ritual killers’ den.

He said: “The situation calls for sober reflection from all and sundry. To be confronted with this cheap politicking in the name of infantile accusation by the Accord Party is like opening the fresh wound of the people of the state who are still mourning their dead and lamenting the ugly incident.”

Kolawole added that the testimonies of the kidnap victims showed that the den had been in existence for almost 10 years, a period that covered “the drab government of Senator Rashidi Ladoja” and his successor.

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suspect arrested by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said he pushed drug because of the need to cater for his wife and kid.

The 39-year-old Udoji Chike, who disguised packs of diazepam injections as Alabukun powder, was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. Chike told the anti-narcotic agents that he decided to carry the packs of banned substance because he wanted to raise money to send to his wife and child in Liberia.

The suspect, an electronic merchant, attempted to smuggle the 8kg of diaz-

epam injections on-board an Arik flight to Liberia.

The drug was detected at the luggage screening desk at the Departure Hall of the airport.

Chike also explained how he came about the drug.

He said: “I am a graduate of Business Administration from the University of Monrovia. I sell electrical electronics in Liberia where I live with my family since 1997.

I came to spend the Christmas period last December with my family in Ihiala, Anambra State. Unfortunately, my father died on January 8, 2014.

“Since then I could not go back to Liberia and I am worried about how my wife and child are coping financially. I agreed

Udoji Chike

Bag containing the

to send the drug so that the money they will pay me can be given to my wife in Liberia.”

NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, said that the suspect

would soon be ar court of compet He said: “Offi 8kg of diazepa a luggage broug

APC cAN’t STOP JONATHAN’S RE-ELECTION –RAIMI / PAGE 15 | Confab, exercise in futility –Babankowa / PAGE 17

POLITICS

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Daramola: Fayemi not nursing fears over re-election

p-16

THURSday, March 27, 2014

IBB: National Conference, healthy for democracy Nigeria’s former military leader, Ex-President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida is a journalist’s delight when it comes to interviews and you need someone to unlock certain knotty issues in the polity. IBB, the man who ruled Nigeria as a benevolent dictator and presided over the longest political transition programme in Nigeria’s history, rarely speaks unless when it becomes absolutely necessary. The trio of IKE ABONYI, SULEIMAN BISALLA and ONWUKA NZESHI caught up with the enigma and took him to task on the national conference, the forthcoming general elections, Boko Haram insurgency, crisis in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), life in retirement as well as his relationship with present and past Nigerian leaders. Here, we serve you excerpts of the memorable encounter.

President Goodluck Jonathan recently inaugurated the national conference where 492 delegates would be sitting for 90 days to discuss the future of the country after 100 years of living together.

What is your view on this national dialogue?

This is the good thing about democracy. Dialogue is part of democracy. I am happy about the things I read from what you guys dish out to us on the conference. But there are still some disagreements among the Nigerian people, even within the media and among the ordinary citizens on the way to move Nigeria forward through this particular dialogue. What I am interested in is how we would resolve it. Already, before its take off, there were a lot divergent views and that is Nigeria for you. It is healthy.

You supervised the most comprehensive political transition programme to establish democracy in Nigeria. Now looking back at what we have today as democracy, are you satisfied with what you have seen in the last 14 years?

Ehmm, I think that the whole concept of democracy is good, but the practitioners have not yet shown that they have fully understood and embraced democracy. I think that a lot needs to be done. The whole essence of democracy is about law and order, it’s about elections, it’s about the freedom of the individual. We have not reached that ideal level of democracy we all crave for in

tion of five Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a positive development in our democracy. As a member of the PDP, are you not worried that this defection is impacting negatively on your party?

No! No!! No!!! The constitution guarantees that you have the right to hold an opinion. You can express and spread such an opinion if you want. So, those of them who felt aggrieved, they have their right to change.

They have the right to take their own decisions. It is democracy that makes this possible. So, we have no cause to be worried.

Some stayed back, others defected. And this is not the first time in the political history of this country that we are having this kind of thing. Maybe you guys were still very small when it happened in the past but defection is not a new phenomenon in Nigerian politics.

Do you think PDP will survive after the 2015 general elections?

First, the 2015 election is about one year away, so it is too early to talk about it. In the Nigerian political scene, everything is possible.

Babangida

our political development.

Does the perennial problem of North/South dichotomy in Nigeria worries you?

No. You know why?

Why? Before the amalgamation in 1914, there were already people traveling from Baga to Lagos; there were people living in Enugu or Port Harcourt from all parts of the country.

So, there’s been a cross movement of all ethnic nationalities in the country. People from the

East have moved to Baga and Borno before 1914. People were trading in cowries and fish. So,

The whole concept of democracy is good, but the practitioners have not yet shown that they have fully understood and embraced democracy

the basis of Nigerian unity has since been established before 1914. The fact that somebody in the name of Lord Lugard formalised it is just part of history.

Does it mean you are also not disturbed about the prediction by a group in the United States that Nigeria may split in 2015?

No. I am not disturbed by such reports. I am confident it would make us stronger. 2015 will make us stronger.

In a recent encounter with the media, you described the defec-

Some Nigerians, especially five PDP governors that defected to the APC, have demanded that President Goodluck Jonathan should not contest the 2015 presidential elections. What is your view about this demand?

There are two issues – the people and the President. This, I think is not the kind of problem that warrants people making such demands. It will be resolved when the time comes.

What would be your advice to politicians as they prepare for the 2015 general elections?

Transparency, honesty and love for this country. That’s all.

In the last four or five years, Nigeria has been grappling with the Boko Haram insurgency and other issues of insecurity. What is your impression of the way these issues are being handled by the government of the day?

You see, I will look at it from CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

14

POLITICS | THURSDAY INTERVIEW

Thursday, March 27, 2014

2015 elections’ll make Nigeria stronger –IBB

CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

consensus presidential candidate from the North. Are we going to see a repeat of that agitation in 2015?

I think that it is much clearer now than it was during our time. In most of the political parties, the principles are different. We have the PDP and the APC, so you have options. Somehow, people will find accommodation somewhere and that makes things easier for everyone.

my own experience. When I joined the military way back…we had elections in 1963, 1964 and 1965… Nigeria has had a lot of problematic elections.

Remember the Tiv Riots, the riots in Western Nigeria, Isaac Boro crisis and eventually the civil war. So, in a way, we are all products of military operations in this country.

To me, these things are not new because they are things that all developing countries have to go through in the course of nation building. The important thing is that when you have a problem, you find a solution to it and move forward. Such a problem, we hope, will not occur again. We are facing some problems right now but with strong determination, I think we will be able to put the problem of insecurity behind us. But that is not the end of the problems of nation building. In the future, other things may crop up. They could come in the form of economic crisis or natural disaster. It is part of nation building.

How would you rate the performance of the ruling party in the last 14 years?

Well, there is peace in Nigeria and we are not at war with any other country today. This is an achievement and you can give them credit for it.

Honestly, I think that we have to appreciate the peace that we have in this country. I still maintain that every developing country is passing through some difficulties. If you look at the world today; go to Iran, Iraq, Syria, Thailand, Turkey – these are all developing countries and they are having one challenge or the other. The important thing is our ability to come together to confront the challenges that our nation is facing. Once we agree to solve the problem, then we will move forward.

Some Nigerians are not comfortable with the way the government is tackling the Boko Haram insurgency. How would you rate the performance of our security forces in the war against the insurgents?

As a man who was in the military service for almost thirty two years, that question should not be discussed publicly.

Now, let’s revisit your career in the military.

What was your relationship with the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha?

It was good. We went into the military together; we started as young officers together; we grew up together and we became what God wished us to become and we still remained together up to the time he died.

You mean that there was no friction between the two of you even after you left office and he became the Head of State?

The media and other people outside us thought there was a friction but there had never been a friction between us.

But when he was in power and he retired some military officers who were then known as IBB boys, people said he was after you.

Was this not an element of friction?

What’s your relationship with President Jonathan?

Good, cordial and as a relationship between the president and a citizen.

Does he consult you before taking major decisions?

We talk.

But you have not attended the Council of State meeting for quite some time; is there any problem?

It is because of the distance. I travel from Minna to here (Abuja). I am an old man and the road is bad. They are fixing it any way. (Laughter) Babangida

No! No!! No!!! In fact, after he did that, we spoke with each other. He rationalised to me why he had to do what he did and since he was the one on the saddle, I had no option but to accept what he told me in good faith.

Do you regret leaving office at the time you did?

No! I think I am fulfilled and happy.

I am back to my roots. I am back to live among my people, brothers, sisters, cousins, colleagues and friends. I am back to where I started from and I think it is the most enjoyable things to do in life. I mean I have every reason to be grateful to God. I left for the military profession, spent 32 years outside and now I’m back to Minna.

I think it is wonderful.

Obasanjo said he discussed the issues with you. Is that true?

Ah! Ah! He did not mention my name in the letter. It was in the postscript. He said he discussed some of the issues with me and the answer is “Yes” , he did.

Again this is the good thing about us as elder statesmen which is that we agree and sometimes we disagree. But he’s got a reason he had to go public with the issues and I can’t question that.

Do you think, Obasanjo was right in going public with such issues?

The constitution guarantees him the right to write letters to express anything on earth either in writing or verbally.

This is one of the things that the constitution allows him to do.

While you were in service, were you missing your friends and relatives?

Of course, while I was away, I lost contact with the people I grew up with; I also lost contact with some of my relatives my cousins and even some of my uncles.

We were a closely-knit society but suddenly we lost contact for 32 years. Now I am back with them. I consider myself part and parcel of them and I will continue to be part and parcel of them. They are also proud that I am one of their own.

It appears that Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is warming up again to fly the flag of the APC in the 2015 election. Would you advise a person of that age to undertake such a venture?

Is he running for the presidency? He has not said he is going to run or not. So, why should I tell him not to when he has not said anything? I would wait until he says something before I can advise him. It is either he says he would run or he would say he would not run and when I am going to advise him, it would not be in the public.

What is your relationship with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo?

You mean General Obasanjo? He was my boss. So, what kind of relationship are you talking about? Our relationship is that of a superior officer and a subordinate officer.

In 2011, you were among the northern leaders that championed the cause of having a

What about your relationship politically?

He is in Abeokuta; I’m in Minna.

How do you feel about the letter he wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan late last year?

Your name was mentioned in the letter and

To kill this corruption that everybody is talking about, we must know what it is... and we must know the places where it could be found before we can start attacking it

A lot of Nigerians believe that there is corruption in the country. They also believe that if Nigeria does not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria. What is your view about this?

Say it again (Laughter). Why don’t you say if corruption doesn’t kill Nigeria, Nigeria would kill corruption? If you say it the other way then there is hope. Well, to kill this corruption that everybody is talking about, we must know what it is; we must know how it is and we must know the places where it could be found before we can start attacking it. Let me give you an example. If you were wise enough during my time, you would have known the amount of corruption that went on then, let’s say in import licence. We came and stopped it. We made it in such a way that any citizen could feel free to import anything but must pay import duty.

First of all, the control was dismantled so that people could feel free to import without going to seek the favour of some persons who grant licenses.

You convince the ordinary farmer in the village that he can sell his farm produce without going through an intermediary who assesses it and in the process gets bribe to assess it correctly. Now if you create a situation where the end-user of farm produce goes to the farmer directly, checks the produce and pays the farmer directly, you would have blocked corruption.

So, identify all these areas of corruption and do something to block the loopholes.

Sometimes, I get crazy about some of the things you write – about somebody who has N1 billion under his bed. The first question is: How did you get it? Maybe the rules, regulations, general orders and instructions are not being followed and where they were being followed, sanctions were not applied. So, there are so many things we can do to curb corruption. We would kill corruption when we are able to identify it.

POLITICS | THURSDAY INTERVIEW 15

Thursday, March 27, 2014

APC can’t stop Jonathan’s re-election – Raimi

Chief Dejo Raimi was the Secretary to the Oyo State Government during the aborted Third Republic and former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA). Raimi, National Treasurer of Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, in this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, says that the popularity of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in South-West will not be a stumbling block to the Peoples Democratic Party’s quest to take over the geo-political zone in 2015.

How do you see the PDP’s quest to take over South-West from the APC in 2015?

It is natural; it is our turn in the South-West. You know since the present political era started, no political party has been able to win South-West twice consecutively. The people are always yearning for a change. If you remember, Adebayo Alao-Akala was there for PDP and people changed him for Abiola Ajimobi. And by 2015, it is the turn of the PDP to rule South-West, especially Oyo State. And whatever happens in Ibadan is always the style that will dictate what will happen in other parts of South-West.

The people are well-educated and they are well-informed; they are politically articulate. Therefore, they can decide whom they want in power with their votes. This is a zone that uses its vote correctly to get rid of any government they don’t want and put in another one if only for a trial. Nobody ever thought that PDP would lose three years ago and we lost.

But some people are of the view that considering the performance of APC governments in South-West, it would be difficult for PDP to wrest power from APC? There is no election that is easy; you have to work very hard and there is no way you can easily erase a culture, which is more or less in the blood of the people.

I have told you that the electorate are accurate and they are very wise; they know what they want from what they don’t want.

Something happened in the SouthWest recently; the same time that Governor Ajimobi was demolishing shops and houses, making room for roads in many areas of Oyo State, Governor Rauf Aregbesola was busy doing the same thing in Osogbo, Osun State and the same thing was happening in Abeokuta. So, people saw demolition of their grandfathers’ houses as a deliberate policy of the APC. Do you think the Yoruba will forgive those people that destroyed their forefathers’ houses? They have destroyed many ancient houses which people can

point to as their ancestors and grandparents’ homes.

But the demolition was carried out to pave way for development?

They are doing it in the name of development but they have to do it in moderation. How big is the development you want to bring that will compensate for the destruction of what you can call antiquities?

Every development comes with a sacrifice, moreso that Ibadan now wears a new look.

Ibadan is not wearing any new look; Ibadan is still inhabited by slums. There are few Government Reservation Areas (GRAs) in Ibadan; there is Jericho GRA, Iyaganku GRA, Agodi GRA, if you go round all the GRAs, you will still see slums everywhere. So, what are you talking about? If some slums can be left within the GRA, then what do you expect in places that have no town planning control, that are not GRA? Do you think President Goodluck Jonathan is entitled to run in 2015?

He will make attempt to go and we would follow our constitution. We have a lot of qualified people in PDP who are interested in 2015 presidency. PDP is the largest single party in the whole of Africa, so, we have a lot of qualified good people, tested. Some have been tested in the past and they delivered and they are ready to offer themselves again for service.

How do you see the opposition to Jonathan’s re-election within and outside the PDP? This is politics and ideas will come to people’s head. Jonathan has opponents and his opponents will sell ideas. APC is there and Bola Tinubu is well alive and you don’t expect Tinubu to fold his arms and allow South-West to be delivered to Jonathan just like that. Jonathan has his own programme. He is an experienced politician that has the backing of Almighty Allah considering how God has

Raimi

helped him to rise from the position of deputy governor to President within 10 years. So, you can see destiny working with Jonathan.

Don’t you think the dominance of APC in South-West may be a stumbling block to Jonathan’s re-election in 2015?

It can’t be a stumbling block. SouthWest is one of the geo-political zones in Nigeria and right from First Republic, South-West has always dictated the political direction of this country. So, SouthWest has gotten a record of showing the way and others would follow, and we have never failed to live up to that expectation.

South-West is only one zone out of six zones. How can South-West be a stumbling block? What is the population of South-West? PDP had about 67 per cent of the total votes during the last presidential election and I don’t expect us to have less than 70 per cent in the next election, because more people are joining the winning team, which is the PDP. In the last few months, PDP has experienced mass exodus of its members to the APC. Won’t this affect the party’s chances in 2015?

Very few are leaving. Those who cannot find easy money or those who are

PDP had about 67 per cent of the total votes during the last presidential election and I don’t expect us to have less than 70 per cent in the next election, because more people are joining the winning team, which is the PDP

lazy, who cannot work hard enough at the same rate with ambitious people in PDP have to drop out. So, when you drop out, the next thing you do is cross carpet to a place full of mediocres.

Are you saying that APC are full of mediocres?

Yes, of course. How many states are they controlling in Nigeria? You don’t need to call anybody any name; their behaviour will show the type of people they are. If they behave like mediocres, they are mediocres.

Do you see PDP challenging APC successfully in 2015 general elections?

We will challenge anybody. Nobody is invaluable. Is Tinubu not challenging us?

Did he not successfully challenge us in South-West during the last general elections? If he didn’t challenge us, he won’t have taken over South-West. If Tinubu didn’t challenge us in 2011, he wouldn’t have won South-West for the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). We are going to challenge the present set up in South-West. We have done it before and the same people who took part in such challenge in the past are still very much around. So, we are going to do it again.

What is your take on the ongoing National Conference?

We have been asking for it and the conference is going to produce a people’s constitution. We never had people’s constitution before, it has been many years of military dictatorship and it has been one constitution or. Another forced on us. For the first time, we are going to have what we can call our home-made constitution, where we have taken the culture of Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa that are the three major tribes Nigeria. We have been able to meet the culture to produce something suitable enough for us to be called Nigeria.

I hope we will get it right this time.

16

POLITICS | THURSDAY INTERVIEW

With the endorsement of Governor Kayode Fayemi for second term by the Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), would there still be party primaries for the June 21 governorship election?

Well, the APC is a party that respects its own rules and laws. On April 26, there will be some form of primaries or congress as directed. Again let me remind you that when Atiku Abubakar contested as a candidate under the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) we had our primaries in Lagos which was by affirmation. He was the only candidate of the party and he was affirmed.

In your estimation, what are the issues that will shape the June 21 governorship election?

There are a number of issues. The very first thing will be substance. That will be very material to the thrust of the campaign. We are going to have a campaign that will be issue-driven, agenda setting.

My candidate, the campaign organisation and by extension the people are not just angling for second term for the sake of it.

We are doing this out of the strong conviction driven by the tangible template that Dr. Kayode Fayemi has made in the past three and a half years. That will be material and would shape the campaign and conduct of election.

I know too well that the opposition want to expand its territory. Third, you will also agree with me that, may be this may not be nice that one of us who used to be a member of the same family said he would be on the ballot for this election. All of these will shape this election. You cannot run away from these facts; elections are won on the basis of political parties driven by individuals and the people ultimately have their way and every other thing key into this.

In the last registration exercise done by APC, more than 200, 000 members were said to have been registered. With this, do you think Governor Fayemi stands a chance of defeating the candidates of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ayo Fayose and Labour Party (LP), Opeyemi Bamidele?

Yes, APC registered members was in excess of 200 ,000 and the total registered voters in Ekiti is about 649,000. Elections are won on the basis of so many factors.

It would have been a completely different thing if we did not have an incumbent or all of the candidates are running as fresh. But the truth of the matter is that the strength of the party is a factor but strength means nothing. It is just like trying to ascribe power to the size of a dinosaur which today is facing extinction because the size of dinosaur has not been able to help dinosaur. The people have said PDP is the largest party in Africa, but we also know that the party is decimating as we speak.

I don’t want to benchmark the success of our elections on the fact that we are driven by population, which is driven by their conviction by what Dr. Fayemi has been able to do in three and half years. Up till today, there is no one coming into the election with tangible assets as my candidate. He is not coming into election with promissory notes; he is coming into the election to say this is what I have done and these are the things I will do. You do not mouth reputation; you earn it though per-

Daramola: Fayemi not nursing fears over re-election Hon. Bimbo Daramola is the Director-General of the Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation. The member of the House of Representatives speaks on the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State. AYODELE OJO reports

Daramola

We expect that those who are direct beneficiaries of the impact of his good governance in the past three and half years will not fold their hands and entrust their fate and fortunes into unsteady and shaken hands formance and governance delivery. That has added value tangibly to the lives of Ekiti people. It is something on the streets that no one can deny and we expect that those who are direct beneficiaries of the impact of his good governance in the past three and half years will not fold their hands and entrust their fate and fortunes into unsteady and shaken hands. They will rather entrust their fate and fortunes into a steady hand and consolidate on the good work in the past three and half years.

Why is the governor insisting on second term in office?

There is no insistence on second term.

We are saying if you have a mechanic who has been fixing your car over the ages and has been doing it well, it is likely that you will trust him much more when chal-

7 Questions lenges arise. My candidate has tried in the last three and half years to justify the mandate the people gave him in 2007. My candidate, my party are products of adversity. We are all students of history; we all know how we got to this point. Thank God Fayemi has turned our adversity to prosperity. What he has done justify the fact that people remain resolute behind and beside him, during the period of adversity and travails. I am sure today all of those things will come into reckoning.

I don’t think the people will suffer selective amnesia. It is the officials that suffer amnesia not the people. If the people suffer amnesia nobody will give credit to Chief Obafemi Awolowo today for his free education programme.

But your governor and party have expressed fears that the election may be rigged?

I am not aware that my governor is expressing fears. In any case, there is the fear of the unknown. As human beings, there is always the fear of the shadowy.

But the truth of the matter is that we have to confront our fears because we will soon know that they do not exist. We have seen it before. Don’t forget that we are Ekiti people that we do not brook cheating, we do not brook injustice. Dr. Fayemi was not

Thursday, March 27, 2014

in office when Ekiti people stood by him head to head, toe-to toe and did not blink.

We were not in government yet pursued the mandate and by the grace of God it was eventually delivered into our hands.

He has treated that mandate with so much sanctity. The recognition of that alone will sharpen the resolve of our people to stand beside by him to ensure that no matter what the electoral marauders are trying to do, they will not succeed.

In concrete terms what are the fears?

The fear will not be far-fetched. We have seen the seeming incompetence and lack of capacity of some of the institutions in the conduct of elections in the country. We have seen time failures of the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra and Delta. It will be in the interest of President Goodluck Jonathan and his party to ensure that they play fair and ensure that the will of the people prevail in the election. It will be the fairest thing to do.

We know that this country is been tugged out at every corner regardless of the talking session in Abuja. The true test of the direction of the confab will be determined by elections in Ekiti because election is about allowing the people to exercise their civic responsibility.

What do you think informed the intense jostling of candidates to be governor of Ekiti State, given the number of people aspiring from various parties?

It is a sad spectacle and I am too sure this is one of the eternal legacies of the Fayemi administration. By the grace of God, before the end of the second term of Fayemi, all Dick, Tom and Harry will find aspiration to the Government House uncomfortable anymore. Fayemi would have sufficiently raised the standards such that anybody that aspires to lead Ekiti State will first of all benchmark himself. People will point to him that having seen all legacy and credential that your predecessor has left, are you still competent to fit into his shoes.

Some of the things they have said about Governor Fayemi is that he is not governor ‘jule’ kind of governor who goes to eat plantain on the streets, market place or doing things that are populist. He is not building stomach infrastructure. If a governor goes to the streets to buy fried plantain and groundnut from the woman on the streets and give her N1000, that may not be bad.

But can you compare that to a governor who ensures that 25,000 senior citizens get a stipend of N5,000 every month?

You don’t wish to just be a leader, you must earn it. There must be integral qualities that you possess. One of that is clear vision of where you want to take your followership to. You must have an agenda that will be driven by the people. A leader must take the lead. This is a governor that provided 30,000 laptops for students and another 18,000 laptops for their teachers and trained them as well and made payment of teachers spread over 24 months.

This is because he knows that there is no profession that does not have ICT components in it. Governance all over the world cannot be rated differently because the ultimate destination is to ensure that the quality of life of the people gets better.

That is the essence of governance. Anything short of that is defeatist.

POLITICS | THURSDAY INTERVIEW 17

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Confab, exercise in futility –Babankowa Alhaji Ibrahim Babankowa is a retired Police Commissioner who recovered the mutilated body of the Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa after being killed in Lagos.

He is a close ally of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

In this interview with MUHAMMAD KABIR in Kano, Babankowa bears his mind on fundamental issues affecting the North, National Conference and many other issues.

al conference which will have legal backing, not this Jonathan’s conference which has no legal backing. Although, the president said he has no hidden agenda, but I don’t think Jonathan is telling the truth. He could have done much better with a sovereign national conference than this hurried conference. Don’t forget that this is a campaign year and elections will take place in February 2015.

So, you are saying the confab is an exercise in futility?

Yes. I don’t believe in it. The conference is ill-timed, no legal backing and no defined agenda. And anything that lacks these reasons is an exercise in futility.

The issue of North/South, onshore/offshore dichotomy, federalism and many other vital issues are the subjects of this conference. Do you see any fruitful result at the end of the day?

Well, we can’t forecast what will happen, but if you go back to the Northern elders’ meeting, there was a paper delivered by Dr. Usman Bujage. From that paper, you can understand the legality of the onshore/ offshore. Internationally, anything offshore belongs to all Nigerians not a particular part. That is why I said the whole conference is confusing so many things.

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) meeting held in Kano recently was inconclusive as it was said to lack agenda. Do you share this view?

It is very wrong for anybody to say that the NEF lacks agenda and its meeting was inconclusive. Whoever has that in mind is because he doesn’t have anything to say on it. That is why that person is making the insinuation, otherwise there was the Kano Declaration which explained many issues and that is a great success. For anybody to know whether the meeting justified its purpose or not, he should read the declaration.

At the time you were holding the meetings, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) distanced itself from the meeting?

It is true; we learnt of it when the meeting was going on. I’m a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the ACF and you know what it means.

Now, the present executives of the ACF were only formed two weeks ago.

And since there was no meeting of the BoT or joint board/executive to deliberate on any issues, the person who made the allegations must have been bought over to deliberately make that noise. It was designed to distract us.

We are investigating who mandated the person to make that statement.

The ACF is just part of the elders’ meeting and whatever deliberation was made we are part of it. Alhaji Mafgaji Dambatta, who is the president of the BoT was there; Air Vice Marshal Mukthar, who is the present deputy of the ACF BoT was there, and many other people who are members of the ACF were present at the meeting. So, this is rubbish. ACF chairman, Ibrahim Coomasie, was supposed to be there but his driver died.

So, he couldn’t make it.

Do you suspect any motive to polarise the North?

Even if there is any move, they would not succeed. We know those making these allegations; they are political prostitutes. All they want is how to make money from President

Babankowa

Goodluck Jonathan and others. They are members of the ACF, yet they went and formed another body. They are even working against the North.

Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, a very good friend of yours, seems to be supporting the Jonathan administration and supporting the president’s re-election in 2015. How do you feel about this?

Well, every person has his reason for doing something. I know Tanko Yakasai too much and I respect him a lot. But politically and in line with what is happening in the country, he is against the North. While northerners are yearning for power shift to the North, he is saying that Jonathan should continue; he is moving in the opposite direction. The question is: what is his reason? Somebody asked him, and he said because of the good things Jonathan is doing; good things of killing people every day, and the heavy insecurity, or the good thing of no job and lack of every basic thing for living!

Yakasai is always supportive of every government in power.

He is dancing with every government in power. This is a gentleman who was a commissioner in Audu Bako government in Kano. Yet he is

The president said he has no hidden agenda, but I don’t think Jonathan is telling the truth. He could have done much better with a sovereign national conference than this hurried conference making all these statements; every day standing against the region. So, one can brand him anything he deserves because his stand is in conflict with the North.

Do you have hope in the ongoing National Conference?

I do not have any hope in it. Personally, I don’t believe this conference will produce anything positive. Yet there are respected delegates, but to start with what is the agenda. They are going to create agenda and then start doing something. The conference has got no legal backing, which means its outcome has to go to the National Assembly.

For me, I prefer a sovereign nation-

The president is now considering subjecting the outcome of the conference to referendum against his initial position of taking it to the National Assembly. Do you support this?

This conference will not produce anything worth referendum. So, I can’t comment on it.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recently said the insurgency in the North is meant to distract Jonathan. What is your take on this?

That is ridiculous. Jonathan is a minority and he is ruling us. We accept it because that is what is destined. As Muslims, we believe that God gives power to whom he so wishes. What we are talking about is that power should come back to the North. Even Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State said President Jonathan agreed not to re-contest in 2015.

So, if PDP is saying that the killings are designed to weaken the Jonathan administration, this stands logic on its head. How can you be killing your own children to distract your opponent? Why not kill the opponent’s?

This is just trash. Our people are being killed daily, whereas the South South is safe as far as Boko Haram is concerned.

What is your view on the 2015 elections?

Only God knows what will happen in 2015. The political parties are not organised and there are divisions within the parties. So, we should pray.

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POLITICS | THURSDAY INTERVIEW

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Abba Moro’s sack won’t resurrect the dead –Agada Former Minister of State for Education and immediate past National President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Prof. Anthony Jerry Agada, speaks on the calls for the removal of Interior Minister and Comptroller-General of Immigration, Senator David Mark’s ambition and the security challenges confronting the country. CEPHAS IORHEMEN reports Do you think David Mark has done well to deserve another term in the Senate?

You see, I have always said that the issue of the senator representing the zone is open to anybody who is interested in gunning for the seat. But this thing should not be done on sentiments. David Mark has done so much for the zone.

For instance, the establishment of a radio station, Otukpo Gulf Club, National Open University of Nigeria, Otukpo, building of an Ultra Modern Stadium, Water Dam, Federal Government College, Otobi; Federal Technical College, Otukpo, Digital Telephone Services, Modern General Post Office, David Mark Scholarship Foundation, provision of employment opportunities, maintenance of stability in the National Assembly which is reflected in the entire Nigerian polity. Most importantly, his cordial relationship with Governor Gabriel Suswam and government of Benue State which has definitely enhanced development and peaceful co-existence in the state.

Unlike other Senate Presidents before him, who were always at loggerheads with their state governors, Mark’s excellent relationship with Suswam has been exemplary. Some people said he promised the creation of Apa State which has not come through so he should be removed.

But that is not enough to say something has gone wrong. He has worked for the state creation and it will eventually work out. But then, you know the whole thing hinges on the provision of Nigeria’s constitution. One part of the country cannot create its own state in isolation. This has to do with constitutional amendment and provisions. Therefore, if the states have not been created in any other part of the country why do you ascribe the blame to just one part?

My believe is that if eventually the necessary provisions are made and states are to be created, Apa will be among.

Therefore, the criticism that because Apa State has not come to reality, so he has failed is not correct. Mark is working towards it.

What would you say about a recent statement by one of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial aspirants from zone C that Mark’s days in the Senate are numbered?

You know we are operating a democracy so everybody has right to say what he or she likes. That is his own opinion and that is what he wants to do. If you ask me about what should be done when contesting in an election, I would say that one should concentrate on what he or she can do for the people, rather than focusing attention on personality.

Agada

For one to call for the sack of the duo is unnecessary.

If the call is answered, will that bring back the lost lives? We should rather think of a better system to adopt to get it right in the future so that this type of ugly situation will not repeat itself and not the other way round Since the creation of Benue State in 1976, no Idoma man has tasted the seat of the governor. Ahead of 2015 elections, what is your take on the agitation of the Idomas to occupy the governorship seat? Is it achievable?

In politics, anything is achievable. As long as you are a member of the comity of the fragments that constitute the state, you have the right to be the governor, senator etc. If since 1976, people of zone C have not tasted the seat of governorship then it stands to reason that an appeal should be made to all the political parties to zone the seat of governorship to zone C. In that case, any political party that eventually wins the governor will come from the zone. In other words, I am not just talking for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But if I want to narrow it

to my party, which is the PDP, I would advise that it’s only proper and fair for the zoning to favour Benue South. Of course, in talking about this, so many variables must be put into consideration.

The party stakeholders should look into these variables and proffer plausible solutions. But if on the other hand, when these variables are put together and one comes up with a more convincing argument that the zoning should favour a particular area, we will all abide. But let it be understood that anything good for the goose is also good for the gander.

There have been calls for the removal of the Interior Minister Abba Moro and the Comptroller of Immigration, Mr. David Paradang over the poor handling of the immigration recruitment exercise which led to the death of many job seekers. What is your take on this?

First and foremost, I must express my very sincere condolences to the families of those who lost their dear ones and others who sustained various degrees of injuries during the exercise. I equally extend same condolences to President Goodluck Jonathan, Moro, Paradang and the Immigration and indeed to all Nigerians over the unfortunate incident. It’s not a good commentary. But having said that, I want us to look inward deeply into the processes that led to the quagmire.

It’s like the proverb of the firewood that burns from both ends. If you pick it you are in trouble and if you don’t you are in trouble. It was an attempt to im-

prove on past experience that resulted into the unfortunate incident. Therefore, for one to call for the sack of the duo is unnecessary. If the call is answered, will that bring back the lost lives? We should rather think of a better system to adopt to get it right in the future so that this type of ugly situation will not repeat itself and not the other way round.

The exercise could be done in batches or located at various local government headquarters or other strategies could be introduced.

Yes, I say this because I look at the kind of climate we are operating in our country. If it were in other countries like Britain, America and other democracies, the mere fact that this type of thing has happened is even enough for whoever is in charge to throw in the towel. In our own clime, does it happen like that?

The people who will jostle for replacement will be worse off because they will emerge through corrupt and other crooked means and will not even perform better than those being replaced.

The Minister of Interior, Moro, is an intelligent person. Paradang, the CG of Immigration, is equally intelligent and I say this without sentiments. He was my student right from his Form 4 in Government College, Keffi. I was his class teacher and form master till he finished his Form 5 and he was always the best in the class. Ask his contemporaries, as I am not just praising him. I remember I once recorded in his report sheet that the way he was going, the sky would be his limit. So, when I learnt he was appointed Comptroller General of Immigration I said am not surprised. For such person to be sacked on account of one miscalculated step leaves much to be desired.

Once again, I must admit that the incident is unfortunate, pathetic and highly regrettable.

In your view, what measure can be introduced to end the incessant killings across Nigeria and where do you think the nation is heading to?

It’s really terrible and unfortunate for our country. Sometimes, I wake up in the morning and when I listen to news or read newspapers, I ask myself if am still alive. How many people do we have in this country that they are killing these numbers every day, morning and night? I used to hear of killings in faraway places until recently that it has come down to my state – Benue. What have we done to deserve this displacement here and there? What will be the position of hunger next year? Because it’s the same people who do the major farming that gives Benue the appellation of the food basket of the nation. So, where do we go from here? What will be the position of the people after all these?

I have just read in a newspaper where a physically challenged female was raped and her eyes plucked for ritual purposes.

It appears the government is helpless.

Imagine some terrorists went to my governor’s locality and attacked his people and razed down their houses. So, if this can affect the governor then what is the fate of the ordinary people? Therefore, we must pray hard to God for divine interventions.

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19

EDITORIAL

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 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

THURSday, MARCH 27, 2014

Unemployment, a ticking time-bomb

he recent tragic Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) job test vividly highlights the alarming unemployment level in the country, as over one million youths vied for 4,556 vacancies. Most available data indicate a bothersome annual escalation in unemployment. The National Population Commission (NPC) notes that unemployment rose from 21.1 per cent in 2010 to 23.9 per cent in 2011. NPC said the figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) clearly illustrated the deep challenges in Nigeria’s labour market, where the nation’s rapid economic growth has not translated into effective job creation.

The NBS equally pointed out that 54 per cent of Nigerian youths were unemployed in 2012, of this figure, females stood at 51.9 per cent and male 48.1 per cent. In a related development, the former chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment Employment Programme (Sure-P), Dr. Christopher Kolade bemoaned the rising rate of unemployment in the country, saying that no fewer than 40 million Nigerians are without jobs.The Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating minister of the economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala also admitted that the spate of unemployment was really alarming. Quoting the NBS, she declared that 1.8 million young

Nigerians enter into the labour market. It is very instructive to note that, Nigeria was ranked 153 out of 186 countries in the 2013 United Nation’s Human Development Index.

The World Bank states that job creation in Nigeria has been inadequate to keep pace with the expanding working age population, causing social distress for an increasing number of Nigerian youths. Similarly, the Statistician General of the Federation and the Chief Executive Officer of NBS, Dr. Yemi Kale said, unemployment was highest amongst youths aged 15-24 and 25-44, adding that the problem was more pronounced in the rural area. So bad is the situation that if urgent and workable decisions are not taken, it could be capable of farreaching cataclysmic consequences.

More and more people do not have purchasing power, and less consumption has led to lower production hindering economic growth. Ineffective government development programmes as well as lack of institutional capacity to provide jobs due to under-funding have not helped matters. A fallout of unemployment is the recourse to kidnapping, armed robbery, prostitution, militancy, insurgency, street begging, hawking, cybercrimes and proliferation of baby manufacturing dens just to mention some of the escalating social vices.

To this end, government must ensure necessary modifications

in the educational system in the country that would make graduates to be employers of labour and self-employed, instead of looking for scarce job opportunities. The acquisition of the right skills to fit the various needs of the society is imperative. However, the oft-repeated cliché that Nigerian graduates are unemployable is as a result of apparent failure of government to pro-actively address the deficiencies in the educational system.

To effectively deal with the unemployment situation in the country, the government must also exigently attend to the nagging issue of infrastructural deficits in the country, especially the issue of power supply. The national economy need a strategic diversification from oil and gas to solid minerals, aviation, tourism, agriculture.

Small and Medium Scale Enterprises as well as the manufacturing sector should become the real engine of growth and employment generation, backed by the enabling environment for private investments. We also advocate for a comprehensive national policy on employment to drastically reduce unemployment ratio in the country to the barest minimum.

Again, the national economy should be managed in such a manner that would have direct bearing on the wellbeing of the generality of the people. After

all, the economy cannot exist in a vacuum; also government should address the gross underutilisation of resources to deal with pervasive unemployment in the country.

Government must be courageous enough to put in place homespun economic policies devoid of any misanthropic tendencies and reject foreign induced anti-people economic agenda. Government must get to the brass task of tackling the serious problem of corruption with all the attention it deserves.

Also, social security schemes must be created to curb the fangs of unemployment amongst the teeming population.

Added to this is the fact that with the massive unemployment situation in the country, many governments are not paying even the minimum wage pegged at N18, 000 which could provide some succor. It is scandalous and immoral for the national legislators and other political office holders to be receiving the highest paid emoluments in the world for underperforming. Their salaries and remuneration should be drastically reduced in sync with prevailing realities and put the pay-cut into the National Employment Foundation Fund (NEFF) to provide and create employment for the mass of the unemployed youth in the country, after all, employment is a right and not a privilege.

BOLAJI TUNJI Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief IKE ABONYI Deputy Managing Director/DEIC FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU Managing Editor, South SULEIMAN BISALA Managing Editor, North GABRIEL AKINADEWO Editor, Daily LAURENCE ANI Editor, Saturday EMEKA MADUNAGU Editor, Sunday LEO CENDROWICZ Bureau Chief, Brussels MARSHALL COMINS Bureau Chief, Washington DC SAM AMSTERDAM Editorial Coordinator, Europe EMMAN SHEHU (PhD) Chairman, Editorial Board BIODUN DUROJAIYE News Editor PADE OLAPOJU Production Editor TIMOTHY AKINLEYE Head, Graphics ROBINSON EZEH Head, Admin.

20

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 27, 2014

OPINION Enugu: True repentance or re-launch of gangsterism?

Ojiofor Nkanu

F

ugitives, in simpler expression, are people who employ clandestine machinations to escape merited justice. Except those who are known to be in flight to avoid persecution for political, social or religious leanings, the civilized world generally takes exception to the presence of criminal fugitives among otherwise lawful citizens. Such noble citizens are obliged to turn in to security agencies, such escapees whenever they find them in their midst.

In some societies, however, fugitives still hold sway, and while deploying those proceeds of crime for which they ought to be in jail, they seek to control affairs of lawful folks in apparent mockery of the official crime apparati. Nigeria, our beloved country, belongs to the latter and former governor of Enugu State, a case in point.

Since he left office in 2007 as the state governor, he has been in and out of court for the unprecedented corruption and sleaze he allegedly inflicted on the resources of the people of Enugu State for all of eight years. Instead of taking his trial and allowing the plethora of high-profile lawyers at his disposal to go to work, he unabashedly chose instead to run from justice endlessly.

Even with his now familiar limitless grandstanding, he has never told any media interviewer on record that he is innocent of any, or all of the charges of corruption pending against him. He obviously pleaded not guilty to all the charges before the court of law, because he had to, otherwise, his matter would have ended on the same day of his arraignment! Why has he not done any public rebuttal of those charges against him? The answer is because ingredients of those charges are a matter of public knowledge. They are all in the public domain.

All the state property he converted illegally are there for everybody to see: the radio station, the automobile shop, the university, the world class college and chains of estates, among others, are all there for all to see. As governor, he not only frittered away the people’s resources, but elevated crime and criminality to a veritable state policy. Human life, considered sacred all over the world, became a cheap commodity. Criminals had a free reign and law abiding citizens cowered in their abodes or took flight out of town altogether. Hundreds of indigenes of Enugu State, professionals of all walks of life who seldom visited Enugu during his reign of terror have since come back following Sullivan Chime’s emergence and restoration of hope.

During his gory days as governor, he instigated cult wars, turned cultists against one another other with the attendant mayhem even as he unleashed political thugs on the citizenry in a bid to muzzle criticism. Enugu fiery Catholic priest and social critic, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka lost scores of members of his weekly crusade to a mystery gas attack. The priest himself, by his own confession, is still alive today only by the special grace of God, having barely survived an assassination attempt. Who did his government spare?

He turned most members of the State Assembly into fugitives and got the remaining few to sit in his office and pass his so-called budget proposals, including nebulous security votes bloated ostensibly to stem “rising crime”. Can anyone beat that? Some of them lost dear family members, mauled down as hit squads ran riot, with the mandate to stifle imaginary opposition when in fact the only problem the state had was the governor’s huge paranoia!

He left PDP for PDC in 2011 after his disastrous senate adventure and ran abroad, again to continue to evade justice. In the PDC, which he founded and funded, he had

contested for the Enugu East Senatorial seat, and got the beating of his life, losing to lowly Gilbert Nnaji, a clear political lightweight. He has remained in the political and even social wilderness ever since, but still refuses to take his criminal trial, orchestrating foreign trip after foreign trip, just to postpone the evil day!

Apparently believing that he needs to ingratiate himself with the new PDP national chairman, and only as a PDP member, to have a fighting chance to continue his game, as it now appears, he desperately seeks to rejoin the mainstream, but how? Why PDP? In his present state, he is clearly a calamitous electoral baggage which no political party that dreams electoral success is ready to shoulder.

Now, if indeed he feels he genuinely needs PDP to end his criminal prosecution and change his fugitive status, which is his biggest challenge, did he have to break into an otherwise secured Ward Office of PDP to re-admit himself? It was apparently so easy for him to rally his loyal, jobless thugs together after abandoning them for so long. His surviving hit-men must have been persuaded that crime indeed pays!

It is curious that his cohorts reportedly did not stop at the apparent burglary. In his gibberish excitement at the phantom self-re-admission, he sarcastically referred to his so-called “Nkanu ancestors” et al, forgetting that he had desecrated their temple so mercilessly during his time as governor and later senator. He had forced all Nkanu elements, whether spirit or human, to bow and tremble for “there is no other god besides him”. Like all fascists, he surely craves return of the era of his near selfcanonization in Enugu State. But by God’s grace, that is now history and will remain so.

•Ojiofor contributed this piece from Oruku in Enugu East Senatorial District

Testimonials of Jonathan’s agriculture transformation Johnson Momodu

W

hat is evident across the country is that an agriculture revolution is taking place. Since the inception of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, agriculture has seen a new day. The success being recorded in the sector has been eliciting commendable comments.

Governor Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi State is of the opinion that the dry season support for rice farmers is the best thing to have happened in the sector in the past 40 years. He said jobs would be created because of that singular move. Dakingari also said that in a matter of months Nigeria would be among the major exporters of rice, and that would mean more foreign earnings for the country.

Read him: “The growth enhancement support scheme of the Federal Government in partnership with the state and in particular the dry season support for the rice farmers has transformed rice production. For 400-500 km, all you will see is paddy of rice in production. Such is the power of the massive change we are witnessing.”

In the same vein, Dan Rabi, a local entrepreneur who provides mobile

threshing services for rice farmers, said agriculture under the administration of President Jonathan has been greatly transformed. He declared: “We have never seen anything like this in 40 years of rice farming. I make N15, 000 per day threshing rice for farmers. We work through the night and I employ 22 people just to thresh rice.”

In Kogi State, over 7,000 hectares have been cultivated in the dry season, the first ever in the history of the state. Governor Idris Wada said that employment has been created in the state via the transformation in agriculture by the Jonathan administration. Wada said, “We are in rice because of the agricultural transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

We are overwhelmed. Every day we hear women crying, ‘We want land; we want land.’ We hear young people crying for land. So we had to hire more earth moving equipment to clear more land to allocate for them for rice production.”

The success story of rice production has given room for the upsurge of integrated rice mills. 14 private sector rice mills have sprung up with a total capacity of 240,000 MT. Moreover, the reform that government initiated brought about an increase in the tariff on imported rice, thereby boosting the

economic strength of local rice producers in the country. The capital flight witnessed because of the importation of rice into the country has reduced considerably. Today it is on record that several integrated local rice mills have their milled rice on the market and consumer demand and preference for local rice has risen due to better quality, taste and price when compared with imported rice.

Meanwhile, the international grade local rice that has hit the market include Ashi rice, Mikap rice, Umza rice, Ebony rice and several others. A major foreign investor, Dominion Rice, has also come into the country and is investing $40 million in a 30,000-hectare commercial rice farm with international grade rice mill in Taraba. The Dominion rice farm which is linked to out-growers of young commercial farmers is expected to replace about 15 per cent of the total milled rice imported into the country.

It is not only in the production of rice that the transformation agenda of the current administration has paid off. A peep into what the transformation has done to cassava production in the country is worth commenting on. It is on record that Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava in the world with a total pro-

duction of 40 million metric tons.

To raise production further to meet competing needs for cassava, 24 million stems of improved cassava varieties were distributed to farmers which were cultivated on 8,000 hectares of land. Through 2013 and 2014 combined, the federal government, according to reports, will be distributing an additional 65 million stems to farmers to boost cultivation as 21,000 hectares of cassava would have been cultivated.

Additionally, through encouraged research and collaboration, 40 per cent substitution of cassava flour for wheat flour in bread was achieved in partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and the Federal Institute for Industrial Research, Oshodi, Lagos.

Clearly, these commendable strides in the agricultural sector by the Jonathan administration have the potential to considerably reduce the number of unemployed youths in the country. Gone are the days when agriculture was not attractive to young people. Now young people are going into agriculture because of the enabling environment created by the current administration.

• Momodu sent this piece from Benin City.

LAW THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/law

FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE JUDICIARY Editor

foluso.ogunmodede@newtelegraphonline.com bunfolchester@yahoo.com

Why national conference must produce new Constitution,

BY Ananaba

21

}p-24 & 25

Osipitan, Igbokwe, Nwobike fault FG on oil theft

Nwobike, SAN

Igbokwe, SAN

Government needs to move ahead of them. I don’t think it’s a matter of political will...

T

he crime of oil theft has remained unsolved in Nigeria, and efforts to curb it appear to have failed as the nation loses $9billion monthly.

Apparently desiring solutions, the Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke has sought global cooperation to tackle the menace through a legal framework.

Allison-Madueke had said that the nation’s loss to oil thieves in the last three years has been between 100,000 to 3000,000 barrels per day. This , she said required both regional and continental collaboration if menace must be eliminated as their dastardly act costs the nation about $9billion monthly.

Nigeria is among the world's top 10 crude oil exporters and a key supplier to Europe, Brazil and India, providing billions of dollars in income for foreign oil and shipping firms.

Yet, a recent audit by the Nigeria Ex-

Osipitan, SAN

The impression is that Nigeria is not really ready to fight oil theft, or doesn’t have what it takes to fight it

Oil theft will continue until government produces a conducive atmosphere for our youths

For years, the crime of oil theft has remained unsolved as efforts to curb the growing crime by successive governments have hit the rocks. Apparently miffed by the trend, the Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke has resolved to tackle the menace by strengthening the legal framework . How can pipeline vandalism and oil theft be brought to an end in the country? Assistant Editor (Judiciary) JOSEPH JIBUEZE and TUNDE OYESINA examine the issues and the way out. tractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), revealed that over 136 million barrels of crude oil, worth an estimated $10.9 billion were stolen between 2009 and 2011.

The loss represents 7.7 percent of the total revenue which accrued to the federation within the period. It is apart from about 10 million barrels valued at $ 894 million said to have been lost due to pipeline vandalism in downstream operations.

Reports say stolen oil worth billions of dollars is sold every year on interna-

tional markets and much of the proceeds are laundered in world financial centres such as Britain and the United States.

An estimated 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil was stolen from pipelines in the Niger Delta in the first quarter of last year, a report by London-based thinktank Chatham House said.

“The best available data suggest that an average of 100,000 b/d vanished from onshore, swamp and shallow-water areas in the first quarter of 2013. This figure does not include what may happen at export terminals. It also assumes the in-

tegrity of industry numbers,” Chatham House said in the report.

Oil theft, experts say this would amount to around five per cent of Nigeria's current two million bpd production but has a wider impact because oil companies are often forced to shut down pipelines due to damage caused by thieves.

President Goodluck Jonathan, had while in the Netherlands, announced that the Federal Government has set aside $1 billion for the implementation of a comprehensive programme to curb CONTINUED ON PAGE22

22 LAW

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Oil theft: The way out, by lawyers CO NT INU ED F R O M PAGE21

crude oil theft, vandalism of oil and gas infrastructure and the apprehension and prosecution of crude oil thieves.

He said a technical committee had already been set up to look into all aspects of the implementation of the programme.

Lawyers say political will, technology deployment, increased funding for security operatives and international collaboration are part of a holistic approach to tackling the challenge.

According to experts, the web of beneficiaries of oil theft makes it difficult to stop and there are doubts whether anyone capable of curbing it really has the will to do so.

It has been alleged that oil theft sometimes funds politics in Nigeria, including election campaigns, and with the 2015 election around the corner, solution may not be in sight.

Although security forces have arrested dozens of oil thieves in recent months, there have been no high- level convictions.

Experts say following the money trail and convicting oil thieves of laundering money and seizing their assets should be part of almost any cross-border strategy.

Analysts suggest the government and the International Oil Companies must sit down with inspection and verification agencies and maritime experts to agree on the implementation of measuring infrastructure in oil exploration and production.

Proper measurement of production on the one hand, and export, on the other, will assist in determining how much oil is being lost via the activities of oil thieves, they said.

It may likely also assist in determining at which points the theft is occurring – key information if the work of the security agencies is to be truly effective.

For instance, a maritime law expert and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Igbokwe said specific laws are needed to bring those arrested for oil theft to justice.

“What is needed is to strengthen the mechanism for surveillance to detect theft in the territorial waters and beyond; we need monitoring, arrests, intelligence, investigation and prosecution.

“We need to consider updating our laws to be able to impose the kind of sanctions that are in line with international conventions.

"For instance, the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Ships and Shipping, which is a treaty of 1988 that Nigeria is a party to, up till now, has not been domesticated.

“I did some work in conjunction with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for Ministry of Transport through NIMASA in the area of domesticating international treaties that Nigeria is a party to that have to do with piracy and armed robbery at sea.

“But up till now, the bill has not been enacted into an Act of the National

Alison-Madueke

Adegboruwa

Assembly. So, we now have a situation where the Navy, marine police, Customs or Joint Task Force (JTF) could arrest any of these people and they hand them over to the police for investigation, but they end up letting them go scot-free because regulations or laws under which they can be successfully prosecuted and deterred from doing such things are not in place.

“So, it’s a very serious problem, and sometimes it gives the impression that Nigeria is not really ready to fight oil theft, or doesn’t have what it takes to fight it.

“I believe that first and foremost let the law be in place. At least you will have a situation where no one can claim ignorance of what is criminalised. You cannot prosecute anybody under an unknown law.

You cannot also prosecute somebody for an act that is not an offence as at the date that act was committed even though it is unlawful or is seen as a crime in other regions.

“So, we need to look at all these areas

President Jonathan

Aderemi

and then step up our game so as to ensure that people are deterred,” Igbokwe said.

According to the lawyer, unemployment or worsening economy are not enough excuses for people to engage in oil theft.

“I am of the view that you do not become a thief because you’re unemployed.

Two wrongs don’t make a right. All you need to do if you’re unemployed is to create something from nothing. It's doable.

“This is something that is seriously affecting the mainstay of the Nigerian economy, which is oil. It’s reducing the income and depletes our foreign exchange reserve.

"The budget is also at risk because if it is reduced, you don’t have enough money to be channeled to infrastructure, health, education. It has a way of affecting everyone. The earlier a permanent solution is found, the better.

“When you have a situation where you don’t have the necessary laws to deal with oil theft, people will continue to do it, and that’s why it appears not to be abating.

They’re not stopping. The solution needs to be comprehensive. If you do not deter people from committing an offence by imposing sanctions, they’re free to do it,” Igbokwe added.

To Dr Joseph Nwobike (SAN), the government must review its strategies for combating oil theft.

“I think that oil theft is an emerging form of criminality, and therefore, gov-

ernment has to develop a clear-cut and well-fitted strategy to address it.

“It is a form of criminality that is attractive, and because it has the potency of generating huge profits, a lot of businessmen get themselves involved with high capital.

“So, they fund it, and because it is well-funded and highly profitable, the criminals – those who participate in it continue to expand their operations and to acquire more ruthless technologies and capabilities to ensure that their criminality is carried out as planned.

“So, government needs to move ahead of them. I don’t think it’s a matter of political will. It’s just for government to develop the appropriate strategy that can interfere with the level of the criminality.

“It may not end up eradicating it completely, but it’s to make it impossible for them to have access to these oil terminals or pipes or whatever, and then also to punish effectively those who are caught in the process.

“I understand from the information we read in the news that quite a number of culprits who get arrested and transferred to the police never get prosecuted.

“So, there must be a concerted effort in which all sectors of government – the judiciary, the police, the army, the navy, civil defence and others will contribute their energies and then develop strategies that can surmount this emerging spate of criminality. I think that all of these things must work together.”

Another SAN, Elder Paul Ananaba said a special task force ought to be set up to tackle oil theft.

He said: “This oil that is lost, how did we come about saying it is stolen? It is because we know that there is oil, we know that it has been stolen. It means that somebody somewhere knows that it is not spillage; that it is stolen.

“It means that it is not spirits that stole the oil. Oil is something that can be seen

For instance, the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Ships and Shipping, which is a treaty of 1988 that Nigeria is a party to, up till now, has not been domesticated

CONTINUED ON PAGE27

LAW | NEWS 23

Thursday, March 27, 2014

PLATE NUMBER Lawyer seeks to stop issuance of new plate number Babatope Okeowo Akure

B

ARELY three months to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) deadline that motorists must acquire new number plate, a human rights lawyer, Mr. Morakinyo Ogele has threatened to sue the Corporation for alleged contempt.

FRSC has warned mo-

New number plate: Court may jail FRSC boss over contempt as hearing continues today torists to acquire the new number plates or risk jail beginning from July 1.

The lawyer, in a letter to the Assistant Corps Marshal, said since there was a pending suit over the introduction of the new number plate before a competent court of law, the corporation should not do anything that would destroy the subject matter before the court.

Ogele had filed a suit on behalf of himself and

other aggrieved Nigerians against the FRSC and the Ondo state command of the commission over the planned introduction of the new number plate.

In the suit filed at the Federal High Court, Ogele had sought the declaration that the threat of the respondents to start impounding vehicles as from October 1, last year without a valid order of the court constituted a violation of Section 44 of the 1999 Constitution of

right to own property.

Besides, he sought for an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the respondents and its agents from compelling owners of vehicles to obtain what the commission tagged "as new number plate" and from impounding vehicles belonging to the owners.

Also, he prayed the court for a declaration that vehicle numbers already being used by owners produced by the

Commission after paying necessary fees is still subsisting as there was no genuine reasons offered for the change from the old to the new number plate .

Already, the Commission had filed a counter motion , asking the court to dismiss the suit for lack of jurisdiction as the applicant had no locus standi to file the suit.

But Ogele said the statement credited to the Corps Marshal in Yenegoa, Bay-

elsa state that the commission would begin to impound vehicles as from July 1, was "subjudice" to the suit pending before the court as the Commission had joined issue in the suit that it would not do anything that would destroy the subject matter.

He, however said he would not mind filing contempt proceedings against the commission if it proceeds with the implementation of the new policy on the number plate.

Court to hear GSM subscriber's suit against Etisalat April 8 Joseph Jibueze

T

Yusuf Ali, SAN and a guest at the burial of Ondo AG's father, Chief Johnson Jegede.

EDUCATION FUNDING

Group seeks information on $90m spending Joseph Jibueze

J

ustice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned till April 9 for hearing in a suit by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) against Lagos State over education funding.

The hearing suffered a setback following the absence of the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Mr Ade Ipaye.

His absence was however predicated on a letter to the court, intimating it that he was billed to appear before Supreme Court on another matter.

The government, in

Court adjourns SERAP’s suit over $90m education fund to April 9 its response to the suit, stated that it had no legal obligation to grant requests for information under the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act as demanded by SERAP. Among other demands, the group wants the court to compel the defendants to release to it informations relating to how the government had spent $90m loan allegedly obtained from the World Bank to improve education in the state’s public secondary schools.

It also seeks an order of mandamus , compelling the governor “to rescind the suspension of anyone, including principals of any of the schools for blowing the whistle or allowing journalists to cover the

decayed infrastructure across primary and secondary schools in Lagos State.”

SERAP joined Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and his AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice Ade Ipaye as respondents.

Lagos argued that the FoI, being a legislation of the National Assembly, was applicable in relation to the Federal Government's public records and not of states.

A lawyer in the Civil Litigation Department of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice , Toluwanimi Odupitan said the power to make laws on public records was concurrent between the National Assembly and the State House of Assembly.

Lagos added that FoI Act was not applicable to its records because the House of Assembly had not enacted it.

"The public records of Lagos State Government are generated and kept by various Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Personnel of the State Government in execution of their functions and responsibility in the service of the state.

"Such State Government Agencies and Personnel are statutorily created or regulated by laws of the State House of Assembly and the handling of public records has serious security implications which are routinely handled by rules established by the State Government," Odupitan stressed.

he Federal High Court in Lagos will on April 8 hear a suit filed by a telecom subscriber, Mr Pasacal Ozioko, against Etisalat Nigeria, over alleged fraudulent promo.

Justice Mohammed Yunusa fixed the date following an application filed by counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Chukwudi Nnaeke, seeking leave to amend his writ of summons and statement of claim.

The judge therefore adjourned the matter to enable counsel regularise his processes.

The plaintiff had filed the suit in July 2012 , seeking an order compelling Etisalat to publish the names of alleged winners in a lottery in which it claimed it would give out daily sums of N500,000 to participants.

The National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) is also a defendant in the suit.

The plaintiff is claiming the sum of N100 million against Etisalat, as damages for allegedly misleading its subscribers in the lottery.

In his statement of claim, the plaintiff averred that in November 2011, he received several shortt message services (SMS) from Etisalat, advertising a lottery.

"Etisalat represented to its subscribers that Range Rover jeeps were to be won monthly, and a daily cash

prize of N500,000, if subscribers answered daily questions sent to them.

"Each text was to cost N100 and each correct answer attracted points to the subscriber, to qualify him for the prize," Ozioko said.

He said Etisalat represented that subscribers with the highest points were to win the prizes.

The plaintiff said he spent almost all his savings sending answers to the questions which eventually earned him 10 million points, to which he received an SMS from Etisalat congratulating him for obtaining the highest point.

According to the plaintiff, that was all he received from the defendant.

"I wrote on several occasions to the headquaters of the company at Plot 19, Zone L, Banana Island Ikoyi, to verify the authenticity of their promises, but all to no avail," he averred.

He said this alleged misrepresentation on the part of the defendant only led to the conclusion that they were using the lottery as a fraud scheme to defraud telecom subscribers.

He sought an order of court, compelling the defendant to publish any of such winners in the national dailies, and also to award him N100,000 million as damages for misrepresentation and loss suffered.

24 JURIST

E

lder Paul Chibuike Ananaba , an alumnus of the Imo State University (IMSU) is a final year Ph.D student of the Babcock University, Ogun State, where he is also its legal adviser.

Ananaba, who holds an LL.M in Legislative Drafting, set up his law firm, Paul C. Ananaba & Co in 1995 shortly after he the Mbagwu, Ikeonu & Co as a partner.

He practices in the areas of general litigation, commercial law/liquidation and receivership, oil and gas, admiralty, arbitration and legislative drafting. He is a recipient of several awards both local and international.

Apparently applauding President Goodluck Jonathan on his vision to convene the ongoing national dialogue, Ananaba believes the exercise would amount to nothing should it fail to produce a new constitution. He told New Telegraph this way: “If a new Constitution does not come out of it, then it does not worth the expense and the time. In Nigerian constitutional law, it’s been much canvassed. In fact Prof Ewelukwa is known to have made the point about autochthonous (people’s or ‘homegrown’) constitution. He goes to say that from the Clifford Constitution of 1922 down, there had been rarely a time Nigerians came together to say: ‘We the people of Nigeria.” So, after 100 years, it’s good for us to come together and say that we the people of Nigeria gave ourselves this Constitution. A new Constitution should come up, because this will be the Constitution based on what Nigerians have agreed will govern them.

Besides, he didn’t see why whatever decisions reached at the conference be subjected to appendage of the National Assembly as the caliber of delegates at the conference were more than qualified to decide the fate of the nation.

His words : “If you subject the decisions to the National Assembly for debate, the national conference becomes a national committee. Then they will only bring up a recommendation that the National Assembly would either discuss, or throw away. It then becomes a committee of the National Assembly. That’s not my understanding of it. It’s not a national committee. It’s a national conference. The quality of people I have seen there are enough to discuss issues of this country, except that the youth is very few. I would have thought that more youth between the ages of 18 and 50 would have taken about 70 to 80 per cent of the membership. People above 50 should have been lower in the conference. Because if an 80-year-old man goes to make those laws, he’s going to make a law that he will not be a part of in future. Other than that, there should be no question as to whether it should go for a referendum. Any part of Nigeria that desires anything should be allowed. Let’s reduce the conflict. It is not better that people are being killed everyday. If we’re staying together, we’ll do so based on what is agreed. Then somebody can say: ‘This is my country.’

On the nation’s security challenge, the Senior Advocate said: “They’re trying, but more needs to be done. This is a guerilla warfare. The dynamism of terrorism is that you don’t know who a terrorist is. It’s a difficult war to win.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Why national conference produce new Constitution, Elder Paul Chibuike Ananaba is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He is a Law teacher and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK (Nigeria Branch). An author of two law books, Ananaba speaks on his background, career, foray into the legal profession, the judiciary, the ongoing national conference and varied issues. JOSEPH JIBUEZE met him.

My first day in court was filled with emotion

Ananaba, SAN

America has not won it completely. In history, no terrorist group has been defeated by military might. They can be subdued to some extent, but the philosophy continues. So, it should be a carrot and stick approach. Indoctrination is at the root of terrorism. The government should also work on providing a counter-doctrine.

That is what is cost-effective in fighting terrorism.

“It’s a counter-doctrine that will take into account people’s sensibilities, religion, culture, and a hope that going to die is not the right thing; that going to kill is not right; and that it is better to be alive and be useful to yourself, to society and family. That’s just in a nutshell.

Asked on corruption deficit especially since the beginning of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, Ananaba said only the collaboration of every Nigerian including the anti-graft agencies could rid the nation of corrupt practices.

According to him, since the nation’s corruption level needed a proactive action, every hand must be on deck as both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission(ICPC)including the police

must step up the fight against corruption.

He said: “Well, I do not have all the information President Jonathan has. So, it will be difficult to say whether he is slow or fast. We may say ‘slow’ based on what we’re seeing from the outside, but generally speaking, the corruption level in the country needs a more vigorous action. I’m sure the government realises this. The EFCC, ICPC, the police, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the states should step up prosecutions.

The courts should be ready. It’s not just about Jonathan. All the stakeholders in the administration of justice should be involved in ridding the country of corruption.

Asked on the quality of judgements being churned out of the courts, Ananaba said “much of the problem starts with our education system.

Corruption level in the country needs a more vigorous action. I’m sure the government realises this

“ Most of the universities are always on strike. Teachers are not well motivated. That is where the foundation is laid.

It’s not only about the legal profession.

Houses are falling. There are issues of fraud in the accounting profession. But beyond that, the legal profession is one of honour, and it has standards different from others, with statutory regulations and framework for monitoring. Yes, people say standards are falling, but the point is that nobody has carried out or published a research on that point. What we see are just opinions we get from people. What I realise is that it is not easy for a young lawyer to set up a practice. The weekly law report is N2,500 a week. So, he must be ready to spend N10,000 a month for weekly law report alone. How does he make money to maintain a practice, not even to mention practice books and all that? And the economy is not growing at a rate to accommodate the number of lawyers being turned out from the law schools. So, the standards have always been there. You cannot compare now to when there were very few lawyers. That’s why I said we don’t have statistics on this point.

“If you study Nigerian legal system, you will see that styles of writing judg-

JURIST 25

Thursday, March 27, 2014

must

by Ananaba

I made a success of the Bench because my late brother was a good example of the profession

If a new Constitution does not come out of it, then it does not worth the expense and the time ments differ. Some adopt one style or the other. However, the truth is that in the time of the Chukwudifu Oputas, Kayode Esos, Karibi Whytes, the Obasekis, the Niki Tobis, you could say that cases were a bit fewer, they had more time, and they did so much. They could spend a lot of time writing and expounding the law in their judgments. Today most judges write on long hand, the court system is not conducive, the number of cases keep increasing, most of the time there is no light, all manner of impediments. All these affect the judgments. And our politicians are now more desperate. In many instances, they try to influence some of those judgments, but many judges have stood their ground. The National Judicial Council and the Bar are doing their best. You can see that many judges have been dismissed and lawyer de-robed. If you go to the disciplinary panels, you will find out that quite a number of lawyers or judges are being investigated or tried.

The truth is that a lot goes on without being reported. So, everyone should be a stakeholder in the course of justice to ensure that things are doing right.

On why dismissed judges were not being tried, the Senior Advocates said it may not be necessary especially if the offences on they were fired were not criminal ones as those dismissed may be for their ‘omissions’.

Ananaba said : “It shouldn’t be every judge, depending on the nature of the reason for dismissal. If the reason is a criminal act, then at the point of dismissal they become ordinary Nigerians and can be prosecuted. But it should not be a blanket thing – that every dismissed judge should be tried. Some of them are just dismissed for their omissions.

On the awards bestowed on him by the Otu Oka-Iwu group -an association of Igbo lawyers in Lagos, he said “the Otu Oka-Iwu is a reputable association of lawyers of Igbo extraction in the states where Igbos are found in Nigeria. It is made up of people of high integrity. Since 1973 when the organisation began, very few people have been honoured. When I was honoured with that award, I found it as a call to duty. I found it as a special recognition. It means that what I’m doing thus far is good, and there is need to improve, to ensure that justice is done in many cases in this country, to serve Nigeria and to ensure that legal practice goes to a higher level than what it is. I see the award as divine-induced recognition and call to duty for mankind.

Ananaba, SAN

On his choice of career, the Senior Advocate said : “We had family friends who were lawyers, and I began to think of being a lawyer. As we went to the university, there were interactions, review of professions and all that. I recall that even though I was in the science class, I realised that I needed to be a lawyer. My friends also confirmed that I had no business being a scientist. Right from then, I chose to study law.

He , however counseled young lawyers to undergo pupilage before setting their chambers as such lawyers ended up regretting it.

“It is not advisable for you to leave the law school and set up practice. You may know too much of theories, but you won’t have practical experience that is sufficient enough for you to go solo. I counsel that people spend a few years to get to see precedents, see how the seniors do it, go through some form of tutelage, and get stabilised. What you’re running to do alone, you will have a lot of years to do it well if you have a good foundation. Once the foundation goes bad in the beginning, it is difficult to repair”, he said.

On his experience, he said “I went through tutelage in a law firm in Bauchi

Ananaba

Ananaba at a glance • Is an alumnus of the Imo State University • Holds an LL.M in Legislative

Drafting • A final year Ph.D student of the Babcock University • The Principal Partner, Paul C.

Ananaba & Co • Underwent pupilage at Bauchi between 1992 and 1995 • Specialises in oil and gas, general litigation, commercial law, admiralty, etc •A recipient of an award by the Otu Oka-Iwu • A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) • A Senior Advocate of Nigeria town and continued it from 1992 to 1995. I was involved in active legal practice under tutelage before I set up my private practice in 1995. Those things I learnt, those exposures were what I had to improve upon from 1995 till now’’.

Ananaba, who read law from the Imo

State University about 24 years ago, would have been a detective if he had donned the wig and gown.

Besides , he described his first day in court, describing as one of his happiest days in his 24 years of law practice.

He said: “I would have been in intelligence service, maybe with the State Security Service (SSS). I enjoy investigation, interrogation, and all that. Those are things I also do in a slightly different sphere. I would have actually opted for the work of a detective.

“My first day in court was filled with emotion. You have become a lawyer and want to do it. But many times you don’t know how to do it. It was not particularly unusual. I only thought: ‘O, I have become a lawyer and I can wear wig and gown.’ I was led. I didn’t have to say anything because my senior spoke, but I came back happy. The first time I addressed the court, I wasn’t jittery because my principal was good. I began on time to prepare for the case. I was a corps member; I had all the time. I prepared for the matter, and the judges then were not scary. They were accommodating knowing that I was a corps member. They were helpful at that point.

On how he unwind, he said “I do not relax so much. On weekdays I’m at work.

It takes more than an hour to go home.

Go to court, come back, the day is gone, coupled with fuel crisis and traffic. Saturday is my day of worship as an Adventist, and as an elder, I stay longer in church.

On Sundays there are meetings. However I’ve planned that this year, I’ll take out more time to relax.”

The quality of people I have seen there are enough to discuss issues of this country

26 LAW | INTERVIEW

Thursday, March 27, 2014

‘We'll push for gay, lesbians' rights at Confab'

He is the President Public Interest Lawyers’ League (PIL). Abdul Mahmud, who is championing the group’s agenda at the ongoing talk-shop in Abuja, speaks on his group’s agenda, gay, lesbians' rights, INEC’s power to suspend 2015 elections in north east, President’s power to convene national conference and sundry issues.

TUNDE OYESINA met him.

Mahmud

What agenda will the group canvass at the ongoing national conference?

Our agenda is not subject to specifics but in the context of what we represent as public interest lawyers. In essence, we are interested in the development of the frontiers of law, justice, and the rights of the minority in our country. By minority, we mean children, women and if you like, lesbians and gays. So, participating at the national conference, we are interested in pursuing some of these objectives which the Nigerian public has known us for. Also, we want to assist the country to deepen the democratic project which started in 1999. For the past four weeks, we have been involved in pre-national conference meetings where we have articulated our positions on justice, police reform, judiciary and the structure of governance of our country. These are issues we will take to the national conference and God willing, we intend to align with other Nigerians that are coming to pursue some of these objectives.

A suit is already pending to challenge the President’s power to convene the confab, how would you look at the decisions that would arise from a conference which legitimacy is being questioned?

Well, when people raise issues on the legality of the national conference, my response will always be that there is no Latin Nigeria as far as I am aware within my twenty-four years of legal practice that gives any individual who exercise power within the executive sphere of our

government to convoke a national conference. But a national conference we are talking about is an extra constitutional arrangement which goes beyond the purview of the constitution. I don't see how those who are pursuing this legal suit in court can take their argument far because we have an executive president which issues like this, lie within his executive powers frame work. In my opinion, he has power to call for a conference and he has been clever enough not to call it a sovereign national conference, rather it is a national conference. I don't share the opinion of those who argue that the president does not have the powers. To my understanding of Nigerian law, I think he does, he has that power as an executive president and more particularly when the conference is not a sovereign one. By sovereign, it means that the conference itself draws its legitimacy from the people. But we should not also forget that President holds the mandate of the people. So, if we are using the sovereign argument we should also use the other side of it to support the position of the President. But because it is a legal argument, my position is that it is an extra

constitutional arrangement we have and it is still in the purview of Mr. President's power to convene a national conference.

Would you see the resolutions arising from the national conference as mere advisory one if the views of some law experts are anything to go by?

Yes, I agree with them. We should not forget that since 2011, we elected the seventh assembly of the National Assembly and the tenure of NASS is still current and the sovereignty of the people resides at the National Assembly and also the president and vice president. But here we are talking about extra-legal order convoked by the president. Whatever outcome emerged from the national conference would be subjected to the decision of the president but if the outcome is positive to the extent that it chats a new course for Nigeria, the best that we can do and demand of the president is that he should put the outcome as an executive bill before the National Assembly. Let the National Assembly exercise it’s power under Section 4(b) of the 1999 Constitution and make the outcome of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, if they are having the will power.

There seems to be no end to the menace of this Islamic Fundamentalists , what would you suggest as the way out?

It is a very tricky one, I have written and spoken extensively on Boko Haram.

At a point, I argued for negotiation with the Boko Haram militants, and my arguments then were founded on the ground that we have a terror group that was not interested to negotiate with the Nigerian state. We have a terror that was interested in undermining the powers of the government and because they have shown who they are, it will be responsible of the Nigeria government to set up table for negotiation. But we have gone beyond that since 2013. The Nigerian state is at its weakest level; this is a state that is in capable of defending itself and if you are dealing with a trans-national terror group, global literature on International terror had identified Boko Haram as a cell of Al Qaeda in Africa. And if they

If we cannot deal with them with force or arms, what stops us from inviting them to the negotiating table? We can only come to that point if Boko Haram is willing to drop violence

have connection with the ideology and weaponry, the only thing that we can do in the light of the national experience and security is for the security agents to ensure that whoever is behind this terror group should be brought to table. For the last one year, increasingly what we have seen in the Northeast Nigeria , is the incapacity of the Nigerian state. Don't forget that the six months of emergency rule in some states have not stopped the insurgency. A few days ago, the military barracks was attacked in Maiduguri, that shows the incapacity of the Nigerian state. If we cannot deal with them with force or arms, what stops us from inviting them to the negotiating table? We can only come to that point if Boko Haram is willing to drop violence, terrorism as their weapon.

INEC has said that the 2015 elections will not hold in the three states where emergency rule has been declared, does INEC has the power to disenfranchise people?

If the Electoral Act and other laws, that are considered as legal documents, empower INEC to conduct election, notwithstanding, we are talking at a time a certain section of our country is under siege. Based on the evidence on ground, we don't need a security report. This is a geopolitical region that has been under a sustained attack. In that atmosphere, it will be irresponsible for INEC to go ahead and conduct elections in that part of Nigeria. But does it disenfranchise Nigerians who live in that part? This is only to the extent that elections will hold there on that same day which elections will be held on other days. But where the security of the people is guaranteed, there is nothing that is stopping the conduct of the election. I don't see it as disenfranchise as such.

How would you look at the agitation from a section of the country that the 2015 elections be shifted to enable the government to tackle Nigeria’s security challenge head long?

That is a dicey political step for the president to take. In 2012, I was part of those who petitioned to declare a state of emergency in some states. Which the president eventually did but if he can muzzle the political will to do this one, I don't know. If you ask me, I won't encourage him to cancel the 2015 elections. Elections should hold in those states where security can be guaranteed and subsequently other elections could come up

NEWS 27

Thursday, March 27, 2014

They should also place before the Nigerian public, those criteria that was used in the appointment of the second most senior judge as the President when the security of lives and properties can be guaranteed.

What are your fears for 2015?

Elections have never been free and fair in our country, let us be honest with ourselves. This is a country that has no accurate figure of its population. Even within official literature of government, the population of the citizens vary from one to another. We don't even know the number of Nigerians as at today. If at the level of census, we could not get the accurate figure of the number of Nigerians living in a particular geopolitical zone, I doubt it if a free and fair election can hold in Nigeria. Free and fair election does not mean the absence of ballot snatching, not absence of intimidation of voters, the follow up of figures of election results where numbers changed within a twinkle of an eye, rather, free and fair election means that you have an umpire that you can trust, capable of discharging its constitutional functions. I have serious doubt about the INEC we are having as of today. For instance, in some of the re-run elections we have had, INEC has disappointed Nigerians. Though there are two elections left before 2015, but with what I read in the newspapers and what I am seeing on ground, I have come to a conclusion that INEC cannot conduct a free and fair election. With the huge resources that had been given to INEC, it has not shown that it can handle the elections very well. Election in post colonial societies have never been free because there are political elite who will do anything to get to power. They can crush anybody that comes their way. They are only interested in capturing the state and in doing so, nothing matter to them. If you stand on their way, you will be crushed.

They are like a moving train.

How do you see the reported plan to halt the nomination of Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa as the President, Court of Appeal through law suit?

Well, the plaintiff ’s fighting in court is a convention. And to me, convention may be broken. What of if the most senior justice in Court of Appeal is a terrible judge? Who cannot uphold justice in the Court of Appeal, does that mean such person should be put there all in the name of tradition? Whatever criteria that has been used by the NJC, it must come out clean and tell Nigerians the reasons it has departed from the tradition.

When you leave the most senior judge and appoint the next in position and moving towards an election in 2015 that will determine the fate of our country, people will tend to raise suspicion, doubt about the whole arrangement. And don't forget that it follows in the same step of the events that have transpired about two years ago, most especially as it has do with the removal of Justice Ayo Salami.

A lot of Nigerians still see him a credible judge who upheld justice at the Court of Appeal. And don't forget that the Court of Appeal is very important constitutionally where appellate decisions are made on appellate matters. My suspicion is that manipulation is still going on within the judicial system. The master riggers we know, are not those who will harp on results on the election day, they are those who will sit somewhere and look at one year ahead and start planning. That is why I am calling on the NJC to revisit the matter, we don't have to wait for the court to decide, but because the matter is now

The remuneration they go home with at the end of the month is far below what the big SANs we have in the country get from just one brief

subjudice, all they can do is to defend the reason for its actions. They should also place before the Nigerian public, those criteria that was used in the appointment of the second most senior judge as the President. At the Federal level we have a structure based on convention and we have the NJC which wieldS the big stick and be hitting hard on government and people of Rivers state for not appointing the most senior judge in the state as the Chief Judge. At the comparative level, I think both of them are doing the same thing.

How can the NJC sanction authors of frivolous petitions against judges?

It is a straight forward matter. If you have contrary opinion, whether positive or negative against an individual, it is only in the cause of natural justice for that matter to be heard, you must hear both sides. For a petitioner to refuse to come and defend its petition does not go to the root of justice. If NJC will not be doing justice, if it only sits on petition without hearing those behind the petition. It is a different matter if the petition comes from an anti-graft agencies such like the ICPC and the EFCC because it now becomes a report with its own criminal nature. It is not in the purview of the NJC to act on such report administratively until a competent court sits over it and give it's verdict. But for petitions written by private citizen, it is against justice for the NJC to hear those petitions without hearing the individuals behind those petitions. Judges are doing a very difficult work under very difficult condition. The remuneration they go home with at the end of the month is far below what the big SANs we have in the country get from just one brief. For you to subject judges to that narrow conception of justice, while hearing the petition against them which only appears on paper without hearing the individual behind the petition does not speak of justice. I do not think it is proper for the NJC to act on such petitions. Rather such petition should be struck out. On the face of it, such petition is frivolous, what I expect the NJC to do is to throw out such petitions. If the petitioner is courageous enough, he should take his mask off and defend the petition.

What does underfunding the judiciary portends for the nation?

It does, when underfunding a very serious arm of government like the judiciary, invariably some of the processes and structure become suspended. Because such process will not be modernized, you will have a backward judicial system.

Dispensation of justice will suffer. Also at the level of training, the amount of money released will determine the quality of training our judges will undergo. The law practice is developing everyday, we need continuous training for our judges but where do we get the money to train them?

Basically , some have argued that all the fines and penalties raked in by the court should be ploughed back to the court.

This is very good but left for those who can muzzle the political strength to implement this. If we reduce the level of corruption in our country, we will be able to fund the judiciary adequately and other government institutions.

Oil theft: Lawyers canvass seizure of assets CO NTINUED F R O M PAGE22

when it’s stolen. It means that something must be done to apprehend those who steal. If your friend steals, and nothing happens, the other one steals and nothing happens – he becomes rich, you will be tempted to steal.

“So, a tax force ought to be set up by the government if it is serious, and begin to track down the major thieves.

“But you know most of these things about corruption are political – these are people who supported parties and all that. That’s why you will probably see reluctance in apprehension and prosecution of oil thieves.”

Professor Taiwo Osipitan, a Senior Advocate said: "The big men use them to fulfill their own selfish and criminal act.

This will however continue, until government produces a better conducive atmosphere for our teeming youths".

A human rights activist, Mr EbunOlu Adegboruwa said the government must summon the political will to deal with the problem of oil theft.

His words: “The issue of oil theft is rather unfortunate, because of the dynamics of the dastardly phenomenon.

In most cases, it is an exaggerated plot to loot the treasury and the latest ploy in the corruption stable of this particular regime.

"Since this issue of oil theft, we have not been able to determine the volume of the oil that is stolen; the figures are rather too exact for comfort. It must always be the same quantum, every time.

“Furthermore, there must be some connivance between the various security outfits responsible for policing the oil facilities and indeed our waterways and the oil pirates.

“There is no way such volume of crude can be missing, so consistently, without the tacit collusion of government officials, especially the NNPC and indeed the oil companies.

“It is, therefore, necessary for government to summon the required political will to contain the monster of oil theft, so as to save our nation and economy, this collective embarrassment,” he said.

Oil and Gas expert, Mr Tolu Aderemi said ,"there are two major ways to my mind that this menace can be tackled. It is both by the private sector and the federal government. Every private sector who have invested money into oil should be willing to partner with the government to secure the oil zone and also secure it against trafficking to other neighboring countries.

"On the part of the federal government, it should put in place a law, 'miscellaneous Offences Act' that will decisively deal with any one suspected or caught in the act of vandalism.

"Also the Petroleum Task Force Committee should step up its operation by collaborating with the local indegenes of areas where oil is gotten to prevent pipeline vandalisation."

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LAW | NEWS

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Blame lawmakers, not governors for security vote approval -Akintola Many state governors take home every month, as much as N100million and above, a statutory security vote, which is un-audited and not accounted for.

SOLA ADEYEMO met Chief Adeniyi Akintola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and one of the three presidential aspirants at the forthcoming Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) election, who bares his mind on the contentious governors’ security vote and its many challenges .

H

E is a strong contender for the Nigeria Bar Association’s (NBA) presidency. Chief Adeniyi Akintola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria believes that the security vote which has nothing to do with the salary and allowances of the executive officers is being enjoyed to the detriment of the teeming suffering masses of the country.

To the Senior Advocate said instead of deploying the fund to the advantage of the citizens, the governors see the security vote as a means of securing their private families against future economic challenges.

He , however queried the judicious use of the allocation and concluded that the security vote has nonetheless become a means through which the governors secure their private families against future economic challenges. This , Akintola said was not only bizarre but a major concern of many Nigerians.

He told New Telegraph: "Once security vote is made part of the budget of the state or the federal government, it becomes the appropriation law of that state or the federal government. And once it is contained in the budget, approved by the House or National Assembly, it becomes legal. There is nothing illegal about it.

But the problem really is with the politicians. The way the House of Assembly and the National Assembly approve security vote indiscriminately for governors and the president is what should be questioned, not the motive behind the existence of security vote.

"Security vote is a necessity. All over the world, even under military dictatorship, we do have that. But the question is why should a state like Gombe for instance or Niger want to have the kind of money as security vote like their counterparts, say in Lagos, Rivers or Akwa Ibom? These are states that are very bouyant and their security challenges are not the same. For instance, the man in Yobe, Adamawa and Borno will necessarily need more money to face security challenges than say the man in Ondo or Niger where the security challenges

Young Lawyers’ Forum For young lawyers, especially ‘new wigs,’ appearing before a judge for the first time can be daunting. A shaky voice; clenched fists; pounding heart; dry mouth – these are some signs of the anxiety that can throw a new lawyer offbalance, and possibly lead to awkward or embarrassing moments in court.

My embarrassing moment in court: Oluwatobi Oyesina

L

Akintola, SAN

there are very minimal”.

Asked on the role of lawmakers, Akintola said : "What I find very amusing, but funny is the fact that the legislators at the state assemblies and national assembly don't do proper home work before approval of this security vote and before putting the same thing in the budget. The person who is saddled with the responsibility of the money, who is the Chief Executive, should be asked questions. They should ask what the security for the next year is meant for. What are the challenges they are envisaging? Why do you need so much? Why do you need so little? But they haven't been doing that. And don't forget, security vote is a sum of money that the Chief Executive is not accountable for. That is the more reason why they should warn him from the beginning before the approval for the money is given.

"Some have seen it as booty in these days of ICPC and the EFCC. So, nevertheless, in fairness to some of them, they no longer touch the state money, but they fall back on security votes to embezzle. So, our attention should be directed and focused on the state and national assembly. It is like blaming the conductor of a bus if there is an accident. Blaming the Chief executive is not the issue now but the legislative arm that approves the money.

"The very funny thing is that if you check the budgets, even the states that are poorer are getting more provision in terms of security vote than the richer ones, which should not be", he said.

On how the security vote should be

The very funny thing is that if you check the budgets, even the states that are poorer are getting more provision in terms of security vote than the richer ones, which should not be

spent, he said "the question is very profound: which channel? There was a time when a political kingpin in the part of the West here said that the security vote was in fact meant for him because he and his people were the insecurity in the first place.

You see, many of these governors have to take care of the traditional rulers, in spite of the fact that these traditional rulers still get five per cent of the budget of the local government. They still look up to these governors. And woe betide that governor who neglects the welfare of traditional rulers, especially in the western and northern parts of the country.

Because of their type of culture, these traditional rulers are themselves insecurity, quote and un-quote, to the state itself.

"Then there are the people who we call the gate-keepers of each of these states and communities. When you hear them criticising some of these governors, it is because he or she has not been meeting their financial means. This also constitutes security challenge because if you don't take care of them, they have the wherewithal to incite the public and stir up controversy around the Chief Executive.

Akintola , however said there was need for the governors to bridge the gap between the masses, government and the jobless youths with a view to having a serene political environment.

He said: "These are the realities of Nigerian political environment. There is a wall of difference between what ought to be and what it is. It ought not be so. Many of these people live on government. The government has been the major industry which services these gate-keepers, traditional rulers, political jobbers, and what have you.

"The ridiculous aspect of it is that the governor cannot put in the budget that he wants to use the money to service this godfather. And that is what happens. It is a peculiar situation.

ess than two weeks after I was called to the Nigerian Bar, my Principal at the law firm where I served as a corps member informed me that we had two cases coming up on the same day the following week; one at the Federal High Court and the other at the State High Court.

The implication of the development is that I would be appearing in court alone that week, this never came as a challenge, more so when he said all I had to do in the matter was to ask for a stand down to enable him conduct hearing personally.

The court sat at 9a.m with all cases for mention save for ours which was for definite hearing. Within 15minutes all the cases for mention were adjourned, and our case was called, my voice shook a little as I announced my appearance, I subsequently made an application for a stand down which was objected to by the lead counsel on the other side. Their number was intimidating, he insisted that since I am also a counsel nothing stops me from going on with the hearing. The judge ,however adjourned for an hour as I rushed out to inform my principal of the development. I also met our client to get more facts so as to be equipped.

Within a twinkle of an eye, an hour passed and the court resumed session, my principal had still not arrived, my heart was in my mouth, things got worse as much as I tried to calm myself , all efforts failed, while I was lost and confused. The judge asked what I wanted to do, obviously not an adjournment because the matter was for definite hearing, I told the court I was ready . At this point , I regained my courage, sat down, got hold of my evidence act, listened to the evidence of witnesses and identified the inconsistencies fatal to their case and formed my cross-examination questions from there .My principal walked in as the court adjourned to a later date to take the remaining witnesses.

Alas! I survived and since then I gain courage each day.

Oyesina

BUSINESS THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014

WHAT'S NEWS NPA to rehabilitate port quay walls, aprons The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has resolved that it would rehabilitate port quay walls and aprons and deepen the channels.

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Adeyemi Olalemi: Passionate studentpublisher

Adeyemi Olalemi a final year Physics and Education student of the University of Lagos is a highflier of sort. He is the Editorin-Chief and publisher of Ketu Breeze newspaper, the first community newspaper in Ketu, Lagos

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Operators expect regulatory pressure to threaten business A substantial number of global telecommunication operators expect increasing regulatory pressure on prices charged for services offered to customers to impact their businesses negatively for the next few years, a survey by Telecoms.com Intelligence unit has suggested.

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NCC, NESREA agree to stop sealing of telecom base stations The persistent battle that have raged for sometime between the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) over the control of telecommunications infrastructure appears to have been settled, according to details obtained by New Telegraph.

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BUSINESS CREW AYODELE AMINU, Deputy Editor (Business) SIMEON OGOEGBULEM, Dep. Business Editor BAYO AKOMOLAFE, Asst. Editor (Maritime) SUNDAY OJEME, Asst. Editor (Insurance) SIAKA MOMOH, Asst. Editor (Industry) JONAH IBOMA, ICT Editor DAYO ADEYEMI, Property Editor ADEOLA YUSUF, Energy Editor

SAFETY THREAT Nigeria may lose its aviation safety status.

CHUKS ONUANYIN, Energy NNAMDI AMADI, Reporter

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AYODELE AMINU, DEPUTY EDITOR, BUSINESS

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

AON to petition NCAA, FAAN over cows on runway

Wole Shadare

N

igeria is increasingly inching towards the loss of its aviation safety status, otherwise known as category one, awarded to the country by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as the porosity of the Benin airport has again highlighted the issue of aviation security.

Passengers who travelled to Benin were alarmed by the herd of cattles grazing near the runway of the airport and the situation brought to mind runway incursions at most of the nation’s airports.

However, chairman, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Captain Nogie Meggison, who also witnessed the situation at the airport promised to notify

Jonah Iboma

T

he introduction of biometric identification cards and the abolition of the residence permit requirement under the 1979 protocol on free movement of persons will be among critical issues to be considered by the 44th Ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government taking place in the Ivorian administrative capital of Yamoussoukro from Friday March 28, 2014.

According to details of the

L-R: Acting Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willshere; Director General, Security & Exchange Commission, Aruma Otteh, and board member, Etisalat Nigeria, Alhaji Bello Garba, at the Etisalat sponsored Nigeria Summit 2014, held in Lagos.

the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) via a letter and the Federal Airports Authority, which is regarded as the landlord.

Meggison lamented that what he saw was capable of affecting Nigeria’s chances as the FAA commences its oversight safety assessment audit of Ni-

ECOWAS proposes biometric ID cards for citizens meeting made available to New Telegraph, a proposal by the ministers of national security focuses on the introduction of biometric identification card and the abolition of the residence permit requirement under the 1979 protocol on free movement of persons, the right of residence.

The introduction of biometric identification cards had become a major issue in the West

African region following increased security threats among countries in the region. Countries including Nigeria, Mali and Niger have been contending with insurgency while the need for proper identification had grown in importance, giving the region security threats.

Already, Nigeria has introduced biometric national idenCONTINUED ON PAGE 30

geria’s aviation at the end of the month.

Asked to comment on what FAAN was doing to rectify the anormally of perennial airports incursions, particularly at the Benin airport, spokesman for FAAN, Yakubu Dati, said: “We did not know you are landing, we would have rolled out the red carpet for you, your highness,” a response that did not convey any useful meaning.

The Benin airport is said to be poorly policed. On August 25, 2013, a 13-year old boy, Daniel Ehikhena, shocked the world by beating the airport security when he sneaked into the nosewell of Arik’s B737-800 aircraft to Lagos.

After the incident, FAAN adopted the risk amelioration CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Rates Dashboard

DELE ALAO, Brands/Marketing Editor ABDULWAHAB ISA, Finance Editor

www.newtelegraphonline.com/business

Porosity of Nigerian airports worry experts

WOLE SHADARE, Aviation Editor CHRIS UGWU, Capital Market Editor

NEW TELEGRAPH

INTEGRATION AS WAY OUT OF STEEL STAGNATION

INFLATION RATE February 2014......................7.70% January 2014 .......................8.00% December 2013....................8.00%

LENDING RATE InterBank Rate . . . . . . . . . 10.75% Prime Lending Rate. . . . . . 17.01% Maximum Lending Rate..24.90%

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at Mar. 21)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N171 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N284 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N239

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at Mar. 21)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N157.74 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N260.47 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N244.47

30 BUSINESS | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 27, 2014

NPA to rehabilitate port quay walls, aprons EFFICIENCY NPA moves to boost maritime operations.

Bayo Akomolafe

T

he Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has resolved that it would rehabilitate port quay walls and aprons and deepen the channels.

It added that attention be paid to port infrastructure in the area of upgrading and renovation of common user facilities and wrecks removal to ensure efficiency of the port and meeting the expectations of the stakeholders.

Its Managing Director, Mallam Hanib Abdullahi, disclosed this when he received the Senate Committee on Marine Transport at the board room of the authority.

He apologised to members of the committee for his failure to receive them when they visited last month for their oversight function at the agency, adding that his inability to receive them then was based on circumstances beyond his control.

He explained that what took him out of office on the day was an emergency call to boost NPA’s revenue as a self-sustaining government agency.

Already, Abdullahi said large

vessels of above 232.33 meters with capacity to carry 4,500 TEUS requiring draught of 13.5 meters have started visiting the ports.

Briefing the committee on the activity of his agency, Abdullahi said that NPA is set to boost its marine operations as part of its determination to be the leading port in the West Africa sub-region and generate more revenue for the country.

The NPA boss stressed that the management was working

to tap its potentials to make it perform optimally.

“In the last six years, the activities of the terminal operators have positive effect on port operation and boost efficiency.

“The terminal operators have added value to their areas of operations by providing monthly and quarterly update information in their terminals and acquisition of state of the art cargo handling equipment to reduce cargo dwell time,” he said.

Tobacco smoking rampant in Nigeria –Poll TOBACCO BILL Majority of Nigerians support the laws that would restrict and regulate tobacco smoking.

Siaka Momoh

L-R: Public Relation Manager, GOtv, Efe obiomah; Managing Director, Emerging Markets EMEA Universal Networks International, Colin Mcleod, and Public Relations Manager, MultiChoice, Caroline Oghuma, after a press briefing in Lagos .

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

processes to safeguard flight operations at all its 22 airports across the country.

FAAN stressed that the agency had tightened its risk amelioration procedure to ensure that similar incident did not occur again.

Former Commandant of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd.), told this newspaper that over the years, government had failed to build perimeter fencing at the airports and train adequate number of aviation security officials to man the terminals.

Ojikutu noted that it was

T

obacco smoking has become highly predominant in Nigeria, especially among the male population between the

Porosity of Nigerian airports worry experts sheer luck, rather than organised security programme, that had protected the airports from high security infractions that could endanger the lives of passengers and other users of the airports.

Ojikutu said: “Right from the time I was at the airport, I have always been talking about one single line of security, whether you are Custom, Immigration or State Security Service (SSS), just one single line of control, that is exactly what the United States Federal Airport Administration (FAA) did, or what we

now call the Transport Security Administration (TSA) immediately after the 9/11 attacks.

He said everything points to the fact that Nigeria is at the verge of losing category one aviation status, adding that “all they are just waiting for is to announce it.”

According to him, “most of Nigeria’s airports lack adequate security equipment from perimeter fencing to operational vehicles and inadequate personnel.

“Many of the airports have their perimeter fencing projects terminated and some of the air-

ports, like the one in Benin, do not have perimeter fencing at all. The ones in northern parts of the country need urgent security fencing in addition to the perimeter fencing because of the menace of terror organisations.”

Perimeter fencing surrounding an airport can be used to deter and delay unauthorised individuals from accessing sensitive areas of the facility.

Perimeter barriers can also include natural barriers such as body of water, and can serve as a visual and psychological deterrent.

ECOWAS proposes biometric ID cards for citizens CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

tity cards and also national identification numbers through the National Identity Management Commission and the proposal by the national security ministers could seek ways to standardise regional identity cards.

That meeting will be preceded by the 13th Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers on Wednesday March 26, which will consider the outcome of the meeting of

the Ministerial Committee on Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Negotiations between West Africa and the European Union, held on February 17, 2014, in Dakar.

The ECOWAS statement by its communication officer, Jonathan Bara-Hart, added “the political and security situations in Mali and the development in Guinea Bissau are among issues that will top the agenda of the two-day ECOWAS meeting.

President of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadré Desire Ouédraogo, will present to the regional leaders a memorandum on the post-conflict situations in Mali and Guinea Bissau, which has fixed presidential elections for next month in line with the ECOWAS-facilitated road map following the defence and security sector reforms in that country.

The MSC will also consider the memorandum on the after-action review of ECOWAS

multidimensional initiatives and responses to the crises in Mali, the memorandum on the establishment of the Peace Support Operations Division and the memorandum on the organisation’s Integrated Maritime Policy.

The summit will also listen to the status report on the situation in Mali by the mediator, President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso, and his co-mediator, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of Nigeria.

ages of 18 and 40 years.

This is coming on the heels of current robust action of civil society groups to ensure the regulation of the production, sales, marketing and distribution of tobacco products in the country.

According to the weekly poll results released by NOIPolls Limited on Tuesday in Abuja, majority of Nigerians (84 per cent) believe that tobacco smoking has become highly predominant in Nigeria and that this high predominance is observed mainly among males (88 per cent) between the ages of 18 to 25 years (47 per cent) and 26 to 40 years (26 per cent).

The poll further revealed that the vast majority of those polled (94 per cent) believe that smoking of cigarettes and other tobacco products are very harmful to individuals, while 80 per cent believe that passive or second hand smoking pose serious health hazard to non-smokers.

It added that the key findings from the Anti-Tobacco Special Edition Poll conducted in the week of February 17, 2014, showed that majority of Nigerians (88 per cent) expressed support for laws that would restrict and regulate tobacco smoking in Nigeria, with more support generally from respondents who have never smoked and least support from respondents who smoke regularly.

NOIPolls recalled that in recent times, there has been a global awakening on the adverse effects of tobacco consumption and different countries have risen up to fight against the growing casualty from its consumption.

BUSINESS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 27, 2014

31

Understanding consumers crucial to winning markets –P&G Siaka Momoh

C Ajaokuta Steel plant

Integration as way out of steel stagnation The iron and steel sector is important for the transformation of the economy, yet we are foot-dragging on making the sector work. SIAKA MOMOH takes a closer look at the sector.

W

e have been in it for too long. The Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, couldn’t bear it any longer and so he recently accused President Goodluck Jonathan of not showing enough commitment to steel development.

Abatemi-Usman, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Michael Jegede, spoke in Abuja at the budget defence of the Ministry of Mines and Steel, conducted by the Senate Committee on Power and Steel. He condemned the zero allocation to capital projects in Ajaokuta Steel Company in the 2014 budget proposal.

For the lawmaker representing Kogi Central, steel development is the bedrock of any industrial revolution. He therefore wondered how the Federal Government would achieve its Vision 20:2020 without the

operation of the largest steel complex in sub-Saharan Africa.

Abatemi-Usman asked the Minister of Mines and Steel, Musa Sada, why provision was not made for capital projects in the steel company for the 2014 budget.

He said: “If you ask me, I will say Mr. President is just paying a lip service to Ajaokuta Steel and steel development. When he (Jonathan) came to Lokoja, Kogi State, during the electioneering period in 2011, the thrust of his campaign promises, for which our people voted for him, was his pledge to revive the Ajaokuta Steel complex. Over three years down the line, we’ve not seen much from him in that regard.”

But the Minister insisted that although fund was allocated for the completion of Ajaokuta Steel, the Federal Government remained committed to the revival of the steel complex.

He explained that government was working hard to clear some of the issues impeding the steel project.

It is the same old story – we hear this every day. And iron and steel industry is strategic to the development of any developing economy like ours.

The industry is needed for the take-off and sustenance of the automobile industry and interestingly, there is an automotive policy on ground now. Machine tools and equipment of all sorts are products of the iron and

steel industry. Our oil and gas industry is and will remain under the control of foreigners as long as the Nigerian iron and steel industry remain undeveloped because the entire gamut of infrastructure in the sector is made of iron and steel.

The plan to develop the Iron and Steel Sector began with the Yakubu Gowon regime with the formation of the National Steel Development Authority (NSDA) in 1971. Basir Borodo, former president, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and currently president West African Manufacturers Association who has been a player in the Nigerian industrial sector for over 40 years, attested to this in an interview.

The mandate of the authority was essentially to develop the steel sector. What followed was the formation of various steel companies during the General Muritala Mohammed/ Obasanjo regime. These companies started realising their potentials during the Shagari era. The companies include Ajaokuta Steel Company, Kogi State; National Iron Ore Mining

The mandate of the authority was essentially to develop the steel sector

Company Itakpe, Kogi State; Delta Steel Company ,Ovwian Aladja, Delta Steel; Jos Steel Rolling Company, Jos Plateau State; Katsina Steel Rolling Company, Katsina State; Oshogbo Steel Rolling Company, Osun State; National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency, Kaduna State; National Metallurgical Development Center, Jos Plateau State; and Metallurgical Training Institute, Onitsha, Anambra State. A mouthful. But they never realised their full potentials.

West’s sham David Ricardo theory The Western World, through their Institutions, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), amplified the story: Development of the Steel Industry in third world countries which includes Nigeria, to them, is uneconomical and so should not be touched, should not be considered. They drew on the sham David Ricardo theory of comparative cost advantage that Africa should not develop steel industry but should export their raw materials to the metropolitan West and buy finished steel from them. The Soviet Union agreed to develop the iron and steel industry for Nigeria; the civil works given to the West grounded it.

Borodo corroborated this West’s sham stand when he reCONTINUED ON PAGE 32

onsumer insight is pivotal for any fast moving consumer goods business model across the globe and a deep understanding of consumers is crucial to winning in this market, Laurent L. Phillipe, Procter and Gamble (P&G)’s Group President of Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, has said.

For him, a marketing strategy based on local consumer insights coupled with micro economic factors and indices, enables innovation for the African consumer.

Phillipe, who made these comments in an interview with Oxford Business Group, said that with a population of 160 million, the Nigerian market is the largest in sub-Saharan Africa.

“Furthermore, with over 12 million children under two years old, this market is dynamic. In an environment like this, consumer understanding is even more important and requires a focus on data quality, nationally representative population samples, data validation, analytical depth and insightful qualitative understanding,” he said.

He added that a dedicated team of young market researchers located on ground in Nigeria is key to staying in touch with consumers and market trends.

Meanwhile, P&G has upped the stakes in Nigeria’s fast moving consumer goods manufacturing sector as President Goodluck Jonathan (represented by Vice-President Namadi Sambo) inaugurated the company’s $300 million (about N5 billion) manufacturing plant in Agbara Industrial Estate, Ogun State, recently.

The investment which has been described as mark of renewed confidence by United States of America business interests and organisations in the Nigeria’s economy comes as part of P&G’s mission to deepen its production capacity in Nigeria and to sustain its status as not just market leader, but industry leader in the FMCG sector of the Nigerian economy.

According to industry punCONTINUED ON PAGE 32

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BUSINESS | INDUSTRY

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 27, 2014

FG explores option for funding completion of Ajaokuta

R

ecently in Ajaokuta, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Femi Jegede, said that the Federal Government had started to look for alternative ways of funding the completion of the Ajaokuta Steel Company.

Jegede, who spoke during a tour of the company, said its completion and inauguration was on the top agenda of

government and would be pursued to a logical conclusion.

He disclosed that the ministry was already taking steps to complete the light mill section and other small segments as soon as possible so that the company could resume operation.

The sole administrator of the company, Mr. Joseph Isah, said he had negotiated the completion of a section of the plant with six investors.

According to him, the investors have agreed to bring in the needed spare parts and technical assistants for the rehabilitation and operation of the completed units of the steel plant.

He further said that inadequate funding, especially capital and overheads and lack of infrastructure necessary for the inauguration of the steel plant are its major challenges.

Manufacturing drops in developing countries, says UNIDO U

nited Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO)’s report for the 4th quarter of 2013 has shown that while manufacturing output has dropped in developing economies, it grew by 3.3 per cent during the last quarter of 2013 as the recovery gained further strength in industrialised countries.

According to the report, manufacturing output rose in all industrialised regions, East Asia, Europe and North America, an indication of the broader base of growth prospects for 2014. However, many developing economies, trapped by the low growth

that has followed years of economic recession, are yet to benefit from the recovery in industrialised countries.

“During the last quarter of 2013, the manufacturing output of East Asia rose by 4.0 per cent, Europe by 1.5 per cent and North America by 2.9 per cent. This was the first time since 2011 that an absolute increase in Europe’s manufacturing output has been recorded. Manufacturing output rose in major European economies, including France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. Outside Europe, manufacturing outC O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 3 4

Understanding consumers crucial to winning markets –P&G C O N T I N U E D FR O M PA G E 3 1

dits, the Greenfield investment represents America’s largest investment in Nigeria outside the oil and gas industry. Expectedly, the plant will provide over 2,000 direct jobs for Nigerians and several thousands of indirect jobs as it commences operations.

The Managing Director for P&G Nigeria, Mr. George Nassar, said that the new factory would be fully dedicated to the

Ajaokuta Steel plant

Integration as way out of steel stagnation CONTINUED from PAGE 31

called that some of his professors in Nigerian universities (professors from the West) in the 60s said that Nigeria should not consider having steel plants; that we were not right for it, “whereas they had steel plants in their own countries.”

Ajaokuta steel plant project and the adjoining steel rolling mills are thus stalled. Ajaokuta has gone through many hands The Ajaokuta plant was 90 per cent built by Russia’s Tyazypro export and designed to use local ore and imported coal. Nigeria signed a concession agreement with Ispat Unit Global Infrastructure Holding Limited to revive the uncompleted 1.3 million tons-per-year mill after the collapse of an earlier $3.6 billion 10-year deal with UK-registered Solgas Energy Limited. What we witnessed thereafter was the plundering

of the plant’s machinery.

The missing story If Ajaokuta will not work, if the adjoining steel rolling mills will not fly, something has to work; something must take its place. Many steel companies have sprung up to fill the gap created. This had to play out. To do otherwise would have meant turning Economics on its head.

The likes of African Steel Mills Limited, African Foundries Limited, Verod Steel Limited and lately, WEMPCO Steel Mill Limited, and several others, came in to fill the gap created by the failure of Ajaokuta and others. All these are playing out in the secondary sector of the steel sector. Ajaokuta is a primary sector which is steel manufacturing with iron ore as raw material, whereas secondary is cold rolling mill – importation of steel ingots and flat sheets which serve as raw materials;

and recycling of steel scraps which African Foundries Limited specialises in. These are processed into various steel products.

WEMPCO (and perhaps other cold steel rolling mills too) however are set to change the story going by recent revelations at the commissioning of WEMPCO Steel Mill Limited recently by President Goodluck Jonathan at Ibafo, Ogun State. The president assured existing investors in the steel sector of government support “as we collectively strive for self-sufficiency in local steel production. I strongly believe that self-sufficiency will open major downstream sector activities with the attendant massive job opportunities and economic empowerment for our engineers, technicians, artisans and fabricators alike, he said.”

This is a spin-off from the minerals and metals develop-

ment roadmap, which was recently presented to the general public, one that stipulates timebound targets for the minerals and metals sector. This document articulates the strategies to be adopted to ensure the accomplishment of the set objectives of increasing steel production in Nigeria, which is targeted at three million tons of liquid steel production by the end of this year and progressively increase to 12 million tons of liquid steel by the year 2020.

The WEMPCO Steel Rolling Mill is worth $1.5 billion and capable of producing 700,000 metric tons of steel annually. According to the company’s group managing director, Lewis Tung, the production capacity of the steel mill represents 65 per cent of the 1.2 million of steel used annually in Nigeria, mostly imported. Tung said the mill, which would begin the production of cold rolled (flat steel),

production of pampers in this initial phase, with the capacity to expand production to accommodate other trusted P&G brands in the future.

He added that the new factory is expected to create thousands of new direct and indirect jobs and hundreds of SMEs in the country. This investment supports Nigeria’s transformation objectives notably in the areas of job creation, including growth and human capital development.

would depend on imported steel billets for raw materials “until it could work out how to transport iron ore from Itakpe in Kogi State.”

Thus government and private sector players in the steel industry have agreed the private sector which now plays largely in the secondary stage of steel manufacturing – cold steel rolling milling - will now show interest in backward integration. So, if Ajaokuta will not fly, the private sector steel manufacturers will fly.

And this will be a challenge to Ajaokuta.

The challenge now is to make Ajaokuta work and let there be a linkage to the rolling mills. There are 15 of them now, we are told.

Basir Borodo said: “If you can get Ajaokuta right, WEMPCO and other rolling mills will benefit. The rolling mills and Ajaokuta should integrate.”

CASHCOW Hidden treasure is eldercare business x-rayed Chukwudi Odili

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his writing beams searchlight on the opportunities thrown up by elder care service venture, which it sees to be lucrative as from 2013.

Giving that this prospect is just evolving, it should be started small, and gradually grown over time. The result of a reconnaissance survey shows that this service business indeed shows future profit potentials.

Starting an elder care business is a unique proposition. The population of the elderly in Nigeria is a futuristic business to watch out for, even though it is not yet growing at a fast-pace in Nigeria as in places like the US, Canada and Sweden, among others. The very old, those 85 years and above, are on track to grow by 2.8 per cent between 2010 and 2030. It is projected that Nigeria will soon begin to witness declining fertility and mortality rates owing to the hard times and disturbances that make life uncomfortable.

Attention will switch from caring for babies to caring for the elderly because the present crop of children and youth will systematically age out and increase the pool of those needing elder care.

The idea of this proposed service is borne out of the concern that a number of our aged parents are lonely and almost abandoned at the village house, as their children migrate to urban areas and overseas countries to make a living. The best service arrangement that majority of these aged parents usually get is the monthly stipend that their children, who are away, remit to them for their upkeep.

Usually, the personal care and love that they need are not given to them, since their children are not with them at home. Worse still, no one else fills that gap nearly so.

You can start your own elder care business, as people are always looking for someone to take care of their elderly parents. You should have some experience or education in the area, but oftentimes, taking care of your own elderly parents is enough. If you have nursing experience or education in the field of physiotherapy or community health or social work, you definitely have an edge over other people without requisite training.

People will always need help with regard to hiring capable and willing hands to take care of their elderly loved ones. Salaries depend on a number of factors, particularly experience and education.

A physiotherapist or nurse is going to get more pay, by a household, than is an individual with little experience in the field.

That said, people will pay a lot for good care of their elderly loved ones.

Salaries can range from somewhere around N15,000 per month all the way up to N50,000 in the case of rich homes.

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Entrepreneurship

Enterprise Elder care venture Strokes as profit potential

Caring for the elder

The start-up costs, for offering eldercare services are very low, in the case of a starter-individual. The service provider will need a willing heart, business cards, surgical gloves and similar gadgets. The person needs to get a list of very good character references along with any elder care, i.e., good homes that he or she would like to associate with. There is also a need for the person to distribute his or her business cards to children of the elderly, who work in cities, whose parents are lonely in the villages.

The would-be service provider may choose to visit homes of the rich and medium income people during festive periods when the city-dwellers occasionally come home. Other places where he or she may take the publicity of his/ her personal business idea to are churches, club-houses, hospitals and private homes. If he/ she can afford it, he/she may run a small advert in a local newspaper or the internet. The person is in business!

Hence, it is usually difficult to find devoted and trained personnel to take special care of these aged parents, especially the bed-ridden among them. No matter how they are paid, the few available and willing hands are not trustworthy or reliable. Many more are not trained but rather indulge in unethical practices, junketing from one employment to the other, where the pay is higher, and leaving the aged parent placed at their care to languish in agony at their exit.

The start-up costs, for offering eldercare services are very low, in the case of a starterindividual

The corporate approach With the future in mind, against the backdrop of the shortcomings of a personal service, an entrepreneur can take up this business and employ staff who will be on his pay roll. The venture would be best started as an NGO. The entrepreneur will first open an office, do all the ground work to establish a clientele base, publicise his business, then recruit, train and place skilled personnel to work for him. He will post his staff to distant and near homes where services are needed, relative to the operational base.

Anyone requiring services will then have to contact the nearest office close to the particular aged parent’s home, which will make arrangements to send a staff to such home.

The entrepreneur will have corporate offices in major cities of Nigeria.

The client will have to call up the service provider at any of its offices, then negotiate and agree a fee payable directly to the company.

Thereafter, the company will call up a staff from a compiled list, train him or her and place such staff on timecontract, and thereafter post him/her to the home of the aged parent.

The client deals directly with the company and not the personnel. In this way, the problem associated with running a personal service would be eliminated.

The corporate organisation could charge only 5-10 per cent of the negotiated fee of the trained personnel.

The programme will require intensive publicity and extensive logistic arrangements. In the light of all the advantages and huge profit potentials of this venture, it is worthwhile risking and sinking about N5 million start-up funds.

Odili can be reached online via: ticodilis@yahoo.com

with Siaka Momoh

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siakamomoh@yahoo.com

BUSINESS | INDUSTRY

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 27, 2014

he Nigerian steel industry is troubled; no doubt about it. Despite the initial efforts made in 1958 towards establishment of a metallurgical complex in Nigeria and the billions of naira that have been sunk into the Ajaokuta steel plant project, making the plant work still remains a tall dream. In fact, reports have it that the plant has cost the Federal Government about $7 billion (N1.1 trillion) since it was commissioned by the Alhaji Shehu Shagari government.

Same story goes for the Delta Steel Company, Ovwian, Aladja near Warri, established in January 1982 as well as the three rolling mills established in Oshogbo, Jos and Katsina. The Aladja plant was set up to take advantage of gas, which at the time was mostly being flared. The Aladja plant is a direct reduction process plant. Rolling mills established at these three key market centres of the country have a production capacity for 210,000 tons of steel for each mill per annum. They were commissioned in December 1982.

These have since been privatised but remain failures.

The Ajaokuta Steel Company produces integrated blast furnace of bars, shapes and medium structural with planned capacity of 1.3 million tons per year. However, the estimated tons per year from Delta and Ajaokuta are 2.2 million tons. As at 1987, the Federal Government had spent over N5 billion on the Ajaokuta, Delta Steel, Jos, Katsina and Oshogbo projects.

The IMF/World Bank through their stooges evaluated the Ajaokuta project and concluded that it was not viable. According to their reports, the steel project should be converted to power generation.

Based on this western report, the Federal Government signed an agreement with an American energy firm SOLGAS, which took over its affairs. With this kind of thinking, it is very clear that this was another strategy by the West to hold us back.

Put this against the strategic nature of iron and steel to industrial development, put it against its strategic importance to the automobile industry, to the oil and gas industry, you will understand the degree of damage that the IMF/World Bank selfish advice is causing us.

In fact, what we are witnessing is one of the theatrics of the Brettonwood institutions, a product of the Centre-periphery structure of the world economy – an arrangement that makes the South - the developing countries of which Nigeria is part, to be perpetually tied to the apron string of the North – the industrialised countries. Why is the IMF/World Bank through its stooges saying that the Ajaokuta Steel Plant is not viable? Steel is viable in the West but it is not viable in Africa – what a laughable thinking.

So the trouble with Nigerian steel industry is that the West does not want it to work because its working means loss of business to the West.

34 BUSINESS | INDUSTRY

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Briefs

WHIZKID

Adeyemi Olalemi: Passionate student-publisher Adeyemi Olalemi a final year Physics and Education student of the University of Lagos is a highflier of sort. He is the Editor-in-Chief and publisher of Ketu Breeze newspaper, the first community newspaper in Ketu, Lagos; a stringer for the campus life section of a national newspaper, member of the University of Lagos Press Club and President of Change Ambassadors Network (CAN), an initiative of the Alumni Association of Comprehensive High School, Alapere.

Adeyemi Olalemi is also the Public Relations Officer of Activate Your Potential (ACTYPO), a youth empowerment organisation based in Lagos and a brand manager, a blogger and an entrepreneur. In this interview with ADESOLA MOMOH, he speaks on his foray into the media world.

What is Ketu Breeze all about?

Ketu Breeze is a community newspaper that covers two local government areas: Agboyi-Ketu LCDA and Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, which includes Magodo, Ketu, Mile12, Ikosi and Alapere. The essence of the paper is to bring government to the people and take the people to government by way of a platform for expression of ideas in the community. The paper reports what is going on in the community and also reports people’s views. It is an 8-page coloured newspaper. At the moment, the publication is monthly but later it will go bi-weekly.

When did it hit the streets?

During the recent ASUU strike, I asked myself what is to be done because I don’t like the idea of staying idle.

While pondering on that, this initiative came to mind and I discussed it with some of my friends who also bought into it. From there, we began preparations and planning and we had the first publication on January 1, 2014.

Do you ever find yourself not having news stories?

It was a bit difficult getting stories in the first publication because most people in the locality don’t know me as a press man unlike in the University of Lagos where news come to me. I had to work extra hard in getting news stories. However, publications after that have been filled with a lot of stories.

I

n order to ensure adequate consumer protection whilst preventing a prohibition of the trade, exports to the EU will be conditioned to 100 per cent pre-export testing and the issuance of an official health certificate guaranteeing the absence of non-compliant levels of aflatoxins.

Physical checks will be performed at EU borders on 50 per cent of the incoming consignments to verify results.

Documentations

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xport documentation is the important records of an international transaction. It includes Using the correct trade terminology, right certifications from appropriate authority (agreed by both party), clearly defining the transfer of interest and liability, selecting the right method of payment and sending the best quotation possible forms part of effective exporting. After concluding sale, proper and timely selection, preparation and distribution of documents are equally essential.

• Documentation is more important than the goods!

• It is unlikely that anyone will see the goods – from the time of packing to final delivery • Documents are required to prove that all functions have been effected • They are the legal basis of all transactions Source: Nigerian Export Promotion Council

Olalemi

How did you come about the name Ketu Breeze?

I saw the need for people to be informed about what is going on in their immediate environment and I felt that the breeze in every area is different depending on what is happening there. The breeze is something blowing information to you and educating you. The breeze becomes their passport to be everywhere (getting informed), since breeze is everywhere.

EU gives terms for importing melon, seed products from Nigeria

How profitable has it been?

Let me say it has been fair so far. Being a new brand, we don’t expect to break even just immediately, but we are currently test-running a lot of things and also working on having adverts. We also plan putting it online and making it downloadable soon.

What are the segments in Ketu Breeze?

There is news segment, opinion segment, and commentary segment where a vox pop is done on a particular issue that is of concern to the people of the community. There is also an event page where events around Ketu are covered.

How have you been able to create awareness for the paper?

The social media has helped immensely in publicising it especially Facebook and, beyond that, bulk text messages are sent to some potential advertisers.

How do you joggle all you do with your academics?

I strongly believe in the saying that whatever is worth doing is worth doing well. I endeavour to do everything well and give appropriate time to all, especially my studies.

What keeps you going?

I have passion for what I do, which is why I don’t get tired and why I always crave to do it well.

I have passion for what I do, which is why I don’t get tired and why I always crave to do it well

Manufacturing drops in developing countries, says UNIDO C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 2

put increased in Japan by 4.9 per cent, Malaysia by 4.7 per cent, and the United States by 3.0 per cent,” the report states.

It adds that the current manufacturing growth in industrialised countries is related to increased consumer spending on durable products and that production of motor vehicles rose by 8.2 per cent in France, 6.2 per cent in Italy, and 13.2 per cent in the United Kingdom. “A similar high growth rate in the auto sector was also observed in Japan and the United States. Growth was also observed in the production of general-purpose machinery, electronic appliances and electronic goods for household use.

“Since industrialised countries account for almost two-thirds of the world’s manufacturing value added, the recovery in these countries will make a significant impact on global manufacturing growth prospects in the coming years.”

According to the report, “among developing and emerging industrial economies, China’s manufacturing output rose by almost 10.0 per cent, mainly thanks to domestic demand. By contrast, growth in other developing economies slipped below 1.0 per cent in the last quarter of 2013. The low growth of manufacturing output in other developing countries is caused by external factors such as a decline in capital inflow, and internal factors such as the rise of production costs. As the recovery in industrialised countries is at an early stage, the impact on manufacturing growth in developing economies through increases in investment and commodity trade is unlikely to be felt in the near future.

business | ICT

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Recently, the United States Government said it will relinquish its position as the technical administrator of the Internet and hand over the function to a multistakeholder body, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). JONAH IBOMA examines the import of the move and the possible impact it will have on internet governance.

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nternet governance has been a major international issue in the past decade, especially as the internet has gained the position of world’s number one medium for communication, entertainment and even business transaction.

Many things that used to be done using radio communication and sometimes satellite technologies are today done very easily and costeffectively through the internet. The cost of making telephone calls are falling rapidly as the internet now offers cheaper alternative means of transmitting data and other forms of communications. In many cases now, rates charged for international are now cheaper than those charged for local calls, all because of the internet.

The internet today has a major impact on the security of nations because a lot of highly confidential materials are communicated or transmitted using the internet.

The recent issue of Julian Assange, owner of Wikileaks, who obtained several documents on communication between several governments over the Internet as well as that of Edward Snowden, a former employee of the Central Intelligence Agency, who also released several classified documents about CIA’s operations, show how important securing the internet is. These two issues indicate clearly that the matter of technical administration of the internet is a huge issue, given how important the internet has become.

As a result of these and many more reasons, the issue of who controls the internet has become an issue of big debate at the international level for several years now.

The situation whereby the US government continues to have a technical control over this global infrastructure has been one that several other nations have sought to change for years.

So, when the United States announced its decision to fully handover the technical control of the internet to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, it came as a welcome development to stakeholders.

Among agencies that have commended the move by the United States

Chehade

Toure

is the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the global body that oversees telecommunications.

Secretary General of ITU, Hamadoun Toure, said: “I welcome the March 14, 2014 announcement from the National Telecommunication and Information Administration of the United States Department of Commerce, regarding its intent to transfer IANA functions to the global community, including full support for a multistakeholder model of Internet governance free from regulation by any one government or inter-governmental organisation.

“I would like to reiterate what I have said many times: the Internet is a global public good and therefore all nations and peoples should have an equal say in its running and development. I commend the US government’s announcement about changing oversight arrangements of the management of critical Internet resources and I believe this develop-

ment will lead to improved and productive cooperation between the telecommunications and Internet communities.”

The U.S. Government’s current responsibilities to be transitioned include the procedural role of administering changes to the Domain Name System’s (DNS) to the authoritative root zone file - the database containing the lists of names and addresses of all top-level domains – as well as serving as the historic steward of the unique identifiers registries for Domain names, IP addresses and protocol parameters.

The handover had been proposed by many stakeholders, especially with the formation of ICANN as a manager of certain aspects of the internet over the years. It is clear that the American government has followed the growth of the corporation closely and found it capable of handling the technical administration of the Internet hence the decision to hand control over to it.

The US Department of Commerce stated this, noting that the American government decided on handing over the control, due to its recognition of ICANN's maturation in becoming an effective multi-stakeholder organisation and requested that ICANN convene the

Internet is a global public good and therefore all nations and peoples should have an equal say in its running

CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

TECHTalk

W it h

Internet future and new accountability plan

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Jonah Iboma 08050498516

Analogue leaders in digital age

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he unfortunate recruitment exercise by the Nigerian Immigration Service that led to the untimely death of 19 young Nigerians is one issue that has elicited a lot of reactions.

Questions have been raised on why the exercise should be held in such a manner that hundreds of thousands of people had to gather in a single location to write recruitment examination whereas computer-based tests and the internet would have provided ready alternatives.

The issue clearly shows what had always been said by many industry stakeholders that IT deployment in many public service organisations in Nigeria is not up to speed in the 21st century.

I want to recall a recent revelation on government saved hundreds on billions of naira that it had been paying as monthly salaries to ghost workers in the Federal Civil service. Any serious person knows that issues such as this should have been overcome a long time ago if there had been proper integration of IT into government operations.

The fact that government agencies still struggle to rightly apply IT to their operations shows that many of certificates of IT training that a substantial number of government workers bandy about are mere papers. The trainings they undergo are not deep enough to give the proper knowledge and the result is that when their knowledge needs to be put to use, they easily recourse to hiring of consultants for simple IT tasks.

But probably more painful is the fact that the necessary synergy that should exist in government is not seen among agencies, when it comes to IT projects.

An example is the decision by a state government in the southern part of Nigeria to distribute over 20,000 computers to students in its schools.

Revelations by the state education commissioner is that the state settled for a little known computer brand, Samsung, in place of more established brands.

But the decision to settle for Samsung is not the most disappointing but the fact that a state government could embark on a huge IT project such as the distribution of tens of thousands of computers without seeking the input of the National Information Technology Development Agency, the clearing house for government IT projects in Nigeria. The manner the state government went about it also showed that it did not know about a government directive on the purchase of local brands of computers.

Investigations have shown that this state is not alone in such moves. As a result, federal agencies, states and local governments make many avoidable errors in the way they deploy IT. IT will continue to play a role in national development in the coming years and this means that there will be greater need for government to have a proper manner whereby IT projects are conceived and implemented. The era whereby a consultant sells a normal PC to government at the price of five has passed. The country’s leaders need to know more and be truly IT –savvy leaders in this digital age.

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business | ICT

PROFIT Increased regulatory control to affect telecom operators' profitability Stories: Jonah Iboma

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substantial number of global telecommunication operators expect increasing regulatory pressure on prices charged for services offered to customers to impact their businesses negatively for the next few years, a survey by Telecoms.com Intelligence unit has suggested.

The report obtained by New Telegraph stated that over 60 per cent of operators surveyed felt that increasing pressure by local and regional regulatory bodies will lead to a fall in operating profits in the coming years.

Particularly cited is the move by the European Telecommunications Commissioner, Neelie Kroes, to eradi-

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Operators expect regulatory pressure to threaten business cate roaming charges within the European region which many industry watchers expect to have impact far beyond Europe. The major issue that could result from the removal of roaming charges is the need for operators to review agreements across borders and continents.

Although Kroes has suggested that her telecoms reform package will create opportunities for both large, international operators and smaller, local or specialist players alike, but respondents to the Telecoms. com Intelligence Survey were not convinced.

“One of the dominant narratives in the European telecommunications sector in 2014, the influence of which

will also be felt beyond the continent, will be European Commissioner Neelie Kroes’ ongoing drive for greater regional harmonisation. Wider in scope than the populist assault on international roaming charges that has won Kroes so much attention, but stopping short of introducing the super-regulator that some had feared, the single telecoms market proposal is controversial,” the report stated.

The survey also showed that operators believe that the huge impact of OTT (Over-the-top) operators will also affect their profits negatively.

OTT refers to a scenario whereby a telecoms operator offers one or more of its services over an Internet proto-

L-R: Group Chief Executive Officer, First Bank of Nigeria, Bisi Onasanya; Board Member, Etisalat Nigeria, Alhaji Bello Garba and Acting CEO, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willshere, at the Etisalat sponsored Nigeria Summit 2014, held in Lagos on Monday.

col-based network. This often reduces the need for heavy infrastructure which existing big operators use.

The report said: “The most serious challenge mobile operators face, according to respondents overall, is the

competitive threat from OTT players, with 49.9 per cent of respondents rating this six or seven on a one-to-seven scale of severity. Operators themselves, however, judged regulatory pressure on pricing to be the biggest threat.”

Airtel unveils exclusive club for elite customers L eading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has launched the Airtel Premier Club, a special V-VIP programme specifically designed to offer exceptional and personalised services.

Speaking during the launch in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, described the Airtel Premier Club as a platform specially created to offer exceptional and personalised service to high networth customers and distinguished personalities.

“The mandate which you have given us is very clear: To exceed your expectations.

We will. Many will wonder why we have always won the award for operator with best customer service in all major telecoms awards in the country, since the inception of GSM. Today, we are committing to taking the art of customer service, service excellence and customer experi-

ence to a new height,” he said.

According to the CEO, customers who enroll on the Airtel Premier platform will enjoy several benefits including dedicated helpline, exclusive emails and website, dedicated relationship manager, enrollment into Airtel Rewards Programme, exclusive access to designated service points at Airtel showrooms and access to over 600 premium lounges across the world, among other benefits.

Ogunsanya also assured that Airtel is committed to building a robust network for Nigerians to experience excellent Mobile Internet and voice service.

“We are committed to investing in the largest market in Africa. We will continue to work with Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and other stakeholders to create an enabling environment for our customers to experience the results of our investment in capacity and coverage,” he said.

Internet future and new accountability plan CONTINUED from PAGE 35

global community to develop the transition process from of the U.S. stewardship to a global community consensus-driven mechanism.

Almost immediately after this announcement, ICANN launched a process to transit the role of the US Government relating to the Internet’s unique identifiers system.

The President and Chief Executive Officer of ICANN, Fadi Chehadé, said: “We are inviting governments, the private sector, civil society, and other Internet organisations from the whole world to join us in developing this transition pro-

cess. All stakeholders deserve a voice in the management and governance of this global resource as equal partners.”

However, independent of the U.S. transition, the roles of the Internet technical organisations, including ICANN’s role as administrator of the Internet’s unique identifier system, remain unchanged. The Internet’s Unique Identifier functions are not apparent to most Internet users, but they play a critical role in maintaining a single, global, unified and interoperable Internet.

“Even though ICANN will continue to perform these vital technical functions, the U.S. has long envisioned the day when

stewardship over them would be transitioned to the global community,” said Dr. Stephen D. Crocker, ICANN’s Board Chair.

“In other words, we have all long known the destination. Now it is up to our global stakeholder community to determine the best route to get us there.”

Concerning the future of internet governance, ICANN said that it would pursue a policy of inclusion that will engage everyone that should have a stake in the way internet is handled.

“The global multi-stakeholder process is defined by inclusion and it will take some time to make sure that we obtain all the necessary inputs,” said Chehadé.

“By the time the current contract with the U.S. Government expires in September 2015, we will have a defined and clear process for global multi-stakeholder stewardship of ICANN’s performance of these technical functions.”

Meanwhile, the process of determining how best to transfer stewardship of key Internet technical functions from the U.S. Government to ICANN was the main discussion of the body’s 49th public meeting which kicked off in Singapore on Sunday.

“This is indeed momentous,” Chehadé told an international news conference. “The decision by the United States Govern-

ment validates the idea that people around the world can come together and manage a global resource that is borderless.”

Explaining the next steps in the transition process, Fadi Chehadé further said: “We will now take the global process launched today by the ICANN community to the world. We will have meetings and consultations with the public, communities and with our fellow technical organisations, the IETF, the Regional Internet Registries, and here most importantly in the Asia Pacific region, APNIC, who will be partnering with us in getting the word out to involve everyone into that process.”

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Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 27, 2014

NCC, NESREA agree to stop sealing of telecom base stations

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he persistent battle that have raged for sometime between the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforce-

ment Agency (NESREA) over the control of telecommunications infrastructure appears to have been settled, according to details obtained by New Telegraph.

According to industry

sources, an 11-point memorandum of agreement has been endorsed by both the Ministers of Environment and Communications Technology as well as the executive heads of NCC and NESREA on

L-R :Corporate Services Executive, MTN, Wale Goodluck; President, South East South South Professionals of Nigeria (SESSPN), Emeka Ugwu-Oju; Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Michael Ikpoki and Deputy President, SESSPN during a courtesy visit of the professional body to MTN Nigeria in Lagos recently

‘African manufacturers adopting IT quicker'

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anufacturing firms in the Middle East and Africa are showing considerable enthusiasm for IT and comfortably outspending their counterparts in Central and Eastern Europe, according to the latest findings released by IDC Manufacturing Insights.

A recent end-user survey conducted across the Middle East and Africa, (MEA) by IDC Manufacturing Insights shows that manufacturers in the Middle East, in particular, now view IT as an area that can help accelerate their manufacturing maturity.

To this end, according to IDC, more comprehensive and competitive IT strategies are being put in place in core MEA countries, and more mature decisions regarding IT environments are being made, with customer-oriented initiatives and integration across the enterprise resonating particularly strongly. IDC said that IT solutions that can be developed around the core enterprise resource planning (ERP) suite are also being viewed as powerful tools for fulfilling key strategic objectives.

“MEA manufacturers are becoming more mature in their use of IT,” says Martin Kuban, IDC Manufacturing Insights' lead research analyst for Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMA) “Ongoing industrialisation and market optimism have translated into increased IT spending, which has helped to accelerate this process.

IDC forecasts that 2014 will be a very dynamic year in terms of IT deployments in the MEA manufacturing vertical.”

Focusing in closer detail on the so-called ‘3rd Platform’ technologies of mobile computing, cloud, social media, and Big Data, IDC Manufacturing Insights’' survey findings confirmed that these are still niche segments in MEA region.

Nevertheless, IT budgets for the deployment of these progressive technologies are constantly rising across the region, particularly in relation to cloud. Already, there are predictions that Nigeria will outspend many countries including South Africa in cloud computing.

P

resident of the Institute of Information Management (IIM-Africa), Dr. Oyedokun Oyewole, has stated that Nigeria’s archives and record keeping efforts are in a sorry state.

IIM-Africa is a professional membership-driven institute established to serve the growing community of data, information, records, documents and archives management professionals.

Oyewole said in a statement that successful societies and economies in future will depend on how well government and its agencies enhance effective and appropriate information sharing while maintaining essential protection for those on whose behalf the information is held.

“They will depend on how well they learn from the information they hold and how they use it to create new value, and on how well they deal with the new challenges that digital information presents, whether around security, sustainability or privacy,” he said.

He noted that for Nigeria to improve in information management, there was the need for effective leadership in the country.

“Strong leadership, governance and professionalism in records, information and knowledge management will be keys, both to seizing opportunities and to meeting the chal-

standards to be adhered to by telecommunications firms on siting of their infrastructure, especially base stations.

Both NCC and NESREA pledged to observe specific guidelines on issues such as setback, sealing, waiting time for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), approval and the process to follow in specific cases of unusual circumstances.

It was agreed that the action of sealing any base station should be a last resort and shall be done in consultation with all relevant regulators.

Under the new agreement, the timeline for approving an EIA for base station construction is limited to 90 days after submission of the projects draft.

Over the years, NCC and NESREA have been involved in a running battle over control of the telecommunications infrastructure management. In 2012 NCC accused NESREA of

shutting down 52 base stations of various telecom operators, truncating smooth operations by the affected service providers. But on its part, NESREA says it has sealed 22 base stations nationwide for flouting environmental laws.

Mr. Sule Oyofo, the Chief Press Secretary of the agency, said that most base stations were sited indiscriminately, close to residential areas without regards to environmental health hazards of those living around those areas.

“Their actions have demonstrated utter disregard to extant environmental laws and regulations in which public complains on them remained unabated.”

The development made many stakeholders to condemn what appeared to be a clear overlapping of functions by different government agencies and their lack of synergy.

Group bemoans record keeping in Nigeria lenges ahead.”

This, he said, is part of the reasons why the institute came into existence in the first place.

“We (IIM-Africa) are strategically positioned to help both public and private organisations in Africa develop the required frameworks, tools, and culture needed to build capacity. Our vision is to do this by improving professionalism in the essential fields as required in departments like finance, administration, engineering, construction, project management, IT and communications.

We provide organisations with opportunities to meet the evolving challenges of managing information, especially in the emerging information age.”

He noted that that information is the force powering 21st century democracy and economy, adding that no nation in the world today could afford to exist in isolation as the world has continued to shrink to one global village of instant information sharing through ICT. He disclosed that the institute was established in recognition that both private and public sectors will increasingly rely on information and knowledge and can create value through their

ability to manage these valued assets.

“Effective management and sharing of information has the power to improve individuals’ lives and society as a whole,” he said, adding that it can also be employed to drive economic growth which comes with significant responsibilities, not least to protect individuals’ data and privacy. “The pace of change and the challenges of the digital era, means we are not only seeing new opportunities but are also facing new risks,” he said.

Meanwhile, IIM-Africa has honoured scores of Nigerian information technology professionals, distinguished policy makers and political office holders, industry influencers and stakeholders by inducting them into the fellowship of the prestigious continental institute.

The list of Nigerian inductees includes former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, Motorola Solutions’ senior territory manager for (English) West Africa, Mrs. Rita Ndidi, Egwunwoke Amuchienwa, and Mr. Chris Onyemenam, DirectorGeneral, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

38 38 NEWS

Monday, February 17 -Thursday, Friday, February 21,2014 2014 March Thursday, March 27, 20, 2014

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THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014

People trying to buy fuel into jerrycans at a filling station

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Coping with poor power supply, fuel shortage Life is not funny for Nigerians with the current fuel shortage being experienced all over the country. It is made worse by the poor power supply. Life for a Nigerian now is reduced to jerrycans of fuel for cars and generators. GEOFFREY EKENNA reports

H

e ran into the Conoil Filling station on the Lagos -Ibadan Expressway, clutching two 25-litre jerrycans that hot Sunday afternoon.

He looked harassed, angry and frustrated. As he made for one of the dispensing pumps at the station, a senior attendant identified as Aliya, called him, “please go and queue at the pump selling in jerrycans”. The number of jerrycans on that queue was about 50 already.

In frustration, Sunday Alabi, who said he was a barber blurted out broken English: “Na which kin trouble be this sef ? Una wan say make I die?

NEPA, I no get, fuel, I no fit buy. No be money I go pay una?”

His armpit drenched in sweat revealed more of his frustration than any other thing. Alabi had come all the way to the station from Akute in Ogun State to buy fuel. He made it to Berger bus stop on a commercial motorcycle, which charged him N200.

He entered a commercial bus going to Ojota, which charged him another N100, even though the distance from Berger to the Conoil station opposite Magodo was less than N50. But he was desperate to get fuel. By his accounts, he had missed business for two days because he had no fuel and power supply in the area is erratic.

For Alabi therefore, hunger is setting in.

“My brother, tell me. How am I go-

ing to survive without fuel for my generator when NEPA, PHCN or whatever they call it, has refused to supply power to my area. For the past three days, I have not worked fully. The last time I worked was on Thursday night.

My fuel finished that night.

“PHCN restored light for about two hours on Friday. Is that how I am supposed to be in business? Is my family going to die because I am a Nigerian?

I mean, this government will kill all of us soon.”

While Alabi was at the station

How am I going to survive without fuel for my generator when NEPA, PHCN or whatever they call it, has refused to supply power to my area

battling against hunger and for the survival of his family, many other Nigerians queued at the station, struggling for mobility and sleeping in their homes on the hot, humid nights of January to March. While they struggled to buy fuel into their cars, many were clutching jerrycans that ranged from 10 litres to 50 litres. The cans are for generators for domestic use.

At the station, a middle-aged man, driving a KIA Sorento Sports Utility Van had a raw deal with a station manager and a muscular tout at the gate.

It was his turn to go into the station which already had about 20 cars lined up for fuel. But the station manager told him to wait for the queue inside to thin out. The man, who simply identified himself as Chris, could not take it. By his accent, he must have come from the Edo/Delta axis of the country.

“How can you say that I should wait?

Wait for what? There were about 100 cars when I joined the queue. I was on CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

40 40 FEATURES

Sanctity of Truth

A nightmarish experience CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39

the expressway for about 40 minutes - these heavy-duty trucks and tankers were passing me. Now, I got here and you said I should wait. Please, my friend, I am paying money. You are not dashing me fuel,” he said.

His result for that effrontery was the slamming of the gates of the station at him by the tout. With his muscles bulging and possibly aching, the tout told him to go and pay his money elsewhere. That took about 30 minutes before Chris’ pleas could be heard but not without warning from the tout.

“Oga, na our job we dey do here. If we tell you something, make you no argue with us. Na manager say make I close gate here. No be say we no wan sell. Those two tankers inside get full tank. So, no be say fuel no dey. But you must wait, make we clear inside first,” he retorted.

But at an Oando filling Station at Ojodu, Godfrey Ibe, a businessman, was frustrated. He missed church service that Sunday to search for fuel.

He had queued for about 20 minutes before it got to his turn. He was filled with glee as he drove his Toyota Camry to the dispensing pump of his choice.

Alas, disappointment was hanging at the pump. He was told by Jide, the pump attendant that: “Sir, sorry, we do not sell in jerrycans.”

That was it. Ibe, who said he had a half-tank in his car exploded: “Then, why did I queue since? If I did not buy to use in my generator at home, why will I buy in my car? I can buy in the car at any other time now.” He drove off angrily.

Although the experiences narrated above sound funny and unreal, they were true characters and experiences of Nigerians in the past one month when fuel queues resurfaced in Lagos.

Within that period too, power supply plummeted too. The common denominator between the two is no explanation from either the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) or the Distributions and Generating Companies (DISCOS and GENCOS) on why fuel scarcity has returned or power

A man filling his car with fuel purchased at the black market

Queue at a filling station

PHOTOS: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

If we do not supply, how are we going to bill our customers? We can’t have supply and not give it out to our customers. It is not our fault at all has plummeted.

Thus, everyday, Nigerians have had to face the ordeal of rushing to filling stations to buy fuel for both cars Fuel vendor taking a nap and generators at home. They are also faced with the frustration of inconsisInyang Akpan, an official of PHCN, tent and near-none power supply, es- who now works with a DISCO in Lapecially since the privatisation of the gos, however disagrees. He rather says Power Holding Company of Nigeria that power supply depends on what the (PHCN) by the Federal Government.

DISCOS get from the GENCOS. “Do we want to use the light alone?

The nights of January to March are usually hot in Nigeria. It is the dry, hot We supply what we get to our customseason. The weather is even hotter in ers. It is by supplying to our customLagos, an industrial centre and com- ers that we make money. If we do not mercial capital of the country. Many supply, how are we going to bill our believe that it is at such hot periods customers? We can’t have supply and that power supply is usually at its low- not give it out to our customers. It is not our fault at all,” he said. est ebb.

“My brother, watch it, once there is Whose fault is it really? Akpan said: any rainfall now and the weather is “Ask me again. Our job is to distribute; cool, you will see that PHCN will sup- we don’t generate light. Whatever we ply light and it will stay overnight,” get is what we give out.”

But whether the fault is of the DISsaid Francisca, a mother of four, leaving in the Ojodu area of Lagos.

COS or GENCOS, one fact still remains She added: “I believe these PHCN clear - coping with poor power supply people supply power at their own will. and the fuel shortage that has been on It depends on the weather. When the in the past one month has placed a big weather is cool, we get light. But when- burden on Nigerians.

Take the case of Mrs Juliana Udoh ever the weather is hot, don’t always expect it. I believe it is corruption. for example. She receives a weekly How come there is more regular power stipend of N20,000 from her husband, supply during the rainy seasons and who lives and works in Abuja. even during December when there is According to Udoh, every week, harmmatan? They do it deliberately.” she buys fuel of about N3 000 for the Funny as Francisca’s theory would two generators she has in the three sound, many hold that view that the bedroom flat she lives with her chilpower supply improves with the rains. dren. She also pays the PHCN bill ev-

Thursday, March 27, 2014

ery month. Her flat averages N10,000 per month. She makes her hair in the saloon where the price for washing and setting is “N500 with NEPA or N700 with generator”.

She said: “But now, with the fuel scarcity, it is N900 with generator.

When I get to the market, the price of everything has increased. The traders say that the fuel shortage has affected the cost of transportation of food items from the North.

“From meat to tomatoes, egg and even vegetable that is grown in Lagos here, the price of everything has risen. I don’t know the connection between PHCN and foodstuff again.”

Life, according to her, has become a matter of eating food for her family, wondering if “this is the way Nigeria is going to be forever.”

For Ademola Adeleke, who leaves in Akute in Ogun State and works on the Victoria Island, life is tough.

He spends an average of N5,000 to fuel his Honda Accord car to work, six times a week, when he sees fuel.

He also spends almost that to power his generator at home.

Adeleke said with the poor power supply, if he did not sleep well at night because of the hot weather, he would not be able to cope with driving to Victoria Island every morning.

He sleeps with his generator on every night.

“For me, PHCN or GENCO is back-up to my generator. After the stress of driving over 50km to and fro every day, I get home and I am panting and sweating at midnight.

It is a simple way to sudden death.

The stress of living in this country is simply unbearable,” he concludes.

That is the story many Nigerians are telling in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Owerri and other parts of the country. From saloon operators to barbers, housewives and big business owners, everybody is struggling for life without power supply.

Then, add that to the lingering unexplained fuel shortage, the answer is as good as your guess.

Fuel hawkers making sales

HEALTH THURSday, March 27, 2014

awareness willhelp oral health care

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Guide to boost heart health Heart attack is more fatal than cancer, but how many people actually bother to take good care of their hearts? asks OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI

C

hristopher Olugbenga, a 48-year-old technician, was seemingly in good shape returning to the Kenyatta Airport , Nairobi, Kenya to catch his flight back home to Nigeria after a business deal. Aboard the plane, he felt a painful sensation in his chest but dismissed it as quickly as it came. On arrival in Nigeria, at the luggage claim section, as he bent down to retrieve his bag from the luggage’s tray, he felt another sharp pain in his shoulder. Again, he shook it off, taking it as a minor muscle pull. When he got home, he was so full of excitement that he barely noticed the pain had returned but wasn’t severe enough to prevent him from picking up his two-year-old daughter with full embrace. Alas, he dropped the little girl abruptly due to the impact of another sharp pain in his shoulder. He stopped and rested, felt better and tried to catch up with his children playing inside the compound. Unfortunately, the pains returned and this time, it refused to go away, hence he was rushed to the hospital by his wife. Gbenga said he actually suspected a heart problem but didn’t believe it because he does not smoke; he wasn’t diabetic nor does he consumed alcohol.

He also does not have history of family heart disease. How wrong he was! At the Emergency Section of the Jos University Teaching hospital, (JUTH), he was diagnosed with what is called Widow Maker plus, an LAD that the heart is meaning, starved of blood supply.

Widow maker according to medical experts, is a blockage or stenosis of the left anterior descending artery of the heart.

It commonly results in death. Luckily and narrowly, Olugbenga escaped death. He survived. Hence, he does changed lifestyle.

Gbolade Taiwo Lasisi, a consultant cardiologist with the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), who nearly died of heart attack himself, said about 25 per cent of heart attacks happen silently without clear or obvious signs and when they do exist, they are only mild or vague, which many attribute to indigestion, flu, fatigue and ordinary muscle strain.

Chauncy Crandall, a cardiologist with the Palm Beach Cardiovascular, New York, told NT Health that “heart

disease kills more men and women each year Signs than allof cancers heart combined attack including

• Chest pain • Nausea • Sweating • Difficulty in breathing • Digestive problem breast cancer.” He said that heart diseases, which should not be common often start early in life and then slowly progress until they result to very serious problem or become fatal.

Though a heart disease is something that naturally occurs as one grows older, the problem, he said, is typical of diet comprising mainly of sugar and fat.

“The problem is that westerners are creating heart disease epidemic because of our diet. Modern protight cessed foods have additives juncthat make the sugar and fats tions.

A human heart The heart worse by promoting inflamproblems start mation and other additional when simple carbohyfactors that fuel heart diseases.

Crandall identified sugar and fat drates such as potatoes, white as the two main culprits of heart diseases. bread, pasta, sugar, cornflakes e.t.c. all The two combined, creates extreme prob- convert to sugar in the body. “And that lem in the bloodstream, which sets the is how heart disease starts without your stage for the build-up of arterial plaque, knowing it,” he said. In his over 40 years a condition otherwise known as arterio- of practice, Crandall said he discovers sclerosis or heart disease. Other factors, that young people mostly from age 35 he added, are hormonal imbalances, lack years old develop some heart diseases of exercise, smoking, stress, high blood because of the high level of fats, sugar pressure, increase inflammation and over and over processed foods in their diets. production of insulin. All these factors According to Crandall, there are four stretch the artery and damage it in places, signs that occur before a heart attack. allowing the small, dense and the danger- They are chest pain, nausea and sweatous negative cholesterol (LDL, PATTERN ing, difficulty in breathing and digestive B) particles to embed in what cardiolo- problem. gists call tight junctions. Tight junctions, he explained is when the arteries are comPREVENTION prised of millions of cells aligned in the The most important prevention is to quit smoking, and whereby it is difficult to quit, it is advisable to go for medical help. Lasisi recommended regular exercise, mostly brisk walking for 45 minutes at least four times a week. That, he Crandall identified sugar and for said, will raise the good cholesterol (HDL) fat as the two main culprits which makes the negative one (LDL) less of a problem. of heart diseases. The two He said physical exercises like tennis, combined, create extreme golf, swimming even spiritual exercises problem in the bloodstream, like prayer or meditation and or moderate social activities helps very much. To keep which sets the stage for the the heart healthy, he also recommended build-up of arterial plaque that food shoul include more of wheat,

fruits, nuts, fish, chicken and occasionally, lean red beef.

Similarly, he advised against balanced diet that are high in saturated fats like lungs, kidney, liver and poultry skin.

He warned against the consumption of egg yoke as it is very harmful to the heart. He also warned against whole milk, cheese and fried foods. Also, as one is approaching 45 years of age, Lasisi stated that it is good for an individual to maintain a healthy balance through body measure index (BMI). “Be within the ideal weight. Check your blood pressure regularly and your sugar level alongside your cholesterol level,” he said.

Crandell added that the individual should do a test called “PLAC.” It is a test that measures the amount of plaque that is already built up in the artery. He said the test is remarkably accurate in predicting potential for deadly heart attack or stroke. “Anyone over 50 years should have the test,” he said.

Luckily, a team of Georgia researchers recently launched a medical initiative to determine whether patients with weakening heart failure can benefit from having their own stem cells injected into their ailing heart muscles. This was done in a condition known as ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, which results from heart attacks that damage the organ and from compromised blood flow to the heart muscle. "We want to know if stem cell therapy is an option for patients who have essentially run out of options," said Adam Berman, M.D. an electrophysiologist at the Medical College of Georgia and director of Cardiac Arrhythmia Ablation Services at Georgia Regents Health System. The essence of the research, he said, is to see if the stem cell therapy may one day be a part of early intervention to help keep heart failure from progressing to an advanced, devastating state.

42 HEALTH

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 27, 2014

with Dr. Ihuoma Uko-Ndukwe

Profile Dr. Uko –Ndukwe is board certified in family medicine and a Fellow of American Academy of Family Practice (FAAFP).

She has a degree in Economics Education from the University of Port Harcourt, Class of 1988, a Bachelors Degree in Nursing (BSN) from Texas Women’s University, Houston, class of 1999, and has worked in various aspects of nursing prior to medical school.

She is married with four children. Her hobbies are dancing, traveling and shopping.

Total hair loss

Focal hair loss

Male pattern hair loss in classic M pattern

Female pattern hair loss

HEALTH TIPS Massage your scalp, using your ten fingers with a good hair moisturiser at least twice a week, to help your hair follicles.

H

air loss, also known as alopecia in medical term, is a common problem that affects up to 50 per cent of men and women and can occur anywhere in the body. It is, however, most distressing when it affects the scalp.

It can range from a small bare patch (focal) to mostly non-scarring and can be caused by fungus, tight braiding, syphilis, which is a sexually transmitted disease, hair pulling or hair chewing habits called trichotillomania.

This can be easily masked with hairstyling to a more diffuse obvious pattern, which can be caused by auto-immune diseases (a situation where your body fights itself) and hormonal imbalances. This condition can have a significant negative effect on body image, self-esteem and psychological wellbeing.

Hair loss can be categorised as scarring and non-scarring.

Hair follicle goes through three phases, namely, the growth, resting and a transition between the resting and growth phase and damage can occur at any phase.

Causes can be as a result of ageing, mostly in both sexes, and hormonal factors, more in women either as they age or with abnormal hormonal lev-

Hair loss in adults els in those with irregular menses as well as history of infertility. Unresponsive acne (pimple) treatment can develop FEMALE PATTERN HAIR LOSS. As much as 50 percent of aging women in their life time, experiences hair thinning over the central area of the scalp and widening of the midline part while MALE PATTERN HAIR LOSS sets in at or about 40 to 50 years with frontal and sideways recession and thinning of hair in a classic M pattern.

Other causes of hair loss can be stress/injury, crash or liquid diets, surgery, infection, medication and post pregnancy state. Stress is the most common type and can lead to a noticeable increased number of loose hair on their hairbrush or shower floor. This begins two to four months after the causative event and can last for months. Sudden hair loss can be attributed to chemotherapy after treatment.

Other types can be traction or traumatic hairloss, which is very common in women, from cosmetic practices that damage hair follicles overtime

such as use of brush rollers, hair brushes with square or angular tips and tight braiding, (especially with the new trend of packing hair in a bond to make a fashion statement). Hair relaxers and other chemicals used repetitively can damage hair follicles. A psychiatric disorder (trichotillomania) that involves hair pulling mostly in kids, but persists into adulthood can damage hair follicles.

TREATMENT: First is to stop causative agent.

Find ways to de-stress with exercise and relaxation techniques, but most severe hair losses are treated under the care of a doctor with special medications and shampoos, hormonal treatment or psychiatric therapy.

There are some over-the-counter hair creams made from ingredients high in biotin that can help with hair growth, and with hair loss caused by cosmetic reasons. Letting hair free of chemical, wigs, hair attachment for a period of six to 12 months, will help the hair follicle regain growth.

Drying herbs in sun may impact their potency

T

he greatest enemy of your harvested herbs is heat and light.

Never dry herbs directly in the sun. Drying herbs in the sun rays exposes the volatile oils to sun rays and can make them lose up to 40 per cent of their efficacy.

Store your herbs in air-tight containers. The herb then does not pick up impurities from plastics. Store in a dry, cool area, and keep out of the light.

Explaining this principle, Fr. Anselm Adodo in his book, ‘Herbal Medicine And The Revival of African Civilisation”, said this is the reason for using coloured glass.

Dried herbs

Aloe vera plant

Light can often break down the healing property of your gathered

herbs, shortening their shell life and rendering them nearly useless after a

short period of time. If stored properly, the shell life of dried herbs is approximately one year.

Tinctures can be stored for up to two years. Tinctures are liquid extracts made from herbs that you take orally (by mouth). This means that the action in the body is usually quicker.

Capsules should be used within one year. Once an herb has been ground, it shortens the amount of time the herb is effective. So, do pay careful attention to when you have purchased or stored an herb, for maximum effectiveness.

HEALTH

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Risk Factors • Unhealthy diet • Tobacco use • Harmful alcohol use • Poor oral hygiene.

Mark advocates paradigm shift in oral health care

Obinna Odoh ABUJA

P

resident of the Senate, David Mark advocated a paradigm shift from limiting dentistry to only the treatment of the diseased teeth to the care of the whole mouth.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has blamed lack of or limited access to oral care on unequal distribution of oral health professionals and the lack of appropriate facilities within health care systems of many African countries including Nigeria.

Mark who decried what he termed “relatively low dental awareness in the country,” spoke at a national oral health conference to mark the 2014 World Oral Health Day in Abuja.

The Senate President, who is the National Oral health Champion for Nigeria, noted that research has shown that a large number of Nigerians visit dental clinics

43

Confident smile

because of pain.

“This is unacceptable because the onset of pain is an indication that the disease can no longer be treated with simple therapy. The treatment often required in this

circumstance would be too expensive for a low to middle-income patient. Sustainable oral health campaign among Nigerians has therefore become imperative to create awareness on the prevention, early detec-

tion, treatment and management of common oral conditions”, he added.

Mark who was represented by Senator Gyang Datong, identified risk factors for oral diseases to include unhealthy diet, tobacco use, harmful alcohol use and poor oral hygiene. He charged Nigeria health practitioners to maximise every opportunity towards galvanising available resources that will position the nation’s oral health system on a sustainable pedestal for development.

The senate president further noted that the Federal Ministry of Health, (FMOH ) has adopted a community participation approach which involves primary oral health care education through promotion of oral health care in schools, market places and worship places, which he identified as target groups to achieve good oral health habits.

The ministry also resuscitated its School Oral Health Programme which is an oral health promotion programme targeted at school children and their teachers.

Project Smile partners Oral-B, calls for entry Appolonia Adeyemi

I

n what could be described as an opportunity for a free smile make over treatment for persons suffering stigma of flawed dentition, Project Smile, a Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR-based initiative, seeks individuals affected by dental flaws that has had them stigmatised, to contest in a free smile make over program worth millions of naira.

At the launch of ‘Project Smile’ on World Oral Health Day, marked on March 20, Dr. Amy Traore-Shumbusho, the Initiator of Project Smile, said that the 2014 edition of the programme has been re-designed to accommodate more contestants.

In contrast to the previous edition where only one winner emerged as the beneficiary and got a free dental treatment worth about N2 million, “we plan to have three contestants emerge as beneficiaries of the treatment program. This is made possible by the strategic partnership we forged with Oral-B and Medplus, a chain of pharmacy and beauty stores,” she said.

In his remark, Afolarin Ojo, Brand Operations & Integrations Manager, Oral-B, said that the offer to partner on Project Smile came on the heels of ‘Oral-B Sharing Smiles’ campaign, a communitybased initiative designed to reach out to disadvantaged communities that cannot afford dental care products and consultation with dentists.

Afolarin said that Project Smile and Oral-B Sharing Smiles have a denominator which is identified in view of World Dental Federation (FDI ) theme for World Oral Health Day 2014- “Celebrating Healthy Smiles”.

Dr. Traore-Shumbusho said the initia-

tive is a three phase project, which begins with a Call-to-Entry as the first phase starting on Thursday, March 20 in celebration of World Oral Health Day. The target audience who must be from 18 years and above should watch out for the publicity materials such as the website, radio jingles, hypes and social media sites for more information on how to participate and take advantage of the five-week entry phase to stand the chance of being a beneficiary, she said.

“Entry is simple, contestants only need to visit the Project Smile website to enter their required bio data, picture, and story in not more 360 words.

On the dental flaw cases, she said they range from over-crowded, protruding and discolored teeth to far more complex cases. This scheme seeks to award such deserving individuals a chance in a life time to correct this and have the perfect teeth,” she explained.

Following the close of entries, con-

L-R: Brand Communications Manager, Oral-B, Tomiwa Ajewole; Project Smile Initiator, Dr. Amy TraoreShumbusho and Brand Operations & Integration Manager, Oral-B, Afolarin Ojo during the media launch of Project Smile 2nd Edition on World Oral Health Day 2014 in Lagos.

testants’ stories will be screened under certain technical criteria to shortlist nominees who will be judged by a panel of judges consisting of a celebrity judge.

They will ascertain the beneficiaries in

three categories namely severe, moderate, and mild. In each case, the beneficiary will be awarded the prize of smile make over treatment program accordingly.

‘Genomic medicine facilitates diagnostics’

I

n line with the advances that have been made in medical sciences, especially in the areas of genetics and genomic research, Lagos State Government has said it is launching into genomic medicine, which has potential to transform healthcare delivery in the state.

Commissioner for Health in Lagos, Dr. Jide Idris who announced this while flagging-off a workshop on Human Biodiversity Genome Project, held in Lagos, said, genomic medicine can provide vital insights to support accurate diagnosis of diseases and inform therapeutic deci-

sions.

According to Idris, this branch of medicine can enhance preventive care and enrich understanding of disease risks as well as enable outbreak of infectious diseases to be controlled faster.

The benefit of genomic is extremely significant because once all disease-causing genes have been identified, it will be possible to build up a data base to determine the future risk of healthy individuals to determine their risk for disease.

Idris said the workshop on Human Biodiversity Genome Project is a forum

geared to create an avenue to discuss with relevant stakeholders on the relatively new field of Genome and how Lagos could get involved and benefit from it.

Genomics is the application of specific technologies to analyse the wider sets of genetic information about the entire genome. It is the study of the vast complexity of genetic information that is responsible for forming the human being from conception and enabling man to live and interact within their environment which includes organism that may be beneficial or pathogenic.

44 HEALTH WATER SHORTAGE 1,400 children under five die each day from causes linked to lack of safe water, sanitation, and hygiene globally

A

s Nigeria joined the global community to mark the 2014 World Water Day, it has been disclosed that nearly 70 million Nigerians did not have access to safe water in 2011, making Nigeria the third ranked country globally in terms of the number of people without access to safe water.

In a statement to mark the 2014 World Water Day, UNICEF said with funding provided by European Union (UN) and UKAid, UNICEF and partners have given access to safe water to over 1.9 million people in rural areas.

According to UNICEF, this is contained in the Multi-Indicator Cluster Survey published in 2013 by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

UNICEF stated that WASH in Schools’ programme has brought safe water, sanitation and hygiene facilities to thousands of school children in Nigeria.

As part of the FGN-UNICEF WASH Program, UNICEF is strengthening capacities on appropriate choice of technology for water supply. By promoting Village Level Operation & Maintenance (VLOM) and community-

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 27, 2014

70m Nigerians lack access to safe water – UNICEF based water safety planning, UNICEF is bringing safe water to families living in some of the most under-served areas in over 20 states. “It is possible by the choice of appropriate technologies that do not rely on electricity, water facilities that are easy to operate and maintain a greater number of disadvantaged people can be provided with safe water”, said Jean Gough, UNICEF Representative. “Every child in Nigeria deserves access to safe water and thereby a chance to survive and thrive”, she concludes.

Almost four years after the world met the global target set in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for safe drinking water, and after the UN General Assembly declared that water was a human right, over three-quarters of a billion people globally, most of them poor, still do not have this basic necessity, UNICEF said.

Estimates from UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) published in 2013 are that a staggering 768 million people do not have access to safe drinking water, causing hundreds of thousands of

children to sicken and die each year. Most of the people without access are poor and live in remote rural areas or urban slums.

UNICEF estimates that globally 1,400

children under five die every day from diarrhoeal diseases linked to lack of safe water and adequate sanitation and hygiene.

Potable water

‘80 per cent eye problems avoidable’ lAirtel provides free eye tests, glasses in adopted schools

I

n line with its corporate vision of becoming the most loved brand in the daily lives of Nigerians, Airtel Nigeria, has commenced free eye screening exercise for pupils and teachers in three of its adopted schools.

The Eye Screening Programme in the company’s adopted schools involved free eye tests and the provision of glasses for hundreds of pupils and teachers in three states of the federation between the March 17 to 25.

The beneficiary schools are Community Primary School, Amumara in Imo State, St. John`s Primary School, IjebuIgbo in Ogun State and Presbyterian Primary School, Ediba, Cross River State.

Airtel’s Adopt-a-School programme is an initiative that offers underprivileged children access to quality education in environments conducive for learning while also providing them with all the materials for learning and study. In addition to these, Airtel also trains teachers of its adopted schools to ensure that high teaching quality is always maintained.

According to the telecommunication company, the eye screening test is aimed to help detect and treat conditions that may lead to amblyopia, which are refractive errors causing visual impairment and strabismus, a condition in which the eyes are not properly aligned with each other. It typically involves a lack of coordination between the extraocular muscles,

which prevents bringing the gaze of each eye to the same point in space and thus, hampers proper binocular vision.

Nigeria currently has over four million people suffering from eye problems 80 per cent of which are from avoidable causes.

Of this figure, which was obtained from the Federal Ministry of Health in 2011, one million are blind while three million are virtually impaired. It is feared that about 50 per cent of children who become blind before age five may not live to see their sixth birthday.

Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya said the exercise is critical considering the value a healthy eye brings to a man or woman and to his or her world, noting that the initiative was borne out of the company’s desire to help in building a stronger, healthier generation of achievers as enshrined in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Vision 2020 the global right-to-sight initiative.

“One of the priorities of Vision 2020 program is controlling blindness in chil-

dren. What this means is that we have to invest in eye health, and this is something Airtel is proud to be involved in across our adopted schools.

“We have seen from reports that we can actually prevent eye diseases thereby preventing a systemic and tragic situation of raising a future generation with eye defects. We believe the right thing for us to do is to arrest the causes of this medical situation by offering free test and treatment to underprivileged children,” Ogunsanya said.

Clinix Healthcare Diagnostics debuts Etaghene Edirin

I

n a bid to improve access to quality medical diagnostic services, Greenlife Pharmaceuticals and Bliss GVS Pharmaceuticals are set to launch a multimillion naira state-of-the-art diagnostic centre in Lagos state.

Both companies, which are reputable businesses in the Nigerian healthcare industry invested and brought into Nigeria, the Clinix Healthcare, which has 36 years qualitative experience in medical and diagnostic services in over 120 centres across East Africa.

According to Dr. Femi Oyedeji, Consultant Pathologist at the centre, the state-

of-the-art diagnostic centre represents a milestone in the vision of providing a world class integrated healthcare system that ensures excellence in healthcare delivery. It will pave the way to making Nigeria a globally recognised destination for healthcare delivery. The Clinix Healthcare Nigeria is the company’s first investment in West Africa.

Dr. Oyedeji said although, early detection of most diseases remains the cornerstone of treatment and control of such diseases, this has been a challenge in Nigeria due to lack of adequate, quality and well equipped diagnostic facilities.

The formal opening of the centre will take place on Thursday, March 27 at the

headquarters in Ilupeju, Lagos State.

Situated in a purpose built four-storey building in Lagos mainland, he said the centre, will be a one-stop shop for medical diagnosis including pathology, imaging, dialysis, haematology, immunology, histopathology, molecular biology, comprehensive health checks and a full operating theatre.

Guests expected at the event include the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health Dr. Yewande Adeshina, amongst others.

METRO 45

March 27, 2014

st food prices may go up in Lagos

ators begin consumption tax remittance April 15

nla

perators in Lagos State, auspices of the Associast Food Confectioners of FCON) have now agreed mption tax to the state

pment is coming despite legal tussle involving ent and the association, staurants operators. tors are challenging the of the Lagos Consumphich they said was the Value Added Tax (VAT) o the Federal Govern-

owed to the state governay after a meeting with

the management of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LISR), presided over by its Chairman, Mr Babatunde Fowler.

Speaking after the meeting, the AFFCON President, Mrs Bose Ayeni, said the operators would collaborate with the government in the collection of the consumption tax, pending the determination of the case in court.

Ayeni added that her members would start remitting the tax into the coffers of the state government on April 15.

By implication, prices of products and services may go up at various fast food joints across the state.

This is because additional taxes would be added to the prices of food items sold and services rendered by

members of the association in the state.

Ayeni said the decision to cooperate with the government was to

Fowler

demonstrate that the association was made up of law-abiding citizens, adding that the operators would serve as collection agents to the government.

She said: “What we have come here to do is to seek a compromise, a middle of the way approach to address the impasse between our association and the Lagos State Government. We actually have a case in court because as an association, we feel that a consumption tax is the same as the VAT that we are already paying to the Federal Government and this case is still in court.

“We felt that pending the determination of the case, we can start to act as the agents that they want us to be, to collect it on their behalf. But, if case is determined in our favour, then it means we will no longer collect.

“It doesn’t mean that we are trying to settle out of court, but we don’t want the government to think that we are not being cooperative and we felt it is good for us to show that we are lawabiding citizens as well.

“April 15, 2014 is the day that we have agreed to start the collection of the tax as agents of state.”

Reacting, Fowler expressed satisfaction with the development, assuring that the state would not relent in ensuring that the taxes are well utilised to provide an enabling environment for the residents of Lagos.

He reiterated that the tax was not meant to be paid by the hotel operators but by those who had come to consume at their event centres, hotels and restaurants.

to close Lateef Jakande Road

Five arrested for certificate, document forgery

nla

Juliana Francis

may have a hectic ying Lateef Jakan, Agidingbi, Ikeja, as the Lagos State said it would close

e, according to the

Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Dr Dayo Mobereola, is to enable the contractors complete the construction of underground drainage channel on WEMPCO Road in Ojodu Local Council Development Area, LCDA.

MPCO Road under construction

Drug pusher

drug

rraigned before a tent jurisdiction. ficers discovered am injections in ght by one Udoji

Chike. The luggage was meant for export to Liberia. He has accepted ownership of the drug and he will be charged to court soon after investigation.”

Commenting on the arrest, the NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, said drug trafficking was bad.

He said: “The consequences are condemnable. It affects individuals and the society at large.

“Members of the public should shun drug trafficking. The money offered by drug barons cannot wipe away the shame of being an ex-convict. Let us therefore support the anti-drug campaign.”

The road, he said, would be shut from the midnight of March 28 and would be re-opened on April 9.

Mobereola disclosed this yesterday at a stakeholders’ forum held at Ashton Gardens, Agege, on the ongoing expansion of the WEMPCO Road, Agidingbi axis into a dual carriage way.

The government had, through LAMATA, commenced the expansion works on the 1.8 kilometer WEMPCO Road two years ago to reduce the gridlock in the area.

Mobereola, who spoke through the Director of Roads and Traffic Management, Mr Funso Elulade, said the road would be closed to vehicular movement for the period to enable the contractor complete the project.

He said: “It is imperative that the entire road is closed for the contractor, Messers Arab Contractor Nigeria Limited, to complete works.

“We have decided to close the road by WEMPCO Road junction to traffic, to reduce the gridlock that this may cause. The expansion project started in 2012 and we are at 90 per cent completion and the remaining per cent is just to cross the Lateef Jakande Road.

“The essence of the drainage is to de-flood the whole of Agege Pen Cinema, Agege Local Government and Ogba, Ojodu LCDA and channel the water into Omole Phase 1 gorge in Ojodu LCDA.” Mobereola, however, disclosed that the closure would not stop movement in and out of WEMPCO Road.

P

olice have arrested five persons, Emmanuel Onyehiela, Ugorji Chibueze Ramsey, Emeka Chukwu, Chinyere Bright and Abdulazeez Sadiq, for certificate forgery.

The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) Frank Mba, said the suspects were arrested after a team of operatives attached to International Police Organisation (INTERPOL) section, Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Abuja followed a tip-off from a concerned Nigerian.

According to him, a police team had carried out discreet investigation and later swooped on the syndicate which specialises in the forgery of certificates and other sensitive documents.

The syndicate, which allegedly has its operational base at the UTC Shopping Complex, Area 10 Garki, Abuja, specialises in forging of West African Senior School Certificate (WASSCE), university degrees, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificates, land documents, certificates of incorporation, etc. According to Mba, to catch the suspects red handed, some of the policemen posed as prospective clients.

He said: “The syndicate also engages in the falsification of travel documents and driver licences among others for a fee ranging from N5,000 to N30,000, depending on the socio-economic status of their ‘client’ or the urgency of the transaction.”

Exhibits recovered from the suspects are forged copies of

Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) documents, land documents of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), University of Abuja degree and official stamps and National Pension Commission clearance certificate.

Others are a certificate purportedly issued by the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Badagry, statement of result of Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi State, Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company tickets and other sundry fake documents.

Also recovered from them are electronic equipment used in perpetrating the crime such as laptops, desktops and printers.

Mba said that the suspects had made statements to the police and would be charged to court as soon as investigation was concluded.

Three men, woman arraigned for ‘one chance’

T

hree men and a woman yesterday appeared in a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Karu, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for allegedly attempting to commit a criminal act known as “one chance”.

The accused are Obi Chinedu, Agu Pius, Maxwell Ugochukwu and Margaret Raphael, all of Gwagwa village, Abuja.

The accused were arraigned on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and attempt to cheat.

The prosecutor, Sergeant Daniel Adokpa, told the court that they were arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence

Corps (NSCDC) through a tip off from a victim of the crime.

Adokpa said they were arrested on the Airport Road Abuja, in a Toyota Starlet car with registration No. CB 323 ABC on March 3, in an attempt to carry out their act.

He said they posed as driver and passengers in the vehicle and stripped innocent Nigerians of their belongings.

Adokpa said that many innocent Nigerians had fallen victims to their dubious activities.

He said the accused confessed voluntarily at the station that they belonged to a syndicate that specialised in stealing victims’

belongings.

The offence, according to the prosecutor, contravenes sections 96 and 95 of the Penal Code.

If convicted, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), they face seven years in prison each or with fine.

After the charges were read to them, they pleaded not guilty.

The Magistrate, Mrs Jacinta Okeke, granted them bail in the sum of N200,000 and two reliable sureties each.

She ordered that one of the sureties must be a civil servant not below GL07 and adjourned the case until May 7 for further hearing.

46 BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 27, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

26-Mar-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.

Bonds

FGN Bonds Issuer

Rating/Agency

NA

NA

Description 10.75 31-MAR-2014 9.20 29-JUN-2014 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

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

31-Mar-07 29-Jun-07 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

10.75 9.20 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

35.00 45.00 100.00 535.00 327.47 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 50.00 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57

31-Mar-14 29-Jun-14 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

0.01 0.26 0.51 1.08 2.39 3.09 3.34 3.43 4.18 5.26 5.58 7.84 9.97 14.68 15.16 15.66 16.33

12.66 13.41 14.12 14.73 14.17 14.26 14.11 14.11 14.07 14.08 14.02 14.08 14.12 13.65 13.61 13.56 13.56

2.28 12.82 13.80 14.56 14.09 14.14 13.99 13.99 13.96 14.00 13.92 14.02 14.06 13.60 13.56 13.50 13.50

99.96 98.86 97.70 89.66 97.75 102.00 88.91 87.38 89.59 106.90 73.44 110.70 100.40 108.42 92.87 67.43 76.80

100.11 99.01 97.85 89.81 97.90 102.30 89.21 87.68 89.89 107.20 73.74 111.00 100.70 108.72 93.17 67.73 77.10

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

4,167.04 Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

Price

***LCRM

Description

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

#

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue 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 6.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.60 1.16 1.52 2.71 3.07 3.28

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.49 1.00

15.24 17.31 16.78 16.18 15.62 15.12

91.61 82.44 100.67 89.33 86.40 84.88

05-Aug-14 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 06-Jan-21

0.36 0.56 1.43 0.80 1.33 1.34 3.07 1.90 3.77 2.54 4.53 2.74 2.74 3.32 3.21 5.66 3.36 4.07 6.67 4.07 4.11

4.88 5.99 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 7.60 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 1.21 1.00 2.46 1.94 2.74 2.74 1.00 1.44 1.95

18.57 20.17 19.00 17.74 19.06 18.08 19.72 21.93 15.88 16.00 15.05 15.17 15.38 15.12 16.58 15.96 16.85 16.81 15.02 15.51 16.02

98.32 96.87 92.15 95.84 94.46 97.36 78.37 88.10 94.75 95.89 96.64 98.74 105.43 98.52 97.43 94.64 94.96 94.27 93.70 102.62 102.29

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

0.53 0.73 0.77 0.91 0.99 1.07 2.51 2.58 3.52 2.13 2.04 2.45 2.45 4.49 2.31 2.65 6.64

1.00 5.21 8.71 4.88 1.00 2.63 1.00 1.34 4.52 1.88 3.48 5.20 5.06 3.06 2.29 6.11 2.76

15.15 19.62 23.16 19.53 15.75 17.36 15.21 15.54 18.62 16.14 17.76 19.42 19.28 17.11 16.53 20.30 16.78

98.18 95.94 95.77 92.49 96.78 97.14 95.53 97.31 85.95 104.35 97.06 97.56 101.82 90.52 98.64 93.96 93.97

11-Feb-18

3.88

1.00

15.08

86.00

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

1,304.32

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto 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 A-/GCR

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

14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 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 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

05-Aug-09 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 06-Jan-14

14.00 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 14.50 15.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

567.90

Corporate Bonds A+/Agusto; AA/GCR Aa/Agusto Nil Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto BB+/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto A/GCR BBB-/GCR BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR A/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

17.00 6.00 8.50 16.50 13.00 18.50 57.00 50.00 25.00 50.00 9.00 20.00 12.00 27.00 20.00 80.00 30.00 11.40 87.00 5.00 5.00

UBA *LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS# NAHCO

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

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

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

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

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

11.80 13.17 2.00 15.00 37.50 1.50 15.00 5.53 20.00 0.94 8.01 3.63 1.00 35.00 3.00 0.54 2.05

175.67

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

11-Feb-13

10.20

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

12.00

12.00 Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value ($'mm)

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

5.65

5.50

106.13

107.01

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

18-Dec-09

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.76

4.56

101.40

102.17

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

01-Apr-10

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

6.01

5.88

102.55

103.45

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

Corporate Eurobonds Afren PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

3.84

3.24

113.43

114.58

GTBank PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

5.39

4.83

104.19

105.34

GTBank PLC II

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.34

6.08

98.65

99.67

B+/S&P

Access Bank PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.23

6.67

100.05

101.69

B/S&P; B/Fitch

Fidelity Bank PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.54

8.06

94.33

95.92

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

Bonds

FGN Bonds Issuer

Rating/Agency

NA

NA

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Description 10.75 31-MAR-2014 9.20 29-JUN-2014 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

Price

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

31-Mar-07 29-Jun-07 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

10.75 9.20 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

35.00 45.00 100.00 535.00 327.47 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 50.00 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

31-Mar-14 29-Jun-14 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

0.01 0.26 0.51 1.08 2.39 3.09 3.34 3.43 4.18 5.26 5.58 7.84 9.97 14.68 15.16 15.66 16.33

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

12.66 13.41 14.12 14.73 14.17 14.26 14.11 14.11 14.07 14.08 14.02 14.08 14.12 13.65 13.61 13.56 13.56

2.28 12.82 13.80 14.56 14.09 14.14 13.99 13.99 13.96 14.00 13.92 14.02 14.06 13.60 13.56 13.50 13.50

99.96 98.86 97.70 89.66 97.75 102.00 88.91 87.38 89.59 106.90 73.44 110.70 100.40 108.42 92.87 67.43 76.80

100.11 99.01 97.85 89.81 97.90 102.30 89.21 87.68 89.89 107.20 73.74 111.00 100.70 108.72 93.17 67.73 77.10

BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

47

ADB to raise N240bn from NSE –Oteh Market raises by N29 billion TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

CONFIDENCE

Rating/Agency Issuer International Corporations Agency Bonds are besieging the Nigerian AMCON Stock Exchange.

FMBN NA

***LCRM

Stories

by Chris Ugwu TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Sub-National Bonds

A

A/Agusto 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 A-/GCR

KWARA frican Development NIGER Bank plans toKADUNA raise about *EBONYI N240billion ($1.5bn) from *BENUE *IMO the capital market, the LAGOS Director General of*BAYELSA Securities EDO and Exchange Commission, Ms *DELTA NIGER Arunma Oteh has said. *EKITI *NIGER She said this at the first quar*ONDO ter Post-Centenary Capital *GOMBE MarLAGOS ket Committee media briefing *OSUN *OSUN in Lagos.

LAGOS The SEC DG also said that *EKITI *NASARAWA the capital market has recorded TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE various achievements that had Corporate Bonds made it attractive to investors.

A+/Agusto; AA/GCR LAFARGE WAPCO Aa/Agusto GTB According to her, National NGC Nil Bbb-/Agusto Commission *UPDC has inPension A-/Agusto *FLOURMILLS BB+/GCR $22billion *CHELLARAMS vested in various A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO securities in the market, while A-/Agusto FSDH A/GCR UBA the International Finance CorBBB-/GCR *C & I LEASING poration (IFC) is also interested BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *DANA A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR *TOWER in the market.

AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR *TOWER A/Agusto; Oteh,A/GCR who laudedUBA the efforts Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *LA CASERA ofBBB-/DataPro†; the capital market operators BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO and various committees in the TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE market, stated that a strong Supranational Bond regulatory framework has been AAA/S&P IFC TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUEparticiestablished for greater pation.

Rating/Agency Issuer She said: “We also believe FGN Eurobonds that Nigerians want to particiBB-/Fitch; B+/S&P pate in the privatisation of enµ

#

# #

#

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ergy sector by the Federal Government, we are expecting the Description companies to list their shares.

“Currently the market con0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 tributes 27 per cent to the Gross 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 (GDP), we Domestic Product 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 want to make it 100 per cent, as 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 we plan to introduce more products to the market, particularly 14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 derivatives.”

14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 Oteh noted that the great13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 est challenge the 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 market has 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 faced so far is the 2007 to 2009 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 financial crisis, as the market 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 capitalisation nosedived from 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 N13trillion to N7trillion during 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 the period.

15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 14.75 13.50 14.50 15.00

ONDO 14-FEB-2019 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

R

4,167.04is hope espite has continued to She added that there come the way of investors in the Nigerian capital marAvg. Life/TTM Issue Date Coupon (%) Issue Value (N'bn) Maturity Date (Yrs) as activities on the floor of ket, saying that the best is yet to come as more resources are the Nigerian Stock Exchange 28-Dec-11 0.00 978.35 31-Oct-14 0.60 24-May-10 0.00develop24.56 24-May-15again closed 1.16 (NSE) yesterday being spent on human 03-Apr-12 17.25 6.00 03-Apr-17 1.52 0.00/16.00 112.22 09-Dec-16 2.71 on positive trajectory . ment09-Dec-11 and technology .

20-Apr-12 0.00/16.50 116.70 20-Apr-17 3.07 The market capitalisation The Executive Director, Mar06-Jul-12 0.00/16.50 66.49 06-Jul-17 3.28 gained N29.46 billion or 0.24 per ket Operations of the NSE, Mr. 1,304.32 cent to close at N12.15 trillion as Ade Bajomo, said the council of 05-Aug-09 14.00 17.00 05-Aug-14 0.36 against N12.12 trillion recorded the Exchange has approved the 15-Oct-09 14.00 6.00 15-Oct-14 0.56 31-Aug-10 12.50 8.50 31-Aug-15 1.43 on Tuesday . demutualisation of the NSE. 30-Sep-10 13.00 16.50 30-Sep-15 0.80 30-Jun-11 , he said, 14.00the Ex13.00Also, the30-Jun-16 1.33 All-Share Index, Already 30-Jun-09 15.50 18.50 30-Jun-16 1.34 which opened at 37,728.50, change is seeking advice from 19-Apr-10 10.00 57.00 19-Apr-17 3.07 30-Jun-10 13.75 50.00 30-Jun-17 1.90 gained by 91.72 points or 0.24 international experts, particu30-Dec-10 14.00 25.00 31-Dec-17 3.77 30-Sep-18 2.54 at per cent to close at 37,820.22 larly30-Sep-11 from countries14.00 that have 50.00 04-Oct-11 14.00 9.00 04-Oct-18 4.53 the end of trading. demutualised their 09-Dec-11 14.50 capital 20.00 09-Dec-18 2.74 12-Dec-13 14.00 12.00 12-Dec-18 Market breadth closed2.74 flat market 14-Feb-12 15.50 27.00 14-Feb-19 3.32 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 30-Sep-13 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14

15.50 14.50 14.75 14.75 13.50 14.50 15.00

20.00 80.00 30.00 11.40 87.00 5.00 5.00

02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 30-Sep-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21

3.21 5.66 3.36 4.07 6.67 4.07 4.11

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

18-Dec-09

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.76

4.56

101.40

102.17

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

01-Apr-10

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

6.01

5.88

102.55

103.45

‘Declining reserves bane of capital market’

T

he persistent decline in the country’s foreign reserve 11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCTto 2014 has been linked why the 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 capital market is less attractive 17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 to10.00 investors.

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 14.00 CHELLARAMS Director, 06-JAN-2016 Managing Cowry 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 Asset Management Limited, 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 Mr. Jonson Chukwu said this 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 DANA 9-APR-2018 atMPR+7.00 a lecture titled “Investment MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 Instrument in Nigerian Capital MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 Market: Risks and Benefits.”

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 The forum was organised by MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 Capital Market Correspondent Association of Nigeria (CAMCAN).

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 He linked the sustainable bear run in theDescription equities market that has led to a drop of about 9 per cent in market capitalisa6.75 JAN 28, 2021 tion year to date, to decline in

FGN

with 23 gainers as well as 23 # Risk losers.

Cement Company Valuation Indicativeof Premium Yield (%) Price Northern Nigeria Plc led the (%) gainers’ chat with its share 1.00 15.24 91.61 2.63 appreciating 17.31 82.44 to price

by N0.70 2.27 16.78 100.67 2.00 at N9.4516.18 close per share.89.33 It was 1.49 15.62 86.40 followed by Ashaka Cement 1.00 15.12 84.88Plc, which gained N0.90 to close at N15.80, while Sterling Bank Plc 4.88 18.57 98.32 grew price by N0.12 5.99 its share 20.17 96.87 to 4.44 19.00 92.15 close at N2.36 per share.

3.23 17.74 95.84 4.46 the losers' 19.06 chat, 94.46 On Trans3.48 18.08 97.36 national Express Plc led, 5.59 19.72 78.37 los21.93 88.10 ing7.60 N0.12 to close at N2.37 per 1.79 15.88 94.75 1.80 It was followed 16.00 share. by95.89 Mobil 1.00 15.05 96.64 Plc,1.00 which lost N4.99 to close 15.17 98.74 at 1.21 15.38 105.43 N118.01, while Wema Bank Plc 1.00 15.12 98.52 2.46 97.43 at was down by16.58 N0.04 to close 1.94 15.96 94.64 N0.96 2.74 per share.

16.85 94.96 2.74 16.81 The Financial Services94.27 Sector 1.00 15.02 93.70 1.44 15.51 of investors 102.62 as remained the toast 1.95 16.02 102.29 Guaranty Trust Bank emerged as the most traded stock, account15.15 ing1.00 for 28.13 million shares98.18 worth 5.21 19.62 95.94 N720.67 billion at yesterday's 8.71 23.16 95.77 4.88 19.53 92.49 trading.

1.00 15.75 96.78 2.63 17.36 came second 97.14 FBN Holdings 1.00 15.21 95.53 with an exchange of 25.21 million 1.34 15.54 97.31 4.52 valued18.62 shares at N313.67 85.95 billion, 1.88 16.14 104.35 while First City Monument Bank 3.48 17.76 97.06 5.20 19.42 97.56 followed with the sale of 25.20 mil5.06 19.28 101.82 17.11 N82.66 million.

90.52 lion3.06 shares worth 2.29 16.53 98.64 In of 93.96 shares 6.11 all, the volume 20.30 2.76 16.78 93.97 traded decreased by 16.41 per cent as investors exchanged a total million 86.00 shares 1.00 of 227.65 15.08 worth N9.09 billion in 4,234 deals, as against 272.36 million Offer Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price shares valued at N3.56 billion Prices & Yields traded in 4,939 deals on Wednes5.50 106.13 107.01 day.

foreign reserve. prices, decline in crude oil pro567.90 Chukwu noted that the exter- duction and panic withdrawals 07-Oct-11 remains11.50 07-Oct-14 0.53 nal reserve a cardinal 11.80 by foreign portfolio investors,” 18-Dec-09 13.50 13.17 18-Dec-14 0.73 barometer for assessing the he said.

01-Apr-10 17.00 2.00 31-Dec-14 0.77 17-Aug-10 10.00 15.00 17-Aug-15 0.91 financial risk of an economy , Chukwu noted that the re09-Dec-10 12.00 37.50 09-Dec-15 0.99 06-Jan-11 06-Jan-16 1.07 which according to14.00 him, was 1.50 cent CBN’s increase in deposit 29-Sep-11 13.00 15.00 29-Sep-16 2.51 usually the first point money banks’ Cash Reserve 25-Oct-13 14.25 of call 5.53 25-Oct-16 2.58 30-Sep-10 portfolio 13.00 3.52 to for foreign investors 20.00 Requirement30-Sep-17 on public funds 30-Nov-12 18.00 0.94 30-Nov-17 2.13 in either the equities sector or 75 per cent obviously curtailed 09-Apr-11 16.00 8.01 09-Apr-18 2.04 09-Sep-11 18.00 3.63 09-Sep-18 2.45 in the debt instruments. their investment potentials 09-Sep-11 16.00 1.00 09-Sep-18 2.45 22-Sep-11Nigerian14.00 22-Sep-18 4.49 “The external 35.00 and ultimately their earnings 18-Oct-13 15.75 3.00 18-Oct-18 2.31 reserve currently stands at capacity .

He explained that the 17-Feb-12 17.00 0.54 17-Feb-19 2.65 14-Nov-13 15.25 14-Nov-20 USD38.07 billion from a high 2.05 increase has triggered a 6.64 cau175.67 of USD48.86 billion on the 2nd tious outlook on the banks’ eqof May 2013. This represents a 12.00 uity shares. 11-Feb-18 11-Feb-13 10.20 3.88 USD10.79 billion (or 22 per cent) 12.00Chukwu said with leaner decline in 11 months. cash for lending, banks’ lending Issue Date Coupon (%) Issue Value ($'mm) Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) Some of the responsible fac- rates remain high at about 26 tors include continued Naira per cent, which was a disincen07-Oct-11 6.75 500.00 28-Jan-21 5.65 defense, lackluster crude oil tive to real sector borrowing.

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

26-Mar-14

The FMDQEurobonds 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 Corporate 11.50 FEB 01, 2016 01-Feb-11 11.50 450.00 01-Feb-16 B-/S&P; B/Fitch Afren of PLC I 3.84 3.24 113.43 114.58 and Disclaimer Statement. the FMDQ OTC PLC Terms Use B+/S&P; B+/Fitch B+/S&P FGN Bonds

GTBank PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

GTBank PLC II

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

Access Bank PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

B/S&P; B/Fitch

Fidelity Bank PLC

B/Fitch

Afren PLC II

Rating/Agency

Issuer

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

First Bank PLC

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

Afren PLC III

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE **Treasury Bills

DTM 8 15 22 29 43 NA 50 57 64 71 85 92 99 106 113 134 141 162 TOTAL OUTSTANDING 253 288 302 316 330 Rating/Agency 344

Maturity 3-Apr-14 10-Apr-14 17-Apr-14 24-Apr-14 8-May-14 NA 15-May-14 22-May-14 29-May-14 5-Jun-14 19-Jun-14 26-Jun-14 3-Jul-14 10-Jul-14 17-Jul-14 7-Aug-14 14-Aug-14 4-Sep-14 VALUE 4-Dec-14 8-Jan-15 22-Jan-15 5-Feb-15 19-Feb-15 Issuer 5-Mar-15

Agency Bonds AMCON

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

Description

09-May-13

10.25 APR 08, 2019

Issue Date

8.25 AUG 07, 2020 6.63 DEC 09, 2020

10.75 31-MAR-2014 9.20 29-JUN-2014 9.25 28-SEP-2014 4.00 23-APR-2015 Bid Discount (%) 13.05 16-AUG-2016 12.10 12.40 15.10 27-APR-2017 12.40 9.85 27-JUL-2017 12.40 9.35 31-AUG-2017 12.50 10.70 30-MAY-2018 12.20 12.40 16.00 29-JUN-2019 12.40 7.00 23-OCT-2019 13.00 16.39 27-JAN-2022 12.45 12.75 14.20 14-MAR-2024 13.00 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.80 12.49 22-MAY-2029 13.30 8.50 20-NOV-2029 13.20 13.10 10.00 23-JUL-2030 13.15 13.00 13.20 13.25 13.20 13.20 13.35

31-Mar-07 29-Jun-07 28-Sep-07 23-Apr-10 Offer Discount (%) 16-Aug-13 11.85 12.15 27-Apr-12 12.15 27-Jul-07 12.15 31-Aug-07 12.25 30-May-08 11.95 12.15 29-Jun-12 12.15 23-Oct-09 12.75 27-Jan-12 12.20 12.50 14-Mar-14 12.75 28-Nov-08 12.55 22-May-09 13.05 20-Nov-09 12.95 12.85 23-Jul-10

Description

12.90 12.75 12.95 13.00 12.95 12.95 13.10

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1)

FMBN Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 NA **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 ***LCRM 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 #

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Sub-National Bonds

Modified Duration

KWARA Buckets NIGER KADUNA <3 *EBONYI 3<5 *BENUE >5 Market *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

5.39

4.83

104.19

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.34

6.08

98.65

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.23

6.67

100.05

6.88

10.25 Value Outstanding 8.25 (N'bn)

08-Apr-12

Coupon (%) 07-Aug-13 09-Dec-13

10.75 9.20 9.25 4.00 Bid Yield (%) 13.05 12.13 12.46 15.10 12.49 9.85 12.52 9.35 12.69 10.70 12.41 12.64 16.00 12.68 7.00 13.34 16.39 12.82 13.17 14.20 13.48 15.00 13.29 12.49 13.87 8.50 13.87 13.80 10.00

300.00

02-May-18

300.00

Maturity Date 300.00

6.63

360.00

9M

14.5454 15.2484

35.00 31-Mar-14 2,960.00 45.00 29-Jun-14 100.00 FIXINGS 28-Sep-14 535.00 NIBOR 23-Apr-15 327.47 16-Aug-16 Tenor Rate (%) CALL 10.7500 452.80 27-Apr-17 720.00 DAYS 11.0000 27-Jul-17 30 DAYS 11.3750 100.00 31-Aug-17 60 DAYS 11.7083 300.00 30-May-18 90 DAYS 11.9583 180 DAYS 12.2083 351.30 29-Jun-19 365 DAYS 12.5417 233.90 23-Oct-19 600.00 27-Jan-22 NITTY 14-Mar-24 50.00 Tenor Rate (%) 75.00 28-Nov-28 1M 12.6279 150.00 22-May-29 2M 12.8665 200.00 20-Nov-29 3M 13.0294 6M 14.1480 591.57 23-Jul-30

13.97 14.29 14.73 14.88 14.90 14.99 Issue Date 15.27

12M 4,167.04

Coupon (%)

NIFEX

Issue Value (N'bn)

Current Price ($/N) BID($/N) 164.8175 OFFER ($/N) 164.9175

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

*from the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not24-MAY-2015 the duration 0.00 FMB

A/Agusto 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

Bonds

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

978.35 24.56 6.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

08-Apr-19

TTM (Yrs) 07-Aug-20 09-Dec-20

8.54 5.24

Bid Yield (%) 7.30 6.39

0.01 12.66 0.26 13.41 0.51 Money Market14.12 1.08 14.73 Tenor Rate (%) 2.39 14.17 OBB 10.25 3.09 14.26 3.34 14.11 O/N 10.50 3.43 REPO 14.11 4.18 14.07 Tenor Rate (%) Call 10.25 5.26 14.08 1M 11.25 5.58 14.02 3M 11.92 7.84 14.08 6M 12.17 9.97 14.12 13.65 NOTE: 14.68 15.16 13.61 :Benchmarks 15.66 Bond 13.56 * :Amortising µ :Convertible Bond 16.33 13.56

8.06

Offer4.64 Yield 6.86 (%) 6.09

94.33

105.34 99.67

Price

114.09

101.69 95.92 115.36

Bid Price

Offer Price

100.91

102.15

103.48

105.16

2.28 99.96 100.11 12.82 98.86 99.01 13.80 97.70 97.85 Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) 14.56 89.66 89.81 14.09 97.75 97.90 Tenor Bid ($/N) Offer ($/N) 14.14 102.00 102.30 Spot 164.80 164.90 13.99 88.91 89.21 7D 165.08 165.35 13.99 87.38 87.68 14D 165.34 165.72 13.96 89.59 89.89 1M 165.94 166.69 2M 167.11 168.47 14.00 106.90 107.20 3M 168.22 171.47 13.92 73.44 73.74 6M 171.83 176.46 14.02 110.70 111.00 1Y 178.85 188.54 14.06 100.40 100.70 13.60 108.42 108.72 13.56 92.87 93.17 NA :Not Applicable 13.50 67.43 Rate Bond 67.73 # :Floating ***: Deferred coupon bonds 13.50 76.80 77.10

AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria IFC: International Finance Corporation # Risk LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management Avg. Life/TTM NAHCO: Nigerian Company Maturity DateAviation Handling Premium (Yrs) NGC: Nigeria-German Company (%) UBA: United Bank for Africa UPDC: UAC Property Development Company WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company

†: Bond rating expired

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

0.60 1.16 1.52 2.71 3.07 3.28

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.49 1.00

15.24 17.31 16.78 16.18 15.62 15.12

91.61 82.44 100.67 89.33 86.40 84.88

% Exposure_ 05-Aug-14 Mod_Duration

Implied 0.36Yield

Implied 4.88 Price Portfolio

INDEX 18.57

YTD Return 98.32 (%)

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX 1,304.32 Porfolio Market

14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 Value(Bn) 14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 12.50 KADUNA 1,261.62 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 1,039.74 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 454.32 2,755.69 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

Total Outstanding Volume(Bn)

1,315.27 951.30 591.57 2,858.14

Weighting by 05-Aug-09Vol Outstanding

15-Oct-09 31-Aug-1046.02 30-Sep-1033.28 30-Jun-1120.70 30-Jun-09 100.00 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

Weighting by Mkt 14.00 Value

14.00 12.50 45.78 13.00 37.73 14.00 16.49 15.50100.00 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50

Bucket Weighting 17.00

6.00 8.50 16.50 13.00 18.50 57.00 50.00 25.00 50.00 9.00 20.00 12.00 27.00 20.00 80.00

0.46 0.33 0.21 1.00

15-Oct-14 31-Aug-1522.31 30-Sep-1538.32 30-Jun-1639.37 30-Jun-16 100.00 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

0.56 1.4313.07 0.8014.08 1.3313.56 1.3413.65 3.07 1.90 3.77 2.54 4.53 2.74 2.74 3.32 3.21 5.66

5.99 4.44 100.7327 3.23 117.6068 4.46 83.5861 3.48 102.8001 5.59 7.60 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 1.21 1.00 2.46 1.94

20.17 19.00 1,018.96 17.74 995.85 19.06 1,011.88 18.08 1,000.39 19.72 21.93 15.88 16.00 15.05 15.17 15.38 15.12 16.58 15.96

-

96.87 92.15 1.8960 95.84 0.4151 94.46 1.1877 97.36 0.0387 78.37 88.10 94.75 95.89 96.64 98.74 105.43 98.52 97.43 94.64

48 BUSINESS | MONEY LINE

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Sterling Bank’s earnings rise by 33% to N91.6bn Proposes 25k dividend

EFFICIENCY At a time earnings are dwindling in the industry, Sterling Bank is growing its earnings and raising shareholders’ dividend

forthcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM), the bank is rewarding shareholders with a dividend of 25 kobo per share.

This translates to some 25 per cent increase over the 20 kobo declared in the previous year.

Gross earnings rode on the back of a 24 per cent and 31 per cent growth in non-interest income and interest income respectively to N91.6 billion. Noninterest income, which rose to N21.7 billion as against N15.3 billion in 2012 was largely due to a 139 per cent increase in trading income in addition to a 46 per cent increase in fees and commission; while Interest income rose to N70.0billion compared with N53.5 billion in 2012, driven by a 39 per cent increase in gross loans and advances to N328.7 billion.

As a demonstration of confidence in the bank, deposits rose 23 per cent to N570.5 billion as against N466.8 billion. This, according to the bank, also reflects progress in the execution of its retail strategy.

Sterling Bank’s total assets including contingent liabilities increased by 28 per cent to N909.4 billion compared with N708.2 billion in 2012, while

Ayodele Aminu

S

terling Bank Plc has posted an impressive performance in its 2013 operations, with gross earnings rising by 33 per cent, from N68.9billion to N91.6billion.

Similarly, the net profit leapt by 24 per cent, from N7.5 billion to N9.3 billion, placing the lender as one of the best-performing banks in a period characterised by lower earnings arising from regulatory policy changes during the year.

Audited report and accounts of Sterling Bank for the year ended December 31, 2013 released at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday, showed robust growths in incomes and profitability as well as improvements in assets quality and returns.

And subject to the approval of its shareholders at the

Shareholders’ funds grew by 36.1 per cent to N63.5 billion as against N46.6billion due to profit accretion and net proceeds of N12.1 billion from the Rights Issue.

In the same breadth, asset quality improved significantly with non-performing loan ratio down to 2.1per cent from 3.8per cent in 2012 notwithstanding a 40per cent growth in loans and advances.

Immediately these results were announced yesterday, the bank's the share price grew by 12kobo close at N2.36 per share.

Speaking on the results, Managing Director/CEO, Sterling Bank, Mr. Yemi Adeola, said: “Our performance for the

W

ith an estimated combined annual revenue of about N500 billion by 2015, Lagos and Rivers States are expected to make annual expenditure on infrastructure of N200 billion and N250 billion respectively to attract more in-

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

Description

TTM

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

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

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

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

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

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

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)

2013 financial year highlights our underlying institutional strength, with top-line revenues increasing by 33 per cent to N91.6 billion, despite the pressure on earnings arising from regulatory policy changes during the year. Operating income

Lagos, Rivers' infrastructure investment to hit N450bn –Fitch

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

Adeola

increased 41 per cent resulting in an Improvement in cost-toincome ratio to 69 per cent from 81 per cent in 2012.

“Overall, our bottom line remained strong with 24% growth in profit before tax to N9.3 billion. In spite of the challenging operating environment, we grew our loan portfolio to N321.7 billion (2012: N229.4 billion), resulting in a 22 per cent increase in total assets. Asset quality improved significantly with non-performing loan ratio down to 2.1 per cent from 3.8 per cent in 2012 notwithstanding a 40 per cent growth in loans and advances. We also gained traction in our retail drive with an active customer base exceeding one million resulting in 23 per cent growth in deposits.”

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

vestors, Fitch Ratings has said.

Lagos and Rivers States have continued to have the same rating as the sovereign, and Fitch Ratings has been active in the area of Nigerian sub-nationals, issuing four reports on March 21 2014, Fitch reaffirmed the BB- long term ratings of Lagos and Rivers States, and the B+ rating of Kaduna States. It has withdrawn the rating of Akwa Ibom States, citing the state government’s non-participation in the process and its (Fitch’s) resulting paucity of information.

Lagos, as well documented, is the leading state in the federation in terms of internally

generated revenue, having achieved N200billion in 2010 according to Fitch, and is projected by the agency to reach N400billion in 2015, equivalent to 80 per cent of total revenue.

On this projection, analysts at the FBN Capital said it is not clear such projection made allowance for federal government's directive of employment of fiscal agents.

"We are not clear if the projection for Lagos makes allowances for the Federal Government of Nigeria ruling that state governments cannot employ fiscal agents to collect revenue on their behalf," stated the analysts.

FG plans to open transport industry to private investment

T

he Federal Government will reduce state control of its transport industry to help ease dependence on crude oil and attract investment in freight rail to move grain and limestone, the country’s privatization agency said.

According to Bloomberg news, eight reform bills drawn up to lift restrictions on private ownership of transport infrastructure, including ports and waterways, have been put before the cabinet, with four already approved and sent for consideration by lawmakers, Benjamin Dikki, director general of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), said in a March 21 interview in Abuja.

“The plan is to create an en-

abling environment for private sector investments to thrive,” Dikki said. “We’ve seen the reforms succeed in the power sector so it tells us we’re on track.”

Nigeria handed control of 15 former state-owned power suppliers to new owners including Munich, Germany-based Siemens AG and Korea Electric Power Corp. last year, marking the start of a market-driven electricity industry in Africa’s second-biggest economy. Johannesburg-based MTN Group Limited. (MTN) and India’s Bharti Airtel Limited were among foreign owners of the country’s biggest mobile-phone companies, after telecommunications was also opened up to private investment.

Daily Summary as of 26/03/2014 Printed 26/03/2014 14:35:38.038

Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board EQTY FINANCIAL SERVICES Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AFRICAN ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. OASIS INSURANCE PLC PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Symbol AFRINSURE AIICO CONTINSURE CORNERST GNI INTENEGINS LASACO MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM OASISINS PRESTIGE STACO UNITYKAP WAPIC

No. of Deals 1 36 5 4 3 13 1 3 1 13 6 6 1 2 39 134

Current Price 0.50 0.77 0.99 0.50 0.50 0.56 0.50 2.08 0.50 0.73 0.54 0.55 0.50 0.50 0.74

Quantity Traded 1,000 5,005,413 521,000 144,413 650,000 1,130,000 1,000 30,600 1,000 546,573 2,380,000 728,087 11,341 520 1,577,482 12,728,429

Value Traded 500.00 3,878,075.43 515,740.00 72,206.50 325,000.00 625,800.00 500.00 64,392.00 500.00 397,887.99 1,285,200.00 400,867.85 5,670.50 260.00 1,139,209.39 8,711,809.66

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.76

Quantity Traded 2,706 2,706

Value Traded 2,137.74 2,137.74

Symbol

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded 29,500 5,000

Value Traded 14,750.00 2,500.00

BUSINESS | CAPITAL MARKET 49

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 27, 2014

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at March 26, 2014

Daily Summary as of 26/03/2014

Printed 26/03/2014 14:35:38.038

Daily Summary (Bonds) Activity Summary on Board DEBT Federal

Bond Name 15.10% FGN APR 2017 Federal Totals

Symbol FG9B2017S2

DEBT Board Totals

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 102.85

1

Bond Activity Totals

1

Quantity Traded 100 100

100

Daily Summary as of 26/03/2014 Micro-Finance Banks Printed 26/03/2014 14:35:38.038 NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals

Value Traded 109,155.39 109,155.39

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

109,155.39

100

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

109,155.39

PublishedFINANCIAL

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © SERVICES

Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Cropas Production Totals Daily Summary of 26/03/2014

Printed 26/03/2014 14:35:38.038 Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

AGRICULTURE Totals

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 1 1 31 33

Current Price 0.50 42.00 40.10

Quantity Traded 20,000 50 399,024 419,074

Value Traded 10,000.00 1,995.00 16,114,308.40 16,126,303.40

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 49 49

Current Price 3.27

Quantity Traded 2,553,171 2,553,171

Value Traded 8,152,751.50 8,152,751.50

2,972,245

24,279,054.90

Daily Summary (Equities)

82

CONGLOMERATES

Symbol AGLEVENT TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 6 176 42 224

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

Current Price 1.40 3.65 59.36

224

Quantity Traded Page 63,296 14,952,446 119,573 15,135,315

1Value Traded of 12 88,614.40 55,552,345.79 6,979,080.97 62,620,041.16

15,135,315

62,620,041.16

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 27 27

Current Price 1.39

Quantity Traded 179,891 179,891

Value Traded 254,400.22 254,400.22

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

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 26 26

Current Price 71.25

Quantity Traded 57,806 57,806

Value Traded 3,913,103.64 3,913,103.64

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

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 15 15

Current Price 20.00

Quantity Traded 130,701 130,701

Value Traded 2,633,319.95 2,633,319.95

368,398

6,800,823.81

Current Price 181.00 24.29

Quantity Traded 103,929 340,681

Value Traded 18,282,230.12 8,256,318.49

Daily Summary as of 26/03/2014 Printed 26/03/2014 14:35:38.038

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL Activity Summary on BREWERIES Board EQTYPLC. CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

68 Symbol No. of Deals Daily Summary (Equities) GUINNESS 41 INTBREW 19

Page

2

of

Symbol NB

No. of Deals 166 226

Current Price 151.00

Quantity Traded 1,083,685 1,528,295

Value Traded 163,756,341.06 190,294,889.67

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

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 14 14

Current Price 90.00

Quantity Traded 26,658 26,658

Value Traded 2,357,904.07 2,357,904.07

Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC UNION DICON SALT PLC. U T C NIG. PLC. Food Products Totals

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR MULTITREX NASCON UNIONDICON UTC

No. of Deals 34 85 48 21 1 8 1 4 202

Current Price 8.90 9.72 67.25 3.70 0.50 12.00 14.14 0.54

Quantity Traded 978,422 2,028,716 217,106 390,200 20 246,205 100 107,366 3,968,135

Value Traded 8,680,295.00 19,685,983.79 13,953,469.38 1,442,864.81 10.00 2,936,015.05 1,344.00 58,015.98 46,757,998.01

Symbol

No. of Deals 72 124 196

Current Price 78.00 1,000.11

Quantity Traded 194,673 6,471,129 6,665,802

Value Traded 14,245,393.18 6,470,549,169.12 6,484,794,562.30

No. of Deals 20

Current Price 4.25

Quantity Traded 533,000

Value Traded 2,255,086.58

Daily Summary as of 26/03/2014 Printed 26/03/2014 14:35:38.038

Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals

Household Durables Activity Summary on Board EQTY VITAFOAM NIG PLC.

CONSUMER GOODS Household Durables VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

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

Daily Summary (Equities) CADBURY NESTLE

Symbol VITAFOAM

Symbol VONO Symbol PZ UNILEVER

Page

No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 2 1.66 800 22 533,800 No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 53 31.11 470,313 21 45.50 24,340 74 494,653

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC Daily Summary as of 26/03/2014 STERLING BANK PLC. Printed 26/03/2014 14:35:38.038 UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC

734

3

of

UNHOMES

Page

Current Price

Quantity Traded 34,500

Value Traded 17,250.00

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

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 77 24 436 105 16 100 758

Current Price 2.90 2.01 12.44 3.28 21.00 2.49

Quantity Traded 3,656,604 516,780 25,214,072 25,200,816 904,990 5,450,781 60,944,043

Value Traded 10,520,580.41 1,040,640.56 303,414,487.20 84,195,980.98 19,001,579.90 13,564,024.17 431,737,293.22

177,444,612

1,814,780,447.85

Quantity Traded 5,140 815,250 49,077 209,755 74,400 1,153,622

Value Traded 10,845.40 2,317,851.10 3,435,823.82 410,780.85 107,880.00 6,283,181.17

1,153,622

6,283,181.17

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY BAKER NIGERIA PLC. Daily Summary as&of 26/03/2014 NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Printed 26/03/2014 14:35:38.038 Pharmaceuticals Totals HEALTHCARE Totals

2,416 Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH

No. of Deals 2 22 15 14 5 58

Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 2.22 2.99 70.00 1.97 1.52

58

Activity Summary on Board EQTY INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. Building Materials Totals

Page Current Price 15.80 9.60 45.00 9.45 230.00 1.90 4.10 110.60

Quantity Traded 1,153,863 34,483 205,966 489,978 697,549 3,000 50,000 1,181,812 3,816,651

Value Traded 17,829,992.12 316,912.20 8,368,468.92 4,563,442.83 160,430,645.06 5,430.00 212,470.00 130,777,296.65 322,504,657.78

Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 6 6

Current Price 2.07

Quantity Traded 80,000 80,000

Value Traded 160,900.00 160,900.00

Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 8 8

Current Price 18.15

Quantity Traded 188,375 188,375

Value Traded 3,408,574.69 3,408,574.69

4,085,026

326,074,132.47 Value Traded 729,550.00 729,550.00

OIL AND GAS Daily Summary asEquipment of 26/03/2014 Energy and Services Printed 26/03/2014 14:35:38.038 JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals Integrated Oil and Gas Services

253 Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 14 14

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,459,100 1,459,100

Symbol

No. of Deals

Current Price

Quantity Traded

Daily Summary (Equities)

Page

OIL AND GAS Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals 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

12

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded ACCESS 160 7.49 12,255,000 DIAMONDBNK 86 6.30 2,302,096 ETI 61 13.31 990,741 FIDELITYBK 107 2.20 6,443,322 GUARANTY 299 25.62 28,129,047 SKYEBANK 114 3.69 6,648,265 STERLNBANK 93 2.36 12,085,674 UBA 199 7.05 13,693,943 UBN 57 10.00 613,194 UNITYBNK 1 0.50 5,000 WEMABANK 33 0.96 2,333,797 DailyZENITHBANK Summary (Equities) 309 19.70 18,234,855

Value Traded 90,263,143.38 14,467,712.98 13,189,653.81 14,162,185.83 723,246,749.20 24,437,451.09 28,077,021.74 95,862,265.05 6,154,513.51 2,500.00 2,252,334.69 362,196,425.95

SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals Daily Summary as of 26/03/2014 Courier/Freight/Delivery Printed 26/03/2014 14:35:38.038

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

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services

Value Traded 1,374,311,957.23

No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded

Value Traded

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol

Micro-Finance Banks MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Published by NPF The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Micro-Finance Banks Totals Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC

12

Current Price 17.56

Quantity Traded 3,161,231 3,161,231

Value Traded 55,810,032.53 55,810,032.53

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 14 7 60 32 1 21 135

Current Price 51.90 3.83 92.00 118.01 54.44 159.00

Quantity Traded 20,060 56,720 157,342 89,493 10 88,718 412,343

Value Traded 989,158.60 210,660.80 13,994,905.60 10,716,507.76 517.20 13,827,234.60 39,738,984.56

5,032,674

96,278,567.09

314 Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 1.35

Quantity Traded 58,600 58,600

Value Traded 75,594.00 75,594.00

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 4 9 13

Current Price 4.47 2.37

Quantity Traded 111,590 200,000 311,590

Value Traded 497,989.50 474,000.00 971,989.50

Daily Summary (Equities)

SERVICES Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Page

9

of

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 990,000 990,000

Value Traded 495,000.00 495,000.00

Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 0.60

Quantity Traded 112,000 112,000

Value Traded 68,476.86 68,476.86

Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC STUDIO PRESS (NIG) PLC. UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA STUDPRESS UPL

No. of Deals 3 1 1 5 10

Current Price 1.80 1.64 2.40 3.67

Quantity Traded 1,500 105,849 1,500 1,342,671 1,451,520

Value Traded 2,565.00 173,592.36 3,420.00 4,927,602.57 5,107,179.93

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 15 15

Current Price 0.90

Quantity Traded 5,012,000 5,012,000

Value Traded 4,510,600.00 4,510,600.00

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 6 27 33

Current Price 2.60 5.25

Quantity Traded 38,459 263,682 302,141

Value Traded 95,717.50 1,384,754.28 1,480,471.78

84

8,237,851

12,709,312.07

4,233

227,647,086

9,092,014,468.33

Quantity Traded 7,000 7,000

Value Traded 9,170.00 9,170.00

7,000

9,170.00

Daily Summary as of 26/03/2014 Printed 26/03/2014 14:35:38.038 Transport-Related Services

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

SERVICES Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

12

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

12

Page

Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol AFRINSURE AIICO CONTINSURE CORNERST GNI INTENEGINS LASACO MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM OASISINS PRESTIGE STACO UNITYKAP WAPIC

No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 1 0.50 1,000 36 0.77 5,005,413 5 0.99 521,000 4 0.50 144,413 3 0.50 650,000 13 0.56 1,130,000 1 0.50 1,000 3 2.08 30,600 1 0.50 1,000 13 0.73 546,573 6 0.54 2,380,000 6 0.55 728,087 1 0.50 11,341 2 0.50 520 39 0.74 1,577,482 134 12,728,429

Value Traded 500.00 3,878,075.43 515,740.00 72,206.50 325,000.00 625,800.00 500.00 64,392.00 500.00 397,887.99 1,285,200.00 400,867.85 5,670.50 260.00 1,139,209.39 8,711,809.66

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 3 0.76 2,706Page 3 2,706

Value Traded 5 2,137.74 of 12 2,137.74

Symbol ASOSAVINGS

No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 1 0.50 29,500

Value Traded 14,750.00

10

of

12

Activity Summary on Board ASeM CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC Food Products Totals

Symbol MCNICHOLS

No. of Deals 1 1

CONSUMER GOODS Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY FINANCIAL SERVICES Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AFRICAN ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. OASIS INSURANCE PLC PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

of

No. of Deals 165 165

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

EQTY Board Totals

No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 1,519 103,734,934

Value Traded 8

Symbol OANDO

OIL AND GAS Totals

6,742,188,907.81

Symbol

12

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Value Traded 14,640,399.06 1,086,804.12 15,727,203.18

of

of

No. of Deals 62 6 33 30 47 1 6 54 239

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Value Traded 1,264.00 2,256,350.58

4

7

Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM PAINTCOM PORTPAINT WAPCO

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

13,217,343

Page

12

No. of Deals 2

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Daily Summary as of 26/03/2014 Activity Summary on Board EQTY Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Printed 26/03/2014 14:35:38.038 FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking Banking Totals

of

Symbol

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

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Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Diversified Industries Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

Daily Summary (Equities) ASOSAVINGS

Current Price 1.37

1

ASeM Board Totals

1

7,000

9,170.00

Equity Activity Totals

4,234

227,654,086

9,092,023,638.33

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

Name NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF)

Daily Summary as of 26/03/2014 VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Printed 26/03/2014 Exchange14:35:38.038 Traded Fund Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Symbol NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 3 4

Daily Summary (ETP)

Current Price 2,100.00 16.98

Quantity Traded 100 17,950 18,050

Page

Value Traded 210,000.00 304,791.00 514,791.00

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ETF Board Totals

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18,050

514,791.00

ETP Activity Totals

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50 WORLD | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Ukraine crisis: West draws battle line with Russia Sylva Okereke

with Agency Report

R

ussia and the West drew a tentative line under the Ukraine crisis, after U.S. President, Barack Obama and his allies insisted on damaging economic sanctions, unless Moscow goes beyond the seizure of Crimea.

Describing Russia as a “regional power” and not the biggest national security threat to the United States, Obama said Russian forces would not be removed militarily from Crimea, but the annexation of the Black Sea region was not a “done deal” because the international community would not recognize it.

“It is up to Russia to act responsibly and show itself once again to be willing to abide by international norms and, if it fails to do so, there will be some costs,” he told a news conference at the end of a nuclear security summit in Hague.

After scoffing at a decision by

Obama and his Western allies to boycott a planned Group of Eight summit in Sochi in June and hold a G7 summit without Russia instead, the Kremlin said it was keen to maintain contact with G8 partners.

“The Russian side continues to be ready to have such contacts at all levels, including the top level.

We are interested in such contacts,” President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov told Interfax news agency.

Obama said he was concerned at the possibility of further Russia’s “encroachment” into Ukraine and believed Putin was still “making a series of calculations”. He insisted Russian speakers faced no threat in the country, contrary to Moscow’s assertions.

He urged Putin to let Ukrainians choose their own destiny free from intimidation, saying he was sure they would opt for good relations with both the European Union and Moscow, rather than making a zero-sum choice for one against the other.

“Russia is a regional power that is threatening some of its immediate neighbours, not out of strength, but out of weakness,” Obama said.

“We (the United States have considerable influence on our neighbours. We generally don’t need

to invade them in order to have a strong cooperative relationship with them.”

Asked what was to stop a further Russian “land grab”, the U.S. President drew a distinction between an attack on members

People walk down Main Street past snow covered tables and chairs during a snowstorm yesterday in Hyannis, Massachusetts.

An early spring storm brought high winds and some snow accumulation, with blizzard conditions expected to last throughout the morning.

Search for Flight 370 resumes amid uncertainties

T

he desperate, multinational hunt for Flight 370 resumed yesterday across a remotestretch of the Indian Ocean, after fierce winds and high waves that forced a day-long halt eased considerably.

A total of 12 planes and five ships from the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand were participating in the search, hoping to find even a single piece of the Malaysia Airlines jet that could offer tangible evidence of a crash.

Malaysia announced earlier this week that a mathematical analysis of the final known satellite signals from the plane showed that, it had crashed in the sea, taking the lives of all 239 people on board.

The new data greatly reduced the search zone, but it remains huge, an area estimated at 1.6 million square kilometers, about the size of Alaska.

“We are throwing everything we have at this search,” Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott told Nine Network television yesterday.

“This is about the most inaccessible spot imaginable. It’s thousands of kilometers from anywhere,” he told Seven Network television, vowing that “we will do what we can to solve this riddle.”

In Beijing, some families held out a glimmer of hope their loved ones might somehow have survived.

About two-thirds of the miss-

ing were Chinese and their relatives have lashed out at Malaysia for essentially declaring their family members dead without any physical evidence of the plane’s remains.

Many also believe that the Malaysian officials have not been transparent or swift in communicating information with them about the status of the search.

Wang Chunjiang, whose brother was on the plane, said he felt “very conflicted.”

“We want to know the truth, but we are afraid the debris of the plane should be found,” he said while waiting at a hotel near the Beijing airport for a meeting with Malaysian officials. “If they find debris, then our last hope would be dashed. We will not have even

the slightest hope.”

China, which now has Chinese warships and an icebreaker in the search zone, has been intent on supporting the interests of the Chinese relatives of passengers, backing their demands for detailed information on how Malaysia concluded the jet went down in the southern Indian Ocean.

Bin Laden’s son-in-law found guilty of conspiracy against US

O

sama bin Laden’s son-inlaw was yesterday found guilty of conspiring to kill Americans as well as providing material supports to terrorists, one of the most prominent al Qaeda operatives to be convicted in a U.S. civilian court.

The conviction of Sulaiman Abu Ghaith is another notch for federal terrorism prosecutors, who have battled criticism in recent years, that they were illequipped to handle high-stakes terrorism cases and that military commissions were better suited for the task.

The 12-member anonymous jury came to the decision in Manhattan federal court, after deliberating for just a day. The three-week trial and successful conviction stand in contrast to the military commissions handling the cases of detainees

of NATO, covered by its Article V mutual defense clause and on non-members, where the West could apply international pressure, shine a spotlight on those states and provide economic support.

at Guantanamo. Those trials have crawled along at a slow pace and at least two convictions have been challenged successfully in federal appeal courts.

Relatives of 9/11 victims and military commission terrorism prosecutors were among those who turned up at various points to observe the proceedings.

Mr. Abu Ghaith, a little known Kuwaiti preacher, who joined al Qaeda’s fold in June 2001 during a visit to Afghanistan was tapped by bin Laden to be al Qaeda’s official spokesman, just hours after the September 11, 2001 attacks, according to Mr. Abu Ghaith, who made a surprise decision to take the stand in his own defense.

The preacher and religious scholar provided al Qaeda one skill that Bin Laden and his

other top lieutenants lacked a knack for fiery oration.

Still, Mr. Abu Ghaith’s case wasn’t cut and dry. On one hand, as Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Ferrara said in his closing arguments, Mr. Abu Ghaith “was literally the face of al Qaeda” in the immediate aftermath of 9/11.

Witnesses and Mr. Abu Ghaith recounted during the trial how he had gone to Afghanistan in June 2001 to see for himself how Islamic rule under the Taliban was shaping up. Bin Laden summoned him and asked him to preach to al Qaeda recruits in some of the camps.

Then, just hours after the 9/11 attacks, Bin Laden summoned Mr. Abu Ghaith to his mountain redoubt two or three hours outside Kabul, Mr. Abu Ghaith testified.

Hunt for Ugandan warlord hots up

S

pecial operations team will be used in Central African Republic, Congo and Sudan as US steps up actions to arrest the Ugandan warlord, Joseph Kony.

A US military detachment being sent to Uganda will also be used in parts of Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, the White House confirmed, after announcing its second deployment of special operations forces in Africa within a week.

At least four CV-22 Ospreys, a tilt-rotor aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing, are being sent with 150 special operations airmen to assist in the hunt for members of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).

The escalating pursuit of Joseph Kony, the fugitive leader of the LRA accused of scores of massacres, comes just days after the White House also deployed US navy Seals in North Africa to capture an oil tanker taken by Libyan rebels.

White House officials stressed that the Ugandan assistance was an evolution in its existing support for the fight against the LRA, and not a sign of greater military involvement in the region.

Adesokan targets 2016 paralympics ticket in Dubai Emmanuel Tobi

N

igeria and world paralympics record holder, Yakubu Adesokan, reiterated his determination to secure an automatic ticket for the 2016 Paralympics in Rio, Brazil as Team Nigeria storm United Arab

Emirates for the International Paralympics Committee Powerlifting World Championship billed to hold between April 5 and 11in Dubai.

The powertlifter became very famous after his feat at the London 2012 Paralympics where he won gold medal and set a new

SPORT

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

51

world record in the Men’s 48kg powerlifting event with 180kg.

The 34-year-old athlete is among Team Nigeria’s athletes camping in Oluyole in Oyo State ahead of the IPC World Championship which serves as a qualifier for the CONTINUED ON PAGE 55

Did you know?

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/sports

That England’s Geoff Hurst is the only player in World Cup history to net a hat trick in the final, the first of his three goals against West Germany in 1966 coming in the 18th minute

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

thursday, march 27, 2014

Brazil: Wing play can take Eagles to semis –Babangida Charles Ogundiya

A

Ahmed Musa (right), one of Super Eagles wingers

Babangida

former Nigeria winger, Tijani Babangida, believes the Super Eagles can go as far as the semifinals of the 2014 World Cup but only if the team’s coach, Stephen Keshi, lays emphasis on wing play.

Nigeria surprised the world in her debut World Cup appearance in 1994 with a unique pattern of play with emphasis on the wings, where the likes of Finidi George and Emmanuel Amunike held sway, and were seconds away from reaching the quarterfinals before losing to Italy in the round of 16.

Due to a lack of skillful wingers, successive Nigerian teams over the years have laid lesser emphasis on wing play. But as the World Cup approaches, Babangida has called on Keshi to revert back to a style of play that worked so well in the past.

Speaking with New Telegraph, Babangida said; “What happened was that most coaches coming to Nigeria were not used to operating from the wings. But I think Keshi, who was part of the team that used the system sucCONTINUED ON PAGE 55

Blame me for Man United decline –Moyes

Iheanacho, Success lead Flying Eagles

‘Don’t put Flamingoes under pressure’

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52 SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Bayern Munich: Bundesliga champions in numbers Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich record (including Champions League, German Cup, Super Cup, Club World Cup) Played Won Drawn Lost For Against 42 38 3 1 122 22 like two points dropped for Bayern as they entered stoppage time with the score 1-1. But Thiago Alcantara’s last-gasp goal made it 10 straight league wins for the leaders.

They said what?

“There’s never a good time to play this Bayern Munich team because - and I remember thinking this last year - they are truly a team without a weakness.” - Former Benfica and Newcastle manager Graeme

E

uropean and German champions Bayern Munich have continued their dominance over everyone in their path this season.

The Bavarians, who could still defend their treble, won the Bundesliga table with a record seven games to spare by defeating Hertha Berlin 3-1 on Tuesday.

Souness.

“Pep Guardiola is another thing entirely; living football becomes contagious.” - Barcelona’s ex-Liverpool player Javier Mascherano.

“Joining Bayern was the best decision of my life. I’m certain this team can enjoy a lot more fun and success in the years to come.”

- Bayern’s Brazilian defender Dante.

“It’s still a bit cold outdoors in March, but everyone can see we’re on fire and determined to win every match,” Bayern’s goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

Pep Guardiola has yet to lose a league match since taking over in the summer - in fact, Bayern have not suffered a Bundesliga defeat in 18 months.

BBC Sport, with the help of Opta, takes a look at the records Bayern have broken - and the ones they are still chasing.

Records 7 - Bayern have won the Bundesliga title with a record seven games to spare. The previous record was the six games left that Bayern won the title with last year.

10 - Bayern have won their last 10 away matches in the league. The old record was nine - again, set by them last season.

19 - Bayern Munich have won their last 19 games - a Bundesliga record. The previous record was 15, set by Bayern in 2005.

Bayern’s 2013-14 Bundesliga record Played Won Drawn 27 25 2 19 - They have scored two goals or more in each of their last 19 wins - also a league record.

24 -This is Bayern Munich’s 24th German (and West German) title, another record.

25 - Bayern have won 25 matches in the Bundesliga this season. The record is 29, set by them last year.

25 March - Bayern Munich have clinched the earliest league title in Bundesliga history.

They took until 6 April to do it last year - the previous record.

27 - Bayern’s 27-game unbeaten run to start a Bundesliga season is also a record. Bayer Leverkusen’s 24 at the start of 2009-10 was the old landmark. If they see the season out unbeaten, they will break AC Milan’s record of 58 games (1991 to 1993) for Europe’s top-five leagues.

27 - Bayern manager Pep Guardiola, appointed in the summer, has not lost in his first 27 matches in the Bundesliga. Kaiserslautern’s Karl-Heinz Feldkamp (1978-79) had the old record with 14.

52 - Bayern Munich have not lost in 52 Bundesliga matches, a run going back to October 2012. Hamburg had the old record of 36 games unbeaten in 1982 and 1983.

77 - Bayern are on 77 points. The record for a Bundesliga season is 91 (set by Bayern last year). They can finish on 98 if they win their remaining seven games.

79 - Bayern have scored 79 goals in the league this season. They need another 23 to set a new goal-scoring record in the Bundesliga.

Lost 0

For 79

Against 13

Points 77

Their 101-goal haul in 1971-72 is still the record.

Games that shaped Bayern’s season: 19 October 2013: Bayern 4-1 Mainz Having been held at Bayer Leverkusen the previous league game, Pep Guardiola’s side came roaring back to crush Mainz. Little did their title rivals know at the time that this would be the start of a 19-match winning run that would catapult them to the title.

2 November 2013: Hoffenheim 1-2 Bayern: Bayern arrived at the Rhein-Neckar Arena trailing leaders Borussia Dortmund by two points in the table. They came from behind to win 2-1 to go one point clear. Bayern have stayed top ever since.

29 January 2014: Stuttgart 1-2 Bayern: It looked

Javi Martinez (left) in action against a Dortmund player

Chelsea defeat affected Arsenal against Swansea -Wenger

A

rsenal boss Arsene Wenger admitted his side were still suffering the effects of Saturday’s 6-0 thrashing

by Chelsea as they drew 2-2 with Swansea.

The Gunners went 2-1 up after going behind to Wilfried Bony’s header but then let their lead slip as Mathieu Flamini scored an injury-time own goal.

“At 2-1 we became too conservative because of what happened on Saturday,” Wenger told BBC Sport.

“And instead of continuing to attack we were more worried to keep the

Carter ready to rebound

J

amaican sprinter Nesta Carter is not allowing the disappointment of his 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships experience to affect his ambitions and preparation ahead of his outdoor season.

“I don’t really dwell on the past. I try to get over it as fast as possible, pick any positives that I can pick out of it, and move forward,” Carter said.

Robben (right)

score.”

Arsenal remain fourth in the Premier League, but now trail leaders Chelsea by six points.

But Everton’s 3-0 win at Newcastle means the Gunners’ Champions League qualification is under threat as Roberto Martinez’s side are in fifth, six points behind with a game in hand and a match against Arsenal at Goodison Park to come.

And Wenger admitted that the race for fourth Manciniplace is now more of a focus for his side, who have seven games left.

Magic coach not worried about records

T

he Orlando Magic’s 95-85 win over the Portland Trail Blazers marked their 20th victory of the season, matching their total from the entire 2012/13 campaign with 10 games to spare. But coach Jacque Vaughn downplayed the importance of the win.

“I have not mentioned one time what our record is to the team,” Vaughn said. “Win, loss, nothing of that nature. What I do mention to those guys is, ‘let’s get better.

SPORT | EURO FOOTBALL

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 27, 2014

53

Demba Ba open to Serie A switch

Blame me for Man United decline –Moyes

M

anager David Moyes took responsibility for Manchester United’s dramatic decline this season after a dismal home defeat to Manchester City.

The reigning champions are seventh, 18 points adrift of leaders Chelsea after City inflicted United’s sixth home league loss of the season.

“I am the one who picks the team,” Moyes said. “I take responsibility and always will do. It is disappointing.

“I thought it would be a tough year but I hoped it would be more competi-

tive.”

The defeat means United have now lost more league games at home this season than in the previous three campaigns combined.

In nine matches against the Premier League’s top five, they have won just once, against Arsenal in November.

Despite reaching the quarterfinals of the Champions League, United have fallen well short of the consistency which saw them win the title by 11 points under Sir Alex Ferguson before his retirement

last summer.

“Everybody knows this is a job that is going to take a little bit of time to get the way we would like but that is the job,” added Moyes, 50.

“Other clubs have had to do rebuilding jobs - we hope it won’t take as long as some others but we have a period of time to get to that level.

“There are a lot of really good players in the squad, a lot of internationals, who, on their day, can be a match for most players.”

Chelsea striker Demba Ba says he would be open to the possibility of playing in Serie A in the near future.

The Senegalese international has struggled to secure first team football during his spell at Stamford Bridge and has been linked with a move away from London.

“I miss the continuity,” Ba told RMC Sport. “I’m a footballer and I want to play. That is what I’m aspiring to next season.

“I would prefer to stay in England but other leagues also interest me. I would like to try

Ba

the Italian Serie A. “Nothing is yet decided but there are some teams in Italy who play great football.”

Holland unveil World Cup away shirt

H

olland have become the latest nation to unveil their World Cup colours, with this impressive blue number.

After the release of their home shirt earlier this month, the Dutch have on Wednesday shown off their away strip, which continues the celebration of their Football Association’s 125th anniversary.

The new jersey - which will

be worn by Arjen Robben and other players in their World Cup opener against Spain features different coloured chevrons that start at the top as bright blue, gradually becoming darker as they get to the hem.

The traditional crest with an enlarged lion - a throwback to the 1970s - is a striking orange colour, making for a unique and vibrant look.

Win over Man Utd ‘important psychologically –Pellegrini

M

anchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says the 3-0 win at rivals Manchester United was “important psychologically” in the title race.

City opened the scoring inside a minute through Edin Dzeko and ran out easy winners to close to within three points of Premier League leaders Chelsea.

“It was important because it was one of the three big matches we still have to play,” Pellegrini said.

“I am not thinking about the title but we fight with the other three teams.”

City have two games in hand on Chelsea and face fourth-placed Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Saturday. They travel to Liverpool - currently in third - on Sunday, 13 April.

If they win their remaining games, City will be champions but Pellegrini did not accept that his side are favou-

it was very important to keep adding points,” Pellegrini said.

“It was an important win against 29 March: Arsenal (away) a great team like Manchester United.

5 April: Southampton (home) You’ll never know how many points you’ll need.”

13 April: Liverpool (a) Dzeko added a second with a volley from a corner after the break and Yaya 16 April: Sunderland (h) Toure drilled home in stoppage time to cap a fifth City victory in the last six 21 April: West Brom (h) meetings with United.

27 April: Crystal Palace (a) “Manchester is and will always be blue,” Toure wrote on Twitter.

3 May: Everton (a) Dzeko, who has scored five goals in six appearances against United, told 7 May: Aston Villa (h) Sky Sports: “This game could be crucial 11 May: West Ham (h) at the end of the season. rites to regain the title they won in “We wanted to start playing our game 2012. from the first minute and trying to score “We continue recovering points on an early goal, which we did. Then it was Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal, so all about us. We were amazing.”

City’s Premier League run-in

Pellegrini

Despite being third choice behind Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo for most of the season, Bosnia striker Dzeko has scored 20 goals in all competitions for City this season.

“All of the players have different moments in their performance in the year,” Pellegrini said.

“WithTevez Edin, maybe at the beginning of the season he didn’t start very well, but he has improved a lot.”

OTHER SPORTS ‘Bradley unstoppable’

“H

e is an unstoppable train. He don’t have a limit; I have to limit him. I gotta tell him, ‘Bro, you’re done,’” stated world-class trainer Joel Diaz, who gave us an update on training camp for undefeated WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley. As they put the finishing touches on their game plan for the upcoming April 12th rematch with Manny Pacquiao, Bradley has been training like it’s his last fight, according to Diaz.

UAEwantstohostcricketWorldCup

C

ricket authorities in the United Arab Emirates are eyeing the 2027 World Cup. “Although there is no ongoing process right now, we can certainly have a look at it when the bidding starts,” Emirates Cricket Board chief, David East, told Al Jazeera. “That is certainly part of our aim and ambition and we can use our world-class facilities to make it happen.”

Wie extends sponsorship deal

Bomb scare no worry for Nadal

adies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour golfer Michelle Wie (pictured) has signed a multi-year extension to her personal endorsement deal with Kia Motors America.

The agreement, which has been in place since 2010, will see Wie continue in her role as a global spokesperson for the company. She will make numerous public appearances on the brand’s behalf and appear in advertising, marketing and promotional materials.

nruffled by a bomb scare that locked down the Sony Open, world number one Rafa Nadal brushed past Italy’s Fabio Fognini 6-2, 6-2 to join Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray in the last-eight.

Officials announced a suspicious package had been left near the main entrance to the sprawling tennis facility which was quickly locked down, keeping thousands of spectators from entering or leaving while Miami Dade police investigated.

L

U

54

Expect the best in NFF elections –Biambo Jude Opara Abuja

C

hairman of the newly-inaugurated Electoral Committee for the August elections into the executive committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amoni Biambo, has assured all stakeholders that his committee would to organise an election that will be satisfactory to everybody.

The inauguration of the electoral committee does not signal the lifting of the ban on campaign. Chairman of the electoral committee said the committee will meet to fashion out the modalities and the real time table that will guide the conduct of the elections which he said will be very soon.

Speaking to journalists after the inauguration of the committee in Abuja on Monday, Biambo said everybody who wants to contest any position in the election was free adding that the exercise would be conducted in such a manner that there will be little or no reason for anybody to contest the outcome at the end of the day.

“The rules and guidelines are already embedded in the Statutes of the NFF, so we are not going to make any modern rules or ancient rules that are not known to anybody, the rules are there for everybody and it has not changed.

We at the committee level will organize a workshop for ourselves and at the end of the day we will come out with the best elections for the football house,” Biambo said.

Federation Cup gets underway April

Ifeanyi Ibeh

N

igeria’s oldest football competition, the Federation Cup, will get underway in April.

According to a statement signed by the Nigeria Football Federation’s Head of Federation Cup, Ms Ruth David, and made available to New Telegraph, this year’s competition will commence on April 5 with the state preliminaries while the state finals holds on May 4 across the country’s 36 states, as well as Abuja.

Abuja will also be the venue of the draws for the national finals which comes up on May 29.

Round of 64 matches will hold across 32 centres between July 2 and 3, with Round of 32 matches taking place a week later, while Round of 16 games will be played between July 16 and 17.

The quarterfinals are slated for July 23, semifinals July 30, and the final August 3.

According to the statement from the NFF, March 31 has been set as deadline date for submission of Federation Cup licenses. Teams that fail to meet the set deadline have until April 11 to submit the license of their players but will be required to pay a fine of N300,000.

Maigari

Sanctity of Truth

AYC qualifiers: Iheanacho, Success lead Flying Eagles Ajibade Olusesan

M

anchester City player, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Granada striker, Isaac Success, top the list of 35 players Flying Eagles coach, Manu Garba, has invited to camp ahead of the 2015 African Youth Championship qualifier.

The two are part of the Golden Eaglets players that have been considered for graduation into the National U-20 team.

Others on the list are Musa Muhammed (Besiktas,Turkey), Chidie-

bere Nwakali (Manchester City, England), Chidera Eze (FC Porto, Portugal), Musa Yahaya (Celta Vigo, Spain) and Sunday Alampasu, who is undergoing trials in Belgium, are also picked.

The list also includes some of the players that were dropped from the Golden Eaglets squad to UAE because they failed the MRI test.

Flying Eagles will confront the winner of the first round match between Kenya and Tanzania in the second phase of the qualifiers.

The AYC will hold in Senegal next year.

The full squad

Goalkeepers: Sunday Alampasu, Adamu Abubakar, Abdulazeez Abubakar, Zaharadden Mohammed

Midfielders: Abdullahi Alfa, Akinjide Idowu,Ifeanyi Matthew, Mathias Samuel, Fedelix Irene, Uche Okeke, Chidiebere Nwakali

Defenders: Samuel Okon, Aliyu Abubakar, Wilfred Ndidi, Prince Izu Omego, Timothy Danladi,Ifeanyi Nweke, Mazadu Sirajo, Mustapha Abdullahi, Musa Muhammed, Zaharaddeen Bello

Strikers: Taiwo Awoniyi, Alhassan Ibrahim, Bernard Bulbwa,Suleiman Abdullahi, Billy Auta, Abubakar Lawal, Wasiu Jimoh, Anthony Omaka,Umar Ahmed, Kelechi Iheanacho, Isaac Success, Musa Yahaya, Chidera Eze, Victory Omodiagbe

Amunike begins search for new Eaglets Ifeanyi Ibeh

C

oach of Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets, Emmanuel Amunike, will on Thursday officially commence the process of discovering the next batch of starlets capable of defending the title won by the country’s U-17 team at last year’s World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

Before the FIFA World Cup, though, the Golden Eaglets will have to secure a spot to the 2015 African U-17 Championship, taking place in Niger, and which serves as the qualifying tournament for the World Cup scheduled for October 17 to November 8, 2015 in Chile.

And Amunike, who was one of the assistant coaches with the Nigerian side that conquered the world last year in the UAE, has combed the nooks and crannies of Nigeria in the last couple

of weeks in a bid to fish out outstanding youngsters capable of making the Golden Eaglets side and replicating the feat achieved by the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho and Musa Yahaya.

On Wednesday, the first batch of 35 players arrived Abuja ahead of the screening exercise billed for the practice pitch of the NFF/FIFA Goal Project Site.

It will be recalled that over 4,000 players took part in similar exercises before erstwhile Golden Eaglets head coach, Manu Garba, was able to assemble the 2013 World Cup-winning team.

The Golden Eaglets are already drawn bye into the second round of the qualifiers for the African U-17 Championship and will meet the winner of the First Round tie between Burundi and Congo DR with the first leg scheduled for the weekend of July 18-20, while the reverse fixture will be held between August 1 and 3.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Iheanacho

Toriola, Quadri shine at ITTF World Tour Ajibade Olusesan

N

igeria’s trio of Segun Toriola, Aruna Quadri and Seun Ajetunmobi have opened their campaigns at the International Table Tennis Federation sanctioned World Tour with victories on Wednesday.

Ajetunmobi inspired his compatriots early on Wednesday when he overcame homeboy – Germany’s Phillip Floritz in an explosive encounter that attracted the fans to table two.

The Nigerian came back from two sets down to beat the German 8-11, 5-11, 11-9, 119, 11-8, 11-5.

It was an easy one for Quadri, though, as he whitewashed Italy’s Marco Rech Daldosso 13-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-6.

Toriola also had a difficult game as he laboured to beat Russia’s Taras Merzlikin 15-13, 8-11, 9-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7.

The Nigerians will however, play one game each to qualify for the main draw. Ajetunmobi will play his last group match against Russia’s Alexey Liventsou, while Quadri will confront Japan’s Yuto Muramatsu on Thursday. Toriola will also battle Czech Republic’s Pavel Siruce. All the matches will hold today.

For the women’s singles pairing, Olaide Atinuke has been drawn in Group 22 alongside Slovakia’s Barbora Balazova and Hungary’s Dora Madarasz, while Ganiat OlatundeAruna will tackle Spain’s Galia Dvorak and Russia’s Elena Troshneva in Group 22.

SPORT 55

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Don’t put Flamingoes under pressure, Mmadu cautions Nkiyu Mercy Jacob

A

head of the Flamingoes quarterfinal clash against Spain in the FIFA U-17 World Cup former Falcons’ star, Maureen Madu, has advised the Flamingoes coach, Bala Nkiyu, not to put undue pressure on his team.

Speaking to New Telegraph, Madu charged the Flamingoes to give their best against Spain and play according to their coaches’ instructions.

Madu said; “Though I have not watched any of their matches at the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup, the results they h ave p o s t e d s h ow s that they are ready fo r a ny o p p o s i t i o n and I believe they can conquer any team.

“Nkiyu must avoid playing under pressure because you will hardly

get the best out of the players in this situation. He should allow them to play the way they have been playing

since the competition started and capitalise on the weak points of their opponent.

“I believe if the girls

continue with the zeal they have shown from the previous matches, they could make history.”

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Ruggedman (SackDavidMoyes) Moyes leaves Everton and they’re prospering. Moyes joins Man United and they are.......Any coach that can’t win matches with Man United should be........ lRugged Man venting his spleen after yet another Man United loss. The rapper even changed his twitter handle to SackDavidMoyes! @RuggedyBaba yaya toure Manchester is and will always be blue... @Toure_yaya42 Peter Odemwingie My day off started by 6am looking at the fully woken smiling Noah ready to play as he started walking few days ago. @OdemwingieP David Silva To win a derby is a double joy, this victory is for the fans who have been there as always!! We expect another final on Saturday. @21LVA Sergio Aguero Hats off to all my team-mates! That’s how you win a derby - with teamwork and enthusiasm! C’mon, City! @aguerosergiokun Chicharito Hernandez Bad result yesterday... Let’s keep working... Thanks for the support to the team... You are the best. @CH14

Continental results worry Obaseki

Chimaobi Uchendu

F

ormer chairman of the Nigeria Premier League Board, Chief Oyuiki Obaseki, has expressed displeasure over Nigerian clubs’ results in the 2013/14 CAF organised club competitions.

The Benin high chief said Nigeria had never had it so bad in Africa while he called on clubs and the league board to study the problems and tackle them without delay.

“It is unacceptable that Nigeria has no representative at the CAF Champions League group stage and that the two clubs representing us at the Confed-

Festus Ezeli Hardwork pays off... You get what you put in. lrecuperating Nigerian-born NBA player, Festus Ezeli, after another workout session as he recovers from a careerthreatening injury. @fezzyfel Romelu Lukaku What a team performance... So proud of our performance..

On to the next one! lEverton striker, Romelu Lukaku, on loan from Chelsea, takes to tweeter after his side’s 3-0 drubbing of Newcastle United. @RomeluLukaku9

Obaseki

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 51

cessfully in the past, can adopt the system for the World Cup. “If we can play from the wings, using our speed with the likes of Ahmed Musa and Victor Moses, the team can get to the semifinal in Brazil which will be the first time an African team will achieve such feat.”

The former Ajax star however allayed fears expressed in some quarters over the lack of playing time of some of the country’s stars at their various clubs.

“It is always good for your players to be playing day in, day out, but it is unfortunate that most of our players are not playing presently,” he continued. “But to me that will not be a big problem. Keshi knows his team, they have been playing together and he knows the pattern he

wants to use.

“I recall during our time that some of our players were not playing; some didn’t even have clubs, but when we were together in the national team, we gave our all for the team.”

Tipping the Eagles to make it to the last-four in Brazil, the former Olympic gold medalist said the reigning African champions have the ability to go further than any other side from the continent going to Brazil.

“I am not saying this because I am a Nigerian, but with what I have seen, the Super Eagles have the potential to go far in the competition among all the other African representatives.

The most important thing is for the team to qualify from the group first, and from there anything can happen,” he stressed.

Adesokan targets 2016 Paralympics ticket in Dubai

Chinwendu Ihezuo(right) in action against Mexico

Sport Trending

Brazil: Wing play can take Eagles to semis –Babangida

erations Cup are hanging in the balance.

“There must be a problem somewhere that must be diagnosed with immediate effect and a cure administered to save our league football from collapse.

The former league board head stressed that he was shocked about the predicament of Aba based Enyimba especially when they lost at home.

He said, “I was surprised when Enyimba crashed out of the CAF Champions League courtesy of an unknown team from Mali, though there are no minors in football these days, but they have pedigree that should have taken them at least to the group stage.

“Club managers and the league board to study the problem and take adequate steps at arresting situation before it gets out of hand.”

Obaseki further called on the League Management Company to make the league more competitive and attractive enough to produce worthy champions that would represent Nigeria well in the continent.

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 5 1

2016 Paralympics.

“After winning gold in November 2013 at the Malaysia Championship where Nigeria clinched majority of the medals available, I believe we can repeat such feat in Dubai and earn automatic qualification for the next Paralympics in Brazil,” he told New Telegraph on Tuesday.

He added; “We are determined to clinch the tickets at the Dubai Championship to avoid participating in other qualifiers and focus on Glasgow, Scotland for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in July.”

The Ibadan born athlete said the team is in high spirit for sweep all the medals available and added that the recognition by the National Sports Commission and reward by President Goodluck Jonathan has continued to spur the team on in their quest to win medals for the country.

“It’s great to be honoured by your country

Adesokan

and that singular action has brought out the best in us and inspired us to always give our best to make the country proud.

The spirit is high in camp and we are ready to win all the medals available in Dubai,” he said.

The Nigeria team has been in close camping since March 12 and will be departing Nigeria for the UAE on March 31st.

It will be recalled that Nigeria with 14 weightlifters, won a total of eight gold, three silver and three bronze medals to win the 2013 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship in Malaysia last November.

World Record

On Marble

Kings may be judges of the earth, but wise men are the judges of kings.

Sanctity of Truth

– Solomon Ibn Gabirol

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 THURSday, MARCH 27, 2014

N150

Emily Rosa of Loveland, Colorado, USA, became the youngest person to have research published in a medical journal as her co-authored article appeared in American Medical Association journal on April 1, 1998

Self-preservation agenda and the gathering storm

I

t is a truism which is not subject to any analysis or debate that self preservation is nature’s first law.

Self preservation is a universal concept that ensures the survival of a person, a state, an institution or an entity, and the driving forces are pain and fear.

The pain can be physical, spiritual, emotional, financial or psychological but to avoid this, self preservation will quickly force the target to smell a potential threat and do everything possible to avoid or annihilate it.

The fear to always ensure safety will also lead to a boost in strength capacity to neutralise a potential danger.

Individually, instinct plays a crucial role in self preservation. At the level of a state or a country, there is no other rule that is greater than that of self preservation. Any country that jokes with this will end up like the defunct Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR).

The coinage: ‘You must preserve yourself or whatever belongs to you’ applies to all living beings as anything contrary will lead to some unpalatable consequences.

Historically and biblically, the law of self preservation takes precedence over any other consideration.

Obviously, the current imbroglio between Russia and Ukraine borders on self preservation.

Ukraine strongly believes that everything must be done to preserve and defend its territory and is using the West to propagate this agenda globally.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia hardly talks but he has successfully used the principle of self preservation to energise his people and galvanise them into action, thereby hurting the interest of Ukraine.

Nothing makes a people go crazy than the thought that an imminent danger threatens the existence of their country.

Despite objections from the West, Putin presses ahead with his self preservation agenda.

He organised a referendum in Crimea, annexed it as part of Russia and when the West imposed sanctions on wealthy Russians by freezing their assets and introducing travel bans on some officials very close to him, Putin told Russians to withdraw their assets from the West.

To consolidate his hold, Putin ordered his troops to seize military bases in Crimea. Last Monday, the last of the bases fell to Russian forces and Ukrainian troops and their family members were evacuated to Kiev, the capital.

TALKING TOUGH GABRIEL AKINADEWO gabyfola@hotmail.com - 08023010222 (sms only)

Faced with a stronger force, one of the Ukrainian soldiers said: “Yesterday (Sunday), we had an agreement. We would lower our flag and the Russians would raise theirs. And this morning, the Russians attacked, firing live ammunition. We had no weapons. We did not fire a round”.

On Tuesday, the West moved the G8 Summit from Sochi, Russia to Brussels, Belgium.

The other seven industrialised nations also decided to kick Russia out of the group but Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, replied them: “If our Western partners believe the format has exhausted itself, we don’t cling to this format. We don’t believe it will be a big problem, if it doesn’t convene”.

Just like the late USSR leader, Nikita Khrushchev, Putin ensured that he did not blink for a second, despite threats, in preserving his personal interest and the interests of his people.

If what is happening in that part of the world is an international imbroglio, there is a local one in Nigeria.

While it may be argued that self preservation rule is about 80% an instrument of state policy in the West, it has been elevated to a personal agenda in this country.

Aside Ekiti and Osun states where governorship elections will hold on June 21 and August 9 this year, the only song politicians are singing borders on the 2015 general elections and self preservation is central to this agitation to occupy or re-occupy public office.

Everything, aside campaigning to win people’s votes, has been relegated to the background.

This relegation of people’s welfare and interest led to the tragedy during the re-

Army of the unemployed is rising and the self preservation agenda of a few individuals is growing by the day

Putin

cent Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) interview/test for hundreds of thousands of applicants across the country.

In pursuit of the self preservation agenda, those who organised this charade had already secured employment for their loved ones. The plan was to ensure that the NIS was ‘doing something’ to alleviate the suffering of the masses by openly conducting an interview/test for applicants so that the Interior Minister, Abba Moro, the NIS and the consultants could be applauded, despite the fact that they fleeced the applicants of hundreds of millions of naira. Does it even make sense to collect money from applicants?

Common sense (which is not common anyway), sensible understanding or basic intelligence should have told the organisers that the moment you assemble close to 80,000 applicants in one place in which it is the survival of the fittest, that is recipe for disaster.

And of course, the Nigerian way, nobody will show remorse. The applicants are being blamed for not being patient, leading to the death of some of their colleagues.

A friend told me last week that attempts are being made to bribe some people to keep their mouths shut and their pens dry ‘because Nigerians will soon forget the matter.’ What can be more senseless and inhuman than that?

To trivialise the issue, an investiga-

tion panel is about to be set up to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the tragedy. It is good that the Federal Government promised those injured automatic employment and three members of family of dead victims automatic employment.

Since President Goodluck Jonathan is very busy (because of 2015 and other partisan issues), who is going to ensure that the President did not speak in vain?

On the three members per family, what is going to be the criteria for selecting the lucky three? Is that not going to lead to another disaster?

If self preservation was the modus operandi of the whole exercise right from the beginning, that huge crowd of unemployed would not have been invited the same day, same time, same venue and the tragedy would have been avoided.

Since political leaders have substituted Nigeria’s self preservation with their own, what is happening in the country now is just a foretaste of the crisis coming in the build up to 2015.

Army of the unemployed is rising and the self preservation agenda of a few individuals is growing by the day.

Due to their helplessness, Nigerians are being forced to accept their condition. Since they are not in a position to reverse this ugly trend, they take whatever comes their way.

Obviously, the storm is gathering.

Whether the imminent crisis will affect the country’s self preservation or that of individuals remains at the realm of conjecture.

OmoBaba

NIGERIA PARTICIPATED IN SEARCH OF MISSING MALAYSIAN AIRCRAFT

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