Binder1 30 september, 2014

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Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Vol. 1 No. 224

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Countdown begins for New York Times' debut in New Telegraph Biodun Durojaiye

T

he International edition of the New York Times, a newspaper popular with business and political leaders across the world, will

make its debut in Nigeria on October 6 as an insert in the New Telegraph.

Political and business leaders in Nigeria are already excited about this development, which offers them a window to

market their products and services to the international community.

The Board of Editors of the New Telegraph have since been working round the clock to ensure a hitch-free take-

off of the weekly insert and are leaving nothing to chance.

The International New York Times insert, which is to be published every Monday, is sequel to the granting of an

exclusive licence by the New York Times to New Telegraph, to print and distribute the publication in Nigeria every week for the next three years.

As a result, business

and political leaders in Nigeria will, from next Monday, be able to join their counterparts across the globe in reading one of the world’s most reputable newspapers.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

N50bn debt battle rages

lCourt lifts ex-parte order on Bi-Courtney }5

Quick Read Editorial These soldiers must not die }19

Buhari gets tips on how to defeat Jonathan }5 Calm returns to Ekiti as banks, offices reopen }12 Kano's influential prince, Galadima, dies at 73 }9

Kwara: Saraki, Ajadi, Belgore, others battle for PDP’s soul }13 President Goodluck Jonathan (left) conferring the National Honours of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, in Abuja... yesterday.

Jonathan approves lifetime salary for flag designer lPresident decorates recipients Anule Emmanuel Abuja

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resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday conferred National Honours on 305 Nigerians

and foreigners.

At the ceremony held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Jonathan announced the appointment of the national flag designer, Mr. Michael

Taiwo Akinkumi, a recipient of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) category, as a special assistant to the president. He is to be placed on a lifetime salary.

Ex-Mint MD to be extradited to UK for trial }4 LAGOS

He said: "As someone who contributed so much to the history of this country, the person who designed the Nigerian flag, Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, who was also

honoured here, you have to place him on a salary of special assistant to the president forever."

The president also singled out three other CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Jonathan approves lifetime salary for Akinkumi CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

recipients, a taxi driver, Imeh Usuah, who returned N18 million forgotten by a passenger in his vehicle in 2007; Corporal Solomon Dauda, a traffic warden with the Nigeria Police Force and a presidential steward, Mr. Isaac Michael Onuh, for more recognition besides their National Honours as he directed that they should be allocated one-bed room flat each in Abuja.

The president praised the trio of Usuah, Dauda and Onuh for their honesty and dedication to duty.

He also singled out the presidential steward for having served nine different heads of state and presidents, including first ladies.

He said: "A very dedicated steward who has served every head of state loyally since President Shehu Shagari. From Shagari till today, to have survived about nine presidents and nine first ladies, you must be a great man.

"Those who take into criminalities because of poverty are not quite right because I and some of you here knew where we are coming from. We passed through stress but we didn't take to criminality.

For these gentlemen, we appreciate you."

Among the recipients, 24 persons bagged the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) award.

They included the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Kenneth Minimah; the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jubrin; Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Adesola Amosu; the acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba; National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd); the Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi and the Chief of Staff to the president, Brigadier General Jones Arogbofa.

Those who bagged the CON award included for-

mer Delta State Governor, Chief Felix Ibru; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, eight governors including Dr. Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Senator Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), eight ministers and seven state chief judges.

The 53 recipients in the Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) category included Publisher of The Guardian, Mrs. Maiden Ibru; veteran broadcaster, Mrs. Moji Makanjuola; the National President of National Council of Women Society, Mrs. Nkechi Mba and the Chief Catering Officer in the State House, Katherine Adamu.

Shortly after they were conferred with the award, Amosun and Mimiko promised to work harder to continue to bring dividends of democracy to the people of their states.

The governors, in separate interviews, said such honour conferred on them meant that their efforts at making lives more meaningful for the people were being appreciated.

On what the award means to him, Amosun said: "It (the national honour) means that we should work more for the nation, work more for the states, that is what it means to me.

"When you are given award like this, you are honoured, it means that our efforts are being ap-

preciated for what you are doing; it is a call for more service.

"It shows that the president is not too busy to see those who merited the award and for him too, it is a call to service for Mr. President to work more and when he now gives to people like us, it means that he identified with us, he appreciates what we are doing and he is telling us to do more."

On his part, Mimiko said the award would spur him and his co-recipients to continue to support the president in order to achieve his agenda for national transformation.

He urged all Nigerians to continue to support the present administration by giving peace a chance.

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

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST ABUJA

FLIGHT SCHEDULE

L-R: Head of Litigations, Babalakin and Co., Mr. Tola Oshodi; Chief Executive Officer, Bi-courtney Aviation Services Limited, Mr. Christope Penninck and Chief Operations Officer, Ms Adebisi Awoniyi, at a press briefing over the face-off with the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

INEC to sanction political parties engaged in pre-election campaign God has already chosen our leader, says Sultan Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

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he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will sanction any political parties, individuals or associations that contravene the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (As amended) and/or Electoral Act 2010 on public campaign/ rally and procession.

Also to be penalised are media or such communication agencies, social media that air such campaigns.

The commission in a statement dated September 26 entitled: “Caution On Illegal Public Political

Broadcast and Campaign” and addressed to all National Chairmen of registered political parties, noted that: "Its attention had been drawn to the insistent illegal campaigns carried out by associations, corporate entities, individuals, public and private media and other communication agencies in the country in contravention of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) and the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended) on limitation of political broadcasts.”

The statement signed by its Secretary, Mrs. Augusta C. Ogakwu, stressed that Section 99 of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amend-

ed) prohibited broadcast and political campaign earlier than 90 days before polling day.

"Section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended) reads: “For the purpose of this Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.”

Meanwhile, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar, has said that God had already chosen who would be leader of the country in 2015.

Abubakar was speaking yesterday at the inauguration of Holy Mother and

Child Clinic, constructed by the Sokoto Catholic Diocese, to enhance health care delivery in the state.

He said that all that was expected of Nigerians was to live in peace with one another, to enable government to fashion out developmental programmes for the well-being of Nigerians.

He also called on leaders to always have the fear of God while discharging their constitutional duties, saying that "we are going to account for our deeds before God." He called for responsible politics in 2015 to ensure free, fair and credible

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

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NEWS

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Buhari gets tips on how to defeat Jonathan

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ormer Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, who is one of the leading presidential aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has commissioned a study on how he could defeat President Goodluck Jonathan, who has been adopted as the sole candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 presidential election.

According to a report

published yesterday by an online news channel, PREMIUM TIMES, Buhari and his associates had asked Head of Department, International Relations and Strategic Studies at the Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Femi Olufunmilade, to prepare a paper which would be presented when the presidential contender publicly declares his intention to run in October.

The paper identified

factors which former opposition leaders in eight African countries used in defeating the incumbents in the last two decades and which, if adapted by the opposition in Nigeria, could lead to the defeat of the president in the forthcoming polls.

The eight opposition leaders the paper focused on are Frederick Chiluba (Zambia, 1991); John Kufour (Ghana 2000); Abdoulaye Wade (Senegal, 2000);

Mwai Kibaki (Kenya, 2002); Yayi Boni (Benin Republic, 2006); Ernest Bai Koroma (Sierra Leone, 2007); Alhassan Quattara (Cote d’Ivoire, 2010); and Peter Mutharika (Malawi, 2014).

According to the study, titled “Opposition Victories in Africa: How it can Happen in Nigeria (A Working Paper for the APC),” which would be presented at Buhari’s formal declaration, the PDP had been in power since

L-R: Country Director, African Development Bank, Dr. Ousmane Dore; Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Sarah Alade and President, Nigerian Economic Society (NES), Prof. Olu Ajakaiye, during the Society’s Annual Public Lecture in Abuja…yesterday.

Ex-Mint MD to be extradited to UK for trial Emmanuel Onani

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former Managing Director (MD) of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC), Mr. Emmanuel Okoyomon, is to be extradited to the United Kingdom to face trial in an alleged financial scam.

New Telegraph gathered from a reliable source at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday, that the office of the Attorney

General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has already initiated the extradition process, under a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) request made the British government.

According to the EFCC source, Okoyomon, who holds a dual Nigerian and British citizenship was suspended in November 2013 by the Board of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over the N1000 notes disappearance allegation.

It was further learnt that the former Mint MD

has been under investigation by the EFCC, since 2012.

The investigation was said to have followed request by the British National Crime Agency, after Australian authorities were said to have discovered that some Central Bank and Mint officials, allegedly received bribes and kickbacks from Securency Pty Limited, a polymer substrate producing company, for the contract to produce N20 polymer notes for the apex bank,

between 2006 and 2008.

EFCC's investigation was said to have uncovered a cases of forgery, identity fraud and money laundering running into millions of naira.

He was alleged to have used the names of his driver and clerk to open different bank accounts with which he allegedly diverted several bribe funds without their knowledge The commission's spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, was not available for comment.

Countdown begins for New York Times' debut in New Telegraph CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The insert will be a cobranded weekly section in the New Telegraph, in the layout and typography of the New York Times domestic edition.

It shall be composed of news coverage, business, arts, science, commentary, colour photos and graphics about the

United States, world affairs, culture and social trends.

The deal with the New York Times (NYT) is the first of its kind by the newspaper with any newspaper organisation in Africa, and entails the New Telegraph carrying the 12-page insert produced by chief cor-

respondents and editors of NYT. Also as part of the deal, the New Telegraph will display a PDF version of each issue of the insert on the newspaper’s website, http:// www.newtelegraphonline.com, for a period of no more than 14 days following the first pub-

lication.

The New York Times is an American daily newspaper, founded in New York City since September 18, 1851, and has continuously published since then. It has won 112 Pulitzer Prizes, more than any other news organisations in the United States.

1999, not necessarily because it was popular, but because the ruling party “has perfected the art of rigging on one hand, and on the other, because of weak opposition.”

“All the presidential elections that have legitimised PDP’s hold on power have been seriously flawed.

A combination of outright cooking-up of fake results and bribing of voters has been part of the PDP’s staying power as is the case in African countries generally,” it said.

In its recommendation, the paper identified coalition strategy, complementary candidatures, mass discontentment with the PDP and promoting international pressure as means of defeating PDP. It said some of the eight leaders, who had contested elections several times like Buhari, and generally the opposition in those countries, had employed the four methods in defeating the ruling parties and the incumbents in their countries.

“The objective, in this connection, is to draw vital lessons from the experience of those eight countries’ opposition and signpost how they may be adapted by the Nigerian opposition in the 2015 presidential election,” it added.

On the coalition strategy, it said since the four opposition parties in Nigeria had successfully merged and if Buhari became the APC candidate, the structures of the legacy parties at his disposal would enhance his chances of electoral victory, this time around.

“What should now be added is that APC should actively seek to expand the base of its coalition till 24-hours before the 14 February, 2015 presidential election.

“In this connection, it must explore and exploit schisms within the PDP to firm up its membership base. It should also seek collaboration with organised groups cutting across trade unions to students.

If possible, it can set up a team to work on this.

“At the same time, it must guard against further inroads into its membership by way of defection. Primary elections often lead to disaffection and defections. The choice of direct primaries on a level playing ground is a good way of minimising defections on account of allegations of unfair treatment by contestants,” the paper stated.

The paper also sug-

gested that the APC leadership should immediately constitute a Primary Elections Arbitration Panel composed of respected retired jurists and religious leaders to settle electoral disputes.

“Its chief task is to resolve issues in a manner that would keep the party together. Ahead of this, the APC leadership should design an Allegiance Form which every contestant must endorse to underscore his/her readiness to accept the outcome of a primary election and the ruling of the party’s Arbitration Panel as the case may be," it added.

Although it said direct primaries by the APC could foster the emergence of popular candidates for elective positions such that the popularity of the candidates in their respective constituencies would rub off on the presidential candidate of the party positively, the paper warned that leaving matters solely to a free and fair direct primary would be inadequate.

“Efforts should be made to recruit non-politicians who have excelled in diverse walks of life and are held in high esteem in their constituencies to take a shot at the APC tickets for the Senate, House of Representatives, and state assembly etc.

“This is of strategic importance in the SouthEast and the South-South regions where the APC is weak and the PDP is not only dominant but has a standing strategy of securing 100 per cent of total votes cast through a rigging method Prof.

Attahiru Jega of the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) would call “community connivance,” the paper said.

According to the paper, mass discontentment has great propaganda value for the opposition as the ruling party is to be blamed if the citizens are unhappy and not the opposition that is not in power.

It also advised APC leaders meet with diplomats of western countries interested in obtaining their views on issues to mount international pressure on them.

It said the party had to be “pro-active in drawing the attention of the international community to flaws in the process leading to the 2015 elections so that enough pressure can be mounted on the Federal Government to make necessary amends before the Election Day."

NEWS

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

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N50bn debt: Court sets aside ex-parte order against Bi-Courtney lAgbakoba, Babalakin in war of words Wale Shadare and Akeem Nafiu

T

he Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, yesterday discharged an ex-pate order secured

by Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) against Bi-Courtney Limited, owned by Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN) over N50 billion debt.

In his ruling, Justice Ibrahim Buba set aside the ex-parte order secured

by AMCON against BiCourtney Ltd, Babalakin and three other companies, describing it as an abuse of process.

Justice Okon Abang had on September 22 ordered

Bi-Courtney and its owners to hand over its concessionary powers on the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA 2) Ikeja to AMCON with immediate effect.

Besides, the court ordered Bi-Courtney’s accounts in banks to be frozen with immediate effect just as it ordered the banks to disclose all account balances to the asset managers.

Also, AMCON was ordered to take over three other companies, Chartered Investment Limited, Resort International Limited and Roygate Properties, owned

by Babalakin.

Justice Abang also ordered AMCON to take over the Old Federal Sec-

retariat building Ikoyi, Lagos, belonging to Roygate Properties pursuant to a concessionary agreement between Roygate and the Federal Government.

Accordingly, the court empowered Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) to commence a recovery process with a view to recovering the companies’ assets and enforcing the liabilities of individual shareholders and directors.

However, at yesterday’s proceedings, Bi-Courtney lead counsel, Wale Akoni (SAN), told the court that he had filed an application seeking to set aside the exparte order.

His application was

predicated on the order made by Justice Abang, saying the order was in conflict with the other existing orders.

Akoni drew the court’s attention to a subsisting interim injunction restraining AMCON, Agbakoba and law enforcement agencies from “commencing, taking and/or continuing any steps or actions to appoint a receiver over, or in any manner howsoever take over or interfere with the operation and/or control of the MMA2,” pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Babalakin’s counsel, Biodun Layonu (SAN), also faulted the ex-parte order

secured by AMCON, saying it has scandalised the Federal High Court.

Besides, Layonu argued that the appearance of the plaintiffs’ counsel, Agbakoba, in the matter after he had been appointed as a receiver manager, had made his duties conflicting.

He added that the decision of Justice Abang to entertain the ex-parte application after the court vacation was against the Federal High Court’s rule.

But Agbakoba defended the order, saying that the application was brought before Justice Abang to recover the N50 billion debt on the basis of an agreement contrary to in-

L-R: Director, Customer Care, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Plato Syrimis; Hajiya Asia Ahmed el-Rufai and Head, Customer Experience and Retention, Etisalat Nigeria, Ms. Biola Edun, at the Etisalat Customers' Forum in Abuja.

God has already chosen our leader, says Sultan CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

elections and emergence of good democratic leaders that would develop the nation forward.

He said that God had blessed the country with human and mineral resources for the benefit of citizens.

He said that since sickness did not recognise religion, the need for all to unite and fight all illnesses was paramount.

"Mosquitoes do not know religion. They go to the mosques on Fridays and Churches on Sundays

to bite people, regardless of their religion. We must unite to fight our common enemy," he said.

Abubakar stressed that Nigerians needed to keep themselves as brothers, to make the country stronger.

"We can be strong in this country if only we keep ourselves as brothers," he stressed.

Earlier Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State had commended the cordial relationship between the Muslim and Christian community in the state.

He said that was possible through the mutual understanding between the two major religions.

He called on Nigerian leaders to accord equal attention to human capital development infrastructure development.

He said that although leaders were assessed by the number of roads and other infrastructure provided, governments should pay similar attention to human capital development from pregnancy.

He challenged elected

leaders to give more attention to pregnant women to ensure smooth delivery of expected young Nigerians.

He observed that most programmes of government were not aimed at considering the poor.

"We hardly consider the poor in our programmes.

There is the need to have an improved pro-poor programmes instead of such that only consider the middle and upper class of the people," he said.

Uduaghan donated a new ambulance to the clinic.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, represented by Minister of State for Health, Haliru Alhassan, said that "maternal and child care were the cornerstone of health systems of all nations.

He promised that the Federal Ministry of Health would collaborate with the Diocese for the success of its programmes.

Governor Aliyu Wamakko commended Bishop Matthew Kukah for his efforts in bridging the gaps in development.

sinuations that there was a misrepresentation of facts before getting the ex-parte order, especially as the judge was convinced that the case was a new case filed on a course of action upon an agreed debt.

However, Justice Buba faulted the action of the plaintiffs, saying as nothing should be done to undermine the integrity of the court.

He held that the action of AMCON was clearly an abuse and a nullity, as the suit before Abang was filed and orders obtained in the face of previous cases and specific orders.

He described AMCON’s action as nothing but that of a party that felt that a court can only bark but not bite.

The judge while declaring the entire process as an abuse of court process, set aside the ex-parte order made by Justice Abang on September 22.

Further hearing in the matter was adjourned until December 9.

Shortly after the court’s ruling, a mild drama played out as Babalakin engaged Agbakoba in a war of words.

Babalakin, who had waited patiently in his car throughout the proceedings, walked up to Agbakoba and both engaged in exchange of words.

As soon as Agbakoba sighted Babalakin, he said: "Wale, give me my money. I will collect my money from you and that's the final."

Jolted by Agbakoba’s utterances, Babalakin asked: “Why do you want to ruin me. You want to kill my businesses? I will never allow you."

Agbakoba fired back: "You this small lawyer, when did you start practising self ? I'm 40 years old at the Bar, and so you are too small for me."

However, it took the intervention of two senior lawyers, Akoni and Layonu, to save the day.

Meanwhile, the management of Bi-Courtney yesterday said the Federal Government was the one indebted to it and not the other way round.

Chief Operating Officer of the company, Miss Bisi Awoniyi, said the government owed it N132 billion as part of the agreement it had with it before setting up the MMA2 in 2007.

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Tuesday, September 30, 2014

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Tuesday, September 30, 2014

NEWS 9 Synagogue: Fashola warns against rumours

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Muritala Ayinla agos State Governor, Lyesterday Mr Babatunde Fashola, appealed to residents in the state to refrain from needless comments over the collapsed guest house belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN).

The governor said unwarranted comments on the incident could jeopardise ongoing investigations into the cause of the collapse, urging those calling for closure of the church premises to wait for the outcome of the investigation being carried out by the state and the Federal Government.

Fashola spoke when

Chief Executive Officer, UBA Africa, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka (left) and Chief Executive Officer, African Trade Insurance Agency (ATI), Mr. George Otieno, at the signing of the UBA/ATI Business Partnership to boost regional and international trade, in Nairobi…recently

Kano’s influential prince, Galadima, dies at 73 ...As Jonathan, Atiku, others mourn Muhammad Kabir, Johnchuks Onuanyim and Anule Emmanuel

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he Galadiman Kano, Alhaji Tijjani Hashim, 73, who is considered to be the most influential prince in Kano Emirate, is dead.

But the cause of the death of the Galadima, who died in Abuja yesterday, could not be immediately ascertained, although he was said to have died after a prolonged illness.

Hashim, who was rumoured to have aspired for the most exalted throne in the emirate following the death of Alhaji Ado Bayero, was said to have surrendered at the emergence of Sunusi Lamido Sunusi.

But reports said he silently withdrew from the affairs of the council until his death.

The Galadiman Kano was a man many relied on for help, connection

and favours, many people who spoke about him yesterday said they will be missing a caring father, who made them great.

He was buried in Kano after necessary Islamic rites were performed by clerics even as the event was witnessed by the VicePresident Namadi Sambo, the Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso and the Emir Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sunusi II. A crowd of sympathisers also thronged the Kano emirate council to catch a glimpse of the funeral.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday commiserated with the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and the people of Kano on the death of the Galadiman Kano, Alhaji Tijani Hashim.

President Jonathan in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said Alhaji Hashim

served his people admirably over the years as a regional minister in the first republic and a very senior member of the Kano Emirate Council.

The President said he believes the eminent Kano prince and highly revered community leader will always be remembered and honoured for his laudable contributions to peace, stability and progress in his community and country.

President Jonathan prayed that God Almighty will receive the late Galadima’s soul and grant him eternal rest.

Also yesterday, former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, condoled with the government and people of Kano, the Emir of Kano and the emirate council over the death of the Galadiman Kano.

In a statement from his Media Office in Abuja, the former vice-president said Hashim's influence had

become so profound that he had earned an oracular father figure in the emirate before his passage.

The Turaki Adamawa paid tribute to him for having lived a fulfilled life, spent in service to the community and in peacebuilding in the emirate.

Atiku said: “The people of Kano have lost a prized asset, who spent most of his life and times pursuing peace and communal harmony among his people. As the Galadiman Kano, he was a strong confidant and adviser to the Emir of Kano and was the strong backbone of the late Emir, Ado Bayero’s reign and contributed immensely to the love and respect that characterised that era.”

He expressed his condolences to the Kano State government, the emir and the people of the emirate council and the family of Dr. Tijjani Hashim.

Ndigbo suspend decision on Jonathan’s adoption Tony Okafor Awka

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ontrary to expectations that the Igbo would yesterday unanimously adopt President GoodLuck Jonathan as its sole candidate in the 2015 general elections, the issue was technically avoided during the 2014 Igbo Day held in Awka, Anambra State.

In his speech on the occasion, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex socio-

cultural Organization of the Igbo, Chief Gary Nnaechi Enwo-Igariwey, said the final decision on this matter would be made available shortly after due consultations.

He said: “We will continue to build bridges with other ethnic neutralities towards this cause. Participation in the ongoing voters Registration Exercise should be mandatory where we reside.

“Our strength should come from our demographic weight spread

all over the country.

Very soon, after consultations, our people will be called upon to speak with one voice on the issue of President. We did it before and we can do it again.

Enwo- Igariwey, however, said the Igbo would seek the office of President of Nigeria at the expiration of the tenure of President GoodLuck Ebele Jonathan, adding that had been the position of Ndigbo since 2010, “and it remains unchanged”.

He called on Ndigbo to imbibe the ‘think home’ philosophy in their own interest.

His speech entitled: “Ojemba Chetakwa AlaIgbo” (Travelers must remember Igbo Land) reads in part: “As I pointed out earlier, our central theme revolves around an issue that has generated many different shades of opinions, controversies and commentaries: the imperative demand for our people to repatriate their working wealth and invest it at home.

he played host to the Nigeria Institute of Town Planners in his office, saying the government would act methodically and not jump to conclusion without thorough investigation.

He said: “When accidents like that happen, so many stages are involved. First, there is a rescue stage, where everything that matters is how we can save one life. After that, there is a recovery stage, where we live with the reality that no life can be saved any more. And then, we recover and protect the site and all the materials that can be gathered from there."

Forget Edo, APC tells PDP Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

he leadership of the TCongress(APC),in All Prog ressives Edo

State, yesterday described as day-dreaming, the boast by President Goodluck Jonathan that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will recapture Edo State in 2015 and 2016.

The APC said such statement was a tall dream to think that “Chief Tom Ikimi, who recently joined the PDP will win Edo State for him”.

It would be recalled that President Jonathan had last weekend during a unity rally organized

by the PDP at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, stated that the party would win Rivers and Edo states back in 2015 and 2016.

The President assured the party members that in Rivers State, “we know that the party in charge is PDP, the APC only exists on bill boards”.

But the Special Adviser to Governor Adams Oshiomhole on Political Matters and a member of the state APC caucus, Charles Idahosa, reminded the President that the Binis, constitute over 50 per cent of the population of Edo State, have been marginalized in his government.

FOR SALE

BANANA ISLAND

hand-side – N150m

l 5 Bedroom terrace apartment on

l 5 bedroom detached house with BQ on

ONIKOYI ESTATE

l A massive land measuring 10,000sqm,

400sqm of land at Banana Island

l 4nos contiguous parcel of land

measuring 3151square meter at BLK plot 9,10,11&12 Onikoyi Estate Banana Island ikoyi l 2plots of land measuring 900sqm each at Onikoyi family land, Banana Island. l A plot of land measuring 992.936sqm at Onikoyi family land, Banana island.

Oyibo Adjaro Street - N130m

CBD along Durosimi Etti Street.-N850m Asking

NORTHER FORESHORE ESTATE

l 4 nos. 4 bedroom semi detached houses

@ – N100m each

CHEVY VIEW ESTATE

l 2 contiguous plots of land measuring

675sqm each-N110m

OSBORNE ESTATE 1

CALTON GATE

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

MAFOLUKU

l 6 bedroom detached house with 3

LEKKI PHASE I

l Luxurious 4 bedroom detached house

+ 1 bedroom guest chalet + 2 room BQ on Chris Otulana Crescent, Lekki right

l 800sqm in Carton gate – N100m net l 5 bedroom detached house with BQ

well finished on closes B3 and 7

l block of 3nos 3 bedroom flats + 1 park-

ing store at Ayinde Fasasi Street – 50m

OGUN STATE

l A massive parcel of land measuring

4.687 hectares at Riverview Estate, isheri, Ogun State

To LET

LAGOS ISLAND

OSBORNE 1 ESTATE

VICTORIA ISLAND

LEKKI PHASE 1

• Well finished and furnished 2 bedroom apartment on the 10th floor at Boyle street • Well improved 4bedroom semi detached house with BQ on Jide Oki good for office use • A 6 bedoom detached house, sitting on a land size of 563sqm on saka jojo street Victoria island

• 3 bedroom luxury apartment, with BQ on the ground floor within a mini-estate + swimming pool, gym etc. - $50k • Well finished 2 bedroom bungalow at Prince Bode Adebowale Crescent, Lekki 1- N2.5m /pa

OKOTA

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

Please contact

10

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/metro

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

TueSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2014

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

0802 393 8212

19 detained over Ekiti NURTW chairman’s murder

Suleiman Abba, IG

Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

P

olice in Ekiti State yesterday said they had arrested 19 people, including a female, in connection with last Thursday’s murder of the former Chairman of

the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Chief Omolafe Aderiye.

This was as the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 8, Mr Christopher Dega and the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Taiwo Lakanu, met with traditional

rulers and other stakeholders in a bid to fully restore peace in the state, following days of violence.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Victor Babayemi, said investigations had commenced on the 19 people arrested in connection

with the murder to ascertain the level of culpability of each suspect.

Babayemi said those arrested were picked up between Saturday and yesterday.

He said: “All of them are still with us as we are investigating their levels of culpability.”

The PPRO said the police would not reveal the identity of those in their custody yet, saying this would “be made known at the appropriate time”.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that eight traditional rulers Oba Idowu Adamo Babalola, the Onitaji of Itaji and Chairman of Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers; Oba Adebayo Adewole, the Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti; Oba James Adedapo Popoola, Oore of Otun-Ekiti; Oba M. G. Adedeji, Owa Ooye of Okemesi; Oba Olu Adegoke Adeyemi, Alara of Aramoko; Oba Oluwole Ademolaju, the Oloye of Oye Kingdom and Oba S. O. Ajiboye, the Onisan of Isan-Ekiti - attended the meeting with Dega and Lakanu.

Lakanu charged the tradi-

tional rulers on the need for them to maintain peace and help sustain it.

The commissioner also told them that they had certain degree of influence on their people, adding that they should talk to their subjects and prevail on them to maintain peace.

He said: “Police are here not because of anyone or political party but for the peace of the state.”

On his part, Dega said that what was happening was giving the state a bad image outside.

He said: “You as the custodians of the tradition of the people should help us and ensure that this is soon brought to an end.”

A source at the meeting said one of the traditional rulers said that the problem was caused by the fact that the people felt that a few people were “trying to scuttle the mandate they had freely given in the last election”.

The state was on the edge last week following mayhem caused by the assassination of Aderiye.

Four held for rape in Onitsha Ogun orders investigation as fire guts Kara market Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

F

our persons have been arrested by the police in Onitsha, Anambra State, for raping a lady (name withheld), at Ose-Okwudu market in Onitsha North Local Government Area.

The Chairman of the market, Mr Sunday Ewulu, who briefed journalists in his office, said that the four young boys were arrested by security men guarding the market.

Ewulu said the vigilantes arrested eight persons, but the other four were caught extorting money from traders and shoppers.

He added that the task force set up by the Anambra State Government was one of the greatest achievements recorded so far by Governor Willie Obiano.

According to him, the joint task force has helped to reduce robbery in and around the market, because the hoodlums usually rob traders at the nearby streets and roads early in the morning and late in the evening.

He added that because of the constant patrol of the security

Obiano

and vigilantes, robbery had been reduced to the beeriest minimum.

The chairman said four of the suspected robbers were charged to court while the police were investigating the others for rape.

He warned all those hanging around the market waiting to extort or rob anybody to relocate to somewhere else as the vigilantes had been instructed to deal decisively with anybody caught in such act.

Reacting to the recent Supreme Court judgement on the Anambra State gubernatorial election, Ewulu described it as restoration of hope for the people.

According to him, with the end of the litigation, Obiano will now settle for full business.

File picture of the burnt Kara market

Taiwo Jimoh overnor Ibikunle Amosun’s Gordered administration yesterday an investigation into

the fire which gutted Kara Market on Sunday night.

The fire claimed over 20 cows and destroyed several shops.

The government ordered the investigation following observation that the market, located at the popular Oluwan-

ishola Cow Market on LagosIbadan Expressway, always seemed to be under incessant fire attacks.

A witness said the fire incident was caused by someone who was refilling already heated generating set.

The generating set was said to have worked all day, when the fuel inside got exhausted.

The owner, instead to switching it off, started to refill the generator while it was still on.

“When the owner of the generating set was trying to refill it, it suddenly exploded. Before we knew it, the fire spread, roasted cows and burnt shops,” the witness said.

A leader in the market, Mr Abdurasaq Usman, said 20 cows and properties worth millions of naira were lost to the fire.

He said: “Immediately we noticed the fire, we contacted the Ogun State Fire Service. It was the fire fighters who finally put out the fire. Policemen from Ojodu Abiodun Police Station were also on ground to prevent break down of law and order.”

The government called on security agencies in the state to commence investigations into the repeated cases of fire outbreaks in the market.

The Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, led a team of government functionaries, including the Commissioner for Environment, Ayo Olubori, his Urban and Physical Planning counterpart, Gbenga Otenuga, and other top government officials to the scene of the market yesterday.

METRO

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

T

hree persons died at Nkpor in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State when a tanker loaded with gasoline lost control and plunged into the Nkpor main market.

Thirty others were seriously wounded while five vehicles were burnt.

The 40-feet tanker was said to have developed brake problem on top of the Nkpor flyover, hit a nearby protector pillar and immediately caught fire.

Its content spilled and spread along the main road into the market.

Fire also followed fuel into the market, razed some of the shops and goods worth millions of naira.

The areas affected included the livestock and

Three die, 30 injured as fuel tanker crashes yam sections, cloths and other food items’ shops.

The incident led to a gridlock while members of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and members of the Anambra State Fire Service were struggling to control the fire.

Vehicles were diverted to other routes.

When contacted, the Divisional Police Officer, Ogidi Police Station, Mr H. Musa, confirmed the incident.

He, however, said he was not aware if anyone died.

With the incident, Onitsha has recorded over 10 fire outbreaks in less than two weeks.

An accident scene in Benin, Edo State, yesterday

Fulani herdsmen kill one, rape three in Benue Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

O

ne person was reportedly killed while three girls were raped over the weekend when suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked Mbalaagh community in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State.

Also, several other residents were missing after the attack.

It was gathered that the three girls were in their

farm when the suspected Fulani herdsmen, armed with AK 47 rifles and machetes, attacked, raped and dispossessed them of their valuables, including handsets.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Daniel Ezeala, who confirmed the incident, said one girl died as a result of the attack while another one was hospitalised.

Ezeala added that the police search team and the Civilian Task Force set up by

National honour’s recipient breaks building law, says FCTA Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

F

or failing to pay a contravention fee on his property at Emmanuel Adiele Street, Jabi, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) yesterday threatened to seal a hotel belonging to multimillionaire businessman, Dr Peter Ojeme.

Ojeme, who was among recipients of National Honour Awards given by President Goodluck Jonathan, is accused of contravening the Land Use Act by the Department of Development Control of FCTA. The businessman, popularly known as Don P, is the chairman of Don P Communications.

According to the Head of Operations of Land Use Contravention Unit, in the Department of Development Control, Alhaji Yusuf Anarayu, who led other officials of the unit to seal the hotel yesterday, building plan of his hotel in contention, La’ Don Hotel was approved for residential purpose but was converted to commercial purpose.

Anarayu alleged that the owner of the hotel had ignored several efforts made in the past to make him pay the

contravention fee which had now amounted to N22 million.

While stating that the owner of the hotel had last week broken the padlock with which the hotel was sealed, the head of operations added that the team was out to enforce the provision of the Land Use Act. He said: “This particular hotel, as you can see, we sealed it last week just to discover that they have opened it themselves. Why we are here now is to let them know that they should not take law into their hands. Nobody is above the law, as long as you are a citizen of this country, you should be law-abiding.

“The hotel contravenes the Land Use Act because the building is supposed to be residential and they are using it for commercial.

Government wants it to be reverted to residential as you can see all the buildings here are residential.

“The fee that government charges as contravention fee, they have not been paying the bill. We have been here on a number of times, no payment and nobody has come to explain to us. That is why we are here.

“They are owing us about N22 million. We were here last year but the owner did not bother.

the state government during the Fulani/Farmers crisis, had already commenced investigation into the matter.

The PPRO, who said the girls were attacked by only one Fulani boy, said that relative calm had returned to the troubled area.

He commended residents of Mbalaagh community for not taking the law into their hands to heat up the polity.

The residents of Mbalaagh community had recently complained of the

excesses of the Fulani herdsmen, even after the peace deal to end over three years of conflict between the two warring sides was brokered.

The residents had complained several times that the herdsmen were beating their wives in the farms, stopping people from farming in particular areas they claimed were close to their settlements, and freely grazing on farms, destroying crops as well as threatening to attack them.

Fear in Osun over possible outbreak of epidemic Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

is fear of imminent Tinhere outbreak of epidemic Osogbo, the Osun State

capital, following the denial of inhabitants to the only refuse dump at Onibu Eja area of the town.

The residents, who now litter virtually every part of the streets and roads of the town with garbage, told journalists that the state government had closed down the dump indefinitely owing to lack of maintenance fund.

They appealed to Governor Rauf Aregbesola to re-open the dump to avoid outbreak of an epidemic in the state.

The people complained that the refuse dump had been closed in the past two weeks.

“The issue of dumpsite is one of the fundamentals to the success of the O’clean programme which the government must urgently tackle,” a resident said.

Speaking through one Mr Adebisi Adegbite, the residents pointed out further that despite the fact that it was established by the Aregbesola administration for effective implementation

of its health and environmental programme tagged ‘O’clean,’ it was unfortunate that the same government had now closed it down.

He said: “As a result of the closure, the second time in one month, the operation of waste collectors has been brought to a halt, as some streets in the city are littered with refuse.

“The closure of the dumpsite has further compounded the problem of most private waste collectors already traumatised by the frequent breakdown of their trucks.”

Also, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) frowned at government’s lukewarm attitude to the issue.

The PDP Chairman, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, in a statement, described the attitude as inhuman and charged the government to act fast to avert epidemic in the state.

He said: “We gathered that the refuse dumpsite is filled, thus the refusal of refuse collectors to pack refuse from streets and residences.

“But a responsible and proactive government should have foreseen the development and created an alternative. With the Eid-el Kabir approaching, the situation may become more serious if not addressed urgently.”

11

Eid-el-Kabir: KAI seizes 35 rams

fficials of the Lagos State Kick Ogade Against Indiscipline (KAI) Briyesterday impounded 35 rams,

which they had taken from a makeshift selling point in Agege area of the state.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), about 20 KAI officials stormed the stall and took the rams, one after the other into their truck before they drove to their office, Alausa.

Speaking on the issue, the Public Relations Officer of the brigade, Mr Tunde Olusesi, told NAN that the rams were impounded by officials for constituting environmental nuisance.

Olusesi said the traders were putting them up for sale on a road setback, adding the site was not the right place to sell rams.

He said: “The traders ignored earlier warnings not to sell rams in that place, which is a road setback. That is not a ram market.

“We had no option but to enforce the state environmental law to serve as deterrent for others who might want to breach the law.”

Illegal arms: Ex-Ondo LG chair blames trial on politics Babatope Okeowo Akure

Chairman of Ose Local FMrormer Government Area of Ondo State, Afolabi Adedayo Mabogunje,

has said that he was being persecuted because of shenanigans in his political party.

Mabogunje, who is being tried alongside six others for illegal possession of firearms, robbery, conspiracy and cultism, said this yesterday through his lawyer, Mr Olusola Oke, before an Akure Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

This was as the court presided over by Chief Magistrate W. A. Daomi fixed October 17 for ruling on the bail application filed by his counsel.

Other accused are Temitope Abiola, Agun Adeniyi, Eniola Obasoto, David Agunloye, Apejoye Ayodeji and Boyede Owodara.

But when the case came up for hearing, the police prosecutor, Mr Isah Atanegbe, asked the court for adjournment so that the case file would be duplicated and sent to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.

Comply with GMP, NAFDAC tells water producers Appolonia Adeyemi embers of the Association of TaM ble Water Producers (ATWAP), who produce sachet water, popular-

ly called ‘pure water’ must comply with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) or lose their licences.

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Paul Orhii, issued the warning at the recent launch of the annual monitoring of water quality standard and compliance for water manufacturing facilities in Lagos.

Orhii, who was represented by Mrs Omolara Adetola-Adegoke, said the agency could not fold its arms and watch Nigerians die of preventable diseases.

12 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

TCN restores light to Abuja, Nasarawa Lateef Ibrahim and Johnchucks Onuanyim, Abuja he Transmission ComTyesterday pany of Nigeria (TCN) disclosed that it

has successfully restored electricity supply to Asokoro, Garki, Apo, and Karu areas of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as well as Nassarawa State, following the completion of repair works in the Apo Transmission substation, which was affected by a fire incident, caused by direct lightning strike, on September 16.

The management of the TCN, in a statement signed by the General Manager (Public Affairs), Mrs. Seun Olagunju, explained that the Apo Substation fire incident caused the loss of a 60MVA 133/33kV power transformer, associated

33kV switch gears, cables and other accessories, worth several millions of naira.

According to the statement, "After the fire was put off, TCN engineers quickly assessed the extent of damage to the 60MVA 330/132kV power transformer and cable network in the substation, isolated the burnt power transformer and commenced overhaul /repair works on affected equipment and replaced cable network and panels in the station’s control room.

"Due to the enormity of damage caused by the fire, TCN engineering team carried out the overhaul/ repair works in phases.

One of the 45MVA power transformers was restored on the September 19, while the second one was restored on September 20."

Olowude: IGI opens condolence register l Fashola, Aregbesola, Naicom mourn Sunday Ojeme he Industrial and GenTyesterday eral Insurance Plc (IGI) said that it has

opened condolence register in the home of its late Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Oluremi Andrew Olowude, OON, who died on Saturday.

In a statement released yesterday and signed by the Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr Steve Iloh, the company also said that it had opened registers in all its offices, both within and outside Nigeria.

The statement said that after a meeting of the board, management and staff of the company, they resolved to take the company founded by the late Olowude in 1992 to greater heights.

“The Board and Management assure all stakeholders that we shall preserve the IGI legacy and

vigorously pursue the dream and vision of the departed founder.”

Meanwhile eminent Nigerians have continued to express shock over demise.

Among those who have sent in messages of condolence are the Governors of Lagos and Osun states, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN and Rauf Aregbesola respectively and the Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr. Fola Daniel.

They commiserated with the wife, family and insurance professionals in the country over the passage of the top insurer.

In a statement signed by Fashola’s Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, Fashola described the passage of Olowude as a great loss to the insurance industry in particular and the world of entrepreneurship in general.

Ihonubere harps on security Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

do State government EFederal yesterday called on the Government to

provide adequate security for the oil and gas sector of the economy.

It also said that the Federal Government should do everything possible to tackle the problem of pipeline vandalism that is threatening the country’s upstream and downstream sectors rather than resorting to ‘voodoo tactics’ to rip off states of the federation in the guise of protecting the nation’s pipelines.

Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG), Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, stated this at the award

giving ceremony organised by the leadership of the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) under its state Chairman, Dr. Samson Isibor, for some distinguished elected and appointed citizens in government held in Benin, the state capital.

Ihonvbere said the state has always run into crisis, but for funds from the state’s internally generated revenue, which helps in dealing with some of the problems confronting it.

This was as the group urged Governor Adams Oshiomhole to contest for the presidency of the country come next year under the platform of the APC.

normalcy

Workers and traders flood Ado-Ekiti as the dust settles in the troubled town Adesina Wahab, Wale Elegbede and Onyekachi Eze, ABUJA

C

alm yesterday returned to Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, following the riot that trailed the killing last week of the former Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Chief Omolafe Aderiye, by gunmen.

Our correspondent observed that though armed policemen were still patrolling major streets of the state capital, people were careful in moving about their normal businesses.

However, commercial banks and government offices that were shut last Friday, when rioters went on the rampage, opened for business.

Long queues of customers wanting to enter the banking halls at First Bank Plc, Skye Bank Plc at Okeyinmi area of the town, were seen.

Also, government offices at the Old Governor's Office, Barracks Road and the state secretariat along

Calm returns to Ekiti as banks, offices open l SERAP petitions UN over attack on courts, judges l I'm ready for probe, says Fayose New Iyin Road, which were deserted by civil servants last Friday, bubbled with life yesterday.

Though many of the workers, who are still grieving that their August salaries have not been paid, boycotted office, some still reported for duty.

Residents of the town on Sunday were alerted by the police of plan by some hoodlums to embark on reprisal attack to avenge the destruction of property belonging to Peoples Democratic Party leaders.

It will be recalled that the killing of Aderiye, a close ally of the Governor-Elect, Mr. Ayo Fayose, last Thursday, led to a riot during which millions of naira worth of property was destroyed.

The development led to the imposition of dusk-todawn curfew on the town

by Governor Kayode Fayemi.

Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) yesterday peti-

tioned the United Nation Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Ms. Gabriela Knaul, urging her to use her position to urgently investigate the invasion and attack on an Ado-Ekiti High Court last week.

In the petition dated September 29, 2014 and signed by SERAP Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation said: “Apart from violating the rights of the judges to personal dignity and security, the attacks also constitute a threat to the independence and impartiality of the judiciary and the entire justice system.

In another development, the Governor-Elect, Ayodele Fayose, yesterday said he would appear before any panel or commission of enquiry into the crisis rocking the state in recent time.

Fayose also said the crisis was part of the grand plan by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to stall his inauguration as governor of the state on

October 16.

The governor-elect, who spoke to newsmen in Abuja, urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigation the allegation by Justice John Adeyeye that he (Fayose) slapped him.

“The current crisis is part of the agenda of the APC; and their sole aim is to try to get through the back door what the people of the state did not give to them on June 21, when they voted overwhelmingly for me and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),” Fayose stated.

“I am openly expressing my readiness to appear before the committee to be set up by the NJC even after I must have been sworn in, to testify on the issue, if need be.”

According to him, there were signs that some judicial officers were conniving with the outgoing governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and the APC to botch the swearing in, but said he would not succumb to such blackmail.

Deputy Managing Director, New Telegraph newspaper, Mr. Felix Abugu (right), presenting a copy of the paper to the President/CEO, Erisco Foods Limited, Chief Eric O. Umeofia, during a courtesy visit by the management team of the paper to Umeofia in Lagos…on Friday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Oshiomhole tasks royal fathers on crude oil theft Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

E

do State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday appealed to royal fathers in the SouthSouth to help check the menace of crude oil theft in the region.

The governor made the appeal when he received South-South monarchs at the Government House, Benin City.

He said, "royal fathers have a role to play in lending their voice against oil theft, because it is destabilising the economy and

creating huge environmental challenge, which the nation would confront when the states may not have the resources to do so.”

Oshiomhole continued: “When the oil dries up, the damage would have been done, the damage to the environment will persist and the resources that will be required to regenerate the environment to deal with the consequences of the pollution may not be available.

“Across the SouthSouth, too many of our people, who want quick

money are involved in oil theft. In Edo State, around Agbede, it’s not an oil producing area, but for some strange reasons, there are all kinds of illegal refineries there, polluting and destroying a place that is ordinarily very suitable for agriculture.

“Being in government, there are things I no longer can say, but that does not mean that those things are not in my heart. I am worried about what appears to be a free hand for criminals to help themselves with our common patrimony called oil and gas.

He added, “One of the long term consequences of this kind of situation is that you have smallsmall boys of very little exposure, having access to huge resources that is not the result of hard work and because they are criminal in nature, and the volume and sum involved is huge, they have enough money to raise alternative army, to procure the deadliest weapons in order to defend their territory, which is basically an area they have carved out for the purpose of that heinous crime.”

Amadi eyes Imo governorship / PAGE 16 | The Sambo conundrum / PAGE 17

POLITICS

13

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/politics

Atiku on the march again

ayodele Ojo

Deputy Editor, politics ayodeleojo@yahoo.com

p-14, 15

TUESday, September 30, 2014

Kwara: Saraki, Ajadi, Belgore, others battle for PDP’s soul

Saraki

The battle for the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State promises to be laced with intrigues as six heavyweight politicians slug it out to be the standardbearer of the opposition party.

BIODUN OYELEYE reports

A

head of the 2015 elections, the governorship battle in Kwara State will be fought between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC). In Kwara State, the field is full of interested contestants, particularly within the fold of the PDP which suddenly found itself playing the role of an opposition following the defection of its leader in the state, Senator Bukola Saraki.

When the state chairman of the PDP, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, addressed members of the party’s national integration committee, he said the defection left PDP bare such that a party that was controlling the state suddenly had a mere N18,000 in its balance sheet.

But the defection has also given more participants in the party the opportunity to test their potential in politicking. As such, more than the rival APC in the

Ajadi

state, the PDP today has more aspirants jostling to pick the party’s gubernatorial ticket for the 2015 contest in Kwara.

Thus the scale of politicking for tickets appears higher and thicker within the opposition party than within the ruling APC. The battle for the PDP governorship ticket is being fought among five aspirants.

Gbemisola Ruqayat Saraki Another influential scion of the Saraki dynasty, Gbemisola, also called GRS by her supporters, is most likely to test her political strength and acceptance against that of her brother, Bukola Saraki, in another election. In the last one month, GRS has been at home in Kwara quietly visiting various wards, groups and individuals and doling out funds in a manner many claim resembles the acclaimed generosity of her late father, Dr. Olusola Saraki. Gbemi has a strong political structure, perhaps ahead of most other aspirants.

The evidence of her strength was in the way it was put to use during the party’s congresses early this year in which her group/affiliation emerged to control 15 of the 16 local government executive members of the party and 30 out of the 33 state executive members of the party.

During the gubernatorial election

Belgore

in 2011, she came third behind the incumbent governor, Alhaji AbdulFattah Ahmed then of the PDP and Mr. Dele Belgore of the then Action Congress of Nigerian (ACN).

Strength: Her strong points include her stable political structure which has been nurtured for years. She has also contested before, so she knows the intricacies and nuances involved in a gubernatorial race. She put both to use during the party’s congress and floored her opponents. She also has a deep purse from which she apparently could prosecute a gubernatorial campaign. She is adored by many of the younger generation of female politicians in the state who swam around her often.

Weaknesses: Her gender is the first serious factor against her. It stood against her ambition in 2011 even when she was backed by the powerful force of her father who personally went out to campaign for her throughout the nooks and crannies of the state. Many conservative Muslims are not ready to accept the picture of a female governor. They said so in 2011 through their votes and the party may consider this a factor in deciding who to field for 2015. It was a big issue that divided Islamic scholars and politicians in the state then.

Another factor against her is the name; Saraki. It has been difficult selling

her identity as a Saraki to people within the PDP whose slogan is to enjoy freedom from the past of Kwara; the past mostly built and controlled by Saraki.

To worsen this is the fact that she has been distancing herself from party activities of recent. She was conspicuously absent at the recent reception for the Minister of National Planning, Dr. Suleiman Abubakar even though she was said to have been at home in the state capital, Ilorin, during the ceremony. She is from Kwara Central which has been in the saddle for 12 out of 16 years of the current democratic dispensation.

Makanjuola Ajadi The Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters is also a generous, core politician with vast grassroots support. The former lecturer, former commissioner, former senator and now Presidential Adviser is an old political war horse. Ajadi’s appointment as presidential adviser is seen as an empowerment move for him and a measure to strengthen the PDP in the state. He has empowerment projects in several communities in his southern senatorial district and since his appointment, Ajadi who suffered economic blockade during his days against the Saraki dynasty has become busy again; his home has become a Mecca of sorts for his supporters.

He has, however, told them that his final decision on the gubernatorial race will be determined by President GoodCONTINUED ON PAGE 20

14 POLITICS

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Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Atiku on the march again

L-R: Adamawa State APC Chairperson, Binta Garuba; former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume; Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim and others, during Atiku’s declaration for 2015 Presidency in Abuja…

Last Wednesday, former VicePresident Atiku Abubakar formally declared his aspiration to contest next year’s presidential election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this report, ONWUKA NZESHI and JOHNCHUKS ONUANYIM examine the Atiku candidature and issues that might make or mar his chances Prelude It is the eve of another election year and many contenders are gearing up to take part in the crucial presidential election. A few days ago, former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, indicated his interest in the race. A familiar face is on the match again, in search of the keys to Aso Rock. The declaration which took place at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja attracted a large crowd of his supporters and close associates from across the country.

At the colourful event, the former Vice President said that his renewed bid to lead Nigeria was informed by his readiness to play a leading role in the trans-generational efforts to save the country and improve the welfare of its people. In the last seven years, he said, Nigeria has been drifting and in dire need of a change in leadership. He gave assurance that with his commitment and the support of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria was on her way to redemption.

The declaration In his declaration speech titled: “Time For Change,” Atiku spoke of

lives of our people.”

the motivation behind his repeated attempts to seek the mandate of the people to lead the country. The Turaki Adamawa commended all those who were at the ceremony, stressing that it was a great honour that they defied the raging insecurity and the threats of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) to witness the declaration.

“We are all here because we believe that our country can be made better.

We want to see Nigeria develop, prosper and become the pride of Africa and the Black race. We are here because we know that change must come and that change will come because of you.

“As I move around this country interacting with regular Nigerians, I listen to their concerns about unfulfilled expectations, frustrations and sometimes disillusionment. Yet I still see the excitement, determination and hope on their faces.

“In spite of the many challenges we face, it is quite remarkable that our people have refused to give up on Nigeria.

It is inspiring that amidst difficulties and growing anxiety over the future of our country, our people have refused to succumb to despair and hopelessness.

This never-say-die attitude gives me immense hope and it is one of the reasons I can never give up on Nigeria.

“My passion for governance is that of a man who wants to do more because there is so much more to be done in fixing Nigeria. This passion continues to grow as long as this government is not really doing the fixing. I want to lead a government that will invest in its people because people constitute the wealth of any nation. I want to lead a government that will create a Nigeria for all.

“I have what it takes to bring people together and turn things around for the better. Therefore, I want to play a leading role in the trans-generational efforts to save this country and improve the

The motivation Atiku explained that having studied the Nigerian situation critically, he has decided to work with other respected leaders of the APC to fix Nigeria through the democratic process of contesting the presidential election of 2015.

“I want to lead a government that will invest in its people because people constitute the wealth of any nation. I want to lead a government that will create ‘a Nigeria for all’. A Nigeria that is not about North or South, Christian or Muslim, but about a better tomorrow where every citizen will feel secure, act with patriotism, having assurance of the fulfilment of his or her aspirations.

“I want to lead a government that will rebuild the institutions of governance with zero tolerance for corruption and nepotism, where hard work and dedication are adequately rewarded.

“I want to assemble the best brains in the land and provide the political will and commitment so that jointly, and with the cooperation of all of you, build a Nigeria of our dreams. Nigeria must rise to retake its leadership place in Africa and earn the respect of other nations. This places on us the responsibility of stewardship. It is the consciousness of this national responsibility that has guided my political adventures; and it is this call to serve that I have come to answer once again,” Atiku told the audience.

Political metamorphosis It is the fourth time in 20 years, Atiku would be seeking to become the number one citizen in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country. The former number two citizen took the first shot at the presidency in 1993 on the platform of the then Social Democratic Party (SDP), one of the two political parties floated by the Ibrahim Babangida military administration in its convoluted political transition programme. He lost the SDP ticket to the late MKO Abiola, the

business mogul who eventually won the June 12, 1993 presidential election, but died in prison after the military annulled the election.

In 1999, when the military conducted another political transition programme, Atiku joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and upon that platform, contested and won the governorship seat in Adamawa State. He was waiting to assume office in Government House, Yola, the Adamawa State capital when former President Olusegun Obasanjo invited him to serve as the vice president, a position he held for eight years.

In 2007, Atiku’s ambition to succeed his boss led to a serious rift in their relationship. This rivalry forced Atiku to leave the PDP and pitch his tent with the Action Congress (AC), an opposition political platform. Although the AC was dominated by members of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) many Nigerians believed that Atiku floated the party as a special life boat to ferry him out of the troubled political waters of that time. He did survive the political storm but failed to realise his presidential ambition as Obasanjo ensured that the Yar’Adua/Jonathan ticket triumphed over Atiku and his new party in the presidential race.

A curious reconciliation with his former boss (Obasanjo) saw Atiku returning to the PDP to contest the 2011 presidential primaries but lost the seat to President Goodluck Jonathan. Atiku remained in the PDP until the same ambition triggered another crisis in the party. He joined the mega opposition party, the APC, about a year ago.

The man Atiku was born on November 25, 1946. He was educated at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and later joined the Nigeria Customs Service where he rose to the rank of a Deputy Comptroller General of Customs.

A few year after retirement from the Service, Atiku went into private business where he enjoyed government

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Tuesday, September 30, 2014

patronage for several years before he joined politics. Atiku is a co-founder of Intels, an oil service logistics enterprise with extensive operations in Nigeria and overseas. He is also the founder of Adama Beverages Limited and the American University of Nigeria (AUN), both situated in Yola, Adamawa State.

Today, he is one of the most powerful and influential business and political figures in Nigeria.

His travails Atiku has had a brilliant political career spanning over three decades and could be regarded as one of the best presidential materials around given his age and experience. He has transversed various political platforms including the SDP, Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), PDP, AC and All Progressive Congress (APC).

Atiku was seen as a loyal subordinate to former President Obasanjo until things fell apart between them over succession intrigues. His failed attempt to upstage his boss and deny him (Obasanjo) a second term ticket in 2003 has been his greatest undoing. Since then, his political career has been riddled with tales of mishaps and near misses.

Following the friction between the duo, the Obasanjo administration accused Atiku of financial misconduct and set up an administrative panel to investigate the allegations. The investigative panel indicted him and paved the way for the PDP to deny him the presidential ticket in 2007. Even when he left to pursue his ambition in AC at that time, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disqualified him from standing for the election as the presidential candidate of AC until the Supreme Court intervened and reversed the decision of the electoral body.

In spite of this last minute reprieve, Atiku lost the election as he came a distant third, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) came second while the late President Umaru Yar’Adua won the election.

His chances In 2011 when Atiku made his last bid at the presidency on the platform of the PDP, he lost at the primaries. He suffered a humiliating defeat after the ruling party rolled back the tapes of his past. Atiku was shown in several video clips castigating the PDP and its leadership in such a vociferous manner that it was difficult for the delegates at the convention to accept him as one fit to fly the party’s flag.

After his defeat at that primary election, he went underground to lick his wounds and perhaps wait for an opportunity to get even with his political adversaries. The golden opportunity came last year at the special convention of the PDP when seven governors elected on its platform walked out of the convention ground in protest, over the list of delegates which allegedly did not favour some governors. Atiku joined in the pro-

test and hours later, the controversial New PDP was formed, under the leadership of Alhaji Kawu Baraje, a former Acting National Chairman of the party.

The activities of this splinter group gave the PDP a long and tortuous nightmare that the ruling party was almost torn to shreds before it rediscovered itself and tamed the renegades.

It is certain that the PDP has neither forgotten nor forgiven Atiku for the treacherous role he played in the attempted destabilisation of the ruling party. Out of the seven governors that staged the walkout, five are now with Atiku in the APC, the main opposition party.

The zoning palaver It is imperative to recall that much of the fight Atiku and the G7 governors gave to the PDP was over zoning and power rotation which they said President Jonathan had flouted to get to power. Ironically, there are some traces of the same problem in their new party.

There seem to be an unwritten agreement among the top echelon of the APC that the presidential ticket is not only zoned to the North, but more specifically to the North West.

However, Atiku who is aware of this coded zoning and the likelihood of it working against him, said he was throwing his hat in the ring because zoning was not enshrined in the APC constitution.

His words: “Our party, the APC, at its inception in July 2013, offered a great hope for many Nigerians as a potent alternative to the ruling PDP. We have in our fold selfless leaders who cherish democratic principles and practices and who have demonstrated their patriotism in deepening democracy.

“Regardless of the loud and lavish political propaganda, deceit, official impunity and unjust applications of powers of patronage and sanctions by the PDP administrations, let me assure you that our party remains strong and capable of fulfilling the nation’s thirst for change.

And we shall do so united across regions, religions and generations.

“I am particularly proud that our party has adopted the innovative Modified Open Primaries in selecting its flagbearers at all levels. This will ensure the emergence of candidates whose mandate will be informed by the popular will of the members of our party. To fix Nigeria, an APC government will promote a new socio-political order which will compel the leadership to always balance power and authority with service and accountability.”

The Buhari challenge Atiku looks good enough to clinch the APC ticket for the 2015 presidential race, but it is also not certain that he will go too far. He will first have to con-

Atiku looks good enough to clinch the APC ticket for the 2015 presidential race, but it is also not certain that he will go too far tend and surmount the odds and forces against him in the opposition camp. The first hurdle on Atiku’s way is a former military Head of State, Buhari, a member of the APC who also has his eyes on the APC presidential ticket.

In several respects, Atiku and Buhari have a lot in common. They are both northerners, the region most favoured to pick the presidential ticket of the APC. Since they both share the “it must be me” mentality, it will be a tough battle within the APC for either of them to pick the ticket.

Both of them have tasted power at the top before now and have become serial contestants of the presidential election on various political platforms.

In 2003, Buhari was the flag bearer of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) and contested against Obasanjo; in 2007 he contested against Yar’Adua on the platform of ANPP and in 2011 he contested against Jonathan on the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

Late comer?

Some political detractors in the APC believe that Atiku is joining the party rather late and that it would be wrong for him to pick the presidential ticket of the party.

These critics argue that Atiku was not one of the founding fathers of the APC and needed to learn how to crawl before walking his way to the coveted seat reserved for those who have been there all along.

But Atiku has dismissed such claims as baseless, stating that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) one of the legacy political parties that merged to form APC was founded by him and his supporters. He argued that he contested the 2007 presidential election on the platform of AC, the forerunner of the ACN, hence he cannot be regarded as a stranger in the fold of the mega party.

Other factors Besides these hurdles, the APC parades other presidential hopefuls such as Governors Rabiu Kwankwanso (Kano), Rochas Okorocha (Imo) and Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) and a host of other personalities waiting in the wings. It is believed that Atiku is the richest among all these aspirants and would be prepared to roll out his heavy war chest to beat them in the course of

the electioneering.

But in Nigerian politics, history has shown that even the mightiest of candidates can be brought down by a combination of factors that may be brought into play, particularly when the parties lack internal democracy.

There are feelers within the APC that Atiku might be dumped in spite of all his financial relevance to the party.

New Telegraph learnt that the leadership of the party is yet to be convinced that Atiku has real electoral value that could be translated into votes and victory at the polls. Even before the primaries, the de facto leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is said to be torn between choosing an Aitku with his stupendous wealth and a Buhari believed to have a cult following among voters in some of the highly populated states of the country.

The argument of those routing for Buhari is that in 2011, he won 12 out of the 19 states in the North when he contested the presidential election on the platform of the defunct CPC. The logic which they tend to promote is that if a man could do that with a newly formed and poorly funded party like the CPC, he could do better with a party as formidable as APC. There are hints that the leadership of the APC have settled for Buhari and may just be playing “democratic games” with Atiku and others until the convention day.

The future Having passed this road several times, Atiku must have become more matured and toughened to weather the storms that might come his way. He is said to have mobilised all the chairmen of the APC in the 774 local government areas of the country to his declaration.

This means he has reached the grassroots where the electorate really holds sway. But the wind of politics could sometimes be very unpredictable and a seemingly popular candidate may still fail when it matters most.

In the event that Atiku is unable to clinch the ticket of the APC, history may repeat itself once more. He will certainly be disappointed and frustrated. Atiku will most likely defect to the PDM, a platform he also founded and ran with others as a political pressure group. The party transmuted to a registered political party last year amidst speculations that Atiku was constructing another “life boat” in preparation for any eventuality.

Some analysts believe Atiku might be plotting to play the spoiler game in the APC and might still be a PDP stalwart at heart. In fact, some say that he has so much of his business interests tied to government patronage that he might return to the ruling party at the end of his present assignment. Unless with the aid of a crystal ball, it might be too early and very difficult to predict what tomorrow may bring. For now, the 2015 epic movie has just begun.

OTHER APC PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS

Buhari

Kwankwanso

Okorocha

15

Oshiomhole

16 POLITICS

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Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Amadi eyes Imo governorship Ethelbert Okere

F

or Hon. Bethel Amadi, the self-effacing Nigeria-born president of the Pan African Parliament (PAP), combining the job with that of being a member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives has been quite challenging. The three-term federal legislator who was elected into the position three years ago, is thankful to God Almighty for giving him the good health to combine the two jobs.

Almost always airborne, shuttling between South Africa, the home of PAP and Nigeria, Amadi who is among those conferred with National Honours yesterday by President Goodluck Jonathan, is also grateful to his colleagues at the National Assembly as well as other stakeholders, especially in the presidency, for their robust support which has in no small measure contributed to his success in the trans-national assignment.

Amadi says, however, that what fires his zeal mostly on the job is the realisation that “our dear country, Nigeria, has a lot to benefit from a well-positioned Pan African Parliament.” The Amadi-led leadership of the PAP came into office at a period the body was passing through a transformation process in search of legislative powers. The new leadership, he says, had to key into that “because we believe that a PAP with legislative powers will strengthen Africa’s democratic institutions and promote continental integration as well as boost intra-African trade.”

In May, the ministerial meeting of the Specialized Technical Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs adopted the draft protocol that will empower the PAP to exercise limited legislative powers and propose model laws on subject areas that the assembly shall determine.

The thrust of the draft protocol is that the parliament shall be the legislative organ of the African Union (AU) subject to the guideline of the assembly. Amadi explains further: “The progressive legislative mandate given to the PAP will enable it play a more pivotal role in representing the aspiration of the peoples of Africa in the decision making process of the African Union.” If and when the draft protocol is finally approved it will enable the African continent begin the process of building strong democratic institutions that will deepen democracy, good governance and accountability as well as economic integration of the entire continent.

While his administration is awaiting the approval of the draft protocol, the PAP president says the leadership he heads has a lot to point to already. In the last two years, since he assumed office; the parliament under Amadi has established relationships with regional and continental bodies and such relationships have resulted in partnerships that have been tackling some problems with the continent. For example, the partnership it established within the United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS has created room for sustainable responses to the HIV scourge in the continent. PAP’s relationship with the United Nations has also led to the establishment of a more robust framework for addressing human rights challenges in Africa.

In addition, the Amadi-led PAP is pursing programmes for the promotion of gender equality and affirmative action for women in the continent. “We pursued this interest because of my personal belief that the women who constitute half of global population should be constructively engaged in Africa’s development agenda,” Amadi explains. To this end, the body has established the Pan African Parliament Women Conference for discussing issues on gender imbalances.

Back to Imo State, Nigeria, Amadi is a frontline governorship aspirant for the

Amadi

Amadi is a frontline governorship aspirant for the 2015 general election.

In Imo State, there is a groundswell of opinion that Amadi’s exposure to the PAP job makes him one of the most eligible for the office of the governor 2015 general election. In the state, there is a ground swell of opinion that Amadi’s exposure to the PAP job makes him one of the most eligible for the office of the governor. Although Amadi agrees that his experience at the PAP will put him in a good stead to run the state if given the opportunity, he says he is not necessarily going to use it as a campaign point “because our people are very discerning and knowledgeable. So, they already know that the experience I will bring to the job of governor will be of immense benefit to the state.”

But even as he chooses to play down on the issue, pundits point at the fact that Amadi, through his position as PAP President, has personal contacts that could be of immense help to him as a state chief executive if given the opportunity. Apart from that, the PAP job has exposed him to contacts that would give him easier access to sources of multilateral funds.

For example, Amadi now enjoys the confidence of critical decision-making officials in several development agencies across the world. With perennial inadequacy of funds for developmental projects, state governments in Nigeria have found it difficult over the years to access various multilateral aid packages that abound due to lack of contacts and

technical knowhow on the part of home officials.

As a matter of fact, it is even said that most state governments in Nigeria and their officials do not even know of the existence of such opportunities, let alone knowing how to go about accessing them. As president of PAP, Amadi have had to work or at least interface with officials of international organisations that are key to the development of Africa: and these officials prefer to deal with people whose pedigree they are familiar with for the simple reason that they would want to be sure that the aids that are being given will be judiciously used.

Given this leverage, Amadi says his governorship aspiration is essentially motivated by the fact that he is in a position to create a vibrant economy for his home state, with particular eye on throwing up job opportunities which is very much lacking in the state. “That naturally takes us back to the issue of contacts and exposure. I want to be able to make my people in Imo enjoy the benefits of my exposure by collaborating with foreign investors and international aid agencies to institute programmes and projects that will empower the people economically especially through job creation.”

Even with his eyes already fixed on that, Amadi does not, however, shy away from the major contending issues as regards the 2015 governorship election. Although he comes from the Owerri senatorial zone from where the next governor is generally expected to come from, there are also aspirants from the other two zones – Orlu and Okigwe – who are also contesting for the position with all seriousness and alacrity.

This has led to anxieties that the state may be headed for a major political crisis unless the matter is properly handled.

As a matter of fact, many believe that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on which platform Amadi is running, may

experience an implosion if the governorship ticket of the party goes outside Amadi’s Owerri zone. But this is how Amadi sees the matter: “In Imo State, we don’t fight over governorship. When the chips are down, the people and their leaders know what to do. Some people think that the state will erupt in a conflagration if this does not happen, if that does not happen. I don’t buy such a crab.

Imolites are peaceful and God-fearing.

I can assure that there will be no fighting beyond the normal electioneering diatribes.”

Overall, Amadi is quite optimistic that his party, the PDP, will win the governorship election in the state. But he does not belong to the school of thought that says that for the PDP to succeed, it has to present a fellow who can match the “tough” antics of the incumbent governor. Amadi, who is by every description gentle and urbane, dismisses such a motion. “That postulation is wrong. I don’t know how tough the current governor is but I know that Imo people are tired of noise makers. They are looking beyond the conventional criteria for electing their leaders. Before now, we would hear people brag that they are tough politicians because they can organise thugs to snatch ballot boxes or write election results in their homes.”

But Amadi points out that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan has brought an end to all that.

He says President Jonathan has laid a solid foundation for the practice of true democracy in our country. “If you look back at what happened in the states where elections have held in the last two years, you will agree that the current federal administration is determined to banquette a legacy of credible elections.”

According to him, his people in Imo State have keyed into this and will no longer vote in tough or strong people into office, but those who can build strong democratic institutions.

•Okere was Special Adviser, Public Affairs to former Imo State Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim

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Abdullahi Garba writes on the intrigues over the political fate of Vice-President Namadi Sambo in the 2015 elections

The Sambo conundrum

N

amadi Sambo, generally acclaimed as a loyal vice president and a strong pillar of the Jonathan administration, is no doubt in his trying times.

His immense and monumental contributions to the success of the Transformation Agenda, and the candid acknowledgement in his tactical endorsement

by President Goodluck Jonathan at the South-West Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) sensitization rally in Lagos penultimate Saturday, seem not to be sufficient guarantees to keep him in his well-deserved VP slot for the next dispensation in 2015.

Far from being unopposed, at least two governors and the PDP National Chairman are reportedly interested in his job. With such a treacherous scenario playing out, it certainly cannot be re-assuring for the Vice President who has even endured the backlash from the North for his seeming loyalty and support to the president. ​First, Governor Ibrahim Shema has repeatedly denied being interested in the VP’s job even when his posters and body language betray him. He has silently been moving towards realising his ambition by taking concrete steps that will eventually build in his favour. His recent marriage to the Yar’Adua family is set to bolster his chances as pundits consider it an avenue to settle whatever issues he has with the family so that a formidable front can be established to fight for and secure the VP slot. ​He has furthermore tried to silence any opposition in his state through the local government election and to shore up support and assert his total control of his state. The idea is to try to draw comparison and show that while he has electoral value, the VP who was reported to have lost in his local government lacked any. This is in spite of the fact that events leading to such electoral catastrophe are well known to discerning minds and political pundits in Kaduna State as a deliberate attempt to undermine the political relevance and significance of the VP.​It should be on record that the PDP has consistently won the Kaduna North Local Government until that fateful election. It is worthy of note that while the PDP won in 22 out of the 23 local governments in the state, it lost only in Kaduna North the adopted Local Government of the VP to the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 11 out of the 12 wards in the local government council. The councillorship seat of Kabala ward which is the VP’s ward was however won by the PDP’s Bashir Tukur. Suffice it to state that the VP was not even present during the elections as he was out of the country for official engagement. ​Kaduna State has been a major contributor in terms of votes to the presidential election as the party from inception till date has consistently remained the second largest contributor of votes second only to Rivers State. Notwithstanding the fact that CPC marginally won the state in 2011, the state still retained its second position as far as national politics is concerned. It is widely known however that the emergence and political exploits of one of the leading presidential contestants is very much entrenched religiously rather than in his political dexterity. ​Others being touted are Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa and PDP National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu. While Lamido has been battling the party to remain relevant, he also has against him the alleged looting and enrichment of certain companies being managed by his children which has been extensively reported in the media as his greatest albatross. ​ But the PDP chairman’s exploits

Sambo

Mu’azu

Shema

Lamido

were the gains from the mismanagement of the party by Bamangu Tukur who took on several fronts and fought the governors who decided to gang-up against him, leading to his eventual ouster. The Adamu Mu’azu-led National Working Committee (NWC) has reasons to complain of his high handedness and disregard for due process. He too was previously alleged to be working silently for his own presidential ticket rallying round his former colleague ex-governors and trying to place them in strategic positions to help him. When that was frustrated by the vigilance of the presidency, he now changed gear and opted for the VP slot. The recent placing of his posters with the president along major streets in Abuja is a culmination of the actualisation of a well-articulated desire to accomplish an ambition anchored on a deliberate plan of action. He was also alleged to have distributed bags of rice bearing his portrait across the length and breadth of the country, leaving pundits to guess that it was a deft political move aimed at soliciting future support for himself as is now manifesting. ​In his display of total loyalty, the vice president concentrates only on assign-

The ongoing undercurrents of conflicts of interest based on inordinate ambition are the normal political brouhaha which keeps the polity heated and exciting.

The president knows those who will assist him in the due discharge of his constitutional responsibilities and his dreams for Nigeria ments given to him by his principal and involves himself with those things he is permitted to delve into. He recognises that the president has the full constitutional powers and therefore acknowledges the inappropriateness of confrontations which will serve no one any good. This was very well acknowledged by the president when in Lagos at the

South-West PDP sensitisation rally, he stated that he and the vice president have promised not to disappoint Nigerians.

This therefore explains their excellent partnership which was anchored on mutual trust and understanding that has continued to produce positive results. ​The statement by Olisa Metuh, the PDP spokesman, is a message full of wisdom. Since the president was only given a right of first refusal and he is yet to finally declare, they could not jump the gun. This was why the current interpretation of the outcome of the NEC meeting was conveyed and the part played by Chief Jim Nwobodo to the endorsement deal was relayed. ​As the time ticks towards the presidential declaration, all the strong and justifiable indicators point to a secured return of the Goodluck/Sambo ticket.

The ongoing undercurrents of conflicts of interest based on inordinate ambition are the normal political brouhaha which keeps the polity heated and exciting. The president knows those who will assist him in the due discharge of his constitutional responsibilities and his dreams for Nigeria. Others are merely positioning themselves for 2019. The odds favour Sambo to continue as vice president.

•Garba is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja

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OPINIONWaiting for WF Kumuyi Banji Ojewale

T

he people of Kumasi in Ghana did not wait for too long for the much anticipated visit of Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi from Nigeria.

In 1973, he had been used by God to set up a Bible Study Group that had radicalized Christianity in a country just crawling from an internecine civil war. The Ghanaians were themselves passing through stormy times, tossed for several years by billows of military regimes.

In 1979, Kumuyi was invited to lead a crusade in the second biggest city in Ghana, the country whose military rulers played the peace maker as Nigeria stood inexorably on the cusp of war. Was Kumuyi coming with scars of conflict? Was his message going to be relevant to the people of Ghana who were also writhing under the boots of the soldiers? If what his Bible Study Group was offering was healing the wounds inflicted by 30 months of a carnivorous war in only a few years of its existence, let him come and wave the “magic wand” in Ghana too.

The Ghanaians were thinking right. The people needed a healing- spiritual and physical- at the touch of something new, something fresh, something not born of the jaded prescription that had worsened their condition day after day. Those who invited the young Nigerian evangelist (only in his late 30s) to Kumasi accepted the man whose group has since blossomed to become the Deeper Life Bible Church with stable and dignified presence all over the world.

That trip to the land of the Golden Stool and

home of popular football club Asante Kotoko has been notched as a reference point in church history in Ghana. Analysts of developments within DLBC have hailed the event as the beginning of the international reach of the church. That visit has spawned massive changes in the heart of Asante land: the landfall of old time Gospel message, accompanied by signs and wonders; It is freeing the people of the area from spiritual and physical poverty; it has made the dark ages of the day to recede and give way to the “more abundant life” promise; it has brought development and employment to the community of Santasi in the western suburb of Kumasi and nearby Brofoyedu.

There is a 149-acre citrus farm, a community clinic and a water purification plant in the area, all available to the public. They are in existence as a result of the 1979 DLBC crusade in Kumasi where Pastor Kumuyi ministered.

Now in Ogun State, as we look back to those days of spiritual and physical renaissance engendered by a crusade, we are compelled to expect a similar boon, indeed a greater turning point while we await a three-day crusade at Kobape, Abeokuta, with Pastor Kumuyi preaching from October 24-26, 2014.

At a Deeper Life Bible Church three-day crusade held in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, the Pastor spoke of the all-round impact of the programme in the life of society and its people. He said the crusade was brought to Osun for the manifestation of God’s power and love for the people, to heal and turn every life around, saying that the event was meant to be enriching.

He declared: “We want you to believe in God,

that He can conquer any challenges. That is the most significant aspect of our crusade… to remind the people that no matter how bad it may be for individuals, state and nation, God can still turn things around and can move things forward.”

The basic teaching of Pastor Kumuyi at the crusades is that man’s main need is the salvation of his soul and that all other basic demands will be met after that experience. When that is resolved, there ensues a flood of miracles: The lame will walk, the deaf hear, the dumb speak, the sick healed; and myriads of challenges are met by sheer Divine intervention. There is more as in the case of Kumasi: God deposits enduring totems of blessing in the host community in the form of communal harmony, schools, clinics, cottage industries etc. it is a fulfillment of God’s promise in Exodus 20:24b.

To be sure, Ogun State, which is hosting Pastor Kumuyi in the October edition of the series of DLBC’s international crusades, needs this breeze of blessing. We need it to silence the political war drums as the 2015 poll approaches. We need the man of God to pray for the government of Senator Ibikunle Amosun to continue to excel. We need him to plead for peace to reign in every nook and cranny of Ogun State in particular and Nigeria in general.

We need him to pray for poverty to be banished out of the land. We need the crusade to transform the citizens into a peace-loving lot who would enjoy the spiritual and physical benefits that follow a divine visitation.

•Ojewale, a journalist, lives at Onibuku, Ota, Ogun State.

The APC and a dream that once was (2) Femi Fani-Kayode Continued from yesterday

L

et me be very clear here. I have nothing against Muslims. As a matter of fact, I have nothing but respect for all those real Muslims who believe in a secular state, who believe in peaceful co-existence, who have no issues with those that do not share their faith, who do not use violence and terror as a means of effecting their purpose and who see religion as a purely personal affair. Most of my Muslim friends fall into that category.

Such is my liberal disposition when it comes to members of other faiths that on January 17 last year, I actually tweeted that I believed that Nasir El Rufai, the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Babatunde Fashola, the Governor of Lagos state would have made a formidable combination as Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates respectively for the opposition in 2015.

They are both Muslims but I didn't care simply because at that time, the APC had not been formed as a party and the opposition had no religious or Islamist agenda. At that time, they still harbored a certain level of decency, respectability and sanity.

Sadly today, just under two years after that suggestion was originally tweeted, the APC has not only been formed but it has also transmuted into a political party that has decided to use Islam as its primary tool of mobilisation and main source of motivation. It also has strong links with Boko Haram.

I have said it before and I will say it again: the APC is the political wing of Boko Haram and Boko Haram is the military wing of the APC. The two are soul mates. This is in the same way that Sinn Fein was the political wing of the Irish Republican Army and the Irish Republican Army was the military wing of Sinn Fein.

The suggestion that anyone should support a party such as this, a party that has a clear and distinct islamization policy and agenda, a party that has strong covert links with Boko Haram and a party that, at least up until very recently, wished to field a Muslim/Muslim ticket is repugnant to me. It turns my stomach, it vexes my spirit, it troubles my soul and it offends my sensibilities.

That is why I oppose such a party and such a single faith ticket.

The truth is that if it ever got power, the APC would use it to islamise Nigeria, to humiliate and degrade Christians, to marginalise moderate Muslims, to

undermine and destroy the Church of Christ and to implement a covert Boko Haram agenda. I have no apology to anyone for taking this position because it is based on nothing but the truth. There is no doubt that there are quite a few people in the APC that are not Islamic fundamentalists.

Sadly though, those people are in a party that is infested with and in the control and power of jihadists, religious zealots and Islamist extremists. This is a party that has defended Boko Haram on several occasions and whose supreme leader and leading presidential aspirant has espoused, endorsed and consistently enunciated some of the stated objectives, ideals and philosophies of Boko Haram such as the spreading of sharia law all over Nigeria, including down to the south.

Only an intellectually challenged or blind, naive, irresponsible and shortsighted person would support such a party.

That is why I left them and that is why I am committed to opposing and exposing them. They are cult-like in all their ways; they are dangerous to the future, peace, unity, stability and well-being of Nigeria and their intentions for this country are absolutely evil.

It is my prayer that the few moderate and more reasonable men and women

within their ranks like Sam Nda Isaiah, Kashim Ibrahim Imam, Kayode Fayemi, Lawal Shuaibu, Adams Oshiomole, Rabiu Kwakwanso, Rauf Aregbesola, Tanko Al Makura, Abubakar Atiku, Buki Saraki, Hannatu Musawa, Sharon Ikeazor, Hadiza Usman Yakubu, Joseph Waku, Audu Ogbeh, Ogbonaya Onu, Abiola Ajimobi, Ibikunle Amosun, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Joel Danlami Ikenya, Yusuf Tuggar and a handful of others would simply find the courage to get up and leave in the same way that Ali Modu Sheriff, Tom Ikimi, Ibrahim Shekarau, Attahiru Bafarawa, Femi Lanlehin, Nuhu Ribadu, Buba Marwa, Marcus Gundiri, yours truly and many others did a few weeks and months ago. It is better late than never.

An El Rufai/Fashola ticket is a dream that once was but sadly no longer exists. That dream was shattered and destroyed by the obsessive ambitions of a tiny handful of greedy and power-drunk men and the formation, metamorphosis and tragic evolution of what was originally an attractive and respectable political platform to a deeply divisive and divided political party that is obsessed with religion, that has sympathy for terrorists and that has troubling intentions for Nigeria. What a tragedy.

Concluded

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Tuesday, September 30, 2014

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

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2014

These soldiers must not die

he Nigeria Army recently sentenced 12 soldiers to death by firing squad for mutiny.

The soldiers had allegedly attempted to kill their commanding officer during a mutiny in May at the Maimalari Barracks, Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

On May 14 this year, to be precise, a group of soldiers reportedly fired shots at Maj-Gen Ahmadu Mohammed, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 7th Division, at Maiduguri’s Maimalari Barracks. The soldiers were said to have been angered by the sight of the bodies of 12 of their colleagues as they were brought back from Chibok, where they were killed by militants who had ambushed a convoy of troops returning from antiterrorism duties. The mutineers shot several times into the air and called senior officers “cowards”, accusing them of deliberately putting them in harm’s way. The following day, the GOC of the barracks was removed. However, the court martial, which was led by BrigadierGeneral Chukwuemeka Okonkwo, sitting at Mogadishu Cantonment in Abuja found the soldiers guilty as charged and sentenced 12 of the 18 soldiers to death by firing squad.

The 12 soldiers found guilty of the offences of mutiny and criminal conspiracy to commit

mutiny are Cpl Jasper Braidolor, Cpl David Musa, LCpl Friday Onun, LCpl Yusuf Shuaibu, LCpl Igomu Emmanuel, Pte Andrew Ngbede, Pte Nurudeen Ahmed, Pte Ifeanyi Alukhagbe, Pte Alao Samuel, Pte Amadi Chukwudi, Pte Allan Linus, and LCpl Stephen Clement. The court martial found five other soldiers innocent of all five counts of insubordinate behaviour, false accusation, mutiny, AWOL and conduct to the prejudice of service discipline. They were, therefore, acquitted and discharged. The five acquitted soldiers are Cpl David Luhbut, Cpl Muhammed Sani, Pte Iseh Ubong, Pte Sabastine Gwaba and Pte Inama Samuel. The 18th soldier, Private Ichocho Jeremiah was found guilty of going AWOL (absent without official leave) and was sentenced to 28 days in prison with hard labour. Jeremiah was also found guilty of conduct to the prejudice of service discipline but was only reprimanded for this offence.

This newspaper does not in any way support indiscipline in the army. Indeed, military discipline and loyalty to constituted authority have remained models of organizational behavior taught in business schools. For, no national army is worth that name if officers and men are not accustomed to venerating the flag and rank but act as

they please or, more specifically, disobey orders they don’t like. And we also recognize that the military has its own peculiar method of punishing indiscipline and rewarding loyalty and gallantry. However, in the case of these 12 soldiers sentenced to death for mutiny, we believe that the military must not necessarily implement the provisions of its law: we plead that their lives be spared.

As the government and military authorities have themselves admitted over time, insurgency is not a social problem our regular army was initially prepared to confront. So, the fight against Boko Haram was bound to throw up a lot of emergencies that would task the patience of even the most disciplined of troops.

We hold the view that the sight of the lifeless bodies of their colleagues and the perception that the military hierarchy didn’t do much to prevent such deaths was one of such emergencies that made those soldiers react in a manner that went against the grain of military loyalty.

We plead that the army should see that unfortunate incident in that light and spare the lives of these young men in uniform.

Boko Haram has caused enough damage in the polity. Among the many dead in the sect’s bestial attacks on our cities, communities and villages the people are soldiers

who went down fighting that the rest of us may live. Even the soldiers who have been sentenced to death have also seen battle and are only fortunate to be alive. We must, therefore, not hand the insurgents the morbid satisfaction of seeing us shoot our soldiers for an offence that, though serious in the military, is, all things considered, pardonable under the circumstance in which it was considered. To err is human and forgive, divine.

We hasten to add that in the light of what has happened, it has become imperative for the military to review its laws and fashion out a set of more holistic and humanfriendly ones. What we have today are mostly archaic colonial bequeathals, which are too draconian to guide behavior in the military establishment. They must be changed.

For, as they say, the only thing that is constant in life is change. That change is certainly needed in the country’s military laws so that punishments meted out for offences are fair and just and commensurate with the weight of such offences in the eyes of justice. After all, the military is also part of humanity.

The army will only be showing signs of strength if it overrules itself and suspends the death sentence on the condemned 12; it will be acting in tandem with global best practices in such matters.

MANAGING DIRECTOR/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Eric Osagie DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTORS

Gabriel Akinadewo Felix Oguejiofor Abugu MANAGING EDITOR

Suleiman Uba Gaya EDITOR, DAILY

Yemi Ajayi EDITOR, SATURDAY

Laurence Ani EDITOR, SUNDAY

Emeka Madunagu DEPUTY EDITORS, DAILY

Emeka Obasi Ayodele Ojo BUREAU CHIEF, BRUSSELS

Leo Cendrowicz BUREAU CHIEF, WASHINGTON DC

Marshall Comins EDITORIAL COORDINATOR, EUROPE

Sam Amsterdam NEWS EDITOR

Geoffrey Ekenna ADVERT MANAGER

Taiwo Ahmed AG. SALES/MARKETING MANAGER

Uchey Okezie HEAD, GRAPHICS

Timothy Akinleye HEAD, ADMIN.

Robinson Ezeh

20 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Ajibola, Oba, Ibrahim battle for Kwara PDP ticket CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

luck Jonathan. When he had the opportunity to fly the flag in 2007, he made a good impression although he couldn’t achieve much due to funding challenges.

He has spoken out against any plan by the party to shift the ticket back to Kwara Central, saying his southern senatorial district, which produced the incumbent governor, deserves to complete the tenure of two terms, even if half of that is used by the opposition.

Strength: Ajadi’s strength is in his past involvement with the people of Kwara. He could be safely regarded as the “Saraki of Kwara south” given his generosity and personalised involvement with the people, particularly at the grassroots level. He established empowerment projects in almost every community in Kwara South. He could go to any length to identify with the people, no matter their status in life. He has also contested the election before and so has practical ideas about how things often go. His present position as Special Adviser to Jonathan could also put him in an advantageous position.

He is from Kwara South which zoning principle favours.

Weaknesses: The years he spent in ‘political wilderness’ starting from when he lost his Senate seat to Senator Simon Ajibola in 2003 until his latest appointment in 2014 has drained him of some level of followership and influence. He has been out of active political circle/radar for the period.

His current appointment, coming so close to the battle time for the ticket, could also be a strategic move to cut him off from the race. One of the factors that made him lose in 2007 was the absence of a coordinated resource base although there were claims the funds were allegedly used by other powerful elements within the party. It is not clear if he would have been able to muster enough resources by now to prosecute the battle if chosen.

Shuaib Abdulraheem The former Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin and current chairman, Federal Character Commission (FCC) has not hidden his ambition to rule the state; seeking to taste the political pudding he has been helping others to prepare since 1999. Thus for a long time, talks about his interest in the gubernatorial ticket has been on among major stakeholders with some expressing concern over what they call his desperation for the job.

The professor of literature has his own slice of the political base in the state, particularly within Ilorin emirate where he is regarded with awe by many and despised by his opponents. Just two weeks ago, his group pushed aside other contenders within Ilorin West Local Government in the quest to produce the local government executive leadership of the party after months of wrangling and intrigues. A very excited Oba, as the FCC boss is called among his followers, told PDP supporters at the inauguration of the council exco that it proved he is fully on ground as an astute grassroots politician.

The inauguration has however been put on hold by a court order, indicating that those against him are not going to give up so easily. The outcome of the PDP congresses during which most of his candidates lost, is interpreted by some as an indication that most delegates may vote for someone else other than him in a real contest. He led the Freedom Group which raised several objections to the outcome of the congress before Abuja called them to order and dumped their petition.

Strength: Oba’s major strong point is that he was perhaps the first member of the Saraki political structure to stand against the system when the issue of his bid to go back to his seat as chairman of

Abdulraheem

Ibrahim

the FCC came up. He stood against the system and won the battle for the FCC seat. So, he is seen as bold. He has also used his position to secure jobs for many Kwarans, particularly his kinsmen. He has also been sponsoring many students from the state in schools.

Weaknesses: Apart from his shot at the ticket in 2011, the professor has not contested for any political office before.

The allegation that he has been employing and helping mostly people from his political ward may not help him in the contest. The party may also go back to the issue of UNILORIN and the fact that his emergence may antagonise teachers, activists and many people outside Kwara Central who consider his tenure as a time their kith and kin began to lose influence at the university. Does he have the purse to pursue the election if given the ticket? It is doubtful. His perceived initial role in the effort to remove the current state leadership of the party after the congress may count against him, just as his perceived role in the current leadership crisis bedevilling the party in his Ilorin West Local Government may present him as a man given to divisiveness. He is from Kwara Central which has been in the saddle for 12 out of 16 years of the current democratic dispensation.

Simon Ajibola Among the serious contenders for the Kwara governorship today within the PDP, Ajibola, a ranking senator, sits tops.

The seriousness he has deployed to his ambition is clear to all. He has secured a project office while his mates are either selling off theirs, or have nothing on ground to show. He has deployed resources to back up his ambition and been doing what some describe as compensating for the years he was not showing

Ajibola

goodwill to many. He has set up various structures to support his ambition.

His opponents need to be wary of his penchant for winning where he is considered an underdog. When he contested the Senate seat during the transition programme of the late General Sani Abacha, on the platform of the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP), he was regarded as an underdog, but he went ahead to win. In 2003, he ran for Senate again on the ticket of the PDP. That time Ajadi, candidate of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), was declared winner.

Yet in a surprise turn of event, Ajibola came to win the legal battle he instituted to claim that senatorial seat. Since then he has been in the Senate.

Strength: He has been supportive of the party. He has donated vehicles to the party and supportive of the system that produced the current party leadership.

He has a coordinated structure that can swing into action once given the ticket.

There are unconfirmed reports that GRS has given him her blessings for the race, which would be a strong plus for him. He is from Kwara South. There are claims that he has enough resources to fight a gubernatorial battle.

Weaknesses: Many perceive Ajibola as not being generous to people until his decision to try the ticket. Many also argue that unlike his contemporaries from the state, he has not been a visible legislator. His kinsmen almost rejected him in 2011 during his third run for the Senate but for the intervention of then governor, Bukola Saraki. Contesting against an Ajadi from the same district will be a big headache for a man like Ajibola in terms of public perception on the scale of generosity and influence.

Dele Belgore (SAN) During the 2011 polls, Belgore was a force to reckon with and as a contender within the fold of PDP heavyweights, he is still an issue. He had, and still has, a strong following among youths. Belgore was one of the crowd pullers during the recent North-Central Town Hall meeting organised by Jonathan Actualisation Movement (JAM) in Ilorin. The talk in town initially was that the former gubernatorial candidate of the defunct ACN was lured into the PDP with a promise to make him the party’s candidate given his performance in the 2011 contest. However, the game plan may change given the way other ‘landlords’ in the party are also making claims to the same ticket.

Evidence of his possible loss of political weight was in the fact that he could not produce any of the executive members in the PDP despite his avowed popularity. His candidate had to withdraw from the race when he saw the way

things were going at the primaries. But the Belgore name remains a strong asset for his political venture.

Strength: When he contested in 2011, he made a big show, coming second behind the winner. He is bold and courageous, a disposition that enabled him confront the two Saraki machineries of PDP and ACPN in 2011. That record is said to have impressed some hawks in the party who are willing to back him. He has strong followership across the state particularly in Kwara South.

Weaknesses: It is doubtful if he has the money to prosecute the war if chosen. In 2011 he got the backing of the Bola Tinubu machinery which he has now lost. He is a new comer to the party and many see him as too ambitious; that it was ambition that drove him away from the APC. Can he be trusted among the PDP? The same principle he fought against in APC might come to hunt him in the new party. He is from Kwara Central which has been in the saddle for 12 out of 16 years of the current democratic dispensation.

Jani Ibrahim Ibrahim, a foremost industrialist and former Managing Director of the defunct Nigerian Airways, came into the race recently in a surprise move. But those promoting him tell of his readiness, both intellectually and financially to handle the race. Although he has not been active on the political scene, those close to him explain that he has been effectively in the PDP for a long time helping to see to the success of previous aspirants and candidates. “Ibrahim has a deep pocket and this is a project he is well-prepared for; it is not something he just woke up to do, it is a project he has thought deeply about and consulted widely about,” one of his handlers recently told newsmen.

They also taunt his economic blueprint for the state, hinged on the success of his enterprises across Africa and the fact that today he is the largest employer of labour in the state after the state government.

But there are those who are raising eyebrows over his close relationship with Senator Saraki, the APC leader in the state. The fear among those who raise the issue is that he may not be able to really fight the ruling party under the control of his close friend if given the ticket. The seriousness of the accusation can be seen in a recent outburst of some of his supporters who threatened to dump him for sending a delegation to the senator during the latter’s wife’s 50th birthday celebration. But his handlers argue that there was no need to entertain such fears.

Strength: Ibrahim has financial resources and he is ready to spend it.

He has practical experience in building businesses and people. He is second largest employer of labour in the state after government. He has been successful in the corporate world and has a vast network of people he could tap for resources and assistance of any form.

He is humble and a great listener. He has been consistent as a member of the party, even when his friends drifted to other platforms. He is from a minority group in Kwara South which resonates with contemporary political trend. He has been able to secure a court verdict exonerating him of wrong doings during his days at the defunct Nigerian Airways.

Weaknesses: He has never prosecuted a political war. He carries with him the burden that he was the last man to manage Nigerian Airways before it went under. He is a friend to Bukola Saraki, and considering that the mention of the former governor’s name is political anathemas within the PDP, being fingered as his friend is a sure great albatross to bear.

ARTS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2014

21

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/arts

““Life is a theatre set in which there are but few practicable entrances.” ― Victor Hugo

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

culture

In Lagos, Yoruba Romance goes on stage

A scene in the stage production of Ahmed Yerima's play, The Wives at Terra Culture, Lagos, by Performance Art Workshop Studios

Tony Okuyeme

P

AWStudios is set to serve the teeming live theatre audience in Lagos a four weekend production of Yoruba Romance, a play written by Tyrone Terrence on stage.

Schedule for performance very Sunday (5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th) in October at Terra Kulture, Tiamiyu Savage Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, the show features notable actors such as Odenike, Patrick Diabuah, Omololu Shodiya and Ijeoma Aniebo, the play is directed by AMVCA nominated actor and director Kenneth Uphopho.

Yoruba Romance is an epic comedy about a Marriage proposal gone wrong.

Ladoja wants to marry Ynneka a.k.a

Yoruba Romance is a hilarious comedy about the age old mating ritual between man and woman Nneka, Chief Evan’s daughter. His attempt to propose is met with an unexpected response about who owns what lands and horses.

According to Terrence, the play Yoruba Romance is an adaptation of the 17th century Russian play, Marriage Proposal by Anton Chekhov; it is a hilarious comedy about the age-old mating ritual

between man and woman. According to him, the play employs the use of different kinds of humor to explore some of the more deep-seated prejudices we have concerning inter-tribal relationships.

“Yoruba Romance is a hilarious comedy about the age old mating ritual between man and woman. The play employs the use of different kinds of humour to explore some of the deep-seated prejudices we have concerning intertribal relationships,” he said.

The play centres on three major characters: Chief Ladoja, Nneka Chilouzor and Chief Chibuzor, Nneka’s father.

Ladoja, an affluent middle aged farmer decides to take a new wife. His options or lack of options, narrows to the daughter of his neighbour Chief Chibuzor, a more

affluent businessman. Everything looks good until a long buried land dispute between both families is unearthed. The marriage proposal takes an ugly turn and accusations and counter accusations fly.

Will they overcome their bigotry and tribal biases to celebrate the love brewing beneath the greed and intolerance or are the two families fated for a bitter and unending rivalry?

Yoruba Romance takes the audience on a journey of love and laughter; and at the end the audience will learn a few hard lessons.

“These are exciting times in the revolution of theatre and Yoruba Romance is a play not to be missed by live theatre enthusiasts,” says Kenneth Uphopho.

Iroegbu floats multi-media outfit, embarks on content development Moses Kadiri

W

ith the establishment of his new production, media and PR outfit in Abuja, Teamwork Studios Limited (TSL), Nollywood director and producer, Dickson Nnamdi Iroegbu is zoom his lens into other areas of production which will also see him paying special attention to branding, personality profiling and marketing.

The producer of several Nollywood movies disclosed that the new outfit is not focusing only on his primary constituency, which is film production, but also into image profiling of politicians, media personali-

ties, business moguls and the corporate image of Nigeria, with special focus on the new media, branding, personality profiling, marketing and general media content development.

Iroegbu, who is the Executive Assistant, Creative Entertainment and Tourism, under the Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Youth and Students Affairs, said that he is using his Teamwork Studios Limited to seek out young dynamic Nigerians, who have innovative ideas that will bring the desired changes in Nigeria as well as bringing to the fore citizens patriotic participation in nation building to the centre stage.

Content Director of TSL, Miss Olufunke Oloye emphasised that multi-media outfit is embarking on a quest in breaking the barriers of age within the sphere of Nigerian leadership. “We are scouting for young people who have what it takes to move Nigeria forward,” she said, stressing that TSL as a professional PR company will manage the publicity of politicians, but with a special focus on the new generation of young enterprising Nigerians who have great innovative ideas for good governance in the country.

One of such emerging leaders currently on TSL stable is the CEO of Ceecon Oil and Gas, Chima Anyaso, who, according

Iroegbu

to Iroegbu, has empowered a lot of people in his community, Igbere LGA in Abia state.

"As a result of his sacrifices, positive spirit and commitment to the development of his people; the Igbere Com-

munity where he comes from have unanimously continued to persuade the amiable Anyaso from both home and abroad to represent them at the House of Representatives. Such a unique personality is a case study for the young people to emulate."

Mr. Iroegbu said.

He reiterated that in the country today, fear, uncertainty and mutual suspicious reign supreme, but TSL as a creative PR establishment is poised to developing new ideas, concepts and insights geared towards the actualisation of a transformed nation.

"Many have attributed the state of anarchy and general insecurity in our dear country to religious, tribal and political sentiments; it is our view and resolve to approach an alternative angle that will ensure the actualisation of that collective dream of a united, prosperous and transformed Nigeria.

22 ARTS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Jaiyesimi: Investors should support live theatre Ayo Jaiyesimi is a philanthropist who believes seriously in the power of theatre in changing the society. With her Thespian Family Theatre & Productions company, she is inspiring a positive change in society and creating a deeper engagement around core values that define the spectrum of humanity, EBERE AMEH writes.

I

n their attempt to define their personal idiosyncrasies, many artistes take pleasure in dressing weirdly. If crazy dressing is a way to identify the real artistes, one may be tempted to take Ayo Jaiyesimi, a thespian who has carved a niche for herself in the entertainment industry for a rookie. She is one of those artistes who do not only dress well but use their style to showcase their culture in a very elegant way.

Probably, her profession, her talent and the many feathers on her cap have conspired to define her style.

“I am first and foremost an HR practitioner and I have a background in accounting. The creative art was something I did like right from when I was young. As a young person I was very good at painting, drama and dance. I was the president of the literary and debating society. What has endeared me to the stage is the fact that it is a very powerful way of communicating to people. It is a very apt way of making things real - reflecting the societal ills and things that you want to envision in people.”

With all that talent, Jaiyesimi had to study accounting before going into theatre to satisfy the wishes of her parents but she has no regrets.

“I would say that my father influenced my reading accounting in that he himself was an accountant and he was my role model. But one of the things my parents thought, and I think rightly so, was that going into a professional field of study would help me to do better in my arts and in whatever I needed to do

A scene in the stage production of Wole Soyinka's play, Trial of Brother Jero by Thespian Family Theatre & Productions company

later in life. Accounting being a broad area of study, one could use it in any field of life that one finds him or herself. That has really worked out well for me. Even now as a HR practitioner my accounting does help me.”

Despite reading accounting and working as a HR professional, Jaiyesimi did not forget her first love – theatre. Her love for the stage led her into establishing a performing troupe called ‘Thespian Family Theatre and Production Company’.

“The only way to have influence is by having a troupe. In our attempt to make Nigeria great, we strive to make it vivid in the hearts of people. In doing that, you have to be able to act it out and be a voice. A lot of people in the performance art are role models and icons to the younger generation. In our own little way, through the theatre, we are able to mentor young people, the upcoming artists, teaching them about good con-

Sound Sultan goes into movies, sports Olushola Ricketts

A

ward winning Nigerian musician, Lanre Fasasi aka Sound Sultan has ventured into movie production and sports following the acquisition of “The Islanders,” a Lagos-based basketball team.

He made this announcement last Wednesday at the Spice Route, Victoria Island when he was hosted at the weekly music networking event, Industry Nite.

The movie titled Head Gone sees the musical star play the role of the director and producer with support from his brother and label co-owner, Dare Fasasi better known as Baba Dee. The star studded movie features appearances from popular faces such as Ali Baba, Afeez “Saka” Oyetoro,Eniola Badmus, Basketmouth, IK, Zack Orji, Wale Ojo, 2Face Idibia, Baorge Tariah Jnr. to mention a few.

Speaking on the new business move, Sound Sultan said, “As most people are aware I love basketball and movies a

lot. So I decided why not invest in what you love, which is sport and film making, asides music. So I discussed with my family and team, and we drew a strategy and implemented.

The result of which you will be seeing very soon."

The night was not one for just talks alone, as the artist took guests down memory lane. He performed some of his hit tracks from back in the days, such as “Bush Meat”, “Jagbajantis” and “Orobo”, “Kokose.” Label mates, Young Grey C, Kamar and Blackha were also gave a feel of their music.

Celebrities who came out to party with the artist on the night included Deji Awokoya, Tonia Soares, Adams Soundcity, Muna, Lami, TY Mix, Sasha among others Industry Nite, since its inception, has celebrated Nigerian music acts such as D’banj, 2Face, Wizkid, MI, Burna Boy, Ice Prince and a host of others. It also gives upcoming acts a platform to showcase their creativity, while many of them have secured record deals and won cash prizes.

Sound Sultan

duct, citizenship and others, which then prepare them for when they eventually become stars, when they become role models too. With that, they will become better role model.

Besides that, our catch phrase for the Thespian Family theatre is ‘building community one stage at a time,’ so we do plays, not just to entertain but also to educate and support charitable causes.

That is our own little way impacting and building our community to reflect the Nigeria of our dream.”

With that slogan -‘building the community one stage at a time’, her troupe which has been in existence for about ten years has produced plays at major centres in Lagos. A star member of the International Society for Performance Arts and the Nigerian chapter of the International Theatre Institute, Thespian Family Theatre & Productions has continued to provide entertainment through their various platforms, there-

by engaging, enlightening and empowering the community and through that, contributing their own quota towards 'rebranding' our dear nation.

Jaiyesimi who has written, produced and staged three plays says she is inspired by life itself. “For me, life itself is a theatre. We are all on a big stage and I sit down and some of the things I see around, I pen down in writing and see it performed on stage. I’ve had about three great plays, three great productions and they are simply my own interpretation of the events happening around me.”

As a big time theatre advocate, the CEO who concurs with the general notion that the Nigerian theatre needs a revamp itemised a couple of things that could be done to achieve it.

“I think there has to be more investment. People should support theatre a bit more. You find out that it is tough, even for the artists. The film and the theatre are very distinct. When you are on scene, the director cuts when you are not getting it, but in theatre, you are really engaging with the audience.

So it’s tougher for the theatre than film.

Investors should support and invest in theatre. The fact of the matter is that the stage is the place we can engage people a bit more and get them to really feel whatever messages we are trying to pass across.”

She advises that because we don’t have good theatre spaces, government should also strive to make provisions for that.

“The National Theatre that used to be our pride is not anything to write home about. I do think that having more of theatre venues would go a long way in encouraging theatre in Nigeria. That makes it a bit cheaper because right now the two main places we use – the Terra Kulture and Muson Centre are quite expensive. If the government can provide more spaces and invest in theatre, it can be revived.”

Talking about the lucrativeness of theatre, the renowned playwright said it is high and the sector, largely untapped.

“Foreigners are eager to see some of these plays that we have because they display the rich Nigerian culture of Nigeria. When it comes to costume and dancing, we are really very rich.

Nigerian Theatre is also a tourist attraction that can be developed. If the government pays more attention to it and more people invest in it, we can create employment for our teeming youths who are very talented. One can surely make a living out of it if we can have all these interventions that we are talking about,” Jaiyesimi said.

MOM&PARENTING

NEW TELEGRAPH

23

www.newtelegraphonline.com/mum&parenting

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

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2014

Nigeria @ 54: Yearning for kid patriots

Patriotic Nigerian Youths

How patriotic are our children about their country, Nigeria? How many of the nation’s values are inculcated into them? In Nigeria of today, coupled with the diversity of problems facing the country and individual as well, ranging from security challenges, poverty and violence to mention just a few; parents tend to forget or neglect the patriotic aspect of the country. Aside moral, physical and spiritual values, parents seem to be ignorant that teaching their children patriotism is also nearness to godliness.

OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI provides an insight.

I

t wasn’t funny at all last Sunday about 12.30pm after the conventional church service. The drama happened at Grammar School bus stop, inside the filling station right in front of the Ojodu Police Station, a boundary between Lagos and Ogun States. A family of five in a Toyota Camry car was obviously heading home when a Police officer accosted them, asking for the driver’s licence from the man behind the steering. He handed it over to the policeman, who unfortunately didn’t know how to read.

He turned the papers upside down and was scrutinising the document, at the same time, asking some-off the mark questions (according to them).

He was asking such questions as, where are you coming from; will you go to church next week? At that point, they lost their patience with the policeman and snatched the document off his hands. They felt he had nothing to do but probably looking for a way to extort money from them. From a mere argument, they resorted to physical combat. The man removed the police-

man's cap and threw it to his children to hold. When the other policemen saw the drama and that their colleague was about being disgraced, they rushed to the scene, gathered on the man and his family (wife and three children) and rough handled them. They asked them to enter the station. The drama caused a long traffic.

Of course, there were divided views on the drama. Some of the bystanders expressed sympathy for the family and even went as far as hauling abuses at the police. “Thief ! Instead of you to go straight to the point and make your demand as usual, “Devil sent police officer." “Why would the man allow the police officer to disgrace him when he already knows what the police officer wanted," “With N200,he would have reached his house by now.” Those were the various comments.

A similar scene happened at Egbeda Idimu, a suburb of Lagos, when Olubunmi Adeyanju and his 10 year-old daughter, Ife were driving out. A policeman stopped them at the Isheri Idimu roundabout. The little girl cutely cut into the

PHOTO: AMBROSEEHIRIM.BLOGSPOT.COM

discussion and said, “Daddy, give him N100, so that he won’t delay us!”

A couple was in the car one morning.

The wife placed her baby girl on her lap while the husband was pulling his seat belt forward to strap himself to his seat.

As the mother was looking at her face in the inner mirror of the car, the little girl on her lap was also busy pulling off the Nigerian flag on the car’s dash board.

The girl was pulling it seriously with both her hand and teeth. The mother eased her pain by yanking it off and gave it to the girl to play with.

At a private school, during the assembly, a pupil of about eight years old was called upon to come forward to pray. To the chagrin of the teachers, head-teacher and parents, who were there, this boy prayed brilliantly well.

He aptly captured the nation’s economy, the school’s welfare, his teachers, fellow pupils and even prayed against Ebola. Excellent and impressive, you may say. After the prayer, the head-teacher was impressed and probably wanted to show-off with the boy. He asked him to go ahead and sing the national anthem.

He went thus: arise o compatriot, Nigeria call obey, to serve our father’s land with strength-------------- ! That was how far the boy could go. They urged him to go further, the poor boy tearfully blurted out, “I don’t know how to sing it”.

At a quiz competition during a birthday party last week, some kids were asked to say the colour of the Nigerian’s flag. The first child just looked on; the second child said she forgot.

Thank God, the third child shouted it out even before he was asked, “Green White Green.” Again, the Master of Ceremony went further to ask for the symbols on Nigeria’s Coat of Arms?

To say the least, no child present that

day could explain it including all the parents present. They only went as far as guessing. The MC subtly abused all the parents that “it’s a shameful thing for all you parents present here.

Instead of teaching your children about their country, you prefer to tell them how to cheat in the classroom or how bad the country has gone. Please let’s teach our children how to be patriotic,” he advised.

Olamide Adejuwon, 54, told New Telegraph that there is nothing fantastic about the country to teach the children. She said the country must first make the children love it before they can become patriotic about the country. Adejuwon emphasised that there is nothing left off the once great country to teach today’s children. She believes that they already know what they should know. “Even if I teach them to love Nigeria or be patriotic, is Nigeria worth it, especially with all the kidnapping and bombings, the North and Chibok girls for example,” she said.

Fadeke Uguru, a Consultant Educationist, told New Telegraph that an average Nigerian child is unpatriotic not because he desires to be but because he doesn’t know what it means. “For an average Nigerian child growing up, there are no heroes,” she said. Uguru, however, blamed it on the society and government. Public office holders, she noted are not setting good examples for the children. She explained that in a society where nothing works, it is difficult to ask children to love their country. She explained in details that children as young as four and five years old know that Nigeria police accept bribe. And children as young as two years old shout “Up Nepa” when power returns. Whereas their counterparts in other developed nations do not know about power failure because it is already part of their basic supply by the government. “Service to the country is underrated here in Nigeria because the government neither recognises nor rewards it,” she said.

The educationist, however, suggested ways of making Nigerian children love their country and becoming patriotic.

1) The first step she pointed out, is instilling into them the sense of right and wrong. This, she believes, will give them the courage to be able to point out even when it is uncomfortable. If a public office holder has done something wrong, we need to be able to point out as an example of unpatriotic behaviour and explain that it destroys us all.

2) We need to teach children the act of contentment, so that they do not feel the need to have more than the share that is due them.

3) We need to reward honesty, hard work and perseverance starting from our homes, “the foundation must be built on these values,” she said. For example, we should reward children who finish in third position in their class but urge them to put in their best next time and not the person who came first through cheating. “We should be able to help them understand that helping a friend cheat is not friendship,” she said.

24

MOM&PARENTING

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

MOM’S ALERT What independence means to mon Grace Essen is set to celebrate yet Nandigeria another independence day; I am forced to reflect on

An African-America mother discussing with daughter

PHOTO:WWW.HUFFINGTONPOST.COM

Top 10 conversations to have with your child Apryl Duncan

Stay-at-Home Moms Expert ith all of the parenting W struggles you face, it's easy to get carried away in the day-

to-day role of being Mom or Dad and missing out on crucial conversations with your child.

Get your kids to listen and have these top 10 conversations with your children.

Simply Ask: How are you?

Have you talked, really talked, to your child lately? Sure, you ask how their day at school was but are you giving him 100 per cent of your attention?

Ask how he's doing, not just at school, but how he is doing in general. You'll often find, once you give your child the floor to talk about whatever is on his mind, he opens up about a lot of things you wouldn't expect.

Having conversations about nothing in particular is an excellent way to help your child learn how to express his emotions and for you to truly get to know that wonderful person who is your child.

Talk about Street Smarts Life would be great if we all lived in Mayberry and kids could run down the street without you ever having to worry about the many possibilities of what could happen to them. Of course, we all know that's not realistic these days. Talk to your kids about street smarts so they know what to be aware of and can spot potential danger signs to keep them safe.

Talk about Thankfulness We often tell our kids to say please and thank you but we need to go deeper to help them fully understand the meaning.

Teach your kids to be thankful with conversations about thankfulness. Kids are incredibly perceptive but we need to let them know what thankfulness is and help them appreciate the many people and things in their lives.

Talk about Compassion Raise a compassionate child who wants to make a difference.

Talking to your kids about compassionate acts and how they

can have compassion for others raises their awareness of their surroundings. Not only do they begin to develop an incredible sense of compassion, they begin to want to take part in activities that can help others.

Talk about Bullying Bullying has gone to a whole new level, thanks to the Internet. With social media and chat, kids have found new ways to harass each other and that's led to the untimely deaths of too many of our young people. But bullying isn't limited to online harassment. We've all watched that child on the playground who seems to be tormenting all of the other kids. Bullying is a very real problem and it's important kids know they need to speak up when they see someone being bullied, whether it's your child being bullied or someone else. Talk about bullying with your kids and avoid the mistakes parents make when having this important conversation about bullying with their children.

Talk about Smoking As your kids grow up, they'll more than likely spot a classmate or friend who's lighting up.

Will he join them for a smoke or will he pass it up? It's no secret how dangerous smoking is but it's also one of the first rebellious acts tweens and teens take part in just so they can feel like a grown up. Talk to your kids about smoking and stomp out any temptation they may have about lighting up.

Talk about Drinking and Drugs Tweens and teens are often tempted with drinking and drugs. Talking to your kids about drugs goes beyond covering the basics of illegal drugs. You have to warn him of the dangers items around the house like glue and aerosols. And alcohol is another one of those rebellious acts, like smoking, that our children are tempted by because they think it makes them more of a grown up. They're rebels and they can drink and smoke now that they're 13. While your child may not be able to drink and drive just yet, there are many

other dangers associated with drinking. Make sure they know just how dangerous drinking is when teaching them about underage drinking and set a good example for them.

Talk about Guns It's heartbreaking to hear story after story of children who accidentally shot themselves or another child. In the US alone, numbers from the US Department of state say there are as many as 310 million guns. That's enough guns for everyone in the U.S. to have a gun, including our children. Not only should you follow gun safety at your home, you should also teach your child what to do if he is at a friend's house and sees a gun or finds a friend playing with a gun.

Talk about Inappropriate Behavior and Touching Unfortunately, we know there are people out there who want to take advantage of a child's innocence. The facts about child sexual abuse are alarming. Talking to your children about not undressing or allowing anyone to touch them is a conversation you should have when your children are still very young. Kids should always know that, no matter what, they should come to you and tell you when someone has made them feel uncomfortable or touched them inappropriately. Kids are easy to threaten with horrible scenarios of what a molester will do to the child's parents if the child tells but your child needs to know that him coming to you to tell what happened is what matters the most.

Talk about Sex Ah, the dreaded sex talks. No parent wants to think about their once-bouncing baby needing a sex talk but, just as they're destined to grow up, we're destined to have to educate them about the birds and the bees. Talking About Sex with Your Teen: Dealing with 4 Barriers, even though you may feel as uncomfortable about the discussion as they do.

Open the door for conversation.

As hard as it may be, just remember they can learn from you or learn about it from their friends and classmates.

what that means to a mother on the streets of Lagos, Kano, Abakiliki or Yenogoa.

Casting my mind back to my childhood days, I remember the independence celebration was felt in our homes.

Everyone said, “Happy Independence!” with smiles, like they meant it. The national anthem hit the airwaves early in the morning of October 1st, and our parents listened with keen interest to the President’s speech, which was followed by pictures and videos of our heroes and our history, and jingles that reminded us of our unity as a nation. We children, decked in our school uniforms would and rush to the stadium for match past and other activities that made October 1st so memorable, even when it came with rain showers.

But it seems that over time, the celebration of independence in Nigeria has gradually ceased to be felt in the average Nigerian home, and not quite as before on our streets.

The celebration seems to exist only in the government house, and any place selected as ‘venue’ for the celebration.

Figures of amounts set aside for the celebration, and the activities are made public (for our information only), so we seat at home and watch. The independence celebration has lost that feel of ‘our’ celebration; it is now feels more like ‘their’ celebration.

As a mother, I have been asked by my child, “Mummy what does Nigeria Independence Celebration really mean?” I explained that it is a day Nigeria as a nation regained her freedom from her colonial masters, and we celebrate that October 1st every year. Great! Then what?

What more can us as mothers tell our children about our dear country with over a hundred girls held in captivity for more than one hundred and sixty days and no sign of there where- about. Some of their mothers have died of grief as been reported? What can a Nigerian mother really say when she is crying on TV and newspapers, asking for help for her child whom she sent to school to acquire education and have a future, but has been abducted and cannot be accounted for?

How about mothers crying over police brutally on their children, which in many of such cases led to their death?

Widows of soldiers killed in the fight against insurgency with children to take care of, and no help from anywhere?

Are we celebrating a nation whereby mothers manage to pay their children’s school fees and then stay hungry

thereafter? A country where a woman at childbirth does not have a healthcare system within her reach, and when she survives the childbirth, she still does not have access to health care for that child.

We all want to be part of this celebration, but only if the ‘party’ is made open for everyone to participate. We will take part when we see fellow mothers who are widowed by the onslaught in the north eastern part of Nigeria are taken care of and resettled; we will take part, when mothers in Chibok heave sigh of relief over the safe return of their missing daughters; we will party, when mothers whose children have been abducted or killed in higher institutions within Nigeria or outside the country are given fair hearing and the cases followed up with action; we will party, when less women die not because they are infected with any disease, but because they want to have a baby; we will party, when healthcare is within the reach of every woman with child; we will party, when we as mothers can send our children to school without fear of attacks on their lives.

What the Nigerian mother wants is a society where she can have a bit of an assurance that her child does have a future, such that her labour over her children will not be in vain. Is that too much for a mother to ask?

We keep talking and frowning at the unpatriotic behaviour of the Nigerian youth, we mete out punishments, and take other corrective measures which have not yielded much fruits, and then spend so much more laundering the image of the nation, when the solution if you ask me, would have really cost us nothing. The vices and to a large extent, restlessness in the form of militancy and terrorism can easily be taken care of, if we had homes where young people are taught values, and they grow up learning how to preserve their culture and traditions, and are taught the way of God, they will hardly be influenced by ideologies of extremists and the likes.

But when a child is sent on the streets to earn a living for himself and his family, and watches his mother die at the point of delivering his younger one, it will only take the grace of God for him not to take up arms, even if there is nothing in it for him.

So while we look forward in hope that in the nearest future, we have something good to say about Nigeria to our children especially when we think of October 1st, we will seat and watch as the celebrations go on.

• Grace Essen is the founder and president mum to support initiative.

BUSINESS Tuesday, September 30, 2014

What's news Power uses 70% of gas generated in Nigeria Despite the complaints of inadequate gas supply to the power sector, the industry consumes 70 per cent of the gas produced daily in Nigeria, New Telegraph has gathered.

}p-26

FG moves to reduce unbanked population via NIPOST The Federal Government has said that it would leverage the expansive network of the Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST) to reduce the unbanked adult population in the country to 10 per cent by 2016.

}p-28

Nigeria earns N12.6trn oil revenues in 2013 Nigeria earned a total of N12.6 trillion ($84 billion) revenue from oil in 2013, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has revealed.

}p-32

Nigerian airlines plagued by poor revenue mgt The Nigerian airline industry has been plagued by low yields exacerbated by periods of disastrous under-performance.

Several macro-level socioeconomic factors such as rising oil prices, rising terrorism and recently, the Ebola threat concerns have further impacted profitability of airlines adversely.

}p-38

BUSINESS CREW AYODELE AMINU, Deputy Editor (Business) Simeon Ogoegbulem, Dep. Business Editor BAYO AKOMOLAFE, Asst. Editor (Maritime) SUNDAY OJEME, Asst. Editor (Insurance) Godson ikoro , Asst. Editor (Money Market) DAYO ADEYEMI, Property Editor ADEOLA YUSUF, Energy Editor WOLE SHADARE, Aviation Editor

KUNLE AZEEZ, Senior Correspondent Chuks Onuanyin, Energy Nnamdi Amadi, Reporter JOHNSON ADEBAYO, Asst. Production Editor

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/business

Housing@ 54: Mixed tales persist }p-33

ayodele aminu, Deputy Editor, business

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

Weak grid puts N213bn power investments at risk GAP Bailout does not cover an investment for the national grid built decades ago Adeola Yusuf

ter had noted that the bailout would partly be used to address the inadequate gas supply for power generation, which “is one of the three major issues affecting the sector.”

She said that up until August 2, 2014, the controlled price of gas used by power plants was unattractive to most gas suppliers, which led to an overhang

of debts for gas supplied to the sector.

The second problem confronting the sector, according to her, is the misalignments between electricity tariff and the true cost of running electricity businesses.

She said that the situation led to a build-up of shortfalls in revenues along the electric-

ity supply value chain.

“The third problem has been the ability of generation companies to reliably produce electricity that is possible with reduced volume of gas.

“With most of the operators having just acquired PHCN successor generation compaCONTINUED ON PAGE 26

T

he weak national grid may rubbish Federal Government’s N213 billion power investment plans, New Telegraph has gathered.

Government had recently announced these new measures to address financing-related issues in the power sector, including a N36 billion bailout facility to settle legacy gas debts.

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani AlisonMadueke, who said this at a joint press conference at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, was joined by the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, and the Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Mr Sam Amadi.

Findings by this newspaper however revealed that the bailout does not cover an investment for the national grid built many decades ago.

The grid is the reservoir and main storage centre where power generated is stored and transmitted to the distribution companies.

“This facility, which is in a dire need of attention, may collapse any moment that power load of over 4,000 Mega Watts (MW) is pushed to it,” a source at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) told New Telegraph.

Alison-Madueke had said that the facility which would be provided by the CBN in collaboration with deposit money banks would also be used to address revenue shortfall in the power sector, but the source wondered why the partial or total overhaul of transmission grid is not included in the intervention aimed at boosting power generation and distribution.

Meanwhile, the oil minis-

CHRIS UGWU, Capital Market Editor Abdulwahab Isa, Finance Editor

25

L-R: Managing Director/ Chief Executive, UBA Trustees, Ms Tokunbo Ajayi; Commissioner for Finance, Lagos State, Mr Ayo Gbeleyi; Managing Director, FBN`Trustees Limited, Mr Adekunle Awojobi and Permanent Secretary, Debt Management Office (DMO), Lagos State, Mrs Olabowale Ademola, during the 4th Annual General Meeting of Bondholders of the Lagos State Fixed Rate programme 1 series 2 bond in Lagos.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

80% Nigerians operate in informal housing market –Report Country’s mortgage estimated at $840m PENETRATION Mortgage to debt ratio (a key to mortgage penetration) is only 0.4 per cent Dayo Ayeyemi

I

t has been estimated that 80 per cent of Nigeria’s populace operate in the informal

housing market, leaving an approximation of 20 per cent for the formal sector, New Telegraph has learnt.

This, according to the Final Draft Roadmap for Land, Housing and Urban Development, was due to the underdevelopment of the nation’s housing market.

The report on “Sectoral Review of Development Challenges in Housing,” noted that rents and house prices were very high in the formal market

due to housing shortage while landlords were in the habit of demanding two years’ advance rents in some cases.

Consequently, the report stated that the housing sector has not been able to provide the required stock to cope with the growing and urbanising population.

Besides, the report puts Nigeria’s mortgage market at $840 million despite the size of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE August 2014............................8.5% July 2014.................................8.3% May 2014.................................8.2%

LENDING RATE

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parallel As at Sept 26)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N156.75 InterBank Rate . . . . . . . . . . 11.57% Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N254.68 Prime Lending Rate. . . . . 16.93% Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N198.08 Maximum Lending Rate..25.83% • Foreign Reserves – $39.60bn as at 22/09/2014

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at Sept 26)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N169 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N280 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N222 Source: CBN

26 business | news LOSSES Last February, N31.8billion (US$190m) was lost through gas flaring Adeola Yusuf

D

espite the complaints of inadequate gas supply to the power sector, the industry consumes 70 per cent of the gas produced daily in Nigeria, New Telegraph has gathered.

The gas supply has, for the umpteenth time, been blamed for the inability of the country to maximise it power generation capacity of 5,200 Mega Watt (MW), but a report obtained by this newspaper at the weekend, showed a 70/30 split for gas utilisation between power and heavy industry.

The report published by FBN Capital, however, said that gas production in the country could be increased if adequate works are done to stop gas flaring.

“In February, N31.8 bil-

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Power uses 70% of gas generated in Nigeria –Report lion (US$190 million) was lost through gas flaring,” the report read. “These losses are falling as a result of increased demand from heavy industries such as fertilisers and petrochemical.

“Industry sources suggest a 70/30 split for gas utilisation between power and heavy industry.

“We should stress that gas supply shortages remain one of the main constraints on the development of the industry. The Bureau of Public Enterprises argues that the privatisation of the ten national integrated power projects (NIPPs) is blocked by the shortages because they prevent the signing of the gas purchase agreement, which would make them viable entities.

“An attractive gas price for suppliers is essential, and the recent review from $1.50 to $2.50/scf (excluding transport

costs of $0.80) is a good starting point.”

The FBN report entitled: “Unlocking Nigeria’s gas potential,” noted: “One element of Nigeria’s much-cited potential is its huge gas resources, which have been relatively untapped.

“However, the FGN is working to create a regional hub through the increased utilisation of gas as feedstock for the power sector and heavy industry.

“The Gas Revolution Initiative, launched in 2011 by the president, is gaining some traction. An encouraging step in our view is the start of the first phase of the Ogidigben gas industrial park in Delta State.

“The park will house fertilizer, petrochemical and methanol plants. More broadly, we see a boost to gas (as to oil) when the PIB is finally passed on the grounds that the law will set out the new organisational

structure and fiscal regime for the industry.

“We attended a briefing by the NNPC’s group executive director for gas and power, David Ige, and heard that 850mmscfd of gas is currently being supplied to the power sector.

“This supports the total generation capacity of 4,100MW (including hydro). A programme underway is scheduled to deliver a further 370mmscfd of gas by December 2014.

Weak grid puts power investments at risk C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

nies, they could hardly afford the reduced income due to the shortfall in revenue for reasons I have just set out.

“The newly-privatised companies have borne the brunt of these and consequent revenue shortfalls in the sector, since handover last November.

“This is hampering the much-needed investment in the sector and has slowed efforts to improve electricity supply,” she said.

As part of the new measures to address those challenges, Allison-Madueke said that NERC would publish a reset Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO 2.1), adding that the new tariff order would take into account the CBN facility, current levels of energy output, the new baseline gas

price and other variables that more closely reflect the true cost of running electricity businesses.

“The electricity market which now consists of mainly private operators will repay this facility with a first-line charge on their revenues over a 10-year period.

“There will be a moratorium on repayment of the credit facility from the banks by distribution companies, until electricity supply across the country improves.

“This will ensure that the cost of electricity for ordinary consumers continues to be at affordable levels.”

According to her, the credit facility will be disbursed through commercial banks and a special purpose vehicle to be managed by a dedicated fund manager.

80% Nigerians operate in informal market C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

economy. This implies a mortgage to debt ratio (a key to mortgage penetration) of only 0.4 per cent.

The low penetration of the mortgage, the report said, has severely constrained the development of a secondary mortgage market as a potential funding source in the country.

Challenges of housing in the nation’s urban centres include but not limited to supply constraint, to the sustainability and quality of available housing units and support facilities.

This has resulted in growing overcrowding in homes, neighbourhoods, communities and increasing pressure on infrastructural facilities such as roads, drainages, power supply and rapidly deteriorating envi-

ronment.

The rapid population growth faced by the country, the report said, has severe implications for housing demand and provision.

Some of these challenges, according to the report, included the backlog of huge housing deficit, prevalence of slums in all urban centres, lack of easy access to land, its attendant high cost as well as absence of effective mechanism for the delivery of social housing.

Others are lack of effective inter-governmental collaboration for housing delivery, inadequate compensation for acquired land, lack of access to finance for housing due to several factors, absence of mechanism for effecting mobilisation and channeling construction finance as well as absence of a national collateral registry, among others.

L-R: Director Finance and Accounts, Council for Women Development (NCWD), Jibrin Jauro; Director General, Onyeka Onwenu; Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, Omatek Engineering Services Ltd, Florence Seriki; Director, ICT, Manny Emecheta and Director, PRS, Sadeeq Omar, after a successful meeting with Omatek Chief Executive in Lagos

FG moves to reduce unbanked population via NIPOST CASH-BASED Cash accounts for over 90 per cent of transactions in terms of volume and about 60 per cent in total value Kunle Azeez

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he Federal Government has said that it would leverage the expansive network of the Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST) to reduce the unbanked adult population in the country to 10 per cent by 2016.

Minister of Communication Technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson, who stated this in a presentation in Lagos, said that the move was in line with government’s bid to accelerate financial inclusion in Nigeria through creation of agent cash point for mobile money scheme.

Mobile money scheme, introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with about 18 mobile money operators already issued licences in the last three years, allows individuals to send monetary values through their mobile devices.

According to the minister,

though the country currently has 35 million adult (about 46 per cent) financially excluded, the network of postal outlets operated by NIPOST constitutes the most widespread retail network in the country to boost financial inclusion.

Johnson stated that the postal financial services would be delivered in partnership with banks, telecoms companies and other Information Technology companies.

She said: “We are working to ensure that we leverage NIPOST to drive financial inclusion in the country. Already, the government shall select transaction advisor by the fourth quarter of 2014 and select partners in the scheme by second quarter of 2015.

“The partnership is anticipated to be available to deliver services by the second quarter of 2016. On the anticipated effect of this scheme, it is envisaged that after being in operation for one year, this service should be able to reduce number of unbanked Nigerians by 10 per cent (3.5 million).”

The minister noted that though mobile money is currently mostly used to buy airtime, it, however, has the potential to serve as a platform for drawing more people into

formal financial services.

According to her, “more people in Nigeria have a mobile phone than have a bank account. Today, 75 per cent of adults living in urban areas and 39 per cent of them living in rural areas have access to a pre-paid mobile phone.

“Also, 18 mobile money operators have been registered in Nigeria since commencement of operations. There are approximately 1 million subscribers to mobile money services; about 67,000 registered agents while over 11 million transactions of over $600 million have been conducted.”

Whilst uptake of mobile money has been initially slow, Johnson said that improving infrastructure, fine-tuning of legislation and increasing confidence in product by consumers will result in significant acceleration.

Explaining why the government is considering NIPOST to drive financial inclusion, the minister said: “The postal service network is more widely spread than the combined bank branch networks and has nationwide spread of physical network with a constitutional mandate to maintain location in every local government area in the country.”

27

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Oil rig

INVESTIGATION Probe of Eni Chief continues over Nigerian oil deal Stories by Adeola Yusuf

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wo foreign courts have seized a total of $193 million belonging to Malabu Oil Company over alleged corruption relating to a big Nigerian oil deal, Reuters has reported, quoting judicial sources.

The news agency said that the London court confiscated Malabu funds worth $83 million, while $110 million was also seized from a Malabu account in Switzerland a few months ago.

Milan prosecutors, who had earlier opened a probe of a case relating to a $1.09 billion acquisition of Nigeria’s OPL-245 offshore oil block in 2011, have now

TRANSACTION Trade volume between Nigeria and Australia stands at N534.3bn

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he Federal Government has revealed plans to secure $80 billion investments, covering oil, gas and other sectors of the economy from China and other Asian nations.

Government and Nigeria’s ambassadors across the Asian countries had earlier held a strategic meeting in New Delhi, India, for the first time in over 50 years and resolved to work on doubling the volume of trade between Nigeria and Asia to over $80 billion (N13.2 trillion) within two years.

But New Telegraph gathered that about 75 per cent of these investments are targeted at the oil and gas sector.

They also brainstorm on

OPL 245: Foreign courts seize Malabu oil’s $193m widened the net to include Eni SpA chief, Claudio Descalzi.

Ownership of the OPL 245 field has been in dispute for over a decade.

OPL 245 could contain up to 9.23 billion barrels of crude oil, more than enough to keep China running for two and a half years.

“London court had seized Malabu funds worth $83 million.

This follows the seizure of $110 million from a Malabu account in Switzerland a few months ago,” Reuters said in its report.

Former Nigerian oil minister Dan Etete awarded the block in 1998 for $20 million to Malabu Oil and Gas, a company in which

he was a leading shareholder.

Malabu however, only paid $2 million for the stake in 1999.

The field was eventually sold on to Eni and Shell in 2011 for a total of $1.3 billion, including a signature bonus of around $207 million.

Malabu received around $1.09 billion from the sale, while the Nigerian government kept the rest; a British court document has shown.

Campaigners for greater transparency in political and business dealings, who asked Britain to look into the matter, allege Shell and Eni used the Nigerian government as a gobetween to obscure the fact they

were dealing with Etete.

Elsewhere, a Nigerian intermediary for Etete, Ebeka Obi, has brought a court case in Britain against Malabu for unpaid fees relating to what he says was his help in brokering the ShellEni deal.

Milan brokerage Akros noted Eni had been involved in a similar case in Nigeria in 2009, when it paid around $400 million to settle the dispute.

“We believe that the potential negative impact on Eni may be worth 500 million euros or around one per cent of the current market capitalisation,” it said in a note.

Eni, the biggest foreign oil

Oil tops Nigeria’s $80bn trade target with China, others a strategic synergy aimed at further improving the trade and investment ties with the 15 countries.

Fourteen ambassadors, including the ambassadors of Nigeria to India, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, North Korea, Vietnam, China, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Guangzou and Pakistan, attended the meeting.

Key agencies of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, such as the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, National Automotive Council, and the Oil and Gas Free Zone

Authority, were also at the roundtable.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, who briefed journalists at the end of the two-day meeting, stated that the ministry and the ambassadors resolved to work on doubling the volume of trade between Nigeria and Asia to over $80 billion (N13.2 trillion) within two years.

Currently, trade volume between Nigeria and 15 Asian countries stand in excess of $40 billion (N6.62 trillion). India is currently Nigeria’s largest trading partner with a trade volume of about N2.95 trillion, followed

by China (N2.143 trillion).

Trade volume between Nigeria and Australia stands at N534.3 billion; Singapore (N293.4billion); Indonesia (272.8billion); Japan (N263.5billion) and Bangladesh (N84.5billion), among others.

Aganga said that the meeting was necessitated by the emergence of Asia as Nigeria’s major trading and investment partner, adding that there was a need to maintain Nigeria’s current position as the preferred investment destination in Africa and globally.

The meeting also opened up fresh investment commitments by major Indian companies, who were not yet present in Nigeria.

and gas producer in Africa, has always said it dealt exclusively with the government of Nigeria and Shell over the acquisition.

Eni has, according to Reuters, confirmed Descalzi was being investigated after a report in Italian daily, Corriere della Sera said he was being probed over the Nigeria deal.

“Eni is cooperating with the Milan prosecutor’s office and is confident that the correctness of its actions will emerge during the course of the investigation,” it said in a statement.

Court sources however told Reuters that Scaroni was also under investigation in the Nigerian case. Scaroni and Casula could not immediately be reached for comment.

Descalzi, who was head of the group’s exploration and production (E&P) unit at the time of the Nigerian deal, was appointed chief executive of Eni in May. Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, came to office in February, pledging to clean up Italian business and introduce ethics rules at publicly-controlled companies, aiming to eject directors found guilty of financial crimes.

But shareholders at many of Italy’s big state-controlled companies, including Eni, threw out the proposals by voting against their inclusion in company bylaws.

Eni has operated in Nigeria since the early 1960s and the country accounted for around eight per cent of its total output last year.

Chronic oil pipe sabotage in the country has recently affected the group’s hydrocarbon production in the country.

28 business | ENERGY RESERVES The country, as at last February, had over 36bn barrels in reserves Stories by Adeola Yusuf

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he monthly crude loading and exports from Nigeria will be 35.7 million barrels in November, the loading schedule has revealed.

Reuters, which gave his hint, had reported earlier that the daily exports in November has reached 1.19 million barrels per day, the highest in 14 months.

Crude exports schedule are done ahead and this makes the November loading programme to be the latest in the global crude market.

The schedule revealed that Nigeria would export around 1.91 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil in November.

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Nigeria’s monthly crude export to hit 35.7m barrels in Nov This is the highest level since September 2013.

The schedule showed different crude cargoes grade in terms of barrels for exports in

November loading schedule.

Bonny is 6,192,000 barrels, Forcados is 7,176,000 barrels, while Brass River is 4,115,000.

The EA data showed that

Pennington November export plan is 1,31,666 barrels, Escravos - 4, 127,000 barrels, Qua Iboe -11,348,000 barrels, Bonga-6, 190,000 barrels, Erha - 4, 127,000

Oil ship sails for Petrobras, BG, Repsol offshore Brazil field

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n oil production ship sailed from Rio de Janeiro on route for a Brazilian offshore oil field owned by Brazil's state-run Petrobras, Britain's BG Group Plc, and a joint venture between Spain's Repsol SA and China's Sinopec, Petrobras said at the weekend.

Known as the Cidade de Ilhabela, the ship is expected to begin operations by the end of the year in the Sapinhoa offshore field in the BM-S-9 block south of Rio. More than a year behind schedule, Petroleo Brasileiro SA, as Petrobras is formally known, is counting on the vessel to help boost production and revenue after five years of stagnating output.

The floating production, storage and offloading ship, or FPSO, is being leased from the Netherlands's SBM Offshore NV , and Brazil's Queiroz Galvao Oil and Gas, Petrobras said in a statement.

The ship sails as the future of SBM in Brazil is in doubt.

The company, the world's largest operator of FPSOs is under investigation in several countries after allegations from a former employee emerged in February suggesting SBM paid $250 million in bribes, with $139 million of that paid in Brazil.

The company's right to bid for future FPSO leasing contracts was suspended until it can answer questions from Petrobras, the Brazilian oil company said last week. SBM said on Sept. 11 that it expects to be able to bid for contracts again after Brazilian elections in October, and that a Petrobras investigation found no wrongdoing.

The FPSO Cidade de Ilhabela has the a capacity to produce 150,000 barrels of oil and 6 million cubic meters of gas a day.

The Sapinhoa field in Brazil's BM-S-9 block is 45 per cent owned by Petrobras, 30 per cent owned by BG, and 25 per cent by Repsol-Sinopec.

Power installation

Japan commits $2bn to power, infrastructure in Africa SYNERGY The AfDB has announced partnership with Japan through the Enhanced Private Sector Assistance (EPSA)

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apan has committed $2 billion to infrastructural development in Africa.

The country said this on the margins of the Climate Summit in New York.

The Japanese government convened the second roundtable with African Regional Economic Communities (RECs).

Under the second phase of EPSA, launched in 2012, Japan has doubled its commitment to $2 billion (2012-2017), a substantial portion of which will support PIDA priority regional infrastructure projects.

On the margins of the Climate Summit in New York, the Japanese government convened the second roundtable with African Regional Economic Communities (RECs), chaired

by Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, to underline the importance of regional infrastructure as an essential requisite to Africa’s growth.

Participants included Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Chairman of Intergovernmental Authority on Development, IGAD, John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana and Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, as well as the Chief Executive Officers of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community.

Partnering with RECs and with the Programme for Infrastructure Development for Africa (PIDA), is important in the move toward a transnational approach for infrastructure development.

Shinzo Abe insisted that “RECs are the cornerstone for regional integration. Let’s work on strengthening the cooperation between Japan and the economic communities in Africa.”

The representatives of the RECs agreed that the lack of infrastructure is a major bottleneck for trade and investment and called for more financing on the continent, especially with public private partnerships.

With over two-third of its operations in infrastructure, the African Development Bank (AfDB) was mentioned as the

key player in this sector with the new Africa50 infrastructure fund.

Speaking on behalf of the EAC, Michel Kamau, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure in Kenya, specifically welcomed the operationalisation of this fund. He was supported by the Chad representative, speaking for the Central African States, and by the President of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

AfDB supports successful regional infrastructure projects such as the multi-sectoral Maputo Corridor, the MombasaNairobi-Addis Ababa Road Corridor, or projects identified in the PIDA energy priority action plan such as Inga III or Rusumo Falls.

The AfDB already partners with Japan through the Enhanced Private Sector Assistance (EPSA) initiative for Africa. Japan has provided generous financial support since its launch in 2005 at the Gleneagles G8 Summit.

Under the first phase of the EPSA Initiative, completed in 2011, Japan provided US $1 billion for a wide range of investment and technical assistance projects, some 75 in total, focusing particularly on the energy, communications, transportation and financial sectors, building the foundations for private sector growth and development.

barrels, Yoho - 2, 63,000 barrels and Amenam-2, 63,000 barrels.

Others are Usan - 4, 127,000 barrels, Okoro - 00 barrels, Abo - 00 barrels, Antan -132,000 barrels, Okoro - 1 30,000 barrels, Agbami - 8, 260,000 barrels, Okwori -1 32,000 barrels, Oyo - 0 0 barrels and Olowi - 0 0 barrels.

Nigeria’s oil deposits, which have depleted to 35 billion barrels, may be subjected to more depletion by this exports increase.

Higher exports of the Bonny Light grade, which had been beset by oil theft, outweighed a dip in the level of Qua Iboe and Forcados exports.

This is cherry news for Nigeria, Africa’s biggest crude exporter, which depends largely on proceeds from crude to service over 85 per cent of its budget.

The increase in exports adds lighter, sweet crude oil to an already well-supplied market, with both Libyan and Iraqi exports on the rise.

Strong supply has helped pushed Brent crude, against which West African oil is benchmarked, down almost 14 per cent this quarter, its biggest such drop since the second quarter of 2012.

However, Nigeria, which is targeting 40 billion barrels oil reserves, produces an average of 900 million barrels in 12 months based on its 2.5 million daily production, whereas little is done to replace the volume produced daily due to many factors.

Director, Department of Petroleum Resources, Mr George Osahon, had last February declared that Nigeria’s oil reserves had depleted to 36 billion barrels.

“What we have in our reserves is now 36 billion barrels,” he said in reaction to a question from New Telegraph at the Nigerian Oil and Gas conference (NOG) in Abuja.

Checks by our correspondent, however, showed that over 480 million barrels of oil have been produced from the reserves since February when Osahon made the statement.

This has been exacerbated by the little or no oil discovery since last February to replace the 2.2 million barrels of the commodity produced daily. A source at the DPR said at the weekend that Nigeria’s oil deposit had dropped from 36 billion barrels to about 35.27 billion barrels.

“Even from the rule of thumb, we all know that the country produces an average of two million barrels since February when our director made that statement.

“There has been no substantial discovery of crude since that time while we continue to produce from the reserves on daily basis.

“What we have now is about 35.27 billion barrels and maybe this explains the reason why government is now aggressive in the exploration in the Chad Basin,” he said.

BUSINESS | ENERGY 29

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

FORTIFICATION Company moves to forestall reoccurrence of pipeline breach

Adeola Yusuf

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est African Gas Pipeline Company (WAGPCo) said at the weekend that its committee on pipeline security would submit its report next month (October).

WAGPCO's spokesperson, Ms Harriet Wereko-Brobby, told reporters in Lagos that the company has made protection of its facility a priority.

The company's 678km pipeline network has for the umpteenth time been subjected to vandalism.

The lift of force majeure on gas delivery by WAGPCO has

Change envisaged in new UK drilling laws

Pipeline security report ready Oct, says WAGPCo clocked 14 months.

The company, which lifted force majuere on July 11, 2013, said that it had tightened security on its 678 kilometres pipeline.

This, according to Ms Wereko- Brobby, was part of an exercise by the company to reassess the event that led to the force majeure in 2012.

“The company is pursuing measures to forestall a re-occurrence of the pipeline breach incident.

"We have organised two fora with the Naval authority and other stakeholders on safety of our pipeline. In addition to this, the committee on pipeline security will submit its report in October and this will be a major step in our collective efforts to ensure more security for our facility," she said.

The 678 kilometres WAGP links into the existing EscravosLagos pipeline at the Nigeria Gas Company’s Itoki Natural Gas Export Terminal in Nigeria and proceeds to a beachhead in Lagos. From there it moves offshore to Takoradi, in Ghana, with gas delivery laterals from the main line extending to Cotonou (Benin), Lome (Togo) and Tema (Ghana).

The Escravos-Lagos pipeline system has a capacity of 800 million ft3/d, and the WAPCo system will initially carry a volume of 170 million ft3/d and peak over time at a capacity of 460 million ft3/d.

The 678 kilometre pipeline which supplies natural gas from Nigeria resumed deliveries in July, 2013, after being impaired.

The company delivers gas to buyers in Benin, Togo and Ghana.

In August 2012, the company was forced to shut down the link and declared a force majeure after a ship’s anchor damaged the gas pipeline in Togolese waters.

Former Vice President, Chevron Pipelines, Walter Perez, who took over as the Managing Director, WAPGCo, had recently said that customers should expect reliable supply and operation excellence.

“We will ensure that there is quality service delivery, community relationships and stakeholders’ engagements,” he said. Perez, whose experience spanned 25 years in global oil and gas industry, promised quality service delivery to WAG-

PCo’s customers. He pledged to work tirelessly with his team to ensure quality service delivery.

“The management of the West African gas pipeline, an all important pipeline, which has now been repaired, re-commissioned and back in operation, is happy to have a man like Walt, who has over 25 years experience in global oil and gas industry to paddle the canoe of its leadership,” Wereko- Brobby added.

WAPCo is owned by Chevron West African Gas Pipeline Ltd (36.7 per cent); Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (25 per cent); Shell Overseas Holdings Limited (18 per cent); and Takoradi Power Company Limited (16.3 per cent), Societe Togolaise de Gaz (two per cent) and Societe BenGaz S.A. (two per cent).

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he change in the United Kingdom (UK) drilling legislation is on the way if the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), which had been considering a change in drilling law for some time, moves ahead with the change, despite opposition from poll respondents, the DECC said at the weekend.

The change is likely to result in significant time savings and a reduction in production costs that could save oil and gas producers 105 euro, while generating job growth and economic development in municipalities near shale formations, according to The Carbon Brief, an analytical blog focusing on the energy industry.

Opposition in the UK to the relaxed standard was nearly unanimous; 99 per cent of people polled were against the change, The Carbon Brief noted.

An analysis of the 40,647 poll respondents revealed that the majority of those against relaxing the law were duplicate responses, or were from organised anti-fracking campaigns.

Opposition from respondents outside anti-fracking groups remained high, however, with 92 percent of the respondents remaining against the change.

As the law now stands, drillers are not allowed to drill horizontally under residential dwellings without going through a lengthy legal process that can lead to compensation for the landowners, even though the drilling occurs hundreds of feet below the surface. When the law is changed, the resources available in such wells would become recoverable, and a standard compensation package would be put into place for the communities affected by the drilling.

Fracking’s economic benefits to municipalities are well known by economists and community development offices.

Workers laying gas pipeline

NCDMB trains staff on oil and gas parks scheme

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he Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has concluded the training of its staff who will spearhead the design and operation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGAPS).

The training, according to a statement, was held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, in nine weeks.

Forty-five participants also embarked on field trips to Onne Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone, Rivers State and Utuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The oil and gas parks will be sited in Bayelsa, Imo and Cross Rivers States in the first phase and preliminary construction activities are about to begin.

Speaking at the close-out ceremony of the programme held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Ernest Nwapa, explained that the training was

conceived to instill the selected participants with a mindset that is focused on development and manufacturing. He charged them to apply the knowledge they acquired in realising the oil and gas park projects.

According to him, the Board embarked on the development of the parks in a bid to promote manufacturing of oil and gas components and provide opportunities for research and development.

He listed other benefits to include bringing Local Content practice closer to the grass roots and integrating oil and gas-based entrepreneurs into manufacturing as well as supporting the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through mentoring by international Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and other multinationals.

The Executive Secretary maintained that the parks

would form part of NCDMB’s landmark achievements. “I want to be able to point at some monuments and say that apart from insisting that the industry grow and do the right thing, create jobs and value in Nigeria, we have also as an agency of government created this pipe mill, this oil and gas park and changed the way things are done in the industry,” he added.

The NCDMB boss also expressed hope that international producing oil companies and service companies will participate in the scheme to make it a success and charged industry stakeholders to focus on manufacturing of components as against short term contracting, which had been the bane of the sector.

In his goodwill message, the General Manager, Nigerian Content, Exxon Mobil, Mr. Sola Ogunsakin, pledged the com-

mitment of international oil companies towards making the Oil and Gas Parks Scheme a success.

He stated: “We believe in this programme and we are going to contribute our quota towards making it a success. The Board has taken several giant strides in promoting the Nigerian Content since the enactment of the Act. This is going to attract foreign and domestic investments, promote community participation, manufacturing and foster the mentoring of local small and medium scale enterprises.”

In their comments, the trainees commended the Board for taking them through an elaborate programme, which exposed them to the philosophy and operations of oil and gas industrial parks and promised to apply their acquired knowledge into good use when the projects begin.

30

BUSINESS | ENERGY

COMPLIANCE Environment Ministry has insisted on full compliance with the EIA specifications Stories by Adeola Yusuf

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he Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has given April 2015 deadline to contractors handling its multi-million naira headquarters in Port Harcourt, to complete the project.

NDDC said this in a statement made available to New

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Contractors get April 2015 deadline for NDDC’s HQ Telegraph.

Construction of the NDDC headquarters project has been on for the past 10 years The building, which was initiated by the defunct Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC), is now being fasttracked by the current Board of the NDDC.

Chairman of the commission’s governing board, Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw, had pledged governments’ commitment to ensure that the project is funded appropriately to facilitate its early completion.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NDDC, Bassey Dan-Abia, who was on the same visit to the project, accord-

ing to the statement, said that the commission stressed that funding challenges would not deter the completion of the project.

“This project is necessary and important to provide a conducive working environment for our staff,” he said, adding that it is part of the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

This necessitated the urgency, which the current Board has attached to its completion.

The statement added that work has already been stepped up on the multi-million naira permanent headquarters in Port Harcourt, with contractors set to deliver the project in the first quarter of 2015.

Members of the NDDC Governing Board, who inspected the project recently, have set a target of April, 2015, for its completion.

Meanwhile, the Minister of

Environment, Mrs Laurentia Mallam, who is also a member of the NDDC Governing Board representing the Federal Ministry of Environment, according to the statement, charged the contractors to comply fully with the Environmental Impact Assessment, (EIA), of the project. She said that her ministry would insist on full compliance with the specifications outlined in the EIA. The statement further said that the project coordinator, Felix Darko, an architect, gave assurances to the NDDC board members that the building would be completed on schedule and according to the required standards and specifications.

The project, when completed, would include other ancillary facilities such as a medical centre, car park, restaurant and bank, among others.

Total sells $450m stake in US shale gas transport firm

F Gas plant

‘Nigeria may lose oil-rich Island to Benin Republic’ OUTLOOK The Island has huge potentials of swelling the nation’s economy and the livelihood of the people

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igeria may lose its oil-rich Tongeji Island in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State to Republic of Benin if the Federal Government does not increase military (Naval) presence in the area.

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who disclosed this maintained that he had engaged President Goodluck Jonathan on the issue at several fora.

Speaking during a visit to Ipokia Local Government Area, the governor said that the skeletal naval base on the island could be expanded to ensure that the presence of the Nigerian government is felt in the area.

This, he said, is to avoid a situation like that of Bakassi Peninsula, which the country ended up losing to Cameroun.

Tongeji Island, he said, has huge potentials of increasing the nation’s economy and improving the livelihood of the

people.

He said: “Tongeji Island is of serious concern to me. Each time I see President Goodluck Jonathan, I call his attention to the need to, as a matter of urgency, expand the naval presence on the island, which is rich in oil and other mineral resources, so that it does not go the way of Bakassi.

“If the Federal Government does not register its presence in that region on time, I pray we do not lose it to the neighbouring Republic of Benin.

“This is an island that has a huge potential of improving the nation’s economy and, by extension, the livelihood of the people of Ogun State,” Amosun noted.

The governor also said that arrangements had been concluded with a world class tourist outfit to make Akere community in Ipokia Local Government Area, a first-ofits-kind tourist centre in Africa.

He added that the state government would immediately commence the construction of the 10-kilometre Ipokia-Akere road, which leads into the Lagoon, adding that the intention is to transform the community into a tourism hub, which it is originally designed to be.

“We have the longest seashore in this country. One of the world’s tourist outfits has done the designs and planning on all they want to do here. The investors, who were looking for a place that has sea view and seashore have chosen Akere in this part of the state.

“They want to make Akere a totally new town. They have done it in other parts of the world. This is their first time in Africa and Nigeria.

“I’m trying to envision what Akere town would be in the next three years. It would no doubt be the number one destination of tourism in Nigeria.

“Without any delay, I have directed the immediate construction of Ipokia-Akere road and Agosasa-Ijofin road respectively as well as a bridge before Agosasa to further open up the local government area and fulfill the promise of constructing two rural roads in each local government area of the state.

The governor promised that Ipokia would have two Local Council Development Areas (LCDA), adding that another model school would be constructed as a starting point to having a full-fledge higher institution.

rench oil major, Total, has agreed to sell its 25 per cent stake in Cardinal Gas Services, a gas transport company operating in Ohio’s Utica shale gas basin, to a group of Korean companies for up to $450 million.

South Korean gas seller E1 Corporation and a consortium led by Korea-based Samchully agreed to pay $400 million plus an estimated price adjustment of $50 million, Total said in a statement.

“Total will remain an active participant in the Utica play through its upstream joint venture with Chesapeake and Enervest, and Cardinal will

continue to provide to Total the same gas gathering and transportation services,” the group said.

Earlier last week, Total said that it planned to sell $10 billion of assets from 2015 to 2017, having hit a target of $15-20 billion of sales in 2012 to 2014.

The deal is expected to close in October 2014, depending on regulatory and shareholder approval.

Total has two joint ventures with US group Chesapeake Energy, one to drill for shale gas in the Utica basin in Ohio along with another partner, EnerVest, and another one in the Barnett Shale basin in Texas.

Russia mulls oil firm's takeover from billionaire

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ussia moved to wrest control of an oil company from oligarch Vladimir Yevtushenkov on Friday, seizing his conglomerate Sistema's shares in the firm and deepening investors' fears the Kremlin wants to reclaim prized state assets.

A Moscow court ordered the seizure of Sistema's stake in Bashneft a day after a judge refused to release Yevtushenkov, who is under house arrest on suspicion of money laundering during the oil firm's acquisition.

Shares in both companies tumbled, with Sistema's stock now down by more than 50 percent since Yevtushenkov was placed under house arrest on Sept. 16.

The case has raised fears among investors that President Vladimir Putin wants to increase intervention in the economy as Russia tries to cope with Western sanctions imposed over the Ukraine crisis.

Although Yevtushenkov has kept out of politics, the case has drawn comparisons with the fate of Mikhail Khodorkovsky,

the former chief executive of the Yukos oil firm who was jailed on fraud and tax evasion charges a decade ago after falling out with Putin.

"They (officials) are telling themselves, to ease their conscience, that they are doing a high-minded thing by returning it to state ownership," Sergei Petrov, an opposition deputy, told Reuters this week. "The channel is already known, the method has been tested ... as it was last time with Yukos."

Khodorkovsky was freed last year but Yukos, which was once worth $40 billion, was broken up and nationalised with most of its assets eventually handed to Rosneft, an energy giant run by a Putin ally.

Restoring Federal Ownership Sistema acquired an almost 80 per cent stake in Bashneft from local authorities in the Ural mountains region of Bashkortostan for $2.5 billion in 2009 and the oil company is now Russia's sixth-largest by production.

BUSINESS | ENERGY

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

PARADOX Despite the security challenges in Nigeria, businesses are still thriving

Stories by Adeola Yusuf

C

hinese manufacturers are rejecting Letters of Credit (LCs) from Nigerian importers, including those bringing in power equipment, insisting on cash payment only.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Director, Trade

China rejects LCs from power equipment importers –CBN and Exchange, Olakanmi Gbadamosi, said this at the 2014 Wema Bank Customer Trade and Structured Finance Forum in Lagos.

Gbadamosi, who was represented by CBN’s Deputy Director, Trade and Exchange, Mrs Onyinye Ahuchiogu, noted that in spite of improved banking regulation in the country and the apex bank’s cash-less policy, the Chinese exporters

still reject LCs from the country.

LC is a document issued by a financial institution or a similar party, assuring payment to a seller of goods or services provided certain documents have been presented to the bank. LC serves as a guarantee to the seller that the money will be paid regardless of whether the buyer ultimately fails to pay.

FG inaugurates 10 committees for oil, gas devt NCDMB has sought ideas for Nigerian content development

T

he Federal Government has inaugurated 10 sectorial committees of the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum (NCCF), with a mandate to generate ideas for the development of Nigerian Content in the oil and gas industry.

This was contained in a statement by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

Set up by Section 57 of the Nigerian Content Act, NCCF sectorial committees include fabrication; finance, insurance and legal services; shipping and logistics; education and training; petroleum technology and multinationals.

The statement listed other committees to include materials and manufacturing; information and communication technology; engineering and essential services, which covers

It ensures that the risk that the buyer will fail to pay is transferred from the seller to LC’s issuer. The letter can also be used to ensure that all agreed standards are met by the supplier, provided that these requirements are reflected in the documents described in the letter of credit.

Nigeria and China have increased bilateral trade, which include investments in oil and gas as well as power sector.

The privatisation of the power sector by federal government of Nigeria has increased dependence on importation of meters and other power installations from China and other Asian countries.

Gbadamosi said that the rejection of LCs is affecting Chinese trade volume with the country but it is being addressed.

“At CBN, we are aware of that because I want to tell you authoritatively that at that end, some people monitor foreign exchange flows. We do know that so much money goes to China, cash, not LCs. The demand for cash is against the CBN cash-less banking policy.

“I do know that the cashless policy is gaining ground;

everybody is going cash-less, but China has refused. I think it is a bilateral issue and we have suggested that it should be tackled because these people are doing business in our environment and they are making profit. They are enjoying our environment. Despite security challenges in Nigeria, businesses are still thriving.”

He, however, said that the CBN is looking at ways of resolving the challenge, stressing that the apex bank is committed to ensuring that banks fund their accounts two days before the bid date for foreign exchange.

He explained that importers can source for funds either through the official window or interbank.

“As a business man, you can source funds from any segment, depending on the transaction you want to execute.

But in Nigeria, we have a list of eligible bank transactions, which we expect importers to choose only from this list. It is also our expectations that banks educate their customers about these transactions, and the supporting documents needed for effective import,” he said.

Oil flat on strong dollar, abundant supplies

Electricity meters

IDEAS

31

medical services, health, safety and environment, catering and hospitality.”

In his speech at the event, Executive Secretary of the Board, Ernest Nwapa, according to the statement, explained that the objective of constituting the NCCF committees was to provide a platform for information sharing on upcoming projects and local capabilities.

The statement quoted Nwapa to have said: “The committees will also be expected to articulate and recommend strategies for developing Nigerian Content and charged the members not to use the forum for unhealthy debate.

“The NCCF would be effective if the groups come up with policies that will benefit the generality of members. This government listens to messages that are intended to benefit the entire group and not one or two persons. You have to help us so that we can get solutions required to move forward.”

Recalling the appreciable progress that had been recorded with the implementation of the Nigerian Content Act in the past four years, Nwapa admitted that some

challenges had also been noted, hence the need to taps ideas from stakeholders through the NCCF. He said that the NCCF had been positioned Nigerian Content to make key inputs into government’s policies and advised stakeholders to harness and utilise the opportunity appropriately.

Earlier in his welcome speech, according to the statement, the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, NCDMB, Mr Patrick Obah, expressed hope that the NCCF would foster institutional collaboration and serve as a spring board to integrating the oil and gas industry with other sectors of the economy.

He commended President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for signing the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Bill into law and making Nigerian Content a key plank of his economic policies.

Obah also attributed the successes recorded by the Board to the unflinching support it receives from the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and charged the sectorial groups to make the best of the opportunity provided by the NCCF.

B

rent crude oil prices held steady while US crude dipped slightly in choppy trading last weekend, as abundant supply and a strong US dollar largely outweighed worries that conflict in the Middle East would disrupt output.

The dollar hit a four-year high, as the yield difference between US and German bonds widened to the highest in nearly 15 years last Thursday, while global equity markets fell sharply as the stronger dollar pointed to potential earnings losses.

“The weakening euro and yen is keeping the lid on crude oil prices for sure, as is the global picture in terms of production levels,” said John Kilduff, a partner at Again Capital LLC in New York.

Meanwhile, Libya’s oil output has climbed to 925,000 barrels per day (bpd), with the major El Sharara oilfield at 200,000 bpd, an official with the National Oil Corp said, despite fighting between the factions that divide the country and a government driven from the capital.

Brent rose by five cents to settle at $97.00 a barrel after swinging by more than $1 between $96.22 and $97.56 throughout the session. It had hit its lowest since July 2012 at $95.60 last Wednesday.

US crude, also known as West Texas Intermediate (WTI) settled 27 cents lower at $92.53.

Front-month US RBOB gas-

oline futures rose by nearly five cents as refinery glitches in the US pushed its premium to the second-month contract as high as 20 cents last Thursday.

US air strikes targeted Syrian refineries controlled by Islamic State. Nineteen people were killed overnight, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

“The prospect of more air strikes might be making people jittery,” Christopher Bellew, senior vice president with Jefferies Bache, said.

The dollar's strength dampened demand for commodities priced in the US currency at a time when global economic growth is already lackluster, particularly in the euro zone and China. The euro reached a 22-month low as speculation grew that the region would need another stimulus package to spur growth.

US stocks were sharply lower moving into the latter stages of trading last Thursday, weighed down by a drop in Apple shares, as each of the major indexes fell more than one per cent and the S&P broke below a key support level.

Scattered attacks by rival militias continued across Libya, but its overall national production has risen.

Officials at Libya’s eastern Hariga oil port said it had fully recovered from eight months of blockades by protesters and was exporting more than 120,000 bpd.

32 BUSINESS | ENERGY DEPLETION Country’s oil wells productivity, completion dwindle Stories by Adeola Yusuf

N

igeria earned a total of N12.6 trillion ($84 billion) revenue from oil in 2013, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has revealed.

The organisation, which revealed this in its annual statistical bulletin-2013 released at the weekend, added that oil wells completed in Nigeria, which include development and exploration of oil and gas wells, however, dropped from 124 in 2011 to 107 in 2012.

Nigeria, Africa’s biggest crude exporter, depends largely on proceeds from crude to service over 85 per cent of its budget.

The Federal Government had blamed this development on the investments draught in the industry, which is buoyed by increase in crude theft and pipeline vandalisms.

The Ministry of Finance, which estimated that Nigeria’s oil revenue in July fell by seven per cent month-on-month to N483.5 billion ($3.02 billion), said that this was due to disruptions to crude production and exports at facilities operated by Shell and Total in the Niger Delta.

“The decline in revenue is attributable to the force majeure declared by Shell and a series of shutdowns of trunk lines and

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Nigeria earns N12.6trn oil revenues in 2013, says OPEC pipelines at various oil-loading terminals including the Akpo oil field,” it stated.

But the 12-nation member OPEC, in its revenue fact sheet on its website, stated that Africa’s oil giant had net earnings of about N12.6 trillion ($84 billion) in 2013.

“This revenue has positioned Nigeria as the fourth highest earner among OPEC members.

It added that Libya “earned the least revenue with ($4 billion) after Equador ($5 billion).”

The lack of reserves growth has been attributed to the fact that little or no significant investment has been recorded in oil exploration in the last five years and the number of wells drilled has also been on the decline since 2006.

Nigeria has been estimated to have realised about $40 billion from crude oil exports in the first half of this year, according to OPEC. The United States Energy Information Administration (EIA) also estimated that excluding Iran, members of OPEC earned about $826 billion in net oil export revenues in 2013, a seven per cent decrease from 2012 earnings, but the second largest earning totals during the 1975 to 2013 period.

OPEC earnings declined largely because of a drop in OPEC oil production in 2013

(due mainly to supply disruption in Libya), and a three per cent slide in average crude oil prices (as measured by the Brent crude oil price marker).

Like OPEC, the EIA has, based on projections from its July 2014 Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), also estimated that Nigeria and other OPEC members (excluding Iran) could earn about $774 billion in net oil export revenues in 2014 and $723 billion in 2015 (unadjusted for inflation).

These declines from the 2013 level were the result of project-

ed shortfalls in the call on OPEC crude oil production, because of the large increases in nonOPEC production for 2014-15, as well as expected crude oil price declines that were also the result of declines in the call on OPEC crude oil production.

Meanwhile, Iran’s oil minister highlighted the split among members of the cartel over how to react to the sharp drop in oil to two-year lows in recent weeks, calling on OPEC nations to work together to prevent a further slide in crude prices.

“OPEC members should

make efforts to offset their production to keep the prices from further instability,” said Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, last Friday, according to the Iranian oil ministry website, Shana.

ICE November Brent traded 20 cents lower at $96.88 in afternoon trading with the international oil benchmark on target for its third weekly loss. Brent has fallen more than 15 per cent since mid-June.

Oversupply in the North Sea and Atlantic Basin has coincided with greater North American production.

How US strikes oil refineries in Syria

U

S air strikes against Islamic State on Wednesday targeted oil refineries in Syria thought to be controlled by the insurgency group.

A mix of fighter and remotely-operated aircraft from the US, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, pounded a dozen oil refineries in remote areas in eastern Syria, the US Central Command said.

US Navy fighter jet carried out 13 strikes on Wednesday on the modular facilities thought to be controlled by the terrorist group that has swept across large swathes of Iraq and Syria in recent months.

Most of the strikes were carried out in Al Mayadin, Al Hasakah and Abu Kamal, with one Islamic State vehicle also hit near Dayr az Zawr.

“We are still assessing the outcome of the attack on the refineries, but have initial indications that the strikes were successful,” the US Central Command said in a statement.

“These small-scale refineries provided fuel to run (Islamic State) operations, money to finance their continued attacks throughout Iraq and Syria, and an economic asset to support their future operations.

“Producing between 300 and 500 barrels of refined petroleum per day, (Islamic State) is estimated to generate as much as $2 million per day from these refineries.

“The destruction and degradation of these targets further limits (its) ability to lead, control, project power and conduct operations.”

US’ Rear Admiral John Kirby told the BBC later on Thursday: “(The targeted refineries) certainly are significant to (Islamic State) helping to fund itself through black market oil revenues.

“They have others, but these 12 are the 12 we decided to strike yesterday…

“We are still doing battle damage assessment to see how well the strikes went, but all the aircraft performed as expected and landed safely when it was over.”

Some reports indicate that 14 Islamic State fighters and five civilians were killed in the strikes.

Kirby continued: “We don’t know how many militants might have been killed – (but) I want to stress that the purpose of the strikes was not to kill militants necessarily so much as it was to destroy their ability to use these refineries and the capabilities that go with it to make money from them.

“We don’t have any indications from these strikes of any civilian casualties.”

The US has conducted almost 200 air strikes against Islamic State in Iraq, before expanding its operation to Syria earlier this week.

Port Harcourt refinery

Court okays suit forcing minister to make oil deals public FoI The philosophy behind the enactment of the FoI Act was to curb corruption

M

inister of Petroleum resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, may be compelled to disclose major oil deals since 2012 including crude oil swap variant and certification of subsidy for the importation of kerosene and premium motor spirit (petrol).

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted leave for the commencement of a suit seeking to compel her to make public, information regarding certain oil deals, which also include multi-million dollars crude oil sale.

Justice Garbriel Kolawole, in a ruling, held that he was

convinced that the ex-parte application for leave was made in accordance with the spirit of the Freedom of Information Act. The judge directed Okechukwu to file and serve on the minister, the required motion on notice. He fixed October 9 for hearing.

Justice Kolawole noted that the philosophy behind the enactment of the FoI Act and related laws by the Federal Government was to curb corruption and related practices among public offers and in public institutions.

The applicant, Osita Okechukwu, is, by his suit, seeking information on the transactions engaged by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) since 2012.

Through his lawyer, Mrs Justina Obono-Obla, Ikechukwu had stated that his recourse to the court was informed by the minister’s refusal to provide him with information.

He is seeking information “concerning the disclosure

of transactions involving the sale of crude oil, the crude oil swap variant and certification of subsidy for the importation of kerosene and PMS (petrol) from January 2012 to date of the NNPC.” The applicant, in his motion on notice, which is his substantive application, wants the court to grant a mandatory order of injunction directing the minister to, within seven days, provide him with the information he sought in both applications.

He also wants the court to declare the minister’s refusal to provide him with the information as wrongful and in violation of sections 4(a) and 7(1) of the FoI Act. Ikechukwu also maintained that by the true interpretation of Section 4(a) of the FoI Act, the minister was, within the meaning of Sections2(7) and 31 of the FoI Act, obligated to provide the information sought by the application in his applications.

PROPERTY&ENVIRONMENT PAGE 33, Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Housing@ 54: Mixed tales persist HOMEOWNERSHIP Experts want Land Use Act expunged from the constitution Dayo Ayeyemi

I

n the last 54 years of Nigeria's independence, various commendable steps have been taken by successive governments toward addressing the urban development challenge and bridging the housing deficit.

But, despite these efforts, which encompassed the rolling out of National Development Plans and policies, the housing deficit, according to estimate, is still in the range of 17 to 23 million units.

Challenges range from poor access to land for development as a result of the ineffective implementation of the provisions of the Land Use Act of 1978 to inadequate and non-availability of medium to long-term finance for housing in terms of funds for construction and mortgage for off-take finance, ineffective intervention by government mainly on account of inadequate coordination and frequent policy changes, high cost of building materials and lack of master plans to guide development, coupled with lack of land use planning, among others, have been adduced at one time or the other as factors responsible.

Others include political instability, policy summersault, high interest rates, lack of virile mortgage sector, high cost of development permit/approval, inadequate infrastructure development, poor saving culture of the people, job insecurity, poor salary, lack of enabling environment and political will.

Until recently when the Federal Government, through the Minister of Land, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi, launched plan to commence a National Housing Survey to actually ascertain the accommodation shortage in the country, it had been difficult to obtain the number of houses and types constructed yearly.

The statistics needed to help planning and project housing needs for the future is lacking.

Housing at 54 Housing experts have been unanimous in the believe that the nation was not lacking in terms of policy formulation to ensure that Nigerians are well housed, but the inability to implement the policies has always been the problem.

According to the experts who lamented the housing crisis in the country, “the nation’s mort-

One of the housing units financed by the Federal Mortgage Bank in Abuja

gage sector is still performing at a low ebb after 54 years of nationhood while the building materials sub-sector is in shambles due to lack of standards and preference to foreign goods.

To them, the nation has witnessed many seminars, workshops and conferences about housing issues with little or no action to work the talks.

As the situation is presently, the available units built by government and developers are beyond the reach of the targeted groups due to high cost, while Cash and Carry syndrome has gained prominence in the nation’s housing market.

However, it is also noted that the retail segment of the housing sector is gaining popularity, no thanks to plethora of shopping malls and hotels dotting the landscape of Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Ibadan.

Last six years In the last six years, concrete actions have been embarked upon by the Federal Government to redress the current underperformance of the sector, which are exemplified by some of the policies and programmes adopted for improving the sector.

Some of these include the adopted National Financial System Strategy (FSS 202020) which projects that the housing sector will drive the financial system by contributing not less than 20 per cent to the GDP by 2020; and the Transformation Agenda which projects building of one million houses per year to address the deficit.

In April 2010, the Federal Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development was

ministry adopted an implementation strategy for the actualisation of the policy provisions. Later, a Ministerial Team for Housing Delivery in Nigeria was inaugurated on December 13, 2011, to propose modalities for the implementation of the policies.

Other actions included the public presentation and sensitisation on the policies; and the development of an implementation Roadmap for the period 2012-2015 indicating clear deliverables, timeless roles and responsibilities, which will be undertaken jointly with all stakeholders at all levels.

Eyakenyi

established to take new and dynamic approach that will lay a solid foundation and deliver tangible results.

Barely four months after coming into being, the ministry commenced an elaborate participatory and comprehensive review of the two extant policies in the sector – National Housing Policy adopted in 1991 and National Urban Development Policy adopted in 1992.

Championed by the former Housing Minister, Ms Ama Pepple, the revised national policies on housing and urban development were approved by the National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, and subsequently taken to the Economic Management and Implementation Team (EMIT) and finally endorsed by the National Economic Council (NEC).

Immediately after the approval of the policies, the

Current efforts In order to address the problem associated with mortgage finance, the Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) was compelled to recapitalised to the tune of N5 billion and N2 billion, national and state, respectively.

Also on January 16, 2014, President Goodluck Jonathan launched the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company to provide a refinancing resource for the mortgage industry in Nigeria at single-digit interest rates.

The Federal Government had made good its promise to implement an effective mass housing delivery programme when it launched the first 10,000 mortgages in Abuja recently. This is designed to provide affordable homes for Nigerians across the country.

Efforts are also afoot to reposition the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria for adequate mortgage finance for the contributors to the National Housing Fund (NHF).

On assumption to duty a few

months ago, Housing Minister, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi, put necessary impetus in place to ensure the delivery of one million houses per annum for Nigerians in the next 10 years.

She had reiterated at many fora that she was committed to providing the necessary input to ensure the realisation of the first 10,000 mortgages launched by the NMRC as well as an effective housing delivery in the country.

The minister had set up various committees for the conduct of the National Housing Survey, survey and evaluation of Federal Government's landed property in all the states of the federation; review of the National Building Code, preparation of draft Roadmap for the Transforming Land Administration, Housing Delivery and Urban Development in Nigeria for 2014 to 2043, repositioning of the FMBN and Federal Housing Authority.

Experts’ concerns Speaking with New Telegraph at the weekend, Chairman of Faculty of Housing, Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Chief Kola Akomolede, said that the formations of NMRC and roadmap for the housing sector were not bad ideas, but pointed out that until people see these programmes working for them, they would amount to nothing.

He based his arguments on the fact that a lot of beautiful policies and programmes existed in the past but failed to impact positively on the housing needs of the people.

Advising government, AkoC O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 3 4

34

property & ENVIRONMENT

MODERNISATION The new edifice comes with facilities for council meetings, conferences and press centre Musa Pam Jos

B

y the time Governor Jonah David Jang of Plateau State would be leaving office next year, one big legacy, which will stand to his name is the new N9.6 billion Government House, located at the New Rayfield, Jos. The complex, according to observers, has become a befitting one adoring the state capital, the best since its creation.

Though work started on it in March 2012, it was completed on September 5 this year, hence Jang and his staff moved quietly from Jishe Government Lodge and Office into the new Government House. It was designed to be developed in four stages, each with an independent foundation, but upon completion, its location – hill top - makes it tower above other buildings in the city.

The complex which is considered to be one of the largest in Northern Nigeria, serves as Governor Jang's oval office with facilities encompassing

Jang’s N9.6bn new Govt House executive chamber for council meetings, conferences and press centre, among others.

Other buildings close to governor’s office are the residential house for his ADC and other official staff that works directly with him, as well as a clinic with four private wards and office of the First Lady, a swimming pool as as well residential quarters.

In the same vein, the complex has provision for a chapel, where government officials can worship with the governor who is also a pastor and director of Mission at EBOMI International.

A tour of the complex by New Telegraph showed it has a custom-built HELIPAD, an area where helicopters can take off and land, while a 50-kilometer road has been constructed to provide access to the new Government House. The road was dualised and adjourned to the old Airport-Uma bread road, Kukarin and Fwavwei road networks at Rayfield as well the Bukuru-little Ray field road with spurs, all giving easy access to the new edifice.

Though the contract was awarded on October 27, 2011, during his second term in office at a contract sum of N4.4 billion to an Italian firm, Eagle

Govt tasked on property education

Jang

construction company, the contract sum was later reviewed to N9.6 billion with the inclusion of additional works not contained in the original plan.

Criticism While some people have criticised the construction of the Government House, less than nine months to the end of his tenure, Jang was quick to remind them that the building belongs to Plateau people. He said that beyond the fact that the new Government House is a public building, “this is a democratic era where any Plateau citizen from whatever socio-economic background may wish to aspire to occupy

in order to run the state.

“Some may wonder why government is spending on the construction of a new Government House in Jos City.

Plateau State never really had a Government House since the state was created in 1967. The old Government House in Ray field was formerly a Presidential Lodge and because of the conversion, the President or Former Heads of state do not have a lodge in the state.”

He said the absence of a Presidential Lodge in the state was a big minus “for our progress in every respect if we cannot secure the president or visiting former Head of States.

Commissioner for Urban Development, Solomon Maren, told our correspondent in an interview that the history of the state conversion of buildings into Government House started since the state was created when the first military Governor, Police Commissioner, J. D. Gomwalk, was at the helms of affairs. Then, the present Ministry of Water Resources and the state House of Assembly complex residence of the dovernor and office respectively, a three bedroom flat with a guest wing and a single room for supporting staff.

He added that Jang, during his first term in office, had to salvage what turned out to be Governor’s Lodge from a colonial monument, built to accommodate high profile visitors in the 1950’s, saying that the Queen

of England, Elizabeth II, stayed there during her visit to Jos. According to Maren, the new Government House was Governor Jang’s response to the need for a permanent structure to serve as the Governor’s Office and residence. Obviously, Jang is relocating to the newly-constructed Government House with modern state-of-the-art equipment.

To the Information and Communications Commissioner, Olivia Dayzem, it was a dream come true, hence, penultimate week, after the last state executive council meeting at Jishe Government Lodge, he announced that the seat of government was relocating to its permanent site.

Also, Secretary to the State Government, Professor Shedrack, while shedding more light on the movement of the seat of power to Ray Field said that Plateau people were aware that this administration has been building a new Government House.

He argued that the fact remains that the state, since inception, has never had a government house, but did government businesses from different ad-hoc locations.

He pointed out that this was the first time that the Plateau people would be have a space consciously designed as a Government House, stressing that the new facility is not only more befitting, it would facilitate easy conduct of government’s activities.

Housing@ 54: Mixed tales persist

John Edu and Shadrack Yusuf

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

by the activities of Ptateerturbed fraudsters parading as esagents, the government

has been tasked to enlighten and educate members of the public on how to buy and sell lands, houses and other valuables without getting their fingers burnt.

Chief Executive Officer, Samsaasareeyah International property Agency, Mr Niyi Tinubu, told New Telegraph in an interview, that the advice becomes imperative following the surge in cases of alleged encroachments on government land.

He pointed out that not many people have the information that some land fall under government acquisition, adding that cases abound where people would buy land from land owners (Omooniles) only for government to lay claim to such.

Many people, he said, have lost their life-savings in the process, while the lucky ones would have to buy the land again from government through ratification.

Tinubu said: “The laxity of government should be discredited. Government should endeavour to educate and inform the people about what is required of them in terms of buying or selling of any landed property like houses.

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Tinubu

“Cases of people who bought properties from landlords and later the governments made claims of such properties have being reaching us in torrent.

Most people don’t really have proper information about what to do before selling or buying landed property.”

He stated that the business of real estate required perfect knowledge of the operating environment, while “ proper ethics and codes must be strictly followed” for the betterment of all.

On the business challenge, Tinubu said: “Really, all businesses have their odd times, but if properly managed, one should be able to stand the test of time. With my wealth of experience as a property agent, I have been able to manage the situation through proper research and visibility study on the property in question. This is to avoid issues of acquiring or selling fake properties to my clients.”

molede said: “There is the need to make land available for development, reduce the cost of building materials, expunge Land Use Act from the Constitution for proper amendment and look into the issues of interest rate among others.”

President of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Mr Tunde Lasabi, said that the housing sector has not been particularly good, going by the increasing housing deficit in the country.

He stated that there were problems of low cost and no cost housing, pointing out that many Nigerians could not afford the cost of housing being rolled out by the government and the private developers.

“Government is trying to provide low cost housing but at what cost? What is the salary and take-home of Nigerians to be able to access the houses?” he queried.

On the recent reformations in the sector, Lasabi said that government was on track, particularly as regards efforts to build one million houses annually in the next 10 years.

He advised that it was time the FMBN is recapitalised to the tune of N500 billion to be able to perform its role of providing mortgage finance for contribu-

tors to the NHF. Former President of NIOB, Mr Chuck Omeife, stated that in the last six years, the housing sector has been undergoing series of reforms which have resulted in the emergence of the NMRC, explaining that the reforms started from the formulation of the National Housing and the Urban Development policies, the adoption by the Federal Executive Council and its implementation by the Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development.

He said: “The journey has been long but it is gradually

yielding results in the different reforms we are witnessing today in the housing sector. It is hoped that the housing sector is prepared for evolution if the different policies and initiatives are fully implemented and monitored.”

Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Lagos Chapter, Pastor Stephen Jagun, commented that no appreciable progress has been made, adding that what Nigerians have been having were policies yet to have the desired impact on the citizenry.

Lasabi

Jagun

property & ENVIRONMENT

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

CUTTING EDGE Combination of professionalism and technology is necessary for better productivity Stories by Dayo Ayeyemi

S

ettlement experts popularly known as town planners have been urged to explore and adapt to technological trend to boost growth in their profession.

This advice was given by experts during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Lagos State chapter, at the weekend.

Talking about the changing trend, the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Toyin Ayinde, urged town planners to adopt the use of modern technologies.

35

Lagos to town planners: Explore new technologies Ayinde noted that they must combine professionalism and technology in order to get better output, saying that the amount of hard work they put in would determine the reward.

An official of the Office of the Surveyor General, Lagos State, Mr Remi Olatundosun, said emerging trends were a departure from the old methods but still relevant to practice.

He pointed out that things have been changing, urging town planners not to be stagnant as they would need to change with the time.

“The old culture is still relevant and we must not throw it away because of computerized method of doing things but we

must be time-conscious,” he said.

Olatunbosun said that town planners must work in unison with other professionals in the sector.

Chairman of the chapter, Mr Ayo Adediran, told his collegues that it was not time for celebration, explaining that the state of urban and regional planning in the country is still far from expectation.

He argued that as more people were moving to the cities, urban planners must be equipped in order to address the challenges arising from perennial urbanization process.

He said: “Whoever is not computer literate is an illiterate. We need to acquire skills, develop more planning tools to embark on aggressive stakeholders’ engagement if we are to remain relevant in emerging global city management process.”

Adediran said there was an urgent need to implement reforms initiated by the Lagos State government with particular reference to the preparation of regulations aimed at driving urban planning and development in the state.

One of the high points of the event was the launch of a

contemporary book on urban planning by the state chapter and the naming of a new library in remembrance of the institute's late past chairman, Mr. Ade Aduwo.

Members of the institution also harped on the need for collaboration with other professional bodies in the built environment to improve activities in the sector.

The guest lecturer, Mr Seyi Olanrewaju, who spoke on the use of social media tools in urban and regional planning, urged town planners to explore the new media.

Construction firm unveils new building materials mel Building Materials, a Ebuilding player in the construction and materials industry, has

unveiled three new products.

The company introduced the products at the recentlyheld 2014 Archibuilt Exhibition in Abuja which is an annual international forum organised by the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA).

The products include commercial hardware and security systems from Stanley Security Solutions, Associate Decor chipboard and Milano Sanitary Ware.

Speaking during the unveiling of the new products, the Managing Director of the Emel Group, Mr Mahesh Asnani, said: “The introduction of three new brands is hinged on our resolve, coupled with carefully mapped out strategies to become Nigeria’s leading onestop-shop building materials solution provider.”

He stated that the unveiling of the products “reaffirms our unshaken commitment of the

company to constantly introduce superior products with a view towards advancing the construction industry and enabling Nigerian home owners enjoy the same quality obtainable in other parts of the world.”

Asnani added that the new products were made of high quality materials that come with international warranties and are very much affordable.

He further said Emel has partnered internationally renowned brands, whose products are manufactured in state-of-theart facilities, utilising the latest processes and technologies.

“We are very confident about the quality and durability of our products.”

This is the reason why we decided to unveil and showcase new products ranging from premium roofing and door brands, including Tilcor stone-coated roof tiles, Formet steel doors and Krosswood real wood doors during the international exhibition.

Sari-Iganmu road construction: No demolition, says commissioner lans by Lagos State governPya-College ment to expand the Gaskiand Sari-Iganmu roads will not result in mass demolition of house within the area as alleged by the residents, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has said.

The commissioner allayed the fear of the citizens at a stakeholder’s meeting held at the Ladipo Primary School, Amukoko, stating that government has no plans to do extensive demolition so as to expand the road from the present 8 metres to 13.4km.

While noting that some shops and fences are on the right of way, the commissioner said that such would be

removed in the overall interest of the people, adding that property owners with the required certified documents by the Ministry of Physical Planning would be compensated.

Hamzat who also dispelled the rumour that some rich individuals residing in the area have bought their ways with government thereby influencing the construction of the road project in order to favour them, noted that the road alignment could not be skewed in anyone's favour.

He solicited the support of the people to ensure that the project is delivered within 20 months as planned, adding that the ministry will continue to listen to their complaints.

L-R: Ogun State Commissioner for Local Government, Muyiwa Oladipo; Proprietor, Chief Toyin Adeyinka and guest speaker, Alhaji Wale Adeeyo, during the graduation ceremony of Adeyinka Training Institute in Ewekoro, Ogun State.

Nigeria holds national urban forum E fforts to evolve a comprehensive but inclusive urban agenda for Nigeria will move into top gear in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, next month, with the hosting of the country’s first National Urban Forum. The event is being held as part of activities commemorating World Habitat Day 2014.

The World Habitat Day is commemorated on the first Monday in October each year, in line with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 40/20A of 17th December, 1985.

It is set apart for reflection on the state of cities and an assessment of progress made in efforts to ensure sustainable urbanisation and adequate shelter for all. This year’s commemoration at the federal level will hold in Abuja on the October 13 and 14, as the first Monday coincides with a designated major public holiday.

The hosting of National Urban Forums at country level was conceived by the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN HABITAT), as a critical part of the prepa-

ratory process for the forthcoming third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III), scheduled to take place in 2016. The Habitat III Conference is being convened as directed by United Nations General Assembly in line with the bi-decennial cycle that saw the hosting of Habitat I in Vancouver, Canada in 1976 and, Habitat II in Istanbul Turkey in 1996.

The Habitat III summit will reinvigorate the global commitment to sustainable urbanisation, focus on the implementation of a “New Urban Agenda” and, build on the Habitat Agenda adopted during Habitat II in Istanbul in 1996. Already, Nigeria is supporting the preparatory process at the continental level to the tune of $3 million, through thestrengthening partnerships for a New Africa Urban Agenda project.

Nigeria’s First National Urban Forum, which will be the highpoint of the 2014 World Habitat Day commemoration, is bringing together all key stakeholders in the housing

and urban development sector to deliberate on and validate the work of consultants commissioned for the preparation of a National Habitat Report, among other activities.

The summit is coming on the heels of the inauguration of Nigeria’s National Habitat Committee by the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi on February 20, 2014 in Abuja.

The theme for World Habitat Day (WHD) 2014 is ‘Voices from Slums,’ which campaigns to recognize life in slums and gives voices to slum dwellers for improving quality of living conditions in existing informal settlements, as well as highlights the efforts made towards the MDGs process. Meanwhile, with the launch of the first ever World Cities Day on October 31, 2014, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN HABITAT) has designated the month of October as Urban October.

This is coming on the heels of two important milestones on the urban calendar, which coincide in the same month.

36 property & ENVIRONMENT

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

GEF votes $3bn to combat climate change LIFELINE Efforts geared towards enhanced resilience, adaptation and disaster risk reduction Dayo Ayeyemi

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elieve has come the way of developing nations, as the Global Environment Facility (GEF) has promised to support them with over $3 billion for financing actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change over the next four years.

The newly-completed Sixth Replenishment of the GEF Trust Fund, together with expected funding from its climate adaptation funds, will enable GEF to make $3 billion available for climate finance in the next four years, with an expected $30 billion being leveraged from other sources.

Justifying the commitment, Chief Executive Officer of GEF, Dr Naoko Ishii, said that there was an urgent need for strong action on climate change, stating that the organisation is proactively seeking to produce maximum impact from its investments by working together with other stakeholders to achieve the change that the world needs.

GEF supports climate change initiatives in countries across a

broad spectrum of action areas.

A total of $910 million has been allocated to individual countries to support national climate change mitigation policies and strategies, enhance renewable energy supply, increase energy efficiency, including sustainable transport and urban design, expand climate smart agriculture, and work to reduce short-lived climate forcers.

It has also allocated $225 million to support UNFCCC-related reporting and assessments, including Intended Nationally Determined Contributions, and to help integrate their findings into national policy planning and implementation.

In addition, as leading global financier of climate change adaptation, the GEF expects to program up to $1.2 billion towards enhanced resilience, adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

The Facility has already transferred $314 million to 53 countries to strengthen the hydro-meteorological and climate information services, allowing governments, private enterprises, civil society and individuals to integrate climate change risks and adaptation into their decision-making processes.

GEF and its partners are also preparing regional programs that will deploy ecosystembased adaptation measures to enhance resilience in cities in at least nine countries across Latin

Firm, UNILAG commission bathroom facilities Olushola Ricketts s part of its social corporate Abathroom responsibility initiatives, a solutions provider,

IL Bagno, has completed the renovation of a bathroom facility at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

Speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director, IL Bagno, Mr Michael Owolabi, said that the partners which the company exclusively represented were the biggest brands in the industry from Germany, Italy and Switzerland.

He disclosed that the company won the Best Product in Nigeria’s Interior Designers Excellence Awards (IDEA) in 2013, adding that at the maiden edition in 2012, it won the Best Bathroom Company in Nigeria.

According to him, the company’s bathroom solutions were for discerning minds with exacting standard, disclosing that his firm believes in giving back to the society.

He said: “In this case, we are giving back exactly what we sell - the gift of usable and functional bathrooms. We might not be able to solve all bathroom issues in Nigeria but we believe we can touch one organisation at a time. We have previously gifted bathrooms to organisations like the Red Cross Orphanage, Onike Baptist Primary School, Archbishop Taylor Primary and Ikoyi Club (Golf Section).”

Owolabi explained that the company picked the University of Lagos not only because its principal directors were students of the institution at some point but because “we believe the school stands for excellence in every area of education in Nigeria.”

“We are proud to be associated with the University of Lagos in any small way. We want this bathroom to reflect what UNILAG is known for nationwide - excellence in learning and character. Values we have tried to stand for in our 10 years of existence,” he said.

He however urged that maintenance be put in the fore front, insisting that maintenance starts with proper usage and cleaning of the facility.

“We cannot over emphasize this but also trust that the competent leadership of this great institution will not rest on its oars in this regard,” he noted.

Deputy Vice Chancellor, Management Services, UNILAG, Professor Duro Oni, commended the firm for deeming it fit to extend the good gesture to the school.

“We the management of the university of Lagos really appreciate this, especially in the era of Ebola where there have been so much emphasises on keeping good hygiene. We are indeed looking forward to doing other things with the company,” he said.

America and the Caribbean, and the Asia-Pacific region.

In an effort to pilot innovative approaches in the next four years, GEF will provide dedicated financing for three highimpact integrated programs.

Through the Sustainable Cities program, $100 million will be dedicated to help mayors and other municipal leaders make cities more sustainable, cleaner, more efficient, resilient, and prosperous, generating global environmental benefits through local action.

Commenting Ishii said: “There is no better entry point to address the world’s major drivers of environmental degradation than cities and urban-

ization.

“With this programme we aim to create a global platform that can support Mayors and city managers to develop and execute integrated plans that help lower cities’ environmental foot print and increase their resilience. Importantly, the programme will also facilitate learning and sharing of effective solutions among cities around the world.”

Ishii also noted two other new GEF programmes, including $110 million to improve food security, strengthen resilience and enhance carbon sequestration in sub-Saharan Africa, and $45 million to eliminate deforestation from commodity

supply chains by harnessing the growing public and private sector interest in adopting more sustainable practices to produce commodities such as palm oil, soy and beef.

The GEF helps to transform policy, strengthen institutional capacity, build multi-stakeholder alliances, and de-risks partner investments, as well as explore synergies across its many lines of climate-related financing. The GEF plays a key role in demonstrating innovative approaches and instruments that can be scaled up by other players, including the Green Climate Fund as it becomes operational, moving towards a constructive negotiations outcome in 2015.

Scene of deforestation

More nations fight climate change with forestation Dayo Ayeyemi

with Agency report ising from the UN Climate Rworld Summit in New York, the leaders announced new pledges to restore over 30 million hectares of degraded forestlands.

The commitments came from Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guatemala and Uganda, among others, and more than doubled the number of hectares contributing to achieving the Bonn Challenge – a global goal to restore 150 million hectares of deforested and degraded lands by 2020.

These announcements came alongside an extension of the global restoration target to at least 350 million hectares – an area greater than the size of India – to be restored by 2030.

This new target was unveiled at the Summit in the New York Declaration on Forests.

The Declaration, signed by IUCN, as well as over 100 countries, corporations, indigenous peoples and civil society also called for a halving of deforestation rates by 2020 and an end to global deforestation altogether by 2030.

Speaking, Director General

of IUCN, Julia Marton-Lefèvre said: “The courageous leadership demonstrated by these countries towards achieving the Bonn Challenge, and by the wide range of global leaders in support of the New York Declaration on Forests, underlines that nature-based solutions such as forest landscape restoration can play a vital role in our fight against climate change and addressing the fundamental need to reduce emissions.”

IUCN estimates that meeting the 150 million hectare Bonn Challenge target alone could add approximately $85 billion to national and local economies and remove an additional one billion tons of carbon from the atmosphere each year.

UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said the pledges by countries in Africa and Latin America to combat deforestation and more than double restoration targets would bring significant climate benefits.

Besides, he said that such inspiring initiatives would contribute significantly to poverty reduction, economic development and food security across countries and regions.

The restoration pledges and the New York Declaration on

Forests arrive in preparation for next year’s climate talks in Paris, which are largely expected to result in a new global climate deal.

Progress in New York signals significant support for ramping up restoration of lost and degraded forest lands as part of the post2015 Paris climate agreements and development agenda.

IUCN Ambassador for the Bonn Challenge, and Founder and Chair of the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation, Bianca Jagger, said that restoration of degraded and deforested lands was not simply about planting trees, pointing out that people and communities should be the focus of the restoration effort, which would transform barren or degraded areas of land into healthy, fertile working landscapes.

“The New York Declaration on Forests is a milestone as we enter the restoration generation,” said Andrew Steer, President and CEO, World Resources Institute, adding, “It’s a triple win that can bring more water and food security, improve livelihoods, and help tackle climate change. We look forward to working with leaders to help ensure that they deliver on these commitments that will benefit people and the planet.”

Beyond category one aviation p–38 status

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Aero Contractors' B737-500 aircraft

Service delivery in the airline industry is lacking. Aviation Editor, WOLE SHADARE, writes that airlines’ policies must be customer/consumer oriented

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irline industry plays a major role in every countries economic activity and it aids in opening up of the countries market to both local and foreign investors Globalisation has made it even more necessary for everyone to be everywhere at anytime. Over three billion passengers departed on scheduled journey in 2013, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

There is need for airlines to focus on service quality if the airlines aspire to improve on market share and further enhance financial performance in domestic and international market.

Passengers satisfaction How satisfied are the passengers with the services of Nigerian airlines?

A necessary corollary is that domestic airlines need to have a valid and reliable measure to better understand the variable likely to have a bearing on the service quality offered by their organisations.

Service quality is an important factor for airlines, Interviews by frequent fliers and others who are conversant with operations of virtually all the domestic airlines agreed that they have a lot of work to do.

Evaluating service quality of Nigerian airlines Despite the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s (NCAA) Bill of Right, these carriers with the exception of may be one, are guilty of poor service delivery, infringement on passengers’ rights and all manner of activities that have made air travel to be very uninteresting.

Rating New Telegraph discovered from a survey it conducted that aerocotractors airline exhibited a good service quality in the empathy, responsiveness and the technical dimension of their services but the reliability; tangible dimension needs a lot of improvement.

The same applies to airlines like Arik which schedule integrity has been very unreliable coupled with other quality services that is lacking, inspite the fact that the airline has the youngest fleet of about 9 and 10 years. Although, aircraft age has nothing to do with safety as long as the operator abides by schedule of maintenance.

Are the passengers satisfied with the services rendered with consideration to the variables discovered and what are the necessary strategies that airline managers improve on the service quality render to their passengers?

Airline service quality is different from services in other industries. An airline service comprises tangible and intangible attributes.

There is the need for airlines to focus on service quality if the airlines aspire to improve on market share and further enhance financial performance in domestic and international market Airlines carry passengers to the destination using aircraft and they experience diverse intangible services from airlines such as on time performance, in-flight service, service frequency and so on.

A chief executive officer of one of the carriers that has gone extinct told New Telegraph on condition of anonymity that service quality is the other thing apart from funding, that would stand any airline out among its look-alikes.

Travellers said they expect a reasonable service from the airlines, but lamented that the responsiveness of the airlines is totally poor, adding that all attributes were below expectation.

One thing cannot be taken away from them; they have pilots that are very qualified and skilled in their operations.

Aero for instance under the reliability status has error free records and a reliable on-line assistance but other attributes are below expectation.

The assurance rendered by the airline is very impressive by having minimal flight breakdown ensure safety practices and checks.

From the summary, it can be taken that passengers of are not satisfied with the quality of services rendered to them by the airlines.

Experts opinion A former Assistant Secretary-General of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Mohammed Tukur, said: “Evidence shows that airline managers should develop strategies to improve service quality such as meeting passengers desired service levels, improving the quality of in-flight meals, visually appealing facilities, hassle free check-in and boarding”.

“Domestic airlines should strive to keep a good safety record and an on-time performance in order to attract potential passengers knowing that reliability is one of the most important requirements of airline operations.”

These strategies he reiterated would enhance airline image and result in retaining existing passengers and enticing passengers from other airlines.

He urged domestic airlines to strive should to keep a good

safety record and an on-time performance in order to attract potential passengers knowing that reliability is one of the most important requirements of airline operations.

Experts said these strategies will enhance airline image and result in retaining existing passengers and enticing passengers from other airlines.

Airlines that have a short fall in any of their service attribute should increase their level of controlling, commanding, monitoring, and coordinating because what is needed is just doing things the right way.

Solution Airlines that experience any form of shortfall in the assurance dimension should engage in the training of their employees to evaluate their performance consistently.

Employees should engage on training courses on a regular basis and should bear in mind that the behaviour of employees is often instrumental in bringing about desired outcome.

Management of airlines should provide an informative feedback on the employee’s performance using differential rewards and punishment.

To improve on the empathy, managers should study their target market precisely C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 3 9

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AIR RAGE

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Wole Shadare

Beyond category one aviation status

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Arik's aircraft in flight

Nigerian airlines plagued by poor revenue mgt Wole Shadare

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he Nigerian airline industry has been plagued by low yields exacerbated by periods of disastrous under-performance.

Several macro-level socioeconomic factors such as rising oil prices, rising terrorism and recently, the Ebola threat concerns have further impacted profitability of airlines adversely.

Nigerian airlines go to their early exit because of mistakes associated with poor revenue generation and acquisition of aging aircraft.

An airline chief told New Telegraph “Others are lack of good reservation systems and heavy cost of overheads as well as ambitious route networks,’’.

President Aeroconsult, Tunde Obadofin, who also spoke at a forum in Lagos, recently explained that competitive conditions in the airline industry are becoming more challenging.

He noted that airlines are delivering weak revenues in difficult times, stressing that aviation’s role as a catalyst for economic growth is, “under fire as the expected contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is not being delivered”.

Obadofin, further stated that apart from high fuel prices and security concerns, another wildcard for many airlines according to him is the risk of multiple designation of foreign airlines that operate into all the nation’s airports.

He regretted that in an incredible tough trading environment, airlines must focus hard on pulling themselves through the immediate crisis, but warned that this cannot be achieved without government partnership-getting down to the root cause and mustering the political will to ameliorate it.

According to him, “Aviation is a team effort. Its fortunes and ability to play this vital role are dependent on strong partnership across the value

chain and with government. In many cases, these partnerships are delivering progress. In others, the industry faces strong headwinds”.

Meanwhile, revenue management is still in it’s infancy in Nigeria. Aero contractors have pioneered the field of revenue management in the West African sub-region.

In time past airlines had fixed fares for their business and economy cabins, pricing was not dynamic. Day to day demand for airline seats was not considered an important factor in pricing, in other words, airlines fixed a price and hoped that customers will buy and fly.

Inevitably a lot of seats were not utilised and the max revenue potential for most airlines was squandered.

To truly maximize every available resource certain key factors have to be considered.

First and foremost the primary resource for any airline running a scheduled service is the aircraft seats, these seats are perishable items; they are no different from farm produce that have very short shelf life. It is very important to understand that once a flight departs, the opportunity to sell is lost and can never be recovered again.

Aerocontractors in its revenue management journal stated that the price of an airline seat is determined by the perceived value of that seat to the customer, adding that the trick is in understanding the behaviour of the customer, anticipating when he or she is most willing to pay premium and knowing when the customer is unwilling to part with money.

“A typical scenario would be an early morning flight from Lagos to Abuja on a Monday morning. What you notice from the demographics of the passengers is that most are business travelers and as such are more willing to pay a premium for the trip as against passengers traveling on a Wednesday from Abuja to Lagos just for

leisure.”

It further stated that another factor to consider are the routes themselves, adding that every route has a distinct personality and this is largely driven by the people and the commercial or political activity in the city pair.

People from certain geographic locations like PortHarcourt, generally earn more income largely because of the economic and political activity taking place there and as such would be able to pay a premium for the seats.

On the contrary other destinations like Benin or Kaduna are purely for leisure travellers and civil servants, therefore pricing is done to accommodate these peculiarities. It’s also important to know the historical link between a city pair if any, is there demand for travel between the city pair, what kind of load factor (percentage of seats utilized in an aircraft) and average yield are other airline doing on the route.

Movement of passenger should be from point to point, avoiding connections. An example is flights from Lagos to Kano. A lot of airlines fly passengers from Lagos to Kano connecting through Abuja.

These connections cause complexities that may eat away at airlines profits.

An important part of revenue management is the pricing structure. Most Nigerian airlines in the offer only four fares. This is not adequate for the strategy that requires a revenue manager to respond to passenger demands dynamically.

There is no limitation to the number of fares allowed in a revenue management system. In theory optimization is simple: anticipate an increase in demand and charge passengers as high as you can, when demand drops, respond to it by dumping fares.

This achieves two purposes, it enables you keep your load factors high by giving an incentive for people to travel even when they don’t need to.

gainst all odds, Nigeria retained the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Category one aviation ranking.

Before now, the whole nation was apprehensive because of the instability at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), which saw the removal of a Director-General, frequent accidents and the manner a former Minister of Aviation almost ran the sector aground with unprecedented interference in the affairs of the aviation regulatory body which FAA frowns at.

Infact, many had already written off the chance of the nation retaining the rating.

All the indices for failing the test were glaring. But trust Nigerians to put their house together any time they are faced with what looks like a tough challenge.

They quickly mobilised resources, had sleepless nights to ensure that all the gaps the Americans noticed when they came six months ago were closed.

A very joyous Acting Director-General of the agency, Benedict Adeyileka could not hide his joy when he briefed the media, explaining the tortuous road the agency went to retain what could have been an embarrassment if we were unable to retain the feat we achieved in 2014 when its former Director- General, Dr. Harold Demuren and his team achieved what looked impossible in 2010.

Adeliyeka went down memory lane to intimate the media on the tortuous road, thanking the media, his team, a former Supervising Minister of Aviation, Dr. Sam Ortom and more importantly to President Goodluck Jonathan for making funds and personnel available to pass the test.

Nigeria is one of just six African countries, including Cape Verde, Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco and South Africa, with an IASA Category 1 rating.

With the IASA Category 1 rating, Nigerian air carriers can now apply to operate to the United States with their own aircraft.

An IASA Category 1 rating means a country has the laws and regulations necessary to oversee air carriers in accordance with minimum international standards, and that its civil aviation authority equivalent to the FAA for aviation safety matters meets international standards for technical expertise, trained personnel, recordkeeping, and inspection procedures.

As part of the FAA's IASA program, the agency assesses the civil aviation authorities of all countries with air carriers that operate or might be authorized to fly to the United

States and makes that information available to the public.

The assessments determine whether or not foreign civil aviation authorities are meeting ICAO safety standards, not FAA regulations.

Beyond the euphoria of category one, has Nigeria truly benefitted from the ‘Open Skies” pact between her and the US? The United States and Nigeria had in 2000 concluded an "Open Skies Agreement" that expands and enhances the overall aviation partnership between the two countries.

The agreement was signed by former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater and former Nigerian Transport Minister, Kimi Chickwe.

A total of 47 such agreements have been signed by the United States, all but one under former President Clinton.

The agreement will permit unrestricted international air service by airlines of the two countries between any city in one country with any city in the other.

The agreement maximizes potential competition, encourages price flexibility for passengers and shippers, and encourages improved and expanded service to existing and new markets.

This pact is one sided as only Arik Air is utilizing the air pact while two American carriers, Delta and United Airlines are the two airlines operating to Nigeria with plan by a third American carrier to begin services to Nigeria.

Some experts believe that the category serves no significant benefit to the country as all Nigerian airlines put together are very weak, fragmented and weaker than the least carrier in America in what many said could be described as Nigerian airlines just taking the crumbs while these mega airlines are making humungous and a huge kill on the route.

Four US airlines can afford to operate services to Nigeria without affecting them, but no carrier from this nation has the funds, the managerial skill and good business model to upstage any of the US airlines.

A lot still needs to be done if Nigerian airlines are going to be taken seriously. It goes beyond category-one retention, it is about upping the ante to operate profitably and take advantage of this category one rating to be a partaker of the benefits that comes from this.

More importantly, while we beat our chests for this feat, the NCAA should not be allowed to go to sleep. They should not rest on their oars or go to sleep. The sector can still achieve a lot for the benefit of travellers and all stakeholders.

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Wole Shadare

African airline makes largest single Boeing order

member of the Star Alliance, has announced an order for 20 737 MAX 8s. The order, previously unidentified on the Boeing Orders & Deliveries website, is worth more than $2.1 billion at list prices and also includes options and purchase rights for a further 15 737 MAX 8s.

The order represents the largest single Boeing order, by number of airplanes, from an African carrier.

The carrier is Addis Abababased Ethiopian Airlines.

“Today's order underlines our commitment to our 15year strategic plan, 'Vision 2025', in which Ethiopian will

ACQUISITION The 737 MAX will form a key component of that strategic vision

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strive to become the leading airline group in Africa carrying 18 million passengers per annum,” said Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, during a visit to the Association for the Promotion of Tourism to Africa National Forum in Chicago. “The 737 MAX will form a key compo-

nent of that strategic vision, enhancing our single-aisle fleet and keeping us at the forefront of African aviation.”

The 737 MAX incorporates the latest technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines, Advanced Technology winglets and other improvements to deliver the highest efficiency,

Virgin Atlantic's JFK Clubhouse

Virgin Atlantic brings clubhouse concept to Los Angeles V irgin Atlantic has unveiled plans to bring its awardwinning Clubhouse concept to Los Angeles International Airport.

Set within a relaxing space overlooking the Hollywood Hills, the new 4,000 square foot lounge will become the 11th Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse and is due to open in spring 2015.

Created by the Virgin Atlantic in-house design team, in partnership with Slade Architecture, the space is set to take its design cues from nature. Think sculptural lines and glimmers of gold inspired by that famous Los Angeles sunshine.

The team is also working with California-based artists, whose work will be shown alongside pieces from up-andcoming British artists. In common with all the airline’s Clubhouses, the space will allow its people to take centre stage and who will aim to make our customers experience as special on the ground as it is in the air.

The food and drink concept will allow guests to taste and share several dishes, creating a relaxed, sociable atmo-

sphere. The food itself will take inspiration from clean, healthy west coast living and at the apothecary-inspired bar, cocktails will be the main event.

Healthy juices infused with seeds and spices will be on offer, along with a shot on the side for those who like something a little stronger.

Customer Engagement and Brand Director at Virgin Atlantic, Reuben Arnold said, “Los Angeles was the natural choice for our next Clubhouse investment. It is such an important route for us - we have

been flying there for 24 years now and we see so much repeat custom especially in our Upper Class cabin.

“Our Clubhouses have always set the standard for airport lounges in terms of experience, service and design and we are delighted to bring our ultimate pre-flight experience to our customers travelling through Los Angeles”.

Entry into the Clubhouse is complimentary for Upper Class passengers travelling between London Heathrow.

Return Upper Class fares start from £3,350.00 per person.

Tunisia announces new “departure tax” for foreigners n a move aimed at boosting and foreigners with residence Ihas the country's coffers, Tunisia permits already pay 60 dinars announced that starting each time they leave the counin October, all non-resident foreigners will have to pay a departure tax upon leaving the country.

“The Tunisian government announces the creation of a departure tax for non-resident foreign travelers leaving Tunisian territory, coming into force on October 1,” the tourism ministry said on its Facebook page.

Those affected, mainly tourists, will have to pay a departure stamp to the value of 30 dinars ($17, 13 euros).

Tunisians, with the exception of those living abroad,

Evaluating service of Nigerian airlines C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 7

and recognize the customers demand and how they can be satisfied.

Airlines need to form strategic alliances and joint ventures to have other travel related partners for example car rental, hotel accommodation and travel insurance.

The managers need to redefine the goals and the objec-

tives and modify the organisational structure, reengineer job design on the necessary specification, likewise training, monitoring, rewarding and punishing the employees.

Management need optimize the allocation of its resources by evenly spreading their resources to areas of poor service quality and a withdrawal of little resources from area of very high.

reliability and passenger comfort in the single-aisle market.

The 737 MAX will be 14 percent more fuel-efficient than today's most efficient Next-Generation 737s – and 20 percent better than the original Next-Generation 737s when they first entered service. The 737 MAX has a total of 2,294 orders from 47 customers worldwide.

“This historic order for Boeing and our partner Ethiopian once again positions the carrier at the heart of African aerospace innovation with the acquisition of the 737 MAX," said Van Rex Gallard, vice president of Sales for Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, speaking in Chicago. "Throughout the years, Ethiopian has consistently led the way in introducing new airplane types to passengers across Africa. Today's record order signals its commitment to continue that tradition.”

Ethiopian currently serves more than 83 destinations across five continents from its base at Bole International Airport in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. The Ethiopian flag carrier's partnership with Boeing has existed for more than half a century, with a current fleet of more than 50 Boeing airplanes that includes Next-Generation 737s, 757s, 767s, 777s, 787 Dreamliners and a cargo fleet of 757s, 777 Freighters and MD-11s.

A Dana aircraft

try.

The new tax announced on Tuesday was included in a complementary finance law adopted this summer as part of measures aimed at helping to bail out the state.

The economy has been hard hit by the instability that followed the 2011 revolution that forced out long-time strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Gross domestic product growth slowed further in the second quarter of 2014, up just 2 per cent as against 2.8per cent in the same period of 2013, central bank figures show.

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Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Qatar Airways' first A380 lands in Doha Wole Shadare

D

eparting Hamburg, Germany, direct from the Airbus facility last Thursday morning, Qatar Airways' first A380 superjumbo touched down at 17:00 hrs local time to a spectacular ceremony at Doha’s Hamad International Airport with more than 500 guests in attendance, including Government Ministers of the State of Qatar, dignitaries, guests and members of the media. In the presence of the Patron, The Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the State of Qatar, His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Minister of Finance and Chairman of Qatar Airways, His Excellency Mr. Ali Shareef Al Emadi, the Group Chief Executive of Qatar Airways, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, Ministers, Sheikhs and Ambassadors.

With the press of a button, the event according to a statement from Qatar Airways, commenced with a symbolic drawing of the curtain, opened by the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al-Thani.

Live entertainment and a dance troupe captivated the guests against the backdrop of the superjumbo aircraft in an event specially designed event next to the largest aircraft maintenance hangar in

the world, able to accommodate 13 aircraft, including two A380s simultaneously, at any given time.

Addressing local and international media at a press conference on arrival, Mr. Al Baker said that the arrival of the new super-jumbo marks a moment of great pride for the State of Qatar and the national airline.

“Qatar Airways has grown from strength to strength, and is recognised all around the world for its excellence and high standards, and this is thanks to the vision of The Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad AlThani and His Highness the Father Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani.

“As the State of Qatar’s national airline, we began operations in 1997 with just four aircraft operating to 14 regional routes. In 2003, we placed our order for the A380 super-jumbo and at that time we were operating to only 50 destinations with 28 aircraft. Today, as the A380 joins our rapidly growing fleet, we are operating 137 aircraft to 144 destinations in six continents.

“With the start of operations of Hamad International Airport just four months ago, it prepared us to begin operations for the A380 with specially designed boarding gates and facilities to facilitate seamless passenger experiences for this ultra-large aircraft.

“The A380 will form the

backbone of our fleet, and support our strategy of facilitating predominantly longhaul traffic with high density, widebody aircraft,” said Mr Al Baker.

Special guests at the Qatar Airways’ A380 unveiling included FC Barcelona legend and former captain, FC Barcelona Assistant Director of Sport, Mr. Carles Puyol; one of FC Barcelona’s newest players, Mr. Luis Suarez, and FC Barcelona General Director, Mr.

Antoni Rossich.

Following the spectacular entertainment, unveiling and a video of the making of the Qatar Airways’ first A380, dignitaries and guests were treated to tours of the airline’s latest addition to its five-star fleet.

Qatar Airways currently has 13 Airbus A380 aircraft on order, 10 firm and 3 options, with a total of four set to be inducted into the fleet before year end.

The capacity of the airline's A380 is 517 seats in a tri-class configuration of 8 seats in First Class, 48 in Business Class and 461 in Economy Class spread across two decks.

The Qatar Airways A380 has a bespoke interior, including a Premium Lounge on the upper deck and 90-inch First Class seats that recline into fully flat beds.

London Heathrow will be the first route for the A380, operating as flight QR001.

Addis Ababa Bole International Airport

Delta to add new service from LA to San Antonio, Dallas

D

elta Air Lines said it would launch twice-daily nonstop service from Los Angeles to San Antonio, Texas, beginning April 7, 2015.

The San Antonio service complements Delta's daily service according to a statement from Delta Airlines, from Los Angeles to Dallas, which launches Nov. 3, and the addition of a third daily flight between Los Angeles and Austin, Texas, beginning Nov. 2. All

One of Delta Airline's airplanes

flights are operated by Delta Connection carrier Compass Airlines.

With the addition of San Antonio and Dallas service, Delta customers will have access to nine daily departures to three destinations between Los Angeles and Texas, including, Four daily flights to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, three daily flights to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and two daily

flights to San Antonio International Airport, For Texas customers, the new service according to the statement also will provide more options when connecting to destinations in Delta's transPacific portfolio from Los Angeles. This includes service to Tokyo-Haneda; Tokyo-Narita; and Sydney, as well as partneroperated service to Brisbane, Australia; Guangzhou, China; Shanghai; and Taipei.

"For more than a year, we have grown our Los Angeles network into one of the largest operations at LAX and given our customers - particularly those in the entertainment, production, automotive and growing tech startup communities — nonstop options to destinations throughout the US," said Ranjan Goswami, Delta's staff vice president – Global Sales, West Region.

"The addition of Dallas and San Antonio marks the next big intra-West milestone for Los Angeles as we continue building this key market and West Coast network for our customers."

In the last year, Delta according to the statement, has significantly expanded its network from LAX, adding service to Austin; Boise, Idaho; and San Salvador, El Salvador; increasing the number of flights from destinations it already serves; and expanding to year-round service in Boston. Delta will also launch service from LA to Monterrey, Mexico, in November. Last fall, Delta expanded its service from Los Angeles to San Francisco with the launch of its hourly, nonstop Delta Shuttle product. In October, Delta will launch international service from LAX to

London-Heathrow as part of its joint venture partnership with Virgin Atlantic Airways.

Service to Austin, Boise, Monterrey and San Francisco is operated by Delta Connection carriers Compass Airlines and SkyWest Airlines.

Delta has also made significant enhancements to its Los Angeles service both on the ground and in the air in the past few years. Travelers through Los Angeles will enjoy the benefits of the $229 million expansion and enhancement of Terminal 5 at LAX. The current project will double the size of the ticketing lobby and screening checkpoints and open an exclusive Sky Priority lobby and checkpoint. It also will include renovations to the Delta Sky Club and new baggage carousels. The project is scheduled to take place in several phases, with the west lobby to be completed in November.

Delta currently operates 140 peak-day departures to 47 destinations from LAX, and every flight offers BusinessElite/First Class and Economy Comfort seating. Nearly every domestic flight features Wi-Fi service, and Delta now offers customers free entertainment from every seat out of LA through its new Delta Studio product.

BUSINESS | MONEY LINE 41

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Nigeria loses 60 Indian business investments to Ebola –Minister

CHALLENGES Challenges still persist with no single state ranking at the top on all indicators

• Five states lead in World Bank reforms Doing Business in Nigeria 2014 is the third in a series of World Bank Group sub-national reports studying the ease of doing business in the country. It compares business regulations in 35 states and the Federal capital Territory (FCT).

The report focuses on federal and state regulations that affect four stages in the life of a small to medium-size domestic firm: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, registering property, and enforcing contracts.

The report found out that 22 states improved in at least one of the benchmarked areas, making it easier for local entrepreneurs to start and operate a business. The report also compares gender-specific employment data from the main public agencies in charge of administering the benchmarked areas: land registries, building authorities and Corporate Affairs Commission branches in each state.

According to the report, “This year’s report recorded 34 improvements, of which 13 focused on starting a business, eight on dealing with construction permits, 10 on registering property, and three on enforcing contracts. The states of Cross River, Ekiti, Niger, Ogun, and Rivers made the biggest strides towards the national frontier of

Amadi Nnamdi and Kenneth Tyohemba, Abuja

N

igeria has lost about 60 business investments from India due to the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

This came hours after the World Bank report on doing business in Nigeria named five states - Ogun, Cross River, Ekiti, Niger and Rivers, as states that have continued to implement business regulatory framework.

The disclosure about lost of investment opportunuites was made by Ambassador Abdulkadir Musa, the representative of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, at the launch of World Bank’s “Doing Business in Nigeria 2014.”

“Nigeria would have received over 60 businesses from India in different fields, for us to develop partnership, but at the last moment, it was cancelled because of the Ebola issue in West Africa,” said Musa, the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

He also hinted that his ministry has also embarked on investment drive visits to Middle East and are also set to go to Europe so as to attract investors into Nigeria.

good practices.”

The report further stated that most reform efforts focused on reducing the complexity and cost of regulatory processes.

“Despite improvements, challenges persist: no single state ranks at the top in all the areas measured,” stated the report.

For the first time, the Doing Business in Nigeria series recorded reforms that make it easier to start a business: 13 states introduced reforms improving the internal processes of federal or state agencies, such as the Corporate Affairs Commission and state ministries of commerce.

Furthermore, the report posited that: “Less burdensome requirements and faster approvals of construction permits, like in Adamawa and Jigawa, would make Nigeria one of the best performers in this area, more efficient than the OECD average of 13 procedures and 147 days.

“Uneven implementation of federal legislation and differences in state fees drive the large variation in the cost to register property from 7.7% of the property value in Yobe to 26.4% in Edo,” it stated.

"The report results show the importance of close coordination between federal and state governments in implementing

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

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

Description

TTM

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

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

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

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

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

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

FX

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

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Offer 163.38

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

Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

NDIC to raise deposit cover for mortgage banks HOUSING DEFICIT The World Bank predicts that N59.5 trn would be required to bridge Nigeria’s housing deficit put at more than 16 million houses.

Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

T

he Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has said that given huge portfolios and risk exposures shouldered by the Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBS) operating in the country, it would soon review upward insurance coverage to the depositors of failed PMBs. Currently, the insurance coverage is N200, 000 but the Corporation failed to disclose the specific amount it intends to raise the cover to.

NDIC Managing Director/ CEO, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim gave the hint yesterday in Abuja at a sensitisation workshop for operators of PMBs. He added that the new insurance coverage will place PMBs ahead of insurance coverage guarantee to depositors of failed microfinance banks.

NDIC presently reimburses depositors of all PMBs up to a maximum limit of N200, 00 per depositor in the event of failure of such PMB, an amount 100 per cent over the earlier N100, 000 approved.

The NDIC boss said that given the risk exposure and quantum of premium paid by PMBs, the corporation was tinkering

T

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX

coise Marie-Nelly enjoined the Federal government to cash on the opportunity of states that have excelled by partnering with them so that their development strategies would be transmitted to others for even development.

with idea of increasing what it pays as insurance coverage in the event of bank failure.

The sensitization workshop, which had as theme: “Developing and implementing sustainable effective risk management in primary mortgage banks in Nigeria”, was a follow up to previous workshop that held in Lagos to sensitize players and operators of PMBs on essence of adopting risk management in their operations.

Umaru said the need to hold the workshop became imperative against the backdrop of reforms on-going in the finance and housing sector of which operators of PMBs were expected to play leading roles.

He noted: “Nigeria is faced with a myriad of challenges and foremost of them is inadequate habitable houses for Nigerians especially, of middle and lower incomes. Estimates from federal ministry of housing put the housing deficit at 17 million units with additional 2 million units added each year.

“The World Bank on the other hand, predicts that N59.5 trillion would be required to bridge this deficit put at more than 16 million houses. Currently, the Nigerian mortgage contribution to GDP is estimated at a paltry 1per cent compared to 29percent and 25percent recorded in South Africa and Malaysia respectively.

“The paucity of adequate housing has been linked to inadequate funding of infrastructure necessary housing like motor able roads, water supply and power as well as inconsistency in land policies. The infrastructural deficit raises the question of how speedily we can accommodate Nigeria’s growing populations”, he said.

CBN dollar intervention lifts naira

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80

more streamlined and efficient regulatory frameworks for all Nigerians", said Mierta Capaul, Lead Private Sector Development Specialist with the World Bank Group.

Responding, Country Director, World Bank, Marie-Fran-

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

he naira firmed 0.12 per cent to close at N163.70 against the dollar on yesterday, after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sold dollars directly to lenders on the interbank market to prop up the ailing currency, dealer said.

The local unit according to Reuters, eased to around N164.15 by midday trade, prompting the apex bank to intervene with an undisclosed amount of dollars sold directly on the interbank market, dealers said. The naira closed at N163.90 at the weekend.

The currency has been falling for the past three weeks, weakened by the impact of the

decline in global oil prices and low offshore inflows into Nigeria's debt and equity markets.

"We expect the central bank to continue to support ... and reduce pressure on the naira," one dealer told Reuters.

At a foreign exchange auction on yesterday, the banking watchdog hiked the amount of dollars it offered to sell to $500 million, up from $350 million it has offered in the past quarter.

Dealers attributed the increase in amount sold by the CBN at the twice-weekly auction on yesterday to the public holiday declared this Wednesday to mark Nigeria's Independence Day celebrations.

42 BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

29-Sep-14

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

Bonds

Price

FGN Bonds Issuer

Rating/Agency

NA

NA

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

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

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

4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

535.00 545.27 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 331.35 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 105.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,591.19

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,621.82

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM

Description

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

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

0.56 1.88 2.58 2.83 2.92 3.67 4.75 5.07 7.33 9.46 14.16 14.64 15.14 15.81 19.80

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

10.96 11.93 11.92 11.96 11.96 11.94 11.91 12.00 12.31 12.42 12.48 12.46 12.45 12.37 12.32

10.67 11.84 11.85 11.89 11.89 11.84 11.83 11.90 12.26 12.37 12.44 12.42 12.39 12.32 12.28

96.27 101.80 106.85 95.04 93.72 96.35 114.45 81.42 119.25 109.75 116.54 100.14 73.35 83.70 98.70

96.42 101.95 107.00 95.19 93.87 96.65 114.75 81.72 119.55 110.05 116.84 100.44 73.65 84.00 99.00

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

978.35 24.56 3.30 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.09 0.65 1.26 2.20 2.56 2.77

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.79 13.63 13.69 13.98 12.96 12.96

98.99 91.76 104.32 100.75 98.89 96.31

15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 30-Sep-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21

0.04 0.92 0.52 1.04 1.05 2.55 1.60 3.26 2.23 4.01 2.43 2.43 2.81 2.88 5.15 3.03 3.56 6.16 6.26 3.74 3.77

3.29 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78 1.00 1.00 1.00 2.74 1.00 1.00 1.94 1.44 1.95

13.92 15.59 14.17 15.69 14.71 17.55 12.71 13.74 13.78 12.94 12.97 16.75 12.96 12.96 13.01 14.69 12.95 13.23 14.19 13.38 13.89

99.96 97.42 99.21 98.81 101.33 84.95 101.82 100.61 100.44 103.23 103.33 94.91 103.49 106.06 105.41 100.16 104.87 101.08 103.23 103.26 103.23

1,301.62

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,286.91

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

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

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

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

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

6.00 8.50 6.08 6.27 7.37 57.00 29.92 25.00 37.25 9.00 14.96 11.13 27.00 17.28 80.00 27.51 11.40 87.00 5.00 4.78 4.79

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Corporate Bonds

483.24 483.82

A+/Agusto; AA/GCR

LAFARGE WAPCO

11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014

Aa/Agusto

GTB µ NGC

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014

Nil

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto

*UPDC

BB+/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

*FLOURMILLS

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto

NAHCO

BBB-/GCR BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR A/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR BBB/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

FSDH

A/GCR

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

*C & I LEASING *DANA#

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

*DANA NAHCO

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

07-Oct-11

11.50

11.80

07-Oct-14

0.02

1.00

11.55

99.98

18-Dec-09

13.50

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.22

5.21

16.45

99.25

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.25

8.71

20.05

99.06

17-Aug-10

10.00

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.64

4.88

15.88

96.91

09-Dec-10

12.00

13.62

09-Dec-15

0.71

1.00

12.04

100.55

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.60

06-Jan-16

0.79

2.63

13.71

100.90

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

2.00

1.00

12.98

100.03

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

2.07

1.34

13.32

101.61

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

3.00

1.00

12.95

100.11

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.73

30-Nov-17

1.82

1.88

13.74

108.01

09-Apr-11

16.00

7.20

09-Apr-18

1.78

3.48

15.31

101.19

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-18

2.19

5.20

17.18

101.55

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

09-Sep-18

2.19

5.06

17.04

101.71

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.98

1.35

13.29

102.13

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.70

18-Oct-18

2.05

2.29

14.27

102.80

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.38

6.11

18.08

98.27

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

3.26

2.16

14.11

104.75

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

6.13

2.76

14.98

101.01

11-Feb-18

3.37

1.00

12.95

92.66

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

141.62

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

142.84

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

IFC

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

12.00 11.12 Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

5.12

4.95

108.72

109.67

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.32

4.11

102.76

103.52

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.38

5.25

106.85

107.79

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,591.61

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

AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

6.89

6.89

105.75

105.75

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

4.26

4.26

105.04

105.04

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

6.57

6.57

101.72

101.72

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.63

8.08

94.66

96.30

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

5.91

5.61

100.31

101.39

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

8.68

8.68

105.75

105.75

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.07

6.07

100.70

100.70

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

8.88

8.62

99.51

100.46

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.44

7.44

103.01

103.01

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

AFREN PLC III

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

7.49

7.49

95.75

95.75

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC II

9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021

24-Jun-14

9.25

400.00

24-Jun-21

8.66

8.49

103.38

104.25

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

7.52

7.52

101.63

101.63

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

8.39

8.19

100.93

101.99

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,760.00 4,838.92

**Treasury Bills DTM 10 17 24 31 38 45 52 59 66

FIXINGS Maturity 9-Oct-14 16-Oct-14 23-Oct-14 30-Oct-14 6-Nov-14 13-Nov-14 20-Nov-14 27-Nov-14 4-Dec-14

Bid Discount (%) 10.60 10.50 10.55 10.45 10.40 10.30 10.40 10.80 10.25

Offer Discount (%) 10.35 10.25 10.30 10.20 10.15 10.05 10.15 10.55 10.00

Bid Yield (%) 10.63 10.55 10.62 10.54 10.51 10.43 10.56 10.99 10.44

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 10.6917 12.2857 13.0989 14.1347

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.33

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

O/N

10.54

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M 6M

163.70 164.09 164.35 164.95 166.15 167.25 170.97

163.80 164.32 164.65 165.54 167.22 168.85 174.36

Tenor Call 1M 3M

REPO

Rate (%) 10.25 11.51 12.16

NA ***LCRM

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

09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

112.22 116.70 66.49

09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

2.20 2.56 2.77

2.00 1.00 1.00

13.98 12.96 12.96

100.75 98.89 96.31

6.00 8.50 6.08 6.27 7.37 57.00 29.92 25.00 37.25 9.00 14.96 11.13 27.00 17.28 80.00 27.51 11.40 87.00 5.00 4.78 4.79

15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 30-Sep-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21

0.04 0.92 0.52 1.04 1.05 2.55 1.60 3.26 2.23 4.01 2.43 2.43 2.81 2.88 5.15 3.03 3.56 6.16 6.26 3.74 3.77

3.29 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78 1.00 1.00 1.00 2.74 1.00 1.00 1.94 1.44 1.95

13.92 15.59 14.17 15.69 14.71 17.55 12.71 13.74 13.78 12.94 12.97 16.75 12.96 12.96 13.01 14.69 12.95 13.23 14.19 13.38 13.89

99.96 97.42 99.21 98.81 101.33 84.95 101.82 100.61 100.44 103.23 103.33 94.91 103.49 106.06 105.41 100.16 104.87 101.08 103.23 103.26 103.23

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.22

5.21

16.45

99.25

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.25

8.71

20.05

99.06

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.64

4.88

13.62

09-Dec-15

0.71

1,301.62

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,286.91

Sub-National Bonds A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto A-/Agusto A+/Agusto Tuesday, September 30, A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto A-/GCR Sanctity of Truth

POSITIVE

NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO 2014 LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA

Nestle, Guinness drive NSE activities

Stories by Chris Ugwu

T

he bullish tendencies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) sustained TOTAL rallyOUTSTANDING yesterday,VALUE as barMARKET CAPITALISATION gainTOTAL hunters taking positions on Corporate equities dominated the Bonds trading activities.

A+/Agusto; AA/GCR LAFARGE WAPCO The NSE ASI and Aa/Agusto GTBmarket µ NGCby 0.69 Nil capitalisation increased Bbb-/Agusto *UPDC per cent, as market sentiment A-/Agusto *FLOURMILLS remained on the green zone.

BB+/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

*CHELLARAMS NAHCO

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

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

Transactions in the share prices of Nestle Nigeria Plc and Guinness Nigeria Plc led other gainers to lift market indicators.

The key benchmark indices maintained positive trajectory to close in the green, taking supports majorly from large capitalised stocks, which was particularly driven the two companies.

11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014 13.50 GUARANTY,TRUST 18-DEC-2014 Consequently at the close 17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 of transactions, market capi10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 talisation increased by 0.69 per 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 cent or14.00 N94 billion from N13.478 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

trillion traded last Friday to N13.572 trillion on Monday.

Also, the NSE All Share Index (ASI) appreciated by 285.66 basis points or 0.69 per cent to hit 41, 105.38 index points from 40,819.72 points recorded in the previous day.

Further review of the day’s trading showed that investors bought 274.02 million shares worth N4.7 billion in 4,567 07-Oct-11 11.50deals.

18-Dec-09 13.50day’s Further analysis of the 01-Apr-10 17.00 trading indicated that Nestle Ni10.00 geria Plc17-Aug-10 topped the day’s gainers’ table09-Dec-10 with N45.00 to12.00 close at 06-Jan-11 14.00

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

FSDH

A/GCR

BBB-/GCR

D

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

UBA

BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR

*C & I LEASING *DANA#

BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS 43

Nigerian stocks extend gaining streak

Oteh re-elected AMERC chair A-/Agusto

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

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

N1,100, while Guinness Nigeria Plc followed with N9.50 to close at N199.50 per share. Dangote Cement Plc trailed with a gain of N2.00 to close at N222.00 per share.

On the flip side, Mobil Nigeria led the losers with a drop of 483.24 to close at N172.04, while N3.96 483.82 Unilever Nigeria shed N2.30 to close at N46.90.

On the activity the 11.80 07-Oct-14 chart, 0.02

29-Sep-11

13.00

25-Oct-13

14.25

LASACO reports 329% pre-tax profit growth

30-Sep-10

13.00

30-Nov-12

18.00

09-Apr-11

16.00

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

15.88

96.91

1.00

12.04

100.55

0.60

06-Jan-16

0.79

2.63

13.71

100.90

15.00

29-Sep-16

2.00

1.00

12.98

100.03

5.53

25-Oct-16

2.07

1.34

13.32

101.61

20.00

30-Sep-17

3.00

1.00

12.95

100.11

L

30-Nov-17 ASACO Assurance Plc 1.82 has 7.20 09-Apr-18 1.78 posted 329 per cent increase 2.90 09-Sep-18 in profit before tax for 2.19 the 0.80 09-Sep-18 2.19 financial year ended Decem35.00 22-Sep-18 3.98 ber 31, 2013. 18-Oct-18 2.70 2.05 0.41 2.38 The group17-Feb-19 in a filing with 3.26 the4.50Nigerian 01-Apr-19 Stock Exchange 2.05 (NSE) posted a14-Nov-20 profit before6.13 tax of141.62 N413, 807 million, as against a 142.84 loss position of N180,090 million in 2012, indicating a growth of 329 per cent. 11-Feb-18 12.00 3.37 Net earnings grew by 208 12.00 per cent from a loss position of 11.12 N255,024 million in 2012 year end, to profitMaturity of N275,340 milOutstanding Value Date Bid Yield (%) ($mm) lion in 2013, while the gross premium written also increased to N4.965 billion or 12 per cent com500.00 28-Jan-21 5.12 pared with N4.437 billion in 2012.

500.00 12-Jul-18 The company had recently 4.32 adopted the use of Information 500.00 12-Jul-23 5.38 and Communication Technol1,500.00 ogy in marketing its services by making 1,591.61 its products available online.

The company, in a statement, 450.00 01-Feb-16 6.89 said that valued clients were 500.00to obtain 19-May-16 4.26 able and pay premi350.00for their products 25-Jul-17 6.57 ums online.

300.00 02-May-18 8.63 The Head of ICT, LASACO, 400.00 08-Nov-18 5.91 Mr. Deji Ogundele, said that 300.00 08-Apr-19 8.68 the company22-Apr-19 was committed 500.00 6.07 to200.00 ensuring that its customers 21-May-19 8.88 enjoyed seamless service with 300.00 07-Aug-20 7.44 the aid of ICT.09-Dec-20 360.00 7.49 400.00 24-Jun-21 He said, “The ICT operations 8.66 0.73

A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR 09-Sep-11 18.00 *TOWER at SECMPR+5.25 and Nigeria as a whole. critical to irector General, Securities the economy of every TOWER 9-SEP-2018 AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR 09-Sep-11 16.00 *TOWER# and CommisShe pledged to be a loud voice nation.

The capital market is 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 A/Agusto;Exchange A/GCR 22-Sep-11 14.00 UBA sion (SEC), Arunma Oteh representing the Region's really the answer as it does 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 interBbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR 18-Oct-13 15.75 not *LA CASERA CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 BB+/GCR 17-Feb-12financing17.00 hasBBB-/DataPro†; been re-elected as chair-# est andMPR+5.00 her commitment to en- only provide but cre*CHELLARAMS DANA BBB/GCR 01-Apr-14 16.00 the *DANA person of the African/Middle suring16.00 that theII 1-APR-2019 Region would do ates the environment where II 14-NOV-2020 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR 14-Nov-13 15.25 NAHCO East Regional Committee its best15.25 to NAHCO uphold the goals and right products are available.

We TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE come together to support each (AMERC) at the 39th annual ideals of the global body.

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION conference of the InternationShe said, "We believe that other in enforcement; share inal Organisation of Securities our work is very important to formation because we believe Supranational Bond Commissions (IOSCO) in Rio IOSCO10.20 and it is very impor- the world is global.

IFCthat 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P 11-Feb-13 10.20 IFC de Janeiro, Brazil. VALUE tant to the market. One of the "IOSCO succeeds because of TOTAL OUTSTANDING Oteh, to a state- things we have achieved in the co-operation between countries.

TOTAL according MARKET CAPITALISATION ment from SEC, was acclaimed last two years has been greater In AMERC, we can focus on the as Chairperson to head AMERC inclusion and cohesion. things that are most important Description This Rating/Agency Issuer Issue Date Coupon (%) for the next two years at the end has not come from the work of to us and it is heartwarming FGN Eurobonds of the AMERC meeting held the executive alone, but by the that we are making progress in during the ongoing IOSCO work of all of us.6.75 JAN 28, 2021 our respective countries" Oteh 07-Oct-11 6.75 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P meeting in Brazil “based on the I am excited about the op- added.

BB-/Fitch; FGN 5.13 JUL 2018 the 12-Jul-13 that her 5.13priorexperience that she brings as portunity given us to 12, lead She stated BB-/S&P wellBB-/Fitch; as quality leadership Nige- committee again for the next ity would be to build capacity 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 12-Jul-13 6.38 BB-/S&P ria has provided over the years.” two years and we will continue among AMERCmember counTOTAL VALUE is to By thisOUTSTANDING election, Oteh to ensure that our committee is tries and promote the integrity serve on the executive commit- the best in IOSCO". of the securities markets to TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION tee, the highest decision making Oteh disclosed that there is engender investor confidence, Corporate organ of theEurobonds global body for the an increasing focus on the capi- which are critical to the develFEB 01, 2016 AFREN PLC I tal market away 11.50 from banking opment 01-Feb-11 nextB/Fitch; twoB-/S&P years. Also re-elected of the AMERC11.50 capital MAY 19, 2016 7.50 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I finance, as banks7.50 are still deal- markets19-May-11 were Saudi Arabia and Egypt. and economies.

7.25 JUL 25, 2017 25-Jul-12 B+/S&P BANK PLC ing with the challenges In her acceptanceACCESS speech, of the Her words: “I will 7.25 do my MAY 09, 2018 B/Fitch; B/S&P crisis, adding best and09-May-13 Oteh, who assumed FIDELITY officeBANK inPLC global financial 6.88 will continue6.88 to rely 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 08-Nov-13 6.00 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC for the regu- on your 08-Apr-12 support to ensure that January 2010 as head of the that the challenge 10.25 APR 08, 2019 10.25 B/Fitch AFREN PLC II enabling AMERC22-Apr-14 continues to6.25grow SEC, the capital market apex lators is to raise6.25an APR 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC stronger21-May-14 and stronger. 8.75 We will environment that would regulatory body in DIAMOND Nigeria, 8.75 May 21, 2019 not B/Fitch; B/S&P BANK PLC increase risk for8.25 the embrace07-Aug-13 global best practice saidB-/Fitch; herB/S&P election asFIRST AMERC AUGinvestors 07, 2020 8.25 BANK PLC chair was a demonstration and operators. 6.63 DEC 09, 2020 to ensure that our markets are 09-Dec-13 6.63 B-/Fitch; B/S&P AFREN PLC of III USD LIBOR+7.677 24, 2021 world class 24-Jun-14 the B-/Fitch; confidence on her,ACCESS her team "Capital9.25/6M markets are JUN very B/S&P BANK PLC II markets”. 9.25 #

Banking sub-sector dominated in volume terms with 93.4 million shares worth N1.6 billion in 1,517 deals. The sub-sector was enhanced by the activities in the shares of Zenith Bank and GTB Plc. Other financial services sector boosted by the activities on the shares of FBNH Plc followed with 45.09 million units, worth N546.3 in 661 deals.

1.00 billion11.55 99.98

13.74 to ensure 108.01 our are1.88 on a 24/7 basis 3.48 15.31 customers get a great 101.19 service.

101.55 Our5.20 products17.18 are sold through 5.06 17.04 101.71 e-payment systems; the 102.13 world is 1.35 13.29 actually going digital and more 2.29 14.27 102.80 6.11 18.08 transactions are done98.27 online 2.16 14.11 104.75 real-time.

2.76 14.98 “We have put in place101.01 a number of platforms to effectively reach out to our numerous clients by embarking on digital marketing and it 1.00 12.95also making 92.66 more accessible through the various social media market platforms. Once the desired product is purchased, several Offer Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price alternative channels are availablePrices to make payments easier.” & Yields Ogundele said payments 4.95 108.72 109.67 could be made through bank branches nationwide, Quick4.11 102.76 103.52 teller, POS, and the company’s 106.85 5.25 107.79 e-commerce portal.

He added that these alternative channels of payment were built on a world-class web-based integrated solution, which com6.89 the core 105.75 105.75busibined insurance 4.26 with powerful 105.04 105.04 nesses adminis6.57 and marketing 101.72 101.72 trative tools.

8.08 94.66 He described the 96.30 use of 5.61 100.31 101.39 these alternative channels as a 8.68 105.75 105.75 great boost to the Federal Gov6.07 100.70 100.70 ernment’s initiative aimed at 8.62 99.51 100.46 promoting cashless economy , 7.44 103.01 103.01 which 7.49 is the best 95.75 global practice 95.75 of driving the economy104.25 .

8.49 103.38

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

7.52

7.52

101.63

101.63

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

8.39

8.19

100.93

101.99

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,760.00 4,838.92

29-Sep-14

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

FIXINGS Money Market FMDQ OTC PLC Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) DTM Maturity Bid Discount (%) 10 9-Oct-14 10.60 17 16-Oct-14 10.50 FGN Bonds 24 23-Oct-14 10.55 31 30-Oct-14 10.45 38 6-Nov-14 10.40 Issuer Description Rating/Agency 45 13-Nov-14 10.30 52 20-Nov-14 10.40 4.00 23-APR-2015 59 27-Nov-14 10.80 13.05 16-AUG-2016 66 4-Dec-14 10.25 15.10 27-APR-2017 73 11-Dec-14 10.90 9.85 27-JUL-2017 87 25-Dec-14 10.70 94 1-Jan-15 10.90 9.35 31-AUG-2017 101 8-Jan-15 10.60 10.70 30-MAY-2018 108 15-Jan-15 10.85 16.00 29-JUN-2019 22-Jan-15 10.45 NA115 NA 7.00 23-OCT-2019 122 29-Jan-15 10.90 16.39 27-JAN-2022 129 5-Feb-15 10.40 14.20 14-MAR-2024 136 12-Feb-15 10.85 15.00 28-NOV-2028 143 19-Feb-15 10.40 12.49 22-MAY-2029 150 26-Feb-15 10.95 8.50 20-NOV-2029 157 5-Mar-15 10.45 192 9-Apr-15 10.30 10.00 23-JUL-2030 206 23-Apr-15 10.40 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 220 7-May-15 10.30 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 311 6-Aug-15 10.40 339 3-Sep-15 10.30 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION *from the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration

Offer Discount (%) 10.35 10.25 10.30 10.20 10.15 Issue Date 10.05 10.15 23-Apr-10 10.55 16-Aug-13 10.00 27-Apr-12 10.65 27-Jul-07 10.45 10.65 31-Aug-07 10.35 30-May-08 10.60 29-Jun-12 10.20 23-Oct-09 10.65 27-Jan-12 10.15 14-Mar-14 10.60 28-Nov-08 10.15 22-May-09 10.70 20-Nov-09 10.20 10.05 23-Jul-10 10.15 18-Jul-14 10.05 10.15 10.05

Bid Yield (%) 10.63 10.55 10.62 10.54 10.51(%) Coupon 10.43 10.56 4.00 10.99 13.05 10.44 15.10 11.14 9.85 10.98 11.21 9.35 10.92 10.70 11.21 16.00 10.81 7.00 11.31 16.39 10.80 14.20 11.31 15.00 10.84 12.49 11.47 8.50 10.94 10.89 10.00 11.05 12.1493 10.98 11.41 11.39

NIBOR

Bonds

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

Rate (%) 10.6917 12.2857 13.0989 Maturity Date 14.1347

535.00 23-Apr-15 545.27 16-Aug-16 NITTY 452.80 27-Apr-17 20.00 27-Jul-17 Tenor Rate (%) 1M 10.5284 100.00 31-Aug-17 2M 10.9259 300.00 30-May-18 3M 11.0002 351.30 29-Jun-19 6M 11.0019 233.90 23-Oct-19 9M 11.1878 600.00 27-Jan-22 12M 11.5053 331.35 14-Mar-24 75.00 28-Nov-28 150.00 22-May-29 NIFEX 200.00 20-Nov-29 Current Price ($/N) 591.57 23-Jul-30 BID($/N)105.00 164.0000 18-Jul-34 OFFER ($/N)

4,591.19

164.1000

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.33

O/N

10.54

TTM (Yrs)REPO Bid Yield (%) Tenor Call 0.56 1M 1.88 3M 2.58 6M

Rate (%) 10.25 10.96 11.51 11.93 12.16 11.92 12.71

Rating/Agency

Agency Bonds

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 Total Outstanding Porfolio Market Modified Duration Buckets Volume(Bn) ***LCRM 0.00/16.50Value(Bn) LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 <3 1,038.90 998.07 AMCON

NA

FMBN

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3<5

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION >5

Market

Sub-National Bonds A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto A-/Agusto A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

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

1,117.56 858.80 3,015.27 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

951.30 922.92 2,872.29

2.83 11.96 11.89 2.92 11.96 11.89 3.67 11.94 11.84 :Benchmarks 4.75 11.91 11.83 * :Amortising 5.07 Bond 12.00 11.90 µ :Convertible Bond 7.33 12.31 12.26 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 9.46Government of Nigeria 12.42 12.37 FGN: Federal 14.16 Mortgage Bank12.48 12.44 FMBN: Federal of Nigeria 14.64 Finance Corporation 12.46 12.42 IFC: International 15.14Contractors Receivables 12.45 12.39 LCRM: Local Management NAHCO: Nigerian 15.81 Aviation Handling 12.37 Company 12.32 O/N: Overnight 19.80 12.32 12.28 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company

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

Bid ($/N) 163.70 164.09 164.35 Bid Price 164.95 166.15 96.27 167.25 101.80 170.97 106.85 178.38

Offer ($/N)

Price 163.80 164.32

164.65Price Offer 165.54 167.22 96.42 168.85 101.95 174.36 107.00 186.31

95.04 95.19 93.72 93.87 96.35 96.65 NA :Not114.45 Applicable 114.75 # :Floating Rate Bond 81.42 81.72 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 119.25 119.55 109.75 110.05 †: Bond rating expired 116.54 116.84 100.14 100.44 73.35 73.65 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 83.70 84.00 UBA: United Bank for Africa 98.70 99.00

4,621.82 Coupon (%)

28-Dec-11 FMDQ FGN 0.00BOND 24-May-10 0.00 03-Apr-12 17.25 Weighting Weighting

by Mkt 09-Dec-11by 0.00/16.00 Outstanding Value 20-Apr-12 Vol 0.00/16.50 06-Jul-12 0.00/16.50 34.75 34.45

33.12 32.13 100.00

Spot 7D Offer 14DYield 1M (%) 2M 10.67 3M 11.84 6M 11.85 1Y

NOTE:

#

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

Tenor

37.06 28.48 100.00 14.00 12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

INDEX978.35

24.56 3.30 Bucket112.22 Weighting 116.70 66.49 0.35

1,301.620.33

1,286.910.32 1.00 6.00 8.50 6.08 6.27 7.37 57.00 29.92 25.00 37.25 9.00 14.96

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 % Exposure_ 09-Dec-16 Mod_Duration 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17 15.70

0.09 0.65 1.26 2.20 Implied Yield 2.56 2.77 11.93

33.34 50.96 100.00

12.20 12.38 12.25

15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18

0.04 0.92 0.52 1.04 1.05 2.55 1.60 3.26 2.23 4.01 2.43

# Risk Premium (%)

1.00 2.63 2.27 Implied 2.00 Portfolio Price 1.00 1.00 118.7240

134.4634 103.6388 119.0897 3.29 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

11.79 13.63 13.69 13.98 INDEX 12.96 12.96 1,127.64

98.99 91.76 104.32 YTD 100.75 Return (%) 98.89 96.31 12.7636

1,138.58 1,209.03 1,131.23

13.8585 20.9030 13.1225

13.92 15.59 14.17 15.69 14.71 17.55 12.71 13.74 13.78 12.94 12.97

99.96 97.42 99.21 98.81 101.33 84.95 101.82 100.61 100.44 103.23 103.33

Daily Summary as of 29/09/2014

Printed 29/09/2014 15:03:54.054

44 BUSINESS | CAPITAL MARKET

Daily Summary as of 29/09/2014 Printed 29/09/2014 15:03:54.054

Daily Summary (Bonds)

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

No Debt Trading Activity

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at September 29, 2014 Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

AGRICULTURE Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Fishing/Hunting/Trapping ELLAH LAKES PLC. Fishing/Hunting/Trapping Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals Daily Summary as of 29/09/2014 Printed AGRICULTURE 29/09/2014 15:03:54.054 Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U ASummary C N PLC. on Board EQTY Activity

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 17 11 7 35

Current Price 0.50 34.00 37.50

Quantity Traded 1,305,100 47,115 54,900 1,407,115

Value Traded 657,335.00 1,556,961.45 2,029,921.48 4,244,217.93

Symbol ELLAHLAKES

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 4.26

Quantity Traded 50 50

Value Traded 202.50 202.50

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 19 19

Current Price 2.85

Quantity Traded 348,117 348,117

Value Traded 1,000,879.78 1,000,879.78

1,755,282

5,245,300.21

55 Symbol

CONGLOMERATES Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Diversified Industries Diversified Industries Totals

Symbol

Current Price 1.54 5.76 57.49

Quantity Traded 153,010 33,650,339 272,853

Value Traded 235,175.20 192,337,140.62 15,847,205.56

No. of Deals 283

Current Price

Page Quantity Traded 34,076,202

1 of 13 Value Traded 208,419,521.38

CONGLOMERATES Totals

283

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

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 0.95

34,076,202

208,419,521.38

Quantity Traded 755,100 755,100

Value Traded 717,349.00 717,349.00

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

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 8 8

Current Price 67.20

Quantity Traded 3,484 3,484

Value Traded 222,547.04 222,547.04

Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 22 22

Current Price 14.53

Quantity Traded 242,700 242,700

Value Traded 3,554,741.21 3,554,741.21

Symbol UPDCREIT

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 8.68

Quantity Traded 105,000 105,000

Value Traded 911,400.00 911,400.00

1,106,284

5,406,037.25

Quantity Traded 366,039

Value Traded 3,597,501.48

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Daily Summary as of 29/09/2014 UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Printed 29/09/2014 15:03:54.054 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION PLC. EQTY Activity SummaryBREW. on Board

43

CONSUMER GOODS Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Beverages--Brewers/Distillers GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. PREMIER BREWERIES PLC Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC Daily Summary as of 29/09/2014 NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC Printed 29/09/2014 15:03:54.054 N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Activity on Board EQTY FoodSummary Products--Diversified Totals

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

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking WEMA BANK PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © PLC ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK

Quantity Traded 111,730 111,730

Value Traded 18,051,535.50 18,051,535.50

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM

No. of Deals 42 41 65 23 35 1 207

Current Price 6.55 8.30 61.98 4.00 9.00 21.99

Quantity Traded 82,882 848,903 540,812 259,299 1,032,311 100 2,764,307

Value Traded 541,497.23 7,036,255.17 33,149,700.59 1,036,783.26 9,285,382.61 2,090.00 51,051,708.86

FINANCIAL SERVICES Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 24 107 131

Current Price 52.50 1,100.00

Quantity Traded 112,032 190,952 302,984

Value Traded 5,823,516.90 205,076,720.95 210,900,237.85

Symbol VITAFOAM

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 4.29

Quantity Traded Page 39,055 39,055

3Value Traded of 13 161,316.30 161,316.30

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 51 59 110

Current Price 32.99 46.90

Quantity Traded 635,485 632,276 1,267,761

Value Traded 20,590,007.75 29,811,928.24 50,401,935.99

11,011,357

1,423,702,930.51

Quantity Traded 14,995,509 1,572,310 3,568,529 1,950,424 24,905,708 11,165,743 1,999,706 4,609,311 402,330 152,700

Value Traded 133,890,976.26 9,719,284.60 64,303,838.42 3,868,385.36 741,449,560.79 29,798,713.33 4,396,203.90 31,184,050.57 3,627,140.06 76,350.00

93,445,563

Quantity Traded 3,295,029 700,000 2,000 1,544,809 100 2,103,750 621,000 1,806,994 10,000 6,537,403 16,621,085

Value Traded 2,636,676.28 666,049.40 1,020.00 782,922.66 50.00 6,249,925.00 335,340.00 1,445,208.00 5,000.00 4,734,290.33 16,856,481.67

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 13 13

Current Price 0.94

Quantity Traded 2,820,000 2,820,000

Value Traded 2,709,600.00 2,709,600.00

Symbol No. of Deals Daily Summary (Equities) RESORTSAL 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,200,000 1,200,000

Value Traded 600,000.00 600,000.00

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

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH PHARMDEKO

No. of Deals 11 2 15 25 9 1 63 63

Current Price 2.10 3.40 64.00 1.87 1.05 2.49

4

5 of 13 Value Traded 1,484,303.36 1,333,495.10 515,579,975.04 17,197,951.19 114,173.85 5,116,395.98 5,483,768.67 546,310,063.19

159,182,401

2,250,754,920.25

Quantity Traded 108,534 60,000 239,286 1,020,159 253,540 50 1,681,569

Value Traded 206,314.60 204,000.00 15,306,111.91 1,922,380.79 265,861.60 124.50 17,904,793.40

1,681,569

17,904,793.40

Page

6

of

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,000,000 1,000,000

Value Traded 500,000.00 500,000.00

1,246,957

630,093.41

Quantity Traded 427,985 27,942 119,449 476,558 2,284,628 1,435 2,000 20,000 91,061 121,151

Value Traded 13,697,459.56 236,792.86 4,598,753.03 6,913,056.71 500,159,566.12 1,650.25 1,000.00 30,400.00 499,760.50 15,483,650.70

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC Daily Summary of 29/09/2014 BERGERas PAINTS PLC CAP PLC 15:03:54.054 Printed 29/09/2014 CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC Daily Summary as of 29/09/2014 LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY Printed 29/09/2014 15:03:54.054

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals Integrated Oil and Gas Services

Daily Summary as of 29/09/2014 OANDO PLC Printed 29/09/2014 15:03:54.054 Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

16 Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER FIRSTALUM Daily PAINTCOM PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals Current Price 32 32.00 5 8.60 18 39.00 27 14.70 63 222.00 1 1.10 2 0.50 Summary (Equities) 2 1.60 3 5.50 41 128.65

Symbol Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol

7

of

Current Price

Quantity Traded 3,572,209

No. of Deals

Current Price

Quantity Traded

Symbol CUTIX NIWICABLE

No. of Deals 13 1 14

Current Price 1.77 0.50

Quantity Traded 311,286 1,500 312,786

Value Traded 557,260.66 750.00 558,010.66

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 18.85

Quantity Traded 730 730

Value Traded 13,659.60 13,659.60

3,885,725

542,193,759.99

210 Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 507,569 507,569

Value Traded 253,784.50 253,784.50

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 287 287

Current Price 25.06

Quantity Traded 6,482,742 6,482,742

Value Traded 162,379,264.88 162,379,264.88

No. of Deals 21 44 (Equities) 69 33 3

Current Price 47.01 3.61 224.00 172.04 56.00

Quantity Traded 28,439 761,577 118,017 48,876 3,500

Value Traded 1,336,359.07 2,776,475.91 26,241,628.58 8,414,676.06 186,200.00 Page

No. of Deals 22 192

Current Price 180.00

Page Quantity Traded 31,985 992,394

9

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA Daily Summary FO MOBIL MRS

Symbol TOTAL

507

of 13 Value Traded 5,731,233.21 44,686,572.83

7,982,705

207,319,622.21

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 16 16

Current Price 0.93

Quantity Traded 274,575 274,575

Value Traded 255,414.75 255,414.75

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 2 3 5

Current Price 4.59 1.35

Quantity Traded 7,000 8,190 15,190

Value Traded 31,770.00 10,599.90 42,369.90

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 308,000 308,000

Value Traded 154,000.00 154,000.00

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 126 126

Current Price 1.52

Quantity Traded 46,481,766 46,481,766

Value Traded 65,293,436.84 65,293,436.84

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals Current Price

Quantity Traded 25 299,970

Value Traded 34.75 416,942.94

No. of Deals 2 15

Current Price 4.13

Quantity Traded 1,600 301,595

Value Traded 6,003.00 422,980.69

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 15 15

Current Price 0.65

Quantity Traded 2,601,000 2,601,000

Value Traded 1,706,997.43 1,706,997.43

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 1 26 27

Current Price 2.01 5.03

Quantity Traded 2,200 887,579 889,779

Value Traded 4,642.00 4,480,428.77 4,485,070.77

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 18 18

Current Price 5.00

Quantity Traded 1,169,706 1,169,706

Value Traded 5,742,227.00 5,742,227.00

227

52,041,611

78,102,497.38

4,565

273,970,093

4,739,679,475.99

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Value Traded 1,410.00 1,410.00

Support and Logistics Totals

SERVICES Totals

ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA

Page

Daily Summary (Equities)

EQTY Board Totals

Activity Summary on Board ASeM CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC Food Products Totals

Symbol MCNICHOLS

No. of Deals 1 1

CONSUMER GOODS Totals

Published byAND The Nigerian Stock Exchange © OIL GAS

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors ANINO INTERNATIONAL PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Current Price 1.48

1

1,000

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.22

of

13

1,410.00

Page Symbol ANINO

10

Quantity Traded 50,000 50,000

11

of

13

Value Traded 11,000.00 11,000.00

OIL AND GAS Totals

1

50,000

11,000.00

ASeM Board Totals

2

51,000

12,410.00

Equity Activity Totals

4,567

274,021,093

4,739,691,885.99

Daily Summary (ETP) Name Daily Summary as of 29/09/2014 NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) Printed 29/09/2014 15:03:54.054 VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Symbol NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 2 3

Daily Summary (ETP)

ETF Board Totals

3

ETP Activity Totals

3

Current Price 1,934.00 18.76

Quantity Traded 11 10 21

Page

21 21

Value Traded 21,274.00 187.50 21,461.50

12

of

21,461.50 21,461.50

Value Traded 541,622,089.73 Value Traded

No. of Deals 28 28

Symbol UPL

Support and Logistics Daily Summary as of 29/09/2014 CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Printed 29/09/2014 15:03:54.054

13

Symbol JAPAULOIL

1.40 1.35

Exchange Traded Fund

13

Page

No. of Deals 194

3 10

Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © SERVICES Printing/Publishing UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Current Price 0.80 0.95 0.50 0.53 0.50 3.00 0.54 0.80 0.50 0.72

2,343

No. of Deals 7 7

Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA Activity Summary onPLC Board EQTY

No. of Deals 20 5 1 19 1 26 5 23 1 49 150

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

Symbol CHAMS

IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE CORNERST INTENEGINS LASACO MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM PRESTIGE WAPIC

Current Price 3.16 4.30 13.70 4.30 0.57 32.00 2.05

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals Daily Summary as of 29/09/2014 Printed 29/09/2014 15:03:54.054 Hotels/Lodging

Value Traded 603,506.09 of 13 661,360,766.01 1,684,278,775.39

No. of Deals 31 12 464 46 8 23 77 661

Value Traded 354.00 354.00

OIL AND GAS Totals

Quantity Traded 675,285 Page 27,448,008

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

Quantity Traded 200 200

OIL AND GAS Published by The Nigerian Exchange © Petroleum andStock Petroleum Products Distributors TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Current Price 0.88 24.40

Page Quantity Traded 470,238 309,814 37,261,117 4,040,821 200,305 158,459 2,654,999 45,095,753

Current Price 1.86

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

No. of Deals 22 342 1,517

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

No. of Deals 1 1

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. Activity Summary on Board MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. EQTY

Symbol WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

Banking Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

2 of 13 Value Traded 10,278.24 245,717,365.78 1,056,430.32 842,314,356.19 440,264.00 1,093,136,196.01

Current Price 147.73

Current Price 8.94 6.19 17.90 1.96 29.73 2.69 2.20 6.66 9.00 0.50

Symbol TRIPPLEG

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

No. of Deals 33 33

No. of Deals 148 54 104 54 444 109 35 (Equities) 159 44 2

IT Services TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. IT Services Totals

Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals

Symbol 7UP

Symbol ACCESS DIAMONDBNK ETI FIDELITYBK GUARANTY SKYEBANK STERLNBANK UBASummary Daily UBN UNITYBNK

Value Traded 129,739.41 129,739.41

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

Current Price 0.80 199.50 30.01 177.26 4.40

818

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Daily Summary as of 29/09/2014 FIDELITY BANK PLC Printed 29/09/2014 15:03:54.054 GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC

Page Quantity Traded 12,236 1,249,589 36,752 4,760,844 100,060 6,525,520

Quantity Traded 246,757 246,757

Electronic and Products Activity Summary onElectrical Board EQTY

No. of Deals 1 129 7 167 5 327

CONSUMER GOODS Totals

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Current Price 10.18

Current Price 0.53

Building Materials Building Materials Totals

Symbol GOLDBREW GUINNESS INTBREW NB PREMBREW

Daily Summary (Equities)

CONSUMER GOODS Household Durables Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Household Durables Totals

Daily Summary as of 29/09/2014 Micro-Finance Banks Printed 29/09/2014 15:03:54.054 NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals

No. of Deals 18

No. of Deals 8 8

GOODS Published byINDUSTRIAL The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol CHAMPION

Symbol COURTVILLE

ICT Totals

No. of Deals 9 221 53

Daily Summary (Equities) AGLEVENT TRANSCORP UACN

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

13

8

of

13

FEATURES

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2014

45

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/entrepreneur

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES EDITOR

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

A section of the road at Agbado junction

Ijoko-Alagbole: Counting social, economic cost of road construction Infrastructural development is desirable, but the beneficiaries of Ijoko-Alagbole Road, which is under construction in Ogun State, are groaning because of the economic impact of the slow pace of work, writes ELIJAH SAMUEL

F

or many decades, communities on the fringes of Lagos and Ogun states, such as Alagbado, Ijoko, Ope-Ilu, Alagbole, Akute, OkeAro, Adiyan, Orudu, Ijeja, Muta, etc, have clamoured for government attention.

They have always looked up to the government for the provision of social amenities.

Hope, it seems, appeared on the horizon when the administration of Governor Ibikunle Amosun embarked on the reconstruction and expansion into a dual carriageway of the SangoOta-Ijoko-Alagbole-Akute Road.

The residents, the majority of who work in Lagos State, heaved a sigh of relief when the contractor moved to site.

Some of the communities now enjoy electricity, but the people believe that the road, on completion, would usher in social and economic development much faster.

Although work is going on in ear-

nest on the road, the slow pace of work, particularly the state of the alternative earth roads provided by the contractor, has brought hardship on the people who ply the roads day and night.

For instance, the stretch between Yidi and Adiyan Junction covering Agbado Junction on the Ope Ilu-OkeAro axis of the road has brought sorrow, rather than joy, to both motorists and commuters.

Commuting between the two points, especially whenever it rains has become nightmarish. Many vehicles, including heavy-duty vehicles, on a daily basis, are either damaged or get stuck on the muddy portions of the road.

Some of the tributaries, such as the Agbado Crossing-Toyin on Olusegun Osoba Road and Giwa Junction-Toyin on Ishaga Road do not fare better.

Many of the residents are bemoaning the untold hardship which the ongoing road construction project has

unleashed on their socio-economic life, owing to the deplorable condition of the access road at Alagbado.

Rashidat Adekola, a trader and former tenant in one of the houses which were demolished for the project, bemoaned her loss.

Adekola appealed to the government to ensure the early completion of the road.

She said: “Although we have relocated and rented an apartment not too far from here, I still have to come here and trade. I had my shop in one of the houses that were pulled down here before this construction started.

“It has affected my family negatively. Besides, the access road provided for the residents of communities in this area is in a very bad shape. This has made people to find alternative routes. This has greatly affected sales as we are only struggling to earn a living.

“But as much as we are willing to endure this hardship, we want Gover-

nor Amosun to make an arrangement that this access road be made motorable so that people can move freely.”

With a tone of resignation to fate, another resident, Gbenga Seun, who is an electronics marketer, said there was nothing the people could do because it had to do with development.

He said: “Although businesses have been adversely affected as a result of the ongoing construction.

“The only thing is that the governor should monitor the construction company so that the pace of work can be fast.”

However, a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alex Oyedele, felt Amosun should be commended for embarking on an unprecedented development of the state.

But despite the feat, he called for palliative measures.

He said: “Amosun has done what C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4 6

46 FEATURES

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Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Motorists, commuters and the burden of development C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 5

his predecessor could not do in eight years.

“Our transport business has badly been affected because of the present state of this road. This is because people have devised to go through other routes instead of coming to this area to board buses.

“Consequently, we have been affected. We now have to wait much longer before passengers would fill our buses. Besides, we spend a lot of money on the maintenance of our buses as a result of damage caused by bad roads.

This has also made some of our members to abandon the Alagbado area.”

To a driver, who plies the Alagbado-Berger route, the people are impressed with the kind of developmental projects embarked on by Amosun.

“But it is important that while the construction lasts, the governor should instruct the construction company to fill those holes on the access road so that the suffering by the residents and traders can be ameliorated.

“May God protect and grant the governor the will to finish all the projects he is doing,” said the man who gave his name simply as Zakkarriyau.

But Chris Emeka, a businessman, who said he had been residing in the area since 2001, lamented the difficult situation he finds himself after the demolition that heralded the road construction.

He said: “I have been able to overcome the shock and the loss which the construction of this road unleashed on me and my business.

“I was very well established in the electrical business before the demolition that heralded the road construction. It is going to be difficult to get to the level where I was before the demolition of the house where I had my company. That place was three times larger than this present place that I just got.

“It took most of us by surprise because the information was that the road construction, which started at Ijoko-Ota, will move gradually and in phases. So, we relaxed that before the work got to Alagbado we would have moved our businesses from those houses that were marked for demolition.

“When the demolition began I was not prepared, so I had to salvage as much goods as I could but in the process, many of those goods were lost while some were damaged.

“But the problem we are facing now is the rain and the construction company handling the road project.

Look at the state of the space they made as access road: it is filled with potholes everywhere. This situation has been made more terribly worse by the rain. I want to say that this is where the Julius Berger construction company makes great difference; it makes alternative routes which are well-graded for the comfort of commuters anywhere it is handling con-

Adekola

Oyedele

Oyelade

Zakkariyau

Emeka

Ganiyu

those in positions of authority to alway factor the comfort of the masses in whatever they do.

He said: “Although we understand that the ongoing road construction is for the wellbeing of the masses of communities in this area.

“The construction company has a few times tried to fill some potholes, but it is good that they grade it very well so that there can be free movement around the communities here.”

Oluwole also spoke on how the situation has affected his income.

He said: “Before the commencement of the road construction, we used to make a lot of money. But it is difficult now because many commuters now avoid this area because of the difficulty encountered in order to pass through here. They take alternative routes.

“But we appeal to the government to talk to the construction company to increase the pace of work, and also to help us grade the access road for easy movement.”

Jamiu Lawal, a tricycle rider who plies the Agbado-Oke-Aro route, disclosed that many of his colleagues had abandoned the area because of the hardship the construction had brought.

He said: “Those of us left are only enduring the hardship of doing business here because we don’t have anywhere to go. We have to fend for our families.

“We truly commend the government for this laudable project, but let them alleviate our suffering by

making the access road passable.”

Another tricycle rider, Aderemi Oyelade, corroborated Oluwole’s views.

He said: “The road project is laudable but the construction company does not care for the welfare of the people. How could they have embarked on a construction like this without a thought for the people who reside here? It is really a torment for us because we incur losses; we spend a lot of money to repair our damaged tricycles.”

Lukmon Ganiyu, also a tricycle rider, said that it had badly affected businesses generally in the area.

He said: “I was living at AbuleEgba before relocating to this place in December last year. It wasn’t like this when I came, but it is so tough now because of the bad road which had driven customers away from here.”

Like others, Olabode Daramola, a commercial driver who plies Agbado-Ogba route, said it had become pretty difficult earning a living since the construction started.

He said: “It is a good thing that the government is constructing this road, no doubt it will enhance further development. But this has greatly affected our business. Hardly can anyone make two trips from Alagbado to Ogba. It is tough now because people have diverted their movement through other routes in order to avoid the stress of the road construction.

“Dspite this, the union has not reduced the dues which we pay daily.”

Those of us left are only enduring the hardship of doing business here because we don’t have anywhere to go. We have to fend for our families struction.”

Emeka also said that the present state of development had impacted negatively on sales.

He said: “Business is really dull.

Who will come to transact business here? Even if they want to come, where is the road that will take them here? If they come once and go through the kind of suffering residents endure here, they won’t come again.

“Besides, electrical power supply to this area has been terminated because of the road construction.

Although they have reinstalled the electrical poles that were removed in order to give way to the new road, power is yet to be restored. We are appealing to government to speak to the power authority so that power can be restored.”

Another resident, Olubode Oluwole, who owns a motorcycle which he uses for commercial purposes on the Agbado-Ishaga route, urged

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Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Stop labelling us vandals, Ijaw group tells Shell Gabriel Choba UGHELLI

he Ijaw chapter of Oil Tnities and Gas Host Commuof Nigeria (HOST-

L-R: Chairman, Bayelsa State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sam Inokoba; Governor Seriake Dickson and Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Konbowei Benson, during the governor’s visit to the PDP secretariat in Yenagoa…at the weekend

Groups insist on Igbo presidency in 2015 Uwakwe Abugu ENUGU

C

ontrary to the stand of the pan-Igbo apex group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo that it would not push for Igbo presidency in next year’s general elections the World Igbo Congress (WIC) and the United Progressives Party (UPP) have insisted that Ndigbo would use all political platforms available to field presidential candidates of Igbo extraction during the elections.

In a communiqué issued after its meeting in the United Kingdom and made available to newsmen in Enugu, WIC said: “We call on each political party in Nigeria to give serious consideration to nominating an Igbo as its presidential candidate for the 2015 presidential election to address decades of deliberate and systematic punitive exclusion of Ndigbo in presidential politics.”

The World Igbo Congress, an international body of the Igbo in Diaspora and UPP founded

by Chief Chekwas Okorie, founder and former chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), had on separate occasions, charged politicians and political parties to promote the aspirations of candidates of Igbo extraction, who would be expressing their interest in next year’s presidential election.

Their positions, made known yesterday in Enugu, counter the recent declaration by the Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey-led Ohanaeze Ndigbo that the people of the South-East zone would not present candidates for the top job.

Making the stand of WIC and the UPP known in Enugu, when leaders of the party welcomed him from a tour of the various branches of WIC in the United Kingdom and the United States

of America, Okorie told the crowd how President Goodluck Jonathan’s allies led by Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, had stormed the last session of the WIC in the UK to promote “South-East Jonathan” agenda.

Okorie informed the UPP faithful that based on the mandate given to him by the party, he countered the delegation of the prominent Igbo leaders he classified as the president’s men, including a minister and the president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo as well as the former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, among others and was able to sway the opinion of the leaders and members of the WIC on the desirability of Igbo presidency come 2015.

Yet, in its communiqué, WIC further said: “We will consider for support and endorsement, parties that give serious consideration to

and support for an Igbo nominee for president.”

However, the WIC position appeared to have gone ambivalent, when it also stated in that document that “consistent with the spirit of the 2010 Mississippi Accord between the World Igbo Congress and the Ijaw National Congress, we call for collective support for a president of our shared heritage.”

President Goodluck Jonathan, believed to be nursing a second term ambition come 2015, is an Ijaw man and WIC’s talk of “a president of our shared heritage,” could also mean the one of an Ijaw extraction.

At the UPP reception for Okorie in Enugu, scores of party faithful from the South-South and South-East zones of the country, making up the old Eastern Region graced the occasion and vowed to make the party truly formidable.

NAHCON sensitises states on Saudi pollution control measures Kunle Olayeni

MECCA, S/ARABIA

he National Hajj ComT(NAHCON) mission of Nigeria yesterday in

Mecca, Saudi Arabia, met with state pilgrims’ boards and agencies to discuss measures put in place by Saudi authorities on the control of solid wastes.

The meeting, held at Al Misfalah Clinic in the city of Mecca, strategised towards preventing an outbreak of infectious diseases, especially at the camp of Nigerian pilgrims during the holy pilgrimage.

Leader of NAHCON’s medical team, Dr. AbdulQuadri Bello, who spoke with New Telegraph in Mecca, shortly before the meeting, said it was also aimed at checking environmental pollution.

The meeting came ahead of Arafat Day, the peak of the annual Is-

lamic holy pilgrimage on Friday, October 3, where more than two million pilgrims would stand in prayer on the hillside and plains of Arafat in supplication and devotion to God. Bello said the meeting with pilgrims’ boards from Nigeria became imperative to ‘step down’ the health guidelines by the Saudi government for Hajj pilgrims.

He said the authorities had provided sophisticated waste disposal machines at Mina, 12 kilometres outside Mecca, where pilgrims will assemble on Thursday at the start of the pilgrimage in preparation for their journey to Arafat the next day.

He said: “There is a committee for waste management within the pilgrim areas in Mecca and Mina. The Saudi authorities, this year,

have prepared very good machines that would be compressing all the solid wastes raised by pilgrims during their stay, particularly in the Mina area, where we used to see heaps of solid waste being generated by pilgrims during the three,

four days that they would stay there.

“Now, the Saudi health authorities have invited the Nigerian medical team for orientation and training on how to manage these machines. So, they want us to step it down to all the states.”

COM) in Delta State, yesterday called on the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to stop labeling host communities as vandals, but should hold their personnel responsible for any heinous act committed in their areas of operation.

The Ijaw HOSTCOM in a statement signed by Comrade Kingsley Ikiere, chairman and Mr. Ozugbo Godwin, secretary respectively, alleged that the SPDC personnel are involved in pipeline vandalism in order to create jobs for their friends and cronies to get ‘kick-back.’

The statement said SPDC has embarked on another round of blackmail of some host communities in order to deprive them of their entitlements and benefits as hosts to the SPDC’s 43 inches Forcados Export Pipeline, especially Isiyayeigbene and

Okuntu communities.

The statement reads in part: “Odimodi, Isiyayeigbene, Ogulagha, Okuntu and other host communities have kept their part by providing a peaceful working environment for SPDC to operate their facilities, SPDC has completely neglected and/or failed to engage indigenes of these communities in the servicing and maintenance of their pipeline.

“Instead they have continually employed the services of external contractors, who are cronies, friends, relatives and contract staff, yet we have indigenous contractors, skilled technicians, that are qualified to do the job.”

“In 2009 and 2013, suspected vandals and pirates handed over by Isiyayeigbene and Odimodi communities to security agencies were left off the hook without any punishment meted out to them, because they are working with insiders in SPDC, especially Forcados Terminal.

Utuama charges new SANs on integrity Gabriel Choba UGHELLI

elta State Deputy DUtuama Governor, Prof. Amos (SAN), has

called on newly sworn-in Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) to uphold the integrity and discipline of the bar, so as to have a better judicial system.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria is a title conferred on lawyers of not less than 10 years, who have distinguished themselves in the legal profession.

Utuama stated this while speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of 17 new SANs at the Supreme Court in Abuja. The event, which was held at the main auditorium of the Supreme Court complex, was witnessed by Supreme Court Justices, members of the Bar and the Bench as well as other jurists.

The deputy governor

described the position as a mark of excellence that should be revered at all times, urging prospective lawyers to be focused in their practice.

The Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, said the beginning of a new legal year is always characterised by the swearing-in of new SANs. She reminded lawyers of the important roles the profession plays during elections and asked them to play by the rules guiding the profession as they engage in cases that may come up as a result of elections.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, SAN, said a timid and fearful judiciary comprising judges who are on the edge for fear of being victimised cannot adequately dispense justice in a manner desired by the country.

More endorsements for Mark as Agada backs Jonathan Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

endorsement of SenTvidheateMark, President, Senator Dahas continued to

receive more support with former Minister of State, Education, Dr. Jerry Agada, describing it as the right step in the right direction.

Agada, in a chat with journalists in Makurdi yesterday, said Mark’s endorsement was apt, considering his effective representation of the Idoma nation and for en-

suring peace and stability in the red chamber of the National Assembly.

The PDP chieftain added; “We Idoma people are highly contended with the performance of Senator Mark. Anyone who wants to contest against him should come out and tell us what he can do. For us, Mark is a pride and so, Nigerians should appreciate us for consenting to allow him go for another term.”

Agada, who also threw his weight behind the

unanimous endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, said the gesture would reduce acrimony and friction in the PDP. According to him, Jonathan’s quest to re-contest in 2015 was constitutional, contrary to claims in some quarters that he completed two years of the late President Umar Yar'Adua’s term and another four-year term and is therefore ineligible.

Alluding to the gover-

norship tussle in Benue State, the former minister insisted that it should be zoned to Idoma land in keeping with the zoning arrangement among the three zones in the state.

“The expectation is that since we are operating three zones, it should go to Zone C. Our not getting the seat is not because we do not work hard for it.

We have competent people that can govern the state.

This zoning should go to us and I have no apology for saying that,” Agada said.

48 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Falae: Remove immunity from constitution Babatope Okeowo AKURE

F

ormer Secretary to the Federal Government ( SGF), Chief Olu Falae has recommended the removal of immunity clause from the constitution in order to check corruption among political office holders in the country.

Falae who is also the National Chairman of Social Democratic Party(SDP) took a critical look at the country at 54 and said Nigeria has nothing substantial to celebrate years after it got independence from British government.

Speaking with New Telegraph, Falae blamed the underdevelopment in the country on the immu-

138

nity which allowed elected governors and president to act without being queried by the electorate.

On the independence day celebration, Falae said "there is no basis for celebration; there is nothing to celebrate."

His words: "We don’t celebrate failure, we don’t celebrate tragedy because what is happening is tragic. 218 girls were adopted about six months ago and we don’t know where they are. We read few days ago that one of them was already pregnant.

"I suspected when the adoption took place that those evil men were going to destroy these girls by gang raping them and pass to them infectious diseases and make them pregnant

The sex ratio of women to 100 men (international migrants) in Bulgaria in 2010.

Source: Un.org

and later release them.

"My fear is that one has been released pregnant, the remaining 218, where are they? I don’t know where we are heading and I only hope God will intervene and change the direction we are heading."

On the removal of immunity from the constitution, he said: "Our presidents and governors are immune; they cannot be arrested or prosecuted while in office even if they commit rape, arson or murder, this is one thing that helps increase the breakdown of law and order.

"I even praise the governors and President for showing much restrains because they are empowered by the constitution to do what they like.

82

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Gibraltar in 2009.

Source: Itu.int

"Those who put immunity in the constitution destroyed Nigeria. That was why the conference removed immunity whether in civil or criminal matters."

Falae said the just concluded National Conference recommended special anti- corruption court with special provision designed to deal with corruption and that no trial should last more than 12 months and that anybody found guilty should go to jail not less than 20 years.

And that what the culprit had stolen should be taken from him 100 percent.

He maintained that those special prescriptions if well implemented would make impact in Nigeria society.

22,100

The total number of internet users in Comoros in 2007.

Source: Itu.int

Protesting Adamawa pilgrims arrive Medina Ibrahim Abdul

MECCA, S/ARABIA

the stranded Pilgrims Athatllfrom Adamawa State had earlier held an

aircraft hostage for several hours at Aminu Kano International Airport, on Saturday arrived Saudi Arabia.

The executive secretary of the state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board Umar Bobboi in a telephone chat said that all the pilgrims proceeded to Madina instead of Jedda on arrival.

He said: “They were later airlifted to Saudi Arabia from Kano, they are now happy because the problem was resolved.

The problem had emanated from Kabo Air. The state government had worked round the clock to ensure that all pilgrims were airlifted.

“Let me tell you, the pilgrims who held the plane hostage in Kano were earlier briefed on the travel arrangement and the efforts the government is making in collaboration with the National Hajj Commission, NAHCON, to ensure that no pilgrim from Adamawa State is left behind”.

The pilgrims reportedly became frustrated, Saturday, when instead of ferrying them to Saudi Arabia, the plane took them to Kano. The pilgrims, perhaps afraid they could be abandoned in Kano, held

the plane hostage.

However, in Saudi Arabia, many charity organizations are providing a number of free services and programmes well as meals in the courtyards of the Grand Mosque, gateways to the holy city as well as parking lots on the outskirts of Makkah.

This year, in addition to free meals, pilgrims can also relax in plush massage chairs which the societies have placed in two separate halls near the Grand Mosque.

Mansour Amer AlAmer, Director General of one of the groups, Haj and Umrah Pilgrims’ Charitable Society, said the free service which the society provides includes the distribution of over 3,000 meals every day.

“The nutritionally balanced meals are also suitable for diabetics and contain the necessary nutritional sustenance a fasting person needs,” said Al-Amer.

“The services provided in the program are in great demand by pilgrims, but priority is given to the elderly”, he said.

A pilgrim, Umar Dankano lauded the service and prayed to Allah to reward those providing the service.

“This is a beautiful service that brings happiness to pilgrims because it reinvigorates them after a long, tiring day”, he said.

...50,000 Nigerian pilgrims in Mecca, 10 others die L-R: Rivers State Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru; Chief of Staff, Rivers State Government House, Sir Tony Okocha and Director MTN Foundation, Mr. Dennis Okoro, during the presentation of security vehicles to the state government by the MTN Foundation under its Security Support Project (MTNF-SSP), in Port Harcourt…yesterday

Rep eyes Ndoma-Egba’s senate seat Clement James CALABAR

A

s activities leading to the 2015 general elections continue to thicken, the member representing Etung/Obubra Federal Constituency in Cross River State, Hon. Owan Enoh has formally declared that he was going to challenge the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba for the senate seat.

Owan Enoh, who is the chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, said the time for him to move up has come and that he would better serve his people in the Senate.

Speaking to Journalists in Calabar on Monday, he claimed that he had attracted some projects to his area, which Ndoma-Egba has allegedly claimed as his.

“If I did not go to the House of Representatives, people wouldn’t have known my potentials. I know I can serve better in the Senate and I am confirming to you

that I am going to contest the Central Senatorial seat,” Owan said.

He said since the advent of the fourth republic, his constituency remains the only area which has not produced a Senator in the Central Senatorial District.

“I am close to my people.

If I want to go for a fourth term in the House of Representatives, without being immodest, I will still win.

But democracy means creating space for others.

When I went to campaign in Obubra, I told them it was the last time I would go to the House. I have been there for three terms and since I gave them my commitment, that is why you see about sixteen of them from Obubra coming out now to run,” he disclosed.

He expressed his readiness to challenge the Senate Leader, while recalling how he was barred from entering Akparabong, the country home of Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba.

Okorocha, Ngige are political contractors, says Nwagbara Steve Uzoechi he zonal chairman of TCongress the All Progressive (APC) repre-

senting Abia Central, Chief Okey Nwagbara has blamed the alleged meddlesomeness of Governor Rochas Okorocha, Senator Chris Ngige and Chief B.B. Apugo for the crisis in the Abia state chapter of the APC. According to Nwagbara, their insistence on having total control of the APC structure in Abia state is the root of the crisis in the party.

He said: “For these people, it is either they control the party in Abia state or there will be no APC in Abia. This came to light in the course of our state congress and this is not how political parties are run. The party should be in the hands of the people on ground and not political contractors.

They may be in PRP while working in the interest of

NPN. These people are political contractors, which is why they assume there is nobody in Abia state to lead the party but themselves.”

The party chief stated that the challenges would test the APC's resolve to succeed, but maintained that Abia will ‘overcome the intruders’.

“Every party congress will either unite or divide the party. It exposes the weakness or unity of the party depending on the wisdom of the leaders of the party. With maturity, we can disagree to agree and cannot truly be said to have agreed without some form of disagreement in such political setting”, he said Lamenting the quality of leadership in Abia state, Nwagbara said: “It is regrettable that due to the apparent ineptitude of governor Theodore Orji, Abia state has been reduced to an object of ridicule across the country."

t least 50,000 out of Agrims 64,986 Nigeria pilhave so far arrived

Mecca, with ten others reportedly dying ahead of this year’s hajj rites.

The Coordinator of the National Hajj Commission in Mecca, Dr. Aliyu Tanko confirmed this yesterday.

The coordinator said virtually all the 50,000 Nigerians that have so far arrived Mecca, have since performed the Umrah rites with minimal death cases.

In a telephone chat in Mecca, Tanko said that the commission’s three clinics in Mecca and those set up by the various state pilgrims boards provide effective medical services to Nigerian pilgrims in Mecca.

He urged pilgrims to always seek medical advice before embarking on pilgrimage and warned them against exposing themselves to the harsh weather in the Holy Land.

He added that the remaining pilgrims were transported to the Holy Land by tour operators.

In a related development, two lounges were provided at Jeddah airport to check African pilgrims for Ebola, with

King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) directing the two lounges to receive pilgrims coming from Nigeria and some other African countries as a preventive measure against the Ebola virus.

“So far 118,000 pilgrims have arrived by air from Nigeria. There was not a single suspected case of the deadly virus among anyone of them,” said Abdul Ghani Al-Malki, supervisor of Haj affairs at the terminal.

He said that aircraft coming from Nigeria are also thoroughly checked against the deadly virus.

According to him, an integrated plan was implemented at the airport to prevent the spread of Ebola. “Emergency doctors and consultants in infectious diseases are participating in the execution of the plan in addition to qualified teams who are capable of checking the virus”, he said.

Al-Malki said pilgrims arriving from all parts of the world are being checked against contagious diseases. “We are particularly checking pilgrims coming from countries with reported cases of Ebola including Nigeria, Kenya and Congo,” he said.

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Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Fayemi mourns Thisday reporter kiti state governor, Dr. Epressed Kayode Fayemi has exsadness on the death of Thisday correspondent in the state, Alhaji Toba Suleiman.

Fayemi in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, described the death of Suleiman as "very shocking, unbelievable and demoralizing".

The Governor de-

scribed Suleiman as a courageous, resourceful, objective and hardworking journalist who contributed immensely to the media profession.

He said Suleiman brought his over twenty years’ experience in journalism to bear in covering critical issues in Ekiti polity in the last eight years of his practice in the state.

Why I want Imoke’s job, by commissioner Wale Elegbede of the Cross Ashiphead River State governorelection in 2015,

the Commissioner for Youth & Sport in the state, Patrick Ugbe said his intention to succeed his boss, Senator Liyel Imoke, is necessitated by the burning desire to sustain the peace and unity of the state.

Speaking during an interview, Ugbe said if given a chance to be the Chief Executive of the

State, he and his team will further foster the unity, peace and security currently existing in the state to pave way for more progress.

Ugbe, who is an aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the current landmark achievement recorded in rural/ urban transformation in the state has been made possible by the purposeful and result oriented leadership of Imoke in an atmosphere of peace.

Jehovah’s Witnesses hold convention ehovah’s Witnesses are Jneighbors inviting all of their to attend their

annual conventions to be held at the Lekki Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The theme of this year’s program is “Keep Seeking First God’s Kingdom!”

A convention spokesman, states: “People of many faiths pray for God’s Kingdom. This convention will explain what that Kingdom is and how it can be a positive influ-

ence in our lives. A highlight of the program will be the keynote address on Friday morning, which will discuss how that Kingdom is benefiting people today.” He adds: “A core belief of Jehovah’s Witnesses, based on Biblical and historical evidence is that Jesus Christ began to rule as the King of God’s Kingdom in 1914. The convention program marks this year as the centennial of that event.”

Adedoja canvasses for Ibadan PDP candidate Sola Adeyemo IBADAN

O

ne of the governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, has affirmed that the only strategy that could make the party to win the 2015 election against the All Progressive Congress (APC) was to present a candidate of Ibadan origin as its flagbearer.

Adedoja said this yester-

day in Ibadan while chatting with journalists after he had obtained the expression of interest form at the party secretariat located at Dandaru area of Mokola.

The former Minister of Sports and Special Duties said he backed the call for an indigene of Ibadan to be flagbearer of the party in view of the current reality which he said was the only means by which PDP could take over the administration of the state in 2015.

Plateau NUJ benefits from NMA Musa Pam JOS

embers of the NigeM ria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in Plateau

state yesterday became major beneficiaries of a free blood pressure and body mass index tests as the world celebrates this year's edition of World Heart Day. The exercise put together by the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA Plateau chapter in conjunction with Cardiac society was attended

by reporters who volunteered themselves for the exercise.

Chairman of the NMA, Dr. Pokop Bupwatda expressed delight over the exercise which he stressed was very crucial to journalists who are always busy to check their health status.

He regrets that many useful lives have been lost to heart related problems and advised that a departure from such carelessness should be observed through regular heart checks.

L-R: Managing Director, Kravex Gaming Limited, Terae Onyeje; Chief Executive Officer, Aeclipse Games and Inventor of "Who Wants To Be President?", Mr. Charles Igwe (Husband of late Amaka Igwe); Acting Managing Director, Usosa Communications Limited, Mr. Emeka Anaba and Company Secretary, Mr. Kelechukwu Nwankwo, during a media briefing/launch of the board game on Lagos Island…on Saturday

Senior civil servants’ strike paralyses Education Ministry Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

O

fficial activities were yesterday grounded at the Federal Ministry of Education as members of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria(ASCSN) in the Ministry embarked on an indefinite strike.

Members of the association had last Monday protested the non-payment of their promotion and other allowances which is over N1billion.

When New Telegraph

visited the Ministry which is situated within the Federal Secretariat Complex at the Three Arms Zone, many offices were closed.

Visitors, particularly, those with letters to the office of the Ministers, were turned back as the Minister's Registry was under lock.

Students, who also came to the Ministry with documents to process their overseas admission were also not attended to.

A senior staff of the Ministry in the office of the Minister, who spoke

with New Telegraph, said the strike was in full force noting that there was only skeletal work going on in the Ministry.

The strike, according to the staff, would soon be resolved, adding that the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, who was not around as the time of filing this report, would be in office on Thursday and resolve the crisis.

None of the union leaders was available for comment.

The protest last week, which saw some of the

union officials blocking the entrance gate to the ministry at about 8am was elicited by an allegation that the Ministry of Education had received the sum of N1.8billion from the Federal Government to settle debts owed the staff, but has failed to disburse the money accordingly.

New Telegraph gathered that since 2007 some of the staff members of the Ministry have been owed a number of allowances ranging from travelling and other expenses, which have accumulated into over a billion naira.

Why escaped Chibok girl is in Abuja, by leader Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

Chibok Community Titalheleader in the Federal CapTerritory, Abuja Tsam-

bido Hosea-Abana, has disclosed that the Chibok girl, who escaped from the stronghold of Boko Haram was taken away from Yola, Adamawa State to avoid

pressure from politicians.

Hosea-Abana, who spoke yesterday at the Sit-Out of BringBackOurGirls# group in Abuja also disclosed that the girl is being kept in a place in Abuja in the custody of Army Intelligence, where politicians and journalists cannot access at the moment.

The Chibok leader also

hinted that the Vice Principal of Chibok Secondary School, who went to Yola to identify the girl, who is said to be four months pregnant, couldn't see the girl as she was moved to Abuja on Saturday.

He added that she was being taking care of by one Reverend Enoch.

Hosea, who is also

part of the BringBackOurGirls# in Abuja, said that he has not seen the girl and could not ascertain whether or not the girl was pregnant.

He said information reaching him indicated that the girl, who was said to be suffering psychological trauma has started getting to her senses.

MDCAN condemns JOHESU demands on FG Obinna Odoh ABUJA

edical and Dental M Consultants Association of Nigeria (MD-

CAN) has condemned and described as ridiculous and reactionary the fresh demands made by

the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) on the Federal Government.

This was contained in a press statement issued and signed by the president of MDCAN, Dr. Steven Oluwole.

JOHESU had last week given the Federal Govern-

Wamakko warns public servants Umar Danladi Ado he Sokoto state goverTwarned nor, Aliyu Wamakko has state public servants against exhibiting lackadaisical attitude to work and other unethical practices capable of sabotaging government efforts.

Wamakko stated this on

the swearing in ceremony of three newly appointed permanent secretaries in the state held yesterday at Sokoto Government House.

He explained that his administration had anchored on the last 7 years the principles of accountability, probity, transparency and good governance.

ment two week ultimatum to meet its demands or risk withdrawal services by the Union.

The union had among other things demanded for Federal Government circular defining functions and powers of Honorary Consultants, Residency

training for other health professionals, Issuance of guidelines on appointment of Chairman Medical Advisory Committee, Autonomy for teaching Hospitals and the removal of university lecturers as heads in some clinical departments.

Oyo pastors score Ajimobi high

astors of various Plocal churches in all the 33 government areas of Oyo State have pledged their support for the continuity of the Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration beyond 2015.

The pastors, under the aegis of Oyo State Pastors’ Forum, expressed

their support when they paid a solidarity visit to the governor in his office in Ibadan on Monday.

In his address, the President of the Forum, Rev. Michael Onifade assured the governor of the readiness of the pastors to pray for the success and continuity of his administration.

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WORLD | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Lagos bans sale of rams on highways Hong Kong protesters defy Beijing Muritala Ayinla with calls for democracy

L

agos State Government yesterday reiterated that it would not condone the sale and display of rams on highways, roads, open spaces across the state. The Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello, who said this while monitoring the sale of rams across the city, said the government would not allow anyone to convert any place to open market for the

sales of rams and other animals. He said:"It became necessary to stress the state government’s zero tolerance to the display and sale of rams and conversion of open spaces across the state to ram markets. The importance of rams to the celebration of the Id el Kabir festival should not be taken as a license towards contravening the street trading and Environmental Sanitation Laws". He said he observed the presence of these illegal ram markets

along, the open space under Otedola Housing Estate, Agege Motor Road, Ilupeju junction Rail line, Ijora, Suru-Lere, Abeokuta Motor Road, Costain, Egbeda, Alaba, Okokomaiko, Olumegbon, Suenu, Gbaja areas in Surulere etc. He warned that while the State Government encourages individuals to engage in legitimate and legal means of livelihood, it will however not condone violation of the State Sanitation Laws.

2015: I have no reason to fail, says Mark

S

enate President David Mark yesterday assured Nigerians that he would continue to advance the course of peace, unity and progress in Nigeria.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja and signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh.

Mark said he would remain steadfast and committed to the ideals of nationhood in a manner that would give every citizen a sense of belonging.

Responding to his endorsement by Peoples Democratic Party, Benue

South Senatorial District as sole candidate for the 2015 Senatorial election, Mark promised to serve the people with the fear of God. The senate president, who spoke through the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, assured that he would uphold the principle of fairness, honesty and justice to all, irrespective of ethnicity or religion.

“I am humbled by your desire for me to continue to serve. This resolution by you is historical and monumental.

“It has reinforced me to continue to do all that is

right to the glory of God and to the benefit of mankind.

“With God and the overwhelming support of you all, I will not fail. You have proven to be my pillar,” he said.

Mark promised not to relent on his efforts in ensuring that the society became a better place for all Nigerians.

The Deputy Governor of Benue State, Chief Stephen Lawani, according to the statement, reaffirmed the commitment of government to ensuring that Mark was endorsed by PDP in the zone.

Onitsha NBA calls for probe of Ekiti mayhem Okegwo Kenechukwu ONITSHA

T

he Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA) Onitsha branch has demanded for a full scale investigation into the circumstances surrounding the beating of a sitting judge in Ekiti State by some people suspected to be thugs.

The association made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of the Bar meeting preceding the 2014/ 2016 election.

The election, which was keenly contested, produced Chudi Obieze and Mellitus Chukwuemeka Ezeh as chairman and secretary respectively.

Speaking to New telegraph, the immediate past chairman of the association, Dennis Maduechesi, enjoined the new executives of the association to consolidate on the successes achieved so far by the Onitsha Bar, while ensuring sustainable peace among members.

Obieze, however, noted with regret the insults on the members of the Bar and the Bench, citing the recent Ekiti State incident as a case in hand. He said: “It is a sacrilege. It is not done. It amounts to desecration of the sacred temple of justice, as lawyers are no longer free to exercise their duties. It will become extremely dangerous for the Nigerian society if the perpetrators are not brought to book and punished accordingly.

Glo promises best of entertainment at Prive launch

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ational telecoms operator, Globacom, says the launch of its special recognition scheme, Glo Prive,will be a star-spangled event marked by first class entertainment.

Glo Prive is a unique club designed to accord premium recognition and offer special privileges to high value subscribers on

the Glo network.

The company said in a statement released in Lagos that world class performances have been lined up to entertain guests at the event, which will be held in Lagos.

The headline performance at the ceremony will be a high impact and energetic musical drama which will include Saro

2, Fela on Broadway and other epic international musical dramas from across the world. This will be complimented by high profile performances by multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and composer Emmanuel Bezhiwa Idakula, popularly known as Bez, Ego Ogbaro, and Chee the Voice.

H

ong Kong democracy protesters defied volleys of tear gas and police baton charges to stand firm in the centre of the global financial hub yesterday, one of the biggest political challenges for China since the Tiananmen Square crackdown 25 years ago.

The Communist government in Beijing made clear it would not tolerate dissent, and warned against any foreign in-

terference as thousands of protesters massed for a fourth night in the free-wheeling, capitalist city of more than 7 million people. "Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying defiantly told a news briefing in Beijing.

The unrest, the worst in Hong Kong since China resumed its rule over the former British colony in 1997, sent white clouds of gas wafting among some

of the world's most valuable office towers and shopping malls before riot police suddenly withdrew around lunchtime yesterday. Tens of thousands of mostly student protesters are demanding full democracy and have called on the city's leader Leung Chun-ying to step down. China rules Hong Kong under a "one country, two systems" formula that accords the territory only a degree of democracy.

Riot police fire tear gas on student protesters occupying streets surrounding the government headquarters in Hong Kong yesterday

UN brokers 'positive' Libyan reconciliation talks

O

pposing factions in Libya's parliament held what the United Nations hailed as "positive" talks yesterday on ending a split which has left the violence-plagued country with rival governments. UN mission chief Bernardino Leon, at the end of the two-hour meeting, said the factions had "agreed to start a political process and to address all issues in a peaceful way with a very strong call for a complete ceasefire."

Although no formal accord was announced,

Leon said the dialogue had been "very constructive and very positive", and that it would resume after the Muslim feast of Eid al-Adha which starts on Friday in Libya.

The hard-won gathering held in the remote oasis town of Ghadames, 600 kilometres (370 miles) southwest of Tripoli and close to the Algerian and Tunisian borders, was the result of marathon shuttle diplomacy by Leon.The meeting, which finally started at 3 pm (1300 GMT) after a five-hour delay, sent

"a strong message of unity to the Libyan people", the UN official said in an opening address.

Government representatives from Britain and Malta, Libya's close Mediterranean neighbour, attended the closed-door meeting. The majority faction in the legislature elected on June 25 has been meeting in the far eastern town of Tobruk near the border with Egypt since Islamist militia and their allies took control of most of the capital last month.

36 feared dead in Japanese volcano eruption

A

t least 36 people are feared to have died after a Japanese volcano erupted without warning at the weekend, raining ash and stones on hikers, but the search for victims were abandoned on yesterday because of fears of toxic gases.

Rescuers at the peak of Mount Ontake, now an eerie moonscape under

a thick layer of grey ash, yesterday found five more victims of Saturday's eruption at Japan's second-highest active volcano but authorities did not immediately confirm them as dead.

The eruption of the 3,067-metre (10,062-foot) peak, 200 km (125 miles) west of Tokyo, took place as the hiking site

was packed with climbers, including children, admiring autumn foliage under a brilliant blue sky.

Twelve people have been confirmed dead in Japan's first fatal volcanic eruption since 1991, and 63 have been injured, some with broken bones. Eight were missing, but officials said some of them could possibly be among those who perished.

Table Tennis national league begins October 9 Ajibade Olusesan

O

ctober 9 has been fixed by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation for the official kick off of its national league with 30 teams across the country expected to take part in the tournament holding at the National Stadium in Lagos.

NTTF Secretary, Chinedu Ezea-

lah-Ogundare, revealed that the league became necessary following the success of the pilot league staged early this year. Four players are expected to make up a team.

She also revealed that the Olympics system of play and approved plastic balls would be used in order to acquaint the players with the new format of play and the new balls.

According to a referee of the competition, John Peters, the tournament will help the federation to select players for the forthcoming African Championship; individual performances are to be considered in the final selection of the players.

20 male and 10 female teams made up of four players per team will form the league and they are

SPORT

expected to garner points to qualify for the top four, with the grand finale holding on October 17, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Among the teams lined up for the league are Union Bank Sports Club, Springfresh, Union Maritime, Police Machine, G20, Nigerian Civil Defence Corps, Sunshine of Akure, Calabar Rovers, Rivers Angel and a host of others.

newtelegraphonline.com/sports

NFF crisis affecting Eagles preparations –Keshi} p.52 Hazard backs Chelsea to win Champions League }p.53

elections hold

lGladiators battle to lead Nigerian football Ifeanyi Ibeh

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SPORTS CREW ADEKUNLE SALAMI, DepUTY Editor, SPORTS EMMANUEL TOBI, Assistant Editor, SPORTS iFEANYI IBEH,

SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

Ajibade olusesan, SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

charles ogundiya, SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

tuesday, SEPTEMBER 30, 2014

D-Day as NFF

I’m still in the presidency race – Abba Yola }p.54

Omeruo (left)

Oshonaike

Did you know?

NEW TELEGRAPH

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

51

he much awaited elective congress of the Nigeria Football Federation comes up today, Tuesday, September 30, in Warri, Delta State, with each of the seven officially recognised candidates for the NFF presidency hoping they have done enough to convince delegates of their ability to manage the affairs of the football house over the next four years.

The seven candidates seeking to take over from the immediate past president of the NFF, Aminu Maigari, are Amanze Uchegbulam, Mike Umeh, Amaju Pinnick, Abba Yola, Dominic Iorfa, Taiwo Ogunjobi and Shehu Dikko.

Already, in a bid to ensure that Tuesday’s polls are in line with the statutes of both the NFF and FIFA, Africa’s football governing body, CAF, has appointed the president of the Ghanaian Football Association, Kwesi Nyantakyi, to oversee the elections.

Nyantakyi is seen by CAF as the man to help restore sanity to football in Nigeria after helping out in stabilising the situation in Sierra Leone earlier this year.

This is the first time since the 2005 elections, held in Kano, that an elective congress of the NFF

Ibrahimovic to miss Barca cracker

That Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest paid soccer player in the world with $73 million in total earnings. will take place outside of Lagos or Abuja.

And to ensure it is free of hitches, the Delta State Police Command has assured of adequate security through its Police Public Relations Officer, Celestina Kalu, who stated that even though the NFF did not officially write to the police, they would be providing “adequate security needed to ensure a hitchfree election.”

But even if Tuesday’s elective congress turns out to be free of complications, some of the individuals who opted to sit out Tuesday’s polls such as Christopher Giwa, who regards himself as the legitimately elected president; Segun Odegbami, Effiong Johnson and Obinna Ogba may end up playing crucial roles in the aftermath of the elections with one or all of them likely to initiate legal action on the legality of the incoming board.

This fact was underlined last Friday when Odegbami issued a petition to Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo, which was copied to FIFA and CAF, laying out various grounds under which Tuesday’s polls have failed to meet FIFA’s stipulations that new elections for the NFF “should be open to all persons” in compliance with the NFF Statutes and regulations.

Odegbami, along with the others who opted to sit out of Tuesday’s polls had previously been cleared to participate in the elections, prior to the reconstitution of the NFF Electoral Committee, but failed to write to the reconstituted Electoral Committee to express their willingness to participate in the elections.

Maigari

} P 53

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Sanctity of Truth

NFF crisis affecting Eagles preparations –Keshi O ut-of-contract Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi has expressed concern over the current lack of leadership at the Nigeria Football Federation, saying there isn’t enough preparation for his team ahead of the Morocco 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sudan in October.

The 52-year-old who released a list of invited players for the game last Friday says he has already submitted his program for the games, but that he still

isn’t sure what will happen with his proposal.

“I have submitted my programme me to the Super Eagles secretary for onward submission to the General Secretary of the NFF to see if they will accept it so that we can start building towards the game against Sudan,” said Keshi.

“It will be very good for us if we can start preparing immediately because I like working with the home-based players at least two weeks before the

games.

“But I don’t know what they want to do. It is just that there isn’t enough preparation.”

Keshi has traditionally opened his camps with the home-based players before the overseas-based ones join for the games, but it has been different recently, with the former Togo boss not having the time to work with the home-based players as usual, partly due to his contract negotiations and the crises at the NFF.

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Ighodaro

Henshaw wants government to invest more in boxing Salami scores 15th goal as Ighodaro cries foul Charles Ogundiya G

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igeria Cruiserweight champion, Ekong Henshaw, has called on the government to invest more in Nigerian boxing.

According to Henshaw, all other sports have been neglected with all the attention on football.

“You can see that professional boxing is dying in Nigeria and there is need for government to do something about it.

“More attention should be given to boxing. Attention shouldn’t only be given to football. Boxing is a very dangerous sport, especially professional boxing. As a boxer, you can lose your life in the ring if you are not fit,” he said.

Henshaw also called on Tammy Danagogo, Nigeria’s Sports Minister, to work closely with different boxing outfits in the country in order to move the sport forward.

Henshaw, who was supposed to defend his Cruiser-

weight title last Sunday, September 28, against Dauda Mohammed, before the said fight was postponed by the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control, disclosed to New Telegraph that he is billed for three fights before the end of 2014.

While appreciating the Nigeria Police Force for supporting him, he called on the Cross River State government, his home state, to also come to his aid, especially as he has been promoting the state through boxing.

bolahan Salami is the new leading scorer in the Nigeria league with 15 goals after his penalty goal helped defeat Abia Warriors in a rescheduled league game Monday.

Salami thus overtakes national teammate Ighodaro Osaguona, who was mistakenly credited with Enugu Rangers match winner against FC Taraba on Sunday in Enugu.

Osaguona is still on 14 goals, while Dolphins striker Emem Eduok has 13 goals after Monday’s match between Wolves and Abia Warriors was re-

Ogun athletes begin camping for Centenary Games O gun state Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Dr. Lanre Tejuoso,hasrevealedthatthestate contingenttotheCentenarygames will start camping on October 7.

Tejuosho while speaking during a meeting with the sporting association’s chairmen in preparation for the games lauded the chairmen for their ingenuity.

“I am aware that a lot of associations have started sponsoring competitions and opening camps with athletes with vigorous training while some are about to start withtheircampingearlierthanthe

state scheduled time,” he said.

Tejuoso said since the inauguration of the associations, Team Ogunsubcommitteeshaveswung intoactionforthesuccessfulouting of the state at the Games.

“Itisworthytomentionthatthe technicalcommitteeof teamOgun conducted trials in all individual games that Ogun State is going to featureinthefestival.Alsothetechnicalcommitteeshavespokenwith and reached agreement with elite athletes that can win gold medals for Ogun State,” Tejuoso said.

Earlier in his address, Chair-

man Ogun State House of Assembly Committee on Sports and Chairmanof HockeyAssociation, Hon.AllenTaylor,saidearlycamping would be of better advantage for the State’s contingent, so as to perform credibly at the festival.

Falilat Ogukoya-Omotayo, chairmanof thestateAthleticsAssociationurgedthegovernmentto help motivate the athletes by organizing various local competitions which would put them in good stead for the National Sports FestivalslatedforNovemberinCalabar, Cross River State.

Abuja

S

Asisat Oshoala (left) with former Eaglets striker, Taiwo Awoniyi

uper Falcons striker, Asisat Oshoala, has dedicated her national honour to her parents and teammates in both the Falconets and Super Falcons.

Speaking after receiving her Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) award from President Goodluck Jonathan, Asisat said she is overjoyed at being appreciated by the Federal Government.

“It’s my second time having a

Heineken brings excitement to golfers at Nigeria Cup

W

ith the completion of some categories of competition in the ongoing Heineken sponsored Nigeria Cup, attention now shifts to the ladies; who are handshake with the President and expected to file out for an I am really happy about it because 18-holes competition today. there are a lot of Nigerians out there To be led by the lady captain wishing to just see him not to talk of of the golf section of the Ikoyi having hand shake with him. club, Mrs. Ngozi Ngoka, over “I dedicate the award to God Al- 80-golfers, drawn from Lagos mighty Allah who has kept and been and its environs and other inwith me ever since I started playing vited guests from across the football up to this moment. I also country are expected to take dedicate the award to my parents and part in the competition. my family who are always praying While no one can really say for me. I also thank my team mates who the winner will be at the especially the U-20 girls who enabled end of today’s clash, golfers like me score those goals that gave me the Evelyn Oyome, former lady capaward, not forgetting team mates in tain of Ikoyi club, Mrs. Funke Super Falcons,” she said.

Majekodunmi, Mercy Freely

Oshoala dedicates national award to Falconets, parents Comfort Chukwu

Salami (left)

scheduled after heavy rainfall halted the match on Sunday.

The home win has shot Wolves to second place on 46 points from 29 games, a point ahead of Enyimba and four points shy of league leaders Kano Pillars.

Meanwhile, Osaguona has insisted that his goal against Taraba United on Sunday in the Nigeria Professional Football League was wrongly credited to Samuel Agba by the League Management Committee.

“I was the one that scored the goal.

It was from a corner kick and I made the last contact with the ball. Samuel Agba wasn’t the one that scored. I even celebrated the goal,” Osaguona told SL10.ng.

“It was a Taraba United player (Saviour Fidelis) that went to tell the referee that the goal should be credited to Samuel Agba. We have nine matches to go, so we have a lot of time. Yes, it’s still my target to break this record. As a player, I have seen it all,” he added.

and the current captain, Ngoka are some of the players being tipped for the tournament coveted trophy.

Speaking ahead of the event today, Tony Onwu, chairman of Nigeria Cup organising committee said,“We have enjoyed good relationship with Heineken over the years. It is the support from Nigeria Breweries through the Heineken brand that has made this tournament a regular event over the years.”

Meanwhile, it will be the turn on sponsor’s guests tomorrow while professionals will have their day on Thursday.

The weeklong competition will be rounded up on Saturday with a gala night fixed for Federal Palace Hotel later Saturday evening.

SPORT | EURO FOOTBALL

Sanctity of Truth

Ibrahimovic to miss Barca cracker

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Ibrahimovic

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aris St Germain suffered a blow on the eve of their tantalising Champions League showdown against Barcelona when star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was ruled out through injury.

Cheick Tiote weds second wife

Ibrahimovic missed PSG’s last two Ligue 1 matches with a heel problem but coach Laurent Blanc had hoped to have the prolific frontman back to face his former club at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday.

Tiote

Champions League fixtures CSKA Moscow vs Bayern Munich 5pm Manchester City vs Roma 7.45pm APOEL Nicosia vs Ajax 7.45pm PSG vs Barcelona 7.45pm Schalke vs Maribor 7.45pm Sporting vs Chelsea 7.45pm BATE Borisov vs Athletic Bilbao 7.45pm

Shakhtar Donetsk vs FC Porto 7.45pm

Hazard backs Chelsea to win Champions League

diagnostic after several tests conducted this (Monday) morning on the injured left heel of Zlatan Ibrahimovic is negative.

The striker is out of the Champions League clash against FC Barcelona.”

Roma face injury crisis ahead Man City clash

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ewcastle United star Cheick Tiote has married a second wife in his home country of Ivory Coast.

The 28-year-old player is already married with two children to first wife Madah, 25, and live in a luxury home in Ponteland.

But the £45,000-a-week player wed again during a ceremony in his West African home last month.

As a devout muslim, Islamic law allows the footballer to marry up to four women at any one time.

He is understood to have married his Ivorian bride, Doukrou Laeticia, shortly before the kick off the new Premier League season.

The wedding took place in Abidjan, which is the primary economic centre of the Ivory Coast.

Tiote’s agent confirmed to the Newcastle Chronicle that he had married.

Jean Musampa said: “I can say that he did get married and that it is his second marriage.

“This is nothing unusual. He is a muslim.”

However, Ibrahimovic failed a fitness test on Monday and will take no part in the Group F clash between two of the more fancied sides to lift this season’s Champions League.

A PSG statement read; “The

53

De Rossi

oma have their job cut out ahead of their champions league match against Manchester City on Tuesday as they are battling with series of injury which includes Daniele De Rossi.

Roma have made a perfect start to the season, but they face an enormous fortnight and could miss some key men.

Roma may be without as many as seven players for their game against City Italian title rivals

Juventus who they meet on October 5.

Arguably the biggest worry is goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis, who picked up a thigh injury against Verona over the weekend.

It looks like Roma will also be without defenders Davide Astori and Leandro Castan, left-back Federico Balzaretti, Salih Ucan, Marco Borriello and, most importantly, Daniele De Rossi.

Roma are return-

ing to the Champions League after two years and may find it difficult to adapt to the pace while keeping their title challenge going.

Meanwhile there was good news for Manchester City ahead of the game against Roma, as Stevan Jovetic returned to the squad for Tuesday’s Champions League game against Roma as manager Manuel Pellegrini now has all three of his senior strikers available again.

Bayern will not underestimate CSKA - Lewandowski R obert Lewandowski has stressed that Bayern Munich will not underestimate CSKA Moscow in Tuesday’s Champions League encounter at the Arena Khimki .

The Bundesliga champions started their Group E game with a 1-0 win over Manchester City, while CSKA were heavily beaten 5-1 by Roma on matchday one.

Nevertheless, Lewandowski has insisted the Russian giants are a force to be reckoned with.

“We have a lot of respect for CSKA,” the Poland international said at a press conference.

“We know that CSKA are a strong side and they are also playing at home. There are no particular players that I can point out from our opponents as they are all good players.

However, I like [Alan] Dzagoev.

“We have to give it our all. This is the Champions League and only the best teams play in this competition.”

Bayern last met CSKA in the Champions League last term, when they recorded a 3-1 away win and beat the Moscow side 3-0 in Munich.

Head coach Pep Guardiola will be without Holger Badstuber, Javi Martinez, Thiago Alcantara, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Franck Ribery due to injury.

Lewandowski

Hazard

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den Hazard is of the opinion that Chelsea are good enough to win the Champions League again this season.

The Blues reached the semi-finals last season before being knocked out by Atletico Madrid.

Jose Mourinho has since raided the Spanish giants for two of their best players - Diego Costa and Filipe Luis - while also bringing back Thibaut Courtois.

Hazard said: “My ambition in the Champions League is pretty much the same as it has been since I’ve been at Chelsea.

“Personally and collectively it is to go as far as we can, which is to win it. With the team we have I think that it’s possible.

“I don’t know if we are the favourite - there is also Real Madrid who are the holders, Bayern Munich are very strong again this year, there are some other great teams – so let’s see how it goes.”

West Ham’s Tomkins fined for assaulting police officer W

Tomkins

est Ham defender James Tomkins has been ordered to pay more than $12,000 for assaulting a police officer.

Tomkins pleaded guilty in court on Monday to assaulting the officer, being drunk and disorderly in a public place and obstructing a constable outside a

nightclub in Essex, east of London last December.

At Southend Magistrates’ Court in Essex, Tomkins was fined 3,500 pounds ($5,700) for the assault, ordered to pay 3,785 ($6,100) court costs, 200 pounds ($325) compensation to the police officer and a 120 pound ($195) victim surcharge.

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Sanctity of Truth

Sterling Bank, Access Bank, others boost Nigeria Cup

Emmanuel Tobi

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eading Nigerian sports-loving organisations such as Sterling Bank, Access Bank, Diamond Bank, United Bank of Africa etc have thrown their weight behind golf as the 2014 edition of the Nigeria Cup began at the weekend.

The Nigeria Cup is undoubtedly one of the biggest and most prestigious tournaments of the golf community as they play host to partnering sponsors to make this event a spectacular one.

The chairman of the organising committee, Mr. Tony Onwu, pointed out that activity surrounding the tournament will be a week-long which commenced with the Children’s Tournament after which the Caddies competed on the 29th of September.

Onwu also said the Nigeria Cup 2014 will support projects aimed at developing golf and assisting the less privileged

with part of the proceeds going to, a charities of the committees choice.

He thanked the various sponsors that include Diamond Bank, Heineken (NBL), UBA, Access Bank, MainOne, Eko Bank, Total PLC, First Bank, Seplat Petroleum, Leadway Assurance, Sterling Bank, Oando PLC, Amni Petroleum, Federal Palace Hotel, Chevron, Afrinvest, Wakanow, and several others for their continued support.

The competition continues on Tuesday September 30 as the ladies will take their tur n on the course.

On Wednesday October 1, after the tour nament, players, club members and their guests will be treated to an Award and Barbeque Night tagged “An Evening of Style” Highlights of the day will be comedy, award presentation and a fashion show. On October 2, it will be the tur n of the professionals to compete on the course for a total sum

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Sport

BUSINESS

FOCUS ON CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP

with Emmanuel Tobi emmanuel.tobi@newtelegraphonline.com 0805 400 5669

Some of the sponsors in attendance during the Nigeria Cup Golf press briefing recently.

of N3 million which will be given to the winner at the Gala Night.

On Friday, October 3 the course will be open for sponsors and veteran

members of the club to tee off and afterwards there will be an award cocktail specially organised for sponsors their guests.

On Saturday, October 4, will be the final tournament for members. The event will round off end with a Black Tie Award Dinner and Gala Night.

TRACE Sport extends deal with Multichoice

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race has announced that its #1 entertainment channel for sport and celebrity lovers, TRACE Sport Stars DStv channel 188, will be made available to new fans across Africa as it moves from Premium to the DStv Compact Plus, Compact & Family packages The captain of klm fc saka on Monday 30th September. hammed (the winner of Epe With this new deal, TRACE Zone Extra Joss season 3) Sport Stars will significantly inreceiving the prize from Mr Arife (okds Manager) while crease its reach in the African market, underlining its point of Mr Kenku watches

reference for the young and the young-at-heart, while broadening its appeal to advertisers and brands.

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NFF elections D-Day

Security beefed up lAs elections hold today in Warri

AdekunleSalami Warri

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ecurity has taken top priority at the elective congress of the Nigeria Football Federation which comes up today, Tuesday September 30, in Warri, Delta State.

The congress, which will decide who will take over from Aminu Maigari as the new president of the NFF, gets underway 10am at the Golden Tulip Hotel.

A visit to the hotel by our correspondent on Monday showed the presence of a large number of security personnel, mostly officers from the Delta State Police Command, who ensured visitors to the hotel were put through the necessary security checks.

Meanwhile, none of the candidates for the various positions up for

grabs in the NFF’s executive committee, as well as delegates to the congress, were visible at the hotel as they were still in hiding as at Monday evening with sources close to some of these candidates and delegates attributing the development to purported attempts by some of the disenfranchised aspirants to put a halt to the congress by serving them court papers.

The chairman of the NFF’s Electoral Committee, Sampson Ebomhe, has however allayed such fears as he informed New Telegraph that arrangements have been concluded for a hitch free congress, adding that he and members of his committee will “deliver a free and fair election in accordance with the rules of FIFA.” Meanwhile, six of the seven

candidates vying for the NFF presidency took part in Monday night’s debate.

The only candidate absent was Shehu Dikko who, according to sources at the venue, is said to have withdrawn from the race as security operatives are reportedly after him.

According to sources, earlier on Monday, security operatives accosted Maigari on his way from Abuja to the congress venue with the intention of arresting him. Other officials in the company of the outgoing NFF president however prevented the operatives from whisking Maigari away.

Nevertheless, when attempts to take Maigari proved abortive, the operatives demanded to know about the whereabouts of Dikko with the intention of arresting the League Management Company official and keeping him away from Tuesday’s elective congress.

Dikko is considered to be one of the frontrunners for the NFF top job.

I’m still in the presidency race – Abba Yola CharlesOgundiya

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ne of the presidential candidates in the Nigeria Football Federation elections, Alhaji Abba Yola, has informed New Telegraph that he remains steadfast in his quest to become the NFF president.

Reacting to insinuations in some quarters that he has decided to stepped down for one of the candidates, Yola said only cowards step down before an election.

“The period for people to step down is over and even if it was not I don’t believe in stepping down ahead of an election.

“People sometimes abandoned their mandates at the last minute because they don’t have something to offer.

“Stepping down is a cowardly decision and I am not a coward, so I am not stepping down for anybody. I am going the full length till

the end because I believe I have what it takes to take Nigerian football to greater heights,” the former Kano Pillars chairman said.

On what he will be bringing to Nigerian football if elected, Yola said his experience with Kano Pillars would come handy.

He said: “If I become the NFF President I will make sure we open up the marketing avenues that will help to reduce the burden on government; I did it in Kano Pillar and I hope to replicate it with the NFF. “If you look at most of the candidates, they have been part of the problem in our football, if they have anything to offer they would have done that when they were there in various capacities.

“I have my plans for Nigerian football and if I win all glory to Allah and if not, all glory to Him as well.”

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

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World Record

On Marble

A man that flies from his fear may find that he has only taken a short cut to meet it.

– J.R.R. Tolkien

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

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Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2014

The heaviest combined weight lifted simultaneously with both eye sockets is 23.5 kg (51 lb 12.96 oz) achieved by Yang Guang (China), on 28 April 2011.

N150

Make Abuja environment more competitive (2) Continued from yesterday Water supply The FCT ties with three states on a score of 70 per cent to rank number 4 on this measure against the all states average score of 45.42 per cent and a standard deviation of 22.66.

Water supply is measured according to the AIAE Report by evidence of public water supply, average price of 20 litres of water, and the proportion of firms’ total water requirements obtained from private water supply.

FCT’s performance on this measure remains a positive development.

Water, like energy, sustains business endeavours and the stock of human capital necessary to enhance economic activity and ensure growth.

Access to information The FCT also scores 77 per cent on this measure and ranks number 2 with two states. This is against the all states average score of 57.36 per cent and a standard deviation of 16.63.

This performance is good in view of the fact that no less than 15 states fall below the all states average score.

Access to information is defined by such vital variables as the number of post offices per 100,000 of the population, tele-density of the fixed lines, incidence of mobile phone ownership, availability of TV stations, availability of radio stations and availability of functional website.

Knowledge is priceless and confers power and this is what a good performance on this measure can achieve.

The FCT government should, therefore, go all out for greater performance on the benchmark.

Transportation The performance by the FCT on this measure also remains encouraging. With a princely 80 per cent, it ties with seven states, ranking number 2 compared to the all states average score of 59.44 and a standard deviation of 29.66 below which 11 states fall. Again, the performance on this measure is good and cool. It should, however, not relax in this seeming comfort zone as room for improvement exists to match performances posted by five states that scored the 100 per cent mark on the same measure.

Social infrastructure With scores at 54.29 per cent, the FCT ranks number 9 on this benchmark of business environment com-

PERISCOPE Martin Azuwuike

Contract enforcement/Commercial Dispute Resolution The performance on this measure is saddening and a marked departure from the desired outcome of governance. Efforts need to be made to urgently reverse this by government and all other stakeholders in the Federal Capital Territory. The FCT could only score a miserable 41.67 per cent on this measure. With the exception of only seven states of the federation, performance remains generally poor.

Average all states score is a dismal 28.94 per cent and a standard deviation of 20.08. The critical indicators considered on this measure include the establishment of information systems on caseload and judicial statistics, average time (in weeks) between filing a case in court and obtaining judgement, and evidence of the availability/establishment of formal alternative dispute resolution.

Mungo Park in Abuja

petitiveness. Against the all states average of 41.61 per cent and a standard deviation of 8.52, performance on this benchmark is just average and needs to be stepped up.

Social infrastructure is defined as primary school enrolment, pupilteacher ratio, and education capital budget as percent of capital budget in 2005, health budget as percent of capital budget in 2005, rating of waste management, rating of frequency of waste disposal and average monthly waste disposal levy.

Legal and Regulatory Services The FCT ranks number 4 on this measure with a score of 51.67 per cent.

This is just slightly above average, although it could be adjudged a fairly good performance considering the all states average score of 41.61 per cent and a standard deviation of 8.52 and the fact that 14 states fall below this low average. But being the seat of power where there is a heavy presence of high-performing regulatory agencies of the federal government, it is expected that the various FCT governments should have latched on to the trickle-down and knock-on effects to post a more reassuring performance on this measure.

Business registration The FCT also ranks number 2 on this measure with a score of 68.75 per cent. Average score for al states on this measure is 44.45 per cent with

that the CAC office branch has a service charter, availability of accessible on-line real-time service at the CAC branch office and duration for obtaining certificates of registration for business names after filing all papers also feature among the core indicators.

Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, FCT Minister

standard deviation of 16.66. 16 states fall below this average.

Key top performance metrics on this measure include evidence of cessation of business registration at the state Ministry of Commerce since the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) and setting up of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), evidence that improperly registered business names are not given recognition by the state, evidence of the existence of a taskforce against the display of unregistered names by firms and evidence of CAC’s office in the state. Evidence of publication of the CAC branch in the state, evidence

Land administration This has become an issue of national importance. Sweeping moves have been made over the years to deal with alleged chronic violation of land allocation requirements in the mad rush for property ownership in the FCT. This has led to almost endless demolition and city sanitisation exercises in the territory. The recent probe of the FCT land allocation deals by the Senate attests to this.

The FCT scores a towering 85 per cent to rank number one on this measure. This suggests that such critical signposts of modern land administration regime as the availability and usability of a cadastral map of the state, evidence that the state has enacted a land tenure law to operationalise the Land Use Act, official cost (charge) of obtaining the governor’s consent relative to the cost of land, and time taken to obtain Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) among other crucial indicators of effective and efficient land administration in the territory may have been efficiently optimally administered and optimally utilised.

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