Binder1 may 7,2014 by Newtelegraphonline

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Wednesday, May 7, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 78

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Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

Subscribers may pay more for telecoms services, MTN warns

Brazil 2014: Yobo, Osaze return to Eagles }51

Ayodele Aminu

ubscribers to the MTN network in Nigeria should be prepared to

pay more for telecoms services if the Federal Government makes its licence conditions more stringent, Africa’s biggest phone op-

erator has said. MTN’s Chief Financial Officer in the country, Mr. Andrew Bing, in an interview with Bloomberg,

published yesterday, said the company, which with 57.18 million subscribers controls 45 per cent of the C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 5

US troops to rescue Chibok schoolgirls lJonathan speaks with Kerry, inaugurates committee on abducted pupils lEight more girls kidnapped in Borno lGunmen attack nursery school in Nyanya lUN warns Boko Haram against selling abductees Our correspondents with agency report

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday cleared the way for the United States to help in rescuing over 200 schoolgirls of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, as he accepted Washington’s offer to intervene in resolving the abduction saga that has drawn global outrage. With his acceptance of the offer, the US will soon be sending military personnel, including experts in investigation and negotiation in a hostage situation to assist Nigeria. The presidency broke the news of the acceptance of the offer just as it came C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 2

Soyinka: Boko Haram beyond Nigeria’s capacity }7 LAGOS

Storms

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L-R: Very Reverend Francis Ogunmodede; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; the late Sir Michael Otedola’s widow, Doja and former Archbishop Emeritus of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, during a condolence visit to the family of the late former governor in Epe…yesterday.

Senate adjourns as WEF begins today

lSix Nigerian firms make global growth companies’ list lHotels fully booked Simeon Ogoegbulem, Abdulwahab Isa, Kenneth Tyohemba, Johnchuks Onuanyim and Chukwu David

s the World Economic Forum (WEF) begins today in Abuja, the Senate yesterday ad-

journed plenary just as it emerged that six Nigerian companies have made the list of World 16

Global Growth Companies (GGCs) in Africa. Preparations for the gathering heightened

yesterday as the Federal Government released details of the security C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4

Port Harcourt refinery maintenance suffers setback

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

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 President Goodluck Jonathan (sixth right) and Vice-President Namadi Sambo (seventh right) with members of the Presidential Committee on Rescue of the abducted female students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, after the inauguration of the committee in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Port Harcourt refinery TAM suffers setback Adeola Yusuf HOUSTON, TEXAS, USA

fforts to put the grounded 210,000 barrels per stream day (bpsd) capacity Port Harcourt Refinery back to life has suffered a major setback as Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) of the facility have turned down an invitation to help fix the equipment. This hindrance came hours after the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) said the daily oil production target of four million barrels per

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST ABUJA

28oC 22oC Storms

PORT HARCOURT

30oC 22oC Storms

KANO

36o C 24oC Isolated Storms

ENUGU

31oC 23oC Storms

IBADAN

30oC 22oC Storms

CALABAR

21oC 11oC Mostly Sunny

MAIDUGURI

34oC 24oC Storms

ONITSHA

30oC 23oC Storms

day set by the Federal Government was a mistake. Speaking at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, United States, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, said the inability of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to get the OEM of the Port Harcourt refinery into the country

was responsible for the delay in the take-off of the Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) for the refinery. Represented by the NNPC’s Group Managing Director, Mr.. Andrew Yakubu, the minister said the government was already in talks with partners of the OEM. This, she said, was in line with the decision of President Goodluck Jona-

than to put an end to the massive importation of petroleum products. New Telegraph had exclusively reported that the Port Harcourt refinery had been grounded and that the minister said as an interim measure, the NNPC had commenced the importation of some spare parts for the TAM. Meanwhile, the frequent asset divestment

exercise by the oil multinationals operating in Nigeria was brought to the fore at the event, as Nigerians showcased the inherent potential to the world. Alison-Madueke, who gave credence to this development, was however, optimistic that some of the local firms who got assets from the International Oil CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

US troops to rescue Chibok schoolgirls CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

to light that Boko Haram insurgents, who abducted the schoolgirls on April 15, struck again yesterday kidnapping eight more girls in Borno State. Another set of gunmen believed to be from the sect also attacked a nursery school in Nyanya, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that has witnessed two bomb attacks in about three weeks and stole the school bus. The latest abduction of the eight girls in Warabe village of Gwoza Local Government Area of the state, which occurred on Sunday night, came just as the president inaugurated a committee he set up to facilitate the rescue of some 220 schoolgirls who are believed to still be in the captivity of Boko Haram, whose self-acclaimed leader, Abubakar Shekau, on Monday owned up to their abduction and threatened to sell off the pupils. Some parents of the abductees, reacting to Shekau’s threat, said yesterday that it had confirmed their worst fear since April 15 when the sect raided the school in Chibok and forcibly whisked away their children. The United Nations has, however, warned Boko Haram against carrying out

its threat, saying it risks being charged with crime against humanity should it go ahead with its intention. In a statement yesterday, presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the US security while in Nigeria would also provide general assistance in tackling the spate of insurgency in the country. The US will initially focus on giving assistance for the rescue mission, he added. America is expected to deploy security personnel and assets to work with their Nigerian security personnel in the search and rescue operation. According to Abati, Jonathan “welcomed and accepted a definite offer of help from the United States of America in the ongoing effort to locate and rescue the girls abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok three weeks ago.” He said the offer from President Barack Obama was conveyed to Jonathan by the US Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry, in a telephone conversation yesterday. “Mr. Kerry assured President Jonathan that the United States is wholly committed to giving Nigeria all required support and assistance to save the abducted girls and bring

the reign of terror unleashed on parts of the country by Boko Haram to an end. “Thanking Mr. Kerry for the call and offer of further assistance, President Jonathan told him that Nigeria’s security agencies who were already working at full capacity to find and rescue the abducted girls would appreciate the deployment of American counter-insurgency knowhow and expertise in support of their efforts. “After speaking with the United States Secretary of State, President Jonathan today (yesterday) met with the Chief of Defence Staff, service chiefs and heads of national security agencies in continuation of the national efforts to find and rescue the abducted girls,” the statement said. Earlier, White House spokesman Jay Carney, had said Obama was being briefed as his national security team was monitoring developments. A report by CNN said US would send a “coordinating cell” to Nigeria along with military personnel and a hostage negotiator, as part of its counterterrorism package. In another effort at facilitating the return of the schoolgirls, Jonathan yesterday inaugurated a committee, which he said was

neither an administrative nor a judicial panel. It is also not a replacement for the search and rescue efforts being coordinated by the security agencies, he added. The president assured the international community and Nigerians of the determination of his administration to rescue the schoolgirls. “Let me assure the families and our dear daughters that in conjunction with the international community, government will do everything possible to get our girls back. “We share your pain and suffering and are with you in prayers. We urge you to cooperate with the investigations in spite of your understandably difficult situation. We implore you to remain strong,” the president said. Jonathan said the committee would be primarily concerned with providing public interface with all directly concerned in the tragedy. The objective of the committee, he added, was to provide a well coordinated citizens’ input into the overall investigations. Earlier, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, had said the work of the comCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

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Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Senate adjourns as WEF begins today CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

beef-up which President Goodluck Jonathan had ordered to guarantee a hitch-free event. The upper chamber suspended plenary to enable senators participate in WEF. Moving a motion for adjournment, the Deputy Leader of the Senate, Senator Abdul Ningi, noted that the presidency formally invited the Senate to participate in the Forum. The Senate, which deferred most of its schedules on the Order Paper, therefore, unanimously supported the motion for adjournment to Tuesday next week. Ahead of the event, WEF yesterday announced Nagode Group, UAC of Nigeria Plc, Computer Warehouse Group, Interswitch Limited, Notore Chemical Industries Ltd, and Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc as making the list of local GGCs firms in Africa. WEF Africa in a statement by Oliver Cann, Associate Director, Media

Relations, said the selected companies were considered trailblazers, shapers and innovators committed to improving the state of the world. A breakdown of the list showed that Nigeria and South Africa dominated the list with six companies each, including firms from Kenya, Mauritius and Uganda making up the rest of the list. The full list of the 16 companies are Nation Media Group (Kenya); Bidco Oil Refineries Ltd (Kenya); GML (Mauritius); Nagode Group (Nigeria); UAC of Nigeria Plc (Nigeria); Computer Warehouse Group (Nigeria); Interswitch Limited (Nigeria); Notore Chemical Industries Ltd (Nigeria); Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc (Nigeria) and Growthpoint Properties (South Africa). Others are Capitec Bank Holdings Ltd (South Africa); Webber Wentzel (South Africa); KZN Oils (South Africa); Net1 UEPS Technologies, Inc (South Africa); Tekkie Town (South

Africa); and Simba Group (Uganda). WEF said 16 of the region’s fastest-growing

companies had been invited to join the World Economic Forum’s Global Growth Companies com-

munity. The companies are nominated on the strength of their ability to become

future global leaders and are drawn from a broad spectrum of sectors, inCONTINUED ON PAGE 5

L-R: World Bank Country Director, Ms. Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly; World Bank Economist, Mr. Matthew Morton; and Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance, Dr. Chika Akporji, at the presentation of gender at work in Abuja…yesterday

437,072

The total area (in sq. km) of Iraq. Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

24.3

The number of newspaper journalists per 1m inhabitants of Benin Republic in 2004. Source: Blatantworld.com

2.27m

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

US troops to rescue Chibok schoolgirls CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

mittee would be largely fact-finding. He said the terms of reference of the committee, among others, would be to liaise with the Borno State Government and establish the circumstances leading to the school remaining open for boarding students when other schools were closed. The committee is also expected to liaise with relevant authorities and the parents of the missing girls to establish the actual number and their identities. However, as efforts were being made to rescue the Chibok girls, their captors struck again on Sunday night and kidnapped eight more girls from Borno State. Giving an account of the attack on Warabe during which the eight girls were abducted, a resident, Mallam Bello Umar, said the gunmen, besides the kidnapping, also carted away foodstuff and livestock belonging to the villagers. Umar, in a telephone interview with reporters, confirmed the incident, saying the insurgents attacked the village on Sunday night. According to him, the gunmen, numbering over 20 and armed with AK47

rifles, stormed the village but did not kill anybody. They abducted the eight teenagers before fleeing towards the hilly border areas between Gwoza and Cameroun. He said: “A group of terrorists invaded Warabe village on Sunday night, abducted eight of our teenage girls, before carting away our foodstuff and livestock. “As I am talking to you know, I have run to Gwoza council headquarters, and even in Gwoza, we are restricted around the council secretariat due to the fear of the terrorists. “The situation is so pathetic as almost all Gwoza people, including villagers who ran to the town for safety are restricted in a safer zone close to the council secretariat where there is enough presence of security personnel.” Another resident, Lazarus Musa, said: “They were many, and all of them carried guns. They came in two vehicles painted in army colour. They started shooting in our village.” Efforts to get official confirmation from the police were fruitless as calls to the phone line of the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Gideon Jibrin, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), did not go

through. Members of Boko Haram were also suspected of being behind the attack yesterday on Divine Kiddies International School in Nyanya, triggering a wave of panic in the FCT. The gunmen, who went away with the school’s 18-seater bus, arrived at the institution when pupils were already in class getting ready for the day’s studies. Mr. Gabriel Fishing, a private security guard at the school, told New Telegraph that as early as 6am, he had sighted three men in a Golf car parked some distance away from the school carrying a video camera and had thought they were cameramen. According to him, a few minutes before 8a.m, the trio alighted from the car, walked to the school gate and brought out arms from their bags, ordering that he should lie down. He explained that they forced one of the school drivers, simply identified as Tunji, who had just dropped pupils to hand over the key of the bus to them and drove off with the bus with registration number XG 246 GWA. Proprietress of the school, Mrs. Folakolade Temitayo, confirmed the attack, saying she immedi-

ately contacted the police in Nyanya when she was informed of the incident. The attack caused panic among parents and residents who feared that the gunmen might have been members of the Boko Haram sect on another terrorist mission in the town. Security operatives, including soldiers, policemen and men of the civil defence corps arrived at the scene of the incident a few hours later. Also yesterday, Britain offered to assist Nigeria to rescue the schoolgirls. “We are offering practical help,” British Foreign Minister, William Hague told reporters in The Hague. “What has happened there… the actions of Boko Haram to use girls as the spoils of war, the spoils of terrorism, are disgusting. It is immoral,” he said. Hague said he did not want to discuss the details of what help Britain was offering, according to a report by Reuters. The UN has however warned Boko Haram against going ahead with its threat to sell off the Chibok girls. It said yesterday in Geneva that there was no statute of limitations if they carried out the threat. “We warn the perpetra-

tors that there is an absolute prohibition against slavery and sexual slavery in international law. These can under certain circumstances constitute crimes against humanity,” UN human rights spokesman, Rupert Colville, told a news briefing in Geneva. “That means anyone responsible can be arrested, charged, prosecuted, and jailed at any time in the future. So just because they think they are safe now, they won’t necessarily be in two years, five years or 10 years time,” he added. Any buyer could also be held liable, Colville said, noting that enslaved girls are likely to be exposed to “continuous physical, psychological, economic and sexual violence” and that forced marriage can have a “devastating” impact on victims. Meanwhile, parents of the abductees have said their worst fears about their daughters’ fates had been confirmed after Boko Haram threatened to sell them as “slaves.” “All along, we have been imagining what could happen to our daughters in the hands of these heinous people, Now Shekau has confirmed our fears,” Lawal Zanna, whose daughter is among the hostages, told Agence France Pres-

se (AFP) by phone from Chibok. In a related development, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has decried the intervention of the First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, in the abduction of the schoolgirls. It described it as distracting, counter-productive and calibrated to scapegoat others with the sole intention of exculpating the president rather than finding the girls. The APC in a statement in Lagos yesterday by its interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, warned that melodrama, highlighted by the shedding of made-fortelevision crocodile tears, cannot and would not bring the girls back safely to their parents. It also questioned her power to summon elected and appointed officials of government to answer questions in a manner that made the president look inefficient and incapable of handling state affairs. “By doing so, she is usurping the president’s constitutional role, making him to look weak and ineffective in conducting the affairs of state and also making Nigeria the butt of jokes in the international community,” the party added.

NEWS

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Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Subscribers may pay more, MTN warns Senate adjourns as WEF begins today CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

market share, according to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), would be forced to pass on the cost to subscribers should the federal government do so. “Tougher rules, tougher regulations, greater demands ultimately will impact price, the more you charge up front or the more you demand over a period of time, well somebody has to pay for it. Ultimately the subscribers are the people who will have to pay,” Bing added. The Federal Government, according to Bloomberg news, will probably revalue the MTN phone spectrum and will push to have improving service and infrastructure written into the contracts as MTN’s licence expires in 2016.

Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) the same month fined the three biggest mobile operators, including MTN, for the quality of their service and prohibited them from selling new SIM cards in March, the first time the punishment was imposed along with a financial penalty. Nigeria has 167 million mobile phone subscriptions as of February 2013, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). With many subscribers owning more than one phone, user numbers will probably grow to more than 200 million in 2017, Londonbased research company Informa Telecoms & Media estimates. The population is about 170 million. At the same time the

company has spent about $5 billion to $6 billion in expanding capacity in the past three years. “It’s bigger than the power sector combined, it’s bigger than the cement industry, but they get away with everything,” said Bing, 49, who will go on sabbatical leave from the company at the end of this month. “Yet everybody wants a piece of us.” Prices have come down in the past three years in Nigeria, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer Michael Ikpoki, also said in the interview. NCC has to allow phone companies to make “decent margins” or it will negatively affect investment, said Ikpoki. “We are already operating under fairly stringent conditions,” Ikpoki said.

“I don’t know what can be tougher than this.” MTN has fallen 1.9 per cent this year in Johannesburg and closed on Monday at 212.85 rand, giving it a market value of 398.7 billion rand ($37.9 billion). The company struggles with power supply and cut to its fiber-optic network, making it a challenge to meet the regulators standards. Hundreds of cuts are made a week to MTN’s cables in the country due to negligence as roads are constructed or dug up, as well as malicious damage, said Bing. Last year MTN spent about N34 billion ($214 million) on diesel to power its base stations across the country due to a lack of regular electricity in Nigeria, said Ikpoki.

L-R: Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Senator Phillip Aduda; Director General, House to House Campaign Organisation for Democracy, Mr. Ogidi Ben Bara; Ambassador Aisha Audu-Emeje and Mallam Abubakar Aliyu, during the inauguration of the organisation’s secretariat in Abuja…yesterday PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

21.39

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

2.42m

The total number of internet users in Uzbekistan in 2008. Source: Blatantworld.com

93%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in D.P.R. Korea in 2012. Source: Itu.int

Port Harcourt refinery TAM suffers setback CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

Companies (IOCs), would improve capacity and live up to expectations. She said about 2,500 Nigerian delegates were participating at the world’s most prestigious oil and gas event; 500 delegates have registered for the panel sessions, while 41 companies are coming to display their capabilities in exploration, exploitation and service provisions to the world. Corroborating the minister’s view, Chairman, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Emeka Ene, said Nigeria’s oil and gas industry had experienced

significant and exciting development over the last four years, since the introduction of the Nigerian content law. “Coinciding with this milestone, several land and swamp-based oil and gas assets were divested to newly-minted independent operators who invested aggressively to grow production from these assets. “These developments have translated into a high level of activity in the service sector fuelled primarily by local content drive. “The success of the first round of divestment also gave rise to successive ongoing rounds of asset divestment coupled

with the announcement of the $15 billion Egina deep-water project by Total and similar upcoming deep-water projects such as Shell’s Bonga SouthWest development and similar projects by Agip and Chevron. These projects together represent a major opportunity for investment in Nigerian economy,” he said. Also at the event, PETAN said the daily oil production target of four million barrels per day set by the Federal Government was a mistake. The government had set a deadline of 2020 to meet the four million barrels per day production

target. But the Vice-President of PETAN, Mr. Bank Anthony Okoroafor, told reporters at a press conference that 25 million barrel per day target would be an ideal target. “Our four million barrels per day target is a mistake. We should have set a target of 15 million barrels per day by 2015. If we set that target of 15 million barrels, I tell you that we will hit 10 million barrels per day in three years,” he said. He called for a review of the four million barrels per day, saying that such a target limits the capacity of Nigerians.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

cluding financial services, retail, media, chemicals and energy. The Global Growth Companies community currently consists of over 360 companies from around the world.” According to Cann, “GGCs are fast-growing companies with the clear potential to become global economic leaders. The 16 nominated African GGCs represent a broad crosssection of industrial sectors, but share in common a track record in exceeding industry standards in revenue growth, promotion of innovative business practices and demonstration of leadership in corporate citizenship. “The World Economic Forum described these companies as being at the forefront of driving responsible economic growth, job creation and entrepreneurism in Africa.” Nomination as a GGC provides companies with an opportunity to join the larger GGC community of over 360 companies worldwide. These companies contribute to the forum’s meetings, projects and knowledge products, which in turn support them on their path to achieving responsible and sustainable growth. Individuals with a strong understanding of companies that might qualify as a Global Growth Company are invited to submit nominations or encourage companies to nominate themselves for the 2015 selection process. Meanwhile, hotel operators in the Federal Capital Territory are enjoying an all-time boom, investigations by New Telegraph have revealed. All the major hotels operating in the city are fully booked with guests forced to look towards the suburbs of the city for accommodation. While the five-star hotels are playing host to the major world economic and political leaders attending the three-day conference, other three –star hotels are too excited to receive other delegates to the conference. As a spillover effect, less known hotels are also in for major business as some local participants and other guests who are in the capital city to transact other businesses have been compelled to look their way. New Telegraph also gathered that as a result

of the surge in demand for accommodation, most hotels have adjusted their room rates upwards while many insist on accepting payments only in hard currency. A staff of one of the hotels located in the Central Business Districts disclosed to New Telegraph that business has been good for the hotel in the last one week. As part of measures aimed at ensuring the safety of delegates to the conference, access to the major hotels in the city has been restricted as people with no clear business at those hotels are politely turned back. Also, as a result of the three-day public holidays declared by Federal Government and the restriction of movement by the security agencies, passengers yesterday evening thronged the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to catch flights to different destinations. Both the domestic and international wings of the airport were a beehive of activities yesterday. Some passengers said their flights scheduled earlier for different days within the week were changed due to the restriction in movement. A man going to Lagos said: “I had earlier booked Wednesday morning flight, but have to change it because I wouldn’t know how security situation would be today in Abuja.” Meanwhile, some details of the cordon of the Federal Capital Territory and its satellite towns for the World Economic Forum for Africa have emerged. According to update on the security cordon released yesterday, there will be traffic blockade and diversion at Head of Service (Bullet Building), all roads leading to the Eagle square, all roads leading to International Conference Centre and Transcorp Hilton, Benue Plaza and THISDAY Dome 2. The update said security would be stepped up at all strategic locations and vulnerable points and strengthened at entry points (Bwari, Zuba, Gwagwalada and Nyanya/Mararaba axis), airports and highways as well as city roads, Hotels and the Conference Venues (Transcorp Hilton and International Conference Centre).

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Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Ekiti 2014

‘Fayemi is mopping up voters’ cards' lThat’s what you’re planning, says Fayemi Stories by Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

he Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation (AFCO) yesterday accused Governor Kayode Fayemi and the All Progressives Party (APC) of mopping up voters’ cards by buying them from eligible voters at the cost of N5, 000 per card. AFCO, whose Director General, Chief Dipo An-

isulowo, addressed newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, said it had information that no fewer than 35, 000 cards have so far been bought from voters in the last few weeks. He said that was after the governor and his party failed in their bid to financially induce staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to manipulate voters’ register in the state.

The group also alleged that the governor recruited 200 fake election observers called Democracy Vanguard with the intent to use them to financially induce voters to vote the APC on election day. “These fake monitors are to be deployed to the field on the day of election to induce voters with money, recharge cards and other mementoes to influence voters during election.

“We call on INEC to reject the registration of Democracy Vanguard as election observers during the election,” he said. The AFCO boss also said the governor was planning to sack 7, 000 workers on the flimsy excuse that they did not have their bio-data in their official files. Reacting to the allegations, spokesperson for the Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Dimeji Dan-

iels, dismissed them as tissue of lies, adding that it was ‘Fayose’s known strategy to accuse people of the evil he is planning to unleash. He added that the PDP was presently going about offering people money to copy the PIN number on their voters’ cards in a bid to clone the cards. “The plan is to distribute the cards to PDP thugs,

who would then present them for use at polling units and upon discovering that they are fake, they would then make trouble to prevent those who have legitimate cards from voting,” he added. According to Daniels; “This is part of PDP’s plans to ensure that election results are cancelled in some council areas and the whole election declared inconclusive.”

Fayose picks varsity don as running mate

he governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose, has picked Dr. Olubunmi Olusola, a lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, as his running mate in the June 21 election. Olusola, who hails from Ikere-Ekiti, is the son of Pa Joshua Olusola, 80, whose name was earlier sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to beat the electoral body’s deadline for parties to submit the names of their candidates and their running mates. According to the Director-General of the Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation, Chief Dipo Anisulowo, in an interview in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, the name of Fayose’s deputy was kept to his chest as a political strategy since

the INEC timetable allowed for substitution of candidate or their running mates. According to him, Dr. Olusola is an Associate Professor with the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. He described the university lecturer as a grassroots person with a vast knowledge of local politics. Olusola’s name had since been forwarded to INEC to beat the May 13 deadline set for submission of such names. Anisulowo said the need for Olusola’s choice was arrived at to give the people of Ekiti South senatorial district a sense of belonging in the political calculation of the state. It will be recalled that INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Alhaji Halilu Pai, had last week unveiled the identities of the 18 governorship candidates and names of their political parties for the June 21 poll.

Don backs Fayemi on N25bn bond university don and forAsultant, mer World Bank conProf. Oladipo Ad-

amolekun, yesterday said Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State should not be crucified for obtaining N25 billion bond from the Capital Market to execute some projects in the state. The professor of Public Administration at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, told a news conference in Ado-Ekiti that the bond was the best option to get certain developmental needs of the state done in view of dwindling monthly federal allocation and low internally-generated revenue in the state. The university teacher said his experience as a World Bank consultant

showed that no country or state that had succeeded in building infrastructural facilities did so without going into some external financing such as the capital market, to raise fund or borrow conventionally from banks. He expressed regrets that despite the fact that the governor was able to build a new Government House, a civic centre, state pavilion as well as rehabilitating hundreds of schools, among others, with the bond, some people still misconstrued the idea as self-serving. He described Fayemi as a “rare gift” to the state, saying he was the first governor to come to office with “well-thoughtout academic approach to governance.”

PDP candidate, Dr. Ayodele Fayose, at an interactive session with members of the Nigerian Automobile Technician Association ( NATA) in Ado-Ekiti

Students’ group faults I’ll transform Ekiti rural governor over bursary, fees communities –Bamidele he Federation of Ekiti those in authority and no he governorship candi- and Oladoyinbo. T(FESSU) According to Chief JoState Students’ Union response has been received. Tdate of the Labour Party has accused Gov- All students in tertiary in- (LP) in the June 21 election seph Oyerinde, leader of Ogernor Kayode Fayemi of reneging on his promise of a reduction in tuition fees in higher institutions and the prompt payment of bursary awards to students. The group also said it has not endorsed the governor or any candidate for the coming June 21 governorship election. Addressing journalists in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, the National President of the union, Comrade Abegunde Oluwayomi, said the students’ body was also apprehensive over the current state of education in Ekiti State. “Governor Fayemi promised to pay bursary and scholarship awards to all indigent students of the state. Since 2012, the bursary and scholarship awards have not been paid and the form for the 2013/2014 has not been issued. We have written several letters to

stitutions in the state are currently being denied that privilege,” Oluwayomi said. The FESSU president added that despite a promise to reduce school fees when he assumed office, the students were now paying triple the fees they were paying before. Oluwayomi said the development led to many students not being able to sit for their semester examinations because of the ‘no school fee, no exam’ policy of the management of Ekiti State University (EKSU). On the purported adoption of Fayemi by Ekiti students, the FESSU leader said as the umbrella body of students’ groups in the state, FESSU stood for proper funding of education in the state, affordable education system, massesoriented education policies, among others.

in Ekiti State, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, has promised to transform the rural communities of the state if elected governor. Addressing supporters in various communities in Ise/Orun Local Government area of the state yesterday, Bamidele said a Labour Party-led government would provide the needed social amenities in the rural areas to stem the tide of rural-urban migration. He was reacting to demands from various communities in the local government that were asking for government presence in their areas. Various community leaders had told Bamidele of the lack of government presence in their communities. The communities include Ise, Orun, Afolu, Ogbese, Obada, Aba Onisu, Aba Ede, Ajebamidele, Ekemode, Temidire, Ajegunle

bese community; “There is no single government presence here. They claim to be operating a free education, but we have been paying school fees for our children’s education over the years. “The four public schools here have been neglected for a long time. Even the N50, 000 monthly welfare package the current government is paying, we have not benefited. “Our only public health centre does not have a single doctor, not to talk of giving out drugs. We need empowerment for our youths and women too.”

change of name

Olu-Adeshina

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Folashade Adebisi Oguntoyinbo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Folashade Adebisi OluAdeshina. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

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Boko Haram beyond Nigeria’s capacity – Soyinka Etaghene Edirin, Temitope Ogunbanke and Wale Elegbede

obel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, yesterday said that the insurgency in Nigeria is beyond the capacity of the Federal Government. He said: “These are many things which could have been done. Abduction, terrorism, suicide bombings, these are very difficult situation to deal with. “So, those who are coming on the streets now they have always been conscious and they didn’t realize how soon the enormity of the action would catch up on them. One thing that is certain, the President and his government cannot sleep easily after what happened to Nigeria. It is not possible. The situation is now beyond the capacity of government.” The Senior Special Adviser to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said Nigerian government would do every-

thing possible to bring back the girls. His words: “The government and the security agencies are on the hot pursuit and I am very sure that this time around, the terrorists have made a major error and we will get them. “Our President is not a show man. The fact that the President did not say anything does not mean that a lot was not going on. There have been a lot of meetings and lots of directives and I am aware that two special battalions were devoted to searching for these girls. “Virtually the entire communication of the Ministry of Defence has been deployed to Borno State to facilitate and not to rely on the present situation. I am also aware that additional force, about 1,000 special force who are specially trained in antiterrorism are on their way to Borno State. “The president and government are not taking this thing as easy as

many Nigerians and people in the world are taking it. We are not making a noise because this is not a football march, where you hear commentary on daily basis. “I can't imagine how people think a President who loves his people and his country would seat back and allow children to be for three weeks. We have done a lot and we are not talking about it because we are not like America.” Okupe stressed further that: “Federal Government has set up an information center, which would be working for 24 hours and will give information on daily basis about what is going on. “I can confirm to you that President Goodluck Jonathan spoke with the Secretary of the United States today (Tuesday), John Kerry and between them they have agreed. America has offerred assistance in the area of hi-technology, including satellite imagery and all

sort of things. President has accepted and I think the team is coming in, next week or so. “We have said it before we will take help from anywhere. Terrorism is something that is absolutely strange to us. Our military was not train for it. We will get those girls; we will get them back. We have the capacity; we have the resources, the manpower and the expertise. I want to appeal to people in the world, keep calm and just give us some time, we will bring those girls back.” Speaking with the same medium, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, noted that the government has experienced myriad of successes in the fight against Boko Haram, adding that the country's security agencies are fighting urban and guerilla warfare. Defending the reluctance of President Goodluck Jonathan on the kidnap of the girls, Maku said, "When the news broke, there was a lot of

misinformation about the kidnap, especially on the numbers. "As a responsible head of government, the president won't rush to the public without a comprehen-

sive information on the facts and figure of girls." Basically, the conflict of information was the reason why the president was a bit reluctant on the matter.

N4.4bn subsidy fraud: Court adjourns Ali, others’ trial until July 14 Foluso Ogunmodede

bout two years after scion of the Ahmadu Ali family, Mamman Ali and three others were arraigned over alleged N4.4billion fuel subsidy fraud, Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja yesterday closed the case of the prosecution. Apparently miffed by what he described as snail-speed trial and lack of diligent prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the judge closed the case and ordered the defence to open its own. Justice Onigbanjo, who noted that the antigraft body could not continue to keep other co-accused persons in a disadvantaged position, adjourned further hearing in the matter to July 14. “You can't put one defendant in a disadvantaged position because of a situation caused by another defendant,” the judge ruled. The trial of the accused persons had been stalled for six months following the disap-

pearance of one of the accused persons, Seun Ogunbambo, whose whereabouts remain a mystery as the EFCC has continued to inform the court that he has absconded. The EFCC had arraigned Ogunbambo before the court in 2012 alongside Mamman Ali, son of Ahmadu Ali, a former Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Christian Taylor and their firm --Nassaman Oil Services. They are facing an eight-count charge of fraudulently obtaining the sum of N4.4 billion fuel subsidy support fund from the Federal Government in 2011. At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, EFCC’s lawyer, Mr. Seidu Atteh, told the court that he was unable to execute the warrant of arrest on Ogunbambo as he was just taking over the matter afresh. Atteh sought a short adjournment to either enable the commission to produce Ogunbambo or file an amended charge against the other defendants.

Peaceful breakup requires a miracle, says Onaiyekan Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

L–R: Former Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Werinipre Seibarugu; Vice Chairperson, Committee for Protection & Prevention of Violence against Women & the Girl Child, Mrs. Pere Egbuson; Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (Rtd); state Governor, Seriake Dickson and his wife, Dr. Rachael, shortly after the inauguration of the Committee, at the Government House, Yenagoa….yesterday

Jonathan, Oyinlola, others mourn Otedola Anule Emmanuel and Temitope Ogunbanke

resident Goodluck Jonathan and former Military Administrator of Lagos State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, have expressed sadness over the death of former Lagos State governor, Sir Michael Otedola. The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, said he received with a deep feeling of loss news of the passing away of the former governor. "On behalf of himself and the Federal Govern-

ment, President Jonathan extends heart-felt condolences to Governor Babatunde Fashola, the government and people of Lagos State on the passing away of former Governor of the state, Sir Michael Otedola," the statement said. Jonathan extended his commiserations to all members of Sir Michael’s immediate family as and his relatives, friends and former political associates. "As arrangements get underway to give the octogenarian former governor a befitting burial, President Jonathan assures the people of Lagos State and

the Otedola family of his solidarity with them in their hour of grief." He urged them to take solace in the knowledge that Sir Michael served God, his community, state and country to the best of his abilities and leaves behind indelible legacies. The President prayed that God Almighty will grant Sir Michael’s soul eternal rest. Oyinlola, former Governor of Osun State, in a condolence letter to Otedola’s son, Femi, made available to New Telegraph, described the late Otedola as a respected politician and a role model to many.

He said Otedola’s death was undoubtedly a huge deprivation, not only to Lagos State, but also to the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which the deceased served in several capacities. His words: “I must let you know that I share in the grief occasioned by this huge loss in my capacity as a former Military Administrator of Lagos State who also headed the administration that succeeded the late Sir Otedola’s government in Lagos State, and as a friend of the family of the deceased."

atholic Archbishop of Abuja and Head of the Metropolitan See of Abuja Ecclesiastical Province, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has warned that the alternative of a breakup of Nigeria, along whatever lines, would be far more costly and is almost unthinkable. Onaiyekan, in a statement entitled, “Let Not Evil Prevail”, issued yesterday in Abuja, categorically asked: “If a war of partition breaks out, where will battle lines be drawn?” According to him, it would be wonderful if such partitioning could be by peaceful negotiation, adding, “But that would call for nothing less than a miracle, which no one has any right to impose on God. The option to pursue therefore ought to be clear and obvious”. The archbishop noted that there were ominous signs that if the objective of Boko Haram is to tear

Nigeria apart by pitting Christians against Muslims in a fratricidal war, that objective is gradually and systematically being realized. According to him, “The wanton destruction of lives and property is bad enough. But perhaps worse than that is the gradual destruction and erosion of the hard-earned good relations which Nigerian Christians and Muslims have managed to build up over the years. “In my 2013 Christmas message, I warned that we should not take our fragile religious peace for granted. I pleaded that we should learn from the experience of other nations where such good relations have evaporated within a short time under poorly managed social and political crisis. The Central African Republic is a case in point. “In the midst of our serious security crisis, tribal and religious warlords are beating the drums of war and blowing the trumpets of conflict."

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‘Creation of another SouthEast state not negotiable’ Onah O. Onah

Onitsha

socio-cultural organisation, the Ndigbo Unity Forum, yesterday said that the creation of additional state in the South-East of the country is not negotiable. This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of its convention held in Onitsha, Anambra State. The communiqué issued and signed by the National President, Augustine Chukwudum and Secretary, Chinedu Onyebuchi, said the forum would resist at all cost any attempt to marginalise

Ndigbo on the issue. Re a d i n g the communiqué at a press conference, the forum said; “Ndigbo Unity Forum, an Igbo socio-cultural organisation convened on Monday, May 4, to discuss the condition and future of Ndigbo in Nigeria." “It will also finetune their requests at the on-going national constitutional conference in Abuja which has hitherto provided ample opportunities for all cultural geopolitical zones of the country to review their political future and make appropriate requests at this appropriate time.”

Succession: Olanipekun tasks UI Vice-Chancellor Sola Adeyemo

Ibadan

mmediate past ProChancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, University of Ibadan, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) on Monday urged the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole, not to avenge what was done to him about four years ago, by attempting to truncate the selection process of his successor. Olanipekun, a legal luminary in whose tenure

Adewole was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the institution in 2010, gave the charge during his remark as the Chairman of the 60th birthday celebration of Adewole held at the International Conference Centre, UI, Ibadan. Olanipekun described Adewole as a very brilliant scholar and administrator per excellence, who emerged tops in all the screening exercises conducted for candidates in 2010 before he was appointed by the council of the institution.

Ize-Iyamu's new move angers Edo govt Cajetan Mmuta

BENIN

he leadership of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State has accused the former Secretary to the State Government, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, of having a “pathological fixation” on becoming the governor of the state, no matter the situation. In a statement signed by the party’s Interim State Chairman, Chief Osaro Idah, APC said while the party’s congresses were still in progress, IzeIyamu, who is a pastor in a new generation church and a few of his friends, were already protesting a process that was still ongoing. According to the statement, Ize-Iyamu’s resignation from the APC will not in any way affect the fortunes of the party; rather, the party will consolidate more in the state. The statement reads in part: “Leaders of the All Progressives Congress

(APC), Edo State met today (yesterday), 6th of May, 2014, to review recent developments in the political space in the state, in particular, the action of Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu and a handful of his friends, who have resigned their membership of the APC. “This development is directly related to actions arising from the long-planned and allconsuming pathological fixation of Pastor IzeIyamu of becoming the next governor of Edo State without regard for truly building the party and respect for established rules and regulations. It is no wonder that after giving a seven-day ultimatum, within a couple of days, the pastor and his friends were in Abuja holding meetings with leaders of the opposition party from this state, PDP national leaders and the president of the country, which in itself is nothing short of anti-party activity.

L-R: Vice Chairman, Lagos State APC, Cardinal James Olubunmi Odunmbaku; Elegushi of Ikate Land, His Royal Majesty, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi; First Military Governor of Lagos State, Brigadier-General Mobolaji Johnson; APC Chieftain, Wale Oshun and Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, during the public presentation of a book, “Four Years With the Actualizer”, written by Mac Durugbo, at City Hall, Lagos…yesterday

9.98m

The total area (in sq. km) of Canada. Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

47.5%

The percentage of male internet users of Romania in 2012. Source: Itu.int

N3.35bn

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

APC raises alarm over plot to transfer Rivers’ Police Commissioner REDEPLOYMENT

Rivers APC chairman reveals there are plans to bring a new police boss Lateef Ibrahim

Abuja

he Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday raised the alarm over alleged plans by the Presidency to transfer the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, barely three months after assuming duties. Ogunsakin replaced Mr. Mathew Mbu, who is now the Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

The APC, in a statement yesterday by its Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said it has reliable information that plans have been concluded to transfer Mr. Ogunsakin, who is just settling down in the state. According to the APC statement: “We were reliably informed that arrangements have been concluded by the Presidency and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to redeploy CP Ogunsakin barley three months after his transfer to Rivers State just because he has refused to play their deadly politics since he assumed office and instead demonstrated that he is a core police officer. “We will like to reiterate that we will resist the

transfer of CP Ogunsakin through every legal means available to us. “We need peace in Rivers State and the current commissioner of police has demonstrated that he is a thorough police officer and we are okay with his efforts to sustain the peace in Rivers State. “We don’t need another CP Mbu, an obvious PDP member in Rivers State to take us back to the terrible route we only survived by the grace of God,” the statement said. APC, however, commended the state governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, on the extra mile his administration has gone to drastically improve the security situation in the state, congratulating him for winning the 2014 Best

Governor on Security in Nigeria Award by the organisers of the Nigeria Security Profile Award (NISPA). According to the party: “This is an award well deserved considering Governor Amaechi’s giant strides in the area of security.” The party recalled that as at the time Governor Amaechi assumed office as Governor in 2007, the state capital, Port Harcourt, was a war zone where only the fittest survived. According to APC; “The Port Harcourt that Amaechi inherited was more like a jungle where the fittest determined the fate of lesser animals. The once glamorous city was ranked among the four most dangerous cities in the world as at that time.”

Another baby factory uncovered in Anambra Uwakwe Abugu

Awka

nambra State police command has uncovered another baby factory in the premises of a hospital and maternity located in Umunnachi, Dunukofia Local Government area of Anambra State. The medical doctor in charge of the hospital, Daniel Ikebuilo, was also arrested during the operation that was carried out following a tip off. The police, following

the massive man hunt for criminals launched by Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, have also uncovered an arms dealer that has been operating in Lagos in the last 10 years. Two others are said to be on the run and the state Police Commissioner, Usman Gwary, assured yesterday that the fleeing arms dealers will soon be arrested. State Police Public Relations Officer, Emeka Chukwuemeka, told journalists at the office of the Special Anti-

Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigerian Police in Awkuzu yesterday that the medical practitioner involved in the baby factory allegation, allegedly specialised in selling babies delivered in his hospital by young girls, who get pregnant at his behest for this commercial purpose. However, Dr. Ilobuike, who was paraded along with other suspects arrested over kidnapping and illegal arms dealing, told newsmen that he runs the said hospital where he also keeps a children’s

home, but claimed that the two institutions were properly registered and licensed and that he does not mass produce babies for sale. Yet, the case made against the doctor by the police also showed that the hospital, Nkemefuna Hospital and Maternity, Umunnachi, was notorious for sponsoring young girls into getting pregnant and keeping them until they gave birth and get paid off while the home keeper would sell the babies.

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Kano electricity company loses N650m monthly Muhammad Kabir Kano

he Kano Electricity Supply and Distribution Company (KESDCO) yesterday said it was losing N650 million monthly to what it called illegal blue lines network in the state. The blue lines network, which the company said has been cornered by highly placed people in the state, was responsible for the N650 million being lost monthly by the firm. KESDCO said the blue line network has been causing serious power shortage in the state, a situation that led to outcry from residents and which forced the company to start massive disconnection of the lines. Speaking during a consumer stakeholders’ meeting organised by the KEDSCO, the Man-

aging Director, Jamil Gwamna, said the era of some highly placed people enjoying such privilege was over. He said the firm realised that apart from denying people their fundamental rights of enjoying electricity in the state and in neighbouring Katsina and Jigawa States that were under the company, some influential personalities have cornered about three percent of the total supply to the state alone. Gwamna said the company has also created a new tariff regime even as it has resolved over 200 customers tariff problems, which range from people having huge money been fixed on their bills whereas they have not in any why accumulated such bills to those who have sundry issues.

EFCC, NECO partner on anti-corruption campaign Dan Atori MINNA

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it will partner with the National Examinations Council (NECO) in its campaign against financial and economic crimes in the country. Chairman of the commission, Malam Ibrahim Lamorde, made the remark at the opening of a two-day workshop on EFCC’s Anti-Corruption Sensitisation Programme for Senior Management Staff of the National Examination Council (NECO) held in Minna. He said: “The programme is specially designed for public and private sector workers in direct response to the mandate of the commis-

sion to prevent economic and financial crimes, including corruption. Lamorde, represented by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Osita Nwajah, said Section 6 of the EFCC (Establishment) Act requires the commission to take measures to prevent the commission of economic and financial crimes. “Among such measures is aggressive public enlightenment and education. It is cheaper to prevent crime than to fight crime. The essence of this workshop is to take anti-graft campaign to the workplace and encourage workers to buy into the campaign as EFCC alone cannot fight and win the war against corruption, economic and financial crimes in Nigeria,” he said.

SURE-P holds capacity workshop for interns Tony Anichebe Uyo

he Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) through one of its subsidiaries, Graduate Internship Scheme, yesterday held a threeday intensive workshop/ seminar for interns and firms representatives in Akwa Ibom State. “The graduate internship scheme has been designed and introduced as part of subsidy reinvestment and empowerment programme for graduates to be placed in interested and demonstrated

viable firms where they would be mentored and supported to develop or strengthen core skills. Head of Operations, Graduate Internship Scheme, Akubuo Adegbe, said the Federal Government places priority on graduate internship scheme to help address the challenges of graduate unemployment in the country. He also stressed that the government recognises the private sector as the major employer of labour which requires certain minimum skills from graduates to become employable.

Osun governorship aspirant alleges threat to life ALARM

Labour Party's Femi Akinbade says Government House Osogbo is after him Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

ew months to the Osun State governorship election, a gubernatorial aspirant under the platform of Labour Party (LP), Mr. Fatai Akinbade, yesterday raised the alarm that members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state are after his life. In a petition to the

25.9%

state Commissioner of Police, Akinbade alleged that there were plans to disrupt his planned declaration billed for the Freedom Park in Osogbo, tomorrow. Akinbade, a former Secretary to the State Government, accused the All Peoples Congress (APC) of being brain behind the alleged plot. “It is necessary to intimate you that these groups have also perfected plans to disrupt planned declaration of intention to run on the platform of the Labour Party scheduled to hold tomorrow, May 8, 2014.” While giving further insight into the alleged plan to eliminate him,

The percentage of individuals using the internet worldwide in 2009. Source: Itu.int

the erstwhile SSG said the meeting to that effect was held in Omo West area of Osogbo, where the group threatened that he (Akinbade) would pay dearly for it, should he declare his intentions as planned. He specifically accused the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola and an APC stalwart, Alhaji Fatai Diekola, of being behind the plot to destabilise the party through different pretenses aimed at preventing his emergence as the Labour Party candidate. “The above point is more buttressed by a recent threat issued by the state governor on Tuesday, February 11, 2014, when he met a political

4.39m

The total population of Alexandria, Egypt in 2010. Source: Blatantworld.com

group based in Osogbo known as Dynamic Reformers, in his office and there, he categorically threatened that Fatai Akinbade will not secure the ticket of Labour Party as long as he (Aregbesola) is alive.” According to Akinbade the alarm was important because “experience has shown that some overzealous and over ambitious politicians can go to any length, either to get power or to remain in power at all cost.” He, therefore, implored the police to investigate the allegation with a view to bringing to book whoever is found culpable so as to forestall the breakdown of law and order.

N6.877bn

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

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (middle), with other members of Nigeria's National Assembly during a meeting with the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Sir Alan Haselhurst, in England...yesterday.

Opposition parties angry INEC to issue permanent over Delta LG polls voters’ cards in Kogi Dominic Adewole Asaba

embers of the Association of Registered Political Parties in Delta State have expressed reservation over the state government’s inability to conduct local government elections in the state. Their anger heightened yesterday when the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, failed to prevail on the reconstituted Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) and give it a matching order to conduct council polls in the state. Their anger was particularly against the

inability to provide necessary logistics for the conduct of the polls since 2011. Chairman of the state chapter of Kowa Party, Hon. (Prince) Jude H. Eze, flanked by his counterpart, the Acting Chairman of the Advanced Congress for Democrats (ACD), Comrade Aduku E. Kelvin, in Asaba, said opposition parties in the state have lost confidence in the newly constituted DSIEC. According to him, the commission since it was constituted has been organising ‘voodoo’ seminars to give a semblance that it was out to conduct free, fair and credible elections.

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said the issuance of the much awaited permanent voters’ cards to registered voters will commence this month. The Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of Kogi State, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, stated this during a briefing with journalists at the main hall of the NUJ press centre in the state. The electoral commissioner said the permanent voters’ cards have microchip devices with the biodata of each voter and will have most significant innovations in the electoral process of the 2015 general elections.

According to him, the permanent card is a machine readable card to be given to each registered voter, which will be read on presentation to election officials by card reader that will be deployed by the commission to all polling units on Election Day. Agbaje stressed further that the system is not in any way targeted at electronic voting, but only a technological innovation in the voting system. He, however, noted that the commission will soon begin the continuous voters’ registration with the aim of updating the electronic voters’ register, since the commission will no longer use the Addendum register.

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Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Tension as Olugbo, chiefs disagree over composition of oil body Babatope Okeowo Akure

he Olugbo of Ugbo in Ilaje Local Government area of Ondo State, Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan and some lesser chiefs in his kingdom yesterday disagreed over the composition of Ilaje Regional Development Council (IRDC) that liaises between the communities and Chevron Oil Nigeria Limited. While the monarch said that the power to send names of representatives of the communities to Chevron through the government is his prerogative, the lesser monarchs insisted that the power

4.63m

rested squarely with the communities. The list of the executive members of the IRDC sent to the relevant government authorities by the monarch has thus heightened tension in the oil-rich communities. Members of the community, led by the lessers monarchs, have rejected the list which has been sent to Chevron Nigeria Limited, the major oil producing company operating in the area for the purpose of implementing community development projects. The state House of Assembly Committee on the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Com-

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

mission (OSOPADEC) has summoned the stakeholders on the matter following the petition written to it by the people. According to the petition signed by eleven leaders representing each of the communities under the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) signed with Chevron, the people alleged that the names sent to the oil company did not emanate from the communities. They contended that the GMoU was community-driven and did not need the input of government or traditional institution before an executive could be constituted.

16%

The percentage of internally displaced persons to total population of Republic of Somalia in 2009. Source: Blatantworld.com

They alleged that Oba Akinruntan unilaterally picked the people on the list. According to the petition, development had shown connivance among the palace of Olugbo, the state government and OSOPADEC to ensure that their cronies were on the board of the IRDC. But the Ugbo Council of Chiefs and Elders in a letter to the Acting Speaker of the House, faulted the invitation extended to the Olugbo over the issue, alleging that the chairman of the House committee on OSOPADEC, Gbenga Edema, was an interested party in the issue.

14.78%

The percentage of individuals using the internet of Angola in 2011. Source: Itu.int

L-R: Captain Aliyu Ovulevu; Rector, Markaz Arabic and Islamic Training Centre, Agege, Sheikh Habeebullahi Al-Ilory; Major Abdulkareem Adisa Muhammad; Major Lawal Yakub and Provost, Diploma Section, Markaz Arabic and Islamic Training Centre, Agege, Dr. Mumeen Omolaja Yoosuph, during a courtesy visit by the team of the Directorate of Islamic Affairs, Nigerian Army to Markaz in Lagos…yesterday.

ASSISTANCE Two years may have gone by, but Lagos still cares for air crash victims Muritala Ayinla

he Lagos State Government yesterday assured the aggrieved relatives of victims the 2012 Dana Air crash that its door of assistance was still open to those who require free legal service, saying it remained committed to ensuring that no victim was left unduly uncompensated. It also warned residents, especially motorists, to always give way for emergency vehicles and ambulances to avert

PHOTO:SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Dana crash: LASG still offering free medical services

loss of lives due to needless gridlock. Briefing journalists at the ongoing ministerial briefing at the Lagos State Secretariat, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Wale Ahmed, said though the payment of compensation was not within the purview of the state government but of the Dana Airline management, the state government had, since, offered a free service for the aggrieved ground or passengers victims on well as their relatives through the Office of the Public Defender (OPD). Ahmed said the legal option remained open for

those who felt cheated in the management of the compensation. On the management of traffic in an emergency, the commissioner urged motorists to always give way for emergency vehicles like ambulances and other vehicles conveying victims or patients. He said: "There is what we call golden hours. That little seconds and minute it takes us to get to a disaster scene could do a lot in saving lives, if we are not delayed by obstinate motorists. "So we will be going to the scene to rescue the victims alive not recovering of bodies of dead

victims. So, people should give way to anybody that is blowing siren. However you should also report whoever uses the siren frivolously. The commissioner added that crowd management was also a challenge at disaster scenes. "We don't say people should not rescue victims when emergency occurs but they must be ready to give way to the trained emergency responders." Ahmed urged residents to be safety-conscious, saying most collapsed buildings incidents recorded in the state recently were buildings under construction.

Northern govs condole with Buhari over in-law’s death Dan Atori MINNA

s condolence messages continue to pour in for former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari over the death of his father-inlaw, Alhaji Halilu Ahmed Chiroma, the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) has joined Nigerians to commiserate with the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain. Chairman of the forum and Governor of Niger State, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, described Alhaji Halilu’s exit as painful, especially

coming at a difficult time in our national life when his parental support and guidance most needed. In a condolence message signed by Governor Aliyu’s Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo, the forum urged Buhari to be consoled by the fact that “from God we are and unto Him we all shall return.” The statement urged the former presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) not to be discouraged by his inlaw’s death, but to continue contributing to the development of the country.

All our children are in danger - Ajimobi's wife

orried by the alarming rate at which the Boko Haram insurgents continue to unleash terror on innocent Nigerians, particularly the abduction of Borno schoolgirls, wife of the Oyo State Governor, Chief Florence Ajimobi yesterday declared that children all over the country were in danger. She said this while addressing a press conference on the planned prayer rally and peaceful procession to hasten the release of the abducted schoolgirls, noting that women in the country were no longer satisfied with the pace and limited capability shown by the nation's security agencies. According to her, all women groups, women workers, market women, and women religious leaders will converge on Lekan Salami Sports Complex tomorrow for prayers. There was urgent need for women to take action

to stop the kidnappings and killings of children and safeguard the future of Nigeria. The rally, organised under the auspices of Committee of Women Representatives, appealed for an unconditional release of the abducted girls. Mrs Ajimobi appealed to the President to put in more efforts to bring back the abducted girls alive. She disclosed that women from all the 33 councils of the state would put on "Ankara on the wrong side" with different tops and bubas to identify with the people of Borno State. "The dress code for the women on the day will be our traditional Ankara in Buba and Iro but worn the wrong way (Yoruba: Odi ewu) by the women with the top and wrapper of the different materials to show our solidarity. This is to show that we are not mourning because our girls are not dead, but missing. "

Rotary Club honours Ikpeazu Ikechukwu Ucheoma Umuahia

he Rotary Club International has been commended for its continuous efforts in partnering with government at all levels to improve the standard of living of Abia citizens and the country at large. The Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, , Ude Oko Chukwu, gave the commendation at the presentation of community service and Paul Harris Fellow award to Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, the Deputy General Manager, Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) in charge of Aba and its environs at the Rotary club of Eziukwu, Aba. The speaker who was represented by the Chief

Whip of the House, Ikechukwu Nwabeke, noted the laudable achievements of Rotary Club International in the environmental and health sectors and commended the choice of Ikpeazu for the award. He described Ikpeazu as an achiever who has contributed not only in maintaining a clean environment but has also provided employment to many people. In his address, the President, Rotary Club of Eziukwu, Aba District 1940, Chika Nnamani, said the Rotary community service award for Ikpeazu was in recognition of his efforts towards improving the quality of life of Abians and his avowed determination to rid Aba of filth.

NEWS 11 11

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Niger Deltans carpet US over Lagos alarm MISCHIEF Tony Uranta’s UNDEDSS goes hard on America Wale Elegbede and Temitope Ogunbanke

group, the United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS), yesterday berated the United States over its terror alarm on Lagos, saying the mode of such alarm did not conform to responsible dissemination of information. It will be recalled that the United States government recently warned its citizens to stay clear of Lagos on account of a suspected terror attack on the city.

In a statement signed by UNDEDSS Secretary General, Mr. Tony Iprinye Uranta, after its 15th emergency meeting in Lagos, the group condemned the mode of dissemination ,such information, saying it could even be said to be enhancing the alarmist objective of all terror acts and threats. The group said it was “not impossible to believe that it was probably a deadly mischievous attempt by intelligence elements in the US system to manifest a self-fulfilling prophesy of a Boko Haram attack in Lagos, shortly before the commencement of the World Economic Forum for Africa. “And thus create the impression that the whole of Nigeria is insecure, with the possible sinister aim of further plunging this coun-

We’re doing everything possible to crush insurgency –Army Taiwo Jimoh

he Nigerian Army is doing everything possible to crush insurgency, a senior officer, Major Abdulkareem Adisa, has said. Abdulkareem, an officer from the Department of Islamic Affairs, said this yesterday when he led other senior officers on a visit to Markaz Arabic and Islamic Training Centre, Lagos. He said, “We are not relenting in the fight against Boko Haram. Nigerians should not see us as being biased in the discharge of our duty in our efforts to crush the insurgents. “Everything we are doing on the insurgency is for the interest of the nation. Don’t see the army as your enemies.” He advised the students of the institution to show determination in their quest for success, adding, “You can fit into different areas despite studying Arabic.” Abdulkareem said the founder of the institution, Sheik Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory, envisaged the usefulness of Arabic by advising his students not to be contended with stay-

ing in the mosque alone after graduating from the school. For instance, he said they could join the armed forces where their knowledge of Arabic and Islamic Study would be useful. He said, “Army is a noble profession with various departments and section where people can specialised. Although as soldiers we were all trained to fight war and protect the citizens, despite that we still have different departments within the army that individuals can fit into. It is not true that when you joined the army, you are meant to die in war front.” Earlier, the Rector of the school, Sheik Habeebullahi Al-Ilory, said Nigeria needed those had knowledge of Arabic as some of its neighbouring countries speak the language as their first language. He, however, regretted that the Nigerian government had relegated Arabic but promoted Portuguese and French. Al-Ilory said, “There are about 750 million people speaking Arabic language as their lingua franca. Are you saying we should ignore those people?

try into the failed-state status the US had, until very recently.” UNDEDSS expressed surprise that none of the world powers, with emphasis on the United States, United Kingdom, the European Union, have come to Nigeria’s aid to

date, in deploying their satellite monitoring powers to help forestall Boko Haram carnage, both in the North Central and North Eastern regions of Nigeria The group also said neither had the world powers helped to track the fleeing

terrorists after their inhuman attacks on hapless villagers, even where, as in the Chibok case, they carted away hundreds of young innocent girls. UNDEDSS also bemoaned the gross ineptitude of Nigeria’s security forces, which it accused

of apparently operating so blindly that they even joined in misleading the world that a majority of the abducted girls had been rescued. It wondered why no heads have rolled, publicly, after that faux pas by the military’s public relations unit.

L-R: Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; Deputy Director, Civil-Military Relations, Defence Headquarters, Air Commodore Ademola Onitiju and NIPSS participant, Mrs Victoria Egbase, during a state dinner for the participants in the Senior Executive Course (SEC) No. 36, 2014 of NIPSS, Kuru at the Government House Banquet in Osogbo, Osun State…at the weekend.

11,000

The total number of internet users in Djibouti in 2006. Source: Blatantworld.com

49.32

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

$US221.6bn The nominal GDP of Malaysia (IMF) in 2009. Source: Blatantworld.com

Three more aspirants want Suswam’s job Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

t least three governorship aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State yesterday made public declarations to succeed Governor Gabriel Suswam in next year’s general elections. This brings to 17, the number of PDP aspirants who have declared for the position in the state. They include former Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, Dr. Mathias Oyigeya; immediate past Permanent Secretary in the Local Government Pensions Board, Prince Andy Uwouku and the current Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Alex Adum. The declarations took place at the state secretariat of the party located along Makurdi-Otukpo

Expressway. Speaking, Prince Uwouku, 56, said he joined the race to salvage the state and make life more meaningful to the people, adding that having traversed through the three senatorial districts of the state, he was better informed about the problems confronting

the people. Uwouku, who also served as permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, indicated his readiness to make the sector commercially viable to boost food production so as to maintain our status as the food basket of the nation.

On his part, Dr. Oyigeya, who rolled up his achievements at the FMC, said he will focus on agriculture, unemployment as well as revamp the failed and failing government companies by partnering with the private sector by way of Public Private Partnership.

Diamond Bank MD urged to run for Abia governorship Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

he Managing Director of Diamond Bank Plc; Dr. Alex Otti, has been urged to contest next year’s governorship election in Abia State on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). A group, known as ‘Greater Abia for 2015,’ in a chat with newsmen in Owerri, the Imo State capital, said the state was in dire need of a core professional to consolidate on the gains of the present ad-

ministration. President of the group, Chief Torti Okereke, said Dr. Otti possesses the qualities needed for a new generation governor that will set Abia State on the path of technological and economic growth. He said: “Apart from the fact that Otti hails from Ngwa, where the governorship of the state has been zoned to, he has the right attitude needed to effect the right changes in Abia.” According to him; “We have no inhibition whatsoever, as we have embarked

on a sensitisation campaign across the 17 local government areas of the state, to sell the candidature of Otti as the best governorship material for the state.” Insisting that Otti has a glowing pedigree and credentials that stand heads above all the known aspirants to the Abia governorship race, Okereke said; “If you look at the crop of aspirants currently in the race, none of them matches the personality and credentials of Dr. Alex Otti. He is easily the most qualified given his pedigree.

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Sanctity

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Mob hea

lSets

Septic tank, generator fumes T responsible for pupils collapse –Govt

Jecinthia Bork

lTackles churches, mosques over noise pollution NEMESIS

INVESTIGATION Lagos State Government traces causes of gaseous emission at Ogba Junior Grammar School to abandoned septic tank Muritala Ayinla

agos State Government yesterday said that it had traced the source of frequent collapse of pupils in Ogba Junior Grammar School to a disused septic tank near the school. This is even as the government said it would henceforth halt proliferation of churches and mosques in residential quarters to reduce noise pollution in the state. The government said it would not hesitate to shut any worship centre with noise blaring from loud speakers. The Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Tunji Bello and the Special Adviser to the governor on the Environment, Dr Taofik Folami, who briefed journalists yesterday, said scientific investigation carried out by the government on the school premises revealed that the septic tank was responsible for the gaseous emission. It was gathered that no fewer than 40 pupils had so far collapsed after inhaling unknown gaseous substance from the school. Bello and Folami said that the pupils were found to be allergic to the poisonous substance which made them collapsed after inhaling it. They added that the amount of generators at the Arcade near the Ogba Junior Grammar could also be responsible for the collapse of the pupils. “During our investigation, we were privileged to discover an isolated old disused septic tank. This was where the larger percentage of the emission comes from. Because it was old, the school did not understand the impact of the septic tank on their pupils,” Folami said. On the noise pollution, Bello said that government had directed the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) to sanction erring churches and mosques in residential quarters.

The commissioner added that no fewer than four churches, three hotels and a factory had been sealed for failing to comply with agency’s directives. According to him, there are streets in Lagos where there are as much as four churches and mosques. He disclosed that government would henceforth not allow that to continue. Bello said that government was inundated with complaints from residents who could no longer rest at their homes after spending so much time in their places of work due to blaring noise from the worship centres. He said: “We all worship God and He listens to us, it is not by making noise.” The commissioner said the trend could engender health problems in many residents. Bello said LASEPA had been given the full responsibility to tackle noise pollution in the state, adding that the agency had been doing quite well based on commendation from Nigerians. On open defecation, he said the state government was worried because it had become a trend but efforts were being made to use law enforcement officers to bring the situation under control. He assured that government would soon commence re-development of public toilets across the state. The commissioner said that public toilets currently in use had been converted to markets and other uses by those managing them hence the government halted further development.

File picture of the pupils on their hospital bed

he gale of through Eko outskirts of An angry m Nissan Muran fresh human h The unident witness who id was caught in fr Petroleum Cor tion at Ekoro R Idowu said identified as La ing the woman was a ritual kil morning. He said: “Wh costed her they a check-up. Wh vehicle, a Niss five fresh child “The boys b burnt her to ha and took away dren’s heads.” The state Po Ngozi Braide, spond to text m dent. A day earlier when he was al

Court sentences two to death for rap Dominic Adewole Asaba

High Court in Warri, Delta State has sentenced one Ebikeme Igangan, a member of a vigilance group, and one Ovwigho Udjor, a welder, to death by hanging. While Ebikeme was guilty of raping a youth corps member, Ovwigho was guilty of robbing a female shop manager in Warri of valuables and cash worth over N3 million.

Ebikeme (26), from Ogbe-Ijaw, Warri South Local Government Area and 36-yearold Ovwigho, who hails from Jesse town in Ethiope West Local Government were guilty of a three-count charge of conspiracy, armed robbery and rape, levelled against them by the State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). They, with members of their gang now at large, were said to have on or about December 9, four years ago, at Shell, Ogunu, within the Warri Judicial Division robbed a manager of a popular shop (name with-

held) inside ables inclu five Nokia Blade hand a cash of N These ite their victim to her shop Dissatisf bers went member, w their victim of the incid

60-year-old man arraigned for fighti Camillus Nnaji and Bisola Tiamiyu

60-year-old man, Wasiu Akinleye, yesterday appeared before Ikeja Magistrates’ Court 20 on a two-count charge of fighting with dangerous objects and assault. According to the charge sheet marked MIK/V/89/2014, Akinleye on May 3, at Number 6, Arigbanla Street, at Ikeja Magisterial District, did conduct himself in a manner to cause breach of peace by going to the workshop of one Bode Sowemimo, armed with

broken bottles due to a misunderstanding between them and thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 166(d) of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State 2011. The prosecutor, Chinalum Nwadiole, explained to the court that on the same date, time and place, Akinyele did assault Sowemimo with the broken bottles, thereby inflicting very deep cut at his back and right ear, hence committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 171 of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State 2011. Counsel to the defendant, Fidelis Ize-

gaegbe, urged the court to grant Akinyele bail based on his old age and on very liberal terms. The Magistrate, Ms O. A. Akinde, granted Akindele bail in the sum of N100,000, two sureties who must be gainfully employed. She adjourned the case till June 12. Also yesterday, a fake visa processing agent, Chika Elee (44) appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on a two-count charge of false pretence to procure visa and stealing. The prosecutor, Solomon Okereke, told the court that Elee was apprehended on

June 18, 201 bare, Shash Ayodeji wit visa to trav that he had n Accordin ishable und Laws of Lag He said: “ steal the sum longing to A he thereb able under S Law of Lag

How senate intervened in Chibok abduction saga / PAGE 16 | ‘No basis for emergency rule in Taraba / PAGE 43

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Shaibu: I was detained with coup plotters

p-42

State creation: North, South-East rekindle rivalry A

gitation for creation of new states is not peculiar to the people of the South-East geo-political zone, but theirs seem to be more pronounced among the various sections of the country that have continued to seek additional states since the exercise was last carried out by the late Gen. Sani Abacha regime in 1996. The zone’s argument in this regard is that an additional state will bring it at par with other zones in the country. The South-East remains the only geo-political zone among the country’s six with five states; Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states. The South-South, South-West, North Central and North-East all have six states each, while the North-West has seven. It was against this backdrop that Ndigbo and their leaders have persistently blamed the imbalance in state structure for the under-development of their area, saying they not only receive the least allocation from the national budget, but are also underrepresented in almost all sectors of national endeavour. Former chairman of the South-East Governors Forum and immediate past governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, in the thick of renewed Igbo agitation for a sixth state last year, said that there is no way one can talk about balancing the federation without addressing the issue of an additional state for Ndigbo. Apex Igbo socio-political body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, equally believes that an additional state for the South-East will rectify the anomaly in the allocation of states which had over time relegated the zone to an inferior status. Before the imbalance At independence in 1960, the political structure of Nigeria comprised of three regions – Northern, Eastern, and Western regions. The North was comprised of 14 provinces, East (12) and West (nine). In 1963, the Mid-Western Region was carved out from Western Region, and it comprised of two provinces. This reduced the number of provinces in the Western Region to seven. With the creation of states through military fiat by the Gen. Yakubu Gowon regime in

The people of the South-East seem to have made progress in their demand for an additional state with the approval by the National Conference Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government for another state for the Ndigbo, but FELIX NWANERI reports that opposition to the proposal by the North may throw a spanner into the works of the confab

Igariwey

Commassie

1967, the North and South were allotted six states apiece; three states in the East; two in the West and one in the Mid-West. The six states created in the North were North Western, North Eastern, North Central, Kano, Kwara, and Benue-Plateau states. In the Eastern Region were East Central, South Eastern and Rivers states, while the Western Region had Western and Lagos states. The Mid-West Region was simply

renamed Mid-Western State. The Gowon regime also abrogated the provincial system and carved 96 administrative divisions for the country, with 41 divisions in the North and 55 divisions for the defunct three regions in the South-East (28), West (17) and Mid-West (10). As a result of the exercise, the former Eastern Region, which formerly trailed the North by just two provinces, was made to trail the region by as many

as 13 divisions. The lopsidedness was further enhanced by the late Gen. Murtala Mohammed regime in 1976, when it created 19 states. Out of the number, 10 (Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Gongola, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Niger, Plateau and Sokoto) were created in the former Northern Region and nine in the former three regions of the South. CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

CROSSFIRE If the APC is popular in the state as it has always claimed, why is it that they are the ones being attacked? Why are they raising the false alarm? Let them publish the names of PDP members that are currently facing trial on account of violence in the state -Dipo Anisulowo

My party and candidate are not violent and have exercised so much restraint to remain focused. Even before Fayemi became governor, he said he does not want to be a governor of the cemetery. Our weapons are not carnal, but spiritual -Bimbo Daramola

POLITICAL NOTES

Shame of a nation

bout three weeks after Aabducted more than 200 girls were from their school in Chibok, Borno State, government is yet to make any meaningful progress to reunite them with their distressed families. More distressing news making the rounds indicate that the girls have been ferried to Chad and given out in forced marriages. Also, the senator representing Borno North, Ahmed Zanna claimed that he informed the military as the terrorists were moving the girls from one place to the other but the military failed to act on time. Asides the now normal promises and speeches from government, promising action, others have made the abduction a campaign issue for and against governemnt, while the families grieve. Has it occurred to government that in the all-important race for 2015 elections, there are more than 200 families, plus their sympathisers who are presently disenchanted with the governemnt, and the nation. The patriotic zeal of these ones have been further dampened. Rigth now, the only thing that will make them see anything good in Nigeria is if their children are returned to them alive, and unhurt. Government needs to wonder and resolve how over 200 girls plus their abductors are able to move in a convoy, within a state under government imposed state of emegency, without being challenged. And while there are supposedly security personnel from different agencies on ground to ensure the release of the abducted girls, government goes ahead to set up a committee, with terms of reference et al. Pray, how does government hope to exactly use the report of the committee, given its history of committee reports in the country. Instead of complicating issues, should government not rather concentrate its efforts and resources for a more focused, result oriented search at rescuing the distressed girls?

14 POLITICS At 36, he was a member of the Federal Executive Council and severed in four different ministries. Dr. Idi Hong, former Minister of State for Health, in this interview with SULEIMAN BISALLA and ONYEKACHI EZE, speaks on the security challenge in the North East, Governor Murtala Nyako’s genocide claim and his governorship ambition in Adamawa State come 2015. Excerpts:

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

2015: Nyako is an empty

What have you been doing since you left office as Minister of Health? By my training I am a doctor who after joining politics has become a doctor at large. I don’t practice medicine again, but after being a minister, there are very few things you can do as an individual especially with government. So, I engage myself with my personal business and also still very active politically. So, once you have politics as a trade or as a preoccupation or as an adventure, you will still have something very large to keep you going and in addition I also have my business concern that I do once in a while. What is your take on the genocide allegation against the Federal Government by Governor Murtala Nyako? Let me quickly say that the memo by the governor of Adamawa State, Admiral Murtala Nyako is in bad taste. First and foremost, we are facing a serious case of insecurity most especially the North-East geo-political zone. It is true also this issue has evaded all possible solutions including the attempt by the Federal Government to impose emergency rule in the affected states. But that statement, let me state categorically is not statesman-like. It is not a statement that is supposed to have come from somebody who has a history and background as a military man; it is not a statement that should come from somebody who may claim to be a statesman. What is the intent of the statement and especially the gravity of the statement he makes? What benefit will it be towards solving the issue of insecurity in the region? One will say that the statement is more divisive, more provocative and also will add more salt to injury than solving the problem. Most importantly being a security man, I think he should have been more reflective with his statement before uttering them because I will tell you categorically the aim has not been achieved, it has only succeeded in dividing the country the more. It is highly provocative and also it puts the government generally in bad light as if we are irresponsible people. Also, that type of gravity of insinuation is very heavy to an extent I think it is almost treasonable, because for you to say the person who has taken oath to protect the life of the people is the one who is destroying lives and property is really enormous. He should have been circumspect about the statement and be very careful. In fact, it is germane and true there is a way and manner he would have conducted himself and make available information to appropriate agencies of the government being a system man; he is an establishment man. Nyako has been everything in the military; he has been a governor in the past, he has been one of the senior people we have in the country in military in the past and knowing fully in-

Hong

telligence and security, he should have been more careful with his statement. I don’t think it has really achieved any result. It is highly unbecoming of a citizen governor and a very senior military person. Still on the security issue, there has been some kind of debate whether the state of emergency declared in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states should be extended or not. Looking at Adamawa State, do you think the security situation warrants an extension of state of emergency? This is part of the problems we have in the country. Most of you journalists have also contributed in making this. I think I am ill-prepared to give any advice on security and intelligence because first and foremost, I am a medical doctor. Second, I just drifted off to become a politician. Except for me being a citizen of the concerned state, I have no capability, ability or preparedness to talk about the security or intelligence of this country. You know also the information available to the President and to government agencies may not be available to the ordinary person on the street, and also that you are not even having any history or training as a security expert.

Let me put it on record that the defection of the governor is a very good omen for both the PDP and the people of Adamawa State But you see, in this country, we are blessed with people who are very generous with being experts in areas of endeavours that they don’t have inkling or understanding of how it operates. I think I will not say I have the confidence to say if it should be extended or not because the available information, the security intelligence available to the government is not available to me as an individual; it is not available to most people on the street for them to know if this thing should go on or not. But the most fundamental thing one would always say and pray towards is that we want solution to this insurgency and state of insecurity in the country. We want an urgent inter-

vention that will really bring an end to this situation whatever way it will be applied or approached. I think it is the wish of all Nigerians that this insurgency, insecurity and instability that we are witnessing in the country should quickly be brought to a stop. It is what we are praying for and whatever government thinks is right for it to do towards stopping this insurgency is what we should advise government to pursue. At the National Security Council meeting held recently, it was decided that the fight against terrorism should be a three-prong approach; that is to say the federal, state and local governments should have roles to play. If you were to be governor of Adamawa State, what solution would you apply to arrest the situation? I think the sad reality in this country now where we are is there are two prongs. What do you do as a governor or as a local government chairman towards preventing insurgency or insecurity in your area? But now that we are already in it, what do you do to stop and bring it to a halt? First and foremost, I think I will talk from the first perspective which I think is within the confines of the responsi-

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

shell in APC –Hong bility of a governor: what brings insurgency and insecurity in a state in the first place? First, there is the issue of attitude and orientation. There is also the issue of social interaction, information dissemination and intelligence gathering. Then, most importantly is engaging the people productively to have ownership of the state; ownership of the system so that at least they will stand and protect their state. Let’s go from the beginning. As a governor you have an opportunity to educate your population about social relationship and co-habitation and also respect for one another. There is also an opportunity for you to societal reorientation about the value of life and property, an orientation towards development and peaceful co-existence. These things are all lacking. Globally, people are saying why does insurgency have support. There are two things: it is either there is misunderstanding of your religion if it is religious or there is lack of adequate knowledge on its own. But most of the time, what really provides them support is unemployment. As a doctor, I was walking in Kaduna at the beginning of the 20th century when there was insurgency in the state. As a doctor, you ask questions when you see patients. We noticed that of all the responsible looking people coming into the hospital with injuries, when you ask they will tell you they were on their own when this thing just caught them unawares. So, you find them with minimum information but most of these characters killed in active service are young people who were mostly on drugs and unemployed, they have no engagement. Just like the common saying that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. So when somebody is idle that is when he will have time for criminality and abnormal behaviour. So, I think it is the duty of governors and all people in power to start addressing very quickly the issue of unemployment. What we have seen recently, especially the exercise for employment, it is really an alarming situation that every responsible Nigerian should be concerned about that we are sitting on a keg of gun powder. If nothing is done, there is serious disaster looming. I just read recently that they are recruiting people (into Boko Haram) with N500,000 and in those communities N500,000 is a fortune because some of them in their families haven’t seen that kind of money before; they take the risk and some of them are on drugs because even to pay for a shot of the drugs, you have to go extra mile. Are you nursing a governorship ambition in 2015? Insha Allah I am considering it very seriously. I am consulting major stakeholders in the state. If there is any window I will like to be a contender. In Adamawa, the governor has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). You are also going to face people like Buba Marwa in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Do you think you can make a reasonable impact? Let me put it on record that the defection of the governor is a very good omen for both the PDP and the people of Adamawa State. An honourable person would have resigned his office and say he has defected because he was not elected on the platform of that party. There is no provision in the country’s constitution for independent candidature that if you have won your election, you have the leeway to move to any political party of your choice. He was elected on the PDP’s platform; if he were an honourable

man as he so claimed, he should have relinquished his governorship seat, move to APC and stand another election or put somebody forward for him to stand for another election and test his popularity. But his popularity as he so claimed now was gained through the PDP and I will tell you now, we still consider Adamawa 100 per cent PDP. Unlike other governors that defected there is no stakeholder in the state that has moved with Nyako. Most importantly, I have said it before that Nyako’s defection to another party will be a very good development for the PDP and it has come to be because the foundation or formidable structures of the opposition have completely moved away and left Nyako with an empty shell of the APC. The foundation of the APC was the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which has Boni Haruna and Gondiri as candidates and supporters of the base. It was their structure that really made the opposition very strong. Also the structures of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) which also has Marwa as its gubernatorial candidate have been moved to the PDP. What Nyako is left with today is Nyako himself and his pay-roll voters and even those ones, some of them are seriously discussing with us and saying please we are your brothers we want to remain here but we have to escort our salary. So, we are tolerating them for some time; we are giving them leeway until certain level after that time we close our door, because PDP is highly saturated as it is today. Is Atiku also an empty shell? No, Atiku is a national figure; he has no local political base. His political base was Boni Haruna and he has moved out. Atiku is very busy with his presidential aspiration. He is hoping he will become president. But as far as the state is concerned, he doesn’t even have time to look after the party in the state and Nyako will not even allow him. As it is now, go and find out for yourself, there is already a serious crisis between the two groups. Nyako sees it like he owns the state and I know for sure if Atiku will continue in the APC, his followers will be aggrieved because none of them has been reflected in the structures they are organising in the APC as it is. All politics are local; if they won’t have a say in the party, why should they continue to follow Atiku who is pursuing his national agenda and has left them in the hands of Nyako. I have no doubt that Atiku is so too busy; he doesn’t have time for Adamawa. It is only Nyako that is in Adamawa APC. We will go to sleep about that one. Atiku’s hands are full. Moreover, the people who are the winners, who organise and win elections and ensure that states and local governments are delivered, 99 per cent of them are in the PDP. For your information, those of us who wrestled power from Boni Haruna and Atiku in 2007, 99 per cent percent of all of us are still in the PDP. We have even gotten addition of those who were in the opposition then. Haruna and his group are now even in PDP so what are you saying? Only Nyako among the stakeholders who formed the government in 2007 is in the APC but what will he do? We have already shown Nyako that he is nobody politically as far Adamawa is concerned, because we have defeated him in election in his own local government area. So, if you are defeated in your own local government where are you going to win election? The PDP still remains strong. But there will be a problem because you

We still consider Adamawa 100 per cent PDP. Unlike other governors that defected, there is no stakeholder of the state that has moved with Nyako have all the “first eleven” in the PDP. Now election is coming, how do you think you can manoeuvre to get the ticket? There is no problem about that. You have been hearing our slogan: ‘PDP is a family’. We know how to sort our problems. The issue of Marwa, Gondiri and co…. In fact, you even don’t know there are more people who are formidable because one of the qualities of Adamawa is that God has blessed us with high calibre people but that will not be a threat; we are used to this thing. I will still contest with the likes of all these people I have been mentioning. Politically also, I know my stand and all of us know our stand. When the time comes, as long as the procedure and guidelines would be followed, whoever emerges, we will give him the support but what we require is a level playing ground, fairness. If it is about age, in terms of age I am eligible. Talking about exposure? I had the opportunity of being a minister for four years in four ministries. If it is anything to say about apprenticeship, I have also gone through that one. I have been a major stakeholder in the party both at the state and national levesl. I have known the workings of the party; I have known the constitution of the party. I know the nooks and crannies of Adamawa, their needs, aspiration and major challenges. So, I think I can tell you I am prepared if I finally decide to contest. I have the capability of being the governor of Adamawa State So, when are you going to declare? For your information, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not released the timetable. The timetable that has been brought so far is only for Osun and Ekiti states. I am a law abiding person, I will abide by INEC guideline and at the appropriate time I will make my views known. What I am doing now is consultations, in-house discussion with major stake-

Hong

POLITICS 15 holders concerned, party organisations etc. Everybody has seen me, I am active politically, linking with my community, the state structure and the national. For me, it’s been so far so good. There was an agitation sometime for a shift from the old to the young. Do you think that people of your age that were given that opportunity as governors have performed very well? No, I want to disagree with you that there is nothing like generational movement. I am an advocacy of anybody who has the capability of contributing should contribute. Also even the elders should know that now there is opportunity for learning. The most important thing you require is capability to learn, capability to listen and also you must have the sincerity of purpose in your mind about addressing the issues that are germane for those communities and constituents you want to lead. The issue here is that I have the capability, the will power, the energy and resilience. There are some elders that I will tell you very categorically have really failed us as a country. Sometimes I think very deeply about the reason for their failure. Ordinarily, one would have said that all this type of greed we have seen manifesting around them would have been something that you think a young person is supposed to have. I came to understand that they have no further aspiration in the future; they think that this is their last bus stop. They will just conclude it there and they will do what they want. So, for a young man also it will be very foolhardy for you to think that it is the end of life for you. There is aspiration for you in the future and not only that; you have the possibility of living longer. So, your inadequacies, your acts of omission and commission will be living there with you and facing you in the eye. So, you have to conduct yourself very well and responsibly so that you would not be held accountable. So, anybody who is capable and has satisfied the minimum requirement and his community has found him capable of being their leader, they should support him and he should aspire. But if you think you have no competency because governance of people and leadership of people or constituency is a serious business that should not be left for mediocres, jokers and comedians, you should stay off governance. Governance is a very serious concern. If you are not serious and prepared for it please don’t come in because you are dealing with life of people. Whatever decision you take or did not take will affect generations yet unborn. I think it is something very serious and people who have the ability, capability, will power and sincerity of purpose to deliver should really own up.

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Insurgency: How senate intervened CHUKWU DAVID examines the escalating insurgency in Nigeria and the response of the Senate to the situation, with particular reference to the recent abduction of 234 students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.

owever, it is interesting to observe that, With the state of insecurity in the country, especially the deteriorating activities of the Boko Haram insurgents and the eruption of other terrorist groups such as the Fulani herdsmen, who recently started attacking villages across the country, and kidnapping still going on in some parts of Southern states, partisanship is gradually giving way from the perception and comments of politicians and other leaders of thought in the country. The Senate, for instance, is now seen to be overcoming the parochial partisanship and biases that had always characterised its handling of critical national issues. With the April 14 bombing of Nyanya bus park in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and the recent abduction of 234 female students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, by the Boko Haram insurgents, the Senate is becoming more united, even as the opposition and the northern legislators have started seeing the need to speak with one voice, trying to fashion out solution to the menace of terrorism in the country rather than approaching issues from the perspective of ethnic or partisan politics. On resumption on April 29 from their three-week Easter recess, senators, who were highly disturbed by the escalating violence in the country, decided to go into extensive debate on the security situation in the country, with particular focus on the Chibok abduction. In the course of doing this, based on the emerging revelations from the senators from Borno State, most of the lawmakers, who pondered on the harrowing experiences of the abducted schoolgirls and their parents accused neighbouring countries of Cameroun, Niger and Chad of aiding and abetting the insurgency in Nigeria. Even some senators from the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), who used to hold the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accountable for actions or inactions resulting in failures in the system chose not to embark on the blame game. They were all concerned on how to tackle terrorism and insurgency in the country. The lawmakers exhaustively deliberated on the matter while responding to a motion sponsored by the Leader of the Senate, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba and 108 other members of the Upper Chamber on the abduction of the helpless female school children. Consequent upon emerging facts on the military operations in Borno State and the failure of the security agencies to rescue the girls, the legislators, who were devastated by what they heard, alleged internal sabotage within the security agencies deployed to the North-East to fight the Boko Haram terrorists. The senators also lamented that the security operatives have failed to achieve the purpose for which they were deployed. Following the prayers of the motion, the Senate urged the Federal Government and all security agencies to intensify efforts to immediately rescue the students, who are currently being traumatised alongside their parents and other empathic Nigerians. The Red Chamber also urged the Federal Government and the security agencies to seek the cooperation and aids of the Economic Community of

West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations (UN) to deploy advanced technological measures, including dialogue towards rescuing the abducted children safely. While condemning the atrocious abduction, the senators, who became emotional on the matter as they imagined what would become of the helpless students in the hands of their captors, further implored the government at all levels to provide adequate security to schools in the affected areas. They also collectively prayed for the safe release of all the abducted children. Leading the debate on the motion, Ndoma-Egba said: “The Senate notes with grief the inhuman abduction of secondary school girls in Chibok, Borno State by alleged Boko Haram terrorists. “Senate also notes that, just when the country was nursing its grief caused by the rush hour bombing of a bus park in the nation’s capital, Abuja, which killed over 75 people and wounded dozens more, the country was struck yet with another devastating blow: the abduction of about 234 girls from their school in Chibok on April 15. “Senate notes that on April 15, 2014, the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State was attacked when militants broke into the school, shooting the guards and abducting a large number of students in trucks into the Sambisa forest, a known hideout for the Boko Haram sect. “The Senate is disappointed that two weeks after their disappearance, the girls’ whereabouts are still unknown. And about 44 escaped by jumping from the back of the truck used to ferry them away or by sneaking out of the abductors’ camp deep inside the Sambisa forest. “The Senate is hopeful that the offer of assistance by Governments of the United States of America and the United Kingdom to rescue the students would come with all the required technology including the deployment of the drones, which the United States had used to great positive effect to tracking/ fighting terrorism elsewhere.” Senator Ganiyu Solomon, who seconded the motion, lamented the development and noted with sadness that the incidences of terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria are defying all measures to tackle the unfortunate situation. He suggested the summoning of the military chiefs to brief the Senate on their activities, stressing that everything should be done to bring normalcy to the troubled part of the country. The APC lawmaker further appealed to his colleagues to desist from the usual blame game and look at the menace as a national concern which requires concerted efforts of all Nigerians to address. Contributing to the motion, Senator Ahmad Zannah, representing Borno Central, informed the Senate that the insurgents had moved the girls to Cameroun and Chad, expressing pessimism on the ability of the security operatives to rescue the girls from their captors. Zannah, who gave a graphic detail of the movement of the insurgents with the abducted girls, said that it was lack of willingness on the part of the military to combat the insurgency that led to the escalation of the situation in the country. He also told the Senate that he constantly furnished the security with in-

Mark

Ndoma-Egba

Solomon

Zannah

formation on the itinerary of the Boko Haram insurgents to enable the forces track them down, but regretted that they never acted on his information. His words: “I rise to adopt this motion passionately, based on the ages of the girls that were involved and the human lives that have suffered as a result of this unfortunate development. Since the beginning of this saga, I kept mute on this issue as far as press releases and press interviews are concerned. “I have been constantly in touch with the security agencies, telling them the developments, the movement of the girls from one place to the other and then the splitting of the girls and eventually the marriage of these girls by the insurgents. What bothers me most is that whenever I inform them where these girls are, after two to three days, they will be moved from that place to another and still, I will go back and inform them that see, this is what is happening. “Even now some of them are in Kolofata, Cameroon, which is about 15 kilo-

Unless there is spirit of seriousness on the part of our military, we have no hope of getting those girls. Even if we are going to get them, we are going to get them in trickles

metres or even less to the borders. “One of the insurgents called somebody in Bama and said I just got married and said I am now settling in Kolofata and then three or four days ago, some Fulani men reported that they saw some girls being taken by boats into the island in Lake Chad and that some of them happened to be between Marte and Mungonu. “Maybe, those ones might still be within Nigeria but that is the current and new base of the insurgents, they just took over that place less than a week and that village is called Chikungudua, the place is the constituency of Senator Maina Ma’aji. “I informed the security agents about the situation and from that place, they can just go into the Lake and go to either Chad or Cameroon because it is very open, there are no weeds in the lake and so they can go to anywhere. “They have snatched all the boats around that area including the one for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and so they are free to go anywhere without being chased by anybody. “There are about 40 islands there and they have ejected most of the occupants of the islands and they have occupied the islands. What is most disturbing is that hitherto, Sambisa was their base and is well known to the military and Nigerian security. “After the abduction of those girls, they have started moving out of that Sambisa and even before then I have been discussing with the military and they said they were going to attack that place, about 15 or 20 days ago, I don’t

POLITICS

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in Chibok abduction saga We heard of their activities immediately and we informed the military but unfortunately, while the abductors escaped with the girls through the eastern part of the area, the military pursued them westwards which was over 150 kilometres apart

Ndume

Lawan

Usman

Eze

know what delayed them. “But eventually when they launched the attack, all the insurgents had already gone out of the place. So, I don’t know what is happening. Even before then, I even told them about the shrubs in northern Borno where they stayed last year till after the rainy season. “Since rainy season is approaching, I told them that these people will leave Sambisa and other areas and go to that shrub but it seems there is no much presence of military around that area up till now and they are now much moving into those shrubs. “When they go in, the shrub has some canopy whereby the ground is empty and you cannot see any human or animal movement or under that canopy even with aircraft. It is the same place where they hid last year and came out after the rainy season without any challenge, they came into the hinterland. “I lost hope two days ago, when I found out that some of them were moved to Chad and Cameroon. Actually, some of them moved through the Mandara Mountain that is in Gwoza and some of them are just a stone’s throw from their barracks. “It all depends on their willingness. If the state of emergency was extended, I was interviewed by the press on whether the military would succeed and I said yes, if there was willingness, they would. Their number is not all that much as being touted and without cooperation from certain group of people within the security agencies, there is no way these people will survive like this. “But when we talk, they will say we are against them; we are exposing them,

we are demoralising their troops. These are the facts. So unless there is spirit of seriousness on the part of our military, we have no hope of getting those girls. Even if we are going to get them, we are going to get them in trickles; maybe getting two, three, four, and five. They are now scattered. So, it is not possible for us to get 50, 60,100 in one particular position. This is the position as at today.” Also, in his contribution, Senator Maina Lawan, representing Borno North said: “We have to face the reality; the truth is that we are not doing enough.” He called for cooperation amongst all Nigerians and the security agencies in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the country. “Everybody must cooperate so that we confront this evil. The atrocity is getting over the roof. This issue has to be confronted with everything. Nigerian Military is the only military we have; something is lacking in our military,” he noted. Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South however, observed that the security operatives were doing their best, but pointed out that their weapons were inferior to the sophisticated equipment of the insurgents. He also said that the military personnel were not motivated enough to prosecute the war against the terrorists in the North-East region, saying that their allowances are not paid, while their equipment were obsolete to face the insurgents. Ndume explained that when the insurgents arrived at Chibok, they went

to the motor park and seized seven vehicles apart from the ones they came with. He said: “We heard of their activities immediately and we informed the military but unfortunately, while the abductors escaped with the girls through the eastern part of the area, the military pursued them westwards which was over 150 kilometres apart. “The other time that we went to the troubled areas, we have to buy foods for the soldiers especially indomie noodles because they were hungry. “The commanders had alleged that their allowances were not being paid and that the number of the soldiers are inadequate. There is no new equipment; all of them are old. The other time we went there, one of the armoured tanks broke down and we have to tow it with another.” Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, in his position, expressed concern over the allegation that the security agencies deployed to fight the insurgents were not acting on intelligence information available to them, alleging that there must be act of sabotage amongst the operatives. “If people are giving information and nothing is done, then there is internal sabotage. There is no doubt about it,” he said. Senator Nenadi Usman also condemned the abduction of the girls, and said the psychological impacts on her was great because all her three children are girls and are of the same age bracket with the abducted schoolgirls. She therefore, urged the authorities to do everything possible to get them freed. Senators Helen Esuene and Zainab Kure agreed that the military had done their best but that their best was not good enough. They therefore, joined the call for the immediate release of the girls. Senator Atai Aidoko, (Kogi East) said since the military had failed to subdue the insurgency, traditional hunters and warriors should be encouraged to join in the search for the abducted girls. Senator Ahmed Lawan (Yobe) said the abduction of the 234 schoolgirls was most unfortunate and highly condemnable. He said: “The military is handicapped at the moment. They should be made effective through provision of modern equipment. “President Goodluck Jonathan should go to the troubled areas and provide motivation to the military. Our people have given the government, the necessary support necessary to tackle the insurgency but unfortunately our leaders are paying lip service to the fight.” Senator Ayogu Eze suggested that ambassadors of neighbouring countries which are allegedly harbouring the insurgents, should be summoned to explain the roles of their home governments in supporting the country to tackle the insurgency.

In his concluding statement, the President of the Senate, David Mark, who presided over the session said: “I believe that there are external connections because our local terrorists and insurgents cannot do what they are doing. They touch the heart of the nation. There is no nation that would sit down and fold her arms and watch women and children killed at random by any group of people.” “Unless the local environment is conducive, terrorism and insurgency cannot succeed. But once it takes root let’s take note it is not going to wind up tomorrow morning. And my worry is that we should not allow it to get to a level where it becomes a permanent feature in this country. “Unless we nip it in the bud now, it will get to that level. If we need foreign assistance, the nation should not be ashamed to ask, because the world is such a small global village now that getting assistance for one action or the other is not a shameful thing. It is international cooperation, and if we have to, let us go for it,” he added. Earlier, in his resumption speech, Mark, who was embittered by the excesses of the terrorists in the country called for full military action against the sect, which he said had declared war on the Nigeria and her citizenry. His words: “There is no doubt that our nation is at war. The enemy has clearly and unequivocally served the nation notice of its vile intentions. Therefore, a clear, unambiguous and decisive military response from the government, beyond the imposition of a state of emergency, is urgently required in this circumstance. This is an option we must consider now.” Calling for the use of maximum force to tackle the insurgency, Mark said: “Our emphasis must therefore be on winning the hearts and minds of the communities in the immediate theatres of conflict. The full might and strength of our security services must now be deployed to confront this scourge and we expect our security services to rapidly re-orient their assets and capabilities so as to overcome this difficult challenge. And this must be done within the shortest possible time frame with minimal casualties. Let me emphasise that for them to achieve this they require the cooperation of all and sundry.” Also, as part of Senate’s efforts towards getting the security problems in the country addressed, Mark on Wednesday April 30 led a 21-member delegation of senators to meet with President Goodluck Jonathan to fashion out means of tackling the situation. The members on the list as announced at plenary by the Senate boss were: Boluwaji Kunlere, Babafemi Ojudu, Zainab Kure, Alkali Jajere, James Manager, Helen Esuene, Chris Anyanwu, Ali Ndume, Ahmed Zannah, Mai’na Ma’aji Lawan, Nenadi Usman, Others were: Mohammed Magoro, Emmanuel Bwacha, Ahmed Lawan, Barnabas Gemade, Sola Adeyeye, Bindowo Jibrilla, Ehigie Uzamere, Bello Tukur, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, and Eyinnaya Abaribe. The way the Senate rose in one voice and intervened towards curbing the current wave of terrorism and insurgency in the land must receive public applause. The opposition members, who were obviously seen to have shifted from the usual antagonism and passing of bulk, to a more constructive and nationalistic perception and assessment of the current security challenges in the country should continue in this direction, knowing full well that governance is a collective responsibility. It is only in atmosphere of harmony and cooperation between and amongst the various arms of government and different sections of Nigeria that the current vices in the country can be overcome.

More stories on Pages 40-44

ARTS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

LITERATURE

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/arts

TONY OKUYEME

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

“The decline of literature indicates the decline of a nation. ” ― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Understanding nature, economic importance of ferns Title: Introductory Pteridology Author: Dr. Margaret Bassey Publisher: Modern Business Press Ltd., Uyo Pages: 96p Reviewer: Felix Nyong

otany, also called plant biology, is a fairly vast field of study with many branches which cover every segment of plant life - from seedling to maturity. Pteridology which is the focus of this book is one of such branches. It deals with the study of a group of plants called ferns and their allies. These plants can be found in habitats as diverse as arid rock crevices, swampy coastal areas and open fields and they often do well in highly challenging habitats - places most flowering plants can hardly survive. In the book, the author who is also a taxonomist traces her interest in the subject to her teenage years in the secondary school in the 70s, when she began to show more than a casual interest in ferns and their allies. Beyond her fond memories of the past, today all over the world there is a growing interest in the study of nutritional and medicinal offerings inherent in plants. China is leading the charge in this direction and benefiting immensely from exploitation of its rich diversity of plant resources. Unfortunately, Nigeria like many countries with vast land mass has barely explored its huge biodiversity which stretches from the semi-arid region in the north to the coastal wetlands of the Niger Delta. Besides recent advances in plant studies have confirmed ferns and their allies as potential tools for environmental and soil remediation. Thus, the author’s scientific foray into the world of ferns and their allies as Prof. G. J. Ebukanson states in the Forward is a bold step which is aimed at drawing the attention of researchers to the potentials latently awaiting discovery in this group of plants. In Chapter One, the author defines Pteridology and offers a brief but rich background of this sub-branch of natural science. She also sheds some light on economic importance of ferns. According to the author, among plants in the plant kingdom, ferns present the most intricate leaf shapes and that is why people find them so fascinating. This also accounts for their high level of popularity among most horticulturists around the world. She adds that there are between 10,000 – 15,000 species of ferns classified in about 40 families which can be found on mountain elevations, dry desert rock faces, aquatic environments, open fields and swampy areas among other challenging habitats.

They also thrive well in places where environmental factors hinder the survival of flowering plants. The opening chapter is however spiced with many scientific terms the general reader will find difficult to understand. She also lists some edible and noxious weeds found in her home state of Akwa Ibom. In Chapter Two the author presents a detailed outlay of different classes of ferns based on previous and recent molecular systematic studies undertaken by notable researchers such as Alston (1959), Mickel (1974) and Smith et al (2006). She wraps up the chapter with a word of caution for students and other researchers on the different systems of classification of the plants: It is better to stick to one system in classifying the plants, and opts for Alston’s (1959) classification system among other options. The third chapter focuses on fern ecology, the continuous interface the plants have with their tough habitats as well as the critical role they play in regenerating forests and other contaminated ecosystems around the world. The author also states that their growth habits and habitats they occupy determine their grouping under any of the three classes: terrestrial, epiphytic or aquatic. She dwells extensively on the various habitats ferns thrive such as ravines, for-

est floors and borders, lithophytes (those which occupy rock crevices, boulders and rock embankments) as well as ferns of grassy and exposed areas. Others are those which grow on trees and aquatic habitats. Ferns, she asserts, offer an important ecological mechanism for assessing the status of an environment at the micro level. Chapter Four offers a detailed scientific presentation of fern morphology and anatomy. Here the author describes both the internal and external features. External features include the fern stem and their distinctive branching patterns, roots and leaves - intricate leaf shapes which define their ornamental architecture and make them so fascinating to horticulturists and others who appreciate beautiful plants. The author also presents some colorful cross-sections of internal features cap-

tured through the eyes of the microscope. It is such a deep knowledge and interest in the subject that informed her assertion that in no group of plants is the structure of the vascular tissue or stele as varied as in ferns. The next chapter deals with the asexual reproduction structures in ferns. Here the author walks the reader through the complex and yet fascinating reproductive make-up of the plants under such key terms as the sori, the sporangium, the fern spore, dispersal mechanism and spore germination. The sixth chapter which covers 14 pages is evidently the heart of the book. Here the author offers a detailed scientific description of the life cycle of ferns and fern allies – the plants’ complex yet fascinating reproductive system and how long it takes the fern spores to germinate and develop to maturity. She wraps up her study in the last chapter of the book with a brief description of the ferns of Akwa Ibom State. The author also bemoans the devastating impact of human pressure on fern population and the biodiversity of the area. This, she asserts, has led to the destruction of virgin forests and the emergence of secondary forests made up of wild oil palms, shrubs and undergrowths. Here she equally presents the physical geography of the place, where she focused most of her scientific work, a checklist of the diversity of ferns and fern allies she has collected from different parts of the State in the last five years. These resources are stored at the University of Uyo Herbarium (UUH). She also provides a nine-page pictorial presentation of herbarium samples of common ferns and fern allies in Akwa Ibom State and a key to common genera of ferns and allies as well as a numerical key to the Adiantaceae of the Niger Delta region. The author also offers a 14-page index, a glossary as well as bibliography for easy reference. Introductory Pteridology is a fine and timely scientific work. It could not have come at a better time. Through it researchers, conservationists, horticulturists and the public will have a peep into the world of timely scientific work common ferns and their allies, their lifecycles, peculiar habitats and their emerging role in the field of phytoremediation.

National Troupe Play-Reading holds tomorrow

he National Troupe of Nigeria’s 30th Play-Reading Session featuring One Kingdom, One Monarch, a play written by Engr. Omo Uwaifo, holds tomorrow Thursday, May 8, 2014 from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM, at Cinema Hall 2, National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. The event is under the distinguished

Chairmanship of Odia Ofeimun. The National Troupe of Nigeria is the foremost performing arts organisation and a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation. The Troupe is tasked with the duty of promoting, preserving, and propagating the Nigerian culture through Dance, Drama and Music.

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EDITORIAL

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

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

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

WEDNESday, MAY 7, 2014

HIV discrimination and stigmatization bill

he recent passage of a bill sponsored by Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, to curb stigmatization and discrimination against people living with or affected by Human Immuno Deficiency Virus and Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is most welcome. This should change the perception of the disease, and check the spread of the virus as well as encourage infected persons to act with dignity in the face of adversity. Besides, Senate approved a punishment of either two-year jail term or a maximum of N1million fine on any institution or organization, which discloses the status of an infected person obtained in confidence, while any individual who does same shall be liable to a fine of N.5million or a one-year jail term. The bill also seeks to reduce the HIV burden through the prevention of discrimination and stigmatization on the basis of real or perceived HIV status; encourage voluntary testing and counseling; provide access to treatment as well as reduce risky sexual behaviours, among other features. According to Senator Okowa: “In the countries that are worst affected, including our dear country, Nigeria, the impact of HIV and AIDS has eroded decades of development gains, undermined economies, and destabilized societies. AIDS is ex-

pected to continue to be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in many countries and populations, including Nigeria, unless proactive measures are taken in the implementation of action plans that are workable and friendly, together with advocacy programmes at all levels of society.” According to National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), about 3.4 million Nigerians are living with HIV/AIDS, the second largest globally. Approximately 1.8 million Nigerians, between the ages 18 – 24 are infected with HIV/AIDS. While majority of states in the country still carry higher burden of the disease, more than 40 per cent of HIV positive persons do not know their status. Also, the level of stigma and discrimination is quite high, which makes it necessary for Nigeria to have a law in place to protect the rights of People Living with HIV/ AIDS (PLWHA). There have been several reported cases of widespread discrimination against PLWHA. They are prevented from travelling abroad, seeking employment, attending school, marrying, associating with other people and even taking Holy Communion in some churches. Logically, alienating them from society, and making them feel they have nothing to gain by protecting themselves or others, breeds helplessness, indifference and lack of respect for other people. Contrary to some misconceptions

or myths, the diesease is not spread by handshake, body contact or kissing (except there is laceration). It is spread through blood or semen during unprotected anal and vaginal sex, sharing injection needles, and from mother-to-child during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. It is erroneous to still believe that it can be contracted through casual contact with a person who has HIV or AIDS. This fear constitutes a major obstacle to care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS at home, in the community, and even at established health care facilities. The belief that someone who is living with HIV is morally corrupt or promiscuous is wrong; it scares people away from voluntary testing and encourages lack of disclosure. It is, therefore, unconscionable and absolute lack of love for one another to isolate and detach from people living with the disease with such flimsy excuses. Against this backdrop, the new law has some merit; people should not be discriminated against on the basis of ill health. It is our belief that when it becomes operational it will reduce the stigma and build the self esteem of people living with HIV or at risk of infection and create an environment of mutual trust, support, and collaboration that is critical to bringing about and sustaining behaviour change. Very importantly, it will act as a catalyst to curbing and reversing the spread

by the target date of 2015 as enunciated in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Again, we urge the Presidency to give the bill accelerated passage into law by assenting to it. However, we are quick to add that total implementation and enforcement are essential for the success that this law will achieve. The political will to implement laws that have been passed is critical to ensuring the fundamental human rights of citizens. Despite the law, some people are unaware of their rights. It is incumbent on governments to go beyond simply passing the law and implementing measures that can eliminate bias that makes it difficult for people to act on their rights. In cases where people do not have access to legal representation, governments are expected to find ways to provide subsidized or free legal advice even in isolated cases. This is the only way this law can be different from other ineffective ones that decorate the law books. Indeed, governance should be conducted for the greater good of the majority. Therefore, bolstered efforts with emphasis on access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support are required to stem the tide. We appeal to those who are yet to disclose their status to do so, in order to have access to antiretroviral drugs to prolong their lives. For people living with the disease, it is not a death sentence. GABRIEL AKINADEWO Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief IKE ABONYI Deputy Managing Director/DEIC FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU Managing Editor, South SULEIMAN BISALLA Managing Editor, North YEMI AJAYI Editor, Daily LAURENCE ANI Editor, Saturday EMEKA MADUNAGU Editor, Sunday LEO CENDROWICZ Bureau Chief, Brussels MARSHALL COMINS Bureau Chief, Washington DC SAM AMSTERDAM Editorial Coordinator, Europe EMMAN SHEHU (PhD) Chairman, Editorial Board GEOFFREY EKENNA News Editor PADE OLAPOJU Production Editor TIMOTHY AKINLEYE Head, Graphics ROBINSON EZEH Head, Admin.

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

OPINION

Focus on e-learning, as AUN holds 6th Commencement (1)

Nelly Ating

ssues bordering on education, economic development and empowerment will dominate the agenda on Saturday, May 10, when the American University of Nigeria holds her 6th Commencement. President Margee Ensign, one of the resource persons at the World Economic Forum in Abuja, which holds two days before the graduation ceremony, will lead faculty members, diplomats, students, parents, dignitaries and community, religious and business leaders in Adamawa state to deliberate on how to leverage on Nigeria’s huge human and natural endowments to win the national war against poverty and illiteracy. A major highlight of the May 10 Commencement will be the dedication of the University’s awardwinning library, which is now named after the late former United States National Security Adviser and pioneer AUN Board of Trustees member, Dr. Robert Pastor. The new library building is a revolutionary concept in multifunctional deployment of e-resources and maximum use of space—a concept which may influence a radical paradigm change in library development in Nigerian universities in the near future. Dr. Pastor, who served the administration of President Jimmy Carter as NSA and later became a Senior Fellow at the Carter Center, is credited with establishing programs in election monitoring in Latin America and China. He authored seventeen books on US Foreign Policy in his lifetime. In his tribute to the late board member, AUN Founder His Excellency Atiku Abubakar said of Dr. Pastor, “he trusted my dream and vision for the American University of Nigeria, and worked with total dedication till the end.”

The new Dr. Robert A. Pastor Library and ELearning Center is a 3-storey high broadband wifi complex featuring a 224-seat auditorium, lecture halls, classrooms, a 24-hour library facility, reading rooms, state-of-the-art radio and television studios for community broadcast services, a traditionally fitted sit-out named the Yola room and the Atiku Abubakar Leadership and Business Development Center. According to Engineer Alex Cobo, Director of Facilities at AUN and the brain behind the design and construction of the new library, it will “play an important role in AUN’s mission to promote service learning and educate leaders who will be prepared to tackle the development issues of Nigeria”. Many scholars have argued that Nigeria and other developing countries need to leverage on e-learning resources to bridge the widening gap in education services. The World Bank estimates that more than 10million school age kids are out of school in Nigeria. Despite the growing number of public and private universities and other tertiary institutions in the country, a large army of young people denied access to education continues to mount. An average of 1.5 million candidates annually sits for university matriculation exam out of which only hundreds of thousands, accounting for roughly 11 percent, make it in the end. A view held by experts, including former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, is that technology, especially online and distance learning, is the surest path to increasing literacy. Already AUN is leading in expanding the classroom by its well-thought out e-learning approach. AUN’s excellent ICT infrastructure base and diverse faculty from across 28 countries come in handy in launching the Online & Distance Learning programs.

In the words of Mr. Julius Ayuk-Tabe, Chief Information Officer of the university, “the management of AUN is sparing no effort to ensure that the Online and Distance Learning (ODL) program takes-off within the best environment. In this regard, a select group of faculty is currently undergoing an online workshop course on “Problem Centered Instruction” with the legendary Professor David Merrill author of “First Principles of Instruction” on how to develop effective, efficient and engaging instructions. It is also hoped that AUN’s 99.9% e-library will be accessible by students around the country, continent and world to improve their learning”. Commencement keynote speech will be delivered by a former White House aide, Ambassador John Simon. Ambassador Simon, a product of Harvard and Princeton universities, has a vast and rich experience in undertaking development projects. More than 250 students from four faculties (including Graduate School) will be graduating. In addition, the University will be graduating her first batch of post graduate diploma (PGDM) students on the same day. President Margee Ensign is confident that the graduating students are sufficiently equipped in terms of academic training and orientation to become leaders in business, politics and society. AUN has consistently taken a position that its graduates have a competitive advantage over their counterparts worldwide, because they are trained in the American liberal arts and science tradition, which President Ensign says produces independent thinkers and problem solvers. To be continued • Nelly wrote in from Yola

Those in favour of the Pope’s visit to Nigeria (3) Bashorun JK Randle Continued from yesterday

he Boko Haram hid in caves and mountains, they sight jets and other aircrafts, I felt happy whenever I saw soldiers, but they could not locate the Boko Haram who are mostly, along the Liman Kara and Gwoza axis.” “They took many of us into the bush, if they search and found ID cards, they will say they had warned that people should not work for the government they will kill the person.” “For those Konduga girls, they will select those who perm their hair and kill them.” Meanwhile,theBBCHausaservicereported that a video that was released on Monday, had Boko Haram leader, Shekau, claiming responsibility of the attack on Giwa, a Barrack in Maiduguri where they released some of their members.” The Vatican itself was forced to take notice when“DailyChampion”newspaperof March 25 2014 quoted a man of God who issued dire a warning: Headline: “BOKO HARAM IS PLANNING TO ATTACK ABUJA SOON • Pastor Obi “As the war against the insurgency in the NorthEastof thecountryrages,PastorCollins

Obi of God’s City of Joy Church, Abuja has raisedthealarmthatthedreadedIslamistsect, BokoHaram,isplanningtoattacksomepetrol stations in Abuja very soon and urged Nigerians to pray fervently to stop the deadly move. Speaking to Daily Champion at the weekend in Abuja, Pastor Obi said God was not happywiththebloodbathinthecountryhence the revelation which he said calls for urgent action. According to him, the insurgency in the northern states wants to come into Abuja, the Lordrevealedtomethat,He(God)isnothappy with the bloodbath in the country and Nigerians need to pray to abort the latest proposed attack in Abuja. “It is our utmost prayer that God would intervene and bring an end to it. God is merciful and answers prayers, that was why He revealed this wicked plan to me and if we as a nation can pray, I believe that in no distant time, God will bring an end to this crisis.” Speaking further, Pastor Obi said, “on the 16thof March2014,around5am,Godrevealed to me that there will be another bloodbath in this country, but this time in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that Nigeria has to pray against a troop of the Islamic terrorists who are planning to come into Abuja, and they planned to hit the city very hard. “This is a problem that concerns all of

us, not only the government and Nigerians should not see this as one of those prophesies. EveryNigerianhastopray,weneedhelp. This warning must be taken very seriously. “God also warned Mr President to take the issue of security of this nation very serious, so that we don’t cry over spilt milk tomorrow, again.Thelivesof Nigeriansshouldnotbeleft at the altar of politics. “TheLordrevealedtomethattheterrorists are targeting petrol stations in Abuja, I saw them attack some petrol stations and I want to warn owners of petrol stations to fortify their stations adequately.” The man of God also said the Lord wants President Goodluck Jonathan to reconcile withtheformerPresidentOlusegunObasanjo for the good of the country. According to him, “the Lord also said that President Goodluck Jonathan should reconcilewithformerPresidentOlusegunObasanjo though Jonathan has made attempt to reconcile with the former President which didn’t work out, but the Lord said he should go back and make peace with him, this according to the Lord is for the good of the nation. “There will be a great change after the peace process, the matter between them is like that of father and son and this must be doneurgentlyif thecountrywantsanuneven development in all sectors.”

The same newspaper carried a life (death) threatening story on its front page as a testimony to divine intervention: “GOD SAVED ME FROM GUNMEN Ex-Borno Commissioner” Former Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation under ex-Governor Ali Modu Sheriff, Hajiya Yagama Muazu has said it was by the Grace of Almighty Allah that she narrowly escapeddeathinthehandsof somemobsduringtheGiwaBarracksattackinMaidugurion Friday 14th March 2014 which claimed many lives and property worth millions of Naira. Narrating her ordeal, Hajiya Muazu, in a chat with newsmen in her Maiduguri residence said when she heard the sound of bombs and gunshots persistently, she decided to flee the area to Federal Low-cost housing estate, adding that as she was moving out with her children, she saw her security men stranded and out of sympathy ordered them to take the other LX470 Jeep and follow her. She said that on getting to railway crossingBulunkutushesawover1,000mobsonthe highway conducting stop and search on them and on sighting the security men they did not hesitate to lynch them. To be continued • Bashorun J.K. Randle (jkrandleintuk@gmail.com) writes from Lagos

How Ilorin lost first varsity to Ibadan in 1948 – Belgore }p-23

'My regret is inability to }p-25 develop FUTA'S permanent site'

Abducted school girls, LASU crisis top May day }p-26 agenda in Lagos

EDUCATION

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/education

KAYODE OLANREWAJU, Editor, EDUCATION

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

CAMPUS

Bomb scare in UNIMAID, students scamper for safety }p-27 Education makes a people easy to lead, but difficult to drive: easy to govern, but impossible to enslave. - Peter Brougham

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

RACE

Over 80 professors are said to be jostling for the ViceChancellorship slots at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and the Nnamdi Azikwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, which will be vacant next month

Kayode Olanrewaju and Uwakwe Abugu Awka

he race for the Vice-Chancellors of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Enugu State and the Nnamdi Azikwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, which began few months ago, when the positions were declared vacant by the institutions, has reached a crescendo. Indeed, who will become the next Vice-Chancellors of the two institutions next month, when the tenures of the incumbent Vice-Chancellors expire, is the riddle the Governing Councils of the universities and Federal Government are expected to unveil in the next few weeks. No fewer than 80 candidates (Professors) within and outside the country are said to be jostling for the plump job, with UNIZIK having over 40 candidates in the race, while over 35 Professors are already in the race for UNN Vice-chancellorship position. The lucky candidates are to succeed Prof. Bartho Okolo, the incumbent Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria and Professor Boniface Egboka, his counterpart at the Nnamdi Azikwe University, who will both bow out of offices in June, this year. Those in the UNN Vice-Chancellorship race are Prof. Emma Ezeani of the institution’s Department of Political Science; Prof. Emma Ezugwu of the Nigeria Air Force Institute; Prof. Charles Asadu, of the Faculty of Agriculture of the University; Prof. Ikenna Omeje, a Professor of Agriculture at Delta State University; Prof. Denchris Onah, the former Dean of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Prof. Malachy Okwueze, the immediate past Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Administration of UNN; Prof. Polycarp Chigbu, the incumbent Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and former Dean of School of Postgraduate Studies of the institution, and Prof. Grace Offorma, the only female contender and former member of the university's Governing

UNN gate

Race for UNN, UNIZIK VCs hots up l 80 candidates jostle for 2 slots

Okolo, VC

Council. For UNIZIK, we have among the contestants Prof. Okey Ikpeze, former Provost of the College of Medicine of the university; Prof. Josephat Oguejiofor, a Catholic Priest and former Dean of Faculty of Arts of the university; Prof. Emeka Ezeonu, former Dean of Students’ Affairs of the institution; Prof. Abel Igbokwe, a former Dean of Faculty of Environmental Sciences of the university; and Prof. Sunny Nwankwo, who is currently at the University of East London. Others include also include Professor Greg Nwakobi, the current Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Administration, Prof. Joe Ahaneku, a twotime Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic); Prof. Osisioma, a former Dean of Management Sciences; and Prof. Innocent Onyeyiri, former Dean of Faculty of Engineering, among others.

UNN was established in 1960 by the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, former President of Nigeria and the Owelle of Onitsha, while UNIZIK, named after him, was established as a federal university in 1992. One striking thing about the duo of Nwakobi and Okwueze, is that they were said to have studied Religion in their first degrees at UNN, where they both came out with First Class Division. While Nwakobi graduated in 1986, Okwueze also graduated in 1987 as the best graduating student of his set. But the university communities are divided over who become their Vice-Chancellors. While a section of the members of the university communities, including the various workers’ unions are rooting for insiders as their next ViceChancellors, a section is angling for candidates that will sustain the tradition of quality of the university. According to the group, whoever becomes the Vice-Chancellor should be ready to take the university to the next level of

development and position the institution as the university of the 21st Century. The candidates are to be screened by a five-man interview panel headed by the Chairman of the Governing Council of respective university. At UNN, where the tradition has been for the institution’s branch of the university teachers’ umbrella union, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to be visibly involved in the selection process, the situation is quite different this time around. The five-man interview panel or committee, which comprised three members; two from the university Senate and who are not members of the Senate. Members of the UNIZIK selection committee, chaired by Air Vice Marshal Larry Koinyan (rtd) has as members Prof. Amobi Alika and Prof. C. C. Egolum, who were elected a fortnight ago to represent the Senate on the panel, while Prof. Osita Ogbu and Prof. C.M.I Okoye were elected last week by the UNN authorities to represent the university Senate on

Whoever becomes the Vice-Chancellor should be ready to take the university to the next level of development and position the institution as the university of the 21st Century

Prof. Egboka

the selection committee The UNN committee is chaired by Mr. Emmanuel Okula, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Chairman of the institution’s Governing Council, while that of UNIZIK is Air Vice Marshal Larry Koinyan (rtd). Worried by the myriad of problems confronting the universities which is stagnating their development, members of UNN community pointed out that the welfare of academic and non-academic members of staff should be the priority of the next Vice-Chancellor if he is to enjoy the support of the workers and for the university to record appreciable development. However, the Secretary of one of the departments explained that the current administration had failed to take the issue of welfare of staff into consideration, saying the university needs a Vice-Chancellor CONTI NUED ON PAGE 22

22 EDUCATION CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 1

Wike, Minister

who will accord the workers due recognition they deserve in the scheme of the university development. He listed some of the challenges as non-promotion of workers, adequate infrastructure for academic activities, adding that the issue of lack of functional laboratories and dearth of funds for departments which are field-based should be tackled by the new Vice-Chancellor.

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Who become UNN, UNIZIK VCs? He alleged that lack of funds for the running of the departments has resulted to students in Archeology, Geography and Geology Departments contributing money for their field trips. A student in the Faculty of Social Sciences expressed dismay over the abandoned dilapidated Zik Flat Hostels, saying the in-coming Vice-Chancellor should make the rehabilitation of the hostels a priority project of his administration. Also, at UNIZIK, members of the university community urged the new Vice-Chancellor to design a clear priority for the provision and building of hostel facilities in the institution. “At the moment, over 80 per cent of the students live off campus and what this suggests is that the students will only be on campus between 9am and 4pm, after which they leave the campus to spend most of their time outside the university system, which negates the ennobling

The in-coming Vice-Chancellor to make the rehabilitation of the hostels a priority project of his administration ideals of university scholars. They also complained of lack of adequate classroom and auditorium facilities to cater for the growing population of students, which has become a source of worries to the university system, saying due to lack of a decent and suitable learning environment, students hang on corridors with their chairs, especially at the university Garuba Square for lectures and

during examinations. They condemned such situation, lamenting that it is fraught with distractions as they study for their examinations. Besides, members of the universities however bemoaned the low ebbs of research and teaching activities, which they blamed on poor power supply to the institutions, saying all these should be addressed by the new Vice-Chancellors for the institutions to meet the dream and aspirations of their founding fathers. However, Professor Nwakobi, a native of Anambra State was said to be the favourite of the UNIZIK Senate representatives and most of the Governing Council members in the Selection Board for the appointment of new Vice-Chancellor. Aheneku, who hails from Mbaise District of Imo State, has been pictured as another leading contender in the UNIZIK race.

Okojie, NUC Scribe

Meanwhile, Professors Amobi Ilika and C.C. Egolum had emerged as the two Senate representatives for the selection board of the new Vice-Chancellor, UNIZIK, while Professor Joseph Ikechebelu emerged as the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) Board representative on the panel. They were elected at the 167th Senate meeting of UNIZIK held on April 16, at the university’s auditorium.

PROFILES

Professor Malachy I. Okwueze is a professor of Religion at the Department of Religion, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He obtained his B.A. Religion (First Class Honours) in 1987; M.A. Religion in 1989. He got his L.L.B with Second Class Upper Division in 1992 and Ph.D. Religion in 1995. The former Deputy Vice-Chancellor had also served as Dean of Students’ Affairs of the institution. Okwueze won the University of Nigeria Prize for the Best Graduating Student of the University for 1986/87 Class; Indira Ghandi Memorial Prize for the Best Graduating Student of the University (1986/87) Class; Bishop Uzodike Prize for the Best Graduating Student of the Department of Religion (1986/87) Class; Faculty of Social Science, Prize for the Best Graduating Student of the Faculty (1986/87) Class; Nigeria Industrial Development Bank, (NIDB) Prize for the Best Student in Commercial law (UNEC 1992) Class; and Chief T.O.S Benson Prize for the Second Best Overall Performance, Nigeria Law School Bar Final Exams 1996 . He has written several books and contributions in several local and international journals.

Professor Grace Chibiko Offorma is a professor of Curriculum Studies in the Department of Arts Education. Her research interests include Curriculum Development, Curriculum Implementation, Application of Information and Communication Technology in Curriculum delivery at all levels of education. She teaches both undergraduate and postgraduate (Masters and Ph.D) courses in Language Methods (French) and curriculum respectively. She is also a supervisor of Masters Degree projects and Doctoral theses. Prof. Offorma has published several papers in national and international journals. She was a Commonwealth Fellow at the University of Wales, Swansea at the Department of Education, Hendrefoilan.

Professor Asadu Charles Livinus Anija is from the Department of Soil Science in the Faculty of Agriculture. The Professor of Agriculture is presently the Head of the Department. He is a graduate of UNN, where he obtained his PhD in1989; M. Sc in 1986 and Bachelor Degree in Agriculture (Soil Science with First Class Honours in 1982. Asadu, who was elevated to a Professorial cadre in 1989, also obtained Training Certificates from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan (1989) and Dresden University, Germany (2000). Highly experienced in Soil and Agronomic research skills, he has nine publications in the areas. Part of his presentations include “The Reality of Man-Made Food Insecurity in Nigeria at Federal College of Land Resources Owerri, 2011”; organised the First Home-Coming Convention of the Alumni/Alumnae of the Department (2011); organised the First Memorial lecture of Prof. D.M. Ekpete (2011); hosted the 36th Annual Conference of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria, Nsukka 2012” in which he was the LOC Chairman.

Professor Ikenna Sidney Omeje is from Delta State University, Asaba Campus from October 1998 to date. As a Professor of Agriculature, he is involved in skilled manpower training and research to produce field-oriented agriculturists. He is a member of several professional organisations including: Agricultural Society of Nigeria; Animal Science Association of Nigeria, Nigerian Society of Animal Production, and Genetics Society of Nigeria. He is a registered Animal Scientist and a member of the Nigeria Institute of Animal Science. He has produced nine PhD holders in Animal Science over the past ten years, while he has also served in various government committees such as the just concluded Nigeria Vision 20:2020; Enugu State Think Tank on Agriculture. He also served as Chairman, Governing Board, National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research; member, National Agricultural Lands Development Authority; Governing Council, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki.

Onah Denchris Nnabuike, a Professor of Veterinary Medicine is at the Department of Veterinary, Parasitology & Entomology at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Onah, the is the Head of the Department, obtained his PhD in1992 from the University of Edinburgh; DVM in 1981 from University of Nigeria, Nsukka; FCVSN in 2010 at Postgraduate College of Veterinary Surgeons, Nigeria; MCVSN, 2004, Postgraduate College of Veterinary Surgeons, Nigeria; FIIA, 2009, Institute of Industrial Administration, Nigeria. Onah was appointed Professor of Veterinary Parasitology & Entomology at UNN in 2003. His esearch skills are in the following areas: Epidemiological studies and

Professor Benjamin Chuka Osisioma is a Professor of Accountancy at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and a professional Accountant with the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria. He holds a PhD degree in Finance (1989); and obtained his MBA also in Finance (1983), and a B.Sc. degree with First Class in Accountancy (1977) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He holds the Fellowships of a number of professional bodies such as Fellow of Institute of Financial Management (1991); Fellow, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (2005); Fellow, Institute of Management Consultants (2000); Fellow, Chartered Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria (2003); Fellow, Institute of Strategic Management (2005); and Fellow, Institute of Industrial Administration (2007). He is also a member of the

International Association of Accounting Education and Research (IAAER) and an Associate Member of Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, USA (2002). Prof. Osisioma was a Foundation Scholar at UNN (1974-1977) and a Federal Scholar for Postgraduate Studies (19811983). He has authored over 12 books, 23 chapters in books of readings, 42 refereed journal papers, 97 unpublished conference/seminar/ workshop papers, and 15 general interest texts and papers. He is currently the National President, Nigeria Accounting Association. Prof. Osisioma has served in various positions at UNIZIK including member of Governing Council; Head of Department; Dean of Faculty of Management Sciences; and Pioneer Director, Chike Okoli Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies, among others.

Professor Joe Ahaneku is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Academic at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka The 50-years-old Professor hails from Umuezerugwu Nnarambia Ahiara in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State. He obtained his B.Sc from University of Ibadan; Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) at the University College Hospital and University of Ibadan; while his M.Sc is also from University College Hospital and University of Ibadan. He also obtained his PhD at the University of Ibadan. He started his teaching career in1991 as Lecturer 1 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi; Professor Okechukwu Ikpeze, a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria, is the Provost, College of Health Sciences

analysis especially in the areas of cestodes zoonosis, trypanosomosis and drug resistance in parasitic infections: design, data collection, statistical analysis and dissemination of results through peer-review publications. And, Immunological studies in parasitic infections including immunofluorescent techniques and flow cytometry, cannulation of peripheral lymphatics for lymphocyte collection and analysis, coulter analysis of peripheral blood cells, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques, cell culture, cytokine assay techniques for serum and cell culture supernates; as well as Laboratory and large animal handling for research purposes. Consultant Chemical Pathologist also at UNIZIK Nnewi Campus in 1992. Ahaneku was appointed a Professor at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi Campus in 1994 He became the National Vice-President of the Nigerian Association of Clinical Chemists in 1997; Research Fellow of the Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology; Foreign Research Fellow of the Department of Biochemistry Saga Medical School, Saga, Japan between 1995 and 1996 He is a Senior Research Scientist/ Professorial Fellow of the Second Department of Physiology and Visiting Researcher at the South-West Medical Research Foundation, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A. Ahaneku is a former Head of Department of Chemical Pathology; Sub-Dean of School of Postgraduate Studies, Nnamdi Azikiwe University between 2001 and 2003. He is a member of several professional bodies including Institute of Biology London; Nigerian Association of Medical Scientist; International Federation of Clinical Chemists; International Society for Drugs Affecting Lipid Metabolism; New York Academy of Sciences; Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Management Board; and Fellow, Science and Technology Agency,Japan Professor Greg Nwakobi is a Professor of Law at the Faculty of Law at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. He is a graduate of Religion at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, after which he went to study Law. He also served as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UNIZIK.

EDUCATION

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Don challenges graduates on food security

Oyewole, VC, FUNAAB

Kayode Olanrewaju

he newly inducted graduates of Animal Science at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), have been challenged on the urgent need to fight food insecurity in the country. The call was made by the President, Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), Professor Placid Njoku, who said this could be done by engaging in massive production of livestock using the best scientific and management practices, as well as guarantee adequate animal protein supply to meet the country’s domestic need and exports. Njoku, who spoke during the maiden induction ceremony and admission of four sets of Animal Science graduates of the university into NIAS, lamented that the current average annual protein consumption of an adult Nigerian was less than one-third of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO’s) recommendation because majority of the country’s animal protein is always imported. While advocating re-strategising of the activities of animal scientists to meet the animal protein needs of the country, the don, who was represented by the President, Animal Science Association (ASAN), Mrs. Mope Omotosho, called for an increase in local production of livestock

and the regulation of the processing and handling of livestock products, to enhance their quality to meet international standards by placing the country at a vantage position in order to tap into its export potentials. Njoku pointed out that the new inductees were expected to contribute towards realising the mandates of the institute in terms of regulating all issues that are associated with animal husbandry, even as he stressed that rearing of livestock products should not be left in the hands of the Nomads alone. The President congratulated the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Oyewole for facilitating the induction of the graduates into NIAS, assuring the inductees that they would always enjoy the support of the institute. While administering the oath of the institute on them, the Registrar of NIAS, Dr. Godwin Oyedeji said the inductees should count themselves lucky as graduates of Animal Science of the institute. He stressed that with their membership, they are already being affiliated to the International Society of Animal Science and could, therefore, practice freely in countries such as Canada and the United States, without being subjected to any further examinations. The Registrar pointed out that by the oath they had taken, they were now bound to be honest, diligent and show respect to their senior colleagues. Earlier, the Dean, College of Animal Science and Livestock Production (COLANIM), Professor Christian Ikeobi said: “NIAS is a professional body charged by law with the responsibility of regulating the practice of Animal Science as a profession in the country.” However, he commended the Vice-Chancellor for being the bridge-builder and peacebroker in bringing progress to the college and the entire

How Ilorin lost first varsity to Ibadan in 1948 – Belgore Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

ut for the intervention of the late Reverend Ransome Kuti, Ilorin would have hosted the first ever university in Nigeria in 1948. The North-Central city was beaten to the honour by the city of Ibadan, which then had what Ilorin lacked: pipe borne water and electricity. This was disclosed last week by former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Alfa Belgore, while providing historical insight into the foundation of university education in Nigeria. It was at the second national conference of the Centre for Ilorin Studies (CILS) of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), where he delivered the key note address. His paper was titled: “Religious Scholarship in Ilorin: A Historical Perspective”. According to Belgore Ilorin had actually been penciled down by the colonialists to host the nation's first university, but the proposal was opposed by the likes of the late Reverend Ransome Kuti on the ground that such a novel institution ought to be sited in a fairly cosmopolitan city with social amenities like electricity and pipe-borne water. “That was why the University College was sited at Ibadan, the capital and seat of the government of Western Region,” he said.

His words: “When the first university was to be built in Nigeria, it was decided it would be in Ilorin; if you go to the Colonial Office records you will find it. The reason was that Ilorin was a town of scholars. The north of the Niger, we have Muslims, the south of the Niger has some Muslims especially to the SouthWest, right to Accra and Cote d'Ivoire, but there was no place like Ilorin for scholarship, for writing, and for men who fear God. The university should have been in Ilorin, but some people, like the great teacher, Reverend Ransome Kuti, said no, because Ilorin had no pipe-borne water and no electricity. So, it is better to site it in Ibadan, and that is why it was named University College, Ibadan; it would have been in Ilorin.” The former CJN, however, pointed out that the lateness by Ilorin to realise the dream of hosting a university has been adequately compensated for by the giant strides currently being recorded by the University of Ilorin, which was established some 27 years after the idea was first mooted. He said: “It may disappoint you but to be successful by the lateness is the greatest thing you will achieve. University of Ilorin has the largest land area in Africa. It is the only university not embarking on strikes and it has given birth to some other universities such as the Kwara State University. Ilorin

will continue to grow and go bigger.” Belgore recounted the nobility of Afonja from his maternal line and the spiritual endowment of Sheikh Muhammad Saleh, popularly known as Alfa Alimi, who assisted Afonja against his cousin, the then Alaafin, the imperial ruler of the Yoruba Kingdom. While noting that Ilorin has produced thousands of Islamic scholars including Sheikh Mohammad Kamaldeen and Sheikh Adam Abdallah AlIlory, he submitted that Sheikh Alimi showed a latent attribute of Muslims – the unalloyed respect for constituted authority - by his refusal to hand over the Alaafin to Afonja to be sacrificed at the shrine; rather he arranged an escort that led the captured Alaafin back to his palace in Oyo-IIe.

Belgore

Insecurity: AUN President urges FG to be proactive Emeldah Ogene Abuja

orried by the rising crime and terrorism index in the country, the President of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, Adamawa

L-R: Secretary, Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigeria Universities, Prof. Michael Faborode; President, Nigeria Academy of Science, Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe; Chancellor, Covenant University, Ota, Dr. David Oyedepo and Former Executive Secretary, National University Commission (NUC), Prof. Peter Okebukola at the opening ceremony of 1st Covenant University International Conference on African Development Issues, on Monday.

State, Professor Margee Ensign, has urged the Federal Government to put in place strategies that will combat the insurgency in the North-eastern region. Adamawa State is one of the hotbeds of Boko Haram terrorism activities in the north-eastern part of the country. Ensign made the call during a workshop organised by the Interfaith Mediation Centre at Yola, the state capital, where the AUN President noted that there was structural violence building up in the country with the present millions out-of-school children, rising figures of uneducated population and unemployed youths. Dr. Ensign, who is said to have written extensively on genocide, traced this also to wide spread structural impunity where justice system does not hold people accountable for breaking the law. "With all who have been killed in the North and other parts of the country, with this recent violence in Nyanyan and abduction of school girls in Chibok, how many people have been charged with murder?” she argued, adding that “solving this problem requires good governance structure and dedicated government that understands the security challenge and desires to solve it." According to the President, a functional judiciary which will

hold people accountable to their actions is an imperative and important aspect of the solution. She recalled how the university, in partnership with the Adamawa Peacemakers Initiative (API), had rendered some humanitarian assistance to the neighbouring communities, particularly relief support extended to internally displaced victims of Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east in Mubi and Bole in Yola. "It is very important that people begin to realise how serious this issue is," Dr. Ensign said, even as she urged all to shun selfdefeating thoughts when taking up the responsibility of others.” Her words: "If we leave here thinking that the problem was caused by somebody else and you cannot solve it, then it is self-defeating." She noted that apart from the institution's peace-building efforts through the Adamawa Peace Initiatives, the university has also developed specific projects that will create more employment in the North-East through the Grand Alliance for Adamawa State. AUN also sponsored a Sportfor Peace Scholarship Scheme, which according to her, offered youths in Yola communities the opportunity to pursue their academic and sporting careers.

24 EDUCATION | INTERVIEW

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

12-year-old wins spelling competition in Osun

Mrs Aregbesola (2nd left) with the winners; Miss Olawale (left) winner; Salawu (1st runner up) and Oladeji (2nd runner up).

...Smiles home with a trip to US, N.25m cash prize Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

Grade VIII pupil of Unity Middle School, Osogbo, Zainab Olawale, has won all-expense paid trip to Washington D.C, United States of America, a laptop computer and N250,000 cash prize. The pupil, who during the trip will be a guest at the 87th scripts spelling Bee, also received a dictionary, certificate of participation and a gold medal. She is the winner of a maiden spelling competition, a tournament and the first in the state, initiated by Sheri

Care Foundation (SCARF), founded by the wife of the Osun State Governor, Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola, in collaboration with the Young Educators' Foundation in Ghana. Olawale, who will during her trip slated for this month, visit the Nigeria High Commission in Washington DC, and many other tourist sites, emerged the overall winner among over 200 middle school pupils from public and private schools across Osun State, who took part in the competition. At the grand finale of the tourney, the state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who

expressed delight over the impact of the competition on participants, directed that the competition should be held in all the Senatorial Districts of the state on a quarterly basis. The President of SCARF, Mrs. Aregbesola donated N500,000 as cash prize for the first, second and third prize winners, who are all public school pupils. The director of Young Educators Foundation, Eugenia Tachie Menson said the exercise began with the selection and training of 40 teachers across public and private schools in the rudiment of modern method of teaching

English Language. “A total of 117 Spellers made it to the semifinal round. The knockout continued from 117 down to 45, from 45 to 13 and from 13 down to 3, of the 3, Damilare Oladeji mispelt his word and automatically placed third,” she said. Her words: “There and then, the competition became tougher and emotional as it reached the peak and pressure became visible as the journey to produce the champion began. The tie was between two young girls Ameerat Salawu and Zainab Olawale both are Grade VIII pupils and 12 years old and in the same school, Unity Middle School, Osogbo. She edged out her contender, Ameerat Salawu to emerge winner of the maiden spelling bee competition in the Osun State.” In his remarks, the governor lauded the wisdom behind the event, which he said was a brilliant way of instilling confidence in middle school pupils in Osun for the world ahead. The President of the Foundation, expressed gratitude to the supporter, saying the Spelling Bee competition has brought out the best in the participants. The Deputy Governor, Otunba Grace Laoye-Tomori in her address tagged "Catch Them Young" said the exercise is about education in the state, developing the intellectual well-being of public school pupils and inculcating in them, the culture and love for reading. Twelve-year-old Ameerat Salalwu, also Grade VIII pupil of Unity Middle School, Osogbo, who came second, got N150,000 cash prize, a laptop, a dictionary, silver medal. The second runner up,

Inadequate infrastructure, bane of development - Okebukola

Okebukola

Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

ormer Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) Prof. Peter Okebukola, has blamed poor growth and development of the nation's economy on insufficient infrastructure facilities. Okebukola disclosed this during the First International Conference of Faculty of Education of Lead City University (LUC), Ibadan, which

was organised in partnership with Global Education Network. He noted that problems such as corruption, epileptic power supply, inordinate quest for power, among others, had gone a long way to affect the industrial growth and development of the country. As a way forward, Okebukola suggested that governments at all levels, especially the Federal Government should show greater concern for industrial growth and the plight of existing industries. His words: "The Federal Government should address the problem of epileptic power supply for meaningful development to happen. Without electricity, we cannot make meaningful progress. There should be 24 hours electricity supply in the country. "President Goodluck Jonathan told us that the government was making frantic

efforts towards generating 4,000 megawatts. South Africa, which is a smaller nation is generating nothing less than 40,000 megawatts. We need nothing less than 170,000 megawatts." While calling on the government to look beyond 4,000 megawatts power generation for the country, Okebukola, a Professor of Education Technology, expressed the belief that Nigerian universities should introduce entrepreneurial studies into their curriculum, even as he said this had become necessary because "Nigerian graduates are among the best in Africa.” “The issue is that graduates do not secure job nowadays because there are no jobs for them as before,” he said, adding that entrepreneurship is about practice and not theory. According to him, in universities or institutions

where emphasis is accorded entrepreneurship training, most of the undergraduates have become entrepreneurs. The Acting Dean, Faculty of Education of the university, Dr. Afolakemi Oredein advised the students to take advantage of the entrepreneurial skill being imparted in them by the university. In his presentation, Prof Alaba Ogunsanwo, former Nigerian Ambassador to Botswana and Belgium, said that as at 2013, 54 per cent of Nigerian youths were unemployed due to emphasises on education. He said: "We have multiple unemployment rates by race, gender, geography, and above all educational attainment. "When people talk of unemployment crisis, it would be more accurate to speak of an education crisis or a crisis of men whose skills are not in great demand at a particular point in time and place."

Damilare Oladeji, 12-yearold, Grade VIII pupil of L.A Middle School, Modakeke, smiled home with a cash gift of N100,000, a dictionary, a laptop, a bronze medal and a certificate of participation.

Fashola tasks young professionals on national integration Wale Elegbede

he Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has urged young professionals in the country to aim at endeavours that would integrate the nation, just as he admonished them to shun ethnicity and religious bigotry. Fashola, who disclosed this in Lagos at a one-day summit organised by the Nigerian Young Professionals Forum under the theme, "The quest for purposeful leadership and national integration," said the nation is been robbed of real value in merit and quality as she daily embraces ethnicity and religion rather than competency and ability to handle issues. Represented at the summit by the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, Fashola said consideration of ethnicity and religion on issues of development and growth would only dwindle the country's progress. "We should put aside issues of religion and where people come from while filling forms and focus on what you know, how do you know it and how can you do it. "We must look at issues the way they are, it is not about emotions or issues we talk about. "The truth is there is no side of the country that doesn't have good people, we must get the good people and use them. "We are a good country, during the time we were regions, Nigeria has a television station before France and Portugal, so we were able to do it before and we can do it again. "People at that time were young and despite what nature threw at them that time, they were able to face the challenges and were also disciplined." Fashola also bemoaned the missing links in professional ethics and output, averred that core professionals are being sidelined in critical sectors for politicians, adding that professionals have left gaps that are not filled. "We have collapsed buildings that was signed off by an Engineer. What is the professional engineering institution doing about that professional? Did he gets santioned? Everyone says it is government but it is the fault of everyone of us." The governor noted that as the country build institutions, it is equally important for professionals to be in government, urging professionals to wake up to their responsibilities and ensure that the country is not totally lost.

EDUCATION

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

My regret is inability to redeem FUTA'S permanent site, says Ilemobade You were the Vice-Chancellor of FUTA between 1988 and 1996. How will you describe your experience? I think I should give you some backgrounds. I was a professor in the Faculty of Technology/ Medicine at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, when the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) was to be established. That was 1982, and I told my Vice-Chancellor at ABU that I want to have a change of environment. But, he said the university I was going to, was destined to be closed down, because there was a lot of scheming to close down all federal universities technology in order to use the funds to expand faculties of engineering in all existing universities. Based on this, he advised me to drop the idea. But when I thought about it again and again, I told him that this is my state (Ondo State), and if there is anything I could do I will do it to assist the development of the university and state. At that point, he gave me a little undertaking that if it is not what I expect I should come back, saying “we will take you.” That was the assurance he gave me. Before I left ABU I was the Head of Department (HOD). My thinking was that everything that I would need including research funds would be there to play with and that I would have a laboratory where everything would be working. When I got here (FUTA) there was nothing like that. I didn't even have an office. My office was just a corner at the Vice-Chancellor’s conference room. Despite that I used to boast as someone with the largest office in the university. We were at the Oyemekun office next to Adebowale House being our take-off site. We later moved to what used to be the Federal Polytechnic, where the university was given only one block of building. In that one block, the Vice-Chancellor occupied a room and the secretary another room. It was very tough and challenging. So, when you asking me that starting with a university when it has not been prepared adequately, could be very challenging. Let us talk about life after ViceChancellorship. How has it been in terms of how you spend your time and what are you into? While at ABU, already my research work had been recognised worldwide and I had been invited to several countries. I have made several contacts and have worked with other expatriates who knew me very well. There are institutions and laboratories all over the world that realise the strength of my

research work. And on the basis of this, they have invited me to train their students. As a result of this I became a consultant to Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and also to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and to the African Union Special Programme in Science and Technology. More importantly, when I was about to leave FUTA, a family friend asked me what I wanted to do when I complete my term? And I told him I would continue with what I am doing. And she asked again, what are you doing?' And I said teaching. But she said that was not what she was asking; that what will I going to do for my community. It was a challenge and I said I would think about it. And each time she called she would remind me what I am going to do for my community. And when I was on Sabbatical in South Africa, she arranged for me to attend a workshop in Washington DC on Public Deliberation. But, I couldn’t go in the first year because I was doing some research work in South Africa. When I returned I still continued with teaching like my other colleagues. Besides, I am still a consultant and currently the Chairman of a Consortium to Food and Agriculture Organisation and others. We are looking at the rural communities throughout Africa and Nigeria in terms of the hindrance and, major issues restraining development in the countries in the areas of health, production in terms of food deficiency, pest controls and how to tackle them. And in International Atomic Energy Agency, we look at how to preserve what have been produced. On what I have been doing so far, it has taken me even beyond my expectation to the rural communities. We look at their needs, and we attend to their needs. We help them to see where they can get help. For instance, in Igbatoro Olobi in Akure, when we did the need assessment of the community, the people told us at Upline Resources Foundation, that they wanted a place where they could hold their meetings because they assemble under a tree for their community meetings. We offered to provide them potable water and maternity home, which they turned down, insisting they wanted a place they can assemble. We designed and built it for them and the day it was handed over to them you need to see the people; it was a celebration galore. Is there something as a Vice-

Prof. Ilemobade

Professor Albert Ilemobade, a retired Professor and former Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) between 1988 and January 1996, is currently the President/Chief Executive Officer of Upline Resources Foundation, a non-governmental and non-profit organisation based in Akure. In this interview with BABATOPE OKEOWO, he speaks about his tenure in office, his regrets and life after office.

So, if all you come to the university to do is to get a meal ticket, then you have missed your way Chancellor you ought to have done that you did not do, and if you were given another chance you will do? Looking back whether there is something I ought to have done that I didn't do? It’s not really being proud, I can't vividly remember what I needed to do that I didn't do. This is probably because if you look at the university system, as the ViceChancellor, you are the Chief Executive Officer, and also the Accounting Officer. Today, I am happy about what is happening in the university. Some of those we trained are now Professors in the university, even the incumbent Vice-Chancellor; I employed him as a Graduate Assistant. We carried out extensive staff development programme, and we also built a foundation of infrastructure on the campus. Do you have any regret as ViceChancellor? One thing I thought we failed to redeem is the permanent site of the university. Unfortunately, we could not do much on the permanent site. We could not do much because we could not get enough money to pay compensation to the land owners. It was

not that we did not want to pay, but we didn't have the money and unfortunately, the land is been encroached upon. So, that is one thing I would have wished we did because each time I travel along the road and I see the land I am in pain. The parcel of land is from Km 7 to Km 17 almost to Ayede Ogbese along AkureOwo Road. The state government would have done more for the university. Initially, its 11,000 hectares of land which the state government took part and the community people have started selling part of the land. That is one major thing I thought because we didn't have the money we couldn’t do. We did the calculation for the compensation at that time it was a lot of money. The Federal Government would have paid N13 million, which was a lot of money. You can't believe that as Vice-Chancellor, I was earning N27,000 per annum. What is your view about university education? I gave a lecture at Abeokuta on university education sometimes ago, and I said there was the need for the review of university curriculum in the sense that first we have to take into account the labour market which our graduates are going. And, this should be done along the trend of courses we offer in the universities. In other word, our children must be well trained to suit the market. When you see a graduate, he or she should be able to speak good English, but today you hardly can see one without having to correct his or her spellings. How do we train our students in school? They are trained not in our mother tongue but in

English Language and if you go to all these private nursery and primary schools, the children speak better English than their teachers. That is the foundation which the system laid. As we are looking at the university system, we should also look at the quality of primary and secondary schools that train those who are going to the university system. The kind of training that our generation had before we got into the university gave us the confidence we had. My first year at the University of Ibadan (UI) was basically a repetition of what I did in my last examination at the Federal Government Emergency (HSC). We had all these things and English language was compulsory. If you failed English, you failed all other subjects and you lost that year. English is our medium of communication. It is garbage in garbage out. So, if what a student wants to do is to use the university as a meal ticket, he can get a meal ticket somewhere, and that means he doesn’t need to go to the university to get it. Most times we used to discuss it at the university what the take home of a professor is. A good footballer would pay the salary of a Professor over and over. If a footballer dies today the newspapers will report it severally, but if a professor dies how many people will remember him? So, if all you come to the university to do is to get a meal ticket, then you have missed your way. There are better ways of achieving that than coming to the university. Virtually everyone wants his/ her child to go to the university. CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 7

26 EDUCATION

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Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Abducted school girls, LASU crisis top May Day agenda in Lagos

Nigeria has lost cultural identity to alien cultures, says don Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

Executive Secretary, JAF, Mr. Abiodun Aremu (holding PAS) addressing protesters at the rally.

•Fashola: We’ll reach middle ground on LASU fees Mojeed Alabi

his year’s edition of the Workers’ Day has come and gone, but the issues confronting the education sector raised by the workers and other civil society groups have continued to hunt the government. Beyond the usual demand for enhanced salary package and better condition of service, how soon will the government fix the collapsing education sector with attendant students’ poor performance in external examinations, dearth of infrastructural facilities, shortage of qualified teachers and poor teachers’ welfare, as well as low workers morale, were the major issues that topped the agenda during the celebration, especially in Lagos State. Other germane issues the workers demanded urgent answers include the release of over 200 abducted school girls of the Federal Government College, Chibok, Borno State by the Boko Haram Islamic sect, non-accessibility of education to every Nigerian child irrespective of socio-economic status and political lining, as well as the lingering violence that enveloped the entire nation. Stakeholders are also kicking against the prolonged indefinite strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and their Colleges of Education counterpart, the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) that has entered its eight months. Besides, the workers, who trooped to the parade ground to mark this year’s Workers’ Day called for immediate reversal of the increased fees at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos. Members of various civil societies and workers’ unions including the Joint Action Front (JAF), LASU chapter of ASUU, and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Education Rights Campaign (ERC), and Change Nigeria Movement, a group led by Seun Anikulapo Kuti, in their protest expressed anger over the failure of the government at all levels to address the salient education issues. Leading a protest, the workers who were coordinated by JAF, had gathered at various locations including the popular CMS on the Lagos Island, for a peaceful walk to the Onikan Stadium, the venue of the parade.

They expressed dissatisfaction over hike of school fees in LASU, non-promotion of workers, abduction of school girls in Chibok, the rising unemployment situation in the country, as well as the prevailing insecurity in the country, and the indefinite closure of polytechnics and colleges of education, among other issues. To this end, they insisted that the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola should announce the reversal of fees to the old rate. The workers, who carried banners and placards with various inscriptions such as “Reduce LASU Fees;” “Promote lecturers due for promotion;” “Bring back our seized girls;” “Stolen school girls amount to stolen dreams,” among others, distributed leaflets highlighting their demands. In an exclusive interview, the Deputy Chairman of JAF, Comrade Achike Chude, told New Telegraph that the protest became necessary to compel the government to address the spate of violence in the north, the high unemployment rate, which he said has left more than 20 million able-bodied young Nigerians idle, and the collapsing infrastructure. The Secretary General of the group, Comrade Abiodun Aremu insisted that no workers could afford the new fees regime at LASU, without stealing government money. On non-promotion of LASU workers, he said promotion is the right of workers and they should be promoted as at when due, even as the union leader frowned at the policy of “no vacancy, no promotion” at LASU, describing it as anti-workers. The parade ended abruptly when one of Governor Babatunde Fashola’s aides refused to deliver a petition which Change Nigeria Movement, wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan to the governor. While this was going on, Fashola had to leave in annoyance. Earlier, the governor had described the protest as sponsored, saying it was irresponsible of any individual or group to use strike or protest to sabotage efforts of government. Fashola, who was visibly furious, said he was not against strike, but what he opposed was for workers to embark on illegal strike without due process,

saying there had been cases of strikes where many workers did not even know why they embarked on the strike. On LASU fees, Fashola agreed that he had met with the students twice and that their proposal for reduction of the fees had already been received last week, saying his administration was ready to reach a middle ground on the matter. The governor said: “I explained the government’s predicament to them stating the background to the increase. I equally challenged them to prepare their own proposal on how they would like to address the LASU fee crisis, if they were in my shoes. “I can confirm to you that I received the students’ proposal yesterday but I cannot single-handedly act on it without the State Executive Council. I am sure, very soon our positions will be made known.” Meanwhile, ASUU has issued a fresh seven-day final ultimatum to the university management to address its demands, recalling that the union had earlier issued a 21-day ultimatum, which expired on April 13, and another 14-day ultimatum on April 15, which he said also expired on April 29. According to the Chairman of the union, Dr. Adekunle Idris, the seven-day ultimatum which became effective last Wednesday, would expire today. The union argued that the hike in fee had accounted for a sharp drop in student enrolment in the institution, and expressed dissatisfaction over the “no vacancy, no promotion” policy of the university and the non-implementation of the 2009 University Miscellaneous Provision Act, already operational in other universities. After the expiration of the fresh deadline, Idris said the union would embark on a full scale indefinite strike, if management continued to ignore the union. While stating his group’s positions, Anikulapo-Kuti told New Telegraph that the Nigerian youths were tired of the indignities of corruption, unemployment, and the illegal and arbitrary increase of tuition fees, not only in LASU, but also in other institutions nationwide. He lamented that the developments had pushed many Nigerian youths to the wall and thereby leaving them with no other alternative than engaging in crime.

ocio-political travails the country is going through over the years have been blamed on the nation's loss of its cultural identity as a result of the ‘dogmatic embrace’ of alien cultures and languages. A former lecturer at the University of Ibadan (UI), Dr. Anthony Akinola disclosed this in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, while delivering this year’s edition of the annual Silver Knight Club Lecture, entitled: "Religion and the Future of Nigeria". Founded in 1982, with the aim of taking care of the social welfare of members’ wives and children, the social club comprises professionals, academics and businessmen. Some of the members include the founder and Proprietor of Lead City University, Ibadan Professor Jide Owoeye; Deji Osibogun; Gbenga Runsewe; Yomi Layinka of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS); Tokunbo Fabamwo; Debola Roberts; and Richard Amadin, an Obstetrics and Gynaecologist at UCH, Ibadan, among others. The 2014 May Day lecture held at the Auditorium of the International Conference Centre of the Lead City University, also witnessed contributions from Rev. Fr. (Dr) Francis Adedara and Professor Lekan Sanni, a Muslim cleric, on the future of Nigeria. While stressing that many Nigerian leaders and religious heads are using their religious faith to fan the embers of discord to satisfy their selfish interests, Akinola noted: "I can understand misgiving of this nature. After all, every class, group or institution has betrayed this country.” He lamented: “Academics, particularly those in politics have proven to be barren of ideas. But we still have to face the stark reality that by worshiping at the temples of alien gods, we are forfeiting an important aspect of our cultural identity as a people. The Jews have Judaism; the Arabs have Islam, while India has both Buddhism and Hinduism, and Japan Shinto. "Nigeria had its own valid systems of belief and worship before the coming of Islam and Christianity. The real threats to peaceful religious co-existence are the extremist sects on both sides of the religious divide, as typified by Muslims fundamentalist advocates of running Nigeria according to the dictates of Sharia on the one hand, and the Pentecostal Christians who would convert even the most fervent Muslims to their smug." In his contribution, Prof. Lekan Sanni said: "Islam and Christianity are not mutually antagonistic", while calling for cohesion among all the sects to move the country forward. He recalled how "In 1911, Theophilus Ogunbiyi the CMS made the first translation of the Quoran in Nigeria. Yoruba History written in the 17th Century was done in Yoruba Language but in Arabic character. Chief Obafemi Awolowo was the first to inaugurate Muslim Welfare Board in Nigeria, yet he was a Christian. "But these days, politicians have bastardised the system. Inadequate culture of tolerance by both Christians and Muslims has therefore become a major problem created through religious practice, and this should be reversed", the cleric said.

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Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Management hails OAU students over election Kemi Busari OAU

he authorities of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, have given kudos to the students and especially the newly elected Students’ Union leaders for the successful conduct of their union election, after three years of its ban. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bamitale Omole, who eulogised the maturity displayed by the students before, during and after the election, even as he stressed that the academic, moral, administrative and unionism blend are the menu OAU serves its students. He, however, called on the newly elected officers to see themselves as partners in progress with the university management, while appealing to them to always approach the university management for clarifications on issues that are unclear to them, instead of resorting to what he described as unwarranted protest, which may elongate the university’s academic calendar and their stay on campus. Meanwhile, the university’s spokesman, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, who conveyed the Vice-Chancellor’s message, noted that the management was highly impressed that the political sophistication of students is worthy of emulation.

EKSU to establish medical technology institute

he Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti is set to establish the Institute of Medical Technology in its Ifaki-Ekiti Campus, the management has revealed. The Medical Technology discipline as a paramedical field where trained and certified medical technologists can build careers as ultrasound technician, radiologist, health informatics, and cardiovascular technician, will according to the university, offers intending applicants more choices in acquisition of skills on the field. According to the university, the new programme, which would be highly subscribed by prospective students, will attract over 2,000 students. “They will be joined by about 2,000 other students who are already in the Science Laboratory Technology and the Pre-Degree programmes of the university.” The university stated that in preparation for the programme and in addition to the existing facilities, a new 1,500-seater lecture theatre has been constructed on the campus to accommodate the new students. Meanwhile, the university said it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a private agricultural entrepreneur for the establishment of a commercial farm on the 400-hectare land on the campus.

Gbadebo (with mic) while delivering the items to the management of the orphanage home.

NANS President felicitates with orphans on birthday Sikiru Akinola

he President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Yinka Gbadebo, has called on relevant stakeholders in the nation’s education sector to intervene in the lingering crisis rocking the polytechnics and the colleges of education. He regretted the indefinite strike by the polytechnic and colleges of education teacher, under their various union, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), which he said has kept the campuses underlock for more than eight months. Gbadebo, who made the appeal during his visit to an orphanage home, King's Kids Children Village at Aba Oba, behind Adeoyo New Specialist Hospital, Ring Road, Ibadan, Oyo State also canvassed for equal access to quality educa-

...Seeks resolution to ASUP, COEASU crisis tion for all Nigerian children irrespective of their background and economic status. The NANS president, who was at the orphanage to mark his birthday celebration, said the decision to interact with the less-privileged was borne out of the need to appreciate God and contribute to the uplifting of the disadvantaged in the society. Gbadebo, who currently represents the students at the ongoing national conference in Abuja, led the present and former executive members of the students’ body to the orphanage home. Various items, including computer sets, food items, toiletries, reading and writing materials as well as cash were donated to the home. The Programme Director of the Orphanage Home, which is a brainchild of Galilee Foundation, Dr. Gregory Edeki of the University of Ibadan (UI)

thanked the student leader for celebrating his birthday with the children. Edeki, who spoke of how the Home rehabilitates and reformes destitute, street urchins, displaced orphans and vulnerable children, however urged other well-meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of the children. On why he chose to celebrate his birthday with the orphans, Gbadebo explained: "This is the first birthday I will celebrate. A day like this should be spent wisely because birthdays are not for merriment, but to reflect on one’s life." The student leader, who adopted some of the children, urged those in positions of authority not to see themselves as leaders, but as servants, elected to serve their people. At the event were Otunba Abimbola Davies; Special Assistant to Oyo State Governor,

Senator Abiola Ajimobi on Students’ and Youth Matters, Mr. Godwin Obode; former NANS presidents, Messrs. Dauda Mohammed and Ibiloma Abdulah, among others. Meanwhile, Gbadebo expressed readiness to reject his membership of the Committee on Environment at the National Conference, saying such committee would not offer him the opportunity to adequately represent the students he was nominated to represent at the confab. He said: “I don't know why they included my name in the committee. As NANS President, I should be in a critical committee where I should be able to marshal problems confronting Nigerian students and youths, with a view to proffering ways of addressing them. I have shown my displeasure to this and if nothing is done about it, we may pull out. I am like a square peg in a round hole in that committee.

NUC team accredits varsity affiliated colleges

ccreditation team from the Amission National Universities Com(NUC) has concluded

its routine accreditation of programmes and courses at Ekiti State University (EKSU) affiliate colleges. The team were at the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo to assess some of its programmes in Arts Education and Science Education. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oladipo Aina, who received the NUC team at the college, lauded the efforts of the Commission in ensuring standard in the university education system through its regular assessment

and accreditation exercise of the institutions. Aina, therefore, reiterated the commitment of university to ensure best practices and achieve the demands of the NUC in all the degree programmes offered at the Emmanuel Alayande College and other affiliate colleges. The Vice-Chancellor explained that the vision of the Ekiti State-owned university to transform to a world class institution has been embraced by all its affiliate colleges by upgrading their academic standard and attracting the best personnel to produce graduates who

would be sought after in the labour market. Members of the NUC team, led by Prof. Muhammadu Abdullah, include Prof. Dauladi Musa and Professor Oluyemisi Badejo, who commended the efforts of the Acting Provost of the College Oyo and the ViceChancellor for striving to attain excellence. Other principal officer of the university at the exercise were Mr. G.O. Oyewobi, who stood in for the Provost of the college; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. James Gbenga Aribisala; the Director of DCEP, Prof. Owuamanam; Chairman

of EKSU Accreditation team, Prof. S.S. Asaolu; Prof. J. Adegun and Dr. Mrs Osalusi.

Aina, VC

EDUCATION | CAMPUS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Mimiko, Omole win OSCAR awards Oluwafemi Ogunjobi OAU

he Oduduwa Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) was aglow last week, as students, members of staff, friends, relations and other well-wishers thronged the capacity hall to honour their own. It was the first maiden Outstanding Students’ Choice Award of Recognition (OSCAR), facilitated by Ecstasy International, United Kingdom (UK). The giant banner at the Students’ Union Building was the first attraction, telling students and other visitors to the university about the unfolding entertainment boom. The banner was said to have displayed the pictures of the nominees for the awards. Each department and faculty had earlier been given award nomination forms, which they submitted four weeks after. The pictures of the nominees and the category they belong were displayed on the giant banner. Few days after, voting commenced. The student-nominees invited their friends and classmates to vote them for the category they belong; others stationed themselves at the spot to ‘sell’ themselves to the electorate. The nominees for the Sport category especially were seen canvassing for votes with their previously earned medals worn round their necks. The scene depicted a real electoral process and all this lasted for a week. At the real event, the nominees sat graciously at the front row of the auditorium. Mr Olubunmi Afuye, a presenter at Orange FM, Akure served as the compere. The event kicked off at around 9p.m. Less than a year after he was sworn in for the second-term as the Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, an alumnus of the university was crowned as the ‘Person of the Year’. OSCAR Nigeria through its representative, Sam Adegbola said Mimiko won the award because of the impact he made in Ondo State development and in the country in general. He said: “What makes this governor so important is the speed with which he has captured the imaginations of millions of people who had given up hope on good governance. In a matter of months, he has transformed his state and setting templates for other public office holders, even at the national level. “It is a positive sign that the most prestigious recognition by OSCARnigeria has been given to a person who proclaims to the world, democratic, good leadership and moral values and speaks out forcefully in favour of students and youth empowerment.” Muyiwa Asagunla, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Mimiko on Students and Youth Affairs, said the award will continuously spur the present administration in the state to providing more dividends of democracy to the citizenry. The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Bamitale

Asagunla (6th from right) being assisted by students to raise the Mimiko's frame.

Omole was also conferred with an award of excellence as the Best Vice-Chancellor in terms of education and infrastructural development of the Obafemi Awolowo University. Presenting the award to the Vice-Chancellor, Mr. Femi Sunday, a representative of OSCARnigeria said the award was in recognition of his giant strides in education development and provision of a congenial learning atmosphere for the students. Bestowing the award on Omole, Adegbola noted: “Ever since we started the Nigerian Outstanding Students’ Choice Award of Recognition, we have been impressed by two things; first, is the gravity of choosing and honouring the person who embodies the spirit of Nigerian students, as well as the characteristics set forth by Ecstasy In-

We will see this award as a catalyst that would propel us to work harder for the development of university education ternational, while the second is the difficulty of selecting from among the many Vice-Chancellors for this honour. “In as much as you have given Nigerian students in OAU the best atmosphere for their studies, as much you were able to organise a successful Nigerian University Games for over 50 participating universities, as far as your school is rated one

of the top 10 universities in Africa, and OAU is adjudged the best university for three-consecutive times by Spain-based university-ranking authority, Webometric; in as much as many capital projects have been completed under your administration, and in as much as we have come to OAU and beheld the most beautiful architectural designs we have ever seen in a Nigerian university system, we confer this award on Prof. Tale Omole, as the Vice-Chancellor of the Year in Nigeria, in terms of education and infrastructure development.” He explained that the decision to confer the award on Prof. Omole was taken by unanimous vote of the OSCAR team which was based on the report submitted by the executive arm of the Association of Campus Journalists after its fact-finding

visit to UI, ABU, UNILORIN, UNIBEN and UNILAG. While lauding Omole for lifting the ban on students’ unionism at the university, Sunday, who enjoined the studentleaders to shun any activity that could paralyse academic activities at the university and urged them to strongly campaign against campus prostitution and cultism, maintained that the time was ripe to make Nigerian campuses a blissful place of learning. In his response, Omole, who was represented by the university’s spokesman, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, said the university was happy to receive the representatives of OSCARnigeria, noting: “We will see this award as a catalyst that would propel us to work harder for the development of university education.

FUTA don advocates measures against cybercrimes

s part of measures to address the rising cases of violence by the dreaded Boko Haram Islamic sect, an Associate Professor of Computer Science and lecturer at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Boniface Kayode Alese, has spoken of the need for the government to put in place proactive measures that will checkmate cyber terrorism in the country. The don, who warned of dire consequences if government and security agencies fail nip in the bud cybercrime, which he described as budding terrorism, gave the advice in his paper at the 2013/2014 First Bank Professorial Chair in Computer Science Lecture at the institution. Alase said the country’s quest for technological development should consider cybercrime and cyber terrorism as serious issues if the country is to properly secure its citizens and the polity. He described cyber terrorists as those who engage

in cativities that constitute cybercrime for the purpose of effecting political change through the intimidation of a substantial portion of the civilian population. Alese, who spoke on: “Security Issues in Nigeria: Getting Ready for the Digital Challenge,” noted that the digital solution must be factored into the ongoing efforts to tackle the current security challenges bedeviling the country. According to him, this has become imperative since electronic information systems are vital for maintaining the national security of any nation, while the Internet has become an invaluable means for terrorists to spread propaganda and recruit agents. “In providing solution to cybercrime, three things are very important,” the lecturer hinted, saying these include the policy, technical and legal issues. “The policy issues bring about direction, the technical issues bring about practical so-

lutions to prevention and detection, while the legal issues are concerned with how to legally handle fallouts that may arise from the crime,” Alase said. While discussing the prevailing factors in cybercrimes, the don noted that among the several factors, only three are prevalent. And these three factors, according to him, are unemployment, economic influence and youth excessiveness because they all go together as motives of cybercrimes. Alese, however, noted that the most prevalent cybercrimes in the country at the moment include, advance fee fraud, forgery, ATM related fraud, phishing and spamming, adding that this suggests that there is urgent need for solution to tackle them. In his remarks, the ViceChancellor of the uniuversity, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola noted that one of the aims of the yearly lecture is to keep faith with the principle guiding the endowed Chair and lauded

the symbiotic relationship between the university and bank. According to him, the endowment is one legacy from the bank, which the university and members of the community have continued to benefit from. The event, which attracted principal officers of the institution, as well as members of staff and students, was also attended by the management of First Bank, led by Mrs. Tolulope Akinbogun, among others.

Daramola

CAMPUS | EDUCATION 29

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Bomb scare in UNIMAID, students scamper for safety Taiwo Isola UNIMAID

tudents and other members of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) community, last Friday were gripped by fear and trepidations following bomb explosions that rocked Marimari and Gremari, two of the institution’s neighbouring villages in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State. The students, who had been preparing for their semester examinations scheduled to begin that fateful morning, were said to have been gripped by palpable fear following the 12 midnight heavy explosions and ceaseless gunshots from the neighbouring villages leaving them with no option than to run for their lives. Following the heavy bombardment, members of the university community had thought the Boko Haram insurgents were planning to storm the campus. Their fear became palpable following the abduction of over 200 school girls of the Federal Government College, Chibok, Borno State few weeks ago, who are yet to be released by their abductors, and other series of killings of students in their hostels. One of the students, Idris Suleiman, who said he was in the class preparing for his examinations, explained that all was well until around 12 midnight “when the classrooms already crowded with students reading for their examination

Jonathan

was shaken to their foundation from vibration from the bombing.” Idris added that the fact that there was no electricity on campus complicated the matter, “as everywhere was dark without knowing where to run to, saying “there was shouting and screaming everywhere on campus by students.” New Telegraph gathered in the morning that some students who had to jump down from upstairs sustained various degrees of injuries especially those in Ado Bayero Hall of residence. Recounting her ordeal, a female student, Aanu Bamidele, who was in one of the female hostels when the incident occurred said: “It was a terrible experience. If it had happened during the day, it would have been better, but the darkness kept us in perpetual bondage. We were hearing explosions and gunshots yet we didn’t know which direction to run to. Most of us locked our rooms and gathered together in one place. We were run in the same direction and screaming all the while but we didn’t leave the premises of our hostels.” She said the Dean of Students’ Affairs visited them in the early hours of Saturday to assure them of our safety, even as he warned of dangers of trying to run away from the campus. Another student, Michael Jonah, noted that during the explosions, “we heard the sound of an Armoured Personnel Carrier rumbling through the commercial area of the university, but we didn’t know whether it was for us or against us. We just hoped it was for us.” The explosions and gunshots kept the students awake from 3am all through the night. A student said: “This is the kind of life we have learned to cope with in this area where killing and bombing is the order of the day. One minute there is peace, the next minute there is pandemonium everywhere. When pandemonium comes, everybody scampered for safety. But once it is over, we go about our usual business as if nothing has happened.”

Muslim students seek release of abducted school girls

The students during one of their events.

ollowing the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls of Federal Government College, Chibok in Borno State, and the recent killings by the Boko Haram sect in the country, the Muslim Students' Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit, has condemned in strong terms the activities and operations of the acclaimed Jam'at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-da'wa wal-Jihad, popularly known as Boko Haram in the country. The Society in a press statement said it can't understand the ascription of killings of innocent people in the name of religious conviction. MSSN is a leading Islamic organisation in Nigeria and has been at the forefront of training and guiding Nigerian youths spiritually, academically and morally. According to its Amir (President), Kaamil Kalejaiye, the spate of unjustified killings in our country is getting unbearable and Islam is always at the receiving end. He said: "We condemn these killings, abductions and all forms of attacks on innocent citizens. We unequivocally condemn its perpetrators. Islam is

a religion of peace and does not in any way have a confluence with killing, bombing, kidnapping and forcing people of other faiths into its fold.” "If these were the methods used by Prophet Muhammed (SAW) to invite people to Islam, it would not have over one billion adherents worldwide.” Kalejaiye reiterated that Boko Haram sect has never been and will never be an Islamic group as long as its modus operandi entails killing of innocent people. He pointed out that the agenda of Boko Haram is only clear to its members and sponsors and prayed that sooner those behind it will be exposed. "Those, who are trying to paint Islam bad and black, will meet their waterloo very soon,” he said, Even as he called the Federal Government and all security agencies to go the extra mile in ensuring that insecurity is brought to a bearable level, if not totally curbed. In a statement signed by Kalejaiye, the group also advised that the photographs of the abducted girls be published so as to aid their search.

Its words: "This incident has demonstrated the barbarism of this group and the need for everyone to take personal security serious, as well as be vigilant. The use of modern security surveillance equipment we believe will go a long way in foiling these heinous and dastardly acts". "We feel and share the pains parents of these future leaders are going through, we pray that almighty Allah protect them wherever they are and safeguard them back home.” In another development, the media monitoring unit of the Society, known as Media 961 during the celebration of this year’s UNESCO World Press Freedom Day, has called for immediate release of three Al-Jazeera reporters (Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed) imprisoned by Egyptian authorities for the past 126 days. “As we celebrate this year's World Press Freedom Day, let us remind you that majority of our innocent colleagues are currently incarcerated in different countries, most of them without access to their lawyers, " the group said.

At orientation, Ajayi counsels fresh students on vices

he Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, Prof. Rotimi Ajayi, has counseled the fresh students to guard their admission jealously, by eschewing vices that could truncate their education and embrace hard work in order to achieve excellent academic pursuit. He gave the advice during the opening ceremony of a three-day orientation programme organised by the management for fresh students for the 2013/2014 academic session. Ajayi said: “In the last admission exercise, out of 18,019 candidates who applied to Adekunle Ajasin Uinversity for admission, only 3,634 (about 20 per cent) were admitted because of our limited resources. I consider you very lucky to be here. I, therefore, advise you to guard your admission jealously and

refrain from engaging in anything that may rob you of this privilege. “I particularly urge you to buy into the culture of hard work and excellence which are the ingredients that would help you to graduate in flying colours.” The Deputy Vice-Chancellor noted that the programme was designed to educate, inform and enlighten the students on a number of issues capable of posing challenges to them, with a view to tackling them proactively and frontally. He said:“This is a forum to expose you to the modus-operandi of the university with a view to making you fullfledged students of this university.” Ajayi said subscription rate to AAUA has always been on the increase over the years because students here are sure of receiving a world-class and qualitative 21st Century University

education at the most affordable cost. “It is on record that AAUA, whose mode of admission is only on merit, charges the least school fees in the country, making the university an institution of first choice for many applicants.” While welcoming the students on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Femi Mimiko, he stressed that the university has zero tolerance for social vices such as examination misconduct, cultism, indecent dressing, rape, theft and other forms of violence. He added that the university has put in place, formidable disciplinary machinery that would tackle any act of indiscipline, saying: “Any student caught involving in act of indiscipline would be shown the way out of the university.” Ajayi, who explained that all the university’s academic programmes had 100

per cent accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and other professional bodies, recalled also that the university had witnessed tremendous infrastructural expansion in the past four years. According to him, the university authorities are committed to the well-being of the students and would continue to put in place necessary facilities that will enhance teaching, learning and a conducive environment. Lectures on all aspects of university life were delivered by some university officials, as well as presentations from some registered student groups and association, aimed at fully integrating the students into the university system. On the third day of the programme, the students were taken on an excursion to Idanre Hills, one of Ondo State’s tourist centres.

EDUCATION

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Theatre, media arts department gets laptops T

he management of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti has taken delivery of three units of laptop computers donated to its newly established Theatre and Media Arts Department. The items were donated by the Chief Executive Officer of Botosoft Technology, Mr. Tope Agbeyo, who is an indigene of Usi-Ekiti. He said the gesture is part of his contributions and support towards the development of the university, particularly to the growth of Theatre and Media Arts Department. The Head of the Department, Dr. Kola Oyewo, described Agbeyo’s gesture as a demonstration of love to the state university. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oladipo Aina, who spoke through the Dean of Faculty of Arts, Prof. M.A. Abiodun thanked the donor for the gesture and pleaded with other well-meaning Ekiti indigenes to support the state institution in its quest to position it as a 21st Century university. In another development, the ViceChancellor has described the alumni

of the university as part of owners of the university. Aina disclosed this at a special convention organised to amend the constitution of the alumni association. The Vice-Chancellor, who commended the members of the alumni for their tenacity, abiding faith and love for their alma mater, reminded them that great universities all over the world depend mostly on their alumni for donations, grants and endowment to boost their financial status. He, however, explained that EKSU must begin to look beyond government for financial support and expressed optimism that the over 50,000 alumni members of the university are capable of turning around the fortunes of the institution. The National President of the alumni association, Mr. Bola Ogunlayi, assured the Vice-Chancellor of the association’s readiness to work in tandem with the leadership of the university towards achieving its vision of becoming a globally ranked university.

‘I'm happy assisting rural communities' CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

There is proliferation of the private universities and it was not as this when you were a Vice-Chancellor. What is your reaction to this? What is happening today is that all these private universities are trying to take from established universities. When the universities are on strike they rejoice because members of staff of public universities go to the private universities to take temporary jobs. When we started, we began to train lecturers. It was very vital for our development as a university. Some of those we trained are even professors and Vice-Chancellors at various universities. So, unless the private universities begin to develop people that are ready to teach in them, the universities are heading for doom. Not all the universities are parasites, but when you talk of private universities, they are good to an extent. Of course, a number of candidates who cannot be admitted in the mainstream of public university are absorbed into private universities. But there must be a caveat, that if you start a university you must have adequate members of staff for the next few years. If a university doesn’t have it, the university will not survive because most of these private universities cannot survive. I can tell you in few years’ time, some of them will collapse because many went into establishment of university without knowing how expensive it is to run a university. For instance, in a particular private university a student's course unit for 2001/2002 was

Ilemobade

So, unless the private universities begin to develop people that are ready to teach in them, the universities are heading for doom N240,000, excluding clothing, feeding and so on. So, how many people can afford the fees? That is why we see our children running to all these mushroom universities which are not registered in Ghana, Republic of Benin. So, if you ask me, the number is not necessary but the quality. In the United States, the best universities have small population of students. In Harvard University, it is a Professor to a student unlike here. How do you unwind? My life has not been different from when I was a Vice-Chancellor because I know the position has a tenure and so I didn't do anything different. The only difference was that I had an official car and two drivers in case if one fails the other takes over. I have time to see the students, attend to the administrative works, and I don't do anything I cannot afford. What is your advice to the Federal Government on how to improve the nation’s education sector? The problem in the education sector is that of policy somersault and if that could be stopped, I think our education system will improve. In education we had the 6-3-3-4 system, which was good for us, but we like shortcut to everything; we want to get everything as fast as possible. There is the need for the review of the education policy. Though it may hurt at the beginning, we can do it and the nation will be better for it. That is why our universities are so populated because no one wants to go to the technical and vocational schools, everyone wants to acquire a degree and afterwards most of them have started engaging in bead making and the likes, which they would have acquired in school as a skill or vocation. In some countries it is a pyramid, but in Nigeria the percentage at the top is so heavy because everyone wants to show he or she has a university degree.

EDUPEACE with Mahfouz A. Adedimeji (08066372516, sms only)

Is ASUP in soup?

t is no news that members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) have been on strike since October, 2013. The issues in contention border on the implementation of the agreement the Federal Government reached with the union in 2009. Aspects of the agreement include payment of arrears of new wages, death benefits of deceased lecturers, review of the law establishing the polytechnics and other welfare matters. However, sensing that the strike is almost becoming a forgotten one, with ten months running and still counting, and politics and insecurity occupying the centre-stage of national attention, the lecturers decided to draw attention to their plight last Tuesday, April 29, in Abuja. In conjunction with their colleagues in the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), who began their own strike some five months ago, they mobilised themselves and their students for the peaceful rally and protest. As a reflection of the contempt with which education and its purveyors, teachers, are held, the peaceful protest was attacked by the security forces. According to the news reports, “fierce-looking operatives used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd (of protesting lecturers) which kept regrouping”. The attack on the lecturers was totally uncalled for and most despicable. The questions that assail my mind as a typical Nigerian are: Is ASUP in soup? Why do the polytechnic lecturers deserve this treatment from the Government? What law have peaceloving lecturers breached by drawing attention to their plight and seeking the intervention of the National Assembly? Why are lecturers on strike for 10 months without Nigerians feeling seriously concerned? What is happening to the students kept away from school right now since an idle mind is a devil’s workshop? The undeserved punishment meted out to the lecturers last Tuesday was a reflection of the official attitude to polytechnic education in Nigeria. Though, everyone agrees that the development of the country is dependent on technical education and technological know-how, the polytechnics that should be on the frontier of that agenda are treated with contempt. At school, polytechnic students are classically conditioned to be inferior to their university counterparts by the society. At the work place, polytechnic graduates or holders of Higher National Diploma (HND) are treated like second class citizens compared with the university graduates. However, it is common knowledge that some polytechnics have better facilities and manpower than some of our universities, meaning that their products may be better than some university graduates. Besides, there is a policy of Government that HND holders are to be “recognized as the equivalent of first degree holders without discriminatory remunerations and limit to progression in the work place”. But the Government itself is culpable of discrimination. The attitude of Nigerians themselves is negative, or at best ambivalent, to polytechnic education. During the period of the Academic Staff

Why are lecturers on strike for 10 months without Nigerians feeling seriously concerned? Union of Universities (ASUU) strike, there was hardly a day that it would not be discussed on the pages of Nigerian newspapers. The strike was given adequate coverage, sometimes snatching headlines or attracting editorials, and pressure was mounted on the Federal Government to do the needful until it bowed to ASUU’s demands. However, the polytechnic lecturers are not receiving that “push” and support. The attitude of the public to them is largely OYO (“on your own”). Justice requires that what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. ASUP should not be left alone in the soup of official insensitivity and administrative neglect that have cast a spell on our education. University lecturers, the media and the public should feel concerned about them as well. Now, to address the lingering situation once and for all, I think the Government should go back to its own policy. Like all problems facing Nigeria, the solutions are lying fallow and cold in reports of committees, commissions and panels that nobody bothers to read and implement. Let us dig the archives and implement the polytechnic education reform announced seven years ago. It would be recalled that as Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili prodded the Federal Government to ban the award of HND and turn our polytechnics to affiliates of universities. On March 14, 2007, the Federal Executive Council actually ratified the recommendation of the Presidential Committee on the Consolidation of all Federal Colleges of Education and Polytechnics. According to Minister Ezekwesili after that meeting, polytechnics would henceforth be awarding Bachelors of Technology (B. Tech.) degrees and be affiliated to the proximate universities. She explained that the reform was necessary because polytechnics were not producing adequate technical manpower, which was the main objective behind establishing them, for the country. She rightly said the institutions had derailed from their primary functions. “After we have exhausted the current students under the programme, there will be no more award of HND. This means there will be no more fresh admission for HND programmes. In addition, any programme that is not technical will be out of the polytechnics. About 70% of polytechnic graduates are in non-technical courses. It is going to be a rigorous implementation programme,” she said. It was all talk then but it is time now to walk the talk. Let the Government implement this policy and let there be peace and stability in the higher education sub-system on the basis of justice and equity. l Dr Adedimeji is a Senior Lecturer and Acting Director, Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, Unilorin.

BUSINESS WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

WHAT'S NEWS Customs to wage war against banks over duty defaulters Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has resolved to swoop on banks that provided security bonds for importers who have defaulted on duty payment and failed to redeem the bonds.

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WEF: Abuja residents make hasty withdrawals Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have embarked on hasty withdrawals ahead of the World Economic Forum (WEF) which opens in Abuja today.

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From employees to owners of advertising, PR agencies Once employees, they later set out to own advertising and public relations agencies. Dele Alao, in this exposé, chronicles the journeys of some chief executive officers of advertising agencies and public relations outfits and how far have they fared in their pursuits.

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Shipowners fault petroleum minister over crude lifting Recently, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke, said that 60 per cent of crude oil lifting contracts in 2014 had been awarded to shipping companies owned by Nigerians. The minister explained that the gesture was part of the Federal Government’s objective to encourage effective local participation in the oil and gas industry.

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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) JONAH IBOMA, ICT Editor DAYO ADEYEMI, Property Editor ADEOLA YUSUF, Energy Editor

CONNECTIVITY

CHUKS ONUANYIN, Energy NNAMDI AMADI, Reporter

AYODELE AMINU, DEPUTY EDITOR, BUSINESS

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

Roaming charges scrapped in East Africa

Internet use continues to grow in leaps and bounds in all parts of the world. Jonah Iboma

eads of states in the East African Community have directed the scrapping of mobile telecom roaming charges across all networks in the region. This development came on a day new figures released by International Telecommunications Union indicated that, by the end of 2014, there will be almost three billion Internet users and the number of mobile-broadband subscriptions will reach 2.3 billion globally The decision to scrap roaming charged in East Africa was one of those reached during the fifth Northern Corridor Integration Projects Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. The Northern Corridor Integration is a programme among East African states to form a single economic zone. The directive by the heads of states will result in the scrapping of roaming charges on voice data and messages to ease communication within the region. A statement released at the end of the meeting said that the partner states have also agreed to implement a onearea network by December 31, 2014 and incorporate fiber optic access on all Northern Corridor Integration Projects. The implication of the development is that a person in Kigali, Rwanda will be able to communicate with friends or relatives in Nairobi, Kenya or Kampala, Uganda at the same cost as making domestic calls. However, Tanzanian will not be part of the project since it’s not a member. Burundi was initially not part of the Northern Corridor initiatives but later requested to join. If the roaming charges are scrapped, some observers see it as yet another great achievement after the introduction of

L-R: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo, Business Development Director, Europe, Middle East, Africa and South Asia, Ria, Manuel Raventos, Executive Director, Risk Management, Onome Olaolu, Executive Director, Lagos and South West Bank, Ik. Mbagwu and Executive Director, Corporate Banking, Fidelity Bank Plc, John Obi, at the launch of the Fidelity – Ria Money Transfer in Lagos.

the use of identity cards as a travel document. Currently, mobile phones operators such as MTN and Airtel with presence in several countries in Africa offer their subscribers services that allow them to carry their phones across without paying roaming but make their calls at the local costs in their new country of entry. The Rwanda Minister for Youth and ICT, who attended the meeting, said that EAC

leaders instructed telecommunication regulators to meet themselves to finalise the implementation of the decision. He said that within two months, all telecommunication companies in Rwanda and regulators as well as government officials would convene to look at the operationalisation of the decision. Easing communication in the region is one of the key issues that have been considered at regional level as a way

of cementing the integration agenda. Aside the decision, leaders at the forum discussed a railway project that would link countries within the region. Meanwhile, two-thirds of the expected three billion Internet users by end of 2014, are coming from the developing world. Fifty-five per cent of these subscriptions are expected to be in the developing world. CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Operators to Shippers’ Council: Provide effective port pricing system Bayo Akomolafe

takeholders in the maritime industry have urged the new port regulator, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), to use its new role to provide a sustainable port pricing that will boost port operations in the country. They said this would make Nigerian ports compete fa-

vourably with other ports in the world. The stakeholders are from the Nigerian Ship Owners Association (NISA), Shippers Association Lagos State (SALS), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), SIFAX Group, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), and

Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANCLA) amongst others. They spoke at a one-day summit tagged: “Achieving fair and equitable port pricing system in Nigeria,” organised by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MACONTINUED ON PAGE 32

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

www.newtelegraphonline.com/business

Three billion Internet users expected in 2014 –ITU

WOLE SHADARE, Aviation Editor CHRIS UGWU, Capital Market Editor

NEW TELEGRAPH

CEMENT GRADE NOT LIABLE FOR BUILDING COLLAPSE – STAKEHOLDERS }p-37

INFLATION RATE March 2014...........................7.08% February 2014........................7.70% January 2014 ........................8.00%

LENDING RATE InterBank Rate . . . . . . . . . 10.50% Prime Lending Rate. . . . . 16.93% Maximum Lending Rate..25.83%

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at May 2)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N169.50 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N284 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N236

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at May 2)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N155.73 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N262.70 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N215.88 Source: CBN

32 BUSINESS | NEWS RECOVERY Nigeria Customs move to recover its revenue

Bayo Akomolafe

igeria Customs Service (NCS) has resolved to swoop on banks that provided security bonds for importers who have defaulted on duty payment and failed to redeem the bonds. Investigation revealed that

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Customs to wage war against banks over duty defaulters out of the 2,000 companies identified as defaulters, three firms will pay N1.6 billion to Customs. The service is yet to estimate the debts of over 1,900 companies. Already, N2.5 billion has been collected from some defaulters. The Comptroller General of

Customs (CGC), Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi, who gave indications NCS would take action on the defaulters from this week, said management’s decided to ensure that no one owning government goes scotfree. He said: “We can no longer tolerate the defaulting import-

L-R: Chairman, Giwa Dynamic Ventures/Second best Customer of the year, Alhaji Giwa Mohammed; Chairman Chinedu & Sons Investment Nigeria Limited/Best Customer of the year, Chief Chinedu Ezenyili, and Chairman, Dangote Cement Plc, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, at 2014 Dangote Cement Plc Distributors Awards ceremony in Lagos.

MTN Nigeria may sell towers for $1bn Jonah Iboma

ndications emerged on Monday that the MTN Group Limited, Africa’s largest phone operator, is will sell a stake in its Nigerian mobile tower network, which is valued at more than $1 billion, this year. The Chief Financial Officer of MTN Nigerian, Andrew Bing, said in an interview in Lagos that talks were going on with various parties on the planned sale. He said, “There is a bidding process going on, so they’re busy doing a due diligence on us, on our towers, our pro-

cesses and we’re doing due diligence on them, if they’re the right company. During this year that process will then come to a conclusion where there will be a financial bid and a transfer of towers.” Major telecommunication operators in Africa are offloading the assets, which cost more to run on much of the continent than in some other parts of the world because of the need for backup generators and batteries to guard against power failures. Towers and the infrastructure that accompanies them can account for more than 60 per cent of the expense

Operators to Shippers’ Council: Provide effective port pricing system C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 1

RAN) in Lagos. Speaking at the event, Chairman of the Nigerian Ship Owners (NISA), Chief Isaac Jolapamo commended the Federal Government for giving the council the statutory responsibility to regulate the port. He however, noted that It is only in Nigeria that ships are brought into country without money. “So, that is why when the council was given the responsibility of a commercial regulator, many kicked against it for status -quo to remain. We must have a starting point because it is a good thing the government has started, we must allow ship owners to do things as it is done in developed countries,” he said.

Also, the Executive Director, Administration and Human Resources of SIFAX Group, Dr. Phil Ofulue, said no terminal operators can single handedly fix rate without involving the relevant stakeholders. He advised the council to ensure an effective pricing system. “We cannot take bank loan with exorbitant interest rate and charge peanuts, the stakeholders have their roles likewise the government, the regulator should ensure a win – win situation for all”, he said. But, President of the Shippers Association Lagos State (SALS), Rev. Jonathan Nicol, stressed the need for the continuity of the programme, saying it was an eye opener for the council.

to build a mobile network, according to data from IHS Holding Ltd., a telecommunications infrastructure company. The situation has led to the emergence of infrastructure companies that help operators to co-locate and run these towers and base stations at lower costs.

ers abusing the privilege. We are reminding the banks that their bonds were provided to guarantee payment of customs duty. “We have given defaulters only one week to pay all outstanding duties, failure of which their names will be published in the national dailies. He added that those who had un-utilised Risks Assessment Reports (RARs) would not be spared. He commended the Revenue Recovery Team (RRT), a body set up to address dwindling revenue and recover money from defaulters who were given various forms of deferred payment concessions to avoid accumulation of demurrage in a bid to enhance trade facilitation. He noted: “Within the first month of recovery team’s activities, a total of N2.5 billion has been recovered from unpaid assessments and unutilised Risk Assessment Reports. “On temporary importation, a total of N1.6 billion outstanding has been established against three beneficiaries who contravened the regulations. The defaulting beneficiaries applied for and enjoyed temporary importation concession while they had active Form M and RARs against their names. In the first quarter of this year, Customs recorded 80.5 per cent drop in its revenue collection at ports and borders as it collected just N77.9 billion as against N400 billion expected to be collected in the first three months of the year. This represents 19.5 per cent of its projected revenue for the

first quarter of the year. Also, the amount was less than half of the N191.3 billion collected by the NCS in the corresponding period of last year. The revenue profile released by NCS in Abuja revealed that N27.4 billion was collected in January, N23.8 billion in February and N26.7 billion in March. It noted that out of the revenue collected during the period, N41.7 billion was remitted to the Federation Account, while N36.2 billion remitted to the nonfederation account. The revenue, it was learnt, was collected from duties, fees and levies. The service added that N7.2 billion was collected on port levy, N1.4 billion from levy on sugar, N7.2 billion from wheat grain levy and N1 million from flour levy. It said that N41.7 billion of the revenue figure was realised from 5 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) while N131.8 million was from National Export Supervision Scheme (NESS). Other special levies, which provided revenue during the period, are Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme and ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, which accounted for N10.5 billion and N6.3 billion, respectively. A further breakdown of the revenue figure showed that N2.6 billion was generated from 100 per cent rice levy, N79.2 million from brown rice levy and N112.5 million from steel levy. Also, textile levy accounted for N24.1 million, N4.8 million from wine, cement levy, N274.9 million and N135 million from cigarette levy.

Three billion Internet users expected in 2014 –ITU C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 1

ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun I. Touré, said, “The newly released ICT figures confirm once again that information and communication technologies continue to be the key drivers of the information society.” “If we want to understand the information society, we have to measure it,” Brahima Sanou, the Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, said. “Without measurement we cannot track progress or identify gaps which require our attention.” An analysis of the figures showed that fixed-telephone penetration has been declining for the past five years and by the end of 2014, there will be about 100 million fewer fixed-telephone subscriptions than in 2009. The report also said that the mobile-cellular subscriptions will reach almost 7 billion by end 2014, and 3.6 billion of these will be in the AsiaPacific region. The increase is mostly due to growth in the developing world where

mobile-cellular subscriptions will account for 78 per cent of the world’s total. According to ITU, recent data showed that mobile telephony growth rates have reached their lowest-ever level (2.6 per cent globally), indicating that the market is approaching saturation levels. Africa and Asia and the Pacific, where penetration will reach 69 per cent and 89 per cent, respectively by end of 2014, are the regions with the strongest mobile telephony growth (and the lowest penetration rates). According to ITU, penetration rates in the Commonwealth of Independent States, Arab States, the Americas and Europe have reached levels above 100 per cent and are expected to grow at less than two per cent in 2014. The region with the highest mobile telephone penetration rate is the CIS. The report also stated that by the end of 2014, fixed-broadband penetration would have reached almost 10 per cent globally.

Forty-four per cent of all fixed-broadband subscriptions are in Asia and the Pacific, and 25 per cent are in Europe. In contrast, Africa accounts for less than 0.5 per cent of the world’s fixed-broadband subscriptions, and despite doubledigit growth over the last four years; penetration in Africa remains very low. Africa, the Arab States, and CIS are the only regions with double-digit fixed-broadband penetration growth rates. The Americas region stands out with the lowest growth in fixed broadband penetration, estimated at 2.5 per cent and reaching a penetration rate of around 17 per cent by end 2014. Europe’s fixed-broadband penetration is much higher compared with other regions and almost three times as high as the global average. ITU said that globally, mobile-broadband penetration would reach 32 per cent by end 2014; in developed countries, mobile-broadband penetration will reach 84 per cent, a level four times as high as in developing countries (21 per cent).

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

WEF: Abuja residents make hasty withdrawals UNCERTAINTY Would banks too be on holidays during the World Economic Forum? Amadi Nnamdi ABUJA

esidents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have embarked on hasty withdrawals ahead of the World Economic Forum (WEF) which opens in Abuja today. Government is shutting down the city for the three days the conference will last and has

directed all government offices to proceed on a three-day holiday beginning today. The shutting of the city has prompted depositors to rush to their banks to make withdrawals in order not to run out of cash during the holiday period. At the Nyanya and Karu axis of the FCT, many residents, out of fear that banks too may comply with the directive, besieged their banks to make withdrawals. When New Telegraph visited some of the banks, large crowds were seen in long queues awaiting their turns to make withdrawals either in the banking hall or from the Automated Teller Machines (ATM). One of the early callers at

the ATM machine in front of UBA Nyanya, Ms Evelyn Atoki, said that she rushed to the bank to withdraw some money immediately her neighbour told her of the directive. “As I talk to you now, I don’t have up to N1000 with me, so how am I going to cope if this banks decide to close too, this

is the third ATM location I am visiting this morning, I met large crowd at the other ATM points,” she lamented. The same scenario played out at Nyanya branches of Zenith and Fidelity banks visited by our correspondent. Customers queuing up at the ATM points and crowded

banking halls waited patiently for their turns. Officials of the two banks declined to comment on the Federal Government’s directive, stating that they have not received any directive from their headquarters and therefore, cannot speak on the issue.

FG constitutes Power Committee Abdulwahab Isa

he Federal Government has raised a committee to tackle the challenges inherent in the evolving power sector of the Nigerian economy. Fashioned after the Bankers Committee, it will be headed by Vice President Namadi Sambo who is also the chairman of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP). Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Benjamin Ezra Dikki, who disclosed this when the House Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation visited the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IEDC), said that the committee would work towards addressing the challenges facing the power sector. Dikki who spoke through

the Head, Stakeholders Relations Unit of the bureau, Alhaji Aliyu Maigari, disclosed that the committee would meet quarterly to review issues and take critical decisions on the privatised power sector. According to him, the membership was drawn from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET), Ministry of Power, Nigerian Gas Company (NGC), Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and other relevant stakeholders. The DG in an apparent response to a suggestion by the committee for the immediate constitution of an all stakeholders’ committee to address the challenges faced in the power sector, said that it would amount to a duplication of efforts to set up such committee.

NAPEP staff upbeat despite scrapping by FG Simeon Ogoegbulem and Abdulwhab Isa ABUJA

orkers of the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) are still optimistic as they carry on with the agency’s statutory responsibilities, weeks after government released a White Paper announcing the scrapping of the agency set up in 1999. The NAPEP staff said that beyond government’s pronouncement which they read in the media like other Nigerians, there was no official memo to the office giving further directive. A fortnight ago, the Federal Government approved the

scrapping of NAPEP and the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC). The decision was contained in a White Paper released by the presidency acting on the report of the presidential committee on restructuring and rationalisation of Federal Government’s parastatals, commissions and agencies. Government also accepted the committee’s recommendation that the trio of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Agency (NCAA) and the Nigerian Meteorology Agency (NIMET) be merged into a new body to be known as the Federal Civil Aviation Authority (FCAA) while their statutory laws are merged to reflect the new agency.

L-R: Special Adviser to Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission on Research and Strategy, Dr. Uche Okoro; Special Adviser to Osun State Governor on Commerce, Co-operatives and Empowerment, Mr. Olalekan Yinusa; President, The Nigerian-Danish Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Prince Ben Adako; and Director of Power, Federal Ministry of Power, Mr. Sanusi Garba, during the 2014 breakfast forum on power sector reform in Lagos.

James Nwabueze ABUJA

anagement of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has engaged the services of 2,265 workers in order to reposition and strengthen the operational needs of the company. This follows the expiration of the six months employment contract offered to PHCN as part of the agreement reached with labour unions at the time of hand over to the private sector in November last year. To achieve this, the company engaged human resources and change consultants to carry out a comprehensive and professional skills assessment of the company by interviewing all staff. In general terms, those retained, sources said, have proven records with regards to their credentials, skills or qualifications for their assigned job and also on performance The Head Public Relations, Patience Toyo, said in a statement that the exercise led to the consideration of 2,265 staff which would be issued with letters of appointment. AEDC management is optimistic that the staff it has offered employment would help in the viability and success of the organisation in meeting the goals of its establishment. She further said that there are prospects of recruiting

Abuja Disco offers jobs to 2,265 defunct PHCN staff more staff in certain key areas where specialist skills are required, adding that there are provisions for training of staff to ensure continued alignment between staff skills and organisational goals. AEDC Managing Director/ C.E.O, Mr Neil Croucher, said: “We are glad to offer employment to most of the former (PHCN) staff in our new organization. We appreciate the cooperation we have enjoyed from all the workers during these six months of transition and we are happy to be embarking on this journey going forward.” Meanwhile, the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) has said that the nation requires 17,441 young engineers and craftsmen to match the expected 20,000 megawatts (mw) of electricity being targeted by government by year 2020. NAPTIN Director General, Mr Reuben Okeke, stated this recently during the induction of the 220 Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) into the NAPTIN Graduate Skill Development Programme (NGSDP). Okeke said: “Ever since 1998, there have been an em-

bargo on structured recruitment and the gap has continued to widen. Therefore we need 17,441 young engineers, craftsmen, artisans and linesmen, among others, that will match the 20,000mw in 2020, and this is not available anywhere now.” While commending SUREP and the Ministry of Labour for the full sponsorship of the students within the expected one year training, Okeke said: “This is the very first time our trainees are receiving scholarship from the Federal Government.” He stated that more needs to be done in terms of sponsorship and training of skilled engineers in the power sector, saying that with the 244 graduates produced in the first batch, the on-going 338 students with the newly inducted 220 is still below 1,000, which is far from the needed capacity. Okeke maintained that available statistics in the institute’s enrolment database has shown that many people are willing to enroll, but a few have the fund to do so. He urged stakeholders and SUREP to dedicate more resources to youth empowerment in the now enlarged power sector.

34 FCT | BUSINESS WATCH

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Cement grade not liable for building collapse –Stakeholders

A collapsed building. Insert: Bags of cement

Abdulwahab Isa ABUJA

he search for solution that will lead to narrowing the huge housing deficit estimated at 17.5 million is a continuous one. Experts, stakeholders and concerned professionals in the building and construction industry regularly converge to brainstorm with a view to coming up with a road map that will give Nigerians affordable decent housing. Before now, experts’ attention was predominantly on providing as much number of housing units that would reduce the huge housing deficit. But, of late, attention has been shifted from merely providing houses in their numbers to the quality of houses provided. The paradigm shift from numbers to the quality of houses provided stemmed from cases of incessant collapse of structures across Nigeria. Incidents of building collapse have remained prevalent despite continued efforts by various stakeholders and professional bodies in the building Industry and various tiers of government. To expand the horizon on finding permanent solution to the incessant building collapse in the country, which has caused monumental loss of lives and huge resources perished, Lafarge cement company Plc conveyed its 2nd Lafarge National Series dialogue recently in Abuja. Themed: “Building collapse- An assessment of building practices in Nigeria and the imperative for sustainable construction,” experts drawn from building and construction circle dissected the problem confronting the sector with a view to addressing the spate of building collapse in the country.

Central to the discussion was cement, a key item in housing and construction of structures. Government’s efforts Declaring open the two day conference, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr . Olusegun Aganga, described the choice of theme as timely and appropriate. He said with the improvement in supervision in the cement industry, Nigerians would not have to bother about the worrisome spate of building construction related hazards. The minister added that the government is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts at establishing quality standards in the country. He said: "A new era of consciousness has begun and will be sustained effectively. To this end, we are working on introduction of courses on standards in universities in the country. As instrument of positive change, we are responding appropriately to incidence and occurrences as they arise, while working assiduously to prevent others from ever occurring. Government is fighting the scourge with all resources in order to ensure that the trend is permanently halted. "The implementation of ISO standards for building as well as the enforcement of building codes are currently being embarked upon." Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Amb. Abdulkadir Musa, the Minister said the challenge of building collapse has imposed on nation was a source of concern to the government. Larfarge’s perspective In his remarks, Executive Vice President and Clyntry Chief Executive, Lafarge Group, Mr Guillaume Roux, said the company would provide solutions to support urbanization

and the growing population of the country. He said the company's commitment to the wellbeing of its consumers culminated in the innovation towards re-awakening of the industry on the need to tackle the menace of building collapse. Roux said the national building code, which came into force in 2006 needs not only be accepted by all stakeholders, but should also be fully implemented. He said, "People should be held accountable and properly sanctioned for any incidences of building collapse, just as the government needs to set in motion necessary legislation to compensate victims. "The quest for establishment of a construction industry commission as an umbrella regulatory body of various professional bodies in the built sector should also be given due consideration by the government." He said the theme of the conference was carefully chosen in order to clear the air on the on-going debate about cement qualm and building collapse in the country. However, Lafarge boss said professionals are unanimous on the assertion that building collapse is caused by poor application and building practice, adding that cement quality is not in any way responsible for building collapse. He listed factors such as poor product application, faulty design, sharp practices, non-involvement of professionals in building projects, overloading due to change in original building projects and usage, lack of soil test to determine adequate foundation as some of the reasons for building collapse. He said, "We all have roles to play in combating the menace as policy makers, professionals, educationists, influencers, manufacturers, consumers.

"But more importantly, the onus is the practitioners who are directly involved in building and who takes the final decision on what goes into structures to ensure that the right practices as stipulated by the standards are followed at all times." Stakeholders’ view To put behind incessant incident of building collapse, stakeholders were unanimous that quality of cement is not responsible for building collapse. In a communiqué adopted after the two-day deliberation, stakeholders called on the Federal Government to give legal backing to the National Building Code by forwarding it without delay to the National Assembly for consideration and passage. They noted that, incidents of building collapse remained prevalent despite continued efforts by various professional bodies in the built Industry and at various tiers of government. The stakeholders noted, "Incidents of building collapse have remained prevalent despite continued efforts by various concerns and professional bodies in the built Industry and at various tiers of government. "Professionals are unanimous that cement is not responsible for building collapse and identify issues such as faulty designs, sharp practices, non-involvement of professionals in building projects, over-loading due to change in initial building plans amongst others for economic gains as contributory factors to building collapse. “The National Building Code should be forwarded without further delay to the National Assembly for consideration and passage to achieve the desired sanity and safety in the building industry." The communiqué observed that lack of steel industries to

drive the building sector remains a major challenge, noting that poor level of electricity generation and supply, lack of efficient and properly equipped laboratories for testing materials have hampered certification and growth process. "There is no sub-standard cement produced in the country as the 32.5 strength manufactured by the cement manufacturers is of world standard "Construction standards should be institutionalised through introduction of courses on standards in the Universities and other higher institutions of learning in the country." The communiqué also stated that there is need to regulate and monitor the entire value chain of steel/metals production, using locally sourced iron ores for better products in collaboration with local gypsum plants in the country. In the area of electricity supply at production level, the communiqué said this should be improved to stimulate contribution of the building industry to economic growth. It noted that Research Institute should develop effective substitute to cement to make more choice available to consumers, adding that building professionals should re- invigorate their effort at stamping out non-professionals from supervising building projects while manufacturers of building materials should adhere strictly to global standards. It also called for the prosecution of perpetrators of acts of negligence resulting in building collapse from the side of the contractors, consultants or even suppliers as a panacea to stemming the trend. Stakeholders were unanimous that cement –whether 32.5 grade or the recent 42.5 grade is not part of the causes of collapse building in the country.

FCT | BUSINESS WATCH 35

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

‘Non-availability of cassava bread not bakers’ fault’ er. It has not improved in Nigeria. Until we start seeing improvement in power supply, business operators including bakers will continue to rely on generating sets to power their machines. Again, the issue of multiple taxation is not helping matters. There is the need for government to streamline some of these taxes that are paid by business operators. The most critical is the case of local government revenue collectors. Moving across two local government areas, you are confronted with two different tax regimes. Such situation does not encourage business and can only lead to increase in prices for those who persevere. But the truth is that it is the final consumer that bears the brunt, because at the end, the producer will shift the cost to the final consumer. I believe that a strong agricultural base will boost the national economy. Government should encourage our youth to go into agriculture. A strong agricultural base translates to a strong economy in most cases.

A former chairman of Oru-West Local Government Area of Imo State, Vernai Okeukwu, is the managing director of Lion Share Nigeria, one of the foremost bakeries in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In this interview with SIMEON OGOEGBULEM and AMADI NNAMDI, he speaks on cassava bread and other issues affecting the SMEs sector of the economy. Excerpts: What is your take on Cassava Bread? The newest bug in the confectionary industry in Nigeria now is cassava bread. But I must be quick in admitting that those of us in the business of bread production are hearing about the cassava bread just like most Nigerians. I am yet to see it and I have not produced it in my bakery. The major ingredient in the production of bread is flour. So when we talk of flour bread, the question that should naturally come to mind is how many flour mills in the country are currently producing flour with cassava content? At times I wonder whether cassava bread is a political gimmick. If the authorities are really serious to produce cassava bread, the first step is to make the flour available. Let the flour millers first produce the flour with cassava content and deploy the necessary strategies to market just like they do with the conventional wheat flour that is currently in the market. Let the millers produce it and let it be readily available in their depots nationwide. From there, the bakers will now take it up and people will start seeing bread made with flour that has cassava content. So for me, it will be too premature to see bread with cassava content on the shelves when flour mills are yet to begin production of the basic raw material in commercial quantity. Are you saying that the flour with cassava content is not yet available? Exactly. Flour with cassava content is not yet available in the market. Without sounding immodest, we are one of the biggest bakeries around, yet we have not seen it in the market. Like I said earlier, the first step to making bread with cassava content is to produce the flour. Once this is done, then the bakers would start using it in bread production. It is only then that people can stop by at a shop and purchase bread that has cassava content. So the non-availability of cassava bread is not the fault of bakers? Absolutely yes. The non-availability of bread with cassava content is not the fault of bakers across the country. Nigerians should not be made to think or feel that it is the bakers who are not showing enough enthusiasm about cassava bread. Let the authorities prevail on flour millers to produce flour with cassava content in large quantity. The

Okeukwu

The only thing is that some bakers are not playing by the rule. In order to make profits, some cut corners by not using the required ingredients and consumers don’t know. Some people use excess sugar while some use saccharine, after eating that kind of bread two hours later the taste of the bread will still be in your mouth bakers will then take it up from there and people will start seeing the cassava bread in shops across the country. How do you envisage the reception of cassava bread in the market when it finally comes? I want to believe that it will be good. I believe that the relevant authorities would have carried out exhaustive research before coming up with the idea. So I am optimistic that it will be good. The authorities should carry the bakers along in their quest to introduce cassava bread. A lot of enlightenment programme and training is required so that the initiative will be a success. But there are reports that some big corporate bakers like UAC and others are using it… (cuts in) How sure are you that they are using

it? May be the flour millers were commissioned by the corporate bakers to produce the flour exclusively for them alone. The only time cassava bread will get mass appeal is when the flour is readily available in the open market. Fears are already being expressed about the imminent rise in the cost of bread. What will necessitate this? You know prices of goods are determined by a number of factors. And one major factor that determines cost of goods, bread inclusive, is the cost of raw materials. You know that Nigeria is not producing enough wheat flour and so relies on imported wheat. So if there is an increase in the price of wheat overseas, it is likely there may be increase in the price of bread in Nigeria or any other country that relies on wheat to sustain its bakery industry. So, one sure way of ensuring price stability in the bakery industry is for Nigeria to invest massively in the cultivation of wheat. Nigeria is blessed with arable land especially in the northern part where there is vast expanse of land suitable for wheat cultivation. Government should do more to encourage commercial farmers to go into wheat cultivation. That way, the famers will be able to meet the raw material needs of millers. Beyond the increase in the importation of wheat, what are the other impediments to bakery industry in Nigeria? Beyond wheat, there are other inputs that you have to also consider. Chief among them is sugar. The production of sugar in Nigeria as you know is not enough to serve the needs of the country. As a result, there are always fluctuations in the cost of sugar and other inputs to the production of bread such as groundnut oil and margarine. But beyond the basic inputs in the production of bread, the operating environment is not too conducive for business. The critical indices that drive business in any economy is pow-

What is it like to be an operator in the small and medium enterprises (SME) sector of the Nigerian economy? It is not easy. In fact it has been and still very tough operating in the SME sector. All factors that make for smooth business operations are tilted against SME operators in the country. From multiple taxation to lack of adequate and functional infrastructure and lack of access to bank facilities, all militate against SME promoters. SME remains the bedrock of any economy and if adequate attention is accorded the sector, Nigeria’s economy will record quantum leap. Government should do all that is possible to correct the disadvantages that are stacked against SME operators. The new owners of the power sector should hasten to ensure that power is made available to Nigerians for both domestic and industrial consumption. If the basics are provided, we can do more. The cost funds should come down so that more SME operators can access cheaper funds. Besides, capacity building is critical to growing the sector. This is because fund is not everything. Even if you have the funds, training in management is equally essential to help the operators manage the various factors of production in order to achieve success. It is not usually a matter of having the funds like I said earlier. For instance, some people now in government, when they retire they start a small scale industry, using their pensions and gratuities to buy sophisticated equipments which after a year or two they start selling because they lack the necessary capacity to manage the business. There are new methods and equipment coming in everyday, so government can assist us by giving us loan or importing some of the equipment so that we can get it at cheaper prices. Has business been good? Well, like we usually say in Nigeria, we thank God. Business has not been too bad. We are getting by trying to pay our bills and remain in business. Though, sometimes after paying staff salary we are left with little or no profit. Sometimes we even dip hands into our capital to cover some expenses. But anything you are doing and you are seeing some light in it you can’t say is not been good. The only thing is that some bakers are not playing by the rule. In order to make profits, some cut corners by not using the required ingredients and consumers don’t know. Some people use excess sugar while some use saccharine, after eating that kind of bread two hours later the taste of the bread will still be in your mouth.

BUSINESS | THE INVESTOR

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Reinforcing regulatory functions through sanctions NSE trading floor. Insert: Ms. Aruma Oteh

Chris Ugwu

apital Markets world over are known to be major drivers of the economies of nations through their activities. It is the expectation of the regulators and other stakeholders that the hidden potential of the sector will be unleashed for maximum impact that will induce economic growth. A major recipe for this is the entrenchment of a sound code of Good Corporate Governance for any quoted company and others willing to be admitted on the floor of the exchange. Before a company is listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, there are certain requirements to be met. Then, after listing, there are also standard requirements that must be met. These include regular dissemination of information about the financial performances and any changes that can affect their operations. However, over the years, many quoted companies have been violating this important obligation, thereby keeping investors in the dark about their financial health, among others. Many ignorant investors have burnt their fingers by investing in some of the dormant companies, which do not furnish the market with their financials. It was therefore not surprising that the NSE recently wielded the big stick by penalising some companies especially from the insurance sub-sector of the economy for violating post-listing requirements. Penalised firms In a bid to reinforce its regulatory functions, about 21 listed insurance companies have paid a total of N60 million penalties to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for late submission of their 2012 financial accounts. In the latest X-Compliant Report dated April 25, 2014, on the NSE website, these companies were said to have filed their financial statements to the exchange after the regulatory due date. 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. 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. Also, NEM Insurance Plc paid N3.5 million fine, as Mutual Benefit Assurance Plc paid N3.4 million. Prestige Assurance was made to pay N2.9 million, Law Union and Rock Insurance Plc, N2.7 million, while Regency Alliance Insurance Plc was penalised for N2.5 million. Sovereign Trust Insurance(STI) Plc paid N2.4 million, Cornerstone Insurance Plc paid N2.8 million for the same offence, as Royal Exchange Plc got N2.6 million fine. Likewise, 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. It is on record that the entire insurance companies struggled last year to submit their 2012 financial account in International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) format to the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), being the first time the new accounting format was used. Most operators are yet to have full understanding of the new accounting format and how it operates, thus, leading to delay in the submission and approval of their 2012 accounts. NAICOM also penalised companies for late submission and before they could get approval to forward their accounts to NSE, the deadline given to them to do so had expired. Regulator’s zero tolerance posture The Nigerian Stock Exchange, in an effort to achieve a world class capital market, reiterated its commitment to maintain zero tolerance posture on dealing member firms and quoted companies on violations of rules and regulations.

Most operators are yet to have full understanding of the new accounting format and how it operates

This on the back of the exchange’s determination to shift gears to drive innovations centered on increasing global visibility for the Nigerian capital market in the current year. The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema, said at an investors’ forum recently that the exchange will sustain a zero-tolerance stance on dealing member firms and listed companies violations. Onyema noted that the exchange proposed several rules to codify the accepted mode of engagement in the market, adding that of a particular interest was its proposed Related Parties Transaction rule and rules around the conduct of AGMs. He said that while the NSE’s focus from 2011 to 2013 has been on revamping corporate governance, improving human capacity, cleansing and restructuring the market, improving technology, product development, and advocacy for changes to policy, “from 2014, we are determined to shift gears to drive innovations centred on increasing global visibility for the Nigerian capital market.” Onyema noted that the exchange intend to develop a larger footprint on the African continent and ultimately, targeting emerging market status, adding that it was the reason why it is very much in support of the WACMI efforts and similar programs. He noted that the improved regulatory environment and performance of quoted companies from 2012 till date has positively impacted on stock market prices and overall market indices. Following the conclusion of the first phase of reform in the insurance sector, the need to institute a robust and sustainable corporate governance structure became imperative. The National Insurance Commission, in consonance with the code of governance, initiated and published by the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2003 considered the adoption of an effective corporate governance code as a priority. This need came against the background of various unethical practices permeating the insurance business in Nigeria which, according to the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel, the commission would upscale strict enforcement of the provisions of the Insurance and NAICOM Acts 2003 and 1997 respectively, relating to market behavior. Insurance operators were enjoined to face the challenges confronting insurance business with ethical practices and

adherence to professionalism. The commissioner said that the need for professionalism had become necessary due to challenges confronting businesses globally. Though, he noted that the drive for professionalism had led to a noticeable increase in the number of insurance professionals, he queried how prepared these professionals were to go the extra mile to make a difference without cutting corners. Daniel called on insurance professionals to look beyond the nomenclature of professionalism and think out of the box in line with the dynamism and changes experienced in the insurance world. Operators view Speaking to New Telegraph, the Managing Director, Crane Securities Limited, Mr. Mike Eze, said that some of the insurance companies were not helping matters as they are most visible among companies that are often sanctioned for breaching post listing requirements. He linked the inability of the sub-sector rise above the nominal level to crisis of confidence which, according to him, the few ones that raised high expectation for good results ended up posting negative financial results. “There were high expectations that some of them will bring good results to the market, investors started taking position on the insurance stocks, but they ended up posting negative results which now has a spiral effect on other insurance companies, hence investors started dumping their shares,” he said. Insurance companies are the worst hit in the capital market in terms of drop in share prices. The reason is that they are playing second fiddle to the oil and gas as well as the banking stocks. So, what we now have is that we see volumes being traded, yet it does not result into capital gain in the market. According to the president of the association, Chief Adolphous Wakama, lack of interest in insurance stocks, following the huge meltdown in the market in 20082009, have contributed largely to the high value decline. Wakama said that investors’ hope has been put in abyss for an earlier recouping of their investment in the sub-sector. Since the crash of the nation’s capital market in 2008, negative perception has trailed the subsector which was compounded by inability of about 85 per cent of the companies in the industry to pay dividend to shareholders for years.

BUSINESS | BRANDS & MARKETING 37

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Once employees, they later set out to own advertising and public relations agencies. Dele Alao, in this exposé, chronicles the journeys of some chief executive officers of advertising agencies and public relations outfits and how far have they fared in their pursuits. Biodun Shobanjo Biodun Shobanjo, a consummate advertising and marketing communications practitioner is also highly revered as the Czar of the country’s advertising industry. He worked for Grant Advertising and later became the Deputy Managing Director of the agency before his 30th birthday. He left Grant, and set up Insight Communications, now Insight Grey in 1979 and has today grown the company from the initial 18-man strong team into an advertising behemoth. Checks revealed that the Troyka Group, which is the holding company for Insight Communications, Optimum Exposure, Media Perspective, MediaCom, The Quadrant Company and Halogen Security, amongst others, employs over seven thousand Nigerian men and women. Apart from Azzagai that was closed down, Shobanjo’s could be described as a success in the industry. Shobanjo lists four essential elements for success to include professionalism, honour, integrity and passion. “They come in any order but if you have these four things, chances are that you’re going to succeed,” he said. Steven Bamidele Omojafor Sir Steven Bamidele Omojafor, also known as Steve, was at various times a sub-editor with Daily Times, Group Head Client Service, Lintas Limited and Client Service Director, Rosabel Advertising before setting up STB-McCann. While serving as the managing director of the agency, it was among the top players during his active days. With Coca Cola account as the bed rock of his agency, which moved from Grant Advertising at the time and many other blue chip accounts that followed along the way, the agency churned out impressive creative works that finally established it as one of the big players in the history of advertising practice at the time. Formerly located at the Yaba area of Lagos, STB McCann, proved itself as an agency of note. However, Omojafor’s STB-McCann is no longer the same. Most of the juicy accounts have left the agency.

From employees to owners of advertising, PR agencies However, while Abioye might have distinguished himself in the industry, no notable account has been associated with the agency since it began operations months ago.

Shobanjo

Ehiguese

Ufot

Omojafor

Adisa

baeko, was with 141 Worldwide as Creative Director. He left after putting in close to two decades into advertising industry to establish what he called ‘X3M Ideas’ in 2012. X3M, was coined to stand for “Extreme.” Babaeko’s agency houses a state-of-the-art studio for radio commercials. This, he said, was done to cut down on turnaround time in a bid to reflect its poise to deliver well and on time. His agency handles Etisalat creative business among other accounts.

It was gathered that the challenge confronting the agency was so daunting that the Yaba edifice was sold to develop the new office in Opebi area of the state. It is not yet clear as at press time what the management of the once-vibrant agency is doing to reposition it for growth and profitability.

his 50th birthday in April this year, had a stint with The Guardian newspapers first as a sub-editor and later as a judicial reporter. He then left The Guardian for the now rested Saal Advertising Agency in Fadeyi, Lagos, as a copy writer. He later joined Promoserve in December 1989. And in January 1992, he joined Prima Garnet where he spent 15 years and rose to the position of an executive director. In March 2007, he quit Prima Garnet to start Verdant Zeal. As it were, Olugbodi’s Verdant Zeal, located in the Ikeja GRA area of the state, look set for future growth as it has recorded strings of successes within the few years of operation.

Udeme Ufot Udeme Ufot began his advertising career as an art director with Desmark Advertising, now defunct, where his unique illustrative style and flair for writing quickly drew attention. He soon joined Insight Communications where he also showed a flair for client service work, rising to be Deputy Creative Director in the five years he spent with the agency. Following an agency attachment course with German Saatchi and Saatchi affiliate – Scholz and Friends, he returned home with a burning desire to redefine existing templates. To this end, he co-founded SO&U in 1990, with a vision to be the most creative agency in Nigeria. For Udeme Ufot led SO&U, affiliated to Saathi & Saatchi, the management will still need to work harder to improve on its account portfolio besides having in its kitty the Guinness creative business. Tunji Olugbodi Olugbodi, who celebrated

Lanre Adisa Lanre Adisa, now the chief driver of Noah’s Ark, was at Insight Communications as a creative director. Adisa, one of the very few creative people that set up an agency, has proved that creative people can also manage agencies very well. Barely a few years of existence, Adisa and his agency have not only proved that they are in the market to make a change but have gotten local and international recognitions. This is in addition to some juicy accounts in the company’s portfolio. Steve Babaeko Dreadlock-looking Steve Ba-

Rufai Ladipo Rufai Ladipo, the first advertising practitioner to break the jinx of becoming the president of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), without being an agency owner, has had his ups and downs in the industry especially in recent times. He served as Managing Director/CEO at STB-MCann for eight years. While at STB-McCann, he played a key role at the McCann-World Group level. Some of his achievements at STB-McCann included oversight responsibility for the McCann Healthcare corridor in key West African markets. In 2013, Ladipo was appointed as the first chief executive officer of Scanad Nigeria Limited, the newest subsidiary of marketing services group of Scangroup Limited and partly owned by WPP. Ladipo later quit Scanad to set up Agile Communications. Though, it is too early to take a look at his agency, the next few years will determine if Ladipo can manage an agency successfully as owner. Tunji Abioye Tunji Abioye was the first non-founder Managing Director of Rosabel Leo Burnett and pioneered the second generation of growth at the agency. Abioye, apparently buoyed by the need to be his own boss, set up Fuel Communications after considerable years of experience at Rosabel.

Dr. Phil Osagie Dr. Phil Osagie, after working with The Qudrant Company as pioneer General Manager, set up JSP Corporate Communications. He is the Global Strategist of JSP Corporate Communications Nigeria, the exclusive associate of Hill & Knowlton, one of the world’s largest PR consultancies. A UK graduate of Marketing Communications, he also holds a Post Graduate degree in Global Marketing from Anglia Ruskin University, UK, and a PHD in international business from Washington. Over the last 10 years, he has developed strategies and campaigns in Africa for some of the world’s most admired corporations, including Microsoft, Apple, Emirates Airline, NOKIA, Nestle, Intel, CocaCola, Bill Gates Foundation and FedEx. But today, it appears JSP Corporate Communications needs more bit than before. Prime accounts such as The Coca-Cola and GSK have since moved out of the agency. Toks Modupe Tokunbo Modupe, fondly called Toks, is reputed to have brought dynamism to the business of public relations in the country with his Magodo, Lagos-based TPT International. TPT has paraded some of the best professionals in the industry and handled some of the juicest PR businesses. Though, the agency has had its own dull moment, it appears to be bouncing back with new businesses coming its way. The agency, under the watchful eyes of Toks and his ally of many years, Charles Igbinidu, has won the GE business and a couple of new businesses. John Ehiguese John Ehiguese had worked in the areas of marketing communication industry. He has worked in marketing, sales, marketed and represented a foreign company in Nigeria. Also, he worked in broadcasting and was the first to produce and present a television programme on telecoms in Nigeria in 1998. It was called “On the line.” When he left Corporate and Financial in 2003, he decided to start Mediacraft Associates. Today, the agency has about 30 staff strength and work for some of the biggest names in the Nigerian industry.

Indigenous ship owners have faulted claims by the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, that 60 per cent of the nation’s crude is being lifted by Nigerians. They explained that out of the 600 vessels involved in upstream petroleum sector business in Nigeria, only 10 per cent is owned by Nigerian ship owners, BAYO AKOMOLAFE reports.

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Shipowners fault petroleum minister over crude lifting •Nigeria loses 2tr annually to foreign vessels

ecently, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, said that 60 per cent of crude oil lifting contracts in 2014 had been awarded to shipping companies owned by Nigerians. The minister explained that the gesture was part of the Federal Government’s objective to encourage effective local participation in the oil and gas industry. But ship owners under the aegis of the Nigerian Ship owners Association (NISA) condemned the claim, saying that the minister was deceiving the country. According to them, nothing had changed at all. “What is at play here is what one can describe as ‘the voice of Jacob and the hand of Esau.’ The process of selection was neither open nor transparent. Nobody can tell how the companies were selected. When and where was it advertised?” asked NISA chairman, Chief Isaac Jolapamo. Echoing him, the President of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM), Capt Ade Olopoenia said that Nigeria was the only country in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that did not gave her local ship owners the privilege to lift crude oil. Mrs Alison-Madueke who is also the chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s (NNPC) Board, had disclosed that over 60 per cent of the 2014 to 2015 annual term contracts for the lifting of Nigeria’s crude oil was decidedly awarded to local firms after a painstaking pre-qualification process. She said that the balance was shared among some international trading companies, refineries and to some countries with bilateral trade agreements with Nigeria. The minister said that the advent of the Nigerian content law had encouraged indigenous investment in critical infrastructure. She added: “We have seen robust indigenous investments in Marine vessels of various categories and wholly owned Nigerian vessels have increased astronomically through the years. These vessels are the Category one and Category two types. “Investments in reception, storage and distribution facilities such as jetties, depots, trucks, vessels and modern retail outlets have more than doubled over the past few years, and this has helped to increase the nation’s sufficiency level in petrol.” Alison-Madueke remarked that as at the last count, indigenous investments in the sector have created over 40,000 jobs across the hydrocarbon value chain. “We have witnessed increased local investments in asset, in land, swamp and offshore rigs which are vital performance indicators in business growth

MV Fortune at berth in Apapa Port

Alison-Madueke

Jolapamo

in Nigerian service companies. As we speak, Nigerian companies are forging partnerships for deep water rig ownership and are evolving strategies that will increase rig ownership among local players,” she stated. But Jolapamo said: “Some people were handpicked and arrangement was made with them and some foreign companies. As far as we are concerned, nothing has changed at all. “That is why you have many Indian fishing companies in Nigeria. All the tiger shrimps are exported. We import into Nigeria every five metric tons of cargo and 100 million metric tons of goods. We also import 65 million litres of petroleum products every year. In the oil and gas industry, Nigeria has about 500 oil wells. For each well, there is a rig, which is supported by a minimum of five ships, and they are called oil support vessels,” Jolapamo said. He also said that the maritime sector was capable of providing employment for over five million Nigerians directly or indirectly. Jolapamo urged ship owners to place the future of the industry above their personal interests and bury their differences to move the industry forward. “Other developed and developing nations had used their maritime industry to develop their economies. The United Kingdom, the United States and Canada

are some of the developed countries that have exploited, to the fullest, their maritime capability. Jolapamo lamented that his company was indebted to banks to the tune of N40 million for ship acquisition and that since the beginning of the implementation of the Cabotage Act, his vessels had been reduced from six to one, which was damaged by hijackers. He declared: “This year makes it 10 years that Cabotage started and instead of increasing, we are reducing in size. I had six vessels 10 years ago, but now have only one, and I am indebted. “ISAN started with myself, Capt Iheanacho, and Capt Labinjo, I know that Capt Labinjo has no working ship today, and Capt. Ihenacho vessel has depleted,” he stressed further, adding that many shipping companies have closed shops due to the unfavorable shipping environment in Nigeria and that many of the

This year makes it 10 years that Cabotage started and instead of increasing, we are reducing

seafarers are now disgruntled due to lack of jobs. Also, the General Secretary of NISA, Capt Niyi Labinjo, said if the minister’s position was true, the trend would have created employment, generated revenue and ensure the nation’s security. He said: “Using foreign vessels is not in the best interest of the nation because when the dependant country has crisis Nigeria may have challenges lifting its crude.” “This huge sum would have accrued to Nigeria and create the room to employ at least 5,000 professionals in the sector. The advantage is that indigenous ships will get their water, food, tug boat, chandelling, engineers and rags from Nigeria. There are many qualified Nigerians in these fields but they go about without jobs. “We will gain about N968 million a day if we use our own indigenous ships to lift crude oil. This is because Nigeria carries about 2.5 million barrel of crude a day at the rate of two dollars 50 cent per barrel.” Labinjo said that it was more profitable for a Nigerian ship to lift crude because the country was losing a lot by using foreign vessels. He noted that only about six vessels are currently in business while the rest had been idle and anchored at the nation’s waters without jobs. He disclosed that each vessel participating in offshore operations earn at least $5,000 per day. “This is the least amount collected by foreign vessels doing business in the Nigerian waters,” he said. He explained that the country was losing about N2 trillion annually in capital flight as a result of this. The secretary general noted that since Nigeria was in the top 10 of world oil producers and having 37 billion barrels of oil reserves, Nigerians should enjoy the benefit of the product. But he lamented that this has not been the case as the situation in the shipping business had shown. He said: “Nigeria has close to 500 oil wells that we are drilling all over the place. For each well, there is a rig which is supported by a minimum of five ships, and they are called oil support vessels.

BUSINESS | MARITIME

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

ADVANCEMENT This is daily increment in Customs revenue due to technological advancement Stories by Bayo Akomolafe

he Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has released 28,861,000 Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) to facilitate trade at the Lagos Port Complex in Apapa. The service also raked a whooping N22,132,876,041.87k between April 1 and 28, 2014. Customs Area Controller of the Apapa Area1 Command, Mr Charles Edike, said that there was a significant improvement in the issuance of the document last month. The comptroller said that in most cases, RAAR was issued within hours, even before the importer gets to their destination. Edike revealed that the backlog of PAAR encountered by the command had been resolved, adding that the technological input used before now was the major problem faced by the command. He noted that the teething

Customs releases 28.9m PAARs, generates N22.8bn in April problems associated with PreArrival Assessment Report will end soon. Edike said that the command’s revenue collection on a daily basis had been impressive. This he attributed to technological advancement and dedication of the officers and men of the command. The comptroller also added that the command now collects above N1 billion daily, which he described as a huge addition to the overall revenue collection of the service. He disclosed that between April 1and 28 this year, the command had issued out 28,861,000 PAAR as against what all the service providers issued, even as he commended officers of the command for being highly compliant with the latest technological innovation. According to him: “Initially, when we were dealing with the 99,000 Form ‘M’ that were not perfected by the service pro-

Stakeholder makes case for success of PAAR stakeholder, the service providers from the Ahasmaritime Prince Olusegun Ologbese, ports will earn Nigeria over opposed the removal of N20 billion per annum. This Abdullahi Dikiko Nde as Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service as being canvassed by some people. He said that the people were ignorant of the enormous contributions of the comptroller general to the nation’s economy. According to him, Nde’s antagonists could be seen as those who do not understand the difficulties and challenges faced by the customs boss when he sent the service providers out of the ports. Ologbese who is also the Life Patron of the NUJ, Ondo/ Ekiti council, said that the proponents of “Dikko must go” were neither fair to the Federal Government nor the comptroller general. Only recently a maritime magazine had written a cover story with the headline “Time for Dikko to go.” But in a swift reaction, Ologbese said that Dikko’s recent achievement in sending

amount would accrue to the service providers if they had remained at the scanning site. He said that the Pre Arrival Assessment Regime (PAAR) spearheaded by the comptroller general is a land mark achievement which will boost revenue generation for the country. “Calling on Dikko (Nde) to go now when the PAAR is at its embryo, is uncalled for, very unpatriotic and mischievous. Instead, the CG should be allowed to pilot and monitor the destination inspection and PAAR to fruitfulness,” he said. Also, Ologbese urged the Customs to put behind them the struggle to get a successor for Alhaji Dikko, but rather, join hands with the present CG to ensure that the ongoing PAAR succeeds as it will be a glory to the customs and the country. However, it repose confidence in them by backing the service providers on Destination Inspection.

viders alone is enormous task for us and when you add that to the teething problem of PAAR itself, then you will agree with me that, certainly you will understand the kind of challenge the service will be faced with.. “We are happy that PAAR is coming out beautifully and I

must say that we are coming out of the storm gradually and as we speak PAAR is now being transmitted with ease, PAAR is rolling out smoothly and before the importer gets home after processing his “Form M”, the PAAR will be ready that same night.”

nical College, Okoloba, is to provide facilities to train seafarers Already, it has registered its courses with Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB). The college, which is the first of its kind in Nigeria, was set up to train Nigerian cadets

who plan on pursuing careers in the seafaring profession. Principal of the college, Mr Nenepamo Williams, said that the move was to enable the college award NABTEB certificates. He disclosed that 35 students were admitted as pioneer members of the institution. Nenepamo disclosed this when members of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport visited the school.

He also said that the service was serving the entire nation, sub-region and neighbouring countries as regards import, noting that Nigerian market was not for the country alone but for other neighbouring states.

Dredging vessel, MV S.D. GUMEL LAGOS

Port concessionaires seek exit of tank farms from port OPPOSITION Concessionaires have opposed the existence of the petroleum tank farms in the port area

ort terminal operators in the umbrella of Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) have said that petroleum tank farms clustered around the ports in Apapa should been relocated by government. The association noted that it was dangerous to locate petroleum tank farms within the

ports environment Chairman of the association, Princess Vicky Hastrup, said that the activities of the tank farms have largely affected the inflow and out flow of cargoes from the nations’ port. She warned about the danger that the continuous operation of the tank farms pose to port system, even as she appealed to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to use its new regulatory powers to cause the change. Haastrup noted: “The owners of these tank farms are very powerful Nigerians, but we don’t want congestion around the port environment, it is difficult for customers bringing in their trucks to load

NIMASA College to provide training facilities for seafarers igerian Maritime AdminisN(NIMASA), tration and Safety Agency Science and Tech-

The college principal also explained that arrangement has been concluded for supplementary admission for students seeking admission into the institution, adding that with time, the college would become a world-class institution with facilities to train seafarers. Nenepamo added: “The school officially commenced operation on January 6, 2014, with 35 students at the com-

mencement and since then, we have run the school for over six weeks and students have commenced the mid-term. “We deal with the general area of education, which is followed by the technical aspect and we also teach maritime related courses. “With time, the school would get affiliated to other worldclass maritime institutions so as to ensure that graduates get

their cargo. “It is only in Nigeria that you have tank farms located within the port environment, this is very dangerous and those tank farms should be relocated.” The chairman lamented the delay experienced by container-laden trucks to access the port due to the bad roads and the activities going on at the tank farms in Apapa. She pointed out that part of the concession agreement was that time was allocated to the period when trucks will come into the port, load cargo and go out, saying that coming from Apapa and Tin Can Port was very difficult. international certification. “What we are focusing is how to give young Nigerians basic technical training in preparation to further their studies in other conventional institutions or the maritime university that NIMASA is currently constructing. “In addition to this, the foundation we give to the student in this school will also enhance their study in the engineering field, particularly marine engineering.”

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

The former Western Region had Lagos, Oyo, Ondo and Ogun, while the former Eastern Region were Anambra, Imo, Cross River, and Rivers states. Again, the Mid West remained as it was. Under the 1976 Local Government Reform initiated by the Gen. Olusegun Obasajo regime, a uniform standard of administration was made to apply for the creation of new local councils. The committee chaired by Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, employed the criteria of population, cultural identity and administrative viability in the delimitation of new councils. At the end of the exercise, Nigeria was divided into 300 local government areas – North (152) and South (148). Placing these local governments alongside the present six geo-political zonal arrangement, the North-West is comprised of 53 councils; NorthEast (51) and North Central (48). In the southern part of the country, the South-East had 44; South-South (45) and South-West (59). The Nigerian federation was to witness major structural changes between 1984 and 1999, when the military through Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha (late), once again occupied the political landscape. From 19, the number of states jumped to 36, while local governments increased to 774 from 300. The North had 419 of these councils, while the remaining 355 was shared among the former three regions in the South. Of the present 774 councils, the South-East has 95; North-West (186); South-West (137), South-South (123); North Central Zone (121) and NorthEast (112). To Ndigbo, there cannot be further justification of marginalisation, as the sharing of the nation’s common wealth is tied to the number of states and local governments. Long list of demand While Ndigbo cried marginalisation over the disparity in the states structure, some analysts however blamed their “uncoordinated approach” to the issue for their predicament. The belief is that the multiplicity of demands by the people of the South-East in the past explains why their quest has continued to linger. Before now, there were campaigns by several groups in each of the five states of the zone for the proposed new state to be carved out from their respective areas. In Abia State, there was a demand for the creation of Aba State. Same goes for the people of the old Nsukka division in Enugu State, who wanted Adada State. In Imo State, there were demands for Orlu, Njaba and Orashi states by different groups. The desire of the agitators of Aba State made up of Ukwa and Ngwa ethnic nationalities is to have their area comprising of nine local government areas; Aba North, Aba South, Osisioma Ngwa, Obingwa, Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South, Ugwunagbo, Ukwa East and Ukwa West local government areas, carved out of the present Abia State. Those at the forefront of Aba State argued that similar demand was made in 1915 to the British Colonial Government, 1954, 1980 and 1983 to both Houses of the National Assembly. They listed states which were marked for creation along with Aba at the time to include, Adamawa, Jigawa, Katsina, Kogi, Taraba and Enugu states. Similarly, those behind Adada State project argued that of all the old provinces in the then Eastern Nigeria, Nsukka province remains the only one that has not been accorded a state status. They also opined that theirs remains the most outstanding state creation agitation in Igboland, adding that their demand would have since come to fruition if not for military intervention in 1983, as the then National Assembly, had moved a motion, calling for the creation of Adada State.

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

State creation: North, South-East rekindle rivalry

Nwachukwu

Sani

due to their location.

The South-East is very big. We are just asking for one more, after all, the North-West has seven. Let us be at par with others... If people do not want to listen to a reasonable proposition, then we can as well go back home and forget this conference In Imo State, a section of leaders in Imo West (Orlu Zone) and Anambra South Senatorial Districts are pushing for the creation of Njaba State, while others are demanding for Orlu and Orashi states, respectively. The proposed Njaba State, according to its promoters, should be carved out of the 12 local government areas that make-up Imo West and Ihiala Local Government Area in Anambra State. The 12 Imo West councils are Orlu, Orsu, Oru East, Oru West, Oguta, Ohaji/Egbema, Nkwerre, Nwangele, Isu, Njaba, Ideato North and Ideato South. According to them, the state will ensure fairness as regards state creation in the former Eastern Region. They recalled that the region was split into Imo and Anambra and from Imo, Abia was carved out while Enugu was created from Anambra and out of the two, Ebonyi later emerged. Therefore, they maintained that equity demands that the sixth state for the South-East be carved out of the present Imo and Anambra states. In the same Senatorial District, agitators of Orlu State want only the 12 councils that make up the zone to be accorded a state status. To them, Orlu zone has an estimated population of about two million, and has to its credit enormous potential to survive. A similar demand is that of Orashi State. Its proponents want some local government areas in Anambra and Rivers states to be added to Imo West, as the area is a virtual geographical autonomy of its own, contributing more than 70 per cent oil and gas resources to the national pool, but are pathetically cut off from all indices of development

Closing ranks Perhaps, lessons of the past explained why Ndigbo decided to close ranks ahead of the ongoing National Conference to realise their dream of another state. The Federal Government, had in announcing the modalities for the confab, said it would discuss any subject matter except the indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria as a nation. Apparently cashing in on the government’s confab “open cheque,” South-East leaders at a pre-conference forum in Enugu unanimously agreed that the zone’s agenda at the National Conference would be anchored on demand for an additional state, a new constitution, restructuring of government, fiscal federalism, devolution of power, resource control, citizenship right, security of lives and property and reparation over the continuous killing of Ndigbo and destruction of their property in other parts of the country, especially in the North. President of Ohanaeze, Chief Gary Igariwey, who spoke on the agenda, said the position was not different from that presented by the zone at the 1994 and 2005 conferences, and which is yet to be addressed. The harmonisation of agenda and the unison that the South-East delegates at the conference are pursuing it could be said to be responsible for the approval by the National Conference Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government for another state in the South-East. The Mukaila Muhammed-led 28-member committee, in adopting the proposal, agreed that the demand for another state by the South-East was legitimate and will redress the apparent marginalisation of the zone. It therefore recommended that the process of state creation, which is cumbersome under the 1999 Constitution be simplified. Kudos trail proposal Leader of the South-East delegates at the confab, Senator Ike Nwachukwu, in his reaction shortly after the approval, said he was appreciative of the understanding and maturity of the committee members on the zone’s demand. He said going by the agitations from different parts of the country, there was a need to consider such agitations in order to eliminate marginalisation. “I must thank my committee mem-

bers for their maturity and ability to discern the need for Nigerians to have more states based on merit and particularly to give the South-East an additional state, bringing it in line with other states to six,” Nwachukwu said. Former Abia State governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, in a similar reaction hailed the committee’s decision, saying the proposal, if eventually approved, would be a great relief for him, as he has consistently canvassed the same position. His words: “There is no point having a union in which one out of six is considered the weaker or less privileged partner. Thirty-four years is long enough to forget any issue we have against ourselves. Now is the time to move on and forget our ill feelings towards one another. The National Conference Committee on Political Restructuring is giving us another opportunity to consolidate on this. We should not fail to take advantage of the opportunity.” Not yet Uhuru Despite the euphoria over the prospect of the new state, there are still more hurdles to be crossed by the South-East, as procedures to be adopted by the National Assembly in creating a new state(s) is cumbersome. This is as the committee’s recommendation is still subject to approval of the confab at plenary. Section 8(i) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) states: “An Act of the National Assembly for the purpose of creating a new state shall only be passed if – (a) A request, supported by at least two-thirds majority of members (representing the area demanding the creation of the new state) in each of the following, namely – (i) the Senate and the House of Representatives, (ii) The House of Assembly in respect of the area, and (iii) The local government councils in respect of the area, is received by the National Assembly. “(b) A proposal for the creation of the state is thereafter approved in a referendum by at least two-thirds majority of the people of the area where the demand for creation of the state originated; (c) The result of the referendum is then approved by a simple majority of all the states of the federation supported by a simple majority of members of the Houses of Assembly; and (d) The proposal is approved by a resolution passed by two-thirds majority of members of each House of the National Assembly.” Northern opposition Besides the constitutional challenge, the biggest hurdle the South-East would be facing is the opposition by the North. Northern delegates at the conference, New Telegraph gathered, are mobilising to thwart the committee’s approval before it gets to plenary. The anti-Igbo plot has rekindled the age-long rivalry between both regions. The North and South-East, it would be recalled were at the centre of the 30 months old Nigeria/Biafra civil war (1966-1970) that claimed millions of lives on both sides. Since then, it has been no love-lost for both regions, as they have continued to view each other with suspicion. Spokesman for the northern delegates, Anthony Sani, gave a hint to the plot when he faulted those who said the approval was to pacify the South-East. According to him, no one had wronged CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

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Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Last Tuesday, the House of Representatives summoned the nation’s Service Chiefs to brief it on the state of insecurity in the country, particularly measures put in place to rescue the abducted schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State. PHILIP NYAM reviews how a resolution was reached.

Abducted schoolgirls: When Reps summoned Service Chiefs

marting from the Easter break, the House of Representatives committed the whole of Tuesday, April 29 to deliberate on the unfortunate abduction of over 200 girls of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State by members of the Boko Haram sect. It was a solemn and pitiable atmosphere as members of the Green Chambers evoke feelings of empathy, frustration and anger over the whereabout and plight of the hapless girls. Their contributions came on the heels of a motion under matters of urgent national importance brought by Hon. Peter Biye Gumtha, the member representing Chibok/ Damboa/Goza Federal Constituency of Borno State. At the end of the marathon deliberations, the House resolved to invite all the Service Chiefs to appear before it and explain what measures they have in place to ensure release of the abducted students. They include the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Kenneth Tobiah Minimah; Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu. The motion In the motion titled “the urgent need to secure the abducted girls of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State,” Gumtha who looked bedraggled said: “During the night of 14th/15th April 2014, Boko Haram terrorists invaded Chibok town in Borno State, destroyed houses, looted market stalls and abducted 273 SSS3 girls at Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS) Chibok writing their Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (SSCE).” According to him, 230 of these girls are still in captive, adding that besides kidnapping the girls, their assailants torched market stalls and other property in the area, worth millions unchallenged by the military. He disclosed that the Mbalala/ Chibok/Damboa federal road totalling about 50 kilometre is neglected and untarred, thereby hindering rescue effort from the sector command of Damboa and Askira. The lawmaker, who called for the intervention of the House, expressed disgust over the misleading information received by the parents of the abducted children from the security agencies. Apart from asking that the security agencies expedite action in rescuing the girls, he pleaded with his colleagues to urge the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials to those whose houses and shops were destroyed during the incident. He also prayed that the House mandate its joint committees on Internal Security, Defence, Army and Women Affairs and Social Development to draw out the modalities for the rehabilitation of the traumatised girls in conjunction with their parents upon release. Contributions House leader, Hon. Mulikat Akan-

Tambuwal

de-Adeola (PDP-Oyo), in supporting the motion said “her heart bleeds” on the thought of the abducted girls, adding that relevant committees of the House be mandated to intervene. In his contributions, Hon. Patrick Ikhariale (PDP-Edo) regretted the alleged double standard in the fight against terrorism in the North-East. T he chair man, House Committee on Power lamented that: “It is most regrettable that people on all sides, instead of facing this (insecurity) challenge, are speaking from both sides of their mouths. How do you explain that it took several hours to abduct these girls and no soldier within that period came to their rescue? No parent will be happy that his daughter was abducted on the watch of security agencies. The truth is that over the years, we have taken security issues with levity.” The Minority Whip, Hon. Samson Osagie (APC-Edo) in his contribution, painted a hopeless picture of the insurgency onslaught. He regretted that the citizenry was at the mercy of terror merchants, noting that the government has failed in the provision of security and protection of the citizenry. According to him, the time has come for the government to stop playing blame game and rise up to the occasion to nip in the bud the rampaging insurgent activities. “For me, it is the failure of the political class. Government must do everything within its powers to free these children. I pray that God will touch the hearts of these criminal elements to free these children unhurt,” Osagie said. Chairman House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje (PDP-Abia), while contrib-

Badeh

uting to the debate said the magnitude of the destruction and damage caused by the terrorists was a clear signal that Nigeria cannot fight the war alone. She said the modus operandi of the Boko Haram militants has advanced and therefore recommended the collaboration of Nigeria with border countries of Cameroon, Chad, Niger and the United Nations Security Council in the fight against insurgency in the country. She said Nigeria must adopt what is called “border town administration.” The former chairman of the House Committee on Education, Hon. Farouk Lawan called on his colleagues to take 30 minutes, put themselves in the position of the parents of the captured girls and attempt to visualise what is going through their minds on the plight of their children. He said: “Let us do whatever is necessary to fish out the perpetrators of this act.” In frustration, Lawan queried rhetorically: “What are we legislating if

It is most regrettable that people on all sides, instead of facing this (insecurity) challenge, are speaking from both sides of their mouths... The truth is that over the years, we have taken security issues with levity

we can’t guarantee the lives of these children.” Hon. Andrew Uchendu (APC-Rivers), who is chairman of the House Committee on Public Service Matters, while condemning the dastard act amended the motion by suggesting that the Chief of Defence Staff be invited to come and brief the House on the state of security concerning the girls. He also suggested that the nation declare a day of mourning and prayer. Hon. Aisha Dahiru (PDP-Adamawa) however introduced a different dimension into the debate when she expressed disappointment with the failure of the House to reconvene as soon as the incident happened, arguing that the debate on the motion was belated. She said: “In as much as I support this motion, the debate on this issue is belated. I thought this House would have suspended its recess and come back to tackle this matter.” Hon. Robinson Uwak (APC-Akwa Ibom) blamed the continued activities of the insurgents on the poor morale of the military occasioned by lack of sophisticated equipment and non-motivational condition of work. He said the legislature should brace up to the current challenges and insist on rebuilding and instilling confidence in the military. Other lawmakers who supported the motion were Bitrus Kaze (PDPPlateau), Arua Arunsi (PDP-Abia), Garba Datti (APC-Kaduna), Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi (PDP-Enugu), Isa Lawan (APC-Borno) and Saidu Mohammed. While ruling on the motion, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal noted that terrorism is condemnable in its entire ramification and must not be allowed to weigh down the nations. He assured that the House will continue to support the security forces and executive to look for ways to end the insurgency. The House was however silent on the date that the Service Chiefs are expected to appear before it.

42 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Shaibu: I was detained with coup plotters Would you say your position as former president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) influenced your involvement in politics? Yes, I think it really helped to enhance my thinking of what leadership should be and that actually encouraged me to the level of my performance in the Edo State House of Assembly both as a lawmaker and also as a leader of the parliament. From my student union days, we have always been on the streets fighting against oppression and establishments that would not support education and not focused; an establishment that we saw that was just there to destabilise and ruin our country. And one of the fights that we had was because we believed that democracy is the hallmark of any countries, to fight against military dictatorship during the late General Sani Abacha era. I was the National Mobilisation Officer of NANS at that time; also zone C coordinator of Abacha Must Go campaign. I coordinated the Abacha Must Go rally at the Plateau township stadium which led to my arrest and I was also in Yaba, Lagos State for a march against Abacha where we were also arrested alongside late Gani Fawehinmi and a lot of others. We were detained severally in different prisons including Gusau prisons and at different police stations and State Security Service (SSS) offices. I can recall a particular one we were detained alongside General Oladipo Diya during the coup plot when they were detained in SSS office in Plateau State. At that time, we did a rally on the ‘Abacha Must Go’ and I was detained alongside the coup plotters in the same cell. So, we had a lot of this struggle and fortunately I was very lucky amongst the students because we were doing the right thing. So, I was more popular among the students and I was less popular among the establishments; and because of that I was able to grow from being a class representative to a parliamentarian representing Abuja Hostel constituency in the parliament of the Students Union Government (SUG) of the University of Jos and from there I rose to be the Welfare Secretary of the Students Union Government of the university. Also I became the ‘Abacha Must Go’ coordinator of NANS and later the mobilisation officer of NANS. From there I became the national president of NANS and as president of NANS, the first fight we had was against President Olusegun Obasanjo to reinstate all the politically expelled and rusticated students by the then military junta. And fortunately for us, we were able to get Obasanjo to restore all our students who were politically expelled and rusticated during the Abacha era and I also fought for the increment of allowances of members of the Nigeria Youth Service Corps (NYSC). At that time, their salary was about N3,500 and we were able to fight for an increment that led to our disruption of an independent anniversary where we protested against the president. And we mobilized our students to Abuja where the independent anniversary had serious problem and the students were teargased at Eagle Square on that day because we protested that we also want administrative autonomy for higher institutions. These were some of the fights I fought as president of NANS. How do you feel working with Governor Adams Oshiomhole as the Majority Leader of the House of Assembly? Interestingly, I also worked with the Comrade Governor when he was the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) because NANS was very progressive at that time and we

Former president, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Philip Shaibu, had a raw deal with government in his student’s days. The Majority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly representing Etsako West II looks at his struggles, involvement in politics and the legislative-executive relations in this interview with CAJETAN MMUTA. Excerpts:

Shaibu

worked hand in hand with the NLC. It was not difficult to work with Oshiomhole. He is like my father. I was able to understand him at home and also understand Comrade Adams as a unionist in the office. I understood both his home life and his office life and so before I became the Majority Leader and before he became governor I already understood who he is and his vision and mission. The vision and mission are things I value and cherish and keyed into them even before he became governor of the state. So, I saw him as a role model right from time. Fortunately, destiny made him governor and I on the other side as a Majority Leader, it was not difficult for me to understand him but what was most paramount was that we have a legislative arm that also keyed into his vision and that makes it easier for me. During the PDP reign in the Assembly, there were lots of issues but we were able to fight them to a standstill. At that time, I was suspended on two occasions for my opposition to certain issues that I felt were detrimental to the welfare of people of Edo State. Critics say the state legislature has been the rubber stamp of the executive? I have always said that when people do not see a fight, they want to create one. We have a very robust rela-

We have a very robust relationship with the executive because we are all united in the development of our state and we are also united against anybody that will put the development of Edo State in a reverse gear tionship with the executive because we are all united in the development of our state and we are also united against anybody that will put the development of Edo State in a reverse gear. It is only those few that want Edo State to be underdeveloped that will make a statement like that. And I have always said that if passing all the bills that have brought development in Edo State means I am a rubber stamp legislator, I am ready to be a rubber stamp for development. President Goodluck Jonathan has suspended the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido and a lot of people are of the view this came because of the comments and revelations by the apex bank’s boss. Do you share same sentiment? Well, I don’t know the criteria that was used to appoint him and I don’t

also know the criteria that was used to suspend him but if it is because of his revelations to Nigerians that money was missing that led to his suspension, I don’t think they have solved the issue. The real issue is whether money is missing or not. The number one banker in Nigeria, the governor of CBN, said money was not remitted to him; I think the real thing is for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to remit that money back to the CBN. The NNPC talked about oil theft and now we are discovering that the small one that was sold, the money has not been remitted. I think the real issue is to remit the money and whoever they have put there cannot cover the fraud, if there was fraud. They can’t cover it, we are all aware that money is missing and those monies should be remitted to the CBN. How do you see the inconsistencies of Sanusi over the missing money? The man came out and said $10 billion was missing and later said it iwas $20 billion. The bottom line is that money is missing. I am a fan of the Speaker, House of Representatives who said that the body language of Mr. President is showing that he encourages corruption because truly Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for me should be the one to be suspended by Mr. President. The Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezieani Alison Madueke is another one that should be suspended by the President. How come the CBN governor who said money was missing is the one on suspension. What about the woman that cannot control the theft in the oil industry? During her time, we recorded the highest rate of oil theft and she is still there. For me, a country that wants to move forward, the Minister of Petroleum should be fired because she has failed. She has a record as the Petroleum Minister that came in and oil theft become the order of the day and we are still having billions of naira being voted for the control and safeguarding of the crude oil. And even with the money, we still hear that oil theft is becoming severe. Now they are creating artificial scarcity of fuel to justify the money they have stolen. So, for me I think Mr. President should prove the Speaker of the House of Representatives wrong that his body language is not encouraging corruption. The only way he can prove him wrong is to sack the ministers of Finance and Petroleum Resources, then put up a high powered inquiry to investigate the activities of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and that of the Ministry of Finance because the problem is between the two ministries and not the CBN. These two ministries know what they are doing. When I heard the suspension of Sanusi, I was watching to see if the two ministers were also part of it. Though, the President has done away with Stella Oduah, it is remaining two. I praised him for having the courage to sack the former Aviation Minister but I want him to go beyond that to show strong will that Nigerians are tough and we are strong-willed. The President should show that strong will by sacking the ministers of Petroleum Resources and Finance. Ahead of the 2015 general elections, what advice would you offer the chairman of the electoral body, Prof. Attahiru Jega and possibly the electorate? Well, Jega should write his name in gold in the hearts of Nigerians and not to write his name in the hearts of a few individuals who will not help CONTINUED ON PAGE 43

POLITICS 43

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Senior Special Assistant to Taraba State Acting Governor on Media and Publicity, Aaron Artmas, in this interview, describes the call for state of emergency in Taraba as short cut to seize power from Acting Governor Garba Umar. TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE reports Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, representing Taraba South has blamed Acting Governor Garba Umar for crisis in some parts of the state and therefore called on the Federal Government to declare state of emergency in Taraba. How would you react to this? The question to ask is what does the acting governor stand to gain from sponsoring war in Taraba State? By the grace of God, he is already the leader of the state and he obviously needs a peaceful environment to consolidate. It is Bwacha who has been agitating for violence. Now his agenda has come out – to cause confusion and attract a state of emergency. It is Bwacha’s shortcut to power. Since Bwacha started making this inciting allegation, which is purely political, he is yet to produce a single evidence linking the acting governor to the crisis. So far, Taraba State Government has involved every important stakeholder in the southern part of the state in the effort to restore peace. He has succeeded in bringing the warring parties together to sign a peace agreement and provided relief to the victims. The acting governor has not left any stone unturned in his quest for peace in Southern Taraba. If Bwacha has any incriminating evidence against the government, let him come forward and present it, instead of making unverifiable, inflammatory and inciting comments aimed at destabilising and sabotaging the lofty efforts of the government. Taraba South has enjoyed relative peace before your principal took over the leadership of the state. Why the surge of violence? The acting governor has been in power for almost one and half years now and he has been effectively handling the tranquillity of the state, until the spill over of the violence from neighbouring states. It is important to note that the three local governments affected by the violence, Ibi, Wukari and Takum, share common borders with Nassarawa, Plateau, and Benue states; where the insurgency started. Residents of the state are aware of this. Insurgency is a national security challenge affecting more than 15 states. How can any sane person single out Taraba State? Bwacha does not understand the challenges of governance. The childish accusation is a demonstration of his incompetence in this respect. Southern Taraba has experienced crises at various times in 1992, 2001 and 2012 and successful governments have tried their best to handle the situation, just as is the case in the present one. In spite of the recent peace truce reached among the warring parties, there was renewed crisis in Ibi and Gassol? Since the outbreak of the crisis, the government has held series of meetings of the State Security Council to discuss new developments to the crisis. It has held series of meetings with stakeholders from Southern Taraba. They include traditional rulers, chairmen of local government councils, political appointees, religious leaders and leaders of the warring commu-

No basis for emergency rule in Taraba –Gov’s aide

tus, who is struggling to rule the state. Do you think there is any need for the Federal Government to impose emergency rule on Taraba? Again, this is another deliberate misfiring by the distinguished senator. The Federal Government is already facing challenges on its own: Boko Haram insurgency in North-East, the bombings in Abuja, the Fulani insurgency in Katsina, Zamfara, Nassarawa, Plateau and Benue. The security personnel in the country are already overstretched, that is why it has not been easy for the army and police to meet our demand to deploy troops to the Southern part. The entire country is already in some form of emergency. Why single out Taraba? How can a state of emergency be imposed on Taraba to the exclusion of other states with similar problems? It is instructive to note that no senator has called for a state of emergency to be imposed on his state except Bwacha. Your principal is alleged of nursing a gubernatorial ambition in 2015 against plans by his ailing boss, Danbaba Suntai. What does this portend for the party in the state? The truth is that the acting governor has not formally declared his interest. All the posters and campaign going on in the state is the agitation by the people to put him on the ballot. Most Tarabans of goodwill want him to contest and they are pouring their resources into the project. For now, the acting governor is more interested in stabilising the security situation in the state to provide a peaceful atmosphere for the people to make their choice.

Artmas

nities; Fulani, Tiv and Jukun. Also senior civil servants, including directors and permanent secretaries have been deployed to their respective local governments to assist in restoring peace to their areas. Government has also increased its financial and logistic support to the security agencies to improve their capacities to handle the crisis. In addition, the government has been providing relief materials to the victims. As part of the recent peace deal signed with warring parties, the government compensated those who lost their homes, cattle and other property to enhance the process of forgiveness. Also in the peace pact signed by the parties, it was unanimously agreed that the crisis should not be given any religious colouration. Regrettably, it was Senator Bwacha who has continued to propagate the notion or dimension of religious crisis. He has falsely accused the Acting Governor of sponsoring the crisis for the simple fact that he is a Muslim. He has portrayed

Insurgency is a national security challenge affecting more than 15 states. How can any sane person single out Taraba State? Bwacha does not understand the challenges of governance himself as fighting for Christian interest to the detriment of thousands of Muslims who voted for him. He has been brazenly dividing the people to present himself as a champion of minorities whereas Taraba as a plural society is fully integrated at family and community levels. This is completely unexpected of a politician of his sta-

Is Bwacha really a threat to Umar’s ambition in 2015? the senator has lost so much political value that he may not even win his local government in the gubernatorial contest. He is certainly not a threat. This is obviously why the senator has been devising another means to get to power. He wants to get rid of the acting governor, so as to install a stooge who will pave the way for him to get power. Since his struggle has the potential of throwing people into chaos and mayhem, God has rejected all his plans. The acting governor has been accused of indiscriminately borrowing, which shows the state is broke? Taraba State Government is not broke. The government has been running effectively. The government has been meeting all its obligations to civil servants, contractors and maintenance of peace. The government has completed many projects initiated by Governor Suntai. The government has a right to borrow if it feels that such is required to bring more development to the people. It will only do so through the State House of Assembly.

I’m ready to be rubberstamp for devt –Shaibu CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 2

him. He is one man that has proven that he is a comrade. I want him to live up his name as a comrade and one thing I like in him is that he admits mistakes. The Anambra situation was one that he admitted the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Unlike in the past, Maurice Iwu would justify that the election was the most

peaceful, most credible that we ever had and since he has identified that INEC goofed in Anambra, what I expect him to do to write his name in gold in the hearts of Nigerians, is to correct other elections that will take place in the country. Nigerians are law abiding but don’t push them to the wall. What have you done for your constituents since being elected a legislator?

Yes, I have a lot of them that crisscross the nooks and crannies of my constituency. Due to the reserved love I have for education, several projects have been done to ensure that our people have the best of education in line with the massive renovation and construction of new buildings in parts of the state. The outstanding projects I have executed are constructions of blocks of classrooms with offices at primary and secondary schools across my constituency.

44 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Reps okay N200, 000 fine for exam cheats Philip Nyam

subsection (I) of this section by a court of competent jurisdiction (b) may be imposed whether or not a prosecution for an offence under this Act has been brought or is being conducted or is contemplated. The power to impose any of the penalties under this section shall be exercised by the Councillor by any person authorised on that behalf by the Council.”

Akande-Adeola

BILL OF

WEEK

THE

ur bill of the week is a Bill for an Act to amend the West African Examination Council Act, Cap W4, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, to among other things give effect to the revised Convention of the West African Examination Council and for related matters.” The bill intends to amend section 1, 19, 20, 21 and 24 of the Principal Act. The bill, which has passed second reading is an Executive Bill hence the Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola assumes the responsibility of presenting it before the House. While leading debate for its second reading, the House leader decried the fact that Nigeria is the only country among the other West African countries that is yet to ratify and domesticate the convention. She stated that the intendment of the bill is to amend certain sections of the principal Act. Chiefly, among other things, it sought to recommend a fine of N200, 000 for examination malpractices and for impersonation. The bill wants Section I of the Principal Act amended by inserting new subsections (2) and (3) as follows: The provisions of the Revised Convention of the West African Examination Council, 2003 (herein after referred to as “the Convention”) as set out in the Schedule to this Act shall have the force of law in Nigeria.” The Federal Government of Nigeria is by this expected to enact a law that would facilitate measures to give effect to the provisions of the Convention in Nigeria. Also, it seeks to have Section 1 of the Principal Act amended by renumbering the existing subsections (2) and (3) to subsections (4) and (5) respectively. Section 19 of the Principal Act is amended by deleting the entire provisions and substituting same with the following provisions: “Illegal possession, knowledge or use of examination papers; A person who before or during an examination conducted by the Council: is in possession of an examination paper; is found to have had foreknowledge of the contents of an examination paper; makes use of an examination paper or the con-

The intendment of the bill is to amend certain sections of the principal Act. Chiefly, among other things, it sought to recommend a fine of N200, 000 for examination malpractices tents of it in any manner whatsoever; without lawful authority, the proof of which shall be on that person who commits an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than N200,000 or impris-

onment for a term of five years or to both such fine and imprisonment.” The amendment bill states that: “Where a candidate before or during an examination is found to have acted or is found acting in breach of subsection (I) of this section, the Council (a) shall disqualify the candidate from taking examination and the entire results of the candidate in the examination shall be cancelled; (b) may prohibit the candidate from taking an examination held or conducted by or on behalf of the Council for a period of not less than two years immediately after the breach. “The penalties contained under subsection (2) of this section (19): (a) shall not be a bar to the imposition of penalties in

The Sponsor Akande-Adeola is the majority leader and is serving her second term in the House of Representatives. The first woman to be House leader, she was first elected in 2007 and sat until 2011. She represents Ogbomosho North/ South/Orire Federal Constituency of Oyo State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). She began her educational pursuit at St. Anne’s Primary School, Kaduna (1966-1971) and proceeded to Queen Amina College, Kaduna (1972- 1976) for her secondary education. For her high school, she attended Katsina College of Arts and Science, Zaria (1977 – 1979). A lawyer by training, she obtained her LL.B at Ahmadu Bello University in (1982) and LB at Nigerian Law School in 1983. She proceeded to the University of Lagos and obtained masters (LL M) in 1985. Akande-Adeola first tasted political office as a member of the LAUTECH Governing Council between 2004 and 2006. Her legislative interests include women empowerment, poverty alleviation, infrastructural development and foreign affairs.

State creation: North, South-East rekindle rivalry CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 0

anyone. “When people say we should create states to pacify them (Ndigbo), the impression one gets is that a wrong has been done; it is not so. To create states, there are conditions that must be met; how homogeneous, the population, the landmass and lastly, the viability,” he said. He added: “I feel a bit worried when the South-East insists that on the basis of equality, there must be six states. When people say appease, it is as if they have been wronged. The South-West was a region and it has six states. The old Eastern Region has nine. The whole of the North, which is half or even more than half of the country, has just 19. You do not just create states like that.” ACF backs plot Expectedly, pan northern group, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has thrown its weight to the anti-Igbo plot. The group, in a 46-page document it recently distributed to all northern delegates at the conference, entitled “Key Issues before the Northern Delegates to the 2014 National Conference,” argued that the South-East does not have the required landmass and population to warrant the new state. The Ibrahim Commassie-led ACF argued that the South-East with a total population of 16.3 million (an average of 3.2

million people per each of the five states in the zone) and a landmass of 33,664 square kilometres is below the National Population Average per state by 612,642. The group also avvered that an additional state, which formed the cardinal position of Ndigbo since the 1994 Constitutional Conference “has been crafted to whittle down any political advantage the North could exercise in Nigeria despite its huge territorial size and large population” even when the concept of geo-political zones has no place in the country’s constitution. Describing the North as the “backbone and strength of Nigeria,” ACF added that too many states have tended to convert them to “mere cost or effort centres” at the expense of socio-economic development. The document read in part: “The ACF believes that the creation of any additional state at this point in time is counter-productive and therefore, should be kept on hold until the need can be justified in future. The argument that creation of states should be on the basis of equality irrespective of population and landmass is inconsistent with the elementary concept of justice, since injustice is not only when equals are treated unequally but also when unequals are treated equally.” Showdown looms The hard stance of the North on the

South-East’s bid portends that a showdown is imminent and may bring the conference to abrupt end or affect its outcome. A pointer to this stems from the reaction of the leader of Imo State delegates at the conference, Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu. According to him, Ndigbo would be left with no other option than to move for the cancellation of the conference except other delegates are ready to listen to the “reasonable propositions” of others. His words: “It means they (North) do not want us to remain as one country. Look at Bayelsa, it is very small but it is a state. The South-East is very big. We are just asking for one more, after all, the North-West has seven. Let us be at par with others. “We are reasonable. This is a reasonable proposition. If people do not want to listen to a reasonable proposition, then we can as well go back home and forget this conference. If people want to reason as mad men, then there is no need for the conference in the first place.” While more heated debate on the issue is expected at the confab’s plenary, questions begging for answers are: Will Ndigbo make good their threat of walking out of the conference if their bid for a sixth state fails? What becomes of the conference and its outcome should the zone pull out? Will the South-East,

which had little or no representation at the top echelon of the armed forces during the military era, when inequality of states was perpetuated, be cowed again, even in a democratic dispensation? In the meantime, delegates from the respective states of the zone at the conference and their leadership back home have chosen to ignore the North’s opposition, intensifying efforts to ensure that the proposed state, when approved, is carved out from their respective areas. A delegate from Imo State, who disclosed this to New Telegraph, said the plots are being championed by those from Enugu and Abia states. “At the National Conference, we have seen Adada State supported by Enugu and Ebonyi states. We have seen well packaged documents on Aba State. This is injustice to Imo State. Justice, fairness and equity suggests that the next state in the South-East should be from Imo and Anambra states.” How Ndigbo tackle the Northern opposition amidst the scheming, analysts say, will put to test, their unanimity though many believe that some of the new state campaigner are merely seeking to carve out empires for themselves, as the existing ones which they are presently presiding or have presided in the past, have not in any way impacted on the lives of the people.

METRO 45

of Truth

May 7, 2014

ob discovers five children’s ads in woman’s car

s her ablaze

ky-Bakre

f summary killing swept koro Road at Abule-Egba on the f Lagos metropolis yesterday. mob burnt a woman riding a no allegedly found with five heads. tified woman, according to a dentified himself as Idowu, front of the Nigerian National rporation (NNPC) filling staRoad. a commercial motorcyclist adipo, who had been suspectn for sometimes, believed she ller and traced her yesterday

hen Idowu and some boys acy asked her to come down for hile they were searching her san Murano, they discovered dren’s heads. beat her, undressed her and ashes. Police came after that the woman’s car and the chil-

olice Public Relations Officer, did not pick her calls or remessage to confirm the inci-

r, a man escaped being lynched llegedly caught with a school-

pe, robbery

e the Shell Yard of various valuuding two laptops, jewelleries, GSM handsets, one Motorola dset valued at over N500,000 and N2.8 million. ems, the convicts, obtained from m at gun point after she led them p where the money was kept. fied with their loots, the robahead to rape a youth corps who happened to be a cousin of m who was visiting at the time dent.

ing

13 at Yinka Ode Street, Orisunha for deceiving one Adejinmi th false services of procuring vel abroad, knowing fully well no such services at his disposal. ng to Okereke, the offence is punder Section 312 of the Criminal gos State 2011. “Sequel to this charge, Elee did um of N231,000 being money beAyodeji, by committed an offence punishSection 278 of the Criminal Code gos State 2011.

The suspect being burnt

boy said to have been kidnapped in the Ekoro area. A witness, Mrs Abidemi Rogba, said the unidentified man was caring a big

‘Ghana must go’ bag and was trying to go inside a manhole. Rogba said she asked the man what he was trying to drop inside the manhole because the residents had just evacuated refuse dumped inside a canal in the area. She said: “The man said he was going in there to rest. I insisted on seeing what he had in the bag. While this was going on, other people were attracted to the scene. They forced open the bag and a little boy was found inside. The boy was putting on the uniform of a particular school in this area. “In the process, the police came and took the man away.” According to her, a commercial motorcyclist, Wale Adebowale, volunteered to go inside the manhole. “When Adebowale came out, he said there were no children inside but he saw some empty sachets of water, biscuits, bottles of fruit juice drinks and children’s drinks and toys,” she added.

EFCC arraigns man for N30m land fraud Juliana Francis

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Enekwechi Raymond Onyimba before the Enugu State High Court on a two-count charge of criminal diversion of fund and obtaining money by false pretence. Onyimba, who was arraigned on Monday before the Chief Judge of the state, Justice I. A. Uwazulike, is alleged to have sold a property located at Plot 622, TransEkulu, New GRA, Enugu to Enyinnaya Igwe but fraudulently withheld the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to the property valued at N30 million. The EFCC Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, said yesterday that the accused also used the said C of O as collateral to secure a loan for his company, Ojaz Nigeria Limited. The complainant alleged that he bought the said property from

the accused via an irrevocable power of Attorney dated December 12, 2000 and registered as no: 77/77 in volume 1473 at Land Registry in Enugu, in August, 2005. When the charges were read in court, the accused pleaded not guilty. Count two of the charge reads: “Enekwechi Raymond Onyimba on or about the 29th August 2006 in Enugu, Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of the Enugu State High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud, induced Diamond Bank Plc to grant a loan of N3,400,000 to your company (Ojaz Nigeria Limited), when you falsely represented to the said Diamond Bank Plc that you are the beneficial owner of Plot 622 Trans-Ekulu, New GRA Enugu which you offered as collateral for the said loan, which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence”. Uwazulike granted

Onyimba

Onyimba bail in the sum of N1 million and one surety in like sum.

Abductors free Nigerians, hold Dutch nationals Joe Obende Warri

wo Nigerians among the five media workers kidnapped on Sunday in Bayelsa State have regained their freedom. But the abductors are still holding hostage the three Dutch nationals. Gunmen suspected to be former militants kidnapped the people who were on a working visit to Nigeria from the Netherlands. The two Nigerians based in the Netherlands are Comrade Sunny Ofehe of the Hope for Niger Delta Campaign (HNDC) and Femi Soewu of Africa Web TV. They were abandoned on Monday night at a location in Bomadi, a coastal community in Delta State. It was not clear if any ransom was paid before they were released. But Ofehe said that no ransom was paid for their release. A source disclosed that there had been a lot of pressure from the Niger Delta region particularly the communities visited by the Dutch nationals and two Nigerians on the kidnappers to release the victims who were in the region for charity work and see the ecological problems of the communities. The source said that the two Nigerians might have been released apparently because the militants specifically targeted the Dutch nationals. A Warri-based journalist, Joe Ogbodu, who witnessed the abduction, had said that the gunmen yelled during the attack, “take the white people,” while shooting sporadically. According to him, the gunmen first took away the foreigners before another boat came for the two Nigerians.

Ogbodu said that a separate group of armed men took Ofehe and Soewu and sped off through another direction. Ofehe, who briefed some journalists yesterday in Warri, said that they were taken to a location different from where the Dutch nationals were taken. He said: “On Sunday May 4, about 4:45pm, a group of heavily armed gunmen suspected to be Niger Delta militants attacked our speed boats carrying my delegation from the Netherlands which included Mr Erhard Leffers, Mrs Marianne Vos, Mr Jan Andre Groenendijk and Mr Femi Soewu, two journalists from the Warri chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Messers Joe Ogbodu and Theophilus Onojeghen of the National Mirror and some leaders of the communities.” Ofehe added that the incident occurred while returning to Warri after a successful tour of the newly built Chevron-facilitated GMOU hospital. He said that the visit was primarily to see how they could assist in soliciting international support for the hospital and the impoverished people of the Dodo River communities in Bayelsa State. Ofehe said that the gunmen told them they kidnapped for money, since they did not have jobs. According to him, the armed men said the oil companies operating in the region were not hiring locals and as a consequence, they were forced to abduct for money. Employees of foreign oil companies are required to have armed escorts when traveling in the Delta, but international journalists, ail workers and others typically avoid taking security details.

NBA demands DPO’s prosecution for hotelier’s murder Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

he Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) yesterday warned the Osun State Police Command to stop foot-dragging in the prosecution of the Divisional Police Officer in Ijamo area, Ilesa, Mr Joshua Adewalehinmi, who allegedly shot and killed a hotel manager. The NBA National First VicePresident, Mr Justy Erhabor, who frowned at the shoddy way the matter was being handled by the police, said at a press conference in Osogbo

that he wondered why it took the command so long to arraign the suspected killer. Erhabor asked the police to arraign Adewalehinmi without further delay. He said: “The NBA is not taking this matter lightly. We are interested in it and we want the police to prosecute the DPO for the alleged killing of the young man. “I have instructed the NBA, Ilesa branch, to monitor the case. There is tendency to sweep this kind of case under the carpet but the NBA, with the help of journalists, will not allow this.

“The young man, who was killed, was said to be around 25 years old. There are criminals in many states where trigger-happy policemen are needed. They are not paid to kill defenceless people. “The report I got was that the deceased was not armed when he was shot dead by Adewalehinmi and I have met with the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Osun State on the matter and was told that the DPO had been arrested. “However, arresting him was the first step but that is not enough as the suspect should be prosecuted under the law of the land.”

46 BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

6-May-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 9.20 29-JUN-2014 9.25 28-SEP-2014 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

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

9.20 9.25 4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00

45.00 100.00 535.00 435.27 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 75.00 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57

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

0.15 0.40 0.96 2.28 2.98 3.23 3.32 4.07 5.15 5.47 7.73 9.86 14.56 15.04 15.54 16.21

10.83 11.17 12.50 12.95 12.93 12.88 12.88 12.91 13.01 12.93 12.98 13.03 13.27 13.30 13.34 13.43

9.83 10.77 11.90 12.87 12.87 12.76 12.76 12.81 12.94 12.84 12.93 12.98 13.23 13.26 13.27 13.38

99.71 99.23 92.49 100.15 105.20 92.16 90.66 93.16 110.90 77.25 116.25 106.35 110.98 94.75 68.61 77.50

99.86 99.38 92.99 100.30 105.35 92.46 90.96 93.46 111.20 77.55 116.55 106.65 111.28 95.05 68.91 77.80

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

4,264.84 Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

***LCRM

Description

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

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

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

978.35 24.56 6.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.49 1.05 1.53 2.59 2.96 3.17

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.49 1.00

12.52 15.22 14.97 14.85 14.36 13.88

94.29 85.73 103.16 93.63 90.74 89.29

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

0.25 0.44 1.32 0.92 1.22 1.23 2.95 1.78 3.66 2.63 4.41 2.63 2.63 3.21 3.28 5.55 3.24 3.95 6.56 6.66 3.96 4.00

4.88 5.99 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 7.60 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 1.21 1.00 2.46 1.94 2.74 2.74 1.00 1.94 1.44 1.95

16.05 17.44 17.09 15.65 17.09 16.11 18.46 20.35 14.68 14.65 13.92 13.85 14.06 13.88 15.34 14.87 15.62 15.64 13.93 14.87 14.34 14.85

99.37 98.53 94.72 98.12 96.79 99.66 81.35 90.48 98.06 98.79 100.23 101.53 111.87 101.58 100.49 98.60 97.93 97.53 98.16 100.48 108.73 108.39

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

0.42 0.62 0.65 0.80 0.88 0.96 2.40 2.47 3.40 2.02 2.18 2.34 2.34 4.38 2.45 2.53 6.53

1.00 5.21 8.71 4.88 1.00 2.63 1.00 1.34 4.52 1.88 3.48 5.20 5.06 3.06 2.29 6.11 2.76

12.42 16.99 20.56 17.04 13.33 15.12 13.83 14.18 17.41 14.69 16.30 18.03 17.89 15.98 15.13 18.95 15.69

99.59 97.98 97.84 94.99 99.03 99.37 98.31 100.13 88.99 106.79 99.65 100.24 101.95 93.89 101.30 96.59 98.23

11-Feb-18

3.77

1.00

13.90

89.39

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,304.32

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

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

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

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

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

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

572.90

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

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

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

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

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

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

175.67

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

IFC

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

12.00 Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value ($'mm)

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

5.14

4.98

109.06

110.01

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

18-Dec-09

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.38

4.18

102.81

103.60

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

01-Apr-10

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.59

5.47

105.59

106.48

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

Corporate Eurobonds AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

3.76

3.35

112.83

113.56

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

5.31

4.46

104.15

105.84

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.18

5.93

99.32

100.29

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.13

6.65

100.31

101.69

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.22

7.70

95.49

97.20

AFREN PLC

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

5.33

4.55

113.46

115.04

ZENITH BANK PLC FIRST BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.28

6.13

99.89

100.49

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.17

6.73

103.86

105.53

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

AFREN PLC

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

6.61

6.36

100.07

101.02

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

ACCESS BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,460.00

**Treasury Bills DTM 9 16 23 30 44 51 58

FIXINGS Maturity 15-May-14 22-May-14 29-May-14 5-Jun-14 19-Jun-14 26-Jun-14 3-Jul-14

Bid Discount (%) 10.20 10.20 10.30 10.60 10.60 10.40 10.75

Offer Discount (%) 9.95 9.95 10.05 10.35 10.35 10.15 10.50

Bid Yield (%) 10.23 10.25 10.37 10.69 10.74 10.55 10.94

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 10.5917 12.6201 13.0371 14.0659

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.25

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

10.50

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M

161.55 160.28 160.43 160.71 161.28

161.65 160.49 160.66 161.07 161.88

O/N Tenor Call

REPO

Rate (%) 10.25

A/Agusto A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto Nil A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR Wednesday, May 7, 2014 A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto A-/GCR Sanctity of Truth

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

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

Corporate The bullsBonds staged a A+/Agusto; AA/GCR LAFARGE WAPCO comeback Aa/Agusto GTB

µ Nil NGC Bbb-/Agusto *UPDC A-/Agusto Chris Ugwu *FLOURMILLS BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS A+/Agusto; A-/GCR he equities market NAHCOclosed A-/Agusto on a positive FSDH trajectory A/GCR yesterday, as the UBA NigeriBBB-/GCR an Stock Exchange (NSE) *C & I LEASING # BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR by ASI appreciated 0.08 per *DANA A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR cent to close at 38,480.07 *TOWER# ba# AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR sis points, compared with the *TOWER A/Agusto; A/GCR of 0.34 UBAper cent depreciation Bbb+/Agusto;previously. BBB+/GCR *LA CASERA recorded # BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS Market turnover also closed A+/Agusto; as A-/GCR positive volume NAHCO traded ap-

TOTAL OUTSTANDING preciated by 97.87 VALUE per cent as against 39.92 per cent declines Supranational Bond

recorded in previous session. Afrinsure, Access bank, and UBA were the most active to boost 11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014 market turnover. Nestle and GTB 13.50 GUARANTY topped marketTRUST value18-DEC-2014 list. 17.00 NGCInsurance 31-DEC-2014 NSE recorded 10.00per UPDC cent 17-AUG-2015 0.45 to emerge the 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 most supportive sectoral per14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 others for mance among 13.00 NAHCO while NSE29-SEP-2016 Banking was the 14.25 FSDH most hit 25-OCT-2016 with 0.34 per cent 13.00recorded. UBA 30-SEP-2017 loss 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017showed Further analysis MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018upstream that indigenous MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 and exploration company, MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 Seplat Petroleum, which 14.00 UBAby II 22-SEP-2018 firmed N30.96 to close at 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 N662.99 per share and downMPR+5.00petroleum CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 stream marketer, 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 Total Nigeria that gained N2.50 to close at N152.50, led gainers. Food products

and confectionery company, Nestle Nigeria, upped N10.00 to close at N1, 080.00 07-Oct-11 while 11.50 per share, fast food 18-Dec-09 13.50 and logistics conglomerate, 17.00 UAC 01-Apr-10 of Nigeria, increased 17-Aug-10to close 10.00 by N1.75 at N57.00 09-Dec-10 12.00 per share. 14.00maker On06-Jan-11 the flip side, 29-Sep-11 13.00beverof non-alcoholic 14.25 ages,25-Oct-13 Seven Up, tumbled by 13.00 N4.5030-Sep-10 to close at N85.50 per 30-Nov-12 share. Following 18.00 shares of 09-Apr-11beverages 16.00 alcoholic produc09-Sep-11 18.00 ers, Nigerian Breweries, fell 09-Sep-11 16.00 by N0.69 to close at N148.72 14.00 per 22-Sep-11 share. Financial ser15.75 IBTC vices18-Oct-13 stocks, Stanbic 17-Feb-12 17.00 Trust holding and Guaranty 14-Nov-13 15.25 Bank, shed N0.40 and N0.30 to close at N22.60 and N26.50 respectively.

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

IFC

11-Feb-13

10.20

Azura-Edo IPP, 572.90

which will leverage the NPDC/ Seplat JV’s investment in the gas 11.80 07-Oct-14 domestication business 0.42 and 13.17 18-Dec-14 electricity 0.62 ultimately boost 2.00 31-Dec-14 supply in the country. 0.65 15.00 17-Aug-15 Gas Plant, 0.80 Seplat’s Oben 37.50 09-Dec-15 0.88 according to a statement, 1.50 0.96 will supply06-Jan-16 the Azura-Edo 15.00 with the29-Sep-16 IPP project's fuel2.40 gas 5.53 25-Oct-16 2.47 requirements. This falls with20.00the company’s 30-Sep-17 medium 3.40to in 0.94 30-Nov-17 2.02 long-term goals. 8.01 The Chief 09-Apr-18 Executive2.18 Of3.63 09-Sep-18Mr. Austin 2.34 ficer of Seplat 1.00 Avuru said 09-Sep-18 the domestic2.34 gas 35.00 22-Sep-18 4.38 space is a huge opportunity 3.00 Seplat. 18-Oct-18 2.45 for 0.54 He noted17-Feb-19 2.53 that the privati2.05 6.53 zation of the14-Nov-20 domestic power 175.67 industry, coupled with a massive government initiative to 12.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

statement, constitute over a $1 billion of local and international financing into the Ni1.00 gas and 12.42power sector. 99.59 gerian 5.21 16.99 The Azura-Edo IPP97.98 com8.71 20.56 prises a 450MW open97.84 cycle 94.99 gas4.88turbine 17.04 power station; a 1.00 transmission 13.33 99.03 short line con2.63 15.12 99.37to a necting the power plant 1.00 substation 13.83 and a98.31 local short 1.34 14.18gas pipeline 100.13 underground 4.52 17.41 power88.99 connecting the plant 14.69 106.79 to 1.88 the country’s main gas3.48 16.30 99.65 supply. It represents the first 5.20 of a 1,500MW 18.03 100.24 phase power 5.06 facility. 17.89 101.95 plant 3.06 93.89the The first15.98 phase of 2.29 which 15.13 101.30 to plant, is targeted 6.11 on stream 18.95 96.59 is come in 2017, 2.76 15.69 forecast to create over98.23 1,000 jobs during its construction and operation.

11-Feb-18

3.77

1.00

13.90

89.39

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

12.00

Description

Issuer

Chris FGN Ugwu Eurobonds

other group companies that were operating when it was a 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P SDH Merchant Bank has ap- discount house. pealed to the Central Bank “There are regulatory apBB-/Fitch; FGN 12, 2018 of Nigeria, CBN, to review provals that 5.13 areJULstill awaited BB-/S&P itsBB-/Fitch; regulations on consolida- that will allow FSDH Mer6.38 JUL 12, 2023 BB-/S&P tion of companies in a group chant Bank to consolidate structure. some of the other companies TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Mr. Femi Agbaje, a Non- in the group; wealth manageCorporate Eurobonds Executive Director of the ment, in particular and one or company, made thisAFREN call at two other subsidiaries. 11.50 FEB 01, 2016 B-/S&P; B/Fitch PLCthe I company’s AnnualGTBANK General “The only 7.50 regulation MAY 19, 2016I think PLC I B+/S&P; B+/Fitch Meeting (AGM). the CBN should look at is how 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 GTBANK PLC He said, “I believe that the they will allow discount hous7.25 JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, es consolidate some of the oth6.88 MAY 09, 2018 B/S&P; B/Fitch FIDELITY can help in the area of howBANK thePLC er group companies and that 10.25 APR 08, 2019 B/Fitch AFRENof PLCthe company treats some will show the true picture of

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

Seplat signs $300m contract with firm

FSDH seeks review of group structure AAA/S&P

4.88 16.05 99.37 5.99 17.44 98.53 4.44 17.09 94.72 3.23 15.65 98.12 4.46 17.09 96.79 3.48 16.11 99.66 5.59 18.46 81.35 7.60 20.35 90.48 1.79 14.68 98.06 1.80 14.65 98.79 1.00 13.92 100.23 1.00 13.85 101.53 1.21 14.06 111.87 1.00 13.88 101.58 2.46 15.34 100.49 1.94 14.87 98.60 promote the15.62 use of natural 2.74 97.93 gas, 2.74has driven 15.64 investment 97.53 in gas develop1.00 infrastructure 13.93 98.16 ment 1.94 and power 14.87 generation. 100.48 The investments by108.73 Azura 1.44 14.34 and to the 1.95Seplat, according 14.85 108.39

BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Equity market gains 0.08% on renewed confidence BULLISH TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

17.00 05-Aug-14 0.25 6.00 15-Oct-14 0.44 8.50 31-Aug-15 1.32 16.50 30-Sep-15 0.92 13.00 30-Jun-16 1.22 18.50 30-Jun-16 1.23 57.00 19-Apr-17 2.95 50.00 30-Jun-17 1.78 25.00 31-Dec-17 3.66 50.00 30-Sep-18 2.63 9.00 04-Oct-18 4.41 20.00 09-Dec-18 2.63 12.00 12-Dec-18 2.63 27.00 14-Feb-19 3.21 20.00 02-Oct-19 3.28 80.00 22-Nov-19 5.55 Chris 30.00 Ugwu 12-Dec-19 3.24 11.40 30-Sep-20 3.95 Develop87.00eplat Petroleum 27-Nov-20 6.56 en5.00 ment Company 31-Dec-20 Plc has 6.66 $300 million3.96 gas 5.00 tered into 31-Dec-20 sale contract with 5.00 and supply 06-Jan-21 4.00

6.25 APR 22, 2019

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value ($'mm)

the company.” done well. He noted that despite the “The foundation is very 07-Oct-11 6.75 recent500.00 5.14 fact that the company strong, and28-Jan-21 also the brand. ly got its merchant-banking Even as a discount house, 18-Dec-09 5.13 12-Jul-18 4.38 license, it was able to post an 500.00 which has been in operation, impressive financial perforone must credit them. When 01-Apr-10 6.38 500.00 12-Jul-23 5.59 mance. most of the other discount He said, “The company’s 1,500.00 houses have collapsed, FSDH performance is good. We has grown from strength to should not forget that they strength and my belief is what only recently just got the mer- 450.00 you see in 01-Feb-16 terms of perfor01-Feb-11 11.50 3.76 chant19-May-11 banking license mance is only the beginning 7.50and this 500.00 19-May-16 5.31of is their first audited finan- 400.00 much better08-Nov-18 things to come.” 08-Nov-13 6.00 6.18 cials 25-Jul-12 as a merchant7.25 bank. If Chairman25-Jul-17 of the company, 350.00 7.13 you look at it and compare it Mr. Osaro Isokpan, assured 09-May-13 6.88 300.00 02-May-18 8.22 with their peers in the indus- shareholders of a significant 08-Apr-12 10.25 300.00 08-Apr-19 5.33 try, my view is that they have improvement in its financial

performance at the end of the Prices & Yields current financial year. 4.98 also stated 109.06 that that 110.01 the He company was able to over4.18 the challenges 102.81 103.60 by come posed the downturn in the global 105.59 5.47 106.48 economy, which also affected the Nigerian economy in 2013. He maintained that the company, leveraging on its culture of excellence and con3.35 112.83 113.56 servatism, will strive to meet 4.46 104.15 105.84 the expectation of sharehold5.93 99.32 100.29 ers in the area of incremental 6.65 100.31 101.69 growth in capital, dividend re7.70 95.49 97.20 turns, returns on capital and 4.55 113.46 115.04 excellent corporate image.

ZENITH BANK PLC FIRST BANK PLC

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.28

6.13

99.89

100.49

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.17

6.73

103.86

105.53

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

AFREN PLC

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

6.61

6.36

100.07

101.02

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,460.00

6-May-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 Bills FIXINGS Money Market to**Treasury the FMDQ OTC PLC Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement. Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

DTM Maturity 9 15-May-14 22-May-14 FGN Bonds 16 23 29-May-14 30 5-Jun-14 Issuer Rating/Agency 44 19-Jun-14 51 26-Jun-14 58 3-Jul-14 65 10-Jul-14 72 17-Jul-14 79 24-Jul-14 86 31-Jul-14 93 7-Aug-14 100 14-Aug-14 NA NA 107 21-Aug-14 114 28-Aug-14 121 4-Sep-14 156 9-Oct-14 212 4-Dec-14 247 8-Jan-15 261 22-Jan-15 275 5-Feb-15 289 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 19-Feb-15 303 5-Mar-15 338 9-Apr-15 352 23-Apr-15 Rating/Agency Issuer

Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) 10.20 9.95 10.20 9.95 10.30 10.05 10.60 10.35 Description Issue Date 10.60 10.35 10.40 10.15 9.20 29-JUN-2014 29-Jun-07 10.75 10.50 9.25 28-SEP-2014 28-Sep-07 10.55 10.30 4.00 23-APR-2015 23-Apr-10 10.60 10.35 13.05 16-AUG-2016 16-Aug-13 10.65 10.40 15.10 27-APR-2017 27-Apr-12 10.50 10.25 9.85 27-JUL-2017 27-Jul-07 10.25 10.00 9.35 31-AUG-2017 31-Aug-07 10.25 10.00 10.70 30-MAY-2018 30-May-08 10.30 10.05 16.00 29-JUN-2019 29-Jun-12 10.60 10.35 7.00 23-OCT-2019 23-Oct-09 10.70 10.45 16.39 27-JAN-2022 27-Jan-12 10.80 10.55 14.20 14-MAR-2024 14-Mar-14 10.40 10.15 15.00 28-NOV-2028 28-Nov-08 11.20 10.95 12.49 22-MAY-2029 22-May-09 11.30 11.05 8.50 20-NOV-2029 20-Nov-09 11.30 11.05 10.00 23-JUL-2030 23-Jul-10 11.10 10.85 11.40 11.15 11.40 11.15 11.50 11.25 Description

Bid Yield (%) 10.23 10.25 10.37 10.69 Coupon (%) 10.74 10.55 9.20 10.94 9.25 10.75 4.00 10.83 13.05 10.90 15.10 10.77 9.85 10.52 9.35 10.55 10.70 10.62 16.00 10.96 7.00 11.09 16.39 11.32 14.20 11.07 15.00 12.12 12.49 12.29 8.50 12.35 10.00 12.17 12.59 12.75 12.93 Issue Date

Tenor O/N Outstanding 1M Value (N'bn) 3M 6M 45.00 100.00 535.00 435.27 452.80 Tenor 20.00 1M 100.00 2M 300.00 3M 351.30 6M 233.90 9M 600.00 12M 75.00 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57

**Exclusive of non-trading t.bills NA

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

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

Rate (%)

OBB

10.25

Tenor

O/N TTM (Yrs)

10.50 Bid Yield (%)

Spot Offer 7DYield (%) 14D 1M 9.83 2M 10.77 3M 11.90 6M 12.87 1Y 12.87

NIFEX

Current Price ($/N) 4,264.84 BID($/N) OFFER ($/N)

Coupon (%)

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

28-Sep-14 23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 Rate (%) 27-Jul-17 10.6932 31-Aug-17 10.8116 30-May-18 10.8606 29-Jun-19 11.6392 23-Oct-19 12.3308 27-Jan-22 12.9170 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30

Tenor 0.15 Call 0.40 1M 0.96 3M 2.28 6M 2.98

REPO

Rate (%) 10.83 10.25 11.17 11.86 12.50 12.38 12.95 13.15 12.93

3.23 12.88 12.76 3.32 12.88 12.76 4.07 12.91 12.81 :Benchmarks 5.15 13.01 12.94 * :Amortising Bond 5.47 12.93 12.84 µ :Convertible Bond 7.73 12.98 12.93 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 9.86 13.03 12.98 FGN: Federal Nigeria 14.56Government of13.27 13.23 FMBN: Federal of Nigeria 13.26 15.04 Mortgage Bank 13.30 IFC: International Finance Corporation 15.54 13.34 13.27 LCRM: Local Management 16.21Contractors Receivables 13.43 13.38

NOTE:

NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company O/N: Overnight UPDC: UAC Property Development Company # Risk WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company Avg. Life/TTM Issue Value (N'bn) Maturity Date Premium (Yrs) (%) 158.5000 158.6000

978.35 24.56 6.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.49 1.05 1.53 2.59 2.96 3.17

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.49 1.00

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N) Price 161.55 161.65 160.28 160.49 Offer Price Bid Price 160.43 160.66 160.71 161.07 99.71 99.86 161.28 161.88 99.23 99.38 161.84 162.68 92.49 92.99 163.76 165.30 100.15 100.30 169.19 170.26 105.20 105.35

92.16 92.46 90.66 90.96 93.16 93.46 NA :Not Applicable 110.90 111.20 # :Floating Rate Bond 77.25 77.55 ***: Deferred 116.25 coupon bonds 116.55 106.35 106.65 †: Bond rating expired 111.28 110.98 94.75 95.05 68.61 68.91 77.50 77.80

NGC: Nigeria-German Company UBA: United Bank for Africa

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

12.52 15.22 14.97 14.85 14.36 13.88

94.29 85.73 103.16 93.63 90.74 89.29

1,304.32

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

Rate (%) 10.5917 12.6201 Maturity Date 13.0371 14.0659 29-Jun-14

NITTY

*from the Amortising

#bonds, the Agency Bonds average is Risk Premium is a life combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums

Tenor

NIBOR

Bonds

14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 Porfolio Market Total Outstanding 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 Value(Bn) Volume(Bn) 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 912.27 888.07 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 1,087.09 951.30 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 458.47 591.57 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 2,457.83 2,430.94 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020

05-Aug-09 15-Oct-09

Weighting by 31-Aug-10 Outstanding Vol

30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 36.53 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 39.13 30-Jun-10 24.33 30-Dec-10 100.00 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 30-Sep-13 27-Nov-13

14.00 14.00

Weighting by Mkt 12.50 Value

13.00 14.00 15.50 37.12 10.00 44.23 13.75 18.65 14.00 14.00100.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 14.75 13.50

17.00 6.00 Bucket 8.50 Weighting 16.50 13.00 18.50 0.37 57.00 0.39 50.00 0.24 25.00 50.00 1.00 9.00 20.00 12.00 27.00 20.00 80.00 30.00 11.40 87.00

05-Aug-14 15-Oct-14

% Exposure_ 31-Aug-15 Mod_Duration

30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 19.53 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 39.78 30-Jun-17 40.69 31-Dec-17 100.00 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 30-Sep-20 27-Nov-20

0.25 0.44 1.32 Implied Yield 0.92 1.22 12.94 1.23 2.95 12.99 1.78 13.43 3.66 13.16 2.63 4.41 2.63 2.63 3.21 3.28 5.55 3.24 3.95 6.56

4.88 5.99

Implied 4.44 Portfolio Price 3.23 4.46 111.4199 3.48 5.59 124.4614 7.60 85.4580 1.79 110.2056 1.80 1.00 1.00 1.21 1.00 2.46 1.94 2.74 2.74 1.00

16.05 17.44 17.09 INDEX 15.65 17.09 1,058.26 16.11 18.46 1,053.89 20.35 1,034.54 14.68 1,045.71 14.65 13.92 13.85 14.06 13.88 15.34 14.87 15.62 15.64 13.93

99.37 98.53

YTD Return 94.72 (%)

98.12 96.79 5.8262 99.66 81.35 5.3891 90.48 3.4538 98.06 4.5708 98.79 100.23 101.53 111.87 101.58 100.49 98.60 97.93 97.53 98.16

48 BUSINESS | MONEY LINE

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Oil blocks' divestment to hit $11.5bn by Dec. –Alison-Madueke ciation of Nigeria (PETAN) at the on-going Offshore Technology (OTC) in Houston, Texas, the Unites States of America. The minister, who was represented by the Group Mamanging Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Engineer Andrew Yakubu, said that over 20 oil blocks would have also been sold by the end of the year. "By the end of this year, our OML for divestment will exceed 20 blocks with no less than $11.5 billion," she said. Currently, the minister said, "Nigeria produces about 1.1 per cent of World's Gas pro-

INVESTMENT Nigeria produces about 1.1 per cent of world's gas production Adeola Yusuf

HOUSTON, TEXAS, US

he value of oil blocks divestment in Nigeria will rise to $11.5 billion by December, 2014, minister of Petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke has said. She disclosed this at the panel session organised by Petroleum Technology Asso-

duction. The divestment as at today is also about $5billion. She said: "Between when Mr. President came in, we were producing just about 300mscuf per day and within the current fiscal regime, we have been able to move to 1500mscuf per day; this by any global standard is impressive and we also intend to continue to build on that. "Today, NNPC is the largest producer of gas for domestic use; we produce over 400mscuf per day and plans are underway by the end of the year to also jack that up by another 250mscuf per day; there is a lot that is going on in terms of gas

Ecobank transnational predicts $460m PBT in 2014

cobank Transnational Incorporation (ETI) has assured that its determination to make a profit before tax of $460 million in the 2014 financial year is still on course despite the unexpected increase in impairment, which dampened its 2013 performance. In the 2013 financial year and the first quarter of 2014 released last week, Rencap report showed that although the bank's results showed a 21 percent improvement in operational performance but this was used to offset by the significant and unexpected up-

surge of impairment charges in the last quarter of last year. Going by its1Q14 results, an encouraging normalisation in impairment costs has indicated to that the group is on track to make PBT of about $460mn in FY14, up from $222mn in FY13 the FY14 PBT forecast of $496mn may seem slightly optimistic at this point. Although ETI’s investment in Nigeria remains unchanged; it is premised primarily on the successful turnaround of the Nigerian subsidiary, which comprised 42% of the asset base but only 4% of PBT at YE13, down from

27% at 9M13, stressing that only an improvement in the Nigerian cluster will move the needle on the group’s overall performance. The report also showed the bank paid a Pre-impairment charge, last year operating income of $598mn was 6% ahead of our forecast of $564mn, up 21% last year when compared on year on year basis. Specifically, the bank paid an Impairment charges rose from $115mn as at September to $377mn. Also, despite management’s guidance of a tax rate of about. 20% during the year.

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

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

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

Offer 163.38

World Bank seeks women empowerment Abdulwahab Isa ABUJA

esides robust Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the World Bank has harped on the need to create job opportunities for women and girls at all levels, a development it said was key to poverty alleviation. The global bank stated this yesterday as one of its recommendations contained in its ‘Gender at Work’ Report, a companion to the World Development Report on Jobs, presented by Matthew Morton of the multilateral institutions. The World Bank directed the attention of policy makers, private sector and other

T 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

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

job providers to strive in the direction of contributing to the global socio-economic agenda by creating jobs which in the long term would help in closing the gender-inequality gap. The bank canvassed the removal of all barriers to women and girls employment that would, significantly add to the global development of values. According to the report, “Jobs boost self-esteem and pull families out of poverty. Yet gender disparities persist in the world of work. Closing these gaps, while working to stimulate job creation more broadly, is a prerequisite for ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity".

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

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

he global economy will grow by less than expected this year as growth in developing economies slows, The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has predicted. It expects 3.4% world growth this year, down from its 3.6% November forecast. In 2015, however, it still expects growth of 3.9%. It cut forecasts for China and the US. "We are still not out of the woods yet," said OECD Secre-

tary General, Angel Gurria. In the UK, the OECD predicted growth of 3.2% for this year, up from its forecast of 2.4% just six months ago. It also upgraded its forecast for 2015 to 2.7% from 2.5%. The upgrade for the UK was the highest of the G7 countries. The OECD credited the UK's "very accommodative monetary policy" and stronger jobs growth for the improved forecast.

Firms from developing economies outside BRIC grouping advance

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80

why people have been reluctant to go into it. "But commercial framework has been put in place and gas price is one major factor in gas investment today because gas is investment price driven and we have a good framework now than what we had before, are we there yet? N0. Not yet but we are working with all the relevant agencies to ensure that the right environment is there. "Majorly, it started with attacks on the oil and gas facilities purely for the sake of stealing the products but unfortunately the gas pipelines that were never areas of attack came and the experience was from Escravos-LagosWarri pipeline was attacked last year and that was clearly a case of sabotage because there was no way you could steal gas."

OECD cuts global growth forecast for 2014

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

supply investment and particularly gas-to-power investment, which is very key component of Mr. President’s transformation agenda and our minister of petroleum resources has been very aggressive in driving us so hard and I can assure you that we will exceed where we are today because we were 300 just five years ago, but today, we are 1500, this gradient by any global standard is very impressive. "The link was actually weaker before but because of tremendous efforts and backing of government, we have been able to tie a number of the knots and the links are getting stronger and I can assure you that one of the major challenges that we have had was the commercial framework; gas is a capital intensive, if you put in so much but cannot break even to recover your costs, then you can see

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

ublic companies in developing economies other than the Bric countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China), now account for more than one in ten of the world’s largest 2,500 groups by market value for the first time. Analysis by Strategy &, the consultancy firm formerly known as Booz and Company, shows that of the 2,500 largest listed companies, 270 were from other emerging markets such as Mexico, Nigeria and Thailand at the end of 2013. It marks a decade of consistent growth in the prominence

of these groups, which have more than doubled in number in this top ranking since 2004. The change is part of a wider shift between developed and emerging economies, which has seen the proportion of groups in North America and western Europe fall as a proportion of this top echelon compared with companies from less mature markets. Back in 2004, North America and Western Europe made up almost seven in ten of the world’s largest companies, but now they are little more than half.

BUSINESS | CAPITAL MARKET 49

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Daily Summary as of 06/05/2014

Daily Summary as of 06/05/2014 Printed 06/05/2014 15:23:35.035

Printed 06/05/2014 15:23:35.035

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at May 6, 2014 Daily Summary (Bonds)

Activity Summary on Board DEBT Federal

Bond Name 13.05% FGN AUG 2016 Federal Totals

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol FG102016S1

No. of Deals 1 1

DEBT Board Totals

Current Price 99.90

Bond Activity Totals

Quantity Traded 2,623 2623

Value Traded 2,696,971.94 2,696,971.94

2,623

2,696,971.94

2623

2,696,971.94

Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Daily Summary of 06/05/2014 Cropas Production Totals Printed 06/05/2014 15:23:35.035

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

AGRICULTURE Totals

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 1 21 6 28

Current Price 0.50 34.94 37.05

Quantity Traded 500 135,694 46,200 182,394

Value Traded 250.00 4,671,351.84 1,635,300.00 6,306,901.84

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 42 42

Current Price 3.24

Quantity Traded 3,130,230 3,130,230

Value Traded 9,822,514.24 9,822,514.24

3,312,624

16,129,416.08

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries NIGERIA PLC.© Published byA.G. The LEVENTIS Nigerian Stock Exchange CHELLARAMS PLC. S C O A NIG. PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

Symbol AGLEVENT CHELLARAM SCOA TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 10 2 1 308 84 405

CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Totals Daily Summary as ofStructure/Completion/Other 06/05/2014

Printed 06/05/2014 15:23:35.035

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

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

405

Quantity Traded 181,081 Page 2,000 480 22,819,744 4,169,966 27,173,271

Value Traded 1 284,297.17 of 13 7,520.00 2,308.80 83,945,606.06 237,702,971.94 321,942,703.97

27,173,271

321,942,703.97

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 14 14

Current Price 1.38

Quantity Traded 344,738 344,738

Value Traded 476,412.50 476,412.50

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 24 24

Current Price 69.40

Quantity Traded 82,171 82,171

Value Traded 5,670,278.14 5,670,278.14

Symbol No. of Deals Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 23.00

Quantity Traded 234,689 234,689

Value Traded 5,453,102.34 5,453,102.34

661,598

11,599,792.98

UAC-PROP

33 33

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals ©

Current Price 1.57 3.95 5.06 3.68 57.00

Symbol DUNLOP

No. of Deals 28 28

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 3,390,189 Page 3,390,189

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

Symbol CHAMPION GUINNESS INTBREW NB

No. of Deals 1 81 34 81 197

Current Price 13.79 176.02 25.00 148.72

Quantity Traded 72 275,718 437,279 2,319,072 3,032,141

Value Traded 943.92 48,423,311.94 10,887,061.92 346,159,040.56 405,470,358.34

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

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 85.50

Quantity Traded 446,507 446,507

Value Traded 38,176,348.50 38,176,348.50

No. of Deals 101 132 60 40 43 4 380 Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 7.78 9.30 68.50 3.69 11.83 0.51

Quantity Traded 464,347 3,207,192 210,483 1,037,478 935,443 88,600 5,943,543

Value Traded 3,617,805.08 28,937,880.76 14,436,121.07 3,810,455.82 11,004,518.81 45,186.00 61,851,967.54 Value Traded 5,507,614.20

Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC Daily Summary as of 06/05/2014 FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. Printed 06/05/2014 15:23:35.035 HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC U T C NIG. PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON UTC

Value Traded 1,695,094.50 2 of 13 1,695,094.50

Symbol CADBURY

No. of Deals 43

Current Price 71.32

Quantity Traded 78,956

Symbol NESTLE

No. of Deals 53 96

Current Price 1,080.00

Quantity TradedPage 542,405 621,361

Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Household Durables Totals

Symbol VITAFOAM

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 4.30

Quantity Traded 80,715 80,715

Value Traded 331,991.50 331,991.50

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

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 55 76 131

Current Price 36.00 48.25

Quantity Traded 665,626 1,081,426 1,747,052

Value Traded 24,674,672.16 52,079,758.96 76,754,431.12

15,261,508

1,180,577,266.65

Activity Summary on Board EQTY CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. CONSUMER GOODS Published by TheProducts--Diversified Nigerian Stock Exchange © Food NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. Daily Summary as of 06/05/2014 DIAMOND BANK PLC Printed 06/05/2014 15:23:35.035 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. Daily Summary as of 06/05/2014 SKYE BANK PLC Printed 06/05/2014 15:23:35.035 STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY UNION BANK NIG.PLC.

846

Current Price 0.50 0.97

Page Quantity Traded 10,000 7,672,225

Symbol ZENITHBANK

No. of Deals 255 1,700

Current Price 22.50

Quantity Traded 4,123,362 182,637,090

No. of Deals 4 47 5 15 1 2 3 6 1 8 1 35 3 9 1 4 1 (Equities) 1 1 68

Current Price 0.50 0.79 0.98 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.53 0.50 2.20 0.50 0.75 0.55 0.56 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.74

Quantity Traded 155,979,000 7,176,204 1,548,916 2,393,452 850 1,500,000 326,244 253,000 20 38,709 20 10,412,743 40,020 1,101,000 950 536,160 900 5,000 Page 20 9,802,550

Value Traded 77,989,500.00 5,660,025.32 1,518,716.38 1,196,726.00 425.00 750,000.00 163,122.00 134,150.00 10.00 86,183.89 10.00 7,860,223.25 22,011.00 618,413.34 475.00 268,080.00 450.00 2,500.00 5 of 13 10.00 7,095,296.41

Symbol

No. of Deals 216

Current Price

Quantity Traded Page 191,115,758

6Value Traded of 13 103,366,327.59

Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 0.81

Quantity Traded 140,000 140,000

Value Traded 113,700.00 113,700.00

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC INFINITY TRUST MORTGAGE BANK PLC RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC. Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Symbol ASOSAVINGS INFINITY RESORTSAL UNHOMES

No. of Deals 1 2 1 1 5

Current Price 0.50 1.61 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded 2,015,000 1,550 1,000,000 420,822 3,437,372

Value Traded 1,007,500.00 2,371.50 500,000.00 210,411.00 1,720,282.50

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

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 53 64 670 79 60 90 1,016

Current Price 2.91 2.64 13.00 3.54 22.60 2.04

Quantity Traded 289,709 11,499,589 27,622,424 2,234,775 3,054,052 28,401,621 73,102,170

Value Traded 867,584.59 29,947,506.23 358,229,915.85 7,867,198.68 68,907,103.35 59,314,455.41 525,133,764.11

450,432,390

2,402,663,817.63

FINANCIAL SERVICES Insurance Carriers, and Published by The Nigerian Stock Brokers Exchange © Services Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

2,941

Page

Value Traded 481,226,944.77 204,870,455.46 99,951,395.06 5,802,768.81 565,039,502.94 20,523,364.18 11,093,806.19 280,276,937.75 3,795,006.61 4Value Traded of 13 5,000.00 7,434,854.62 Value Traded 92,309,707.04 1,772,329,743.43

Symbol CHAMS

No. of Deals 1 1

ICT Totals

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC

Quantity Traded 152,404 587,728 25,390 75,465 513,659 50,000 1,404,646

Value Traded 383,985.86 1,463,442.72 1,770,342.84 130,235.50 628,567.29 78,500.00 4,455,074.21

1,404,646

4,455,074.21

Quantity Traded 256,005 256,005

Value Traded 128,002.50 128,002.50

256,005

128,002.50 Value Traded 32,517,849.22

Printed 06/05/2014 15:23:35.035

Current Price 0.50

1 Symbol ASHAKACEM

No. of Deals 109

Current Price 19.00

Quantity Traded 1,722,898

Symbol BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER FIRSTALUM PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 16 26 17 32 4 5 8 51 268

Current Price 8.75 40.35 9.05 225.92 1.06 0.50 4.41 110.02

Quantity Traded 53,570 122,605 Page 79,005 654,934 52,777 114,339 756,513 3,026,781 6,583,422

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 6 6

Current Price 1.85

Quantity Traded 77,000 77,000

Value Traded 142,450.00 142,450.00

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 18.59

Quantity Traded 10,101 10,101

Value Traded 178,517.67 178,517.67

Symbol NIGROPES

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 7.46

Quantity Traded 201 201

Value Traded 1,425.09 1,425.09

6,670,724

522,080,095.55

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials BERGER PAINTS PLC CAPNigerian PLC Stock Exchange © Published by The CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. Building Materials Totals Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Daily Summary as of 06/05/2014 Totals Printed 06/05/2014 15:23:35.035 Tools and Machinery NIGERIAN ROPES PLC Tools and Machinery Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

281

Value Traded 481,088.50

8 4,735,964.10 of 13

715,180.14 147,998,392.34 58,581.27 57,214.50 3,336,222.33 331,857,210.39 521,757,702.79

Activity Summary on Board EQTY OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment Services Published by The Nigerian Stockand Exchange © JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.50

Page Quantity Traded 126,500 126,500

9Value Traded of 13 63,250.00 63,250.00

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

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 159 159

Current Price 15.49

Quantity Traded 2,917,142 2,917,142

Value Traded 45,580,532.57 45,580,532.57

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 26 4 140 24 2 31 227

Current Price 49.20 3.61 148.99 115.00 51.72 152.50

Quantity Traded 49,734 25,552 422,065 12,146 2,001 52,576 564,074

Value Traded 2,271,288.33 87,643.36 56,761,903.49 1,451,829.75 98,329.14 8,024,819.47 68,695,813.54

Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 34 34

Current Price 662.99

Quantity Traded 83,755 83,755

Value Traded 54,718,418.06 54,718,418.06

3,691,471

169,058,014.17

Quantity Traded 108,943

Value Traded 129,214.89

No. of Deals 1 64

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Symbol AFRICAN ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC AFRINSURE AIICO INSURANCE PLC. AIICO CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CONTINSURE CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. CORNERST EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. EQUITYASUR GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC GNI GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. GUINEAINS INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTENEGINS LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LAWUNION MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MANSARD MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. MBENEFIT N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NEM Daily Summary as of 06/05/2014 OASIS INSURANCE PLC OASISINS Printed 06/05/2014 15:23:35.035 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC REGALINS SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC SOVRENINS STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC STACO Daily Summary STANDARD INSURANCE PLC. STDINSURE Published by The Nigerian ALLIANCE Stock Exchange © UNIC INSURANCE PLC. UNIC Activity Summary on Board EQTY WAPIC INSURANCE PLC WAPIC

ICT Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Daily Summary as of 06/05/2014 Processing Systems Totals

Current Price 2.58 2.49 69.50 1.78 1.23 1.57

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

1.19

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Symbol UNITYBNK WEMABANK

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals

No. of Deals 8 5 15 11 11 1 51

HEALTHCARE Totals

SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC.

Quantity Traded 52,974,213 33,105,611 7,833,533 3,061,260 21,072,037 5,898,185 5,125,991 41,379,330 381,343

Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH PHARMDEKO

OIL AND GAS Totals

Current Price 9.01 6.19 12.81 1.91 26.50 3.55 2.19 6.75 10.00

FINANCIAL SERVICES

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

Daily Summary as of 06/05/2014 Exploration and Production Totals Printed 06/05/2014 15:23:35.035

No. of Deals 328 79 92 81 275 180 (Equities) 59 223 63

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

3 of 13 Value Traded 590,789,460.95 596,297,075.15

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Page

Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

Symbol

No. of Deals 11

Current Price

Quantity Traded 108,943

Value Traded 129,214.89

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

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 9 1 10

Current Price 4.26 2.13

Quantity Traded 211,400 15,000 226,400

Value Traded 901,284.00 33,000.00 934,284.00

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 30,000 30,000

Value Traded 15,000.00 15,000.00

Hospitality TANTALIZERS PLC Hospitality Totals

Symbol TANTALIZER

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 2,000 2,000

Value Traded 1,000.00 1,000.00

Symbol CAPHOTEL IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 1 11 12

Current Price 4.55 0.60

Quantity Traded 20,000 271,790 291,790

Value Traded 86,600.00 163,462.50 250,062.50

Symbol DAARCOMM

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 25,000 25,000

Value Traded 12,500.00 12,500.00

Symbol LEARNAFRCA

No. of Deals 8

Current Price 1.66

Quantity Traded 126,405

Value Traded 201,968.00

Symbol UPL

No. of Deals 9 17

Current Price 3.90

Quantity Traded 165,405 291,810

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 8 8

Current Price 0.83

Quantity Traded 1,064,200 1,064,200

Value Traded 880,948.00 880,948.00

Specialty SECURE ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY PLC Specialty Totals

Symbol NSLTECH

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 500 500

Value Traded 250.00 250.00

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 2 52 54

Current Price 2.14 4.70

Quantity Traded 14,000 403,760 417,760

Value Traded 31,360.00 1,893,948.30 1,925,308.30

117

2,458,403

4,995,778.79

5,208

511,322,640

4,633,629,962.53

Quantity Traded 200 200

Value Traded 256.00 256.00

Hotels/Lodging CAPITAL HOTEL PLC IKEJA HOTEL PLC Daily Summary as of 06/05/2014 Hotels/Lodging Totals Printed 06/05/2014 15:23:35.035

Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Media/Entertainment Totals Printing/Publishing Activity Summary on Board EQTY LEARN AFRICA PLC SERVICES Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Printing/Publishing UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Transport-Related Services Daily Summary as of 06/05/2014 AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC Printed 06/05/2014 15:23:35.035 NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals SERVICES Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

EQTY Board Totals Activity Summary on Board ASeM CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC Food Products Totals

Symbol MCNICHOLS

No. of Deals 1 1

CONSUMER GOODS Totals

Current Price 1.34

Page

200

ASeM Board Totals

200

Equity Activity Totals

5,209

511,322,840

Page

Value Traded 645,243.10 847,211.10

256.00

256.00 4,633,630,218.53

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 4 5

Current Price 2,002.00 17.48

Quantity Traded 18 1,550 1,568

Value Traded 36,036.00 27,061.50 63,097.50

ETF Board Totals

1,568

63,097.50

ETP Activity Totals

1,568

63,097.50

Page

50 WORLD | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 8, 2014

Quake cracks roads in north Thailand, one killed

fficials said yesterday that one person was killed and several dozens were hurt in an earthquake that struck northern Thailand and Myanmar a day earlier, smashing windows, cracking walls and roads and damaging Buddhist temples. The airport in Chiang Rai, a northern Thai city near the epi-

center of the shallow magnitude 6.3 temblor, evacuated people from its terminal, where display signs and pieces of the ceiling fell. There was no damage to the runway or flight disruptions, airport General Manager Damrong Klongakara said. A well-known temple near the city, the all-white Wat Rongkhun, was closed due to safety concerns after the earthquake.

“The spire of the main building came off and the tiles on the roof fell off,” Chalermchai Kositpiphat, the artist who designed the temple, told Nation TV. “I still don’t know how we can sleep tonight. It was shaking the whole time and then aftershocks followed four to five times.” Anusorn Kaewkangwan, the deputy director-general of the

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department told The Associated Press yesterday that an 83-year-old woman in Chiang Rai’s Mae Lao district was killed when the brick walls of her house collapsed onto her during the quake. Anusorn said about 25 people were slightly injured, mostly from fallen ceilings or items in their houses. Thailand’s Meteorological Department said the quake was magnitude 6.3. The U.S. Geological Survey measured it at 6.0 and said the epicenter was 9 kilometers (6 miles) south of Mae Lao and 27 kilometers (17 miles) southwest of Chiang Rai. Its depth was a relatively shallow 7.4 kilometers (4.6 miles). Shallow quakes often cause more damage. Southeast

Asia is seismically active and quakes are often felt in surrounding nations. Thailand has several faults, though in recent times quakes centered in the country have been less severe than those in other Southeast Asian nations, such as Myanmar and Indonesia. A 9.1-magnitude earthquake off Indonesia’s Sumatra island on December 26, 2004, triggered an Indian Ocean tsunami that killed more than 8,000 people in Thailand’s coastal areas, among its overall death toll of 240,000. The last earthquake in Thailand approaching the size of Monday’s quake registered magnitude 5.1 on December 13, 2006, in Chiang Mai province.

Senegal reopens border with Guinea after Ebola scare

S A cracked portion of a road caused by earthquake in northern Thailand and Myanmar yesterday.

Egypt bans Mubarak’s party leaders from elections

n Egyptian court yesterday banned leaders of the country’s former ruling party under ousted President Hosni Mubarak from running in any elections, a vague ruling that could bar former officials of that regime from returning to politics for the time being. The ban comes as Egypt prepares for presidential elections later this month. Former military chief AbdelFattah el-Sissi, who removed Mubarak’s successor, the Islamist Mohammed Morsi is poised to win the vote. The Cairo Court for Urgent Matters ruled that leaders of Mubarak’s National Democratic Party cannot run in any presidential, parliamentary or local city council elections. The ruling is binding until a higher tribunal issues a final verdict on the matter, and it is highly likely that a higher court will overturn it because it violates a principle of equal political rights granted by the constitution.

It did not, however, define what constituted being a party leader, making it hard for the coming election committee to implement it. A previous court case attempting to ban NDP members from politics for a period was shot down by the constitutional court. While the NDP was disbanded and its offices shut

down in 2011, months after an uprising toppled the autocratic Mubarak, its members could still run in elections. Some formed new parties, struck alliances with existing parties or ran as independents in the last parliamentary elections, in 2011. No date has been set yet for parliamentary elections.

e n e g a l ’ s government,yesterday reopened the border with Guinea, which was closed after an outbreak of Ebola fever that claimed scores of lives in the neighbouring country. “In view of the positive progress of this epidemic, the government of Senegal has decided to open anew its borders from 8:00 am (0800 GMT) on Tuesday,” Interior Minister Abdoulaye Daouda Diallo said in a statement. “This reopening takes account of security requirements, but also of the longstanding ties that the Senegalese and Guinean peoples maintain, particularly in social and economic terms,” Diallo added. The border was closed on March 30 to guarantee the safety of people in Senegal, the minister said. He expressed “all solidarity” with Guinea, at the epicentre of West Africa’s first outbreak of the deadly haemorrhagic fever,

which has no cure. No Ebola cases were reported in Senegal, but the highly contagious disease spread dangerously from Guinea’s southern forests to the capital, Conakry. Guinea has 127 confirmed Ebola cases, including 81 deaths, according to the latest government figures. Ebola is one of a handful of similar fevers that cause vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pain, and’ in severe cases, organ failure and unstoppable internal bleeding. It can be transmitted by blood and other bodily fluids, as well as the handling of contaminated corpses or infected animals, known to be vectors of the disease. The latest outbreak, which began in January, also emerged in neighbouring Liberia.The WHO has described the region’s first Ebola outbreak as one of the most challenging since the virus was first identified in 1976 in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.

White House unveils dire warning, calls for action on climate

he Obama administration yesterday released an updated report on how climate change requires urgent action to counter impacts that touch every corner of the country, from oyster growers in Washington State to maple syrup producers in Vermont. “Climate change, once considered an issue for a distant future, has moved firmly into the present,” the report said. Some environmental and

public health groups hailed the National Climate Assessment as a possible “game changer” for efforts to address climate change, in part because it makes the impact less abstract to many Americans. “It will help put their own experiences in context, and we think that is important in generating interest and action on the issue,” said Lyndsay Moseley, director of the American Lung Association’s Healthy

Air campaign. The extensive report detailed how consequences of climate change are hitting on several fronts, including health, infrastructure, water supply, agriculture and, especially, in more frequent severe weather such as floods and droughts. The impacts are also broken down by region - from storm surges in the Northeast to wildfires and water shortages in the southwest-

ern United States. An earlier draft, released in January 2013, was reviewed by the National Academies of Sciences and attracted more than 4,000 public comments. The advisory committee behind the report was established by the U.S. Department of Commerce to integrate federal research on environmental change and its implications for society. It made two earlier assessments, in 2000 and 2009.

Okagbare dedicates Jamaica win to Chibok girls Emmanuel Tobi

igeria’s queen of the track, Blessing Okagbare, has dedicated her 100m race win at the2014 Jamaica International Invitational at the weekend to the 276 students kidnapped from their school in Chibok on April 14.

More than 50 of the girls managed to escape from the militants but 223 girls are still being held. The African 100m record holder recorded 11.19 seconds to win ahead of Jamaican pair of Olympian Kerron Stewart, who clocked 11.32 seconds and Carrie Russell, 11.46 seconds inside the

SPORT

National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica. Speaking from her US base on Tuesday, Okagbare said; “I’m soliciting for the release of the abducted girls who need to reunite with their families. I can imagine the pains their families are going through but we need peace as a nation. We all need peace to survive and

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/sports

ADEKUNLE SALAMI, DepUTY Editor, SPORTS

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

WEDNESday,may 7, 2014

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

we all need peace to excel as a country.” For about three weeks now, the nation was greeted with the gory news that female students writing their final exams at Government Secondary School, Chibok in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State were abducted by CONTINUED ON PAGE 54

Did you know? That in 1978, former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, was fired for swearing at a lady during a match.

I won’t dump Nigeria for club, Ogu insists lEagles midfielder explains Twitter outburst Ifeanyi Ibeh

espite not making Stephen Keshi’s 30-man list for the World Cup John Ogu has said that he would never dump Nigeria. Ogu also exclusively disclosed to New Telegraph why he took to Twitter to vent his displeasure over his lack of playing time at Portuguese club, Academica de Coimbra. Ogu, on Sunday night, via the social media platform, revealed why he had found

playing time at the Portuguese Primeira Liga side hard to come by since featuring for the Super Eagles in last August’s international friendly against South Africa. According to the midfielder, things took a turn for the worse after the club’s manager, Sergio Conceicao, a former Portuguese international, told him (Ogu) to get in touch with Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, and inform him of his unavailability for the tie against Bafana-Bafana. CONTINUED ON PAGE 54

Brazil: Keshi names Osaze,Yobo in 30 -man list

S Yobo

Osaze

Ogu

uper Eagles chief coach, Ste phen Keshi on Tuesday released the provisional 30-man list for the 2014 World Cup with captain Joseph Yobo and Osaze Odemwingie making a return to the team. The team also includes players who

have not featured for the Eagles and their European clubs in recent times such as Joel Obi, Gabriel Reuben, Micheal Babatunde with Ikechukwu Uche, John Ogu, Lukman Haruna, Brown Ideye, Chinedu Obasi and Fengor Ogunde topping the list of notable absentees.

Eagles list: Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim, Daniel Akpeyi Defenders: Elderson Echiejile, Juwon Oshaniwa, Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kenneth Omeruo, Joseph Yobo, Kunle Odunlami

Midfielders: Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Ejike Uzoenyi, Sunday Mba, Gabriel Rueben, Nosa Igiebor, Joel Obi Strikers: Michael Uchebo, Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Victor Moses, Emanuel Emenike, Victor Nsofor, Osaze Odemwingie, Michael Babatunde, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Uche Nwofor

52 SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Countdown to Fifa World Cup 36 Adekunle Salami

he central defence position is very crucial in football. Those in this position try to shield the goalkeeper or the entire team from conceding goals. They tend to see the field more clearly than the players in other positions. At the forthcoming World Cup in Brazil, central defenders are going to play a crucial role, as always, in determining the fate of their respective teams. The defending champion, Spain, will bank on Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique to hold forth at the heart of defence of the team. Ramos is one of the best defenders in the world. He is strong and can render any striker useless. His additional quality is his knack for goals especially in set piece situations. In Real Madrid colours only last week, he scored two great goals with headers against Bayern Munich in the semifinal of the UEFA Champions League. One of the goals came from a free kick and the other from a corner. Ramos is a player that can save the team from a difficult situation but he could be erratic especially when his team is trailing in a game. Ramos has scored three goals and provided one assist for Real Madrid in the ongoing season. He also has nine goals in his 115 games played so far for Spain. Pique came to limelight in the colours of Manchester United but he is playing his best football in Spain currently with Barcelona. He has a way of moving forward in an open play to motivate the attackers to get goals. He also scores occasionally but not with headers. He scored the only goal in Spain’s victory in the 2010 World Cup qualifier against Turkey at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid. He has scored four goals in 59 games for Spain. Thiago Silva is a quiet person. You hardly notice him but his contribution is great. He is good in man-to-man marking and the hosts Brazil will rely on him to go all the way in the competition. This season, he earned 27 caps in the colours of PSG and has scored three goals. The 29 year-old skipper of Brazil is very fast and this helps him in winning balls from attackers. He has scored two goals in his 43 appearances for Brazil. Germany has 25-year-old Mats Hummels as the main man in the defence. The Borussia Dortmund player is always calm in getting the job done. He has two goals in 28 caps for the Germans. Hummels will rely on the experience of Arsenal’s Per Mertesacker to deal with crucial situations. Mertesacker is also good in the air and do score goals. He has scored two goals for Arsenal this season while he has registered four for Germany in his 96 appearances Belgium also has a strongman in

Days To Go

Central defence: All eyes on highly-rated Ramos, Silva

lOboabona, Omeruo lost in rankings but...

Ramos

Silva

Oboabona

Vincent Kompany in the centre. The Manchester City Skipper is a good coordinator of the defence. He led his club to their very first EPL title triumph two years ago. Against rival, Manchester United, he scored the only goal with a header and that win was perhaps crucial in the team’s success. This season, he has scored three goals in his 26 caps for City. He has also scored four goals in 54 appearances for Belgium. Super Eagles will parade Godfrey Oboabona and Keneth Omeruo in the

Kompany

same central defence position, but the two players do not enjoy high rating at global level. They will have to up their game with determination to enable them withstand the challenges of the Copa Mundial. Oboabona has scored two goals for his club Rizespor of Turkey and he has only one goal for Nigeria so far. Oboabona was great at the last Nations Cup where he marked out Didier Drogba of Cote D’ Ivoire in the crucial quarterfinal match that Nigeria won 2-1. Omeruo is yet to hit the target for both

club and country, but he is solid. Former Eagles coach Austin Eguavoen said, “The Eagles defence is better than it was in the qualifiers. I saw improvement against Mexico and they have to keep that up to do well at the World Cup where we expect the best strikers to be on, parade.” The central defenders will have their hands full against stars like Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Luis Suarez, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymer and Daniel Sturridge.

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

SPORT | EURO FOOTBALL

Nigerian League Rendezvous

Rodgers proud despite Liverpool collapse

iverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said his side would reflect on their season with pride despite seeing their title bid seriously compromised in a remarkable 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace. Liverpool led 3-0 with 11 minutes remaining in Monday’s Premier League game at Selhurst Park, only for Palace to score three times in the closing stages to leave the visitors’ title challenge on the rocks. Asked if he was proud of his team, who had finished a distant seventh last season, Rodgers said: “Incredibly. “It’s 99 goals we’re on, this season. The season before I came in (in June 2012), the

arlo Ancelotti rejected an offer from Manchester United that would have made him the highestpaid manager in the world, according to Spanish newspaper El Confidencial.

08098042287

Clubs and players’ jerseys Stories: Charles Ogundiya

team h a d finished on 47. For us to keep improving like we have been gives me immense pride. “When we’ve got time to reflect on this at the end of the season, we will see it has been an outstanding season for Liverpool. “It does not take away the pain of now, but we will look where we need to improve and continue to get better. “We have made great strides, but I am certainly here to fight and win titles and I will be relentless in that.”

United are reportedly close to appointing Louis van Gaal, the Netherlands coach, to succeed David Moyes but it is believed Ancelotti was their first choice. El Confidencial claim United officials approached the Real Madrid manager last week and offered him an eyewatering annual salary worth nearly £15m a season to leave the Bernabeu and take the reins at Old Trafford. However, the former Chelsea boss, who is on course to lead Real Madrid to their maiden treble, turned the Premier League champions down, citing his happiness with life in the Spanish capital.

Bale to miss Valladolid clash

areth Bale will miss Real Madrid’s crucial La Liga trip to relegationthreatened Valladolid on Wednesday. Coach Carlo Ancelotti said Bale suffered a knock in his side’s 2-2 draw with Valencia on Sunday, which left Real five points behind leaders Atletico Madrid but with a game in hand. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a sensational backheeled stoppage time equaliser in that game to keep Madrid in the hunt and Ancelotti also confirmed the Portuguese will start despite not taking a full part in training on Tuesday. “Ronaldo is fine, although he is a little

charlesog2001@yahoo.com,

Ancelotti rejects Man Utd stunning offer

Ancelotti

with charles Ogundiya

lobally, kit companies fight hard to become official sponsor of top clubs but reverse is the case in Nigeria where clubs source of jerseys is major market in the country. Looking at the jerseys of top clubs in the country, it is obvious that they are of lower qualities, sometimes with pen used in inscribing names and numbers. While some players have customised jerseys, some only make do with jersey of players that are no longer with the club. The previous player’s name covered with a piece of cloth to reflect the new player’s name and number. However, some clubs have started showing class in their outfits. Enyimba set the ball rolling with a sponsorship package from Spanish sportswear company Joma, in 2008, following their perennial success on the continent. Shooting Stars of Ibadan, in 2010, made history as the first to seal a deal

Crown FC official Jerseys

with indigenous sportswear brand, OWU. OWU has since taken over the sponsorship of more clubs in the local league, both in the Nigeria Premier League and Nigeria National League. Despite all these, it continues to baffles fans why players failed to exchange jersey during matches. Investigation by our correspondent shows that, the clubs cannot exchange jerseys because they don’t have spare shirts. The players were seeing washing their jerseys after a league match with the players claiming that they have to keep it neat for the next match.

Protesting penalties given to home teams

t has become a common scene at match venues across the country to see players crowding match officials whenever a penalty is awarded to the home team. Not only that, the players including the goalkeeper will move to the touchline for instruction from the coach whether to continue with the match or not. What is not really clear to Nigeria League Rendezvous is maybe it is a new league law for players to exit the field for few minutes then returns to continue the match whenever a penalty

is awarded. Speaking about the development, Super Eagles Media Officer, Benjamin Alaiya, said it showed gross indiscipline on the part of the team. “It is a wrong thing for players to crowd the match officials or exit the pitch whenever a penalty is given. Even when there was a wrong decision, the captain is the best person to approach the match official and not the whole team or technical crew. It boils down to orientation and proper education by the management of the clubs,” he said.

Bale

tired. He just did part of the training session but he is available for Valladolid. Bale is out due to a knock, as is (Dani) Carvajal with a muscular problem,” he said.

Zanetti confirms retirement

avier Zanetti has announced that he will retire from football at the age of 40 and after 19 seasons with Inter. The Argentine began his career in 1992 with Talleres RE before a move to Banfield a year later and then the 1995 switch out to Inter, as Massimo Moratti’s first signing as club President. Speaking to Argentine newspaper La Nacion, Pupi has explained the reasons for stepping away from a 22-year playing career. “Because I feel that now is the right time

to do it,” Zanetti reflected in the interview released today. “Because football has given me so much and I have enjoyed every moment. Because after the Achilles injury last April, I wanted to demonstrate that I could return and be competitive, but I could not. Zanetti

Iorfa and his bride

Makurdi agog for Iorfa’s wedding

he quiet of city of Makurdi, capital of Benue State, will be agog this weekend as former international and vice chairman of Lobi Stars Football Club of Makurdi, Dominic Iorfa, finally say ‘I Do”.

The wedding is billed for Saturday May 10, at the Catholic Youth Centre Makurdi by 11am, while the grand reception will hold at the Aper Aku Stadium Makurdi same day.

54 SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

I won’t dump Nigeria for club, Ogu insists CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 5 1

“My club manager asked me to tell Coach Keshi that I was injured and wouldn’t be available for selection. I refused because I really wanted to represent my country and reward the faith coach Keshi had in me,” Ogu tweeted via his Twitter handle. “Ever since that incident, I have been frozen out of the first team and have barely featured in some games this season. Despite my hard work in training, I have found opportunities to play competitive matches few and far in between.” Ogu then went on to reveal how unfulfilling it has been for him to be paid at the end of every month despite not featuring for the side. And in an interview with New Telegraph, Ogu has revealed how things came to a head at the end of last Sunday’s home game against Guimaraes, adding that he only took to Twitter as he needed an avenue to spill out most of the frustration he had kept bottled up within himself these past couple of months. “I was just frustrated and needed to get some of it out,” he said. “He (Conceicao) told me that he had forgotten about

the (South Africa) incident and that was why, even if I never got to play, I was always in the match-day squad. But it is now obvious to me that he hasn’t. “Last Sunday’s match (against Guimaraes) was our last home game of the season and he told me I was going to play and even told me to warm-up during the second half which I did until the end of the game. “But he didn’t introduce me and at the end of the game I just stormed into the dressing room because it was frustrating. That was why I just had to let it all out.” Asked if he regretted his decision to take to Twitter and if his club was going to take any disciplinary actions against him, Ogu responded passionately, noting: “Not at all. I never said anything negative about the club; I only mentioned the coach. I have absolute respect for the chairman (Jose Eduardo Simoes) and the club, but the coach hates me. “For someone who represented Portugal at the highest level, he (Conceicao) should know what it means to play for your country. It is a thing of honour to play for your country. Without Nigeria I am nothing, so it is frustrating when

someone tries to ruin my career because I decided to play for my country. “I love playing for my country and trying to stop me from doing that is just sheer wickedness.” Asked why he didn’t take the option of handing in a transfer request, Ogu, who still has a year left on his contract at the City of Coimbra Stadium, said; “I thought about doing that, some time ago, but I have so much love for the club and the fans and thought things would change for the better as the season wore on. “But with the way things are, I may have to do that, probably, at the end of the season.” Ogu joined Academica in July 2012 on a free transfer from Spanish side Almeria, going on to score his first league goal against Vitoria Setubal in a decisive away win which ensured Academica’s safety in the Portuguese top flight, and endeared him to the club’s fans. He made his Super Eagles debut in March 2013 in a 1-1 draw against Kenya in Calabar and, two months later, scored his only international goal to date in the 2-2 draw against Mexico.

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Emenike ready for Messi competition Ajibade Olusesan

uper Eagles striker, Emmanuel Emenike, has said he is ready to compete for spot light with Lionel Messi when Nigeria confront Argentina at the World Cup. The two teams will clash for the third time in the last four tournaments at Estádio José Pinheiro Borba in Porto Alegre on Wednesday, June 25 with the Barcelona talisman expected to lead the South AMericans out. But Emenike says that though Messi is one of the best around Eagles can easily tame him. “Each team goes to the World Cup based on its own strength and of course every player needs to be appreciated. “When it is viewed from this perspective, you have to respect each team. Messi is a great player of course but different scenario happen when you take to the field. “The game against Argentina will be tough, everyone knows I am right,”Emmanuel Emenike said to Fanatik.

Okagbare dedicates Jamaica win to Chibok girls lJoins call for abducted girls’ release CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 5 1

the dreaded terrorist group, Boko Haram. The students were drawn from schools in Ashigashiya, Izge, Lassa and Warabe. Meanwhile, other highlights of the Jamaica International Invitational which was held in Kingston on Saturday night includes 2013 triple world

champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce who won the women’s 200m in 22.53, .08 better than U.S. champion Kimberlyn Duncan. Jeneba Tarmoh was third in 22.69secs. Justin Gatlin’ won his first 100m of the season in 10.11secs ahead of the Jamaican duo of Andrew Fisher (10.21) and Nesta Carter (10.22).

Manu targets win in Tanzania lAs F/Eagles depart for Sunday’s cracker

Ifeanyi Ibeh

Okagbare

Keshi to discuss Westerhof proposal with NFF

uper Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, is giving Clemens Westerhof’s proposal to assist him at the World Cup, which kicks off next month in Brazil a serious thought. Keshi, said that he would discuss the proposal with his employers, the NFF before making public his decision. In an interview with Megasports, Keshi said working with Westerhof in Brazil would be great because he had coached teams at that level before, but hinted that it will not be his decision to engage the Dutchman, but a collective

decision of the entire technical crew and the NFF board. Keshi said,“It will be fun and exciting to work with Westerhof because of the wealth of experience that he had earned over the years as a coach. “Don’t forget that he was the coach of Nigeria when I was the captain of the national team, so it would be a great experience to work with him. “But I must add here that his joining the team will not be my decision but a collective decision of both the NFF, members of the technical crew and the technical committee.”

lying Eagles coach, Manu Garba, has set his sights on securing a win when his side takes on Tanzania in this weekend’s 2015 African Youth Championship second round, first leg qualifier in Dar es Salaam. The match against the Tanzanians comes up on Sunday at the 60,000-capacity National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, which has a natural grass pitch. It had initially been scheduled for Saturday but in an official correspondence by the Tanzania Football Federation dated May 6 and signed by general secretary, Mwesigwa Selestine, the host federation apologised for shifting the game by a day “due to reasons beyond our reach.” The match is scheduled to start 2pm Nigerian time (4pm local time in Tanzania), and Garba, speaking after his side’s training session at the National Stadium in Lagos Tuesday morning, said: “We are fully ready for this match.

“We respect our opponents, but we want to win in Tanzania so that the second leg in Nigeria will be a mere formality.”

African Taekwondo Championship:

Chukwumerije leads Nigeria’s team Mercy Jacob

eijing 2008 Olympics bronze medalist, Chika Chukwumerije is expected to lead Nigeria’s quest for honours at the 2014 African Senior Taekwondo Championships, which starts on Wednesday May 7 in Tunis, Tunisia. Chukwumerije, whose last major outing was at the maiden World Taekwondo Federation grand prix held in Manchester in December 2013, will compete alongside his elder brother, Uche Chukwumerije, Jamilu Mohammad, Sunday Onofe and Joy Ekhator. The five-man team departed the country at the weekend with the aim of amassing points from the competition, which is a G-4 ranked tournament with the gold medalist getting 40 points.

PRESENTATION Former Deputy Speaker of the Federal House want less states, local councils Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

ORMER Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and delegate to the on-going National Conference, Chibudom Nwuche, has faulted the agitation for additional states in the country, noting that more states would complicate the nation’s polity. Nwuche equally canvassed the pruning of the 774 councils in the country or replacing them with divisions that would be much larger in size. According to Nwuche, creating additional states in the country would merely push up government expenditure and administrative costs. Rather, he said, what is required is a more decentralized government, whereby the powers of

NEWS 55

FROM THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Nwuche opposes creation of more states l Seeks reduction of councils, weak centre the central government should be reduced and more powers given to the state or regions with respect to certain issues, especially those involving local knowledge and peculiar circumstances. He canvassed these positions in a submission he made to the National Conference sitting at the National Judiciial Institute, NJI, Abuja. Nwuche maintained that rather than creating more states, efforts should be made at simplifying government “by reducing our states into regions and giving these regions more powers and leverage to function independently, as is seen in other developed countries like the US.” The former Deputy Speaker equally recommended that the six geopolitical zones should be formally recognized and accorded more powers

in the constitution, saying, “I believe that the unity of Nigeria can be better guaranteed if the structure allows the constituent parts to express themselves and their creativity.” He also proposed a single tenure of at least seven years for the President, governors or premiers of the states and regions, saying the present system of four years tenure with a two-term limit has not served the nation well. “Elections and campaigns with all the attendant intrigues have become too frequent, leaving little time for governance and development. After the elections and swearing in of the executive in 2011, we have already begun to hear talk about 2015 elections. These talks often distract governments from performing

and delivering on their promises and it effectively leaves only about two years out of a four-year tenure for governance. “The first year is spent putting in place the structures of governance, the second and third for governance and the fourth for another election. Our country cannot afford the expenditure of this regular ritual. “INEC is reported to have spent about N470B in the 2011 elections that did not produce any real change in the executive level because of the power of incumbency. “Why must we put our country and populace through the agony of this electoral process, with the attendant sabrerattling, violence, when almost all the contestants would be returned? A loss in the election is often an exception to the rule”, he said.

Resource control: Confab committee to decide Monday Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

he National Conference Committee on Devolution of Power will, next Monday, take a final decision on the issue of derivation and resource control. Co-chairman of the committee and former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, disclosed this yesterday. According to Attah, discussions on derivation commenced on Monday and all the members of the committee are expected to make their contributions before final decision is made. His words, “Discussions on resource control started yesterday. So far,

CBN seeks constitutional backing for Sovereign Wealth Fund Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

L-R: Alhaji Mustapher Bello; Chief Mrs. Nike Akande and Mr. Ibrahim Waziri, at their committee meeting in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

not all committee members have been able to make their contributions. So, even when we come back from lunch (yesterday) those who have not spoken will speak and if we still have some leftover, they will continue on Monday and then we will be able to take decisions. Another member of the committee from Rivers State, Ann Kio Briggs, told newsmen that the people of the Niger Delta region were still demanding 50 per cent resource control. According to her, “That is the message my people gave me and that is exactly what I told members of the committee during my presentation.”

he Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN) yesterday demanded that a constitutional provision be made for the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) to legally secure it and pave the way for the country to maximise its benefits. The apex bank also endorsed the long clamour by some civil society groups for the separation of the the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation(AGF) from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federal Government. Acting Governor of the CBN, Dr. Sarah Alade, gave the endorsements during a presentation she made before members of the Committee on Public Finance at the ongoing National Conference. Akande, represented by the Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Alhaji Suleiman Barau, said the SWF was of great im-

portance if Nigeria must save for the rainy day. According to Alade, the lack of appropriate constitutional mandate to create the SWF, had posed some operational challenges to the apex bank and has been the basis for legal contests against it by the state governments. "The SWF was intended to replace the Excess Crude Account (ECA) in order to provide long term savings for economic stabilization, infrastructural development and generational equity. "The ECA has been critiqued as a mere arrangement based on a memorandum of understanding among the three tiers of government, thus necessitating a constitutional backing for the SWF to provide for a stable longterm saving to address the country's infrastructure challenges, provide stabilization fund against the volatilities in oil prices/ revenues and ensure generational equity.

Committee seeks sweeping reforms in national security Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

he Committee on National Security at the ongoing National Conference yesterday unveiled a new national security architecture to meet the current security challenges in the country. he new order will require the scrapping of the Ministry of Police Affairs and its replacement with a Ministry of Homeland Security (MoHS) to coordinate the internal security of the country. The committee has also proposed the creation of the Nigeria

National Guard (NNG) Corps to handle internal conflicts and border control. In addition, a Rapid Response Force will be established within the National Guards Corps to deal with emergencies while a VIP Protection Department will be established in the Ministry of a Homeland Security. These were some of the major recommendations contained in a 40page document that reviewed the security situation in the country and proffered solutions to the various challenges. Under the new arrangement, the MoHS will drive all internal

security operations and will work closely with the Ministries of Interior, Justice, Defence , Foreign Affairs as well as the Office of the National Security Adviser. The committee also recommended that the present centralized police structure remain but be reformed to make it more effective and representative of the federal character of the country. The document sought to operationalize the concept of community policing using the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) whose officers and men should be deployed at the com-

munity level nationwide. The conversion proposal, New Telegraph learnt, was based on the premise that the Civil Defence Corps could be recruited locally by the states to satisfy the demand for a locally based force or state police. Co-chairman of the Committee on National Security, Chief Albert Horsfal, disclosed that the new security structure would require the conversion of the Nigeria Mobile Force into the National Guard Corps while those presently serving in the Mobile Police Force would be given the option of joining the National

Guard or reverting to the regular Police Force as was the case with the Nigeria Security Organisation (NSO) in 1976. According to him, the Counter Insurgency Service currently under the Office of the National Security Adviser should be removed from there to stand on its own as one of the formations under the Ministry of Homeland Security. To make the Nigeria Police more effective, the committee recommended that the Police Council remain the body responsible for policies, finances, organisation and standards of the Police.

"It should play a far greater role in shaping the aims and objectives of the service. It should be responsible for the appointment of the Inspector General of Police on the advice of the Police Service Commission. The Inspector General of the Police should be made accountable to the Police Council for the effectiveness and efficiency of the Force." The committee also recommended the removal of the absolute immunity for political chief executives and their deputies because of what it described as its security implications.

World Record

On Marble

Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.

– Salvador Dali

Sanctity of Truth w w w. new tel eg rap ho nl i ne. co m

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha WEDNESday, MAY 7, 2014

N150

Akemi Kato (Japan, b. 13 December 1970) was 41 years 249 days old when she played for Japan against South Africa at the Riverbank Arena, London, UK, on 8 August 2012, making her the oldest ever female hockey player at the Olympic Games.

First Ladyism and the illusions of patriarchy

ince the days of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, the Office of the First Lady, an illegal contraption, has been railroaded into the public domain. His wife, Maryam Babangida, now late, with her pet project, Better Life for Rural Women, more appropriately tagged “Better Life for Idle Rich Urban Women” was the vehicle for the purported mainstreaming of the female gender. Maryam Babangida, exercised tremendous influence over her husband, for 8 years that Babangida in a Maradona like fashion dribbled across Nigeria. She was promptly rewarded with the naming of her home town Asaba as Capital of the new Delta State. Then came the turn of the bespectacled, General Sanni Abacha, whose wife, Maryam, came with Family Support Programme (FSP), a route for the intemperate distribution of scarce societal resources. Sanni Abacha, unlike his predecessor did not pretend that he needed any legitimacy, and in a brazen, pursuit of naked power, Abacha turned Nigeria’s national coffers, into a private purse, for the usage of his wife and children. Till date, Nigeria is still recovering from the humongous loot that Sanni Abacha carted overseas. Even the Jurist, respected Fatima Abubakar also had her own pet project when her husband, General Abdulsalami Abubakar ruled the country, although credit must be given to her for some reticence, and a certain admirable distance from State duties, much like the days of Victoria Gowon., Flora Azikiwe, Hanna Awolowo etc. During Obasanjo’s second coming as Head of State, his wife, Stella also had her project “Child Care Trust” that so rankled the late Gani Fawehinmi, who described it, and rightly too, as totally absurd and illegal. Taking a cue from Stella, all Governors wives under the current fourth Republic try to outdo the other in their ignoble pursuit of crass materialism which they disguise with one phoney name or the other. Turai Yaradua’s Women And Youth Empowerment Foundation, and Dame Patience Jonathan’s “Women for Change Initiative” should also be seen in the same light. They are not different from previous ones, and are also not seriously geared towards changing the lot of the average Nigerian women, or improving their collective condition. It is primarily a means of surreptitiously cornering unearned resources, under the disingenuous smokescreen of working for the less privileged women. Standing on the altar of feminism, their spouses have, in

IvoryGlory Nkemdili Nnonyelu

aunnonyelu@yahoo.co.uk - 08122801926 (sms only)

dexterous manner taken over the duties of their husbands; call the shots at the Federal, States, Local Governments and wards. It is not the plethora, or deluge of the pet projects, that I am worried about. It is the fact that we have unwittingly given in to a democratic ambush, where unelected women, run the affairs of the State, most times with little or no experience or information. This debauchery is immune to complexion of political parties, as all the parties that have anything to do with political power at any level, have all ingratiated themselves. It is therefore a serious national malaise. The matter is not restricted to the political sphere for even in other areas, you have different wives association, Medical doctors wives association, Old Boys wives association, Lawyers Wives Association, Engineer Wives Association Police Officers Wives’ Association (POWA), Army Officers Wives Association etc. Such is the character of Nigerian feminist struggle that we need to interrogate contextually if only to disrobe it of its crisis infested western influence or a variant of cultural imperialism. The dominant perspective in gender relations is that of female, powerlessness, and marginalisation. This thinking was given added impetus by the two decades at the twilight of the last century, dedicated to women by the United Nations, and the fury of feminist propaganda supported by western, now global capitalism. This is whycontemporary discussions of feminism have been very emotive, sohighly subjective that any who departs from this partial description of social life. The truth is that female powerlessness; the mantra of feminism is a ruse. For rather than describe the world as a man’s world, it is in reality, beneath the façade of masculine ego, a woman’s world. Women everywhere are indeed the real bosses, particularly those whose husbands’ occupy positions in public sphere. Most men (husbands) have since realised their positions in the homes, ceded considerable territorial space and power to the wives, at least to have some peace. From cradle to grave, it sounds preposterous, but it is true, a

man is under the influence, indeed dominion of the woman. A son is tied to the mothers’ apron strings, decorating her with all sorts of care, attention and gift, leaving only schnapps or dry Gin for the father. If he is not succumbing to mother power, it is in obedience to bride or wife power. This explains the kindred contest between the mother in-laws and wives over whom amongst the two will exercise dominion over the man. Women control of 3 key power areas necessary for survival, i.e. womb power, cradle power, kitchen power, and all flowing from these are overwhelming and phenomenal. Feminism which generally refers to the totality of women struggles over the ages against all forms of patriarchy (male dominance) has therefore been rightly dismissed by perceptive thinkers and incisive analysts like Chinweizu as a “revolt in paradise”. Feminism as currently pursued in Nigeria, is a decoy by the upper and middle class women to gain public relevance, status mileage at the expense of majority of women, whose interest they purport to champion and other men. The ruse of female powerlessness needs to be exposed simultaneously with the unearthing of the illusions of patriarchy. I am not among those that are deluded by the feeling that men are in charge. Patriarchy gives presumed advantages to the men folk, to deny women rewards and privileges, use their bodies unhindered and dominate power. But this is deceptive. For female power, in my opinion is ubiquitous. In Igbo traditional setting, the Umuada (women group) are in fact very powerful, as they are routinely consulted, some even make policies for the governance of several communities. Supposed patriarchs are mere figure heads, as behind the scene, in the inner comfort of their homes and offices, the women pull the strings. What the First Lady Dame Jonathan did with her Chibok visitors, as reprehensible as it is, is a normal everyday occurrence. In the universities, wives of Vice Chancellors expect professors, to bow before them, if they will ever get the

attention of their husbands (the Vice Chancellor). You see these professors desperately seeking the attention of these wives. Same for governors, where commissioners, and other less endowed struggle to carry the handbags of Her Excellencies. Other examples abound. In fact, those who have come close to the corridors of power know how to oil and massage the egos of these women. Even when men claim political power, the real custodians of the fruit of that power are the women, who use it to quench their bizarre fantasies and desires. When you now hear the popular refrain, behind every successful man there is a woman, know that what is actually meant, is that a woman exist who enjoys the labour of the man. The religious community is not left out of this influence, as wives of General Superintendents are also appeased not only by parishioners, but the clergy if the man of God will look their way, while dispensing blessings or patronage. For me, what is patriarchy may be a hoax dream after all, or mere indulgence in fantasy for whatever psychological benefits that one seeks to have. You need to see wives of generals (am told that they enjoy equivalent ranks with their husbands even without handling a gun) grovelling at the retirement parade of their husbands, you do not need a soothsayer to tell you where the power lies. Nigerians must learn to hold responsible first ladies of every office and home for the success, or failure of the stooge in power. Men in power are in my mind, mere stooges working to satisfy the errant pleasures of their wives.

OmoBaba

TERRORISM WON’T DERAIL US - Jonathan, Kenyatta

- Let me hear your loud AMEN!

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