Binder1 friday 25 july, 2014 by Newtelegraphonline

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Friday, July 25, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 157

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At last, NFF gets rid of Maigari Ifeanyi Ibeh and Comfort Chukwu

he Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday impeached its

President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, a few days after his reinstatement. The committee met in Abuja to deliberate on the future of Maigari who had previously, along with

his board, been sacked by a court order only to be reinstated following FIFA’s threat to ban Nigeria. However, despite spirited attempts by Maigari to prevent the NFF

Executive Committee from passing a vote of no confidence on him, they rebuffed him and ended his four-year reign at the helm of affairs. At the meeting, which

barely lasted 10 minutes, eight of the 13 executive members passed a vote of no confidence on Maigari. Those who voted against him were Chief CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Maigari

Nigeria, Niger, others form anti-Boko Haram force

lEach country to contribute 700 troops Felix Nwaneri

igeria and its neighbours, Niger, Chad and Cameroun, are set to take the battle to Boko Haram whose terror activities have led to the death of some 15,000 people since 2009, with the formation of a joint force to tackle the growing regional threat posed by the sect. A report yesterday by Reuters said the four nations after a meeting on Wednesday in Niamey, the Nigerien capital, agreed to contribute 700 men each to the force in the latest effort to improve the regional response to the militants, who have intensified the insurgency in northern Nigeria and carried out some attacks in neighbouring countries. “This step is proof of our commitment to do everything possible to CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Ramalan Yero (left) with one of the victims of the bomb blasts at the 44 Reference Hospital in Kaduna...yesterday

Nasarawa lawmakers storm Aso lMark, Tambuwal, Atiku, Ekweremadu, others outraged over bid to kill APC leader Rock }7 lKaduna lifts curfew as five more terror victims die

Let’s unite to fight insurgency, says Buhari

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lOne killed, eight injured in bomb attack on Kano bus station Our Reporters

ormer Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday restated his call on Nigerians to set aside

their differences and so that they could present a common front against Boko Haram.

Buhari, who escaped death on Wednesday when a suicide bomber broke into his convoy in Kaduna,

told Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Ramalan Yero, who led a government delegation to sympathise

with him over the attack that Nigerians must come together to fight terrorism CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Presidency spots errors in 2014 Pension Act

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Nigeria, Niger, Cameroun, Chad form anti-Boko Haram force CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

eradicate this curse,” Niger’s Minister of Defence, Mr. Karidio Mahamadou, said. The four countries, whose borders meet at Lake Chad, an area that is a Boko Haram stronghold, already share intelligence and coordinate border security in the zone, but mobilising a regional force on this scale would be a major escalation. The announcement was made after a meeting of the defence ministers from the four countries, but no details on the timing or location of the deployment were given. Wednesday’s agreement was in consonance with the understanding reached by West and Central African leaders at a security summit in Paris in May, hosted by French President Francois Hollande in the wake of the global outrage that trailed the abduction of about 300 schoolgirls from Chibok, in Borno State. At the Paris summit, the African leaders had agreed to wage a “total war” on Boko Haram, which claimed responsibility for the abduction of the schoolgirls. They also agreed to share intelligence and coordinate action against

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST ABUJA

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the group which is based in the North-East of Nigeria, but has made many incursions into Cameroun, Chad and Niger. Under the Paris pact to fight terror, a central intelligence platform will be based in Chad, the summit agreed, and will allow

all countries involved, including the world powers, to stage a response as necessary. Boko Haram has operated freely mainly in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states since 2009, attacking government offices, schools and places of

worship, and slaughtering civilians. As part of efforts to contain its campaign of terror, the Federal Government last year placed the three states under emergency rule, which has been renewed twice after the expiration of the six-month

deadline stipulated by the constitution. Niger and Cameroun, in the aftermath of the Paris summit, have increased security in the border areas but there have been no signs of a major offensive involving regional forces.

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

L-R: Chairman, R.T. Briscoe (Nigeria) Plc, Clement Adekunle Olowokande; Managing Director, Mr. Olukayode Onajide and Director, Mr. Akin Ajayi, at the company’s Annual General Meeting in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Mark, Tambuwal, Atiku, Ekweremadu, others outraged over bid to kill General CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

in order to bring peace and stability to the country. The attempt on the life of Buhari, one of the national leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), drew more condemnations yesterday as Senate President David Mark; Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu; former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; the Northern State Governors’ Forum (NSGF); APC, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), among others, decried the terrorist attack. The state government has also lifted the 24-hour curfew imposed on Kaduna, the state capital, in the wake of the twin terror attacks of Wednesday. But while Kaduna people were still trying to overcome their grief in the twin bomb attacks that led to the death of about 82 people, terrorists struck in Kano, killing one person and injuring eight others in a terror attack at a bus station in the metropolis. Buhari, while receiving Yero at his home in Kaduna referred to a statement he made last year that no religion advocates what is happening in the country.

He said Boko Haram ‘’kills children in schools in the North-East; they kill teachers, they burn churches, they burn mosques, they burn motor parks and they burn markets. Where is religion there? Where is ethnicity there?’’ “This is terrorism and I hope the government will come to grip with it. Nigeria is capable of dealing with this; we dealt with the civil war for 30 months we fought and we kept Nigeria one and God willing, we are going to keep Nigeria one.” While commiserating with the families of those that died, Buhari said that the explosion “was ignited exactly when my car was almost side by side with this thing (the car rigged with bomb). I came out and there was blood on my dress but I did not know how it came about because I did not have a scratch on my body. But there were dead bodies all over the place. The security men tried to move me to the other side and we just got one of the vehicles passing and they brought me home.’’ Earlier, Yero had said he came to visit Buhari to sympathise with him and thank Allah for saving his life.

He added that his administration condemned the attacks urged people who love peace to rise against perpetrators of terrorism. It was learnt that the death toll from the twin bomb blasts has increased as five additional persons were confirmed dead in the hospitals where they were receiving treatment. Also, the 24-hour curfew imposed on Kaduna metropolis has been lifted to allow residents to go about their legitimate business. Briefing reporters shortly after Yero and security chiefs toured the scenes of the bomb blasts and hospitals where victims were receiving treatment, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Ben Bako, said two more persons died on Wednesday night while three others passed on yesterday. More dignitaries have, however, condemned the twin attacks, with Mark saying the relentless killings and destruction of property would only worsen the economic and socio-political situation in Nigeria. He urged perpetrators of terrorism to sheathe their swords irrespective of their grievances, adding that killings could not be a solution to any problem.

He appealed to the perpetrators of terror to listen to voices of reason and embrace dialogue. On his part, Tambuwal described the twin blasts which rocked Kaduna as cruel, barbaric and a heinous crime. According to him, the targeting of prominent persons, as seen from the blasts, is both regrettable and condemnable. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal said killing of innocent persons could not be justified under any guise, adding that those behind the Kaduna incidents should be pursued and brought to justice. Ekweremadu, in his reaction, slammed the Kaduna bomb attacks, describing it as a double tragedy, aimed at the soul of the nation. Ekweremadu, who expressed a deep sense of loss over the massive destruction of lives and properties occasioned by the dastardly acts, expressed solidarity with Buhari and Bauchi over the incidents. He described those behind the attacks as “unrepentant agents of Satan and desperate schemers bent on throwing the naCONTINUED ON PAGE 3

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

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Presidency spots errors in 2014 Pension Act lAGF retrieves law for correction, gazzeting Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

he 2014 Pension Act, which President Goodluck Jonathan assented to early this month, has been sent back to the Office of Attorney-General of Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice following the discovery of some errors in it, New Telegraph learnt yesterday. A source said the AGF office was studying the law with the aim of correcting the defects which could hobble the implementation of the Pension Act, which revised the old one. He said the AGF and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), was going through the law with a view to correcting figures and spelling mistakes that were detected after the president had gave his assent to it on July 1. For instance he said “whereas the new 2014 Act makes Contributory Pension Scheme compulsory for any private sector employer that employs maximum of three workers to enrol his workers for Retirement Savings Accounts(RSA), we discovered a mistake in the maximum figure for private workers which was typed as15 instead of

three.” New Telegraph also learnt that the implementation of the new pension scheme may take time because the AGF office would have to gazette the Act and send same to the National Pension Commission (PenCom) to issue implementation and enforcement guidelines. When contacted by New Telegraph for more details on the errors in the law, Chief Press Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Ambrose Momoh, in a telephone interview, said he was not aware that the Act had been sent back to the ministry. PenCom Head, Corporate Communications, Emeka Onuorah, was not available to comment on the matter. The president had given assent to the law, which was enacted to correct some lapses that characterised the 2004 Pension Act. Some provisions contained in the 2014 Pension Act lauded by both Pension Funds Administrators(PFAs) and Pension Custodians were that operators who mismanage pension funds on conviction are liable to not less than 10 years imprisonment or fine of an amount equal to three times the amount

TCN: FG mulls three privatisation models Adeola Yusuff

he Federal Government is considering three models in its efforts to privatise the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). The models being deliberated upon are the regional privatisation model; the concessioning model and the privatisation model. Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, disclosed this in Lagos while fielding questions from reporters. He said the interest shown by potential investors from all over the world in the proposed privatisation of TCN had been tremendous. Although, the minister did not give a tentative date on when the privatisation process was going to start, he said the Federal Government was overwhelmed with the interest shown by investors on the TCN assets, stressing that the outline the process schedule would be out soon.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Customs Service has finally released about 248 containers of electricity equipment, implements and instruments belonging to the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) 11 years after they arrived at the Nigerian ports. The equipment, which had been held since 2003 in the wharf, were left after they had recorded accumulated demurrage and huge cost of clearance. The containers were released to the defunct PHCN, now represented by the TCN. Describing the release of the abandoned power containers as critical to the development of power sector, Nebo said the Federal Government would investigate the reason for the abandoning of the electricity equipment at the port, adding that such act of abandoning government utility will not occurred again.

so misappropriated or both imprisonment and fine. The new law has in-

creased RSA contribution both by employer and employees from 15 per cent to 18 per cent,

representing 8 per cent contribution by an employee and 10 per cent by his employer. Besides, the new law has reduced the num-

ber of employees an employer must have on his payroll to qualify for participation in the contributory pension scheme from five to three.

L-R: National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan; APC Treasurer, Alhaji Bala Mohammed and Deputy National Chairman, North, Lawan Shuaibu, during a courtesy visit to the cardinal in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO ELIJAH OLALUYI

One killed, eight injured in bomb attack on Kano bus station CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

tion into chaos and bloodshed.” In his reaction, Atiku tasked the Federal Government to urgently take steps to halt the escalating security challenges in the country, which he said has reached an embarrassing proportion. The former vice-president, in a statement by his media office in Abuja yesterday, said a situation where a former head of state and a key opposition figure could be targeted by terrorists or hatchet killers was a dangerous development that should not be taken lightly by any responsible Nigerian. According to him, the targeting of Buhari, whatever might be the motive or whoever could be behind it, has added a dangerous dimension to a bad security situation in the country. Northern governors also described the attack targeted on Buhari as unfortunate, ungodly and a dastardly show of shame, adding that Nigeria is sliding into a dark period of uncertainty, fear and general mistrust. The NSGF Chairman and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Israel Ebije, said: “We must therefore realise that activities of terrorists have no limit just as they have no focus. Nigerians

must understand that there is no single person spared by the deadly terror organisation causing serious security challenge in the country.” Like others, the APC expressed shock over Wednesday’s bomb attacks in Kaduna. In a statement in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party sent its condolences to the families of the victims and prayed that God would give them the strength at times like this. It wished the injured a speedy recovery. According to the party, the attempted assassination of Buhari has changed the narrative about the insurgent group and knocked the bottom off the sinister, irresponsible and partisan colouration given to the insurgency by the Federal Government. APC said while no one had yet claimed responsibility for the attack, the mere fact that it occurred was a lose-lose situation for the Jonathan administration. The ruling PDP also said the Wednesday’s attacks on Buhari and Bauchi showed that anyone could be a target of terror attack. The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, described the attacks as dastardly and unfortunate. PDP said it was shocked

by the ugly development and called for all Nigerians to unite against acts of terrorism irrespective of ethnic, political and religious affiliations. It, however, urged opposition leaders to be careful with their utterances on the incident, saying that Nigerians must unite for the nation to win the war against terror. PDP former National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur , however, said the latest twin bomb blasts in Kaduna had shown that Boko Haram was not ready for dialogue despite the efforts of the Federal Government to end insurgency in the country. Tukur in a statement yesterday by his Special Assistant (Media), Oliver Okpala, said the group could not claim to be Muslims when they were waging a jihad against Nigerians and Muslim faithful. He called on those behind the heinous act against humanity to have a re-think and return to the path of religious and social rectitude. A former Bayelsa State Governor and now an APC chieftain, Chief Timipre Sylva, also condemned the attack on Buhari, describing it as a spineless assault. According to Sylva, though Nigerian by their traditions and religion, are peace-loving people, the assassination attempt on Buhari is a spineless assault

on the voice of conscience in Nigeria by bigoted terrorists and their political sponsors seeking evil attention. Sylva, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, said those promoting the campaign of death and destruction would have no place to hide from the wrath of God and men. But in its reaction, the NLC called on security agencies to investigate the attempt to kill Buhari and Bauchi. NLC acting General Secretary, Mr. Chris Uyot, said in a statement yesterday that a comprehensive investigation into the bomb attacks was necessary to unravel those behind the incidents with a view to preventing similar attacks in future. Uyot described the attack as “criminal and abhorrent.” Meanwhile, one person was killed and eight others injured yesterday when a bomb explosion rocked the Kano main Luxurious Bus Garage, Sabon Gari. Although, the new President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Chris Azuka told New Telegraph on the phone that several people lost their lives in the blast, Kano State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Akinlerele Shinaba, told reporters that a woman was killed while, eight others sustained varying degree of injuries.

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How we will conduct 2015 elections, by INEC Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has offered an insight into how the 2015 general election will be conducted, saying the polls will hold in two phases with a gap of two weeks between the first and the second stanzas. INEC in its tentative election timetable has already fixed the elections for between February 14 and 15, 2015. INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega,

however ruled out the possibility of holding all the elections in one day in view of logistics difficulty that may come with doing that. The first phase of the elections will cover the presidential and National Assembly polls, while the governorship and state legislative polls will follow. The two weeks interval between the first and the second phases is to enable INEC to effectively plan for the second round of the elections. According to Jega, “I don”t think that we can

At last, NFF gets rid of Maigari CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Mike Umeh, Dilichukwu Onyedinma, Shehu Adamu, Chief Effiong Johnson, Ahmed Kawu, Felix Anyansi-Agwu , Ayodeji Tinubu and Mu’azu Suleyman. Five others, Emeka Inyama, Christopher Green, Yusuf Ahmed, Suleman Kwande and Musa Adamu were in favour of Maigari’s continued stay in office. Sources told New Telegraph that the plot to impeach Maigari was ‘an order from above’ and a continuation of the unfolding drama the country has been witnessing shortly after Nigeria crashed out of the justconcluded World Cup held in Brazil. Since the court move failed because it was not in line with FIFA statutes, the same people that plotted the court injunction that sacked the board earlier in the month were said to be behind Maigari’s impeachment. After his expulsion, Maigari left the secretariat quietly without making any comment about the allegations against him and the incident that followed. However, Kawu, one of those who expelled Maigari denied signing any document to that effect. “I did not sign, I don’t know how my signature got there. I cannot betray Nigeria and I cannot betray myself and my friends too,” he said. According to a statement given to New Telegraph and signed by the Chairman of the NFF’s Communiqué Drafting Committee, Mu’azu Suleyman, the committee approved Maigari’s immediate dismissal “on grounds of financial misappropriation, misappli-

cation and maladministration.” “After thorough and exhaustive deliberations on the uncalled-for secrecy surrounding all financial dealings of the Federation and failure to call a meeting of the Executive Committee for the past eight months, during which so many weighty decisions on Nigerian football had been taken by a small cabal within the board, the Executive Committee passed a vote of no confidence on the NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari. “In view of the above, the committee approved the immediate dismissal of Aminu Maigari from the NFF Executive Committee on grounds of financial misappropriation, misapplication and maladministration,” the statement added. However, pending the expected composition of a new NFF Executive Committee at the end of the body’s upcoming elections scheduled for August 26, First VicePresident of the NFF, Mike Umeh, has been mandated to act as president and to preside over the affairs of the football body. The Executive Committee members in attendance at yesterday’s meeting, besides praising President Goodluck Jonathan, for his “massive and continued support to the NFF and the national teams,” also commended “FIFA and the Confederation of African Football for their keen interest in the development of football in the country.” It pledged that the country will continue to abide by the dictates of FIFA and CAF statutes and the FIFA-approved NFF statutes.

hold all the elections in one day. Instead, we will hold them in two days and in logical sequence. There will be an interval of two weeks between the first round of elections and the second.” Jega, in a document tagged, “2015 Elections in Nigeria: Preparations and Challenges,” a copy of which New Telegraph obtained yesterday, identified structure, policy and plan as what will be the three focal points of the elections. “In structure, we have taken a long and deep look at INEC as an institution, it’s structure and processes as well as its human resources. “In policy, we have focused on developing new policies to guide our work and create the right normative framework for successful election management in Nigeria. In planning, we have fo-

cused on both strategic planning and election planning,” he said. Jega listed some of the things the commission had done within the last two years in preparations for the 2015 elections to include formulation and implementation of a detailed strategic programme of action; drafting and implementation of a detailed election project plan aimed at ensuring seamless execution of specific tasks leading to next year’s elections and a comprehensive reorganisation and restructuring of the commission, which has already been completed, drawing from the recommendations of a highly rated management consulting firm. He said: “A programme for the review of electoral constituencies and creation of additional polling units is

underway. “The training and retraining of staff on an ongoing basis, especially through several BRIDGE training workshops is underway, with the support of many development partners. “All guidelines and regulations on the electoral process are being revised and discussion has commenced with legal experts across the country on how to enact and gazette them. “An election risk management tool is being deployed ahead of the 2015 elections, with the support of the African Union (AU) and the International IDEA, to enable the commission to gather information about risk factors associated with elections, be able to contain or mitigate them towards ensuring peaceful and violence-free elections.

“From the foregoing, we are convinced that the prospects of having remarkably much better elections in 2015 are very bright. But we harbour no illusion that we have accounted for all the issues that could pose challenges for the elections. In fact, there are still a number of key challenges,” he said. Jega however listed some of the challenges ahead of the next year’s general election to include; funding, attitude of political class, apathetic and inactive citizenry, delay amendment to the legal framework, completion of the review of electoral constituencies and polling units and prosecution of offenders. Regardless of the challenges, the INEC chairman assured Nigerians that preparations for the 2015 general election are proceeding in earnest.

L-R: Senior Analyst, Digital Financial Services, Microsave, Kenya, Jacqueline Jumah; AITEC Chairman, Mr. Sean Moroney and Senior Analyst, Digital Financial Services, Microsave, Kenya, Joyce Murithis, during the AITEC banking conference and exhibition in Lagos.

Jonathan wants stronger partnership among OPEC nations Anule Emmanuel Abuja

resident Goodluck Jonathan has called on member nations of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to work towards forging a stronger partnership that is beneficial to its members. The president, while receiving new ambassadors of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Nigeria, after receiving their letters of credence, said such partnerships would improve the decision-making process within OPEC and open

up more opportunities for investment and socioeconomic collaboration among its members. He told the new Ambassador of the UAE, Mr. Mahmud Mohammed Mahmud Al-Mahumud and the new Qatari Ambassador, Mr. Abdul Aziz Bin Mubarak Seed Al Muhannadi, that the cordial diplomatic and political relationship between Nigeria and other OPEC member-countries ought to be translated into more beneficial engagements. Jonathan told them that the ongoing transformation agenda of the Federal Government has

thrown up more opportunities for investments in agriculture, real estate development, power generation, manufacturing and other areas in Nigeria. He urged the UAE, Qatar and other OPEC countries to take advantage of the immense potential of Nigeria’s large market and the new investment opportunities in the country which offer quick and high returns. “We have already seen companies from the UAE investing in telecommunications, and in real estate, and they are doing very well. We want to see them also in agriculture, manu-

facturing, oil and gas, and other areas,’’ he stated. Both ambassadors assured the president that they will do their best to improve trade and economic relations between their respective countries and Nigeria during their tenures. Jonathan also had a farewell audience with the outgoing Ambassador of Finland, Mrs. Rita Korpivaara. The president commended Korpivaara’s efforts to enhance bilateral relations between Nigeria and Finland and wished her success in her future endeavours.

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Enugu to spend N2.9bn on roads Uwakwe Abugu

Enugu

he Enugu State ExTapproved ecutive Council has about N2.9 bil-

lion for the completion of some roads in the state whose initial contracts were terminated because of poor performance and failure of the contractors to meet required specifications. Commissioner for Information, Mr.Chuks Ugwoke, who spoke on the outcome of last Wednesday’s council meeting presided over by Governor Sullivan Chime at the Government House, Enugu, explained that the award of contracts for the completion of the projects after some contractors mishandled the projects was a gesture of government to ensure that expected users of the fa-

cilities were given a new lease of life in no distant time. According to him, the sum of N1, 235, 754, 483.86 was approved by the council for the completion of Amaetiti Achi –Umuagu Inyi – Awlaw Road. He added that the contract was awarded to Greyline International Limited. The Commissioner, who was accompanied in the briefing by Commissioners for Works and Transport, Engr Goddy Madueke and Chuka Utazi respectively, as well as the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. K. O. K. Agbowo added that N1, 763, 126, 735.88 was also approved by the council for the completion of Eke – Ebe – Egede – Affa – Akpakwume – Nze – Aku road. He added that the contract was re-awarded to Arab Contractors.

$1bn for Boko Haram fight outrageous, says Fasehun Wale Elegbede ounder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr. Fredrick Fasehun, has urged Nigerians to resist any attempt by the government to obtain the proposed $1 billion loan to fight insurgency. He said that the masses are not ready to borrow loans that will not bring productive returns into the economy. Speaking during a quarterly round table with newsmen in Lagos, Fasehun advised the Federal Government to take caution on the $1billion loan, stressing that the multiplier effect to the nation's economy would be zero. “I personally do not think Nigeria should take such loan. It is like rubbing salt on injury. Nigerians are not ready to take a loan on something that will not add any chunk to our economy. The president is still listening to Nigerians

if he should take the loan. We fought a civil war in this country and we didn't no borrow a dime. We should manage it within what we have. After all, governors are taking security votes, what do they spend the security vote for?" While proposing a summit for political parties in the country to discuss terrorism, kidnapping and other security challenges facing the country at the moment, he stressed the need for a common front against Boko Haram and insurgency at large. “When 9-11 attack happened in the US, American politicians broke through all political divides and patriotically denounced and confronted terrorism. What we have in Nigeria is the Boko Haram insurgency and all parties must come together organise a summit to discuss and proffer solution to these challenges.

No waiver for Marwa, others – Ardo Ibrahim Abdul

Yola

of supremacy in Tterhetheofbattle Adamawa State chapthe Peoples Democrat-

ic Party (PDP) has taken different dimension with heavy resistance to the gubernatorial ambition of the former Military administrator of Lagos and Borno states Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) by other gubernatorial aspirants in the state. They are insisting that Marwa and other returnees are not given any waiver. On Wednesday, Brigadier Buba Marwa told PDP delegates in the Central zone of the state who endorsed his candidature that the national leadership of PDP will give a waiver to the new

comers to the PDP. But, minutes after, another gubernatorial aspirant of PDP in the state, Dr. Umar Ardo said there is no iota of the truth in the claims by Marwa. Ardo in a press statement made available to reporters in Yola, yesterday, said; “I am sure he is economical with the truth. Section 50 (10b) of the PDP Constitution is clear as to how waiver is obtained. The process starts from the ward level, through the Local Govt, to the State, to the Zonal, to the NWC and finally be approved by the NEC. The constitution is also clear that even the NEC lacks the power to grant waiver unless "the process of clearance of the waiver starts from the ward levels.

IG: PSC submits five names for Abubakar's replacement Juliana Francis

s news continues to make rounds that the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar is lobbying for an extension of his stay as the number one policeman in the country, there are indications yesterday, that the Police Service Commission has submitted the files of two Deputy Inspector General (DIGs), two Assistant Inspector Generals (AIGs), and a Commissioner of Police to the office of the president for study to enable him make choice. The submitted names are; the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), in charge of intelligence, Mr. Solomon Erase; Mr. Suleiman Abba, AIG, Zone 7, Abuja; the Deputy Inspector General of Police(DIG) in charge of Administra-

tion, Mr. Suleiman Fakai; DIG in charge of Operations, Mr. Michael Zokumuor and Commissioner of Police in charge of FCT Police Command, Mr. Joseph Mbu. A source said: “President Jonathan is still studying the files and may make a pronouncement any moment from now. But everything right now, depends on him.” Abubakar is due for retirement on July 31. He would be expected to embark on a compulsory leave towards the end of July, and hand over to whom will eventually be picked by the president. In a situation where a new IGP had not been picked before Abubakar leaves office, a DIG will most likely take over the mantle of leadership. It was gathered that at least about 60 senior officers would be

retiring by July. Another source said: “I don’t think the president is reconsidering Abubakar or why would he request for five names from the PSC?” Among the DIGs being considered, Zokumuor, who is from the same Balyesa State as the president, would be retiring next year, while Fakai has about seven years to stay in service. Fakai is from the northwest. Sources disclosed that Zokomuor, aside from his retirement date, which is dodging his footstep to the leadership position, may not be favoured because the Chief of Army Staff, Kenneth Minima is from that Zone and his choice may mess things up for the president. He is also said to be a loyalist of a former military dictator from the north. Of the two AIGs that

were shortlisted, Erase is believed to be highly educated and exposed detective who has served as Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to three past IGPs. He from Edo State, South-south part of the country and he is said to be highly favoured among all those shortlisted. “Abba on the other hand is from Niger State in the north-central zone and had served as Commissioner of Police in Rivers State and was also in Lagos State at a time as the supervising CP during 2007 general elections,” said the source. The sources said the only Commissioner of Police on the list is former controversial Rivers State CP, Joseph Mbu, who is currently the CP Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He is said to be enjoying the support of the First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan.

Newly appointed Minister of Aviation, Mr. Chidoka Osita; new Corps Mashal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi and Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator Ayim Pius Ayim, during the decoration of the new corps marshal in Abuja…yesterady.

PHOTO ELIJAH OLALUYI

Seven Fidelity Bank staff, six policemen held over N24m robbery Juliana Francis our cashiers of Fidelity bank, three security guards and six policemen have been held in connection with the robbery of Fidelity bank, Okokomaiko, Alaba, Lagos State branch on Wednesday. The suspects were said to have been arrested because investigators suspected foul play. The attack was coming barely a month after a similar attack on the same bank, in which a mobile police officer was killed. The robbers made away with N24 million. Those presently being quizzed by the Spe-

cial Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), under SP. Abba Kyarri are the six policemen and seven staff of Fidelity bank. Out of the six policemen, three are inspectors, two sergeants and a corporal. The bank staffs are two female cashiers, two male cashiers and three private guards of the bank. On Wednesday, an unknown number of armed robbers on powerbikes and others vehicles, blocked two bullion vans belonging to the bank as they drove into the bank’s premises. The robbers were alleged to have been armed with several AK47 rifles

and magazine rounds on their bodies The bullion vans were escorted by seven policemen from the Bar Beach Police Station, Victoria Island, plus two spy policemen. Aside from the spy policemen, all the other policemen were armed to the teeth. In spite of the intimidating number of the policemen, the robbers overwhelmed them, killing two of the spy policemen. One died on the spot, while the other died on the way to the hospital. A police corporal was also shot and is presently in the hospital, battling to stay alive. The robbers broke

open the first bullion, carting away all the money. But the second bullion van proved difficult to open. The furious armed robbers had also shot repeatedly at the bullion van, but it still refused to open. Sensing that time was racing against them, they disappeared with the loot from the first bullion van. A police source said: “One of the spy policemen, who died was a driver, while the second was the person who used to load money into the bullion van. Six policemen have been detained and four cashiers of Fidelity bank. They are now being quizzed.”

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Enugu Assembly orders substituted service on Chime’s deputy

Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

he Enugu State House of Assembly yesterday directed the clerk of the House, Mr. Christopher Chukwurah, to serve the Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Sunday Onyebuchi, through substituted means since he could not be served personally. That was after the Public Relations Office of the Assembly on Wednesday erroneously told newsmen that the embattled Deputy Governor had been personally served the impeachment notice issued on Tuesday. Since last Tuesday, when the House issued the impeachment notice

N2.16bn

to be served on Onyebuchi, various conjectures as to the whereabouts of the man have been made and prominent amongst them were that he ran to Abuja for cover and to meet some persons believed to be fighting Governor Suillivan Chime over the 2015 election matters. There is another speculation that he is taking refuge in the Imo State Government House. Yesterday, a source at the public relations office, who had given hints that the deputy governor had been served, sent a text message to reporters, recanting the information offered on Wednesday and clarifying that the legislators were to sit yesterday to find a way out of

The IGR realized from PAYE (taxes) of Adamawa State in 2012. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

the situation. During yesterday’s sitting, presided over by Speaker, Hon. Eugene Odo, leader of the House, Hon. Udeh Okoye, representing Awgu North state constituency in the assembly, moved the motion urging the House to resolve that the deputy governor be served through substituted means and the motion was passed unanimously. The directive meant that the clerk, Mr. Chukwurah, would now post the notice of impeachment on allegations of gross misconduct levelled against the deputy governor on the gate of his Government House official residence at the Independence Layout,

20.77

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Czech Republic in 2011. Source: Itu.int

Enugu and at the gate of his private residence at Savage Crescent, GRA, Enugu. Besides, the clerk of the House was also directed to post the notice of impeachment on the door to Onyebuchi’s office and to his e-mail address. Speaker Eugene Odoh further instructed the clerk to ensure he carried out the order in the same spirit with the legislators passed the resolution. When the House resumed sitting yesterday, the clerk had informed them that he could not physically serve the notice on the deputy governor, prompting the resolution and new directive for substituted service.

23,153

The number of refugees in Ivory Coast at the beginning of 2010. Source: Blatantworld.com

President Goodluck Jonathan (right), welcoming the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido to the Presidential Villa, when northern traditional rulers led by the Sultan of Sokoto visited the Villa in Abuja…on Wednesday. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Buhari’s aide: How suicide bomber attacked us lucky

Call it another miracle, the good news is that Gen. Buhari is alive despite attempt to harm him Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

he suicide bomber that targeted General Muhammadu Buhari’s convoy on Wednesday had been trailing him since the All Progressives Congress(APC) Chieftain left his residence, Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim, a security aide to the former Head of State has disclosed. Malam Abubakar whose palm was shat-

tered by the explosion, spoke to New Telegraph at his Number 5 Amenity ward , Garkuwa Hospital, Kaduna yesterday. According to Abubakar, the suicide bomber was desperately trying to overtake the convoy but Buhari’s security vehicle kept blocking him. ‘’At around Hayin Banki junction, the driver became really desperate to overtake us because he kept flashing his headlights and was moving at top speed,’’ Abubakar added. The security aide, who said that Buhari was travelling to Daura for the Sallah, told our correspondent that the suicide bomber drew level

to their convoy near the Kawo branch of Stanbic Bank, close to the over head bridge, which is located near the motor park. “I flagged him down with my right hand, indicating that he should not overtake because there was congestion ahead’’, the aide disclosed. ‘’The next thing I heard was an explosion,’’ he added. Abubakar, who had been Buhari’s aide for 15 years, said that he and his colleagues immediately disembarked from the upturned SUV, through the window and rushed to evacuate the former presidential candidate of CPC. ‘’When the people around realised that it

was Buhari, who was targeted by the bomber, they started shouting Állahu Akbar, La ilaha Illah’’’. ‘’Before long, a crowd had gathered around him and the people were very agitated,’’ he said. According to Abubakar, some people in the crowd had started smashing the windscreens of cars, protesting what had happened to Buhari. “We had to calm them down, find a Golf car and evacuated the General,’’ he added. Abubakar said that apart from him, Mallam Abubakar Yau also sustained injuries on his arm while Inspector Mike Reuben had a deep cut on his head which had been stitched.

... It's laughable,says Orjiakor Tony Okafor AWKA

chieftain of the PeoA(PDP) ples Democratic Party in Anambra State,

Pat Orjiako has called on the Enugu State House of Assembly to trade caution in its move to impeach the deputy governor of the State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi. Orjiakor, who addressed newsmen yesterday in Awka, Anambra State capital, said the reasons adduced by the Enugu Assembly for the impeachment of the deputy governor were

not only frivolous, laughable, but ludicrous. He averred that impeachment as a serious constitutional issue, must anchor on good reasoning and critical thinking before anybody could use it as a political weapon for ousting any chief executive. He said after 15 years of democracy in the country, players in the system should grow beyond what he called primordial interests. He urged the Enugu lawmakers to drop the impeachment move on the deputy governor.

2015: APC wants Amosun, other aspirants to contest in primaries Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

gun State chapter of OCongress the All Progressives (APC) yester-

day said it would provide a level playing field for all its aspirants in order to enhance the chances of the party in the 2015 general elections. The party also dismissed the threat posed by opposition political parties, saying its standard bearers would win all elective positions during the forthcoming poll. The state APC chairman, Alhaji Roqeeb Adeniji, spoke at a reception organised in Abeokuta by the Ogun Central Senatorial District of the party for the new state executive committee members. Adeniji said the incumbent governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and other aspirants in the party would be subjected to transparent and credible primaries, adding that the APC was not interested in imposing any candidate. He expressed gratitude to party members

for keeping faith with the leadership and the Amosun-led administration in the state. Adeniji, who stated that the new executive had been duly received in the two other senatorial districts of Ogun East and Ogun West, said the APC has no anointed candidate for any elective position. He said; “Since the last conduct of the party’s ward, local and state congresses, as well as the attendant inauguration, there has never been opportunity for the elected state party executive members to say thank you. But this rally is to publicly present the state executive council members to party loyalists to enable them properly familiarize with other members of the party. “Secondly, to re-assure party loyalists that Ogun APC has not and will never lose its firm grip of the state politics as being championed by opposition political parties in their propaganda that they will take over the state from the ruling APC and Amosun."

Doctors’ strike: Uduaghan raises the alarm over deaths

Dominic Adewole ASABA

strike embarked Ttorshe upon by Medical Docacross the country yesterday claimed the life of a brother of the Delta State Commissioner for Works, Hon. Funkekeme Solomon. Since the strike was declared about three weeks ago, several lives have gone into it in the oil rich state as private hospitals lacks required tools to treat emergency cases. The deceased, Mr. Moses Solomon, a 49 year old civil servant could have survived his ailment if members of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) had not embarked on their indefinite strike action.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who paid a condolence visit to Funkekeme, elder brother to the deceased, in Warri, counted Moses’ death among the losses in human lives that the country has witnessed as a result of the ongoing NMA strike. The governor, a Medical Doctor turned politician, said it was important for the NMA to immediately call off the strike while the Federal Government takes a second look at their grouse. According to the Governor, the death of Moses was a sad reminder of the number of people, who have died as a result of the strike, maintaining that “some of these deaths were avoidable if the Doctors were to be on duty.”

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Friday, July 25, 2014

Nasarawa lawmakers storm Aso Rock over impeachment saga

Lagos records first suspected case of Ebola virus

Anule Emmanuel ix lawmakers from Nasarawa State House of Assembly led by their Speaker, Alhaji Musa Ahmed, yesterday stormed the presidential villa, Abuja where they held a private meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan. Although no clear reason was given on the purpose of the visit, New Telegraph gathered that it was not unconnected with the current impeachment crisis in the state. National Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Uche Secondus, was cited among the lawmakers and is believed to have coordinated their visit. The meeting lasted for about two hours. Speaking to State House correspondents, the Nasarawa Speaker insisted that it was a private meeting. Asked about the nature and outcome of the meeting with the president, Mohammed simply said, "It is was private visit". When Journalists pressed further to know what the private visit was all about and why it came

Appolonia Adeyemi and Muritala Ayinla he Lagos State government yesterday said it has discovered a suspected case of Ebola Virus Diseases (EVD) from a Liberian recuperating in one of the health facilities in the state. It said it has also since taken measures to control the spread of the disease, adding that the suspected victim, who was said to have arrived Lagos from Liberia, was being treated and detained within the hospital premises to checkmate the spread of the endemic. Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina, who made the disclosure while briefing journalists yesterday, said

at a time the lawmakers were bent on impeaching the state Governor, Alhaji Tanko Almakura, the speaker said, "I don't have the mandate of the House to speak to the press", adding that the chairman, House Committee on Information was the appropriate person to speak on the impeachment. Secondus, who came out of the president's office some minutes after the lawmakers came out, insisted that the meeting was a consultation. He said, "We are consulting". The meeting between the lawmakers came barely 24 hours after the Nasarawa State House of Assembly asked the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Suleiman Dikko, to constitute a seven-man panel to investigate allegations of “gross misconduct” levelled against Al-Makura. The decision taken at the plenary of the House on Wednesday which lasted for about 20 minutes, followed a motion moved by majority leader of the House, Mr. Godiya Akwashiki (PDP- Udege/ Loko) seeking the setting up of the probe panel in line with the provision of the 1999 constitution as amended.

the virus was discovered in the 40-year-old Liberian, working with West African Organisation in Monrovia, Liberia. Giving details of the discovery, Adeshina said: “His medical history revealed that he had no contact with any case of EVD, did not visit any person with EVD and neither did he take part in the burial of any person who died of EVD. “However, on account of his working and living in an endemic region for EVD (Liberia) and the presentation of non-specific constitutional symptoms and signs (fever, malaise, body aches, vomiting, diarrhoea, etc.) associated with EVD, a high index of suspicion was raised. “Based on this, the patient was admitted and

detained on suspicion for possible EBV infection, while blood sample collection and testing was initiated of which included sample to the Virology Reference Laboratory, LUTH, Idi-Araba. Blood samples were also sent to a WHO Reference Laboratory in Dakar (Senegal), which is actively in process and results are pending.” Adeshina added that all fluids from an infected person are extremely dangerous, advising health workers to be at alert, wear personal protective equipment; observe universal basic precautions when attending to suspected or confirmed cases; and report same to their local government areas or the Ministry of Health immediately or call the following numbers: 08023169485;

08033086660; 08033065303; 08055281442; 08055329229. She said the patient’s condition was stable, adding that the diarrhoea and vomiting had stopped even as the intravenous condition has also stopped, while the health facility has since initiated Universal Infection Prevention Control with measures to prevent the spread of the disease and guarantee the safety of other patients and staff of the facility.” Dr Yewande said the results from other laboratories outside the country are expected back in the country in a couple of days, adding that that the state and the country are well prepared for any eventuality whether positive or negative, saying there is no cause for alarm.

Monarch, 11 others killed in Borno Ahmed Miringa MAIDUGURI

unmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram have killed the District Head of Garubula village in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State, Alhaji Ibrahim Dawi and 11 others. A resident of the area, Mallam Idrisa Garubula, said the gunmen stormed the village at about 11pm on Tuesday, and opened fire sporadically on the people. After killing the district head and 11 others, including Dawi’s body guards, they fled the area. “The district head who was shot by the gunmen on his head was however rushed to Biu General Hospital before he gave up the ghost. He has since been buried according to Islamic rites in Biu, the headquarters of Biu Local Government area of the state,” Garubula stated.

He added that the gunmen had a free hand to operate because there was no presence of security operatives in the area. “The Federal Government should do something urgently before the terrorists took over the area. The terrorists have succeeded in sending away the people of Damboa and other communities of Madafuma, Mandaragirau in Biu Council area, and if something is not done urgently, they would also sack our communities, which is not good for the nation, more especially during the rainy season when people are going to their farms,” Garubula added. Efforts to get the spokesman of the Bor no State Police Command, Mr. Gideon Jubrin, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), for detail of the attack and the number of casualties failed as his phone was switched off.

L-R: Vice-President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Suleiman Uba Gaya; National Commissioner, INEC, Dr. Chris Igimoga and Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, during a dialogue with media professionals for the review of Ekiti State governorship election and projection for future elections in Abuja…on Wednesday. PHOTO:TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Rivers PDP, APC bicker over Amaechi’s councils’ tour Emmanuel Masha

Port Harcourt

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday bickered over Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s tour of local government areas of the state. Not comfortable with the governor’s tour, the PDP called on the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Tunde Ogunsakin, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to stop the governor from touring more local government areas, alleging that the tour has heightened tension in the state. The party alleged that Amaechi, who has toured Ikwerre, Oyigbo and Opobo Nkoro Local Governments, has violated the “rule of law” as well as the “Electoral Act,” just as it pointed

out that Amaechi was sharing wrappers instead of constituency projects. But the APC countered the allegation, saying that the PDP was afraid of the defeat that awaits it in 2015, and an attempt to intimidate the electorate. The APC also said Governor Amaechi was using the tour to “present his scorecard and development programmes in the communities visited, while allowing the communities to make an input into governance.” Speaking on behalf of the PDP, Jerry Needam, the media adviser to the Chairman, Felix Obuah, in a statement said the tour was undemocratic and was being used to provoke crisis ahead of the 2015 election. He also said the governor was using the “Meet the People Tour’ of the 23 councils to campaign for votes.

Reacting to the PDP allegations, APC Chairman, Dr. Ibiamu Ikanya, said the people were fully in support of the tour, explaining that it was an avenue to assess government’s achievement in the communities. He condemned the PDP for reading political meanings into the tour, adding that; “It smacks of mischief and naivety.” Ikanya continued: “This is yet another plus for Governor Amaechi, who already has various remarkable feats to his credit. His decision to embark on this tour demonstrates that he knows his onions as far as governance is concerned. “It is, to say the least, a political masterstroke as it has further endeared him, his administration and the All Progressives Congress to the people of

the grassroots,” APC said in a statement issued in Port Harcourt. “Governor Amaechi clearly explained the purpose of the tour, saying; “The purpose of my visits to these communities is to bring government closer to the people and discuss ways to ensure more development impact on the grassroots’ dwellers before the expiration of my tenure in 2015.” The governor continued: “This visit is not for campaign. We are here to discuss what will benefit the people at the grassroots. I am interested in the politics of development. “It is mischievous for the PDP to allege that the tour is driven by ill-conceived motive and an attempt to intimidate and influence the electorate ahead the 2015 elections."

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PMAN to mobilise support for Abuja bomb Lateef Ibrahim

Abuja

Federal Capital TerTtheheritory ,FCT, chapter of Performing Musicians

Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) yesterday said that it is seeking for partnership to collaborate with Government to give appropriate support to victims of insurgency in the nation's capital. The Governor of the association, Collins Adeyemi, made this known during a courtesy visit to Lady Onyeka Onwenu, Director General, National Centre for Women Development (NCWD) in Abuja . According to Adeyemi,

Kaura Modern Market traders protesting over their locked shops by Abuja Environmental Protection Board...yesterday

Tears as lawyers eulogise Aturu at valedictory service Foluso Ogunmodede

undreds of lawyers yesterday, thronged the Secretariat of the Ikeja branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Lagos, venue of a special farewell session held in honour of the fiery rights activist, Mr. Bamidele Francis Aturu. The lawyers, in sombre mood, paid glowing tributes to the deceased, describing the vacuum his death has created as too dif-

ficult to fill. Aturu died on July 9 following a brief illness. He was 49. The venue was however filled with lawyers and some judges literary moved to the special valedictory session organised by the Ikeja NBA, where they paid their last respect for the deceased rights activist. In his speech, the Chairman, NBA, Ikeja branch, Mr Yinka Farounbi, described the event as histor-

ic because it was the first time it was being held in honour of any lawyer. Farounbi described Aturu as not only a committed member of the branch, but one who gave all his life in the service of humanity, adding, having served in various capacities during his short life on earth. In an emotion filled voice Farounbi described Aturu’s death as a colossal loss not only to the legal profession but human

rights community just he unveiled the association’s plan to immortalise the deceased lawyer. His counterpart from Lagos branch, Mr. Alex Mouka, described Aturu as a courageous lawyer whose contribution to the development of law would be highly missed. “Aturu was never afraid to speak up against any form of injustice in the society and devoted his life to that cause.

POWA empowers widows in Abia

Agatha Amata launches Rave TV

Igbeaku Orji

Chinedu Ekeja

UMUAHIA

o fewer than 64 wives of police officers of the Abia State command who died in active service were yesterday empowered by the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) at the Police Officers mess, Umuahia. The empowerment items which included sewing machines, grinding machines, hair dressing equipments and cash were presented to them by the POWA chairperson in the state, Hajia, Khadija Ibrahim Adamu. Speaking at the event, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Adamu,

said the gesture was the command’s way of assisting the widows and advised them to make good use of the empowerment items. He said the empowerment was a legacy of police to empower POWA. One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Evelyn Onyike Aja, who was giving a sewing machine, said her husband died in 2012 in active duty. She explained that since her husband’s death taking care of the three children has not been easy for her. According to her the husband died in FMC Umuahia after he was rushed there from his duty post and since then the husband’s family abandoned her and the children.

Makurdi federal varsity matriculates 5,868 Cephas Iorhemen

Makurdi

Federal University Tdi,he of Agriculture MakurBenue State yesterday

matriculated 5,868 students for the 2013/2014 academic session with a charge on the students to adhere strictly to the rules and regulations governing the institution.

Addressing the matriculating students, Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Emmanuel Kucha, advised the students to reject all social vices like cultism, indecent dressing, sexual harassment, drug abuse, examination malpractice, unlawful demonstration and wilful destruction of public property.

Amata, a celebrated Aofgatha TV personality and host Inside Out, Nigeria’s lon-

gest running talk show is set to launch her new venture, Rave TV, on Friday. Amata made this known during a press parley at her purpose-built, multi-million naira, state-of- the art Rave TV studios in Ilupeju Lagos. According to her, Rave TV will be declared open by the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Udaghan, and will have the First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola as mother of the

day. The station, which began test run transmission on Monday July 22, 2014 will soon be open for outside productions like music video shoots with a fully kitted studio. Speaking during the parley, Agatha who described Rave TV as Nigerians preeminent family channel, said “We will be launching with a full bouquet of programs from movies to telenovellas, talk shows to life styles, documentaries to children’s programmes”, among other areas of interests.

Abuja NBA election must be credible – Aspirant Mojeed Alabi s lawyers in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, under the aegis of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Bwari Branch, otherwise known as Capital Bar, are set to elect new officers into its executive council, the electoral committee members have been urged to conduct a free, fair and credible election to serve as model for other elections in the country. This call was made by

an aspirant for the office of Treasurer of the bar, Mr. Olalekan Idowu Oladapo, who hinted that his decision to take part in the election was informed by the decision to make meaningful contributions to the growth of the legal practice in Nigeria and return sanity to the sector. According to Olalekan, the election billed to hold tomorrow, if properly conducted will engender internal democracy and proper growth and development of the association.

"At this time, the country is facing the dark challenges of evil in terrorism, the association specially lends its voice to the global call in saying, “Bring Back our Girls.” Enough of this shedding of innocent blood; enough of these abductions. “In this regard", he continued, “PMAN FCT Chapter and Displaced Women and Children Foundation have come up with a proposed concept designed to help alleviate the lives of our displaced women and children by organizing a launching of Relief Ticket and a Concert to raise funds to provide succour for these displaced persons.

Lagos police print 17 million pamphlets Juliana Francis etermined to protect people and property in Lagos from Boko Haram attacks, the Lagos State Police Command has printed 17 million pamphlets containing tips against terrorism. Police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, speaking with journalists yesterday in her office, said the command found it necessary to do that because of the security challenges in the country. While displaying some of the pamphlets tagged, ‘Counter- terrorism campaign,' Braide said the con-

tent would help Lagosians be more security conscious and know what to do when in doubt. She said the pamphlets would be distributed in churches, schools, banks, hotels, among other places. According to her, one of the contents in the pamphlets is that people should know their neighbours and their means of livelihood. The pamphlet also urged landlords to conduct background checks on all their prospective tenants. People are expected to draw the attention of the police to vehicles parked or abandoned by unknown person.

Toxic waste: DPR, NOSDRA indicts AGIP Philip Nyam

Abuja

of PetroTandheleumDepartment Resources, DPR the National Oil Spill

Detection and Response Agency , NOSDRA yesterday indicted the Nigerian AGIP Oil Company over toxic waste dumped in some communities in Delta State in 2013. Both the DPR and NOSDRA disclosed this in their submission to the House of

Representatives committee on environment at its investigative hearing into the alleged dumping of 469 tonnes of toxic waste by NAOC along Agbor road in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State. Making the presentation on behalf of DPR, a deputy director, Balogun, A. A, recommended that NAOC should "clean up and remediate the impacted sites accordingly and with immediate effect.

Nyako erred on civil servants’ salaries – NGO Yekeen Nurudeen

Abuja

ormer Governor of AdFNyako amawa State, Murtala has come under an-

other attack from an Abuja based Non Governmental Organisation, (NGO) Integrity Network Forum, which described his action in withholding the salaries of civil servants in the state as "ungodly". The group also commended the Act-

ing Governor of the state, Hon Ahmed Umaru Fintiri for prompt payment of the backlogs of the workers’ salaries, few days after assuming the office. Speaking with journalists in Abuja yesterday, National Coordinator of the Forum, Salihu Gorko, said that the reign of the former governor was characterised by abuse of power, that saw the looting of the state's lean resources.

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replica

Imo people may see a new Dee Sam in 2015 Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

governorship aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Imo State, Captain Emmanuel Ihenacho (rtd.), yesterday harped on the importance of leveraging on the industrialisation initiative of the late governor of the state, Chief Sam Mbakwe. He said he would implement a well-articulated developmental agenda that would replicate the achievements of the legendary Mbakwe, whose administration has till date, been adjudged the best in the history of the state.

84.9%

Ihenacho: I'll follow Mbakwe’s footsteps Addressing his supporters at Itu, Ezinihitte Mbaise, while inaugurating his campaign office, the former Minister of Interior said a well-defined and comprehensive economic blueprint has been carefully developed by his team to fully actualise the late Mbakwe’s dream of industrialising the state. He added that such economic blueprint would also create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the state. While applauding the visionary leadership of the late governor, which he said genuinely laid a solid foundation for the speedy socio-economic advancement and infrastructural develop-

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

ment of Imo State about 30 years ago, Ihenacho averred that successive administrations have not shown enough concern, having failed to leverage on such uncommon developmental initiative. He said: “It is absolutely disturbing that several years after late Sam Mbakwe put Imo on the map of the fastest developing states with his uncommon developmental initiatives, successive administrations have failed to leverage on such rare foundation to industrialise and further raise the infrastructural status of the state. “The problem we have had was that we elected

20%

The percentage of industrial (including energy) sector of total freshwater withdrawals globally. Source: Unesco.org

people of little integrity that lack vision, experience and the maturity needed in governance. The joy today is that we have started showing enormous commitment and resilience towards rewriting the history as well as returning Imo back to work.” Earlier, Sir Christian Chukwuocha, the traditional prime minister of Itu, who received Ihenacho and his entourage during a courtesy visit on behalf of their late traditional ruler and people of the community, predicted total victory for APGA with a candidate in the mould of the former minister flying the party’s flag in 2015.

374,600

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Mauritius in 2011. Source: Itu.int

Okorocha to complete 500km rural roads before October Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

mo State Governor, Ipromised Rochas Okorocha, has that his administration would complete the construction of 500km rural roads before October, 2014. He said the gesture is to achieve massive construction of asphalted rural roads and make life more meaningful to the populace. The governor disclosed this in his message to Imo people on the state of rural roads across the 27 local government areas of the state.

He said apart from the provision of free and qualitative education, improved healthcare and infrastructural transformation of the state, his administration has also promised to open up the economy of the rural communities by embarking on aggressive construction of asphalted roads across the 637 communities. Okorocha said about 500km of roads had been completed in the first phase of the rural road project, while the second phase would be completed before the end of October.

Group gives condition for Jonathan’s $1billion loan Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

political group known Aroots as the African GrassEmpowerment Or-

ganisation (AGEO), has called on the National Assembly and Nigerians in general to ensure that the $1billion loan proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan, will facilitate the release of the abducted Chibok girls within a short period of its approval. It said the condition is to ensure that the Federal Government is not in another game of playing politics with the abducted girls, who have being in the custody of the Boko Haram insurgents for more than 100 days. Leader of the group, Prince Gomene Namene, spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt, during a oneday prayer session to mark the 100 days of the abduction of the schoolgirls.

Namene said his organisation will only support a loan that that will urgently facilitate the release of the girls and not a loan to buy military equipment without any reasonable effort to rescue the girls. He also threatened that his organization, which he said has spent a lot money on the ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ campaign in African countries, will ensure that the loan will not be granted unless the President assures Nigerian that within two weeks or a month of getting the loan, the abducted girls will be released. Namene also said: “If there is anything we should think about now as a country, it is how to bring back the abducted girls. I have said it before that if the President wants more than that, it will be granted to him if only the loan will ensure the release of the girls."

Ogoni rights group plans Abuja protest over UNEP report Emmanuel Masha

Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido (right) and Chairman, Governing Council of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Alhaji Mustapha Jumare, in Dutse…yesterday

Port Harcourt

N2.1bn disbursed to six private hospitals in Ebonyi

Harcourt-based AityPort group, Ogoni SolidarForum (OSF), which

Ewa Nnanna Abakaliki

t least N2.1 billion has so far been disbursed by the Ebonyi State government to six private hospitals in the state through the government’s rural health programmes as part of measures to provide quality healthcare to the people, especially at the grassroots level. Making this disclosure yesterday was the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sunday Nwangele, during the disbursement of grants to six rural-based hospitals at the Govern-

ment House, Abakaliki. Nwangele, who described the public-private partnership initiative of Governor Martin Elechi’s administration with private health institutions as very rewarding, especially to the rural populace through the provision of free maternal healthcare to pregnant women and medical care to children, said the intervention has equipped and upgraded the hospitals. At the occasion, N200 million was disbursed by Governor Elechi to the six hospitals, which was witnessed by major

stakeholders, including traditional rulers. The beneficiaries include Mater Misericordae, Afikpo and Sudan United Mission Hospital, Izzi, which collected N40 million and N33.2 million respectively. Others are St. Vincent Hospital, Ndubia Izzi - N32.7 million, Mile Four Hospital, Abakaliki - N32.1 million, Rural Improvement Mission Hospital, Ikwo - N32 million and Presbyterian Joint Hospital, Uburu - N29 million. Governor Elechi in his remark, called on the Nigerian Medical

Association (NMA) to call off their strike in the interest of the country as government is sensitive to the demands of the doctors. He noted that the intervention of his government through the public-private partnership initiative, has proved to be a success, in providing quality healthcare to the people, especially to pregnant women and children. He commended the management of the six hospitals for their accountability and prudence in the management of the funds.

campaigns against environmental degradation in Ogoniland has put in place measures to carry out a protest in Abuja against the non-implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) report. OSF has joined other Ogoni groups that are clamouring for the implementation of the UNEP report and the creation of Bori State. Some Ogoni leaders under the umbrella of the People of Ogoni Ethnic Nationality at a mini-congress recently, said they have been oppressed by successive governments

in Nigeria. They said: “We are deeply troubled by the delay in the implementation of the UNEP report by the Federal Government almost three years after it was released, and therefore passionately demand its immediate implementation.” OSF and other groups in Ogoniland want to use the protest to make their grievances known over the report and the noninclusion of Bori State among the states recommended by delegates at the national conference. National Coordinator of OSF, Celestine Akpobari, who is coordinating the protest, has stressed the need for non-violence in the pursuit of a fairer deal for the Ogonis in the Nigerian federation.

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Police hold human parts’ dealers, 46 others NEMESIS Those who claim to be making money from selling human parts are now cooling their feet in police cell Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

olice in Kwara Statesaid they had apprehended three suspected human parts’ dealers. This came a few weeks after the discovery of a site purportedly being used as kidnappers’ den in Illorin, the state capital. One of the suspect human parts dealers is said to be the herbalist behind the gang. The three persons were part of 49 men arrested by the police between July 15 and 22 for various offences. Seven of them were arrested for allegedly participating in cult-related activities, while 27 were picked up for their alleged role in latest violence around Oja-Iya/Eruda area of the state capital. In the said incident, 10 vehicles were vandalised, one building was burnt while several people were injured. The Commissioner of Police, Mr Ambrose Aisabor, who announced the arrest at a press briefing yesterday, said the suspected human parts dealers were caught at Tabira village near Okuta in Baruten Local Government Area. The three suspects were brought to the command head-

The suspects and the human parts.

quarters with a fresh human head and arms as exhibits. They were arrested about 10:35pm on July 22, following intelligence report, according to the commissioner. Aisabor said that the suspects had, during interrogation, confessed to the crime and mentioned some top politicians and businessmen who allegedly patronised them. He said: “Detectives, while acting on intelligence, arrested one Amos Kareem and during investigation, search was conducted in his house where human parts, including head and arms, were recovered while Abubakar Ladan,

an accomplice, was also arrested. Both confessed to have been dealing in human parts.” Aisabor said five suspects were also arrested for armed robbery and possession of firearms after they had broken into the camp of one Musa Muazu at Tenbo village and carted away personal items of the victims. One of them was said to have, however, been sighted later in the day wearing one of the stolen clothes and was arrested which led to the arrest of others. Another set of six men were also nabbed for conspiracy and armed robbery. They were alleged to have attacked one Umar

Ahmed and Mansur Bello who were conveying goods worth about N14 million in a truck on the Ilorin-Ogbomosho Expressway on July 15. They severely wounded an escort of the truck who is currently receiving medical treatment. Two of those arrested for allegedly being members of a secret cult, according to the commissioner, were nabbed around Kilanko Garage, Offa area of the state capital on July 18, where they had scheduled a rendezvous of their cult group. One battle axe, two cutlasses, one toy gun, one knife and charms were recovered from

them while five others were arrested at the Kwara State Polytechnic and Oke-Oyi on July 21. The police commissioner promised to ensure a crime-free state and solicited the support of the media in achieving that goal. Aisabor also promised to ensure proper security of lives and property during Ramadan across the state. He said: “The fight against criminals and criminality in Kwara will continue. It is going to be pursued vigorously. I strongly solicit the support of the media in our crusade against criminals. Let me express our gratitude to the good people of Kwara State for the information they have been giving to us. “The information giving has been credible. I am pleading with them not to relax. They should continue to assist us. Security is a collective responsibility. It is not for Kwara State alone. Every citizen living in Kwara State must be involved in the security of Kwara State. “Kwara State command is very proactive. The Sallah holiday is coming. Our personnel are on red alert. Day and night patrols have been re-intensified. Every policeman is at alert. “I want to use this medium to again reassure the good people of Kwara State that Kwara is a state of harmony. It is a state of peace and tranquillity. We are going to continue to provide the enabling environment for business to thrive. With the Sallah very close, we will ensure that people coming into Kwara State and people passing though the state are well protected.”

Imo: Man falls from Govt House building, dies NDE trains 637 youths, Steve Uzoechi Owerri

man working on the roof of the new Governor’s Lodge under construction inside the Imo State Government House, Owerri, yesterday lost his footing and fell to his death. According to a Government House source, the builder died on the spot before medical help could reach him. The body of the man had been deposited at the mortuary of the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri. When our correspondent visited the scene, work had temporarily stopped at the site following the sad incident. Efforts to ascertain the name of the deceased were not successful as the workers had been tem-

porarily vacated the site and the few ones there refused to talk. Early 2007, the Governor Achike Udenwa administration completed a new Governor’s Lodge. But it was former Governor Ikedi Ohakim who first occupied the office. The ultramodern lodge built by RHAS C o n -

struction Company is barely seven years old. Meanwhile, a new security gate being constructed behind the main entrance gate to the Government House has collapsed. The gate collapsed on Wednesday night. Though no casualty was recorded, the rate of structures are collapsing in the state is becoming alarming. A complex under construction at the Imo State University and a hotel in Okigwe, all being built by the state government, collapsed recently.

Okorocha, Imo gov.

women in Adamawa Ibrahim Abdul Yola

he National Directorate of Tamawa Employment (NDE) in AdState said it had trained 637 unemployed youths and women in various empowerment programmes from January to date. The state Coordinator of NDE, Mallam Ismaila Yar’Adua, made this known in a statement in Yola. Yar’Adua said the programmes included Basic National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (B-NOAS), Graduate Attachment Programme (GAP) and Micro Enterprise Enhancement Scheme (MEES). He said: “This is in line with the mandate of the directorate to reduce unemployment in Adamawa State and Nigeria at large.” The coordinator added that the directorate had commenced recruitment of youths for the

next batch of training under B-NOAS. He said: “The free registration of new participants for B-NOAS training at the three centres in the state has since commenced and is expected to recruit over 450 unemployed youths of different categories to undergo vocational training of six months training in skills of their choice. “In all, there are 10 skills from which prospective trainees will choose. “The training is going to commence in August and each beneficiary is to be paid N2,000 stipend per month as transport fare.” Yar’Adua listed computer operation/maintenance, catering, interior decoration, hair dressing, GSM repairs, plumbing, electrical installation, welding, auto-electrical and motorcycle repairs as the training to be provided under B-NOAS.

METRO

Friday, July 25, 2014

Separatists abduct nine Nigerian students in Ukraine

Ukrainian official says negotiations are underway to free nine Nigerian students taken captive by separatists in the eastern city of Luhansk. Colonel Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, told a news conference on Wednesday that people with experience conducting negotiations were making contact with what he called “the terrorists”. Lysenko said Ukrainian officials hoped the talks would end “successfully in the near future”. The Voice of America (VOA) quoted Ukrainian news agencies as saying that militants abducted the Nigerian students in Luhansk on Monday and had been holding them as prisoners at an occupied government security building. The city is deep inside rebel-held territory, close to the Russian border. Separatists seeking greater autonomy have been waging a bloody battle in eastern Ukraine against the government.

Jang demolishes FG’s inland dry port building Buhari Bello Jos

overnor Jonah Jang of Plateau State has Gernment ordered the demolition of Federal Govproperty worth over N1 billion at

International Dry Inland Port belonging to Duncan Container Dry Port Limited, Heipang in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area. The General Manager of the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB), General Musa Wuyep (rtd), supervised the demolition in the early hour of Wednesday. Jang also ordered the construction company handling International Inland Port to comply with the Jos Master Plan or face eviction at the site within 24 hours. Heipang Community Development Association leader, Justice Iliya Mwadkon (rtd), has appealed to the Federal and state governments to put aside their differences in the interest of Plateau State people. Mwadkon called on the government to take a critical look at how to resolve areas of conflict that might bring about demolition of the edifice. He said: “We, the people of Heipang, are still in the dark over this issue. Is it that the demotion was because the state government was not satisfied with how the structure was built by the contractor or that the land was never handed over to the Federal Government? “My appeal is that the state government should consider that we members of this community allowed this project to be sited here. We need to have something that can sustain us and our children.” The youth leader of Heipang community, Monday Gyang, said the workers who were members of the community reported that Plateau State Government had mobilised JMDB to demolish the ongoing construction of International Inland Dry Port. He said: “We all mobilised the youth to the place to find out what brought about the order from the state government. We donated our farmland so that we can benefit materially and otherwise.” The youth leader expressed surprise that huge money had been spent on the project before the demolition. Gyang called for proper understanding so as to resolve the lingering problem delaying the completion of the project. He described demolition as a financial loss to the country because of the project had reached an advanced stage. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abu Emmanuel, said the command was not aware of any demolition.

Crash: How we escaped death, by traders Sinmiloluwa Sokunbi and Inioluwa Ekeolere

ome traders at OdoEran market at Igando, Lagos, have explained how they escaped death by a whisker when a truck carrying bags of sachet water crashed into the market. A day after truck loaded with bags of sachet water, crashed into the Odo-Eran market, located at Igando area of Lagos State, some of the traders have revealed how they narrowly escaped death by the whiskers. Although the Chairman of the traders association, Alhaji Bamidele Kazeem, said the accident was not as bad as people made it out to be, others thanked God for sparing their lives. Kazeem also said that one of those who lost their lives, identified as Iya Alalubosa, would have survived, but for doctors’ strike. He said: “The woman was rushed to the hospital, but there was no doctor to attend to her. The doctors were on strike.” On Monday, four persons were killed and more than 11 others injured in the accident. Speaking with our correspondents on Tuesday, KaTony Anichebe Uyo

ire yesterday razed one of the female hostels at the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Our correspondent, who visited the hostel shortly after the incident, gathered that the fire destroyed property while one student was injured. A witness said that the

File picture of the crash

zeem said that though he was usually at the market every morning, but that day, he was not around. The chairman said he was shocked when he was told on phone that there was an accident at the market. He added: “The accident that happened on Monday was not as disastrous as people are making it to seem. Anyway, two people died and it happened due to brake failure. The truck driver was try-

ing to avoid the tricycle riders, at the sharp corner, but he crashed into the market.’’ A newspaper vendor, who has his kiosk across the road, said he would never stop thanking God. According to him, it was providence that made him to dive out of the way of the truck. He said: “I suddenly heard the sound of the truck and looked up. I realised the truck had had a brake fail-

Fire guts UNIUYO hostel fire broke out when the students had left the hostel for lectures. However, some students, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that the incident might have been the result of electrical fault in one of the affected rooms, nothing that

many rooms in the hostel had faulty electrical cables. They said that the problem had been communicated to the management of the institution, which had not taken any step to address the problem. The students said that a

ure. I quickly dashed out of the way. Immediately the accident occurred, about two persons died on the spot. One was taken to the mortuary and the other, a woman, was taken by her relatives.” A meat seller, who craved anonymity, said that although he was in the market at that point when the truck crashed, he was one of those who escaped being hurt. A woman, who also refused to disclose her name, said: “I used to be here as early as 7am, but on that Monday morning, I really didn’t know what was wrong with my body system. I felt weak and tired. I decided to stay back at home. “On getting to the shop in the evening, I was told about the accident. I was told that it occurred about 9.30a.m. I was surprised. If I was around that morning, I might have been affected because my shop is very close to where it happened. I thank God.’’ Another female trader said the driver had already been sacked by the ‘pure’ water firm because of his recklessness. She said: “The truck was given to another person to handle but he double crossed the new driver and took the vehicle from him.” similar incident occurred in another hostel, adding that since the university authorities promised to demolish the hostel made of plywood and construct a concrete hostel, nothing visibly had been done. The students, however, appreciated the male students who helped to put the fire under control before men of the Fire Service arrived the scene.

FG, Lagos move to end Apapa gridlock Muritala Ayinla he Federal Government and Tyesterday the Lagos State Government took concrete steps to

end the perennial gridlock on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway. They set up a committee to work on the four-point strategies that would ensure free flow of traffic in the axis. Briefing journalists after a closed-door meeting, the Commander of the Nigerian Navy, Beecroft, Commodore Ovenseri Uwadiae, disclosed that the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Works had agreed to mobilise Julius Berger by Monday, to fix the damaged portion of the road to ease the gridlock. Uwadiae added that in addition to that, the Federal Government and the state

government in conjunction with stakeholders in the axis also identified some causes of the gridlock and came up with four-point strategies to tackle the problem. According to him, the committee, which draws members from various unions in Apapa, has been mandated to inspect various shipping companies to ensure that they have holding bays where the vehicles will be before the loading. He added that the idea of reroutine system would also be brought to bear for the trucks and containers plying the road. Uwadiae added that Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) must also ensure that there concessionaires control their handling capacity to ensure vehicles don’t remain on queue for too long before they

Stakeholders at the meeting.

take their cargo. The commander also warned various unions collecting tolls on the road to desist from doing to ensure hitch-free movement of vehicles. Also speaking, the General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Babatunde Edu, expressed optimism that with the strategies, the gridlock would be eradicated in the axis. He said: “This is to ensure that the traffic moves in and around Apapa. As we leave here, we go back and see how

we can work more in the areas that have just been discovered such that we can have a lasting solution. “It is a work in progress but much more importantly we have the synergy of everybody such that we can have the desired result. For now, what we are going to dwell much on is how to ensure that the travel time is reduced so that we have lesser hiccups on the road. “Once the travel time is reduced, we are not expected to have any gridlock. We want to be proactive than ever.”

12 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

New LGs: Ekiti PDP boss accuses Assembly of impunity illegal

Creation of new local government areas by the Fayemi regime smells foul Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

kiti State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe, has described the approval of the creation of 19 new local council development

areas by the Ekiti State House of Assembly as legislative rascality. Speaking in a telephone interview with our correspondent yesterday, the PDP boss said it was sad that despite the legal bottlenecks before the Ekiti State Independent National Electoral Commission (EKSIEC) and the Assembly, both organs still went ahead to support the illegality. Makanjuola added that the outgoing government of the All Progressives

Congress (APC) had also exposed itself as a group of law breakers despite their self-professed respect for the rule of law. He said: “the people of the state can now see the deception behind the APC’s move to create new local government areas. As a party, we are for the progress and development of the state and Nigeria at large. “What we have repeatedly been saying is that things must be done in accordance with the law.

52.7%

Protect materials used for election, Adeyeye urges INEC Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

group, the Aeyepolitical Prince Adedayo AdeyMovement (PAAM)

has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to safeguard all materials used during the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State. PAAM said the call has become necessary following intelligence reports that some desperate All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders are plotting to rubbish the election results by replacing the used ballot papers with those they printed in China. The group said: “The Ekiti election has restored INEC’s credibility and the electoral commission must guard jealously, all materials used for the election.” In a release issued by its Director General, Bisi Kolawole, in AdoEkiti yesterday, PAAM

described the manipulation of used electoral materials as APC’s stock-intrade, saying the party did the same in 2011. “The APC people are already boasting of getting the election results voided and their confidence is as a result of nothing other than the assurance that election materials in INEC’s custody will be tampered with. “This is more so that the APC members are not new to what is known as ‘Ibo lehin ibo’ (voting after voting), as they did in 2011, when they paid four INEC staff to doctor materials used in Ekiti East Constituency 2, House of Assembly election. “The four INEC staff were arrested and subsequently arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Magistrate's Court on an eight-count charge of allegedly tampering with electoral materials used for the House of Assembly election in April of that year, " Kolawole said.

Adeyemi College mourns Aturu, fixes date for post-UTME Babatope Okeowo, Akure embers of the GovernM ing Council of Adeyemi College of Education

(ACE), Ondo, in Ondo State, yesterday condoled with the family of the late legal luminary, Mr. Bamidele Francis Aturu, on the death of their son. Similarly, management of the institution headed by the Acting Provost, Dr. Olufemi Abayomi Olajuyigbe, members of the alumni association and students of the institution also expressed grief over the demise of the late human rights activist. Aturu, a Lagos-based legal practitioner, who died early this month, was a former student union leader and until his death, a member of the institution’s Governing Council. He graduated in Physics Education from the College in 1988. The Acting Provost, Dr. Olajuyigbe, had few days after the news of Aturu’s death, led a powerful dele-

gation of top management staff to the Lagos home of the students’ union leader, where they commiserated with his wife and family. Meanwhile, in a message displayed at the gate of the institution, the college management described the death of Aturu as painful and a great loss not only to the country, but to the human rights community and the college. In another development, the management of the institution has announced that the postUTME screening exercise of the college will hold on August 23, 2014. The screening exercise, according to the Registrar, Mr. Felix Aderinboye, will be held for candidates who sat for the 2014 Unified Tertiary Examination (UTME), especially those candidates who originally chose the college as their first or second choice and have scored a minimum of 180 for degree and 150 for the NCE programme.

A court of competent jurisdiction has ruled that the electoral body was not appropriately and legallyconstituted and they appealed and another appeal is still pending at the Supreme Court. Accordingly, “Apart from that, our party has gone to court to restrain the Assembly from considering anything concerning the creation of local council development areas and we duly served the Assembly. We have the Proof of Service and the APC law-

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

makers are denying that. “Imagine a situation where EKSIEC conducted its so-called referendum for the creation of 18 council development areas and the Assembly approved 19, when did they conduct the referendum for the 19th council? “That is an example of their lawless behaviour. With God on our side and the support of the people of the state, their plans to set landmines for the incoming government will fail,” he said.

14%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Kenya in 2010. Source: Itu.int

Ogundipe said whatever his party would do, would be done in accordance with the laws of the land. In a related development, the Publicity Secretary of the party, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, has reminded the people to take note of the impunity of the APC-led government. Oluwawole noted that the approval given by the Assembly for Governor Kayode Fayemi to create new council areas was illegal.

$US212.1bn The nominal GDP of Nigeria (World Bank) in 2009. Source: Blatantworld.com

Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano (left) and the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, during the governor's courtesy visit to Force Headquarters...yesterday

Civil Defence, Army synergise in Owerri Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

aw enforcement agencies in Imo State yesterday called for the sharing of intelligence and information across security agencies in the state to enable them combat emerging security challenges. This was part of resolutions reached at the Stakeholders’ Security Summit organised by the Imo State command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), in Owerri, the Imo State capital. In his welcome address, the Commandant

of the NSCDC, Adamu Soja Saddabs, explained that it was not enough for residents to be security conscious, but to rather participate in the security of the state by volunteering information and security tips to the relevant security agencies. In his address, Zonal Commander, Zone E, of the NSCDC, Mohammed Lapai, noted that undue competition among security agencies was part of the lapses that should be addressed to ensure an effective security network. He said: “Security personnel must learn to place national goals ahead of institutional goals or per-

sonal bias. They must be sensitive to early warning signs and in the case of an emergency, ensure that responses to distress calls are swift.” Lapai urged government to always ensure that equipment and firearms of the security agencies are superior to that of insurgents and other criminal elements. While urging security agencies to disabuse their mind of the notion that some agencies are superior to others, the Brigade Commander, 34 Brigade Obinze, Brigadier-General Mohammed Bello, said security agencies are complementary to

one another. The Brigade Commander, who was represented by Col. Ademola Adedoja, added that; “What we need more is information from the ordinary man on the street and when information flow from the civilian residents increase, the efforts of the security agencies would be enhanced.” Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, who was represented at the occasion by Chief Gerry Okolie, a Deputy Chief of Staff, also commended the initiative, saying that 90 percent of good governance is anchored on security.

Amadi decries poor sanitation conditions in Nigeria Steve Uzoechi, OWERRI and environSatanitation mental health expert the Federal University

of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Prof. Agwu Nkwa Amadi, has said that owing largely to the poor sanitary status of Nigeria, a child dies every three minutes in the country. He made the disclosure while delivering the

25th Inaugural Lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Imo State. Amadi, a professor of public health and specialist in environmental health and safety, also noted that at least, half of Nigeria’s population has one episode of malaria annually, and the majority of outpatients visit to hospitals can be attrib-

uted to malaria, which he described as another ailment occasioned by poor sanitation. While arguing that government has always placed emphasis on the provision of water supply without adequate attention to sanitation and hygiene, the university don said poor sanitation and hygiene negate any gain that could be realised

from the provision of safe water alone and has adverse effect on the health, economy, education and governance of the people. He regretted that sanitation and hygiene have been accorded low priority at community and household levels, with government showing no clear interest in addressing it as an essential component of public health.

‘Osun on track to meet second MDGs targets’ / PAGE 15 | ‘Jonathan seeks to bolster PDP electoral war chest’ / PAGE 16

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2015: APC’ll be demystified in Lagos, says Omotesho

p-14

Friday, JuLY 25, 2014

The All Progressives Congress (APC) would be facing a popularity test in the South-East, as the race for the soul of the zone hots up ahead of the 2015 general election, writes FELIX NWANERI

2015: APC faces acceptability test in S’East

he people of the South-East geo-political zone are in for interesting times, as the country’s leading political parties’ perfect strategies on how to consolidate on already gained grounds or expand frontiers in the five states that make up the zone ahead of the 2015 general election. Ordinarily, the scheming, especially, the one by the All Progressives Congress (APC) would not have been appealing if not for the crisis that fragmented the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), which hitherto controlled the zone with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). While both parties have remained dominant in the SouthEast over the years with two states - Anambra and Imo (before Governor Rochas Okorocha’s defection to the APC) for APGA and the remaining three states – Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi for the PDP, the APC has vowed to wrest power from them in the five states of the zone in 2015. Okorocha, who spoke recently on behalf of the party, said the APC will provide a formidable platform that will enthrone good governance at all levels in the country in 2015, the SouthEast inclusive. He hinged his optimism on what he described as “the marginalization of Ndigbo by the PDP.” His words: “APC remains the best vehicle to promote the interest of our people. PDP has marginalised the South-East and has nothing to show for all its years in power. Ndigbo have not produced the president, vice president, Senate president, speaker of the House or the Chief Justice of the Federation but I am confident under APC, one or more of these positions will come to the South-East.” A former member of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly and chieftain of the party in the state, Hon. Patrick Mgbebu, who made similar boast, said the APC will liberate the people of the zone from the misrule and act of impunity perpetrated by the PDP. “APC has come to provide the South-East with a credible alternative and the rejection of PDP would be a sentence of death to

Oyegun

Okorocha

expired politicians who do not wish the young to grow. We shall mobilize the people against the evil of recycling tired bones in executive positions,” he said. The National Chairman of the party, Chief John OdigieOyegun, also shares Mgbebu’s optimism. He said the nation’s wait for an alternative political party is over though he noted that the APC will not be under any illusion that the defeat of PDP is going to be easy as the ruling party will stop at nothing to frustrate its mission to dislodge it in the next elections. He said: “Our party has much work to do. The state of

our nation is highly disturbing. It could be said with some justification that our great country, Nigeria, is on the ropes.” While many have argued that the APC’s ambition to over-run the South-East is a tall dream, some followers of the zone’s politics, however insist that it is achievable. They hinged their belief on the in-road made into the zone by one of the legacy parties of the APC - Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN (now defunct) in the 2011 elections, especially in Anambra State, where it won a senatorial seat through a former governor of the state, Dr. Chris Ngige, as well as some

House of Representatives and state Assembly seats. To these pundits, if the then ACN, seen by the people of the zone as a South-West party could put up a strong showing in the South-East in 2011, the APC, which has a faction of APGA, led by Okorocha, stands a better chance to make more incursion into Igbo land in 2015. But, how the APC “broom revolution” which has swept up to Edo State from the SouthWest zone, will extend across the Niger in the next general elections remains unclear, given the perception in the South-East that the party is a Muslim party.

CROSSFIRE If $14 billion has not clipped the wings of Boko Haram in five years, what difference can $1 billion make if thrown into the crises in the same old way –Lai Mohammed

The loan request is not for the government of Nigeria to go and collect cash…it is not just to fight Boko Haram, it is to support the armed forces in terms of surveillance, training, etc -Mike Omeri

Already, there has been some massive mobilisation by some Igbo groups against the party in the zone. One of the groups behind the mobilization is Ohanaeze Youth Council, which has vowed to stop the APC in the South-East come 2015. Rising from a recent meeting in Enugu, the group advised the APC to concentrate in the North and South-West, as the SouthEast zone is a no-go area for it. The group said Igbo youths would never be associated with a political party that had exhibited ethnic and religious bias as the APC. According to it, the Yoruba/Hausa alliance which the new party epitomizes, has never favoured Ndigbo since independence and cautioned Ndigbo against embracing the party. “APC should concentrate in the North and South-West. We will make sure that APC did not win even a councillorship seat in the South-East. The party was formed out of acrimony. We will not tolerate any gang-up in the South-East,” it said. The South-East chapter of the PDP, which also described the APC as a party alien to the zone, predicted that it would be rejected by Ndigbo. The party’s National Vice Chairman (South East), Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd), described Okorocha’s view as an affront on Ndigbo. Another party, which claims the South-East as its base - All Progressive Peoples Alliance, APPA, on its part, described the APC as unnecessary distraction to Ndigbo, saying the party is not different from the defunct ACN. Imo State chairman of the party, Macdonald Ogoke, who made the assertion, said like the ACN, APC will soon fizzle out in the South-East. “The ACN did not make any impact in the South-East while it existed,” he said, adding that no serious Igbo man will think of joining the party as it has nothing to offer them. But some analysts opined that the Ohanaeze youths’ threat and even the claims by the PDP and APPA will make less impact, except they are ready to back their respective positions with superior arguments on why Ndigbo should not see the APC as a credible alternative, as a majority of the people believe that the PDP-led Federal Government has not CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

14 POLITICS Oladipupo Omotesho is gubernatorial aspirant in Lagos State under Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In this interview, he opines that PDP will demystified the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 general election. He also bares his mind on the state of insecurity in Nigeria, his agenda for Lagos State, among other issues. TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE reports What are your highpoints in terms of resourcefulness as you aspire to govern Lagos in 2015? I believe strongly that democracy will be tested in Nigeria during the 2015 elections and that will witness significant change in the political structure of Nigeria. Up till the last general election, candidates were more or less handpicked and that is going to be a thing of the past in next elections. I am not saying there will be no godfather politics but godfather may not be able to guaranty his candidate a position in the political structure of Nigeria. As for me and my political machinery, we will surprise people of Lagos State. Lagos will see new things; better things that will completely change the face of Lagos in terms of economy and well-being of the citizens. Lagos residents need to see a change and for them to see real change there must be proper dismantling of the present system or machinery that produced same result. In other words, the party at the helms of affair must change and as we speak, the most formidable alternative is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); the party with a one single umbrella shielding the giant called Nigeria. I can say that I have t h e

Omotesho

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

APC â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ll be demystified in Lagos, says Omotesho support of my party to contest in the next year governorship. I am very passionate in my determination to serve the people of Lagos State and meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people of Lagos. The only thing that is constant in life is change and believe me, there has not been any change in Lagos since 1999. When you look deep, you see the same old practice and style. We have people whose sole aim is to make all the money from Lagos and go elsewhere to become governor, senators, council chairmen, whereas the true Lagosians have nowhere to go. I believe there is need for change and I am ready to give my best to my state and offer genuine service in terms of transportation, housing, commerce and industry, market development and to strengthen the local government structure. What is the implication of the PDP victory in Ekiti State to the ruling party in Lagos State? Ekiti people opened their eyes

I am very sure that they will soon be demystified. APC is a temporary political party in Lagos. It is a party that changes identity like chameleon because they want good things of life, people suddenly realize that old things are gone and new things have come. The outcome of the election shows clearly that people can no longer use style and deceit to win election again. The results reflect the true yearnings of the people. The goodwill of President Jonathan rubbed off on Ekiti election. President Jonathan is someone you can trust and believe. Nigerians have seen that and they will vote for trust, truth and honesty. As far as Lagos is concerned, it is a simple matter; Lagosians have seen better light. The case of Lagos State is like the case of a masquerade changing his cloth every four years and presents itself as a new masquerade. People embrace him, but suddenly we are no longer fooled. We want to know why the masquerade keep changing, it a strategy that perpetuated him in power. It is certain that there would be change in Lagos and the whole PDP is behind me and together we are going to make a change in Lagos like what happened in Ekiti State. Would you have considered the APC as an option if considered for elective office? I cannot change my membership to APC because I am very sure that they will soon be demystified. APC is a temporary political party in Lagos. It is a party that changes identity like chameleon. They started with Alliance for Democracy (AD), changed to Action Congress (AC) and later Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and now it is APC. Only God know what they will be next. PDP is a party that is truly consistent and possesses a single identity. Uncle Bola Tinubu and I know each other since the days of Mobil and I also know Uncle Lai Mohammed in our days in the University of Lagos (UNILAG). I also know Uncle Ayo Opadokun also during our days in UNILAG. APC is a party that does not stand for true identity, so, I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t join them, I will remain in PDP for life. You said that APC will be demystified in Lagos State but some people are of the view that what happened in Ekiti will not happen in Lagos. Do you foresee the ruling party losing Lagos to PDP in 2015? It is a matter of opinion but change is inevitable in Lagos. Governor Fashola has tried his best for almost eight years. Lagosians know that it is one government, one governor and different faces. The people want to experience true change.

We are talking of a change that will lead to review of toll gate structure, local government structure. We will provide markets at cheap rates, improve water transportation. Low cost housing scheme will be made available and we will also provide rail system. Public schools will be reorganized and teaching services will be improved in the state. People will no longer buy drugs from pharmacy stores outside the health centres because we will make sure that the stores will be within the health centre and hospitals, and adequately furnished with more specialists and doctors. There would also be proper accountability of public funds. There are too many packages that will swing change in the state apart from the fact that Lagosians are just tired of these people. But it appears APC is stronger than PDP in Lagos. That is in the past. If you remember during the 2007 governorship election despite the power of incumbency, AC won the election by sheer luck. Now that there is more awareness that residents are under the political bondage of just one individual with multiple identities and cronies. It is easy for PDP to sweep the poll and our amiable resilience and trust worthy President will put the whole of his enviable credentials behind me and behind PDP in Lagos State. This is a generation of change and it is very certain. Multiple taxation regime will be abolished. How can someone pay Value Added Tax (VAT) and also pay for sales and consumption tax; what is the meaning of that? A disciplined road traffic wardens unit will be set up and there would be improved training for the officials and not the ones that they will be beating Lagosians. Given the peculiarities of Lagos, how do you think the challenges facing the state can be solved? Only the people of Lagos can fix the problem of the state. The person holding power matters a lot. There is need to solve the problems people are facing in the areas of transportation, housing, economy, administration, land management, etc. We all witnessed how Alhaji Lateef Jakande ran the affairs of Lagos with ease and things worked out because he knew Lagos. It was also easier for Sir Michael Otedola to governed Lagos State because he knew the terrain. Historical appreciation puts insight into solution. As for Oladipupo Omotesho, my great grandfather was born in Lagos and my grandfather was also born in Lagos. I had my Nursery, Primary, Secondary, HSC, University and Law school in Lagos. I know the problems of my state and I know how to solve them. I know how to solve the problems in the area of health, education, housing and many other things. There is a blueprint of strategies we plan to follow but the strategies cannot be disclosed fully on the pages of newspaper. I look forward to picking the PDP ticket to contest the 2015 governorship elections. What is your view about the menace imposed by Boko Haram? It is just a challenge but our amiable President is able to solve the problem. God has given him tremendous wisdom and he is poised to building a strong and egalitarian society in which all men will have equal opportunities and all rights will be justifiable. President Jonathan and PDP are up to the task everything will soon be settled.

POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Osun State on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Abdullah Adeyanju Binuyo speaks on how the state has been meeting its MDGs goals in the past three years. WALE ELEGBEDE reports

Binuyo: Osun on track to meet second MDG targets

What are the target points for Osun state as far as the MDG is concerned? MDGs are a set of international development goals specifically focused on the third world countries to engender rapid development. It came about 14 years ago when several countries in the world, about 187 of them, came together to join the signatories to these time-bound targets. Nigeria joined the MDGs program basically after 2006, after we had debt cancellation from the Paris Club and other organisations. The debt relief makes up the budget for financing MDGs across board and this actually started during the Obasanjo administration. For a forward-looking state like Osun, the Government has taken up itself to invest directly in the MDGs as included in their normal development vision, which are the 6-IAPs. Today in Osun, MDGs have grown in leaps and bounds with positive effects on the people of the state. It has reached every nooks and crannies of the state in terms of improved access to safe water, better health care delivery systems and of course poverty eradication and wealth creation across the whole of the state. Looking at the program of MDGs, what are the roles played by the federal and state governments in realising its aim? The Federal Government created the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs particularly to engage with the states. The essence of this engagement is to engender or stimulate responsibility on the side of the states by providing a partnership called Conditional Grant Scheme (CGS) wherein the Federal Government provide funds on their own side which will be matched with the state governments’ counterpart funding. Now these projects are designed from the state cascaded upwards for approval at OSSAP-MDGs before implementation. So, partnership started with the arm extended by the Federal Government to the states and some states on their own have taken it upon themselves to take MDGs as a target, as a goal to foster development in their respective states. How do you source for fund to push the MDG programmes? MDG are co-funded both by the federal and the state governments. In Osun, the governor has always invested his own personal commitment and enormous political support towards ensuring that funds are available for every cycle of the MDGs projects in the state. The state government has scaled up the investment by targeting specific local governments, with the least Human Development Index for implementing the MDGs. We try not to put our funding where it is not needed; we first start with a lot of assessment to ascertain the needs of the project in a particular locality. Before the advent of the Aregbesola administration, a lot of projects were not carried out with thorough NEEDS assessment; instead you find some wards having multiple facilities all in the name of political patronage while others wards are left untouched. This is not the case with this administration as we do exhaustive analysis of the needs for a particular project to be implemented in whichever community that is why you find out that most of our projects are where they are needed. You go into the hinterland and rural areas and you find our projects all

Binuyo

over the various rural communities. In concise points, what are your MDGs achievements in Osun State? In terms of achievements of MDG’s, I would not limit the achievements to what my office has done, I would rather talk about what the government, that is, every side of the government has done together in achieving the MDGs. Osun policies and programmes are designed in such a way that one project supports the other and they are integrated. In terms of the first target of MDGs, Osun has been confirmed by the National Bureau of Statistics as the state with the least unemployment rate in the country. This is a huge achievement, achieved by the investment of the Governor in driving out poverty and hunger from the state which is part of his key integral action plan and that is the first goal of the MDGs. Today, when Ogbeni came on board, he made available about 20, 000 now doubled to 40,000 jobs to the youths. So, in terms of these achievements, Osun has grown in leaps and bounds towards achieving MDGs, it is clear that we have attained Goal one. For Goal two, the way projects are done in Osun is such that enabling policies are formulated in such a way that one sector positively affects another sector. We look at the heavy investment in educational infrastructure in Osun today, as against the ramshackle and dilapidated school structures we inherited, today an average Osun citizen would rather put their wards in public schools than putting them in private schools, because hardly would you find any private school that would compete in terms of infrastructure as compared to what Aregbesola is putting on ground today. Look at the integration of the feeding and the provision of the catering service with the total number of people involved in the process, the state government actually brought about 3,000 caterers on board, the multiplier effect of having them

If you look at the indices today, we can proudly say that Osun has done exceedingly well towards meeting lot of the targets of the MDGs gainfully employed has affected positively the first goal of MDGs, while trying to fulfill the second goal. The second goal of MDGs via the policy of the governor has impacted better in terms of child health, which is another goal in the MDGs, we look at the average weight of these kids, they are not malnourished they are well fed, and it makes teaching and learning a process that is successful around the state. We have invested heavily in the PHCs, the target of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency is to have a PHC in every ward. The President gave an ultimatum that MDGs’ targets should be met by May 2015. Do you think Osun will be able to meet up? If you look at the indices today, we can proudly say that Osun has done exceedingly well towards meeting lot of the targets of the MDGs. In terms of the first goal, we have met the targets; this is because the state government has built its own development target around MDGs in the first instance. It is possible that both the integral plan of the governor alongside MDGs is targeting the same goals but in terms of achievement of the goals, we are well ahead on almost all the targets. In terms of investments in several sectors that have to do with MDGs, the projects currently being carried out in the state are all pro-poor projects, which are the tar-

gets of the MDGs. In terms of the first goal, we are confident we have achieved it. For the second goal, we are confident that we are clearly on track, in terms of women empowerment, in child mortality we have better statistics than the national average; we have actually met the goals in terms of child mortality and improvement of maternal health, meeting these goals is something we are currently celebrating in Osun. Can we safely say that State of Osun is a clear example of the success of MDGs programmes? To prove that further, look at the issue of O’YES, not only was it a monumental success, the World Bank even attested to it, they are currently funding the Federal Government of Nigeria to copy the project and the program in what they call YESSO, the World Bank is currently funding it nationwide. In terms of success of MDGs, Osun has clearly proven itself. Furthermore, the government of Osun has tried to improve on the successes of the past, part of the programmes we have embarked on is the empowerment of about 2,250 beneficiaries in a program called Conditional Cash Transfer. Before now, Osun Government have a paid programme under the Social Safety Nets to those we call “Agba Osun”5, the old and vulnerable group, about N10, 000 stipend every month and the governor has decided to scale this up by another 2,250 beneficiaries which include the indigent widows. The essence of this is that we are paying cash to them on the basis that they are accessing the facilities that the government is currently building. For those that have health facility in their locality, we are paying them to ensure that pregnant women who come to the facilities have access to both pre and post natal treatment; we are paying them to attract an increase in the enrolment of children in school and to reduce the number of out of school age children on the street.

16 POLITICS

OPEN FORUM Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is former governor of Lagos State and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC)

he news that President Jonathan has requested the National Assembly to approve his request to seek a loan of one billion dollars purportedly to battle Boko Haram terrorism should lead any person with sober conscience to fall out of their chair. If only our spendthrift President attacked terrorism with the daring by which he assaults democracy and our common sense, there would be no need for any expenditures. Boko Haram would have been vanquished many yesterdays ago. Yet Boko Haram continues stalking us because the President would rather play tricks than govern as a statesman. The bottom line is the only thing remotely military about this massive request is that it serves to camouflage a sinister aim. The man seeks the bolster the PDP electoral war chest on the backs of the victims of terror and on the heaviness of our collective fear of the terrorist’s threat. In cloaking the request as part of the battle against terror, he believes no one will have the courage to object and this will enable him to get away with what should not be gotten away. He is not asking for help in tackling terror. He is asking us to turn a blind eye and empty mind to an abject heist. This is as cynical a measure as a national leader has ever undertaken during the time of national calamity. He demeans his office and the nation in this time of crisis. Of all things, he now subordinates the gravest national threat we have faced in four decades to his desire to hold to office. Yet do we know precisely what the loan is for? No. What will they purchase that has already not been set to purchase? No one knows. Again, by saying this is to fight terror, we are supposed to act blind, deaf and dumb or rush to congratulate him for his new found vigor. At best, he appears as a Johnny-come-lately to the fight against Boko Haram. This man has been commander-in-chief for over three years. Where has he been? He has been ensconced in the cozy, safe con-

Deacon Adebayo Obatungashe is the National Treasurer of Campaign for Democracy (CD) and a human rights activist

think the present administration under President Goodluck Jonathan has shown to us that this is a country that nothing works but in spite of that with what happened in Ojota, Lagos State sometimes ago, when civil society groups gathered together to protest against removal of fuel subsidy and with what is happening with the case the kidnapped Chibok girls, I think government must listen to the people. We are advocating and asking the government tirelessly to ensure that the girls are released. It is quite unfortunate that our government is bringing the issue of borrowing $1 billion to fight insurgency. What do they need the money for? I think it is a diversionary mechanism that has been adopted by the present administration under President Jonathan to divert the minds of Nigerians out of the main issues for the release of the Chibok girls to another thing that would generate controversy so that the people will now put their energy on the

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

...PRESIDENT’S REQUEST FOR $1 BILLION LOAN TO FIGHT INSURGENCY

Tinubu: Jonathan seeks to bolster PDP electoral war chest The man seeks the bolster the PDP electoral war chest on the backs of the victims of terror and on the heaviness of our collective fear of the terrorist’s threat

Tinubu

fines of Aso Villa, giving less than a care about the ravaging of northern Nigeria. It was only upon hiring a foreign PR firm did he begin to act as if Boko Haram and the Chibok crisis exist. Before that, he was sleepwalking in the midst of the storm around us. I fear hired handlers may have told him to do this thing because it will help him get elected and will make it appear to the outside world that he is doing something. Johnny-come-lately is also now on stage dancing and performing in dual capacity, as Johnny do-the-wrongthing and Johnny wrong-step. Hasn’t he presented the National Assembly defense bills and budgets totaling over a trillion naira during the past three years? Boko Haram has been terrorizing throughout this period. Tell me, what has changed, what is so different now that he must stack another one billion dollars atop the funds already given him to defend and protect the nation? The answer is nothing except that elections soon approach. Thus, we are left with two

alternatives. During the past three years, he has been so bereft of conscious and derelict in duty that he presented defense budgets woefully inadequate to face the challenge we all could plainly see before us. Alternatively, he has been so bereft of conscience and derelict in duty that he has squandered the money given him the worst of ways, giving contracts to cronies and leaving our frontline soldiers without boots or bullets. Now he asks us to applaud his request for a billion dollar loan. He and his claque have siphoned money from the states to deposit in the illegal excess crude account/sovereign wealth fund. Government said they did this unconstitutional confiscation of state and local funds in order to save for a ‘rainy day’. Well, terror is reigning over and down on us from all sides. The blood of the innocent rains on our national conscience. If those who control this money do not think we are not now in the hands of calamity, then there will be no other earthly occurrence that may ply their hands into releasing the people’s money for the people’s security and well-being. In short, there is no need for the loan. If the funds are truly needed for our collective safety, Nigeria has the money. But Jonathan seeks to borrow money because of his foreign handlers. They have told him if he borrows from abroad and spends that same money aboard, he will win the favor of foreign

lenders, arms contractors and assorted business ventures. These people will, in turn, pressure their governments to love Jonathan where they now loathe him and his incompetent handling of high matters of state. As such, he can then ramrod his way through the 2105 elections and not risk international reaction. This is the plan. This loan is not intended to defend Nigeria any more than a pig is built for aerial flight. It is intended to launder his image and buy foreign favor that he may conduct his coming electoral misdeed in international silence. In reality, this loan will be used to buy the election and pay for the intimidation of the opposition and electorate. Most of it will go into the PDP coffers. The portion which finds its way to the armed forces and security agencies will be to purchase their services in suppressing all who are not PDP. The loan will not be to fight terrorism. It will be to fight the legitimate dissent. Thus, the President’s request should be rejected categorically. For he seeks not to use the money to construct a safe haven for the people. He seeks the money to build a casket for democracy. I want to rid this nation of Boko Haram but I also am not prepared to be fooled by a trickster and his tricks on this important point. Given his track record of corrupt expenditure, the burden of proof lies with Jonathan. If more money is truly needed to tackle Boko Haram, I have no qualms with it. Before we get there, the President must give the nation a full accounting of what happened with the vast funds already allocated. If we need more funds, let it come from the illegal funds the government now controls. Moreover, if money is need the national assembly must institute a special fund and exercise special control and monitoring over the sum. All expenditures must be audited by impartial experts so that the funds are used solely for the battle against Boko Haram and not for partisan objectives.

Obatungashe: It’s a diversionary mechanism issue of the $1 billion loan. Looking at the budget of this year, over 20 per cent was devoted to the Ministry of Defence and committed to security issues. The budget was just passed in May this year and this is less than four month and the government is now coming out to seek for another loan. If over N600 billion is committed just in May for security issues and the government is now coming now with a proposal to borrow $1 billion, we need to ask the government what is the borrowing of the money meant for? Sincerely speaking, I think every Nigerian that wants to protect his future and a secure for himself, children and family should kick against this. It is not something that is tolerable. The President is just making a jest of us before the world. So, I want to say emphatically that Jonathan is wrong and whoever that is advising him on this is wrong. And I think Jonathan is not serious with us in Nigeria. I believe every Nigerian should come together and harmonise every available resources to fight this government. We need to fight for our right and to ensure secure future for ourselves. If we should allow the government to borrow the $1 billion, I want to assure you that the money is not going to be used

Obatungashe

for the interest of Nigeria but it will be use to campaign for 2015 general elections. It is PDP that want to borrow $1 billion so that they can have something to use to prosecute the next election. They are so desperate and they have shown their level of the desperation so far in ensuring that they get into power without anything to show for it. It is over 15 years that Nigerians has been under bondage and that these people that forced themselves into power are like task master that has been prolonging suffering of the people and they

still want to use that $1 billion they will borrow to prolong that suffering of the masses. The doctors have been on strike for the past three weeks now, government has not borrowed money to pay them but they are now asking for $1 billion loan. This week, the Minister of Defence came up to say that with the equipment they have now, they are sure that Nigeria is going places. Then, what are they borrowing $1 billion for? It is over 100 days that the Chibok girls were abducted and our government feels comfortable in Aso Rock, using our money traversing all over the world. If it is one of the children of President Jonathan that is under bondage or abducted, he would have done something about the situation. But because the children we are talking about are those of the poor, does that mean that we should allow them to be in bondage with the Boko Haram? Even if these girls would be released and they will come out, I can assure you that they themselves will become militants because already they have been trained and already they know what militancy is all about. So, I am very sorry for this country and I pray that God will intervene quickly.

Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

POLITICS 17

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

OPEN FORUM

...PRESIDENT’S REQUEST FOR $1 BILLION LOAN TO FIGHT INSURGENCY

Ayogu: No amount can quantify one life lost Fidel Ayogu is former Nigeria’s ambassador to Uganda

wouldn’t want to start with a question so it won’t look as if I am replying question with question, otherwise I would have asked a question. One thing I don’t know is the idea of people who are saying that we cannot borrow money to fight insurgency in the country. What do they stand to benefit by bringing into politics in everything. Honestly I don’t know what they stand to gain when it is obvious that some people are saying that the Boko Haram are more equipped than the Nigerian military and somebody wants to equip the military to be more than the Boko Haram and they are saying they should not borrow the money. There are many ways of encouraging a system. You might not come out categorically to say that you are encouraging a system, but your actions and inactions have a way of tell where you stand. For instance you cannot pretend to be supporting or encouraging a system, but when an issue that wants to rebuild that system comes, you oppose it. It means that indirectly you are against the system. Whatever that could be done for the eradication or conquering of the Boko Haram, I don’t think it is too much. The death of one person alone is even more that the money we are talking about. So I am in full support of Mr. President’s move to seek for financial aid to fight the insurgents. If the Boko Haram is something we can just fight overnight, we would have done it long time ago, but it is not.

Prof. Emeka Ezeonu is lecturer at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State

There is no country that fights this kind of war that doesn’t borrow... I don’t think the President needs that money to contest the 2015 election as members of the opposition are insinuating You are fighting them here, and they are attacking from the other end. That shows that they shouldn’t be taken for a ride. There is no country that fights this kind of war that doesn’t borrow money, it is on record; some people will go outside to solicit for assistance because they are in a war situation. So we can’t take them for a ride. When you check the number of people dying every day, you will see that we are in real war and there is no war front that can take that kind of chances. So I am fully in support of that. In the real sense of the world, I don’t think the President needs that money to contest the 2015 election as members of the opposition are insinuating. You and I are Nigerians, and we know how things are done. People who will contribute for the election are ready, and they are Nigerians and that is how it is. If somebody is a saleable candidate, he doesn’t need to borrow money to prosecute his election. We have states and we have rich men in these states who actually want Mr. President to be there. What do you think those rich Nigerians are going

to do, or do you want me to name them who are friends of Mr. President. This money you are saying that Mr. President wants to borrow, some of his friends can raise the money alone here in Nigeria very effortlessly and without interest or collateral, so why do you think the president will have to go and borrow money to be able to enable him contest election or that if he doesn’t borrow money he won’t win election. Who is that person to challenge him? What does the person has for Nigeria better than what the President has done for country? The sincere thing will come out when it comes to voting. That is when you will see that Nigerians will open their minds, especially to the achievements of his administration like bridge-building, political will, infrastructure, peace and good ideas. He is not a dictator or a draconian president. Everybody is

Interview by CHINEDU EKEJA

Ezeonu: It’s misplacement of priority Until they stop playing politics with every little thing in this country, we will not go anywhere. For me I see no justification

or me it is a misplacement of priority. If the President says he is raising one billion dollars to create jobs; at least that will impact on the economy and the society more than raising the money to fight terrorism. For me it as simple as that, we are not just being realistic. If you want to do anything, you will always look for a reason to justify it. We were told sometimes ago that it is wrong to say that the insurgents are more equipped that the military, so today why are they are singing another song. At least, last year I read from the press that the government spent nearly one trillion naira on security. So, if they did not use it to equip the military, what did they use it for? Like I said, until they stop playing politics with every little thing in this country, we will not go anywhere. For me I see no justification. In as much as I don’t support terrorism, it comes from different forms and ways, and some of these things are encouraged by the government’s liberal attitude. The militants started in the past and they were fortified, so other restive youths would like to start up their own to get the same benefits, and once you start such, there is no end to it. For me, the most important thing is for the government to take the issue of citizenship very seriously. Create

Ayogu

seeing it. I don’t’ think the president will have opposition. All the people we are hearing springing up from other political parties are mostly old names that are being recycled. So to that effect, I don’t think the President will have much opposition as to necessitate his going outside to seek for loans to contest election. You know how the whole world has gone viral and ICT driven. But it is unfortunate that nobody has actually looked at that aspect. That aspect of war that is fought with advanced technology. We see what the Boko Haram guys are doing. It requires a modernized, highly technological warfare. The move I think is a good one. Of course everybody can see it; even a child can see it. The rapid rate of technological advancement, what is in vogue this year will turn out to look like something that was in vogue some one hundred years ago, by next year. That will give you an idea of what is on ground. Since the 1967 civil war, we have never had a threat, except when they were talking about Nigerian/Cameroon border crisis. That was not a threat that will necessitate stocking war equipment, and even at that, the technology was not as high as what it is now. It is changing every day. The money in question cannot even do much when you talk about updating to the latest war equipment of the international standard of today. You and I know that the money cannot do anything. So what I am saying is that no amount of money can quantify one life lost. Whatever that could be done to stop these insurgents cannot be said to be too much.

Ezeonu

jobs and enabling environment for the youths to thrive, and all these things will come to an end. When Governor Babatunde Fashola came to Lagos State, he was able to reduce the crime rate because he first engaged the youths. If in the morning you have to go and plant or water flower, by the time you come back in evening you will be weak and therefore will not have the temptation to go and rob, and again you have money to feed yourself and your family. I think we should actually start looking out for all these things. Unemployment may not be a justification for insurgency, but I know also that somebody who is willing to take N50,000 to go and bomb himself is

somebody who don’t have value for his life. And they don’t have value for their lives because of how they grew up. If you grew up as Almajiri and you are thrown into the street, you will have no value for your life and you will have no value for the society where you belong. So you will be willing to do anything. The point I am making is that if youths are properly empowered and engaged, the insurgents will have a very small pool of human resources to recruit from. For me, a job comes first more than any other thing. What we should be praying for, is that if we can dry the well from where they can recruit idle hands, you will be hoping that it will phase out something, but if you don’t, I am telling you, one can’t do anything. Go and read about Afghanistan, when these things starts, it will be very difficult to stop them, so the best thing to do is not to allow them to start in the first place. Honestly I don’t want to comment on the government’s sensitivity or insen-

sitivity over the whole security issue in the country. It is very unfortunate that it took the visit of a 17 year old Malala for the people up there to know that they could meet with the parents of the affected victims. I am worried and traumatized about what is happening to these kids. If you let them into the lion’s den and they have been there for 100 days, you guess that by the time some of them are out if at all they will come out, they will be much traumatized. If you are one of the parents, you will sure to feel the pain. This thing should be at front burner. Look at when Malala was shot; the whole world came to a standstill. Winning the battle against the insurgents is all about commitment. Recently, the American government despite all pressure succumbed to releasing some of the terrorists in their prison in exchange for one of their soldiers who has been held captive for so long. Some people are saying you should not negotiate with terrorist, but if their kids or relatives are involved, they will help them out. For me, government should sit down and discuss with these people. We were told they are faceless and we are talking about negotiation and people are being named, why can’t we get those people and talk to them and bring these kids outside. That is the best option because you cannot choose any military option, because if you do, you will kill many people.

Interview by CHINEDU EKEJA

18 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

As APC faces acceptability test in S’East

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

performed to the expectations of many Nigerians. To these analysts, how the groups would convince the extremely independent youths of the region to shun the APC, remains unclear as some chieftains of the party and Governor Okorocha’s aides allayed the fear of marginalisation of the zone in the party. An aide to Okorocha, Chinwe Asugha (Senior Special Assistant on Lagos Affairs and South-West Liaison), who spoke on the issue, told New Telegraph that there is the need for Ndigbo to unite under the APC and take their rightful place in the country’s polity. “Ndigbo are major players in the nation’s economy but we are suffering despite that position. Ndigbo therefore want a change. We cannot continue to be used and dumped. That is why we should embrace the APC, because it will offer us the opportunity to take our rightful position in Nigeria’s mainstream politics,” she said. While the APC would be banking on the popularity of Governor Okorocha and former Anambra State governor, Dr. Chris Ngige, who presently represents Anambra Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, a major challenge the party would be facing is that of power balancing within its fold. Most analysts however believe that how the party resolves this contentious issue will make or mar its fortune in the South-East. This assumption is based on the fact that the North and South-West, which are key partners in the merger deal that led to the formation of the party, have taken their respective turns to rule the country since the return to civil rule, while the South-East is yet to have a shot at the presidency. The question then is: Which geo-political zone will produce the presidential flag-bearer of the APC in 2015? The issue arises because of the belief that the party will find it tricky to convince its supporters in the South-East that they have a stake should it not adopt the principle of zoning or rotation of power and offices. Matthew Adejoh

he story of Murtala Nyako, the retired naval officer who was penultimate week removed as Adamawa governor, will continue to interest analysts. His fall from power is a typical story of the selfish, self-destructing Nigerian politician. For a man who became governor by popular acclaim in 2007, with the backing of the state’s political heavyweights like Professor Jibril Aminu, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Mr. Boni Haruna and many others, he had lost their comradeship soon after assumption of office. He had either trampled on them in his senseless accumulation of power or sidelined them effectively in running the affairs of state. He is also a politician with a queer sense of leadership, one who didn’t bother if anyone was following. Like the dog destined for death, Nyako wasn’t bothered that his ‘followers’ detested his divisive dispositions and cringed at his combustive statements that inflamed passion even beyond Adamawa. Within a 7-year tenure, Baba Mangoro as Nyako is popularly called, squandered all the enormous goodwill he inherited, so much that by the time he was impeached, he was virtually standing alone. But it is his cat-and-mouse relationship with former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, that showed how naïve he is. Nyako in his drowning days had tried to renew his relationship with Atiku, a fellow sojourner from the PDP whom he had long ditched, with a view to dragging him into the peace initiative that was seeking to stave off his impeach-

Ngige

Leaders of the APC seemed to have realised the tricky nature of this issue at the party’s formative stage, and decided to leave it out of their discussions to avoid upsetting the apple cart. A former Head of State and presidential candidate of the CPC in the 2011 elections, General Muhammadu Buhari, who hails from the North-West (Katsina State), has already indicated interest to contest the forthcoming poll. There are equally calls by some supporters of the former governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the ACN, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to take a shot at the 2015 presidency even though he hails from the South-West, which occupied the position between 1999 and 2007. This is even as there is another plot to present both men as the party’s presidential and vice presidential candidates in what has been described as Muslim/ Muslim ticket. But some people in the South-East are of the view that a Buhari or Tinubu candidacy is likely not to gain the support of the people of the zone, and to some extent, the South-South.

However, some say that what these analysts failed to understand is that anything short of a presidential candidate from either the North or South-West by the APC is likely rock its chances in 2015, as bulk of its votes are expected from both regions. While Tinubu enjoys an almost absolute control of the politics of the SouthWest, Buhari enjoys a near cult-followership in the North. But allaying the fear of possible marginalisation by the South-East, the APC has persistently denounced what it described as the consistent campaign of calumny against it by those who are saying that the party is controlled by Muslims, and that it did not reflect the country’s plural values. Noting that such attempt is cheap blackmail that cannot withstand the test of time, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the campaign is being waged by those who are hell bent on perpetuating mediocre leadership in Nigeria. According to him, “this is merely the PDP ploy to sell a lie to the public and attempt to clothe it as truth and it will not stand. The truth is that there are many more religious and ethnic bigots in the PDP and much more ignorance than there is in any other party in Nigeria.” On the part of PDP and its foot soldiers in the South-East, the threat posed by the APC in the zone is not one to be taken lightly. The build-up to the general election, especially that for the presidency has forced some political leaders in the zone to quickly move to endorse President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term even when he is yet to declare his intention. A group in the zone led by businessman, Prince Arthur Eze said since it is constitutional for a president to take two tenures of four years each, Jonathan should not shortchange himself or disappoint his supporters by refusing to go for another tenure. His words: “Former President Olusegun Obasanjo took eight years; we are calling on you to take another four years as one term is too short for you to finish

the job you have at hand. You can consider giving power to the North after your eight years, so that they will return it to the South-East after their own eight years.” Whereas it is common for individuals or groups to endorse candidates of their choice ahead of elections, analysts are however of the view that the President and his party would be getting it wrong, if they are convinced that the Eze-led group spoke on behalf of Ndigbo. Apex Igbo socio-political group, Ohanaeze is yet to take a position on the issue, but Oganiru Ndi Igbo Foundation (ONF), another pan-Igbo group has dismissed the endorsement, saying that Eze and his co-travellers do not speak the collective mind of the people of the South-East. The group, in a statement described the endorsement as ill-advised. It also insisted that Eze and his group are “a faceless gang and political jobbers seeking favour from the government.” Further dismissing the endorsement, ONF decried the gross underdevelopment of the South-East, which was one of the reasons Ndigbo came out enmasse to vote Jonathan into power in 2011, but unfortunately have nothing to show for it as the PDP-led administration has failed to do anything to alleviate the suffering of the people. The group therefore called on the President to fulfill his campaign promises, as only such will convince the people that he has their welfare at heart. It said: “While Ndigbo are not at war with Jonathan, there is absolutely no reason at this time to endorse him or any other politician for the 2015 election. Moreso when we are also interested in producing the president.” While it would be too early to conclude whether the APC can surmount the challenges ahead, and match the ruling party in the battle for the South-East in 2015, events ahead of the general election will determine whether the people zone, who have continually cried marginalisation despite their massive support for the PDP since 1999, will look towards the APC as an alternative.

Of Nyako’s naivety and Atiku’s hypocrisy ment. It was obvious that Atiku was not sucked into that deal, though he gave Nyako the impression he was fighting on his side. At a stage he had floated in the media, a grand plan to get the House members to cool off when in actual fact, he was quietly encouraging them. It was Atiku at his duplicitous best. So when the impeachment eventually succeeded, as expected, Atiku could not be more excited, though no one really expected him to walk the streets of Yola in open jubilation over Nyako’s impeachment. That would have been absurd since both men belong to the same APC; but it was obvious that he was glad to see the man who was by all standards a political liability, go. Within the State Chapter of APC, Atiku had watched as the twenty members he helped gain election into the State House of Assembly refused to join him when he crossed from the PDP to the APC out of resentment for Nyako. The five APC members they met in the party had dumped it and joined the rival PDP for the same reasons. So did Mohammed Buba Marwa, hitherto one of the shining lights in the party. For a man nursing presidential ambition under the APC, Atiku could not have been in a more awkward position with a governor who was everything but a team-player. He was perhaps the only presidential aspirant in the party without a good hold on the state chapter of the party, no thanks to a governor who divided more than he united his party’s leadership as well as

Nyako

rank and file. However, Nyako’s fall presented the former VP an opportunity, as usual, to seek to appropriate political capital. The public statement issued by his media office in condemnation of the exercise dripped with venom. To him, the President and his party, the PDP, were guilty of “excessive use of power” which he said was not good for decent democratic practice. According to him, the PDP’s decision to wield the axe of impeachment against an elected public office holder was the government’s way of settling scores. It was a most puerile argument coming from a man who had openly criticized the breakdown of governance in Adamawa and the reckless rape of her finances by Nyako, his family members

and their cronies. It was a most dubious argument from a man who viewed Nyako as a political liability against whom he held grudges for effectively sidelining him in the state APC and for not caring a hoot about his presidential ambition. So a drowning Nyako was naïve to believe that after all the political wounds he inflicted on Atiku, he could still get the former VP to rescue him from imminent disaster. In any case, was Atiku action honourable? Many would say no. The dummy he sold Nyako was most dishonourable but that’s vintage Atiku, the political opportunist, whose position on any issue is determined by what he stands to gain from it. In that situation, he can run with the hare with as much zeal as he would hunt with the hounds. It is no surprise therefore that he has become notorious for political prostitution and unprincipled inconsistency. The question many ask is: does Atiku, whose driving force in politics is the advancement of his personal interests, have the moral credentials to pontificate on democracy? The answer, of course, is no! It is equally dubious for Atiku who deceived Nyako by pretending to fight for his survival while secretly encouraging his impeachment, to turn around to condemn it. The former VP does no justice to his battered credibility by blaming the PDP federal administration and seeking to benefit from his shameless duplicity. •Adejoh sent this piece from Abuja via Matoadejoh@yahoo.com

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EDITORIAL

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 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

FRIday, JULY 25, 2014

Curbing the gradual slide to anarchy

he new rising gale of impeachment has earned the ire of former Head of State Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, who has warned that it will endanger the nation’s democracy. He said his warning transcended being an opposition leader: “I cannot, just because I am an opposition politician, fail to do what is expected of me as a former Head of State to help rescue our nation in times of great trouble and palpable uncertainty. History will not be kind to me if I sit back while things turn bad, just so that no one will accuse me of partisanship. Yes, I am a politician. Yes, I am in the opposition. Yes, there is the tendency for my statement to be misconstrued as that of a politician rather than a statesman. But I owe it as a matter of duty and honour, and in the interest of our nation, to speak out on the dangerous trajectory that our nation is heading. I can say, in all sincerity, that I have seen it all, as an ordinary citizen, a military officer, a state governor, a Minister, a Head of State, a man who has occupied many sensitive posts and a politician. I have been a close participant and witness to Nigeria’s political history since independence in 1960.” There is no denying the fact that the unfolding chain of events in the political firmament in the

past couple of weeks portends an ominous signal for the peace and tranquility of the country. We cannot pretend to overlook the obvious constitutional breach of coercively manipulating instruments of the state to subvert the democratic tenets and wishes of the people for the gains of a powerful miniscule within the political elite. The naked and arbitrary use of state power was showcased during the gubernatorial elections in Ekiti State, and its implementers moved on as though the right thing had been done. Fortunately, respected Lagos lawyer Femi Falana has had the courage to publicly state that Sections 215 and 217 of the Constitution stipulates that the power of the President to deploy Armed Forces for internal security is limited to the suppression of insurrection, including insurgency and aiding the police to restore order when it has broken down. Not long after the same underhand method has been used in removing the governor of Adamawa State and it has being brazenly deployed in a desperate attempt to unseat the governor of Nasarawa State. From all indications there are similar plans in the works across the country, these are happening in the building up to the 2015 general elections and the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan. It is sad to note that the impeachment

is been used for selfish reasons and ulterior motives. Even the architects of this ill-advised manner of playing politics, are now frightened because in the states under their control, the same crude tactics are being used to settle personal score. We state unequivocally that the ardent force being used to unseat democratically elected governors and other leaders without recourse to the stipulated process should have been deployed to end the menace of Boko Haram and rescue the abducted Chibok schoolgirls. It is such misuse of political power, as our raucous political antecedents show, that led to the downfall of the first and second republics. Nigeria is greater than people who are incapable of managing the access they have to power, and any attempt to take Nigerians for a ride will ultimately backfire. Politics in Nigeria has been reduced to a matter of life and death, not because those that seek power want to advance the cause of society but just because of selfaggrandizement. Political leaders including the president must realize that in a genuine democracy, ultimate political power resides with the people based on the tenets of the country’s constitution. Also the institutions of administration must not be deployed in ways that trample on the principles of equity

and justice. It is therefore important that the present administration retraces its steps before it creates are situation where things get out of hand and the country grinds to a halt. It is part of democracy that the wishes and expectations of the people are respected by upholding the rule of law., Recourse to the iron law of oligarchy will not only boomerang, it will have far reaching cataclysmic consequences of unimaginable proportions. The essence of aspiring for public office is to serve the people. If the people want a a change so be it and if they want continuity so be it, but to devise, obnoxious and draconian methods to achieve personal ambition will not auger well for the country in the final analysis. If even the motive for seeking elective office is to serve, then these manifestations of political desperation especially through unwholesome inducements should not be the norm. Leaders should be focused on tackling the numerous challenging problems including poverty, unemployment and insecurity. Nigerians deserve good governance by leaders with the requisite vision, not all the counter productive display being unleashed through self-seeking politicking. The country has suffered enough political regression. It is time to do things properly so that we can fulfill our potentials as a nation.

GABRIEL AKINADEWO Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU Deputy Managing Director/DEIC 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 TIMOTHY AKINLEYE Head, Graphics ROBINSON EZEH Head, Admin.

Sanctity of Truth

OPINION Odukomaiya’s ducal, durable dossier H

e did not carry his blue blood background around, no airs at all. Just the hard working boss who knew so much about his workers. And of course, he earned their respect. Prince Henry Olukayode Odukomaiya, a highly detribalised Nigerian, deserves every garland around his neck in this eightieth year of existence. Many will remember him as the man who rose to edit the famous Daily Times in 1969. In those years, the Editor of Daily Times was as powerful as a minister. Odukomaiya became even more popular when Chief Moshood Abiola hired him as the pioneer Managing Director of Concord newspapers. In a short while, the paper became a must read and was rubbing ink with Daily Times. Based on his Concord magic, the Ijebu Prince was tasked with the job of midwifing another brand, Champion newspapers, owned by another millionaire Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu. I t turned out to be another huge success from the day Champion debuted on October 1, 1988 until Odukomaiya left in 1993. We shall come to the manner of his departure much later. As the erudite journalist was settling down as Champion Managing Director, I was being prodded by Ely Obasi to go into journalism. I was cut out for the army. My other love

was Foreign Service. Ely did a letter to Odukomaiya to give me a chance in journalism. I took the letter to the Ilasamaja, Lagos corporate office of the organisation. The man read it and said nothing. I walked away a little unsure of what that meant. Well, I came for the interview. I wanted to be on the Foreign Desk. The MD said no, he was taking me to sports for trial. That was how he pushed me to Paul Bassey, who was then the Sports Editor. Many did not know how I came in. All I remember is that Odukomaiya confided in me that he was actually helped in his career by an Igbo, Gabriel Idigo. I settled down to work. Many of my colleagues who were recruited form Owerri hardly read me before the job and wondered if indeed I was Igbo. Odukomaiya was fantastic on the job. The pay was fine, the atmosphere was cool and all went well. The MD knew all his workers and had time for them. It was throgh his memo that I knew the Akalefu in Fan Ndubuoke. Emeka Inyama is actually Emmanuel. I also found out the Saura in Banji Ola. Odukomaiya was there always for his workers. If you invited him to a wedding in Kaura Namoda, he would be there. One of my colleagues, who was having accommodation problem in Port Harcourt, tried all tricks in the world to keep the MD away from his apartment. He failed. The boss followed him home and made himself comfortable. The Champion boss was also a man of honour. When i was eventually moved to the Foreign Desk, he took me to the Marina, Lagos office of Foreign Affairs minister Gen. Ike Nwachukwu. I got to respect him the more.

Friday, July 25, 2014

Gen. Nwachukwu was actually waiting to receive us. I wondered why. The officer helped me out. Odukomaiya was his boss before he joined the army, I think, in 1963. So both worked together as newsmen. It was that visit that made me believe that Nwachukwu was indeed an Igbo son. As we were leaving, he called me aside. Speaking in clean Igbo, the minister prayed me to remain on the Foreign Desk. All along, even when he was my state governor, I thought the general was an Hausa man bearing Igbo name. My move to the Foreign Desk was funny and I enjoyed it all. Bassey refused to release me. He said I was, like, untouchable. Then Odukomaiya let out the secret. He told the Sports Editor that I was bound for the foreign beat until he drafted me to sports. That did it and Bassey surrendered bitterly. Odukomaiya had to leave Champion. As a professional, he did his best. But you know, publishers pay the piper. There was this story that irked the Ibrahim Babangida regime. Odukomaiya was suspended even when he was not around when it happened. Labaran Maku was fired for that story. Thank God, the Information minister was very much around to honour his former boss in Lagos twenty-one years after wards. Under Odukomaiya in Champion, journalism was sweet. I never saw brown envelope because the pay was right. The paper never went cap in hand begging for sponsorship from companies. I was happy I had an MD who could make a minister bow and government catch cold. That is his legacy. At 80, Odukomaiya is still strong. He was a gentle smoker who loved a sip of stout. Nice man, good boss. Happy birthday sir!

Osun: Profiling ‘governance unusual’ Tunde Adewale

“W

e are running an unusual government and there is nothing conventional in what we are doing because we want to turn Osun to a hub of Nigeria.’’ ---Governor Rauf Aregbesola The governor of the State of Osun, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, is arguably Nigeria’s most controversial governor since the return to civil rule in 1999. To date, he remains the only governor whose religious inclinations no one can be sure about. Is he, for instance, a Muslim? Those who are familiar with his proclivity for Orunmila --- his eji ogbe flags, cowries and calabashes---would never agree that he is. Some of his critics say that he cannot even recite suratul fatiha. Yet, Aregbesola is the only governor who has declared hijrah holiday, sparking furious rebukes even from notable Muslim figures in the polity. Still, he appears to be versed in the Ifa corpus, invoking witches and wizards after praying in the Islamic and Christian manner, during official outings. Mr. Aregbesola’s creative blending of Islam with Ifa may yet turn out to be his most notable legacy in governance, but the point is that he pretends to be running a revolutionary government, and even occasionally, mouths Marxist jargon in the face of his robust material fortunes contrasted with the agony of the vastly-tormented Osun populace. He is certainly an invaluable material

for academic study, particularly when you are dealing with serious contradictions and political confusion. When he is not being tarred with a Janjaweed brush, Aregbesola (or Aregbe for short) is being accused, and justly so, of disrespect for constituted authority. He once said: “I mean no disrespect for the person of the vice president but I do not recognise his office,’’ because, as he alleged, the police had prevented some of his supporters from going to Abuja to express solidarity with Mr. Bola Tinubu during his case with the Code of Conduct Bureau. How do you disparage the office of the vice president without disrespecting his person? And if the police were solely an agency of the Federal Government, why not refuse police protection, then? Yet, in spite of all these, Mr. Aregbesola basks in the illusion of being the Hugo Chavez of Osun. Chavez was not a religious fraudster. As a matter of fact, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the Ekiti State governor, in an interview with newsmen last year, pleaded with the media to overlook Aregbesola’s tantrums, saying that he meant well for Osun. The problem, however, is that it is impossible to navigate Aregbesola out of the deluge of controversies that he willfully creates for himself in his bid to run “a government unusual” entirely devoid of positive vision and moral content. For starters, Mr. Aregbesola came to government, as admitted by his own party, com-

pletely unprepared for governance. For 10 solid months after being sworn in, Mr. Aregbesola had no cabinet. Incredibly, the ACN said he was using the period to plan. Yet, he approved mind-blowing sums for bogus projects, in clear contravention of the law. Asked why he had not yet constituted a cabinet 10 months into his administration, Aregbesola’s gave an incredible reply: “What we have not done is choosing our commissioners and we have no apology for that. There is no law that stipulates that you should choose your commissioners within a particular time. It is a function of how you assess the administration. I am taking my time.” Does Mr. Aregbe possess a copy of the Nigerian Constitution? Is this guy real? However, given that he was installed as governor only a few days before he was due to appear in court for forgery, his predilection for propaganda, including creating a ragtag army of State Boys, can be understood. Double speak is also part of Aregbe’s ‘governance unusual.’ Speaking as a participant at the 19th Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja on “Growing Agriculture at the State Level,” Aregbesola claimed that the Federal Government’s fertilizer distribution policy had failed woefully, since “not one single farmer” in Osun got fertilizer through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture! And so, he claimed, he had to cough out a whopping N1 billion to procure fertilizer for farmers in the state. But reacting to Aregbesola’s claims,

the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adeshina, dismissed the governor’s claim, pointing out that at the recent National Council of Agriculture meeting, he himself commended the Federal Government for its innovation in fertilizer distribution in the country. The minister then hit on the problem with Osun: “You can clear the whole land in your state for farming but if there are no incentives, the whole efforts will come to nothing.” Certainly, only a governor like Aregbesola can make such a blatantly false claim, since he does not credit Nigerians with commonsense. Criticised heavily for his mindless demolition exercise in Osogbo, Aregbe declared contemptuously: “I know very well that majority of the people of the state are with me, so let sympathisers pocket their sympathy. It is going to be monumental. Nothing of such thing has happened in Nigeria, not even in Lagos.” But Osun is not looking anything like Lagos yet. Now, it is interesting that Mr Aregbe wishes “to turn Osun to a hub of Nigeria,’’ yet, he has sold Osun land to Lagos. Mr Aregbe might indeed navigate his way out of the logjam by claiming that what he sold was “State of Osun land” but puerile semantics is not going to rescue a civil service state like Osun, which can certainly not be developed by negative commercialism. He is on his way out of Government House. • Adewale, an Osun indigene, lives in Lagos

ARTS FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

CULTURE

21 NEW TELEGRAPH

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CULTURE IS THE WIDENING OF THE MIND AND OF THE SPIRIT." ― JAWAHARLAL NEHRU

TONY OKUYEME tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

okuyemeogom@yahoo.com

Feast of drama, Dance in the Forest of Ijegba for Kongi at 80 Tony Okuyeme

he 80th birthday celebration of Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, tagged WS@80, had the trappings of a festival, showcasing performances that cut across various genres of the arts – literary, visual and the performing art. It featured lectures, touring art exhibition, rich theatrical and spoken word performances. It was kicked off on April 28, with an exhibition of life paintings of Soyinka mounted at the Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, which afforded students from various tertiary institutions to also gather for training. The show was also part of fifth edition of the annual Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange Programme, a project designed by Zmirage Multimedia Company for the purpose of using the platforms of literature, arts and culture to affirm and uphold the dignity of man. It settled on Soyinka – a notable human rights activist, playwright and poet who bagged the 1986 Nobel Prize for Literature – as a worthy role model and pivot for the ideals it seeks to propagate. In Lagos, to further the perpetuation of the cultural and artistic legacy of Soyinka, the Wole Soyinka Society in collaboration with the University of Lagos held a four- day international conference to celebrate his 80th birthday. Titled “The ‘Soyinka Impulse’” the conference which was on the theme, ‘Art, Humanity, Transitions and Permanence: Calibrating Soyinka @ 80’, was held at the University of Lagos, Akoka, July 10 to 14, 2014. It was convened by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services), University of Lagos, Prof. Duro Oni and Dr. Bisi Adigun, a lecturer of Visual and Performing Arts, Kwara State University. Programme of events include conference keynote lecture, entitled “WS and the Nigerian/African Left: Clarifications and Reflections On That ‘Jacobin’ Moment”, by Prof. Biodun Jeyifo of Harvard University; the staging of “Death and the King’s Horseman” at the main auditorium at UNILAG. Also, penultimate Friday in Lagos, about 80 spoken word artists and performance poets joined renowned Jamaican

Prof. Wole soyinka with the students and teachers

A scene in A Dance of the Forest

poet, Mutabaruka, and US-based Jason Johnson at an evening of poetry at the University of Lagos. In the audience were seasoned scholars and writers that include Professors Femi Osofisan, Niyi Osundare and Duro Oni. On Sunday, July 13, the stimulating poetry performance moved to the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta. The WS@80 celebration climaxed with the performance “A Dance of the Forests”, on Monday night on a stage built in the forest few meters from the Ijegba home of the celebrant. No doubt, the setting of the play offered the audience, especially, those who were in the place for the first time. It was indeed, symbolic given not just the ambience but also the set (stage). The play, directed by Theatre Arts Lecturer at the University of Ibadan, Dr. Tunde Awosanmi, attracted dozens of

theatre enthusiasts, friends, associates, students and admirers of the Africa’s first Nobel laureate. Among them were Prof. Niyi Osundare, Prof. Duro Oni, Prof Bode Sowande, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, Mr. Tunde Fagbenle, Lewis Adejumo, Tunde Kelani, Peter Badejo. Also in attendance were Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and members of his cabinet. For the about three hours which the performance lasted, the audience were held spellbound by not just the novelty and grandeur of the stage, but also its rich and stimulating dialogue, and the compelling performances by many of the actors, as well as the rich array of costuming and fireworks that announced the end of the show. Commending the actors for their brilliant performance, Amosun assured that Ogun State would continue to support the arts. Thereafter, Tunji Oyelana took the stage and entertained the guests. On Sunday, Enwongo-Obong Akpan was declared winner of the essay in which 225 pupils from different secondary schools across the country participated. Apart from winning the prize

You should be diligent and make good use of your talents. I am happy that with the WS@80 event we are gradually grooming our future leaders. We are grooming the future Soyinkas of the country

money for herself, she also won a computer for her school, and she had the opportunity to shake hands with the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, and Soyinka himself. The prize was judged by Dr. Rezinat Mohammed, Mr. Folu Agoi, Ita Osaifi and Ayo Ganiyu. Akpan was also one of the pupils who shared privileged seats with the Nobel laureate when he received the 80 finalists in his forest-home in Ijegba Estate, Abeokuta, on Monday. Amidst the children, Soyinka, who was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Folake Soyinka, and other members of his family, including his first son, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, interacted with them and answered various questions they asked. According to him, he was always elated in the midst of children. Earlier on Monday, Governor Amosun hosted the pupils in his office, where he urged them to take their studies seriously and find time to develop their talents, and assured them that the sky was the limit as long as they do so. He urged the pupils to emulate Soyinka, whom he described as a worthy indigene of Ogun State and a reputable global citizen. “You should be diligent and make good use of your talents. I am happy that with the WS@80 event we are gradually grooming our future leaders. We are grooming the future Soyinkas of the country. He is the only Nobel laureate we have. We cannot over-celebrate him. And his life is a lesson for us. If you have courage, you are determined, there is nothing you cannot achieve,” Amosun said. Present at the event were the co-founder of the WS@80 event, Alhaji Teju Kareem, the programme producer, Lillian Ammah-Aluko, and programme consultant, Mr. Jahman Anikulapo.

22 ART Ebere Ameh

avid is a 14 year-old student of one of the international schools in Lagos. He is good in Science but in love with Art. Despite his love and the fact that he has, on several occasions won laurels for his school in Art competitions while in Junior secondary school, he dare not choose Fine Art as one of the subjects he would offer in his senior secondary school. Reason? “My parents would skin me alive if I do. They want me to be an Engineer. Mom said I can only do Art as my hobby,” David said. He is one of those lucky ones that have Fine Art and even Music offered in their schools. Most Nigerian students have not seen a Fine Art Studio, neither do they have a Fine Art or Music teacher to coach them. The state of art education in Nigeria has for many years been a source of concern to experts and practitioners. Despite the pride of place given to Art education in the revised National Policy on education, Art has remained relegated to the background. An excerpt from the Revised National Policy on Education says, “...the 6-33-4 system at the secondary school level is therefore geared towards not only theoretical concepts but application of appropriate skills required in the development of Arts, Science and Technology for the survival of individual in our great nation. For the implementation of the curriculum, the Policy directs that the Government will take measures to see that the nation’s culture is kept alive through Art, music and other Cultural Studies in our schools as well as through local, state and national festival of arts. In order to encourage aesthetic, creative and musical activities, government will make staff and facilities available for the teaching of Creative Arts, Crafts and Music.” Poor implementation of the Creative Arts Curriculum in Secondary Schools in Nigeria and the negative attitude of most parents who believe that art is for lazy people and for those who cannot do well in science, are the major factors affecting Art education in the country. This continues to affect the number of students who are offered the subject in the three levels of education in Nigeria and by extension the number of graduates who would come out to teach others. According to Godwin Ogheneruemu Irivwieri of Fine and Applied Arts Department of Delta State University, “Creative Art practice in our secondary schools presently is relegated to subordinate position to other subjects. Parents, sort of encourage their children/wards to pay more attention to science based discipline. Creative art teachers on their own part are not able to perform to the optimum, due to extraneous factors militating against the full realization of the laid down objectives.” Writing on African Research Review, an International Multi-Disciplinary Journal, Irivwieri said that is in spite of the New National Policy on Education where the Federal Government, realizing the importance of art and culture in the development of science and technology, has given Art and Cultural Education their legitimate right in the nation’s educational system from the primary, post-primary and post-secondary institutions with their educational goals clearly stipulated. “With very good laid down objectives, one had expected that the curriculum would be able to produce creative, patriotic and productive Nigerians who will contribute optimally to national development, rather what we have on ground is a far cry from expectation, due to the poor implementation of the programme.” Underscoring the importance of Art education, Michelle Obama, a few days ago, gave the keynote speech at a Grammy Museum event where she advocated

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

Role of arts in education, development in Nigeria

Young At Art children creative workshop

for expanding the role of arts in education, saying that six million children in the U.S. have no exposure to any form of arts in school. Speaking before a huge audience Mrs. Obama stressed that ‘music and other forms of art often connect with students and enhance their interest in core subjects such as math, science and history,” adding that for so many young people, arts education is the only reason they get up out of bed in the morning. “The significance of art in the development of a child cannot be debated, art is a tool subject. It is the child’s lingua franca; through art the child understanding and thoughts are made clearer. Other subjects require visuals and illustrations to back up the process of learning,” Bojor B. Enamhe of Cross River University Of Technology noted. Enamhe further stated that the roles of art to the society are numerous. “Art promotes our cultural heritage and creates identity. Nigeria is known for her traditional art cultures of Nok, Ife, Benin, Igbo Ukwu, Owo, Esie, etc. Through art works the history of Ni-

We try to address the absence of Art classes in a lot of the schools and we think it’s really empowering geria is documented,” adding that the challenges in life have opened a better creative instinct merging the traditional and the modern for contemporary, he said that Art is very useful in everyday life and indeed so much with us, around us and within us. Piqued by the lack of Arts classes in some schools in Lagos, the African Artist Foundation (AAF) initiated a programme called Youth Empowerment through Contemporary Art (YECA). It is a mentorship program targeting the youth population in underprivileged communities in Lagos, Nigeria through art. Every Saturday, AAF, under the auspices of YECA, go to those schools in Lagos that don’t have Art classes and

hold classes with them. “We try to address the absence of Art classes in a lot of the schools and we think it’s really empowering,” Medina Dugger, a Curator at AAF said. Other non-governmental Organisations are also coming up with different programmes to bridge the gap and ensure a total education for the Nigerian child. Despite the laudable goals of these NGOs, the goals of proper Creative Art education are yet to be fully achieved. Government and all stakeholders must wake up to the challenge of employing Fine Art teachers and encouraging the students and making the necessary materials and facilities available. Enamhe insists that “Art in Education is very important part of our educational system. Therefore, it should be given adequate consideration. This should start from the very beginning that is, the primary schools. The subject should be introduced in all schools and it should be a compulsory subject. With the dynamic nature of children when encouraged, success will be achieved.”

Orits Williki celebrates three decades on stage, launches album

rits Williki, one of Nigerian reggae music pioneers will be celebrating his 3 Decades on Stage Anniversary/ Album Launch with a 4-day educating and entertaining events holding at selected venues in Lagos in August 2014. Orits, popularly known for his philosophical lyric that preaches justice, equality, fairness, conscience and good leadership has several national and international awards in his kitty. Some of the activities lined up for this anniversary are a novelty match between Orits Star 11 football team playing against Governor Fashola’s All Stars International Football Club on Saturday, 9th August at the Campos Stadium, Lagos. There will also be a media summit for all stake holders in the entertainment industry with the theme: The Future of Royalties Collection in a Globalized Industry, which will hold at the Freedom Park on Tuesday, 12th August with seasoned entertainment industry practitio-

ners as key speakers. Come 14th August, a dinner night for all media practitioners will hold at The Coliseum. The anniversary would be rounded up on Saturday, 16th August, with a grand live music concert holding at the prestigious Intercontinental Hotels, Lagos. This concert will feature Orits’ contemporaries like Daniel Wilson, Righteousman, Ras Kimono, Kupa Victory, Yinka Davies, Faya, as well as Nigerian talented and award winning artistes all would be singing a choice track from Orits’ repertoire. Pupa, as he’s fondly called by admirers recently shot a video of one of his tracks in his reloaded album featuring JayOne, Yinka Davies, Kupa Victory, Faya which would be hitting the airwaves any moment from now. Aside the notable contributions made by Pupa to music development and copyright matters in Nigeria, he was the first Nigerian to compose a song for the campaign against HIV/AIDS in 1994, he wrote,

Wiliki

compose and produced the official theme song for the FIFA World Youth Championship, Nigeria ‘99, compose and produced official song for the COJA (Common Wealth Game 2006); as well as official theme song for Gateway Games 2006 and he has released several albums to mention but a few.

MEDIA 23

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

Students of ACAD School, Ogijo, Ogun State

inister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke has underscored the significance and power of Nigerian culture (soft and creative energy) as the definitive element in the growth of investment in the country’s economy. He said the power of Nigerian culture is so compelling that from wherever direct investment is coming to Nigeria today, Nigerian culture had already arrived at such destinations, defined Nigeria, created a warm appeal and sentiment before business arrived at those destinations. Duke made this statement while delivering his address during the opening ceremony of the 7th edition of the African Arts and Crafts Expo (AFAC 2014) holding at the Eagle Square in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, from July 18 to 27. “It is important for us to note that whether it is from China, whether it is from United States, South Africa, Japan, Britain or Brazil, before the investment decisions get to Nigeria, Nigerian culture had already travelled to those destinations to position Nigeria, to speak the language which is the first letter of recommendation, he said.” Speaking about the importance of the AFAC platform to the participants, investors and Nigeria, as a nation, the Culture Minister said that it was geared towards attracting investment into the development of culture as an enterprise

Pupils of Samflo School, Ikorodu, in a drama presentation showcasing Nigerian culture

Nigeria’s culture, her most compelling asset, says Duke for the country, and that participants in the sector who have used their very mean resources to develop some of the most fascinating works on exhibition have been given a rare opportunity to showcase their talents and art, adding that it was time for corporate organisations, banking and financial institutions to invest and develop packages that would promote and sustain culture as enterprise. He further intimated that he will lead the Nigerian cultural community to participate in the African Summit opening on the 4th of August, at the world renowned John F. Kennedy International Center for the Performing Arts, Washington DC, USA, where a new narrative about the compelling power of culture in Nigeria would be showcased through a repertoire of songs and dances, literary works and creative endeavour, just as there would be discussions on the importance of Nigerian cultural dynamism in extending the frontiers of the country’s cultural relationships and diplomatic influence. He further commended the leadership

Nigerian culture is so compelling that from wherever direct investment is coming to Nigeria today, Nigerian culture had already arrived at such destinations of National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), the organisers of AFAC, for their professionalism and the innovation in the 7th edition: “I will therefore like to cease this opportunity to commend the leadership of National Council for Arts and Culture for the innovation that it has brought year in year out to the African Arts and Crafts Expo. I will also like to align with the sentiment expressed by the Chairman of the House Committee Culture and Tourism (Hon. Ben Nwank-

wo) that the leadership which Mr. Maidugu has given to this establishment, I think it is eloquent to his professionalism; and today, this industry, this sector is growing by leaps and bounds.” In concluding, Duke decried the poor state of the Art & Craft Village, acknowledging that there was a lot of work to be done in the area of establishing a truly International Arts and Crafts Centre in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory that would compete with the rest of the world in the creative market, noting that the development of an iconic art piece that will be the brand face of Nigerian art and craft that will be recognised as definitive of Nigeria anywhere in the world was imperative. Pledging his support and readiness to work with investing public and creative minds in the sector, the Minister stated, “I would like to reiterate the fact that I am willing to work with all members of the creative industry, the entire cultural community, the private sector investors and indeed the Parliament for us to grow investment potentials in this sector.”

Layiwola, Nwosu-Igbo for WAAW Foundation STEM camp for African girls

enowned bronze caster and lecturer of Arts and Art History at University of Lagos, Professor Peju Layiwola, installation artist and poet, Nkechi Nwosu-Igbo, and the Executive Director of Women Technology Empowering Center, Ore Somolu are among female role models and experts who will make presentations in the second Robotics And Renewable STEM Camp for African Girls in Lagos, Nigeria, organised by WAAW Foundation. The programme which will be held at the Global International School Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria, from July 28 to August 2, 2014, is a high quality, exciting and technically challenging one week residential Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) camp for African Girls ages 13 to 17. It is on the theme “Robotics and Computer Programming and Renewable Energy for Africa”. According to the founder and Chief Executive Officer of WAAW Foundation organization, Dr. Unoma Okorafor, the learning objective is to ensure girls think of Science and Technology as tools to help them innovate to enable

real problem solving in their communities. She stated that the camp will focus on using locally available materials to teach technology innovation to these girls. The Program Director, Ms. Tolulope Owajoba said the camp will use an integrated learning approach centered on the theme to show how robotics, computer science and programming are useful for solving significant problems in Africa, including electricity generation. “The girls will learn to use locally available items and tools so that when camp is over, they will be able to continue to innovate with what they can find in their communities. “This camp is made possible with our recent partnership with Emerging Leaders in Technology and Engineering (EliTE) and the generous donations from Google Rise, Engineering Informa-

tion Foundation (EIF), Africa Education Initiative (NEF), Co-Creation Hub Nigeria (CCHub), Etisalat, IBM, Cocacola, Brunel Engineering, El Mansur Architects, Technova Africa. “The Robotics STEM camp, will include hands on activities, lectures, tutorials, experiments and field trips, all led and presented by female role models like Professor Peju Layiwola, renowned bronze caster and lecturer of Arts and Art History at University of Lagos and Ore Somolu, the Executive Director of Women Technology Ema powering Center (WTEC), om Un as an avenue to interest and excite the girls about STEM careers. When asked about the criteria for qualification, the Executive Director of WAAW, Mrs. Ebele Agu stated that this camp is for African girls between

the ages of 13 and 17 years who are currently enrolled in Senior Secondary School (SS1 through SS3) within the African continent. “We feel that this is the age where girls are making crucial decisions about their careers. This is when we can make a lasting impression on the girls and help them form peer networks that they can draw on throughout their careers”. The STEM Camp Program, she further stated, will include students building a robot to solve green energy challenges such as trash sorting; students building renewable energy systems such as solar cars and Wind Mill systems; students exploring science, engineering and Math topics to support camp theme; and students participating in intense team building exercises. “The camp schedules a number of activities that include swimming, pizza parties, sugar crafting and baking classes, dance classes, career fair, wii playing and karaoke. Participants will experience dorm life, cafeteria food and learn what it is like to be on a college campus.”

24 TOURISM

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

Akwaaba 2014 debuts with wine tasting Stories by Andrew Iro Okungbowa

xpectations are high for the 2014 edition of Akwaaba, a travel and tourism trade annual exhibition, as organisers of the expo, which commands attendance from across the Africa continent and the travel world step up preparations. Scheduled to hold at its traditional home – Expo Hall of Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos –between October 26 – 28, as it has become the culture of the organizsrs to introduce new entrant to the menu set of the expo’s broth, the exhibitors and trade visitors as well as the public should expect to be treated to a colourful wine tasting session during the three days gathering. The culture of wine tasting is really not an established one in this part of the world as it is on other climes; however, Nigerians have the global record of one of the highest connoisseurs of classic wine and champagne. It is in promotion of this culture and with a view to entrenching it that the travel and tourism exhibition, organisers have decided to dedicate the hospitality day of the fair, holding on October 28, the last day of the expo, for connoisseurs of wine and champagne and the products marketers to get together and treat the public to an exciting wine tasting ceremony. According to the organisers of Akwaaba, Africa Travel Quarterly (ATQ), the day provides a platform for wine distributors and manufacturer from all over the world to engage with the public and their patrons. Also, is an avenue for those products promoters looking to increase their business in Nigeria and across Africa to showcase their products and build and increase brand loyalty and patronage as well as the opportunity to showcase their products to the travel community and wine lovers in Nigeria and Africa. The Wine tasting event will feature diverse selection of top wines and spirits from all over the world. “Nigeria is one

L-R: Former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, the publisher of Africa Travel Quarterly (ATQ), Mr. Ikechi Uko, former Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Otunba Segun Runsewe and the organiser of Akwaaba, Mrs. Rita Ikechi Uko... during one of the past editions of Akwaaba

of the fastest growing economies in the world and the biggest Champagne market in Africa,’’ said Mrs. Rita Ikechi Uko, organizer of Akwaaba. ‘‘We are always looking for ways to create and add value to our clients as well as improve visitors’ experience at our events. So, the wine tasting event was born out of the need to create a proper platform for bringing together wine buyers and sellers from all over the world. An audience Akwaaba has consistently attracted over the years,’’ she explained. Mrs. Ikechi Uko added that “With ‘big taste experience’ we hope to not only provide a platform for wine deal-

ers and producers to sample their wines but also provide an atmosphere where guests can sip, savour, mix and mingle while enjoying the best of what Africa has to offer and it’s a project we intend to continue with and build in the next coming years.” Attendees to the fair would have the opportunity to sample different top rated wines and spirits from exhibiting wine dealers and manufactures from all over the world. Other events slated for the three days gathering include exhibition, aviation and hospitality day, African Business Travel Association (ABTA) workshop

South Africa Tourism opens new Nelson Mandela Museum N elson Mandela may be dead but his larger – than life image lives on not only in the hearts of the people of South Africa, for whom he dedicated his entire life and other devotees of his across the world, but now even in material and esoteric sense you can feel and touch the apartheid icon. To this end, a new Nelson Mandela Museum built in his honour to give vent to this experience has been opened by the South Africa Tourism Authority (SATOUR). It is located on the N2 Highway in Mthatha,

Eastern Cape Province Comprising of three separate locations, the museum gives a truly overview of the life and times of the former South Africa president and a man that was described by President Jacob Zuma while announcing his passing on to the world and the world early in the year as ‘the father of our nation.’ These include the Bhunga Building in Mthatha, the Qunu component and an open-air museum at Mvezo. The historic Bhunga (trans-

Nelson Mandela Museum: Facade of the new Nelson Mandela Museum

lated loosely as council or caucus) building accommodates an exhibition tracing Nelson Mandela’s journey, as told in his own words, and narrated in part from his acclaimed biography A Long Walk to Freedom. It also showcases a diverse selection of the gifts bestowed on South Africa’s most-beloved statesman, Madiba, during his presidency. From here visitors are transported to Mvezo, his rural birthplace, to gain an understanding of his roots. Born into a chiefly lineage within the Tembu people, his inkaba (umbilical cord) is buried here in accordance with Xhosa tradition, and it is where his father was stripped of his authority by the apartheid government and forced to flee while Mandela was still an infant. Then to Qunu, where his family took refuge for his childhood days. Here he assumed a Christian name, Nelson, in place of his Xhosa name Rolihlahla (which means shaking the branches of a tree, or trouble maker). There is also the Nelson Mandela Youth and Heritage Centre at Qunu, which comprises the second component of the museum.

and various country/state day celebrations where the culture, food and destinations will be showcased. Akwaaba - African Travel Market is the only annual international travel fair in West Africa, drawing attendance from over 15,000 delegates from over 20 countries worldwide and the largest platform to meet with travelling public, airlines, hotels, restaurants, tour operators, travel agents, state tourism boards, foreign trade and tourism sectors and allied industries across Africa. Attendance at the expo is free, and to attend you can visit: akwaabatravelmarkets.com to register.

…Tourism to rescue South Africa economy ith the sluggish growth rate W of the South African economy, the tourism industry is

expected to come to aid growth with its substantial job creation spin-offs, said the South Africa tourism minister, Derek Hanekom on regulations issued six weeks ago by home affairs minister, Malusi Gigaba. But this high expectation could be scuttled by the country’s new visa and immigration regime, warned the minister during a session with Parliament’s tourism portfolio committee. According to the new rules, people wishing to visit South Africa would only be able to apply for visas at the country’s foreign missions, which in the case of a large country like China would mean only in Shanghai and Beijing. “It could potentially have a negative impact on tourism. We have to make it as easy as possible for persons to come to our country,” said Hanekom, adding that “we are dealing with a very, very competitive international environment and people have choices. At this stage where we are getting a good share with close to 10 million arrivals annually. “We can increase that share but if we do the wrong thing that share can drop. We don’t want to slip backwards; we want to maintain it and we want to grow it,” he warned, stressing

that it is “critically important” to remove unnecessary bottlenecks even as he informed that of ongoing discussions with the department of home affairs. Since 1990 the sector had expanded by about 200% while gross domestic product (GDP) had only grown by 74 percent. “The tourism sector therefore makes an important contribution to our growth targets.” Tourism’s direct contribution to GDP has risen from 2.8% ($8.33bn) in 2011 to 3 percent ($9.33bn) in 2012, though it could be as high as 9 percent to 10 percent if the indirect contribution is taken into account. The sector accounts for more than 610 000 jobs, or 4.6% of direct employment - or as much as 1.4-million if indirect employment is taken into account. A target of 225 000 new direct jobs by 2019 has been set. The sector is also well suited to fostering the development of small and medium enterprises and entrepreneurs. According to the South African Tourism CEO Thulani Nzima said a key focus would be growing the domestic market, with the aim of increasing the number of domestic tourists to 18-million over the next five years. The agency had an “aggressive” strategy to grow the African market and planned to have five marketing offices in key African countries by 2020.

Entertainment

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SOny Neme Entertainment Editor

sony.neme@newtelegraphonline.com 0811 181 3096

FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

Zebrudaya, Ovuleria, Aluwe, Amebo, Funke, Ibu, 28 other celebrities in Glo campaign

Funke

Ibu

stories by sony neme

lobacom is at it again. This time, it is providing and keeping entertainers busy with activities through the creation of projects and packages from their stable. The telecoms giant has broken the seal with 34 entertainment celebrities in its new theme campaign “Go Ahead’. This depicts the essence of the network and also communicates the dynamism of its services in voice, data and fixed lines. The hilarious package includes showbiz stars that include Sunday Omobolanle better known as Aluwe, legendary Chika Okpala (Zebrudaya alias 4:30 and his telly-wife, Lizzy Eveome,

Amebo

Ovuleria of the New Masquerade series. Others are Madam Ibidun Allison - Amebo, an actress in the rested television series, Village Headmaster, Bolaji Amusan a.k.a Mr Latin and Madam Kofo Abiola, an actress in the rested Second Chance sitcom - popular for her accurate sky-scraper-like headgears. Four of the celebrities, John Okafor (Mr Ibu), Bishop Ime,(Okon Lagos) and Chinwetalu Agu, all comics and Nollywood actors as well as comedienne and television presenter, Helen Paul were designated as brand ambassadors. Also in the project are Morocco Maduka, Charles Awurum, Saheed Mohammed (Funky Mallam), and Victor Osuagwu. The list was not all about celebrated comedians, as it includes

Zebrudaya

Aluwe

musicians, footballers and publishers like Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, Saheed Osupa; former Super Eagles striker, Daniel Amokachi and King of Galala Beats, Daddy Showkey. Chief Executive Officer of Ovation magazine, Dele Momodu and Delta State Arts and Culture Commissioner, Richard Mofe-Damijo represent the upwardly-mobile new Aristocrats on the list. According tpo Globacom management, “As brand representatives, the 34 celebrities are vested with the responsibility of positively motivating their followers from all strata of life not only to join the Globacom network but to recommend its products and services to others in their circles of influence.” They further stated that, “Evergreen entertainment stars who are still savvy

on the buttons are King Sunny Ade and Sir Victor Olaiya, both world-renowned masters in Juju Music and Highlife respectively are also on the list.” The stars have been appearing in television commercials, on billboards, lamp posts and fliers of the network, and will complement the efforts of existing ambassadors including Bisade Ologunde (Lagbaja); Bezhiwa Idakula (Bez); Bright Okpocha (Basketmouth); Jude Abaga (MI ); Wande Coal, Chinedu Okolie (Flavour); Peter and Paul Okoye (P Square); Waje Iruobe; Omawumi Megbele; Funke Akindele (Jenifa); Chukie Edozien (Lynxx); Sammie Okposo and Ego Ogbaro. The ‘Go Ahead’ campaign encourages subscribers to believe in themselves and in the uniqueness of their talents, dreams and goals.

Boychyko steps out with Boy Chyko on the block, Chukwunwike ready with his single, Boy Ais kid Uso, better known as Boychyko, Chyko, produced by Amir just 12 year old. But the multi-tal- at Del B Studio, Lek-

Censors board partners Ghana, Uganda

he National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), has taken practical steps to strengthen strategic bilateral relationships with Ghanaian and Ugandan Film authorities. As a result of that the President of the Ghana Cinematographic Exhibition Board of Control (GCEBC),… last week received a comprehensive list of films approved by the NFVCB. According to the Acting Head, Corporate Affairs, NFVCB, Caesar O. Kagho, the document contained approvals spanning the first half of this year from January to June 2014. Kagho said, “The initiative is part the agenda to checkmate cross-border trafficking of illegal movies. A breakdown of the 306 films titles, which were sent to the Ghanaian authority showed: 25 films for January, 66 for February,74 for March , 44 for April ,35 for May and

62 for June.” He further said that, in a related development, a three-member team of Ugandan officials spent the whole of last week in Abuja understudying the operations of the Board and the regulatory framework of Nigeria as part of plans to develop and re-structure the film regulatory mechanism in the East African nation. “The delegation from Uganda was welcomed by the management of the Board and later briefed by top functionaries of Nigeria’s apex movie regulatory agency. They also observed mock field operations within the nation’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja in order to experience monitoring and enforcement operations. Among places visited were registered and licensed movie distribution outlets within Abuja,” he intoned.

ki, Lagos and mixed at Fo s t e r

Zino. So how did it begin and why pop instead of highlife music like his mum and mentor? “I started as a dancer and a singer in my primary school, (St Leos Catholic Primary School) at the age of seven. I was doing same also in the house of the lord. I decided to go Hip-hop, because for me it is a happy music. No dull moment” He further said that, “Aside from God, my mum and other various musical acts like Usher, 2face, P-square and Wizkid. I’m also inspired by my surroundings, especially people around me.”

Boy Chyko

Director General, National Film and Video Censors Board, Ms. Patricia Bala, welcoming Ugandan officials, Mrs. Ruth Tusaa Sirwe and Mr.Leonard Amanya in her office recently.

ented kid who plays musical instruments like piano and drums does not come across as a 12 year-old when he mounts the stage performing. His debut video, advance hall musical video shot by Patrick, is a clear testimony to that, just his talents in dancing, skating, stunting and singing prowess crowned it all. In a chat with the JSS 3 student of a high-brow school in Lagos, he said coming from a musically rooted family, he decided and remains determined to follow the footsteps of his mother, Maureen Ejezie of the I Love Palm Wine fame. According to the product of Energy Entertainment Band, “I am the last born of a family of four, musically rooted, with my mum; a highly respected musical icon in the country. A highlife veteran of repute, whose debut, I Love Palm Wine rocked the country in the early 90s. She inspires me, and I want to take up the baton to a new level with my kind of pop music.” Meanwhile the music has continued to receive expected wave reviews on radio, television and print media attention. The Asaba, Delta State born talent said that he is set to roll as he is

26 Entertainment How many single have you so far, And on which record label are you onto? I have a whole lot of singles, but I actually have three buzz ling singles which are Don’t Break My Heart, Lead Me On and my very new I Am Taken. I signed to Jude Okoye record label, the elder brother of Peter and Paul Okoye of P-square, under his Northside Entertainment label. What kind of song do we find in your music? I call them good music because am very versatile, am a very versatile artist. I do all kind of music ranging from Afro beat, dance hall, rap, and I sing as well. I am of so many colures and that reflect in my music that is why fans love what I do. I come with different unique styles, different from every other artist in the industry, because you cannot put me in a box. What were the challenges, especially with the video of Lead Me On? The challenge with Lead Me On was first with the unfamiliar location. I didn’t get to the location early, so we didn’t have day light; and as the video is meant to be a mixture of day light and night we just had to shoot the video at night. It was pretty much good getting into character, because I wasn’t ready so we had issues but at the end of the day it turned out a great video. Lead Me On as our debut hit video, what were your expectations? Actually I did have great expectations for Lead Me On, be-

Friday, July 25, 2014

I am a versatile artiste Cynthia Ikponmwenosa Morgan, (stage name Cynthia Morgan), from Benin City, Edo State, is a 22years old artiste. An only child of her mother, she was raised by a single parent.In this exclusive interview with ADEFUWA SHOLA With a unique style she christened her music, ’Good Music’. Excerpts…

Talent does not have anything to do with gender, if you are good you are good , I think it’s even best if they nominate you and the male artists it shows how strong you are, how strong your music cause we set out to achieve something no Nigerian artistes have ever done. It’s something new and fresh, when it came out the audio was quite massive; people loved it because it’s something different, and of international standard. I knew the song is going to be big and people are going to love it. What has that translated into? Recently, I just got nominated for the NEA awards, Best Females Artist Of The Year and Best Rap Artist Of The Year and that’s all for now, and I am

also pretty much sure that other nominations will be coming up. Before now I have won about two recognition awards in high schools and universities. What does it feel like being in same categories with male artists in best rap? I will always say talent does not have anything to do with gender, if you are good, you are good. I think it’s even best if they nominate you and the male artists, it shows how strong you are, how strong your music is because in this part of the world people see females as weak and the guys dominate; but being in the same categories with guys you know you do it better, it something huge and good. Cynthia Morgan is actually the next big thing from the stables of Cynthia Morgan because we have a lot of work to do, the fans base is getting bigger everybody seeing the dreams, so by the grace of God we just going to be the best thing that as ever happened to African music industry. What is your advice to up-coming artistes? Just be yourself in all you do; do not let people toss you around,

pray a n d leave your trust in God because, “All good Cynthia things come to those who wait on the Lord”. Good things don’t come easy and you have to believe in yourself, believe in what you do because if you don’t believe in yourself people can’t believe in you, you’re the only person that sees your dreams. Having a dreams is different from having a business and I think one of the hardest thing in life is having your dream, because nobody can actually really see your dream and you have to work it out before others believe in you. So believe in your dream, remain focused and pray.

Kefee listed among I35 gospel artistes for screening

Late Kefee

his surely is no mean job for the secretariat of MEGA 2014 as 135 musical works are undergoing screening as at press time, just as Kefee’s Dem Go Talk is also shortlisted. In all, singles obtained via email and direct collections account for the highest number with 43 entries. That is followed by musical video, which stood at

35, with those obtained via the MEGA website taking the rear at 33 entries. According to information made available to the media by MEGA secretariat, those in the album categories must have at least six tracts to be eligible for consideration. Expectedly, some could not be identified, and they include Not Afraid,

Whad Up and Who We Talking About - Jubal It further stated that, “The category includes compilation of several musical selections of an artiste’s, duo or group’s works issued usually with an over-riding theme (instrumental or lyrical or narrative or compositional). “More than 80 percent of the above works have been voluntarily submitted by copyright owners, producers, directors and/or managers in response to our call for entries for MEGA 2014. The few others were shortlisted from a large pool of acquired works whose owners were severally contacted to ascertain the dates of release or publishing so as to conform with our stated time frame of May 1, 2013 to April 30, 2014.” It further stated that, “Among other reasons, these lists are to avail participating artistes the opportunity to raise any issues, concerns, clarifications, objections, further enquiries on whatever catches their interest. Correspondence with artistes shall stem from works which scale the first and second levels of screening - called pre-nominations. Successful works will then move to the public domain (PV - Public Voting) which shall last at least 6 weeks. At the PV level, fans and admirers of prenominated artistes/songs shall

be encouraged to vote actively as the PV accounts for 10% of total aggregation. “It is our fervent desire that the result of these activities will further deepen the professionalism of divine talents and the spirituality of the creative process such that the end of the matter will inspire humanity, and exalt the mighty name of the Most High.” The categories to be awarded to an artiste from any genre in English or any Nigerian Language - are Winners/Nominees of the Artiste of the Year, Best New Artiste, Album and Song of the Year awards, which will reflect ambassadorship of the Faith. Among those selected from the album categories are Ada – Sofly, Ajuju – Chante, Cris Emerald – Lifted, and Dare David - Do Me Well Reloaded. Others are Olawumi Ibukun Eroyi, Segun Adeleke - Apata Aiyeraye, Storm - Taking Over, Yahweh Voices - One In Christ, and Yemy - Un-Movable among others. Those on medleys (at least a long-playing track in an independent cd, but less than six tracks) are musical composition consisting of various tunes arranged as a continuous whole. A piece composed from parts of existing pieces, usually

no less than three, played one after another, sometimes overlapping. They are common in popular music, and most medleys are songs rather than instrumental. Those in this category are Bukola Olubona - Iji Okun , Dasola Iyanda - Ogo Igba Ikehin, and Emeka Obi - Adoration Praise among others. In the new categories - all fresh submissions – are ingles (submitted via email/direct with at least one song of usual track-length, and not more than five songs per artiste that have not been part of a published/released album/ CD. Those shortlisted here are Bobby Jackson - Only You, Boluwatiwi - 2 Singles, Hadassah - Na Only Me and Kefee - Dem Go Talk among others.

Entertainment

Friday, July 25, 2014

CinemaWatch (Radio/TV/Events Guide) JULY 25 – AUGUST 1 Highlights

Extant premieres on M-Net on Wed 23 July at 21:30 CAT DSTV

une in for the premiere of Tstarring this riveting news series Oscar Award winner

Halle Berry. In this mystery thriller, Berry plays the role of a female astronaut who is trying to reconnect with her family when she returns after a year in outer space. Her experiences in space lead to events that will ultimately change the course of human history. Oprah’s Next Chapter: John Legend airs on Thursday 24 July TLC Entertainment at 20:00 CAT Oprah sits down with ninetime Grammy winner John Legend at his home in Hollywood Hills, California, to talk about his first solo album in five years, his passion for education and politics, and his friendship with collaborator and executive producer Kanye West. John's fiancée, Chrissy Teigen—a model, TV host and Twitter personality—joins the conversation to discuss their relationship and tabloid rumours of infidelity. Star Wars: The New Yoda Chron-

icles premieres on Disney XD on Saturday 26 July at 09:45 CAT In these animated adventures Yoda, the all-knowing Jedi Master who taught generations of Jedi knights, leads the Jedi in a desperate fight to stop Darth Sidious from creating a new super-weapon. In this episode, Race for the Holocrons, Obi-Wan tells Luke of the existence of the Jedi Holocrons and urges him to go to Tatooine where they’ve been hidden all these years. Unfortunately Darth Vader is also on the hunt and a frantic race ensues to get there first. Bizarre Foods America airs on Travel Channel from Tuesday 29 July at 21:00 CAT Is there any weird food out there that Andrew Zimmern hasn’t sampled yet? You betcha! How about a frog smoothie for starters? Or maybe moose head stew is more to your taste? Then again, probably not – but never fear, as Andrew is more than happy to push the boundaries of culinary acceptability on our behalf. This time he

expands his quest for unique foods beyond the US border and into Canada and South America. As always, Andrew seeks out the region’s iconic foods and introduces colourful characters who add real flavour to each of the places he visits. Premieres on Tuesday 29 July at 21:00 CAT. America's Worst Tattoos airs on TLC Entertainment on Mondays at 20:55 CAT In brand new series, ‘America’s Worst Tattoos’, tattoo victims from all around the USA show off their truly terrible tattoos, share the embarrassing stories behind their ink creation and then return to the chair where it all began for a tattoo transformation. Tattoos featured include a tattoo so horrible that its owner hid it during childbirth, a horrendous pink elephant tattoo and a funny guy tattoo. Explore a plethora of terrible and illthought-out tattoos, whilst discovering the answer to the conundrum: What is America’s Worst Tattoo?

Segun Ogunsemowo, Branch Manager, Multichoice Office Surulere TV personality, Helen Paul Winner of grand prize, Kekereogun

MultiChoice rewards subscribers

ith barely a week left, MultiChoice Nigeria with its unique DStv and GOtv products has shown to its loyal subscribers that it’s a brand that truly cares and promotes family values. As at the last count, over a hundred of their subscribers have won big in the on-going Home Advantage promotion. According to General Manager, Marketing, MultiChoice Nigeria, Martin Mabutho, the Home Advantage promotion was to reward subscribers who choose to use recharge cards to renew their subscriptions. “The promotion dubbed the ‘Home Advantage Promo’ has seen lucky subscribers who purchase the limited edition home advantage recharge cards go home with fantastic home

appliances” he emphasized. One of the winners, Mrs. Kekereogun Kudirat Bunmi, who won a family-size freezer, gas cooker, vacuum cleaner and microwave oven, said she was excited about winning the prize as a GOtv subscriber. While thanking MultiChoice for her win, she urged the company to continue to provide more entertaining local content for its subscribers. Another winner, Mr. Olumide Obafemi while receiving the grand prize at MultiChoice branch Office in Surulere,Lagos, said he is delighted with MultiChoice for promoting family values and unity. For him, “I will continue to pay my subscription and enter for competitions of this kind, who knows, I may end up winning a prize bigger than

this in the near future”. Celebrating his victory in Ibadan, Oyo State, Ayobami Agbebunmi a DStv subscriber told journalists that, “I have never won anything before in my life, he exclaimed. “But when DStv called to say I won the four-inone grand prize, it was so overwhelming for me”. More subscribers are winning in the on-going promo, and all they did to qualify was to acquired minimum of two Home Advantage Recharge cards and scratch the grey panel on the football jersey to reveal a player – striker, defender or coach. The Home Advantage promotion for DStv and GOtv subscribers is designed to encourage subscribers in bouquets make subscription payments through the DStv and GOtv scratch cards.

Dance Moms S1

DStv launches new LIFETIME channel July 22

frica’s pioneering pay TV provider MultiChoice Africa and A+E Networks® are set to launch an exciting female entertainment channel Lifetime® on DStv channel 131. This sensational new channel will be available to all DStv Premium subscribers from July 22. With an emphasis on fresh and uplifting content, Lifetime will engage and inspire viewers with a winning formula of quality scripted dramas, Lifetime original movies and factual entertainment shows. At the launch, the A+E Networks® UK, Managing Director, Tom Davidson, said: “The launch of Lifetime in Africa is exciting for us and marks a key moment in our continuing investment in this market. With a schedule packed with powerful stories, passionate people and addictive entertainment, we are confident that Lifetime will appeal to African audiences.” The launch expands the female-focused content portfolio on DStv, delivering an entertainment brand to sit alongside channels TLC Entertainment, Style Network, BBC Lifestyle. For MultiChoice Africa CEO Nico Meyer: “We are always striving to build a balanced, innovative and exciting home television offering for our subscribers. As a business we constantly research local as well as international television channels and shows

with a view to further improving and enhancing our offering - so we are delighted to be welcoming another entertainment channel on to our DStv platform which we believe will offer even more great family entertainment.” Some of the exciting programs DStv viewers can look forward to on Lifetime TV include: A Day Late and a Dollar Short, premiering on July 22 at 20:00 CAT. Starring Whoopi Goldberg and Ving Rhames, it tells the story of a feisty matriarch, Viola Price.. Premiering on July 27 at 20:00 CAT is Flowers in the Attic, another Lifetime Original Movie based on V. C. Andrews' controversial, cult classic book. It is the twisted tale of four siblings who, after their father's unexpected death, are convinced by their mother to hide in the attic of their grandparents' mansion so she can reclaim the family fortune. Dance Moms is one of the key factual entertainment shows available on Lifetime Africa. It follows talented children’s early steps on the road to stardom, along with the determined mothers who will stop at nothing to help them reach the very top. The show immerses itself in the highs and lows surrounding the dance competition season and the cast’s intense pursuit of National Dance titles. Dance Moms premieres on the 22 July at 19:10 CAT.

Halle Berry premieres with Extant on M-Net -Net has acquired the M rights to screen the new television series Extant star-

ring Oscar Award Winner Halle Berry. Extant will be on the M-Net 101 schedule from Wednesday, 23 July at 21:30 CAT. In this mystery thriller, Berry plays the role of a female astronaut who is trying

to reconnect with her family when she returns after a year in outer space. Her experiences in space lead to events that will ultimately change the course of human history. With Extant moving into the 21:30 CAT slot, all of the series mentioned below will follow an hour later than originally advertised.

Friday, July 25, 2014

Timothy Okwu

t all began in May, 2003, millions of DStv viewers in over 45 countries on the African continent were glued to their television sets, when M-Net Africa; the pan-African television production company commenced the first edition of the Big Brother reality show. The voice of Big Brother echoed the reality show across and beyond the African continent and at the end of the maiden edition of the show; 7 September, 2003, a 24-year-old procurement officer from Kitwe, Zambia, Miss Cherise Makubale emerged winner of the biggest reality show in the continent, smiling home with a mouth-watering prize of $100,000. The successful conclusion of this first edition of M-Net’s Big Brother show, sparked an interest in youth across the continent on how best they can showcase their talents and use the Big Brother platform to launch themselves in the continent’s fast growing entertainment industry. Even corporate bodies keyed into the commercial viability of the show thus the reality show fad like wildfire, spread across the continent. The Big Brother reality show is a television show in which a group of people live together in a large house, isolated from the outside world but continuously watched by television cameras. Each series lasts for around three months and there are usually fewer than 20 participants. The housemates try to win a cash prize by avoiding periodic evictions from the house. The idea for the show is said to have come during a brainstorm session at the Dutch production house of John de Mol Produkties (an independent part of Endemol) on 4 September 1997. The show's name comes from George Orwell's 1949 novel Nineteen EightyFour, a dystopia in which Big Brother can always spy on the inhabitants of the dictatorship he heads through their television sets, with the slogan "Big Brother is watching you." Besides Cherise emerging the first winner of the reality show, M-Net has since had five other successful seasons. In the second season of the show, Tanzania's Richard Bezuidenhout emerged

ey stakeholders in the motion picture industry have expressed support for the quality and depth of discourse in Auteuring Nollywood: Critical Perspectives on The Figurine The scholarly book which examines the highpoints of Kunle Afolayan’s award-winning film, The Figurine, will be unveiled at the Agip Recital hall of the MUSON Centre, Lagos on Thursday, July 31, 2014. The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), The African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) and industry stakeholders like the Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN) and the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) have identified with the project, describing it as a milestone in the history of the new Nigerian Cinema popularly known as Nollywood. Kunle Afolayan is one of the two AMAA ambassadors selected to celebrate AMAA’s 10th anniversary throughout this year. His elder brother, Dr. Adeshina Afolayan, a lecturer at the Philosophy department of the University of Ibadan edited the 455-page book. “AMAA is proud to associate with this project because it serves an important

This is Big Brother…. Let the show begin!

Wangi

Meyer

winner, in season third, Ricardo (Ricco) Venancio a 21-year-old representative from Angola was declared winner reality show on the 23rd of November 2008 and from season fourth till date Nigerian housemates namely; Kevin Chuwang Pam, Uti Nwachukwu and Karen Igho alongside Wendell Parson of Zimbabwe have emerged winners. And all three Nigerian winners of the reality show have been successful in their various endeavors. While Kevin; Nigeria’s first winner of the reality show is successfully pursuing his music career and happily married and has a baby girl with Elizabeth Gupta, a Tanzanian actress and ex-housemate whom he met in the house, Uti; having successfully hosted several shows in Nigeria, is currently the host of MNet’s Jara; an M-Net production which showcases Nollywood to the continent and Karen is also hosting shows across the country.

And just when DStv audiences thought that they had seen all the incredible twists and turns that megahit reality-TV franchise Big Brother Africa could possibly offer, the sensational series pulled off another huge surprise. In season seven of the reality show, contestants doubled-up to compete. This meant that anyone who entered season seven had a partner. It was at this edition that South African housemate Keagan Petersen emerged winner. Last year, lovers of the reality show were all delighted when the beautiful Dillish Matthews from Namibia emerged winner. As AfricaMagic prepares for the ninth season of the reality show, the question on the lips of lovers of the show is; “Will a Nigerian emerge winner of Season Nine of Big Brother Africa? Through the power of the vote, only the viewers of the show can determine

who emerges winner. But it would be pertinent to point out that the Big Brother Africa reality show is not the only local programme content that has been developed by AfricaMagic/M-Net team. In Nigeria alone, over eight local contents have been developed and made popular by AfricaMagic/M-Net. These programmes include; Doctors Quarters, Big Brother Nigeria, Edge of Paradise, 53 Extra, Let’s Dance, Comedy Club Live in Lagos others include; Money Drop, Face of Africa, Naija Sings, Tinsel, Jara, 53 Extra to mention a few. In addition to the promotion of these excellent local content, the panAfrican production company has also invested immensely in man-power and industry development. In March 2007, AfricaMagic/M-Net had an ambitious cross-continental initiative which saw 14 talented Nigeria TV interns head to Johannesburg, South Africa as part of skills sharing and training project and to the delight of the team managing the training programme, their investment in this developmental initiative is now reaping rewards as most of these interns are today involved in some of the programmes and content mentioned above. AfricaMagic under the leadership of Mrs. Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, the Regional Director for West Africa, is investing several millions of dollars in the construction of a 3-in one HD Studio in Ikeja, Lagos. According to her, the state-of-the art studio complex when completed will ensure that local content meets world-class standards. In preparation for the Big Brother Africa, the biggest reality show in the continent, Mrs. Mba-Uzoukwu said “I can’t disclose all the twists and drama Big Brother will enfold on the show but we are thrilled that the show is returning again this year” Speaking about the upcoming season of the reality show, Mr. John Ugbe, Managing Director of MultiChoice Nigeria; the nation’s leading pay TV entertainment destination, said DStv audience will be thrilled by the intrigues and twists which Big Brother will unfold in the house. So, let the show begin!

NFC, AMAA, stars support Auteuring Nollywood purpose”, says Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, the founder of AMAA. “It is significant to see that five years after The Figurine won AMAA’s top award as Best film of the Year, the film is still being discussed and has earned a rich collection of academic essays that are as important to the film as they are to the entire industry”, she stated. Similarly, the Managing Director of the NFC, Dr. Danjuma Dadu, said Auteuring Nollywood was a welcome addition to the body of knowledge on film discourse in Nigeria and that the Film Corporation is proud to be associated with its unveiling next Thursday. To do justice to the intellectual content of the book, Mr. Emeka Mba, the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and Dr. Ikechukwu Obianya, the Director of Nollywood Study Centre, Pan–Atlantic University, Lagos have been enlisted to review the book at the Public Presentation. Former Minister of National Planning and a respected

patriarch of the arts, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, OFR will chair the ceremony that is designed to be one of Nollywood’s greatest moments, according to the organizers of the event. A collection of scholarly essays, Auteuring Nollywood is first of its kind that is devoted to the work of a single Nigerian film director. It examines the thematic focus and cinematic style employed in The Figurine, while also using that singular work to engage the trends in the new Nigerian cinema popularly referred to as Nollywood. Contributors to the book include Dr. Sola Osofisan, Dr. Dele Layiwola, Dr. Chukwuma Okoye, Jane Thorburn, Matthew H. Brown, Gideon Tanimonure, A.G.A Bello, Foluke Ogunleye and Prof. Hyginus Ekwuazi. An ‘Afterword’ on “Neo-Nollywood and its Other” by the prolific Scholar, Dr. Onookome Okome, is also provided in the book in addition to series of interviews with key actors and technicians that featured in the film.

Romeo drops Booty Near You

ooty Near You is the first Btiste, single from Now Muzik arUgwudike Romeo. With

relatable lyrics, metaphors and brilliant word play, the song is in appreciation of the unique figure of the African woman. The single is a production of Now Muzik’s in house producer Spyke. For Now Muzik, “The beat is set to take Hip Hop music back to the club scene, which has been dominated by pop music in recent times. As a singer and a rapper, Romeo‘s unique vocal texture in Booty Near You is sure to keep good music lovers on their feet.” Onitsha, Anambra State born Romeo was raised in Lagos and having participated in

several talent shows got his big break when, along with Crystal Band, won the Nigerian Breweries Limited organised event, Star Quest. The band recorded an album, Elevated, in 2012 under the aegis of Now Muzik. However, the young and energetic artiste decided to pursue a solo career, which has produced this single. Romeo is also a member of the Loos Kollectiv, a hip hop ensemble with an affiliation to Now Muzik, their first single Take Over was released last week to great reception. Now Muzik is home to other great and talented artistes like 2face, Tony Oneweek, Naeto C, Rocksteady, Righteousman, Efa, K Slim, and Loos Kollectiv.

BUSINESS

29 NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/business

Friday, July 25, 2014

What's news Digital Switchover: Nigeria, S’Africa’ll miss deadline

There seems to be a general conclusion that African countries will not meet the deadline for the digital switchover despite the efforts that they are making.

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Cassava bread faces a hitch –Investigation Despite Federal Government’s robust drive to ensure that a Nigerian bread, made of a composite of cassava flour and wheat flour becomes a popular menu in Nigerian homes, New Telegraph’s findings have proved that making this possible is a tall order.

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Analyst sees pension assets hit N6.9tn by 2015 Following the signing into law of the new Pension Reform Act 2014 by President Goodluck Jonathan, renowned economic analyst, Agusto & Co, has projected that the pension assets currently standing at over N4.3 trillion would hit N6.9 trillion by 2015.

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How farmers can attract cheap funding The minister was spoke at the International Conference on “Revolutionising Finance for Agricultural Value Chains,” held at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies, Nairobi, Kenya, earlier in the week.

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

Annuity market large enough for life insurers –Operators }p-34

ayodele aminu, Deputy Editor, business

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

Old Fed Secretariat revival stalled HOPES DIM Passage of the plan makes it impossible for conversion of the old secretariat building into residential flats Dayo Ayeyemi

opes of redeveloping the Old Federal Secretariat Complex in Ikoyi, Lagos, into residential apartments has been dimmed. This stemmed from the public presentation of the final draft report of Revised Ikoyi/ Victoria Island Model City Plan, which has zoned the site permanently for institutional use. If the plan, which was presented to all stakeholders including Victoria Island and Ikoyi Residents’ Association, business owners, investors, bankers and built environment professionals, is finally passed into law, it will make it impossible for owners of the old Federal Secretariat complex to convert it to residential apartments. The Federal Secretariat was concessioned in 2006 to Messrs Resort International Limited to redevelop into three and two bedroom condominiums. No sooner than the Wale Babalakin-led RIL moved to site to commence construction than the Lagos State Government issued a stop-work order, demanding for building drawings and planning permit of the proposed project. Efforts to resolve the matter amicably between the federal and the state governments, and between Ril and state government proved abortive as the matter was laced with political undertone. The Lagos authority later passed the Ikoyi/Victoria Model City Plan in 2006, insisting that the Federal Secretariat remained an institutional building, which cannot be converted to other usage order than offices. However, almost eight years after, the old Federal Secretariat built with public fund

As Lagos mulls revised VI/Ikoyi Model Plan has remained a colossal waste to Nigerians, government and the concessionaire as the Lagos State government further dashed the hope of its redevelopment to residential building. In the draft report of revised model city plan, Lagos State government noted that the owners of the old Federal

Secretariat complex in Ikoyi were having problem with the development processes. The Ikoyi/Victoria Island Model City Plan was the first conscious effort of the Lagos State government in 2005 and it became operational in December 2006 as a physical planning document for a period of

10 years (2005-2015) to guide development and redirect activities within Ikoyi, Victoria Island and parts of Obalende. It also provided improved facilities that were either inadequate or unavailable. Speaking during the public CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

L-R: Member, reconciliation committee, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), Mr Alade Abdullahi; Chairman, body of fellows, Dr. Ify Uraih and President, Mr Ganiyu Koledoye, at the official unification/signing of memorandum of understanding between two factions of NIMN in Lagos.

PENALTY Insurers may continue to push out unbudgeted funds in penalty as they fail to meet regulatory deadlines Sunday Ojeme

he inability of some insurance companies to forward their accounts to the National Insurance Commission (NAICON) and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has continued to set them back with fines running into about N62.2 million from 2013 till date.

Accounts: Underwriters fined N63.2m by NAICOM, NSE With the expiration of the deadline for the underwriters to forward their details to the regulator for review already three weeks old, the NAICOM is expected to rake in nothing less than N3.2 million within the period from the 28 insurers that failed to meet the deadline. The amount is expected to rise going by the slow pace with which companies have been conducting the process. With the introduction of the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) into their accounting system, some of the

underwriters have been struggling to put their accounts in order before getting approval from the commission to proceed with the declaration of their results. While the penalty by NAICOM stands at N5,000 per day from June 30 when the deadline expired, the insurers have met with a more hostile partner in the NSE management, as they were made to pay their fines in millions of naira for failure to forward their accounts in 2012. CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

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 June 2014................................8.2% May 2014....................................8% April 2014.................................7.9%

LENDING RATE

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at July 18)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N167.50 InterBank Rate . . . . . . . . . 10.50% Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N290 Prime Lending Rate. . . . . 16.93% Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N228 Maximum Lending Rate..25.83% • Foreign Reserves – $38.43bn as at 18/07/2014

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at July 18)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N155.73 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N266.35 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N210.64 Source: CBN

30 BUSINESS | NEWS NEGLIGENCE It is only in recent times that some efforts had been made to fast-track the digital switchover in Nigeria and other African countries Jonah Iboma

here seems to be a general conclusion that African countries will not meet the deadline for the digital switchover despite the efforts they

Digital Switchover: Nigeria, S’Africa’ll miss deadline –Research are making. According to a new report by Ovum, major African territories such as South Africa and Nigeria are set to miss a deadline to switch off analogue television signals. “Most” sub-Saharan countries in Africa fail to meet the 2015 deadline, according to Ovum, which is part of DTVE, the publisher Informa Telecoms & Media.

Underwriters fined N63.2m by regulators CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

New Telegraph gathered that full sanction would be meted out to any firm that failed to comply with the statutory deadline by paying the mandatory N5,000.00 daily penalty. So far, no fewer than 19 firms have had their 2013 account approved by the commission, bringing to 30 accounts so far forwarded. In a bid to reinforce its regulatory functions, about 21 listed insurance companies also paid N60 million penalties to the Exchange for late submission of their 2012 financial accounts. The X-Compliant Report of the NSE pointed out that the affected companies filed in their financial statements to the Exchange after the regulatory 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 Assurance Plc and Niger Insurance Plc N3.2 million each, while Great Nigerian Insurance Plc was equally fined N3.8 million. Staco Insurance Plc paid N3.5 million alongside Lasaco Assurance Plc that paid N3.6 million monetary penalty to the Exchange. NEM Insurance Plc, on the other hand, got N3.5 million

sanction, while Mutual Benefit Assurance Plc paid N3.4 million sanction. Prestige Assurance coughed out 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. Royal Exchange Plc also got N2.6 million fine. Also, Unity Kapital Insurance Plc coughed out N2.1 million as fine, Custodian & Allied Insurance Plc paid N2.2 million monetary sanction, 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 fines. Among the firms whose 2013 accounts have been approved are Mansard Insurance, Custodian General Insurance Plc, Custodian Life Assurance Ltd, Cornerstone Insurance, Zenith Life Insurance, NSIA Insurance Ltd and FBN Life Assurance Ltd. Others are Law Union and Rock, AIICO Insurance, Oasis Insurance, Leadway Assurance, Zenith Insurance and Niger Insurance. Meanwhile, the Commission has also released the names of insurance companies that failed to submit their 2013 quarterly returns to the commission for review.

Old Fed Secretariat revival stalled CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

presentation of the model city plan, Commissioner for Physical Planning in Lagos State, Mr Olutoyin Ayinde, pointed out that as a result of urban migration, commercialisation and globalisation, Lagos has grown exponentially from an area of 390 hectares in the year 1866 to 357,790 hectares in 2013 and that it is still expanding. According to him, in order to address the population explosion, Lagos State government prepared a Regional Master Plan in 1980, which expired in 2000 and was revised in 2002.

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

He explained that the Regional Plan also identified 35 urban districts, which include Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Surulere, Ikeja, Obalende, Ikorodu, Ipaja and Alimosho, among others. These urban districts, Ayinde said, were not properly planned and implemented, adding that the impacts of the neglect have been farreaching. He said this was why former governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, initiated policies aimed at rebuilding the mega city through a conscious approach of re-planning the urban districts and rebranding same as Model Cities and Master Plans.

The report noted that there was however a determination among regulators and governments across the continent to possibly switch off analogue signals before the transition to digital. It is this mindset “that the deadline must be met at all costs” could lead to many homes losing TV reception, advertisers moving away from television in turn and a subsequent decline to revenues at affected channels. “In Tanzania, the switchover process was pushed through recklessly, with damaging results,” said Adam Thomas, Ovum’s lead analyst for global

TV markets. “Thousands of homes lost their ability to watch TV and advertising revenue suffered as a result. But this mentality to rush the process persists, not least in Kenya, which seems intent on repeating the same mistakes.” In Nigeria, as in other African countries, it is only in recent times that some efforts had been made to fast-track the digital switchover. Based on this, Ovum said that inadequate government funding on digital TV infrastructure, insufficient supplies of set-top boxes and a general lack of awareness over switchover were key reasons

behind the impending failure. It urged governments to look at ways of completing the process efficiently rather than using a method that people are not familiar with. “African governments and regulators need to accept that the 2015 deadline will be missed and shift their focus on getting the process completed as quickly and efficiently as possible,” said Ovum’s Ismail Patel, who tracks media and entertainment across Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Ovum believes that forcing through analog switch-off is ultimately counter-productive.

L-R: General Manager, Consumer Products Division, L'Oreal Central West Africa, Sekou Coulibaly; Head of Education, Titilola Igri-Offor and Group Brand Manager, L'Oreal Central West Africa, Ogbemi Kesiena, at the launch of Dark & Lovely Braids and Weaves in Lagos.

Cassava bread faces a hitch –Investigation ILL-EQUIPPED Flour millers generally do not think Nigeria is ripe for the cassava bread project Siaka Momoh

espite Federal Government’s robust drive to ensure that a Nigerian bread, made of a composite of cassava flour and wheat flour becomes a popular menu in Nigerian homes, New Telegraph’s findings have proved that making this possible is a tall order. The Federal Government decided to embark on the project to stem the billions of naira spent on the importation of wheat annually. On assumption of duty some three years back, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwunmi Adesina, said that if Nigeria could take a bold step and move swiftly into production of 50 per cent cassava flour bread, the country would save over N315 billion annually. He said: “Nigeria imports wheat worth N635 billion (about

$4.2 billion) annually, hurting its foreign exchange earnings and worsening the rate of unemployment. The inclusion of 50 per cent cassava flour in bread production will change this as it will cut imports of wheat by half.” Besides, he said that apart from Nigeria saving N315 billion, it will also create jobs and encourage farmers to produce more. Along the line, the Federal Government fixed 20 per cent cassava flour inclusion in bread production (and other confectioneries) for flour millers. The critical areas the government is focusing on are value addition to make production demand driven and the improvement of yield among others. With over 37 million tons of harvested fresh cassava roots per year, Nigeria is by far the largest cassava-producing country in the world. Estimates are that between seven and eight million Nigerian farming families grow the tuber. But cassava tubers are not useful to millers. They become useful when they are processed into flour – high quality cassava flour (HQCF).

Government, according to our correspondent’s findings, has since made good efforts to make the policy workable. Some bakers have received training, while some are still going on, New Telegraph found out. Some equipment for the production HQCF have been made available for use. Corporate bakers such as UTC, Food Concepts and Leventis were co-opted into flagging off the production of cassava bread (and they produced and supplied to big retailers). Shoprite outlets confirmed selling cassava bread. But currently, Food Concepts is not producing the bread. The company’s distributors spoken to (they chose to remain anonymous) said the company stopped producing it long ago. They said the bread has a very short life span and easily breaks to pieces. Contacts at the company’s plant in Oregun are evasive. New Telegraph was turned back from the front desk and was told none of the senior officers were around. The success of the project, going by information available, is hinged, largely, on the adequate availability of HQCF.

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

Pension

Adedeji

DG PENCOM, Ahonu-Amazu

RETIREMENT Insurers are not giving up in their bid to remain relevant as far as post-retirement financial plan for workers is concerned Sunday Ojeme

s the cold war between the pension fund administrators (PFAs) and underwriters rages over annuity programme, emerging snippets from the latter’s engagement in the business reveal a diehard commitment to remain even as the PFAs refuse to let go the funds. In the past few years, the coming onboard of the PFAs to supervise investment under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) as stipulated in the Pension Reform Act did not only threaten life insurers’ hold to post-retirement financial plans but is also practically taking away a larger chunk of the business from them. However, in the face of the dwindling business environment, a few underwriters that had deployed their business skills in the past to retain their clients are still confident that even with the PFAs taking advantage of their business to corner workers to their side, the annuity market is still large enough for life insurers to bolster profitability. Niger Insurance Managing Director of Niger Insurance Plc, Mr Kolapo Adedeji, while speaking on the strength of the company’s annuity programme, said that Niger had been able to raise its head above the stormy waters to ensure that its annuity business remained one of the most competitive in the country today. He pointed out that the plan could compete with any other post-retirement arrangement despite the obvious dominance of the business by the PFAs. According to him, “Niger has started selling annuity and the package we have is one of the most competitive. In a short while, we will be there among the best. “Naturally, the PFAs are reluctant to let the fund go. What we have now can compete with any other programme and I am sure more business will surely come our way.” Prior to Adedeji’s position, stakeholders in both sectors have been of the view that what each operator from the divide could do was to design more attractive products to win customers to their side rather than waiting for one group to en-

Pensioners reviving one of their slumped colleagues

Annuity market large enough for life insurers –Operators tirely give up the fund. Besides the series of calls in the past for an awareness campaign on the part of insurers to get back some of what belongs to them, another practitioner, Mrs Yetunde Ilori, has again reminded them to take further steps in sorting out the knotty issues through persistent public awareness.

Mansard Insurance Ilori, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mansard Insurance Plc, said insurers needed collaboration, sustained awareness and cohesion to make significant progress in annuity business. She said: “I quite agree that insurers’ participation in annuity is still low, there are few things we need to do, for us to make progress in the business. We need collaboration and cohesion, starting from the regulators. At a time, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) started by helping us by rolling out joint agreement with the National Pension Commission (PenCom). But I think, what we need from them is sustained publicity. “I know NAICOM alone cannot do this, the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) should join hands with NAICOM to promote this agenda. To champion the agenda for the NIA in the Life Committee, which has some money set aside for the purpose, we have been on this for about two years, and are yet to see any advert published. We need to create massive awareness.” “Many a time, the Federal Government did send out publications on when prospective retirees will be meeting with them, we all need to be proactive, and take advantage of such meetings. “Because the money at the moment is with the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), it will be tough for them to let go the business that belongs to us. We need to do something about pre-retirement programmes, because a PFA will not take it upon itself to educate a client that is retiring about programmed withdrawal and annuity, for some of them do not understand what annuity is and how it works and would not make promises on our behalf. So, we need to take it up on ourselves and change the situation.” She also advised her colleagues on the

need to be circumspect in the type of businesses they get involved in, saying, at the moment, not too many companies are licensed by NAICOM to do annuity because of its technicalities. She said, “Life operators should make the work of the regulator easier by having the right skills and also be wary of the business, for it is not just taking the fund, for it was one of the businesses that wrecked the United Kingdom’s pension market. “I do not suggest that it is something everybody should go into, for the right skills, actuaries, investment officers are required to be successful in the business.” According to Section 4 of the Pension Reform Act, an employee is allowed to use the amount accumulated in his Retirement Savings Account (RSA) for the purchase of either programmed withdrawal or life annuity at retirement on attaining the age of 50 years whichever is the latter. It is a series of payment made at (equal) intervals of time in consideration of a lump sum or a regular contribution made over a pre-defined period. There are different types of annuity but the type being made popular in Nigeria through the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2004 is called Immediate Annuity. CPS' N4.3trn assets With the CPS boasting of over N4.3 trillion in assets and retirees getting their pensions as at when due directly under the control of the PFAs, insurers might lose out in the long run as it would take more than extra commitment to get retirees, whose funds are already being managed by the PFAs to their side. Available records revealed that PFAs have continued to dominate pension

Niger has been able to raise its head above the stormy waters to ensure that its annuity business remained one of the most competitive in the country today

benefits business as beneficiaries on programmed withdrawal stood at 86,628 as at March, while annuitants, managed by life insurers are 9,212. According to PenCom, a cumulative lump-sum of N115.71 billion and average monthly withdrawal of N24.72 billion are made on programmed withdrawal managed by 20 PFAs, while a cumulative lump-sum N20.48 billion, premium of N45.27 billion and average monthly payments N465.13 million are made on life annuity offered by about 27 life insurers. The retiree is also allowed to take a lump sum (at age 50 or at retirement whichever is the latter) from the RSA balance provided that the amount left after the withdrawal shall be sufficient to procure Annuity for life or fund Programme Withdrawals that will provide an amount not less than 50 per cent of his annual remuneration as at the date of his retirement. Programmed Withdrawal The Programmed Withdrawal is provided by the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) while the annuity for life is provided by licensed life insurance companies in Nigeria. The Programmed Withdrawal and Annuity are two distinct options available to the retirees. Both options, although have clearly distinct features; have been carefully chosen by the regulators to protect the interest of the retirees. Expert's perspective A life underwriting expert, Mr. Dimeji Olona, while emphasising the importance and value of annuity in the life of every retiree, said the Investment Risk is borne by the Annuity Provider and not the policy holder (annuitant) as a guaranteed sum is given to the annuitant on a regular basis in spite of inclement/ harsh investment climate that might be experienced by the insurance company. Describing annuity as a product that can be used to take care of the basic fear of an intending retiree, which is the risk of outliving his income (longevity risk), he pointed out that such a risk is usually borne by the insurance company if the retiree lives as long as 90 years after retiring at the age of 60.

business | PENSION

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

Analyst sees pension assets hit N6.9tn by 2015 GROWTH Experts believe that the amended Pension Reform Act 2014 will accelerate growth, increase the funds and open more avenues for investments Sunday Ojeme

ollowing the signing into law of the new Pension Reform Act 2014 by President Goodluck Jonathan, renowned economic analyst, Agusto & Co, has projected that the pension assets currently standing at over N4.3 trillion would hit N6.9 trillion by 2015. Agusto, in its current Newsletter, said that the reduction of the number of employees to three from five as qualifica-

tion for registration under the scheme and the percentage contribution increase from 15 per cent to 18 per cent were factors that would easily influence the growth in assets. According to the newsletter, pension assets would surpass the 21-29 per cent growth range experienced between 2010 and 2013, to about 30 per cent in 2014, reaching about N5.28 trillion. The analyst hinted: “We are even more bullish on 2015, when we expect year-on-year growth of 31 per cent to N6.9 trillion as our forecast is premised on the increase in pension fund contributions by 300 basis points. “Overall, the new Act introduces two significant reforms that could potentially swell the pension pot and registrations. There is upward review of the minimum rate of pension contribution from 15 per cent, with employee and employer contributing 7.5 per cent each,

to a minimum of 18 per cent, with employee and employer contributing to eight per cent and 10 per cent respectively. “The second aims to expand the pension base as it revises the obligatory criteria, bringing organisations with as few as three employees into the contributory pension scheme. The 2004 Act compels only organisations with five or more employees to participate in the pension scheme. The Act also requires employers to open temporary retirement savings accounts for employees that fail to open retirement savings accounts within three months of employment.” It, however, said that the growth in registration into the pension scheme had been stubbornly stuck in the single digit range since 2011, adding that between 2006 and 2010, new registrations into the contributory pension scheme reflected strong double digit year-on-year

growth, peaking at 66 per cent in 2007. The analyst observed that the pension scheme accumulated slightly over six million subscribers since 2006 when the first pension fund administrators commenced operations till date. The newsletter stated: “While that in itself may be deemed a success, when judged on the back of Nigeria’s 50 million strong labour force, then the scheme seems to be struggling. The bulk of new signings in recent times has been from first time entrants into the labour force, while defaulting employers now seeking compliance have also complemented the numbers. “We believe this trend will continue over the next two years as growth forecasts for the industry up to 2015 reflect only single digit accretion to registrations of new pension savers. We project a 9.8 per

cent rise in new registrations to about 6.5 million pension savers by the end of 2014, followed by a growth of 9.9 per cent to 7.14 million pension savers by the end of next year. However, our model reflects a brighter outlook for pension assets.” It further observed that the bulk of organisations with staff strength of only three were mainly in the informal sector or outside the formal financial system, stressing that administrators typically viewed the clientele base as cost inefficient because of fragmentation and poor compliance. According to the letter, “PFAs will not be motivated to invest sufficiently in distribution infrastructure to serve this segment of the market. The increase in employers’ pension contributions to 10 per cent will increase labour costs and associated overheads for small businesses. It will also taper disposable income albeit marginally.”

Pension delay to be less lucrative

eople who delay taking their state pension from 2016 will gain less financial benefit than under current rules, the government has proposed. The government pays a higher pension to anyone who defers taking it beyond state pension age, but it wants to lower the generosity of this system. Currently, the deferred pension rises by 10.4 per cent for each year it goes untaken. That rate is proposed to fall to 5.8 per cent. The plan ends a system designed to encourage people to keep working. Analysts say that the new proposed rate would mean that an individual deferring a pension for a full year would need to live for about 19 years to recoup the pension and so benefit financially from the decision.

That is because the deferred pension is not paid in one lump sum, instead the retiree is paid more when they eventually start claiming the state pension. At present, under the current rate, it takes only about 10 years for the deferral to be more lucrative for their pension income. Tom McPhail, head of pensions research at Hargreaves Lansdown, said that the current rate was generous. “With the population living longer and more people staying in the workforce later, it is hardly surprising that the government has chosen to cut back on this generous rate of return,” he said. “The [new rate] might still be an attractive proposition for someone in good health with substantial private savings or who is willing to carry on working.”

will be able to use their pension money as they see fit, from the age of 55. Chancellor George Osborne told the BBC: “This is going to be free and impartial guidance for millions of people who for the first time are going to have access to the money they've saved through their life. “We're going to work with people like the Citizens Advice Bureau, with Age UK and others to make sure people get the best possible guidance and that this is genuinely impartial." Analysts have cast some doubt over the nature of the guidance on offer. “It is going to be pretty superficial. It is not going to be a deep and interactive process that gives you very personalised advice. That would be very expensive, so it can't do that," said Tom McPhail, head of pensions research at Hargreaves Lansdown stockbrokers.

L-R: Head, Legal Adviser/Company Secretary, Niger Insurance Plc, Taiwo Otuneye; Executive Director, Finance/Corporate Services, Fredrick Ugwuja; and Managing Director, Kolapo Adedeji at the company's pre-Annual General Meeting media briefing in Lagos

Group flays FG’s attitude to pensioners’ database New pensioners to get group of retirees under in order before the scandal that funds/properties which ran independent guidance –Treasury the aegis of Association followed, said the Dr. Abdulra- into billions of naira. avers are to receive free independent guidance when given unfettered access to their pension pots from next year, the government has said. The plan changes an aspect of the major liberalisation of defined contribution pensions unveiled in the Budget. Critics had raised concerns a proposal to make providers give advice could see unsuitable investments recommended. The guidance will now be through independent organisations, paid for by a levy on regulated financial firms. It will it not always be face-toface, as first indicated, but could be provided online or by phone. Up until now most people in defined contribution schemes where the final pension depends on the amount of investment returns - bought an annuity, a pre-set income for life, from a provider when they retired. But from next April, savers

of Federal Public Service Retirees (AFPSR) has deplored Federal Government’s attitude towards restoring sanity to the nation’s pension system with the manner it has put on hold the use of the Authentic Pensioners Biometric Database purportedly produced to weed out ghost pensioners in the system. The retirees, who made their feelings known in a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, said that the database which the Federal Government expended a lot of resources on as well as with the selfless effort, patriotism and vigilance put in by the anti-graft and security agencies, was not in use because it was still in the custody of the disbanded Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT). The group, while also agitating for the restoration of the PRTT, which they believe was on the right path to put things

sheed Maina-led team was the only credible body that could salvage the sector from the alarming increase in looting of funds originally earmarked for pension payment. The letter with reference number AFPSR-ADM2/72, dated July 17, 2014, was signed by the group’s national president, Chief Emmanuel Omoyeni . The letter declared that from its records and from observations, it was only the sacked Dr. Abdulrasheed Maina led- Task Team that could clean up the fresh mess, by cracking down on the notorious pension scam cartel in the interest of the nation. Omoyeni said that they realised that there was no tangible reason for the disbandment of the PRTT which, according to him, had provided permanent solution to pensioners’ ordeal and succeeded in tracking down and recovering stolen pension

He also called for the immediate reinstatement of Maina as massive pension theft had resurfaced, adding that the PRTT was successfully ongoing before the Senate Pension Committee abruptly came in and disbanded the result oriented team. The letter also hinted that Main’s removal was a script read by indicted Pension thieves, stressing that if the disbandment of the PRTT was due to the indictment by the Senate Committee’s Report, which is now publicly known and was widely reported by the media that the Chairman of the Senate Pension Committee, then Senator Alysious Etuk has a questionable reputation. It also questioned the possibility of the successful implementation of the pension transition without giving room to the PRTT to conclude the restructuring of nationwide pension offices.

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

Agric

BUSINESS 33

How farmers can attract Hard Facts cheap funding – Minister FUNDING Adesina advises on how fund-starved African farmers can access cheap funds at Africa Forum

igeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, has advised on how smallholder farmers can qualify for cheap, long term funding. The minister was spoke at the International Conference on “Revolutionising Finance for Agricultural Value Chains,” held at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies, Nairobi, Kenya, earlier in the week. The event was organised by fin4ag. The minister said that there was a need to shift the focus from seeing agriculture as a develop-

ment tool to seeing it as a business in order to encourage more finance institutions to increase finance to the sector. He said that financial institutions would not lend to businesses they did not find viable. “Therefore there is a greater need to ensure that, through strategic reforms, agribusinesses become wealth creator. This is a good way to tackle some of the major impediments that create both real and perceived risks which deter greater financing to agriculture,” he said. Adesina outlined some of the achievements of his ministry predicated on the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), in the past three years. His list includes, among others, access to modern agricultural inputs, especially fertilizers and seeds through an e-distribution model that ended the corruption of forty years within 90 days; the

Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) through which farmers across the country now receive subsidized fertilizers and seeds via electronic coupons (e-wallets) on their mobile phones; boosting production of local staple crops and fixing value chains to reduce dependency on food imports. Others include expanding domestic food processing to serve Nigeria’s markets which has led to increase in paddy rice production by an additional seven million metric tonnes and the number of integrated modern rice mills from just one in 2011, to 18 by 2014; developing Staple Crop Processing Zones (SCPZs) which are vast agricultural production and agribusiness investment zones in rural areas; promoting the establishment of the Nigerian Agricultural Commodity Exchange with a completed 1.1 million metric tons

of silo capacity in the last two years. The minister noted that these actions in themselves may not effectively attract the kind of finance agriculture needs to grow the economy as financiers are always wary to lend to farmers because of the “high perceived risks by banks and historical high rates of default from previously largely governmentcontrolled agricultural development banks.” For this reason, he advocated the establishment of a “risk sharing facility.” The minister recounted how risk-sharing facilities led to funding of between $20 million and $30 million in Uganda and Kenya. This model, he said, built his confidence such that he moved, in conjunction with the CBN, to set up in Nigeria a $350 million risk C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 3 5

A maize farm

IITA supports Nigerian varsities with equipment T he IITA-managed project, Sustainable Weed Management Technologies for Cassava Systems in Nigeria, last week, handed over equipment to the University of Agriculture Makurdi to help tackle the menace of weeds in cassava farms. Among the equipment were a Toyota Hilux vehicle, office equipment, a motorcycle and 20 sprayers. Prof Friday Ekeleme, Principal Investigator to the IITA Cassava Weed Management Project, described the equipment as necessary tools that would facilitate research on weeds in cassava and called

on the university to carefully use and maintain them. He said that IITA was glad to have the institution as partner in the project and urged the university to redouble efforts towards ensuring that the problem of weeds in cassava is solved. Responding on behalf of the institution, Dr Moses Egbe pledged the commitment of the university to ensuring judicious use of the equipment with a view to achieving the project objectives. University of Agriculture Makurdi is the third beneficiary of assets transfer. The other collaborating institu-

tions that received similar equipment are the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike; and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB). Launched early this year, the project, Sustainable Weed Management Technologies for Cassava Systems in Nigeria, aims to find solutions to the labour-intensive weeding that is usually done by women and children in cassava farms with the goal of increasing productivity for at least 125,000 Nigerian farm families. The project, which is headed by Dr. Alfred Dixon, has the

potential to serve as a template for livelihood transformation in cassava-growing areas not just in Nigeria, but across Africa. The five-year project involves three collaborating institutions — the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike; University of Agriculture, Makurdi and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. Other partners include government representatives, Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) in the states, international cassava scientists, the donor community, and the private sector.

AGRA 2013 by the Numbers

l PhD/MSc breeders graduated l 41 new varieties released l 1,209 agrodealers trained l 81,107 MT certified seed pro-

duced

Soils l 20 MSc soil scientists enrolled l 102,120 Lead Farmers trained l 43,875 MT inorganic fertilizers sold l 601,243 farmers adopted ISFM Markets l 145,623 farmers trained l 116,435 MT produce aggregated and sold to SMEs and others l US$ 68.5 M income from sales Policy l 25 Amended policies, laws andregulations were reviewed l 7 New or amended policies arenow being implemented l 4 of these are new seed policies,laws, or recommendations for Ghana and Mozambique l 3 Of these are new plant and fertilizer laws or regulations for Ghana Innovative Finance l 126,666 new farmers accessed credit l $19.4 M credit under loan Guarantees AGRA’s staff brings world-class expertise to bear in creating innovative approaches to solving longstanding and emerging agricultural development challenges across Africa. It has very talented teams focused on: • Improving seed systems and the delivery of improved varieties to smallholders; • Reversing the extensive degradation of Africa’s farmlands and improving its fertility and productivity; • Opening new market opportunities for smallscale producers and agribusinesses; • Working with governments to identify regulatory bottlenecks and developing fresh options based on the policy reform agendas of individual countries; • Strengthening existing farmer groups and supporting the development of new ones; • Creating and testing innovative approaches to increasing the availability of affordable credit to smallholders and small- to medium-scale agribusinesses; and • Tailoring and applying state of-the-art monitoring and evaluation techniques so it can more accurately gauge impacts and improve our efforts.

BUSINESS | AGRIC

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

I'll revolutionalise Nigerian agro-allied sector, says youth farmer Nwachinemere, a University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN) graduate of Mechanical Engineering is CEO of Living Mega Industries Limited, Oyo. He did his NYSC programme in Oyo and set up his farm business there. This agripreneur, who commenced farming in 2013 is currently running a farm worth N6 million. He shared his fascinating story with SIAKA MOMOH When did the business commence? Livingstone Mega Industries Limited was incorporated on March 4, 2011, but it wasn’t until April 5, 2013, that we began any business venture. Why choice of agriculture? I had always known I would wind up in business, but when and in what type of business eluded me. It was 11:23 am, Monday November 22, 2010, during the inaugural edition of ‘The Heir Apparent’; a leadership/entrepreneurship reality television show sponsored by the National Orientation Agency, at the events hall of Nigerian Tourism Development Board, that an address to the then contestants by Otunba Runsewe, the then DG, was to change my life forever. I was then in my penultimate year, studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and then I swore to take up a cause, to be a vanguard of change, and revolutionize the agroallied sector, ensuring that I put my education to good purpose and to see that there would not be any single crop that leaves the shores of Nigeria without value addition. I was particularly passionate about ginger, a crop I discovered fetched our local farmers next to nothing while foreign companies made over 200 per cent profit exporting ginger extracts back to us. It was and is still one of the anomalies I seek to address. Again, I have a vision to create five million new jobs and end extreme poverty and hunger. Is this your first job, if not what were you doing before starting this business? Yes, this is my first job, that is, if we decide to overlook my job as a Physics teacher at Government Technical College, Iseyin, during the mandatory National Youth Service. What are your challenges? Currently, our challenge remains getting our products approved by NAFDAC. It is one issue I would want to be addressed. We do not have a factory now - in a layout that meets NAFDAC’s regulation. While I am, and will always remain a strong advocate for quality and regulated products, it is my belief that SMEs must be considered in this respect. How much is your business worth? Presently, this business is worth over six million naira by our own valuations, which took into consideration equipment, crops like plantain, cassava, maize and pineapple on 31 hectares of farmland as well as over 100 hectares of land we recently acquired for our expansion plan. How much of the various commodities do you produce monthly, annually? Apart from maize, which we are able to grow three times a year, all other crops we grow are annual. We are able to produce 100 tons of maize, 84 tons of pineapple, 300 tons of cassava, and 21 tons of plantain. We have also introduced to the market dehydrated fruit chips that include chips from pineapple, banana, apple, mango, and coconut; a growth industry that has already shown a lot of promise. We also intend to boost our output by embarking on bio-fortified cassava and plantain processing. Have you ever had post-harvest loss experience?

We did have that problem last year, where we were forced to sell our maize at a loss because we didn’t have adequate storage and drying equipment. That is an angle where we are working really hard to avoid a repeat. Any pest or insect attack problem; if any, how are you coping? We haven’t experienced any pest or insect attack so far. However, we have had our crops destroyed by cattle severally. One was so bad that we took the case to the police, having identified the cattle’s owner who had accepted it was his. We were so annoyed when the police said that they could only charge for trespassing and no more. Currently, we meet with the Baales in the places our farms are and they call a meeting with the Fulanis and the farmers. Also, we have had to employ farm hands who visit the farm to ensure that there is no cattle invasion. Why choice of Oyo for your farm? It was a question of where I could easily get land, coupled with the fact that I had done my NYSC there. Do you have clusters of farms in Oyo? Yes, we have farm clusters at Iseyin and Okaka, both in Oyo, Iwo in Osun, as well as a farm we haven’t yet cultivated in Kwali, Abuja. How do you sell your produce? Currently, we sell within the local market. However, with our expansion plan, we intend to process most of the commodities we produce and more for the export market. There is this issue of foreign countries, Arab countries in particular, approaching Nigeria for land to grow crops for their country. How do you react to this? It is a horrific development. First, we have been cut off from competitive manufacturing to all intents and purposes and now we would also throw away what amounts to our comparative advantage. If we have allowed ourselves to become a consumer nation, why can’t our lands and food production be our one leverage? Must we throw that away as well? Secondly, as these moneybags encroach on our arable lands, land that can be farmed gets limited; what will we tell the next generation of would-be farmers should there be no land to farm. That is my two pence on that. How has the LBS programme impacted on your business? As I keep telling my friends, the addition to my education at Lagos Business School, sponsored by Etisalat, is invaluable; one whose impact is tremendous. From LBS itself, I soaked in the culture of excellence. From what I learnt, I have been able to transform my business by strengthening corporate gover nance, built a strong financial system. For the first time as a business owner, I placed myself on a salary. We have also made research and innovation at the core of what we do. All round my business has been structured and positioned to achieve our set objectives.

The minister of agriculture deserves all the plaudits coming his way. However, a lot more needs to be done to ensure that incentives meant for farmers actually get to them. What is your take on cassava bread? It is a laudable initiative; one that has a lot of potential if managed well. However, its adoption is not one that can be achieved by just policy reversals; the stakeholders must be listened to. They know where the shoe pinches. Would you say government is giving enough attention to agric now? Well, left to me, I would say that compared to the moribund state it was before we are doing better, but I do feel that enough attention can never be paid to this sector, not until its past glory is restored and surpassed; not until it once more becomes our largest contributor to our GDP. FG has released various funds for the development of cassava bread, rice, sugar - food security generally. Would you say these funds have had positive impact on agriculture? While the released funds is a development that is laudable, I must reiterate that until access to those funds are no longer an open secret, any impact it could have would be minimal. How do you react to Nigeria not having a functional commodity exchange? It is a very sad development; one that makes the average farmer like lamb to the slaughter, to be unduly exploited. It must be addressed, else, more farmers could desert this noble profession. How do you feel being a young farmer? It is a great feeling knowing you are part of something; a great revolution that will transform this nation; it is even greater knowing you practice what you preach. During my training sessions for youths like me seeking to engage in farming, as well as my other public speaking engagements; the moment I am most alive is when the fire lights up in their eyes as they witnessed what we h a v e achieved in so short a time. In a nutshell, I feel euphoric.

Where do you think your business will be in five years from now? In the next five years, we would have 20,000 hectares integrated farm where all we cultivate would be processed and exported to other countries. How would you assess Federal Government’s agriculture transformation agenda? For want of a better word to use, I would say it has been transformational.

Nwachinemere

BUSINESS | AGRIC

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

‘FG ready to exploit Soybean: Nigeria is sub-Saharan Africa number one producer comparative advantage' COMMODITY PROFILE

AID Support in form of equipment comes the way of universities and research institute

he Federal Government is ready to exploit the principle of comparative advantage for enhancing food sufficiency in Nigeria, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, has said. The minister, who was represented by the Technical Adviser on Cassava Value Chain, Mrs Adetunji Oluwatoyin, recently in Ilorin, during a twoday training of Master Bakers on cassava bread said that countries of the world like the

USA, India and Malaysia exploited their comparative advantages in the area of wheat, rice and oil palm production respectively and today they have consolidated on it. Mrs Adetunji said that the Nigerian environment is conducive for the workability of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the present administration. “The supply chain of cassava like processors and producers, have encouraged the consumption of cassava bread so that stakeholders along the value chain can thrive and thus create job for the purpose of developing the economy,” she said. Kwara State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Adebisi Buhari, described the

initiatives as the beginning of good things to come in the sector. “This programme is a method employed by the Federal Government to mop up excess cassava in the country. Apart from the fact that it will enrich our source of foreign exchange, more jobs would be created and that means more market for cassava growers,” he added. Also speaking at the occasion, the Zonal Representative of Master Bakers SouthWest, Chief Bosun Osaloni, expressed the participants’ readiness to benefit like others that have been trained in the past. Chief Osaloni who thanked the president for creating an opportunity for bakers and cassava growers said that the programme has already become a success story.

A Nigerian farm

‘How farmers can attract cheap funding' C O N T I N U E D F R O M pa g e 3 3

sharing facility, designed to leverage $3.5 billion of lending from commercial banks into agricultural value chains – the Nigerian Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending, NIRSAL. He noted that this intervention has led to an increase in lending to agriculture as share of total bank lending to the sector rose from just 0.7 per cent in 2011 when NIRSAL was launched, to 5.0 per cent in 2013 and is expected to reach 7.5 per cent in 2014 and 10 per cent by 2015. Adesina, however, explained that lending is heavily skewed to larger agribusinesses, while smallholder farmers, commercial farmers and other small and medium size enterprises are unable to access affordable financing. He said that interest rates made it near impossible for small players to access loans. He was however quick to point out that for the economic

growth figures coming out of Africa to have any meaningful impact on the hundreds of millions who only hear about the growth numbers, but feel alienated from the growth process, there is a need to target the rural farmers with loans. He therefore encouraged Africa’s greatest and sharpest development banking heads to come up with innovative and revolutionary ideas to boost agricultural lending to small holders. He said, ‘To enable our farmers and agribusinesses secure access to cheaper long term financing, we must think outside the box”. Citing Nigeria as an example, the minister spoke of an innovative approach to catalyzing private finance of agribusiness tagged Fund for Agricultural Financing in Nigeria (FAFIN) that will transform the landscape of private sector focused agricultural financing in Nigeria by meeting the financing needs of SMEs. FAFIN will

invest between $500,000 and $5 million in tailor-made debt, equity and quasi-equity solutions for commercially viable SMEs and financial intermediaries across the agricultural value chain and a further $10 million in technical assistance facility that will provide grants in support of business development, extension and other technical services to investee companies. He described FAFIN as the first of its kind in Africa. The agriculture minister further talked about the need to use Private Equity markets to finance agriculture. According to him, countries can tap into Sovereign Wealth Funds by proving that agriculture is a viable business for such investments. Said he, “this ‘shared prosperity for all’ must become the focus of innovative financing for agriculture, as it holds the greatest potential to lift hundreds of millions of Africans who depend on agriculture, into Africa’s rising middle class.”

orldwide consumption of soybean is nearly eleven million tons. Africa consumes about 618,000 tons annually and uses another 4,800 tons for animal feed. Nigeria is the largest consumer of soybeans in SSA, followed by Uganda. Production Nigeria is the largest producer of soybean in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), followed by South Africa. Low yields (less than 1 ton/ha in tropical Africa) and a shortage of fertilizer constrain the ability of some countries to increase production. In Nigeria the haulms and post-processed pulp (soybean meal) serve as important sources of animal feed. A 30 per cent annual growth in the poultry industry from 2003 to 2008 fuelled such a demand for soybean meal that an increase in imports was required. Over 216 million tons of soybeans were produced worldwide in 2007, of which 1.5 million were in Africa. Africa imports nearly as much soybean as it produces. Africa exports about 20,000 tons annually. Commercial soybean production on large farms takes place in Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. However, it is mostly cultivated by small-scale farmers in other parts of Africa where it is planted as a minor food crop among sorghum, maize, or cassava. Harvesting Nearly 95 million hectares of soybeans were harvested worldwide in 2007, with 19 million in Asia, 3.5 million in the USA, and 1.2 million in Africa. Depending on the variety, soybeans can be harvested between 100 and 150 days after planting. Labour requirements in Africa are high since most cultivation and harvesting are done manually.

Consumption Worldwide consumption of soybean is nearly eleven million tons. Africa consumes about 618,000 tons annually, and uses another 4,800 tons for animal feed. Nigeria is the largest consumer of soybeans in SSA followed by Uganda. In Africa dry soybeans are used to produce milk substitutes and flour. The bean curd is fried and eaten as a snack or breakfast food. Mature beans are not easily digested and contain toxic compounds, which require soaking and prolonged cooking. Disease and constraints Diseases in Africa include rust, red leaf blotch, frog-eye leaf spot, bacterial pustule, bacterial blight, and soybean mosaic virus. Pests include pod (stink bugs) and foliage feeders, bean flies and nematodes. Soybean rust, caused by the Phakopsora pachyrhizi fungus, attacks and destroys the leaves of the plant and can cause up to 60% yield loss. It is widespread throughout many parts of the

world and is considered the most destructive of soybean foliar diseases. Other problems include pod shattering that reduces seed longevity, and production and distribution difficulties. Dualpurpose improved varieties of soybean have not reached many soybean growers to increase production. In many countries only a small market exists for soybean so many farmers are not willing to grow it, and not many people know how to process it or prepare meals with it. Soybean is a leguminous vegetable of the pea family that grows in tropical, subtropical, and temperate climates. Soybean was domesticated in the 11th century BC around northeast of China. It is believed that it might have been introduced to Africa in the 19th century by Chinese traders along the east cost of Africa. Importance It consists of more than 36 per cent protein, 30% carbohydrates, and excellent amounts of dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It also consists of 20 per cent oil, which makes it the most important crop for producing edible oil. Malnutrition, particularly protein deficiency, is prevalent in many parts of Africa as animal protein is too expensive for most populations. Many leguminous crops provide some protein, but soybean is the only available crop that provides an inexpensive and high quality source of protein comparable to meat, poultry and eggs. A by-product from the oil production (soybean cake) is used as a high-protein animal feed in many countries. Soybean also improves soil fertility by adding nitrogen from the atmosphere. This is a major benefit in African farming systems, where soils have become exhausted by the need to produce more food for increasing populations, and where fertilizers are hardly available and are expensive for farmers. IITA's research and impact IITA researchers developed combined rust-resistant and high yielding varieties. Other varieties include low pod shattering and soil deficiency tolerance; and resistance to frog-eye leaf spot, bacterial pustule and bacterial blight. They also developed efficient and rapid methods of evaluating rust-resistant varieties; and new techniques to aid resistance breeding. IITA launched a project to combat malnutrition in Nigeria by encouraging soybean production and to increase its dietary consumption. They also researched and adapted farming techniques to reduce labor and various soybean processing machines for use in SSA. These activities resulted in an increase in consumption and in the number of farmers growing the crop. Source: IITA

BUSINESS | INTERVIEW

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

Why NSE is setting up national monitoring groups, by Olorunfemi Ademola Isaac Olorunfemi is the President of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE). Recently he led a team of the group on a visit to New Telegraph office in Abuja where the editorial team on hand took him up on some issues. Excerpts NSE is 56 years old, what are your greatest challenges so far? We have come a long way as a professional body; our objective is to care for our members, their welfare and training in the overall interest of the nation and mankind. We need the cooperation of stakeholders like you, but more importantly that of government, which has not been forth coming. In treating national issues, it is important that our government from time to time recognise the role of professional bodies and they should also be adequately contacted. In most cases, you just find the thing going and you struggle to go in there. It must be made a policy that all national policies and efforts in specific areas of professionals and, particularly engineering, because in all we do, you are looking at 90 per cent or more engineering, what we are doing is mainly engineering, so we should have input. We should also be looking at making laws that will make specific portfolios reserved for engineers. In developed countries, their lawmakers have allocations specifically made for professional bodies, not by contesting any election. That is very important. On the transformation agenda, we have had so many inputs in terms of the national infrastructure integrated plan, but it is important for government to have it as a policy to always enquire from professional bodies like NSE what their inputs are, and then follow up on it. Direct request should be made to the society so that we can be held responsible. In the last 56 years, we have written volumes and volumes of submissions in all areas you can think of and I can assure you, in less than one week, we can provide professional analysis because they are all in the shelf, there are so many things we can give, but they just gather dusts where they are. Government must deliberately know that this group of people must be approached. It should be possible to make it into a law, but our involvement should be about government itself looking for those they think should be contacted. We should be contacted as a corporate body so that you can also hold us responsible. There is no way you can hold NSE responsible for what government is doing if we do not have an input that is documented. We will continue to engage government. I think it is pertinent for the president to have direct communication with presidents of professional bodies, all hurdles should be removed. We can share ideas at every possible time. So, basically, engineers are relevant to the success of the transformation agenda of President Jonathan? Everything about the agenda is engineering. Every component of the Millennium Development Goals from which the agenda is derived is about engineering. How can the engineers come in handy in the face of the insecurity challenges facing Nigeria? All efforts being taken so far, in the ultimate end, it is technology that can really arrest this. Like you know, this is not likely to go away totally as you have seen all over the world. But what will bring the impact to the barest minimum is what technology can achieve. Building is one aspect. There are other areas of prevention, because if you come to prevention you start looking at bringing out technologies such that the whole place is open. As a country,

The NSE Monitoring Action Groups will monitor policies and programs affecting critical sectors of the nation’s economy, for the purpose of engineering input and liaising with relevant stakeholders we must be able to fashion out something that can put everywhere under surveillance, with camera, internet coverage and other gadgets, so that, sitting down in your office, you can see a certain radius of everywhere. The interesting thing is that it is not rocket science. It is something that we can adapt and modify. Nigerian engineers in those areas are doing well. There are also gadgets, but more than that, we should be able to prevent it from happening and this is about surveillance. It is about gadgets that will reveal all of these things. As engineers, we must be a step ahead of these evildoers, because they are now doing things to beat security check. In the advanced world, you find out that nothing happens even in the store or the street corners that people don’t get caught, because everything is under surveillance camera. We can do it too. But you know some of the story that contract has been awarded and all of that, where are they? Corruption, point blank! So those are some of the issues. It is not something difficult. Part of what we are going to be advocating is that government and her agencies should have level of surveillance and all that, but those things must be domiciled. Unless it is domiciled, the cost will be too high for us to accommodate, but the issue of corruption must be tackled, because the one we claim have spent money on, there is no result. Otherwise we would have been able to capture some of those things on films. When you came on board, you talked about setting up some monitoring groups. How far have you gone? From the onset of my presidency, I resolved to galvanize the rich experiences of several members of our society in diverse positions to be able to advice government appropriately on key policies. I am happy that the idea has received wide acceptance, leading to the establishment of a body referred to as NSE Monitoring Action Groups ( N M AG s ) . The NSE Monitoring Action Groups will monitor policies and programs af fecti n g

Olorunfemi

critical sectors of the nation’s economy, for the purpose of engineering input and liaising with relevant stakeholders from public and private sectors to ensure coordinated action for a sustainable infrastructural development. The monitoring group is expected to, among other things, organise a census of all abandoned, dilapidated, moribund and below-capacity running agro-based and agro-allied industries and water supply/sanitation/irrigation facilities and fully assess what it would take to rehabilitate such systems with a comprehensive feasibility report to guide practical intervention that can bring back the erstwhile rural industrialisation and wealth creation in the agricultural sector. It will also undertake a comprehensive study of the present state and future infrastructure projections for critical sectors of the national economy, and also identify gaps and financial needs to bridge such gaps. For instance, currently, there are groups that are looking at the iron and steel with specific mandate on those government iron and steel and their peripherals. There is also a group looking at railways, the automobile industry and the power sector. So, what you see us coming out with is not mine. It is an aggregate of ideas of professionals, put together by those who are known in those specific areas. We are pushing all of these issues and we will continue to engage government. We are planning to see Mr President with a position as to what we think the country should be doing to join the league of developed nations. Your world engineering conference is coming up soon. How far have you gone with the planning? Have you gotten the necessary buy-in from the relevant stakeholders and what efforts are you making in terms of the current security challenges to have a hitch free conference? Let me use this opportunity to appeal to you to extend the plea to government to forcefully come into this world engineering conference. Yes, the president has given written directive one year down the line that government is in support of it and the minister of works is doing that. I mentioned earlier that government at all levels should be more accessible to some group of people, not just the human rights and political groups, but the professional bodies too. We need government at this level to make pronouncements, to give written commitments the way it was given during the World Economic Forum. I and NSE cannot give assurance on security, we don’t own anything; it is only government after God that has security. Government need to come in urgently at this time to make emphatic pronouncements, give us tenable assurance that we can put before the whole body to say ‘yes Nigeria is ready to receive you, these are the evidences.’ During the World Economic Forum, the minister of information came out and it was on CNN and all of that. We need that level of intervention by government. This is not in any way smaller than anything that has happened in this country. We are telling you about a gathering talking about infrastructural development in Africa. The conference has as its theme, “World engineering conference on sustainable infrastructure in Africa.” This is the first time the world body will even allow a theme that is looking at a continent. It is usually a general theme. So, government must come out boldly now. We have gotten some support in terms of joining us in the planning, but there must be pronouncements to all delegates all over the world to come to Nigeria. This particular conference, we are backing it up, we are taking all measures, and we are putting all weight of the Federal Government to back it up that is very important. Preparations are in high momentum and the zeal and enthusiasm of Nigerian engineers looking forward is immeasurable. WECSI is the next big international event in Nigeria after the World Economic Conference (WEF). It is not just an NSE event. The world will be coming to Abuja to brainstorm on strategies for developing sustainable infrastructure in our land; that makes it a Nigerian event; and that makes us all stakeholders.

FEATURES

FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

hen Owelle Rochas Okorocha assumed office as Imo State governor on May 29, 2011, expectations were high. He had a plethora of challenges to contend with. It was not unexpected. There was dearth of functional infrastructural facilities and basic amenities. On the political plane, graft had become a pastime. The challenges where numerous – a dejected populace in dire need of direction; an ailing public service staffed by an ill-motivated workforce; a crumbling educational system without the required productive capacities to contribute to the development of the state; a lethargic health sector that left the infirm at the mercy of unequipped health facilities; a regime of joblessness that fostered a measure of hopelessness, helplessness and desperation in the psyche of the youth; insecurity spurred by widespread disenchantment within a section of the populace against the system and its operators. Three years down the line, record shows that Okorocha has made deliberate efforts to keep fate with the terms of his mandate and correct several systemic incongruities that had bedevilled the state since its creation. It is believed in many quarters that one of the governor’s most important achievements is his passionate infrastructural drive across the three geopolitical zones of the state. He has continued to push towards making Orlu and Okigwe modern cities thereby taking attention away from the state capital and enhancing the socio-economic opportunities derivable in the geopolitical zones outside Owerri, the state capital. His resolve to turn Orlu into a modern city that can compete with several other cities in the South-East has shown the governor’s immense capacity for infrastructural development. The state government had earlier disclosed that N25 billion would be spent on the on-going transformation of Orlu. Before the current transformation of Orlu, Okorocha had in his 2012 State of the Imo Address, noted that, “the potentials of the state were shut in, owing to the absence of an extensive network of roads to support the process of transformation”. According to him, the cities of Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe have continued to reel under the neglect of roads within these towns thus making vehicular movement very inconvenient to motorists. “Although, remarkable efforts have been made since this administration came on board to repair the roads and open up new ones, it is expected that this year (2012), over 400 kilometres of roads will be constructed in the state,” he promised then. True to his word, Orlu city has benefited immensely in the areas of infrastructural development. When coming into the

NEW TELEGRAPH

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ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES EDITOR

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

Urbanising Orlu through infrastructural development With the construction of roads, hospitals, schools and provision of other social amenities, Imo State Government is gradually changing the face of Orlu, reports STEVE UZOECHI

When the governor embarked on the demolition of structures to build the new city of Orlu, we all kicked at the initiative Orlu city gate

Okorocha

Orlu-Amalgbo Road

One of the roundabouts

city from Owerri, one is welcomed by giant gates announcing the city. Okorocha started the transformation of Orlu with the control of the popular Umuna erosion site in Umusasa which had consumed dozens of houses and sacked many families from their ancestral homes. It is instructive to note that St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Umuna was on the verge of giving in to the erosion when Okorocha intervened. This site, it was learnt, was abandoned over the years despite efforts to attract Federal Government attention to the erosion menace. In addition to this, the perennial Mgbee Erosion site on Ideato Road has been controlled and recovered with a dual carriageway linking Ideato and Orlu. To an extent, Okorocha has established quite a solid infrastructural presence in the Orlu area of the state. His achievements in the area include road projects in the city - completion of the inner city roads comprising eight roads, complete with covered drainages; walkways and street lights. The most important aspect of

these roads is the extension to dual carriageway of some inner roads, including the Ideato-OrluOwerri Road which is about 75 per cent completed and the old Orlu-Owerri Road, with street lights. This has greatly decongested the traffic in the town. Efforts to develop the city include the construction of the Orlu Shopping Mall, repositioning of the old Onitsha Park and Orlu ultra-modern central motor parks; construction of Children’s Amusement Park, and Electronic Market in Okporo, Orlu and the Building Materials Market in Umuowa as well as the frequent cleaning of the Orlu city. To further ensure free flow of traffic, the administration designated 15 bus stops within the city. There are also roundabouts beautified with modern water fountains at Banana Junction, and those on Amaigbo Road which help to control overspeeding and check avoidable accidents. There is an ongoing construction of a new stadium on the new Owerri Road as well as Prince Hotel to enhance the aesthetics of the town.

Aware that the presence of tertiary institution helps to boost economic development of such cities, the government has also established College of Nursing in Orlu. The institution situated in the former Housing Estate, Okporo and Owerre Ebeiri will commence formal academic activities by September. It is the first College of Nursing in country as others are schools or departments of nursing. Before this, the government had upgraded the Imo State Technological Skills Acquisition Institute (TESAI), Orlu, to become a campus of the Imo State Polytechnic which had since begun academic activities. Similarly, the once abandoned Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH) has been put to good use to serve the academic and health needs of the people. All these are happening simultaneously in Owerri, Okigwe and various local government areas. An Orlu resident, Hon. Dennis Nna, who spoke with New Telegraph, commended the administration for taking a bold step towards transforming the once neglected town.

He said: “When the governor embarked on the demolition of structures to build the new city of Orlu, we all kicked at the initiative. We didn’t know it will take this shape, the work is not completely done yet but Orlu is turning out better.” A trader in Orlu, Chidi Ibe, said the transformation of Orlu had shown that the city had the capacity to assume the capital status of a new state, if created. However, some other residents urged the government to attend to the Ihiala-Orlu-Nkwerre-Anara Road to prevent further accidents and unnecessary deaths. According to them, most of the commuters from Akwa Ibom and Cross River states as well as Umuahia now ply the Orlu Road to Onitsha and Lagos. “The kind of vehicular traffic we witness on this road makes it expedient for the Federal Government to extend it to a dual carriageway,” one of them said. Commenting on the infrastructural development in the state, the Speaker, Chief Benjamin Uwajumogu, described it as returning critical sectors of democratic governance to the original owners - the people. Uwajumogu, who spoke with journalists in Owerri, noted that the state legislature was part of the success story and identified the enactment of people-oriented laws by the Assembly as a strong support to the government’s massive provision of social amenities like the construction and rehabilitation of rural and urban roads, construction of 27 state-of-theart General Hospitals in all the council areas; construction of two detached one-storey school blocks in all the electoral wards. He added that the introduction of the Community Government Council (CGC) had brought governance closer to the people and ensured infrastructural development in rural communities.

BUSINESS | ICT

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Bayelsa adopts FG’s Smart State initiative DEVELOPMENT Technology ministry set to fast ICT growth through agreements with states Stories by Jonah Iboma

ayelsa has become the latest state to join the Smart State initiative of the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology. The Plan is geared towards engaging governors and relevant authorities at the state and federal levels to address the issue of multiple taxation and other impediments hindering acceleration of roll out of critical infrastructure

across Nigeria. To this end, Bayelsa has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Communication Technology to ensure that identified barriers to technology development are addressed. Bayelsa is one of the states selected by the Broadband Council to facilitate ICT infrastructure rollout critical for development under smart state initiative. Others are Lagos, Anambra, Gombe, Katsina and Ondo. Lagos has already reduced ROW charges by 85 per cent. The MoU was signed during the Bayelsa State Investment and Economic Forum held in the state recently. Minister of Communication Technology, Dr Omobola

Johnson, who made a presentation at the forum titled: “Technology Infrastructure & eCommerce Growth,” highlighted the current scenario and future opportunities in the Nigerian ICT Industry. She also examined the growth prospects, primary drivers and factors influencing adoption of e-commerce in Nigeria and the role of the ministry of communication technology in facilitating ICT development and ecommerce growth in Nigeria. Johnson noted that states have an important role to play towards the actualisation of the goals of government, urging the Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, to focus on ICT infrastructure development in the state by waiving Right of

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs Nike Animashaun; Head of Service, Lagos State, Mrs Josephine Oluseyi Williams; Chairman, Civil Service Commission, Mr Olujobi Oshosanya; Oracle trainees, Miss Abidakun Olusemola; Mr Temitayo Oyeleke; and Oracle Public Sector Manager, Ms Ihuoma Okoroafor at the graduation ceremony of oracle-trained Lagos State government staff... recently.

Africa’s start-ups urged to develop useful apps

echnology start-ups in Africa have been urged to focus on developing solutions for problems that people face every day. This submission was made by chief executive officer (CEO) of WeDo and founder of Tech4Africa, Gareth Knight, while speaking at the recently concluded Tech4Africa conference in Lagos. According to him, easy to use solutions and those that give people fun and create utility value will be a success in the marketplace. “Simplicity is your goal, overengineering is the mother of all evil. Make it easy, make it fun, make it memorable,” he said. According to him, application developers should always focus on the user and more emphasis should be placed on execution. “Focus on the user – ignore that, and your product will fail. Execution is everything; it is the difference between winning and losing, building a career and enjoying a hobby,” he said. He enjoined start-ups to use key metrics to assess return

on investment, saying that it helps in knowing how a product is successful. He also made the case for constant iteration. “Constant iteration is your weapon. Get out as quickly as possible. Test and fix bugs. Adapt to users and market intelligence. Rinse and repeat,” he said, urging tech start-ups to follow a clearly defined process and embrace open source software. “Open source software is your friend. There will always be bugs, get over it, prioritise it and deal with it. Treasure your users and think of them as part of the family,” he said. Meanwhile, IBM has announced the rollout of its BlueMix cloud-based service that allows developers to roll out their apps quickly. Software architect at IBM West Africa, Chidebele Ifediora, said at the Tech4Africa conference, that the platform takes care of the burdens of infrastructure and management for emerging developers and companies. “The burden of infrastructure is already taken care of in

addition to that of management. Apps can be rolled out in time and developers can focus on pure app functionality,” he said. He said that BlueMix is not proprietary to IBM and is available to users based on open standards. “Compared with others, BlueMix is leveraging on open standard and it offers support for third party app,” Ifediora said. For corporate organisations, he said that they can make use of the platform to remain competitive by providing their customers with additional services. “Let’s look at apps that offer SMS features, for instance. If your competitor is offering SMS and you are not, you may lose customers to them. But on BlueMix, you will only develop the non-SMS aspect and plug it in BlueMix service,” he said. He further said that the platform makes it possible to scale on demand. “Increased traffic requires increased infrastructure which could be complex and error-laden. BlueMix could help with that,” he said.

Way charges for two years. She said that this would make it easy for fibre to be built in Bayelsa State by reducing multiple taxation, enabling new roads being built or rehabilitated in the state to have fibre duct infrastructure, assign a single agency to collect levies, taxes and fees on behalf of the state and protect ICT infrastructure in the state. Dickson immediately pledged a 50 per cent reduction in ROW charges and the setting up of a single agency to administer the collection of all taxes and levies in the state. He promised that the state was proud to be selected to be part of the Smart state initiative, promising to put in place all the necessary measures needed to make Bayelsa a model ICT state in Nigeria. It will be recalled that the Ministry is working to ensure that the bottlenecks that mitigate service quality delivery are removed. To tackle quality of service issues in the industry, the ministry in partnership with the Ministry of Works developed new Right of Way (RoW) guidelines for Federal Government roads to enable operators have unencumbered means of laying fibre optics which is critical for infrastructure development and quality of service. To remove arbitrary charges and eradicate multiple taxations that impede telecoms development across the nation, the ministry, for the first time in the history of Nigeria’s telecoms revolution, got state governors and relevant authorities at the state and federal levels to address the issue of multiple taxation and adopt measures that will remove arbitrary charges and eradicate multiple taxations to enhance service delivery across the nation. A landmark agreement with the Lagos State government facilitated by

the ministry was brokered to address issues of RoW and base station deployment, among others. Cost of RoW was slashed from 3000 to 500 - a reduction of 85%. The Ministry is working to replicate this in other states by convincing other state governors and relevant authorities at the state level to eliminate multiple taxation and adopt measures that will remove arbitrary charges and enhance telecoms service delivery. An assessment of the deployment of ICT infrastructure revealed that almost 70 per cent of deployment cost was spent on processing RoW; taxes and levies on infrastructure, which makes the landmark agreement with the Lagos State government even more significant. The ministry strongly believes that the elimination of multiple taxes will result in cost effective, accelerated and massive deployment of ICT infrastructure across the country, which will enhance quality delivery issues currently being experienced by telecoms subscribers. The accelerated deployment of ICT infrastructure cannot be done without due consideration for the environment. The industry has been plagued with inter-agency conflicts and unduly long approval processes in ensuring that laid down standards are adhered to. The ministry further committed itself to maintaining environmental standards and fostering inter-agency cooperation when it reached an agreement with the Ministry of Environment and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) on the construction of Base Transceiver Stations (BTS).

iWayAfrica banks on managed service support for growth an-African telecoms opera- regards to backup and disaster PNetworks tor, Gondwana International recovery processes. (GIN), has said that Managing Director, SevenC its iWayAfrica business will be partnering with managed services company, SevenC Computing to grow its foothold in key African territories. The move will enable GIN and iWayAfrica to continue growing the brand throughout Africa. General Manager, terrestrial for GIN and iWayAfrica, Winston Smith, says that the partnership with SevenC Computing has already proved beneficial. “We have seen great success in Namibia and anticipate excellent growth in key countries such as Zimbabwe, Uganda, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania. There is great demand for level three managed services support as cloud simply cannot deliver on its own.” Across the continent, customers are at risk from having obsolete IT systems. In addition, they generally have poorly managed IT services and very little in place with

Computing, Darren Osbourn, said that customers were also overpaying for IT services and generally need better control of their IT systems and associated user activities: “The African SME market remains challenged by the same issues as always, limited budget, lack of in-house IT skills and resources as well as poor quality of service. Together with iWayAfrica, we will be providing a much needed quality of service focused on the evolution, deployment and on-going support of managed IT services.” Smith said that GIN is very excited about the potential of iWayAfrica’s partnership with SevenC Computing. “We have packaged an excellent combination of software and infrastructure as a service, giving customers the best of the cloud with essential managed services on the ground,” he said.

sport fanzone

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

Corruption, bad leadership bane of Nigeria football The incessant crises rocking Nigerian football have affected the fortune of the game in the country. New Telegraph speaks to football fans to identify the problem hindering the development of the game in Nigeria.

Nigeria football lacks good leadership igerian football lacks good leadership. For N instance, what happened at the World Cup when players were protesting for money was as

a result of poor management. I don’t know why they cannot do simple things, they fight with the players, they fight with the coach, and they fight with the sports ministry that gives them the money. Olusegun Oguntoyinbo, Student

Love for money killing patriotism

here is nothing else but money. Money is the Tcause root of all evil. The players failed to train beof money, the administrators are hold-

ing onto the players’ money, everybody wants his player in the national team all because of money. Until we try to do things for national pride and not because of money before we can achieve great things in our football. Lola Ogunbote, footballer (UK)

Qualified experts lacking

problem is that we don't have people, TJustheI mean right people in position of power. like what we experience in all strata of

our national life, football is bedevilled by maladministration. With the kind of officials that we have, football can never develop; we will continue to have problems. Taiwo Morounfolu, Banker

Selfishness is our biggest problem

elfishness is our biggest problem. We all want our person there when there are other better qualified individuals. We have problem from the administrators to the players themselves. A player telling the coach who to come in as a substitute, players instigating others against a team mate all because of his own interest. Ethnic character, all ethnicity must be part of the team even when some of them are not good enough to even be part of street football team, God will help us in this country. Anawe Victor, Accountant

No foundation for growth

leadership and corruption are the bane of Ptheoor our football. There is no proper foundation for game to grow which is why we want to win at

all costs. We need to stop the age-cheat thing and go back to our Principal Cup days otherwise someday it will all come back to haunt us at a much larger scale than it currently does.

Gbenga Olaitan Vincent-Businessman, Lagos

Government encouraging corruption in NFF

he problem with Nigerian football is both leadership and corruption. In the history of NFA or NFF they have hardly had good leadership. The statutes establishing NFF should be critically reviewed; the government should stop sponsoring and installing candidates in the board of the soccer body. Qualified candidates must be allowed to contest elective positions into the federation. Lastly, members of the NFF must not be allowed to siphon funds belonging to the countrywith impunity. Nwaogu Kindness- Football coach, Lagos

We have average footballers or me, the problem of Nigeria football is FMost lack of good footballers playing abroad. of our so-called first team players

are all bench-warmers in their various clubs apart from one or two of them. We should not blame only the administrators; we should try and look at the footballers too. Adeyeye Abiodun, Student

Maigari

Age cheats, corruption our biggest challenge

Corruption is the bane

here is politics in Nigerian football as officials take bribe and feature players even when they are not fit, ahead of better players. Age-cheat is really affecting our football development and it's time we start to use real age or just 2-3 years difference and not the 10 years we are practising in Nigeria. Chrisantus Macauley who won award with Toni Kroos in 2007 just signed for a lowly-rated club in Turkey while the German boy was with Bayern Munich as a World Cup winner. And for the clubs, they have similar problems and finance is a big problem. How many football jerseys do our clubs sell in a year but here in Europe, clubs make millions from merchandise. Take the World Cup for example, German clubs will make millions on the new stars jerseys.

orruption is killing Nigerian football C because those running the game have nothing to offer. I played football up to Golden

Eaglets in 1997, I was just 17 years old but the person who gave me a letter to the NFF said I should claim 14 years but the man in charge said I was too young just because I had no money to give. I had gone to the NFF several times but only those who had a letter were allowed in. I had to embrace education and forget about football. I’m happy today that I never allowed their selfish interest to weigh me down though it killed my football dream. The level of corruption here is high and also, the interference from government is another thing affecting us. Jide Alphonso, Engineer, Lagos

Bolaji Jatto, Spain

Government should stop funding football

Favouritism, Nepotism a big problem

and money is the major isStimeelfishness sue affecting our football. When it is to select players for the national

team, this one will come with his own candidate while the other one will come with his at the expense of good players because of their selfish interest and the monetary gain. The administrators are not saying the truth too because of money. Adebayo Tony, businessman

game without financial patronage of government but it is working in other places and I don't know why it cannot just work here where we have so many companies. I really don't like this regular government interference which al- w a y s fetch us FIFA suspension. And the only solution is to stop the government funding. Can we ever do that?

Our leaders are greedy

say we have greedy, stingy leaders who have taken Iown’llpositions not to uphold our football but for their selfish interest. It all boils down to corruption.

Shogeke Kamoru, Businessman

NFF leaders lack vision

it’s about leadership. Inewfeel We need people who have ideas, people who are

If our leaders are good and humble, then Nigerian football will go a long way. Demilade Onabanjo, Student

Corruption’s ruining everything

think it is corruption in the leadership of football fedIadequate eration. If the needs of the players are met and other facilities are put in place, it would motivate the players to do more for their country raththan switching nationality. I mean the leaders are so corrupt in the sense that provisions which are made for both players and the association are looted.

is right time to ask government to Iball.thands-off sports, especially footI know it is difficult to run the

Handel Ndu-Fashion stylist, Lagos

Ex-players should run football

innovative with their thinking. Also, most of our players are not committed; they tend to be more focused on their club careers than their international engagements. Fabian Brown, Student

Corruption killing Nigeria football

orruption is the major problem in all C sectors of country including football. We need young and vibrant people to run our football. If only corruption could be flushed away, then I think our football would move to greater heights. Desire Jacob, Business man

here are no sincere leaders in the Nigeria Football Federation. The exT players should be given the chance to run football properly in this country, and the politicians pushed out of the NFF because they don’t have foresight on how to run the game. Imagine these politicians bringing a ‘mashai’ who is selling bread and tea to come and run football. If we can have the right people in the right positions, then corruption would be fully eradicated in the beautiful game. Prince George Clement-Footballer, Lagos

The crew Ifeanyi Ibeh Ajibade Olusesan Charles Ogundiya Moyosore Makinde

E X H O RTAT I O N

NEW TELEGRAPH

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“Surely We revealed it on the Night of Majesty. And what will make thee comprehend what the Night of Majesty

adeolaomoyusuf@yahoo.com 0803 438 0340

is? The Night of Majesty is better than a thousand months.” Qur’an 97 : 1-3

FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014 l 28 Ramadan 1435 AH

UNDERSTAND YOUR FAITH

Eid likely on Monday – Saudi Arabia

The Legitimacy of Paying Zakat al-Fitr in Cash QUESTION

Is payment of Zakat-til-Fitri with money permissible in Islam?

ANSWER In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. In his response to your question, the eminent Muslim scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi states the following: Any mufti who attack believers for paying Zakat al-Fitri with money was in the wrong for four reasons: First, it is not permissible to deny or attack the opinion of any party in the matters that pertain to ijtihad (personal reasoning) over which the scholars disagree and which have many different opinions. According toShariàh, the mujtahid (one who is qualified for making ijtihad) is not requested to apply anything but the opinion he concludes. If he is in the right, he will be rewarded twice—for his ijtihad and for his reaching the right in a certain matter; if he is in the wrong, he will be rewarded once—for exerting himself in ijtihad. The maximum words that a mujtahid can say about himself are the words of Imam Ash-Shafiì (may Allah be pleased with him): “My opinion is right and is possibly wrong; while the opinion of the others is wrong and is possibly right.” Every matter that has no indisputable canonical texts with indisputable import is certainly a matter of ijtihad, and the matter that we are dealing with is undoubtedly of this kind. The majority of people are allowed to follow one of the madhhabs approved by the Ummah, as this is the possible means for one who is unqualified to make ijtihad. Allah the Almighty says: (Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope) (Al-Baqarah 2:286) and (So keep your duty to Allah and fear Him as much as you can) (At-Taghabun 64:16). Moreover, the Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) is reported to have said, “If I order you to do something, then do of it as much as you can” (agreed upon). Second, if we dealt with this matter according to the above-mentioned basis, we will see that Imam Abu Hanifah and his companions, AlHasan Al-Basri, Sufyan Ath-Thawri, Caliph Ùmar ibn Àbd Al-Àziz, and many other scholars permitted paying the value of zakah, including zakat al-fitr, in money. Both supporters and opponents of the opinion depended on many pieces of evidence and considerations. I have detailed this matter in my book Fiqh Az-Zakah, in a chapter on paying the value as a way to give zakah. Sheikh Ibn Taymiyah reached an opinion that is considered a compromise between these two parties: “Paying the value of zakat al-fitr in money with no need or interest to do so, is impermissible.

L-R: Coordinator, Muslim Hands Nigeria, Mr. Hassan Adejumo; Volunteer, Mr. Farouk Danmole and Country Manager, Muslim Hands Nigeria, Mr. Shaffi Mustapha, during Ramadan 2014 food distribution, organised by the Muslim Hands Nigeria, at Egbeda, Lagos. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

HOLIDAY The federal government has declared Monday and Tuesday as public holidays Adeola Yusuf

id Al-Fitr will probably fall on Monday (July 28), according to an Islamic astronomical

INADEQUATE MURIC has said that the three months leave given to nursing mothers is grossly inadequate Muritala Ayinla

uslim groups have called on states in Nigeria to emulate Lagos State on the extension of maternity leave to six months. Rising under the auspices of the Muslim Rights Group (MURIC), the groups commended the Lagos State Government for extending the maternity leave from three months to six months. The group said in a statement: “We recall that MURIC had made this demand in its Salah message dated 7th August 2013. In the message, we called the attention of the Nigerian authorities to the difficulties experienced by nursing mothers. We reminded the authorities that the Glorious Qur’an actually stipulates two years for breastfeeding (Qur’an 2:233). “We therefore charged the Nigerian authorities to extend the maternity leave of nursing mothers to six months.” It congratulated Lagos State government (LASG) for being the first state in the federation to take this golden advice. Lagos even went a step further by

organization in Saudi Arabia. Chairman of the Islamic Crescent Observation Project, Mohammed Shawkat Oudah, was reported by Arabic daily Al-Madinah on Tuesday that most of the Islamic countries are likely to sight the Shawwal moon on Sunday (July 27). He said the geocentric conjunction (birth of new moon) will happen before sunset and

the moon will remain in the skies after sunset on that day in the majority of Arab countries. Oudah said the new moon signaling the advent of Eid will not be seen by the naked eye or an optical aid. Oudah said the first day of Eid will be on Monday for the people who use astronomical calculations and do not depend on visual sighting.

He said the Eid will be on Tuesday for the countries which depend mainly on visual sighting and strongly scrutinize the testimonies of those who claim to have sighted the moon. Eid el Fitri also called Feast of Breaking the Fast, the Sugar Feast, Bayram (Bajram), the Sweet Festival and the Lesser Eid, is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting (sawm). The religious Eid is a single day during which Muslims are not permitted to fast. The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan. The day of Eid, therefore, falls on the first day of the month of Shawwal. This is a day when Muslims around the world show a common goal of unity. The date for the start of any lunar Hijri month varies based on the observation of new moon by local religious authorities, so the exact day of celebration varies by locality. However, in most countries, it is generally celebrated on the same day as Saudi Arabia.

Emulate Lagos on extension of maternity leave MURIC tasks FG, govs l Applauds stoppage of ID cards for Northerners granting a two-week paternity leave to ‘nursing fathers’. “LASG has thus demonstrated that it leads while others follow. In view of the recommendation of medical experts that newly born children should be placed strictly on breast-milk diet only for the first six months, we charge other states of the fed-

eration to emulate the good step taken by Lagos.” As the father of the nation, MURIC charges President Jonathan to act in loco parentis on this landmark policy. The three months leave given to nursing mothers is grossly inadequate. A father cannot watch his daughters suffering in si-

Muritala Ayinla

Muslim journalists organise prayers for Gawat

Muslim Media ProfesThashe sional of Nigeria (MMNP) organised a special

nent Islamic scholars such as the Chief Missioner, Fathiu Qareeb Society of Nigeria, Alhaji Abdulrahman Adangba and Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Prof. Ishaq Akintola. The media experts also tasked the government to curb the spate of insecurity in the country. They decried wanton killing and kidnapping innocent Nigerians, urging the government at all levels to beef up security across the country. Speaking on the prayer, Coordinator, MMNP, Lagos Chapter, Mr. Abadulwarees Solanke, said the group was using the prayer to intercede. “The first and the most important thing is that we are

prayer for the safe return of the frontline broadcaster, Alhaji Aremu Gawat, two years after he was mysteriously declared missing. The renowned ex-NTA staff and Master of Ceremony was announced missing on July 10, 2012 after his car was found on Apongbon bridge, Lagos Island. But the media professionals which comprised of Muslim journalists from different print and broadcast media organisations, converged at the NTA Channel 10, Tejuosho, Lagos at the weekend, to pray for his safe return. They were joined by promi-

lence. Mr. President should send an executive bill to the National Assembly seeking to extend maternity leave to six months. MURIC asserts clearly and unambiguously that the Nigerian girl-child, the Nigerian woman and indeed the Nigerian nursing mother deserves the pride of place in society.

using this prayer session to intercede for our brother, Alhaji Abdul-r-Rasaq Aremu Gawat, who was declared missing about two years ago. According to him, Gawat belonged to the media community and in particular, to MMPN. “He is a frontline broadcaster, whose impact is felt far and wide. For the past three Ramadan and the kind of things we used to enjoy during his mid-night programme during Ramadan is today very rare. So, we pray to Allah that his affairs would be one that would be peaceful and on that will be beneficial to us and his family.”

CRIME

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/entrepreneur

JULIANA FRANCIS juliana.francis@newtelegraphonline.com

FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

Helpline for drug addicts in Nigeria Temitope Sobowale

“I

llicit drug use among teenagers remains high, largely due to increasing popularity of marijuana. Rising marijuana use reflects changing perceptions and attitudes. Historically, as perception of risks goes down, use goes up (and vice versa). “Young people are showing less disapproval of marijuana use and decreased perception that marijuana is dangerous. The growing perception of marijuana as a safe drug may reflect recent public discussions over “medical marijuana” and movements to legalize the drug for adult recreational use in some states.” The above information was gleaned from National Institute on Drug Abuse website. This growing perception among youngsters that some illicit drugs are safe probably was one of the factors that forced the chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade, to reveal on June, 26, 2014, the war being waged against drug abuse and present a helpline for addicts. Giade assured people struggling with substance abuse that there was hope of breaking free from drug addiction. Addressing drug addicts across the nation, Giade said: “I present to you today a message of hope, that drug use disorders are preventable and treatable.” He said that NDLEA has drug abuse prevention experts who carry out enlightenment programmes in schools, markets and work places. There are also counselors who assist drug dependent persons to overcome drug use and addiction. Counseling services are available in all NDLEA 36 State offices and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. He further said: “In 2013 alone, a total of 3,271 drug dependent persons were successfully counselled in NDLEA facilities nationwide. This comprises of 3,062 males and 209 females. We also received report of 802 treated cases from hospitals and other drug dependence treatment centres in Nigeria.” Drug addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disease characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use regardless of the harmful consequence, said Giade. Giade stated that in 2011, the number of drug related deaths across the globe was estimated to be over 200,000. Most of those deaths were among the younger population of users and were, to a large extent, preventable. Opioids he said remained the most common group of substances involved in drug related issues. Giade who also said that there are mul-

Indian hemp destroyed by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)

Drugs

Smoker

Drug addict

tiple factors to drug abuse, added: “The risk of addiction is influenced by a combination of factors such as individual genetic predisposition, environment and age among

others. Nigeria has made remarkable effort in drug supply control such as high profile arrest of drug traffickers and drug seizures. Others include destruction of

cannabis farms and dismantling of clandestine drug laboratories.” Buttressing his argument that NDLEA has made effort in drug control and supply, Giade said that in 2013, a total of 8,843 persons were investigated in connection with drug trafficking. They include 8,324 males and 519 females. Illicit drugs seized weighed 339,968kg. The breakdown is as follows; cannabis 205,373kg, psychotropic substances Director General of the NDLEA, Mrs. Roli Bode George said that she was prepared to vigorously pursue the vision of the Agency. “My mission is to contribute my quota towards NDLEA’s efforts towards a drugfree society. Efforts must be geared towards cutting off drug supply to drug addicts and

CRIME QUOTE In 2013 alone, a total of 3,271 drug dependent persons were successfully counselled in NDLEA facilities nationwide. These comprised 3,062 males and 209 females. We also received report of 802 treated cases from hospitals and other drug dependence treatment centres in Nigeria.” – NDLEA chairman, Ahmadu Giade.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

CRIME

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

Mothers urged to monitor their kids

The 3rd Eye Now that Boko Haram has infiltrated Lagos (2) Juliana Francis Continued from last Friday hether you’re from Ogun, Abia or Kogi States is no longer the issue here. Lagos is our home! Our homes are in Lagos! Our children are here! And every one of us work here. We need and must do everything within our power to safeguard Lagos. If we scurry into our hiding corners, it won’t keep the bogyman away. You can’t hide in your house forever, just to avoid a bomb blast. But you can shine your eyes! Nobody can hide from death. Death is a faithless mistress; she has no lasting friend or enemy. Security agencies can’t do it alone! This is the time to join hands together and protect our homes. We must not allow Boko Haram, like the ghost of Christmas past, to chase us out of our markets, our homes, churches, mosques, shopping mall, motor parks and other places. We must not allow them to turn us into hermits! We’re citizens of Nigeria and as such, have the fundamental rights to live and work in any part of the country. What must we do? Security agents should immediately commence an enlightenment campaign. They should embark on radio jingles and media adverts to educate citizens on what to look out for and what to do. They should advertise their toll free emergency/distress call numbers. Security agencies should also drum it into the ears of their personnel to always pick calls from these toll free lines at the first ring. Those who bombed the shopping plaza at Abuja were sighted by a man. He was one of the traders at the plaza. He said he closed late that night and saw three men. One was huge and behind the steering of a car, while two were walking furtively around the plaza, and kept going back to feed information to the huge guy in the car. He sensed they were bombers. According to him, his first thought was to alert the police, but sadly, he didn’t have any police number. He was frantic.

NDLEA operative

Drug abuse CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 4 1

reducing demand for drugs through effective enlightenment programmes. Drug prevention programmes must be elaborate, involving families, schools, communities and the media,” she stated. Roli appealed to mothers to monitor their children to know their friends and prevent deviant behaviour. Roli said: “Peer influence is one of the predisposing risk factors to drug abuse. Mothers must take time off their busy schedule to monitor their children and guide them on the right path in life. This is a problem that does not discriminate, so we must take responsibility.” Roli said that NDLEA has a master plan, to show love to the drug abusers, and not to kick them away like they had done something bad. “What we want to do is to advocate, spread through our partners the United Nation Office of Drug and Crime (UNODC), visit the tertiary organization, the judiciary for financial help for those abusing the drugs, so it will give them entitlement and not go into drugs again.” She charged mothers: “As a mother, if you

notice your children with red eyes and becoming violent, you should not keep silent about it, but seek advice.” Giade, who noted that drug abuse and addiction were not restricted to only city dwellers, revealed that NDLEA was working hard to make sure it reached the rural areas, so that people would know more about the abuse of drugs. He added that plans were on top gear, to get social service numbers, where concerned people can reach NDLEA. He said: “NDLEA is currently working with UNODC and European union to strengthen and upgrade drug treatment centers to international standard.” The UNODC Project Officer, Mr. William Wu also added his voice to the message of hope, noting that the UNODC was working with the NDLEA to eradicate the problem of drug production, trafficking and abuse in Nigeria. Giade urged parents whose wards are drug dependent not to die in silence but seek assistance. “This clearly shows that drug dependent persons surely need help and love just like any other sick patient. People should seek help and in good time,” urged Giade.

UNODC estimates that about 230 million people or 5 percent of the world population used illegal drugs at least once in 2010. Global treatment for drug abuse is believed to cost $250 billion dollars per year if everyone that needed help received proper care. Apart from death, crimes committed by people who need money to finance drug abuse habits pose a serious threat to peace and security. There is also the attendant problem of low productivity resulting from drug abuse by workers. People who use drugs tend to show signs of drug abuse in every aspect of their lives. It’s common for an addict to miss work, neglect family obligations and have financial problems. Addiction consumes the addict’s life, and finding the next high is the most important thing. If the drug has a powerful enough hold over the person, he or she may resort to stealing money to buy drugs. You might notice money or valuable items disappearing from your home. You might notice a change in your loved one’s sleeping patterns. Some drugs keep you awake for a long period of time, causing you to fall asleep when you come down from your high. Other drugs relax you, so that you sleep more often than normal. Physical signs of drug abuse vary depending on the type of drug the person is using. However, some common symptoms include a decline in physical appearance, sudden weight loss or weight gain, dilated pupils and bad dental hygiene. The symptoms of drug abuse vary depending on the person. According to HelpGuide.org, common symptoms include using drugs to get rid of withdrawal symptoms, a tolerance to the substance and a continued use of drugs even though you know it’s hurting you. Treatment programmes help drug users by getting them off drugs and curing the chemical dependency. While some recovering drug users report that they experience urges to use the substance they were addicted to months after treatment, the programmes give the person the tools he or she needs to live a happy and healthy life.

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Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

CBN begins payment of N220bn MSMEs’ fund in August

FINANCING GAP Financing gap of the MSMEs sector is about N9.6 trillion as at 2010 Abdulwahab Isa

yesterday. To kick-start the payment of the soft loan launched last year to empower less financially vulnerable members of society in all the 36 states of the federation to start their businesses, Emefiele said President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan would administer the initial loan disbursement next month. Sixty per cent of the funds are to be given to

Abuja

he Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN’s) N220 billion Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises Development fund will be ready for disbursement at a single digit interest rate beginning from next month (August). CBN’s governor Godwin Emefiele disclosed this in Abuja

women as loan empowerment for their businesses. The CBN governor explained that more than 11 states represented by their governors and deputies signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the CBN to align their interest, which could enable each state draw maximum of N2 billion to stimulate growth of SMEs sector.

Power: Anti-theft Act underway, says BPE

Abdulwahab Isa

the bureau embarked on the post-privatisation monitoring to among others, find out the state of affairs in the power sector, the challenges faced by the investors and obtain policy inputs to assist government in shaping policy that will stabilize and grow the sector. The BPE boss pointed out that the thrust of the Jonathan/Sambo administration’s Transformation Agenda was to make the private sector the engine that drives the growth of the economy. He commended the two Discos for the positive turnaround measures that they have implemented in such a short period. This has given impetus to government’s drive for reforms and privatization. He said that as a monolithic company, the defunct PHCN had no incentive to improve

Abuja

Bill to empower electricity distribution firms to collect their bills without molestation is in the offing, Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Benjamin Dikki has said. Tagged 'Electricity Anti Theft Bill', he said that finishing touches is being put to the draft which, will provide the legal framework to empower electricity distribution companies to collect their bills with ease. He made this known when he led a BPE team on post-privatisation monitoring tour of the newly privatised Eko and Ikeja distribution successor companies located in Lagos, a statement issued by the bureau quoted the DG as saying. The BPE boss noted that

collection or customer service, but with reforms, the new owners will work hard to recover their huge investments. Dikki pointed out that investors were able to embrace reforms because there were the necessary legal and regulatory frameworks that provided a clear investment horizon and urged the National Assembly to replicate the gains in power and telecommunications sectors in the oil and gas sector by passing the PID bill in order to attract investments into the sector. Earlier in his brief to the team, a director of Eko Electricity Distribution Plc, Mr. Ernest Orji, commended the Director General for personally leading the post privatisation monitoring team to the zone. He posited that this is the first time in the history of PPM that a DG was leading the delegation.

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

Keystone Bank to divest from subsidiaries in Uganda, others Godson Ikoro Bank Limited is diKineystone vesting from its subsidiaries Uganda, Sierra Leone and

Liberia, the lender’s Managing Director, and Chief Executive, Mr. Philip Ikeazor has said. The divestment he explained, stemmed from a forensic audit, which revealed that the subsidiaries were piling up non-performing loans that decelerated the banks performance in 2013. Speaking at the media parley organised by the bank at the Radisson Blu hotel in Lagos, he explained that the authorised minimum capital for any bank to play as an International Bank and under the Hold- Co system in Nigeria is N80 billion, but Keystone Bank started with N35 billion. Consequently, he said it would be illogical for the parent bank to be supporting subsidiaries by throwing money at them to resuscitate them when it has not been recapitalised. Prior to Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) intervention that brought his team to Keystone bank, Ikeazor said that the subsidiaries had been operating and the non-performing loans were managed as though all was well reminiscent of Nigeria situation before the Asset Man-

he Federal Government Tlion) sold N134.9 billion ($833 milin treasury bills of three-

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX

role in development trajectory. The financing gap of the critical sector is about N9.6 trillion as at 2010. “In order to address this gap and unlock Nigeria’s MSMEs, the CBN has initiated N220 billion fund as an innovative way of improving the access to finance at a single digit interest rate, showcasing up their potentials for job creation and enable them reduce poverty within the country". To ensure the loans are disbursed to the rightful beneficiaries, the governor said the apex bank will equip its human resource to monitor disbursement. He also said that the intermediaries’ commercial banks that would be used as link for loans disbursement to micro finance banks would be required to submit periodic statement to ensure compliance.

agement Corporation (AMCON) cleaned up the system. However, there are no AMCON in those countries to absorb them, hence the management decision to divest from them. He said that one or two Nigerian banks had also divested from those countries as well. “There is no reason why we shall be supporting these subsidiaries from head office and it continues to be a drain,” he lamented. On the position of AMCON divestment from the bank, Ikeazor said the picture would be clearer in the last quarter. He recalled that AMCON had said that it would divest first from Enterprise Bank limited, followed by Mainstreet Bank limited and Keystone Bank later next year. He said that management will continue to improve on the bank so that its potential core investors who are already waiting on the wings for AMCON divestment will take over the bank. In furtherance of this, he said that the bank is now focused on value chain banking, which means that Keystone is banking big companies and heavily driving its consumer banking and loan growth support for Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs).

FG sells N134.9bn in treasury bills

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80

Among the states whose governor were physically present during the MOU signing ceremony included Osun State governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Senator Abiola Ajumobi of Oyo state; Godwill Akpabio of Akwa-Ibom State and Delta governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan while Enugu, Zamfara, Borno, Ondo Benue,Bayelsa, Gombe and Taraba were represented by Deputy governor and Secretary to the State Government respectively. Emefiele noted that MSMEs has been globally recognised for its economic importance as the engine of economic growth due to their potential to create jobs and generate income as well as reduction of poverty. However, the governor lamented: “MSME in Nigeria has never received adequate financing needed to play this pivotal

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

month, six-month and one-year maturities, with three-fifths fetching lower yields than at the previous auction, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said on yesterday, a day after the sale. The apex bank on Wednesday sold N34.88 billion in the 3-month paper at 9.84 per cent, compared with 9.95 per cent at the previous auction on July 9. It sold N48 billion in the

6-month debt note at 10.10 per cent, 14 basis points lower than the 10.24 per cent at the previous auction. A total of N52 billion was sold in the one-year paper at 10.40 per cent, higher than 10.34 per cent similar-tenor paper fetched at the June 25 auction, the last time such paper was sold. Demand for the debt was N305.74 billion, driven by high level of excess liquidity in the banking system, traders said.

44 business | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

24-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 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

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

9.25 4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

100.00 535.00 515.27 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 220.15 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 35.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,479.99

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,581.10

Rating/Agency

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

0.18 0.75 2.06 2.76 3.01 3.10 3.85 4.93 5.25 7.51 9.64 14.35 14.83 15.33 16.00 19.98

10.53 10.59 10.99 10.97 10.93 10.94 11.00 11.15 11.17 11.89 12.13 12.14 12.15 12.15 12.21 12.22

9.70 9.86 10.91 10.91 10.81 10.82 10.90 11.08 11.08 11.84 12.08 12.10 12.10 12.10 12.16 12.18

99.72 95.36 103.70 109.55 97.29 95.89 99.04 118.00 83.75 121.95 111.55 119.15 102.28 74.83 84.60 99.49

99.87 95.86 103.85 109.70 97.59 96.19 99.34 118.30 84.05 122.25 111.85 119.45 102.58 75.13 84.90 99.79

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

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

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

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

978.35 24.56 3.30 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.27 0.83 1.44 2.38 2.74 2.95

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.57 13.17 12.90 12.90 11.92 11.93

96.98 89.91 105.68 100.47 99.08 96.67

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

0.03 0.23 1.10 0.71 1.23 1.23 2.74 1.78 3.44 2.41 4.20 2.61 2.61 2.99 3.06 5.33 3.12 3.74 6.35 6.44 3.92 3.95

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

12.05 13.84 14.93 13.85 15.00 14.02 16.51 11.78 12.76 12.70 12.03 11.91 15.69 11.93 11.94 12.19 13.68 11.99 12.49 13.46 12.45 12.96

100.04 99.92 97.58 99.99 99.11 101.84 86.07 103.19 103.35 102.85 106.30 105.73 96.72 106.20 109.04 108.80 102.64 107.91 104.29 106.47 106.05 105.97

1,301.62

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,267.05

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

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 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

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Corporate Bonds

501.10 513.50

A+/Agusto; AA/GCR

LAFARGE WAPCO

11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014

Aa/Agusto

GTB µ NGC

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014

Nil

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto

*UPDC

BB+/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

*FLOURMILLS

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto

NAHCO

BBB+/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

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

UBA

BBB-/GCR

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

FSDH

A/GCR

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014

*C & I LEASING *DANA#

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

*TOWER *TOWER UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

*DANA NAHCO

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

07-Oct-11

11.50

11.80

07-Oct-14

0.21

1.00

11.54

99.91

18-Dec-09

13.50

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.40

5.21

15.87

99.02

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.44

8.71

19.40

98.95

17-Aug-10

10.00

5.29

17-Aug-15

0.58

4.88

15.57

96.36

09-Dec-10

12.00

13.62

09-Dec-15

0.90

1.00

11.50

100.82

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.60

06-Jan-16

0.97

2.63

13.09

101.02

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

2.18

1.00

11.89

102.04

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

2.26

1.34

12.23

103.82

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

3.19

1.00

11.95

102.68

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.73

30-Nov-17

2.00

1.88

12.76

110.10

09-Apr-11

16.00

7.20

09-Apr-18

1.96

3.48

14.34

103.14

09-Sep-11

18.00

3.27

09-Sep-18

2.13

5.20

16.08

103.70

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.90

09-Sep-18

2.13

5.06

15.94

101.87

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

4.16

1.35

12.38

105.11

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.70

18-Oct-18

2.23

2.29

13.18

105.18

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.45

17-Feb-19

2.32

6.11

17.00

100.14

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

3.44

2.16

13.13

107.72

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

6.31

2.76

14.24

104.05

11-Feb-18

3.55

1.00

11.98

94.97

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

143.81

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

147.42

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

IFC

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

12.00 11.40 Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

4.76

4.63

111.01

111.81

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.01

3.82

104.04

104.73

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.12

5.01

108.94

109.75

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,619.92

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

AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

3.71

2.96

111.45

112.64

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

4.74

4.09

104.72

105.88

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

5.98

5.77

100.06

100.87

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

8.66

8.25

94.33

95.61

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

4.81

4.24

113.45

114.48

6.25 APR 22, 2019

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

B/S&P; B/Fitch

FIDELITY BANK PLC

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

AFREN PLC

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.39

6.09

99.41

100.66

B/Fitch; B/S&P

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

8.89

8.67

99.46

100.27

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

DIAMOND BANK PLC FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.26

6.56

103.42

105.92

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

AFREN PLC

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

5.47

5.10

104.41

105.89

ZENITH BANK PLC

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,660.00 3,782.83

**Treasury Bills DTM 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56

FIXINGS Maturity 31-Jul-14 7-Aug-14 14-Aug-14 21-Aug-14 28-Aug-14 4-Sep-14 11-Sep-14 18-Sep-14

Bid Discount (%) 10.15 10.15 10.15 10.20 10.20 10.15 10.50 10.45

Offer Discount (%) 9.90 9.90 9.90 9.95 9.95 9.90 10.25 10.20

Bid Yield (%) 10.17 10.19 10.21 10.28 10.30 10.27 10.65 10.62

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 10.5000 12.0737 13.0906 14.1450

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.25

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

10.50

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

161.95 162.25 162.51 163.12 163.67 165.54

162.05 162.51 162.85 163.78 165.45 167.17

O/N Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 10.25 12.39

(%)

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

***LCRM

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

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

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

978.35 24.56 3.30 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

11.57 13.17 12.90 12.90 11.92 11.93

96.98 89.91 105.68 100.47 99.08 96.67

business | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS 45

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

Nigeria seen in world’s top 20 economies by 2030 OUTLOOK

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

1,267.05

Sanctity of Truth

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

0.27 0.83 1.44 2.38 2.74 2.95

1,301.62

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto July 25, 2014 Friday,

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

Nigeria to rank among leading nations

Stories by Chris Ugwu

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTALigeria MARKET CAPITALISATION has the potential to

be one of Corporate Bonds

the world’s top 20 economies by 2030 with A+/Agusto; AA/GCR LAFARGE WAPCO a consumer base exceedAa/Agusto GTB µ NGC Nil ing the current populations of Bbb-/Agustoand Germany *UPDC France , according A-/Agusto *FLOURMILLS to McKinsey & Co. *CHELLARAMS BB+/GCR Africa’s biggest economy may A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO A-/Agusto about 7.1 per FSDH expand cent a year A/GCR UBA gross dothrough 2030, boosting BBB-/GCR *C & I LEASING mestic product (GDP) to $1.6 trilBBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *DANA# lion, possibly pushing it# above A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR *TOWER # AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR Netherlands, Thailand and Ma*TOWER A/Agusto; A/GCR UBA laysia, the New York-based comBbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *LA CASERA pany said in a report yesterday. BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS# About 60 per cent of NigeBBB/GCR *DANA ria’s estimated population of A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO TOTAL OUTSTANDING 273 million by thenVALUE may live in TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION households earning more than $7,500 a year, fueling a consumer Supranational Bond boom, McKinsey said. AAA/S&P IFC “Nigeria has a very TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUEpositive outlook,” Acha Leke, co-author TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION of the report, said in an interviewRating/Agency with BloombergTV Issuer Africa

in Johannesburg. “The most important thing that needs to be done to get it there is execution” of government policies. According to Bloomberg news, as Africa’s largest oil producer with a population of about 170 million, Nigeria has consistently posted annual growth rates in excess of 4 percent over the past decade. That’s 11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 spurred foreign investors such 17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 as Unilever Plc (ULVR), Nestle 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 SA (NESN) and Shoprite Hold12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 ings Ltd. (SHP) to expand opera14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 tions despite an upsurge in vio14.25 FSDH lence by25-OCT-2016 militants in the north. 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 Based on McKinsey’s growth 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 estimates the economy, anMPR+7.00 DANAfor 9-APR-2018 nual sales in consumer goods MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25more TOWER 9-SEP-2018 could than triple to $1.4 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 trillion by 2030 from $388 billion 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 currently , it said. MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 The and wholesale 16.00 DANA retail II 1-APR-2019 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 trade industry will probably become the largest contributer to Nigerian growth by then and 35 million households are expected to earn more than $7,500 a year, 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 according to the report. While oil accounts for 70 per cent of government revenue and most of Nigeria’s export earnDescription

17.00 6.00 8.50 6.08 6.27 7.37 57.00 29.92 25.00 37.25 9.00 14.96 11.13 27.00 17.28 80.00 28.37 11.40 87.00 5.00 4.78 4.79

0.03 0.23 1.10 0.71 1.23 1.23 2.74 1.78 3.44 2.41 4.20 2.61 2.61 2.99 3.06 5.33 3.12 3.74 6.35 6.44 3.92 3.95

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

12.05 13.84 14.93 13.85 15.00 14.02 16.51 11.78 12.76 12.70 12.03 11.91 15.69 11.93 11.94 12.19 13.68 11.99 12.49 13.46 12.45 12.96

100.04 99.92 97.58 99.99 99.11 101.84 86.07 103.19 103.35 102.85 106.30 105.73 96.72 106.20 109.04 108.80 102.64 107.91 104.29 106.47 106.05 105.97

360.00

09-Dec-20

5.47

5.10

104.41

105.89

SEC to train easy competition prizewinners

he Securities and Exchange first prize winners. Sule TeCommission (SEC) is spon- liat Abiodun of Businessday ings, its share of the economy soring five Nigerian jour- newspaper was first runner has waned. After the statistics nalists for an intensive train- up. Shitta - Bey and Atuanya office overhauled its GDP data ing on capital markets at the will undergo two weeks of in April, oil’s contribution to prestigious International Law training at ILI while Abiodun economic growth between 2010 Institute, Washington DC, will spend a week in the same prestigious institution. and 2013 was 5.1 per cent, com- USA. pared with 14 per cent for manThe sponsorship stemmed The third place winners – from the redemption of their Chris Ugwu of New Telegraph ufacturing and 20 per cent for 501.10 trade, according to McKinsey. 513.50 prize winnings in the 2012 and Newspaper (2012) and Abiodun The Nigerian Stock Exchange 2013 editions of the SEC Capi- Eromosele of Thisday newspatal Market07-Oct-14 Essay Competition All-Share per who were99.91 entitled 07-Oct-11 Index (NGSEINDX) 11.50 11.80 0.21 1.00 (2013), 11.54 13.50 this year, 13.17 18-Dec-14 0.40was 5.21a week –15.87 99.02 in a has 18-Dec-09 gained 2.9 per cent for Journalists, which to long training 01-Apr-10 17.00 surge in 2.00 0.44 8.71 19.40institution 98.95 have leading local adding to its 47 per cent instituted 31-Dec-14 by the Commission 10.00 5.29 17-Aug-15 0.58 4.88 15.57 96.36 in 2012. 2013.17-Aug-10 The naira has dropped 1.1 since redeemed their prizes by 09-Dec-10 12.00 13.62 09-Dec-15 0.90 1.00 11.50 100.82 Of the five journalists, two per cent against the dollar since undergoing training on Busi06-Jan-11 14.00 0.60 06-Jan-16 0.97 2.63 13.09 101.02 January . were first29-Sep-16 and second2.18 prize ness Writing 29-Sep-11 13.00 15.00 1.00 11.89 and Communi102.04 25-Oct-13 14.25 25-Oct-16 2.26 1.34 12.23at the Financial 103.82 winners in the 2012 edition McKinsey’s estimate of Ni- 5.53 cation Skills 30-Sep-10 13.00 30-Sep-17 3.19 1.00 11.95 geria’s growth potential comes 20.00 of the competition. They are Institutions Training102.68 Centre, 30-Nov-12 18.00 0.73 30-Nov-17 2.00 1.88 12.76 110.10 with09-Apr-11 significant caveats. The Iheanyi Nwachukwu of BusiFITC in Lagos. 16.00 7.20 09-Apr-18 1.96 3.48 14.34 103.14 government needs18.00 to address 3.27 nessday newspaper, who2.13 came Capital Market Es09-Sep-11 09-Sep-18 5.20The SEC16.08 103.70 09-Sep-11 16.00 of basic 0.90 09-Sep-18 Salako2.13 5.06 Competition 15.94 poverty , lower the cost tops and Taofeek of the say for 101.87 Journal22-Sep-11such as housing 14.00 22-Sep-18 4.16 1.35 a signature 12.38 105.11event services, and 35.00 Nation newspaper, the runner ists, annual 18-Oct-13 15.75 2.70 18-Oct-18 2.23 2.29 13.18 105.18 of the SEC, is a specific capacenergy , expand electricity supply up. They are to undergo two 17-Feb-12 17.00 0.45 17-Feb-19 2.32 6.11 17.00 100.14 and01-Apr-14 boost productivity in farmweeks and one week of intenity building mechanism for the 16.00 4.50 01-Apr-19 3.44 2.16 13.13 107.72 ing,14-Nov-13 according to the15.25 report. sive training on The 6.31 Foun- media industry fosters 2.05 14-Nov-20 2.76 14.24 . It also 104.05 “If execution doesn’t happen 143.81 dations and Development of investor education through there’s actually a big risk for the 147.42 Capital markets at ILI respec- interest in reading and writcountry, even from a security tively. ing about the markets among Winners in the 2013 edition stability perspective, to create journalists as well as the wider 11-Feb-13 10.20 12.00 11-Feb-18 3.55 1.00 11.98 94.97 jobs and lift millions of people are Teslim Shitta-Bey of Busi- society. Plans are afoot to ac12.00 out of poverty,” Leke said. “That 11.40 ness Hallmark newspaper and tivate the 2014 edition of the has to be a big focus, to grow in Patrick Atuanya of Business- competition through which Outstanding Value a way that is inclusive.” day newspaper, who were joint Offerfresh winners will emerge. Issue Date Coupon (%) Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price (N'bn) In line with the objective & Yields knowledge of ofPrices widening the markets111.81 among 07-Oct-11 6.75 500.00 28-Jan-21 4.76 4.63 capital 111.01 In Tanzania, group NPR continued in Nigeria assisted its primary target publics 12-Jul-13 5.13 12-Jul-18 4.01 3.82 104.04and wider 104.73 audiby the recently commissioned surged by 11 per cent and la- 500.00 (journalists) the competition ger volumes improved incremental capacity,”5.12 SAB- ences, 12-Jul-13 6.38 in June. 500.00 12-Jul-23 108.94 5.01 109.75offers In Mozambique, group NPR Miller said. only training and non-pecu1,500.00 soared 15 per cent on the back In Botswana, group NPR niary rewards to winners as surged 8 per cent, mirroring follows: first and second prize of robust growth of Castle1,619.92 Lite. In Uganda, lager volumes strong market execution in both winners – two weeks and one resumed trajec- 450.00 lager and soft drinks. While in week of intensive training 01-Feb-11 their growth 11.50 01-Feb-16 3.71 2.96 111.45 112.64 tory, assisting to drive group 500.00 South Africa, NPR soared 12 on 19-May-11 7.50 19-May-16 4.74 4.09 finance/business/ 104.72 105.88 capiNPR growth of 7 percent. per cent, also mirroring5.98price tal respectively 08-Nov-13 6.00 400.00 08-Nov-18 5.77 markets 100.06 100.87 in a 25-Jul-12 7.25 25-Jul-17 6.41 100.59 centre 102.30 Zambia’s NPR increased 4 350.00 increases, the continuing7.03 premi- major learning abroad; 6.88 volumes 300.00 8.66 and 8.25 per 09-May-13 cent, though lager umisation 02-May-18 of the portfolio third prize94.33 winner –95.61 a week 08-Apr-12 10.25 300.00 08-Apr-19 4.81 113.45 114.48 sagged due to excise-related total beverage volume growth –4.24 long training in the above 22-Apr-14 6.25 500.00 22-Apr-19 6.39 6.09 99.41 100.66 pricing in January8.75 this year. 200.00 of 6 per cent despite a backdrop disciplines in a reputable lo21-May-14 21-May-19 8.89 8.67 99.46 100.27 “Strong of tough economic conditions. cal institution. 07-Aug-13 group NPR 8.25 growth 300.00 07-Aug-20 7.26 6.56 103.42 105.92

SABMiller records strong growth in Africa FGN Eurobonds

BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P

lan Clark, the CEO of SABFGN Miller, yesterday said the BB-/Fitch; second biggest brewer world’s BB-/S&P posted strong growth in AfTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE rica and South Africa in the TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION quarter to June this year. “Strong growth in Africa, Corporate Eurobonds South Africa and B-/S&P; B/Fitch AFRENEurope PLC I was balanced by GTBANK slower PLC moI B+/S&P; B+/Fitch mentum in North America GTBANK PLC B+/S&P a reduction ACCESS and in NPR in BANK PLC B/S&P; B/Fitch in difficult FIDELITY BANK PLC Australia trading B/Fitch conditions,” ClarkAFREN saidPLCas the B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC company released its trading B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC update for the quarter. B/S&P; B-/Fitch FIRST BANK PLC BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

AFREN PLC

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

The company said the net 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 producer revenue (NPR) in Africa surged per cent, 6.38 JUL 11 12, 2023 thanks to total beverage volume growth of 5 per cent. According to Venture Africa, lager volume growth on the African continent 3 per cent 11.50 FEBof 01, 2016 was boosted by the gaining of 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 market share in 08, a 2018 number of 6.00 NOV 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 countries, while total soft drinks 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 volume growth was 9 per cent. 10.25 APR 08, 2019 Strong performance came 6.25 APR 22, 2019 from Ghana, Zambia, Nigeria 8.75 May 21, 2019 and Zimbabwe, SABMiller said. 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 6.63 DEC 09, 2020

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

09-Dec-13

6.63

3,660.00 3,782.83

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

24-Jul-14

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

7 31-Jul-14 10.15 14 7-Aug-14 10.15 21 14-Aug-14 10.15 FGN Bonds 28 21-Aug-14 10.20 35 28-Aug-14 10.20 42 4-Sep-14 10.15 Issuer Description Rating/Agency 49 11-Sep-14 10.50 56 18-Sep-14 10.45 9.25 28-SEP-2014 63 25-Sep-14 10.45 4.00 23-APR-2015 70 2-Oct-14 10.45 13.05 16-AUG-2016 77 9-Oct-14 10.30 15.10 27-APR-2017 84 16-Oct-14 10.45 9.85 27-JUL-2017 91 23-Oct-14 10.15 98 30-Oct-14 10.40 9.35 31-AUG-2017 105 6-Nov-14 10.10 10.70 30-MAY-2018 112 13-Nov-14 10.40 16.00 29-JUN-2019 NA NA 119 20-Nov-14 10.15 7.00 23-OCT-2019 133 4-Dec-14 10.10 16.39 27-JAN-2022 168 8-Jan-15 9.95 14.20 14-MAR-2024 182 22-Jan-15 10.20 15.00 28-NOV-2028 196 5-Feb-15 10.20 210 19-Feb-15 10.15 12.49 22-MAY-2029 224 5-Mar-15 10.15 8.50 20-NOV-2029 259 9-Apr-15 9.90 10.00 23-JUL-2030 273 23-Apr-15 10.05 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 287 7-May-15 9.70 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE *from the Amortising bonds, # the average life is calculated Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums

Offer Discount (%) 9.90 9.90 9.90 9.95 9.95 9.90 Date Issue 10.25 10.20 28-Sep-07 10.20 23-Apr-10 10.20 16-Aug-13 10.05 27-Apr-12 10.20 27-Jul-07 9.90 10.15 31-Aug-07 9.85 30-May-08 10.15 29-Jun-12 9.90 23-Oct-09 9.85 27-Jan-12 9.70 14-Mar-14 9.95 28-Nov-08 9.95 9.90 22-May-09 9.90 20-Nov-09 9.65 23-Jul-10 9.80 18-Jul-14 9.45

Bid Yield (%) 10.17 10.19 10.21 10.28 10.30 10.27 (%) Coupon 10.65 10.62 9.25 10.64 4.00 10.66 13.05 10.53 15.10 10.71 9.85 10.41 10.70 9.35 10.40 10.70 10.74 16.00 10.50 7.00 10.49 16.39 10.43 14.20 10.75 15.00 10.79 10.78 12.49 10.82 8.50 10.65 10.00 10.87 12.1493 10.50

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Issuer

(N'bn)

Value

Rate (%) 10.5000 12.0737 13.0906 14.1450 Maturity

Rate (%)

OBB

10.25

Tenor

O/N

10.50

Spot 7D 14D Offer Yield 1M 2M (%) 3M 9.70 6M 9.86 1Y

REPO Tenor TTM (Yrs)

Date

100.00 28-Sep-14 535.00 NITTY 23-Apr-15 515.27 16-Aug-16 Tenor Rate (%) 452.80 27-Apr-17 1M 10.2608 27-Jul-17 2M20.00 10.6758 3M 10.7214 100.00 31-Aug-17 6M 10.7402 300.00 30-May-18 9M 10.8200 351.30 29-Jun-19 12M 10.9460 233.90 23-Oct-19 600.00 27-Jan-22 220.15 14-Mar-24 NIFEX 75.00 28-Nov-28 Current Price ($/N) 22-May-29 150.00 BID($/N) 200.00 162.0225 20-Nov-29 OFFER ($/N)591.57 162.1225 23-Jul-30 35.00 18-Jul-34

Tenor

Call 1M 0.18 3M 0.75 6M

AMCON

Modified Duration FMBN Buckets

***LCRM <3

3<5

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE >5

Market TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Description

Issue Date

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00Porfolio FMB 24-MAY-2015 Market Total Outstanding Volume(Bn) 17.25 Value(Bn) FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 1,030.38 968.07 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 1,146.23 951.30

746.05 2,922.66

Rate Bid (%) Yield (%) 10.25 12.3910.53 13.00 10.59 13.85

2.06 10.99 10.91 2.76 10.97 10.91 3.01 10.93 10.81 :Benchmarks 3.10 10.94 10.82 * :Amortising3.85 Bond 11.00 10.90 µ :Convertible4.93 Bond 11.15 11.08 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 5.25 11.17 11.08 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 7.51 11.89 11.84 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 9.64 Finance Corporation 12.13 12.08 IFC: International 12.14 Management12.10 LCRM: Local14.35 Contractors Receivables NAHCO: Nigerian Company 14.83Aviation Handling 12.15 12.10 O/N: Overnight 15.33 12.15 12.10 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company 16.00 12.21 12.16 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company 19.98 12.22 12.18 NOTE:

Bid ($/N) 161.95 162.25 162.51 163.12 Bid Price 163.67 165.5499.72 169.22 95.36 176.96

Offer ($/N) 162.05 Price

162.51 162.85 163.78 Offer Price 165.45 167.1799.87 172.84 95.86 183.94

103.70 103.85 109.55 109.70 97.29 97.59 NA :Not Applicable 95.89 96.19 # :Floating 99.04 Rate Bond 99.34 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 118.30 118.00 83.75 84.05 †: Bond rating expired 121.95 122.25 111.55 111.85 119.15 119.45 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 102.28 102.58 UBA: United74.83 Bank for Africa 75.13 84.60 84.90 99.49 99.79

4,479.99

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

Agency Bonds NA

O/N 1M 3M Outstanding 6M

NIBOR

4,581.10

**Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

Rating/Agency

BondsTenor

811.72 2,731.09

28-Dec-11

Weighting by 24-May-10 Outstanding Vol 03-Apr-12

09-Dec-11 35.45 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12 34.83

29.72 100.00

0.00

Weighting 0.00 by Mkt Value 17.25

0.00/16.00 35.25 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50 39.22

25.53 100.00

978.35 24.56 3.30 112.22 0.35 116.70 66.49 0.35

Bucket Weighting

0.30 1,301.62

1.00 1,267.05

31-Oct-14

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

% Exposure_ 24-May-15 Mod_Duration 03-Apr-17

Implied Yield

09-Dec-16 16.98 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17 34.66

0.27 0.83 1.44 2.38 10.98 2.74 2.95 11.66

48.36 100.00

12.19 11.80

05-Aug-14 15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17

0.03 0.23 1.10 0.71 1.23 1.23 2.74

Risk Premium (%) 1.00

Valuation Yield (%)

2.00 118.3556 1.00 1.00 134.3197

11.57 13.17 12.90 12.90 1,124.14 11.92 11.93 1,137.37

100.7452 118.6822

1,175.27 1,127.35

Implied2.63 Portfolio Price 2.27

INDEX

Indicative Price 96.98

YTD Return 89.91 (%) 105.68

100.47 12.4137 99.08 96.67 13.7368

17.5273 12.7354

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto Nil A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

KWARA NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS

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

05-Aug-09 15-Oct-09 31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10

14.00 14.00 12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00

17.00 6.00 8.50 6.08 6.27 7.37 57.00

1.56 3.29 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59

12.05 13.84 14.93 13.85 15.00 14.02 16.51

100.04 99.92 97.58 99.99 99.11 101.84 86.07

Daily Summary as of 23/07/2014

Printed 23/07/2014 14:54:23.023

46 business | CAPITAL MARKET

Sanctity of Truth

Daily Summary (Bonds)

Friday, July 25, 2014

Daily Summary as of 23/07/2014 Printed 23/07/2014 14:54:23.023

No Debt Trading Activity

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at July 23, 2014 Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 1 33 13 47

Current Price 0.50 33.01 38.00

Quantity Traded 50,000 392,640 220,965 663,605

Value Traded 25,000.00 12,893,159.89 8,396,603.00 21,314,762.89

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 48 48

Current Price 3.10

Quantity Traded 4,228,387 4,228,387

Value Traded 13,106,983.30 13,106,983.30

4,891,992

34,421,746.19

Quantity Traded 199,776 18,092 147,618 380 72,469,791 1,733,101

Value Traded 277,461.11 68,025.92 167,702.70 1,774.60 390,707,036.97 108,133,794.92

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries Daily Summary as of 23/07/2014 A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. Printed 23/07/2014 14:54:23.023 CHELLARAMS PLC. JOHN HOLT PLC. S C O A NIG. PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONGLOMERATES Industries Published Diversified by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Diversified Industries Totals

95 Symbol No. of Deals AGLEVENT 19 CHELLARAM 1 JOHNHOLT 7 SCOA 1 Daily Summary (Equities) TRANSCORP 515 UACN 38

Symbol

No. of Deals 581

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

Current Price 1.38 3.95 1.13 4.91 5.32 62.40

Current Price

581

Quantity Traded Page 74,568,758

499,355,796.22

No. of Deals 15 15

Current Price 1.22

Quantity Traded 779,000 779,000

Value Traded 980,870.28 980,870.28

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

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 24 24

Current Price 63.00

Quantity Traded 84,935 84,935

Value Traded 5,545,975.22 5,545,975.22

Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 24 24

Current Price 17.56

Quantity Traded 165,004 165,004

Value Traded 2,982,110.60 2,982,110.60

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 95.00

Quantity Traded 40,000 40,000

Value Traded 3,800,000.00 3,800,000.00

1,068,939

13,308,956.10

Quantity Traded 185,028

Value Traded 1,789,220.76

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers ActivityCHAMPION SummaryBREW. on Board PLC.EQTY

Symbol SKYESHELT

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol CHAMPION

No. of Deals 4

Current Price 9.67

Page

Daily Summary as of 23/07/2014 INDUSTRIAL GOODS Printed 23/07/2014 14:54:23.023

Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC.

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

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

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 100.03

Quantity Traded 45,725 45,725

Value Traded 4,802,496.75 4,802,496.75

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR MULTITREX NASCON NNFM

No. of Deals 47 45 52 30 1 50 2 227

Current Price 8.01 9.19 77.87 4.28 0.50 10.50 20.50

Quantity Traded 454,142 781,299 181,653 4,810,385 2,000 2,713,265 1,410 8,944,154

Value Traded 3,652,985.84 7,187,265.80 13,466,661.47 19,758,853.63 1,040.00 29,313,483.75 27,732.00 73,408,022.49

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 28 30 58

Current Price 74.25 1,120.00

Quantity Traded 139,937 39,528 179,465

Value Traded 9,873,719.90 44,099,361.90 53,973,081.80

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 31 3 34

Current Price 4.15 1.44

Quantity Traded Page 582,900 1,130 584,030

3Value Traded of 12 2,425,593.36 1,548.10

No. of Deals 43 86 129

Current Price 39.00 49.00

Quantity Traded 293,797 569,530 863,327

Value Traded 11,255,123.35 27,492,399.54 38,747,522.89

12,961,445

548,994,130.82

CONSUMER GOODS

Household Durables Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals

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

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking Daily Summary as of 23/07/2014 ACCESS BANK PLC. Printed 23/07/2014 14:54:23.023 DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. Activity Summary Board EQTY UNITED BANKon FOR AFRICA PLC

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANKStock PLC. Exchange © Published by The Nigerian ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. Daily Summary as of 23/07/2014 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. Printed 23/07/2014 WAPIC14:54:23.023 INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY FINANCIAL SERVICES Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

634 Symbol ACCESS DIAMONDBNK ETI FIDELITYBK GUARANTY Daily Summary SKYEBANK STERLNBANK UBA

Value Traded 276,442,809.40 26,014,893.87 115,499,427.12 18,909,499.54 151,207,577.91 18,423,537.80 5,278,322.42 61,930,614.32

No. of Deals 54 13 19 173 1,267

Current Price 9.01 0.50 1.10 24.95

Quantity Traded 630,729 615,640 628,012 Page 2,580,901 72,967,736

Value Traded 5,760,088.66 307,820.00 4 690,813.20 of 12 64,396,989.13 744,862,393.37

Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE EQUITYASUR INTENEGINS LAWUNION LINKASSURE MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM NIGERINS PRESTIGE WAPIC

No. of Deals 11 14 1 3 2 1 8 3 21 2 2 74 142

Current Price 0.82 1.12 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 2.66 0.54 0.85 0.50 0.54 0.89

Quantity Traded 2,973,171 668,500 200 510,000 2,300 26,000 971,500 35,200 9,339,649 170,000 22,000 15,474,685 30,193,205

Value Traded 2,439,470.22 753,418.50 100.00 255,000.00 1,150.00 13,000.00 2,586,158.80 19,010.00 8,369,714.75 85,000.00 11,660.00 13,925,893.99 28,459,576.26

Symbol

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 1.02

Quantity Traded 1,708,990 1,708,990

Value Traded 1,754,889.80 1,754,889.80

Daily Summary (Equities) NPFMCRFBK

Page

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

Symbol ABBEYBDS INFINITY RESORTSAL

No. of Deals 2 1 1 4

Current Price 1.30 1.60 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,300 200 100,000 101,500

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 48 30 380 51 6 31 82 628

Current Price 3.27 3.90 15.51 4.21 0.54 27.50 2.18

Quantity Traded 517,781 750,706 8,406,480 2,599,245 200,000 1,064,888 4,190,427 17,729,527

Value Traded 1,700,913.39 2,904,777.06 131,734,921.48 10,967,182.59 107,406.79 29,266,301.13 9,129,652.28 185,811,154.72

122,700,958

960,940,086.15

Quantity Traded 150,599 719,900 55,842 650,063 171,701 100,000

Value Traded 338,816.38 2,179,127.00 3,680,209.07 1,137,588.60 211,645.15 164,000.00

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

2,050 Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH PHARMDEKO

No. of Deals 10 10 21 21 8 1

Current Price 2.16 3.03 68.99 1.75 1.25 1.64

Page

Value Traded 1,768.00 304.00 50,000.00 52,072.00

Value Traded 2,500,000.00

5,000,000

2,500,000.00

5,000,000

2,500,000.00

Quantity Traded 494,200 15,074 238,777 3,124,820 130,705 100

Value Traded 14,872,111.48 130,355.06 9,740,704.10 40,851,625.01 31,079,308.91 126.00

Current Price 30.00 8.57 41.00 13.27 237.50 1.20

Symbol CUTIX NIWICABLE

No. of Deals 2 1 3

Current Price 1.90 0.50

Quantity Traded 11,100 75,000 86,100

Value Traded 20,958.00 37,500.00 58,458.00

Packaging/Containers AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS Packaging/Containers Totals

Symbol AVONCROWN

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 1.69

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 170.00 170.00

4,664,818

124,520,347.18

270 Symbol BOCGAS

Value Traded 250.00 22,785.00 1,615,050.00 7 of 12 26,149,403.62 124,461,719.18

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 5.76

Quantity Traded 1,527 1,527

Value Traded 8,367.96 8,367.96

Symbol No. of Deals Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 50.00 50.00

MULTIVERSE

1 1

Page

1,627

8,417.96

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 26 26

Current Price 0.53

Quantity Traded 2,658,096 2,658,096

Value Traded 1,409,930.88 1,409,930.88

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 536 536

Current Price 26.01

Quantity Traded 28,841,831 28,841,831

Value Traded 741,797,067.92 741,797,067.92

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 16 34 71 60 4 19 204

Current Price 62.32 3.90 224.23 169.90 61.99 185.73

Quantity Traded 61,522 584,855 116,075 287,005 3,075 62,007 1,114,539

Value Traded 3,643,776.26 2,288,195.24 26,137,726.38 49,708,650.41 181,117.50 11,517,353.86 93,476,819.65

Exploration and Production Symbol No. of Deals SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD SEPLAT 5 Daily Summary (Equities) Exploration and Production Totals 5

Current Price 675.05

Quantity Traded 2,014 2,014

Value Traded 1,389,060.00 1,389,060.00

32,616,480

838,072,878.45

OIL ANDSummary GAS Totalson Board EQTY Activity SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Published by The Stock R T Nigerian BRISCOE PLC.Exchange © Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

771 Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 14 14

Current Price 1.00

Quantity Traded Page 377,919 377,919

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

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 30 1 31

Current Price 5.17 1.96

Quantity Traded 3,591,863 40,750 3,632,613

Value Traded 17,853,439.96 77,425.00 17,930,864.96

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 49,500 49,500

Value Traded 24,750.00 24,750.00

Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 0.78

Quantity Traded 194,829 194,829

Value Traded 151,646.62 151,646.62

Symbol DAARCOMM

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 400,000 400,000

Value Traded 200,000.00 200,000.00

Symbol

No. of Deals 2 16 27 45

Current Price 1.71 1.52 4.11

Quantity Traded 10,450 1,432,130 599,170 2,041,750

Value Traded 17,033.50 2,076,065.40 2,495,828.19 4,588,927.09

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 20 20

Current Price 0.85

Page Quantity Traded 1,416,470 1,416,470

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

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 22 44 66

Current Price 2.22 5.00

Quantity Traded 1,610,800 1,622,590 3,233,390

Value Traded 3,429,146.50 8,128,148.69 11,557,295.19

Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 34 34

Current Price 6.85

Quantity Traded 1,644,535 1,644,535

Value Traded 10,519,111.65 10,519,111.65

220

12,991,006

46,546,872.85

4,761

273,314,128

3,076,380,618.12

Quantity Traded 170,000 170,000

Value Traded 233,755.00 233,755.00

Daily Summary as of 23/07/2014 Media/Entertainment Printed 23/07/2014 14:54:23.023

DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Media/Entertainment Totals

Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY Printing/Publishing Totals

SERVICES

ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Daily Summary (Equities) ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

SERVICES Totals

EQTY Board Totals

Quantity Traded 5,000,000

Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL PLC. Daily Summary as ofNIGERIA 23/07/2014 Printed 23/07/2014 14:54:23.023 Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Quantity Traded 27,758,930 3,873,464 6,772,853 9,329,867 5,032,917 5,696,827 2,257,218 7,790,378

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 500 15,500 340,000 Page 218,942 4,578,618

Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

Current Price 10.00 6.72 16.90 2.04 30.10 3.20 2.32 7.85

7,711,386.20

Current Price 0.50 1.40 4.75 117.27

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

2,427,141.46

1,848,105

No. of Deals 55 12 25 (Equities) 85 29 1

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals

No. of Deals 192 83 84 102 258 (Equities) 107 44 138

Symbol UBN UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP Daily Summary CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Value Traded 17,899,130.33 2,200,627.30 353,746,887.04 375,635,865.43

Value Traded 7,711,386.20

No. of Deals 1 3 7 48 266

Mining Services MULTIVERSE PLC Mining Services Totals

Quantity Traded 90,309 82,562 1,986,845 2,344,744

Quantity Traded 1,848,105

Symbol IPWA PAINTCOM PORTPAINT WAPCO

B.O.C. GASES PLC. Chemicals Totals

Current Price

No. of Deals 2

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Current Price 198.00 28.05 178.20

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials IPWA PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. Building Materials Totals

Daily Summary asRESOURCES of 23/07/2014 NATURAL Printed 23/07/2014 14:54:23.023 Chemicals

No. of Deals 34 13 125 176

Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol MTI

ICT Totals

Symbol GUINNESS INTBREW NB

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

No. of Deals 71 71

ICT Telecommunications Services MASS TELECOMMUNICATION INNOVATIONS NIGERIA PLC Telecommunications Services Totals

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

Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC Daily Summary as of 23/07/2014 N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. Printed 23/07/2014 14:54:23.023 Food Products Totals

Symbol

HEALTHCARE Totals

1Value Traded of 12 499,355,796.22

74,568,758

Symbol COSTAIN

Daily Summary as of 23/07/2014 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Printed 23/07/2014 SKYE14:54:23.023 SHELTER FUND PLC

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals Pharmaceuticals Totals

Activity Summary on Board Daily Summary as of 23/07/2014 Printed 23/07/2014 14:54:23.023

Daily Summary (Equities)

Value Traded of 12 378,976.05 378,976.05

10Value Traded of 12

1,195,301.29 1,195,301.29

ASeM

CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC Food Products Totals

Symbol

No. of Deals 5 5

MCNICHOLS Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board ASeM CONSUMER GOODS

Current Price 1.41

170,000 Page

233,755.00 of 12

ASeM Board Totals

170,000

233,755.00

Equity Activity Totals

4,766

273,484,128

3,076,614,373.12

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 2,050.00 19.37

Quantity Traded 5 10,510 10,515

Value Traded 10,250.00 204,313.70 214,563.70

ETF Board Totals

10,515

214,563.70

ETP Activity Totals

10,515

214,563.70

Page

NEWS 47

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

UniJos, Thailand partner in rice production Musa Pam

Jos

n order to address the problem of food insecurity in Nigeria, arrangement has been concluded for the University of Jos in collaboration with the Kasetsart University, Thailand to engage in commercial rice production in Plateau State. The University of Jos has already acquired 1,000 hectares of land and the newly established Faculty of Agriculture will partner Professors of Horticulture in the Thai University for the project. Speaking in his office, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Hayward Mafuyai, disclosed that expertise will be shared between the two Universities, so

that the students of the Faculty of Agriculture, the Plateau State farmers and the nation at large will benefit from the collaboration. According to the VC; "This collaboration is of national importance because we know that rice is very well consumed in the country. We need to do better in rice production in terms of improving the yield, sharing expertise which will improve production. "The arrival of this team is very timely as we are soon to take off the Faculty of Agriculture, the Faculty will take off very strongly and the collaboration will provide opportunity for students and researchers to go on exchange programmes."

Malaria: Abia to distribute one million nets Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

one million insectiOnetsver cide mosquito treated will be distributed

in Abia State during the malaria elimination campaign. The effort is in line with government’s commitment to the improved health standard of the people. Abia State government says it places high priority on health, which it has demonstrated through the establishment of specialist and diagnostic centres, eye centre and several community health centres. The distribution of the mosquito treated nets is to be done in collaboration with the national malaria elimination programme in all the 17 local government areas.

Specifically, over one million, nine hundred and thirty five thousand and twenty two (1,935,022) long lasting insecticide mosquito nets will be given out to the citizenry. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Okechukwu Ogah, who received the team from the National Malaria Elimination Programme, said the state government was committed to making the health sector in the state one of the best in the country. The National Malaria Elimination team was in Aba to conduct a microplanning in preparation for the last (national) malaria campaign and distribution of long lasting insecticide mosquito nets, which will commence in the state in two months time.

AfDB investment in Nigeria hits $1.9bn support Enugu and Calabar airports are part of AfDB's intervention

he African Development Bank (AfDB) has invested $1.9 billion (N311.6 billion) in infrastructure development in Nigeria in the last 42 years, according to the Country Director, Dr Ousmane Dore. Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja, Dore said that the bank had committed a cumulative of $6.4 billion (about N1.05 trillion) to different sectors of the country’s economy as at December 2013. According to him, the current public sector portfolio of the bank stands at $921.2 million (about N151 billion) of

10,267

which $701.5 million (about N115 billion) was allocated to infrastructure projects. Dore said that the bank had been supporting infrastructure development since it commenced lending operations in Nigeria in 1972. The country director told NAN that over 70 per cent of the bank’s operations were directed at infrastructural development. He said that some of the bank’s early support to infrastructure development included the reconstruction of Enugu and Calabar Airports, launched in 1972 and 1974 respectively. Dore said the bank’s operations had expanded to include several other projects in water and sanitation; road and energy. He said:“Some of the flagship projects include

The number of pending asylum seekers of Malaysia at the beginning of 2010. Source: Blatantworld.com

rural water and sanitation project in Akwa Ibom and Taraba states, while in the transport sector, we have the Cross River Rural Access Mobility Project (RAMP) and the Enugu-Bamenda Highway. “This is the hardcore infrastructure but on the private sector side, we have many; like our investment in Lekki Toll Road and some other private sector operations.'' He said the bank had also been involved in “soft infrastructure” in the form of improving knowledge on the state of infrastructure in the country. Dore said the bank undertook a detailed assessment of infrastructure needs in Nigeria that culminated in the Nigerian Infrastructure Action Plan (NIAP). He explained that the study recommended $350 billion in Capital

90%

The percentage of wastewater in developing countries that flows untreated into rivers, lakes and highly productive coastal zones. Source: Unesco.org

Expenditure (CAPEX) investment for the next 10 years, to bridge the existing infrastructure gap in the country. Dore stated that the establishment of ‘Africa50 Fund’, aimed at accelerating infrastructure delivery in Africa, would work with Nigeria to reduce the country’s infrastructure finance gap. According to him; `Africa50 `Fund' will act as one-stop shop, combining early stage project development work with long-term debt financing, to ensure smooth and efficient path from project inception to realisation. Dore said that some of the prospective projects that the fund was supporting in Nigeria included the 49.5 km Lekki toll road, the Lekki Port project and the 12 km Lagos Cable Transit project, among others.

38,401

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Andorra in 2011. Source: Itu.int

Mariere empowers 250 in Agbarha - Oto Gabriel Choba Ughelli

order to alleviate Ianpoverty in Delta State, member of the Delta

State House of Assembly, Ughelli North Constituency 1, Samuel Mariere, has empowered over 250 people of Agbarha-Oto as his third empowerment project. The lawmaker, while presenting starter packs and cash to the beneficiaries on Wednesday at Agbaro-oto in Ughelli, urged them to put the equipment and cash gift to good use. He said; “My ongoing empowerment is to fulfil a part of my campaign promises that has to do with socio-economic empowerment which is the bedrock of human capi-

tal development. It is my wish to see majority of our people to be gainfully employed, employers of labour, entrepreneurs and above all to live quality lives. I believe that it is through this that we can conquer poverty and make progress in life”. “What I am presenting to you people constitute what is known as starter packs which should enable the beneficiaries to become selfemployed and instant wealth creators. The beneficiaries will go home with 10 clippers, 10 hair dressing machines, 20 generators, 20 sewing machines, 20 grinding machines, 10 motorsaws, 5 ladies motor-cycles, 3 tri-cycles and cash in 80 envelopes to start up businesses”.

L-R: Oyo State PDP governorship aspirant, Seyi Makinde; Chief Imam of the Institute of Agriculture, Research and Training, Ibadan, Mahmud Eleshinmeta; former President of Ibadan Foundation, Lere Adigun and Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, Lekan Balogun, at the first Omituntun Ramadan Lecture titled: "Advantages inherent in cordial relationship among various religion faithful," in Ibadan…yesterday

Lamido urges health workers to uphold professionalism Dahiru Suleiman Dutse

emebrs of the Governing Council of the National Nurses and Midwifery of Nigeria have been cautioned not to compromise the standard of their profession in producing excellent medical professionals for the better in the country. Speaking while receiving members of the Governing Board of Nursing and Midwifery on courtesy visit at Government House,

Dutse, Governor Sule Lamido advised members to uphold their integrity and support quality assurance in producing qualitative medical practitioners, as well execution of health policies for a better society. According to him, his administration attaches premium on health service delivery, in areas of provision of free medical services for pregnant women and children below the ages of five. Others are the provi-

sion of quality medical personnel to major hospitals and health centres, in addition to the provision of additional major hospitals, medication, among other health facilities. Responding, the team leader, Dr. Mustapha Jumare, said their mission to Jigawa State was to assess the state College of Nursing and Midwifery at BirninKudu to among others, access and accredit the institution. Jumare assured Lamido that the Birnin-

Kudu College of Nursing and Midwifery will be fully accredited based on its facilities, and structures which he said have met the board's requirements. He stated that presently, the council has registered 200 Nurses, as well accredited over 19 professional Nursing Training Programs nationwide, in addition to the introduction of community midwifery training recently introduced in most of the country's colleges of Nursing and Midwifery.

48 NEWS

donation

Felly Finimah felicitates with officers wives, boosts widows Clement James Calabar

ife of the Chief of Army Staff, Mrs. Felly Minimah, has donated items worth millions of naira to widows of soldiers who lost their lives in the on-going war against insurgency in some parts of the country. The items include bags of rice, groundnut oil, tin tomatoes, tubers of yam, cartons of joy soap, noodles, bags of salt, wrappers, toiletries among several other food items.

2.7

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

Army chief 's wife lifts soldiers, widows Mrs. Minimah, who is also the National President of Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA) made the donation yesterday at the headquarters of 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Calabar during a familiarisation tour. She advised the widows not to be sorrowful but remain firm and courageous and urged them to see their husbands as those that died in the struggle to defend the unity and oneness of their father land. “Do not lose hope dur-

The average number of goals scored per match at the Brazil 2014 World Cup. Source: Fifa.com

ing this trying time but carry on with your lives because God who created man will surely wipe the tears in your eyes,” she consoled. She added: “As a wife, if your husband excels in his profession, you will also triumph. But if he fails woefully in his career, as a wife, you would suffer also with him”. The NAOWA president charged wives of soldiers whose husbands are still active in the service to be submissive, loyal and above all pray fervently for their husbands to excel

265.5

The number of newspaper journalists per 1m inhabitants of Kyrgyzstan in 2010. Source: Blatantworld.com

in their career. Highlight of the visit was the laying of the foundation stone for the proposed NAOWA computer training centre which is to be built at the 13 Brigade barracks to help residents of the barracks acquire Information and Communication Technology skill. She also planted a tree at the Commemorative Tree Estate, initiated by Mrs Fati Attahiru, Coordinator of NAOWA 13 Brigade and wife of the Brigade Commander, Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru.

16%

The percentage of population under 15 years in Canada in 2012. Source: Un.org

Group endorses Ahmed for second term

Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

group of former student Ayesterday leaders from Kwara state endorsed gover-

nor, AbdulFattah Ahmed of Kwara state for a second term and warned other gubernatorial aspirants to drop their ambitions. The call came as a frontline politician and chairman of another group, The Kwara Patriots (TKP), Chief Wole Oke also commended Ahmed for spreading the dividends of democracy across the state. Oke, who was a former legislator in the state, singled out the health programmes of the administration and its efforts in the education sector as worthwhile particularly given the limited resources now available to the state. The students, under the auspices of Council of ExStudent Leaders in Nigeria also declared support for

the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2015 general elections in the state as they argued that none of those apparently seeking the office has the kind of qualification and success story that Ahmed possesses. They therefore urged all Kwarans to vote for the APC in the elections to “sustain the current development in the state” saying there was need for Kwarans to support the propagation of government policies and programmes of the current administration. Kwara state chairman of the group, Rasheed Oladodo said: “Today we have come out in thousands to say thank you with continuity 2015 and beyond message. We implore all students and former students to come out en masse in the forthcoming voters registration exercise."

Lawmaker advocates stricter punishment for tax defaulters Buhari Bello Jos

he Chairman, House Tmerce committee on Comand Industry in

Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon Sa 'a dat Garga has advocated for severe punishment against tax defaulters in the state. He expressed this view at a one-day sensitization and public-private dialogue on presumptive Tax administration in Plateau state organized by Plateau state internal Revenue service yesterday. Garga saluted the civil servants for not defaulting in payment of their taxes.

Scene of the bomb blast at New Road Motor Park, Sabon Gari, Kano…yesterday

Protest erupts over Suswam's senatorial ambition

Immigration promotes 59 officers in Delta

Makurdi

ifty-nine men of the FService Nigerian Immigration were yesterday

Cephas Iorhemen

he ambition of Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State to transmute to the senate upon his exit from office next year has sparked off protest in Kwande local government area of the state. Already, the protest which is likely to tear the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the area into factions, may force other supporters to defect to All Progressive Congress (APC). Governor Suswam had led a strong delegation from his Sankera political bloc to Adikpo, headquarters of Kwande local government area on July 14 to meet with traditional rulers and

PDP stakeholders. At the meeting, he told the Kwande/Ushongo people to concede the Benue North East senatorial seat currently occupied by Senator Barnabas Gemade to him. He stated that even though it is the turn of Kwande to produce senator in the next dispensation, they should "loan" it to him (Sankera) as has been the status quo in the state for a sitting governor to move to the senate after leaving office. As a result, political eggheads in the area like Mr. Orya Korinjo and other Kwande elders agreed to concede the position to the governor. But a week after the deal was sealed, a pan Kwande political group

known as Kwande Youth Vanguard (KYV), kicked against the decision of the elders in a written document, urging them to immediately withdraw it to avoid another round of political upheaval. Members of KYV who signed against the deal numbered 257 drawn from all the 20 council wards of Kwande. They said they have resolved to fight for their birth right and produce the next senator and distanced themselves from what they described as a kangaroo arrangement. They argued that as far as the senatorial seat of zone 'A' is concerned, Kwande people have never represented Benue state despite its rich human resources.

Dominic Adewole ASABA

decorated with their new ranks in Delta state. They were charged to work harder to justify their new status, which undeniably has bestowed more responsibilities on them, to get more of such. The state Comptroller of the service, Mr. Hamad Ishaku at the command’s headquarters, Asaba said although the officer in charge of investigation, DCP Chinwe Obionyeakagbu (Mrs.) merited her new rank, it was however in fulfillment of the promise made by the Comptroller-General of the service, Mr. David Paradang when he took the mantle of leadership, not to delay promotions

unwarrantedly. Ishaku said: “Officers and men of the service are impressed and happy with his leadership qualities, which have brought smiles to their faces.” While congratulating those promoted, he described Paradang’s style of operation as “one that has bettered the welfare packages, promotion and training of officers”, hence, he tasked beneficiaries to be “loyal and dutiful.” In their separate remarks Ishaku’s counterpart in the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mrs. Obiageli Obiajulu and the state boss of the NDLEA, Mr. Joseph Icha, warned the new promoted officers to shun acts that are capable of bringing the profession into disrepute.

He called on the state internal revenue board to make tax payment mandatory for everybody including those who take pleasure in squandering money on expensive wines and other alcoholic drinks. Garga said Plateau state board of internal revenue is given all the necessary power through the Nigeria presumptive tax regulations, 2013 to punish all tax defaulters in local Government councils, medium and small tax office (MSTO) of FIRS' organized private business advocacy groups.

change of nameS

Onyenankeya

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nkanta Udeme Abigail, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Onyenankeya Udeme Abigail. All former documents remain valid. University of Calabar and the General Public Please take note.

Sunday John I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Uche Iro Agwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Uche Sunday John. All former documents remain valid. General Public Please take note.

Tong

I formerly known and addressed as Kwekyes Blessing Dantala now wish to be known and addressed as Tong Blessing Kwekyes. All former documents remain valid, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and University of Jos should take note.

Ogedegbe

I, formerly known and addressed as Oladapo Olajumoke Salimot, now wish to be known and addressed as Ogedegbe Olajumoke Salimot. All former documents remain valid. General Public Please take note.

Osun 2014

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

FIREWORKS Oyatomi, APC spokesman and Odeyemi his PDP counter-part put their journalism background to use Stories by Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

sun State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are now

Assassination allegations: PDP, APC exchange brickbats on collision course over assassination accusations levelled against each other. APC in a statement yesterday in Osogbo by his director of publicity, Barr. Kunle Oyatomi alerted Nigerians and the entire world that the PDP plans an unprecedented monstrosity of man’s inhumanity to man around August 9, just before, during and after the governorship election.

Students, youths rally support for Aregbesola

ome youths and students in Osun State owned public schools and tertiary institutions yesterday staged a peaceful rally to agitate for the re-election of Governor Rauf Aregbesola in office. The agitators who were armed with different inscriptions that read: "Aregbesola is the only dependable candidate among others from different political parties;" "Cast your Votes for Aregbesola" and many others, charged the electorate to cast their votes for the APC in the state. Chairman of the coalition, Comrade Abiola Oludele, told newsmen in Osogbo that Aregbesola’s intervention in the education sector, among other areas of development, convinced them to embrace his second term ambition and work for his re-election. "The youths and students in the state are benefiting from the Osun Youths Empowerment Scheme (OYES) the O Meal, the reduction in the tuition fees of the tertiary institution, the increment of bursary allowance from N3000 to N10, 000 and the construction of

modern schools for the Elementary, Middle and High Schools. “Aregbesola has been the most tolerant governor so far to the students and youths in the state. He listens and engages us without attacking or victimizing us like the previous government. He has indeed treated the student movement like a true alumnus. Aregbesola has clearly shown the difference from previous governments. He has been unusual and extraordinary. We know that even the peace and tranquility that we have enjoyed since Aregbesola came on board is expensive and rare to come by. “The other parties and candidates in the coming election have bad history and nothing fruitful can come out of their Bethlehem, needless to say that they have failed to come out with clear programmes on education and some other significant sectors. Osun youths and students appeal to all voters to listen only to the voice of reason. The voice roars in a massive tone that Aregbesola is still the answer; no room for usurpers and rogues”, Oludele said.

But, the PDP director of publicity, Prince Diran Odeyemi, also accused the APC of having a marathon meeting overnight with the state government and compiled names of those to be killed among the PDP chieftains before the election day. Odeyemi who argued that those to carry out the evil plan had been assigned on what to do, while money due to them for carrying out the assassination plot has been given to them. The PDP spokesperson also alleged that the APC led government has put in place a killer's squad that will be terrorising inno-

APC which he described as the only auspicious party in the country. The Commissioner further assured the people that the present administration in the state is committed to making the state a reference point for others in the federation and would not relent in its effort if re-elected for another term in office. The committee comprising of Mr Bisi Obawale, Dr (Mrs) Temitope Ilori, Mr Azeez Moshood, Honourable Afolabi Atolagbe and Barrister Femi Popoola also called on the electorate in the state to resist the People Democratic Party (PDP) through power of their ballot.

cent PDP members before and during the election. He then called on security agents in the state to investigate and checkmate them before things fall apart. "We don’t harbour thugs and arsonists in our party. It is not in our culture. So, if APC is raising an allegation against PDP they should forward the lists of those that want to cause trouble to the police. They should stop all these frivolous allegations. The forthcoming election is an issue based one. We are not surprised they are making these allegations few days to the election”, he stated. However, Oyatomi in-

sisted that "the PDP has planned to place the State on a war footing using the army, the police and dangerously armed militia not just to terrorize, but to murder, assassinate and commit large-scale arson to win the election willy-nilly." "As a prelude to this massive blood-letting, inside sources within the PDP have disclosed that virtually all top government functionaries believed to be loyal to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, including every APC leader within their reach would be arrested or assassinated. "Our sources also

alerted that the PDP is amassing explosives and incendiaries which will be freely used to create maximum chaos, set the voting process in utter disarray before INEC comes in for the kill to announce a pre-determined election result. Rage or no rage, war or no war, PDP cannot take Osun with blood and violence and survive”, Oyatomi stated. “The die is cast”, he said, adding that, “our corporate existence as a united country is on the line of fire because the Presidency and the PDP leadership like vampires want to take Osun with blood dripping from their mouths.”

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (right), being welcomed by the Ikire indigenes and non-indigenes, during the inauguration of Nawirudeen (NUD) Middle School, Ikire…on Monday

LP candidate backs deployment of soldiers

sun State Governorship O candidate for the LaAkere: Vote with your conscience bour Party, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, yesterday mainState Commis- future jealously through tained that the deployment Oandsun sioner for Information their votes, advised them of heavy security to the Strategy, Mr. Sunday to cast their votes for the state for the August 9 poll Akere yesterday charged people of the state to vote in line with their conscience in the August 9th governorship election. Akere who gave the advice at the APC re-election campaign rally in Ila/Ifedayo/Boluwaduro Federal Constituency of the State, warned them not to allow anyone use anything to cajole them to vote against their belief. He also cautioned the people who possess permanent voter’s card in the constituency not to give up their cards, saying, it is their power to choose who directs their affairs after every four years at the respective elective level. Akere who charged the electorate to guide their

NEWS 49

would discourage fraud and allow for peaceful conduct of the exercise. According to Mr. Kayode Oladeji, his media aide, Akinbade affirmed the decision in Ile-Ogbo, Ayedire Local Government area of the state while addressing the people of the area during his campaign tour to the council. He said: "Security agents at the coming poll would help boost the confidence of the electorates, thereby ensuring peaceful conduct of the exercise. "I want to assure you that the planned deployment of security agents to the state for the coming election is to ensure its peaceful conduct. I believe they will be around to give

us protection; so whoever is opposed to their coming has some sinister motives. "I hereby implore the people of the state to come out in large number to vote during the election and in the course of doing this; they should eschew acts that could jeopardize the process. Just comport yourselves. Anybody that tries to bully you will be caught up by the arms of the law”, he assured. Akinbade said he would coast home to victory at the poll by defeating other contenders. "All I will just plead for is that we should just give peace a chance. We should not see the race as a door-die affair. We should know that it is only God that enthrones", he stated. He however appealed to stakeholders to "ensure the credibility of the whole process so as to further put the country's democracy on a sound footing."

Talabi: Lagos cronies have killed our economy he election bid of the PeoT(PDP) ple’s Democratic Party candidate, Senator

Iyiola Omisore yesterday received a boost, as the All Progressive Congress (APC) lost one of its chieftains Colonel Olayiwola Talabi (rtd) to the PDP. Talabi who defected with hundreds of his supporters in Ikire, promised to work for the advancement of the party in the forthcoming election. He said: "I quit APC because of its anti-people policies and the marginalization of local leaders in favor of Lagos based political actors. The failure of the Aregbesola government to positively touch the lives of the people pushed me out of the APC. "I can no longer explain to the people the many failures of the governments to fulfill its promises to the people of the state. I quit because I am fed up with servitude, with failed promises, with antipeople programmes, with

bad leadership. I am now convinced that Senator Iyiola Omisore is the right man to take the state out of the present mess and rebuild it from the destruction witnessed under the APC governorship". Meanwhile, Omisore has assured those who decamped into the party that "what sent them out of APC will not happen in PDP, as PDP government under his leadership will be people centered and people oriented. "I sympathize with the people for what they are passing through and by the grace of God, all your problems will be solved by August 9th, this year. The penchant of the APC government to service its Lagos cronies has killed local economy, impoverished the people and stifled their means of livelihood." "We will boost local economy, enhance livelihoods of the people and implement anti-poverty programmes", he said.

50 WORLD | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

Pope meets christian sentenced to death for faith

ope Francis met privately yesterday with a Sudanese woman who refused to recant her Christian faith in the face of a death sentence, blessing the woman as she cradled her infant daughter born just weeks ago in prison. The Vatican characterized the visit with Meriam Ibrahim, 27, her husband and their two small children as “very af-

fectionate.” The 30-minute encounter took place just hours after the family landed at Rome’s Ciampino airport, accompanied by an Italian diplomat who helped negotiate her release, and welcomed by Italy’s premier, who hailed it as a “day of celebration.” Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said the pope “thanked her for her faith and courage, and she thanked

him for his prayer and solidarity.” Francis frequently calls attention to the suffering of those persecuted for their religious beliefs. Lombardi said the presence of “their wonderful small children” added to the affectionate tone of the meeting. Video footage released by the Vatican shows the pope giving the family papal medals and rosaries. Ibrahim held her sleeping infant as she stepped off

the plane from Sudan, which had initially blocked her from leaving the country even after the country’s highest court overturned her death sentence in June. An Italian diplomat carried her 18-month-old son, while her husband, Daniel Wani, who is disabled, joined them on the tarmac in a wheelchairm. Ibrahim and her family are expected to spend a few days in Rome before heading to the United States, where her

husband is a citizen. Ibrahim, whose father was Muslim but whose mother was an Orthodox Christian from Ethiopia, was sentenced to death over charges of apostasy. She married Wani, a Christian from southern Sudan, in a church ceremony in 2011. As in many Muslim nations, Muslim women in Sudan are prohibited from marrying nonMuslims, though Muslim men can marry outside their faith.

Gaza: Israeli bombs UN school, 15 dead

Pope Francis meets Meriam Ibrahim from Sudan with her daughter Maya in her arms.

Nigerian on crashed Air Algerie flight

ir Algerie flight AH5017, en route from Burkina Faso to Algiers and carrying 116 people, has crashed, an Algerian aviation official told Reuters. “I can confirm that it has crashed,” the official said, declining to give details of where the plane was or what caused the accident. Swiftair, the Spanish airline operated by Air Algerie, said it lost contact with MD83 aircraft with 110 passengers and six crew members about 50 minutes after takeoff from Ougadougou, the capital of the west African nation. The four-hour flight was scheduled to arrive in Algiers at 5:40 a.m. local time. Agence France-Press reports that the plane was “not far from the Algerian frontier when the crew was asked to make a detour because of poor visibility and to prevent the risk of collision with another aircraft on the AlgiersBamako route.” Burkino Faso Transport Minister Jean Bertin Ouedrago told Reuters the aircraft was asked to change its route because of a storm in the area. Northern

Mali was hit with a powerful thunderstorm overnight. An airline source told AFP that contact with the aircraft was lost while it was over northern Mali, considered a “high risk” flight zone for U.S. airlines. But a senior French official told Associated Press that it is unlikely shoulderfired weapons used by fighters in the region could shoot down an aircraft at cruising altitude. Issa Saly Maiga, head of Mali’s National Civil Aviation Agency, said that a search was under way for the missing flight. “We do not know if the plane in Malian territory,” Maiga told Reuters. “Aviation authorities are mobilized in all the countries concerned: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Algeria and even Spain.” There are reports that the plane crashed in Niger. Kara Terki, an Air Algerie representative, told reporters in Burkina Faso that the passenger list included 50 French, 24 Burkinabe, eight Lebanese, four Algerians, two from Luxembourg, one Belgian, one Swiss, one Ni-

gerian, one Cameroonian, one Ukrainian and one Romanian. The six crew members are Spanish, according to the Spanish pilots’ union, the Telegraph reported. Flight AH5017’s aircraft owned by Swiftair but operated by Air Algerie was 18 years old. According to aviation-safety.net, the plane suffered loss of power in the left engine during a June 2004 flight. Six months later, blade failure caused the aircraft to experience left engine failure while climbing at 15,000 feet. Neither incident resulted in an accident. Air Algerie posted a phone number for families of passengers to call for information on the missing plane. The crash is the third commercial air disaster in two weeks, and second in as many days. Wednesday, a TransAsia Airways plane crashed in Taiwan while attempting an emergency landing in stormy weather, killing 48. On July 17, a Malaysia Airlines plane was downed over Ukraine, killing 298.

sraeli forces shelled a U.N.run school sheltering Palestinians in the northern Gaza strip, the Gaza health ministry said yesterday, killing at least 15 people and raising the conflict’s death toll to nearly 750. Israel Radio said, without citing a source, that most of those killed at the United Nations school were children. The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the incident reported as a truce between the Jewish state and Hamas-led Islamist guerrillas remained elusive, despite intensive attempts at mediation. Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman for the Gaza Health Ministry, said that as well as the 15 dead, another 200 people were wounded in the attack. The director of a local hospital said various medical centers around Beit Hanoun in the coastal enclave were receiving the wounded.Pools of blood lay on the ground and on students’

desks in the courtyard of the school near the apparent impact mark of the shell, according to a Reuters photographer at the scene. “Such a massacre requires more than one hospital to deal with it,” said Ayman Hamdan, director of the Beit Hanoun hospital. More than 140,000 Palestinians have fled 17 days of fighting between Israel and Gaza militants, many of them seeking shelter in buildings run by the U.N. Refugee Works Agency (UNWRA). Israeli forces are trying to stop militants from Hamas, which rules Gaza, and their allies from firing rockets into its territory. Palestinians said residents of two southern villages were trapped by days of tank shelling, with medics unable to evacuate wounded. Hamas fired rockets at Tel Aviv and said its gunmen carried out a lethal ambush on Israeli soldiers in north Gaza.

Taiwan launches inquiry into plane crash that killed 48

aiwan authorities launched an investigation yesterday into the crash of a TransAsia Airways turboprop plane in which 48 people were killed with the weather expected to be a factor in the inquiry. The plane, a 70-seat ATR 72, crashed on Wednesday evening near the runway while trying to land on the small island of Penghu, west of Taiwan island, after a typhoon had passed earlier in the day. The aircraft had 54 passengers and four crew on board. Two of the dead were French, the French foreign ministry said, and 10 people were injured and taken to hospital. The leaders of rivals China and Taiwan both offered their condolences over the deaths. Taiwan’s civil aviation authorities said the weather had been

suitable for flying. “There were nine flights on the same route between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. yesterday. Only the TransAsia flight crashed,” said Jean Shen, director of the Civil Aeronautics Administration. “The weather reports showed it was totally OK for landing,” she said, adding that authorities were not ruling anything out. “We can not say for sure what went wrong at this point. The flight safety committee has opened an investigation.” Both black boxes had been found and officials would begin examining them later in the day, she said. Alison Kao, a TransAsia spokeswoman, said the weather could have been a factor but the airline was not jumping to any conclusions before the investigation.

SPORT

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

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adekunles@yahoo.com kunle.salami@newtelegraphonline.com

That with the destruction of Brazil, Germany became the top scoring nation in World Cup history (223), overtaking Brazil in the process. Germany ended the tournament with 224 goals, three ahead of Brazil

friday, july 25, 2014

Out

How Maigari wasimpeached Maigari

Umeh

Comfort Chukwu Abuja

he secretariat of the Nigeria Football Federation witnessed a mild drama on Thursday with the intrigues that led to the impeachment of the President of the football body, Aminu Maigari. Not many people saw it coming but most of the board members were apparently aware of the drama perhaps before the meeting. Our correspondent observed that at a meeting where the president was impeached, there should have been a stormy session with arguments and counter-arguments on the issue. It was a rude shock that the meeting which barely lasted 10 minutes had eight of the 13 executive members passing a vote of no confidence on Maigari The eight members who voted Maigari out of office are Chief Mike Umeh, Dilichukwu Onyedinma, Shehu

After exhaustive deliberations on the uncalled-for secrecy surrounding all financial dealings of the NFF and failure to call meeting of the Executive Committee for the past eight months, during which so many weighty decisions on Nigeria football had been taken by a small cabal within the Board, the Executive Committee passed a vote of no confidence on the NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari –Communique Adamu, Chief Effiong Johnson, Ahmed Kawu, Felix Anyansi-Agwu , Ayodeji Tinubu and Muazu Suleyman. Five others; Emeka Inyama, Christopher Green, Yusuf Ahmed, Suleman Kwande, and Musa Adamu stood behind Maigari. Authoritative sources told our correspondent that the plot to impeach Maigari was ‘an order from above’ and a continuation of the unfolding drama the country has been witnessing since Nigeria crashed out of the just concluded World

Cup held in Brazil. Since the court move failed because it was not in line with FIFA statutes, the same people that plotted the court injunction that sacked the board earlier in the month are said to be behind Thursday’s drama at the Glass House in Abuja. Shortly after the impeachment, the eight members held a meeting and later called in the other five in Maigari camp and they met for about three and half hours. After his expulsion, Maigari left the secretariat qui-

etly without making any comment about the allegations against him and the incident that followed. However, Kawu, one of the ‘eight wise men’ that expelled Maigari controversially said he did not sign any document to that effect. “I did not sign, I don’t know how my signature got there. I cannot betray Nigeria and I cannot betray myself and my friends too,” he said. The tone of the communiqué issued after the meeting is an indication that more drama will unfold in the days ahead.

NFF set to negotiate with Keshi

Omeruo (left)

}p.53

52 SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

I know nothing about Ideye –West Brom coach lWants Eagles star to emulate Odemwingie Ajibade Olusesan

est Bromwich Albion coach, Alan Irvine, has admitted that he knew little about Super Eagles striker, Brown Ideye, before the club signed him. The Premier League outfit, last week, announced a surprise clubrecord signing for Ideye. They splashed £10million on the former Soachaux striker to take him from Ukrainian side, Dynamo. According to a report in the British media which was monitored by our correspondent, West Brom’s Technical director Terry Burton was the one who gave the go-ahead for the deal after the 25-year-old was watched extensively

Ideye(right)

Glo gives dealers royal treat in Brazil

ealers of National Telecommunications Operator, Globacom, who were sponsored to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil have returned to Nigeria after watching ‘live’ the Final of the 2014 World Cup at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The dealers who also visited other tourist attractions in the cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, described their trip to Brazil, sponsored by Globacom as “a royal splendour”. Globacom said the Dealers’ trip to Brazil was in appreciation of the massive support it has gotten from

its trade partners over the years. Some of the places visited by the team were Sugar loaf, Buzios beach and Angrados Reis as well as Christ the Saviour site. The dealers on the trip included the Managing Director, Easy and Quiet Limited, Mohammed Anthony, CEO of Upper Room Limited, Mr Adegbenro Odukoya, Managing Director, Idem Ultimate Limited, Hon. Unyime Idem Josiah, and Mr. Chidi Orjiakor of Correspondence Limited. Others were Alhaji Suraju Bukoye of Easy GSM Global, CEO of Of-

fice Devices Limited, Mr. James Odili Odogwu and Mr.Samuel Adeniyi Owoeye of Hephzibah Communication and Internet Solutions. The trip was rounded off with a dinner at the prestigious Figueira Rubaiyat, Rua Haddock Lobo, Paulista, Sao Paulo. Commenting on the tour, Alhaji Anthony of Easy & Quiet said “the trip was well planned; we had time to visit different parts of the cities of Rio de Janerio and Sao Paulo and also enjoyed the final match at Maracana, it was a royal treatment from Globacom.”

by scouts. The coach said that though he would have loved to watch the striker play live he had no problem with the fact that the club acted on the recommendations of the scouts. “It would be fantastic if he could have the same impact as Peter Odemwingie did. I don’t know much about Brown Ideye – I’ve not seen him live, but people we trust have done. “It’s not necessarily something that is detrimental to me not to have seen him live, though ideally I would like to because that’s how I like to do my work. “But we’ve done our research on him and what we have done is found decent players in the past in this way,” Irvine said.

More pressure on incoming board - Pascal Charles Ogundiya ormer Nigeria internationFdown al, Patrick Pascal, has come hard on those behind the impeachment of erstwhile president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Aminu Maigari. On Thursday, the Executive Committee of the NFF approved the immediate dismissal of Aminu Maigari on grounds of financial misappropriation, misapplication and maladmin-

Eaglets land in Kinshasa after 10-hour flight

Eaglets in action

fter almost 10 hours of flying, Nigeria U17 team, the Golden Eaglets, landed Thursday safely in Kinshasa, capital of D R C o n g o, b r i m m i n g with confidence ahead of a 2015 second round qualifier. The team, who departed their Calabar base for

Lagos on Wednesday, flew out of the Murtala Muhammed Air port(MMA) same night aboard Kenya Airways and made a stopover in Cotonou before embarking on a five-hour nonstop journey arriving at the Jomo Kenyatta Inter national Air por t 8:30 am local

time(6:30am Nigerian time). They boarded immediately another two-andhalf hour Kenya Airways flight for DR Congo and finally touched down at the N’djili Aeroport Inter national in Kinshasa e x a c t ly 1 0 : 1 0 a m l o c a l time-exactly the same time in Nigeria. After completing immig ration for malities, the Eaglets were received by Masiala Gaspard of the protocol department of Federation Congolaise de Football Association (FECOFA). T he conting ent was later driven to Kampo Hotel on Avenue de la Commune and they are already settling down even as officials from the Nig eria embassy have promised to assist them for a successful outing on Saturday.

Osaze

Pascal

istration. Pascal, who served as special adviser to Maigari, said now that the detractors of the Bauchi-born administrator have achieved their goal of sending him packing from his exalted position within the NFF, they should be ready to face the herculean task of matching his achievements of the past four years. According to Pascal, Maigari has achieved much more in the history of Nigerian football than any of his predecessors. “Tell me which president has achieved as much as the Aminu Maigari-led board,” he asked. “They have succeeded in driving him out. Let whosoever is coming in be ready to win the World Cup because that is the only thing Maigari did not win.” In the opinion of the former Shooting Stars player, the pressure will be much more on whoever is coming in to achieve success as soon as possible. “Anybody coming in now will be under a lot of pressure because the board will be judged based on the achievements of Aminu Maigari’s board,” he said.

Commonwealth Games: Opara wins Nigeria first medal Charles Ogundiya Opara on Thursday wins NigeNthekechi ria first medal in the weightlifting at ongoing Commonwealth Games in

Glasgow, Scotland. Opara pulled a total weight of 162kg in the women’s 48kg to win bronze medal behind India’s duo of Sanjita Khumukcham and Saikhom Chanu, who pulled 173kg and 170kg to win gold and silver medal respectively. Also In the men’s 56kg, another Nigerian, Rasaq Tanimowo, is lead-

ing the pack as he battles for the gold medal in his event. The 21 year old earlier on Thursday pulled a total weight of 225kg in three attempts to lead ahead of the final. The final is yet to be concluded as at the time of going to press. As at the time of going to press, England is leading the medal standing with nine medals, four gold, three silver and two bronze medals while Nigeria occupies the seventh position with one bronze medal.

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

Table tennis teams S in good start

SPORT 53

Ambrose canvasses support for Team Nigeria

lAs Nigeria is seeded number four

Charles Ogundiya

igeria table-tennis teams at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland on Thursday began their campaign in the teams event on a good note with the men and women team recording emphatic victories over their opponents. The women be gan their road to the podium early on Thursday when the trio of Edem Offiong, Ganiat and Rashidat Ogundele recorded a 3-0 win against their Kenya counterparts in a one-sided encounter. Also, the men’s team led by veteran Se gun Toriola and, Aruna Quadri walloped Bangladesh 3-0 in the first group D match. Meanwhile, the Inter national Table Tennis Federation has seeded Nigeria male team as the number four in the team event. Defending champion, Singapore, is rated number one, while England is two with India occupying the third spot. According to ITTF Publication Director, Ian Marshall, Singapore occupies the top seeded position in both the Men’s Team and Women’s Team events.

Commonwealth table tennis team at the opening ceremony

uper Eagles and Glasgow Celtic defender Efe Ambrose says he will take time off his busy schedule to cheer Team Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games. “Have concluded plans with my family and we are all going to the Stadium to cheer Team Nigeria, it’s my own way to see my country do well.” He told SL10. He believes Nigeria has the capacity to win medals at the games. “In a game like this, winning medals is fine and good but I was at the Olympics in Beijing and what I learnt is that the joy of participation is bigger than having a medal round your neck” “Primarily, it is all about friendship, love and unity but I sincerely hope we win medals

The double Olympic gold medallist was scheduled to run in the 5,000metre and 10,000metre events for Team England, but will remain at his training base in an attempt to shrug off his illness in Font Romeu. The absence of Farah means there are two recognised ‘stars’ in athletics competing, David Rudisha and Usain Bolt, who is only taking part in the relay. Farah said: “I have taken the tough decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth

Team Nigeria with some scottish athletes

Not surprisingly it was the host nation who got the longest and loudest cheer when they made their appearance at the end of the Athletes Parade, led by judo star and Flagbearer Euan Burton. Hosts of the last Games in Delhi, India were the first into the arena representing Asia, followed by the teams from Oceania, Africa, the Caribbean, the Americas and Europe. In between each of the regions making their entrance a special video was broadcast on the huge screen running the length of the South Stand, which featured stars such as Sir Chris Hoy, Sachin Tendulkar, Colin Jackson and Sir Alex Ferguson.

Weightlifting: Nigerian ref on duty

oard member cum technical Blifting director of Nigeria WeightFederation, Lawrence

Iquaibom, has been listed as one of the referees that will take charge of the weightlifting events at the ongoing Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Iquaibom, who won a commonwealth games silver medal for Nigeria way back in 1982 in Brisbane, has since arrived Glasgow for the assignment. The weightlifting event at the games starts today (Friday) with Nigeria being represented by a strong 15-man team. Iquaibom said before leaving Lagos early this week that the invitation extended to him to officiate at the games was an honor

to the country, even as he pledged to do a good job. “I see my inclusion as one of the technical officials as an honor for Nigeria and I will definitely not disappoint,” Iquaibom said. He stressed that the Nigerian weightlifting team to the games would also do the country proud in Glasgow, despite the not too solid preparation they had ahead of the event. “I think our weightlifters will also do well in Glasgow. Their preparation may not have been the best, but they are determined to have a glorious outing as they did last year in Malaysia during the commonwealth weightlifting championship in Penang,” Iquaibom said.

petition and to thank the organisers, volunteers and workforce who made the Games possible.

Tanzanian judoka disqualified anzanian judoka, Tbeen Ahmedi Magogo, has disqualified from

the men’s -60kg class at the Commonwealth Games after coming in overweight for the event. The Tanzanian was the only member of a 16-man list who failed to make the weight, with officials weighing him at 62.7kg when the judokas reported for registration. Magogo was nearly unable to attend the Games due to issues with his visa, but he was finally cleared to travel to Scotland with the rest of the squad. However, Ma go go has now been ruled out, which leaves Massoud Kombo and Gervas Chilipweli as the only Tanzanian judokas competing in Glasgow.

Ambrose

Mo Farah pulls out due to illness o Farah has withdrawn Games. “The sickness I had two M from the Commonwealth weeks ago was a big setback for Games due to illness.

Opening Ceremony gets off to uniquely Scottish start of music, dance Athletes Parade that were a parThe Queen went on to A2014nandextravaganza celebration got the Glasgow ticular favourite and a uniquely wish good luck to all the athletes taking part in comCommonwealth Games off to Scottish touch. a spectacular start at Celtic Park on Wednesday night as the people of Glasgow and Scotland put on a party like only they can to start the 20th edition of the Games. While quite rightly it will be the exploits of the athletes that will be the centre of attention over the next 11 days, there were stars of a different kind on show as Rod Stewart, Billy Connolly, Susan Boyle and 71 Highland Terriers lit up the occasion here. While Stewart, Boyle and other artists including Amy McDonald and local dance groups entertained the packed stands, it was the little terriers who led each of the 71 teams into Celtic Park during the

to make an impression and let the world know that Nigeria is blessed.” Ambrose helped Celtic to seal qualification to the next round of the UEFA Champions League qualifier on Tuesday winning 4-0 against KR ReyKjavik to advance 5-0 on aggregate.

Farah

me. Training is getting better here in Font Romeu but I need another few weeks to get back to the level I was at in 2012 and 2013. “I really wanted to add the Commonwealth titles to my Olympic and World Championships but the event is coming a few weeks too soon for me as my body is telling me it’s not ready to race yet. “Best wishes to my fellow athletes in Glasgow.” Meanwhile chief executive of the games, David Grevemberg has admitted that is a huge disappointment for the competition that Mo Farah has withdrawn through illness. “There’s no question that we’re disappointed,” Grevemberg told reporters. “Certainly there’ll be some disappointed people but there are plenty of great athletes that are coming and are here. “We’re looking forward to welcoming people to some great competition over the next few days and when the athletics kicks off on Sunday.”

Transfer Updates

54 SPORT

Vorm bids farewell Lampard signs for New York City rank Lampard has completed his longto Swansea F36-year-old mooted move to New York City FC. The ichel Vorm has bid farewell to the has been without a club since M ‘Swansea family’ after completing his contract with Chelsea expired in June, his move to Premier League rivals Tot-

Hannover sign Ceyhun

have signed midHonannover fielder Ceyhun Gulselam a free transfer from Gala-

tasaray. The 26-year-old, who can also operate at centre-half, joins on a two-year deal after spending three seasons in the Turkish capital during which time he won league and cup honours. Ceyhun spent eight years in the youth system at Bayern Munich but came to prominence at Trabzonspor, where he won the first of his six Turkey caps, earning himself a move to Gala in 2011.

tenham Hotspur. He told the club’s official website: “I think I am leaving Swansea with my head held high and I hope I have left a good impression as a person and player on and off the pitch. The people of Swansea have been good to me and my family and it is something we will never forget. “I’m going to miss the Swansea family because we’ve been through a lot together over the last three years, but that’s football. I am moving to a big club and it’s a good challenge for me. Sometimes when a club like Spurs comes along you have to consider the future and make a decision.”

Gamboa close to West Brom switch Liverpool renew interest in Bertrand

est Brom are close to W announcing a new signing in Costa Rican

international Cristian Gamboa from Rosenborg, according to Sky Sports. The right-back and World Cup star has supposedly completed a medical ahead of completing his £1.8 million move to the Baggies in the next few hours.

iverpool have reportedly renewed LBertrand. interest in Chelsea left-back Ryan

their

The Reds have turned their attention back to the 24-year-old after missing out on Ben Davies to Tottenham Hotspur, according to the Daily Mail. Bertrand is rated around the £8m mark, but Chelsea’s apparent reluctance to do business with a Premier League title rival could complicate the deal. Liverpool have also been linked with Sevilla’s Alberto Moreno as a potential candidate to fill their left-back position.

Piazon joins Frankfurt on loan Shaqiri ponders Juve, Liverpool move

helsea forward Lucas Piazon has joined Eintracht Frankfurt on a season-long loan. The Brazilian moved to Stamford Bridge from Sao Paulo in 2008 but has made only three appearances for the first team. Piazon was loaned out to Malaga in January 2013 before spending all of last season at Vitesse where he notched 11 goals and eight assists in 29 Eredivisie appearances.

Franjic close to Russian move

orpedo Moscow say the club are close to signing Australia fullback Ivan Franjic, who has won three Australian A-League titles with his current club Brisbane Roar. He represented his country at the World Cup in Brazil, but his campaign was cut short by a hamstring injury suffered in the opening 3-1 defeat to Chile. Torpedo president Alexander Tukmanov was quoted as saying by RussianagencyR-Sportthat“almostalloftheagreementsregarding the transfer”have been reached. Franjic would be the only Australian playing in Russian football after Luke Wilkshire left Dynamo Moscow as a free agent at the end of last season.

Samuel joins Basel

asel have signed former Champions League-winning defender Walter Samuel on a one-year contract. The 36-year-old Argentina international was a free agent after his nine-year spell at Inter Milan ended last season. Samuel helped Inter to become European champions in 2010. Basel have direct entry to the Champions League group stage this season after winning the Swiss title for a fifth straight year.

ayern Munich playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri has revealed that he wouldn’t be against a move to Juventus, or even to Liverpool or Monaco, following an impressive World Cup display for Switzerland, which included a hat-trick against Honduras. “Juve? I don’t know if there are contacts with them or with Liverpool and Monaco,” Shaqiri told Tuttosport. “Surely Juve could be a good option, just as Liverpool and Monaco. They are a big club, so who wouldn’t like to play there?”

Beasley leaves Puebla for Houston SA international DaMarcus Beasley

UMexicanhas joined Houston Dynamo from outfit Puebla.

In order to purchase Beasley,who made historylastmonthwhenhebecamethefirstAmerican to play in four World Cups, Dynamo had to trade Warren Creavalle to Toronto, which gave them the top spot in the MLS allocation order. Speaking to the club’s official website after the move, Beasley said that the reason behind the move was to begin a new chapter. He said: “I am excited and ready to start this new chapter in my career.”

Gamberini dumps Napoli for Chievo

have signed 32-year-old Cberinihievo defender Alessandro Gamfrom Napoli on a two-year

deal. Gamberini admitted he was particularly keen to renew his working relationship with close friend and fellow centre-back Dario Dainelli, his team-mate at Fiorentina for five years. He told chievoverona.it: “Chievo flattered me, showing me a lot of love, and so I agreed to wear this shirt with a lot of enthusiasm. “I have a special relationship with Dario Dainelli that goes beyond football. There is respect and true friendship between us and I’m happy to have him as a team-mate again.”

No Man United bid for Sneijder

anchester United have M been closely linked with Galatasaray midfielder

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

Wesley Sneijder following the appointment of former Netherlands national team manager Louis van Gaal. However, Sneijder’s agent Guido Albers has denied reports that United have made a bid for the 30-year-old. “Many clubs have been in contact with me following the World Cup regarding Wesley Sneijder,” Albers said.

Swansea announce Montero capture

wansea have announced the SJefferson signing of Ecuador international Montero.

The 24-year-old winger, who started all three of Ecuador’s group games against France, Switzerland and Honduras during the World Cup in Brazil, has agreed a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee. Montero went straight into training with the Swans on Thursday after passing a medical. He has moved to the Liberty Stadium from Mexican club Morelia.

but he has signed for the newly-formed MLS franchise, where he will join former Barcelona and Atletico Madrid star David Villa. The club was launched in May 2013 but has n o t yet played a competitive match and will not do so until it joins the American league in March 2015. “I am really excited about joining New York City FC and helping to play a real part in building something special in one of the sporting capitals of the world,” said Lampard.

Khedira still hopeful of Gunners deal

ami Khedira is still hopeful of sealing a move to Arsenal this summer despite suggestions that the Gunners have given up trying to sign him. Khedira looked all but certain to move to the Emirates Stadium two weeks ago when his agent held talks with the Gunners over a transfer. However, the deal has since stalled because of the German’s wage demands, and Arsenal are now apparently looking at other options, including converting Jack Wilshere into a defensive midfielder. But reports on Thursday stated that the 27-year-old has not given up hope of joining Arsenal and is still confident of linking up with the club’s contingent of Germany internationals.

No Juve exit for Tevez

uventus striker Carlos Tevez has inJleaving sisted that he has not thought about the club this summer, despite

strong rumours in the Italian press. Tevez said that such reports will only harm Juventus and that he has every intention of seeing out the remainder of h i s three-year contract. “I never spoke to director of sport Beppe Marotta,” he told the club’s official website. “I’m just a player and the board don’t need to ask for my point of view on these matters. “I think the papers should show greater respect when they write these things. Those who do so only want to harm Juventus. Leaving the club has never entered my head. I’ve got a three-year contract and I want to see it out here.”

Milan in negotiations for Campbell rsenal are in talks with AC Milan over the A prospective transfer of Joel Campbell - the Costa Rica forward who dazzled at the World

Cup in Brazil this summer. The 22-year-old forward had been expected to be given a chance in Arsene Wenger’s firstteam this season, but if reports coming out of Italy are to be believed, Campbell could be heading to the San Siro. Gunners fans will be disappointed to see a player with such potential depart the Emirates Stadium without ever making a senior appearance for the north London club.

QPR target Eto’o remier League new boys Queens Park P Rangers are keen to secure the signing of Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o.

Eagles’ transfer Update Tyavkase joins another Gabonese club

legend, David Tyavkase, Eside,nyimba has joined another Gabonese Centre de Formation de football de Mounana, after leaving Union Sportive de Bitam. Tyavkase moved to US Bitam in 2013 when the Gabonese club eliminated former Nigerian Cup champions, Heartland, in the 2013 Caf Confederation Cup. Tyavkase played for Bitam in the 2014 Caf Champions League but they were eliminated by Kenya’s Gor Mahia and he will return to the continent again in 2015. CF Mounana finished behind Manga Sport in the league and will represent Gabon in the 2015 Caf Confederation Cup.

Popoola makes Belgium loan move

midfielder, Sodiq PopooNBelgianigerian la, has left FC Metz on loan for club, RFC Seraing.

The former 36 Lion FC midfielder signed a two year deal with French side, FC Metz but when it looked like he wasn’t going to get enough playing time in the 2014/2015 season, his advisors suggested it’ll be better he moved on loan to another club where he’ll get more playing time. The strong creative midfielder, Popoola whose accurate passes can split any defence, was part of the RFC Seraing team that played a 2-2 draw with FC Metz in a friendly early July.

Hapoel set sights on Ikande

ormer Nigeria youth interFsearch national Harmony Ikande’s for a new team might

come to an end this week, after Israeli site, One.co.il, reported that Europa League campaigners, Hapoel Tel Aviv, are confident of announcing the capture of the midfielder on undisclosed terms. The 23-year-old has been a free agent since March after his contract was unilaterally terminated by Ukrainian club, FC Hoverla Uzhhorod, due to his failure to arrive the team’s training camp held in January and February. Since he found himself back on the job market, the former AC Milan youth team player has trained with a couple of clubs, but was not offered a contract.

According to the Daily Mirror, the Loftus Road outfit’s boss Harry Redknapp wants to persuade the 34 -year-old to stay in London. Eto’o will bring a huge wealth of experience to QPR, having turned out for a host of top European sides such as Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan. He has twice won the Champions League and also has an African championship and an Olympic gold medal to his name. However, Rangers face fierce competition for Eto’o, as Italian champions Juventus are reportedly keen on acquiring the odrigo Moreno has completed a experienced striker. move to Valencia, ending specuEto’o made 21 appearances scoring nine goals during his one lation linking him with a move to the year spell at Chelsea. Premier League, according to Span-

Moreno completes Valencia move

Insigne stays at Napoli

rsenal target Lorenzo Insigne has genA erated plenty of transfer gossip this summer, but he insists he remains fully

committed to Napoli. He told a press conference ahead of the new season: “I’ve always said that I’m flattered by possible interest from big clubs, but I feel good here. I love this jersey and I want t o win things with Napoli. I hope to be able to do that this season. I want to win with the club that is in my heart. “The aim is to do good things in the Champions League and to challenge for the title. We won’t think too much about our opponents, we will deal with us. We will work to grow and compete for the top places.”

ish source Marca. The Spaniard will initially move on loan to Valencia, who have to option to make the deal permanent if he impresses. Rodrigo has spoken of his delight at returning to his homeland and intends to be successful during his time in La Liga: “I am very happy to be here and represent the club. I want to return Valencia to where it belongs,” he said. “I come with the hope of returning Valencia to where it belongs. Football goes in cycles. 10 years ago there was a spectacular one with the League and Champions League final.”

SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, July 25, 2014

Man City coach, Manu hail Ihenacho’s heroic feat

lAs ex-Eaglet scores, battles for work permit

Emmanuel Tobi

anchester City coach, Manuel Pellegrini, has hailed Nigeria starlet, Kelechi Iheanacho after he made a scoring debut for the English champions in their 4-1 friendly win against American MLS champions Sporting Kansas in the opening game of their US tour on Thursday. The 17-year-old got an assist from Jesus Navas and placed his shot low into the left corner to score the last goal for the English champions. The visitors took the lead via Bruno Zuculini before C.J Sarpong got the hosts’ equalizer. But Dedryck Boyata restored the lead before Aleksander Kolarov extended it from the spot after Scott Sinclair was brought down and Ihe-

Ihenacho (left)

Contract: NFF set negotiation with Keshi

lShops for friendlies for Eagles Ifeanyi Ibeh

he Executive committee of the Nigeria Football Federation on Thursday mandated the Technical Sub-Committee to open negotiation with Coach Stephen Keshi whose contract expired after the World Cup in Brazil. In a communiqué issued in Abuja, the NFF Executive Committee mandated the Technical Sub-Committee to open channels of communication with Keshi with a view to extending his contract, stating that the body is still interested in working with the coach. The SubCommittee is to report back to the Executive Committee within one week. Similarly, the Committee has mandated the NFF Management to proceed with discussions with a number of African countries with a view to the Super Eagles playing a friendly match on the FIFA window of Wednesday, 13th August, 2014, as

part of preparations for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches. The committee also said: “Henceforth, all financial issues with players and officials must be thoroughly deliberated upon and agreed ahead of major matches and competitions, to avoid the kind of embarrassment brought upon the nation at the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil, when players boycotted training sessions before the Round of 16 match with France.”

Keshi

Enyimba battle Giwa in Fed Cup semi-final rehearsal

nyimba will on Sunday be the guests of Giwa FC in their first game of the second round of the Nigeria Premier League in what will be a dress rehearsal for their Federation Cup semi-final clash. Enyimba are fifth on the league table with 29 points from 19 games, while Giwa FC are sixth with 28 points from 19 games. Enyimba goalkee per Femi T homas told AfricanFootball.com that they would take the game seriously before they shift attention to the Federation Cup clash against the

same team. “It is going to be a very tough game, so we are getting set for that. Our focus is on the league game on Sunday after which we could think of the Federation Cup game against them, we are taking it one g ame at a time,” Thomas said In the first round, Giwa FC ear ned a point in Aba when they played a goalless in a Week 19 game. Champions Kano Pillars topped the first round of the league with 34 points from 19 matches.

anacho completed the rout in the 88th minute. Pe l l e g r i n i wh o d e scribed the U-17 World Cup MVP as an “important player” for Manchester City said, “Kelechi is just 17 years old and he’s a very important player for us in the future. He demonstrated today what he can do in the future. It depends on the way he takes this profession, but I think he’s a good talent.” Meanwhile, Man City are battling hard to secure Iheanacho’s work per mit haven not played up to the 75% for the senior national team required for the issuance but Pellegrini is optimistic on the young lad. “We’ve not decided yet (what the plan is for him) because it’s not easy. He’s just 17 and sometimes that’s the problem. We’ll see what he will do in the future. For the moment

he will stay with us and we’ll see when we return to England what will happen with him. But he’s a very important player for the future for the club. ‘After the tour we will see what happens with him. There are a lot of things to arrange to play in England but he has an important future.’ Similarly, Flying Eagles coach, Garba Manu has tipped the player to blossom as he begins his professional career in Europe. “I’m not surprised at all by what Iheanacho has shown because if given the chance, he can play for any team in the world like Real Madrid,” said Nigeria U20 coach Manu. “He already has the technique to flourish at the highest level and the only thing the more established players at City could have over him is experience.”

AYC qualifier: Flying Eagles send warning to Lesotho

lSentence Prisons to jail in 5-0 drubbing Ifeanyi Ibeh U-20 national Nonigeria’s team, the Flying Eagles, Thursday fired a warning

shot to their opponents in next month’s final round of Africa Youth Championship qualifier, Lesotho, with a 5-0 trouncing of Abuja-based Nigeria National League outfit, Prisons FC. The game, which took place at the practice pitch of the National Stadium, Abuja, saw Manu Garba’s side taking the lead after 12 minutes from the penalty spot through Ifeanyi Matthew. Taiwo Awoniyi, fresh from a training stint in Sweden, and who was fouled for the penalty which Matthew converted, then made it 2-0 for the Flying Eagles on 26 minutes, slamming his effort from inside the box into the

Awoniyi

roof of the net. Prisons best chance came in the 53rd minute, when Flying Eagles goalkeeper

Joshua Enaholo parried a goal-bound effort for a corner. And in the 69th minute, substitute Sulaiman Abdullahi scored the Flying Eagles third goal when he lobbed the ball over the Prisons goalkeeper before calmly slotting the ball into a gaping net. Prisons midfielder Ochule Paul was sent off in the 71st minute for dissent, and two minutes later, another substitute, Chisom Eze made it 4-0 before Segun Alebiosu, also a second half substitute, completed the rout on 89 minutes. The Flying Eagles will host Lesotho on August 16 with the return leg scheduled for a fortnight later in Maseru, with the overall winners at the end of the two-legged fixture advancing to the 2015 AYC taking place in Senegal next March.

Nigeria athletes ready for commonwealth glory Emmanuel Tobi eam Nigeria track and field athletes have expressed conTfidence in winning medals at

the ongoing Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games while looking forward to Sunday when athletics will take the center stage. For Team Nigeria track and field team, Glasgow Games medal haul may be better than Delhi 2010 Games. Technical Co-Coordinator of the track and team, Yusuf Alli, a gold medalist at the Auckland 1990 Commonwealth revealed that the fleet footed queen of track and field Blessing Okagbare is contender for the ultimate medal in 100m,

200m, Long Jump and 4x100m. The absence of Fraser-Pryce means Okagbare is the lady to beat for the 100m and 200m gold medal. Alli also tipped the 4x400m women, 200 women, Long Jump, Triple Jump, 110m hurdles, 4x400m, and 4x100 women as events that Team Nigeria track and field team has good chances of winning medals. “Our athletes are in good spirit, injury-free, and are ready to go,” he said. The venue is Hampden Park, a football stadium in Mount Florida area of Glasgow. With a seating capacity of 52,025, it serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland, it is also used for music concerts and other sporting events, but from

Sunday till Saturday it will be the home of athletics.

Oke

World Record

On Marble

You take your life in your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing, no one to blame.

– Erica Jong

Jun 30, 2011 - The 26.4 mile-long Qingdao Haiwan Bridge, the world’s longest bridge over sea water, opens to traffic in China.

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 FRIday, JULY 25, 2014

N150

A leadership’s empathy deficit O Graffiti ne of the ways of effectively illustrating profound and divine truths is through parables. Little wonder Jesus favoured this narrative mode. He utilized earthly stories, which his listeners could relate to, as a means of establishing divine truths. All through his earthly ministry, it is recorded that he told a total of 46 parables, each imbued with bold characters, rich symbolism, and conveying a single, simple but powerful message. The parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the most popular, possibly because it provides an ethical level that we should aspire to reach. It also attacks racial (and in the Nigerian context that can easily be replaced with tribal) prejudices, and teaches us the essence of compassion. Power is a significant element of leadership. How it is utilized, either in a formal or personal context, can determine the success of a leader. The most common mistake leaders make, especially those in political positions, is to see power a convenient means to a self-serving end. A leader who continuously relies on such a means for purposes of self-aggrandisement, soon ignores all established rules including those of decency. He sees only one rule and willingly applies it in all circumstances and willing applies it to all circumstances. That rule is the power available to him. This type of misuse of power has inevitably created the notion that power tends to corrupt, and the basis for the well-known maxim courtesy of the 19th century British historian, Lord Acton, that “Absolute power corrupts absolutely”. It has taken almost two centuries for empirical validation of Acton’s astute observation along the corridors of power. In 2013, researchers concluded that power can diminish a person’s capacity for empathy, because a sense of power shuts down a part of the brain that helps us connect with others. What this implies in the context of leadership is that empathy is necessary to curtail the misuse of power. Two days ago, it was the 100th day since the schoolgirls were abducted in Chibok, Borno State. That disastrous incident, which has become a source of international attention for the country, is also an unexpected means of appraising the country’s leadership. Kidnappings, especially in the context of terrorism, are no longer unusual because of their frequency and serve a number of purposes for the terrorists. Consequently countries that have experienced such situations have been able to develop methodologies of engagement. A common thread that runs through most of the past experiences, has been placing prime value on the lives of the hostages. As

EMMAN USMAN SHEHU prohabe@hotmail.com - 08051614969 (sms only)

a result the once favoured strategy of using force has become less considered in the light of the negative outcomes. What has steadily become the preferred approach is negotiation in the context of a swap, a pragmatic strategy that highlights the importance placed on the safety of the captives. In keeping with this approach that underscores the human value of a citizen’s life, the United States of America had to put aside its well publicised stance of not negotiating with terrorists. Terrorists don’t come any worse than the Talibans, whose mean methods are anything but maniacal. Yet on May 31, this year, Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl who had been held captive since June 30, 2009, was released in exchange for five high ranking Talibans. Mohammed Fard, Khairulla Khairkhwa, Abdul Haq Wasiq, Norullah Norri and Mohammed Nabi Omari, had been detained by the Americans at Guantanamo Bay. The five had been the Taliban Army Chief of Staff, Deputy Minister of Intelligence, and Taliban Interior Minister. The other two were senior Taliban figures. From all indications the prisoner swap was brokered by the American, Qatari and Afghan administrations with the Talibans. Part of President Obama’s statement, after Bergdahl’s release reads: “Today the American people are pleased that we will be able to welcome home Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, held captive for nearly five years. On behalf of the American people, I was honoured to call his parents to express our joy that they can expect his safe return, mindful of their courage and sacrifice throughout his ordeal….And as we find relief in Bowe’s recovery, our thoughts and prayers are with those other Americans whose release we continue to pursue.” The manner in which Bergdahl’s release was secured, contrary to the usual American public posturing, gives reason to believe that the other Americans in captivity will also gain their freedom. But it also sends strong signals of a realistic rescue operation that would be some source of comfort for the families of those still in captivity. They would feel the balm of the pragmatic approach. The Obama pragmatism shows an em-

phasis on compassion. As someone has rightly mentioned, empathy is putting yourself in another person’s shoes. Obama forsook the lure of wielding power for the sensible possibilities of empathy. That enabled him to be in the shoes of Berghdahl, to feel the pains of the American citizen in the captivity of the Talibans. Obama also placed himself in the shoes of Berghdahl’s parents, to feel the hollowness in their hearts created by their son’s long absence. The handling of the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction has shown, as never before, the disconnect between the privileged leadership and the hapless followership, especially those located far from the vicinity of authority. It has also shown the empathy deficit of Nigeria’s leadership especially for those not in the ruling class. Within a few hours of the Kogi State Governor losing his father some weeks ago, the Presidency sent the Vice President on a condolence visit. When the Vice President lost his junior brother in a fatal crash, governance virtually came to a standstill in the nation’s capital as a mark of honour. Ossified by the power at its disposal, the leadership failed to utilize every plausible opportunity to show itself as genuinely caring to the Chibok community. It ignored the Citizens’ Solutions offered to it by the #BringBackOurGirls movement which suggested a holistic approach, including connecting directly with the Chibok community, providing sustainable interventions for victims, and taking essential measures to counter the growing insurgency. Instead, it kept looking for opportunities to make political capital. Hence even when it did not want to be seen as using ideas honestly proffered by its ciitziens, it could not come up with suitable alternatives until foreigners intervened. It took three American Congresswomen for the leadership to buy into the Victims Support Fund. History will also record that the administration, through its American PR firm, Levick, sought to hijack the Malala Yousafzai visit purely for political mileage. The visit was solely planned between the Malala Foundation and the #BringBackOurGirls campaigners to mark the

90th day of the Chibok abduction, as a reminder for the girls’ ordeals at the hands of their captors to be terminated as quickly as possible. Levick treacherously reached out to the Malala Foundation’s Director of Operations, a fellow American, to get Malala to suggest to Jonathan a meeting with the Chibok victims who had come to Abuja. This was in fulfillment of the image laundering contract. When the meeting failed to hold, the vituperations from the Presidency further underscored its pain at losing an image laundering photo opportunity. When photo opportunities, in times of tragedy, become the premium over the worth of human lives, that should tell us that something has gone terribly wrong with governance in our country. It also exposes the hypocrisy of the administration’s transformation slogan. Transformation starts from the heart, the citadel of compassion. A heart devoid of compassion cannot show empathy when it matters. It is not empathy when an exalted position makes it difficult for a leadership to understand universally accepted norms of connecting with the followership, without looking for political capital, especially in times of loss and sorrow. It is not empathy when an administration contracts Levick to change established narratives of an insurgency, of a well-known massive abduction, or of a legitimate outcry by concerned citizens for those constitutionally charged with the nation’s security to live up to the their oath of office.

OmoBaba

WE ‘VE CAPACITY TO WIN TERROR WAR, SAYS JONATHAN

– Then fight to win!

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