Binder1, july 9,2014 by Newtelegraphonline

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Wednesday, July 9, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 141

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Terror threat: Gridlock as security heightens at Lagos airport lPassengers stranded, trek long distances lExperts, witnesses accuse govt of cover-up in Lagos blast Wole Shadare

ecurity agents yesterday subjected human and vehicular movements into the Murtala

Muhammed Airport, Lagos to intense screening as security was heightened at Nigeria’s premier airport. They frisked vehicles and humans entering

the airport complex and this resulted in a heavy gridlock that made many passengers to miss both domestic and international flights.

Various security operatives from the police, anti-terrorism squad and the military manned the major entrance to the Nigerian Aviation Handling

Company (NAHCO) Plc area and screened virtually all vehicles and people going to the airport. Stern-looking security personnel were also

detailed at strategic locations within the airport while others continued with frisking of humans and vehicles. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

IMPEACHMENT

Obasanjo pleads with Jonathan to save Nyako

lLack of venue stalls probe panel’s sitting

Ibrahim Abdul’Aziz Yola

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday made spirited moves to save embattled Adamawa State Governor, Alhaji Murtala Nyako, who is facing impeachment from the House of Assembly. Obasanjo who had for months boycotted the Council of State meeting owing to his disagreement with President Goodluck Jonathan, made a surprise appearance at the meeting yesterday and was said to have met with the president behind closed doors to plead with him to rescue the governor from being ousted. Obasanjo was instru-

L-R: Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; President Goodluck Jonathan; former President Shehu Shagari and former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, after the meeting of the Council of State at the Presidential Villa, Abuja...yesterday. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

President: I won’t be rushed to rescue Chibok schoolgirls lCouncil of State says abductees will be freed soon lUN links Boko Haram to 18 attacks in two weeks Lateef Ibrahim, Anule Emmanuel and Ahmed Miringa

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday shrugged off pressure to rescue over 200 school-

girls kidnapped from Chibok, Borno State in April, saying he will not be stampeded to do so. The president, in a re-

sponse to criticisms to his letter to Washington Post on current efforts by his administration to rescue the schoolgirls, said he

would not risk their lives by disclosing attempts rescue them. The abduction of the Chibok girls also engaged

the attention of the Council of State at a meeting in Abuja, presided over by the president, where the CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Doctors ignore pleas, vow to continue strike

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Nigeria practising diarchy not democracy –Amaechi }14-15

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Obasanjo pleads with Jonathan to save Nyako CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

mental to the emergence of Nyako, who also attended the council meeting, as the PDP governorship candidate in 2007. The council, the highest advisory body to the president, has as members the vice-president, former heads of state, governors of the 36 states, Senate president, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), past CJNs, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister and the Inspector General of Police. All the former leaders of the country, both military and civilians, attended yesterday’s session, except Major-General Muhammadu Buhari. A source told New Telegraph that Obasanjo, at a brief audience with Jonathan before the commencement of the council’s meeting pleaded with the president to save Nyako by prevailing on the Adamawa Assembly dominated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to backpedal on the impeachment against the governor. Nyako, until his defection last year to the All Progressives Congress (APC),

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

27o C 23oC Thunder Storms

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31o C 23oC Storms

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27oC 22oC Storms

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29o C 22oC Storms

was a member of the PDP. Jonathan was however said to have subtly told Obasanjo that since he is not a lawmaker, he could not have had a hand in the plot to impeach Nyako. It was learnt that Obasanjo’s assurances to Jonathan that Nyako “would turn a new leave in his relationship with the presidency and return to the fold, the PDP, from where he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC)” did not sway the

president. The source said: “Former President Obasanjo made a surprise appearance at the council’s meeting yesterday. This is a meeting he had shunned for months since he left as chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP. So he came to the meeting with the sole aim of saving one of his lieutenants, Governor Nyako, from impeachment. “Obasanjo raised the issue of the governor’s

impeachment with the president at a brief meeting before the council met. Jonathan carefully cleared himself, saying he had no hand in Nyako’s troubles. He told Obasanjo that he is not a lawmaker and not from Adamawa State. The president told Obasanjo that they would discuss after the meeting,” an aide of the president told New Telegraph. A source close to the former president also said Obasanjo was also reach-

ing out to former heads of state and influential stakeholders to prevail on Jonathan to save Nyako. Already, the seven-man investigative panel set up by the immediate past acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ambrose Mammadi, has begun sitting at a hotel, J&J Holiday Villa, in Yola. However, the panel to probe allegations of gross misconduct against Nyako and his deputy, Mr. Bala CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

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

L-R: Chief Operating Officer, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Ms. Adebisi Awoniyi; Director, Consumer Protection Directorate, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mallam Adamu Abdullahi; Managing Director, Karamba Marketing Solutions Limited, Dr. Daniel Young and Chief Executive Officer, BASL, Mr. Christophe Penninck, at the inauguration of escalators by BASL at the Murtala Muhammed Airport II (MMA2), Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: Sulieman Husaini

Experts, witnesses accuse govt of cover-up in Lagos blast CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Besides, only those with genuine reasons and valid identification cards were allowed to enter the airport complex. The gridlock, which started building up at about 7am, lasted until around 2pm and stretched from Ikeja to the access road to the international wing of the airport. Although no reason was given for the heavy presence of security operatives at the airport, a source told New Telegraph that it was prompted by intelligence report to keep the Lagos airport safe against terror threats. It was also learnt that the red alert might not be unconnected with the fresh terrorism threat by the AlQaeda to attack the United States or any aircraft going to the US, which prompted Washington at the weekend to roll out fresh security guidelines for air travellers to the US. Al-Qaeda had threatened to bomb tourists and business travellers leaving Europe or Africa, including Nigeria and from other overseas airports, on direct flights to the United States.

Another source claimed that Nigerian security officers last weekend arrested no fewer than 11 suspects at the airport. When contacted, the image maker of police at the Lagos airport, Mr. Dennis Ifijen, declined comment. The security alert at the Lagos airport came amid report that government was suppressing information about the cause of last month’s blast at a major fuel depot in Lagos. Five persons were said to have been killed in the blast, whose source is mired in a controversy. The explosion occurred hours after a suspected Boko Haram car bombing Abuja killed 21 people, including Managing Editor (North) of New Telegraph, Mr. Suleiman Bisalla. Government attributed the Lagos incident to a cooking gas cylinder explosion. But a report yesterday by the Agence France Presse (AFP) quoted a British Army’s former head of bomb disposal as saying that the explosion was as a result of a locally-made bomb. “This was definitely

an incident involving the use of high explosives,” Bob Seddon, an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran and a specialist in improvised explosive devices (IEDs), told AFP in an email exchange after reviewing the pictures from the scene of the incident. “The type of blast effects and fragmentation pattern you would get from a gas explosion are quite different,” the former Royal Logistics Corps colonel said, assessing that 2550 kilos (55-110 pounds) of improvised high explosive were used. Senior foreign diplomats also indicated privately that the blast was deliberate, attributing the official denials to fears over the potential effects of a confirmed first attack on Lagos, the artery of Nigeria’s economy. Questions have lingered about the incident because Lagos has so far escaped the violence unleashed on the North-East by Boko Haram and which has claimed about 15,000 lives in the last five years. There has been no claim of responsibility for the blast and the Lagos

State Police Command is still investigating the incident. Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri who doubles as the Coordinator, National Information Centre (NIC), told AFP the probe would “look at all issues… whether it is IEDs, car bombings or accidents”. Political and security consultants, Control Risks, which has an office in Lagos, said the Apapa blast was a bombing that killed at least four people, according to a report sighted by AFP that was sent to foreign business and government clients. “Drawing on eyewitness sources, Control Risks assesses that the incident was a militant attack rather than an industrial accident,” the group’s senior West Africa analyst, Roddy Barclay, said in a separate interview. Since the June 25 blast, the Lagos State Government has ordered tighter security at key fuel and infrastructure installations and beefed up state hospitals’ capacity to deal CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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

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Doctors ignore pleas, vow to continue strike Appolonia Adeyemi, Chukwu David and Obinna Odoh

he Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) yesterday vowed to continue with its strike which enters day nine today until the Federal Government has met its demands. The union, at an emergency meeting with representatives of the Federal Government in Abuja which ended in the wee hours of yesterday, said it would not shift ground. The Senate had yesterday urged the doctors to suspend the strike in the interest of the masses. What the continuation of the strike means is that majority of doctors will continue to desert all public and state government hospitals, though the Medical and Dental consultants (MEDCAN), an arm of the NMA, had pulled out of the strike after being compelled to return to work following the ruling of the National Industrial Court which directed them not to go on strike. Chairman of the NMA in Lagos State, Dr. Francis Faduyile, said no agreement could be reached between both parties because of some grey area that the government must address before the government po-

sition would be acceptable to the doctors. Earlier yesterday, the Senate appealed to the striking medical doctors to call off their one-weekold industrial action to avoid further loss of lives in hospitals. Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, made the appeal while presiding over the plenary, in response to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who updated the Senate on efforts being made by the committee to resolve the strike, which has paralysed activities in all public hospitals. Ekweremadu stated that the lingering strike was a threat to the system as the doctors’ action was affecting the masses most of whom could not afford the cost of treatment in private health facilities. He said: “I would like to appeal to the striking doctors on behalf of the Senate to please consider going back to work because as long as they are on strike, the casualty will usually be the patients who are innocent of whatever disagreement they had with government. “It is important that they realise that their primary responsibility is to save lives. So we hope that you (committee) working

with the rest of your colleagues and other interested parties that this matter will be resolved as soon as possible so that they can resume their usual duties and responsibilities to the patients. “I hope that other doctors who are here (in the Senate) will also support your initiative to ensure that this matter is settled as soon as possible to enable the doctors to return to their duty posts.” Okowa had while raising a point of order on the issue, explained that his committee had met with the leadership of the NMA, an action he noted,

necessitated the setting up of a presidential technical committee headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim. He added that the technical committee, whose membership those from the NMA, had met during which the leadership of the striking doctors appealed to members to offer emergency services in specialist health institutions. He said while the NMA members had since resumed at their duty posts, offering emergency services to patients, the body had yet to officially call off

the strike. The senator, however assured the Senate that his committee would continue to mediate in the industrial dispute until all the contentious areas were resolved and the strike called off. “The NMA said they would call their members back to offer emergency medical services and since Friday, they have directed all medical institutions to offer emergency medical services to Nigerians. “Yesterday (Monday), we were at the emergency delegates meeting; the Governor of Delta State who also is a medical doctor, myself and the chairman

of the House Committee on Health, where we addressed the emergency delegates’ meeting on the need to call off the strike. “We did find that some of the circulars that they demanded had been issued but unfortunately the strike was not called off at the end of the meeting. “I thought I needed to inform my colleagues that emergency medical services have been restored but I will continue with the negotiations along with membership of the presidential committee to ensure that in the next few days we are able to get a resolution to the crisis,” he said.

Council of State says abductees will be freed soon CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

nation’s leaders and their predecessors gave assurances that the Federal Government would soon rescue them from Boko Haram custody. However, the BringBackOurGirls group has called on the Federal Government to stop the blame game and intensify efforts to rescue the Chibok girls. Its plea came just as the United Nations linked Boko Haram to 18 attacks in Northern Nigeria in the past two weeks. In the response to the publication by the United States-based newspaper, Jonathan, through his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Dr. Reuben Abati, said he was doing all he could to rescue the schoolgirls. In the reaction posted on Abati’s twitter handle, titled: “Nigeria is aggressively confronting the Boko Haram threat in response to Karen Attiah’s misinformed July 3 op-ed,” Jonathan said: “The claim that the president has a “do-nothing” attitude towards rescuing the girls is no different than what was written about President Obama’s decision not to disclose his efforts to seize and arrest the alleged ringleader of the 2012 terrorist

attacks in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans — until he did just that. “Mr. Jonathan won’t put the lives of these girls at risk by publicly revealing details of the recovery operation for the sake of satisfying his critics. Despite Ms. Attiah’s claims to the contrary, even before the abductions, the president was engaged in international intelligence-sharing involving West Africa, Europe and the United States and he had also launched the counter-terrorism centre in Nigeria. “He has been working intensely on the very challenging situation posed by Boko Haram since assuming office, including declaring a state of emergency in May 2013 in the three most affected northern states.” Earlier in the day, Jonathan along with other national leaders and their predecessors had at a meeting of the Council of State brainstormed over the security situation in the country and how to rescue the Chibok girls without jeopardising their safety. The president and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd), briefed the members on the progress of the antiterror campaign. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Speaker, ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Ike Ekweremadu (right), welcoming the new President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Hon. Justice Maria Do Ceu Monteiro Silva (left), during a visit to the parliament in Abuja...yesterday.

Lack of venue stalls probe panel’s sitting CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

James Ngilari could not sit yesterday due to lack of venue. Nyako, in a subtle move to stall his removal, had on Sunday declared Monday and yesterday public holidays to enable residents of the state pray for Nigeria. Earlier, another source, a PDP bigwig with close ties with Nyako, Obasanjo and the president, also met with the governor and pleaded with him to find a way to stop the lawmakers from removing him from office. The source said Nyako had told him that he had no money to give the lawmakers and solicited his assistance to plead with the president to intervene. The source added that he advised Nyako to contact Obasanjo to plead with the president to pressurise the lawmakers to back off from impeaching him.

He said Nyako told him that he had recently met with Obasanjo to intervene and was optimistic that he could do something about the impeachment saga. Nyako had run into trouble with Jonathan during the leadership crisis that rocked the PDP under the immediate past National Chairman of the ruling party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. The testy relationship between the duo was further strained when Nyako accused Jonathan of embarking on genocide against the North. He also threatened to report Jonathan to the World Court over the genocide claim. Ever since then, Nyako had been marked as an enemy of the presidency and became an easy target after his defection to the APC without any the support of lawmakers from the state.

Unlike four other PDP governors who defected to the APC with a majority of legislators from their states, no lawmakers defected with Nyako to the opposition party. Even the two APC lawmakers in the state legislature before his defection, crossed over to the PDP as soon as the governor joined the opposition party. However, the investigative panel probing allegations of gross misconduct against Nyako and Ngilari could not sit yesterday as due to lack of venue. Investigations revealed that the J & J Hotel Villa where the panel held its inaugural sitting refused to allow it to continue working from there owing to the tight security provided for its members and the effect on the patronage of the hotel. Sources said guests and customers were scared to

come to the hotel since the panel started sitting due to heavy presence of armed soldiers and policemen. It was learnt that efforts by the clerk of the Assembly to find another venue for the panel were fruitless as no hotel was willing to allow the committee to use its facility. The panel , it was gathered, also tried to sit at the NLC Club , but the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Dauda Maina, was said to have tactically declined. Another attempt to sit at the press centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) also failed. But it was learnt that the state Council of Chiefs and Emirs had met on how save Nyako. “Our traditional rulers deliberated on how to reconcile the lawmakers and the executive for peace to reign,” a source said.

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Confab aborts voting on power devolution l18 zonal leaders meet to break looming deadlock l50 monarchs renew demand for Oduduwa State Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

he National Conference yesterday abruptly adjourned deliberations on the report of the Committee on Power Devolution to enable leaders of the six geo-political zones to conclude their consultations to break the looming deadlock on the issues of resource control and restructuring of the powers and responsibilities of the federal and state governments as listed in the Exclusive and Concurrent Lists in the 1999 Constitution. At the resumption of plenary yesterday, the conference had continued debate on the committee’s report, which began on Monday, and before lunch break, Chairman of the conference, Justice Idris Kutigi, had announced that the ballot boxes and other items be brought into the hall so that delegates could cast their ballot on

the recommendations of the report if they failed to reach a consensus through the usual voice vote. Kutigi, however, allayed the fears of the delegates, stressing that the ballot boxes were not meant to scare anyone but a sign that the secretariat was fully prepared for any eventuality as the deliberations progressed. While the tea break lasted, delegates were seen discussing the way forward and there were indications that the conference might eventually be forced to vote on the report. However, on their resumption from the short break, a delegate, General Ike Nwachukwu, moved a motion requesting for an adjournment to enable zonal leaders, three from each of the six geopolitical zone, meet on the issues under contention and resolve them without resorting to voting. The motion was seconded by Hon. Mohammed

Kumaila and unanimously adopted in a voice vote. The conference adjourned at about 1.03pm. Earlier, another delegate, Chief Segun Osoba, while contributing to the debate on the committee’s report expressed frustration at the trend of the arguments, adding that it was wrong for some delegates to remain stoutly against any change in the country. In a veiled reference to the northern delegates whose contributions pointed in the direction of maintaining the status quo on resource control, derivation and items of the legislative lists, Osoba said there would be payback time. “It appears that some people have come here with a mindset to maintain the status quo. In today’s world, devolution is the word. In the UK, they had what we called the United Kingdom but United Kingdom is now devolving powers from Westminster

to Scotland, Ireland and Wales. In 1977, a referendum was held in Wales and Scotland where they decided that they want power to devolve for them to have their own parliaments. In 1998, in what they called Good Friday in Ireland, they voted in a referendum to have power devolved to Ireland. If countries that

have been together for centuries are asking for devolution of powers, those asking for status quo here should rethink,” he said. Meanwhile, 50 traditional rulers and members of the Osun State Council of Obas yesterday renewed their demand for the creation of Oduduwa State. In a four- page memo-

randum submitted to the National Conference, the royal fathers said whereas the National Conference had recommended the creation of 18 additional states in the country, it was disheartening that the proposed Oduduwa State was not listed among the three states expected to be created in the South-West zone.

UN links Boko Haram to 18 attacks in two weeks CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

While addressing State House correspondents after the meeting, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, who was flanked by his Edo and Kaduna states’ counterparts, Adams Oshiomhole and Ramallan Yero respectively, said the council believed that the issue before the security forces was how to ensure that the girls were rescued with minimal casualty. Akpabio explained that the council stressed the need for Nigerians to exercise patience while the military was striving to rescue the girls. The council, according to Akpabio, commended the security forces for their efforts and expressed delight that the necessary equipment are being procured for them to enable them to end the current insurgency. “Top on the agenda of the meeting was the security of the nation. We were briefed by the president and the National Security Adviser on the steps that are being taken. “Top on the security was the rescue of the Chibok girls, which military authorities also confirmed that efforts were being made and that very soon we will have good news. “It was also heartwarming to note that the issue is not whether we can

rescue the girls, but the issue is how can we rescue them in a way that we can ensure their safety so that we don’t end up in the attempt to rescue them by endangering their lives,” he added. The council also deliberated on the appointment of commissioners in the National Population Commission and nominees from states that have not filled their quota were ratified and approved. Besides, Nigeria’s security situation also came up for discussion yesterday at the UN. The UN Special Envoy for West Africa, Said Djinnit, told the Security Council that Boko Haram was responsible for at least 18 attacks on civilians in Northern Nigeria in the past two weeks and the escalating violence of the insurgency threatens the security of West Africa. According to him, insecurity in North-eastern Nigeria, coupled with growing political tensions ahead of the 2015 general election have left the country at a crossroads. “The level of violence against civilians in Nigeria continues to escalate. “It is disheartening to note that within the last two weeks, at least 18 attacks attributed to Boko Haram have been conducted, resulting in the tragic death of innocent civilians and

displacement of peoples. The Boko Haram crisis is now affecting security in the sub region,” a report by Reuters quoted Djinnit as saying. “All efforts should be made to address the insurgency and insecurity. The present situation underscores the paramount need for the Nigerian political class to forge a unified stand in confronting the persisting insecurity,” he added. Also yesterday, Deputy National Mobilisation Coordinator, BringBackOurGirls, Yusuf Sheriff Banki, called on the Federal Government to intensify the search for the abducted Chibok girls to quicken their rescue. Banki, at a press conference in Maiduguri, said 85 days after gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram abducted the schoolgirls, there was still no information from government on their whereabouts and their health condition. He said the group was also concerned about other girls and women abducted by the terrorists and the escalating in the North-East and called on the Federal Government to liaise with affected members of the communities with a view to getting information on how best to end the insurgency and wanton killings of innocent lives.

United States Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle (left) and Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, during a visit by the ambassador to the emir in Kano...yesterday

Experts, witnesses accuse govt of cover-up in Lagos blast CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

with mass casualty emergencies. Shortly after the incident, the Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) along with security chiefs met with chief executives of oil companies to sensitise them on the need to be more security conscious. Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, also said part of measures taken to cope with emergencies that could arise from a terror attack included increasing blood stocks and buying new ambulances as well as putting all emergency units on stand-by. But he maintained the measures were only because of the countrywide state of alert. Seddon’s analysis and Control Risks’ assessment chimed with the accounts of seven eye-witnesses interviewed by AFP, who all said independently that there were two explosions. The first happened in

and around the gates of the Folawiyo fuel depot on Creek Road while the second came minutes later when a Toyota Sienna people carrier exploded in the road nearby, they said. “I was on duty that night,” said security guard Samuel George. “All of a sudden, we heard a loud explosion and we quickly shut the gate… Some minutes later, a car that was parked in the middle of the road exploded. “My colleague and I were hit by broken pieces of metal from the car. I had a deep cut on my face and head and since then have not been able to work. Many people were killed, including those I knew,” the 25-year-old added. Another local worker added: “I don’t know why the government is lying. The explosions were nothing short of bombings.” Claims that the first explosion was caused by a female suicide bomber

could not be verified with certainty. The head of the Yinka Folawiyo Group of Companies, which runs the fuel depot, has denied that the blast happened inside the facility and dismissed reports of fatalities. A US government official said Boko Haram had the “operational reach to get to Lagos” but only Control Risks has so far directly linked the bombing to the group. But Barclay qualified: “The incident is likely to have been staged by a local Islamist network rather than being planned and coordinated by Boko Haram’s core leadership in the northeast.” Local groups have more parochial agendas, he added. Further attacks were credible, probably on “soft targets”, but the bombing did not necessarily signal the start of a “sustained insurgency” in Lagos, he said.

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Igbere Union to partner New Telegraph on cultural festival

Senate won’t apologise to Okorocha

Chris Ugwu

gbere Welfare Union, a non political organisation of Igbere kingdom in Abia State has called on the New Telegraph Newspaper to form a synergy with it to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the people. Spokesperson of the Lagos branch of the union and the representative of the traditional ruler of the kingdom, Chief Chinweodere Awa, who made the call when he led a delegation of the union executives on a courtesy call to New Telegraph’s corporate headquarters in Lagos yesterday, said the print medium has what it

takes to help propagate the rich culture of his people. In the delegation were Comrade Godswill Okorie, President Igbere Welfare Union, Lagos Branch; Chief Maduabuchi Kalu, 1st Vice President; Hon. Victor Anyaogu, General Secretary; Mr. Chima Chima, Financial Secretary; Mr. Ifeanyi Ijeoma, Chief Provost; Elder Abraham Dimgba, among others. Awa, who extolled the sterling qualities New Telegraph has maintained within the short period it made entrance into the market, described the media team as rear gems in journalism profession.

Independence Day bombing: Keyamo’s absence stalls Okah's trial Tunde Oyesina Abuja

absence of the counTthehesel,prime Festus Keyamo to suspect of the

October 1, 2010 bombing in Abuja, Charles Okah, yesterday stalled the ongoing trial before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. Keyamo, who was absent in court but represented by a junior counsel, John Anietor, requested for an adjournment. The adjournment was to enable him to attend the interview of the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee for the award of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria. The interview was scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.

The request for adjournment was objected to by the prosecuting counsel, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), who said Keyamo’s letter requesting adjournment was “in bad faith”. Izinyon also said Keyamo had only attended the proceedings once, so Ainetor, who had always appeared for the accused persons in the suit, was qualified to continue the case. He, therefore, described the application for adjournment as “a make-up and strategy” to further delay the trial. Delivering a short ruling, the trial Justice Gabriel Kolawole, expressed displeasure over the conduct of Keyamo in the case.

Edo Speaker, others plead caution on assembly crisis Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

peaker of the All ProS(APC) gressives Congress controlled faction

of the Edo State House of Assembly, Uyi Igbe, yesterday condemned reports in a section of the media that the house sits in the governor’s office for the daily proceedings. Igbe, in a statement to newsmen in Benin, described the reports as not only “false and mischievous but another phase in what is now clearly a coordinated assault on the legislative branch in Edo State by desperate anti-democratic forces. Their intention is to cast the legislative branch in bad light, thereby eroding its integrity in the eyes of the good people of Edo State”. He said the attention of members of house

has been drawn to reports in a section of the media purporting that the Edo State House of Assembly now sits in the office/chamber of the Governor of the State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, following the commencement of repair works at the Hallowed Chamber of the Assembly at the Anthony Enahoro House. According to him, “As a temporary measure, the State Assembly has had to move its plenary to the old chamber of the Legislature, so that normal proceedings continue pending the completion of the repair of the Hallowed Chamber at the Anthony Enahoro House allegedly “vandalized last week by suspended Honourable Festus Ebea and his cohorts aided and abetted by some unpatriotic policemen."

Chukwu David Abuja

he Senate yesterday dared the Governor of Imo State, Mr. Rochas Okorocha, saying that it would not apologise to him over its condemnation of the Governor's alleged proposed policy to issue Identification Card to Northerners residing in the state. The move is aimed at checkmating Boko Haram insurgents from infiltrating the state. Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary, said the senate would not subject the point of order raised by Ningi because the issue was adequately debated last week and that the

1.3%

senate verdict on the issue was final. On the issue of apology demanded by Okorocha, Ekweremadu said the governor had the opportunity to brief senators from his state on the matter when the matter was first raised on Tuesday last week and eventually debated on the floor of the Senate on Thursday. He also ruled out insinuations that the senate was prosecuting Peoples Democratic Party agenda by its resolution on the matter, stressing that senators from opposition political parties participated actively in the debate and vote on the motion. Ekweremadu therefore, said that the Senate believed that what it did was the right thing and

The annual population growth rate of Australia in 2010-2015. Source: Un.org

would not tender any apology to either Rochas Okorocha or the Government of Imo State. The Senate had vehemently reprimanded Okorocha for his alleged plan to institute a policy of issuing Northerners residing in Imo as a way of ensuring that the Boko Haram insurgents did not infiltrate the state. But the Imo State Governor demanded an open apology from the Senate over the stance as he accused the senators of engaging themselves in unwarranted blackmail of the state government. Deputy Senate Leader, Abdul Ningi (PDP Bauchi Central), at the beginning of the plenary yesterday, drew the attention of the Senate to a newspaper publication,

40.8%

The percentage drop of total cash importation of Nigeria in the first quarter of 2014 to that of 2013. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

where an aide of the governor confirmed that the project had commenced, saying that the aide claimed the proposed ID project was an initiative of the northern elders in the state. He said the governor's aide granted an interview to a tabloid based in the northern part of the country, where he stated that the screening of all Northerners residing in Imo State had started. He further noted that the governor's aide explained that each of the northerners there would be duly registered to know their trade, residence and location and that they would be confirmed by the head of their trade union before they would be issued a card.

13.4%

The percentage of households with internet access of Arab States in 2007. Source: Itu.int

P-01; L-R: Patron, Igbere Welfare Union, Lagos Branch, Chief Chinweodere Awa; Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited, Gabriel Akinadewo and Deputy Managing Director, Felix Abagu, during a courtesy visit to New Telegraph Office, by the union, in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Reps pass Electoral Act Amendment Bill lTo decide on minority leadership crisis today

Philip Nyam Abuja

he House of Representatives yesterday passed for second reading the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2014. It also passed for third reading an executive bill for the regulation, development and management of a national health system. The Electoral Act Amendment Bill titled “A Bill for an Act to further amend the Electoral Act, No. 6, 2010 to ensure a level playing ground for all participants in the electoral process and for transparent process of

conducting elections in Nigeria and for other matters connected therewith” was sponsored by Daniel Reyenieju (PDP, Delta). Debate on the amendment bill, which began last week but was inconclusive, was shifted to yesterday by Speaker Aminu Tambuwal to give ample opportunity to members to contribute. When debate resumed yesterday on the bill, the Minority Whip Samson Osagie (APC, Edo) expressed concern that the amendment sought in the area of deploying armed forces during elections could jeopardise the process as the presence of heavily-armed soldiers

might scare Nigerians away. He was however countered by the Deputy Leader, Leo Ogor (PDP, Delta), who carpeted Osagie’s submission. His argument drew the ire of the Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Lagos), who cited a constitutional point of order to shore up support for Osagie and to stop Ogor from further contributing to the debate. Attempts by the Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, who presided, to calm down Gbajabiamila failed. Although Ogor eventually made his point that the president could deploy the armed forces

under Section 8 of the Armed Forces Act, Gbajabiamila countered that the House has the constitutional powers to determine how the president could do so. In order to settle the disagreement between Ogor and Gbajabiamila, the deputy speaker invited Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Business, Albert SamTsokwa, to shed light on the matter. Sam-Tsokwa in his intervention called the attention of the House to the fact that debate on any bill could be heated and it may go to any direction, adding that both Ogor and Gbajabiamila were only engaged in a healthy affair.

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SECURITY CJN takes pain to explain ways of facing new-terrorism Tunde Oyesina

ABUJA

hief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mariam Aloma Muhktar, yesterday said that upholding human rights is an essential element for a successful counter terrorism strategy. Muhktar however, added that compromising human rights cannot serve the struggle against terrorism, rather it will fa-

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Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Human rights’ protection essential in fighting terrorism, says CJN cilitate the achievement of the terrorists’ objective by ceding to them the moral high ground, and provoking tension, hatred and mistrust of government, among precisely those parts of the population where they is most likely to find recruits. The CJN, who spoke in Abuja while delivering a speech at a workshop for judicial officers on antiterrorism organised by the National Judicial Institute

(NJI), added that terrorism poses serious fundamental challenges to any nation that is unfortunate to experience it. “It has the risk of undermining the core values of the nation – the Rule of Law, respect for human rights, protection of civilians and tolerance among the various ethnic groups. Modern terrorism is a complex and everchanging phenomenon, she added.

In his speech at the workshop, Administrator of the NJI, Justice Umaru Eri (rtd), said there is the need to put in place effective counter-terrorism measures as it concerns the adjudication of terrorism-related cases. “What we are facing today is a new kind of terrorism, a terrorism that is inspired by an ideology that is inhuman and retrogressive. An ideology that preaches a return to

the dark period of stone age, when might was right and human life was ‘brutish and shot.’ “This ideology is not only barbaric, but also anachronistic and antediluvian. This is terrorism that is not motivated by the desire for independence, but is simply anchored on ideology of hate, with a very strong and consuming passion to kill, maim and destroy. Justice Eri stated.

According to Eri, “suicide bombing is a new phenomenon in Nigeria. One truth is that the theory that punishment deters crime is manifestly inapplicable here." Earlier, the CJN observed that terrorism undermines economic activities and development, thereby seriously affecting living standard of the poor segment of the society. She added said there was always the temptation for government of any country experiencing terrorist attacks to fight terrorism with any available means without any consideration of the legal safeguards that exist in a democratic state.

Ocean surge: Senate indicts Chevron Chukwu David

Abuja

L-R: Company Secretary, Ecobank Nigeria, Mrs. Adenike Laoye; Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Tony Okpanachi; Economic Advisor, United Nations Development Programme, Mrs Colleen Zamba; Permanent Secretary, Delta State Ministry of Environment, Mrs Felicia Adun and Cluster Coordinator, Environmental and Sustainability Desk, Ecobank, Mr. Christian Ene, at the signing of the Territorial Approach to Climate Change Initiative between the UNDP and Ecobank Nigeria, in Lagos

Onyemenam: Why NIMC is harmonising data

Danjuma, Fashola, others to grace Olatunji Dare’s birthday lecture

Johnchuks Onuanyim

Mojeed Alabi

Abuja

ational Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Mr. Chris Onyemenam, yesterday explained the reason behind the Federal Government’s directives on data collection and harmonisation between the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and the NIMC. Onyemenam made the explanation in Abuja during the meeting of the Harmonisation and Integration Committee. The Federal Government, in a circular issued by the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, had directed MDAs to harmonise their data collection with the NIMC. Speaking to journalists after his opening remarks at the meeting, he said: “The primary reason for harmonisation and integration includes the need to ensure that the duplication and wastages that flow from that in terms of what the various MDAs are doing are eliminated or are at

least reduced to the barest minimum. “This is because it is not sustainable; it is not the ideal thing, in all jurisdictions across the world there is a way these things come together.” He said the essence of the meeting was to meet up the December 31, deadline of the Federal Government on the harmonisation and integration of data base collection of the MDAs and the NIMC. “What we are trying to do is to respond promptly to government’s directives that by December this year, we should ensure that there is some harmony. There is a sink in the various infrastructure that over times has been deployed by various institutions, so that these processes and infrastructure become streamlined. “Those that need not to duplicate the activities that are rightfully the responsibilities of some other institutions would then exit over a period and we then have inter-dependency that is logical and acceptable within government establishments.

mer Chief of Am ufor Ar my Staf f and lti-millionaire

businessman, General Theophilus Danjuma; the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, media practitioners, and a host of others will on Thursday, July 17, gather in Lagos to grace the 70th birthday lecture of a media guru and Professor of Journalism, Olatunji Dare. The lecture, which is scheduled to hold by 11am at the Muson Centre, Lagos, will be delivered by a media scholar and lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, Prof. Kwame Karikari. He will discuss the theme; Memories of Censorship: Struggling for Press Freedom in Africa. According to the organisers, a book edited by Wale Adebanwi and titled; Public Intellectuals, the Public

Sphere and the Public Spirit: Essays in Honour of Olatunji Dare, will also be presented at the event. The book, which contains essays from successful scholars and communication exper ts, including Prof. Niyi Osundare of the University of Swaziland; former Daily Times editor, Dr. Adidi Uyo; former Concord Managing Director; former Punch Chairman, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola; famous poet, Mr. Odia Ofeimun; Editorin-Chief of Premium Times, Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi, among others, is said to dwell on the issues of integrity, dignity and spirit of humanity as epitomized by the honoree. Dare, who is currently a Professor of Communication at the Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois, United States of America, has been described by many as Nigeria's most celebrated satirist and one of the most respected newspaper columnists.

onsequent upon the ocean surge that occurred recently, which submerged some coastal communities in Bayelsa and Delta States, the Senate yesterday urged the Federal Government to mobilise and obtain compensation from Chevron Nigeria Limited for the affected communities. The Senate said it was because the surge was attributed to the unmitigated explosive activities of the multinational oil company in the oil producing communities in the affected states. The upper legislative chamber also implored the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to send relief materials to the persons displaced by the surge that has left a lot of agonising consequences on the affected coastal communities. It further called on the Federal Government to put measures in place to bring a lasting solution to the problem, including comprehensive environmental impact

assessment to determine the effect of past earth tremors on the nation’s earth crust, and aggressive shoreline protection of coastal areas in the country. These resolutions were sequel to the motion brought to the floor of the Senate by Senator Emmanuel Paulker (Bayelsa Central, PDP) and thirty other co-sponsors. The motion was entitled; “Ocean surge in coastal areas and consequences for coastal dwellers.” Leadingdebateonthemotion, Senator Paulker drew the attention of the Senate to the devastating experience of residents of some coastal communities in Bayelsa and DeltaStates,whowererecently displaced by ocean waves, which he said submerged their communities and destroyed their livelihood. He told the Senate that the surge had killed people, wiped out communities and destroyed markets and property worth billions of naira and permanently altered their lifestyles in Koluama 1, Koluama 11, Foropa and many other communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State.

August greenlight for Adichie's controversial film Half of a Yellow It was feared by some Twar,heSun,film, about the Biafran that the film, which is seen is to be shown in cin- as sympathetic to the Biafemas across Nigeria from August after film censors gave their approval. It was set to open in Nigerian cinemas in April, but the country’s film board found some scenes ‘objectionable.’ It was not clear if changes have been made to satisfy the censors, but last month, the film’s distributors said it had agreed to edit some scenes. The film is based on the best-selling novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. More than a million people died in Nigeria’s 1967-70 civil war and it remains a sensitive subject.

ran separatist cause, could stoke ethnic tensions. A report by the BBC yesterday quoted the film’s producers and distributor Shareman Media and FilmOne Distribution - in a joint statement as thanking Nigerians for their ‘patience and support.’ “Half of a Yellow Sun is now set to strike a special chord with every Nigerian,” they said. In June, FilmOne Distribution said it had met members of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) to explain the financial consequences of making edits.

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Wednesday, July 9, 2014

cumbersome

Registration by Nigerians should not be stressful, that is the message Dahiru Suleiman Dutse

s Nigerians are finding it difficult to acquire National Identity Cards under the on-going National Identifica-

Simplify NIMC rules for Nigerians, says Lamido tion Civic Registration, Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State has advised the management of the National Identification Commission to simplify the procedures of getting civic cards registration. Speaking shortly after being registered at the government house registration unit, Lamido cautioned officials of the (NIMC) to looked inward

The life expectancy (in years) of women at birth in Nigeria in 2010-2015. Source: Un.org

in amending all technicalities involved to allow Nigerians acquire National Identity Cards. "Well, an innovation of this magnitude is a welcome development, but it ought to be simple for people to embrace, understand, and comply with to avoid duplication, or wastage, while registering”, said Lamido. He called on Jigawa

200,000

The number of adults and children estimated to be living with HIV in Namibia in 2007. Source: Blatantworld.com

people to come out enmasse in ensuring they participated fully in the ongoing exercise in fulfillment of their civic rights. Earlier in her response, the Jigawa state Co-ordinator, National Identification Commission, Hajia Bilkisu Dalhatu, promised to channel all grievances raised to the appropriate quarters for improvement.

21.65

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of China in 2010. Source: Itu.int

New Telegraph gathered that people complained about the bureaucracy of acquiring National Identity Card. The National Registration Excercise was initi-

ated by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2004 and later reviewed by the present administration designed for National planning.

Niger berates APC on payment of advisers Dan Atori Minna

he Niger State governTstate ment has rebuked the chapter of All Progressive Congress (APC), for recent media report attributed to it saying that the Dr Babangida Aliyu’sled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government of the state was paying redundant political advisers. This was contained in a press statement yesterday in Minna signed by Mr Israel Ebije, Chief Press Secretary to Aliyu calling on people of the state to discountenance the immature reasoning of the opposition insisting it is not true. Ebije said the opposition was out to smear the state government to score cheap political mileage. He said that the opposition mischievously quoted the governor out of context, adding that Ali-

yu’s position on some of his Special Advisers not doing their bit was only an attempt at encouraging the newly sworn in advisers to sustain service delivery. He said that only two advisers have returned since the immediate past cabinet reshuffle. The Chief Press Secretary said that the governor has removed the unproductive advisers and that the opposition spokesman only spoke without taking cognizance of actual facts on ground. “It is very sad that the opposition allows itself to be misled by a selfseeking individual, only interested in profiting from cheap blackmail. “It is a known fact that the Niger State governor has zero tolerance for unproductive members of the cabinet and he was only charging the newly sworn in Special Advisers to work harder.

Okorodudu: Order of arrest still stands

Joseph Onyekwere L-R: CEO, Avon Medical Services Ltd, Dr. Awele Elumelu; former United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton; Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu and member, The Tony Elumelu Foundation Advisory Board, Lady Lynn de Rothschild, at the official UK release of Secretary Clinton’s book “Hard Choices” at Kensington Palace, London...last week.

New LGs: Fayemi adamant, sends bill to Assembly Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

espite protests by some communities and opposition parties, Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, appears resolute in his attempt to create 18 additional local council development areas from the existing 16 local governments in the state. The outgoing governor has therefore sent a bill for the creation to the new LCDAs to the House of Assembly for consideration.

The Governor-Elect, Mr Ayo Fayose, his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some communities have expressed displeasure over the desire of Fayemi and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) to create the new LCDAs at the twilight of his administration. Also, the Ekiti State Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe, had last week dragged the Fayemi administration to court, urging the court to stop the state government from proceeding fur-

ther on the issue of the creation of new LCDAs on the premise that the government had contravened the provisions of 1999 Constitution. Joined in the suit is the state House of Assembly. The case is yet to commence at the court, as no judge has been assigned to hear the suit. Reading the Executive Bill from Fayemi to his colleagues on the floor of the House on Monday, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adewale Omirin, notified the lawmakers over the bill sent to the House by

the governor. Meanwhile, the bill has passed through the first reading at the plenary of the House. Moving the motion for the business of the day, the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Ayodeji Odu, urged his colleagues to consider the passage of the bill. Meanwhile, no fewer than four communities in the state have protested merging them with other communities in the proposed new LCDAs. The communities include Osi, Ire, Ikoro and Erinmope.

High Court sitAoverLagos ting in Ikeja, presided by Justice Lateef

Lawal-Akapo, yesterday refused to vacate an earlier bench warrant issued for the arrest of Mr. Bube Okorodudu, the Chairman of Cross Country Limited over his inability to appear before the court to answer to alleged N82.8m theft charge. The charge is levelled against him and his companies - Cross Country Limited and Car Link Limited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). They are facing an eightcount charge of conspiracy, stealing, forgery and uttering. The court took the decision shortly after counsels in the matter

had argued their respective applications. The trial judge, Justice Lawal-Akapo, held that the medical report dated June 24, 2014 and signed by one Dr A.O Salako on behalf of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) is of no probative and evidential value. The court also declared that the attitude of the Cross Country MD amounted to disrespect of the court. According to the judge, the absence of the 1st accused stalled the day's proceedings. “The order of arrest of Okorodudu still stands", he declared. The judge had directed the Nigerian Police to effect the arrest and produce the businessman before the court on July 8, 2014 for arraignment.

MMA2: Bi-Courtney promises 2016 upgrade target Wole Shadare he facility upgrade Thammed of the Muritala MuAirport 2,

MMA2, will be completed by 2016 according to the operators of the terminal, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL).

This is just as the terminal operator yesterday commissioned some escalators. The management said the escalator project was the fourth phase of its facility upgrades, which it put at N500m. Speaking at the event, Chief Executive Officer, BASL, Christophe Pen-

nick, disclosed that there were 11 phases included in the facilities upgrade , adding that seven more phases would still be carried out by the firm. Pennick apologised to travellers, terminal users, airline operators and even the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority,

NCAA, for the excruciating pain and inconveniences they had to go through since the management commenced the facility upgrade. Other phases commissioned earlier by BASL according to Pennick were the automation of the car park, installing

of new dual billing system at the cargo section and the expansion of the checked-in counters from 33 to 45 counters. It was learnt that BASL expended at least N100m on the re-installation of the escalator upgrade while the equipment's were imported from Japan.

He said that with the upgrade of the facilities, all its operations would be International Air Transport Association, IATA, complaint, adding that this would make it the first terminal in the sub-Saharan African countries to be so compliant.

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Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Court remands monarch for stealing Babatope Okeowo Akure

deposed traditional ruler in Odigbo Local Government of Ondo State, Oba Pius Akinfesola Adewola has been remanded in the prison custody by a chief magistrate court siting in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State. The monarch, whose title was given as Akamuja of Igburowo land, was arraigned in the court, presided over by Mr. O. J Adelegan over a four count charge of stealing, impersonation, fraud and forgery. According to the charge sheet, the embattled monarch and others at large allegedly committed the offence in the agrarian settlement of Igburowo, in Odigbo Local Government between 2004 and April 2014. The charge sheet also indicates that the monarch allegedly stole the sum of N16.1m, property of one Idowu Adegunloye, Akinsebi Modesayo, Celina Ariyo and Adebayo Adewola. When the charge sheet was read to the accused monarch, he pleaded not guilty. The police prosecutor however told the court of his intention to prosecute

the matter by inviting ten witnesses, he equally urged the court to grant him short adjournment to enable him peruse the case file and assemble all witnesses. In his application before the court, counsel to the accused monarch, Otunba Yemi Akindugbagbe, who was represented in the court by Barr. Akinfe, pleaded with the court to admit his client on bail, stating that the accused person is a retired civil servant and a reputable community leader in the state, who he said before he was recently sacked by the people of his community unceremoniously. He added that he would produce a reliable surety, also promised that the monarch would not jump bail. After listening to the application of the both parties, the presiding Chief Magistrate, Mr. O.J Adelegan, granted the bail application with N5 million with two surety in like sum, the magistrate also stated that the surety must produce three years tax clearance and a relevant document of a landed property within the magisterial district and later adjounred the case till July, 18 2014, for further hearing.

INEC to register three million voters in Jigawa Dahiru Suleiman Dutse

Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) is to register three million voters in jigawa state for the forthcoming 2015 general elections, the state Residence Electoral Commissioner, Ibrahim Bagobiri Mafara has said. Speaking while inu-

agurating voters’ education enlightening committee, he stated that the exercise will commence on August 15 this year. According to him, the inauguration is one of the several events by INEC nationwide among other articulated plans aimed to ensure free, fair, credible, and acceptable polls in 2015.

Lagos concessions cardiac, renal centre Muritala Ayinla Determined to stop the spate of medical trips abroad as well as build local capacity especially for ailments that should be treated locally, the Lagos State Government has finally concessioned its first ultra-modern Cardiac and Renal Centre at Gbagada area of Lagos. The development, according the government was to make expertise and facilities available to effectively manage

all kinds of terminal ailments in the state. Speaking after the signing the Memorandum of Understanding on concession arrangement, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris while giving reasons for embarking on the project noted that state government considers the opening of the centre appropriate and timely due to the increasing number of patients with end stage renal failure.

Director General, National Centre for women Development (NCWD), Abuja, Lady Onyeka Onwenu (left), being conferred with Honorary Membership of the Rotary Club of Asokoro by the President, Mr. Ogechukwu Ochuba, during her visit to Onwenu in Abuja

Court okays Kano’s request Aggrieved APC members to sue Okonjo-Iweala justified to defect to SDP – Kaka Tunde Oyesina Abuja

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday granted a request by the Kano State government to sue the Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy and the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, over the refusal of the minister to furnish it with information relating to deductions from its allocations and those of its local governments for the Petroleum Support Fund. The state government, through its counsel, Mrs. Funmi Awomolo (SAN) while arguing a motion exparte told the court that the minister

had been deducting money from the funds accruable to it and its Local Governments, but never disclosed the amount deducted between 2005 and 2014. Listed as defendants alongside Okonjo-Iweala in the case are the Ministry of Finance and the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA). The trial judge, Justice Evoh Chukwu however granted the ex-parte motion seeking leave to properly sue the defendants for their refusal to make available to the government the information on the deduction.

Group tasks FG over insecurity in schools Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin.

Members of the Government Secondary School, Ilorin Old Students Association (GSSIOSA) yesterday asked the Federal Government to show greater political will in addressing the security challenges facing Nigeria.

National President of the association, Alhaji Nurudeen Alabi at a news conference in Ilorin, Kwara State, noted the continued state of insecurity has begun to take unnecessary toll on the educational sector which must be addressed wholeheartedly.

Court jails fake NYSC member Babatope Okeowo

Akure

An Akure Magistrate Court yesterday sentenced a fake corps member, Mrs. Rabiu Umar to six years imprisonment for stealing and attempted fraud. The Chief Magistrate, M. O Adewumi convicted the fake Corp member in a suit number MAK/0/212C/2014. He was found guilty on the two count charge of impersonation and at-

tempted fraud. Police prosecutor Inspector Jimoh Ibrahim told the court that Mrs. Rabiu Umar was arrested by security operatives at NYSC Secretariat Igbatoro road in Akure on 4th July, 2014 while seeking for redeployment to Ondo State. The prosecutor said various NYSC identity cards and fake documents were in possession of the convict when arrested.

Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

The Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Adegbenga Kaka, yesterday declared that aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state are justified to leave the party. He said this shortly after a stakeholders’ meeting of party elders drawn from the nine local government areas of the district at his Ijebu-

Igbo residence on Monday. Kaka also confirmed that a faction of APC loyal to former Governor Olusegun Osoba had concluded plan to defect to the newly registered Social Democratic Party (SDP). The senator, who belonged to the Osoba group, told reporters that the group was being wooed by various opposition political parties in the state.

Akwa Ibom commissioner commends publishers Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Education Prof (Mrs) Atim Antai has commended the efforts of Africana First Publishers Plc for its pioneering efforts in educational development in the nation. “Your giant strides into the production of French Language books which your contemporaries fear to delve into makes you a market leader”, she declared. Speaking at a sensitization workshop for French teachers on the use of French textbooks titled.... CASSE-BARRIERE PAR-

LONS FRANCAIS (Books 1-3) organized by Afrcana First Publishers Plc at Adiaha Obong Secondary Commercial School ,Uyo,Akwaa Ibom State, Prof Antai noted that Nigeria being part of the global village coupled with the fact that the nation plays a leading role in ECOWAS as well as other international agencies like UNICEF where deliberations are usually in French and English languages puts a burden on us to encourage the teaching of French at the grassroot levels.

2014 Hajj: Ogun extends deadline for payment Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

In a move towards ensuring that all qualified pilgrims for the 2014 Hajj exercise are not exempted, the Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has extended the deadline for payment of Hajj fares till Monday 18 August,

2014. In a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Alhaji Sefiu Rasheed, the agency said the decision was borne out of the magnanimity of the state government to consider the pilgrims after the expiration of the initial deadline to balance their Hajj fares.

Benue CNPP tells Suswam to drop senatorial ambition FG deploys automated payment solution for power sector Cephas Iorhemen, Makurdi The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has warned Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State to drop his planned move to the Sen-

ate after his tenure as a governor. State Chairman of CNPP, Mr. Aondohemba Baba Agan, who stated this in Makurdi, yesterday while fielding ques-

tions from journalists, told the governor to wait for another time since the position is being occupied by an incumbent senator, who is equally going to take the second slot.

James Nwabueze, Abuja Federal Government yesterday commissioned an automated solution platform to manage the payment processes within the industry.

The measure, which is code-named NIBSS/ Power Collect is aimed at reducing human interaction and its attendant bias in the payment processes in the Nigerian Electricity

Supply Industry (NESI). Speaking during the occasion, the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, noted that a lot went into developing the platform.

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Flood destroys property in Akwa Ibom Tony Anichebe

Uyo

roperty valued at milPdestroyed lions of naira had been by flood after a

heavy downpour in Iwuo Okpom and Inua Eyet Ikot communities in Ibeno local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The flood, which brought down houses in the area rendered many people homeless. Chairman of Iwuo-Okpom council in Ibeno, Chief John Etim, lamented the fate that befell the communities while conducting newsmen round the flooded area. He said the downpour, which lasted for six hours rendered 30 families homeless.

“The whole place was flooded and flood entered several houses in the communities. The two villages share one canal and most water from the swamp passes through one place to the Atlantic Ocean,’’ he said. He lamented that there was no good drainage system in the communities. “If ExxonMobil was carrying out a good corporate social responsibility, since the flood affected them, they should have come to our aid, but they only succeeded in pumping water from their dormitory, not minding what happens to their host communities,’’ he said.

Bisalla: Nigeria LNG condoles with New Telegraph Wale Elegbede he management of the Nigeria LNG Limited yesterday joined other individuals and organisations to express its deepest sympathies to the management and staff of New Telegraph newspapers, following the death of the paper’s Managing Editor (North), Mr. Suleiman Bisalla, in bomb blast last month. Bisalla, alongside 21 others were victims of the June 25, 2014 bomb attack on the Emab Plaza in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. In a condolence message signed by its Manager, Communication and Public Affairs, Tony Okonedo, the organisation said it was jolted by the sad news and the act of terrorism that claimed the life of Bisalla at a time he was primed to contribute

significantly to the development of the newspaper and Nigeria as a whole. “Bisalla was a gentleman, a professional, an excellent journalist and a caring leader. Our relationship with him dates back to his time as Deputy Editor at the Daily Trust when we had several opportunities to benefit from his kindness and his openmindedness, some of his many virtues cannot be easily forgotten. Undoubtedly, the Nigerian media has lost a great gem.” While sharing its solemn thoughts and prayers with the newspaper and the Bisalla family, the Nigeria LNG said it is standing with others in the call to end terrorism in the country, adding that it is in consonance with the continuing quest of the New Telegraph newspapers for a better Nigeria.

Emeakayi justifies PDP’s choice of Obi as minister nambra State Chair- party in power or any ADemocratic man of the Peoples such qualifications.” Party (PDP), He said the appointPrince Ken Emeakayi, yesterday justified why the party nominated the immediate past governor of the state, Mr. Peter Obi, of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for ministerial appointment. Speaking with the New Telegraph on phone, Emeakayi said the former governor's nomination was morally, legally and constitutionally right. He said: “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that empowered Mr. President to appoint ministers did not say that such appointees should be cardcarrying members of the

ment of any minister should be purely the discretion of the President and nothing more. Some PDP members were said to be against the nomination of Obi for the position, arguing that such appointment should be for members of the party alone. But Emeakayi in his explanation, said Obi was more qualified for the appointment, putting into consideration the quantum of support he had rendered to the PDP, especially Obi’s support for the President in the 2011 general elections, which he said gave the president the highest votes in the South East.

L-R: Author/Permanent Secretary, Local Government Service Commission, Lagos State, Mr. Fadipe Sewanu; Chairman, La Campagne Tropicana Group, Dr. Wanle Akinboboye; ace actor and Chief Femi Robinson, at the media launch of the book; 'Tourism Destination Management' in Lagos… yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Edo Assembly crisis: I can’t be intimidated, says Oshiomhole CONTROL Edo governor is not having sleepless nights in spite of trouble in the House Lateef Ibrahim and Anule Emmanuel Abuja

do State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot intimidate him over his rumoured vice-presidential ambition under the All Progressives Congress (APC). The governor spoke with State House correspondents after the meeting of the National Council of States (NCS) presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan. He blamed the ongoing crisis in the Edo State House of Assembly on the refusal of the suspended PDP lawmakers to obey the decision of the court. Governor Oshiomhole

alleged that the ruling PDP at the federal level was bent on destabilising Edo State just because the party was rejected by the people in the state. According to him; “In my election and in all that they said they were going to do, I defeated them in the 18 local government areas, including the local government of the PDP godfather. “So, what they are trying to do now is that having lost the election, having been rejected by the Edo people and knowing that another election is coming, they want to distabilise the state, intimidate my person.” While making reference to the statement issued by the national leadership of the PDP recently in which it accused him (the governor) of destabilising Edo because of his vice-presidential ambition, the governor said: “Now, that is standing logic on its head. If I want to contest the vice-presidency, do I need to distabilise the government that I

currently head? “So, they have let out the cat, meaning that they are afraid for their own rumoured ambition that I want to contest the vicepresidency. “The point I am making is that, if I decide to contest for the presidency, PDP cannot intimidate me, I have a right to do so, if it is my conviction. “It is unfortunate that some people want to put their individual interests above national interest and I cannot be intimidated. I’m firmly on ground and there is nothing to worry about.” While tracing the reason for the crisis in the Edo State House of Assembly, the governor said: “You have some people who believe that because they are members of the PDP, they are above the law and they want to celebrate the culture of impunity. “But, I am a product of struggle all my life. I’m used to people who think that they are much more

than what they are. And my own life history tells me that only the man on the side of truth is on the side of God and only that could survive. “The issue in Edo is straight forward; four members of the PDP on their own went to court asking the Federal High Court to ask the Speaker not to declare their seats vacant. “Number two, they asked the court to restrain the Speaker and the House from carrying out any disciplinary action against them. The court granted these two reliefs. “Now the issue is, I can understand why they were asking that their seats should not be declared vacant, because they had changed camp, the penalty is provided by Section 109 of the constitution. “But they also asked the court to restrain the Speaker from suspending them based on internal disciplinary issues."

PDP seeks probe of Ogun councils Kunle Olayeni

Abeokuta

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State yesterday called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to probe the accounts of local governments in the state. PDP Chairman in the state, Chief Adebayo Dayo, made the call against the backdrop of the recent comments by the Committee for Democracy and Hu-

man Rights (CDHR). In a statement made available to reporters in Abeokuta, Dayo lamented what he described as the poor state of accounts of the 20 local government areas. The PDP chairman alleged that the Governor Ibikunle Amosun administration had deliberately crippled the third tier of government, expressing the determination of his party to stop the trend. He said: “The party is in full support of the call for the holistic probe of the local government ac-

counts and other state accounts including the IGR. The party has in the past raised similar alarm as to the sentencing of the local government councils to the darkest moment of inactivity and impotence, thus making it a shadow of itself. “We urge the EFCC and ICPC to also extend their searchlight to the treasury, especially the road and bridges constructed, which had drained the treasury with attendant capital flight, causing untold hardship to the citizens. “The people of Ogun

State by their commitment to civil rule and democracy over the years do not deserve the callous manner and uncompromising attitude of the Amosun government.” Dayo also claimed that the government’s policies were antithetical to the welfare of the people. “Available data gathered from the website of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Accountant General’s Office, confirmed that local governments in Ogun State received N46.9 billion for the period between December 2012 and May 2014."

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Police arrest another son for hacking father to death FATHERS IN DANGER A son has been arrested for killing his father in Enugu State days after a 21-year-old boy stabbed his father to death in Ogun State Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

olice in Enugu State have apprehended a young man, identified as Ikenna Onu, for murdering his father, Christopher Onu. Ikenna hacked his father to death for counselling him against smoking Indian hemp and the dangers it could IG, Muhammed Abubakar pose to his life. According to the state Police Public thrown the family of Onu of Aguabosi Relations Officer (PPRO), Ebere Am- village at Ugwuoba in Oji River Loaraizu, the incident occurred at the cal Government Area into mournweekend after the deceased returned ing. from farm. Amaraizu said in a statement yesThe incident, it was learnt, has terday that an older son of the de-

ceased, Amobi Onu, explained that his younger brother, Ikenna, had last Friday picked up an axe and cut open their father’s head. The victim slumped and died, instantly. “On that fateful day, the deceased, having allegedly returned from farm work, had called on his son, Ikenna Onu, and was advising him to desist from smoking weeds suspected to be Indian hemp so as not to endanger his life. “As the words of advice were going on, the suspect got up and allegedly picked an axe and cut open the father’s head which made the deceased slump and die,” the PPRO said. Amaraizu said that investigations had commenced into the incident, while the body of the deceased had been deposited in the morgue of the General Hospital, Oji River, for autopsy.

Mutailatu Church celebrates Golden Jubilee

n August 17, Mutailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide will roll out the drums to celebrate its 50th anniversary. According to the anniversary committee, several activities have been lined up to mark the historic golden jubilee with pomp. The theme of the anniversary is: Prayer is the key. (Adura Ni Koko). The celebration is scheduled to hold at the church International S u b - H e a d q u a r t e r s, Sanctuary Auditorium, besides Lead City University, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Ajah, Lekki, Lagos. His Most Eminence, Baba Aladura (Dr) Motailatu Akinadewo,

primate, prophet and Supreme Head, Motailatu Organisation Worldwide, founded the church in 1964. Motailatu, according to the General Secretary, MCCSW, Elder (Dr) Israel Akinadewo, is a spiritual name, which means orderliness. Professor (Elder) Joseph Otubu, a professor of Medicine and General Evangelist of the church, will be one of the officiating officers at the ceremony expected to draw eminent religious leaders, government officials and captains of industry. Baba Aladura, the founder, was a top educationist before his divine calling into the vineyard in 1964.

I trafficked drugs for $3,500 reward, says suspect

Court remands Ondo monarch for stealing

Wole Shadare

Akure

34-year-old man, Nriagwu Augustine Ifeanyi, has been arrested with 1.370kg of whitish powdery substance which tested positive for cocaine. The suspect was arrested by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. The arrest and seizure took place at the departure hall during screening of passengers on a Turkish Airline flight. According to the NDLEA Commander at the MMIA, Mr Hamza Umar, the drug was packed in two parcels inside a laptop bag. Ifeanyi was found with two parcels of cocaine industrially hidden by the sides of his laptop bag. He was detected on his way to Turkey from where he would have proceeded to South Sudan. The suspect, in his confession, said he smuggled the drug in anticipation of $3,500 he was

promised. He said: “I wanted to use the $3,500 they promised to pay me to take care of my personal problems. I relocated to South Sudan in January 2013. I am married and have a child but I am unable to care for my family due to financial constraint. “Nobody wants to help me and the only way out for me was to smuggle the drugs. This was how I got involved.” The Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, said that the agency would continue to engage in both drug supply and demand reduction activities to make the country drug-free. “The NDLEA will continue to pursue its mandate with all diligence. We shall cut off the supply of drug through arrests and prosecution of drug traffickers. “We shall also intensify our anti-drug abuse public enlightenment programmes,” Giade stated. The suspect, according to the agency, will soon be charged to court.

Babatope Okeowo

The laptop bag showing the 1.370kg cocaine

Ifeanyi with the two parcels of cocaine

deposed traditional ruler in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Pius Akinfesola Adewola, has been remanded in the prison custody by a chief magistrate court siting in Ore. The deposed monarch, who was the Akamuja of Igburowo land, was arraigned in the court presided over by Mr O. J Adelegan, a Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR). Adewola is standing trial in a four-count charge of stealing, impersonation, fraud and forgery. According to the charge sheet, the deposed monarch and others at large committed the offence in the agrarian settlement of Igburowo between 2004 and April 2014. In addition, the charge sheet also indicates that Adewola stole N16,131,000, belonging to Idowu Adegunloye, Akinsebi Modesayo, Celina Ariyo and Adebayo Adewola. Adewola was also accused of fraudulently converting the mon-

ey and forged the signatures of the persons who he claimed to be workers of Odigbo Local Government and collected their monthly salaries in the local government. The offences, according to the prosecutor Inspector Agboola, are contrary and punishable under sections 516, 390 (8B), 383 and 467 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Volume I of the Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006. When the charges were read to the accused, he pleaded not guilty. After listening to the application of both parties, Adelegan granted Adewola bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in like sum. The magistrate also stated that the sureties must produce three years’ tax clearance and a relevant document of a landed property within the magisterial district and later adjourned the case till July 18, for further hearing. However, when Adewola’s counsel Otunba Yemi Akindugbagbe, could not meet the bail condition, the accused was immediately taken to the Shegede prison in Ondo town.

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Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Fashola extends LagosHoms to artisans, others Muritala Ayinla

overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State yesterday announced plan by his administration to introduce ‘Rent to Own Scheme,’ in the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme, LagosHoms. Fashola said the initiative was to encourage residents in the informal sector participate in the housing scheme. With the new proposal, the 30 per cent equity contribution would be waved for the intending applicants who might not be able to afford the initial first payment of the housing scheme which ranges from N3 million to N32 million, depending on the type, size and location. Investigation shows that the 30 per cent equity contribution had also contributed to why most applicants, especially those in the informal sector, consider the housing scheme unaffordable, hence, the reason for the new proposal. Speaking at a special interactive session with artisans in the state, which included the transport operators, bricklayers, brick-makers, fashion-designers and others, Fashola said the traders and

artisans could conveniently pay for the homes located across the state. According to the governor, investigations carried out by his team recently showed that most people in the informal sector could also afford the mortgage scheme, going by their monthly income and profit, adding that the ‘Rent to Own’ initiative would further make the scheme affordable for all and sundry. Urging artisans to apply for their choice homes in the scheme, Fashola said the government would, through the Lagos Mortgage Board, ensure that artisans benefit from the scheme. He added that the board would allocate blocks of flats to them in accordance with their monthly income and profit to enable them to take part in the scheme. Fashola reiterated that scheme was meant for the low-income earners who have no landed properties in the state, saying the meeting was meant to educate those in the informal sector that they could also conveniently take part in the mortgage scheme, even than those in the formal sector. On his part, the state Chairman of

Fashola

the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, confirmed that average commercial drivers make between N45,000 and N70,000 monthly, commending the state government on the new proposal, which he said, would also make the housing scheme affordable to his members. The Commissioner for Housing, Bosun Jeje, said the meeting was organised to encourage artisans to partake in the LagosHoms, saying criteria would be worked out on the modality of applying for the ‘Rent to Own’ proposal.

Rainstorm kills 1,000 cows in Yobe, say breeders Hassan Jirgi Damaturu

obe State Secretary of Meyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Khali Muhammed Bello, said that rainstorm at the weekend killed thousands of cows in Tarmuwa, Gujba, Dapchi Local Government Area of the state. He told journalists in Damaturu that the rainstorm affected many villages in some local governments. Worse affected settlements include Gadiram, Abbari, Daragi, Mongonu and Nasiri in Tarmuwa, Jakusko and Damaturu, the state capital. Bello said that over 1,000 cows, which died in the rain,

were later slaughtered and taken to Damaturu to sell to the people. Haro Aridojo, a cattle breeder from Mungonu village, one of the affected areas in Tarmuwa Local Government, said 29 of his 30 cows died in the storm. He said: “I slaughtered them and bought them to Damaturu. We sold some them at giveaway price of N1,000 and N900 to the people.” Aridojo said that over 32 trucks of dead cows were taken from his village to some parts of the North like Plateau, Bauchi and Jigawa states, for sale. He said: “We had no option than to slaughter and sell them, because they were

starved even before the heavy rain hit them. They could no longer walk and in a few days they would have all died.” Aridojo added that they had been in contact with the leaders of the Meyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association over the difficulty in feeding their livestock. Lamido Manu, the Fulani head of Garin Saje village said he lost over 50 cows from his herds at the Jakusko and Nasiri grazing reserves. He said: “Butchers came and bought some of the slaughtered animals from Jakusko and Gashua. Today if 40 or 50 butchers can come to my house I will give them free cows because they are dieying and nobody is coming to buy them.”

We’ll make Plateau uncomfortable for criminals, CP vows Musa Pam Jos

he new Commissioner of Police in Plateau State, Nasiru Disu Oki, has vowed to flush criminals out of the state and also consolidate on the peace achieved by his predecessor. Oki made the pledge yesterday in Jos while briefing journalists at the state police

command headquarters. The commissioner said he had mapped out strategies to tackle criminality in the state. He said: “I am aware of the frequent clashes between the Fulani and natives in the state. “We will work to ensure that lasting peace is restored to the state. We will do everything possible to dialogue and ensure that they reside peacefully with

each other.” Oki later reiterated his command’s determination to make the state uncomfortable for criminals, saying his men were always at alert to confront any criminal in any part of the state. “We will also reduce robbery to its barest minimum. We have mapped out strategies to ensure a crime-free society,” he added.

Robbers invade market Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

rmed robbers numbering about 15 yesterday morning stormed new Iyana Agbala community in Egbeda Local Government Area of Ibadan, Oyo State and killed a security guard. The robbers, according to the police, strangulated the security man, Isiaka Adeleke, probably because he recognised some of them. The robbers were said to have invaded the market in the area between 1am and 2am, broke into four shops and carted away goods worth millions of naira. A witness said that on arrival at the area, the security guards had to run for safety but the deceased tried to resist them. In the process, the robbers overpowered and killed him. Some of the traders, who spoke on condition

of anonymity, said the robbers carted away 50 bags of assorted rice, provisions, cash and other valuables. The policemen attached to the Egbeda Police Division arrived at the scene about 8.30am in a Toyota Sienna bus and removed the body of the security guard. It was gathered that for the past three weeks, suspected armed robbers had been terrorising the area. During one of their operations about 12 days ago, five landlords were attacked and injured at Aritete community in the local government. When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Olabisi Okuwobi-Ilobanafor, confirmed the incident. She said that the robbers broke into the shops and not market. “The security guard was not shot but was strangulated,” she said.

RCCG Camp killing: My father provoked me, says son Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

he 21-year-old boy, Tolani Ajayi, who allegedly killed his 60-year-old father at the Redemption Camp on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway last week, said he was provoked. The suspect, who spoke with journalists yesterday at the Ogun State Police Command headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, however, expressed regrets over his action. Police detectives had last Thursday arrested Tolani for hacking his father, Charles Ajayi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), to death after a disagreement. The Redeemer’s University, where the suspect was a 300-level student of De-

Tolani

partment of History and International Relations, had promptly disowned him, saying he was expelled earlier for misconduct. It was gathered that the suspect was into drugs before the incident as he had been caught twice by the authorities of the university. Tolani told journalists

that he had sent some people to his mother to seek her forgiveness over the matter. He said: “I have sent some people to talk to her that I am sorry, I have talked to my sister, my mother is still grieving I want to give her time, it may be spiritual. I have asked for forgiveness.” The suspect confessed that he actually used a kitchen knife and cutlass to attack his father after an argument ensued between them. He alleged that his late father initially went to the kitchen and took a wooden spoon to beat him repeatedly. Tolani, however, denied that he carried out the attack under the influence of drugs.

Bauchi communities get N260m transformers Yuzarsif Alhassan Bauchi

auchi State Government said it had ordered the supply of 80 transformers of various capacities worth over N260 million for rural communities. The Commissioner for Power and Energy,

Mallam Yakubu Bello Kirfi, disclosed this while speaking with journalists on the effort of the state government to ensure adequate power supply. The commissioner said it was aimed at improving power supply in various communities in the state Kirfi also appealed to the people to always look

after government projects cited in their communities to raise their standard of living. According to him, government alone cannot ensure the safety of such projects. He reiterated the determination of the government to ensure that each community gets prompt attention.

osun 2014

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Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Omisore sure of victory on August 9, says PDP lHe is afraid of his shadow – APC

CONFIDENCE Call it pride or what you may, Omisore and his party henchmen feel like dancing Onyekachi Eze and Yekeen Nurudeen he National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof. Wale Oladipo, has expressed confidence that the party will win next month's governorship election in Osun State. Speaking with PDP press corps in Abuja yesterday, Oladipo said the odds were against the governor because he “has not deemed

it fit to call a meeting of traditional leaders even when one of the highest traditional leaders in Yoruba land is in Ife, the Ooni of Ife.” He also added that the governor was at loggerheads with the civil servants in the state. But the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday described the PDP governorship candidate in the election as a man that is afraid of his shadow. The party was reacting to Omisore’s use of masked gunmen as security men during his electioneering campaign ahead of the election. Oladipo defending the party’s victory in Ekiti against the allegation by some stalwarts of the APC

that the over militarisation of the state resulted in the PDP victory, said the PDP is a grassroots party. “This is the only party found in every village in this country and we have legitimate means of raising funds for our needs. This is a party that is not dominated by few individuals,” he added. He lambasted the Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi, for the statement attributed to him over the Ekiti election. “Amaechi is so unpopular in Rivers States, I pity him; he is so confused because people have deserted him. He has seen the futility of the political step he has taken. So, it is natural for Ameachi to

start running his mouth.” Oladipo also denied the allegation that the PDP governorship candidate in the August 9 governorship poll, Senator Iyola Omisore, was moving around the state with thugs. He said: “Omisore is followed by lawful security officers. He is on ground; he knows the terrain, we don’t rent crowds. Omisore is not afraid of anybody. I am telling you confidently that Aregbesola is scared stiff.” He accused APC of the violence that erupted in Ile -Ife, Osun State, urging security operatives to arrest those who led the onslaught, alleging that the plot of the APC was to instigate violence so that elections would not be con-

ducted there. “APC is a super minority in Ile- Ife, the governor, Rauf Aregbesola, and the APC are jittery and trying to do everything so that the election won’t hold. Meanwhile, the APC in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the only reason Omisore could have resorted to hiring masked gunmen, what he called ‘Ninjas’ for protection, is because he is afraid of his own shadows. The party queried how a man who wants to rule a state would be afraid to move freely among the same people, whose votes he is canvassing, saying the PDP candidate should emulate Governor Rauf

Aregbesola, who is barely distinguishable from the ordinary citizens while campaigning. “Every month, Aregbesola leads the people in a jogging exercise on the streets, during which he mixes freely with them. Not once has a ‘Ninja’ been spotted behind him in the name of security. “During his ongoing electioneering campaign, Governor Aregbesola has continued with his tradition of being with the people without any invasive security. Mr. Omisore has a lot to learn from the governor, and should realise that being a people’s governor goes beyond ‘madefor-television’ eating of roasted corn or riding of Okada,” APC said.

Don’t allow your wards to be used as thugs, Aregbesola warns

sun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday charged parents to warn their children and wards against untoward acts that could disturb the electoral process. The governor, who spoke through his Deputy, Mrs. Grace Titilayo LaoyeTomori, gave the advice while speaking as guest of honour at a church service commemorating the 70th birthday of the Bishop of Osogbo Methodist Diocese, Rt. Reverend John Adeleke Bamgboye. The governor said if children are well brought up the way they should, every society would be at peace and its inhabitants would live in togetherness. Aregbesola, however, admonished parents to

prevail on their children “not to be used as political thugs before, during and after next month’s governorship election.” The governor, who described Christianity as a religion of peace that eschews bitterness, charged people of the faith to use the opportunity to elect a government that is poised to impact their lives positively. He also tasked people to be actively involved in the election by coming out to cast their votes for the governor of their choice, saying voting power rests with the people and must be used judiciously to effect positive change in their lives, their children and generations yet unborn.

INEC: PVC collection smooth Onyekachi Eze and Wale Elegbede he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has debunked reports suggesting that it was having problems with the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to duly registered persons in Osun State, saying that exercise has been on since March 7, 2014. In a statement signed by Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Kayode Idowu, the commission said the clarification is necessary against the backdrop of calls on the commission to ensure timely distribution of the PVCs. A political party had, at the weekend, accused INEC of being “painfully slow in processing the permanent voter cards;” while a non-governmental organisation, on

Monday, urged the commission to ensure timely distribution of PVCs before the governorship election, suggesting that the contrary is the case. “It should be recalled, however, that the commission undertook polling unit level distribution of PVCs to registered voters in Osun State from Friday, March 7, 2014 to Sunday, March 9, 2014, simultaneously with the conduct of the exercise in Ekiti State. “In line with INEC’s guideline for the exercise, uncollected PVCs were at the end of the polling unit level distribution in March, taken to respective local government offices of the commission for subsequent issuance to legitimate holders," Adeniyi stated. The distribution at the local government level has been on-going since then.”

Mammoth crowd welcoming Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola ( right on top of vehicle), during his re-election campaign rally in Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency, Osun State …yesterday

Akinwusi: All punitive taxes must go overnorship candidate Gcratic of the Social DemoParty (SDP), Mr.

Olusegun Akinwusi, yesterday assured citizens of the state that if voted into office, his administration will review all punitive taxes currently being paid by the people. Akinwusi in a message to private Schools proprietors and hoteliers said he understood their plight and how several private schools and hotels have been closed down due to the harsh economic situation being witnessed in the state. The former Head of Ser-

vice (HoS) added that his administration would ensure that businesses across the state grow unhindered while further financial assistance will be given to entrepreneurs to help them boost their business. “We shall review all tax policies that are obviously punitive, exorbitant and have almost turned our people into beggars and slaves in their own land," he said. “Today, across Osun State, taxation is mostly punitive and extortionist; it must no longer be oppressive and unbearable for the people,” he stated.

‘Welfare of rural dwellers will be my priority' Adeolu Adeyemo

OSOGBO

Democratic Pineoples Party (PDP) candidate the Osun State gover-

norship election, Senator Iyiola Omisore, yesterday visited some communities in Ejigbo Local Government in continuation of his campaign with a promise that if elected, he would provide standard road, electricity and other social amenities for the people. Omisore, who made the

promise while addressing the communities, said his administration would try its best to see that their welfare is given adequate attention. “The welfare of rural dwellers would be accorded priority by my administration if elected as governor of Osun State,” he said. “Also, all the socioeconomic problems confronting the people would be promptly addressed when the PDP takes over in August.”

Akinbade warns opponents against violence orried by the spate of viW olence in parts of Osun State ahead of the gover-

norship election in August 9, one of the contenders in the race and Labour Party candidate, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, yesterday

warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) against throwing the state into crisis. Akinbade, who handed down the warning in a statement made available

by his Media Aide, Mr. Kayode Oladeji, in Osogbo said thuggery and political intimidation would lead them nowhere, but that such would rather destroy the society. He condemned the con-

stant clashes between APC and PDP, which according to him, was capable of plunging the state into chaos adding; ‘Elections in advanced democracies are always peaceful and issuebased.’

BETWEEN REPS, DOCTORS AND THE HEALTH BILL / PAGE 40 | MY REBELLION AGAINST JAKANDE, THE REAL STORY, BY OSENI / PAGE 17

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

NIGERIA PRACTISING DIARCHY NOT DEMOCRACY –AMAECHI

p-14, 15

NATIONAL CONFERENCE As the various committees give their reports at plenary of the National Conference, Nigerians have expressed mixed reactions to the viability of some of the proposals put forward, and the ability of the confab to meet the objectives for which it was set up in the first place. ETAGHENE EDIRIN reports

Confab: Mistrust reigns as discourse ends

ity Secretary of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Mohammed Ibrahim, who is also a confab delegate, said the outcome of the National Conference should be subjected to a referendum and not the National Assembly. Ibrahim, who said that Nigerians should be allowed to determine the decisions taken at the conference, noted: “It is our hope that at the end of the conference the recommendations would be subjected to a referendum, so that at the end of the day Nigerians can say that we have participated in the decision that may culminate into a new constitution”.

s the National Conference continues its deliberations, many Nigerians have continued to raise eyebrows at the decisions emanating from the discussions. The deliberations and submissions have generated heated arguments that have thrown up more questions than the confab was meant to address in the search for a strong united nation. After spending a lot of time on introductory remarks, the confab finally went into the committee stages, where proposals were to be studied in greater details, and submissions made at the plenary. It is the proposals that emanated from the committee members while giving their various reports that have continued to generate mixed reactions from Nigerians. At the commencement of its sessions, Nigerians took interest in the issues presented for discussions because they were generally regarded as issues that had held the country down, creating suspicions, and bad feelings among the various ethnic groups in the country. More so when many believed that such issues should have addressed by the National Assembly long ago, but were either abandoned or overlooked, due to political and ethnic interests within the parliament. Pundits lamented that elected members of the National Assembly treated with lacklustre the pressing issues affecting the nation’s unity and progress, giving rise to the notion among Nigerians that the lawmakers were only representing their personal interests. Many therefore applauded the confab’s inauguration, given the issues that were raised from the various geo-political zones as the Femi Okurounmu-led Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue toured the country collating views of Nigerians on what the national dialogue should address. However, feelers from the National Judicial Institute, venue of the confab, have made many Nigerians have a rethink. Debate over outcome The first issue that trailed the confab was the question of what would happen to recommendations made. Critics were quick to point out that government had not made any clear statement, on what would happen to the recommendations of the body, concluding that it is destined

Confusion over role At a point, many Nigerians got confused as to the role of the confab, as it took it upon itself to comment on virtually every issue in the country, issuing statements on current, or developing events. Critics noted at this point that the confab was wasting valuable time dwelling on assignments outside its purview, and abandoning the fundamentals that could in the long run address the ills of society, that are responsible for the current issue.

L-R: Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, Mrs. Valerie Janette-Azinge and Justice Idris Kutigi having private discussions at the confab

to go the way of previous of national dialogues. Analysts have since the commencement of the confab debated on what should happen to the outcome of its deliberations. While some contend that recommendations made should be subjected to a referendum, others say it should be sent to the National Assembly for ratification. Even among the confab delegates, there are also contending voices as to what should be the fate of the conference’s outcome. While some of the delegates also want it subjected

to a referendum, others say the National Assembly must be allowed to ratify the recommendations through legislation. Speaking on the debate, the chairman of the Trade Union Congress, Peter Esele, who is a confab delegate, said the resolutions must be passed to the National Assembly for ratification, explaining, that the confab is not even constitutional, and that whatever it does remains a delegated responsibility of the lawmakers, even as he cited the constitution to buttress his argument. On the contrary, the National Public-

CROSSFIRE

The defence budget It is unfortunate that to fight Boko Haram people like Tinubu have and Terrorism has chosen to politicize our become a conduit war against insurgency. pipe for the ruling To begin with, the mess party PDP just as the we are trying to clean likes of Obanikoro up was created by continue to use Boko his friends in the APC Haram as a tool of who promised to make blackmail against Nigeria ungovernable the opposition for this administration -Bola Tinubu -Musiliu Obanikoro

Change of name A delegate from the South-east, Prof. Chinedu Nwajiuba made a proposal for the change of the country’s name from Nigeria to ‘Naijiria’ as a means of addressing embarrassing identity clash that often arise between the people of Nigeria and Niger Republic. Nwajiuba, along a former United Nations (UN) Assistant Secretary General and founder of Okali Seminal Ideas Foundation for Africa (OSIFA), Dr Agwu Ukiwe Okali, addressed a press conference at the venue of the national conference to make the proposal. He cited cases of Ghana, which was renamed from Gold Coast, Upper Volta changing to Burkina Faso, Dahomey renamed Benin Republic. Okali on his part, said that the name ‘Nigeria’ lacks African content, unlike many other African names, tracing the origin of ‘Niger’ to a Latin word that he said also means ‘nigger’, adding that the colonialists probably drew the nation’s name from there. Although Prof. Nwajiuba said he was going to make the proposal to the plenary, he was beaten to it by a Federal Government delegate, Chief Mike Ozekhome who however proposed that the name Nigeria be changed to ‘Airegin’. He made the proposal while contributing to the debate on the report of the Committee on Political Restructuring CONTINUED ON PAGE 41

14 POLITICS Was there any agreement between you and the Federal Government that led to the release of your aircraft? There was nothing like that. I didn’t even see anybody in the Federal Government; I just called one person. It was not this plane they were interested in releasing but the helicopters. I said I wanted to sell the helicopters and the person I called offered to talk to the president to seek the approval of the helicopters and they got the approval. And in the course of getting approval for the helicopters, they got approval for the plane to be released. There was no negotiation, no interface or whatsoever other than the telephone conversation. So, what is all this rumour that I am going to the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party)? I have finished with the PDP.

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Nigeria practising diarchy not democracy –Amaechi Rivers State Governor and Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Chibuike Amaechi in this interview with journalists in Port Harcourt bares his mind on the state of the nation; his party, All Progressives Congress (APC) preparation for the 2015 elections, recent governorship election in Ekiti State, among other issues. TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE brings the excerpts not called to question, which had to do with my integrity, probably I would have supported openly.

The position of your party on the Ekiti governorship election is a bit confusing. While the incumbent governor conceded defeat and congratulated his opponent, days later, some APC leaders said they will go to court. They didn’t say they will go to court on the election. It was Alhaji Lai Mohammed who said the election is beyond just the voting; that the process of election is part of an election. So, the military intervention, which is what the PDP intends to use for the 2015 elections – to employ military men as part of the electioneering process. So, you will be having an unfair election, where APC supporters would be chased away by the military. That is why I said what we have is a diarchy not a democracy – government by both the military and civilians.

In October, the number of APC governors would have decreased by one and another election will hold in Osun in a few weeks, what is your party doing to avert another disaster? You will help us to tell the President to keep the soldiers in his house. All of us are part of the problem of Nigeria. The President impounded newspapers and journalists did not do anything. In other countries, they would have protested on the streets. We are talking to him that there is need for him to stop using soldiers to conduct elections. Does it mean that your party is afraid it may lose Osun? How can we lose Osun? Say something else.

Was there military intervention? They stopped APC governors from coming in; they stopped members of APC from Ekiti, leaders of APC were arrested. A Senator’s father was beaten up and other things. That is military intervention; people would be scared to come out because they don’t know what the military would do.

Given the allegation of the militarisation of the Ekiti election, what do you think is the proper security measure for elections? The law says police and let us see the consequences. Are you saying there are no soldiers in Borno?

But there was heavy military presence in Edo State during the last governorship election in the state. I wasn’t in Edo State, PDP and APC didn’t complain. But this one, I was there. Initially during the Edo governorship election, Governor Adams Oshiomhole complained of heavy military presence but when the election went in his way, the story changed. I am not in the position to answer that question because in this case, it was very glaring that APC members were arrested. Why are people pretending? There was one instance where Channels Television showed live about 20 persons who were carried away. And Channels said they didn’t know the reason why the military took them away when they came to vote. The station showed it live and I watched it. There was an online news portal that quoted you extensively on how bitter you were after the APC national convention, alleging betrayal by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu? That is total fabrication. The convention ended around 5.am and by 6.am I was at the airport looking for ticket to go to the UK. So, when was the interview? I played a prominent role at the APC convention. I was part of the process by which the man (John Odigie-Oyegun) emerged. I was among those making peace, going to people and begging them that we should allow peace because we want to make sure that we have a platform to confront the PDP. So, how did this interview take place? I was in the UK. So, you are not bitter that your candidate did not emerge national chairman at the convention? No, I asked my candidate to step down. We were in a meeting from Thursday night till 5.am on Friday and I woke up by 6.am to continue my appeal to people

But there is Boko Haram in Borno? That is the point I am making. So, it is not necessarily the presence of soldiers that will stop violence. After all, if the presence of soldiers could stop violence, by now Borno should be the citadel of joy and happiness where people would be dancing. There are so many soldiers in Borno – so many military equipment and hardware, yet there are still bombings in Maiduguri. There are many soldiers in Abuja and of all places that we have thought would be very secure is the plaza, which was bombed recently. So, police are enough.

Amaechi

not to confront the party; that we should listen to the party and get a structure. Even Asiwaju was resting in his place when I was going round. Does it mean you were pushing for Sam Jaja? I never campaigned one day for Jaja because I told him to wait for us to see what was going on. When we saw what was going on in the party and we needed to beat down the crisis, I told him to step down and he did.

If I am the president of Nigeria, I would not because I want to win election, split this country into two religious lines because one of the consequences... is a religious war, which is worse than a civil war

Why do political parties in Nigeria usually abhor internal democracy and why do they usually force people to step down for others without giving others chance? Who did we force to step down?

And I like to keep promises.

Why did you ask your candidate at the convention to step down? Why I asked my candidate to step down was because I had given my commitment to Asiwaju that I would support whichever candidate he supported. And the reason I gave him my commitment was because I had said to him that we needed to look at this issue of being a Muslim party. So, first we need to get a new chairman and he has to be a Christian. So, he said to me: ‘Okay, I have brought a Christian and according to what you said the day we were negotiating things. Then why are you now asking somebody to run against the person based on the promise you made to me?’

So, you made your promise to Tinubu and not the party? Asiwaju is not the party. Asiwaju may have an interest in supporting a particular candidate just like other people will have their own candidates. There was Timipre Sylva supported by other persons. Don’t forget that Sylva ran up till the convention ground but when Asiwaju had convinced some governors and other people, he saw what was going on and said I hereby step down. Maybe, he didn’t want his name to be announced at the podium to have been beaten. But for me, don’t forget that I said I didn’t campaign to anybody about Sam Jaja or anybody. I only said if my promise was

Are you saying police would be enough in Nigeria’s circumstance? Are you going to war? I think in the current security situation, police are enough for security measure during elections. What is your take on the issue with the National Judicial Council (NJC) over appointment of Chief Judge of Rivers State? The quarrel we have with the NJC is that the constitution says 10 years at the bar and that is the only qualification for a Chief Judge. It didn’t say whether you should be from Rivers State judiciary or most senior Judge. But there are recommendations by the NJC? Yes, I agree. You send your names to the NJC. You send three names; they pick up one and send it to you. In our own case, they sent a name to us and said the reason why they didn’t take the person we preferred was because he was a Judge of the Customary Court of Appeal and that was what disqualified him. Then we wrote back and said you are wrong, the law says 10 years. It doesn’t matter where he comes from. So, I didn’t see where you see the most senior judge from, and the court said so. What prompted you to move out from the normal because that has been the tradi-

POLITICS 15

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

tion? It is not true. Was Teslim Elias a judge? He was a professor of Law. There are so many abnormalities if you call that one normal. The law says 10 years. Won’t people read that as interference in the judiciary? No. It is not me, they are the people interfering. They are in the judiciary. NJC has no power. Like somebody told me in America, that there is nothing like true federalism. It is the abnormality here that makes Nigerians coin the word true federalism. Federalism is federalism. If we want to pursue federalism, we should pursue federalism. Don’t come here and say today you are a federalist and tomorrow you are a republican, next day you are practising unitary system of government. In pursuing federalism, the states have the right to choose who will be their Chief Judge. That is one. The same law says the governor has the right to accept your recommendation or reject. If he rejects, he writes to you that I have rejected. I rejected in writing and re-forwarded the name of the person I felt by law is qualified to be the Chief Judge. They said I have no right to reject. So, you see, I am fighting on the side of the people and I thought journalists would join me. You sent three names... Yes, including hers (Justice Okocha) but we said in this order and to help NJC, we attached all the report on all of them – the SSS report. They said it doesn’t matter because it is not part of the requirement. We sent the report by NBA; they all rejected her nomination. All their comments on the three judges were sent to them and we didn’t favour anybody. We said these were the three judges you said we should send and all that informed our choice. If they are rejecting number one for instance, can’t you take the second option? The second option is what I said I won’t take. Then go for the third and why did you put the names there in the first instance? It is not me. Don’t forget that there is State Judicial Council. I didn’t mind any of the three, the only reason why I reacted was the reasons they gave for rejecting the first person. Don’t forget that when they sent it, I was aware and I said fine, I don’t mind working with anyone of them. But when they wrote to me to say we reject the number one sent by the State Judicial Council because he is not qualified since he was the President of the Customary Court. I said that is not what the law says. The law simply says 10 years at the bar. It didn’t say it must be a judge or from Rivers State. It didn’t say it must come from Rivers State. We once had a Chief Judge, Justice Douglas. He was already in Court of Appeal in Enugu when they brought him back to Port Harcourt to be Chief Judge. What plans do you have after office? Is it true you have your eyes on the Senate? I will go and love my wife because she is harassing me every day. I have not shown her enough love and attention, so I need to do that for six months to one year. I will spend one or two years with my children since they lost the chances of staying with their father. Then I will be 53 years old. I will go to the university to do another first degree either in History or Law. I will do a Masters and a PhD and then I will be 60 plus. Then the remaining years, I will teach as I get closer to the grave. Are you exiting the political scene? It was Channels Television that asked me whether I wanted to run for presidency and I said I won’t answer that question. They asked why? I said because in Nigeria nobody runs for president. You just sit and you become president;

‘I’ve finished with PDP’ you just see yourself one day wake up and become president prepared or unprepared. There were only two persons who have emerged president by wanting to be president of Nigeria. They were Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha. So, the rest, especially the civilian presidents have always sat down in their house and they have been appointed president. So, why not allow me to sit down and see if I would be president. It would be unfair to ask me such question since providence has always produced the president of Nigeria. If you go to the civilian presidents alone, Alhaji Shehu Shagari went to the convention as a senatorial candidate, he ended up becoming president. Tafawa Balewa was in his house; somebody won an election and told Balewa to go and be the prime minister. After Tafawa Balewa, it was Shagari. Ernest Shonekan was appointed as president. He was not looking forward to be president but he became one. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was in prison and they called him out to come and be president, he became president. After Obasanjo, Alhaji Umar Yar’Adua had packed his luggage to go to teach in Zaria, they brought him back, he became president. Our dear president wanted to become the governor of Bayelsa; he was begging them: ‘Please sir, I don’t want to be vice-president, keep me as governor of Bayelsa.’ They said no, come and be the vice-president. From come and be vice-president, what is he now? So, why do people ask me whether I want to be president after this kind of intervention by God? Why not ask me whether I am fasting? What are the chances of the APC in Rivers State in 2015? Wait and see. Just tell them to keep their soldiers in the barracks and allow us to go and cast our votes What if they bring in the soldiers? I won’t tell them what I will do. Didn’t you hear Osun State saying carry your charms? Did you read the story of Ombatse? Did you hear that people were handing their guns on their own volition? But you are said to be calling on the name of God? How do you know I won’t call the name of God that day and all the soldiers would be handing over their weapons? You fasted and fasted in Ghana, didn’t you? How do you know I won’t be fasting by now, so that soldiers will hand over their weapons to pastors? We will appoint a pastor who they would hand over their weapons to. How will the APC presidential candidate and his running mate emerge? Leave that assignment for God. Why are you bothering yourself about that? Is it going to be by consensus? No. We have a process in place. We have a process whereby there would be a primary election. Is it the same process you aborted at your convention? We didn’t abort it.

In Nigeria nobody runs for president. You just sit and you become president; you just see yourself one day wake up and become president prepared or unprepared

But the Muslim tag is still on your party? Am I a Muslim? Is Chief Oyegun a Muslim? Is Timipre Sylva a Muslim? There are indications that the APC may be moving towards a Muslim/Muslim ticket? Why don’t you wait? Do you want to be a prophet? At what point do you think there would be total reconciliation on the ethnic and religious politics as well as the division in the country? It is not a thing that I can answer; it is the President that you should ask that question. Why is CAN (Christian Association of Nigeria) moving from one place to other saying that they have been shown a document? Why do you pit hatred against Christians or against Muslims if you are a president or a governor? Then, when it is time for fasting, you’ll say you are fasting with Muslims or fasting with Christians? A leader must be ready to sacrifice his life for his country. And if I am the president of Nigeria, I would not because I want to win election, split this country into two religious lines because one of the consequences of that would be that one day you would wake up and there is a religious war, which is worse than a civil war. So, because religion has that capacity to avoid reasoning, a president or a public officer like me should just keep away from inciting hate and preach love. When you seek reconciliation, the President must first take the first step to reconcile the country because the level of division now is very high. What is the assurance that you would complete your projects before leaving office, especially the monorail? Monorail would be completed. The reason the monorail must be completed at all cost is political. I want to ride in the monorail and call the Amaechi haters to come and see that I am riding on the monorail. Even if it is May 29, 2015, people will ride on the monorail. What is delaying the monorail is just the terminal where they would maintain it. That is what they are fixing now, once they fix that, it will be ready. What about the secondary schools? It is huge and that is the problem we had with that. We have completed at least seven out of the 23 that we want to build. The cost is N4.5 billion per school. It is huge and basically the financial diversion at the national level – the oil sector has crippled the states. All the states are being denied money. The stealing in the oil industry is so bad. I used to get between N20 billion and N25 billion, but now I get N13 billion to N14 billion. Surprisingly, I got N17 billion this month and I was celebrating and my commissioners told me that the extra we got came from the non-oil sector and it is not a thing we get regularly; we usually get it once a year. If you are doing N13 billion and

your wage bill has risen from N2.5 billion to N9 billion. Why? There were no teachers. There were primary and secondary schools with two teachers; one teaching English Language and all arts subjects and another teacher teaching Mathematics and all science subjects. Tell me what he knows about Physics or Chemistry? Now, we have employed about 13,900 teachers and that increased our wage bill by N1billion. We took over primary education from local government council, and that cost N2 billion. So, if you add that to N2.5 billion, that is N5.5 billion. Then the increase in the minimum wage shot up our minimum wage to about N18.7million and that increased our wage bill. If you add that to our pension, which is about N1.9 billion every month we are now doing about N9 billion. Can you compare your first and second terms? First term we had money and the problem we had in the second term is the fact that the wife of the President is here. Anytime she is town, you will see the heavy presence of police and army and she used to block many roads and the governor won’t even be able to pass until The News Magazine wrote a story titled: “Her Imperial Majesty.” They now opened the roads but with little presence of soldiers. We have a situation whereby she is in direct control of the police, SSS, Air Force. I didn’t say she controlled it through her husband; she is in direct control. Kidnapping is back in Port Harcourt and how do I stop it when the forces I used to stop them with have been removed and they put their own person? Now, people cannot move freely in the state because of kidnappers. A friend of mine, Sam Onyema, was buried last recently. What happened to him was that he was going for a burial in Imo State with his friend and they wanted to kidnap his friend and shot him dead. So, how do you account for that in a situation where the wife of the President takes over the security? This is not the first time I am saying it; I have said it severally and they have never denied it. The army has not denied it, the President has not denied it, his wife has not denied it, and the police also have not denied it. Since the exit of Mbu as Rivers State Commissioner of Police, have there been any changes? No. The only different is that one police commissioner is more civilised than the other but, it is still the same. Whether he is working for PDP, ask anybody on the street. You run a government whereby the police are not working with you at all, so you can’t even say you want to go on demolition and the police will follow you. What if the helicopters come in now? Before we had a wonderful security system, so it was the security system that gave us the control of the state that made us to introduce helicopters where we would have camera in the helicopters and they can fly round the state and whatever we see we act on it. Now, how do you manage it? You have a system where if you go to arrest anybody; if the person says he is PDP or working for the President with AK47 in his hand, they would let him go. The army arrested seven people with AK47 and people are not asking, where are they? When they were arrested, I called the brigade commander that I heard that seven people had been arrested. He told me that he has handed them over to the police. Where are they? They have been released. The police have confirmed that they have been released and they were seen with seven AK47! They were released by Mbu not the current man and that is why I said CONTINUED ON PAGE 48

16 POLITICS Mr. Venatius Ikem is former Presidential Adviser on Bureau of Public Enterprise, former National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Ex-Special Adviser to Senator Liyel Imoke, and former Commissioner for Works in Imoke’s administration. He spoke to CLEMENT JAMES in Calabar on his political experience, especially the public fight that cost him his job as Commissioner in 2012. What’s your assessment of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration? Well, usually for me it’s always difficult to assess an administration when it’s ongoing. But I think sustaining the national agenda has been the prime focus of this administration. If we talk in terms of infrastructure, I hear there is tremendous improvement in key areas like the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. I also understand that there are many highways that have seen tremendous improvements. There are many other areas like the aviation sector. Our airports are clearly wearing much more admirable look befitting a country that is intent on developing its infrastructure as a way of moving its people forward. But I don’t know how that has translated into job creation because elsewhere in the world, when you project capital expenditure, it comes along with job creation. I am yet to see the impact that the government has made in that sector. The expectation from SURE-P (Subsidy Re-investment Programme), I cannot say if it is anything feasible. Merely speculating on giving out hand-outs to people who are jobless, I think is not a solution. I don’t even know of anyone in my state that is on that payroll. But generally, I believe the power sector too has witnessed tremendous improvement in recent times which says much about the dream of most development conscious Nigerians. We believe, and I think correctly that the sine qua non for future development rests largely on our ability to improve on our power infrastructure. And so, if you look at the key areas of aviation, I also understand there are improvements on our railway, you look at road construction, and then you can say that the administration has achieved quite some worthwhile strides in improving infrastructure. But I think the challenge remains on how to factor in job creation along with it because fundamentally, some of the social problems we have are economic, restiveness, and even the issue of terrorism, you can find their roots in idleness. People are willing to do anything and are available for recruitment into otherwise unhealthy assignment of that nature. On that scale, at the federal level, you can say the focus is right. I think the achievements will be quantifiable enough to say they have done well in the last four years. But I believe if they retain this focus into the next tunure, if President Jonathan wins (laughs), then a lot would have been achieved. As a former national publicity secretary of PDP, do you think the party has been able to handle the issue of the missing Chibok girls well properly, information wise? You know this terrorism thing is very new to us and quite a strange phenomenon. It’s difficult for you to judge people looking from outside. The cur-

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

INEC is improving on conduct of elections, says Ikem Anambra state election and set out to improve on the Ekiti election which most actors believe was well conducted, then I believe INEC is improving on its capabilities and readiness to deploy resources to achieve credible elections. That’s the most we can hope for. The conduct of the Ekiti election indicates that where election is free and fair, it is easier for the loser to accept defeat and this ultimately brings credibility to the umpire, as INEC is. So, whether they have the capacity, particularly manpower capacity to achieve the same when they’ll be conducting elections in multiple states depends on INEC and the assessment they have on these two contrasting experiences between Anambra and Ekiti states. We only hope that since the country has enough manpower, they should be able to tap into those huge resources in the country that will guarantee the future and continued existence of Nigeria. You were a Commissioner in the present administration in the state. Barely one year to go, can you assess the impact so far made by Sen. Liyel Imoke’s administration? I am usually very careful on how to assess an administration especially, like you said, I have been part of. I can say that the governor has been my boss and is still my boss. You know, he has achieved quite a lot, especially attempting to extend infrastructure to the rural areas.

Ikem

rent national publicity secretary of the party, as far as I know, is doing quite a robust job of publicizing the issues involved. But I also know the challenges that come with party publicity because they are not that integrated into governance, particularly when you are dealing with security issues. So, the much that the party can publicize is the much that it is allowed to see through a certain window. Often times, your information is not more than what the general public shares because like I said before, they are considered security issues and are managed within the appropriate circumstance. But having said that, I don’t think the issue of Boko Haram is an issue for publicity but mostly an issue of security. I would rather think that we intensify our efforts in dealing with it instead of making it a publicity issue so that we see how we can stem the tide of insurgency before it overwhelms the entire country. APC is threatening to go to court over the Ekiti election after Dr. Fayemi had accepted defeat. What do you make of that? (Laughs) For one moment I think we are already celebrating that we are turning a new leave. Politicizing the election as an afterthought is not in the best interest of democracy and Nigeria as a whole. As we often say, our first instincts are usually right. I believe that Dr. Fayemi’s first reaction definitely was the right one. But maybe his party thinks he should rather make political capital out of this and has decided to chart a new direction to the election. Maybe it’s propaganda for neighboring states like Osun and others. Otherwise, I think we cannot cry more than the bereaved. If Dr. Fayemi himself, at the first opportunity decided to congratulate Ayo Fayose and accepted defeat

which is unprecedented at the level of our political history, I think he should be encouraged to keep to that direction. It’s definitely not a sign of weakness and most Nigerians have praised him for that. I hope nobody misdirects him to tell him it’s a sign of weakness which could make him retrace his steps. I think what is good is good. Somebody wins an election and should be congratulated. I think from reports, between himself and the incoming governor, they seem to have started on a good footing. That is the only way I believe we can sustain Nigeria beyond 2015. So, for much of what we were reading, we are excited. We were already celebrating that the declaration about Nigeria post 2015 was going to be proved wrong. I still believe that we follow that course. With the success INEC recorded in Ekiti, do you think that same success would be carried into next year’s general election? I am not in a position to assess INEC on their capacity, so to speak. But if you judge by the election they conducted in Ekiti, there seems to be some substantial improvements, particularly between the Anambra state election and the Ekiti election. And so, if they observed some lapses in the

At the federal level, you can say the focus is right. I think the achievements will be quantifiable enough to say they have done well in the last four years

There were a lot of speculations when you left this administration. What really happened? Well, they were not speculations. I am sure much of what you heard was correct except that there were lots of embellishment. Yes, during the Christmas period, I’m human; I think we had issues that go way back before then with some people. And, maybe we found ourselves at the wrong place and at the wrong time. So, we hadissues; do I call it a fight, or we had a scuffle and unfortunately, somebody got wounded. But when I heard that I was in a party and was having knives and daggers, I don’t understand what that means. Someday, I keep saying, I will write my memoirs. But the matter went to court and in my nature, I actually don’t know how to lie and even my lawyer told me that during the trial. And because I did not want to lie, I gave a comprehensive account of what happened. So, I was either going to be judged on what happened to have been right, or to have been wrong. Unfortunately for me, I think I lost the case in court and I paid damages because it was a civil matter. I feel better because I didn’t lie about it. But the version of the stories that talked about breaking bottles and carrying knives was stupid because I was in a birthday party. I was not going for war. I had a glass in my hand, you know in a moment of anger; I was holding a wine glass. So, I used it to hit somebody and the glass broke. The wine, which was red, splashed on him. He was wearing a brilliant white shirt. Yes, he got injured and had some blood. But a mixture of blood and red wine made good headlines. It was as if I had killed somebody. Well, the matter has taken its full turn. We went to the criminal court, they couldn’t prosecute it. It was dismissed. We went to the civil court; I was judged as having breached his human right and made to pay damages. I paid N300, 000. That was what the Judge gave as damages. That was it.

POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

As the 2015 election approaches, your party is shopping for another superman to succeed Fashola. How does your party intend to achieve this? Actually, there is no superman. It is all political shenanigans. I stand to be corrected, everything that is going on in Lagos state today were machinated by Alhaji Lateef Jakande. He laid the foundation of everything; Lekki phase 1, Lekki phase 2; all these places were bushes. Alhaji Jakande opened them up. Metro line was first initiated fifteen years before his regime. He revived it. He paid the full amount, $100 million, eighty five million pounds for Inter Alpha to come and start it and the military came and cancelled it. In our regime, that is Jakande’s regime, we created three new cities because I read sociology and psychology. What determines the establishment of a town happens to be the population. If you go to Abesan housing estate, is it not a town? If you go to Isolo housing estate, is it not a town? If you go to Iba housing estate, is it not a town? I said earlier that politics is service to the people. We are to serve the people and not ourselves. We sold those houses for N6000. We started Lagos Building Investment Corporation, LBIC, so that it can give out mortgages. The idea of Alhaji Jakande was that if Mr. A is paying N3000 per month for one room, and a two, three bedroom houses are built and his mortgage per month for 30years is N1000. Number one he owns the property, number two he’s paying less. If you go to any civilised country, nobody buys a house with cash, maybe one per cent, and it’s all mortgaged. The schools that were called ramshackles, all the spaces that were used for the ramshackle schools are the ones that edifices are built on now. So there is no giant anywhere. I still believe Pluto; putting aside all this political shenanigans, politics is service to the people. Are you worried by the different requirements like zoning, age limit, religion and others being allegedly put forward by stakeholders in your party for the succession battle? You see, I used the word political shenanigans earlier. For people that don’t understand shenanigans, I will simplify it for them. Political tricks, political manipulations. There is a clear cut line between the church and the state. When King James wanted a divorce and the Pope refused it, he started the Church of England. When Martin Luther now discover that James was doing nothing he started the Methodist, then the Lukearians came out of it, then the Baptist came out of it. There is a difference between the church and state. Can anybody go to Abia, Imo, Anambra, Rivers, Akwa Ibom or Cross Rivers and say there must be a Muslim candidate? Democracy is government of the people by the people and for the people. You can’t go to Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa states and say there must be a Christian governor. You can’t go to Ondo and Ekiti states and say there must be a Muslim governor. Why are we mixing the state and the church? It is never done. Let everybody go to the primaries, whoever wins, wins. Let the people decide for themselves. We are playing with fire, we don’t want religious war. The Muslims are more than Christians in Lagos and most of these Pentecostal churches, 40 percent of them are Muslims. Jesus Christ was clear on it. When they asked Jesus Christ ‘must we pay dues to Caesa’r, he said give to God what is God’s and give to Cesar what is Cesar’s. That is the separation of church and the state. I don’t believe in it, I will never concede to it. If the primary is done and a Christian emerges, good luck. If a Muslim emerges, good luck. I am Alhaji Kola Oseni. I have gone for Hajj twenty five

My rebellion against Jakande, the real story, by Oseni Alhaji Ganiyu Oseni is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos state. In this interview with WALE ELEGBEDE, he speaks about the battle of wits in the party over who succeeds Governor Babatunde Fashola, the emerging political equations of zoning and religion in the party, among other issues.

destroyer of any leader is sycophants. We sat down and we agree that Dapo Sarumi will be the next governor and all of a sudden like they are bringing religion into politics now, they brought ethnicity into politics. Sarumi is Eko-Epe, Agbalajobi was Ijebu-Epe, that was the beginning of the crisis. Oga, as I used to call him, because I don’t call him Alhaji Jakande, had approved Sarumi and all of a sudden changed to Agbalajobi. For me, if I stand by you, I stand by you. I will not take you to the middle of a river and abandon you. When l’m dealing with Mr ‘A’ once I develop my faith that he is a person, so be it. I am not that kind of politician that double deals. So, what was the effect of that crack among you then? The late Otedola became the beneficiary. They told their people to vote against the party and that is why we must be very conscious. We must not say because we are popular as APC and goof. At that time there was nobody. SDP was like rock of ages but what happened? We lost.

Oseni

times, Umurah (lesser hajj) twenty nine times. My late mother of blessed memory had nine children. My sister died leaving eight of us. My immediate twin sisters are Christians. My siblings are Christians and that does not mean we didn’t sleep in the same womb. Am I going to say they are not my sisters? There are Christians in my family. Am I going to disown them? We don’t want religious war in Lagos, so whoever is saying this should shut up and I mean shut up. It is nauseating, it is annoying. Why can’t we be reasonable? You are slapping Muslims and if you slap them they will fight back. If they want religious war let them go ahead, I am not part of it. That’s what the constitution of the party says, let everybody go to primaries. Let me put the question to you; is it right for someone to come out and say whether you like it or not that a Christian must be the governor? Who knows who will do the best for this state? So, why don’t you leave it to God to judge? Why must we enforce? Why must we be authoritarian? Why must you be dictatorial as to who

We don’t want religious war in Lagos, so whoever is saying this should shut up and I mean shut up. It is nauseating, it is annoying. Why can’t we be reasonable? should govern the people, why? To answer your question, I object to the fact that anybody, regardless of who the person is, will dictate that it is a Christian candidate that will be the party’s flag bearer, I reject it. You led the rebel against Alhaji Lateef Jakande, what motivated that action? Why I broke up with him was not because of any personal interest. I love the man, and God knows I love him, but at that point in time, he was surrounded by sycophants. The only

You left academics for politics, do you still consider that move to be the best owing to your foray in education or do you regret your decision? Well, political life? I was a rebel from secondary school. I went to Oduduwa College. In 1965, I led a strike. My late friend and I, a former colleague, Tunde Savage and Rev. Otunbajo, we rebelled. I started my political career same year. I left secondary school during the “wetie” era; I was like a small boy because my parents were in Action Group. My political career started in 1976. I later left for United States University of New York. I became the president of African Student Union and member of the Senate for State University System, as the precinct manager when President Carter was campaigning in 1976 to become the president of American. I came back to Nigeria; and joined the committee of friends. In November 1978, I became the chief organising secretary of UPN (Unity Party of Nigeria . That was the beginning of the journey in Nigeria. That made me a member of national executive council member of UPN, after which the military took over in 1983 and then we went on vacation. When school resumed, I became a member of Social Democratic Party (SDP) and member of SUBEB. I represented Babagana Kingibe in Jos, but when he was picked as the Vice -President, I joined the late Moshood Abiola’s team and I stayed with him. I never participated in any military regimes. Many of my friends are generals but I never participated because I was imbibed from my father to be a democrat. I have not been used to authoritarian reign or dictatorship, so I can say in a very subtle, humble way that in all its ramifications, I am a democrat and not only a democrat, I’m a progressive democrat because what you all don’t realize is that there is a clear difference between the conservatives and the liberals. My own idea of politics is to serve the people. I have always been a progressive all my life. Part of what I regret deep down in me is that I don’t believe in imposition. I have told you my back ground is democracy. The choice must be for the people. After the demise of Chief (Obafemi) Awolowo, I have been tired of politics.

MORE STORIES ON PAGES 40-43

ARTS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

LITERATURE

NEW TELEGRAPH

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TONY OKUYEME

“Great literature is simply language charged with meaning to the utmost possible degree.” ― Ezra Pound

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

The Egbon of Lagos wins Soyinka Prize for Literature Tony Okuyeme

kin Bello has won this year’s edition of the prestigious Wole Soyinka’s Prize for Literature in Africa. He won the coveted $20000 Prize for his play The Egbon of Lagos. At the grand finale of the award at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday, Chairman of the panel of judges of the Prize, Professor Olu Obafemi, a playwright, novelist and poet, formally announced the winner, who was promptly presented the much coveted trophy and his cheque. Bello was crowned by Professor Wole Soyinka, assisted by the board of the Lumina Foundation, the organisers of the prize, Governor of River State, Rotimi Amaechi and Globacom’s Head of GloWorld, Titi Ebinisi. The fifth edition of the award, sponsored by the National Carrier, Globacom, was keenly contested by three authors, Bello, Othuke Ominibohs and Toyin Abiodun, whose entries were considered the best three of the total of 163 works submitted from across Africa. The winner, Bello, was born in Lagos in 1950, and educated at Oyo, Ghana and the University of Ife, (now Obafemi Awolowo University) Ile-Ife,

L-R: Winner of the 5th Edition, Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa, Mr. Akin Bello; Guest of honour, Prof Wole Soyinka, Board of Trustees of the Lumina foundation, Mrs. Emanuel and Head, Gloworld, Mrs. Titi Ebinisi, during the 5th Edition of Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. PHOTO:TONY EGUAYE

where he obtained a B.Sc. (Hons) (Pol. Science) in the 2nd Class (Upper) Division in 1975. A widely traveled man with a richly diversified work experience, Bello is currently an Executive Director of a Non-Governmental Organisation in Ibadan. He was the Chairman of the Oyo State Chapter of ANA for four years between 2008 and 2012. Before now, Bello had published three novels and a poetry collection. ‘Egbon of Lagos’ is his debut as playwright. In his remarks, Professor Soyinka thanked the Lumina Foundation and its partners, including Globacom for

organizing the grand event and making it a success. In a goodwill message read on his behalf, Globacom’s Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga, said “Globacom is delighted to be part of the successful execution of the project, which honours one of the world’s biggest literary giants, Professor Wole Soyinka and seeks to promote excellence in the literary arts on the continent of Africa.” Dr. Adenuga said, “As a teacher, role model, social activist and advocate, Professor Wole Soyinka has directly impacted millions of lives on the continent of Africa and beyond. We are deeply honoured to be part of a

project like this, which celebrates this living legend and seeks to encourage the coming generation to aspire to attain such academic excellence in the literary world. In her remarks, Mrs. Francesca Emmanuel, the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Lumina Foundation, thanked all the partners of the organisation, without whose support the project might not have been a huge success that it has been. The grand finale of the prize was graced by other literary icons, including renowned playwright and poet, John Pepper Clark, a former President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), and loyal protégé of Professor Soyinka, Odia Ofeimun, renowned Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence, Akin Oyebode, who delivered the keynote address, and many other distinguished scholars. Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa is a biennial event staged to recognize the best literary work produced by an African. It was established by the Lumina Foundation in 2005 to promote literary excellence in Africa and has since become the African equivalent of the Nobel Prize. This year’s Prize was dedicated to the drama genre.

Power of prayer in winning the war of life Title: Prayer Power, Generating Spiritual Power for the Fulfillment of your Destiny Author: Gideon Akinsuyi Publishers: Gidebs Publishing House, Ikotun, Lagos Price: Not stated Book Reviewer: Joseph Onyekwere

he author of this book is not a greenhorn in the act of sharing spiritual insights by way of books. He is a popular spiritual ‘wordsmith’ with a good number of collections to his credit. As it is his forte, ‘Prayer Power’ is put together to underscore the importance of prayer in the life of a believer and the synergy between effectual fervent prayers and the fulfillment of destiny. The book is a 57 paged inspiring messages and prayer topics of the size of a novella with a content of 12 subtitles and 6 chapters. It begins with a ‘mandate’ which is an animating quote for the readers. This is followed by the dedication and preface. The preface defined the purpose of the write-up. Each of the chapters of the book

starts with a quote or two from renowned personalities as well as another unattributed enlivening quote coming just after. The first chapter of the book is titled “You are here on a mission”. Here, the author explains that no matter the circumstances of one’s birth and one’s personal experiences in life, God has made him or her for a particular purpose. He is emphatic that no man is an accident on earth but has got some responsibilities to fulfill for mankind on behalf of the Almighty. In order to affirm this fact, he laced them up with biblical references. He also highlighted some biblical characters that fulfilled their mission on earth, such a Moses, David and others. Chapter two dwells on generating spiritual power. Here, the author declared that life would become ordinary for man except he discovers the purpose of God for his life, activate and apply the innate potentials. According to him, only prayers can unleash the best in man. But the author is quick to point out that until you are able to access the source of power that is beyond you, you will never be able to maximize your potentials. Which means that it is

only prayers that can get you connected to the power above. In chapter three titled “When we pray”, the author attests that even though God can do all things, there are things He can’t do until men pray. Here, the book explained that when we fail to pray, God allows things to fall into natural state where failure, limitation, frustration and others abound. Under this circumstance, fulfillment of destiny is restrained, whereas effective prayers set loose the supernatural realm and give man the opportunity to operate without limitations. The School of advanced prayer is the title of the fourth chapter. This chapter emphasizes the importance of the Holy Spirit in accessing the supernatural. It also teaches how to receive the baptism of Holy Ghost. Chapter five encourages believers to pray on, stressing that a closed mouth is a closed destiny. Citing David and Paul as examples, the author urges the readers to always communicate with the Holy Spirit in all issues of life. The last chapter dwells on the need to pray through. From page 48 to the end, the book lists different prayer points, some of which have Joseph in focus.

“Prayer Power” is written in simple and lucid language. It makes it easy for the reader to glide through all the pages without difficulty. Besides, the author, deep in spiritual insight, fastened the pages with spiritual revelations and motivating nuggets that help the reader grasp the contents. It is delightfully portable and printed in good newsprint with bold characters. The book should be a must-read for every Christian and those who are determined to win the war of life and fulfill their God-given destinies.

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EDITORIAL

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

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

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

WEDNESday, JULY 9, 2014

Another avoidable doctors’ strike

he incessant strikes by medical doctors in public hospitals nationwide over irreconcilable issues between them and the Federal Government have become an issue of great concern for the generality of Nigerians. The aggrieved doctors under the umbrella of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) began an indefinite strike on July 1, 2014 following the federal government’s failure to fully meet their 24-point demands. Such demands, according to the striking doctors, include expansion of universal health coverage to cover all Nigerians as against the current 30 percent coverage; adequate finding of Nigeria’s healthcare system; health infrastructure upgrade; establishment of a Health Trust Fund (HTF); improved working conditions for doctors and adequate compensation for doctors working in rural areas, amongst others. The strike has paralysed operations in all public hospitals across the country. Patients, most of whom are now groaning in severe pains, have started discharging themselves from hospitals since the fate of each of them now hangs in the balance. As usual, the strike will inevitably lead to loss of lives, especially of poor patients who cannot afford the high cost of treatment in private hospitals. We condemn the nonchalant attitude of government towards the doctors’ demands. It shows a lack of sincerity. We believe that the on-

going strike would have been averted and unnecessary deaths of hapless patients prevented if government had been responsible and responsive to the demands of the doctors before the expiration of the ultimatum given by the doctors. The increasing wave of insurgency and other forms of criminality across the country will further compound the deplorable situation as those with serious injuries from gunshots and bomb blasts will not be able to receive treatment in public hospitals. We recall with dismay that when doctors embarked on a five-day strike sometime in December 2013, activities in public hospitals countrywide were crippled and several lives were lost. If government had met the doctors’ demands through meaningful dialogue, this strike would have been averted. The government should stop doing things the same way and expect different result. The N262 billion allocated to health in 2014 by the federal government, which is about six percent of the total budget and second only to defence, education and finance, is unacceptable. We believe if the allimportant health sector is adequately funded, most of the demands of the doctors will be properly addressed. It is saddening that calls on government to resuscitate the rotten healthcare system have fallen on deaf ears. Instead, top government officials and their families are trooping abroad in large numbers for medical treatment at public expense since they

have lost confidence in Nigeria’s fast deteriorating healthcare system. Earlier in the year, the Minister of Health, Professor Chukwu Onyebuchi reportedly disclosed that except for critical cases, workers in federal government establishments would no longer be allowed to go abroad for medical treatment. It is unfortunate that government, as usual, has failed to implement this policy. The rate at which public officials and their families travel abroad for medical treatment at public expense is alarming. The unpatriotic practice should stop in order to reduce the huge foreign exchange being lost to medical tourism. Henceforth, public officials and their families seeking medical treatment abroad should pay for such treatment. The decay in infrastructure in spite of the billions of naira expended over the years to make some of the public hospitals medical centres of excellence is an endemic problem requiring urgent attention. We believe that if the billions of naira pumped into health institutions were judiciously utilized, Nigeria should by now have worldclass hospitals that can compete favourably with their counterparts in developed countries. Why should Nigerian public officials travel abroad for medical treatment but no foreigner has deemed it fit to travel to Nigeria for medical treatment? It is worrisome that many of the public hospitals have become mere consulting clinics due to lack of

essential health facilities. In Nigeria, government seems to have no value for human lives. We decry the situation in which doctors in public hospitals go on strike indiscriminately over poor conditions of service without exhausting available options. It is, however, the duty of government to provide doctors with the enabling environment to operate successfully without jeopardizing the interests of patients. Government should pay attention to preventive rather than curative measures so as to prevent more pregnant women and children under the age of five from avoidable deaths. We implore government to establish more primary health centres that will promptly attend to the basic health needs of those in local government areas. This will also help in reducing the current pressure on the crowded federal and state government-owned hospitals. Experienced and qualified doctors should be employed and be well motivated while erring doctors should be penalised to serve as a deterrent to others. We urge the federal government to treat the on-going doctors’ strike with utmost urgency by inviting the doctors for negotiation with a view to arriving at amicable settlement. Finally, in view of the importance of the health sector and the need to avoid further loss of human lives, government should refrain from doing anything that is capable of prolonging this avoidable strike. GABRIEL AKINADEWO Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU Deputy Managing Director/DEIC SULEIMAN BISALLA Managing Editor, North YEMI AJAYI Editor, Daily LAURENCE ANI Editor, Saturday EMEKA MADUNAGU Editor, Sunday LEO CENDROWICZ Bureau Chief, Brussels MARSHALL COMINS Bureau Chief, Washington DC SAM AMSTERDAM Editorial Coordinator, Europe EMMAN SHEHU (PhD) Chairman, Editorial Board GEOFFREY EKENNA News Editor PADE OLAPOJU Production Editor TIMOTHY AKINLEYE Head, Graphics ROBINSON EZEH Head, Admin.

Sanctity of Truth

OPINION ‘Conscience is an open wound…’ Prince M. Arayuwa Wilkie

am inclined to invoke the philosophy of Usman Dan Fodio in 1804 and to relate it to the behavioural pattern of Nigerian principal political actors on stage in contemporary times. For the avoidance of doubt, Usman Dan Fodio said and I quote: “Conscience is an open wound, only truth can heal it”. This serves as the motto of The Guardian, an indication of the relevance of this philosophical concept. I am of the view that it is also intended to remind the Nigerian political gladiators of the need to ensure that they should do the right thing. Conscience as an open wound may not necessarily end at the door-step of the political class alone in view of the fact that it is also applicable to other citizens who ought to do the right thing in a bid to heal the open wounds. Consequent upon the above assertion, I hold in earnest, the view that Mr. President of this country has no reason whatever to convert public funds for his personal use. The consolidated salary and allowances for the first citizen as approved by the National Assembly are enough to sustain him even after his retirement from office. This is aside the President’s estacode whenever official duty moves him from the Presidential villa. I am to add that there is also the security vote attached to the office of Mr. President which is not accounted for in accordance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have opted not to

belabour myself with figures so as not to send any signal, rightly or wrongly, to the Nigerian public on how public money is being spent on the office of Mr. President. The state governors are not left out. They are also financially comfortable in view of what is legally due to them in conformity with the constitution. I am at sea, however, to understand what they actually do with security votes especially in states which have no reason to suffocate from crisis situation. As custodians of public funds, both the President and Governors have no reason to steal from the common wealth. The EFCC, a body set-up by law to investigate those who embezzle public funds has shown that almost all the governors have tampered with the funds in their custody, an indication that they disregard and distance themselves from the Dan Fodio school of thought as far as conscience is concerned. In fact, they are conscienceless. And so are members of Boko Haram, the terror gang, which has certainly created fear in the minds of Nigerians through their nefarious and criminal activities against innocent men, women, children, churches and mosques. So far, a countless number of Nigerians has been sent to their untimely graves. School children and other Nigerians kidnapped by the ragtag militia are yet to be released in spite of pleadings by Nigerians and other members of the international community. It would appear that when Usman Dan Fodio propagated his philosophy about 210 years ago, he did not appreciate that a terrorist

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Muslim sect would ever spring up in Nigeria and opt to murder people in their thousands. It is crystal clear that Boko Haram is not a radical religious sect as being painted by their leaders; I see it as a deadly political movement with the evil intent to subject Nigerians to unbearable circumstances including outright death. Those who preach Haramism coupled with a bit of sectarian colouration have wounds on their consciences. The Almighty Allah will ensure that the demonic hell shall be their final destination and so shall it be. The Late Mallam Suleiman Bisalla (1968-2014) As a self-imposed mandate of Boko Haram, the terror gang invoked the use of an explosive device to blow up the Emab Plaza, Abuja, on Wednesday, June 25, 2014. Coincidentally, Mallam Suleiman Bisalla, The Managing Editor of the New Telegraph Newspapers (Abuja and Northern editions) who was around the area was completely blown up and killed by the explosion. Many people were also victims of the dastardly act. The remains of Late Bisalla were laid to rest at the Gudu Cemetery, Abuja. It is in this regard that I send my condolences to the family of the deceased, Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief and Management of New Telegraph Newspapers for this irreparable loss. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace, Amen. • Prince Wilkie (uwa1950@yahoo.com), 08023097251

Willie Obiano: 100 Days of Excellence (2) James Eze Continued from yesterday

relative told me that you can drop your mobile phone on the ground in Upper Iweka and come back hours later and still see it there, which was NOT the case in the past. And which is one of the best ways to measure leadership – by the testimony of the ordinary people.” From the encomium that has trailed his exploits, it is easy to assume that in 100 days; all that Governor Willie Obiano has done was to hunt down armed robbers and kidnappers. But this is very far from the truth. The truth however is that Security is an all-important enabler upon which Obiano’s economic agenda, otherwise known as the Four Pillars of Development, firmly rests. So, it deserved an immediate and focused attention because it is a precursor to other great initiatives. It must however be noted that even while the war on crime was ragging, Obiano was also pursuing his Four Pillars of Development – Agriculture, Industrialization, Trade & Commerce and Oil& Gas. At the flag off of this year’s farming season at Nteje in Oyi Local Government, Obiano ignited the fire of his agricultural revolution in the state with an inspiring speech and the a handful of seedlings. He has also commissioned the Coched Farms project that has the capac-

ity to produce 120,000 metric tons of rice per annum and create 1000 jobs. On the heels of the Coched Farm Project comes the Ekcel Farm Project which will tackle which has acquired 3000 hectares of land for the cultivation of cassava. Governor Obiano also appears to have acquitted himself well in his campaign promise to continue the projects bequeathed him by his predecessor, complete them, commission them and commence a new set of projects of his own. Perhaps, nowhere is this more manifest than in the area of road construction where he has flagged off the construction of 14 new roads, totalling 167.494 kilometres and commenced the construction of 3 flyovers in Awka and one bridge that leads to the oilfields of Aguleri. Again to actualize his vision for Industrialization and Trade & Commerce which are two of his administration’s Four Pillars, Obiano has mapped out a 10-year Industrial development Plan and drafted a blueprint for the construction of modern markets in Ogbunike, Oba, Awka and Umunze. At the same time he has opened an intense lobby to ensure that Anambra becomes Nigeria’s 10th oil-producing state and cleared all outstanding arrears of pension and gratuity amounting to N946,571,926.46k owed local government pensioners in the state. Another area where the governor has done well is in the Environment where an intense campaign is on to reclaim

the three cities in the state from filth and rubbish. Operation Keep Anambra Clean has effectively changed the face of Onitsha from a glorified ghetto to an emerging 21st Century commercial city. The governor has also done very well in the Health, Education and Tourism with the planned development of the historic Ogbunike Cave into a world class tourist destination. Again, in a bid to give his hard-hitting stance against criminals in the state a human face, Governor Obiano is waving an olive branch with the on-going gathering of data on the youths of the state with a view to placing them on meaningful employment. Youths of the state have been advised to visit their local governments and register in the on-going exercise for possible job placement in the nearest future. The governor is also lauded for his grand plan to transform Awka, the state capital into a modern city with all the facilities that make for a 21st Century purpose-built city. With the flag off of construction works on three flyovers and the 3-Arms Zone as well as the inauguration of a new Awka Capital Territory Development Board to envision a new Awka, Governor Obiano has indeed embedded himself in the hearts of Ndi Anambra. And he showed this awareness when he said in his welcome address at the lecture marking his 100 days in office

last week that “we have tested our own strength and seen that indeed, like our fathers before us, we are capable of great things.” Indeed it would be difficult not to connect his desire to give Ndi Anambra his very best with the symbolic launch of what he called the SPIRIT of ANAMBRA at the lecture. Unveiling a new emblem, a flag and an anthem for the state, Obiano reasoned that “if we build only roads and bridges and forget the building of our social and psychological consciousness, our foundation for future greatness would have been laid on quick sand.” He described the Spirit of Anambra as the “inherent kinetic energy behind the numerous accomplishments of our people in education, commerce and industry, sports, literature & the arts, politics and science and other fields of human endeavour. It is the light we bear to every corner of the world in pursuit of happiness and our readiness to absorb or be absorbed into diverse cultures of the world. The Spirit of Anambra is a high-achieving spirit that finds motivation in itself and fulfilment in the achievement of others. It is the spirit of Egbe belu, ugo belu! Anambra is famous for its plurality. But today, there is only one consensus – that Governor Willie Obiano has done well in 100 days. Concluded • Eze: (eziokwubundu@gmail.com)

CAMPUS

UNIABUJA: the burden of new VC }p-24

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newtelegraphonline.com/education

KAYODE OLANREWAJU, Editor, EDUCATION

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

WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

Conversion of YABATECH, KADPOLY:

YABATECH gate

POLICY SOMMERSAULT

Nine years after the Federal Government announced the conversion of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) and Kaduna Polytechnic (KADPOLY), Kaduna to City Universities for the award of B.TECH Degrees, the hope has been shattered.

MAUTECH gate

Still a pipe dream The Polytechnic Act establishing the sector should be revisited or repealed

Kayode Olanrewaju and Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

ine years after Federal Government pronounced the conversion of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos and Kaduna Polytechnic (KADPOLY), Kaduna to City Universities, the dream has turned out to be a mere paper exercise. The then Education Minister, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, had in 2006, announced to the joy of Nigerians that YABATECH, Nigeria’s pioneer higher institution and KADPOLY would become city universities, but the plan which was short-lived, died as soon as it was conceived by the Federal Government. However, similar attempt was made in 2010, by the then Education Minister, Prof. Ruqayyat Rufa’I, who announced that the two federal polytechnic had been transformed to a fullfledged universities of technology for the award of Bachelor of Technology (B.TECH), while some other four colleges of education - Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo; Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri; Federal College of Education, Zaria and Federal College of Ed-

Wike, Minister

ucation, Kano, were converted to universities of education for the award of Bachelor of Education (B.ED) degrees. Rufa’I disclosed this while receiving the report of the Implementation Committee on Guidelines for Degree-Awarding for Colleges of Education and Polytechnics, headed by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie. The Minister had assured the polytechnic communities that for the final transformation of the institution, the Federal Government’s White Paper on the new status would soon be issued for onward transmission to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for ratification and approval. But, nine years after, little did stakeholders know that their expectations that the six institutions would be fully transformed to universities would be a mere dream pipe. Following the announcement, the management, staff

and students of the 64-year-old YABATECH had trooped out jubilating, singing and praising the Federal Government for the bold step, but when New Telegraph visited the college last week the frenzy and ovation that greeted that Federal Government’s conversion plans had completely vanished, while such great hope had been shattered. With the 2006 and 2010 pronouncements, the management was said to have immediately swung to action fixing the infrastructure, upgrading the lecture and laboratory facilities, libraries, as well as embarked on vigorous capacity development programmes for the lecturers, while series of meeting were held between the NUC and the college in full preparation for the take-off of the planned conversion. “A lot of files were reconciled to ensure that every segment of the college falls in line with the conversion that could not see the light of the day,” a source at the college who did not want his name in print said. According to the source, “we had anticipated that YABATECH will be a university as pro-

Okojie, NUC scribe

posed, but almost 10 years after, we discovered to our chagrin that the pronouncement was a mere paper exercise.” As part of moves to ensure effective take-off of the conversion, the source recalled that the management of the college had fixed the infrastructure, improved the facilities, and sent some lecturers for further studies to pursue their PhDs and Masters, while laboratories and library were upgraded. In fact, the source recalled that the founding fathers of the college and stakeholders had over the years been championing cause for the upgrading of the college to a university, saying the college has the clout and the capacity in terms of facilities and high level of personnel to transform to a university of technology. The source noted that the college is fully equipped to meet the challenges of its new status, saying: “We are not afraid of any challenge and we are not envisaging any either.”

“Some of the academic programmes had already been restructured and upgraded to meet the conversion, with School of Arts transferred to School of Environmental Studies; Catering to School of Technology, among other restructuring exercise carried out by the management,” the source added. With such efforts, he said a good number of the lecturers are today holders of PhDs and Masters, while the management has benchmarked the admission entry requirements into the college to five credits including Mathematics and English. “Some of the personnel were sent on course to understudy how to run a university of technology in other countries in order to ensure best practices,” he noted. But the source is worried that to convert YABATECH and KADPOLY to universities of technology, the statute establishing them should be appraised in line with the new thinking. He, however, pointed out that there was the thinking in some quarters that the conversion would lead to erosion of the scope set for the institutions by their founding fathers. The source, who bemoaned the delay, which he attributed to the government’s lip service to the polytechnic sector, said except the extant law establishing polytechnic institutions is repealed, and replaced along modern thinking and realities; nothing could be achieved with the proposal. He argued: “The Polytechnic Act establishing the sector should be revisited or repealed. This is also affecting the dichotomy between polytechnic and university graduates. This Act is an albatross in the way CONTI NUED ON PAGE 22

22 EDUCATION

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Allocate funds to institutions, committee tells FG Emeldah Ogene Abuja

he Presidential Committee on NEEDs Assessment on Public Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, has urged the Federal Government to allocate funds for the rehabilitation of public polytechnics and colleges of education in order to improve the quality teaching and learning in the institutions. The Committee’s position was contained in its recommendation in the report of the NEEDs Assessment on the institutions based on facts, figures and tangible evidence gathered from the institutions visited. The Committee, whose terms of reference was to examine the quality of existing academic programmes in the institutions, however recommended a constant review of the laws establishing polytechnics and colleges of education in the country. It also suggested in its recommendation regular review of polytechnic curriculum in order to address changes in industries and the demand of the society. The Supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, who received the report on behalf of the Federal Government, said the essence of the committee was to enable the government identifies the challenges in the institutions with a view to providing necessary infrastructure in the polytechnics and colleges of education. Wike, pledged that the report would be forwarded immediately to the President, said the Federal Government would

tivity, telecommunication and information services, as well as provision of essential learning resources and materials. The Committee also called on the Federal Government to direct the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) to ensure that all colleges of education in the country running degree programme should have at least in their teaching strength 60 per cent Ph.D holders for each of the degree courses.

Adopoly workers awarded ICAD grades ome five members of staff SAdo-Ekiti of the Federal Polytechnic, were among those

Wike receiving the report from Mrs. Hindatu Abdullahi, Chairperson of the NEEDS Assessment Committee of Colleges of Education

extensively deliberate on the reports as was done for the universities with a view to finding lasting solutions to challenges confronting the sector. “The report will be presented to the President and the members of the Federal Executive Council to give room for more contributions and to make final decisions on how to improve standard of teaching and learning in polytechnics and colleges of education,” the minister said. He added: “What is important about this report is to identify and know the level of decay in our polytechnics and colleges of education. We did that in the universities and that is why the Federal Government agreed to spend nothing less than N1.2 trillion in the next

six years to reposition the university system. According to Wike, the Federal Government will identify what needs to be done, while its approval validates the committee’s recommendations. The minister went on: "Some of the findings in polytechnics and colleges of education have generally shown that the physical facilities are grossly inadequate, while available ones are being utilised beyond the installed capacity. Some vital learning resources are not available, while the enrollment policy of 60:40 ratio for science and arts based courses in colleges of education, as well as 70:30 in favour of science and technology and arts and social science courses in polytechnics is not being implemented.

“In some institutions the teacher-student ratio is low, most of the institutions do not have oncampus hostel, while available hostels are either overcrowded, poorly lighted and inadequately ventilated and in a state of disrepair, or the municipal facilities are either inadequate or in poor condition.” The committee, therefore, recommended the completion of all abandoned and ongoing projects in the institutions, rehabilitation and upgrading of facilities, improved infrastructure, provision and rehabilitation of students hostels through public private partnership. It also recommended recruitment of qualified teachers, training and re-training of personnel, provision and upgrading of internet connec-

who awarded the Institute of Corporate Administration (ICAD) professional membership grades. Those decorated at the award ceremony, which took place at the SUBEB Hall, Ado-Ekiti, included Mr. Sunday Akomolafe, a Senior Assistant Registrar and the Secretary of the polytechnic’s chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP), who bagged full professional membership of the institute (MCAI). Other awardees from the polytechnic included Ms Clementina Umezinwa, Mr. Samuel Opeyemi, Mrs. Regina Adam and Mrs. H.O. Oladunjoye of the Directorate of Academic Planning. The Head of Department of English, Ekiti State University, Prof. Toyin Bamisaye was conferred with the Fellowship Award of the institute, as well as the Principal of the College of Health Technology, IjeroEkiti.

Conversion of YABATECH, KADPOLY, a ruse

Dr. Ladipo, YABATECH Rector CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 1

of the conversion. And indeed, this is the kite the National Assembly is flying which has put on hold the entire conversion process.” While recalling that YABATECH not only pioneered technological education in the country and Africa in particular, but also gave birth to the University College, Ibadan in 1948, the source hinted that since the college has continued to champion technology education, the thinking in some quarters is that it should be left to concentrate on provision of technological education, its primary constituency, as being done in countries such as Britain, Finland, Sweden and other clime. He said what is good for the

Federal Government to do for YABATECH, KADPOLY and other identified institutions, is to grant them degree awarding status, for the award of B.TECH Degrees, rather than total conversion which has continued to be killed by bureaucracy and unnecessary politicking. The source said: “About 10 years ago, Finland and Sweden converted all their polytechnics to universities of technology to drive technology development of nations. For instance, City Polytechnic, London and South Bank Polytechnic, have since become City University London and South Bank University respectively. “If the Federal Government had thought it great that Nigeria should develop technologically, it should have borrowed from the countries that have done the right thing. What is creative that everybody should know is that polytechnic education has been at the receiving end of oppressive policy in the country.” He cited the disparity and dichotomy between polytechnic graduates and their university counterparts in terms of career progression, saying any nation that is neglecting or relegating polytechnic education as the country is currently doing is doing so at its peril, and can only result to its backwardness. In a telephone call, the Media Adviser to the Supervising Min-

ister of Education, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu said, presently, no process is on at the ministry’s level on the conversion of the polytechnics, since the process had been halted about five years ago. But all efforts to get the reaction of Prof. Okojie proved abortive has he and the commission's spokesman, Mr. Yakasai did not pick their calls or responded to the text messages sent to their phones. To the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Kaduna Polytechnic chapter, Comrade Mustapha Yahaya, unnecessary politicking and bureaucracy have continued to dim the conversion of the institutions to universities since 2006, when the idea was first mooted. He wondered that the conversion which was announced during Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration is yet to see the light of the day, as nothing had since been heard about the plan. He further told New Telegraph how the Umaru Yar ‘Adua administration set up a committee to look at the modalities and process of converting Kaduna Polytechnic and Yaba College of Technology into universities and degree awarding institutions. A committee headed by Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the former Executive Secretary of

the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) was raised by the government, which recommended the structure and financial implications of the conversion. “About N3 billion was recommended to address the infrastructural and human development needs of Kadpoly, as well as upgrading of existing facilities. But that was the last time we heard anything about the proposal,” he lamented. Yahaya, who noted that the proposal was greeted by jubilation and excitement by both members of staff and students, said the only bone of contention then was whether the proposed university would be a technical university or a conventional one; and whether it will retain its name or be re-named Kaduna City University. The union leader, however, wondered why the present administration should establish nine new universities when the proposed conversion of the polytechnics to universities has not been resolved. Yahaya pointed out that half of the cost of building the new universities should have been diverted towards the conversion of polytechnics for them to commence admission of students. According to him, KADPOLY currently has over 150 Doctorate degree holders, while it offers 101 academic programmes

Dr. Muhammed, KADPOLY Rector

in 40 academic departments and five colleges, a capacity in which he stressed most universities in the country could not boast of. “At Kaduna Polytechnic, he said the entry qualification is at par with universities, as candidates are required to posse five credits in the Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE), including English and Mathematics before they could be offered admission into the polytechnic. The Executive Secretary of National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Dr. Mas’ud Adamu Kazaure, in a telephone interview, said the conversion is outside his purview, but that of the National Universities Commission (NUC). According to Kazaure, the National Assembly has finalised the necessary legislation and passed it to NUC, even as he refuted that NBTE is frustrating the conversion process.

EDUCATION

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

UNIJOS establishes three new faculties

KWASU to promote human rights in varsities

Musa Pam

Ilorin

Jos

niversity of Jos ViceChancellor, Professor Hayward Babale Mafuyai, has disclosed that the university has created three additional new faculties for the institution. The university, according to him, is poised to establish and equip the new programmes to the best international standards. While briefing journalists in Jos, the Vice-Chancellor said the new faculties were set to takeoff with pioneer students in October, this year.

Elizade Varsity gets NUC’s nod to mount programme National Universities Tthehe Commission (NUC) has given management of the Elizade

University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, a clean bill of health to mount International Relations and Diplomacy programme in the university. The approval of the course by NUC, the agency supervising university education in the land, brought to 30 the numbers of academic programmes run by the university. In the letter conveying the approval of the new programme, the universities regulatory body granted immediate take-off of the programme. Reacting to the approval, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Valentine Aletor described the feat as another step that shows that the university is moving in the right direction, even as he reiterated that the university was determined to do things differently to achieve different results. Aletor recalled that the South African Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Mnguni Lulu, during his visit to the university recently, had agreed to accept students of International Relations and Diplomacy for internship. “The university has been enjoying the reward of doing things right. The approval of 30 academic programmes by the National Universities Commission within the past 17 months of the existence of the university was an unrivalled feat,” the Vice-Chancellor said. In a related development, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has lauded the university for its stride to be an ACCA Tuition Provider. However, the accounting professional body reaffirmed that the qualifications of Accounting and Finance lecturers at the university and the availability of modern facilities have gone a long way to qualify the university to partner with the professional body.

"The University of Jos is poised to establish and equip new Faculties of Veterinary Medicine, Engineering and Agriculture that will be of international standards and contribute meaningfully to the realisation of the government’s Vision 20:2020 agenda. "The new programmes will deliver on the country’s much needed manpower for the transformation of the economy. The programmes will require a lot of financial and material support in order to meet the National Universities Commission (NUC) requirements and those of the other professional bodies for accreditation," Mafuyai added. The Vice-Chancellor, who declared that for the projects to take-off it would require between N4 and N6 billion and solicited support from stakeholders, however noted that

government alone could not shoulder the burden of providing quality education for the citizenry. His words: "The institution’s Governing Council, the Advancement Support Board and the UNIJOS Alumni Association are set to organise a fundraising event to support the take-off of these new programmes. Indeed, your support will go a long way in ensuring that the dream of admitting the first set of students in October is realised. "The programmes will also play vital roles in the effort towards improving the lives of the people especially those within the university's catchment area. But it is a capital intensive project that requires the collaboration of stakeholders and friends of the university, and we going to appreciate every support in that direction."

Biodun Oyeleye

he Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, has launched a Human Rights Education Club (KHREC), which is aimed at promoting and strengthening individual and students’ human rights awareness across the country. Speaking at the event, the Director, Centre for Innovation and International Studies, Mr. Willys Santos noted that the project has a vision of being a reference for human rights awareness and promotion in tertiary education in Africa, while the mission is to teach, discuss, reflect, protect and promote human rights at the university and the society at large. “KHREC, which was launched by the Centre for Innovation and International Studies in conjunction with the Law Department, will promote the

L-R: Guest Lecturer, Prof. Libode Olumuyiwa Ajayi, Federal University of Technology, Akure; The universiy's Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola, and the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Adedayo Daramola at the 66th institution's inaugural lecture.

active participation of all members of the university community to integrate human rights values and principles into all areas of their lives,” he noted. According to Santos, the project will raise community awareness of human rights and the importance of promoting them and it will reflect on the role of human rights in an interconnected world. “It will produce publicity material and documentation on human rights awareness and promotion and also promote human rights on campus and in the society at large,” he said. Meanwhile, the university Admission Officer, Mr. Hakeem Saraki said the club is expected to promote and interpret laws, gather documents, undertake research and studies and organise seminars, symposia and conferences on human and people’s rights. He pointed out that the club also has the responsibility of disseminating information on students’ challenges as well as encourage national and local institutions concerned with the rights of people. In his presentation on the “Relevance of Human Rights Education to Community Development”, Mr. Abdullahi Ishola added that “for man to play a good role in community development, his human rights posture must be balanced and stable.” He observed that illiteracy is a major impediment to human rights advancement, insisting that only through sound human rights education would a man respect his and others’ human rights. Ishola explained that good human rights education would give room for peaceful co-existence, rule of law, good governance, patriotism, promotion of culture of selflessness and service to humanity, enhanced law and order.

ABUAD partners US-based firm Adebiyi Adegoroye

etermined to partner reputable corporate organisations and individuals towards its goal of entrenching a sustainable quality and functional education in the country, Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), a private university located in Ado-Ekiti is partnering the Bazilio Cobb Associates, a United States-based Accounting firm. To foster the partnership drive, the Chief Executive Officer of the firm based in Washington, Mr. Ralph Bazilio was at the institution last week on a visit to the management of the university. While receiving the visitor, the Founder and President of the university, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), described the university as a child of circumstance founded to provide the missing link between the ordinary people, who are yearning for quality education and the public universities which have failed them. Alluding to the history of the

four and a half-year-old university, Babalola, a legal icon, said: “To a large extent and judging by what people and organisations have said about our university, and what we have been able to achieve in less than its five years existence, we have made a success of the university project.” He added: “We have started well and we are doing well. We are training future moulders of a better society. We graduated the first set of our students on October 21, last year, and the feedback we are getting about their performance, especially during the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, is very encouraging. It shows that we are doing well and we will continue in that regard”. Babalola commended Bazilio for making it to Ado-Ekiti at a time when a lot of negative things are being bandied around about Nigeria, adding that it takes a lot of courage and determination for any foreigner to come to Nigeria in the

present circumstance. The legal icon, therefore, encouraged Bazilio to broadcast to those who do not believe that anything good could ever come from Africa, that indeed something great and mind-boggling, is happening in Nigeria through Afe Babalola University. The university’s Head of Public Relations, Tunde Olofintila in a release, said Bazilio lauded the university and its

Babalola

founder for the excellent job within a spate of less than five years, even as the visitor stressed that “anyone who is in the university for just ten minutes will not only be excited, but will also be amazed about the university and the excellent job the founder is doing.” Impressed by the quantum of infrastructural development and the international acclaim academics activities which he saw and particularly the expansive ABUAD Enterprise Farm, Bazilio promised to deploy his resources and vast network in the United States to assist in the realisation of Babalola’s enviable vision of entrenching and sustaining quality, functional and reformatory education in Nigeria. Bazilio, who confessed to having handled various projects in 12 African countries to ensure that grants to such countries were properly utilised for the envisioned projects also volunteered to work closely with ABUAD on its Teaching Hospital project.

24 EDUCATION | INTERVIEW

BURDEN

With the inauguration last week as the new substantive Vice-Chancellor of University of Abuja, Michael Umale Adikwu, a Professor of Pharmacy is inheriting a crisis ridden university.

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

UNIABUJA: The burden of new VC

Emeldah Ogene Abuja

ith the inauguration of a substantive ViceChancellor for the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), last week, it is not yet Uhuru for the institution that has been engrossed in an indefinitely strike, which has paralysed academic activities in the university. The university’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), had on June 2, some few days to the commencement of the second semester examination, embarked on indefinite strike. But, on assumption of office, Michael Umale Adikwu, a Professor of Pharmacy at the Department of Pharmacy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), the new substantive Vice-Chancellor, who succeeds Professor James Adelabu, had in his inaugural speech, pledged that his administration would work towards ensuring a stable academic calendar and unify all factions in the academic community. Besides, Adikwu, who assured the university community during the handingover ceremony of a smooth academic environment, said: “The running of a university is a pilgrimage, it is a continuous process, and I will ensure that there is best academic standard and practices in the university.” The new Vice-Chancellor, who was quick to realise that he is inheriting a university in crisis from his predecessor, however, noted: “As I was informed the university is currently on forced vacation, so the first approach is to see how we can bring back both the lecturers and students back on campus, in order for normal academic activities to resume without further delay.” Adikwu went on: “It is imperative to reconcile everyone in this university community because without a genuine reconciliation, we cannot move forward. “We should not allow our university to be politicised, but we should collectively see education as a tool to solve the socio-economic problems of the people and country rather than using it to create more problems. I am going to work out modalities to ensure a stable university environment.” He, however, vowed that all uncompleted projects at the university would be completed as soon as possible. Expectedly, the university community is waiting to see how Adikwu, who emerged the substantive Vice-Chancellor of the university out of the 124 candidates that applied for the position, and among the 10 shortlisted candidates will bring his magic wands to resolve the crisis, which the outgone Vice-Chancellor (Adelabu)

UniAbuja gate

Adelabu

was unable to solve before his exit from office. In the centre of the union’s agitation, which the new ViceChancellor inherited include non-release and implementation of the 2012 white paper on the 2012, 45-man Special Visitation Panel, raised for the university by the then Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Rufa’I Ahmed following calls by the university chapter of ASUU on the urgent need to address some contending issues in the system. The panel’s report, which was said to have been submitted in September of that year, was also said to have allegedly indicted the Vice-Chancellor of mismanagement, incompetence and opacity, but which almost two years after, the White Paper on the report is yet to be released. The other issues in the ongoing impasse include non-remittance of the union’s checkoff dues and levies, which the union accused the former administration of sitting on, as well as non-payment of claims and other sundry arrears accruing to the members of the union. However, the union, which vowed not to return to work until all the grievances were addressed, is perhaps demanding the immediate payment of the following incontrovertible or undeniable claims to its members the arrears arising from promotion and adjustment of entry levels and steps. ASUU-UNIABUJA is also accusing the university of nonpromotion of lecturers as at when due to the out-gone Vice-

Chancellor’s lack of concern for the welfare of workers; nonpromotion of lecturers to professorial cadre, appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor, (which has been addressed), as well as restoration of students’ unionism on campus. With these demands and the insistence of the union not to return to work, the new ViceChancellor, according to the university community, has to rise up to the challenge of tackling the issues headlong for the university to move forward. Rising from its congress, the Chairman of university’s chapter of ASUU, Dr. Ben Ugheoke, who insisted that there is no going back on the strike, said it was painful to commence with immediate effect, a comprehensive and indefinite strike. Though Ugheoke noted that the issues leading to the ongoing strike are no longer new, since they had been issues of contention with the former Vice-Chancellor, Professor James Adelabu and the Governing Council, he expressed dismay that all efforts, agitations and communication by the union for the management to resolve the issues have remained fruitless. The union leader, who accused Adelabu of was employing desperate effort to deceive the unsuspecting members of the public, added that it was necessary to avail the general public the truth about why ASUU-UNIABUJA is on strike and the deplorable state of the university. He wonder why the white paper on the report of the 45-man special visitation panel raised for the university in July 2012, by the former Education Minister, Professor Ruqayyatu Rufai Ahmed, and which had been submitted since September the same year, was neither released nor implemented.

It is imperative to reconcile everyone in this university community because without a genuine reconciliation, we cannot move forward

Adikwu

The reported, the union wondered that because the report indicted the former Vice-Chancellor of mismanagement, incompetence and opacity, two years after, the White Paper is yet to be released despite it recommended the fixing of the university. ASUU, which to according to Ugheoke, is questioning the Federal Government’s silence over the implementation of the recommendations of the panel it raised, which would have saved the university from its continued rot, also frowned at this unfortunate act of unholy silence, taking into cognisance the huge amount of public funds that was expended in the running of the panel for a period over eight weeks. To the union, which expressed dissatisfaction over the government’s position on the panel, recalled that the recommendations contained a road-map for the re-invention of the university in terms of getting rid the system of unfit staff, as well as strategies to get the university’s academic programmes accredited; staff development plans; restoration of students union; funding needs, generation and application; and infrastructure intervention, among others. In view of this, the union said it demands that the Governing Council should release and immediate implement the White Paper without further delay. On the issue of the union’s check-off dues and levies, which it alleged the ViceChancellor refused to remit to the union, ASUU hinted that

since April, 2013, the checkedoff dues and levy meant for the union’s bus purchase, had not been remitted to the union’s account, while such deductions were stopped by the management in May of that year. The union, which is not happy about non-payment of its members’ claims and other sundry arrears accruing, stressed: “Despite the mounting excess workload of the academic staff due to indiscriminate admission above the university’s carrying capacity, the out-gone Vice-Chancellor refused to pay their claims and arrears, in which some dated back to 2010.” Ugheoke said the Vice-Chancellor’s allegation that ASUU was angry with the him as a result of his refusal to allow the union to share the university’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), is baseless, saying that the Vice-Chancellor’s anti-welfare proposal to the Governing Council for outright stoppage of payment of most of the union’s allowance and claims, were rejected by the council. Piqued by the development, the Chairman said that ASUUUNIABUJA at its congress resolved to demand the immediate payment to its members their claims and arrears accruing from their promotion and adjustment of entry levels and steps. ASUU also accused the Vice-Chancellor of refusal to promote the staff, as well as lack of promotion of qualified lecturers to the professorial cadre. Meanwhile, the out-gone Vice-Chancellor, Adelabu, has debunked the ASUU’s allegations leveled against him, dismissing it as the handiwork of mischief makers who are bent to smear his name and administration. In order to forestall further breaking down of law and order on campus, by the protesting students, the governing council ordered the immediate closure of the institution. In another development, the process of appointing a substantive Vice-Chancellor for the university was greeted by mixed feeling from some cross section of the university community. Of the candidates shortlisted, for the plump position - Professor Umar G. Danbatta, from Bayero University Kano; Professor Armstrong Adejoh from Benue State University and Professor Raheem A Lawal from University of Ilorin – none was said to receive the favour of the council.

Dr. Ugheoke

EDUCATION

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

FUPRE students for Africa's global mapping exercise Dominic Adewole ASABA

ome three students of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE), Delta State are to represent Africa at this year’s edition of the World Geological Mapping Exercise (WGME). The students are Anine Lawrence (Best Poster Presenter), Eze Stanley (Best Technical Paper) and Idoko Rose, who emerged second best in the Second Africa GeoScience Students’ Conference (AGSC) held in Ghana, this year. Praising the students for their sterling performance, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. John Ovwata Etu-Efeotor, who confirmed this in Effurun said “against all odds, the university is gradually matching on the path of greatness and academic excellence.” The Vice-Chancellor, who was optimistic that the stu-

dents would make Africa proud at the global mapping exercise, which is billed for September, this year, in the United States of America (U.S.A), decried the negative reports that have trailed the mission statement of the institution. According to Etu-Efeotor, the institution is already making great waves academically going by the three students from the Department of Geology who are to represent Africa in a global competition as result of their outstanding performance. He said: “The Federal University of Petroleum Resources is making greater stride than what people think. We just have a group of students who went to Ghana and excelled, and they are going to represent Africa among the comity of nations at the global mapping exercise billed for U.S.A. This is the kind of news we want to hear in this institution.”

‘The bad name’ the institution had been known for in the past, he continued has changed, saying peace, stability and excellence have returned to the university. The Vice-Chancellor noted that the entire management and members of staff of the institution are now working together to develop the institution and position it for the challenges of the 21st Century. Etu-Efeotor, however, explained how six students submitted entries for the academic pursuit, out of whom three were eventually selected for the Ghana conference, where they performed excellently well. The university and the Maritime University are the two federal universities that President Goodluck Jonathan performed their ground-breaking ceremony at Okerenkoko recently to position the oil rich state (Delta) as one of the fastest growing states in the country in education sector.

Ghana varsity, FUNAAB partner on training Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

he Food Safety and NutriTment tion Centre at the Departof Nutrition and Food

Science, University of Ghana, Legon and the College of Food Science and Human Ecology (COLFHEC), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State have indicated interest to partner on training. The collaboration, according to the two institutions, would be in the areas of food safety and nutrition training. At a meeting to endorse the partnership with the Dean of COLFHEC, Professor Folake Henshaw, the Director in charge of the centre, Professor Kwaku Tano-Debra, disclosed that the Food Safety and Nutrition Centre was sponsored by the Industry Development Council (IDC), a United Kingdom-based nongovernmental organisation, to address the challenges of food safety through the promotion of trainings. Tano-Debra stated that the visit of the team to the FUNAAB was to explore the possibility of collaboration with COLFHEC in hosting a similar centre, which would ensure food safety and expand the centre’s regional network. Besides, the don added that the visit was aimed at developing database for food safety issues and to collectively reduce the problem of food safety, which has been responsible for many health hazards and deaths in many West African countries.

Prof. Oyewale, VC

On the choice of FUNAAB’s for the proposed collaboration, Tano-Debra said research findings on the college and interactions with its Dean indicated that it had the required departments, workforce and facilities to host the training. Responding, Professor Henshaw said the centre was unique about addressing food safety and proffering solutions to nutritional problems associated with food insecurity. According to her, there are at least three departments that could work with the centre in COLFHEC including the Departments of Food Science and Technology; Nutrition and Dietetics and Hospitality and Tourism. She added that the college was willing to partner with the Centre for its regional network and integration, adding that the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Oyewole, had approved and supported the smooth take-off of the collaboration.

OAU alumni association names national officers

Rector, Dr. Taiwo Akande in a handshake with the new ADOPOLY Deputy Rector Academic, Mr. babatunde during his inauguration

Rector restates commitment to entrepreneurship education l Appeals to ASUP to end strike

etermined to enhance the development of entrepreneurship education in the polytechnic, the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti has reinstated the management’s commitment to strengthen the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Vocational Studies (CEDVS). This, Dr. Taiwo Theresa Akande said, would be done by fostering partnership with relevant organisations and agencies in order to position the centre as a reference point and benchmark for the country in terms of developing large scale agricultural project that would ultimately improve the institution’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) drive. The Rector reiterated this while receiving Mr. Mike Bassey, the Country Director and Prof. Matt Baker of WINROCK International, a United States-based, non-profit organisation working around

the world to empower the disadvantaged people to increase their economic opportunities and sustain natural resource endowment. According to Akande, this has become imperative for the polytechnic to concentrate on large scale farming, in view of the dwindling resources from the government to the education sector, to explore other avenues to shore up the polytechnic’s funding. She spoke of the readiness of the management to work with WINROCK in terms of idea sharing and to provide necessary technical skills to improve and make the polytechnic’s entrepreneurship centre more viable. Earlier in his remarks, Baker, a Volunteer at WINROCK International assured the Rector that the organisation would be willing to collaborate with the centre in the provision of required technical assistance through an aggressive agricul-

tural education, as well as help in setting up an Enterprise Village for the centre. “This is where modern farming activities would be practiced, while farmers within and outside the state would be trained on new ways of practising agriculture,” he said, stressing the readiness of the organisation to carry out the assessment and evaluation of the success of the polytechnic’s entrepreneurship programme, which he noted was already on the right track. Meanwhile, the Rector has pleaded with the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and the colleges of education counterpart (COEASU), who are currently on indefinite strike over non-implementation of their demands by the Federal Government, to sheath their swords in order to resolve the crisis by embrace dialogue. Akande, who expressed worry over the 12-month old strike, however regretted that the strike had dragged longer than expected, noting that it had caused incalculable damage to the polytechnics and colleges of education which are on the brink of losing a whole academic session.

he alumni of the Obafemi Tunder Awolowo University (OAU), the aegis of the Great

Ife Alumni Association, an umbrella body for graduates of the university have elected national officers who would run the affairs of the association for the next two years. The election, which took place during the 21st Biennial Convention of the association, held at the Oduduwa Hall of the university, attracted several thousands of the alumni, who thronged their alma mater for a reunion and celebrations of their great institution. At the end of the exercise, Mr. Segun Oke emerged as the President, while Bola Oloko, Niyi Oduneye and Hakeem Olomowewe were elected the Vice- President (South-West, North and South-East/ SouthSouth) respectively. Lara Olanrewaju, who was elected as the National Secretary, is expected to use her vast experience as a university administrator and former Alumni Relations Officer to run the affairs of the Secretariat, while Messrs Lekan Odunjo and Bayo Adesida were elected as the First and Second National Assistant Secretaries. Other elected officers include Fred Aburu (Legal Adviser), Angela Ukatu (Deputy

Legal Adviser), Ronke Okoya (Financial Secretary), Bisi Adetifa (Treasurer), Ayo Adelugba (Publicity Secretary), Diran Ayanyemi (Social/ Welfare Secretary) and Kayode Adeigbe (Editor-in-Chief). The Ex-officio members include Dele Omifare, Kate Mordi and Emmanuel Nwachukwu. However, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bamitale Omole has applauded the invaluable contributions of the members of the alumni association to the overall development of their alma mater. Omole, who spoke through the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Ayobami Salami, during the inauguration of the newly elected officers called on other stakeholders to do everything within their financial and material powers to assist the Federal Government to further develop tertiary education in the country, so that African Continent and humanity in general would benefit immensely from them. In his inaugural speech, the President of the association, Mr. Segun Oke, expressed profound gratitude to participants at the 21st biennial convention of the association, promising to run an all-inclusive and transparent administration.

26 EDUCATION

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Okojie decries poor funding of agency

Leo Sobechi

university teacher in the United States of America, Dr. Kalu Kalu Diogu, is seeking the establishment of a Nano-Technology and Micro-Electronics manufacturing Centre of Excellence in Africa. Diogu, who spoke as the guest lecturer at the African University of Science and Technology, Abuja (AUST), explained that African continent, “which is emerging as the largest consumers of electronic products in the world would benefit from such initiative”. He indicated that funds for the take-off of the centre could be sourced from foundations, development agencies, ICT companies and the government, expressing optimism that the Africa would achieve immeasurable leaps through such centre. Dignitaries at the lecture entitled: “The Impact of Semiconductor Materials and Devices on the Information Age” included the University President, Prof. Wole Soboyejo; Visiting Professors from University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN); former Special Adviser to the FCT Minister and Communications Strategist, Dr. Eke Agbai Eke; Mr. Kalu O. Kalu and students. Diogu in his lecture recounted the development of today’s sophisticated electronics components used in computers, aviation, home entertainment, healthcare, communications, and transportation among other sectors from the Semicon-

Emeldah Ogene Abuja

he National Universities Tecutive Commission (NUC) ExSecretary, Professor

President, Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin and some students leaders staging a campaign for the freedom of the abducted students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.

Don seeks nano-tech, micro-electronics centre ductor materials and devices. Diogu, who is also the VicePresident, Research and Development, Advanced Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Group (ATT&IP), Fulshear, Texas; identified four building blocks of semiconductor devices as the foundation of all modern electronic circuitry and inventions, as well as their roles in electronic industrial

applications. His presentation, which was laced with complex mathematical equations, graphical representations and device fabrication steps in the field of microelectronics, was broken down and simplified to the delight of the audience. In his remarks, President, Provost of AUST, Professor Soboyejo, hailed the idea of estab-

lishing the Nano-Technology and Micro-Electronics manufacturing Centre of Excellence in Africa. Soboyejo, who is a renowned expert in material science and engineering, stressed that such centre would help in a long way to bridge the technology gap between Africa and countries such as China, Malaysia and India.

FCE cautions 452 sandwich students against vices

Some of the students taking their admission oath.

Mojeed Alabi

o fewer than 452 students of Sandwich Programme have taking the matriculation oath of the Federal College of Education, Technical (FCE Technical), Akoka, Lagos for the 2013/2014 academic session. Congratulating the students at the matriculation ceremony, the Provost, Dr. Sijibomi Olusanya commended them for their choice of the 47-year-old college to enhance their competencies in the teaching profession. He said: “The college is positioned to provide the training needs of all categories of

persons who desire to become professional teachers as it has outlined various sandwich programmes for those who for one reason or the other couldnot enroll in the regular programme. “The college, through the innovative Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) sandwich programme, attracts practicing teachers to upgrade their skills and competencies as a way of assisting them to be more effective in their professional fields,” he said. The Provost enjoined the students to be moderate in all they do on campus, even as he warned them to shun all negative influences such as in-

decent dressing, promiscuous life, alcoholism and drug abuse, as well as other forms of violence especially at this period the country is facing security challenges. Olusanya charged the students to take advantage of the rich faculty and learning facilities available at the college to train themselves adequately in order to become professional teachers. While administering the college’s oath of allegiance of the students, the Registrar, Mr. Henry Othoille urged the students to take advantage of the legal rights the matriculation conferred on them as bonafide

students of the institution by conducting themselves in orderly manner all the time. He reiterated the need for the students to obey all rules and regulations of the college, saying students who are obedient will remain on campus to complete their programmes in good time, while those who prove otherwise will be shown the way out. The Director of the Sandwich Programme, Dr. Johnson Aleburu, who explained that the matriculation had been delayed as a result of the indefinite nationwide strike by the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), urged the students to study well for the examination scheduled to commence this week. He appealed to those who are yet to pay the tuition fees to do so without further delay, warning that the college would not allow those who are indebted to the college to write their examination. Aleburu added: “Therefore, what differentiates a winner on the track of success is the ability to be disciplined and be diligent. Make sure you study well for the examinations and do not depend on cheating. Take actions on your plans for your learning without procrastinating. President of the Students’ Union, Olusola Ogunowo encouraged the new students to consider their admissions into the college as a destiny, rather than a last resort as erroneously taken by some fresh students.

Julius Okojie has called for increased funding of the university regulatory agency to enable it fulfill its mandate of overseeing the affairs of the nation`s university system. Okojie, who made the appeal when the Senate Committee on Education visited the headquarters of the Commission in Abuja as part of its oversight functions, also expressed shock over the present situation of Nigerian university system, stressing that it is only when there is increased appropriation of funds, regular interactive forum and prompt attention on university regulatory agencies, that the issue of effective monitoring of the system could be addressed. The NUC boss said: “Regulators need special intervention to regulate well. There is no revenue coming into the system; we are not such agencies as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) or the National Examination Council (NECO).” Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Committee, Comrade Uche Chukwumerije, who led the delegation said that the oversight functions, as practiced by legislative arm of government, was to uncover peculiar challenges with respect to the delivery of their mandates. “There is the need for the commission to urgently address several crises that are rocking the university system, including rising incidents of proprietary claims on various aspects of university assets, high incidence of indiscipline and floating of NUC directives by universities, and ensuring healthy inter-agency relationship between the universities and the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Commission,” he said.

VC lauds ITF’s performance kiti State University (EKSU) EOladipo Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Patrick Aina has given kudos

to the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) for its excellence performance in coordinating and sponsoring the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) in the university. Aina, who spoke through the Provost of the university’s College of Medicine, Prof. Mathew Araoye, while receiving the SIWES Coordinators from Ondo and Ekiti States in his office, who were at the institution for the conference, added that quality academic training could only be achieved through the delivery of theoretical and practical knowledge to students. He described the SIWES initiative as a productive idea, which he claimed has contributed in no small measure to practical knowledge of the students. He also added that the university would support the practical training of its undergraduates with a view to exposing them to modern-day techniques with adequate field experience.

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Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Corps member’s mixed feelings over service year Victoria Ewoh

or Obuye Success Ihenacho, a graduate of Media Technology at the Lead City University, Ibadan, the compulsory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, is a mere wasting of one whole year. This is the views of Ihenacho, who is currently undertaking his national youth service in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, about the NYSC programme. “I hate the idea of the NYSC scheme. To me, it is meaningless and irrelevant. It is waste of time and one precious year. As a student, I saw the service year, as a period when the youth (fresh graduates) waste a whole year of their lives serving a country that does not care for them,” he told New Telegraph. Obuye stressed: “The programme is worthless. I often wonder why as young ones we should be forced to serve a country that has nothing to offer us. After the one year we wasted to serve the country, the journey to frustration has just begun, when the search for the non-existing job begins since the government has no provision for youth employment. My conclusion on the NYSC programme is that the government wants to waste our time. until I was posted to Osogbo in Osun state." Obuye, who is undertaking his primary assignment as a teacher at Nawarudeen Sec-

ondary School, Osogbo, where he teaches English and Basic Technology in the junior and senior secondary school, however is not as lucky as some of his colleagues, who earn little stipend apart from his monthly NYSC allowance. “Apart from the monthly allowances from the Federal Government, as NYSC allowance, I receive nothing else, since the school where I am serving has no provision for us in terms of additional remuneration, as enjoyed by some of our colleagues,” he added. The corps member, who teaches a class of 65 students, hinted that it has not been easy teaching such a large class, as it could be very stressful and hectic. He recalled: “When I was posted to a school to teach, I initially felt dejected because I have no interest in teaching, and so I saw it as a punishment. But today, I can say I am happy doing it because I see my students, as my siblings. I never knew teaching could be so interesting, especially when you are teaching students that are ready to learn. But, it could be funny that you will meet some students who could not express themselves in correct English, while some others could be that stubborn disturbing the class because they are not ready to learn. All these have become the best part of my life.” According to him, serving in Osun state, could be interesting and exciting as the best place

Varsity trains student leaders on leadership skills he Students’ Affairs DiviTversity sion of the Ekiti State Uni(EKSU), Ado-Ekiti has

xxxx

to serve, because the people are very friendly, hospitable and accommodating. Despite this, I would have loved to serve in the Northern part of the country, where standard of living is perceived to be rather low, where things are cheaper especially foodstuffs, but for the rising cases of insurgency in that part of the country, I had to change my mind. “Today, many corps members posted to the north are redeploying back to other states, especially to the south, where life is still meaningful and peaceful,” Obuye noted, stressing that “I do not blame them, if I were to be in their shoes, I would have done the same

thing.” As part of his contribution towards the development of the community and its people, Obuye, as his community development service, is said to organise health and sanitation programmes, where he educates members of the society about how to care for themselves and their environment. This enlightenment programme, according to him, comes up every Friday, under his community development service, as a platform to equip the people about the importance of living a healthy life, which could only be achieved in a clean environment. This, he tagged: "A Clean Environment and Healthy Life".

Students’ association orientates freshers Hammed Hamzat UI

he Educational Management Students’ Association (EMSA) of the Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan (UI) chapter, last week, welcomed the fresh students to the department. It was at an orientation exercise, which according to the association’s President, Hamzat Hammed, meant to guide and educate the fresh students of the department in order to achieve academic excellence under a conducive atmosphere. Welcoming the fresh men and women to the department on behalf of other lecturers and the students, the Head of Department, Dr. Femi Akinwumi urged them to concentrate on their studies and shun all forms of social vices that may negatively affect their stay on the campus. Dr. Ismail Raji, counseled the students on ways of calculating their Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), even as he advised the students to take all courses registered seriously, saying each course has its effects on their CGPA. The duo of Dr. Ademola Atanda and Dr. Abiodun-Oye-

Cross section of the new students during the orientation

bamiji, whose paper dwelt on dress code not only in the department, but also on campus, maintained that the dress code for the department is sky blue on black trouser. The high point of the orientation programme was the presentation of awards to the three First Class students of the department - Ajoke Asaolu (400 Level); Ademola Adbulbasit (300 Level) and Carine

Okeh (200 Level) respectively, the award is part of move to encourage and inspire the fresh students to study hard. In his remarks, the association’s Staff Adviser, Dr. Jerome Isuku enjoined the students to always seek advice and should feel free to approach any of the lecturers for whatever that is not clear to them. One of the award recipi-

ents, Asaolu thanked the department on behalf of her colleagues for recognising their academic excellence, saying it would further spur and motivate them to be more focused in their academic work. Hammed thanked the lecturers and students for supporting the association, while pledging his determination to take the glory of the association to the peak.

trained the Students’ Union leaders of the institution in leadership training. The three-day leadership training, according to the division, is aimed at promoting leadership quality and equipping them with the task of leading an informed and active students’ unionism. The leadership retreat, which was took place at the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resorts, Ikogosi, Ekiti, was attended by principal officers of the university and members of the students’ union, led by their President, Victor Babatope Ibitola. The Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof. Isaac Adanlawo praised the union leaders for what he described as their leadership quality and comportment since they were elected into office, saying that the leadership training was organised to provide a platform with which to sharpen their minds and teach them the better ways of addressing issues. He, however, cautioned the students to avoid violent agitation, but to embrace dialogue as a means of conflict resolution mechanism. The Director of Personnel, Mr. B. Adeuya, who represented the university’s registrar advised the student leaders to lead by example, work towards peaceful relationship between students and management, as well as shun all forms of negative behaviours.

Encomium as staff school bids head-teacher farewell ncomium was last week EHead-teacher showered on the outgone of Adekunle

Ajasin University, AkungbaAkoko Staff Primary School, Mrs. Dorcas Akinduro. It was at a send-forth reception organised by members of staff, parent teachers association (PTA) and pupils of the school in her honour and recognition for her selfless service to the school. Members of staff, parents and pupils spoke glowingly about Mrs. Akinduro, whom they described as an exemplary teacher, mother, God-fearing and an administrator par excellence. While welcoming guests to the event, the acting Headteacher, Mr. J.O. Ehineni, described Mrs. Akinduro (the celebrant) as an educationist, erudite teacher and a caring mother, whose monumental contributions to the development of the school would remain indelible. Mrs. Akinduro joined the then Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti in 1985, which was later relocated to AkungbaAkoko, as Adekunle Ajasin University, as a teacher at the University Staff School.

EDUCATION | CAMPUS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

NIJ students protest colleagues’ suspension

iqued by the action of the management of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, Lagos, to bar two students of the institution from writing their semester examination, the entire students’ body last week took to the streets in a peaceful protest in support of their suspended colleagues. The suspended students are Emmanuel Bassey and Okunnu Micheal, who were said to have allegedly been accused by the management of damaging the school’s Internet facility. The Provost of the institute, Dr. Elizabeth Ikem had ordered that the students be barred from writing the examination, while she sanctioned them to refund N66,000, being cost of the damaged facilities. The protest, which started around 9am, did not end until about 3pm, despite the downpour in the area, as the placardcarrying students also boycotted the examinations until their colleagues were pardoned. According to a member of staff, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the management had ordered the students to pay, but an order which he said they ignored. “One of them claimed that the Toyota car used to damage the solar compartment is insured and that he needed invoice from the company that will fix the damages,” the source said. He added: "The management gave the student-photocopy of the invoice, but he insisted that the original duplicate has to be sent to the company. But the

Dr. Ikem

school could not give that out. After a while, they began to avoid the management and this angered the Provost, who directed that the students should not be allowed to write the examination. Before we knew what was going on, the entire students went on rampage in protest of the management action. I have not seen such thing in the institute over the years that I have been working here." The students, however, claimed it was "illegal" for the management to deny their colleagues from writing the examination since they had paid their school fees. They also accused the school authority of denying them full access to the Internet facility, which was donated to the institute by the Federal Government. One of the students, who declined to mention her name said: "Truly, we are agitating today because of the management’s action to bar some of our colleagues from writing

the examination which they deserve to write after paying their school fees. Our concern is even beyond this issue, because the management treats us like kids. They force us out of the school by 6pm daily without any good reason. Can you imagine that the institute does not have a website? Some of our lecturers also complained that they are not well paid and we are not happy about all these." The leader of the institute's Students Representative Council, Ojebola Matthew, recalled that several consultations and dialogue had been made with the management but to no avail. Ojebola said: "We just feel it is unfair to deny students the freedom to write their examinations for damaging a facility. They have paid their school fee and that is the major criterion qualifying the students to write examinations in the institute. It was a peaceful protest and the management had agreed to allow the affected students write their papers. In fact, like other students, I am not happy with the protest, but I hope such thing will not repeat itself again. "I urge the management to see the students as stakeholders and not to oppress them. We have signed undertaking that the students will pay before September, which each student has agreed to contribute N100 to support the affected students in order to forestall further crisis. We had earlier met the management, but they were not ready to allow the students to write the examination until we protested."

OAU alumni association president makes case for varsity system

Omole, VC

Sikiru Akinola OAU

he Vice-Chancellor of the T(OAU), Obafemi Awolowo University Prof. Bamitale Omole,

has applauded the invaluable contributions of the members of the alumni association of the university to the overall development of their alma mater. He gave the commendation during the inauguration of the newly elected national officers of the association. Omole, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Ayobami Salami, called on other stakeholders in the university project to assist the Federal Government in further developing tertiary education in the country. According to him, if this is done the country, African continent and humanity in general would benefit immensely from such gesture. It would be recalled that the Great Ife Alumni Association,

an umbrella body of graduates of the Obafemi Awolowo University (former University of Ife) recently elected a new set of national officers who would run the affairs of the association for the next two years. The election, which produced the new officers, attracted thousands alumni members who returned to their alma mater for a reunion and celebration of their achievements. In his inaugural speech, the President of the association, Mr. Segun Oke, expressed profound appreciation to everyone, promising to run an all-inclusive and transparent administration. He extended an olive branch to other contestants and urged every alumnus to come on board in order to collectively take the university to greater heights. He urged the federal, state and private universities to device a more realistic curricular that would make the certificates, diplomas and degrees they awarded to their graduates not only self-sustaining, but also fit properly into the socio-economic and entrepreneurial realities of the country, and which would also be in tune with the 21st Century labour market.

OPINION

Madu Edith

raduation is usually a time of celebration galore. It is a period when excitement is very high with graduating students, either universities, polytechnics or colleges of education adorn with academic gowns and caps. Times like these are accompanied by varied thoughts probing the minds of graduates. I mean thoughts that provoke worries. To some people the graduation period is a season of merriments, when graduates recount their days as students, and celebrate a fulfilled life after graduation, especially in view of the years of toiling. It is a time to purge out stress that has accumulated over years during the period of their training. While to some others, the “struggles continues.” This group of graduates is those who are concerned about whether to continue their postgraduate education, to seek more knowledge. They contemplate on which institution to do this, and whether to pursue the same discipline or course of study they offered at the undergraduate level, or to go for something different at the higher level. Indeed, to some others it is job at all cost, while to the female graduates marriage should be the next most rightful thing to do and decision to take. Some are engrossed in worries of getting the right soul mate. However, there is another group of graduates who do not even think of any hard and fast decision to take, rather than to make mistakes. Those in this category are yet to see the actual world,

What graduation means to students Madu Edith,

400 Level Mass Comm. at UNILORIN and so they are preoccupied with the thought of traveling to several places to explore opportunities abound in the countries before making finally decision on what to do. There is yet another set that have no plans whatsoever. If you ask them what they have in mind, their response is usually ‘nothing’. However, I can still categorise this group as those with plans and who have prepared to do nothing but accept nothing by chance. They are those who rely mostly on destiny, and what it holds for them. It is good to note here that destinies bring good fortunes, but it may be difficult to achieve especially when such people do not do anything to make the dream come true. However, decisions and preparation on the next cause of action is something

paramount for every individual. Plan provides you with the map or direction about where you are, where you are going and what to do. Someone without plans may be likened to that man who has no purpose. The one who walks, but have no idea of where he is going, or what he wants to do, are such persons that have lower probability of getting something tangible from such journey. Hence, plans give you purpose to work on. It automatically provides the strength and determination to forge ahead. But overtime, it has been discovered that lack of plans is not the critical factor that affect many graduates, but lack of purposeful planning, and failure to have an alternative planning strategies. Plans and purposes are two different forces that work hand in hand. It is until you have a purpose that you can get your plans right. Purpose stipulates what you want to do, while plans help you strategise on how to do that which you desire to do. Succinctly put, it is desirable you identify what you can do best then build your purpose and plans on it. One of my lecturers once said that if at the end of training, you cannot identify something unique about yourself that could launch you into becoming

fulfilled, there is a need for a rethink and planning. So, a thoughtful graduate should realise that whatever decision made at this time should be well evaluated and accompanied with good planning because this determines, to a larger extent, where they will be in the nearest future. Actions should be more on improving on something unique they know they can do well. This explains why it is always said that whatever you find your hands doing, it is better you do it well. You don’t do things haphazardly because you will be rewarded or compensated based on whatever you do at the end, but you should do it by exploring the time as an opportunity that may not come again in a lifetime. This is one of the ways people discover themselves and identify their capabilities. In the next few months, institutions across the country will be churning out several thousands of graduates who will flood the labour market. It is pertinent, therefore, for these graduates and for their own good, to be more proactive about what the future holds for them by making good plans for themselves and avoid over dependence on the nonexistent white collar jobs. Above all, they are advised to acknowledge God in everything they do, while character and commitment should be allowed to outshine their plans because their character is their number one identity, which defines who they are. Madu Edith is a 400 Level student of Mass Communication Department, University of Ilorin.

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Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Glo Ambassador: Fraudster dupes BUK student Appolos Christian

A Mrs. Mopelola Ojewumi (standing) while the citation of her late husband, Chief Ayo Ojewumi, was being read by the union's general secretary, Kayode Alabi, during the award presentation.

Poly student sentenced to 14-year imprisonment for kidnapping

Appolos Christian 22-year-old National Diploma (ND II) Mechanical Engineering student of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku has been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour for the kidnapping of a nurse. The suspect was said to have kidnapped one Mrs. Kate, a nurse, with three other accom-

plices on September 13, 2013, in front of her house in Ughelli while returning from her shop on the fateful day. The abductors were said to have taken their victim to a forest along Isoko-Patani Road, where she was unlawfully held captive before she was rescued unhurt by some military officers, led by one Sergeant Austin

the next day while the suspect was arrested at the scene. The suspected kidnapper was charged to a Delta State High Court sitting at Asaba, where he was found guilty of the crime and was sentenced last week to 10 years imprisonment on each of the counts of kidnapping, and four years jail for conspiracy.

Meet Press Club

female student of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), was said to have allegedly been duped about N267,000 by a fraudster in her quest to become a Glo Ambassador. The suspected fraudster, who claimed to be an agent of Global Communications Limited, committed the crime in 2012, when he promised to assist his victim to become a Glo Ambassador through his contacts with the GSM provider. The 29-year-old fraudster allegedly forwarded a code number to the student, assuring her that she would soon be called upon as one of the Ambassadors, while he instructed her to send certain amount of money to him to facilitate the process, which the student said she sent. It was gathered that the accused further told the victim to prepare for an interview trip to Glo Lagos Head Office, assuring the student that her name had been selected, and that the telecommunications company had already paid for her accommodation and return flight ticket. However, the bubble burst when on the day of the trip to Lagos the fraudster refused to show up at the airport, causing the student to wait endlessly, even as he refused to answer calls put across to him by the

student. At that point, the fraudster was said to have switched off his phone, and it was when the student could no longer reach him despite her numerous attempts, and even some days after that his phone was completely switched off that she realised that she has been duped. The student was said to have reported that case at the Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Gombe, which later arrested the fraudster. The suspected fraudster was charged to court on a two-count charge of obtaining by false pretence, which is contrary to and punishable under Sections 1(2) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006. The presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Garba Umar after finding him guilty of the crime, the fraudster was sentenced to two-year imprisonment. Advising the students and other Nigerians after his judgment, the Judge said: “I hope this will serve as a deterrent to those duping innocent Nigerians for one favour or another, including giving employment, getting help in the entertainment industry and most especially offering admissions. And for those who want a quick route to success, always know that there is no easy way to do things.”

UK varsity unfolds plans for online learning Mojeed Alabi Taiwo Hammed, UNIMAID

Ali, UNILORIN

Boris Nwachukwu, uniport

Muritala Hammed, UNILORIN

Hammed Hamzat, UI

Wale Bakare, UNILORIN

Kemi Busari, OAU

Edith Madu, UNILORIN

Sikiru Akinola, OAU

Are you interested in becoming one of the New Telegraph Press Club members? You can send your photograph, institution, department, course, level and stories to kayolanre@gmail.com OR mojeedalabi21@yahoo.co.uk

ne of the global leading online learning institutions, University of Roehampton, United Kingdom (UK), in partnership with Laureate International Universities, has unfolded plans to hold information sessions on online learning in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt between now and September, this year. The sessions, according to the university’s Chief Academic Officer, Craig Marsh, are geared towards providing potential students, professionals and adult learners with information on the opportunities that are available in the online learning space, and also offer insight into the university’s unique online learning model and range of available programmes. The initiative, Marsh said is aimed at bringing together industry’s representatives and academic experts to chart a path that will guide participants in expanding their educational outreach through online lear ning, with an emphasis on graduate education. The Port Harcourt information session is expected

to hold on Saturday, August 3 at Le Meridien Ogeyi Place, GRA, while the Lagos edition is billed for Saturday, July 19 at Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja, and it will be the tur n of Abuja on Saturday, August 2, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. Marsh said: “The University of Roehampton’s online programmes are built on practical knowledge gained through a collaborative learning experience that can help students apply new skills directly in their careers. Deciding on Masters programme is a big decision and these event will provide participants with useful information to aid their decision-making process. “The university has been providing quality education through its colleges for more than 170 years and has one of the most diverse communities of students in the United Kingdom, and maintains a strong tradition of commitment to equality. Today, it continues this tradition of excellence by providing working professionals around the world with access to high quality online Masters Degree programmes at an exceptional price.”

EDUCATION

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

NGO trains 190 schools on peace, security education Musa Pam Jos

n an effort to contribute to the peace process in view of the rising cases of insurgency in Plateau State, a Non-Governmental Organisation, Aprimac Onlus has trained no fewer than 40 teachers in Jos North zone of the state and 190 schools across five Local government Areas of the state on Peace education. The state Commissioner of Police, Nasiru D. Oki, who was the guest speaker at the inter-faith training, held at Dadin Kowa Youth Centre, Jos, the state capital, said when students are well informed of what is happening

in terms of security, it will go a long way in helping to solve the issues of security challenges the country is facing The Commissioner, who was represented by the CSP Akomolede Babayemi, advised the students to be more vigilant and report any suspicious movement in their areas to the police or other law enforcement agencies Besides, he urged the teachers in various schools in the state to always create proper security awareness in their students. The Country Representative of Apurimac Onlus in Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Okoko, said the aim of the inter-faith training for the

teachers and students is a response to the need for peace education and the provision of the peace manual clubs which will be used in secondary schools as well as setting up of peace clubs in schools According to the Apurimac Onlus Education Coordinator, Mr. Austine Agbanyi, the inter-faith training will impact knowledge on the teachers on peace education and conflict resolution in their various schools. He declared that the over 60 peace clubs already set up by the NGO in the various secondary schools in the state would be managed by the teachers trained during the exercise.

Students of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Lagos, protesting the suspension of their colleagues.

Mojeed Alabi

he National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), the umbrella association of higher school students, South-West Zone, has expressed concern over what it described as clampdown on education, following increment in tuition fees and unending strike of the lecturers of the polytechnics and colleges of education. The chapter, otherwise known as Zone D, described the development as a political class conspiracy, aimed at denying the children of the already downtrodden masses access to tertiary education. Rising from a stakeholders' meeting held at Foresight Hotel, Osogbo, Osun State capital, at the weekend, the association condemned in strong terms the hike in the tuition fees of the Lagos State University (LASU) and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). The meeting, which had in attendance, the Students’ Union Presidents from various institutions, NANS/ JCC Chairmen and former student leaders in the South West Zone, and other student leaders in the zone.

NANS Zone D raises alarm over clampdown on education In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the Zonal Coordinator, Asefon Sunday and the Secretary, Obanobi Bidemi, the association threatened a showdown with the federal and state governments, governing councils and university authorities where any form of fees increment occurs. The communiqué reads in part: "The NANS Zone D leadership rejects in totality, the ongoing coordinated political class conspiracy to completely take away education from the children of the poor, despite the poverty in the land where about 100 million Nigerians according to World Bank still live below poverty line. "The LASU tuition increment even after its purported reduction is still shocking, ridiculous and capable of traumatising parents and students. "While we were still bat-

tling with the LASU, the OAU authority shut the university following a peaceful protest by the students over increment in their fees. This is somehow difficult to believe that it could happen in the history of OAU, as it contradicts the vision of the founding fathers of the university." The association, which called on the Federal Government to resolve the one-year industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), also challenged Osun State Government to address the demands of the striking lecturers in the four state-owned tertiary institutions without further delay. The union, however, at the meeting constitutes action plan committee comprising the state NANS chairmen and some selected students’ union presidents to liaise with the affected institutions about the next line of action.

EDUPEACE

with Mahfouz A. Adedimeji (08066372516, sms only)

Like life, like football

espite the defeat suffered by the Super Eagles of Nigeria in their encounters with Argentina and France in the ongoing World Cup competition in Brazil, many Nigerians still follow the round leather game with interest. Karl Marx once said that religion is the opium of the masses but now football is. Only that football is not just the opium of the masses, it is also of people in general, the masses and the elite. Some people have claimed, not without their reasons, that football is now a global religion with the largest number of adherents. That our elite are also obsessed with football is well known. A recent example is that last Wednesday (July 2, 2014), the Federal Executive Council sitting in Aso Rock, Abuja, devoted some time to the analysis of the performance of the Super Eagles at its meeting, chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan. According to the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, who addressed journalists after the meeting, the Council analysed the performance of our boys, congratulated them because other giants of football did not perform better. His words: “You can look at the performances of some giants like the defending champions, Spain, which did not go beyond the first round. Italy, which has won this Cup three times didn’t also go beyond the first round, so Nigeria did better than Spain and Italy which are previous winners and better than several other countries. On a serious note, even England that founded football didn’t go beyond the first round!” But this piece is not about Mr. Maku giving us good excuses for failure or the Federal Executive Council being “busy” analysing football, it is actually about life and the wisdom of Vincent Thomas ‘Vince’ Lombardi, in line with the spirit of the season. Famously known as Vince Lombardi, the legendary American football coach was insightful and successful. As the head coach of the Green Bay Packers in the 1960s, Lombardi led his team to three straight championships winning the first two Super Bowls following the 1966 and 1967 National Football League (NFL) seasons. In honour of his coaching skills, the NFL’s Super Bowl trophy is named after him. It was Lomardi who said, “Football is like life – it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority.” The more one thinks of it, the more one is enthralled by his compelling simile because such is life. My brother, this life is hard; Nigeria is hard. Horace Walpole was spot on when he said, “Life is a tragedy to those who feel and a comedy to those who think.” For many Nigerians, life is a tragedy and they feel it seriously in death, insecurity, misery and extreme poverty that are our lot. The Nigerian situation requires perseverance, like the perseverance of a tired player

Like football, if we play the game of life well and fairly, we will score excellent goals, believe me! who must keep on running and playing till the end of the game. In all circumstances, perseverance is virtuous and Nigerians need to persevere as we hope for a better tomorrow. Then, there is self-denial, which is also key to success. There are many students and others who want to enjoy their way to success. They want to achieve academic success but still desire to attend parties, watch movies all day and consume music and all other stuffs. It is whimsical. Things are bad but can they still be worse, if we are not careful and persevering. Meanwhile, self-denial is akin to sacrifice and sacrifice makes a man. The level of success is often directly proportional to the cost of self-denial or sacrifice invested in the process. You don’t want to live long without denying yourself of the vacuous fad of smoking, drinking and other dangerously trendy life styles including drug abuse and casual sex. Moreover, it takes a lot of hard work to succeed. The Super Eagles, we all know, worked hard! If one works hard enough, one would succeed. As the mercurial former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin and Secretary General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islam Affairs, Prof. Is-haq O. Oloyede, once told a youth magazine, “Hard work does not kill”. As a student, without hard work, whatever you call yourself, you won’t soar like an eagle and you will be far from being super if you are not hard working! Also, we have to be dedicated to the Nigerian project, our people, our studies and every positive cause we are engaged in. Without dedication, nothing spectacular can be achieved. If a student is dedicated, even failure is an “energizer”. I failed JAMB examinations twice, yes, not making the cut-off mark was a failure too, and my eyes opened wide! Lastly, we have to respect our leaders even if we criticise them because they are in charge. I love the wit of the Ghana coach in this World Cup, James Kwesi Appiah, when his team crashed out of the competition. He said, “I’ve been criticized but after a defeat you don’t expect people to praise you – and in Ghana, we have 25 million coaches.” Nigeria has 170 million. We have to respect our leaders, the constituted authorities, as a player has to respect the coach for obvious reasons. Like football, if we play the game of life well and fairly, we will score excellent goals, believe me! l Dr Adedimeji is a Senior Lecturer Director, Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, Unilorin.

BUSINESS Wednesday, July 9, 2014

What's news Nigerian travellers to comply with US increased security at airports Nigerian passengers to the United States using airports that offer direct flights to the US are now being forced to switch on their mobile phones and other electronic devices to prove to security officials that they do not contain explosives

}p-32

Nigeria, four other African countries attract global real estate interest With an influx of corporate occupiers, sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), which includes Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Zambia and Mauritius are encouraging more global real estate interest.

}p-32

FG slashes rice levy to 20% After hot argument from importers and local rice farmers, the Federal Government has finally approved plans to reverse its unpopular policy on rice importation.

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Over N16bn cargo lost to sea robbers in Nigeria, others

A research by Risk Intelligence, a Denmark based risk analyst group, has revealed that some wet cargo worth $100 million have been stolen in Nigeria, Benin and other countries in the Gulf of Guinea since 2010. By mid-May 2014, pirates in the Gulf of Guinea had launched no fewer than 264 attacks.

}p-39

PETITION GALORE Floods of petitions against the NCAA DG has delayed his confirmation Wole Shadare

acts have emerged on why President Goodluck Jonathan is yet to forward the name of Capt Muktar Usman as the substantive Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), to the Senate for confirmation. This, according to experts who spoke to New Telegraph, is setting Nigeria’s aviation sector on the edge. Usman, a former Commissioner of Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) was announced as a replacement for Capt. Fola Akinkuotu last March, following the removal of three other chief executives in the agencies by the Presidency. A reliable source in the Ministry of Aviation who pleaded anonymity, told this newspaper that the torrents of petitions against Usman since his appointment was announced, was one of the reasons Jonathan has delayed forwarding his name to the Senate. Besides, the petitioners queried his competence as a Director-General of NCAA, saying that for him to have spent 18 years as a supernumerary without being in command of an aircraft, called to question his capacity to manage a highly rated agency such as the NCAA. The source also said that Ondo State Governor, Dr. Oluse-

INSECURITY Security challenges and political uncertainty scare foreign investors

BUSINESS CREW AYODELE AMINU, Deputy Editor (Business)

Chris Ugwu

Simeon Ogoegbulem, Dep. Business Editor

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

he continued sectarian violence in the northeast zone and the political uncertainty in the country has continued to reduce foreign investors’ deals at the Nigerian capital market. Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr Bismarck Rewane, in his monthly eco-

31 NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/business

ID theft: Biometric verification to the rescue }p-34

ayodele aminu, Deputy Editor, business

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

Why NCAA is yet to get substantive DG gun Mimiko, might have used his closeness to the Presidency to finally scuttle Usman's approval as he had expressed displeasure with the removal of the former DG NCAA, Akinkuotu, by the Presidency. Akinkuotu is an indigene of Ondo State and only spent five months as DG of the regulatory agency out of the expected

five years approved tenure. He is also said to be very close to Mimiko. There were indications that the President may eventually be pressured to drop Usman as an appointee. The source said: “There are several petitions against Usman even from his colleagues in the former national carrier,

the Nigeria Airways, who feel that he doesn’t have the capacity to oversee such a demanding agency in the Nigerian aviation industry. Even Akinkuotu's loyalists are still asking questions about his removal. “From all indications, he might not eventually be named CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

L-R: Zonal Business Coordinator, North East, Globacom, Samuel Ibrahim (left) and Chief Executive Officer, Tapshak Entertainment, Dorcas Bentu, after the signing of MoU for the sponsorship of Puuskaat Festival, in Jos.

Stock market: Foreign transactions fall to N92bn nomic news and views at Lagos Business School, disclosed that foreign transactions were down to N92 billion in May from N136 billion in February. Rewane, who also noted that foreign share of transactions were down to 45.25 per cent in May from 75.25 per cent in April, said that local currency, social woes and political uncertainty gave foreign investors cause for concern to remain pessimistic.

Financial pundits have continued to express the fear that if the spate of violence in some parts of the country is not tackled frontally, the projection of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to grow market capitalisation in 2016 to $1 trillion (N150 trillion) might be a mirage. This is because when people feel insecure, their appetite to invest, to buy or rent from the product of invest-

ment reduces and that is why all over the world, any country that radiates an environment of insecurity naturally repels investment initiatives from the international community and from their local investors. Investment analysts cautioned that the impact of the continued sectarian violence, political instability and ripple CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

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

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE May 2014..................................8% April 2014...............................7.9% March 2014............................7.8%

LENDING RATE

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at July 04)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N166.50 InterBank Rate . . . . . . . . . 10.50% Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N284 Prime Lending Rate. . . . . 16.93% Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N227.50 Maximum Lending Rate..25.83% • Foreign Reserves – $37.74bn as at 04/07/2014

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at June 04)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N155.73 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N267.08 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N211.61 Source: CBN

32 business | NEWS CHALLENGE Onus is on FAAN to provide enough charging points for passenger at the airports Wole Shadare

igerian passengers to the United States using airports that offer direct flights to the US are now being forced to switch on their mobile phones and other electronic devices to prove to security officials that they do not contain explosives. Passengers taking international flights into the United States now must have their cellphones and other electronic devices pass additional inspection before boarding planes, as part of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) most recent strategy to protect against the threat of a new type of terror attack. The group said during the security examination that officers may also ask that owners power up some devices, including cell phones, just as it warned that powerless devices will not be permitted onboard the aircraft. A source who works with Del-

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Nigerian travellers to comply with US security at airports Officials scrutinise iPhones, Samsung Galaxy

ta Airlines told New Telegraph that the onus is on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to have outlets where passengers can get their mobile phones and electronic devices fully charged. He stated that the airport authority had the responsibility to ensure compliance with the directive of the TSA, noting that all carriers had been notified of the new policy. Some passengers who spoke to New Telegraph at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and who were expected to travel on US airlines, Delta and United Airlines, said that they would travel with their automatic chargers to forestall a situation where they run out of battery power. People were seen trying to get a few electric sockets to charge their devices in compliance with the directive aside the additional screening they may undergo at their points of arrival.

The TSA did not disclose which airports would be conducting the additional screening. It was reported last week that passengers at British airports travelling to the US were facing extra checks on phones.

Improvements in real estate infrastructure and land record digitisation are attracting foreign direct investments Dayo Ayeyemi

ith an influx of corporate occupiers, subSaharan Africa (SSA), which includes Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Zambia and Mauritius are encouraging more global real estate interest. This latest rating is hinged on the fact that transparency has finally made its way to these Africa countries known as “final frontiers” of commercial real estate. According to the 2014 report of JLL and LaSalle Investment Management's bi-annual Global Real Estate Transparency Index, where transparency broadens, real estate capital flows and market change follows, this scenario is playing out in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The report claimed that five African countries (Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia and Mauritius) are among the global top 10 spots for greatest improvements in real estate market transparency. Noting that real estate market transparency reforms is occurring in Africa, the report said that across the globe, key drivers of transparency improvement include: Governments' recognition that poor

transparency affects investment and quality of life; media spotlight on corruption, scandals and building accidents; a rise in cross-border investments fuelled by more robust real estate markets; millennial expectations, pushing "Open Data" and sustainability practices up the agenda. Justifying these, the report pointed out that Sub Sahara Africa countries are in the very early stages of building and reforming their commercial real estate industry infrastructure; and that their responses to outside interest, however, mirrors top improvers from previous surveys, such as the MIST (Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea and Turkey) countries, which dominated the 2012 Global Top 10, and BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India and China) in 2010. Director, JLL Global Research, Jeremy Kelly said: "The top improvers in each cycle generally correlate with a surge in foreign direct investment, as investors push through transparency reforms and because governments quickly realize that poor transparency will deter continued inward investment. "Kenya is a great example. It saw a spike in FDI projects in the last year, and not coincidentally, it made the greatest leap in real estate industry transparency this year." The report pointed out that Kenya has initiated a number of real estate industry infrastructure improvements, including land record digitization, enhanced property market research and analysis, and the introduction of a REIT framework for the country.

international airports with direct flights to the US, based on intelligence that suggests new Al Qaeda efforts to produce a bomb that would go undetected through airport security.

L-R: Assistant Brand Manager, Amstel Malta, Phoebe Larry-Izamoje; Brand Manager, Hannatu Ageni-Yusuf and Marketing Manager, non- alcoholic drinks, Sampson Oloche, after a press briefing organised to celebrate Amstel Malta in Lagos.

Nigeria, four other African countries attract global real estate interest Reforms

Belgian officials said that passengers there would also have their devices checked. Homeland Security Secretary, Jeh Johnson, at the weekend, ordered the TSA to put extra security measures in place at some

These measures, it said has propelled Kenya to 55th place in the Transparency Index from 67th in 2012. Whether in Africa or elsewhere, cross-border activity is a key driver of improvement in market transparency. In Latin America for example, strongest gains have been achieved in Colombia and Peru, which are key targets of international real estate capital. Progress is generally moving at a slow - though still forward - pace in other parts of the world. In Asia Pacific, none of the regional players made the Top 10 improvers list this year as compared to three in 2012, largely due to limited improvement in market data availability and slow progress in policy reforms.

Foreign transactions fall to N92bn C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 1

effects of Euro economic crises might bring investors’ confidence to lowest status in the Nigerian capital market. They said that the country is currently facing a high level capital flight and declining interest of foreign investors. The Managing Director, Lamberth Securities Limited, Mr David Adonri, said that globalisation and liberalisation have made free flow of investment of capital across national borders possible with ease. He, however, affirmed that if government fails to decisively confront violent extremism in Nigeria, efforts at attracting foreign investment might be a mirage. “Vibrancy of the capital market is conditional on the investment climate in every country. Where insecurity persists, the investment climate will not

be conducive. Because peace and progress are intertwined, investment has tendency to always migrate to secure environments where peace is assured. “Violence kills people and destroys assets. Therefore, no sane investor will risk his hard earned savings in a strife-torn economic environment. This is behind the recent exodus of foreign portfolio investment from our capital market in the wake of deteriorating security situation in Nigeria. “Globalisation and liberalisation of capital markets have made free flow of investment capital across national borders possible with ease. Frightened domestic investors can move their investments to conducive foreign markets, thus compounding the woes of the capital market. Also, such capital flight can exacerbate the pressure on the domestic currency,” Adonri said.

Why NCAA is yet to get substantive DG C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 1

as the substantive DG of NCAA, but let’s wait and see.” Usman reportedly became a Captain in Chanchangi Airlines after the liquidation of the national carrier. He, however, could not be reached for comment as his phone was switched off when this reporter called him. Meanwhile, the Aviation Network International (ANI), has castigated the leading union in the Nigerian aviation industry, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), over its threat to disrupt activities in the sector if a substantive Director-General

was not confirmed for NCAA, within 21 days. ANI President, Mr Thompson Obafemi, speaking in Lagos at the weekend, said that such threat by ATSSSAN was not in the interest of the aviation industry in particular and the nation in general. Rather than threaten government, ANI challenged the union to contribute meaningfully to the development of the industry. Obafemi insisted that the role of the unions in a civil society was not to usurp the responsibility of any elected leader by unfairly twisting government’s arms to dictate implementation of policies or functions. He stressed that every President

in a civilised world, has the prerogative of when to nominate and submit the name of any nominee to the legislatures for confirmation. He declared that even the legislature has the right to delay, deny or approve confirmation of relevant executive officers, warning that the unions had no business in such processes. The ANI president insisted that having acting DirectorGeneral in the agency had created no vacuum, maintaining that the current acting Director-General was a consummate and accomplished professional, with vast multi-jurisdictional international experience of the industry.

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Kerosene scarcity hits Abuja Kenneth Tyohemba Abuja

esidents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are in for hard times as the scarcity of kerosene, which hit the territory and its environs bits harder. For over a month now, kerosene consumers in FCT have not been finding life easy as the product has vanished from most filling stations, leaving residents at the mercy of black market operators. Though the official price for the product is N50 per lit-

ter, the few filling stations that sell the essential commodity, a litter goes for between N110 and N120. The scarcity has, however, degenerated as a litter now goes for as much as N200 in the black markets. At Mobil Filling Station in Jikwoyi, a suburb of Abuja, it was survival of the fittest as consumers struggle with black marketers to get the product when a kerosene-laden tanker arrived. However, the station attendants refused to sell directly to consumers but rather chose to sell to suspected black marketers.

The attendants thereby fuelling allegations that the black marketers had financially induced the attendants rebuffed efforts made by some consumers to be attended to. A consumer, Mr Simeon Dauda, accused management of the filling station of sabotage and wondered why the end users of kerosene could be denied access of the product from the station, exposing them to exploitation by black marketers. But the station management denied the accusation, assuring that the scarcity of the product would soon be over.

L-R: Chief Commercial Officer, Dana Air, Mr Obialor Mbanuzuo; Head, Commercial, Akwa Ibom International Airport, Mr Uwem Ekanem and Head of Operations, Dana Air, Mr Ememobong Ettete, during Dana Air recommencement of direct flights from Lagos to Uyo and its inauguration of onward flights from Uyo to Abuja.

Pay electricity bills, BPE DG tells Nigerians D

irector-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr Benjamin Ezra Dikki, has implored electricity consumers in the country to always pay their bills promptly to enable the new power companies remain afloat to provide efficient and constant power supply. Dikki made the plea in Enugu when a team from the Bureau visited Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) in continuation of its post-privatisation monitoring activities of the newly privatised PHCN successor companies. The DG who was represented by the Acting Director, National Facilities and Agricultural Resources (NF&AR), Dr. Vincent

Akpotaire, noted that non-payment of electricity bills, harassment of personnel of the power companies and vandalisation of power assets posed a threat to the power sector reform. While commending the management of EEDC for the aggressive steps so far taken to improve power supply to consumers through upgrade of power infrastructure, the DG reiterated his call on power companies in the country to liaise with security agents to set up a task force to curb vandalism, non-payment of bills and power theft/illegal connections. Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of EEDC Mr Robert Dickerman, had pledged the commitment of the company

to steady power supply to its customers at affordable price. Dickerman said that the management of EEDC was carrying out a holistic transformation of the company including improvement of power supply from six hours to 16 hours daily, acquisition of new transformers, replacement of moribund and vandalised transformers and cables, and acquisition of new utility vehicles. On the challenges facing the company, he informed the BPE team that EEDC could not meet its installed capacity due to inadequate supply from the national grid, power theft (illegal connections), vandalism of power installations and nonpayment of bills by customers.

NIPC to collaborate with UNIDO Amadi Nnamdi Abuja

Nigerian Investment ProTtohemotion Commission (NIPC) is collaborate with the United

Nations Development Organisation (UNIDO) on the ‘Strategy Committee’ of the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) launched recently by the Federal Government. UNIDO is providing support to the Federal Government for the implementation of the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan through a project titled: “Capacity strengthening for inclusive and sustainable industrial development.” Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mrs Saratu Umar, who received the project team from UNIDO in her office promised the commission’s readiness to serve on the “Strategy Committee” with the United Nations body for the realisation of the objectives of NIRP, stressing that “NIRP is the most comprehensive industrialisation programme focused on areas that the country has competitive and comparative advantage.” She said that the commission was working assiduously with other relevant organisations to provide competitive incentives to all sectors of the economy to attract investors and make Nigeria the best investment destination. “We are also evolving strategies on how to do total packaging of all the sectors through feasibility studies in order to provide guidance to the investors that want to invest in the country,” she said. The NIPC Chief Executive promised to set up a team immediately to work with UNIDO on the committee and maintained that “NIPC was ready to be among the team that will make the NIRP realisable within the shortest possible time.” She further solicited UNI-

DO’s support on data gathering, especially on inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as the commission is supposed to be the custodian of such data. “NIPC need a database of investment inflow into the country. I will like UNIDO to work with us in order to create such accurate data base in the commission,” she stated. Earlier, leader of the UNIDO team, Ms Nilgun Tas, said that they were in the commission to invite them to serve on the Strategy Committee of the NIRP in recognition of the important role of NIPC as a major stakeholder on the NIRP implementation. She disclosed that the “Capacity Strengthening for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development project” of the NIRP was launched in March by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga and the implementation has commenced, disclosing that they are currently holding the initial consultation meetings with relevant stakeholders. The project will address such sectors as textile and garments, automotive industry, cement and rubber. It would be recalled that NIRP was launched by the Federal Government recently to diversify the nation’s economy through industrialisation. NIRP is the flagship industrialisation programme ever embarked upon by Nigeria. It is expected to fast-track industrialisation, accelerate inclusive economic growth, job creation, transform Nigeria’s business environment and stop the drain on the foreign reserves caused by importing what the country can produce locally. The plan was the most ambitious and comprehensive industrialisation programme since it is based on areas where Nigeria has a competitive and comparative advantage.

Traders plan to shut Abuja markets National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) Thashe announced plans to shut

major markets and plazas in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The markets and plazas closure, according to NANTS is in honour of victims of the Emab Plaza bomb blast a fortnight ago. NANTS president, Mr Ken Ukaoha, who disclosed this in Abuja shortly after a meeting of the association, expressed concerns “that the bombing of markets, plazas and commercial places was gradually becoming the order in the country to the point that people are now scared of going to markets.” His words: “We have directed the FCT chapter of NANTS to set aside one day in honour of

the victims of the Emab Plaza bomb blast. On such a ‘mourning day’ all FCT markets and plazas are to close for business as a mark of respect for our departed colleagues.” Besides closure of the markets and plazas, the NANTS president disclosed that the association has directed its FCT chapter to co-ordinate a solidarity programme that would assist in the treatment and rehabilitation of victims. He also expressed concern over the non-permanence of the presence of security operatives in and around markets and plazas in FCT, adding that NANTS members are becoming increasingly worried as commercial and economic activities are dwindling.

FCT | BUSINESS WATCH

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

ID theft: Biometric verification to the rescue Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

rom hitherto tardy payment system to the primitive tally numbers, payment system has sailed through a turbulent chain processes to arrive at today’s technologydriven payment system in the financial services sector. The credit goes to innovations crafted at each stage of the payment system development by the succeeding Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governors. The cashless economy, Know Your Customers (KYC) scheme and Biometric Bank Verifications Number are all CBN innovations geared towards promoting financial inclusion. Use of biometrics Its potent to fighting document fraud and identity theft is widely acknowledged as best technological solutions. Biometrics has established itself as the most pertinent technology for identifying individuals in a fast and reliable way through the use of unique biological characteristics. Hitherto reserved for sensitive fields such as the security of military sites, today many programmes that are drawing on biometrics and applications for the general public are now seeing rapid development. National authorities predominantly introduce these applications, as the capture and management of a population's fingerprints call for tightly regulated legal and technical framework. The application, which has been most widely deployed to date, is the electronic passport, particularly with the second generation, which stores two fingerprints in addition to a passport photo. Biometrics provides irrefutable evidence of the link between the document and its holder. The BVN is a uniform and single identity that will be acceptable across the Nigerian financial system as all other bank accounts operated by any individual will be tied to that individual’s unique BVN. The BVN is expected to ensure accountability, check identity theft, reduce exposure to fraud, and enhance credit advancement to bank customers, protect bank customers’ account from unauthorised access and also encourage financial inclusion. There are other applications such as national identity cards, widespread in European and Middle East countries, and health insurance programmes, such as in Gabon. Fingerprints are used to confirm the identity of the bearer of the card before he or she is given access to governmental services or healthcare. Nigerian authorities of late are also thinking along similar line to align the new national identity card scheme on biometrics. BVN and Nigeria banking An integral part of phased approach for execution of three-tiered KYC and cashless policy, BVN was conceived by the former CBN governor and current Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, with the active support of Bankers' Committee last February. The exercise involves getting bank customers biometrics, with the use of fingerprints, and facial image, after which each customer will be given a bank verification number. The essence of the project is for banks to know their customers better, while tracking their credit records and other details, which

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

Sterling Bank MD, Yemi Adeola

Enterprise Bank MD, Ahmed Kuru

will aid the operation of banks in general BVN enables a single person to have a single identity within the financial system. A brain child of both the CBN and Bankers’ Committee, BVN is designed to achieve a number of things: to ensure that customers’ identities are not stolen; people who cannot read or write could use their biometrics (fingerprint) to make transactions and it also enable banks to identify customers. The verification number is a unique identity of every individual and cannot be manipulated or forged by another person. With the BVN, driver’s license, international passport, national identity card, and other documentation that identify customers would not necessarily be required when making transactions.

tem (NIBSS) issued over 7,000 BVNs to existing bank customer during the pilot phase. The NIBSS, which is responsible for the implementation of the scheme, said the exercise was part of the cashless policy of the CBN.

Advantages of BVN BVN payment system has been lauded by both operators and customers largely due to its non-cumbersome and ease of morality it affords to all customers. Its most outstanding advantage remains that customers who are not educated or who do not have identity cards with which to open bank accounts can do so seamlessly. It is expected to provide a centralised platform through which banks may enroll and uniquely verify the identity of each customer for ‘know your customer’ (KYC) purposes. Banks through BVN innovation easily carry out credit checks, verify customer’s integrity and also, authenticate customers from a point of transaction device. Another advantage of this solution is that it speeds up border crossing through the use of scanners, which use the principle of recognition by comparison of the face and/or fingerprints.

CBN takes the lead CBN Deputy Governor, Dr. Serah Alade , demonstrated symbolically the scheme when recently , she lead a team of CBN top management comprising all the deputy governors of the Bank to register in Abuja Branch as part of the commencement of the nationwide registration of BVN. In acting capacity as Governor of CBN, Alade was registered at the Abuja Branch, including Alhaji Suleiman Barau, Deputy Governor (Corporate Services), Dr. Kingsley Moghalu (Operations) and Mr. Adebayo Adelabu (Financial System Stability). And in Lagos where the BVN had taken off as pilot scheme, 21 banks and the Nigeria Interbank Settlement Sys-

BVN is expected to ensure accountability, check identity theft, reduce exposure to fraud, and enhance credit advancement to bank customers, protect bank customers’ account from unauthorised access and also encourage financial inclusion

How it works At the end of the exercise, the customer would be issued an acknowledgment slip, along with a transaction identity card within 24 hours of the automatic system generated BVN, which the customer would be alerted through a text message to pickup. “The initiative is in the interest of all Nigerians, to guaranty the safety of the Nigerian financial system,” the Managing Director, NIBSS PLC, Ade Shonubi, said. He said the pilot phase of the BVN registration served as a model and basis for rollout of the solution to all existing bank customers. “All Nigerian banks have their headquarter servers configured, deployed and tested, while their staff were trained before engaging in enrolment and verification of end users who are mainly internal customers,” he said. Financial inclusion The CBN commenced the new payment re-engineering system with the introduction of the tiered KYC approach aimed at putting into practice, flexible account opening requirements for low and medium financial value accounts. The apex bank structured it in a manner that accounts remain attractive to customers of different socioeconomic levels while close watch is kept on the risk involved. Also, the BVN project, which is an initiative of the Bankers’ Committee, aims at promoting financial inclusion drive and preventing money laundering in Nigeria’s financial system. And for cashless policy, which is aimed at encouraging electronic-based transactions (online/electronic payments for goods, services, transfers, etc) the policy took off as pilot stage in Lagos and five other states; it became a nationwide scheme effective 1st of July this year. The thrust of CBN cashless policy stipulates a cash handling charge’ on daily cash withdrawals or cash deposits that exceed N500, 000 for Individuals and N3, 000,000 for corporate bodies.

Operator’s response Bank CEOs have hailed the introduction of BVN as one revolutionary concept yet unrivalled. MD/ CEO, United Bank for Africa Phillip Oduoza told journalists after the Bankers' Committee session recently in Abuja, that about 100,000 customers had so far been captured, signifying impressive turnout. He said operators do not envisage intractable challenges in its implementation. “We continued to make improvements on cash-lite and loans have continued to increase. The number of transactions has continued to increase, and the amount has continued to increase. We have continued to see customers migrating from banking halls to using ATMs and electronic channels and we are ready to roll out nationwide beyond the current states where it has become operational. From July 1, 2014, will roll out cash light in all states of the country as an integral part of biometric, which has already started a means of identifying bank customers. So far, about 10,000 customers have been enrolled for the biometric and it continues to make progress. The pilot phase was concluded Friday last week. The roll out for customers has started. It will assist in consumer lending to provide credit availability to people excluded from the banking system”, said Indeed, with BVN, KYC and cashless policy unleashed as payment system, Nigeria is on steady course to achieving FSS 20-2020.

FCT | BUSINESS WATCH 35

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Land Use Act is clog in real estate devt, says Olaniyi vestors and the NMRC is a private public partnership arrangement for financing real estates. Now, the difference is this: FMBN is a parastatal under the Ministry of Housing, Land and Urban Development, the Central Bank has shares in it and also the federal ministry of finance. You see that all those frameworks are just institutional frameworks of government and in the emerging economy, we don't look at what government will provide, we look at what we can source from the private sector to boost the operation of government. Now that led to the issue of NMRC. The company will source for funds. They are to look for investors from the private sector that will inject money into the housing sector. The recent one being the $300 billion from the International Development Fund, a loan at 0.75 per cent interest rate. $250 million dollars of that money is coming in for real estate development. The money will now be injected into Mortgage banks that Do you think the establishment of Nigeria Mortgage Reare responsible for housing finance. The other source financing Company (NMRC) by government is necessary of income for the company is to make arrangement sinceFMBN is already in existence? NMRC is different from the Federal Mortgage Bank with the Pension Fund. They have long-term sources of Nigeria. Let me tell you what is leading us to NMRC. of fund but in financing, funds should not be idle, and FMBN was established to make deduction from the therefore they have to get these fund, use it and inject salaries of employees, either in the public service or it to real estate. It serves as an investment for these the organised private sector. Now with the deductionâ&#x20AC;˘ Ixxx companies also that have long term fund. every month, up to about 2006, FMBN has not been able to realise enough funds for the backlog of applications What are your views on calls that government should for the National Housing Fund loan for the depositors. amend the Land Use Act in order to make land more acOn the other side, some states have not really imple- cessible to Nigerians? mented the deduction of the national housing fund. Land Use Act is long overdue for ammendment. According to the United Nations projection of the There are a lot of provisions in the Act that needs to housing deficit in Nigeria, which stood over 17 mil- be amended. For example, let us look at the real estate lion houses and you find out that FMBN doesn't have finance arrangement. Under the Act, there is provision the financial framework to finance the housing deficit for application for governors consent to any transaction and apart from this 17 million housing on land: sublease, mortgage, assignment. If you are deficit, we are still supto get government consent before you can carry out posed to be providany transaction to transfer your interest in land, how easy will it be? And if you did not get it, there is a pening minimum alty for you to pay. Let us also look at the time and the additional 720 cumbersome process of getting governors consent, it housing units is time wasting in transaction. Take a look again at the annually in cost, different rates apply in many states. Some states order not have up to seven per cent of the deemed value of the to enter antransaction. If for every mortgage or transaction you other deficit. are to pay seven per cent of the deemed value, you are Therefore, only adding to the same cost of the transaction and yet where will we are talking about affordable houses. And I tell you, FMBN get the houses can never be affordable under such situation? fund? Now these Another issue that needs amendment is the issue challenges facing the FMBN led of compensation. Compensation when government government compulsorily acquires your interest in land. If all to look at these are not amended, the poor will be getting poorer. inLet me make reference to the on-going National Conference where they are making recommendations for the amendment of this law. The Land reform subcommittee of the confab thought that there is the need to expunge the Land Use Act from the constitution. If it is not expunged from the Nigerian constitution, amendment will be difficult. If the Land Use Act is expunged from the constitution, it will be easier for the National Assembly to amend. During the debate, some people said that it will make the poor

Estate Surveyor and Valuer, Olusola Olaniyi, Head of Operations, Real Time Properties and Development Company spoke with AMADI NNAMDI on the challenges bedeviling provision of affordable housing in Nigeria and the much talked about Land Use Act. Excerpts:

Olaniyi

If for every mortgage or transaction you are to pay seven per cent of the deemed value, you are only adding to the same cost of the transaction

poorer and I ask has the poor been richer before? If it is not amended, the poor will be getting poorer because government hardly acquires the land of the rich compulsorily. Therefore, there is need to amend the insufficiency in the compensation provision of the Act so that the poor can be adequately compensated. Also there is the need to put the Land Use Act in the concurrent list so that each state will be able to adapt it for their particular needs. Abuja has so many houses yet accommodation is had to come by, what is responsible? Let's look at it from the needs assessment. If we have not carried out the needs assessment, our development direction may be wrong. There is a difference between the perceived need and actual needs of the people. If we look at the demographic structure of Abuja, you will discover that the city is more populated by youths. Let's say 60 per cent are youths. Therefore we are supposed to be designing and developing houses for the youths but rather you see the construction of duplexes everywhere. How many youths need five-bedroom duplex? Let us also look at the quantity and quality of the housing provision. If you are talking of the quality we are both getting it right and wrong, because quality is subjective. A youth does not need six-bedrooms with 10 toilets to survive. If you look at these houses, you will notice that it is even getting bad to a level where people are now restructuring and dividing the houses and taking rooms, not because there are no houses but because we have become like the proverbial children of the butcher that eat bones. We are not tackling the real needs. Let us go back and conduct the national housing census and from the housing census, we look at the demographic structure of the city and then start providing the needed houses by particular social groups. Truly houses are there but they are not enough and the ones available are beyond the reach of the people that really need it. As a practitioner in the housing sector, how do you think government can deliver affordable quality houses to its citizens? When we look at governance and its cost as well as the resources available to government, anybody that tells you that government can single-handedly provide houses to its citizenry is simply not being sincere. That is why government is always looking at it from the PPP arrangement. The mass housing is designed in that arrangement and framework but the implementation is the issue. Do we really give the land to the people who have the capacity of developing it, or has it become a rackete? Government is supposed to provide the primary infrastructure for such projects. Also Let's look at the word 'affordable,' there is the need for intensive research on housing design and the materials for construction so as to reduce the cost of construction if we really want to provide affordable houses. Now let's look at housing financing. The effort of government in creating the FMBN to give loan at six per cent is laudable but only that the finance is not there to meet the need of the people. Now, government has gone an extra mile to establish the NMRC, which is also a welcome development. For the people that have the fund, they should go to the NMRC and invest their money long term, this will make finance available. If finance is available and government is doing their own by providing sites and services, the onus now lie on developers to do their own beats. Importantly, if the titling and legal framework for all these housing units are not put in place, people will not inject their money. Do you think that Mortgage institutions are performing up to expectation in Nigeria? Well, they are doing what they are supposed to do. FMBN can't finance you as a person, you can't just walk in there and say 'give me loan to develop my house.' Even if you are a contributor to the national housing fund, you must still have primary mortgage institution. There are two kind of loans the FMBN give, they give loans to individuals that want to buy houses and they also give estate development loans. What it means is that they can finance a developer that has a laudable project. They don't give the money directly to individuals; they give it through the Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) and in conjunction with them, supervise the project. So I think the mortgage banks in Nigeria are trying.

BUSINESS | THE INVESTOR

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Half Year Review

New listings spur market activities Chris Ugwu

fter the near collapse of the financial market in 2008 owing to a global meltdown, a series of strategies including tighter regulatory frameworks and reforms in diverse sectors such as agriculture, power, oil and gas and financial market has heralded a period of unprecedented growth and stability in the country’s equity market. Nigeria’s equity market capitalisation hit N14 trillion at the close of trading on June 30, 2014, some 5.7 per cent gain year to date. Though the market has witnessed fluctuation during the period under review due to the activities of speculators, especially during the first quarter, the second quarter witnessed a huge leap in market performance indices, riding on the back of listing of two companies - Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc and Caverton Offshore Group Plc which were believed to have restored confidence in the market. Investors in the Nigerian capital market gained about N1.7 trillion during the second quarter (between April and June this year), thereby collapsing about N914 billion loss the local bourse recorded during the first quarter (between January and March). Cumulatively, the market, which opened the trading year at N13.226 trillion in market capitalisation and 41,329.19 in index at the beginning of trading on January 2, 2014, closed on Monday, June 30 at N14.027 trillion and 42,482.48 index points, hence has earned a year to date gain of about N801 billion or 5.7 per cent. New listings The Nigerian Stock Exchange had, during the second quarter, admitted into its official list, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc and Caverton Offshore Group Plc, a leading oil and gas service firm providing marine and aviation logistics. While Seplat contributed about $1.9 billion (N295.4 billion) to market capitalisation, Caverton Offshore Group spurred market capitalisation by N32 billion ($198 million), a move believed to have buoyed market confidence, especially on local level. Chief Executive Officer of the NSE, Oscar Onyema, said that the listing was another manifestation that the Nigeria bourse is on the right path of becoming African exchange of choice. He said that the Exchange will continue to introduce more products to meet the need of a wide range of local and international investors, adding that the management is determined to ensure sound corporate governance among the marker players. “At the Exchange, we try to nurture African champions, we believe that by listing your company, you are on your way to becoming an African champion,” he said. Regulatory measures In a bid to reinforce its regulatory functions, market regulators have, during the period under review, tried to put some measures in place to reposition the market for growth and development as well as increase the dividend yields of shares during the quarter under review. One of such agendas was the decision of the NSE to discontinue the old trade notification system, Trade Alert and introduced a fresh notification sys-

Ms Aruma Oteh

tem known as X-Alert to all its investors in March 2014. Onyema said that the XAlert was a new and improved notification system which will provide investors with details of transactions on an investment account via a text massage on the recipient’s mobile phone or via an e-mail to the recipient’s box. “The service which will allow the investing public know when a transaction has been made on their account, will be run in-house on behalf of the Exchange by the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) with reduced cost implications to both buyers and sellers in the Nigerian Capital Market,” Onyema said. Also during the period under review, the Exchange inaugurated an online portal through which information could be related to it. The online platform tagged ‘X-whistle will also permit the whistle blowers to perform a status check on matters they have reported on X-whistle. Speaking at the launch, General Manager, Legal and Regulation Division/ Head of Department Surveillance, Mrs Tinu Awe, said that the Exchange was encouraging whistle blowing because it provides a mechanism for providing information on which it could take requisite action. “If the Exchange is not aware that violations have occurred, are occurring or about to occur, it cannot take appropriate action. Action taken on such information leads to the promotion of investor confidence in the capital market,” Awe said. Sanctions In an effort to achieve a world class capital market and maintain zero tolerance on violations of rules and regulations by dealing member firms and quoted companies, the Exchange disclosed that about 21 listed insurance companies have paid N60 million penalties to the regulator for late submission of their 2012 financial accounts. In the X-Compliant Report dated April 25, 2014, on the NSE website, these companies were said to have submitted their financial statements after the due date, which warrants such fines. Leading the pack is Universal Insurance Plc which had to cough out N4.2 million, while African Alliance Insurance Plc equally paid N4 million penalty, even as Guinea Insurance Plc paid N3.8 million fines. The Exchange had to fine both Equity

Onyema

Assurance Plc and Niger Insurance Plc N3.2 million each while Great Nigerian Insurance Plc was fined N3.8 million. Staco Insurance Plc paid N3.5 million alongside Lasaco Assurance Plc that paid N3.6 million penalty to the exchange. NEM Insurance Plc, on the other hand, got N3.5 million sanction, as Mutual Benefit Assurance Plc paid N3.4 million. Prestige Assurance was made to pay N2.9 million, Law Union and Rock Insurance Plc paid N2.7 million fine, while Regency Alliance Insurance Plc got penalised for N2.5 million. Sovereign Trust Insurance (STI) Plc paid N2.4 million, Cornerstone Insurance Plc paid N2.8 million for the same offence, as Royal Exchange Plc got N2.6 million fine. Moreover, Unity Kapital Insurance Plc coughed out N2.1 million as fine, Custodian & Allied Insurance Plc paid N2.2 million, even as AIICO Insurance Plc got sanctioned for N1.5 million. Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc had to pay N900,000 as penalty, while Wapic Insurance Plc paid N700,000 fine. The apex market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also during the period under review, suspended Shalom Investment and Financial services Limited and their sponsored individuals from all capital market activities. A statement obtained by New Telegraph from SEC’s official website warned the general public that Shalom Investment and Financial services Limited and their sponsored individuals have been suspended from all capital market activities effective May 20, 2014. The apex regulator said that the suspension of Shalom Securities is as a

If the Exchange is not aware that violations have occurred, are occurring or about to occur, it cannot take appropriate action. Action taken on such information leads to the promotion of investor confidence in the capital market

result of its refusal/failure to comply with the Commission’s directive to purchase completely client’s shares paid for since 2008, resolve the other complaints against it and pay the penalty imposed by the commission. Plan to delist At the tail end of the second quarter, the Exchange announced plans to delist about 21 quoted companies from its daily official list, for breaching post-listing requirements. According to the Exchange, some of the companies were being delisted for failing to file their quarterly and annual financial reports and account with the NSE, while some other ones failed to regularise their listing status after being given time to do so. The companies being delisted for nonrendition of their financial accounts include UTC Plc, FNT Cocoa Processing Plc, G. Cappa Plc, Big Treat Plc, Mtech Plc, Daar Communications Plc, Starcomms Plc, Nigeria Wire and Cable Plc and West Africa Glass Industry Plc. Others are IPWA Plc, Rokana Industry Plc, Afroil Plc, Adswitch Plc, Pinnacle Point Group Plc, Goldlink Insurance Plc and Investment and Allied Insurance Plc. Those being delisted for not regularising their listing status include Jos International Breweries Plc, Golden Guinea Plc, Capital Oil Plc, Nigeria Sewing Machine Plc and Stockvis Plc. In a statement announcing the delisting, the Exchange said that the decision was taken on June 2, 2014, by the Quotation Committee of the National Council, pursuant to the provision of the Greenbook, (Listing Rules), specifically, Clause 15 of the general undertaking. It further stated that the action became necessary in order to protect the investing public from trading in securities of entities with no current information on their financial status, adding that it would take effect three months from the date of the notice. With current market sentiments, pundits believe that the improved regulatory environment and expectations that companies will declare better results for the half year would influence the demand for stocks in the third quarter. This is because many discerning investors always buy early before the results are announced in order to lock in profits when the impact of the results begin to reflect on the share prices.

BUSINESS | BRANDS & MARKETING 37

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

GUS: N10m, SUV, others for Season 11 winner BRAND EQUITY There is improvement, this year, on brand equity

igeria’s first and longest running reality TV show, the Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS), which kicks off on October 3 promises to be highly rewarding as this year’s winner is expected to go home with a cash prize of N10 million and a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV). Despite the immense success of the show, the brand handlers have said that the show remains a major platform for the Gulder brand through which it continues to grow. Marketing Manager, Gulder, Legend and Life, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Mr Emmanuel Agu, said: “The Gulder brand is experiencing exponential growth year on year. Gulder Ultimate Search is still a platform for the Gulder brand. The impact of Gulder Ultimate Search continues to rise and the popularity continues to

grow brand equity.” According to Agu, GUS has impacted the brand positively. He noted: “Whenever you talk to any beer consumer in Nigeria and ask if the person knows Gulder, even if the individual cannot remember any other thing about the brand, he will recall the show. GUS has helped grow the brand’s awareness. I can tell you that if the return on investment were not positive, we would not be able to sustain the programme. Nigerian Breweries Plc. commits a lot of resources to the production of Gulder Ultimate Search and this is only possible because the brand is very profitable.” Agu also revealed that strong consumer yearning for the reality TV programme remains one of its critical success factors. He added: “We are hosting Gulder Ultimate Search this year because it is still relevant to the lives of our consumers. And that is why we will keep on producing the programme until we get the feedback from the consumers that it is no longer relevant to them.”

Speaking earlier, the Corporate Media and Brand PR Manager of Nigerian Breweries Plc., EdemVindah, representing the company’s Corporate Affairs Adviser, Kufre Ekanem, revealed that the deep Aguleri forest of Anambra State will play host to the 11th season of the show. On the programme’s broadcast, Vindah said: “For 28 days between October 3 and 30, 2014, we will be entertained by an original Nigerian adventure programme produced to international standard. The daily highlights will be aired on national terrestrial and satellite TV stations.” While the Ultimate Winner will go home with N10 million and a brand new SUV, the second, third and fourth runnersup will earn N3 million, N2.5

million and N1.5 million respectively. When evicted, the remaining contestants will win various sums, ranging from N1.45 million to N1 million. Expatiating on why the brand opted for the Aguleri jungle instead of other locations in Anambra, Agu said: “When we set out to explore possible locations for GUS in Anambra State, we had three places in mind: Ogbunike Cave, Owerre Ezukala waterfalls and Aguleri forest. There were several factors we took into consideration like looking for a terrain with a suitable ambience for the kind of GUS tasks; places that have natural habitats and also with the least human interference, among others. TheAguleri jungle satisfied these criteria.”

Senior Brand Manager, Gulder, Onyeka Okoli, said that the 11th season of GUS would be fun, exciting and suspensefilled. He said: “This year’s GUS would be innovative and suspense-filled. There are a lot of things that we are not revealing. We are keeping these secrets because we want you to really pay attention to this year’s edition. These secrets will be unravelled as the show progresses.” The TV commercial for GUS 11 was, however, revealed to the media. It featured two past winners, Dominic Mudabai (GUS 4) and Michael Nwachukwu (GUS 5). The commercial depicted them being sent by the Council of Elders to retrieve a long lost object of inestimable value.

Consumers endorse Maltina for live radio broadcast live radio broadcast of the ploys to resonate with esteemed TAllhepress parley of Maltina Dance consumers and the society. Season Eight (MDA 8) has Muyiwa Ogunaike who had been lauded by some Lagosbased consumers’ who aptly described it as a trail-blazing concept. This followed the live broadcast on 99.9 Beat FM during the popular and only family dance show in Nigeria which still echoes among consumers. Apart from the artistic choreography of the MDA All-Stars team which announced the unveiling of anew dance style known as Rhythm of Happiness Dance (ROHD), consumers who were not physically present were thrilled by the live radio broadcast of the activation which gave a blow by blow report of the event. The event which took centre stage at The Atrium of the Silverbird Galleria in Lagos took fun-seekers, movie goers and shoppers by surprise. Renowned for “sharing happiness” and promoting togetherness with friends and loved ones, the MDA is the consumer engagement and experiential marketing platform that the brand de-

just viewed a movie at the Galleria and on his way out was listening to a radio station which was running a live commentary of the MDA activation. “Before now, I never thought that a live activation could get instant coverage on the radio. I was listening to Beat FM after viewing a movie and was pleasantly surprise that a live interview about Maltina Dance All was in progress and that I was also witnessing it live without realising it. You will understand if I say I was pleasantly surprised.” Another consumer, Mrs Kemi Alabi, also extolled the ingenuity of the organisers for broadcasting it live. “If I am correct, this is the first time I will hear a press conference being broadcast live on radio. It was so exciting and clear, it appears as if I was physically present at the event. It is akin to listening to a live radio broadcast of a football match. I believe this will be a great season of Maltina Dance All,” she said.

L-R: Zonal Business Manager, Airtel Nigeria, Lagos, Olawale Alao; MD/CEO, Easy & Quiet Limited, Mohammed Mutiu Anthony; Manager, Lagos Showrooms, Grace Henshaw and Airtel’s Regional Operations Director, Femi Oshinlaja, at the launch of the Airtel Express Shop at Festac, Lagos.

DStv seals Commonwealth Games TV rights NEW DEAL DStv receives new business offerings

ubscribers of Africa’s number one cable TV, DStv, will have access to all the matches of the 2014 Commonwealth Games to be hosted in Glasgow, Scotland, as the firm has secured the live broadcast rights. General Manager, Marketing of Multichoice, Mr Martins Mabutho, said that there would also be live matches on the Su-

Dettol launches campaign to save 10m children s part of commemorative Dettol, a leading antiseptic each mother we contact in the activities for its 50 years’ brand, is embarking on a new direct contact programme to Apresence in the Nigerian journey to reach mothers all teach two other mothers, thus market, Reckitt Benckiser has strengthened its commitment to efforts aimed at reducing child mortality rate in Nigeria with an initiative directed at saving 10 million children. During the kick-off of Dettol Walkathon in Teslim Balogun Stadium, the Marketing Director, West Africa, Reckitt Benckiser, Mr Oguzhan Silivrili, said: “While celebrating 50th anniversary in Nigeria,

over Nigeria with the message of ‘easy, simple health and hygiene practice can help to save ten million lives.’” Oguzhan added that the new Mom to Mom (MOMentum) campaign is about empowering and enabling mothers to teach other mothers about the best hygiene practices, which will in turn make direct positive impact on their families. “We intend to take pledge from

making a chain of empowerment all over Nigeria,” he said. “For the past 50 years, Dettol has been at the forefront of educating Nigerians about the health and hygiene benefit via mass consumer education programmes like New Mum Programme where five million mums have been reached since 2006, teaching them good hygiene habits for themselves and their new born babies

per Sport HD channels on DStv. “Our subscribers will have access to full coverage of the 261 events that will be showcased in 17 Sports,” Mabutho said. The Games, which runs between July 23 and August 2 will have 70 Commonwealth teams in attendance. Mabutho explained that apart from the Commonwealth Games, DStv also has the TV rights of Big Brothers Africa and all the top leagues in Europe for the 2014/2015 season, including the prestigious UEFA Champions League.

and the Health on Wheels programme through which 150,000 families have been reached through the mobile clinic. Through the School Hand Hygiene Program, almost a million kids have been reached this year in schools across Nigeria (a total of three million kids since they started the program in 2010), and the Direct Home Contact Program through which we have reached one million moms from last year.

He declared Multichoice’s support for the Adamawa and Plateau states police commands on the ban placed on operators of football-viewing centres during the on-going FIFA World Cup. Adamawa and Plateau State Police Commands said recently that the ban became imperative after it was discovered that they had become targets of terrorist attacks. Mabutho said the moved by both state Police commands was necessary considering the state of insecurity in the north and Plateau State in particular. “We will support government in ensuring that lives of people are not lost during the global fiesta,” he added. He noted that it is important for DStv to support the initiative of the state Police Command in saving the lives of football-loving people of the state. It could be recalled that on May 24, a viewing centre in Jos, Plateau State, full of football fans watching the Champions League final match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, was bombed. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the heinous act.

38 BUSINESS

POLICY Government reduces rice tariffs to discourage smuggling

fter hot argument from importers and local rice farmers, the Federal Government has finally approved plans to reverse its unpopular policy on rice importation. Government had in January 2013 imposed 100 per cent levy on imported rice in addition to 10 per cent customs duty on the commodity. The policy, which was aimed at discouraging importation and encouraging local rice production, only promote smuggling of the commodity through the neighbouring countries and land borders. The new policy stated: “Importation of Husked Brown rice (H.S. Code 1006.2000.00) and semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed (H.S. Code 1006.2010.00) by investors with rice milling capacity and verifiable backward integration programme shall attract 10 per cent duty rate with a levy of 20 per cent and will be limited to the national supply gap to be determined by a committee (for a period of four years). “Importation of Husked Brown rice (H.S. Code 1006.2000.00) and semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed (H.S. Code 1006.2010.00) by pure rice traders shall attract an import duty rate of 10 per cent plus 60 per cent levy.” With this new policy measure, all pure rice traders will now pay 10 per cent duty and 60 per cent levy while investors with verified backward

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

FG slashes rice levy to 20% integration like rice farm and milling capacity will now pay 10 per cent duty and 20 per cent. A circular dated June 16, 2014, containing the guarantee for all importers of rice that have their shiploads at the ports, was signed by the finance minister and sent to Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the minister of agriculture, minister of industry, trade and investment, Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service, and the acting chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, among others, to ensure strict compliance. In a circular, the minister of finance said: “This is to inform that pending when the next fiscal policy measures on rice are issued, all importers of rice with shiploads already awaiting clearance at Nigerian ports should be allowed to clear their consignments upon the submission of a letter of indemnity to the Nigeria Customs Service. “The indemnity is to allow them clear their various consignments of rice without attracting further demurrage, pending when the next 2014 duty rates and levies are announced, at which point they will pay the new rates accordingly. “This interim measure only applies to investors with rice milling capacity and pure rice traders, who already have rice laden ships awaiting clearance at the ports as at Friday the 13th of June, 2014. But as part of government’s effort to encourage investment in the rice value chain through backward integration and the

quest to discourage smuggling, President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the 2014-2017 Fiscal Policy Measure on Rice with immediate effect. The new fiscal policy significantly reduced the levy on husked brown and semi-milled or wholly milled rice to 20 per cent for investors with rice milling capacity from 100 per cent that hitherto obtained. On the other hand, for pure traders, government reduced the levy to only 60 per cent from 100 per cent. Husked brown rice or paddy rice is rice in its natural, unprocessed state. Disclosing the approval of the review of the fiscal policy measure, a senior government official said that Okonjo-Iwea-

la is expected to convey the president’s approval to Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; Minister of Agriculture, Akinwunmi Adesina; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga; Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Inde Dikko; and the Acting Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Kabir Mashi, amongst others, to ensure strict compliance and other necessary actions. However, when compared with the neighbouring countries of Cameroun, Benin Republic that levy zero per cent on rice, this new rate, according to operators, is still not favourable for investors engaging in backward integration.

While the operators advocate further reduction of levy for investors with verified backward integration capacity, they also called for increase in levy for pure traders to discourage smuggling through neighbouring countries and encourage local production. Statistics show that currently, three million tons of rice are smuggled into Nigeria while it is noteworthy that Indonesia, which used to be largest importer of rice, has ended importation as the country has achieved three million tons of local production per annum in the last three years. In the same vein, China has hit 150 million per annum of local production because duties have been significantly brought down.

L-R: Executive Director Engineering/Technical Services, Nigerian Ports Authority, Mohammed Saleh, Managing Director, NPA, Malam Habib Abdullahi and Executive Director, Finance/Admin, Mr Olumide Oduntan, at the management retreat held in Lagos

Liners to ship chemicals, others to Nigeria NEW SERVICE Some West African ports are to enjoy new service from two shipping lines

new service between Hapag-Lloyd and MOL is being planned to connect DP World’s London Gateway with Apapa Port in Nigeria and various ports in West Africa. The latest decision by the shipping lines will enable the United Kingdom to export chemicals, white goods, malt, fish and meat to Nigeria, Ghana and other African countries. The service also rotates between Antwerp, Hamburg, DP World London Gateway, Algeciras, Dakar, Tema, Abidjan and Algeciras before returning to Antwerp Meanwhile, rail carriers DB Schenker and Freight-

liner will carry import goods such as canned fish, timber, bananas and vegetables inland. “The decision to bring the service to DP World London Gateway by existing customers, Hapag Lloyd and MOL, demonstrates confidence in DP World London Gateway’s ability to deliver a reliable and

efficient service and their desire to grow their business at the port,” said London Gateway commercial manager, Tabare Dominguez. UK Shipping Minister, Stephen Hammond, said: “DP World London Gateway is an important piece of national infrastructure connecting UK to international markets, with

deep sea, rail and road connectivity. I want to congratulate the DP World London Gateway team for their remarkable success in taking a brownfield site and turning it into a worldclass state of the art deep-sea container terminal and logistics park.” The new service will add to London Gateway’s exist-

ing connections including the South America West Coast (SAWC1) service, the Europe Pakistan India Consortium (EPIC) service, and a weekly service X-Press Feeders service to Dublin and Rotterdam. The Port is on track to open its third of a planned six berths, after the opening of berth two last May.

NLNG trains 219 Nigerian seafarers in 10 years TRAINING Cadets from the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron now enjoy sea time training on board NLNG vessels o fewer than 219 cadets have NKingdom been trained in the United maritime colleges by the Nigerian Liquefied

Natural Gas (NLNG) limited between 2001 and 2012. In a 94-page document unveiled recently, NLNG explained that it has trained hundreds of sea-going officers, some to the level of captains and chief engineers. It added: “Engineering cadets and junior engineering officers are also being trained to obtain qualifications in motor ships as well as the existing steam ships, to allow NSML to meet additional

challenges and requirements of the new-build DFDE ships. By the end of 2013, NSML had trained 25 engineering officers who now have dual certification. “In 2013, 17 cadets completed their years of cadetship and are now serving on BGT vessels as officers. NSML currently has 192 Nigerian officers in its employ and now completely manages the deployment/training of all officers and cadets.”

The company reiterated its commitment to support capacity building for Nigerian seafarers. According to the 2014 edition of NLNG ‘facts and figures’, the company ensured that Nigeria continues to expand its capacity to produce capable seafarers through sustained support to the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa-Ibom State and provision of equipment and training of personnel.

BUSINESS | MARITIME

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency's patrol boats

In the last three years, over $100 million has been lost to sea robbers while over 244 vessels have been arrested in Nigeria in the last two years for sea robbery, BAYO AKOMOLAFE reports

research by Risk Intelligence, a Denmark based risk analyst group, has revealed that some wet cargo worth $100 million have been stolen in Nigeria, Benin and other countries in the Gulf of Guinea since 2010. By mid-May 2014, pirates in the Gulf of Guinea had launched no fewer than 264 attacks. According to the International Maritime Bureau’s report, incidents off West Africa was almost one fifth of the worldwide total. Attacks “In total, there were 264 attacks on ships in 2012, a 40 per cent drop from 2011 when Somalia piracy was at its peak and 237 attacks occurred in that region alone,” added. It was learnt that the nature of maritime crime off Nigeria has sparked debate since last year, with some prominent organisations calling Nigeria as emerging piracy hub where attacks were on the rise. The cost of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea due to stolen goods, security, and insurance has been estimated at $2 billion. Loss The analyst group noted that an estimated 117,000 metric tons of product worth approximately $100 million (74 million euros) was stolen between 2010 and 2013. Within the period, the Federal Government awarded a contract worth $103.4 million (over N15

Over N16bn cargo lost to sea robbers in Nigeria, others billion) to the Global West Vessel Specialist Limited (GWVSL), to supply 20 vessels for the use of the nation’s military authorities to secure the waterways. The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, had sent a memo titled: “Award of contract for the strategic concessioning partnership with NIMASA to provide platforms for tracking ships and cargoes, enforce regulatory compliance and surveillance of the entire Nigerian Maritime Domain and approval was granted by the Presidency. Pirates activities West African piracy made up 19 per cent of attacks worldwide last year, according to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), with Nigerian pirates accounting for 31 of the region’s 51 attacks, the most since 2008. A few pirate attacks, however, have occurred in Ghana’s territorial waters patrolled by the country’s navy with just one incident last year. According to Mr Dirk Steffen, head of maritime security at the organisation, the region had closely tracked the group. He noted that there had been more targeted attacks against product-carrying tankers. What has changed, he said, was the type of ships being attacked, leading to a spike in the number of reported incidents. He explained: “Most ships that are involved in international trade tend to report when they are attacked. In the past, pirates typically raided local or regional vessels, whose crews had various motivations, including political ones, to keep quiet after being robbed. Also the Apex maritime regu-

lator, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) explained that its activities in the maritime domain have got a significant boost through the improved enforcement capability. Its Director General said that NIMASA as a Maritime Administration (MARAD) with coastal, Flag and Port State responsibilities was able to physically patrol, monitor, enforce and where necessary, interdict suspects and vessels that breach our maritime laws. NIMASA's efforts He said: “We have achieved significant integrated capacity through the PPP project and collaboration with the Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Air Force, Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). We are working to establish and maintain physical presence in all remote areas of Nigeria’s maritime domain. “The last two years of our acquiring operational and enforcement capability has led to the arrest of over 244 vessels. Their offences range from piracy and sea robbery, economic sabotage/illicit activities to noncompliance with regulatory regimes and evasion of statutory levy payment. The International Maritime

An estimated 117,000 metric tons of product worth approximately $100 million (74 million euros) was stolen

Bureau (IMB), which is funded by ship owners, said in July last year that armed robbery and kidnappings at sea were surging off West Africa. While Risk Intelligence disputes that narrative, the Danish group said that pirates in the Gulf of Guinea are making more money than ever. The group described the coordinated attacks on large commercial tankers as “a relatively new type of crime that has become highly lucrative.” Steffen said that the solution to the scourge had to come from Nigeria’s government. Allegations He alleged: “The backers and sponsors are Nigerians. The buyers and brokers of stolen cargo are Nigerians and the attack teams are Nigerians. Nigeria is Africa’s top oil producer, generating some two million barrels per day from onshore and deep water fields in the Niger Delta, which falls along the Gulf of Guinea. Many of the targeted vessels have been laden with crude oil, destined for refineries around the world. A marine insurer has been told that the declining investment income is expected to trigger an average premium rise of 7.5 percent for ship owners. A Lloyd’s broker, Tysers’ told delegates attending the annual conference of International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) in London from its annual report on protection and indemnity clubs. In its 2013 report, the Lloyd’s broker stated that the 2013 renewal had been “one of the most difficult ever” with the clubs’ perceived need for premium rises conflicting with shipowners’ desperate

need to cut costs. The report noted that in 2012 general increases varied between 5 per cent and 16.5 per cent, with 7.5 per cent being the most common. A director at Tysers’ marine division, Martin Hubbard, said: “We would anticipate increases in the range of 2.5 per cent to 12.5 per cent with an average of 7.5 per cent, and there will inevitably be another substantial increase in reinsurance costs as the ‘Costa Concordia’ reserve has risen from $684 million (£425.4million) last year to $1.2 billion (£750b million).” Tysers’ noted that during the past year there had been a significant reduction in piracy attacks in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, due mainly to the use of armed guards on ships - although piracy activity had increased substantially in the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, where attacks have proven more violent. He claimed that P&I clubs would argue that increases similar to last year were needed on the basis that investment returns will be lower and combined ratios were generally more than 100per cent, because of the continued effect of ‘churn” and the increasing cost of large casualties. P&I report The 2013 report stated that it would be the bigger P&I clubs that would be generally best equipped to meet the challenges expected in the years ahead, those being: increased administration expenses, including the cost of regulatory compliance and IT costs; the perceived importance of an A rating; pressure on clubs to hold massive free reserves; and increasing claim values, particularly for serious casualties.

40 POLITICS Last week, the House of Representatives passed a resolution appealing to striking medical doctors to suspend the action and embrace dialogue. PHILIP NYAM looks at the possibility of an early resolution of the industrial action and the need to bring on board the National Health Bill.

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Between Reps, doctors and the health bill

trikes have become a norm among trade unions and professional groups in the country to press home their demands. Every other day, one professional group or the order is embarking on industrial action. A former national president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) once averred that strike action is the only language governments at various levels in Nigeria listen to. That apart from strikes nothing moves governments to resolve workers’ issues speedily. For about eight months, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics has been on strike; although some of the polytechnics are gradually pulling out of the work to rule action. Majority of the schools are still observing it. In Benue state, primary school teachers have been at home for more than seven months battling with the state government over non-payment of the minimum wage. These strikes are unending. The most disturbing strike is that embarked upon by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA). Unlike schools where if the teachers are on strike, students or pupils could at least engage in some other ventures even though it does interrupt the school calendar, the doctor’s strike affects life. It is in fact a matter of life and death. Doctors attend to people’s health problems and some of the issues are emergencies and once that attention is withdrawn, lives may be lost. Right now, it will be difficult to even account for the number of lives lost since the beginning of the latest strike last week. This is what has made any strike action by medical personnel; whether doctors or nurses very worrisome. Perhaps, this informed the decision of the House of Representatives last Thursday to plead with the striking doctors to return to the negotiation table and call off their action. In taking this decision, the House also mandated its committee on health led by Hon. Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta) to engage the Federal Ministry of Health and the NMA to find an amicable way out of the crisis in the health sector. The committee is to do this within one week. The House equally urged the federal government to do everything possible within its powers to prevent the occurrence of any such crisis in the future in the interest of Nigerians. The motion on the matter was brought by the minority whip, Hon. Samson Osagie (APC, Edo). While leading debate on the motion, Osagie submitted that the timing of the strike was wrong. He stated that Nigeria was in a sort of emergency situation arising from the frequent deadly attacks by Boko Haram insurgents. He noted that people who were injured or needed urgent medical care from the attacks could die if there were no doctors to attend to them. He also observed that many sick people and women in labour could suffer untold hardship if the strike was allowed to continue.

Elumelu

“The security situation in our country is such that this is not the time for this strike”. According to him, “from the NMA perspective, a number of issues, including the appointment of surgeongeneral, payment of hazard allowances to doctors, retirement age, expansion of the National Health Insurance Scheme among others are also some of the issues that the National Assembly passed resolutions on.” He said at moments like this, it is the citizens that suffer, regretting the hardship some patients have been going through since the commencement of the strike four days ago. “We appeal to the doctors to have a change of mind as the House looks into this issue,” he said. This is not the first time the House would be intervening to resolve a trade dispute between the government and some professional bodies. In the past, some of the interventions have yielded results while others do not. But this very strike is very touching and must be resolved in good time to get the doctors back to their consulting rooms to attend to patients. How would the health committee of the lower chamber wade into this issue? It is basically going to mediate between the Federal Government and the NMA. NMA has a number of demands it is putting forward while the Federal Government is also explaining why it cannot meet some of the demands at least for now. The health committee should not wait for the one week it was given to elapse; it should swing into action immediately and see how far it could go in helping to resolve this lingering crisis. As the lawmakers mediate, they should not forget to remind the doctors too of their professional ethics

Chukwu

The security situation in our country is such that this is not the time for this strike and responsibility to the society. Their primary objective is to safeguard lives hence the doctors must remember that the ethics of their professions dictates that at all times emergency care must not be denied to those that need them. But in a situation where they embark on strike for weeks and months, the ethics which they swore an oath to will be trampled upon. This is not to say that health workers or doctors should be shabbily treated or underpaid because they are prohibited from denying medical care to patients. As professionals who are trained to handle health matters, they certainly deserve the best and should be treated as such. On the other hand, the government through the ministry of health must also learn to be responsible and responsive to issues of health. What is the health care we are even talking about? Majority of the well to do in our society today receive medical attention abroad; it is either in India, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Israel or some other advanced countries. This is due to the dearth of quality equipment in our hospitals. Like the late former head of state, Gen. Sani Abacha once said, even some of the so called teaching hospitals are “mere consulting clinics”. People should not be discouraged from going abroad to

seek medical attention if they can afford it, but the government must step up efforts aimed at transforming the health sector so that those who do not have the wherewithal to go out can also benefit. But most importantly, the National Assembly, which the House of Representatives is a component unit of, has a big role to play. What is the status of Nigeria’s National Health Bill (NHB) – seen by many as urgent and necessary to rejuvenate the country’s ailing health sector? This bill was first presented to the National Assembly in 2006 and, was eventually passed by the House and the Senate in May 2011. But following disagreements, President Goodluck Jonathan withheld assent and it was returned to the National Assembly in 2012. Perhaps if this bill had been passed and signed into law, some of these issues that are the core of the series of strike actions by medical and health personnel would have been resolved. Without this bill, the nation’s health sector will continue to be in a sorry state. Recent statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicates that the average life expectancy in Nigeria is now 54 years and this is well below the global average. Maternal mortality is 608 per 100 000 live births – twice as high as South Africa’s 300 per 100,000 and almost ten times Egypt’s 66 per 100,000. And only 3 per cent of HIV-positive mothers receive antiretroviral treatment. Should the lawmakers succeed in getting the striking doctors back to work, they should rethink the National Health Bill and engage the executive on this very important issue. It is trite to state that the National Assembly, the executive and indeed the resident doctors are all on strike as far as health is concern. Let the NMA call off the ongoing strike and both the National Assembly and Presidency resolve their differences on the health bill to set the nation’s health sector on track.

POLITICS 41

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Confab: Mistrust reigns as discourse ends CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

and Forms of Government, co-chaired by retired General Ike Nwachukwu and Hon. Umaru Kumaila. The Edo State-born legal luminary argued that it was imperative to wash Nigeria of the colonial legacy saying that it was a colonial imposed name which should be changed to reflect originality, suggesting that the old national anthem, written by Mr Taiwo Akinwumi, and the old flag, which was designed with the rising sun on it should be reintroduced, as it is peculiar with all parts of the country. “I want to move that this conference should consider changing the name of the country to reflect our originality. The name Nigeria was a colonial imposition which must be corrected. The name was given to the country by Lady Flora Shaw who later became Lady Lugard,” he said. He added that the country was known formally as the Northern and Southern Protectorates before being changed to Nigeria, meaning Niger Area or areas within the River Niger by Lady Flora Shaw. He said: “The country was known formally as the Southern and Northern Protectorates before it was changed. It was changed because they said it was too long for them to pronounce.” Comically, Airegin comes about when Nigeria is written backwards, i.e, right to left. Creation of new states Another issue which has created bad blood among delegates is the creation of new states for the different geo-political zones in the country. The delegates at their plenary while considering the report of the Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government had approved the creation of 18 additional states across the country, as a way of meeting the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians. Apart from the 18 new states proposed, the conference said a separate state-yet-to-be named should be carved out of the South-East to bring the number of the states in the zone to six. According to the conference, a new state from the South-East geo-political zone, would correct the imbalance of the zone having the least number of states. In the existing 36 states arrangement, each zone has six states with only the NorthWest having seven states. An additional state for the South-East zone did not go down well with the northern delegates who said: “There was no sense in creating a state without population and land mass among factors being put for recognition.” Spokesman of the group, Anthony Sani, said that “the Northern Delegates Forum is not opposed to the creation of additional states provided they meet the requirements set up by the creating authority. What is disagreeable to Northern Forum is the demand by south-east that a state be given without meeting set criteria, but on equality without equity. “We believe states as federating units, apart from allaying the fear of minority and giving them a say in the management of the Nigerian project, are not strong enough to undermine the centre. Hence, states as federating units, if properly managed can further the cause of a strong and united Nigeria”, he said. While a delegate representing the Federal Government and environmental activist, Ledum Mitee, opposed the proposed state for the South-East zone, Ozekhome said that he supported the additional state as it will integrate the zone into the system. Ozekhome also lend his support to the committee’s recommendation for states to serve as federating units stressing the need for states to have their own constitution to reflect their peculiarities. Even as delegates rejected a motion that the number of states in Nigeria

Cross section of delegates

should not be more than 55, one of them, Femi Falana, condemned the decision to create more states, noting, that the action was at variance with the decisions and resolutions earlier taken by the conference on the need by government to cut cost. “Having regard to the several resolutions of the National Conference on the need to reduce the cost of governance, I found the recommendation for the creation of additional 18 states rather contradictory,” Falana said. He was supported by a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Mrs. Funke Adekoya, who said, “I don’t think that creation of more states will solve the problem of underdevelopment. I don’t think that it will solve the problem of bureaucracy in the society. What I think we should focus on is the delivery of dividends of democracy to Nigerians. I don’t support creation of more states.” Resource control As the confab gets set for what is considered one of the most contentious issues on its agenda, many Nigerians are of the view that its proposals on resource control will go a long way to pacify regions which have felt cheated over the years, and others who think there is no need to let regions have control over the natural resources in their area. Such debates over the years have created distrust and bad feeling among regions of the country, especially among the South-South and the North. Feelers from delegates however, indicate that the final debate on resource control and derivation principle may likely be as contentious as happened in past conferences. The most stormy subjects before the 492 delegates, as in past conferences of the same nature have revolved around resource control, derivation principle, revenue sharing formula and offshore/ onshore dichotomy, The issues, which comes under devolution of powers, were contentious during the committee sittings, splitting its 30 members along ethnic and sectional lines. They were equally controversial during the previous conferences of 1994/1995 and 2005. The committee’s report is the last to be considered at the plenary session of the conference which is billed to end on July 17. The panel was chaired by a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Victor Attah, and a former Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Coommassie, who is also the Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF. North/South split From the start of the confab, there has been a noticeable split between delegates from the northern part of the country, who seem bent on opposing every agenda put forward by their southern counterparts. While the southern delegates

have proposed a change in a number of issues to reflect growing agitations of many Nigerians, northern delegates seem contented with the status quo, and have countered virtually every argument put forward by southern delegates. While South-South delegates demanded either full control of its resources or 50 per cent derivation formula, northern delegates have not received the request favourable, and it has led to a number of heated arguments amongst delegates. It would be recalled that the same issue almost broke up the National Political Reform Conference, (NPRC) set up by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration. Prior to a recommendation for the increase of the derivation formula from 13 to 17 per cent, the issue of resource control had torn the Conference apart with the delegates from the oilrich South-South staging a walkout on June 14, 2005. A member of the Conference also submitted a minority report on the issue. Northern delegates have also canvassed for the scrapping of interventionist institutions and agencies such as the Ministry of Niger Delta and Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC). The Attah/Coommasie committee in a 42-page report made recommendations which did not go down well with other delegates who have spoken their minds on the issue, even before it is brought to plenary. The committee said in making the recommendation, it considered the overriding need to bring all other mineral resources of the country, hitherto undeveloped, into mainstream development by activating a National Strategic Plan for Exploiting all minerals so as to boost their contributions to the Gross Domestic Product, GDP. It also recommended that the sharing formula be reviewed as follows; Federal Government share be reduced from 52.68 to 42.5 per cent, states be increased from 26.72 to 35 per cent and local governments from 20.60 to 22.5 per cent. It also recommended that rather than have states control their resources, the 13 per cent derivation as contained in the 1999 Constitution be retained, and that the issue of Offshore/Onshore dichotomy be left as it is. But Ankio Brigss, another delegate and Niger Delta activist in her 11-page

Another issue which has created bad blood among delegates is the creation of new states for the different geo-political zones in the country

minority report, recommended that the constitution should provide for the ownership of natural resources by the federating states, “which shall pay no more than 50 per cent of the revenue from the exploitation of those resources to the federation.” According to her, “it is important to note that the principle of state ownership of mineral resources and the Derivation Principle are not for oil and gas alone, but for all mineral resources, including bitumen and solid minerals” Conclusion As the confab gradually runs to an end, analysts have continued to raise questions as to outcome of the exercise. Critics, who have seen nothing good from the start, still argue that it is an effort in futility, and another exercise meant to distract Nigerians, from more pressing issue of nationhood, and governance. They also contend that government, at the end of it all would only have succeeded in wasting resources, which should have been channeled into other productive sectors of the economy to benefit the people. Others are of the opinion that the exercise may yet produce meaningful results if only government would be sincere in efforts to implement recommendations of the confab at the end of it all. They contend that similar exercises in the past have also produced meaningful recommendations, which if they had been implemented would have eliminated a number of issues which the present confab is also seeking to find solutions to. When President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated the National Advisory Committee on National Dialogue led by Senator Femi Okurounmu, he had described the project as a child of necessity aimed at examining and resolving longstanding impediments to the nation’s cohesion and development. The President admitted that he initially bore skepticism for another conference, noting that: “There is a view by some of our people that we do not need to sit together to talk over the socio-political challenges facing our country. Some believe that because we have held several conferences in the past, we do not need to hold another one.” He recalled that conferences that were held before 1960 were designed to produce a political system and a roadmap to Nigeria’s independence, noting, that the 2005 National Political Reform Conference produced a number of key recommendations that were sent to the fifth National Assembly, but were never not perfected. While allaying the fears of those that think the conference would call the integrity of Nigeria into question, Jonathan said the discourse would strengthen the nation’s unity and address issues that are often on the front burner.

42 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Oshiomhole’s fixation on Ize-Iyamu T Johnson Momodu

hese days, it is difficult to listen to the Comrade Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, for a minute without hearing him mention the name, Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu. It does not matter where the governor is speaking from, who his audience is and what the issue is. If the governor is speaking to television reporters or addressing a world press conference, don’t be bored if the name of Ize-Iyamu resonates throughout the event; if he is hosting market women on an arranged solidarity visit, the governor must not forget to tell how a certain Ize-Iyamu is the one making it difficult for his government to perform; and if Oshiomhole is confronted on the brewing anarchy in his state’s Assembly, which is down to his own intolerant political temperament, his readymade answer is Pastor IzeIyamu! Who the hell is this largerthan-life Ize-Iyamu? The ubiquitous showing of IzeIyamu’s name in every discussion on the enveloping crisis in Edo politics has naturally nudged inquisitional interest in the persona and activities of this citizen who is now an incubus to the comrade governor. From what has been picked up, Pastor Ize-Iyamu was formerly a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State. He was an influential member of the Lucky Igbinedion cabinet. As a matter of fact, he served as Chief of Staff and Secretary to the State Government under Igbinedion. But beyond these formal positions, Ize-Iyamu is acclaimed to be a great mobiliser of men and women and a stubborn grassroots politician. It is not surprising though that Ize-Iyamu has many people following him everywhere he goes; he is also a known preacher of the word, a fisher of men, that is. Although, it is convenient for Oshiomhole and his aides to deny now the focal role Ize-Iyamu played in the process that led to the electoral victory of the comrade governor in 2007, the neutrals attest to the ingenuity and steadfastness of the pastor and his Grace Group in the making of the comrade governor. These forthright people speak of how Ize-Iyamu provided direction and strategy to the Oshiomhole campaigns in 2007, when the political rains started beating the former labour activist in his quest to wrest power from the PDP. By then, Ize-Iyamu had left the PDP with his supporters to join the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) because of their disenchantment with the manner they were deregistered and edged out of the PDP by a powerful faction of the party in Edo State. The truth, which Oshiomhole and his acolytes are working assiduously to downplay, is that Ize-Iyamu and his Grace Group provided the governor with the political platform to have his name on the ballot after being rejected in two other political parties, namely the PDP and ANPP; and that was after the comrade governor and former labour leader, like a political nomad in a desperate quest for power, had dumped the Labour Party when he realised it would be difficult to realise his ambition on that platform. It is also said that the same Ize-Iyamu led Oshiomhole to the two major financiers of his campaign, one of whom Oshiomhole now refers to as “one Capt. Hosa”. Don’t be shocked by the governor’s ingratitude; power, we are told by Shakespeare, changes the nature of men. Even after the courts returned Oshiomhole as winner of the 2007 governorship election in Edo State in November 2008, the grounds were not

Oshiomhole

plain enough for him to tread. Oshiomhole and his party, ACN, were in the minority with lesser number of members, in the House of Assembly. Of course, there was a pressing need to lobby the dominant PDP members, first to get their support and later, in a shenanigan-like manner, to defect and join the government in power to make things easier for the governor. Many of the PDP members of the Edo State House of Assembly who defected to join Oshiomhole and his party, now APC, readily agreed that they were convinced by the pastor to whom Oshiomhole had in the past confessed to his assistance. During this period when Oshiomhole was hand in glove with his political Man Friday (Ize-Iyamu), he (Ize-Iyamu) could do no wrong in the sight of the governor who nominated him into the caucus of their party. But like all hot romances, they do come to an end, leaving in its wake broken hearts and memories. Ize-Iyamu has returned to the PDP from his sojourn with the APC and since he took this very personal decision, the politics of Edo State has not been the same again but at best convoluted, setting off chains of events. There has been an exodus of very prominent members from the ruling APC to the opposition party, the PDP – from market women to members of the royal family in Benin, from private citizens to Oshiomhole’s aides. As matters stand now in Edo, it is more like, who has not left the APC? The defection of about four lawmakers in the state Assembly appears to have hit the governor so badly that he is now responding like a runaway train. A man who stabilized his regime from the outset by luring PDP lawmakers to his party is now extremely intolerant of defection of APC lawmakers to PDP. He has been here and everywhere shouting how Abuja is pumping money to have him impeached by a legislature in which his party enjoys a comfortable majority. It is clear that Edo State is perching precariously on the precipice of anarchy. The engine of the government in the state, the legislature, is currently in turmoil. And this is down to Governor Oshiomhole’s obsessive apprehensions over a single politician, Ize-Iyamu. The latest in the governor’s roughneck tactics is the kangaroo im-

Ize-Iyamu

Ize-Iyamu has returned to the PDP from his sojourn with the APC and since he took this very personal decision, the politics of Edo State has not been the same again peachment of the deputy speaker of the House, Hon. Festus Ebea, by APC legislators who sat more or less in the governor’s office in clear violation of the democratic principle of separation of powers. If you think that is the only absurdity that Oshiomhole has employed in recent times, then you are wrong. The comrade governor has threatened to get market women in his state to enforce a purported ‘court order’ on the defected lawmakers in Edo Assembly Hamisu Abubakar

t was recently said of Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi that he frowned at the conduct of the last All Progressives Congress (APC) national convention, and in his usual belligerent manner, spoke out against what he saw, but others already knew, as unfair. After Amaechi’s comments hit the internet space, his aides denied the comments, but the governor’s appearance before the Reconciliation Committee of Atiku Abubakar appeared to put a lie to the denial by the Rivers government. These were the telling words credited to Amaechi shortly after the APC convention but which were denied: “Let it be known, that I didn’t just join the APC, I was wooed by the legacy parties and four other PDP governors then. Naturally in every bargain, interests must be spelt out. Of course they did promise me the vice presidential ticket in the forth coming election with a condition to sell the party and make President (Goodluck) Jonathan unpopular. The initial arrangement was to pair me with Hon. Tambuwal (Speaker of House of Representatives).

if the Police could not. That is how low Adams Oshiomhole has sunk in Edo State. Oshiomhole and those who speak for him like his Commissioner for Information, Louis Odion, have famously dismissed Ize-Iyamu as a nondescript figure in Edo politics. Yet their quixotic and reductionist understanding of the recent crisis in Edo House of Assembly as having all the imprimatur of Ize-Iyamu gives them away as people living in awe of the former SSG. Interestingly, Ize-Iyamu is not talking about them. Oshiomhole and his people are the ones fixated on the man and eternally worried about his next move. Embarking on cheap blackmail and strong-arm tactics are not likely going to help Oshiomhole out of the political mess he has fallen. He should rather be more introspective by asking himself, why are those who were with me yesterday leaving in their droves today? Maybe he can find the answer to the travails of democracy in Edo under his watch! Momodu, a public affairs commentator, writes from Benin City.

What manner “But when other entrants like Atiku and others entered the party, everything changed. It was Governor (Murtala) Nyako that opened up to me on the recent changes, and pleaded with me to take the position of the national chairman of party, that it will be zoned to the SouthSouth. And I grudgingly accepted. Now, in every political convention, consensus building is needed to harmonize all interests. “So I initiated a platform for the 16 APC governors to talk in Port-Harcourt last week. And in that meeting, the 13 governors and their deputies that were in attendance reassured me that I will be given the national chairmanship slot. But when I asked Governor Adams (Oshiomhole) to ask Chief (Tom) Ikimi and John Oyegun to step down for my candidate, Adam’s quietly told me “My brother, I know the bad name they have called you in the South-South and Rivers in particular.” Going by happenings in the APC, which have been further brought to the fore by the loss in Ekiti, and with Tinubu

POLITICS 43

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Kayode Ojo

lot of permutations are flying around concerning the likely outcome of the forthcoming gubernatorial election that will take place on August 9, 2014 in the State of Osun. As a proud son of Osun, it is my duty to add my voice to the on-going discourse, most especially because, following the Ekiti election, at which the incumbent governor, John Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) lost to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ayodele Peter Fayose, some people hurled insults at Ekiti people for voting for a so-called “stomach infrastructure”. Those who chose to abuse rather than to seek understanding will never grasp the dynamics that informed the people’s choice. And as it was in Ekiti, so shall it be in Osun. First and foremost, those who have singled out the overbearing influence of former Lagos State governor and national leader of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a major reason Governor Rauf Aregbesola will lose his election bid are right. I deliberately used the word ‘election’ instead of “re-election” and I will explain why later. In second instance, despite all the media manipulations that try to conceal the truth, Osun people will never stop asking what is happening with the monthly allocation of the state when there is nothing commensurate on ground to show for it. Instead, everybody has heard that a certain former Lagos State governor has more or less turned the treasury of Osun to his ATM. Osun people can certainly not allow such a situation to continue. In fact, in public conversations in Osogbo and other parts of Osun, people openly say they can hardly wait for Aregbesola to pack his bags and return to Lagos where he was once a commissioner. It must be said that Tinubu did not make election matters easy for Aregbesola and other APC governors when he decided to refer to the majority of Yoruba Obas as “useless”. As the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, said in his response to Tinubu, “When our country was upside down it was the traditional rulers in this country that saved the situation. If we left the country as politicians did, there would have been no state for the leader of APC to rule when he came back.” If anybody thinks that Osun people will forget Tinubu’s insult to Yoruba Obas and vote APC, such a person is dreaming. Validation: the defeat of APC’s Fayemi in the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti. For all that, Tinubu is not Aregbesola’s only albatross. The man himself is enough trouble to ensure no right-

Ize-Iyamu

Aregbesola

Tinubu, not Aregbesola’s only albatross thinking Osun person would ever want to see him duly elected as governor: “elected” instead of “re-elected” because every discerning Osun citizen knows Aregbesola has never won an election since he became governor in 2010 through the court system, under questionable circumstances, presided over by then President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami. Since then, it has been one trouble after another, so much so that there is tension in Osun, all because of Aregbesola. If outsiders have forgotten his insult to Timi of Ede over ownership of the land where the governor sited a garment factory, the people of Ede have not forgotten. And certainly the people of Iwo will never forget that Aregbesola’s wrongheaded school merger initiative disrupted peace in the town when students ended up wearing masquerade costumes, church choir attires, hijabs and some clothes that cannot even be

categorised all in protest against Aregbesola’s policy. Still on the aspect of education, if outsiders have forgotten the scandal surrounding Opon Imo, Aregbesola’s tablet of confusion, the people of Osun cannot forget. Apart from all the fishy deals around the tablet, 150,000 units were supposed to be delivered, but Osun people know that not even 50,000 tablets have been delivered. It is important for these facts to be placed on record now, so that when we vote Aregbesola out, abusive people will not come and start insulting us with nonsense talk of “stomach infrastructure”. And even while he goes around campaigning and beating his chest that he will win, Aregbesola knows his time is up. Why else would he suddenly set aside N2billion to pay compensation to those whose means of livelihood he destroyed through unwarranted and insensitive demolitions and destructions? Is that

of reconciliation in APC?

running around with a bloodied nose to mend fences with aggrieved members, it was no surprise that newspapers were awash with the story that former Vice President Abubakar has been appointed as head of the Reconciliation Committee of the party. Party spokesman, Lai Mohammed, explained that the committee was saddled with the responsibility of reaching out to aggrieved party members with a view to reconciling them with the party “in the interest of our dear nation,” whatever that means. Amaechi’s presence, though not explained by the party was seen by observers as part of efforts to ensure “that he did not return to the sweet vomit in the PDP.” Embittered members who may not return to the APC include Minister Ibrahim Shekarau, former Governor Attahiru Bafarawa of Sokoto State, and Femi Fani-Kayode, since they have joined the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while others like Chief Tom Ikimi, Senator Annie Okonkwo, and other Edo party chieftains, among

others, don’t look like they will agree to a reconciliation with a party about which they have made disparaging comments. And as part of the reconciliation process and to prevent fallout of what transpired in Ekiti State where APC was beaten to pulp, governors of the states controlled by the party are reaching out to the people. In fact, in Edo State, what started as an effort to redeem the education sector has been put on hold by Oshiomhole, who is desperate for popular support as he faces the political fight of his life. Rauf Aregbesola has suddenly remembered to pay compensation to owners of demolished structures in the state while rushing to pay delayed teachers and civil servants. The Edo government cancelled the planned competence test for teachers in the state and recalled the 936 teachers whose names had been deleted from the payroll over certificate discrepancies and age falsification. So, in Edo today, certificate forgers and age falsifiers are teachers. Governor Oshiomhole, during a meeting with the teachers’ unions and

Oyegun

the Nigeria Labour Congress, explained his bizarre decision. Read him: “Coming from my own background, I had obligation to restore dignity to the educational sector in the state. Basic education is like the foundation of a house. If the foundation is weak, the building will collapse. The state government’s commitment to carry out competency test was informed

money meant to assuage the people’s suffering or compromise them? What of the civil servants (including teachers) in Osun who have been at the receiving end of Aregbesola’s insensitivity, some of whom are being owed for two months or more? Are these people supposed to vote for Aregbesola? During my National Youth Service Corps days in Owerri, Imo State, I heard an Igbo proverb that I’ve never forgotten: “Let the he-goat keep growing a beard like its owner. On the market day we shall see who will drag whom to the market.” Since Aregbesola’s master, Tinubu considers Yoruba Obas to be “useless,” even after going around and collecting many titles from them, on August 9 we shall see who is truly useless. And let his stooge, Aregbesola, keep beating his chest that he can thrash anybody at the polls in Osun State. On August 9 we shall see who will thrash whom. Ojo wrote from Lagos. by these broad facts having discovered that some of our teachers were not qualified, or up to date with recent teaching methods. “Our insistence on the fact that competency test must be seen in this light. However, having listened to all suggestions and consultations with various groups, government has agreed to set aside the competency or assessment test in order to re-assure Edo workers that government has no intention to sack anyone.” How the APC plans to reach out to the womenfolk, which they have treated with disdain remains to be seen. Notorious for trampling on women rights, except when it caused a woman to be elected as Chairman of its Adamawa State chapter, the party invited Oby Ezekwesili to speak at its launching, but she ended up firing salvos at the party bigwigs for not treating women fairly. Even in Adamawa, cynics remember the new chairman was the one who attacked a man tearing his clothes on network television. “That is not a woman they have as chairman,” an observer quipped. •Abubakar wrote from Abuja

business | MONEY LINE

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Temasek's interests in Nigeria boost owners' investment drive ria. Bloomberg reports that the value of its holdings increased 3.7 per cent to a record S$223 billion ($179 billion) in the 12 months to March 31 from the previous year, while total shareholder return, including dividends, shrunk to 1.5 per cent from 8.9 per cent, it said in its annual review on Monday. There’s “no great dance of joy with this latest set of results,” said Song Seng Wun, an economist at CIMB Research in Singapore. “It’s a case of steady as she goes as Temasek was able to offset small losses from their core holdings of Singapore and Chinese equities with divestment proceeds, dividends and distributions.”

CONFIDENCE Investors derive courage from thriving Nigerian atmosphere to venture into other areas of interests Sunday Ojeme

emasek Holdings Pte is increasing investments in consumer, technology and health-care companies as Singapore’s state-investment firm becomes less reliant on financial assets. The venture into the new investment climate is predicated on gains the firm is expected to reap from its interests in Nige-

Investments in Alibaba, Seven Energy International Limited in Nigeria, and a gas investment in Tanzania “will certainly help boost their returns in the medium and long term,” he said.The value of its holdings rose 8.6 per cent in the year to March 2013. Temasek put $1 billion in United States biopharmaceutical firm, Gilead Sciences, Inc. last year and has made multiple investments in China’s Alibaba Group Holding Limited as Chief Executive Ho Ching steered Temasek’s focus to newer industries with the potential for higher returns. By contrast, the proportion of financial holdings stood at the lowest since 2008 as the value declined. “This is a new trend in

High unemployment threatens pension, says NLC Abdulwaahab Isa

trial development scheme and creation of more jobs by both private and public sector. While identifying lack of sustainable job as threat to the pension contribution, Aremu said there could never be pension contribution in absence of work and employment. “In Nigeria, today we are supposed to be the biggest economy in Africa based on our GDP, even though everybody has agreed that this new GDP is a jobless GDP because the growth is for the few sectors such as telecommunications,

Abuja

he high unemployment rate in the country is a threat to the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), VicePresident Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Isa Aremu, has said. He spoke yesterday in one of the plenary sessions, at the concluding session of the World Pension Summit in Abuja. To make the scheme encompassing and workable, he suggested revert to the indus-

oil and gas and the labour component is very low.” He said a real GDP ought to be driven by the manufacturing sector and challenged the relevant authorities to initiate policies that would bring back the collapse industries such as textile, which he said used to be highest employer of labour. The NLC boss also cautioned the authorities to be mindful of workers’ fate while investing pension funds on investment, adding that workers should feel the benefits of such investments.

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

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

Description

TTM

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

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

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

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

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

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

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

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Offer 163.38

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

Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

ITF to train two million youths annually –DG Godson Ikoro

he Industrial Training Fund (ITF) plans to increase the number of Nigerians equipped with requisite skills to two million yearly through its training programmes, the Fund’s Director-General, Dr. Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko, has said. She said this during a press briefing in Lagos yesterday. Specifically, she said that ITF was partnering with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation to conduct a study on the national skill gap assessment with a view to identifying critical skills needed in the economy and making projections in the medium and long-term on skills requirement in the economy. The ITF boss said: “The outcome of the study is to assist the ITF in ascertaining the trade areas it should concentrate on in the National Industrial Skills Development Programme, while the impact is to create two million jobs.” The two organisations she explained have already concluded the pilot study with a draft report prepared and presented to stakeholders. The DG said the ITF was established to provide, promote and encourage the acquisition of skills in industry and commerce, with a view to generating a pool of indigenous trained manpower sufficient to meet the needs of the economy.

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX

sciences, consumer and real estate increased to 14 per cent from 12 per cent in 2013, according to the annual review. “As an owner investor for the long term, we are ready to support new ideas to address emerging needs and opportunities, like health care for an aging population, personalized medicine, or e-commerce,” President Lee Theng Kiat said in a statement Monday. The firm’s total shareholder return averaged 16 per cent since inception in 1974. The average return was 10.9 per cent over a five-year period, it said.

Currently, she said the Fund had 10 departments and four units as well as 32 area offices and five industrial skills training centres. The ITF boss said the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment developed the National Industrial Revolution Plan to rapidly build up industrial capacity and improve competitiveness in the country. The plan, she explained, identified industry groups in areas where the country had comparative and competitive advantages. The National Enterprise Development Programme was initiated to fast track the achievement of the NIRP, she explained. “The ITF, being a skills training organisation, is vested with the primary responsibility of providing technical and vocational skills for the NIRP and the NEDEP under the National Industrial Skills Development Programme,” she said. Chukkas-Onaeko said that already, the Fund had trained 35,000 young Nigerians from the various states of the federation under the NISDP, who were equipped with skills in various trade areas, including welding and fabrication, design and installation of Plaster of Paris, autotronics, garment making, poultry, and Information and Communications Technology. She listed other areas to include are cell phone repair, generator repair, culinary matters, rice milling and facility technology, among others.

FirstBank sponsors World Pension Summit

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80

their investment style and we will see more of that in the future,” said Melvyn Teo, professor of finance at Singapore Management University. “They are focusing on highly specialised firms in areas like health care. At the same time they continue to keep an eye on the growing middle classes, mainly in emerging economies.” Temasek’s share of financial assets, which stood at 40 per cent in 2008, declined by one percentage point to 30 percent in the year ending March 31. Its holdings in life

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

irst Bank of Nigeria Limited and its Pension Subsidiary, First Pension Custodian Nigeria Limited said they have committed to sponsoring the debut edition of the World Pension Summit ‘Africa Special’ billed for July 7 – 8, 2014 in Abuja. According to a statement from First Bank, the summit, which coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Pension Reform Act 2004, is organised in collaboration with the Nigeria Pension Commission (PENCOM) as an annual event that would bring together leading play-

ers from Africa’s pension sector, as well as key institutions across business and finance to exchange expertise and tap into emerging opportunities. Deliberations at this event are expected to rekindle investors’ confidence in the economy and facilitate renewed partnerships across the globe. According to Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, spokesperson of the group, the Group’s support for this auspicious event accentuates its stance to offer the best quality custodian services and optimum protection of contributors’ assets.

Sanctity of Truth

Daily SummaryJuly as of 08/07/2014 Wednesday, 9, 2014

Daily Summary as of 08/07/2014 Printed 08/07/2014 15:14:02.002

Printed 08/07/2014 15:14:02.002

business | CAPITAL MARKET 45

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at July 8, 2014 Daily Summary (Bonds)

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board DEBT Federal

Bond Name 16.39% FGN JAN 2022 Federal Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Symbol FG9B2022S1

DEBT Board Totals

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 122.65

Bond Activity Totals

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 130,075.40 130,075.40

100

130,075.40

100

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

130,075.40

Daily Summary (Equities)

Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 31 19 50

Current Price 33.00 38.00

Quantity Traded 164,260 315,498 479,758

Value Traded 5,425,575.40 11,791,095.88 17,216,671.28

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 36 36

Current Price 3.04

Quantity Traded 2,902,488 2,902,488

Value Traded 8,874,378.79 8,874,378.79

3,382,246

26,091,050.07 Value Traded 330,762.50

Daily Summary as of 08/07/2014 AGRICULTURE Totals Printed 08/07/2014 15:14:02.002

CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC.

86 No. of Deals 9

Current Price 1.25

Quantity Traded 262,125

Symbol AGLEVENT

Symbol CHELLARAM TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 5 520 51 585

Current Price 3.95 5.47 61.99

Quantity Traded 22,056 51,079,308 413,201 51,776,690

Value Traded 82,970.56 281,590,102.90 25,683,236.82 307,687,072.78

51,776,690

307,687,072.78

Symbol COSTAIN GCAPPA

No. of Deals 20 1 21

Current Price 1.38 14.46

Quantity Traded 701,611 130 701,741

Value Traded 920,215.81 1,786.20 922,002.01

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

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 29 29

Current Price 68.05

Quantity Traded 367,620 367,620

Value Traded 25,168,464.22 25,168,464.22

Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 24 24

Current Price 17.50

Quantity Traded 330,390 330,390

Value Traded 5,793,389.09 5,793,389.09

1,399,751

31,883,855.32

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 16,911

Value Traded 8,455.50

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Page

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries CHELLARAMS PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

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

Daily Summary as of 08/07/2014 Real Estate Development Totals Printed 08/07/2014 15:14:02.002

585

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC

74 Symbol No. of Deals Daily Summary (Equities) DUNLOP

Page

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Activity Summary on Board EQTY

CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals

Symbol

No. of Deals 1

Current Price

Quantity Traded 16,911

Value Traded 8,455.50

Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

Symbol CHAMPION GUINNESS INTBREW JOSBREW NB

No. of Deals 5 42 32 1 82 162

Current Price 10.17 195.99 29.50 2.58 173.00

Quantity Traded 38,243 68,637 527,130 10,000 470,134 1,114,144

Value Traded 371,409.81 13,505,009.19 15,251,700.05 24,600.00 81,289,445.85 110,442,164.90

Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 32 32

Current Price 102.53

Quantity Traded 96,519 96,519

Value Traded 9,941,072.28 9,941,072.28

No. of Deals 56 87 42 34 (Equities) 51 1 2 273

Current Price 8.19 9.20 78.00 4.01 11.40 19.75 0.50

Quantity Traded 342,295 2,903,281 56,865 901,802 1,284,706 100 3,000 5,492,049

Value Traded 2,788,640.28 26,522,993.56 4,345,842.21 3,613,328.25 14,609,188.89 1,976.00 1,500.00 51,883,469.19

Daily Summary as of 08/07/2014 Food Products Printed 08/07/2014 15:14:02.002

DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. U T C NIG. PLC. Activity on Board EQTY Food Summary Products Totals

CONSUMER GOODS Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR Daily Summary NASCON NNFM UTC

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 46 43 89

Current Price 74.25 1,111.20

Quantity Traded Page 98,162 111,842 210,004

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

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 30 1 31

Current Price 4.34 1.44

Quantity Traded 704,512 140 704,652

Value Traded 3,005,056.88 191.80 3,005,248.68

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

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 52 39 91

Current Price 35.80 53.01

Quantity Traded 206,872 152,660 359,532

Value Traded 7,368,302.70 7,989,728.99 15,358,031.69

7,993,811

322,140,170.71

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. Daily Summary as of 08/07/2014 Printed 08/07/2014 15:14:02.002 DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. Daily Summary as of 08/07/2014 SKYE BANK PLC Printed 08/07/2014 15:14:02.002 STERLING BANK PLC.

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK on NIG.PLC. Activity Summary Board EQTY FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC Daily Summary as of 08/07/2014 UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC Printed 08/07/2014 15:14:02.002 UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © FINANCIAL SERVICES Micro-Finance Banks Micro-Finance Banks Totals

679 Symbol No. of Deals ACCESS 139 DIAMONDBNK 116 ETI 72 FIDELITYBK 95 GUARANTY 252 Daily Summary (Equities) SKYEBANK 132 STERLNBANK 52

Current Price 9.80 6.32 17.10 1.99 29.57 3.28 2.30

Quantity Traded 10,027,671 19,105,662 2,857,182 56,522,515 4,682,654 62,490,676 7,688,563 Page

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals UBA UBN

157 75

ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC IT Services Totals Daily Summary as of 08/07/2014 ICT Totals 15:14:02.002 Printed 08/07/2014 INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC

Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

Current Price 7.80 9.70

Quantity Traded 5,958,505 768,455

Value Traded 46,624,940.65 7,439,185.96

Value Traded 2,412,825.00 335,903.47 676,368,093.92 1,471,071,183.61

No. of Deals 16 19 227 1,352

Current Price 0.50 0.98 25.30

Quantity Traded 4,825,650 344,872 26,976,854 202,249,259

Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE GNI INTENEGINS LASACO LINKASSURE MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM NIGERINS PRESTIGE REGALINS UNITYKAP UNIVINSURE WAPIC

No. of Deals 29 100 1 1 1 2 6 16 26 2 3 5 1 1 102 296

Current Price 0.80 1.21 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 2.64 0.54 0.81 0.50 0.53 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.86

Quantity Traded 3,603,969 19,542,127 1,000 5,000 4,000 1,404,000 27,550 4,404,370 1,189,407 304,000 10,400 6,360 20 20 101,234,682 Page 131,736,905

No. of Deals 10

Current Price 0.84

Quantity Traded 250,000

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol NPFMCRFBK

Page

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

Symbol ABBEYBDS INFINITY

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 1.30 1.61

Quantity Traded 140 3,998 4,138

Value Traded 190.40 6,116.94 6,307.34

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

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 64 26 441 89 3 26 103 752

Current Price 3.32 3.81 16.00 4.24 0.52 27.00 2.24

Quantity Traded 825,552 489,789 61,361,396 5,600,904 346,498 620,606 5,411,570 74,656,315

Value Traded 2,726,912.71 1,875,660.32 981,752,181.78 23,119,011.85 180,178.96 16,761,256.86 12,313,022.98 1,038,728,225.46

408,896,617

2,626,469,977.12

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 354.00 354.00

Current Price 3.72

Page

Current Price 5.00

Quantity Traded 2,000 2,000

Value Traded 9,800.00 9,800.00

293,000

178,910.00 Value Traded 55,255,158.68 628,087.10 5,228,567.80

15 Symbol

No. of Deals 58 7 22

Current Price 29.00 9.00 39.00

Quantity Traded 1,905,236 71,935 133,640

Symbol CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER FIRSTALUM PAINTCOM PORTPAINT PREMPAINTS WAPCO

No. of Deals 42 65 4 1 1 8 1 42 251

Current Price 11.47 247.02 1.21 0.50 1.40 5.30 10.93 110.19

Quantity Traded 557,866 3,580,778 271,763 1,000 9,500 265,111 1,000 1,128,713 7,926,542

Value Traded 6,483,116.35 840,407,481.35 325,997.97 500.00 13,775.00 1,436,219.37 10,390.00 124,196,105.20 1,033,985,398.82

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 15 15

Current Price 1.88

Quantity Traded 226,132 226,132

Value Traded 427,535.57 427,535.57

Symbol AVONCROWN BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 3 6 9

Current Price 1.69 16.30

Quantity Traded 36,486 3,101 39,587

Value Traded 61,693.14 52,705.00 114,398.14

8,192,261

1,034,527,332.53

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Value Traded 5,700.00 5,700.00

ASHAKACEM Daily Summary (Equities) BERGER CAP

Page

275 Symbol BOCGAS

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 5.76

Daily Summary (Equities)

Page

1,000

5,700.00

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 107 107

Current Price 0.57

Quantity Traded 8,717,389 8,717,389

Value Traded 5,020,314.43 5,020,314.43

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 495 495

Current Price 28.00

Quantity Traded 7,435,712 7,435,712

Value Traded 209,871,462.03 209,871,462.03

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 29 31 136 36 29 24 285

Current Price 65.40 4.33 198.10 133.02 63.18 171.05

Quantity Traded 110,233 671,889 433,789 112,917 30,858 179,989 1,539,675

Value Traded 6,905,621.59 2,989,685.19 83,801,070.34 15,034,113.18 1,770,764.97 30,845,152.47 141,346,407.74

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 23 23

Current Price 702.00

Quantity Traded 35,070 35,070

Value Traded 23,877,711.00 23,877,711.00

17,727,846

380,115,895.20

Daily Summary (Equities)

910

Current Price 1.06

Quantity Traded Page 716,733 716,733

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 15 2 17

Current Price 4.85 1.97

Quantity Traded 177,468 4,000 181,468

Value Traded 859,733.55 7,540.00 867,273.55

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 206,900 206,900

Value Traded 103,450.00 103,450.00

Hospitality TANTALIZERS PLC Hospitality Totals

Symbol TANTALIZER

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 4,000 4,000

Value Traded 2,000.00 2,000.00

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL TOURIST

No. of Deals 9 1 10

Current Price 0.81 3.88

Quantity Traded 125,910 54 125,964

Value Traded 98,143.32 199.26 98,342.58

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Daily Summary (Equities)

Quantity Traded 1,500 1,500

Value Traded 750.00 750.00

DAARCOMM

Value Traded 10 of 13 757,134.15 757,134.15

1 1

0.50

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 3 12 47 62

Current Price 1.71 1.69 4.55

Quantity Traded Page 18,198 869,510 13,083,000 13,970,708

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 18 18

Current Price 0.88

Quantity Traded 434,919 434,919

Value Traded 374,588.50 374,588.50

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 9 43 52

Current Price 2.34 4.99

Quantity Traded 109,050 803,245 912,295

Value Traded 254,820.00 4,009,391.16 4,264,211.16

Support and Logistics

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 43 43

Current Price 7.05

Quantity Traded 1,488,871 1,488,871

Value Traded 10,080,182.55 10,080,182.55

SERVICES

Published byPrinting/Publishing The Nigerian Stock Exchange © ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Daily Summary as of 08/07/2014 CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Printed 08/07/2014 Support 15:14:02.002 and Logistics Totals

SERVICES Totals 13

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services ABBEY MORTGAGE BANK PLC INFINITY TRUST MORTGAGE BANK PLC Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

No. of Deals 1 1

No. of Deals 2 2

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Value Traded 210,000.00

Symbol EKOCORP

Symbol CWG

No. of Deals 25 25

Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Media/Entertainment Totals

Quantity Traded 250,000

2,412

Value Traded 169,110.00 169,110.00

Symbol RTBRISCOE

Hotels/Lodging Daily Summary as of 08/07/2014 IKEJA 15:14:02.002 HOTEL PLC Printed 08/07/2014 TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC.

Current Price

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

Quantity Traded 291,000 291,000

OIL ANDSummary GAS Totals Activity on Board EQTY

No. of Deals 10

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. Daily Summary as of 08/07/2014 TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Printed 08/07/2014 15:14:02.002 Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

Value Traded 210,000.00 6

319,930,385.85

Current Price 0.58

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals

Value Traded 2,891,101.20 24,062,562.48 500.00 2,500.00 2,000.00 702,000.00 72,450.50 2,378,367.20 972,487.90 152,000.00 5,404.00 3,180.00 10.00 10.00 585,209,687.43 of 13 116,454,260.71

5,592,324

No. of Deals 13 13

Printed 08/07/2014 15:14:02.002 INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Hotels/Lodging Totals

Symbol UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

Value Traded 14,094.00 285,380.40 318,344,631.75 449,358.00 760,363.20 76,204.50 319,930,031.85

Symbol COURTVILLE

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Quantity Traded 5,800 95,384 4,548,691 262,660 628,886 50,803 5,592,224

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © NATURAL RESOURCES

Value Traded 98,310,448.93 121,682,095.24 48,651,000.59 113,052,528.38 138,488,939.96 200,066,080.77 17,639,140.74 of

Packaging/Containers AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Daily Summary as of 08/07/2014 Totals

NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC. Chemicals Totals

Value Traded 3 of 13 7,104,939.08 124,396,789.39 131,501,728.47

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Current Price 2.43 3.00 70.00 1.72 1.20 1.50

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials 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 PREMIER PAINTS PLC. LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. Building Materials Totals

Symbol

HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers EKOCORP PLC. Healthcare Providers Totals

No. of Deals 5 13 24 22 17 3 84

HEALTHCARE Totals

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

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH PHARMDEKO

EQTY Board Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

Traded 13 11Value of 31,024.98 1,462,396.90 62,533,362.36 64,026,784.24

238

18,043,358

80,574,716.73

5,360

523,298,904

5,129,605,066.31

Activity Summary on Board ASeM CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC Published by The Products Nigerian Stock Exchange © Food Totals

Symbol MCNICHOLS

No. of Deals 3 3

CONSUMER GOODS Totals

Current Price 1.28

Quantity Traded 30,000 Page 30,000

Value Traded 40,200.00 of 13 40,200.00

30,000

40,200.00

ASeM Board Totals

30,000

40,200.00

Equity Activity Totals

5,363

523,328,904

5,129,645,266.31

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

Name NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Symbol NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 2 3

Current Price 2,080.00 19.43

Quantity Traded 10 1,000 1,010

Value Traded 20,800.00 19,430.00 40,230.00

ETF Board Totals

1,010

40,230.00

ETP Activity Totals

1,010

40,230.00

13 Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Page

46 business | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

8-Jul-14

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

Bonds

Price

FGN Bonds Issuer

Rating/Agency

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

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

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

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

100.00 535.00 500.27 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 165.17 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57

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

0.22 0.79 2.11 2.80 3.05 3.15 3.89 4.98 5.29 7.56 9.68 14.39 14.87 15.37 16.04

10.72 10.66 11.29 11.37 11.32 11.32 11.34 11.45 11.43 11.92 12.09 12.15 12.16 12.18 12.24

10.05 9.96 11.21 11.31 11.19 11.20 11.24 11.38 11.35 11.86 12.04 12.11 12.12 12.12 12.19

99.62 95.05 103.20 108.70 96.29 94.88 98.00 116.90 82.72 121.85 111.80 119.10 102.18 74.69 84.40

99.77 95.55 103.35 108.85 96.59 95.18 98.30 117.20 83.02 122.15 112.10 119.40 102.48 74.99 84.70

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

4,375.01 Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

***LCRM

Description

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

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

978.35 24.56 6.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.32 0.88 1.49 2.42 2.78 3.00

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.74 13.22 13.07 13.21 12.27 12.31

96.46 89.37 105.47 99.28 97.73 95.21

05-Aug-14 15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 30-Sep-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21

0.08 0.27 1.15 0.75 1.27 1.27 2.78 1.82 3.48 2.45 4.24 2.65 2.65 3.03 3.10 5.38 3.16 3.78 6.39 6.48 3.96 3.99

1.56 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

12.06 13.98 15.02 13.93 15.12 14.14 16.86 12.02 13.12 13.02 12.35 12.25 16.03 12.31 12.32 12.45 14.06 12.34 12.64 13.60 12.79 13.30

100.09 99.89 97.39 99.92 98.83 101.60 85.19 102.76 102.39 102.22 105.26 104.97 95.97 105.32 108.10 107.82 101.71 106.93 103.65 105.90 105.02 104.94

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

0.25 0.45 0.48 0.63 0.94 1.02 2.23 2.30 3.23 2.05 2.00 2.17 2.17 4.21 2.28 2.36 3.48 6.35

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

11.67 16.07 19.61 15.69 11.54 13.12 12.17 12.53 12.32 13.02 14.61 16.36 16.22 12.70 13.47 17.31 13.49 14.39

99.88 98.88 98.83 96.32 100.68 100.83 101.52 103.30 101.72 109.65 102.69 103.25 101.92 104.08 104.63 99.63 106.79 103.43

11-Feb-18

3.60

1.00

12.33

93.93

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,304.32

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

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

14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

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

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

17.00 6.00 8.50 16.50 13.00 18.50 57.00 50.00 25.00 50.00 9.00 20.00 12.00 27.00 20.00 80.00 30.00 11.40 87.00 5.00 5.00 5.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

572.90

Corporate Bonds A+/Agusto; AA/GCR Aa/Agusto Nil Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto BB+/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto A/GCR BBB-/GCR BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR A/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR BBB/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

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

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

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

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

11.80 13.17 2.00 15.00 37.50 1.50 15.00 5.53 20.00 0.94 8.01 3.63 1.00 35.00 3.00 0.54 4.50 2.05

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

180.17

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

IFC

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

12.00 Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value ($'mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

4.87

4.72

110.44

111.33

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

18-Dec-09

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.12

3.91

103.68

104.47

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

01-Apr-10

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.29

5.17

107.70

108.58

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

Corporate Eurobonds AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

3.74

3.07

111.62

112.71

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

4.95

4.24

104.46

105.75

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.10

5.82

99.61

100.66

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.03

6.41

100.59

102.30

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.75

8.25

94.00

95.55

AFREN PLC

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

4.85

4.24

113.62

114.74

ZENITH BANK PLC FIRST BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.34

6.13

99.61

100.47

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

6.99

6.57

104.40

105.92

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

AFREN PLC

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

5.54

5.27

104.18

105.28

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

ACCESS BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,460.00

**Treasury Bills DTM 9 16 23 30 37 44 51

FIXINGS Maturity 17-Jul-14 24-Jul-14 31-Jul-14 7-Aug-14 14-Aug-14 21-Aug-14 28-Aug-14

Bid Discount (%) 10.35 10.35 10.35 10.20 10.35 10.35 10.30

Offer Discount (%) 10.10 10.10 10.10 9.95 10.10 10.10 10.05

Bid Yield (%) 10.38 10.40 10.42 10.29 10.46 10.48 10.45

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 10.7500 12.3337 13.4333 14.3493

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.50

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

10.75

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M

162.45 162.88 163.14 163.74 164.91

162.55 163.14 163.48 164.39 166.10

O/N Tenor Call

REPO

Rate (%) 10.50

A-/GCR NIGER A+/Agusto KADUNA A/Agusto *EBONYI Nil *BENUE A+/Agusto *IMO A+/Agusto; A+/GCR LAGOS A-/Agusto *BAYELSA A/Agusto EDO A+/Agusto; A+/GCR *DELTA A-/Agusto; A-/GCR NIGER A/Agusto; A-/GCR† *EKITI Wednesday, July 9, 2014 *NIGER A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR *ONDO A/Agusto; A-/GCR *GOMBE Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR LAGOS A/Agusto; A-/GCR *OSUN A/Agusto *OSUN Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR LAGOS A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro KOGI A/Agusto *EKITI A-/GCR *NASARAWA Sanctity of Truth

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 the previous day’s to close at 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 42,861.78, while the market capi14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 talisation firmed up by N34 bil15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

31-Aug-10 12.50 30-Sep-10 13.00 30-Jun-11 14.00 30-Jun-09 15.50 19-Apr-10 10.00 30-Jun-10 13.75 30-Dec-10 14.00 30-Sep-11 14.00 04-Oct-11 14.00 09-Dec-11 14.50 12-Dec-13 14.00 14-Feb-12 15.50 02-Oct-12 15.50 22-Nov-12 14.50 12-Dec-12 14.75 30-Sep-13 14.75 27-Nov-13 13.50 The insurance 15.00 sub-sector 31-Dec-13 boosted by the activities 31-Dec-13 14.50 on the shares of Wapic Insurance Plc 06-Jan-14 15.00

8.50 31-Aug-15 1.15 16.50 30-Sep-15 0.75 13.00 30-Jun-16 1.27 18.50 30-Jun-16 1.27 57.00 19-Apr-17 2.78 50.00 30-Jun-17 1.82 25.00 31-Dec-17 3.48 50.00 30-Sep-18 2.45 9.00 04-Oct-18 4.24 20.00 09-Dec-18 2.65 12.00 12-Dec-18 2.65 27.00 14-Feb-19 3.03 20.00 02-Oct-19 3.10 80.00 22-Nov-19 5.38 30.00 12-Dec-19 3.16 11.40 30-Sep-20 3.78 87.00 27-Nov-20 6.39 by N2.04 to31-Dec-20 close at N133.02 5.00 6.48 per share, while industry competi5.00 31-Dec-20 3.96 tor, Eterna06-Jan-21 Oil, fell by N0.21 5.00 3.99 to

4.44 15.02 97.39 3.23 13.93 99.92 4.46 15.12 98.83 3.48 14.14 101.60 5.59 16.86 85.19 1.00 12.02 102.76 1.79 13.12 102.39 1.80 13.02 102.22 1.00 12.35 105.26 1.00 12.25 104.97 4.78 16.03 95.97 1.00 12.31 105.32 1.00 12.32 108.10 1.00 12.45 107.82 2.74 14.06 101.71 1.00 12.34 106.93 1.00 12.64 103.65 Cement WAPCO and105.90 Cement 1.94 13.60 Company of Northern Nigeria, 1.44 12.79 105.02 regressed by N0.81 and N0.12 to 1.95 13.30 104.94

business | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Stock market rallies on Nestle, Dangote Cement IMPROVEMENT

Nigerian bourse returns to green terrain

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Corporate Bonds

A+/Agusto; AA/GCR LAFARGE WAPCO Stories Aa/Agusto by Chris Ugwu GTB µ Nil NGC ositive sentiment yesBbb-/Agusto *UPDC A-/Agusto terday returned to the *FLOURMILLS BB+/GCR floor of the Nigerian *CHELLARAMS A+/Agusto; A-/GCR Stock Exchange (NSE) NAHCO as the A-/Agusto bourse’s All ShareFSDH Index and A/GCR UBA inched market capitalisation BBB-/GCR & I LEASING up by 0.24 per cent*Ceach. # BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR At the close of *DANA trading, 27 # A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR *TOWER32 stocks appreciated, while othAAA/DataPro†; A+/GCRthe losers’ *TOWER# table. ers constituted A/Agusto; UBA perforThe A/GCR twin market Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *LA CASERA mance indices, the All-Share BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS# Index rose by 103.76 basis points BBB/GCR *DANA or 0.24 per cent from 42,758.02 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO

lion or 0.24 per cent from N14.118 trillion to N14.152 trillion. The NSE Insurance Index 11.50the LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014 Index and NSE Industrial 13.50by GUARANTY 18-DEC-2014 rose 75 bpsTRUST and 45 bps respec17.00 ,NGC 31-DEC-2014 tively while the NSE Consumer 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 Goods Index increased by a 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 marginal 2 bps. 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 However, the NSE Oil/Gas 13.00 NAHCO Index and29-SEP-2016 the NSE Banking 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 Index dipped 14 bps and 1 bps 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 respectively . 18.00 LEASING 30-NOV-2017 OnC&Ithe activity chart, the MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 Banking sub-sector dominated TOWER 9-SEP-2018 inMPR+7.00 volume terms with 202.2 milMPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 lion shares worth N1.4 billion UBA II 22-SEP-2018 in14.00 1,352 deals. The sub sector 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 was enhanced by the activities MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 in the shares of Skye Bank Plc 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 and Fidelity Bank Plc. 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

followed with 131.7 million units, 572.90 close at N4.33 per share. Also, close at N110.19 and N11.47 reworth N116.4 million in 296 deals. cement producers, Lafarge spectively. In all, investors exchanged a total of 523.3 million 07-Oct-11 11.50 shares 11.80 07-Oct-14 0.25 1.00 11.67 99.88 18-Dec-09 18-Dec-14 0.45 5.21 16.07 98.88 worth N5.1 billion in13.50 5,363 deals. 13.17 01-Apr-10 17.00 31-Dec-14 0.48 8.71 19.61 98.83 Consumer goods company, 2.00 17-Aug-10 10.00 17-Aug-15 4.88 Finance 0.63 Bank dividend of15.69 10kobo per96.32 share. Nestle Nigeria, firmed up by 15.00 PF Micro 09-Dec-10 12.00 0.94cent 1.00 11.54 100.68 endN11.20 to close at N1, 111.20 per 37.50 Plc has09-Dec-15 posted a 25 per The bank for the year 06-Jan-11 14.00 1.02 tax 2.63December 13.12 31, 2013, 100.83 in profit after ed posted share to lead the gainers’ chart, 1.50 growth06-Jan-16 29-Sep-11 producer13.00 29-Sep-16 ended2.23 1.00 12.17 of N1.93 101.52 for the half-year June gross earnings billion following, of building 15.00 25-Oct-13 14.25 2.30 1.34 12.53billion 103.30 inputs, Dangote Cement, rose 5.53 30 2014. 25-Oct-16 against N1.63 achieved 30-Sep-10 30-Sep-17 3.23 1.00 12.32 101.72 by N2.02 to close at 13.00 N247.02 per 20.00 In a filing with the Nigeria in the corresponding period of 30-Nov-12 18.00 services 0.94 30-Nov-17 (NSE), 2.05 1.88 13.02 109.65 share. Also, financial Stock Exchange profit 2012. 09-Apr-11 Stanbic 16.00 09-Apr-18 2.00 3.48 14.61 after tax grew to N338.6 million Profit before tax 102.69 stood at providers, IBTC Hold- 8.01 18.00 09-Sep-18 2.17 5.20 16.36 against 103.25 ings09-Sep-11 and Guaranty Trust Bank, 3.63 N512.08 million N630.53 as against N252 million record09-Sep-11 16.00 to close 1.00 2.17 5.06 16.22 in the101.92 ed during 09-Sep-18 the corresponding million achieved previous gained N0.27 and N0.13 22-Sep-11 22-Sep-18 4.21 1.35 while the 12.70 company 104.08 at N27.00 and N29.57 14.00 respectively. 35.00 period of 2013, representing a year, posted 18-Oct-13 15.75 3.00 18-Oct-18 2.28 2.29 13.47 104.63 On the flip side, refined pe- growth of 25 per cent. profit after tax of N391.32 mil17-Feb-12 17-Feb-19 6.11 17.31 gross2.36 earn- lion in contrast with99.63 N475.84 troleum products17.00 marketer, 0.54 The company’s 01-Apr-14 16.00 4.50 01-Apr-19 3.48 2.16 13.49 106.79 Mobil Oil Nigeria, moderated ings rose to N1. 013 billion as million recorded in the com14-Nov-13 15.25 2.05 14-Nov-20 6.35 2.76 14.39 103.43 against N841.9 million, indicatparative period of 2012. 180.17 Interestingly, the bank’s ing a growth of 17 per cent. Net interest income rose to shareholders’ fund appreciated N583.2 million as against N521.4 by 6.12 per cent to N3.92 billion All Share Index. 11-Feb-13 10.20 12.00 11-Feb-18 3.60 1.00 12.33 93.93 The NSE had recently con- million posted in the previous as against the N3.69 billion in 12.00 cluded arrangement to hire two year, while total assets stood at 2012. financial advisers (one Interna- N8.943 billion over the N8.680 President, Progressive ShareIssue Dateone Nigerian) Coupon (%) Issue Value ($'mm) achieved Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) Offerholders Yield (%) Association Bid Price Offer Price tional and to underbillion in 2013. of Nigeria take the assignment of advising Shareholders had recently (PSAN), Boniface Okezie, while Prices & Yieldson the outcome of it through the process of demutu- approved an increase in the commenting bank’s authorised share capital alisation. the AGM, commended the com07-Oct-11 6.75 500.00 28-Jan-21 4.87 4.72 110.44 111.33 NSE in a circular recently to N3 billion up from N2 billion, pany for sustainable growth. said 18-Dec-09 it was seeking invitation for 500.00 with the creation the com5.13 12-Jul-18 of additional 4.12 3.91Okezie noted 103.68 that 104.47 expressions of interest for finan- two billion shares. pany had maintained a steady cial advisory towards its 500.00 The shareholders gave dividend profile listing 01-Apr-10 services6.38 12-Jul-23 5.29 the 107.70 since it’s 5.17 108.58 approval at the bank’s 20th An- on the floor of the Exchange on demutualisation. According to the Exchange, 1,500.00 nual General Meeting (AGM). December 1, 2010. He also urged in furtherance of the efforts to Under the approval, the com- the board and management of commence its demutualisation, pany’s new authorised share the company to maintain the 01-Feb-11 01-Feb-16 3.74 3.07 111.62 112.71 the National Council11.50 of the NSE 450.00 capital stood at N3 billion di- growth and create value for 4.95 4.24 104.46 105.75 has 19-May-11 given approval 7.50 to engage 500.00 vided into 19-May-16 six billion ordinary shareholders in the future. 6.00 400.00 08-Nov-18 6.10 5.82Also, Solomon 99.61 100.66 the 08-Nov-13 services of a consortium shares of 50kobo. Akinsanya, a 25-Jul-12 7.25 25-Jul-17 7.03 ap6.41 100.59 102.30outgoof two financial advisers (one 350.00 The shareholders also shareholder praised the 09-May-13 6.88Nigerian) 300.00 02-May-18 8.75divi8.25 Chairman 94.00of the bank, 95.55 FlorInternational and one proved N228.7 million as ing 08-Apr-12 10.25 to undertake the assignment of 300.00 dends for 08-Apr-19 the year ended ence achieve4.85 De4.24 Adebanjo, 113.62 for her 114.74 22-Apr-14 6.25 process. 500.00 advising it through the cember 31,22-Apr-19 2013, translating ments in the past nine100.47 years. 6.34 to 6.13 99.61

NPF MFB records 25% profit growth

Kenyan Exchange to sell shares in Africa’s second bourse’s IPO Supranational Bond

enya’s Stock Exchange will IFC become the second publicly TOTAL OUTSTANDING traded African VALUE bourse with a share sale that was planned Rating/Agency at least five years ago. Issuer According to Bloomberg FGN Eurobonds news, Nairobi Securities Exchange Limited will hold an BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P initial public offering from July 24BB-/Fitch; to August 12 and list stock FGNon BB-/S&P the market, it said yesterday inBB-/Fitch; an e-mailed statement. The BB-/S&P FTSE NSE Kenya 25 Index has TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE climbed 15 per cent this year, compared with a 17 per cent gain Corporate Eurobonds in the MSCI FM Frontier Markets B-/S&P; B/Fitch AFREN PLC I index. GTBANK PLC I “We are putting our money B+/S&P; B+/Fitch where our mouth is,” Head GTBANK PLC of B+/S&P and Product Development Market ACCESS BANK PLC B/S&P; B/Fitch Donald Ouma said byFIDELITY phone.BANK “WePLC are saying capital markets B/Fitch AFREN PLC are B+/Fitch; the bestBB-/S&P place to raise long-term ZENITH BANK PLC AAA/S&P

capital.” 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 Kenya’s Stock Exchange first announced plans for selling shares in 2009. The market has been seekDescription ing ways to deepen trading and attract listings from companies in East Africa’s largest economy. The 62-member all-share index has a 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 value of 2.14 trillion shillings ($24 billion), according to2018 data com5.13 JUL 12, piled by Bloomberg. 6.38 looking JUL 12, 2023into new “We are also products and services such as derivatives and real-estate investment trusts, and we are better suited to do so as a listed entity,” Ouma said. 11.50 FEB 01, 2016 7.50 MAY 19, 2016operator JSE Ltd. (JSE), the 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 of the Johannesburg Stock ExJUL 25, 2017 change and 7.25 Africa’s first listed 6.88 MAY 2018cent this Exchange, gained 1109,per 10.25with APR 08, year, compared a2019 12 per cent 6.25FTSE/JSE APR 22, 2019 Africa increase in the

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

6.99

6.57

104.40

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

AFREN PLC

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

5.54

5.27

104.18

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

3,460.00

105.92 105.28

8-Jul-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 FIXINGS Money Market Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) to the FMDQ OTC PLC Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement.

**Treasury Bills

DTM Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) 9 17-Jul-14 10.35 10.10 16 24-Jul-14 10.35 10.10 FGN Bonds23 31-Jul-14 10.35 10.10 30 7-Aug-14 10.20 9.95 Issuer Description Rating/Agency Issue 37 14-Aug-14 10.35 10.10Date 44 21-Aug-14 10.35 10.10 9.25 28-SEP-2014 28-Sep-07 51 28-Aug-14 10.30 10.05 4.00 23-APR-2015 23-Apr-10 58 4-Sep-14 10.40 10.15 13.05 16-AUG-2016 16-Aug-13 65 11-Sep-14 10.70 10.45 15.10 27-APR-2017 27-Apr-12 72 18-Sep-14 10.70 10.45 9.85 27-JUL-2017 27-Jul-07 79 25-Sep-14 10.70 10.45 9.35 31-AUG-2017 31-Aug-07 86 2-Oct-14 10.65 10.40 10.70 30-MAY-2018 30-May-08 93 9-Oct-14 10.35 10.10 NA NA 16.00 29-JUN-2019 29-Jun-12 100 16-Oct-14 10.70 10.45 7.00 23-OCT-2019 23-Oct-09 107 23-Oct-14 10.70 10.45 16.39 27-JAN-2022 27-Jan-12 114 30-Oct-14 10.70 10.45 14.20 14-MAR-2024 14-Mar-14 121 6-Nov-14 10.65 10.40 15.00 28-NOV-2028 28-Nov-08 135 20-Nov-14 10.70 10.45 12.49 22-MAY-2029 22-May-09 149 4-Dec-14 10.50 10.25 8.50 20-NOV-2029 20-Nov-09 184 8-Jan-15 10.35 10.10 10.00 23-JUL-2030 23-Jul-10 198 22-Jan-15 10.35 10.10 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 212 5-Feb-15 10.45 10.20 226 19-Feb-15 10.35 10.10 240 5-Mar-15 10.40 10.15 Description 275 9-Apr-15 10.30 10.05 Rating/Agency Issuer 289 23-Apr-15 10.20 9.95 303 7-May-15 9.70 9.45 Agency Bonds *from the Amortising 0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) AMCON #bonds, the average life is 0.00risk FMBpremiums 24-MAY-2015 Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity **Exclusive ofNA non-trading t.bills

FMBN

***LCRM

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

Bid Yield (%) 10.38 10.40 10.42 10.29 Coupon 10.46 (%) 10.48 9.25 10.45 4.00 10.57 13.05 10.91 15.10 10.93 9.85 10.95 9.35 10.92 10.70 10.63 16.00 11.02 7.00 11.05 16.39 11.07 14.20 11.04 15.00 11.14 12.49 10.97 8.50 10.92 10.00 10.97 11.13 11.06 11.16 11.17 Date Issue 11.10 10.55

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

100.00 535.00 500.27 452.80 NITTY 20.00 Tenor 100.00 1M 300.00 2M 351.30 3M 233.90 6M 600.00 9M 165.17 12M 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 NIFEX

Current4,375.01 Price ($/N) BID($/N) OFFER ($/N) Coupon (%)

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

NIBOR

Bonds

0.00 0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

Rate (%) 10.7500 12.3337 Maturity 13.4333 Date 14.3493 28-Sep-14 23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 Rate (%) 31-Aug-17 10.3117 30-May-18 10.6600 29-Jun-19 10.7574 23-Oct-19 10.9255 27-Jan-22 11.1661 14-Mar-24 11.2729 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.50

Tenor

10.75

Spot 7D Yield Offer 14D (%) 1M 2M 10.05 3M 9.96 6M 11.21 1Y 11.31

O/N

TTM (Yrs) REPO Tenor 0.22 Call 1M 0.79 3M 2.11 6M 2.80

Bid Yield (%) Rate (%) 10.5010.72 12.5710.66 13.3511.29 13.9011.37

3.05 11.32 11.19 3.15 11.32 11.20 NOTE: 3.89 11.34 11.24 4.98 11.45 11.38 :Benchmarks 5.29 11.43 11.35 * :Amortising Bond 7.56 11.92 11.86 µ :Convertible Bond 9.68 12.09 12.04 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 14.39 12.15 12.11 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 14.87 12.16 12.12 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 15.37 12.18 12.12 IFC: International Finance Corporation 16.04 12.24 12.19

Bid ($/N) 162.45 162.88 Bid Price 163.14 163.74 164.9199.62 166.1895.05 103.20 169.84 108.70 177.65

Offer ($/N) Price 162.55 163.14 Offer Price 163.48 164.39 166.1099.77 167.8195.55 103.35 173.45 108.85 184.65

96.29 96.59 94.88 95.18 98.00 98.30 116.90 117.20 NA :Not Applicable 82.72 83.02 # :Floating Rate Bond 121.85 122.15 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 111.80 112.10 119.10 119.40 †: Bond rating expired 102.18 102.48 74.69 74.99 84.40 84.70

LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company NGC: Nigeria-German Company 162.5425 UBA: United Bank for Africa O/N: Overnight # 162.6425 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company Risk Avg. Life/TTM Valuation Yield Indicative WAPCO:West Africa Company Issue Value (N'bn) Maturity DatePortland Cement Premium (Yrs) (%) Price (%) 978.35 24.56 6.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.32 0.88 1.49 2.42 2.78 3.00

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.74 13.22 13.07 13.21 12.27 12.31

96.46 89.37 105.47 99.28 97.73 95.21

1,304.32 FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

KWARA Modified Duration NIGER Buckets KADUNA *EBONYI <3 *BENUE 3<5 *IMO LAGOS >5 *BAYELSA Market EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS

14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 Porfolio Market Total Outstanding 14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 Value(Bn) Volume(Bn) 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 1,008.47 953.07 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 1,141.77 951.30 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 683.94 756.74 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 2,834.19 2,661.11 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

05-Aug-09

Weighting by 15-Oct-09 Outstanding Vol

31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 35.81 30-Jun-11 35.75 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 28.44 30-Jun-10 100.00 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

14.00

Weighting by Mkt 14.00 Value

12.50 13.00 35.58 14.00 40.29 15.50 10.00 24.13 13.75 100.00 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 14.75 13.50

17.00 6.00 Bucket Weighting

8.50 16.50 0.36 13.00 0.36 18.50 57.00 0.28 50.00 1.00 25.00 50.00 9.00 20.00 12.00 27.00 20.00 80.00 30.00 11.40 87.00

05-Aug-14

% Exposure_ 15-Oct-14 Mod_Duration

31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 17.74 30-Jun-16 36.38 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 45.89 30-Jun-17 100.00 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

0.08

1.56

12.06

100.09

0.27 Implied Yield

Implied 3.29 Portfolio Price

INDEX13.98

YTD Return 99.89 (%)

11.33 1.27 11.77 1.27

117.0822 4.46 133.1056 3.48

1,112.04 15.12 1,127.09 14.14

11.2042 98.83 12.7087 101.60

2.78 12.21 1.82 11.89

5.59 98.9916 1.00 117.6659

16.86 1,154.82 12.02 1,117.70

85.19 15.4817 102.76 11.7700

1.15 0.75

3.48 2.45 4.24 2.65 2.65 3.03 3.10 5.38 3.16 3.78 6.39

4.44 3.23

1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78 1.00 1.00 1.00 2.74 1.00 1.00

15.02 13.93

13.12 13.02 12.35 12.25 16.03 12.31 12.32 12.45 14.06 12.34 12.64

97.39 99.92

102.39 102.22 105.26 104.97 95.97 105.32 108.10 107.82 101.71 106.93 103.65

48 POLITICS CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 5

the current man is more civilised than Mbu. The National Conference has called for the scrapping of state independent electoral commissions (SIECs), what is your take? First thing, when the confab finishes, they should come and pass their constitution. Why are you bothered? You didn’t hear when we said it is a waste of time, waste of Nigeria’s resources and total diversion of attention.

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

‘It’ll be unfair for Ikwere to produce governor in 2015’

that I issued without consultation were condolence messages. The rest I must call. That was why I asked the president that Bayelsa State governor is always at the meeting where this statements are agreed on, what has he done to stop me if he didn’t agree with it because we vote. In fact we even correct grammar before we issue a statement. And when we are issuing it, everybody is around including the President’s home state governor. So, why am I suffering for a group’s sake? In fact, Sokoto governor said when he was called not to support me, he said: ‘I would be the last man to back away from Amaechi. Reason is that there is nothing he said that we did not all agreed that he should say.’ I now speak my mind. Then I was speaking the mind of a group. I am writing a memoir and I am taking one governor after the other.

But don’t you consider the call for the scraping of SIECs, given the outcome of the Kano local government election? Even at that, there is no evidence that you have to show that PDP or any party would have won anything. Kano State is predominantly APC. Are you talking of the Kwakwansiyya factor? Not only Kwakwanso, there is the Buhari factor. Why are we pretending? Let Kwakwanso repeat that election 500 times, let the Federal Government go and stand there with soldiers, APC will win even to the last ward. I saw for myself when Kwakwanso took us on a tour of his project and people were falling over themselves just to see the governor. So, how would the PDP win there? They went there for campaign and I hope you saw that video they put on the social media. The other side of the rally in Kano that the President didn’t want people to see, when they were calling PDP thieves. It happened inside Kano. Was it sponsored? With the experience you have had in your state, would you advocate for state police? It can’t be worse, they will checkmate each other. If you are not in the party of the president, he will stop using the police or army against you because there would be balance of forces in the country. Nobody wants a state police if the national police would be fair to everybody. There are two reasons for state police. First is that the national police is not properly equipped to check crime. So, if you equip them properly and make them independent, then you don’t need the state police. The reason for the state police is the failure of the national police. And with the personalisation of national police, it becomes the private army of the president. It is worse in this period where it is not only the private army of the president; it is the private army of the PDP. So, when people criticise others, they should institutionalise the police and the military. If they are not answerable and they would not obey illegal orders, then we would support everybody. If we have a statesman president, who will not use the police, they would be in support of everybody. Are you impressed with your second term because you seem to have been distracted by politics? A lot of people need to wait. What you bought into is the PDP propaganda machine and if you know me very well, I hate propaganda. I could actually put about N100 million to N300 million to the press to start propaganda and meanwhile I am doing nothing on the ground. There was a time we were responding but it got to a point that we stopped. The reason I stopped was because we started commissioning primary schools. In my first tenure, we had only 75 primary schools. We are trying to get children into 300 but it is expensive to furnish. ICT alone is N34 million per school, so 100 schools is N3.4 billion. So, we say let us raise about N10 billion plus to fund 300 and it is not easy. What about the sustenance of the projects? Sustenance is to follow the process that we put in place in terms of maintenance. In each village, we hired villagers to form themselves into a company, registered the company and run the maintenance of the schools. They clean, mop and if you break any of the facili-

What is your succession plan and why are you insisting the next governor should not come from Ikwere? I have said that severally because as an Ikwere man, I have served for eight years and there is no law that states that Ikwere has the best to become governor.

Amaechi

ties, they replace. We pay every month. If another governor comes and says I don’t like this, it is left to him. I am no longer a governor and I can’t come back and revert that. Some states have huge debt profile, what is the position Rivers State? You should ask bankers why they are still pursuing us to give us money. It is because we are paying every day. We have borrowed close to N300 billion and not owing up to N80 billion. That is why I said you should ask banks why they are pursuing us. It is because at the end of the month, once they get our money, they quickly take their money. We are paying N7 billion every month to service the debt. You can ask any of the banks. We would not leave debt behind. We are different from others; you can go and ask them, how much they owe. How about your savings for the state? Some of it is still there but it is not like before. You have depleted it? Yes. Depleting it was because when we saw that the financial diversion has started and we are not getting as much what we use to get, we knew that we were running into problem. We began to owe children overseas. We have about 1,000 medical, engineering and other students studying overseas and from N1 billion, the thing go to N6 billion. And with the pressure to pay those bills and fund our projects, we broke into it. I didn’t want to break into it but my cabinet member made a lot of sense, saying: ‘Governor, you know when you were Speaker you saved N500 million in the House of Assembly account. For saving it, the EFCC arrested you first that you opened a deposit account to make money.’ I said yes, and they added; ‘One month after you left and went to Ghana, what happened to the money? The members just withdrew the money and shared it among themselves. So, what will happen to this money you are keeping? One month after you leave office, they will just withdraw it. Now that you are here, take some and pay for your projects and leave some.’ I think we still left about N17 billion or N18 billion out of N53 billion. But it is growing again, maybe before we leave; it will grow to over N20 billion. Not from our savings

It would be unfair for an Ikwere man to come back as governor, no matter the numbers alone but interest accruing on it. Do you think the NGF is still effective? What are we doing before that we are not doing again? The only thing we were doing before that we were not doing again is controlling the stealing of oil money. Now, it has gone bad that nobody can control it. Before when we see the stealing, we come together and tell the President that we don’t like the stealing. They were more careful then. So, if you say, it is politics, it is more to stop us from shouting against the stealing because that was what was annoying the President that every day we were shouting about the stealing in the oil industry. The stealing was controlled by then, but now the stealing has no control at all. Beyond that, has the President stopped me from what I want to say? The answer is no because I can still say what I want to say. Before if I needed to speak as the chairman of NGF, I would call a meeting, we would agree on what I would say and I will issue out a statement. If I went to a public function, I never made a national statement until I sought the approval of the governors. Not now anymore. I say my mind. Which was better for the President? If it was before, I may not have granted this interview the way it is now because one of them would have called and said; “Your Excellency, the chair, we didn’t say that. I am not supporting that. I would take a press statement and said we didn’t say that.” You know Oshiomhole did one, saying that he was not part of it until we called him and say you are wrong, you were overseas when we had our meeting and I said what I said based on that. And he apologised that he didn’t know that we agreed. Akpabio would also say ‘Look, I wasn’t at the meeting,’ but he has also come to public once to say there was no time we discussed. So, then we were very careful because we needed to carry everybody along. The only statements

Politically, you have the upland and riverine areas in Rivers State? You can’t do upland and riverine politics in Rivers State. If you do that, it would be unfair to the riverine people. And I have been telling my friends who are in riverine area not to pursue that politics. Fifteen local government areas are upland, eight are riverine: who will win? Politics is a game of number. So, it is not in the interest of anybody to do riverine/upland. All you can say for now is that it would be unfair for an Ikwere man to come back as governor, no matter the numbers. Yes, Ikwere people can claim that we have 1.1 million votes out of the 2.3million votes. What it means is that if you are a patriot, allow others, give the 1.1 million votes to anybody of your choice, not to appropriate those votes because the number exist. We are saying that Ikwere fought political injustice when Bayelsa was here and by then we used to hear about one million from Bayelsa, we didn’t know that they are only about 600,000 people. And then the Ikwere people fought and fought until they created the new Rivers State. Having created the new Rivers State and you have the highest number, the right thing to do, having served it is for an Ikwere man to have served eight years and we ship out since there are other groups. There is no group that does not have qualified candidates to govern Rivers State. When Ikwere people visited me in my first two months as governor, I asked them to go to Dr. Peter Odili with gifts to thank him because he was an instrument to the realisation of an Ikwere man as governor. They did it and I know he was shocked because he didn’t know I sent them. He was shocked to receive them and they thanked him. They thanked him because he pursued it and that was why when I was dropped, he took my cousin (Omehia), who is also an Ikwere man in fulfilment of that agreement. Now, my own dream is to leave office and not supporting an Ikwere candidate because the reason for which Dr. Odili supported an Ikwere candidate was to make ensure that power rotates among the ethnic groups in Rivers State. Traditionally, Rivers has always harvested 2.1 million votes for the PDP. In 2015, do you think the votes in place would be up to two million? I am not God. We should even surpass the two million but what I don’t know is where it will go to, whether PDP or APC. Let us wait and see.

NEWS 49

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Reps task Customs on blueprint to fight smuggling sabotage

Customs come under scrutiny over porons borders and economy issues Philip Nyam Abuja

he House of Representatives yesterday mandated its committee on customs to liaise with the Nigerian

l Reject motion on harassment of Northerners in South East Customs Service (NCS) to work out modalities to curb the activities of smugglers at Nigerian borders. The mandate was given following the adoption of a motion by Hon. Odebunmi Olusegun Dokun (PDP, Oyo) titled “Need for proactive measures by the Nigerian Customs Service to check the activities of economic saboteurs in the country.”

CBN, NDIC disagree on amendment to NDIC Act Philip Nyam Abuja

he Central Bank of TNigerian Nigeria (CBN) and the Deposit Insur-

ance Corporation (NDIC) yesterday disagreed on the proposed statutory amendment seeking to grant the NDIC powers to liquidate insurance institutions in the country. The two institutions deferred at the public hearing organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Currency on the bill for an act to repeal the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) Act 2006 and re-enact the NDIC Act 2014” NDIC is seeking for more powers and legal frameworks in the new bill to discharge its statutory responsibilities of risk-minimisation and surmount challenges that arise against the backdrop of the 2009 global economic crisis. The corporation also sought for solitary power to liquidate financial insurance institutions found to be lacking the necessary requirements to guarantee safety of depositors' monies. Managing Director of NDIC, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim had in his presentation said the corporation proposed for amendment areas that seek to ensure "prompt payment of in-

sured deposits following failure of an insured institution by reducing of time reimbursement from 90 days to 60 days," and "powers to deal with parties at fault, including directors and officers who cause the failure of an insured institution. He said "there have been challenges that have threatened the safety, stability and soundness of the banking system which include banking malpractices leading to the failure of some banks as was expressed in the banking crises of 2009." But CBN's Director of Banking Supervision, Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, who represented the governor said the apex bank could not make its position known to the commission due to pending issues about the NDIC amendment. Martins, however, insisted that there are two or three areas of the amendment that include mandate, self-appointment as liquidator and termination of insurance firm's licence which are "still need to be harmonised between NDIC and CBN." She said given such single powers to NDIC may tantamount to having "double captains to a one ship", since it is the responsibility of CBN to discharge the responsibility.

FG yet to assess $500m aviation facility, says minister Philip Nyam Abuja

he supervising MinisTation, ter for Ministry of AviDr. Samuel Ortom

has disclosed that the $500 million Chinese facility for the remodelling of the nation's airport has not be accessed since there was no budgetary provision for it in the 2014 Appropriation Act. He disclosed this at an interactive session with the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation.

He explained that the ministry was fully involved in the negotiation of the $500 million Chinese facility, adding that the money will be accessed directly from the Chinese Exim bank when the counterpart funding is ready. The Minister also dismissed media report on the alleged N174.7 billion missing fund, noting that Ministerial Committee set up when he resumed duty, was assigned to verify the actual debt liabilities of the Ministry.

In his lead debate, Dokun submitted that "Nigerian borders have become so porous that palm oil and other consumables are easily smuggled into Nigeria through the neighbouring countries," thus affecting the marketability of such locally produced products. He further noted that the rate at which rice and other food items are being smuggled into

2.78m

the country through the borders is so high that the country lost much in revenue "as a result of the compromising activities of certain customs officers." The lawmakers were outraged that the Nigerian Customs Service has not done much to curb the activities of smugglers and the sale of prohibited goods within the country.

The number of air travel passengers of Abuja domestic wing in 2012. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

In another development, the House rejected a motion to probe the alleged harassment of Nigerians of northern origin travelling to Rivers State. Coming under matters of urgent public importance, Hon. Aminu Suleiman (APC, Kano) alleged at plenary what he called, “the systematic profiling and harassment of persons of northern

$US162.8bn

The nominal GDP of Egypt (World Bank) in 2009. Source: Blatantworld.com

extraction in states in the South-East”. When the presiding deputy speaker, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha put the motion to a voice vote, members voted against it. The deputy minority leader, Hon. Suleiman Kawu Sumaila had a week earlier condemned the reported decision of some South-East State governments to register all northerners living in their States.

4.17m

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Sweden in 2012. Source: Itu.int

L-R: Director, Corporate Planning and Development, Tertiary Education Trust Funds (TETFUND), Mallam Aliyu Na'Iya; Executive Secretary, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro; Representative of Minister of Education, Hajiya Hindatu Abdullahi and Board member, TETFUND, Mrs. Patricia Donli, during an interactive workshop on the validation of tetfunds guidelines for accessing intervention funds in Abuja…yesterday.

Joe Ezuma

Port Harcourt

he Rivers state government has come down heavily on the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the state over its condemnation of the reported fresh loan request by Governor Chibuike Amaechi, accusing it of flashing red herring, distortion and being mischievous. The PDP had on Monday issued statement, accusing the Rivers State Government of tabling a new loan of USD280m before the state legislature. The party further described the reason for the loan as mere subterfuge as it alleged that Amaechi was asking for the new loan to prosecute

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

$280m Loan: Rivers slams PDP 2015 election for APC. Condemning the legislators for being robber stamp and the new move as ''unacceptable and sheer wickedness by a drowning person not wishing to die alone'', the PDP enjoined the approving federal ministry of finance, the State Lawmakers as well as the AFDB and World Bank not to honour the loan requests so as not to be held responsible by posterity as part of those that caused avoidable havoc on the State. But the commissioner for Information, Mrs Ibim Semenitari fired back in a statement, describing the party's release as contain-

ing tissues of lies, misleading and mischevious. Ibim emphasized that the Chibuike Amaechi-led administration takes its insistence on transparent and accountable governance seriously and that It would therefore continue to put out the facts of the matter as it concerns the finances and economy of Rivers state for its people to see. Shedding more light on the loan issue, Semenitari explained that the Rivers State Government applied for and secured a loan package from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the World Bank in 2012 for

the World Bank-assisted water scheme. She said that the rule is that the national government would need to endorse the release of the loan after the Rivers State House of Assembly would have approved. ''Everything else was done but for reasons unknown to the Rivers State Government, the responsible officers on the Ministry of Finance failed to sign off the release of funds, thereby delaying the Rivers State Government's robust water sector’s complete overhaul and rejuvenation; therefore denying the people of the state access to good water."

Expert charges farmers to update knowledge Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

n Aquatic farming AChukwu, expert, Dr Chukwudi has called on local farmers, especially fish farmers to update themselves on international policies on export-

ing farm produce safely. Chukwu gave the advice at a training workshop organised for staff of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development held on Monday in Ibadan. At the programme themed: "Seafood Total

Quality Management", Chukwu said farmers should no longer think about the quality of the food they produce, but about safety of the foods. "International bodies or countries are now more conscious about how the food is being

imported and how it is eaten," he said. Chukwu who is also the Chairman, Aquatic Bio-security Awareness Foundation, said farm produce or animals have been found to carry diseases, hence the need for extra care by countries.

WORLD | NEWS

CAR: Deadly clashes as French minister visits

rance’s defence minister warned Monday that violence in the Central African Republic was becoming “more serious” as he started a visit to the former French colony, amid reports of more deadly clashes. Jean-Yves Le Drian said political efforts to end the bloody conflict have stalled despite the election of a new leader six months ago, and the deadlock has further inflamed tensions between Christians and Muslims. “The settlement to all this can only be political, yet politics have broken down,” he told AFP before arriving in the capital Bangui on Monday. Central Africa’s transitional president Catherine Samba Panza took power in February in a bid to end the deadly sectarian violence, which erupted when

the mainly Muslim Seleka alliance seized power in a March 2013 coup. Brutal attacks by rogue former Seleka splinter groups prompted the mostly Christian majority to form “anti-balaka” (“anti-machete”) vigilante militias, unleashing a wave of tit-for-tat killings. Several people died in sectarian clashes between the rival groups in the central town of Dekoa on Sunday, a policeman told AFP on condition of anonymity. In the north, at least three people were killed by gunmen who rode into the village of Kouki on motorbikes and shot at residents, said a source in peacekeeping forces. Some 34 Muslims were also injured, four of them critically, by a grenade attack on a mosque during Ramadan prayers in a village near the Chad border, the MISCA source added.

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian arrives at the Elysee Palace

Ukraine threatens rebels with ‘nasty surprise’ in new push

kraine’s government kept up military pressure against proRussian rebels yesterday, threatening them with an “nasty surprise”, while the militants said they were preparing to fight back after losing their main stronghold. President Petro Poroshenko, drawing confidence from the fall of the rebel bastion of Slaviansk at the weekend, named a new chief of military operations in the east following his appointment of an aggressive new defence minister who again demanded the separatists lay down their arms. A security official said the government’s plan to

clear rebels from the two big towns of Donetsk and Luhansk would come as a “nasty surprise” for the insurgents. But Poroshenko whose officials have ruled out any more unilateral ceasefires - kept the door open to a further round of indirect peace talks with separatist leaders, naming a possible venue in a government-controlled monastery-town in the east. Meanwhile, signs emerged of a split in separatist ranks over the fall of Slaviansk with a powerful field commander critically questioning the pull-out from the rebel stronghold.

OPINION

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Jonathan’s PR offensive backfires in Nigeria and abroad Tim Cocks

acing censure at home and overseas for a perceived failure to protect civilians from violent Islamists, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has launched an international media offensive to try to turn the tide of public opinion in his favour. But those efforts have backfired abroad, where many greet his defence with scepticism, and at home, where he was slated for hiring U.S. public relations (PR) firm Levick for $1.2 million, in what critics called a waste of money. Jonathan, and Nigeria as a whole, have suffered a worsening image problem since Islamist militant group Boko Haram kidnapped more than 276 school girls from the northeast village of Chibok, Borno State, in mid-April. Over 200 remain in captivity. The attack overshadowed Nigeria becoming Africa’s biggest economy after a GDP rebasing in April, and its hosting of the World Economic Forum in May. Security is a major headache ahead of national elections in February that are likely to be the closest-fought since democracy returned in 1999. An opinion piece by Jonathan in the Washington Post last month - in which the president wrote “nothing is more important than bringing home Nigeria’s missing girls,” but added that he had to “remain quiet” for their safety - drew open scorn. Soon after, the Washington Post’s Karen Attiah published a satirical sendup of Jonathan’s op-ed. Her piece included lines such as: “Nothing is more important than stopping the machinations of Boko Haram, except maybe my desire to keep up appearances and show the international community that Nigeria was winning the war against the group.” Analyst Bismarck Rewane, CEO of Lagos-based consultancy Financial Derivatives, thinks the presi-

Jonathan

dent’s timing was wrong. “That op-ed backfired partly because the negative narrative was still so strong,” he told Reuters. “But often the PR guys advising want the upfront fees and don’t care about the result.” Jonathan’s media team declined to comment on their PR strategy. A presidency source confirmed Levick’s contract but said such PR initiatives were standard practice for governments. “All over the world governments engage PR firms and lobbyists to achieve certain objectives within a particular time frame,” the source, who declined to be named, told Reuters. In this case those objectives involve reversing months of damaging publicity over the Chibok girls’ abduction, magnified by a #BringBackOurGirls Twitter campaign that drew in celebrities including Michelle Obama and Angelina Jolie. In the past week Jonathan’s articulate and Washington-savvy Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has toured the world doing press interviews, for example with CNN’s Christine Amanpour. These often include earnest assertions that the Nigerian president is “doing his best” to get the girls back. Ultimately, the bad publicity is unlikely to doom Jonathan’s 2015 re-election chances. In Nigeria, patronage can produce a ballot win more reliably than perceived perfor-

mance, analysts say, as was proved in last month’s governorship poll in southwestern Ekiti state. There, incumbent Kayode Fayemi, a wellspoken reformer with a track record of improving services was ousted by a populist former governor from the ruling party whose team gave out tens of thousands of bags of rice to voters ahead of the poll. “BATTERED IMAGE” Jonathan’s supporters and the army - the defense spokesman did not respond to a request for comment - see PR as a key part of the war against Boko Haram. They view each negative report on the security forces or president as a psychological victory to the “terrorists”. And there have been a lot of them. First the military was pilloried for not protecting the Chibok school or responding quickly enough to a distress call. Then the absence of information on the girls’ whereabouts - and a bungled statement from the military briefly claiming to have rescued them from which it later edged away - worsened things. Footage circulating showing Jonathan dancing at a political rally in the northern city of Kano shortly after the mass abduction didn’t help, neither did comments from Jonathan’s wife Patience, in which she publicly told the protesting parents of the abducted girls in the capital Abuja to “go back to Borno.”

“No PR firm can save Jonathan’s battered image,” Jibrin Ibrahim, director of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), a Nigerian NGO, wrote in the local Premium Times website. “Forget the public relations firm and concentrate on the task ... The government did nothing for over three weeks.” Jonathan’s administration says that is unfair, arguing it faces an enemy that is mobile over a wide, remote area and with a track record of wanton killing of civilians, so any rushed rescue could end up in a bloodbath. But few are convinced. “Best wishes to Levick, merely the latest in a long line of Western image consultants that Nigerian governments have been known to routinely engage for miracle-working purposes,” popular blogger Tolu Ogunlesi wrote in local daily The Punch last week. Ogunlesi told Reuters that “this time the stakes are so much higher. You’re dealing with a major national embarrassment.” A weak response is to always deflect blame for Nigeria’s problems onto foreign elements, Ogunlesi added, such as Jonathan describing Boko Haram as al Qaeda in West Africa. REVERSED PERCEPTIONS Ironically, many of the characteristics for which Jonathan is now being publicly vilified - a perceived indecisiveness and weakness in the face of a determined foe - were what initially attracted voters fatigued with decades of bullying strongmen. His initial humility, quiet demeanour, apparent openness to listening and an unpolished manner of speaking may at first have won Nigerians over. Now they cringe when he mumbles on international TV. “He was something refreshing at the beginning,” Nigerian columnist Cheta Nwanze told Reuters. “But the office of the president is supposed to carry a lot of weight. Damage has been done by his being exposed to ridicule.”

Work permit stalls Uzoenyi’s Sundowns’ move S

Uzoenyi

uper Eagles winger, Ejike Uzoenyi, will have to wait a while longer before he can be officially introduced as a Mamelodi Sundowns player, as he is currently waiting for his work permit to be issued before he completes his move to Chloorkop. Uzoenyi has been unable to

join up with Sundowns for preseason training, but has been given permission to be absent from training by the club officials, and is only expected to join the club once his permit is issued. ‘’I just came into Nigeria. Sure, the club is aware that I won’t be joining them now. Before the end

SPORT

of the month, I hope to join the team. I’m trying to complete the necessary paperwork, my work permit is still being processed.’’ It appears it will only be a matter of time before the deal can officially go through – the player signed a four-year deal after the African Nations

51 49

Championship in January, and his deal was activated this summer. Uzoenyi comes with good pedigree – he played in the 2014 FIFA World Cup for Nigeria when he came on for 15 minutes in the 1-0 win over Bosnia & Herzegovina.

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/sports

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

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

wednesday, july 9, 2014

Keshi demands N10m salaryS lInsists on Okpala’s return lWants Technical Committee scrapped

Keshi

Nigeria’s Osaze Odemwingie (left) and Ogenyi Onazi tackling Argentina’s Lionel Messi

tephen Keshi has told Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, that he would require a 10 million naira-a-month salary if he was to remain as coach of the Super Eagles. The money is twice the amount the former Nigerian defender earned on his previous contract with the Nigeria Football Federation which ran out following the Super Eagles’ loss to France in the second round of the on-going World Cup. New Telegraph gathered that Keshi, who met with President Jonathan in Abuja on arrival from Brazil, also demanded that his new salary be paid upfront in order to avoid the incessant delays he experienced the last time regarding the payment of his salaries. In addition, the former Togo and Mali coach asked for the recall of his erstwhile assistant coach, Sylvanus Okpala, whose contract was terminated by the NFF for alleged insubordination. Keshi also demanded that, if he was to continue as coach of the Super Eagles, he should no longer be subjected to the ignominy of having to report to the NFF’s technical committee regarding his team selection and match preparations. Meanwhile, New Telegraph gathered that Keshi, at the weekend, paid a solidarity visit to Aminu Maigari, whose executive committee was restrained by a Jos High court last week from running the NFF.

SPORT

n 15 December 2003, Javier Mascherano was a disconsolate figure, his gaze fixed on the floor and tears running down his cheeks. He was part of the Argentina U-20 team that had just lost the semi-final of the FIFA World Youth Championship to Dani Alves’ Brazil in Abu Dhabi and not even an encouraging pat on the back from his coach, Hugo Tocalli, brought him much comfort. “This shirt means so much to me, it’s hard to explain,” Mascherano managed to mutter to FIFA. com afterwards. More than a decade has passed since then, and in the intervening years the Santa Fe native has won two Olympic gold medals, appeared at three FIFA World Cups™ and amassed more than 100 caps for the senior Argentina side, having made his debut in the team before he had even appeared in the domestic top flight for his club, River Plate. Lionel Messi may wear the captain’s armband in coach Alejandro Sabella’s ensemble but Mascherano is the team’s spiritual leader. His tears flowed again after Argentina’s quarterfinal victory over Belgium, but this time there was no sadness, only joy: the country had reached the World

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Cup semi-finals for the first time in 24 years. “We’ve been fighting for this for so long and now we’ve done it,” Mascherano told FIFA two days after the encounter. “Of course we’re delighted, but we need to turn that into confidence and get our strength back quickly. We need to remember that we’re one match away from playing in a World Cup Final and that we haven’t made history yet.” ‘The team comes first’ Mascherano, who was eliminated with Argentina in the quarter-finals both at Germany 2006 and South Africa 2010, has played all 480 minutes for his country in Brazil so far, successfully completing 406 passes and winning back possession 37 times. It is therefore hardly surprising that he is a fan favourite with supporters in his homeland. “I try to stick to my principles every time I go out onto the pitch,” said Mascherano, images of whom in confrontation with imposing Belgium players and having on-pitch arguments in English against Switzerland have done the rounds on social media. “In every game you can win or lose but you always have to respect the same principles.” Mascherano’s next out-

rior to the Netherlands’ FIFA World Cup™ semi-final against Argentina on Wednesday, Robin van Persie is still waiting for his first goal in a knockout match at a major international tournament. The Manchester United striker’s flying header against Spain helped set the tone for a group-phase of joyous football, but since then - and in keeping with the tournament as a whole - the goals have gradually dried up. Having claimed two goals in the 5-1 rout of Spain, he netted in the 3-2 win over Australia, but has since gone 225 minutes without scoring. Suspended against Chile, he was substituted in the 76th minute against Mexico and had to watch from the bench as his replacement, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, scored the injury-time penalty that sent Holland through. Against Costa Rica in the quarter-finals, he was unable to convert a string of chances, notably seeing an injury-time shot blocked on the line by Yeltsin Tejeda, before scoring in the penalty shoot-out. The 30-year-old spoke openly of his desire to become the tournament’s top scorer after his first two appearances, but with two games

FIFA WORLD CUP

Past lessons spur Mascherano to make history

ing will be against the Netherlands, a team Argentina have faced several times in decisive matches at past World Cups. “There’s a traditional rivalry,” said the central midfielder, who still vividly remembers the Dutch victory over Argentina in the 1998 quarter-finals, when Dennis Bergkamp scored a breathtaking winner. “I was at home watching it on television and I was just as disappointed as everyone else,” Mascherano said. “This Dutch team have got a lot of experience and they’re hungry for success after losing the Final in 2010, so we’ll have to be on our guard. We’re excited and we feel strong. We know we can put in another good performance.” Mascherano is also aware of the vital role Messi has in the side, commenting: “Leo has rescued us in a few matches, but Mascherano we can’t just rely on him. The team should comes first.” be there to support him just as we were He is hoping they can come against Belgium, when he controlled the out on top in the Final at the Magame with everyone’s help. That’s what racana Stadium on 13 July too. To we’re aiming for: even though we know get there, Mascherano may well we have great individual players, the team issue another rallying cry like the

Van Persie bids to end knockout-phase hoodoo all his major tournament goals in the group phase. At each of his previous World Cups, in 2006 and 2010, he scored only once in the first round, failing to add to his tally in South Africa four years ago despite starting every game as Holland reached the Final.

Van Persie

remaining, he trails Colombia’s James Rodriguez by three goals in the race for the Golden Boot. As things stand, the former Arsenal forward appears destined to pursue a pattern that has seen him score

Team before individual At the 2008 UEFA EURO he scored two group-stage goals, only for Holland to lose to Russia in the quarter-finals, while at EURO 2012 he found the net only once as his side fell at the first hurdle. It was doubtless with these disappointments in mind that he announced on the eve of Holland’s departure for Brazil: “This World Cup is not about Robin van Persie. It is about our team doing well,” he added. “I love a big tournament, but I don’t need to have the limelight.” Van Persie’s preparations for the tournament were complicated by the fact he spent six weeks on the sidelines

now famous one he gave his teammates ahead of facing Belgium: “I want joy again and we need to give everything to get that.” He is now just 90 minutes away from making his dream come true.

after spraining his knee against Olympiacos in the UEFA Champions League in late March. He made only one start for United before the end of the season and was used sparingly in Holland’s warm-up games, scoring twice - against Ecuador and Ghana - but being removed early in all three matches. Dutch coach Louis van Gaal has continued to exercise caution in Brazil, substituting Van Persie in his three first appearances, but in keeping with the nascent spirit of harmony within the squad, the captain has accepted his lot. “We’re a squad of 23 players,” Van Persie said. “The atmosphere is excellent. I don’t have anything at all to complain about.” Van Persie’s excellent relationship with Van Gaal, who takes over at United after the World Cup, means he has less reason to fear for his place in the team than another goal-shy striker might. But while Argentina’s commitment to going forward means that he should have more room to manoeuvre than against the deep-lying Costa Ricans, he is running out of opportunities to truly leave his mark on the tournament.

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Wednesday, July 9, 2014

News Updates

RVP coins sold out

coin commemorating Robin van Persie’s stunning headed goal in Holland’s 5-1 win over Spain in the World Cup, has sold out within hours of going on sale. The limited-edition souvenir, costing just under 10 euros, depicts the Manchester United striker’s diving header during the opening group game last month. His superb piece of improvisation took Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas by surprise, after Daley Blind’s cross-field ball. Despite 6,000 being made, the coin is now completely sold out, with Dutch fans seemingly engulfed in World Cup fever as their side faces Argentina in the semi-final on Wednesday evening.

Japanese ref in line for final

Nishimura

he Japanese referee who gave Brazil a controversial opening-day penalty is a candidate to handle the World Cup final. FIFA says Yuichi Nishimura is among 15 referees retained on World Cup duty in Brazil, with 10 sent home. Nishimura has not had another match since Brazil beat Croatia 3-1, helped by a penalty awarded when forward Fred fell after slight contact on his upper left arm. Referees staying for the rest of the tournament include Howard Webb, the 2010 final referee from England.

Argentina,

Netherlands go to war again

wo footballing titans go head to head in the World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday as the Netherlands meet Argentina in Sao Paulo. T he Dutch scraped through to the last four thanks to a penalty-shootMessi out victory over Costa Rica, while Argentina edged past Belgium in their quarter-final tie. It has been 24 years since the Argentines last reached the last four of the tournament, eventually losing to Germany in the 1990 final. Meanwhile, the Netherlands made it past the semis in 2010 before suffering an extra-time defeat to Spain in the final. This is a fixture that has plenty of history when it comes to World Cups, with the teams taking part in some memorable encounters down the years. Argentina’s most famous victory over the Dutch came back in 1978 when a 3-1 victory after extra time in the final saw them lift the trophy for the first time. As for the Netherlands, Dennis Bergkamp’s stunning winner in the 1998 quarter-finals provided one of the most

avier Mascherano has warned his Argentina team-mates they cannot just rely on Lionel Messi as they bid to reach a first World Cup Final since 1990. Messi has been Argentina’s inspiration so far with four goals but Mascherano admits the rest of the team must start delivering. The former Liverpool midfielder said: “Leo has rescued us in a few matches but we can’t just rely on him. The team should be there to support him just as we were

against Belgium, when he controlled the game with everyone’s help. “That’s what we’re aiming for: even though we know we have great individual players, the team comes first.” He added: “This Dutch team have got a lot of experience and they’re hungry for success after losing the final in 2010, so we’ll have to be on our guard. We’re excited and we feel strong. We know we can put in another good performance.”

Dutch players offered free trip to space if…

H thrilling moments in the competition’s recent history. Ron Vlaar is expected to undergo a late fitness test for Louis van Gaal’s side, which has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the match. Angel di Maria has been ruled out for Argentina with a thigh problem, but Sergio Aguero is likely to return after sitting out the last two games with a hamstring strain.

Head-to-head

Argentina

Matches

Wins

Netherlands 8

Losses

Drawn

Goals for

FIFA ranking

Robben backed to ‘destroy’ Argentina ormer Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk is betting on Arjen Robben to outshine Lionel Messi, as the Netherlands prepare to take on Argentina for a place in the World Cup final on Wednesday. “Argentina have got Messi, we’ve got Robben. And quite frankly, I think the better player is Arjen,” said van Marwijk, Holland’s coach at the last World Cup in South Africa four years ago. “When I see how Robben is playing in this tournament, I have to admit I’m a little bit jealous.

Messi needs support – Mascherano

There’s a big difference to 2010,” van Marwijk told Dutch broadcaster NOS television. “Four years ago, Arjen was injured just before the start of the tournament in a friendly against

Bobben

Hungary. “He was carrying the injury for the whole tournament and was never really 100 per cent. But this year he’s been unstoppable.” Robben remains haunted by his failure to convert a glorious chance in the 2010 final, when he was denied by Iker Casillas after being put clean through on the Spanish goal in normal time. “It is part of sport, just a moment, a snapshot,” said Robben. “But it will be part of me and part of my career for all of my life.”

olland are one win away from reaching their second straight World Cup final. To get there, the team will have to get through a tough Lionel Messi and Argentina on Wednesday. And a Dutch company is offering the players some outer-worldly motivation to win it all. According to Forbes, XCOR Aerospace is offering

every member of the Dutch squad a free trip to space if they win the World Cup. XCOR will be holding test flights in the fall with the goal of beginning commercial flights sometime in 2015, for which co-founder Michiel Mol claims to have 250 tickets sold. Travelling to space would cost $95,000. Should the Netherlands win it all, the flights would take place in the months before Euro 2016.

Brazil to report doctors over Neymar claims

he Brazilian Football Confederation threatened to report doctors for recommending Neymar play in the FIFA World Cup final. Neymar fractured a vertebra in Brazil’s 2-1 quarterfinal win over Colombia on Friday when Juan Camilo Zuniga kneed the forward in the back in the second half. While the 22-year-old Brazilian was ruled out of the rest of the World Cup within a couple of hours of the quarter-final in Fortaleza, reports emerged on Sunday that Neymar could play in the tournament decider,

Neymar

if Brazil defeated Germany in their semi-final. But CBF head doctor Jose Luiz Runco strenuously denied Neymar could be fit for the final, while the Brazilian governing body declared they would report any doctors that had recommended pain-killing injections for breaching medical ethics. Reports in the Brazilian media suggested the doctors of Santos - Neymar’s former club - had told both the player and his family that he could recover quickly enough to play in the final at the Maracana.

Transfer Updates

SPORT

Samba notes Suarez suffers set back are trying to find a from Brazil Barcelona structure of payment to suit Liv-

Compiled by Adekunle Salami Crime and security

The crime rate in Brazil is very high.There is crowd everywhere and the bad boys are all over the place to do their ‘job’. And so stadia and the fanfest centres are the attraction points for criminals here in Brazil. Of course, as visitors you cannot determine who is who here. Those staying in the country know the bad boys. They are mostly Brazilians and foreigners staying here alike including Nigerians. In the crowd, they wait for any opportunity to steal or snatch vital items from unsuspecting victims. After every match, bags, purses and things are seen on the floor after the criminals must have made away with the valuable contents. All these are happening despite heavy police presence in many public places here. To protect accredited people, the organisers ensure that at a point near the stadium, accredited people for the World Cup have adedicated entrance to the stadium through different platform from that of fans. There is also a separate place reserved for accredited journalists and officials at the fanfest zones all over the country. The police are working hard, but the criminals are not giving up either.

Samba girls love blacks

Ladies in Brazil are in love with the blacks. They are always very friendly with blacks with inviting smiles and many took it to be mere Brazilian hospitality. Recently, a Nigerian who has stayed 15 years here gave an insight that the ladies believe blacks are ‘better lovers.’ Of course I don’t know what that means. One day, the Brazil based Nigerian was with some Nigerian colleagues when a pretty Brazilian was staring at them, the guy spoke to her in Portuguese and the lady confessed she loves blacks and wish to be a friend to any of the four guys. They took the lady to lunch and she followed one of the Nigerians back to his hotel same day. Just like that!

Brazilians mourn Neymar The way Brazilians are taking the injury of Neymar is funny. They are taking it as if the guy is dead. Some of them were crying shortly after the match against Columbia which they won 1-0. No doubt, Neymar is a factor in the team, but injury is part of football, but the fans are not thinking like that. Neymar himself is calm about the back injury and has accepted his fate as a professional.

Surprise rain We woke up on Tuesday morning to observe that it was raining. It is the first time we are experiencing rain here in Brazil in the past one month. It is believed that the rain which was not even heavy could usher in their winter season. It also means tough time awaits visitors especially in the last few days to be spent here for the World Cup coverage.

Man City sign Caballero

erpool’s demands over Luis Suarez. Liverpool are holding out for £75million, but Barcelona are hoping to make the payment in stages, with part based on performances. But the deal looks imminent, with one sports shop in Barcelona, Futbolmania, already offering ‘Suarez 9’ shirts for sale. The Reds have been told that Alexis Sanchez does not wish to join them and it seems increasingly likely that the Chile international will choose Arsenal.

anchester City have announced the signing of goalkeeper Willy Caballero from Malaga on a three-year contract. The 32-year-old Argentinian has moved for an undisclosed fee in a switch that sees him reunited with City boss Manuel Pellegrini. The pair previously worked together at Malaga after Pellegrini signed Caballero for the Spanish outfit in 2011. Barclays Premier League champions, City have been looking for a new goalkeeper to provide competition for first-choice stopper, Joe Hart following Costel Pantilimon’s release at the end of last season.

Mancini welcomes Italy link

Atletico chase Cerci

oberto Mancini is flattered by speculation that he could be the next coach of Italy. Mancini stepped down as coach of Galatasaray last month, and is among the reported candidates to replace Cesare Prandelli, who resigned as national boss after the Azzurri’s first round elimination from the World Cup. “To see that Azzurri fans want me as coach makes me proud,” Mancini said in an interview to Corriere dello Sport. “It means that I have worked well and I have also left something good in terms of playing style and image. “However, it is just rumours and I have not heard from anyone.

eports in Italy indicate that Atletico Madrid are the favourites to sign Torino winger Alessio Cerci. Sports daily Tuttosport believes that the champions have tabled a €15m bid for the wide man, as they look to replace Diego Costa. The Spain international left for Chelsea this summer, leaving the club with €38m, but also a hole in attack. And Diego Simeone has reportedly told the Colchoneros directors that the 26-year-old will be a great addition to their forward line.

Vermaelen set for talks

Del Piero wants to sign for Celtic

uventus legend, Alessandro Del Piero, has been linked with a move to Scottish champions Celtic. The Bhoys targeted the star two years ago before his move to Aurstalian A-League side Sydney FC, and with the Italy star now available on a free transfer, he could yet end up in Scotland. “Two years ago it was interesting and it would be interesting again. Del Piero said, If we could talk then great. If you want I’ll give you my phone number and you can pass it on! Celtic are a great team and I’ve always enjoyed playing in Scotland, so who knows?

Chelsea line up Argentina star as Cole replacement

Vermaelen is set to meet Twithhomas with Arsenal to finalise his future, Manchester United poised to

step up their interest. United are understood to be very keen o n the 28-year-old defender, who has one year left on his contract at the Emirates Stadium. Vermaelen is Arsenal captain, but was limited to just seven league starts last season with Arsene Wenger preferring a centre-back pairing of Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker. “I really do not know where I will play, Arsenal or elsewhere next season,” he is quoted by the Evening Standard.

Traore back at Vitesse on loan

helsea have loaned teenage midfielder Bertrand Traore to Dutch helsea’s pursuit of a reside, Vitesse Arnhem for 12 months. placement for exiting vetThe Burkina Faso international, 18, eran, Ashley Cole has led Jose has been on loan at Vitesse since January Mourinho to Sporting Lisbon with the west London side taking a keen interest in when he signed a professional contract with the Premier Argentine Marcos Rojo according to Portuguese source League club. “We are thrilled Bertrand is joining us again,” Vitesse’s Ojogo. Having previously been linked with both Luke Shaw, who technical director Mohammed Allach told the club webleft Southampton for Man United, and Atletico Madrid’s site. Filipe Luis it seems that the Blues may have switched “He knows our work patterns and our playing style and he made a strong impression on us.” their attention to 24 year old Rojo.

United in shock move for Swiss star

anchester United have set the wheels in motion for a surprise move for Swiss left-back Ricardo Rodriguez, according to reports from The Wolfsburger Allgemeine. The Wolfsburg defender was one of the stars of his nation’s World Cup showing, with the statistics stating that he put in one of the performances of the tournament against Argentina. United appear to have been alerted by this, and have put together a ‘concrete’ offer for the 21-year-old.

Juve capture Coman

uventus have signed midfielder Kingsley Coman from French champions Paris St Germain, the Italian club has announced. The 18-year-old moved to Turn on a fiveyear deal after finding it difficult to break into the first team at the Parc des Princes. “Juventus Football Club can today (Tuesday) confirm that Kingsley Coman has joined the club from Paris St German after agreeing terms on a five-year contract,” read a statement on Juventus’ official website.

Brazil 2014 Semi-Final & Final Fixtures SEMI-FINALS Tuesday July

Wednesday July 9

Brazil V Germany

THIRD PLACE PLAY-OFF Saturday July 12 [L61] V [L62] FINAL Sunday July

?-? 9pm EstadioMineirao, Belo Horizonte

Netherlands V Argentina ?-? 9pm Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo

[W61] V [W62]

9pm Estadio Nacional, Brasilia

8pm Maracanã, Rio De Janeiro

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Swansea close in on Bosnian star

wansea are on the verge of finalising a deal for Ferencvaros youngster, Muhamed Besic, according to sources in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Besic, the Bosnia international, has been chased by a number of clubs in recent weeks, with Everton, West Ham, Cardiff City, Celta Vigo and Sevilla among his reported suitors. But he will be on his way to Swansea, according to Bosnian news site Klix.ba, as Garry Monk’s side has agreed a £4m deal with Ferencvaros.

Newcastle bid £5m For Juventus defender

here is news in the Italian press that Newcastle are ready to make an offer for JuvenT tus right-back Mauricio Isla.

26 year-old Isla was born in Buin, Chile and joined Juventus two years ago after playing for five years at Udinese, and he was Chile’s right back in the World Cup, when they were unlucky to go out on penalties to the home nation Brazil in the round of the last 16. It seems Newcastle have been watching him in Brazil, and must have been impressed with what they saw, because the news in Tuttosport is that Newcastle will make a bid of around £5m for the defender.

Everton close in on Cleverley deal

umours linking Everton with ManR chester United midfielder, Tom Cleverley, have been strong throughout the

summer. Ta l k that Everton could use their position in UEFA’s Europa League to convince Manchester United midfielder, Tom Cleverley, to make the move to Merseyside has been doing the rounds for a a couple of months now. Manchester United’s dismal failure under former Everton manager David Moyes has seen the former Premier League champions fail to qualify for both the UEFA Champions League and Europa League next season.

Astori set to finalise Lazio move

agliari centre-back Davide Astori is C reportedly close to finalising his move to Lazio.

The Biancocelesti had appeared to miss out on the deal after Inter reportedly entered negotiations to acquire the services of the 27-year-old. According to Il Tempo, Astori is one step away from donning Lazio’s shirt next season after reaching an agreement with the club.

Cagliari complete double Inter signing

agliari have announced the signings of defender Simone Benedetti and striker Samuele Longo from Inter. The former Italian Under-21 internationals were on the fringes with the Nerazzurri with Cagliari registering their interest last week. Now Cagliari have released a statement on their official website detailing both Benedetti and Longo’s arrival in Sardinia. “Cagliari Calcio announces that it has acquired Simone Benedetti and Samuel Longo for the 2014-15 season,” the statement read.

Porto and Lyon vying for Mexico starlet

Porto and Lyon are locked in the battle for Club America striker Raul Jimenez. The Dragons seem to be preparing for life without Jackson Martinez and they see the young Mexican as a good long-term replacement. French giants Lyon are also showing interest, but latest reports suggest that FC Porto have the upper hand at the moment. Club America officials are ready to cash in on their prized asset and are reportedly holding out for €6 million.

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Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Charles Ogundiya

ormer international, Uchenna Emedolu, has told New Telegraph that Nigeria stand a chance to win medals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. The Games get underway on July 23. One of the sports Nigeria will be taking part in at the Games is athletics, and Emedolu is of the opinion that Nigeria has the athletes to make the country proud. “The athletes are picking up now, and with such attitude, we stand a chance of winning some medals at the Commonwealth Games, he said. When informed that the men

Keshi pockets $300,000 Emedolu tips Nigerian athletes for World Cup cash medals in Glasgow C

Emedolu

have been finding it difficult to compete with the best on the continent and the world at large, the former World Cup winner said the boys

were coming up and what remain was proper monitoring. According to him; “Fine they have been behind compared to the ladies, but with what I saw recently in Calabar, they will surely get far in Scotland.” Nigeria has been finding it difficult in recent years to win medals in the men’s category compared to the ladies, some of who have been making the country proud at international meets. Leading the pack is queen of the track, Blessing Okagbare.

Top Australian swimmers withdraw

$40,000 being match bonus for the win over Bosnia, the draw with Iran and the loss to Argentina. Keshi’s assistant Daniel Amokachi therefore earned a staggering $195,000 as appearance fee as he earns 50percent more than the players. The federal government shipped $3.6 million through the sports minister on a Presidential jet on the eve of the round of 16 match against France. Arguments and counter arguments about how the cash was to be shared meant that the entire squad stayed up till 2am local time and eight hours later they were on their way to the stadium for the match they eventually lost 2-0 to crash out of Brazil 2014.

C’River State Athletics/Swimming Championship begins Charles Ogundiya

ust days before the Australian swimming team was set to assemble, reigning Commonwealth champion Meagen Nay and multiple Pa r a ly m pic gold medallist Jacqui Freney, have withdrawn from the Glasgow Games. Rookies Madison Wilson and Lakeisha Patterson were named as replacements in the 59-strong team that will gather for a pre-Games camp in Manchester on Sunday. Nay – who claimed two golds at the Delhi Commonwealth Games – has succumbed to a shoulder complaint. Young Australian of the Year, Freney is suffering fatigue and will now focus on August’s Para Pan Pacs meet in California.

oach Stephen Keshi pocketed a total of $300,000 when he led Nigeria to the last 16 of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. ‘Big Boss’ Keshi is on double the win bonus of the players and on that account, he received a total of $260,000 as appearance fee for the World Cup after the team agreed to pay each player $10,000 per game, covering both the qualifiers and the World Cup itself. A total of 13 matches were considered and it was on that basis that Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide and Godfrey Oboabona each netted $130,000 as appearance fee. Therefore, the least a player received was $10,000 for playing a qualifier. Keshi’s World Cup jackpot also included an additional

Australia’s Jacqueline Freney in action during the London Paralympics Games

ross River’s quest to develop sports in the state continues today with the 5th Athletics and Swimming Championship for primary and secondary schools getting underway in Calabar. The GOtv- sponsored competition will involve representatives from eighteen local government areas in Cross River State, and will run from today

Malaysia Rugby team targets top 12 finish

alaysia national rugby squad preparing for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in Scotland from July 24 to Aug 3, are determined to finish among the top 12 teams, and not end up as the whipping boys. National coach Yusli Ramli said based on the current performance of his charges, the top 12 target was achievable compared with the 16th place finish at the last Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India. Malaysia, drawn in Group C, will have three of the best teams in the world, Samoa, Wales and Papua New Guinea, for company in

the group and Yusli said the team’s main task would be to reduce the winning margin. “I hope they will apply everything they have learned in training. They have also played test matches against Australia and South Africa. We are in a tough group and face tough opposition,” he told reporters after the names of the players were announced at the National Sports Council on Thursday. In 2010, Malaysia suffered a major embarrassment after losing 60-0 to Samoa in the New Delhi games.

Morgan Lake withdraws from England team T eam England Heptathlon prospect, Morgan Lake, has withdrawn from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in order to fully focus on this month’s World Junior Championships in Oregon. The 17-year-old, who set a new UK youth record in May this year, has accepted it was best for her development to prioritise the event in the United States, which starts on 22 July. Lake will be replaced in the England team

by Grace Clements, who won a bronze medal at the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010. “This has been an extremely difficult decision for me to take as I was honoured to be selected to Team England, but ultimately its right for me and my development to focus on the World Juniors,” said Lake. “I want to wish Grace and the rest of Team England all the very best and I’ll be cheering them all on.” Clement will make up a threestrong England heptathlon team

including gold medal contender Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Yorkshire’s Jessica Taylor.

Morgan

(Wednesday), 9 July through Saturday, 12 July 2014 at the UJ Esuene stadium, Calabar. According to the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Cross River State, Honourable Patrick Ugbe, the objective of the initiative was to develop world champions, noting that the annual programme should be credited for Cross River State’s outstanding performances at three consecutive editions of the National Sports Festivals.

L-R: Saliu Aliu, Regional Operations Manager, MultiChoice Nigeria; Patrick Ugbe, Commissioner for Youth Development and Sport, Cross Rivers State and Efe Obiomah, Public Relations Manager, GOtv during the press conference to kick-off the 5th Cross River State Athletics and Swimming Championship sponsored by GOtv in Calabar, Cross Rivers State on Tuesday.

Seven Glo dealers to watch World Cup final

ational telecommunications operator, Globacom, is sponsoring seven of its premium dealers on an all-expense paid trip to Brazil to watch the finals of the 2014 World Cup. Globacom said the trip was in appreciation of the massive support it had received from the dealers over the years. The dealers, during the all expense paid trip, will watch the World Cup finals in a premium hospitality suite and also visit top tourism spots in Brazil. Chairman of Easy and Quiet Limited and Glo dealer, Mr. Anthony Mutiu Mohammed, described

the offer from Globacom as very exciting, adding that the company has always taken good care of its dealers. He stated that watching the final in Brazil will be a very wonderful opportunity and concluded with the phrase “God bless Glo!” On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of Upper Room Limited, Mr. Odukoya Adegbenro, stated that he felt highly honoured by Globacom’s sponsorship and noted that the gesture was a continuation of the company’s tradition of appreciating people, particularly those who had been partnering with it. “I am indeed very happy,” he said.

World Record

On Marble

No man is offended by another man’s admiration of the woman he loves; it is the woman only who can make it a torment.

– Jane Austen

Sanctity of Truth w w w. new tel eg rap ho nl i ne. co m

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha WEDNESday, JULY 9, 2014

“I

N150

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and his bride Princess Salama hold the world’s record for the most expensive wedding, which was held in 1981. In total, the extravaganza had a price tag of $100 million.

The Ekiti are no guinea pigs

know everybody in my neighborhood — the ones that will always vote, the ones who don’t — and what it takes to get them to vote. They just shipped in a Romney staffer a couple of weeks ago… Who do you think is going to win around here?” The above statement was credited to a middle-aged woman, a volunteer campaigner for Barack Obama during the American president’s campaign visit to Columbus, Ohio, just six weeks before the 2012 presidential election. I will return to the import of the lady’s statement later on. The outcome of June 21, 2014 gubernatorial election in Ekiti State means, in my view, that something is critically wrong with the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a political party. The party’s problem is of such magnitude that a morbidity investigation is imperative on this aggregation of political so and so’s whose progressive attribute appears to reside solely in its self-imposed appellation. In an earlier piece entitled Fayemi’s example and Fayose’s challenge, I discussed the nobility of Fayemi’s respect for the electoral voice of the people and Fayose’s political burden at having a second chance to serve his people. Here, my interest is in conducting a morbidity test on the APC, given its dismal showing at the Ekiti ballot. Without question, APC bigwigs are currently racking their brains, trying to place a finger of why things went tragically wrong for the party at the gubernatorial contest. Good for them but, as our people say, their exercise amounts to medicine after death. The squirrel since dashed past, leaving in its wake no more than trembling branches and leaves. Ekiti State, the land of professors and aspiring professors, was completely drowned in the din that passed for electioneering campaign. There was so much hot air and little light, to the extent that rationale people could hardly hear themselves think! The normal thing to expect in an election campaign is for the candidates and their supporters to posit options for a better society under their watch. But what did Ekiti people get? They got abuses and invectives thrown left, right and centre by people who claimed to be the brains of society. Suddenly the PDP flagbearer’s name changed from Mr. Peter Ayo Fayose to Mr. Thug Fraud. On what was the tagging of fraudulent and thuggish labels on Fayose indexed? Even if there was an outstanding case in court

Guest Columnist Ijele Agha-Ibeka

against Fayose, there was no way that could convert him into a criminal, unless he was convicted. Chains do not amount to imprisonment, so say our people in their wisdom. But Fayose was unjustifiably criminalized by the APC. Fayose was called an illiterate. What the name calling signified to the discerning people of Ekiti was that the name callers had no positive message to present. There were other deductions to make, including the one that had to do with the kettle calling the pot black. When the Jagaban Bauchi, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu aligned himself with those who called Ayo Fayose illiterate, the lettered Ekiti people, who have the capacity for laying sound syllogisms and balanced calculations, thought the whole comic distraction had gone haywire. Where was, they asked, Tinubu’s personal claim to non-illiteracy when the case of forged academic certificates against him had not come to a satisfactory resolution? When Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola told Ekiti people not to venture into any polling booths unless they were fortified with charms, amulets and talismans, he didn’t promise that he would be personally available to partake in the curious exchange of spiritual missiles. In other words, sacrificial lambs could go face the spells and discordant music of black magic while the untouchable Rauf sat pretty in the comfort and safety of Government house, Oshogbo! When Nasir el Rufai was calling for bloodletting in the event of a rigged Ekiti election, he didn’t indicate that he and his kinsmen and women would be around for the sharpness of knives to be tested on their necks or for pellets from dane guns to dance on their torsos. In sum, the discerning people of Ekiti took the recipes of those speaking at them for what they really were – bunkum! Ekiti people refused to be any political party’s guinea pigs. They refused to have their homeland transformed into a battleground. Ekiti people turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to charlatans and herbalists un-

Fayemi

willing to partake in the drinking of their own devilish concoctions. Ekiti people simply laughed at the homeless vulture lamenting the devastating effects of the rains in the current season. Since it didn’t build a house, wont the next season’s rains and thunderstorms be even more devastating for the vagrant vulture? Why did the brewers of aberrant political behavior expect wise Ekiti people to sip from a cup they themselves will not taste? As it happened, the people of Ekiti carefully turned all the curious developments of the electioneering campaigns in their minds and came to a unanimous and resounding conclusion: those who had spent time speechifying them, claiming to be progressives were, to be most charitable, no better than hypocrites and recidivists. That was why they showed the red card to the APC, voting overwhelmingly for the PDP candidate. Even John (Fayemi), a man who unfortunately found himself in a onechance bus of a political party, will remember what Jesus, the Christ said in John 10:1: “…the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” But Ekiti people got “shepherds” who wanted them to decimate their brothers and sisters in order that rank outsiders will appropriate political office and power. Now, back to my opening thoughts. What the lady at the beginning of this article said had to do with voter intel-

ligence. She rightly claimed knowledge of the voters in her district. She knew the conditions that would inform their choices in the impending election. She knew what it would take to make elements of the indifferent electorate get off the fence and leap into positive alignment. Another aspect of that statement has to do with the strange consultant expected by the Romney crowd to perform magic and miracle at very short notice. The outcome of the Obama-Romney presidential tussle since confirmed whether or not the lady in question was at home with her facts. Standing on this plank, it is obvious that Fayemi and his team confused their disproportionately large share of all sequences of the media to reflect their popularity. That is invariably the outcome when instant consultants are imported to solve home grown challenges. In contradistinction, Fayose went for what we call below-the-line in pure Marketing, to achieve the critical mass that saw him to success. Further than that is the depth and breadth of Fayose’s victory over Fayemi. If this electoral pasting was down to a personal error on Fayemi’s part, no remedial action can eradicate it. But if, as I have labored to demonstrate here, the fault is with the APC, Fayemi can still pick his bits and pieces and run after his own people, for as John C Maxwell said, “He that thinketh he leadeth, and hath no one following, is only taking a walk.” • Agha-Ibeka writes on national issues.

OmoBaba

FALANA TO FED. GOVT: WAGE WAR AGAINST BOKO HARAM – News

– Yes o, let’s show who’s in-charge!

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