Binder1 nov26,2014 by Newtelegraphonline

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Vol. 1 No. 281

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

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How I survived Cancer, by wole soyinka

Naira crashes further lCBN devalues it, raises interest rates Ayodele Aminu and Abdulwahab Isa

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday took mea-

sures to stem losses to the nation’s foreign reserves and speculation against the naira by depreciating the currency and raising benchmark interest rates

for the first time in three years. The CBN, which raised interest rate by 100 basis points to 13 per cent, also hiked the cash reserve ra-

tio (CRR) for private sector bank deposits to 20 per cent, from 15 per cent. The benchmark interest rate of the CBN, othCONTINUED ON PAGE 2

NEW TELE

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WEDNESDAY , NOVEMBER

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Extension Hurdles of emergency rule: facing Jona than’s requ est

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Page 13

eight pages of incisive Politics

Reps plot Jonathan's fall CONT INUE

D ON PAGE

lList corruption, impunity among 50 impeachable offences }2

L-R: Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun; Yeye Odua Hannah Idowu Awolowo and Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, during a church service to commemorate the 99th birthday of the nonagenarian at Efunyela Hall in Ikenne, Ogun State...yesterday

Telegraph

Boko Haram bombs Borno market

Travel Advisory l60 killed, 42 injured Your guide to local and international flights 53

Ahmed Miringa MAIDUGURI

wo suicide bombers suspected to be members of Boko

Haram yesterday killed about 60 people during an attack on Monday Market, Maiduguri. The attack is the first in Maiduguri since July

2 when 56 people were killed in the same market area when a car bomb hit a group of traders and shoppers. However, while securi-

ty agents were still trying to piece together detail of the attacks, other reports put the death toll at between 30 and 60. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Quick Read Editorial Soyinka’s proposal on the missing Chibok girls }19

Military insists on emergency rule

News

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Reps compile 50 impeachable offences against Jonathan Philip Nyam Abuja

ouse of Representatives members have begun a compilation of impeachable offences against President Goodluck Jonathan, New Telegraph learnt yesterday. The lawmakers, who had begun gathering signatures for the president's removal following last Thursday's clash with policemen, had so far compiled 50 impeachable offences against the president. Already, the lawmakers have gathered 120 signatures to impeach the president. A principal officer of the House told New Telegraph in Abuja that the lawmakers had teamed up with senators in a bid to remove the president. The source, who, however, rejected pleas to unveil the offences listed against Jonathan, hinted that they include corruption and impunity. Pressed further for more details on the im-

peachable offences, he called for patience, saying they will be unveiled when the time is ripe. The source, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House, said both the Senate and the House had resolved to work together for the common good of the country by impeaching the president for “incompetence, corruption and unprecedented impunity.” According to him, the impeachment plot against Jonathan is not a partisan affair as lawmakers from all the political parties have identified with the “cause” and will not give up until the president is “sent packing.” “I’m sure you read the reports today (yesterday) that senators are going to move against Jonathan? Now you can confirm that the impeachment thing is not about APC. It is a nonpartisan cause. We have all resolved that the man (Jonathan) must go. “Never in the history of Nigeria has a leader displayed such crass incompetence as we have seen in President Jonathan. It

is glaring and you can feel it. Mr. President, with due respect, has shown that he is not capable of running this country. That is the basic truth,” he stated. He added that members of the House would work closely with senators to ensure that the president is impeached. “I want to assure the people that what we are doing is real but I can't give you the list of offences now, but very soon, we

shall make it public. And as we talk today, our men are working round the clock and I can confirm to you that over 50 impeachable offences that have been committed by Jonathan are noted. Is it corruption? Is it impunity? Is it incompetence? They are legion and our team is working assiduously to identify more before we come out with the notice. We are very serious this time around and will

pursue this to the letter,” the source said. The lawmaker confirmed that they have met with the PDP legislators in the Senate who are also desirous of removing the president, adding that the meetings are ongoing and “when it is ripe, we will come out.” PDP senators, many of whom have been aggrieved with the party and the president over

their alleged connivance with governors of their respective states, were said to have started gathering signatures to team up with the House members in a bid to oust the president. The senators, it was learnt, were angry with the president for his inability to ensure their automatic tickets to return to the Senate in 2015 and over the invasion of the National Assembly by security operatives.

CBN depreciates naira, raises interest rate CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

erwise known as Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), is the nominal anchor of all interest rates in the economy. It is the rate at which the CBN gives loans to banks and as such, influences directly, the level and direction of change in interest rates, while the CRR is the proportion of banks' total deposits held in cash balance with the CBN. The banking watchdog moved naira’s official peg

to a midpoint of N168 to $1, from N155 and its trading band widened to eight per cent either side from previous three per cent. This is the first time, since November 2011when former CBN Governor, Mr. Chukwuma Soludo who reviewed the exchange rate band from N145-N150 to $1, that the central would depreciate the naira. It also increased the CRR on private sector deposits by 500 basis points to 20 per cent but left that of the CRR on public sector

unchanged at 75 per cent. CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, announced these measures yesterday in Abuja at the end of the two-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting. Defending the moves, he said the CBN's efforts to defend the naira had led to "dwindling foreign reserves" and that a "more flexible exchange rate is the most viable option". “The current challenge requires bold policy measures, moves on both the

demand and supply sides of the foreign exchange market,” he added. Expectedly, the naira exchange rate rose to N177 to $1 at the interbank market and N182 to a dollar at the parallel market otherwise known as the black market. With the new measures unfolded by CBN to cushion the economy against the volatility of the global oil market that has put a pressure on the nation's legal tender, bank depositors CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

N'Assembly invasion by police a coup, says APC lPDP warns opposition party against attack Johnchuks Onuanyim and Onyekachi Eze Abuja

he All Progressives Congress (APC) has called for independent inquiry into the invasion of the National Assembly by the Police Force, last week, even as the party described the act as coup plotting. According to the party, the inquiry would determine who ordered the invasion and for what purpose, with a view to preventing a recurrence and also meting out the necessary punishment to those behind it. APC, in a statement is-

sued by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said using weapons to attack an arm of government and preventing it from carrying out its functions are tantamount to a coup. He added that the tear gas that was fired into the National Assembly by an invading force of policemen is a chemical weapon. The party said: “We are demanding the independent inquiry in view of the seriousness of the armed attack on the National Assembly and the danger it poses to our democracy. We are also alerting the international community to the happenings in Nigeria

and urging them to show interest because of their investment in the country's democracy.” The APC said the tepid denial by the presidency of its involvement in the senseless attack is not enough to stop the fingerpointing at it (presidency), especially because no one, not even the Inspector General of Police, will have the temerity to stop the nation's number four citizen from entering the National Assembly without an express order from the president. “We make bold to say that President Jonathan has worked assiduously to put Nigeria's democracy

in jeopardy, whether in Rivers where he backed a misguided Police Commissioner to usurp the constitutional duties of an elected governor or in Ekiti State where he has so far refused to condemn the so-called impeachment of the Speaker by seven PDP members in a 26-member House of Assembly. “Also, apart from the half-hearted and belated denial, the president has not condemned the attack on the National Assembly by the police. A president that is conversant with the dictates of the constitution which he swore an oath to protect would have gone ahead to make a national

broadcast to condemn the police invasion of the Assembly and even promised to get to the root of the matter. Instead, our president has maintained an undignified silence in the face of the global outcry that has greeted the orchestrated police action,” the party said. APC advised President Jonathan to stop behaving as if he wants to be the last president of a united Nigeria and to immediately put an end to actions that are inimical to the very survival of the country's democracy. The party also congratulated the members of the National Assembly, espe-

L-R: President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar; Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal and Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, at the delegates conference of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Lafia...yesterday.

Boko Haram bombs Maiduguri market CONTINUED FROM PAGE PB

In his account of the incident, the state Coordinator of the Civilian Joint Task Force (Civilian JTF), Abba Aji Kalli, said two teenage girls dressed in full hijabs entered the busy market and detonated their explosives. According to him, the first girl set off her explosives and killed about three women. When others gathered around the scene, the second bomber screamed and blew herself up, killing about 30, he said. "I am right here at the scene and I have before me 11 corpses ... many have been taken away by relatives, while others are taken to the state specialists' hospital," Kalli stated.

A Civilian JTF member, Audu Jambawa, however, told reporters that over 60 people were killed. Many of the bodies and those injured were taken to the State Specialist Hospital and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), all in Maiduguri. “Over 60 people were killed; as you know, the street is a busy business area where people gathered daily for their business activities”, Jambawa stated. The incident, which occurred at 11:30 am, caused pandemonium in the area as people scampered to safety. A source at the UMTH said over 40 bodies had been brought to the hospi-

tal along with 42 persons who suffered varying degrees of injuries. He added that ambulances were also seen trying to convey the injured to the hospital while family and friends had besieged the place in search of their loved ones. Another eye witness said the attacks were carried out by two female suicide bombers who hid the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) beneath their hijabs. He said: “The bombs were two and one of the female suicide bombers detonated the first bomb; after some minutes, the second bomb which was detonated by a woman who dressed like a mad woman, also went off.

Many people were killed and many others injured.” “People rushed to offer assistance to the victims (of the first blast) and moments later a second explosion went off,” said Laminu Habib, who was in the market during the attack. Another report by AFP quoted a health worker, Dogara Shehu, as saying that he counted more than “45 people killed, some of them completely decapitated.” Soldiers and police officers had cordoned off the area while rescue workers helped survivors to the hospital. When New Telegraph visited the scene of the scene of the incident, sympathisers were seen

trying to attend to the injured. A spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed that “many people have been killed” but did not have an official death toll. The spokesman for the Borno State Police Command, Mr. Gideon Jubrin, also confirmed the incident but could not give the number of casualties. "I can confirm to you that there was explosion at the Maiduguri Monday Market today (yesterday) but I cannot give you details how as our men and the military are on ground to bring back order," Jubrin told reporters on the phone.

cially those who scaled the high gates of the National Assembly, for the sacrifices they have made to defend the nation's democracy. It said: “The lawmakers, by their action, risked their lives for the survival of Nigeria's democracy, hence they are heroes.” Meanwhile, the APC has started harvesting the fallout as a result of the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over nomination of aspirants. National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, announced that aspirants from the PDP are besieging the APC secretariat seeking for waivers and nomination forms. Former Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government (SSG) and governorship aspirant, Mr. Umana Okon Umanna has defected to APC to push his ambition. Oyegun told former Head of State and presidential aspirant, Major General Muhammadu Buhari that increased activities at the party's secretariat was as a result of PDP members seeking waivers to contest 2015 election on APC platform. “I want to assure you that half the crowd you saw are PDP members seeking registration to join us and seeking waiver to pick our ticket for the various offices to be contested. “So, we are busy working and preparing the ground for our eventual take over.” The APC national chairman also condemned the relationship between President, Jonathan and the President of Chad, Idris Debby. In another development, the PDP has described as unwarranted, the deliberate and vicious attacks on the person and office of the president by the APC. The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, yesterday, said such incendiary utterances are threats to the institutions of democracy and the unity of the nation. Metuh added that it could no longer fold its hands while the very survival of democracy and the nation were being threatened. "We had thought that the silver hair of its top leaders would caution the thoughtless delinquency of its youngsters. Unfortunately, the recklessness of the old is in competition with the impudence of the young," the statement said.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

News

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

PDP disqualifies 13 Rivers governorship aspirants lClears way for Wike Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

he governorship ambitions of 13 aspirants to govern Rivers State in 2015 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were dashed yesterday after they were formally disqualified by the party’s South-South Screening Committee. The screening committee arrived at the decision after sitting for three days at its zonal headquarters, along Circular Road, in Port Harcourt. The disqualified aspirants were among a group of 16 governorship aspirants who had alleged that the state leadership of the party had favoured former Minister of State for Education, Barr. Nyesom Wike, to emerge as the party’s governorship candidate in 2015. The disqualified aspirants are: Chief Bekinbo Dagogo-Jack, Barrister Nimi Walson Jack, Prince Tonye Princewill, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, Senator Lee Maeba, Prof. Dom Baridom and Major Lasncelot Ayanya. Others are Gabriel Pidomsom, Dennis Ojuka, Tamunosi Gogo-Jaja, Sunday Ngerebara and Mrs. Abietedogho Bob-Hart. Major Lancelot Ayanya (rtd) from Andoni was also disqualified. Most of the disqualified aspirants, mainly from the riverine areas and Ogoni axis, had jointly pursued their ambition under the Rivers Mainstream Coalition, a group that is strongly opposed to the emergence of another Ikwerre as successor to Governor Rotimi Amaechi come 2015. The Coalition also clamours for the principle of zoning as enshrined in Section 7 3 (c) of the PDP constitution. Reports from the sources close to the screening

committee, said the 13 governorship aspirants failed the screening exercise because they are not members of the PDP in Rivers State. The committee, however, cleared Pawariso Samuel Horsfall; Capt.

Nwankwo Sunday; Nyesom Wike; Bernard Mikko and Ibinabo Michael-West. On learning of their disqualification, the 13 disqualified aspirants flew to Abuja yesterday to petition the national headquarters of the PDP.

The leader of the Coalition, Prof. Israel Owate, while reacting to the disqualification, said it was strange that the screening committee said it did not recognise them as members of the party. Owate noted that they

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

I am not a PDP member after I raised hundreds of millions for the party, donated a multi-million media centre to the national headquarters and participated in all affairs of the parry I was invited to?"

L-R: Acting Company Secretary, Industrial and General Insurance Plc, Mr. Abiodun Ajifolawe; Chairman, General Yakubu Gowon; acting Managing Director, Mr. Rotimi Fashola and Executive Director, Mr. Sina Elusakin, during the company's Annual General Meeting in Lagos…yesterday.

Military insists on state of emergency

lSenate discusses N’Assembly invasion today Chukwu David Abuja

he military yesterday told the Senate that a state of emergency was inevitable to enable them to effectively prosecute the ongoing war against the Boko Haram in the North-East. The service chiefs declared this position during an interactive session with senators in Abuja that last-

ed over eight hours. The heads of the security agencies present at the meeting included: Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosun and the Director of Department of State Security Service, Ita Ekpenyong. Briefing journalists after the session, spokesman of the Senate, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, explained that the session

restricted its discussion to the constraints of the military in the prosecution of the war against terrorism in the North-East as well as fashioning a way out of the problem. He said from the interaction of the Senate with the military leadership, there were assurances that the military could defeat the insurgents and end the hostilities in the country. Abaribe said the Senate was satisfied with the

CBN depreciates naira, raises interest rate will now earn more interest rate on their deposits. But banks will have less cash to speculate in the foreign exchange market while manufacturers and other borrowers will pay more. Also, cost of imported goods will rise as a result of the depreciation of the naira but Nigeria will earn more from sale of crude oil, which is denominated in dollars. The naira has taken a beating over the past few

had been cleared by the party, which found them worthy to be sold its governorship form. One of the disqualified governorship aspirant, Princewill, rejected his disqualification, saying: “This is sheer madness.

months, as falling oil prices have shaken confidence in the assets of Nigeria. Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves, which the CBN uses to defend the naira, have been depleted to a five-month low of $36.5 billion. Oil and natural gas account for 96 per cent of export revenue in Nigeria and about 80 per cent of government revenue. “The current downturn in oil prices is not transitory but appears to be permanent, being a product of

technological advances,” Emefiele said. The governor described the country’s fiscal revenue outlook as “not too impressive.” “Against this background, the committee is of the view that the current challenge requires bold policy moves on both the demand and supply sides of the foreign exchange market,” he said. Emefiele warned banks and other foreign exchange dealers to avoid committing infarctions,

stressing that the apex bank will maintain zero tolerance against infractions by forex speculators. “Without prejudice to this commitment, our foreign exchange management framework would have zero tolerance for infractions and would penalise economic agents whose primary objective is to speculate in the Nigerian market,” he said. He challenged states and local governments to diversify their earnings by CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

explanations given by the military and promised that it would do everything within its powers to support the military to accomplish its mission as quickly as possible. "The Senate, in an executive session, has spent more than eight hours interacting with the service chiefs of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The interaction was very frank and it was very detailed. We looked into what have been the constraints of the military in dealing with the insurgency. We also looked into the budgetary provisions for them and we looked into what has been done so far by the military in curtailing the insurgency. "And I can tell you that the Senate was very impressed with the response from the military and like I said, the military has shown to be capable of dealing with the insurgency. The fact that they are capable of dealing with the insurgents means that the Senate will do all that is within its powers to support the military so that we can bring the insurgency to

a quick resolution,” he said. He added that the Senate found that troop and equipment-related problems were responsible for the difficulties encountered by the military in dealing with the insurgency. "Of course, the military continues to insist that they need the state of emergency to be able to conduct the operations in a manner that will lead to quick resolution. When the Senate takes the question of the state of emergency, of course, you will be there because it would be discussed in the open plenary. "On whether the president will forward a fresh letter of request since the emergency rule has expired, he said we should be looking at Section 305 of the Constitution. I think what happens with the state of emergency is there in the constitution," he said. Commenting on the invasion of the National Assembly by security operatives last Thursday, Abaribe pointed out that the matter would be considered on the floor of the Senate today in an open session.

News

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

MDAs shun Reps investigative hearings Philip Nyam Abuja

L-R: Vice-President Namadi Sambo; Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke and other officials, at the opening of Abuja National Carnival in Abuja…yesterday.

ome ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government yesterday failed to honour the invitation by the House of Representatives’ Committee on Public Accounts to respond to queries raised by the office of the Auditor General of the Federation (AGF). The affected committees allegedly failed to submit their audited annual reports to the AGF as provided in the financial regulations. The defaulting MDAs include Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Petroleum Pricing Marketing Corporation (PPMC), Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) as well as Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC). Others are Voice of Nigeria (VON), Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN). The House commit-

tee led by Hon. Solomon Adeola Olamilekan has for about a year been investigating the utilisation of the service wide votes by various MDAs as well as probing the audited accounts of same. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police authorities yesterday deployed over 80 personnel to the National Assembly reminiscent of what transpired last week, when they attempted to prevent Speaker Aminu Tambuwal from gaining entrance into the National Assembly complex. The policemen who were armed mounted the sentry as early as 7.30a.m. searched thoroughly all vehicles driving into the complex. However, full legislative activities resumed yesterday as the Senate held a close-door session with Service Chiefs. Unlike last Thursday, no one was denied access into the National Assembly complex. The acting Sergeant-atArms, Mr. Ibrahim Ndako, declined comment on the development when he was contacted to explain reasons behind the presence of the policemen.

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST

TETFund rules out funding of private varsities

LAGOS

Babatope Okeowo, and Cajetan Mmuta

31oC

25oC

Partially Cloudy

ABUJA

34oC

22oC

Partially Cloudy

PORT HARCOURT

25o C 18oC Thunder Storms

KANO

32oC

13oC

Sunny

ENUGU

34oC

23oC

Partially Cloudy

IBADAN

32oC

23oC

Partially Cloudy

CALABAR

29o C 23oC Thunder Storms

MAIDUGURI

ONITSHA

33oC 15oC Partially Cloudy

33oC

23oC

Partially Cloudy

ertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) yesterday ruled out the possibilities of extending Federal Government funding for private universities in the country. The Executive Secretary of TETfund, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, told owners of private universities that they should forget about government funding. Bogoro, who spoke at the 8th International

Conference of the West African Research and Innovation Management Association (WARIMA), held in Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin in Ondo State, said the law setting up the fund precludes it from extending funding to private universities. The conference had "Enhancing UniversityGovernment Industrial Research and Innovation Partnerships for Local Relevance and Global Competitiveness," as its theme. Reacting to the appeal made by the founder of Elizade University, Chief

Michael Ade Ojo, among other owners of private universities that government should extend its grants to private universities in the country, Bogoro said the law establishing the fund prohibits them from such gesture. Bogoro said: "By our law, we cannot extend our grants to private universities. Government should not be seen to subsidise private enterprises.” In his address, the Vice Chancellor of the Elizade University, Prof. Valentine Aletor, said the conference would re-awake national

and international consciousness on the compelling need to harness the synergies of universities, government and industries as basis for sustainable growth and development. Governor Olusegun Mimiko said government at all levels must commit themselves to creating enabling social and policy environment for industry to thrive. Meanwhile, the ViceChancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, has condemned

government’s decision to exclude private varsities from the TETFund. "The Federal Government introduced Education Tax Fund, which later became TETFUND, and the organised private sector pay large chunk of this money as tax. "But today, the fund is meant for public institutions while private institutions are left out. This is miscarriage of justice," he said. Osaghae spoke during a press conference to mark the 12th convocation ceremony of the university.

CBN depreciates naira, raises interest rate CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

increasing their Internal Generated Revenue (IGR). Though he applauded recent review of the oil price benchmark for the 2015 budget from $78 to $73 per barrel of oil, he said:“We need to put up notice that $73 benchmark is good but not pessimistic enough. I thing with the austerity measure and support from CBN, we will work together to ensure the policies do not get hard on our people.” The CBN's policy re-

view elicited reactions yesterday from local and foreign analysts who hailed the tightening measures, saying they are steps in the right direction. Frontline economist and Managing Director of Financial Derivatives, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, said these measures had brought certainty and clarity to the markets. “It s a powerful signal to all stakeholders on the CBN’s intent to do what it can to preserve macroeconomic stability,” Head of

Africa Research at Standard Chartered Bank Plc in London, Razia Khan, said in his reaction. “Although we had forecast some tightening, the central bank has exceeded expectations. It has shown absolute commitment to dealing with current challenges and we think that these measures deal as comprehensively as possible with the challenges facing Nigeria,” he added. Global Chief Economist and Head of Macro Strategy at Renaissance Capital,

Mr. Charlie Robertson, expressed a similar sentiment. This “shows the CBN is serious about defending the new currency level,” he said. So far this year, the naira has fallen more than 10 per cent against the dollar, placing Nigeria among those oil-rich nations hardest hit by a production glut that has led to a near 28 per cent drop in Brent crude prices in the past three months. Attempting to stop the slide, the apex bank had

earlier this month sought to temper dollar demand by barring importers of goods, including electronics, generators and telecommunications equipment, from procuring dollars at its foreignexchange auctions. It also limited the amount that banks can deposit in the bank’s Standing Deposit Facility to N7.5 billion, or about $44 million. At the time, traders said the regulation should boost naira liquidity among banks.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

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NATIONAL

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

How I survived cancer, by Soyinka Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

obel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, yesterday revealed how he battled prostate cancer and survived it. Soyinka, who spoke at a press conference tagged: “Beyond Ebola and Beyond: Reign of the Silent Killer,” called for the establishment of cancer research and di-

agnostic centres across the country to contain the spread of the disease. The event was held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta in collaboration with the Ogun State Ministry of Health. Soyinka stated that he had a moral obligation to disclose his ailment, not only as a member of the African Cancer Centre, but also to disabuse people’s minds about the scourge. The playwright dis-

closed that he discovered he was cancerous in November 2013, but was now cured last month. He said, “A few years ago, I was invited to become a board member of African Cancer Centre and even delivered the inaugural lecture called ‘Cancers, lifestyles.’ It never occurred to me to test myself because men have their separate test like women. It never occurred to me to test myself. “Like many of you

know, I am a very private person. I believe there are certain territories of individual that should be private to themselves and to their families, may be sometimes and it is only when it is public interest that you probe into people’s health. “For me, this is not a decision which I like but I felt I have an obligation being a member of African Cancer Centre and also having even donated a performance

during the festival to fundraising for cancer, I am under obligation to make it known and to also demystify cancer. “Many people feel it is a death sentence; they begin to look at you as if you are a ghost once there’s rumour you have cancer. No, cancer is not a death sentence; it is curable. I have undergone the treatment and I am able to tell you that I even have a medal, that’s my certificate.

L-R: Editor, Saturday, New Telegraph, Mr. Laurence Ani; staff of External Relations Department, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Mrs. Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku; General Manager, Dr. Kudo Eresia-Eke; Deputy Managing Director, New Telegraph, Mr. Gabriel Akinadewo; Daily Editor, Mr. Yemi Ajayi; Deputy Editor, Sunday, Juliet Bumah and Business Development Manager, Mr. Taiwo Ahmed, during the visit of the staff of the NLNG to New Telegraph office, in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Attack on my office won’t stop suit against Jonathan –Olatoye Tunde Oyesina Abuja

plaintiff in one of the suits challenging the eligibility of President Goodluck Jonathan, whose law office was burgled over the weekend, Wahab Olatoye yesterday said the attack on his office would not stop the ongoing suit. It is recalled that men suspected to be armed robbers on Friday night broke into the law office of Olatoye at Suit 33, Manga Plaza, Garki, Area 11 and carted away most of the files contain-

ing documents to be used in the eligibility suit and other vital documents. Olatoye alongside, one Adejumo Ajagbe had approached the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja seeking an order restraining the INEC and the AGF from allowing Jonathan and Sambo to seek re-election for their respective offices in 2015. Speaking with New Telegraph yesterday against the backdrop of the attack, Olatoye said the attack would not deter him in the pursuance of sustenance of constitutional democracy.

3,436 lawyers called to Bar Tunde Oyesina Abuja

he Council of Legal Education yesterday in Abuja called a total of 3, 436 successful candidates, who passed the last Bar examination of the Nigerian Law School into the Nigerian Bar. In his speech, the Director General of the Nigerian Law School, Olanrewaju Onadeko, disclosed that four of the successful candidates passed with a first class, 96 in second class upper division, 620 placed in second class lower division while 2, 697 were in pass grade. According to the D-G, the Nigerian Law School has taken pro-active measures to safeguard its campuses in Kano and Yola by installation of high perimeter walls with security barbed wire on top. He added that arrangements have been concluded for the installation of CCTV cameras in all campuses of the school in view of the daunting challenge of insecurity in the country. According to him, the problem of over admission by law faculties in the country has almost been surmounted following the potent synergy between the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Council of Legal Education.

EFCC: Babalakin has case to answer on N4.7bn suit Akeem Nafiu, Shola Adefuwa and Cynthia Johnson

ustice Lateef LawalAkapo of a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has adjourned further hearing on the N4.7 billion suit slammed on the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Limited, Wale Babalakin and four others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) till Thursday. Babalakin, Alex Okoh, Stabilini Visinoni Limited, Bi-Courtney Limited and Renix Nigeria Limited are facing a 27-count charge in relation to conspiracy to com-

mit felony, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct and corruptly conferring benefit on account of public action. The anti-graft agency had alleged that the defendants aided a former convicted Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, to siphon public funds into his foreign bank account. However, in a twist, the defendants had filed preliminary objection, asking the court to dismiss the 27-counts on the premise that the charges were defective and could not be sustained. During yesterday’s proceedings, EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Jacobs,(SAN)

while urging the court to discountenance the defendants’ preliminary objections to the suit, noted that the suit was peculiar in the sense that it relates to the code of conduct of a governor. He added that even though the constitution did not capture a governor as a public officer, the schedule to the constitution did say that the schedule was as competent as the constitution and that the charges were sustainable. “I agree with my learned friend, Wale Akoni (SAN) that a public officer is not defined within the constitution

from Sections 1 to 318, but the definition is in the constitution’’, he said. According to him: ‘’The word public official is defined in the schedule to the constitution in Article 19, Part 1 of the 5th schedule. Indeed, item four of part two of the 5th schedule mentioned the governor of a state as a public officer’’. On the defendants’ arguments that there are errors in the charge, Jacobs submitted that ‘’even if there were errors which he did not concede, it will not invalidate the charge as long as the accused are not misled’’.

Fulani group removes leader for supporting president Despite hitches, Lagos PDP elects 735 delegates Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

embers of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Socio-cultural Association (MAKHSCA) have removed their national leader, Alhaji Bello Abdullahi Badejo from office over his role in the purchase of nomination form for President

Goodluck Jonathan. The members are arguing that his action was a breach of trust. In a statement jointly signed by the acting Executive Secretary, Dr Ibrahim Abdullahi and the interim Public Relations Officer, Malam Aliyu Iliyasu Ardo, the members also accused the former leader of playing

politics with the association’s name and running it as personal business at the expense of welfare of its members. According to the statement, Alhaji Bello has contributed N20million belonging to the association to Jonathan’s re-election bid without consulting any member of the association.

Wale Elegbede

he rescheduled Lagos State ward congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has produced 735 delegates, just as the chairman of the PDP reconstituted four-man panel on ward congresses, Alhaji Adamu Waziri said the exercise achieved an overwhelm-

ing 95 per cent success. Addressing a press conference at the party’s secretariat at Ikeja, Lagos, alongside other members of the committee and party leadership in the state, Waziri said that regardless of the hiccups, the exercise has corrected the anomalies recorded in the previously held congresses that was cancelled.

“We had a congress two weeks ago but there was dispute over it, hence it’s cancellation. The guidelines of our party got breached the first time but I am happy to inform you that the mistakes and anomalies of the past have been corrected and we now have a conclusive report that will lead us to victory in Lagos.”

NEW TELEGRAPH wednesday, november 26, 2014

illegal

Pedestrian bridges smell sweet as business ends Amadi Nnamdi Abuja

n reaction to the abuse of pedestrian bridges in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory Transport Secretariat has commenced a clampdown on all illicit trading activities on the bridges. Speaking to New Telegraph yesterday, the

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nation's capital

FCT drives traders from bridges Head, Public Relations, FCT Transport Secretariat, Ifeanyi Ughamadu, a lawyer, disclosed that the move was geared towards ensuring that the bridges are used by pedestrians for crossing roads, instead of being converted to a trading centre. He added that the clampdown will also include ensuring that pedestrians use the pedestrian bridges in crossing roads instead of dashing across major roads at the risk of being hit by mo-

The number of adults and children estimated to be living with HIV in Egypt in 2008. Source: Blatantworld.com

torists . As a way of checkmating the menace, Ughamadu said: "We are going to station Road Traffic Officers (V.I.Os) on pedestrian bridges to compel pedestrians to use them. “We are also collaborating with Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and other security agencies to ensure that all the people carrying out illicit trading activities on top of these bridges are arrested and brought to book.”

£1.46m

The average yearly salary of Germany’s Bundesliga players in 2013-2014 season. Source: Soccernet.com

According to Ughamadu, the issue of Pedestrian bridge abuse has been a recurrent decimal in the FCT. This important facility provided by government is being under-utilized, abused and neglected by the end users whom these facilities were provided for. “I want to believe that the reasons given by this defaulters are not tenable anywhere. Road traffic accident statistics have shown that many of them are knocked down

N13.9m

The total capital importation value of the Drilling sector in 2008. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

by motorists while trying to cross the road and also properties are being destroyed.” He urged pedestrians to make use of the provided bridges. "These bridges are there. Let us make use of them; they were built for our safety," he said. This development is coming on the heels of several futile efforts by the Secretariat aimed at preventing people from illegal crossing of major roads without the use of bridges.

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The sex ratio of women to 100 men in Cambodia in 2012. Source: Un.org

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mr Linus Awute (left) and the Country Representative, Food and Agriculture Organisation, Dr Louise Setshwaelo, at a workshop on Strengthening Nigeria's National Food Control System and Safety in Abuja …yesterday

Maina moves against baby factories Ladi Patrick

oncerned by the increasing rates of baby factories across the country, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Zainab Maina, has ordered the demolition of all baby factories, describing them as dehumanizing and unacceptable. This is even as she lamented that the rate of rape cases in recent time in the country is alarming; therefore, required urgent legal action to end the ugly trend. She said that was towards ending violence against women in the country. Maina gave the directive yesterday in Abuja, while briefing newsmen on activities marking the 2014 International Day of the elimination of violence against women.

The minister lamented that the baby factories are prevalent in the South West and South Eastern parts of the country. She also urged perpetrators of such heinous acts to desist from it or face the law. “I urge us all to rise against these acts and hereby denounce these acts of violence and a host of similar cases that are frequently been reported to my ministry as dehumanizing and unacceptable.” She called on relevant law enforcement agencies, especially the police and the judiciary to ensure that reported perpetrators are brought to book and justice obtained for the families. In her words: “ The ministry is aware that Gender Based Violence and issues of militarism are major challenges in our world of today and the country in particular.

Herdsman in court over 25 missing cows Caleb Onwe Abuja

or stealing 25 cows, a 55 year-old man, Abubakar Baba of Jikwoyi,Federal Capital Territory was charged to a Magistrate Court, sitting at Karu Abuja. The accused was arraigned by the police for criminal breach of trust and cheating, contrary to sections 312, 322 and 286 of the Penal Code Laws. According to the prosecutor, the accused allegedly stole 25 cows belonging to Samitu Jeshi, Tanko Gbegba, Matthew Nyoidosha, Dauda Gade, Sunday Kuzaba and Emmanuel Shamishi. The cows were allegedly en-

trusted to his care sometime in 2011. The police prosecutor informed the court that the accused had earlier informed the owners of the cows that unknown persons stole the cows from his ranch. He also told them that the effort he made to know the whereabout of the cows was not fruitful. Meanwhile, following police investigation after the owners of the cows reported the matter at Karu Police station, the accused was arrested at the Karu abattoir, where eight of the cows, which the accused had allegedly sold to butchers were identified by the owners. However, 14 of the cows were recovered.

Feminists preach equality Kenneth Tyohemba Abuja

ender experts across the country have canvassed for the equal representation of women in politics as alternative to changing for good governance. The gender experts, comprising mostly women from various professions and Non Governmental Organisations, called for the removal of cultural restriction on women, with accompanied stigmatization which often deny access to women's active representation in politics. The call was made yesterday in Abuja during a gender conference organized by advocacy group, 'She Forum Africa'. The event which had the theme: "Gender in Equality: Redefining Feminism" provided the opportunity for women of repute to rob minds with their fellows and mentor them in politics. Panelists at the forum frowned on the negative cultural practices, which often results in gender stigmatization, including female circumcision, child trafficking, and girl-child education. The forum also expressed displeasure over other issues bordering on physical assaults and other forms of gender-based violence, including rape, sexual harassment, women/child trafficking, child marriage, harmful widowhood/mourning practices and denial of inheritance rights among others.

Mohammed awards contracts to keep city clean Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

he Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has awarded contracts to 34 waste management contractors as part of measures to keep satellite towns and the six area councils clean in Abuja. According to FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, who disclosed this in his office yesterday, the waste management contractors have commenced immediate waste evacuation, litter control and vegetation control across the satellite towns of the six area councils of FCT. He pointed out that the engagement of the waste

contractors and their commencement of house-tohouse waste evacuation, street cleaning, as well as litter and vegetation control have created awareness among the satellite town dwellers on the impact of waste on their health and rationale for maintaining a hygienic environment. The Minister said the measure has reduced the level of indiscriminate dumping of refuse at various locations of the satellite towns in the six area councils. He also directed that the ongoing sensitization and health education of residents be sustained more vigorously through radio and television programmes as well as fliers, posters and handbills.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro ‘UAC to check rot in white garment churches’

he United Aladura Churches (UAC) was formed 10 years ago to encourage growth, purity, identity and unity of the white garment-wearing churches. The UAC President, Baba Aladura Samuel Olufunso Andrew, said in a statement that the formation followed God’s instruction as a response to atrocities committed or associated to white garment-wearing/Aladura churches. Andrew said Nigerian dailies were awash with stories portraying the churches in bad light. He said: “Such comments include ‘Skull found in cleric’s bedroom,’ ‘Church leader arrested over murder,’ ‘Robbery: Cleric, others docked.’ These had been agitating the minds of leaders of the churches. In 2004, God spoke to some leaders of the churches; the result of which led to the formation of the organisation called United Aladura Churches, UAC.” According to him, the UAC, comprises churches under the Cherubim and Seraphim, The Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide, the Fellowship of Christ Disciples Ministry (a.k.a. Independent) and the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC). The mission, he added, was to “facilitate and build the capacity of member churches towards living and sustaining Christian lifestyle, thus upholding the status of white garment wearing and/or Aladura churches”. One of the major aims of the organisation, Andrew said was to sanitise all the white garment wearing/Aladura churches by exposing and flushing out the bad eggs among them and to maintain the standard as established through the founding fathers. He said: “There are some churches claiming to be white garments wearing/Aladura but do not practise the doctrines as laid down by our Lord Jesus Christ.”

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

File picture of policemen with some Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs)

Lagos spends N2.3bn to fuel police vehicles Muritala Ayinla

agos State Government has through the security trust fund has spent N2.3 billion to fuel the police patrol vehicles and equipment since 2007, according to New Telegraph’s investigation. This was even as the security expenditure in the state has hit about N12 billion in the last seven years while the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) has provided 880 vehicles such as patrol vehicles, undercover cars, troop carriers since the inception of the trust fund.

LSSTF was established in 2007 to bridge the funding gap of kitting the security agencies and improving the welfare of the personnel owing to poor funding by the Federal Government, which is statutorily under obligation to cater for the security and law enforcement agencies. According to a document obtained by New Telegraph which states the LSSTF’s contributions to the security agencies from 2007 till date, about 30 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), 244 motorcycles, 1,765 bulletproof vests and 6,320 uniforms were provided for the police and other secu-

rity agencies. The state government and private sector have expended about N12 billion on the provision of items, equipment and ammunition as well as maintenance of the patrol vehicles, marine boats and APCs. The state government has expended over N7 billion through the provision of equipment and fuelling of the patrol vehicles well as maintenance of the vehicles including the APCs and marine boats, while the private sector and individuals have also contributed over N4 billion to the trust fund to enhance the security of lives and property.

This, according to many security experts, is responsible for relative peace and tranquillity in the state despite the continuous influx of different people into the state. From 2007 till date, about N2,309,409,781 was expended on fuelling of vehicles and marine boats donated to security formations such as OP MESA, Rapid Respond Squad (RRS), Command & Control Centre and the Police Command. According to the document, the LSTTF also contributed N311, 324,043 to the renovation and building of Command and Control Centre, Bode Thomas Police Station, Area ‘C’ police command building and RRS Command Headquarters. It was also gathered that N66,873,000 was spent by the trust fund in renovating the communication mast antennae of the State Security Service (SSS), MOPOL 49 and police command offices, to enhance communication and forestall likely security breaches in the state. The Executive Secretary of LSSTF, Mr Fola ArthurWorrey, bemoaned the apparent neglect of the police and other security outfits by the Federal Government who gets the lion’s share of the national revenue. Arthur-Worrey said there was need for the Federal Government to reconsider its stance on the neglect of its security agencies, if it was committed to addressing the problem of insecurity in the country. The executive secretary added that the Federal Government had not provided a litre of fuel for the state police command in the last seven years let alone providing all the needed gadgets to combat crime in the state.

Again, violence breaks out in Ibadan Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

oodlums believed to be political thugs yesterday unleashed terror on the residents of Ibadan South West Local Government Area of Oyo State. The local gover nment where Governor Abiola Ajimobi hails from has been the target of attacks in the last couple of days as the 2015 general elections draw near. A police man was last Friday shot dead at Oke Ado area of Ibadan while two others sustained injuries.

The thugs wielding pump action guns opened fire at the police vans while the crowd was expecting the governor to come and familiarise with them. While the thugs caused mayhem around Born Photo and Idi Arere areas of Ibadan on Sunday, they also unleashed violence on Oopo, Ayeye, Oritamerin areas yesterday, littering the streets with broken bottles. According to some residents of the area, the miscreants ruptured the peace of the communities overnight. “We could hardly sleep through the night as the boys were fomenting trouble, loot-

ing shops and fighting one another. Many of them were shouting, looting innocent people’s shops, breaking beer bottles on the streets. What they actually wanted is still unknown to us. “Some say these acts of violence and breakdown of law and order was being orchestrated by some people to rubbish the three and a half years of peace brought to the state by the administration of Ajimobi. “Whatever may be their grouse, our appeal is that this madness should be stopped,” said a 64-year-old resident, who refused to disclose his identity.

Ajimobi

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

Nine held in Rivers for cultism

olice in Rivers State have arrested nine people suspected to be members of rival cult groups. The suspects, according to the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Ahmad Kidaya Muhammad, were arrested on Monday following two separate distress calls. Muhammad said a distress call about 2pm indicated planned battle of supremacy between De-Well and Degbam cult groups at Okwuzi community in Onelga. He said: “The clash was averted by the swift action of the police where seven suspects were arrested. They are Chinazo Amaechi, Nna Chisom, Solomon Ossai, Regimus Igwelatu, Monday Jackson, Chinonso Fordima and Tony Amanya while others fled.” The PPRO said items

recovered from the suspects included one pump action gun, four live cartridges, one double barrelled gun, Honda ‘jeep’ with registration number Imo WER 685 FX, Toyota Camry car with registration number Rivers BER 407 AP, two laptop computers and assorted charms. He added: “The suspects on interrogation confessed to belonging to either of the groups.” According to him, about 1:30pm the same day, the police received information that some suspected cult members were sighted with arms around back gate of Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt (RSUST) initiating new members. Muhammad said a team of policemen stormed the area and arrested Joel Ozekume, a final year student of RSUST and Princewill

Chieftaincy tussle claims 10 in Adamawa Ibrahim Abdul Yola

The suspected cult members

Brown, a graduate of Cross River State University while others escaped. According to him, one Beretta pistol and three rounds of .9mm ammunition were recovered from them. The PPRO warned

criminals to denounce crime or be ready to face the full wrath of the police. Muhammad also assured the people of the readiness of the police to respond to distress calls within shortest

possible time. He added: “Members of the public are urged to be security conscious and report any character or move capable of undermining the existing public peace and security.”

t least 10 people were feared killed over chieftaincy tussle in Kwah community of Adamawa State, while many villagers have fled to neighbouring communities in Taraba and Gombe states. Several houses belonging to the Dwenti clan were torched. Yesterday military personnel were heading towards the community. Some villagers said that violence first broke out after the son of Tamuna Nickson, the yet-to-be installed chief appointed by the Hamma Bachama, HRH Honest Stephen Irmiya, was accosted by a youth from the rival ruling clan which had gone to court to challenge the alleged unlawful deposition of the traditional ruler of the community, Hama Zakka Mah.

Police quarters may Ugandan child’s abuse draws global condemnation collapse soon, says Fashola Muritala Ayinla

Kamanzi (left), his wife and Arnella during a visit to the Ugandan IG

Abiodun Bello

he alleged abuse of a toddler in Uganda has continued to generate global opprobrium. A video showing a 22-year-old maid, Jolly Tumuhirwe, physically abusing the 18-monthold girl, Arnella Kamanzi, according to BBC Trending, has been watched more than 21 million times in just four days on Facebook. The footage, taken from a camera hidden in the corner of the living room, shows Tumuhirwe hitting Arnella when she resists feeding and then throwing her on the floor after the baby throws up. It also shows the maid beating the baby with a torch and stomping on her spine. The child’s father,

PHOTO: Facebook

Eric Kamanzi, told BBC Trending that he installed the camera after he noticed bruises on his daughter and that she was limping. After capturing the violence on film, the police say he reported the incident to the police on November 13. It was initially rumoured that the baby had died but Kamanzi said his daughter was alive and doing well. The baby was also pictured playing on her mother’s laps when the parents visited the Uganda Inspector of Police. Tumuhirwe was charged with torture at the Nakawa Magistrates’ Court but police later amended the charge to attempted murder. The maid was remanded at the Luzira Prison. She is expected

back in the same court on December 8, on amended charge of attempted murder. The clip has generated heated debate on parenting, hiring of nannies, etc from Uganda to Nigeria, United States, United Kingdom and Europe. Some Nigerians also condemned the act on Facebook. “If you keep house helps, please monitor them closely, and never leave them alone with kids who can’t talk. There’s far too much wickedness in the world today than it was when we were raised. May God help us,” says John Awe. “Hope she doesn’t develop any internal complications as time goes on. I hope the parents would take her for medical check-ups periodically. She is God’s child, mark my word,” writes Ade Somefun. “You can see that the baby is happy and feels safe where she belongs - in the arms of her mum and under the loving care of her parents. Moral? You can never achieve anything better than proper care of your child!” says Bisi Abidoye. “Thanks to God, I am happy she survived the ordeal!” writes Bisi Fadoju.

overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State yesterday raised the alarm over a possible imminent collapse of a police quarters in Surulere area of the metropolis. Fashola, who said urgent action must be taken to avert loss of lives of the residents in the quarters, said he had drawn Federal Government’s attention to the deplorable state of the quarters. The governor urged the Federal Government to immediately renovate the defective structures. Speaking shortly before handing over the newly rehabilitated Area ‘C’ Command building set ablaze by angry soldiers about eight years ago, Fashola bemoaned

neglect of the police barracks and equipment by the Federal Government. The governor said the nation was yet to move a step further from where the colonial masters left the state over 50 years ago. He said: “Just close to this, are the quarters of the police officers and some of them are in state of structural dysfunction. I have written to bring the attention of the Federal Government to the state of these dysfunction quarters. I hope that someone will rise to discharge these responsibilities so that those buildings will not collapse.” To avert recurrence of tragedy which occurred at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), on September 12, Fashola

The rebuilt Area ‘C’ Police Command. INSET: Fashola (right) cutting the ribbon to inaugurate the building

said there was need to evacuate occupants of the buildings to enable experts carry out structural integrity test on them with a view to ascertaining the strength of the buildings. He added: “We need to have the occupants of the buildings evacuated. Their structural integrity is no longer reliable and I hope that someone will act so that we do not lose lives. “And that is the responsibility that I expect the central government to take on and come and complement what the state had done with the old Area C command. This they could do by building the quarters for the officials so that they can live in better quarters.”

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Fayose restores Oni’s privileges as ex-governor Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

kiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, yesterday restored all the privileges of former Governor Olusegun Oni, which were earlierstopped by the administration of Dr. Kayode Fayemi. A statement in Ado-Ekiti by the governor’s Chief

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Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, said Fayose took the step in appreciation of the contributions of past leaders to the development and growth of the state. “Governor Ayo Fayose is restoring all the privileges of former Governor Segun Oni. His portrait among those who have led the state that was removed from the Governor’s Office by former Governor Kayode Fay-

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

emi, has been returned. “All those who served with him and whose portraits and other souvenirs were removed by the past administration such as the former chief press secretaries, among others, have been returned. “It was the Fayemi administration that even stopped their financial entitlements when it made the House of Assembly to pass a bill that Oni and Fay-

35,040

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions in Aruba in 2010. Source: Itu.int

ose were not due for such. “The excuse they gave was that Fayose did not complete his tenure and Oni’s tenure was unknown to law, because the court removed him from office. “The Fayose administration appreciates the contributions of those who have led the state in the past and would not in any way rubbish such. We are ready to acknowledge all and would not because

of political differences rubbish what people have done in the past,” he said. The CPS also expressed the readiness of the governor to provide a leadership that would eventually rank him among statesmen in Ekiti. In another development, the governor on Monday held the first executive council meeting with his commissioners and also met contractors handling State

2.03m

The estimated percentage of GDP lost due The number of people receiving antiretto poor sanitation in Cambodia in 2007. roviral therapy in low and middle-inSource: Unesco.org come countries in 2006. Source: Who.int

Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) projects. He urged members of the executive to be up and doing as they were chosen to serve the people of the state. Meanwhile, Fayose has directed contractors handling 26 projects awarded by the SUBEB to proceed with the execution of the projects which were awarded by the last administration.

L-R: Partner, Pricewaterhousecoopers (PwC), Rob Newsome; Managing Partner, Brandzone Consulting LLC, Chizor Malize; Patron, IoD Centre for Corporate Governance, Dr. Christopher Kolade; Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Sola David-Borha and Head, Internal Audit, Seplat Petroleum, Kike Asuelime, at the Corporate Governance Workshop on ‘Board Governance for Excellence’, in Lagos…yesterday

‘Action Alliance has no candidate for 2015 polls’ Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

he national leadership of the Action Alliance (AA) has denied having ever picked anybody as its candidate for any of the elective offices across the country. The party according to its National Secretary, Kenneth Udeze, said it would fully participate in all the elections - state/ national legislative houses, governorship and the presidential elections the choice of who to fly the party’s flag for any of

the posts would be determined at properly- conducted party primaries. The disclosure was specifically made against the claim in Oyo State that the former governorship candidate of the party, Taiwo Otegbeye, had been picked as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2015 election. To Udeze, the information was nothing but fallacious. He said any state claiming to have picked anybody as the party’s flag-bearer must be out of tune with the national directive of the party.

Magazine honours Fashola agos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola and his Kwara State counterpart, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and 11 other eminent Nigerians were at the weekend in Lagos inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Hall of Grace Magazine. Also, Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, Publisher of Leadership newspapers and presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Dam Nda-Isaiah, the Managing Director of The Sun newspapers, Mr. Femi Adesina and taxation czar, Mr. Babatunde Fowler, were also among the honorees. Governor Ahmed, who was also unveiled as The Face of HOG Hall of Fame 2014, was honoured ‘for his massive developmental drive, people-oriented policies and programmes, investment in agriculture and youth empowerment in his state.’

Hamzat: Alausa too big for PDP Muritala Ayinla

ne of the leading governorship aspirants in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, yesterday told the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state that there is no vacancy in Alausa, the Lagos State seat of government. He said the PDP lacks the quality to take over the government of the state, adding that the people are too intelligent to give the PDP a chance to mess them up. Hamzat, who also expressed optimism that he would succeed Gover-

nor Babatunde Fashola and consolidate on his achievement beyond expectation, said service delivery is the motivating factor for him, having worked with past and current administrations. Speaking on whether the PDP could take over from APC in Lagos State in 2015, Hamzat said: “The question is what exactly the PDP has to sell to the people of Lagos? How can that party improve on the giant achievements of the APC-led governments? “I am confident that the people of Lagos are intelligent and smart and as such they know which

party to vote for and who they want as their leader.” He said Lagos residents will not vote for a party that failed to fulfil its promises made before the 2011 elections, adding that the infrastructural development being witnessed in all of the South-West is enough for residents to know what the ruling APC stands for. According to Hamzat, “When President Goodluck Jonathan came, he met power at 3,000 megawatts, and what do we have today? It still remains the same. For anybody to say that PDP will take over Lagos is a big joke.

“PDP does not know how to govern. Look at Ogun State, where we had a PDP government for eight years, what impact did the party make in the lives of the people? Can you compare the level of development in the state under Governor Ibikunle Amosun? “The latter’s achievement surpassed what former Governor Gbenga Daniel achieved in eight years. Look at Oyo, Osun and all the APC states, we have a track record of governance and service to the people. In the same way the people of Lagos wants governance that will bring to them development,” he added.

APC pushes for more security in Ekiti

Lagos’ contributory pension scheme now N54bn

Muritala Ayinla

he All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State yesterday urged Governor Ayodele Fayose to provide security for Ekiti people to allow social and economic activities thrive. Reacting to armed rob-

bery cases in which First Bank is always the target, the Publicity Secretary of the party, Taiwo Olatubosun, said the security experience of Ekiti people in the last few weeks negated the campaign promises the governor made to them.

He decried the killings of security agents at the Ikere Ekiti bank robbery incident, saying the laxity in the operation of the police is not unconnected with the lack of motivation and equipment to fight crime in the state.

he Lagos State government yesterday said its pension fund has hit the N54 billion mark since the inception of the scheme. This was even as it presented bond certifi-

cates worth N1.79 billion to 319 retirees from the state public service under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). Presenting the bond certificates to the beneficiaries yesterday, Director General, Lagos State

Pension Commission (LASPEC), Mr. Rotimi Hussain, who disclosed this, reiterated the state government’s commitment to the welfare of retirees, saying that all retirees under the CPS got their money as at when due.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

Open Forum

Crisis in Ekiti

Parliament

2015

40, 41

Olujobi: We’ve merchant of impunity in power

Olayinka: Lawmakers plot to make Ekiti ungovernable

Extension of emergency rule: Hurdles facing Jonathan’s request

‘Anointing’ tears Delta PDP apart

Politics The legislature play a critical role in any democratic framework; hence its prime place in representative governance. But despite efforts at strengthening this arm of government in Nigeria, some legislative houses have continued to act in manners that tend to justify the misconceptions which the public hold against the legislature, FELIX NWANERI reports

Parliament of crises

here is no doubt that the three arms of government in Nigeria, prior to the return to civil rule in 1999, experienced inequitable developmental opportunities as a result of intermittent military intervention in governance. But of these arms, it is the legislature that was the worst victim, suffering total disbandment at every such interregnum. The consequence of this intermittent disbandment is that the legislature is the most unknown, most misunderstood and to an extent, the most vilified. It is against this backdrop that most stakeholders have consistently made case for a breathing space for the legislature, so that its members will perform their constitutional duties and correct the impression that the legislature’s performance of its role is meddlesomeness with or antagonism of government. While some appreciable progress has been made in this regard, many are however of the view that the legislature, particularly the various states Houses

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

Members of the House of Representatives scaling the gate of the National Assembly, last Thursday.

of Assembly have performed below average in the art of making positive laws. To those who hold this view, most lawmakers have become so inept in the discharge of oversight functions which legislators in advanced democracies adopt to save their economies from going into the abyss. The agencies of government these legislators carry out oversight functions over are fields of corruption and under-performance. More deplorable is the fact that the country’s legislature – states and federal inclusive, at the moment, is bedevilled by crises of varying dimensions. From Rivers, Edo, Ebonyi, Ekiti and even to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), seat of the National Assembly, it is a plethora of strife, which have practically grounded legislative activities. Rivers show of shame The political crisis in Rivers State took a twist in July 2013, when an attempt to impeach the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Otelemaba Amachree,

The hallowed chamber was immediately turned into a jungle as members of the opposing camps engaged each other with dangerous weapons

sparked a free-for-all. In the ensuing brawl, five members of the House opposed to Governor Chibuike Amaechi engaged 13 of their colleagues in a fight after the pro-governor lawmakers resisted the move to remove Amachree. The five anti-Amaechi members had after procuring a fake mace, decided to take charge of the sitting after waiting to no avail for the Speaker and his Deputy, Hon. Leyii Kwanee, to arrive the Assembly complex. One of them, Hon. Kelechi Wogu, moved a motion for Amachree’s removal as the Speaker, a development, which infuriated the Leader of the House, Hon. Chidi Lloyd, who dashed out of the Assembly with about four pro-Amaechi’s lawmakers to inform the governor about the development. Before Lloyd and the four lawmakers returned to the House, the five anti-Amaechi members of the Assembly had already impeached Amachree and elected Evans Bipi as his successor. Amachree was accused of in-

eptitude. It was at the point where Bipi was about giving his acceptance speech that Governor Amaechi, Lloyd, Amachree, other lawmakers and security operatives arrived at the Assembly complex. The hallowed chamber was immediately turned into a jungle as members of the opposing camps engaged each other with dangerous weapons. Scores of policemen, who were present watched helplessly as the legislators threw punches at one another, while computer sets and other office gadgets in the Assembly were destroyed. The House Leader (Lloyd), Hons. Michael Chinda and Martins Amahule sustained serious injuries during the fracas. Chinda was later to be flown abroad for medical treatment after initially receiving treatment at a private hospital in Port Harcourt. His skull and jaw bones were fractured. Then Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, who CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

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spoke after supervising the transfer of Chinda abroad, said the media was misled by the House Leader. “The person that committed that crime was the same person who had to go to Government House Clinic and lay down on the bed and said that he was beaten,” he said. But Amaechi, who was apparently shocked by the development, ordered the arrest of the five lawmakers behind the impeachment plot but was ignored by the police, even as Amachree and Bipi disagreed on who was the authentic speaker of the Assembly. To Amachree, it would be impossible for five out of the 32 lawmakers to impeach him. Bipi on his part claimed he was in charge of affairs of the Assembly. The impasse over the Assembly’s leadership forced the House of Representatives to wade in. The House on July 11, 2013 in a unanimous voice vote invoked Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and resolved that the National Assembly should take over the functions of the Rivers State Assembly. The House also resolved that then Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, should re-deploy the Rivers State Commissioner of Police at the time, Mr Joseph Mbu. The House, in invoking the section, declared that the state Assembly had failed to perform its function and, as such, in line with the constitution, it had to take over its functions until such a time it “is able to function.” The House resolution was sequel to a motion moved by the chairman on Rules and Business, Hon. Albert Sam-Tsokwa, who noted that aside the fracas that left several members injured, the state Assembly had, on previous occasions, tried to hold its normal sittings and transact parliamentary business but was unable to do so as a result of the presence of hoodlums in the precincts of the Assembly and the inability of the police to provide security. Early this year (January 7), the Rivers Assembly reconvened at the Government House, Port Harcourt and passed the N485.52 billion 2014 state budget. The members led by Amachree maintained that they had to relocate as a result of the renovation work at the Assembly Complex. Edo House of commotion Edo State was to follow suit when a parallel leadership emerged in June this year, following an attempt to impeach the Speaker, Hon. Uyigue Igbe, and Majority Leader, Hon. Philip Shaibu, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by eight Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in the House. The APC was before then in control of the House with 20 out of the 24 members of the Assembly, and it was alleged that the PDP poached from the ruling party with a view of diluting its control in the Assembly and thereafter impeach Governor Adams Oshiomhole. This was how PDP’s tally rose to nine members, but out of fear of losing their seats, four of

Member of the Rivers State Assembly, Hon. Michael Chinda, on hospital bed after he was attacked by a fellow lawmaker. Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Chidi Lioyd (middle), being assisted into a courtroom by security operatives while facing assault charges.

19 lawmakers of the Ekiti State House of Assembly addressing a press conference in Lagos on the crisis rocking the state legislature.

Policemen protecting the crisis-ridden Edo State House of Assembly.

Legislative houses turn war zones the five APC lawmakers, who jumped ship rushed to the court to seek protection. They sought two reliefs from the court; that it should restrain the Assembly from declaring their seats vacant and also restrain it from suspending them. The court under Justice A. M. Liman granted their first prayer – that their seats should not be declared vacant, but on the second count, it ruled that the issue of suspension borders on House rules for which the court has no jurisdiction. The House met and passed a resolution suspending the four defectors – Deputy Speaker, Festus Ebea (Esan South East), Patrick Osayinmen (Oredo East), Friday Ogierhiakhi (Orihonmwon) and Jude Ise-Idehen (Ikpoba Okha) for gross misconduct. The leadership of the House also went to court and got an injunction restraining the four lawmakers from the precinct of the Assembly complex. The affected lawmakers however refused to accept the court papers. They also not only failed to

If what happened in Rivers and Edo were aberrations, the recent development in the Ekiti State House of Assembly could not be less a mockery of democracy

submit themselves to the House rules, but went ahead and brought police personnel to offer them protection in forcibly gaining access to the Assembly in session. Akin to the Rivers case, the crisis was not without casualties. Two of the suspended PDP members, Osayimwen and Ogierhiakhi, representing Oredo East and Orhionmwon South constituencies, respectively, were beaten to pulp during a bloody clash between thugs loyal to the two rival parties at the precincts of the hallowed chamber. Since then, the APC and PDP factions of the House have been sitting separately. While the majority APC-led Assembly sits in the Old Assembly Complex, Government House, Benin City, the PDP faction holds its own plenary at the Assembly Complex. Both have also adopted different business calendars of 75 days (APC) and 77 days (PDP) for the fourth session of the second legislative quarter. According to the Igbe-led Assembly, the 75 days calendar, which began on September 8, is expected to ter-

minate on December 19. That of the Ehea faction is expected to end by December 24. One House, two speakers in Ebonyi In Ebonyi, there seems to be no end to the lingering crisis rocking the state Assembly. At the moment, two members of the House are laying claim to the speakership. They are Chukwuma Nwazunku and Blaise Orji. Nwazunku was impeached by 16 members of the House who elected his deputy, Orji, as the new speaker. The impeachment came after 10 members of the House led by Nwazunku had suspended two members of the Orji faction and declared recess till December 15. As expected, the House has been polarised with each of the speakers having their loyal lawmakers. The latest impasse is the second time, in five months, that leadership crisis will engulf the Assembly. The last time, Elechi provided shield for Nwazunku when majority of the lawmakers impeached him in a controversial manner. But the governor has

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

Rivers State lawmakers sitting on the road after the police locked them out of the House of Assembly.

Edo Speaker Igbe being frisked by a police officer at the Assemblyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s complex

distanced himself from the embattled Speaker and in turn declared support for Orji as the authentic speaker. The latest crisis came to the fore on November 10, when Nwazunku suspended the Chief Whip and members representing Afikpo North West (Ogbonnaya Ikoro) and Abakaliki North (Oliver Nwachukwu) over an alleged plot to change the leadership of the House. Moving the motion for their suspension, the acting Leader of the House and member representing Izzi West constituency, Hon. Ogbonnaya Nwifuru, alleged that the two lawmakers were involved in a plot to impeach the Speaker, disclosing that the day before, Ikoro and Nwachukwu were gathering signatures of members to carry out their impeachment plot against the Speaker. The motion was seconded by the member representing Ezza North West, Hon. Joseph Nwobashi, who commended the acting House Leader for moving the motion and called on the people of the state to fight against injustice and other acts capable of destabilising the state. The House after plenary proceeded on a one month recess to reconvene on December 15. Nwazunku, who condemned the impeachment plot, accused some persons of instigating Governor Elechi against members of the House. He stated that the state needs peace and the House would continue to strive for peace especially as the 2015 general election

draws closer. Orji, on his part, after a meeting of his faction with Governor Elechi, lashed at Nwazunku, saying he needs to undergo psychiatric evaluation to ascertain, if he is psychologically fit to occupy any elective position.

The House has been polarised with each of the speakers having their loyal lawmakers. The latest impasse is the second time, in five months, that leadership crisis will engulf the Assembly

Minority holds sway in Ekiti If what happened in Rivers and Edo were aberrations, the recent development in the Ekiti State House of Assembly could not be less a mockery of democracy. In what many have described as a return to the dark era of Ekiti politics, seven out of the 26-member House impeached the Speaker, Hon. Adewale Omirin.

In his place, the lawmakers elected Dele Olugbemi. Also removed was Omirinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deputy, Adetunji Orisalade, who was replaced by Adunni Olayinka. The impeachment was carried out last Thursday in the same manner the seven lawmakers earlier sat in controversial circumstances and heavy police presence to approve commissioner-nominees and local government caretaker committees sent to the House by Governor Ayo Fayose. The governor had provided cover for the lawmakers when he invaded the Assembly complex with riot policemen and armoured personnel carriers to pave the way for the sitting of seven members of the House who are now members of the PDP though Olugbemi claimed those who sat were 10 in number. Also confirmed by the seven members were 12 special advisers to Fayose and members of committees to oversee the affairs of the local governments in the state. The lawmakers were elected on the platform of the APC but defected to the PDP during the inauguration of Fayose as governor. Before then, Fayose has been at loggerheads with the Assembly over its refusal to sit and approve his nominees for different positions. Immediately the confirmations were concluded, Olugbemi adjourned sitting. But Omirin, who fled to Lagos with members of his faction in the wake of the crisis, insists that he remains the Speaker, boasting that the APC members will soon return to the state to take over the leadership of the Assembly and resume duties. National embarrassment in House of Reps While Ekiti was still in the news, a national embarrassment occured at the National Assembly last Thursday when members of the House of Representatives defied a cordon by the police and forced their way into the Assembly complex. The House members, who had been on adjournment since October 28, following the defection of the Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal from the PDP to APC, were reconvening to consider a request by President Goodluck Jonathan for the extension of the state of emergency imposed on Adamawa, Borno and Yobe

Speaker Tambuwal... after he forced his way into the Green Chamber, last Thursday.

states. Tambuwal, who has been having a running battle with the presidency since his defection, leading to the withdrawal of his security aides, had issued a notice on reconvening the House to discuss the presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s request. However, while the police allowed some lawmakers, including the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha and the Chief Whip, Hon. Bawa Bwari, easy passage, they prevented Tambuwal and his entourage from entering the National Assembly complex. The Speaker was in company of lawmakers, including APC caucus leaders such as the Minority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Abdulrahman Suleiman Kawu; Hon. Solomon Adeola Olamilekan, Hon. Mohammed Zakari, Hon. Samuel Adejare Akinlade, among others. They came through the main entrance to the National Assembly, but plea to the policemen, led by the Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu, an acting Commissioner of Police, to be allowed in was unheeded. As the Speaker was walking to the chambers, the police fired tear gas canisters at him and those with him. The House members had to scale the fence to join him. The last batch of tear gas canisters was released as soon as Tambuwal was virtually smuggled in by his colleagues into the lobby of the National Assembly. They flung open the doors that were closed by the security men and Tambuwal was taken into the chambers to take his seat. The entire chamber was filled with smoke affecting senators who had come out to witness the drama that was playing out as well as journalists covering the parliament, staff and visitors. Senate President David Mark, who came to the House to register his solidarity with the members over the development was booed by the lawmakers, who accused him of being part of the conspiracy to disorganise the House. Mark later announced the shutting down of the parliament till Tuesday, November 24 (yesterday), apparently to allow tension. With the trend in the parliament, the hallowed chambers are gradually turning battlefields.

16 Politics

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

OPEN FORUM

...Ekiti HOUSE OF Assembly Crisis

Olujobi: We’ve merchant of impunity in power Wole Olujobi is the Special Adviser on Media to the Speaker of the House of Assembly

here is no institution that will grow beyond the personality that drives the policy of that institution. There is always this dialectical connection between the leadership and the system it breeds particularly the social circumstances within that particular socio-cultural milieu. In other words, you can always get what the leadership has and dispenses in a political environment. Concerning the latest happenings in the Ekiti State House of Assembly, the party that controls the executive arm is a celebrated breaker of the rule of law, a merchant of impunity and reckless abuse of power. If you don’t have these qualities, you may not thrive in that party, the PDP. So, when you have a conglomerate of these people with executive powers, then you can expect the state of siege into which Ekiti State has been put. Remember that the judiciary was sacked and the judges were ruthlessly beaten with their robes torn, court records in the Chief Judge’s Chambers were recklessly torn with his secretary mercilessly beaten. The courts were sacked for about three weeks. Today, the judiciary is practically on its knees in Ekiti State. Not done, they have now turned to the parliament where they made two attempts to attack the House and install a minority Speaker. Their first two attempts were foiled when the information leaked, this third attempt was carefully planned without anybody knowing it. In fact, nobody expected it because plenary does not hold on Mondays. So, what the members do on Mondays are parliamentary sittings held outside the chambers. It is on Tuesday throughout

The party that controls the executive arm is a celebrated breaker of the rule of law, a merchant of impunity and reckless abuse of power... So, when you have a conglomerate of these people with executive powers, then you can expect the state of siege into which Ekiti State has been put Olujobi

Friday that members meet at plenary. So, it is an unlawful act for seven members to hold a plenary on Monday particularly when the Speaker did not call for that plenary. The 19 APC members were already arriving the House for their parliamentary but were turned back by the police who allowed only PDP members to enter. Journalists were not allowed in with their cameras so nobody was able to record the faces of the purported 10 members who sat. Meanwhile, the 19 APC lawmakers relocated immediately when they were not allowed to enter the House to do their job. It is amusing for anybody to have claimed that 10 members purportedly sat during the illegal sitting. The Clerk of the House was bundled into his office and at gunpoint to surrender the mace and so the helpless man had no choice than to surrender the mace. It is good now that all Nigerians have

noted the fraud in that sitting and so these people should expect history to pass its right verdict on them. The governor wants to have total control of the administration of the state. For a governor who detests rule of law and due process, he needs to force members of the PDP to have control of the House so as to always coerce them to do his bidding. Sacking me and others is a way of punishing me for the roles I played in exposing how my cousin, Dr. Ayo Daramola, was haunted to death in 2006. The other aides sacked are victims of circumstance. But I am resolved to be steadfast with the support of Ekiti people and the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to remain resolute in this struggle for Ekiti people to enjoy good governance founded on the rule of law. The governor has already plunged the state into a serious crisis. Yester-

day, the purported new Speaker led thugs and the Clerk of the House to the official quarters open for immediate occupation by Dele Olugbemi, the purported new Speaker. The 19 members of APC will return to Ekiti on Monday to take control of the House, daring Fayose to kill them all if he wishes. On my sack, I heard it just like any other person but just as other people dismissed it, I also dismiss it. This is because he doesn’t have the power to dismiss me. I am shocked that an experienced Permanent Secretary now appointed as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Modupe Alade, demonstrated that she was not competent enough to advise the governor. The reason is that the legislature is a different arm of government made by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. While the political office holders in the executive receive their letters of appointment at the pleasure of the governor, political office holders in the House of Assembly get the recommendation and approval of their appointment from the Speaker who forwards such recommendation and approval to the Clerk of the House. The Clerk in turn forwards that recommendation and approval of the appointment to the House of Assembly Service Commission. Since the governor doesn’t grant approval for such appointment, there is no way he can withdraw that approval which is called termination of appointment. This is illegal, null and void and an attempt to harass and intimidate me. My travails in the hands of the governor are premised on my activities in the media during his first stint in power. So basically, this is a revenge mission by the governor and it is only painful that other aides purportedly sacked are victims of circumstance. But that action cannot stand.

Interview by AYODELE OJO

Opadokun: No sympathy for Ekiti people Mr. Ayo Opadokun is the General Secretary of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and Convener of the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reform (CODER)

he project called Nigeria is going through avoidable fundamental stress. It is unreasonable that in 2014, seven people out of 26 lawmakers will go and preside over an Assembly illegally and they would claim they have appointed one of their own as Speaker. And then they would say they have passed a resolution or a bill. It is too disgraceful. It ought not to have been heard. But I know that the people at the centre honestly don’t know where the shoe is pinching. They were former military surrogates and military sympathisers, so anything goes for them. They don’t even have regards for ordinary democratic norms; otherwise,

how can seven members in a House of Assembly made up of 26 people sit to take a decision and make it binding on the people of the state? What is happening is too sickly; it is a measure of insanity. You could remember that in Oyo State, the late Lamidi Adedibu, organised the impeachment of Rashidi Ladoja, with a minority group who supposedly impeached Ladoja as governor. But the Supreme Court eventually said the decision of the Oyo State House of Assembly to impeach Ladoja was stupid. In the case of what happened in Ekiti State House of Assembly, I know that they will go to court but it ought not to have even happened. That is the truth. It is unfortunate. Whatever is happening presently in Ekiti State with Ayo Fayose as governor, I believe that Ekiti people who voted for him deserve his governance. We have come to a situation in this 21st century that our people will claim that for the purposes of stomach infrastructure, they would prefer a totally discreet person facing criminal offence in court to a decent,

Sowunmi: Biodun Sowunmi is a civil rights activist and public affairs analyst

Opadokun

highly reliable and educated man. They should live with their choice. I have no sympathy for them at all.

Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

hat is unfolding in Ekiti State is capable of endangering democracy. We have had situations in the past when the legislature was besieged by the executive arm of government. We have also had situations when courts were obstructed from sitting. But what we have in Ekiti State under the leadership of Ayo Fayose is worse. We have had two judges of the Ekiti State judiciary beaten. One was beaten in an open court with Fayose present and the police officers simply looked away. This has now been worsen by the attempt to muzzle Ekiti State House of Assembly. The withdrawal of the aides attached to the Speaker, the sealing of his office, the denial of entry to the majority legislators, the sack of the running grants and allowances for running the House of Assembly con-

Politics 17

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

OPEN FORUM Lere Olayinka is the Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to Governor Ayodele Fayose

he crisis is a fallout of the desire of some people to hold onto power in Ekiti State, despite losing scandalously on June 21, 2014. They tried to prevent Ayodele Fayose, the governor overwhelmingly elected by Ekiti people from assuming office. They went to courts in Ekiti, Abuja and Lagos in search of black market injunction, but could not get any. Even as at the morning of October 16, the day Fayose was sworn in, the All Progressives Congress (APC) people were still expectant that there was going to be a court injunction from Lagos, preventing Fayose from assuming office. That was the reason the former Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin, did not attend the inauguration. Having failed to prevent Fayose from assuming office, the APC and their Lagos sponsors resorted to their Plan B, which is “Operation make Ekiti ungovernable for Fayose” using the House of Assembly. The first thing Omirin did was to send the House on a one month recess with the intention of frustrating Fayose from appointing commissioners. Governor Fayose did not instigate any crisis in the House. He is not a member of the House of Assembly and does to participate in the House sittings. In fact, it is on record that before Fayose assumed office, several attempts were made to remove Omirin as the Speaker. One of such attempts was in 2012 when he was involved in an amorous relationship with a married member of the House. The woman’s husband caused a scene at the Government House and it became an embarrassing issue. As regards last Monday sitting of the House, 10 members sat and one-third of 26 is nine. The sitting was legal and it has happened before. In 2010, 12 members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) sat without the Speaker and Deputy

...Ekiti HOUSE OF Assembly Crisis

Olayinka: Lawmakers plot to make Ekiti ungovernable Having failed to prevent Fayose from assuming office, the APC and their Lagos sponsors resorted to their Plan B, which is ‘Operation make Ekiti ungovernable for Fayose’ Speaker to approve Fayemi’s sack of duly elected local council chairmen and councillors and approved appointment of caretaker committees. The Speaker then, Hon. Tunji Odeyemi, a PDP member and 12 other PDP lawmakers were in Abuja and Hon. Saliu Adeoti, who was the Deputy Speaker was dead then. Hon. Gbenga Odebunmi was appointed as the temporary Speaker in a sitting of 12 members as against 26. Now I ask, if it was right for 12 members to sit and approve Fayemi’s request in 2010, what is wrong in 10 members sitting and approving Fayose’s request in 2014? The sacked aides were appointed by the governor and he who appoints can sack. When Fayemi sent that bill seeking to empower the governor to appoint aides for Speaker of the House of Assem-

bly and local government chairmen, we kicked against it then. We raised alarm that the law was obnoxious. But Omirin and his fellow APC lawmakers ignored our cries. They passed the bill into law and Fayemi signed it. It was on the basis of this law that Fayemi was the one who appointed the sacked aides. Now that the law passed by Omirin and his men was implemented by Governor Fayemi, why should anyone bother himself ? Ekiti has never been out of crisis. Four years of Fayemi as Ekiti governor accounted for the gruesome murder of

Interview by AYODELE OJO

Salami: Lawmakers’ action disgraceful Hon. Abiodun Salami is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State

Action capable of endangering democracy Ekiti voters placed premium on satisfying personal needs... thereby discarding the collective interest of all and here we are now

Sowunmi

stitute flagrant attacks on democracy. It must and should be condemned by all. Democracy rests on the three tiers– executive, legislature, and judiciary. No tier is superior to the other. They exist independently and interdependently to sustain and nurture good governance and act as checks and balance. So, Fayose must be pressured to lift his siege on the legislature and the judiciary. Again, the Ekiti State gubernatorial election result is the expression of the deprived residents’ desire to satisfy stomach infrastructure at the ex-

Olayinka

10 Ekiti sons and daughter. APC Chairman, Jide Awe, Assembly member, Kehinde Boluwade and others are standing trial for murder. In 2010, not only did Fayemi sack duly elected chairmen and councillors, his thugs invaded the local council headquatres, killing Chief Adeleye Awolumate and injured several people in the process. I was almost killed by Fayemi. I escaped death by a whisker, and ended up being arrested, detained and charged to court for sedition. So, Governor Fayose is only trying to erase the footprints of violence, illegalities and brigandage left on the sands of Ekiti by Fayemi and his APC government. It is simple, very simple. Let the APC lawmakers return to Ekiti and do the biddings of Ekiti people, not that of Tinubu. They did the same between 2007 and 2010 that Segun Oni was governor. I remember December 31, 2007 that Oni went to the House of Assembly to present the 2008 Budget. The 13 ACN (now APC) turned the House to a war zone, making it almost impossible for the budget to be presented. From 2007 to 2010, Ekiti was invaded by robbers and kidnappers and who were the people responsible? The APC people! Ekiti people are saying clearly that; this time around, we won’t let these locusts have their way again!

pense of physical infrastructure. This situation arose because of the chronic unemployment, acute poverty, and the failure of the ruling class to address the factors for the marginalisation of the down-trodden in our country. Majority of Ekiti voters placed premium on satisfying personal needs by selling their votes for a bowl of rice thereby discarding the collective interest of all and here we are now.

Interview by WALE ELEGBEDE

he decision of seven out of 26 members of Ekiti State House of Assembly to sit and take a decision concerning the state is part of abnormalities and impunity we have been discussing about the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) all the while. How can a sane person imagine that in a House of 26, seven people will conclude on something? Where is the democracy? So, it has shown to the whole world that Ayo Fayose would never change. I just imagine the future of Ekiti. We are all stakeholders as far as the Nigerian project is concerned. So, Ekiti is not an exception. We are all involved and we are not going to allow where some group of people would just stay somewhere to say this is what we want. How can seven disgruntled members say they have passed something that belongs to 26 House of Assembly members? What happened in Ekiti was a show of shame to the international community. I wonder what kind of man is Mr. President when he claimed to have a PhD; a doctorate degree holder who’s supposed to know how to put things in perspective. If he is not allowing it, what happened in Ekiti would not have happened. Police and thugs were physically involved to deprive and hinder lawmakers from going into their hallowed chambers, to bring in a few people to sit in the Assembly. It is absurd. For whatever we do, history is there. Nigerians get wiser every day, even when the people in power are using their might so to say. But very soon, nemesis will catch up with the cabals, who feel they can just take Nigerians for granted. They are disgracing Nigerians. It is not about democracy any more. It is about they want to perpetuate themselves all along

Salami

to say this is what we want. Nigerians will not take that; even if it will cause us to go into the streets, we will tell the world. The whole world is looking at us; they want to see what our reaction would be. The action of the seven lawmakers is insulting, degrading and disgraceful that some elements want to take us for granted. The present state of things in Ekiti will affect governance in the state. We are not talking about the legislative arm only; the judiciary was molested and assaulted physically under the full glare of all, and what happened? It was covered up. Mr. President covered it up and the man (Fayose) was sworn in. Judges were physically assaulted; clothes of judges were torn. So, where is the hope of the common man? So, we should expect what happened in the Ekiti State House of Assembly. What they are doing now is rule of impunity but Nigerians would resist it.

Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE MORE STORIES ON pageS 41-43

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Road map for elimination of open defecation Rasak Musbau

“I

am moved by the fact that a child dies every 2 and a half minutes from diseases linked to open defecation. Those are silent deaths – not reported on in the media, not the subject of public debate. Let’s not remain silent any longer”. The above quotation from the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, is a clear reflection on the danger of open defecation which has been a common practice in many nations, towns and villages for centuries. It is a practice whereby a person defecates in an open area not meant for that purpose. Sadly, this practice is still prevalent in Nigeria. Out of about one billion people that practice open defecation worldwide, about 49 million are Nigerians while 600 million reside in India. It is however estimated that around 68 million Nigerians are likely to be added between now and 2025, if concerted efforts were not made to arrest the problem. According to Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (2011), Ekiti state contributes highest to open defecation practice with 60.8 percent followed by Plateau and Oyo states with 56.2 and 54.0 percent respectively. Abia state has the lowest rate followed by Lagos at 1.2 and 2.0 percent respectively. Kano state has 4.0 percent while Zamfara, Benue and Kwara have 9.8, 52.5 and 50.5 respectively. Open defecation is one of the fundamental aspects of sanitation that mirrors our underdevelopment as a nation. It is a terrible practice with various consequences on human health, dignity and security, the environment, and social and economic development. The profoundly damaging health and developmental consequences of this menace has often been overshadowed by other aspects of our socio-economic life that is also in decay. It is still common to see people defecating openly along the road. Walking along the railroad tracks even gives one more panoramic view of things as people- male and female engage in mass open defecation. On the streets, behind bushes, in groves of trees, in rivers or streams, inside drainages, dump sites, in rocky communities, motor parks and markets, people litter everywhere with defeca-

tion. Even some of the fanciest areas are not exempted. Meanwhile, Eliason’s linkage of open defecation to child mortality cannot be queried. Before it triggers death, it contaminates food, transmits skin diseases, respiratory diseases, eye problems, scabies, intestinal parasites resulting in kidney damage, tuberculosis and diarrhea related diseases. A recent study also claimed that open defecation can also cause mental and cognitive stunting to young children. Many people seem not to understand that the quality of our lives as human beings is substantially a reflection of the quality of the environment which we inhabit. Many still seem not to comprehend that open defecation creates a host of problems that exceed the merely aesthetic. The spread of numerous gastrointestinal and diarrheal diseases is associated with it, whether through direct contact with fecal matter or via tainted food and water. According to World Health Organization, 88 percent of diarrhea cases are attributable to poor excreta management. Diarrhea is the second largest killer of children below 5 years, only next to pneumonia yet open defecation practice is commonplace in our great country. Another thing that should trouble us is the revelation by World Bank Report in 2012 that Nigeria loses N455 billion annually due to poor sanitation. This is 1.3 per cent of the national GDP. It should also be understood that individual produces 200 gram of human faeces every day. Just imagine the volume of faeces that goes in to the river and those that end up on our source of water and food when there is flood. In a nutshell, most, if not all of us, unknowingly eat and drink faeces. More disturbing is that a WHO research reveals that one gram faesces of an infected person can have up to 10,000,000 viruses, 1,000,000 bacteria and 1000 parasite cyst and 100 parasite eggs. There is, therefore, an urgent need to join Jan Eliasson, in the campaign to break the silence on open defecation and give sanitation the priority attention it deserves in our national life. Content of the recently developed national road map for the elimination of open defecation should be followed to the letter. It is heartwarming that states such as Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo and Delta have

developed their respective road maps. Efforts of UNICEF B Field Office is commended on this, for its technical and financial assistance for the road map develop in Abuja and that of states recently develop in Ibadan between 12-14 of November, 2014. Nigeria is currently off track to meeting the MDG target of having the proportion of people without sustainable access to improved sanitation and water supply. The question now is: Can Nigeria achieves Open Defecation free by 2025? Yes, we can. What is required is a functional state system that will trigger the process, active role by corporate organizations and ingenuity on the part of citizens. There is need for public convenience across the roads. In Lagos, many will be familiar with the tagline, ‘Shit Business is Serious Business”. It is a slogan coined by the late Otunba Ghadaffi, the man who spearheaded mobile toilets business. Today, the business he began with the sum of 60,000 naira, now earns over 120 million annually. This is where private enterprises come to fore in tackling open defecation. Corporate organizations must also do their bit. The success recorded in the fight against Ebola disease is an eye opener to collectivity approach to achieving success. Building of toilet here and there and mass education by the corporate world can work the magic. Equally, at the community level, community and religious leaders should lend support to good sanitation. As problems related to open defecation gain greater attention, the importance of broader WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) issues, such as access to clean drinking water, must gain traction as well. One of the ways to trigger this is for all states in the federation to have functional rural water and sanitation agency that is well positioned to ensure tract to 2025 target of elimination of open defecation is maintained. As government is enjoined to stick to policy and legal measures, every Nigerians must elect to live a dignified life through toilet revolution. Until then, lack of adequate sanitation will continue to act as a handbrake on our economic development. • Musbau is of the Features Unit, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

Ogidigben EPZ: Not yet ground breaking Mike Arayuwa Wilkie

he “Ogidigben Export Processing Zone (EPZ), or better known as the Gas Revolution Industrial Park Project” is located on a land mass of about 2,560 Hectares situated between Ogidigben and Ajudaibo communities. It was acquired by the Delta State Government for and on behalf of the Nigeria Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA). The said acquisition was re-emphasized by the Delta State Government through the notices of Revocation of the Rights of occupancy as published in the Pointer Newspaper of Thursday, November 22, 2012, at page 21 and the Vanguard Newspaper of Thursday, December 6, 2012 at page 6. There is the need to add that the entire project’s landmass belong to Ugborodo community, Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta State. It is essential to stress that the Ijaw of Gbaramatu Kingdom in the Warri South West Local Government Area also of Delta State and that of Sokebolou/ Yokiri communities in the Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State raised objections against the ground breaking ceremony of the multi billion dollars project. Their objections were anchored on: (1) That the land acquired for the project in Ogidigben, by the Delta State Government also extended to their area. However, these Ijaws could not ascertain the extent of the land which they have so

claimed. (2) That the name of the project should reflect Gbaramatu and Ogidigben and (3) That a separate EPZ committee should be constituted for them to enable them participate in the project. In the light of the above, the Gbaramatu and Sokebolous/Yokiri Ijaw threatened President Goodluck Jonathan never to attempt to embark on the ground breaking ceremony of the EPZ project, else so much blood would flow and herald the beginning of another round of crisis in the Riverine areas of Delta State. On two previous occasions, the ground breaking ceremony of the EPZ had been postponed by Mr. President as a result of the Ijaw threats. The final resolve of the President to embark on this obligatory duty was slated for Thursday, November 14, 2014. Precisely, this was on October 28, 2014, the day of his declaration to contest the 2015 Presidential election on the platform of his political party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). On the said date, President Jonathan, in a proclamation, announced that he would proceed to Delta State to perform the ground breaking ceremony on Thursday, November 14, 2014. In less than 36 hours to the moment of action, Mr. President changed his mind coupled with an announcement that the occasion will no longer hold until further notice. Obviously, the President yielded to the serial threats of his fellow Ijaw. Reacting to the failed ground

breaking ceremony, the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILT). Ugborodo community and the Itsekiri youth organs, National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, individual persons, groups and other stake holders told the President point-blank that his deliberate refusal to perform this ceremony was an act of presidential cowardice. The Itsekiri in their press releases, advertorials and in the social media refused to accept the requests of the Ijaws on the solid ground that even the land which they claim to own belong to the Itsekiri of Ugborodo and Omadino. In order to buttress these facts, the Itsekiri cited past court cases which were delivered in favour of the two Itsekiri communities. A fundamental instance, was the change of name of Okerenghigho to Okerenkoko by the Ijaw, when, infact there was a judgment of the Supreme Court which re-affirmed Okerenghigho as the proper name and owned by Omadino people of Itsekiri. A Federal High Court in Benin City held the same view this year. From the totality of these circumstances, the Itsekiri concluded that the Ijaw of Gbaramatu are customary tenants to the Ijaw of the Ugborodo and Omadino. All the allegations leveled against Mr. President by the Itsekiri leadership that he was executing an Ijaw agenda over the EPZ project, has been debunked by the President, through Dr. Reuben Abati, his special adviser on media and publicity. He said that Mr. President as the political

leader of Nigerians is not and cannot be on the side of any party to the avoidable dispute over the EPZ project site and execution. Dr. Reuben Abati further added that the project itself was conceived for the Itsekiri, Ijaw, Urhobo and immediate catchment areas including other Nigerians. Immediately after the press briefing by the President’s spokesman, the Ijaw of Gbaramatu kidnapped the press crew and some Ugborodo youths who had gone to Ogidigben to cover the Itsekiri protest over the inability of President Jonathan to perform the ground breaking ceremony of the project. They impounded the crews’ cameras, phones, bags and other journalistic materials until the Army stormed the hideout to rescue all of them. The aforementioned are the quintessential issues at stake. On the basis of these facts, I am of the impression that the President who doubles as the Commander-In-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces took a wrong decision to have cancelled the ceremony as a result of the threats from the Gbaramatu and Sokebolou/Yokiri Ijaw. As CommanderIn-Chief, President Goodluck ought to have called-off the Ijaw bluff and do what was right afterall, he controls all the security apparatus of the Nigerian State and could not have been threatened by ex-militants of Gbaramatu. • Prince Wilkie (pmikky1950@yahoo.com) wrote in from Warri.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

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Soyinka’s proposal on the missing Chibok girls

obel Laureate, Emeritus Professor Wole Soyinka, recently, said if Nigeria had a genuine leadership, it would not be in the mess it has found itself, adding that the country should raise a monument for the missing Chibok girls. He said this at the 66th foundation day anniversary and 2014 convocation ceremonies which held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan. The erudite scholar scored the Federal Government low in its efforts at bringing back the girls who were abducted on April 14, 2014. Professor Soyinka, who was conferred with an honorary doctorate degree of letters along with others, said the activities of the insurgents had cast a shadow of intimidation on Nigerians. Soyinka, who spoke on behalf of other awardees said: “Yes, it is a festive occasion. But, we are here and we know we are sitting under a cloud, it’s a very heavy cloud. It is a cloud of embarrassment, of shame, a feeling of dereliction or solemn irresponsibility towards children. We are sitting here under a cloud of impotence, of a calamity that was not without notice. You all know why we are all here. It is in the course of learning and till death we will not stop learning. It is all about learning and that is what life is all about. We never stop learning.” Describing the abduction of the Chibok girls as “a

hovering indictment on all of us as a nation”, he said, “This cloud is made up of a sense of humiliation. The Nobel Laureate went lyrical saying, we sent our children out on an errand and they did not come back. The errand on which we sent them is what we are celebrating today. This is what creates this festive atmosphere. Though it is a festive mood, but our young protagonists went on that errand, we gathered them together in preparation for this day and they never came back. It is something we can never allow our souls to forget. The submission of Professor Soyinka tallied with our previous editorials on the same subject matter, where we said, “Gradually people are forgetting that some young girls are still in captivity. Yet, those at the corridors of power, who swore to protect and uphold the constitution, which expressly states that, the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of governance, are busy popping champagne and living in excessive luxury and opulence, while the Chibok girls are being exploited and dehumanized as sex slaves. There is no doubting the fact that the government has failed these girls and obviously disappointed itself”. If not for a small group of Nigerians and the international community who have kept the fire of optimism burning and putting pressure on government to do some things

fast to get the Chibok girls back to their parents, the government would have consigned the whole saga to the dustbin of history as it has continued to blame its political enemies for the unfolding tragedy. A government must always inspire hope and confidence in her people, and it must show concern at all times for the welfare and wellbeing of the people. If the government can treat these young, innocent and future leaders with such ignominy and contempt, it means the government just exists for itself and is not truly bothered about what becomes of the citizenry. It would be recalled that, during the Day of the African Child anniversary, United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, Gordon Brown had urged the world not to forget the abducted Chibok schoolgirls. “Thousands of people have come together united with one cause: safe schools for every girl and boy,” the former prime minister of Britain said as the world celebrated the African Child Day. Brown said, “While the global community has failed to deliver safe schooling, young people are demanding safe, quality schools for all children everywhere and stand in solidarity with the northern Nigerian girls of Chibok and all those around the world who face these struggles.” Well-meaning Nigerians demand that the government must squarely and promptly address the issue of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls,

rescue them and give all the support they require to integrate them back into the society. Also, as we have insisted in previous editorials, re-strategising against the insurgents has become very necessary. Curbing these incessant incursions includes a close monitoring of the country’s borders round the clock to stop undesirable and unscrupulous elements from gaining easy entry, as well as to forestall the movement of small arms and other dangerous weapons. The other angle is to enter into series of immediate bilateral and multilateral security agreements and understandings with Nigeria’s immediate neighbours, through the instrumentality of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). However, the fact is that huge funds have been pumped into counter terrorism but the positive impacts of the humongous funds are not felt at all, in terms of tangible results and putting the insurgents on a backpedal. They seem to have become more daring and ruthless. It is in this regard that we are on the same page that the country should raise a monument for the missing Chibok girls. There should also be a foundation in honour of them, while rescuing them should a topmost priority. The present situation inability of the country to get the helpless back to the country is a national embarrassment that must be immediately reversed.

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

Curriculum

MBHS

Rivers begins implementation of revised curriculum

Honour for MBHS principal

Education UNILAG, FCE at loggerheads over land UNILAG gate

FACE-OFF

The age-long cordial relationship between the management of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the Federal College of Education, FCE (Technical), Akoka has turned sour over a parcel of land. Mojeed Alabi

hese are not good times for the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the Federal College of Education, FCE (Technical), Akoka, Lagos. The managements of the two institutions, located at the high brow of Akoka, Lagos Mainland are at loggerheads over a disputed parcel of land. The institutions which no longer see eye to eye are trading words over the ownership of the

kayode olanrewaju Editor, education

kayode olanrewaju@ newtelegraphonline.com

FCE gate

l It is a family affair, says Shekarau disputed land. While the college is claiming ownership of the land, which it accused the management of UNILAG of forcefully taking over, thereby denying the college further expansion of its facilities, the university authorities are challenging the college of trespassing over its land. In fact, the seemingly age-long existing cordial relationship between the two institutions is fast degenerating and thus requires the urgent intervention of the Federal Ministry of Education and other key stakeholders to address. The crisis, according to the management of the FCE, broke out about four years ago, when the institution in its bid to expand its already overstretched infrastructure mobilized workers to reclaim some part of its land that was waterlogged, but was rebuffed by officers of the Nigerian Police allegedly drafted to the area on the order of UNILAG authorities. Worried by the action of the university, Provost of the college, Dr. Sijibomi Olusanya, in an exclusive interview with New Telegraph, recounted the college’ ordeal, even as he described the college as the Federal Government-owned higher institution with the smallest landed-area in terms of land space in the country. Tracing the genesis of the crisis, Olusanya said the facilities on the campus were no lon-

Shekarau

This is a family affair that will be addressed in a family way as soon as possible for sanity to be sustained

ger adequate to take care of the growing population of the college in terms of rising figure of members of staff and students. The Provost regretted that efforts at enhancing the college’s carrying capacity by providing additional infrastructure on its unoccupied land, which is part of the 18.35 hectares ceded to it by the Federal Government in 1974, had been frustrated by UNILAG, which is now claiming the land. According to the Chairman of the college’s Governing Council, Alhaji Kabir Aliyu Maska, in his speech during the Minister of Education’s visit to the college two weeks ago, the land area situated in the swamp bordering a canal could not be developed over the years due to financial constraint confronting the college. “But we had constructed a fence on the near side of the canal in order to secure the college from incessant attacks at various times by armed men who used the canal as their entry and exit points,” he noted. Maska added: “With the rate of development and growth, as well as rising student population and the need to tackle headlong the challenges of inadequate facilities and infrastructure for effective teaching and learning, the Federal Government awarded contract in 2010 for the reclamation of the marshy land area with the building of a workshop, which its foundation is already

standing. Other structures to solve the dearth of facilities were part of the package and construction on the landed area. “However, as soon as the contractor moved to the site, the authorities of the University of Lagos wrote a petition, accusing the college of encroaching on its land and requested the contractor be stopped immediately. The university did not stop there, as it followed up the matter by reporting the college to the Federal Ministry of Education. “Consequently, as part of moves to resolve the impasses, the ministry invited the management of the college and the authorities of the university to a meeting with the then Education Minister, Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’I, in Abuja to deliberate on the land dispute. It is worthy of note that the Ministry had earlier directed UNILAG authorities to release 4.6 hectares of the land stretching across the canal to the college, but which the authorities of UNILAG were yet to comply.” Investigations by New Telegraph revealed that a copy of the letter mandating UNILAG to cede part of the land to the college, which was signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. MacJohn Nwaobiala, and dated February 18, 2014, was titled: “Re: Ceding of Extra Land to the Federal College of Education, Technical, Akoka. The letter, which was addressed to the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of UNILAG, had acCONTINUED ON PAGE 21

Education

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Don makes case for business education to end unemployment

LAUTECH alumni elects officers

Kayode Olanrewaju

ow will the government tackle the rising cases of unemployment, by generating employment opportunities for the growing population of jobless youths in the country? This, among others were knotty issues on rate of unemployment that the renowned author of Economics and a lecturer at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos, Dr. Emmanuel Adekunle Aromolaran, unfolded at the seventh inaugural lecture of the Nigeria’s pioneer higher institution. In the lecture, entittled: “Business Education: A Panacea for Unemployment in a Depressed Economy,” the inaugural lecturer expressed dismay over the current school curriculum, which he said could not serve as the needed antidote to the problem of employment in the land. Aromolaran, who in his 80-page lecture traced some major causes of unemployment to poor educational development plans by the government, lack of employable skills due to inappropriate school curriculum, and faulty manpower planning by policy makers, re-emphasised the need for business education as antidote to unemployment ravaging the country. He blamed the current unemployment rate in the country for the recent crisis where the Nigerian Immigration Service invited over 520,000 applicants for 4,556 vacant positions. To address the nation’s unemployment crisis, the Chief Lecturer at the Business Education Department, spoke of the need for the curriculum guideline to be subjected to rigorous quality assurance process to ensure that it meets the needs of the learners. He, however, insisted that the curriculum of business education at the vocational level was not adequate in terms of funding, information and communication technology (ICT) content preparation for the teachers and students. Towards this end, he noted that entrepreneurial education seemed

Dr. Aromolaran

to be the best option that could enhance the curriculum content of any course, thereby providing alternative sources of employment for students. According to him, the ultimate aim of curriculum development in business education is to develop courses that teach sustainability and provision of employment in schools in order to equip the students with entrepreneurship skills that would make them job creators and not job seekers. “There should be sincere and sustained government funding of technical and vocational education (business education) programme; well-equipped in terms of information and communication technology facilities that meets the world’s standard,” he said. As part of recommendations, Aromolaran hinted that there was nothing wrong in government embarking on social security programmes which would assist in ameliorating unemployment problem in the country as the case in developed countries

Mojeed Alabi

ne of the leading global companies in Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Intel Incorporation is partnering the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), to train ICT experts from some selected Nigerian universities on the requisite capacity to operate its new system called Galileo Board Technology. Under the partnership, Intel is organising a two-week training at FUTA as the training centre for the institutions which are beneficiaries of the technology training. The training and partnership, according to the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola, will go a long way in helping the country to address some of the challenges facing her including cybercrime, poverty, insecurity, and issues related to health and agriculture. Declaring the workshop open, the Vice-Chancellor said: “The choice of FUTA by Intel Incorporation could not in any way be faulted as far as merit and standard are concerned. This is recognition by the international community by

of the world. The lecturer, however, recommended that the government should create an enabling environment whereby micro, small and medium scale enterprises would establish factories and projects that will provide employment. His words: “For business education to serve as a panacea for employment in a depressed economy, training and retraining of technical and vocational education teachers should be vigorously pursued. “In a nutshell, I am suggesting technical and vocational skills acquisition as the tonic for micro, small and medium enterprises in Nigeria.” Apart from creating centre for entrepreneurship development in tertiary institutions, he insisted that it is not out of place for the government to facilitate the establishment of Department of Business and Entrepreneurship Education in tertiary institutions, which will address the nation’s triangular problem of education-unemployment-employability.

Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

embers of the Alumni Association of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, have elected new executive members that would steer the affairs of the association for the next three years. Mr Babajide Bewaji, a renowned banker and seasoned entrepreneur, emerged the National President of association at the election, which took place at the university’s New Lecture Theatre. No fewer than 11 local chapters of the association attended the event aimed at electing new leaders for the association. To emerge as the President, Bewaji was said to have polled 49 votes to defeat his opponent, Lukman Atobatele, who had 40 votes. Other elected officers include Femi Akindele (Vice-President), Kamal Oloso (General Secretary), Olusegun Owolawi (Assistant General Secretary), Samson Owoyokun, (National Public Relation Officer), Dr Olubowale Ishola (Treasurer), Adeniji Idowu (Social Director), James Babalola (Financial Secretary) and Charles Farayola, who is to serve as the Vice President (North). While announcing the results, Dr. Olumuyiwa Adewale, the Electoral Committee Chairman, who reaffirmed that all the positions were keenly contested, however urged the elected officers to bring their wealth of experience to bear in the development of the institution. Responding to his election, Bewaji said the new administration would work with all and sundry to ensure that it delivers its promises as contained in his manifesto. He said that he would bring together graduates of the university across the globe, stating that it was time to give back to the institution. Bewaji, who pointed out that part of his agenda, is to enthrone unity and stability in all the branches of the association across the country, pledged his administration’s readiness to promote harmonious relationship among the management of the institution, students and the association.

Intel partners FUTA to train ICT experts making the university the only hub and contact centre for its training in Nigeria. What is more interesting to note is the fact that there are 129 universities in Nigeria and the choice is based on

merit. FUTA was chosen out of this lot. This is a great feat and an outstanding achievement.” He commended the firm for donating 40 Galileo Board to the university, saying

Prof. Daramola (right) with officials of INTEL, USA during the opening ceremony of the workshop.

the partnership will further contribute to the realization of his administration’s vision of taking FUTA to the Market place and creating a hub of academic excellence in ICT. The Chairman of the workshop committee, Dr. Kayode Alese expressed gratitude to Intel Incorporation, saying: “I know this workshop will help our nation to right some wrongs. The aim is to train people on how to use ICT to solve some challenges in human endeavours.” Intel team leader, Tayo Akanni said “we saw the potential in what Nigerian universities could offer and FUTA was selected as the ideal place to kick start this.” He pledged Intel’s continued support for the programme in order to help discover and improve on the potentials of the youth and experts in ICT. The US Intel team, led by Akanni includes Stewart Christie, Beenish Zia, Wolf Witt and Rawan Hegde is to train the selected participants for two weeks at the FUTA Digital Resource Centre.

Education 23

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

Land dispute sets UNILAG, FCE apart CONTINUED FROM PAG E 21

knowledged the university’s earlier magnanimity to cede a total of 11.887.467m2 to the college but said additional 4.6 hectares should be ceded to enable the college execute its expansionary programmes. Meanwhile, the Provost has appealed to the Minister, Mallam Ibrahim Sekarau to urgently intervene by looking into the matter with a view to ensuring that the order is obeyed by the university. While insisting that the conflict or rift over the land matter was needless and avoidable, Olusanya said the two academic institutions had been neighbours for almost 40 years without rancour and would appreciate the peaceful co-existence to be sustianed, particularly in their individual capacities to ensure that the education sector is improved in order to provide qualitative education for the teeming youth. Meanwhile, the UNILAG Deputy Registrar, Information, Mr. Oke Olagoke, who expressed surprised about the development, particularly when he saw a copy of the letter from the Ministry, said he could not comment on the matter. Rather, he pointed out that the

university’s official position could not be immediately accessed, but pledged to make available the university’s position as soon as it is available. However, the university’s Deputy Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr. Karo Ogbinaka, refuted the college’s claim, saying the university had been too magnanimous with its assets and that the college was originally planned to be there on a temporary basis. He warned the college that it should therefore refrained from attempting to encroach on the university’s land. Karo, who is the immediate past Chairman of the university’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), explained that the major challenges currently facing the ivory tower, specifically is that of non-availability of land space, and advised the college to look elsewhere for additional land for its development. He said: “How could the Federal College of Education demand for additional land when UNILAG is also in dire need of land for its expansion. For your information, all the waterlogged land areas on the campus are already being reclaimed to accommodate more

infrastructure, because as at today, UNILAG is the smallest federal university in the country in terms of land space, and yet it is the busiest.” He said part of the building or construction policy being adopted by UNILAG at the moment was how to make all its new buildings’ skyscrapers with foundations to be strong enough to accommodate a minimum of 12 floors, “since the institution has already outgrown its land spaces.” Reacting to the development, the Minister assured the two warring institutions of the ministry’s readiness to resolve the conflict in due course, while appealing to the feuding parties to sheathe their swords and maintain peace. Shekarau said: “I appreciate the two institutions’ efforts towards growing their infrastructure which is in line with the Federal Government’s transformation agenda towards expanding access to the ever growing number of admission seekers in the country, and the provision of quality education. However, this is a family affair that will be addressed in a family way as soon as possible for sanity to be sustained.”

Sweden to strengthen ties with UNIJOS Buhari Bello JOS

he Swedish Ambassador of Nigeria, His Excellency, Kilander Svante has reiterated the Swedish Government’s determination to strengthen the collaboration with the University of Jos (UNIJOS) in the area of Zoology development. Besides, he tasked the Nigerian political class to emulate the Swedish democratic experience by making the electorate and the country above their personal and selfish agenda He spoke at the University of Jos (UNIJOS), where he was the guest speaker of the university’s lecture. In his paper: “Democracy: Swedish Experience,” the Ambassador lamented the failure of the politician to work according to the wishes of the electorate in the country. He stated that unlike the situation in Swedish, “Nigerian politicians are yet to get it right in terms of political representation and election“. According him, Swedish like Nigeria had also faced several political hiccups in its democratic development “but we were able to put the people above all institutions.”

UBE success depends on stakeholders, says minister Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

Cross section of participants at the two-day workshop

Rivers begins implementation of revised curriculum

he Rivers State Ministry of Education has kick-started the implementation of the revised Basic Education Curriculum (BEC), with a view to domesticating the new nine-year revised curriculum in its schools. Its implementation was kickedoff at the Model Girls’ Secondary School, Rumueme, Port Harcourt, the state capital with a two-day sensitization programme for teachers, head teachers and principals of junior secondary schools, as well as the Education Secretaries in the 23 Local Government Area of the state. The workshop was organised by the Ministry of Education to acquaint the school managers with how to implement the revised curriculum. The Education Commissioner, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi, while declaring open the workshop, said that the implementation of the revised curriculum was crucial to education development in the state.

The Commissioner, however, pointed out that the new basic curriculum would serve as a driving force for achieving human capital development needed to make the country one of the best 20 economies in the world. Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Minabelem Michael West, the Commissioner directed the school managers to begin the implementation of the curriculum in all schools across the state. Lawrence-Nemi, who hinted that the immediate implementation of the curriculum is a practical demonstration of the government’s commitment to education development, stressed: ‘’The content of the revised BEC has been reduced without compromising quality to make it readily teachable and learnable as well as minimize confusion.” She added: “It reflects continuity from one sub-theme and topic to the other to help the teacher and pupils and students connect and relate pre-

vious and presently taught lessons. Also the revised curriculum makes teaching and learning learner-centred, activity-based and relevant.” For effective implementation of the curriculum, she reiterated that the state government has provided an enabling environment for effective teaching and learning. She stated that the state-of-artfacilities at the model schools is a testimony to the state government’s determination to offer the pupils the best form of education in order for them to compete favourably with their peers anywhere in the world. “Our new 20-classroom blocks have demonstrated our resolve to make learning fun for our children. Also the inclusion of vocational studies in the revised curriculum shows that the setting up of the Port Harcourt Technical/Vocational centres will be an added advantage in the implementation of the new BEC,” LawrenceNemi said.

he Minister of State for Education, Professor Viola Onwuliri has said that the success of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programmes depends largely on the collective efforts of all stakeholders in the education sector. The Minister disclosed this in Abuja while speaking at the national conference on community participation in school governance and management. She lamented that there has been a wide gap between well-thought-out policies and their eventual implementation in the field, stressing that in order to ensure that this trend does not affect UBE programme, deliberate effort has been made to ensure that all stakeholders, particularly the beneficiaries of UBE fully understand, accept and support UBEC initiative. According to the Minister, the stakeholders’ conference was aimed at establishing a wide range of sensitization, advocacy and mobilization activities towards supporting and facilitating the smooth implementation of basic education programmes at the grassroots level.

Prof. Onwuliri, Minister of State for Education

Education

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ajasin varsity celebrates late professor Babatope Okeowo Akure

hough, in death the memories of Professor Stephen Oladapo Arifalo, a former don at the Adekunle Ajasin University, (AAUA) Akungba Akoko, Ondo State have continued to linger in the minds of his associates, members of the university community and relations. Specifically, a public lecture was organised in honour of the late Professor of History by the university management. At the lecture, the guest lecturer and Provost of Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Prof. Olukoya Ogen, stressed the need to celebrate people of great accomplishment during their lifetime, rather than after their deaths. He spoke on a lecture entitled: “History, Politics and Ethnicity: A Critique of the Existing Canons of Yoruba Historiography.” According to Ogen, honouring our heroes when they are alive would enable them to know their worth, while on earth. He, therefore, praised the institution’s Department of History and International Studies, and the entire university management for celebrating Professor Arifalo, in the past seven years while alive and now after his death. The Provost, who said this would keep his memories alive and ensure that his noble deeds remain fresh in our minds dwelt extensively in the lecture on the concept of ethnicity, politics and history and their interrelationship. Ogen, a Professor of History stated that the mutually reinforcing relationship among them is pervasive and enduring. While extolling the late Prof. Arifalo’s virtues, he praised him for his contribution to the development of history in

the country, particularly in the area of Yoruba Political Studies and Historical Philosophy. The Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. Oluyemisi Adebowale, while welcoming guests to the lecture said the lecture which is the second in the series and the first to be organised after the demise of Professor Arifalo, was to honour him in recognition of his contributions to the development of History Department of the university and the country in general. She explained that the annual event,

Ado-Ekiti

igher school students, under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the leadership of the Federation of Ekiti Students Union (FEESU) have pleaded with the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose to reduce the tuition fees charged in state-owned institutions. According to the students, their call for a reduction in fees is in tandem with what some state governments did in their institutions to lessen the financial burden of the students. “Bringing down the fees will also reduce tension in various campuses in the state,” the students noted. Speaking at a press conference in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, the Chairman of JCC, Ekiti Axis of NANS, Opeyemi Musa, also called on the police to arrest those involved in organising illegal protests in some campuses in the state. He said the police action has become imperative to stem the tide of unwarranted protests being staged in some institutions in recent time, when option of dialogue

Oyebade; Registrar, Mr. Bamidele Olotu; Head of Department of History and International Studies, Dr. Simeon Ehiabhi, one of the sons of late Professor, Mr. Yinka Arifalo; Chairman, Committee of Deans, Adeyemi College of Education, Dr. Gbade Ikuejubee; Dean, School of Vocational and Technical Education, Dr. A.S. Akinbani; as well as the HOD, History Department, Adeyemi College of Education, Dr. Zaccheus Olupayimo; friends and family members of late Prof Arifalo.

HRH, Eteidung James Jonah Nsek of Nung Oku, Akwa Ibom State, presenting the award to Rev. Okunoren at the event

NANS, Ekiti students plead with Fayose to reduce fees Adesina Wahab

which would be sustained, was aimed at promoting intellectual development and providing insight into contemporary issues in history. The high point of the event which took place at the Olusegun Obasanjo Multipurpose Hall of the university named after the Second Republic Governor of the old Ondo State, the late Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, was a cultural display. Principal officers of the university at the lecture include the Deputy ViceChancellor (Academic), Prof. Francis

would have been explored. He said while his leadership had always employed dialogue in addressing all perceived injustices against students, a group, had on November 17 invaded the College of Health Science and Technology, Ijero-Ekiti , under the guise of NANS and disrupted academic activities in the institution. Musa added: “On Monday, November 17, 2014, while the NANS leadership was in Ibadan, Oyo State to attend a workshop on “Tertiary Institution Health Insurance Programme,” we learnt that some impostors masquerading as NANS leadership invaded the college to provoke violent protest. “The violent protest at the institution is not only condemnable, but against the ethics of our organisation, which believes in dialogue in settling dispute rather than confrontation. While we totally agree with the demands of the students of that institution, but agitation for reduction of fee must be within the confine of the law.” The NANS leader urged the governor to treat the issue as a matter of urgency in tandem with his electioneering promise that tuition fees in the state tertiary institutions would be slashed to give respite to parents.

Honour for MBHS principal Mojeed Alabi

he management, staff and pupils of Methodist Boys’ High School (MBHS), Victoria Island, Lagos are still savouring the award conferred on the Principal of their school, Reverend Philip Adebayo Okunoren. The prestigious award of the Grand Awards for Productivity in Africa (GAPA) was bestowed on him in recognistion of his sterling and tremendous contributions to the development of critical sectors of national economy, especially education. The award was conferred on him by the People, State and Resource Magazine, at a well-attended award presentation ceremony which took place in Abuja, the Federal Territory Capital, two weeks ago. The award is part of the Magazine’s efforts at celebrating and rewarding excellence, accomplishment and commitment to work by those regarded as role models to the growing population of youths in Africa. According to the magazine’s Publisher, Chief Victor Omuabor, the choice of Reverend Okunoren, a retired Army Captain, was a product of rigorous debates among its panelists, and that his achievements within the last two years as the Principal of one of leading grammar schools in the country, confirmed that he merited

the honour. “The former Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Music was noted to have blazed a lot of trails in his career life, especially in the grooming of brilliant musicians who were said to have excelled in international musical competitions,” Okunoren’s citation had read. As a principal, Reverend Okunoren was said to have brought life to the Methodist Boys’ High School through inculcation of discipline, enhanced staff welfare and promotions as well as attracting notable Nigerians and alumni members including the General Overseer of Mountain of Fire Ministries, Dr. D.K Olukoya, among others, to contribute to the development of the school. Part of his contributions to the growth and development of the private school include facilitation of the commissioning of mega classrooms, distribution of tablets to members of teaching staff, foundation laying of a two-storey hostel with capacity to accommodate about 500 pupils, and the completion of the Prelate Makinde Multipurpose Court, among several others. Other eminent personalities who were recipients of the award ceremony, which held at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel and Tower, Abuja, include the wife of former Vice-President Ahaja Titi Abubakar, among others.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

The Mega City ...for the love of Lagos

MEGA CITY EVENT

MY CITY, MY WORLD (Adewakun)

LIFE IN THE CITY

Newly sworn in Judges of the High Court of Lagos State

‘Lagos has good prospects’

Lagos to host pepper soup eating competition at Seafood festival

A market and its unending leadership tussle

IN NUMBERS 18.35 Total number of hectares of land occupied by FCE,T, Akoka

From afar, it wears the toga of ‘all is well’. But getting your ears closer to the ground, the ranting of the ant is clearly heard and it is understood that the place is mired in wrangling and undemocratic leadership row. EZURIKE UGOCHUKWU captures the mood in the Ikeja Computer village.

he popular Ikeja Computer village allegedly started with three shops in the present day Otigba market, in the late 90s. When the necessity for Computer age became ripe, some Nigerians rose up with the idea of importing some used desktop computers otherwise, known as ’Tokunbo’ into the country. Today, Otigba computer village Ikeja is reputed as one of the biggest Infor-

OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI CO-ORDINATOR

tosin.omoniyi@newtelegraphonline.com

9,000

Total figure of student enrollment

2,500

Total number of accommodation space available

Main gate, OTIGBA computer village, Ikeja

mation Technology (IT) ware markets in Africa. The market is popular in the sale of mobile handsets of all sizes and types, as well as accessories. Computer sets of all sizes, ranging from desktop to laptops are also on sale. However, the market formed and registered its association in 2003, the association that would see to the welfare of the members of this fast growing computer market; the Computer And Allied Products Dealers Association Of Nigeria (CAPDAN). The pioneer executive of CAPDAN was led by Mr. Tunji Balogun as chairman. The appointment, according to our source, was based on tribal leanings in the market (Yoruba, Igbo and minorities). Although it seemed right then, but today, Otigba Computer Village has been enmeshed in unforeseen and endless leadership crisis. The sight of the Secretariat of CAPDAN, housed in a two-storey building, situated inside the market sends shivers to the spine of any visitor to the place. The office, with an imposing

signboard, is not only abandoned for rodents but also serves as habitat for mentally deranged. Rags litter the veranda and entrance door of the office. Mr. Eni Akinsoya (A.k.a Morfin) association’s Chairman of Environmental Committee and the current P.R.O. of the computer village’s Community Development Area (CDA). He bares his mind on the misgivings of the CAPDAN Executive in the village. Morfin extensively spoke on how they formed and registered CAPDAN in 2003. According to Akinsoya, since the appointment and inauguration of this executive in 2004 till now, the association has been enmeshed in one form of crisis and another. In his words, “We inaugurated the present executive in 2004/05. Look at the time. Up till now, one problem or the other. The Yoruba have representatives; the Igbo and minorities; all the tribes were represented. The bone of contention is that the leadership of this association did all they could, but they do not know how to manage leadership”

According to Akinsoya, at the height of the problem that nearly consum the place, the Igbo made a move to acquire a space at the Lagos/Ibadan express way. At that period, all the Igbo in the CAPDAN executive resigned. However through the efforts of the heads, Computer Village was able to have a semblance of leadership. “We then opened account with the name of CAPDAN and commenced a two year transition time to plan for election. But people said, ‘if you want two years, put a platform on ground for the election. The Chairman was equally asked to call a meeting.” He said. Continuing, Akinsoya said, “They are not doing what they are supposed to do. Each time they are asked of election, they will begin to talk about relocation. Because of sectional agitations and lack of a common front, we have not been able to claim the land allocation given to us by the government. The Igbo have their mind CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

News | Mega City

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ile-Olora: A one-stop artisans’ colony It is a home for the dislocated. The Ile-Olora artisans’ village is one area that has brought succour to displaced artisans and traders. By the benevolence of the University of Lagos, these artisans have found a new home, even though with apprehension. ELIJAH SAMUEL reports.

rom the ashes of forced dispersals from their various business locations, they had painfully wandered in despair, not knowing how to start again. In the midst of the confusion, came a comforting relief: an expanse of swamp that is an extension of the University of Lagos, UNILAG. The extensive landmass was then occupied for the continual practice of their vocations. Since that occupation 11 years ago, various artisanswelders, mechanics, panel beaters, block makers, turners, furniture makers, electricians, traders etc. have all come to settle in what today is called Ile-Olora Mechanics and Artisans Village, a budding artisans’ colony in which all known vocations are localised. Amidst hopes and aspirations, they relived their experiences. The occupiers acknowledged that their occupation of the land, which has been necessitated by circumstances beyond their control, has blossomed on the wings of UNILAG’s humanitarian disposition. Wemimo Oloruntoba, who is the chief whip of the vast vocations centre, revealed that, “it was as a result of incessant ejections from various places, where we had our workshops that made us gather ourselves together to establish this vocation village. But after we moved into this place, which was then an expanse of swamp, we thought we should do the right thing by meeting the right owner, which we found out to be UNILAG. “When we met UNILAG’s management in 2010, through the late Vice-Chancellor Prof. Babatunde Sofoluwe, who was well disposed to our course, we were granted the permission to use this land after formal documents were signed. But, our tenancy is not permanent. It is subject to review. Muftau Adebayo, an auto mechanic and the President of the association, with an air of gratitude, corroborated Oloruntoba. “We appreciate the Federal Government, which has been accommodating us through UNILAG since we came into this place about 11 years ago, when we were stranded, as we could not find a place to practise our vocations,” he said. As they are now located on the outskirt of Iwaya-Yaba, an area that ordinarily will not be seen as viable for business, Oloruntoba revealed otherwise. He said that the availability of telecommunication is assuaging the impact their remote location could have had on their businesses. “The use of telecommunica-

tion has been of immense help to our businesses. Although some customers come to this place on their own to transact business, most call us through their phones to come and pick their cars, or call for one or two jobs for them in various vocations,” he disclosed. Orderliness and safety of lives and property are not taken with kid gloves at the village. “As a community, we have rules guiding relations, whether between members and association, or settle rifts among members. Things are done in harmony to the extent that the issue of external intervention or mediation is ruled out. “Again, security arrangement here is well organized to safeguard lives and businesses within this village. Right from the gate, every detail must be obtained concerning your mission to this place. Apart from visibly erected gates by UNILAG, there are security guards on ground,” Oloruntoba revealed.

COMMON CHALLENGES

Oloruntoba wants government’s intervention in securing a permanent place for their activities “as this place, which can be retrieved at any time, was given temporarily on humanitarian ground. We solicit the assistance of the government to secure a permanent location like this one, so that we can further consolidate on the gains of this localization of vocations. Yet, as this is Federal Government’s property, it will be appreciated if the government can do anything that will make this place developed into a permanent vocation village”. A bulk of the traders and artisans, who occupy different portions within the sprawling yard share common experience of ejection from their former places they occupied. However, from the initial teething problems encountered, they now express great hope of prosperous dealings. Chibunna Umobi, an autoparts trader, who came to the village about two years ago, believes in the good prospect of business, despite the odds “Although I came here not long ago, business is gradually picking in this environment. Irrespective of the seclusion of this place, customers come from the main town to patronize us. But as it is right now, the access road into this village is bad and this, sometimes, poses inhibition to the flow of customers into this area, ” Umobi said. Another trader, Mrs. Silifatu Musa, relished her business success but sought government’s intervention in provid-

Top: Auto mechanic section of the village Below: The blockmoulding section

What are the people expected to do in a situation where graduates are being churned out from the numerous academic institutions across the country into the job market, which is already saturated?

ing basic facilities that enhance business. “I came here with nothing but a table after we were driven away from Sabo six years ago. Since then, God has been faithful to me in terms of sales I make, irrespective of the outskirt location of this place.” Alhaji Dauda Adeshina, a block maker, whose relocation to the village since 2007 after being ejected from former place of business by the government to transform the state into a megacity had his business slightly affected. “But it has been more of blessing; it’s peaceful doing business here as access to phone has tremendously enhanced continuous transaction between us and our numerous customers. Besides, some of us are applying some dose of marketing by visiting building construction sites”, he said. He added: “There has been talk on establishing planned locations for artisans across the state by the government; now, the government should endeavour to match words with action, making this plan come into reality and let its developmental effort have human face, so that while trying to develop into megacity, people’s hope and means of livelihood will not be destroyed.”

EXPECTATIONS

Hassan Ganiyu, a panel beater, canvassed the option of diversification as antidote to the perennial unemployment in the land.

“What are the people expected to do in a situation where graduates are being churned out from the numerous academic institutions across the country into the job market, which is already saturated? The only option would have been learning of vocations by the teeming jobless graduates, after which they can create jobs. This would have gone a long way in reducing the alarming unemployment in the country,” Ganiyu posited. Oloruntoba Faniku is a contractor, who feels disenchanted with the failure of government to do the needful. “There is much unemployment in the country. Imagine if this place had not been granted for use by management of the University of Lagos (UNILAG). The over 2,000 workers in this place would have added to the million unemployed number of Nigeria population. However, the government at all tiers, should emulate this humanitarian gesture, so that entrepreneurship, which rules the world can be very well promoted and supported. “As we can see, lack of space and adequate provision of complementing facilities are the bane of entrepreneurship development in Nigeria. If the government can intervene in this direction, viable artisans’ villages will be replicated across the country; and this will go a long way to solving security and unemployment issues in the country,” Fanikun CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

Life | In The City

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

No electricity, no industrial revolution in Lagos mega city, says Branco-Rhodes Kitoye Branco-Rhodes is the Chairman, Ziklag Group of companies and a governorship aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party. In this interview with CHIJIOKE IREMEKA, he said the desired mega city status for Lagos would come to fruition if technology and clear purpose would be applied. Many people hold the belief that Lagos is a built society, if we are talking about Lagos as a megacity, would this put a damper to the realisation of the megacity status in the state? There are a lot of things to be done in Lagos State, whether it’s a built up city or not. There many built cities in the world, yet they allowed for one form of development or the other. It’s all about planning. There are both urban and rural integration planning. We have developed the map of the State, how it’s going to look like, if I’m to rebuild the city. There is a planning that entails citing development of inner city into the rural. All these plans are in place so that the nation could evolve and meet the desired investment therein. We need to build Lagos and believe me, there are a lot of things to be done. We have a whole map which would be used in rebuilding Lagos State. I have been a businessman in Lagos for over 30 years – eight years of corporate solution, and I have seen the challenges of the state. I like to see Lagos as a state that will overcome its numerous challenges if the technology is applied, if standards are implemented, and if the clarity of vision is met, it would help to transform Lagos within short period of time. Then, you can see the city being compared with modern states of Europe. What is your own concept of a mega city? The concept of a megacity has to do with city with large number of people, who live and work in such city. There are so many infrastructural needs of a megacity, including economic call, housing and planning, as well as urban integration. So, when we talk about Lagos as a megacity, we have to build the infrastructures to support the status indeed. A lot of work can be done to arrive at the destination of the kind of city we are looking out for. Lagos can be like the New York City, in America and London in the United Kingdom (UK). So, it is all about planning and doing the prerequisites work. With focus and determination, it will come to pass. If you were to be the governor of Lagos State, what kind of environment and people would you like to make out of the state?

Lagos will be a city that moves and supports the needs and aspirations of the youths, the old, and the young. Everybody must find a space in Lagos to do whatever good, within the ambits of law that he wants to do. We need to build infrastructure, especially that of water and power generation to drive the desired industrial revolution in the state. This would further create wealth and jobs for Lagosians and the economy will be bubbling. These are the objectives of good governance and I promise you that we are strongly ready to transform Lagos for good. I have been in Lagos for all the days of my life. I have seen the challenges of setting up business in the state because I have done quite a number. We understand the challenges and I believe we have solution to that effects. We need new homes and towns. I read in a paper, where Bill Gates Foundation said that there are only 14 million homes in entire Nigeria, which is not a standard for the country. That’s quite small. It then means that a lot is to be done. A total of 14 million homes cannot be a standard for a state with over 40 million people. So, we have to build infrastructure, otherwise, there will be anarchy and ciaos everywhere. Everybody will be part of it, else we suffer. So, there is an urgent need for responsible leadership that understands that the resources of the state are used for the benefits of the state. We need the leadership that would enlarge the economic scope of the state. Lagos is a state with great potential but a little of it has been harnessed. And the duty to harness the potential rest squarely, on the leadership of the state. This is the reason the masses should seek the leadership that can articulate collective interest and implement policies that cut across ethnic groups and economic development of the state. There is problem of multiple taxation in Lagos today, does it encourage and promote choice megacity you envisaged? Taxes are good because they are sources of revenue for the state, but multiple taxation is out of it. People will pay tax for the developmental projects but not multiple taxes because the idea of multiple taxes kills businesses on its own.

Branco-Rhodes

We need to build infrastructure, especially that of water and power generation to drive the desired industrial revolution in the state

If we are talking about megacity, we should also know that economic policies play significant roles in it too. Taxes also play noteworthy roles, starting from micro to macro-economic policies. So, the policy we adopt plays good or bad roles in the economy. Also, the government plays positive roles in creating wealth and enabling environment for more people to come in and empower people to for the development of our megacity. The battle for soul of Lagos State between PDP and APC, would be a tough one, what do you envision? The PDP is already fighting to take over Lagos state because it is the only party that can bring to life the desired megacity the masses yawn for. We are positioning ourselves in certain arrangement to takeover and free Lagosians from oppressive regime. In terms of footing, PDP has stronger potential to take over from APC. APC had an opportunity but missed used it. They have disappointed Lagosians greatly. Their policies are very narrow, and could not support the concept of the megacity. They have tried their best, though, but their best was not good enough. The people have

seen what they can offer and that is tyrannism. They are oppressive and people are suffering. So, PDP with help of the masses, who have seen it all and desired positive change, will definitely join forces with us to ward off the APC’s impositions and allow for a fresh breathe. APC cannot give Lagosians good governance. PDP possess the answers to the yearnings of the people. I believe that if we have that opportunity, we will rebuild Lagos that everybody will be envious of. Turning Lagos into a megacity is critical to Lagosians, especially the indigenes, what kind of person would fit into this critical assignment? What is critical here is that the job of a governor of Lagos State is not for boys. There is so much work to be done in Lagos state. If you are talking about who takes charge of the state, it has to be a resourceful person. Whoever that is given the task to rebuild Lagos must be sure that he has the capacity to build the megacity of 50 million Nigerians, living in Lagos. And that is the responsibility of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

The Mega City

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Fashola: Why Lagos judges Ile-Olora: A one-stop artisans’ colony must be incorruptible CO N TI N U ED F RO M PAGE 2 6

Muritala Ayinla

State Governor, Mr BabaLsaidagos tunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday that judges appointed in La-

gos has no reason to be corrupt as his administration is committed to provision of official vehicles and homes for the judges. The Governor who also queried the power of the National Judicial Commission to determine the number of judges to be appointed by the state government, said the state who is responsible for welfare of the judges should determine the number of justice it wants in accordance with the constitution for timely dispensation of justice. Speaking shortly after swearing-in the four newly appointed High court judges at the Lagos State Secretariat, Fashola described the ratification of judges needed by the state by the commission as unlawful and un constitutional. The Governor added that access to justice would not be guaranteed if the commission continues to limit the numbers of appointed judges without consideration for the population of the state and ability of the state to cater for their welfare. He said:”In federation, who should determine the number of judges that the states need? Is it the state that needs them or a national agency? I think it is a matter of serious consideration. My recent looking of the constitution did not suggest to me that it is the within the reCONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

in Technology Park (TECPAC) while the Yoruba are holding on to CAPDAN.” Akinsoya also affirmed that the clamour for an election is the crux of the matter. Stating, that since the formation of the extant executive in 2004, there have not been an election. “People are now saying ‘we are tired; we need an election’. That is what is on ground now. As the executive members of CAPDAN, we are tired. As the environmental Chairman of CAPDAN, I am tired.” Some of the traders told the New Telegraph that they do not know whether CAPDAN still exists while some called CAPDAN ‘a house of crisis.’ Some even noted that one hears of CAPDAN only when there is a disagreement over contributed funds. Mr. Emeka Ngwu a desktop computer dealer, quipped: “Our needs here are numerous but the crisis in this place has hindered our togetherness. We can’t articulate our problems. We don’t even know when they were elected and when they were dissolved.” He explained: “This place is not a complete market because it serves dual purposes. If it were like Ladipo or Alaba markets, they are organised.” For Mr. Francis Uche, a laptop technician: “This place is

mit of any agency to determine for us the number of judges we can appoint. This is because the question of welfare and remuneration judges is a matter well within our control. All our judges in the state now own their own houses and it will not be different with the newly sworn-in judges.” Fashola also lamented why most Nigerian judges could not attend International Bar Association Conference in Tokyo, where they could learn from global issues that were discussed. He also queried why the judges in the country need to seek permission of the Chief Judge of the federation before travelling out of the country state, describing this as a lacuna in the constitution which must be addressed. “Who is the employer of the state High Court Judge? Is it the national judicial commission or the state judicial commissions?” He asked. The newly appointed judges are: Justice Iyabo Akinkungbe, Justice Iyabode Sonaike, Justice Jubril Bashua and Abdulfattah Lawal. They were all given officials cars. On his part, the Lagos Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Ade Ipaye said the appointment of the judges was met with much expectation by the public and others. He said the powers confer on Judges of the High Court were very wide, as they extended to all matters between persons or between government or authority and any person in Nigeria.

proffered. He added: “If possible, expatriates can be invited to help in the development of modern technical know-how on various vocations. This way, Lagos and the country as a whole will become technologically developed. A country hardly develops without being technologically driven”. Adebayo stressed on the necessity for government’s intervention. He admonished: “Having had opportunity to travel across some African countries, it was discovered that artisans and vocation industry form the bedrock of economic growth and development of a nation. Incidentally, the reverse is the case here because our governments are not setting their priorities right. “What we want the govern-

ment to do is come and make the necessary comprehensive investments in the diverse areas of our vocational industry with the motive to develop them as the engine of our technological advancement and economic growth. China is a classical example of the technological progress that we canvass. Importantly too, steps towards technological attainment begins from the elementary stage of our education system.” In all, one major thing artisans are demanding is a kind of arrangement where the artisans will be localized in a planned location and thereby save the incessant ejection and relocation usually encountered within the neighbourhoods. They seem to be united in their common espousal that the government reviews its economic policies so that the wealth in this country can go round in a way that the

Oloruntoba

people will be relieved of the economic hardship. It is canvassed, however, that the government take the path of the proffered direction, so that the social vices created by the economic meltdown and the attendant unemployment can be addressed. By this, many who have been thrown out of jobs can again be gainfully engaged.

No electricity, no industrial revolution in Lagos mega city CO N TI N U ED F RO M PAGE 2 7

electorates to determine and ensure that the person that they are given these responsibilities possesses the right skills to do so. It should be someone you can trust, that has cerebral capacity for the job; some one that has interest of the people at heart, dedicated and committed to the task of building the state. The electorates, who are interested in recovering Lagos for the entire country, would do so.

You have been in business of power generation and couple of other things in Lagos, before you have the ultimate mandate to rebuild Lagos, how has your business affected the lives of people and the megacity you crave to rebuild? I see Lagos from the point of economic potential, and such potential cannot come in darkness. Lagos has a lot of natural resources that we can generate electricity from. We have ocean current, wind, biomass and equally solar.

I have been in the business of power generation, as you said, and we have done a lot for the state and the people, both in hydro and in renewable. I know for us to have industrial revolution in the state, there has to be electricity to drive it. I have a team of professional in energy generation and if we go by that, we will have clusters of power plants from solar, wind, biomass, and waste. We have developed quite a number of plants in Lagos and still developing more.

Ikeja Computer Village: House of crisis more of residential area. The problem with here is that the leaders are no more here. They have scattered. They collect money from us whenever they want to do ID card or any other thing. They will collect the money and carry it away’’ To some other traders that hawk their wares on the street corners of the market, their undoing is the touts. According to them, they are being extorted greatly. They display their wares in all locations. They are seen on parked cars and by the gutters of the streets. It is said, they pay an average of N3, 200.00 in a week to the men of the CDA. Mr. Ukachukwu Paul, who displays a handful of clothes for sale by the road –side said: “Initially, when Governor Babatunde Fashola sent Policemen and KAI here, we were paying each of the Policemen and KAI officials N500 and touts N200 daily to be allowed to operate. Later, when they were withdrawn, the touts imposed N700 daily levy on us, which we refused; and they later brought it down to N500. Today, we pay touts around N3200 weekly.” Another hawker, who prefers anonymity yelled out: “We are suffering here. We are up to a

million here. The money we pay to these CDA people when added together in a month is enough to get a store allocation; only that we can’t muster such money at once. We pay N500 every day whether we sall or not and pay N200 weekly for sanitation. We stay under the sun or rain daily. If you argue with them, they will tell you to better go to your state and establish.” In the reaction of the CDA Chairman, Otigba Computer Village-Hon. Adeniyi Olasoji, CAPDAN is like so many other

Ever buesy computer village, ikeja

Associations in the market. He feels the lack of internal Democracy in the market is not the CDA’s problem. “As far as we are concerned, it’s none of our business. So long as the environment is clean, the place is well secured, if they don’t want the association as it ought to be, it’s their own problem.” Olasoji added: “They are trying to do an election; they said the regime has been there for over 10 years, no change of government. That is why you find out they have many prob-

lems facing them. We just make sure as the landlord of the community, we see to the essential needs of the community.” On the essential needs of the community, the Chairman was so delighted that power supply to the Village has improved, and that security has been beefed up. He said they have made a request to the state government for public toilet. On the alleged extortion in the community, the Chairman said: We don’t encourage extortion here.

Life | In The City

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

Lagos to host pepper soup eating competition at Seafood festival ...produces 159,000 tones of fish annually

Muritala Ayinla

overs of pepper soup in Lagos may soon become millionaires as the Lagos State government promised to dole out about a million Naira to winner of pepper soup eating competition during the 2014 Sea Food festival. This was even as the state government said that its fish production annually has hit 159,000 metric tonnes as against the 230,000 metric tonnes demand in the state annually. The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Co-operatives, Prince

Gbolahan Lawal, who made the disclosures while briefing journalists on the 2014 Sea Foods Festival, said the state has recorded tremendous improvement in the fish supply in the state. He said: “In 2011, we were doing 110, 000 tonnes of fish in Lagos. But as at the end of 2013, we were already doing 159, 000 tonnes. We should be able to do estimate for 2014 and will let you know before the Seafood Festival the production level of fish in Lagos.” “The demand presently is 230, 000 metric tonnes for Lagos, considering the population

that we have. It is 2.4million tonnes for the whole country. Our target is to get to the sizeable percentage, where we would also be able to even supply to other States. That is our target and we are getting there. He added that the increase in the fish production was not unconnected with the State government’s empowerment programmes for the fishing communities, by turning them from subsistence to commercial farmers. The commissioner said further that the December 6 Seafood Festival, with the theme:

‘Celebrating the fisheries and aqua-cultural heritage of Lagos State’ was designed to celebrate seafood and aqua cultural products and services. He added that pepper soup eating competition would also take place at the festival where the winner would be given star prize running into million Naira. Other two editions of the festival, he noted, had improved participation from 2000 to 5000, as more fish farmers now bring their produce to the commercial city centre. He said that over 800 fishermen benefited in aqua culture.

Amala joint for corporate workers It is the busiest food canteen on Lagos lsland, where corporate workers, bank managers and high calibre people queue for a meal of amala, ogufe (goat meat) with gbegiri and ewedu soups. MOSES KADIRI, report the unending activities at the food spot called Defence Car Park Food Canteen, which is directly opposite Firstbank Plc, Marina, Lagos.

s it worth the wait? The unending queues, the shouting request of customers demanding for one service to the other. It seems Defence Car Park Food Canteen has some unique menu features that customers really want. Yes! It is hot amala meal, a recipe made with yam flour. Perhaps, you might want to eat homemade dishes with assorted goat meat with black, and white amala garnished with fresh fish, ogufe (goat meat). The place to be is Defence Car Park Food Canteen. There is no class restriction; the high and mighty eat at the canteen; most of the customers are high corporate bankers, whose offices are on the long stretch of Marina, the busiest spot in Lagos lsland. With N450, one is sure of eating a decent meal. That is when a customer requests for goat meat and two raps of either semovita, white amala or black. Vegetable soup goes for N50, and above depending on the customer’s pocket. Aside amala, a customer can get a plate of rice, meat for N250. At the entrance of the canteen, four female food vendors, whose duty is to attend to customers’ request, welcome a guest to the

A food vendor at work

spot, which is branded by one of the beverage bottling companies in the country; only the company product is sold in the canteen, except sachets of water from another brand. The women are surrounded with big iron pot, each containing assorted meat. The most requested meal is gbegiri (bean soup), and ewedu, which go down well with amala. There are other menu on offer at Defence Car Park Food Canteen. The food vendors have a way of announcing their presence with such advertisement ‘Ogufe wa o’ (we have goat meat). The other woman at the far end takes it from her, ‘lyan wa o’ (we have pounded yam).’ Immediately she stops, another food vendor takes over ‘semovita wa o’ (we have semovita); they seems to be entertaining the guests, who are being carried away with the hot amala meal. Interestingly, men, bank managers, who are neatly dressed from home, loosen their ties, put away suits, queue with plate to have a meal at the canteen. “Give me that goat meat. No, l do not want that one. l mean that one, and two white amala,” one of the customers requested as he points

Photo: www.matsecook.com

his right finger to his choice of meat in the soup pot, which is directly opposite him. The spot is a regular food joint for customers in Victoria Island, most of them find their ways to the food spot for the delicious meal, ranging from assorted food, African meals, contemporary delicacy, white rice, jollof rice among others. Though the setting makes it easy for customers to patronise the spot, accessible road, with little parking space that can accommodate about five cars, the calibre of people that patronise the place on a daily basis cannot be compared. Married women are not left out. “How is the meal Theresa?”. A female customers seems to be inquiring from her friend Bola. The latter nodded her head. “It is good; it has been a long time l came here. l really miss the food.” Defence Car Park Food Canteen seems to have its own features of attending to customers. Unlike others where a customer places an order and the meal is delivered to the customer, the reverse is the case here. A cusCONTINUED ON PAGE 30

My City, My World

‘Lagos has good prospects’ Elijah Samuel Tade AdePandastor wakun, the media publications

head at the Christ Livingspring Apostolic Ministry, CLAM, was relatively young and got enchanted to Lagos after university education almost three decades ago. Today, he found the state a far cry from his dream. Adewakun He said: “The Lagos I used to know was an environment where you could actually plan your movement. It was easier to move around because there was unity and cooperation that enhanced security. Then, we saw ourselves as a community or village setting where family-like bond dominated interactions among residents. ”It was easy to do business and plan effectively; you could do business and make good money. Today, it is not so because pricing system, government policies and taxation, insecurity etc. are factors that have affected the way you do business in Lagos.” He analysed that the traffic situation and the road network in Lagos should be given adequate attention. Besides, the tankers and the haulage vehicles’ movement should be streamlined and planned in a way that sanity will be restored on Lagos roads. It was like this then in Lagos; Apapa today has been completely messed up because of the activities of tankers. Trucks and tankers everywhere, why is it impossible for government to deal with this menace. I never projected that Lagos will become what it is today. “Unfortunately, the rail system that could have facilitated their easy and safe movement is being frustrated. Governor Fashola is a rare breed; he epitomizes what responsive and responsible leadership is all about. Some of the things he has done and which he intends to do are indeed fascinating. One would wish he continues to work and complete the transformation of Lagos state into a megacity. But I believe that if we pray to God, He will provide a successor who, if he allows God in his heart, will take the transformation of the state unto a more enviable height. Lagos has good prospects.”

No place like Lagos Ezekiel Adesawe Alausa Adekoya, Htaryon. Education secre, Oshodi-Isolo

local government education authority. I have been in Lagos for quite a while now, I grew up in Lagos and ever since I was born, sincerely, I have always said it, that there’s no place like Lagos. I have Adekoya travelled and seen many places of the world, still, I can boldly tell you that we have the best of weather in the world, there are 365 days that make a year, and in all of these days, we have the best of weather. The seasons are just too perfect. In addition to the foregoing, Lagos has a very good serene and peaceful landscape and environment. However, there is no community with its own peculiar problem, so for me the problem of Lagos is not farfetched but simply population. Lagos is too overcrowded; we have in Lagos people from all over the world. Everybody wants to come to Lagos, because it is free for all, it’s the city you can make it big time. I have said it many times and will continue to say it anywhere I find myself that people should be good and faithful to Lagos and Lagos will be good to you. If you are good to Lagos, Lagos will in turn be good to you.

News | Mega City

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Mixed reactions trail former Oshodi-Isolo council boss’ performance The tenure of the former Chairman of Oshodi- Isolo Local Government Area, Hon. Bolaji Muse Ariyo has come and gone. He completed his tenure in October this year. But while few residents praise his efforts, many others are not impressed with his achievements. EZEKIEL ADESAWE writes.

everal governments have come and gone. Many Nigerians are still grappling with what the future holds for them. Recently, local government chairmen in Lagos State vacated their offices after completing their tenures. Despite the allocation that comes down to these constituencies for the provision of basic amenities in the aspect of primary education, primary health care, provision and maintenance of local markets and provision of libraries and schools among other things, not much appeared to have changed in some of the local government areas. In Oshodi-Isolo Local Government, Hon. Bolaji Muse Ariyo, served as the local government chairman until October 18 this year. Giving the current state of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government, many believe the former chairman did not do enough towards the development of the local government. Mr. Okoro Onuoha, who spoke to New Telegraph about the administration of Ariyo, has been living in Lagos for the past 25 years. He explained that as much as no single government can complete the quest for nation building, no local government administration can fully develop its constituency. One administration starts and subsequent administration consolidate on the efforts. “That I will not tell you they are not doing anything because there is no government that will finish the whole thing, and there’s no local government chairman that will finish the whole thing. One government will continue from where they stopped. I will not say they have not tried, they have really tried,” he said. “I don’t expect the chairman to be sharing money for us but to execute basic functions, which involves clearing the dirt and refuses. The main thing we expected him to do for us was to make our bad roads motorable, create more drainages and many other things in his power,” he said. It will be recalled that on the October 10, as part of efforts to reduce poverty in the local government, Hon. Bolaji Muse empowered over 70 people in the local government with several equipment for small scale businesses. According to him, the equip-

ment was given to the beneficiaries as a fulfilment of the promise made during campaign which is to completely eradicate poverty among the people and also improve their socio-economic welfare. He said: “This presentation is a manifestation of our electioneering campaign to eradicate poverty among our people and improve their standard of living” The equipment that were given included sewing machines, generators, clippers, camp gas, phones, mechanical tools, pumping machines, washing machines, freezers, vulcanizing machines, spraying machines, driers, popcorn machines, bags of garri, rice, and semovita, crates of soft drinks and provisions. Some of the beneficiaries hailed the kind gesture of the Ariyo-led administration for providing the equipment to empower them. Among is Noah Wada. According to Wada, who is the deputy chief of the Igala community in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government, received popcorn machine on behalf of his community, “There has been poverty in this nation. If the government can do this, I think the mass unemployment we are having today will be reduced. Our thanks to the Almighty God, to the chairman and those working with him.” Meanwhile, some displeased residents in the local government have lamented the negligence of the local government council to the social needs of the people. Many of them claimed not to have felt his impact when he was in office as the council chairman. Streets like Lemo, Rafiu crescent, Brown street, Hassan street, Mabayoje street, Michael street, Arowojobe close, Shoneye street among others, have remained untouched and screamed for attention Afijalo market in Mafoluku was also neglected by the administration, as it stands in the shadows of its past glory. Ola Adekunle lives in OshodiIsolo local government and has been doing his tailoring business since the 1970’s. He disclosed that the street, where his shop is located, has not really felt the impact of Hon. Abolaji Muse as the council chairman. He said: “I wouldn’t lie to you. We have not felt his impact. This Rafiu crescent, nothing

With the situation of this local council, if he decides to contest again next year, I will not vote for him. As the chairman of this local government, I expected him to be very close to the community members.

Hon. Ariyo

has been done about it. It was just recently that they started parching up some roads, possibly because of 2015 general elections. I am sorry to say, I have not seen his impact. I didn’t even hear about any poverty alleviation programme from the local government council. “With the situation of this local council, if he decides to contest again next year, I will not vote for him. As the chairman of this local government, I expected him to be very close to the community members. I have not set my eyes on him, only in pictures. I expected him to have helped us tar this street and to even provide good water system, solar powered street lights. Also, Olawale Adegoke is a youth within the local council area of Oshodi-Isolo. He had this to say about the administration of former Oshodi-Isolo council boss. “What I can say about his impact is that he initiated youth empowerment programmes, which has trained many in crafts, but he has not actually done things that will benefit us. As a youth, I have searched for job and found none.” He added that, “this street we are, on several occasions, they have announced on radio that it

has been tarred but actually, what they did was that they poured sand on it, and in fact, that has worsened the situation. If you were here yesterday, this place was flooded. Sincerely, I have not seen any spectacular thing he has done for us in this local council area. Before the election, they make promises but after the election, they do nothing. For next year, I am not even interested in casting my vote; they have disappointed us too much.” Some other residents within Oshodi-Isolo council complained that they pay a lot of tax but little has been done with the fund generated. Obinna, a trader, who has his shop on Brown Street, lamented the poor state of the road, stating that the former Oshodi-Isolo council boss has done below expectation. He said: “This Brown street, we pay lock up shop and trade permit. We have asked them to do something about this road and they kept promising that they will do something about it. Yet, the road has remained in its sorry state. Personally, I don’t think, he did a good job as council boss. If he contests again, I will not vote for him because he did not live up to expectation.

Amala joint for corporate workers CO N TI N U ED F RO M PAGE 2 9

tomer must wait by the food vendor, either with his plate or the food vendor picks the plate herself to request whatever they want. It was gathered that it is because of the number of people, who would want to get service at the same time. Another remarkable aspect is the kitchen, where the meal is been prepared. About three women in their apparels gathered round a big iron pot, stirring the hot amala or semovita with long

sticks. A customer, who pleaded anonymity, said he has been eating at the canteen for more than three years now. “I work in one of the banks down the road. l cannot miss eating amala at this place for anything,” he said. “What l like most is the ogufe meat, it is delicious. I come here to eat everyday.” Another frequent customer, who also did not want his name mentioned was sweating profusely. He noted that the spot is one of the busiest food centres within the en-

viron. “If you come here in the afternoon, you will understand what l am talking about. The food vendors find it very difficult to attend to customers due to the large crowd that come here,” he said. “I usually come here to eat white amala but today, l ate black amala. One of the reasons l like eating here is because of the quality of food that they prepare.” Mega City gathered that the canteen has been in existence for several years. It is the most popular eating joint on Lagos lsland.

The Mega City

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

UPCOMING EVENTS

National Art Competition 2014 Grand Finale

Organiser: African Artists’ Foundation Date: November 26, 2014, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Venue: Grand Banquet Hall, Civic Center, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria

Runway to Stardom

Organiser: StarBrands Date: November 28- 29 2014, 7:00 PM - 4:30 AM Venue: Bespoke Events, 4th Roundabout, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria

Corporate Leadership Excellence for the Financial Services Sector Organiser: Springville Management Consulting in Partnership with New York Business Consultants Date: November 26-29, 2014 Venue: Four Points by Sheraton

Total School Support Seminar/Exhibition 2015

Organiser: Edumark Consults Ltd Venue: Ten Degrees Event Centre, Billings Way Rd, Lagos, Nigeria

Cean set to Make 2015 impactful for Creative Enterpreneurs Organiser: Creative Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria Date: November 15, 2014, 10:00 AM -1:00 PM Venue: British Council Office, 20 Thompson Drive, Ikoyi,

West African Afro Cuban Dance & Music Festival

Organiser: Dance & Art Alive Date: December 2- 13, 2014 at, 6:30 PM - 11:30 PM Venue: Lagos Island, Lagos Nigeria

MEGA CITY EVENTS Newly sworn in Judges of the High Court of Lagos State

L-R: Newly appointed Judges of the High Court of Lagos State – Hon. Justice Iyabo Olamide Akinkugbe; Hon. Justice Serifat Iyabode Sonaike; Hon. Justice Abdulfattah Molawale Lawal and Hon. Justice Abisoye Jubril Bashua, taking Oath of Office before Director, Legislative Drafting, Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Tola Akinsanya (right) atthe Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos

A cross section of traditional rulers and other guests, during the swearing-in ceremony

2014 Legal Business Summit @ Civic Centre, Lagos

Legal Officer, AMCON, Ayodele Williams (left) and Chief Legal Officer, Ben Daminabo

Chief of Staff to the GMD/CEO, Access Bank, Mr. Felix Ejinwa (left) and Group Head, Corporate Communication/External Affairs, Access Bank. Amaechi Okobi... PHOTOS: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Gov. Fashola at the closing ceremony of the 14th Lagos Governor’s Cup Tennis

L-R: Chief Pius Akinyelure, chairman, Local Organising Committee, Ms. Ndidi Okpaluba, director, Operational Strategy, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Moses Michael, Winner of Men’s Singles title from Nigeria, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Yemi Owoseeni, Vice- President, Nigeria Tennis Federation, at the 14th Lagos Governor’s Cup Tennis Invitational at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, Lagos

Gov. Fashola (middle) discussing with the winner of Men’s Singles title; Moses Michael and Sarah Adegoke, winner of Women’s Double & Runner up of Women’s Singles while Akinyelure (left) and Okpaluba look on

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

FCT Watch

Collective investment: SEC to unveil new rules

The Investor

Economy

Maritime

Capital market as panacea to SME’s funding

FG’s austerity measures evoke angst

Nigeria lacks law to prosecute pirates, sea robbers – NIMASA

Business What's news

Vessels berth with N13.02bn rice at Lagos port Despite moves by the Federal Government to encourage local production of rice, nine ships have berthed with 183,641.3 metric tons of rice valued at N13.02 billion ($81.5 million) at the Lagos Port Complex in Apapa.

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Majority of shareholders inert, says SEC The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has said that majority of shareholders of quoted companies in the country are inactive and are often focus on short-term profits.

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The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Godson Ikoro

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dele Alao

Industry & Agric Editor

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Customs slam N2bn fine on Stallion Group FRAUD Importer faces penalty over sharp practices at the seaports

Bayo Akomolafe

he Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has fined Stallion Limited, an auto firm, the sum of N2 billion over false declaration of cargo at port. The company was alleged to have brought in several containers through the Tincan Island Port and declared them as Completely Knocked Down (CKD) parts. But during examination, Customs officials discovered that the imported consignments were tyres, among other items that were falsely declared. Controller of the Customs Command, Tin Can Island, Mr Jibrin Zakare, who confirmed the story, explained that the consignments would not be released to the company until they have paid the necessary penalty. He stressed that he personally went down to the terminal to see the consignments, warning that the items would be seized if the company failed to pay the Debit Note (DN) issued on the goods. Zakare said: “I saw the items and took pictures of what I saw and reported to the headquarters.” The spokesman of the command, Mr Chris Osunkwo, however, said that the command was still compiling the number of containers involved. Meanwhile, the controller lamented that his command had been losing about N4 bil-

lion monthly due to the auto policy, which had given concession to the manufacturers on certain raw materials. The command had recorded low duties since the auto policy took off, except last month, apparently because of the Christmas season. He noted that the command

recorded N23.4 billion, N21 billion and N24 billion in the months of July, August and September respectively. But before the policy, the command made N26 billion each in the months of April, May and June. It would be recalled that the prices of vehicles in the mar-

ket have gone up by over 60 per cent since the introduction of 35 per cent duty on vehicles. President of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Prince Olayiwola Shittu, lamented that things would get worse in January, as there were plans to hike duty on vehicles.

L-R: Managing Director, Jake Rily Limted., Mrs. Funmi Ogbue; Chief Executive, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria/ Chairman, Businesses Assessment Committee, Mr. Jim Obazee and Director-General, Industrial Training Fund, Dr. Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko, during the press briefing on Nigeria’s top 100 businesses awards in Abuja.

Nigeria, others’ mobile finance to hit $900bn by 2018 –Report Kunle Azeez

obile financial services sector in Africa is poised to grow significantly in the next four years, with person-to-business (P2B) transactions in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa poised to hit the $900 billion mark by

2018, experts have said. Mobile money platforms have taken off phenomenally, particularly in East Africa, but also in the South in countries such as Zimbabwe. All have registered a surge in mobile money transaction volumes. However, experts at Mondato, a global mobile money

consultancy company, said that the sector is still limited to person-to-person transactions (P2P), yet there is significant room for raising wallet-to-bank and bank-to-bank transactions using mobile money platforms. “The signs of growth in other areas such as merchant payments (P2B or B2B), while slow,

Abdulwahab Isa Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE October 2014............................8.1% September 2014.....................8.3% August 2014............................8.5%

LENDING RATE InterBank Rate....................11.57% Prime Lending Rate...........16.93% Maximum Lending Rate...25.83%

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at Nov. 21)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N182 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N285 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N225

l Foreign Reserves – $37.54bn as at 14/11/2014

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Official As at Nov. 21)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N159.41 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N249.43 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N199.58

Business | News

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Vessels berth with N13.02bn rice at Lagos port YULETIDE

Rice importers shift competition to Nigerian market to take advantage of festive period Bayo Akomolafe

espite moves by the Federal Government to encourage local production of rice, nine ships have berthed with 183,641.3 metric tons of rice valued at N13.02 billion ($81.5 million) at the Lagos Port Complex in Apapa. A ton of rice is sold at $443 in the global market for the month of November, according to a data obtained from the Vietnam Food Association (VFA).

Also, two ships have been moored to discharge 84,850 metric tons of bulk sugar. All the rice would be off-loaded at ENL Consortium terminal in Apapa. Already, MV Asia Wind and MV Captain Harry have been moored to discharge 11,356 metric tons and 42 metric tons respectively. Expected this week are MV SeaDias with 21,300 metric tons; MV Jenco Vero, 9,250 metric tons; MV Cark 380.38 metric tons; MV Melody, 20,000; MV Lark, 9,000 metric tons; MV Trenta 51,355 metric tons and MV Reunion Bay 1,900 metric tons. Also, at the Greenview Development Nigeria Limited terminal are MV Spar Hydra and MV mandarin Hanton with laden with 43,700 metric tons and 41,160 metric tons of

sugar respectively. Commenting on the surge of the commodity, Managing Director of Okpoto Logistics Limited, Mr Sam Elem, explained that importers shifted to rice importation because of the Christmas and New Year season. He said: “This is the period the rice market booms in the West African region because of the

festive season. “Besides, the country cannot meet the local demand. This is why the commodity is being smuggled from Benin and Cameroon.” Elem explained that despite moves by Nigeria to stop importation of rice from next year, importers have been flooding Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Ghana with

rice since the beginning of the second quarter of this year. Last month, Indian exporters crashed the price of their basmati and non-basmati rice, as competition between Thailand and Vietnam got tougher for Nigeria and other markets. Thailand was pushed off the top spot in 2012, with the Indian Govern-

ment rapidly releasing more of its own rice for export. But early in October, Thailand, in a drastic move to come back to the top in the global market, reduced the price of rice to $450 per ton. However, India reduced white rice export price category to between $360 and $370 a ton to edge out Thailand.

Nigeria, others’ mobile finance to hit $900bn CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 3 3 the mobile money rev-

have been encouraging.” Mondato said in its research report that P2P mobile financial transaction remittances “remain an important driver of consumer adoption in many markets.” However, recent trends show that “Africa is moving out of phase one of the MFS and digital finance revolution.” The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), a global partnership of 34 leading organisations that seek to advance financial inclusion, recently widened its emphasis from digital finance to ‘Digital Finance Plus’, which encompasses “the use of mobile money and branchless banking to make basic, essential services and utilities.” These include energy, health, education, and water among others. “In total P2B transactions across Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana and Tanzania are likely to grow by over 40 per cent up to 2018, from $640 billion in 2013 to over $900 billion,” said Mondato in its report. The report added that the outlook for the growth of the mobile money industry in Africa “is encouraging.” The market for P2B mobile-initiated transactions in the five countries above is predicted “to grow nearly tenfold over the next four years, from $2.9 billion in 2013 to almost $28 billion in 2018.” Reports show that for Nigeria to benefit from

enue, a lot of awareness still need to be mounted while licensees, which are now around 20, would need to be more visible. According to a recent poll by the Nigerian research firm, NOI, only six out of 10 Nigerians know L-R: Head, Business Support and IT Audit, Stanbic IBTC, Mr. Ayodeji Odupe; Chief Executive Officer, Lady Atinuke Oyindamola Memorial about the mobile money Home, Mrs. Atinuke Oyindamola and Audit Manager, Wealth, Stanbic IBTC, Mr. John Agbana, at the presentation of items to the home in service (59 per cent), and Badagry, Lagos. of that number, only 13 per cent are using it. COUNSEL Even more discouraging is that 93 per cent of Regulator wants the mobile money adoptshareholders to be more ers are using it in conjunction with an existing responsive bank account, and that the remaining seven per porate governance issues. cent had a bank account, code was aimed at sanitising but operated it separately. He said that the creation the activities of shareholdChris Ugwu This implies that the of shareholders’ association ers’ association and positarget audience - the unhe Securities and Ex- was meant to address the tioning them to effectively banked - is missing out change Commission perceived passivity of share- promote good corporate goventirely. Reports have (SEC) has said that holders towards the gover- ernance in public companies also shown that only 25 majority of share- nance of their companies, for enhanced shareholders per cent of the Nigerian holders of quoted companies but recent events surround- value. population (170 million in the country are inactive ing the activities of these He added that the code people) has a bank acand are often focus on short- associations seem to point to was also intended to enterm profits. the fact that they are still fo- sure highest standard of count or access to basic Director and Secretary to cused on short-term profits. financial services, leaving conduct among association “In order to promote good members and the companies 75 per cent, or roughly 51 the Commission, Mr Edosa Aigbekaen, said this at the governance and give clear with whom they interact as million people, without access to either. just concluded 2014 SEC jour- understanding of the prin- shareholders. However, findings nalists’ academy. ciples of business conduct “Shareholders should pay show that most of other He noted that although and ethics that are expect- more attention to monitorthe corporate governance ed of shareholders during ing how their companies are non-bank licensees have remained invisible in framework is built on the as- general meetings of public managed. While some institheir operations. sumption that shareholders companies as well as their tutional investors are known Chief Executive Ofengage with companies and relationships with the com- to demand good corporate ficer of EFInA, Mrs hold the management to ac- panies outside general meet- practices from the managModupe Ladipo, said: count for its performance, it ings, a code of conduct for ers of their companies, a “The financial services inis evident that the majority shareholders’ association lot more is expected of the dustry can drive uptake of of them are passive and are was formulated in 2006 by majority of small holders mobile money by educatoften only focused on short- the Securities and Exchange who are known to be very ing customers, providing term profits. Commission in conjunction passive. They do not attend reasonably priced prodAigbekaen noted that with shareholders associa- annual general meeting and it was necessary for more tions, regulatory authori- so, there is no real effort to ucts that meet customer needs, and creating the shareholders to take interest ties in the financial sector as take management to task reright incentives for both in sustainable reforms and well as other stakeholders,” garding their management longer terms performance he said. of their companies,” Aigcustomers and mobile money agents.” and to be more active on corAigbekaen said that the bekaen said.

Majority of shareholders inert, says SEC

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

FCT Business Watch Collective investment: SEC to unveil new rules Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

he Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has hinted of plans to enact new asset rules to govern the operation of Collective Investment Schemes (CIS) in the country. Billed for January 2015, the new asset rule, SEC said, would prescribe fresh minimum capital for operating CIS in Nigeria

by the fund managers. SEC Director of CIS, Mrs Louise Eni-Umukoro, confirmed the impending fresh rules in Abuja. She warned that any CIS operator that failed to meet the new capital threshold would be out of business. According to her, CIS scheme has witnessed tremendous rise from an initial 14 operators in 2002 to 55 with a net value of about N178 billion. Eni-Umukoro put the current value of the world’s CIS at

about $30 trillion while that of Nigeria is $1 billion, which she said “is still minute compared to the global record.” She said that in the last ten years, value of CIS has hit 112.2 per cent, which translates to an annual growth rate of 11.2 per cent. Eni-Umukoro disclosed that custodians operating in the industry are required to have N15 billion capital base to operate. “SEC will certainly inter-

L-R: Technical Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Nkem Akobundu; Procurement Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Arthur Mamvura and Head, Human Resources, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Uzoma Okoronkwo, at the AIM–Progress Responsible sourcing supplier forum in Lagos …yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

FG hires UNN to train civil servants Kenneth Tyohemba

he Federal Government has stepped up efforts to improve skills of civil servants responsible for strategic planning to enhance improvement in public sector management. To achieve the objective, it has engaged University of Nigeria with the task of training government workers across the country. Course Administrator, Prof Emmanuel Ezeani, said in a statement that the training was in conjunction with the Direct Leadership Institute (DLI) and it aims to enhance the skills of public sector managers, ministries, departments and agencies at the federal and state levels. Ezeani who is also the Director of the UNN Centre for Entrepreneurship and Development Research (CEDR), said that participants are drawn from those associated with govern-

ment for policy formulation and implementation. The training, he said, would run from December 8 to 10 at the university and targets over 300 participants. “The principal objective is to enhance knowledge, understanding and skills of public sector managers in accordance with modern principles and processes in strategic planning, and to that end, to encourage and widen the application of strategic planning in relevant agencies,” he stressed. “This course, scheduled for December 8 to 10, focuses on the theory and practice of strategic planning and strategic management in the public sector and non-profit organisations. It will cover modern approaches to designing and conducting strategic planning processes, including specific techniques for conducting environmental scans, SWOT analysis, stra-

tegic issue identification and strategy formulation.” The sessions, he stressed, would be led by former Economic Adviser to the President, Prof Osita Ogbu, and the President of the Direct Leadership Institute (DLI) Ghana, Dr. Donald Agumenu. “The University of Nigeria was conceived and established to complement the spirit of national struggle and to provide the right calibre of Africans for the transformation of the continent. “In order to continue to meet the yawning gap between where the country is today and where it should have been, in terms of the nation’s human and material developmental accomplishments, the University of Nigeria seeks to provide the platform where the country’s developmental agenda for the next 20 years will be deconstructed and set.

face with the fund managers in the quest to amend our

rules to make sure CIS fund is secured and safe,” she said.

Group seeks review of oil trade laws Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

or Nigeria to get reliable and accurate data on crude oil sales, including transactions data in the Free Trade Zones, existing laws must be reviewed, Nigerian Statistical Association (NSA), has suggested. Such reviews in the estimation of NSA will enable the country get reliable statistical data on all trade transactions on export commodities for effective planning and economic development, President of the association, Dr. Muhammed Tumala, said during the African Statistics Day in Abuja. The current laws, according to him, stifle open data production. Speaking on “Open data for accountability and inclusiveness, prospects and challenges for Nigeria,” Tumala said that appropriate legislation was enacted to back the establishment of National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), but the bureau was yet to put to good use advantages offered by the Act. “The importance of data in policy making cannot be over emphasized and all open data says is that such data should

now be available to everyone that would either want to undertake research or carry out business decisions or design policies. That is what open data is saying. “It is for citizens to insist on accountability and if they are to be accountable there is no other way of expressing accountability other than using data. It is for the media to also educate the public on the need to use facts and hold public officers responsible for their actions. “Such laws and policies on the FTZs and those that inhibit effective statistical data collation on all facets of our national life should be reviewed and amended. For instance, the exclusion of oil trade from the responsibility and activity of the Nigeria customs is one of such laws. There is no country in the world that does that. “By doing that, you are unable to capture your trade data in that sector and, unfortunately for Nigeria, over 90 per cent of our external trade is based on that sector. You can imagine that when over 90 per cent of your trade data is questionable, then your entire data is questionable,” the NSA president added.

31% Nigerian adults live in personal homes – Poll Kenneth Tohembeth Abuja

national survey on housing by an indigenous poll firm, NOI Polls Limited, has put the adult Nigerians living in their personal homes at 31 per cent. The study also revealed that 51 per cent live in rented apartments. NOI report claims the survey conducted in November 10th 2014, also showed that vast majority of Nigerians (85 per cent) showed keen interest in mortgage financing as an option of owning personal houses. It added that 15 per cent would not consider owning a house through mortgage financing mainly due to “unstable income.” According to the survey, the amount paid in rent revealed that irrespective of geo-political zone, the larger proportion of Nigerians (40 per cent) main-

ly pay between N20,000 (about $1,230) and N100,000 (about $6,262) as rent yearly; though a considerable proportion of residents, especially in the NorthCentral zone, pay much higher. Respondents to the poll were asked five questions. With the aim of ascertaining the current state of accommodation in Nigeria, respondents were required to provide their accommodation status. Findings revealed that slightly over half (51 per cent) of the respondents indicated “they currently pay to live in a rented apartment” while (31 per cent) confirmed that “they live in their personal house;” respondents in this category may have built or purchased their houses or may have acquired it by inheritance. In addition, 11 per cent claimed they “live with family/friend in a personal house” while (four per cent) reported they “live with family/ friend in a rented house.”

Business | The Investor

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Chris Ugwu

he country’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) like their counterparts in other emerging economies are perceived as a high-risk segment of the market for banks when it comes to lending. Besides, unstable macroeconomic policies make banks to be conservative about exposure to SME’s because of their higher failure rate. Although there are provisions for short-term loans but they are usually made available to larger enterprises perceived to be credit worthy. According to reports, even the previous public-sponsored financing programmes failed to make the desired impact due largely to high default rates. Few domestic equity sources for SMEs exist due to their inability to meet listing requirements. The challenges Despite the widely acknowledged role of small and medium scale enterprises in fostering economic growth and development, they have continued to face a variety of constraints. Some of the challenges they face as to do with inadequate infrastructural facilities, shortage of skilled manpower, high rate of enterprise mortality, low level of entrepreneurial skills, lack of a conducive operating environment, restricted market access and cumbersome regulatory requirements. However, a key problem for SMEs is the issue of access to finance. SMEs, especially in developing countries, suffer from lack of access to appropriate funds from both the money and capital markets. This is due in part to the perception of high risks resulting in high mortality rate of the business, poorly prepared project proposals, inadequate collateral, absence of verifiable history of past credits and lack of adequate historical records of the company’s transaction. SMEs are vital for economic growth and development in both industrialised and developing countries, by playing a key role in creating new jobs. They need adequate financing to meet needs at each stage of their life cycle, from creation through operation, development, restructuring, recovery and beyond. Salvaging the situation The first move to save SMEs was in 1972 when the federal government promulgated the indigenisation decree and the Nigeria Enterprise Promotion Act in 1977. While the Enterprise Promotion Act helped the primary and secondary market of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), it did a little to drive the SMEs, hence the creation of the Second Tier Securities Market (SSM) in 1980 by the NSE (the SSM was later renamed Emerging Markets). After years of failure, the Exchange again attempted to create another board for private placements to be known as ASEM/ PRIPEX (this idea was dropped before Ndi OkerekeOnyuike left office). In a bid to salvage the situa-

Aruma Oteh

Onyema

Capital market as panacea to SME’s funding tion, the NSE had few years ago launched the Alternative Securities Market (ASeM) -a specialised board to accommodate small and mid-sized companies with high growth potential seeking to access the capital market. The board, which was specifically designed for emerging businesses, was expected to serve as a veritable platform for them to access the capital market for long-term funding. Also, the board seeks to address major challenges of emerging businesses in Nigeria. For instance: Difficulty in accessing long term capital due to high cost of funds as a result of perceived high risk, informal nature of operations and inadequate accounting standards, controls and management of resources. During the inauguration of the new board, Chief Executive Officer of the NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, said the ASeM is a specialised board that will accommodate small and mid-sized companies with high growth potential seeking to access the capital market. He noted that the board seeks to address major challenges of emerging businesses in Nigeria, which included difficulty in accessing long-term capital due to high cost of funds as a result of perceived high risk, informal nature of operations and inadequate accounting standards,

controls and management of resources.

The ability of companies in their early stages of development to raise funds in the capital markets is beneficial because it allows the companies to grow very quickly

Regulators’ position Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms. Arunma Oteh, has said the search for a solution to the funding challenges faced by SMEs will be successful if governments around the world turn to the capital market for such funds. The SEC DG said this recently on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the International Organisation of Securities Commission (IOSCO) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, while calling on countries the world over, to focus more on the development as a way of creating more jobs and improving the standards of living of their citizens. She said: “I think first and foremost is the recognition globally about the importance of SMEs because they are the ones who create jobs. I think there is a greater focus on how SMEs can be supported.” The SEC DG noted that it was not just about providing access to funds; it’s also about ensuring that interest rates are low. She said: “We need to provide funding at reasonable cost. We need capital that is patient so that people can grow their businesses and banking finance is not patient. It is short-term,

sometimes, particularly in the Africa and Middle East (region), the interest rates are relatively high. “What we need is capital that would be there for a long-time, a market-based finance that is long-term and there is a global recognition of that which is why some of the things we are focusing at the meeting in Brazil, is really the value that capital markets bring to SMEs.” She said SMEs could be encouraged to list on Exchanges through the alternative securities market just like it is done in the United Kingdom. Speaking on the need to finance SMEs through capital market, the Director-General expressed the commission’s determination to deepen the asset base of the equities market to create avenues for the small enterprises to access funds. Oteh noted that the commission would expand the Collective Investment Schemes (CIS), such as ethical and Islamic funds and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), among others and also support the efforts the NSE aspiration and plans to introduce five new products within five years. She noted that the capital market could lower the cost of mobilising savings and thereby facilitate investment in the most productive technologies. “It links those who have the resources to invest with those who could use this capital to turn new ideas into businesses, generating jobs, improving living standards and contributing to the economy,” Oteh said. She added that a well functioning, liquid and broad capital market is crucial to the operation of any emerging economy; the use of the capital market is one of such alternatives. Oteh noted that the capital markets foster entrepreneurship and innovation, which in turn, creates job opportunities. She affirmed that SMEs have a major role to play in the economic development of a nation, adding that capital markets are a viable way of increasing financing options to SMEs and will ultimately serve to develop the SMEs. Her words: “The ability of companies in their early stages of development to raise funds in the capital markets is beneficial because it allows the companies to grow very quickly. This growth in turn speeds up the dissemination of new technologies throughout the economy. Furthermore, by raising the returns available from pursuing new ideas, technologies, or ways of doing business, the capital markets facilitate entrepreneurial activities.” Conclusion Financing through capital market is germane to help SMEs set up and expand their operations, develop new products, and invest in new staff and production facilities, which will ultimately lead to massive employment but market watchers are worried due to the liquidity squeeze in the market, which had made it difficult for the market to thrive.

Business | Economy

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

FG’s austerity measures evoke angst Godson Ikoro

he austerity measures proposed by the Federal Government to cushion the destabilising effects of the plunging global oil prices on Nigeria’s economy have drawn the flak of many stakeholders. The measures are aimed at guarding against fiscal irresponsibility and leakages in Nigeria’s economic system. Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo–Iweala had, penultimate Sunday, outlined some austerity measures as part of government’s fiscal policy adjustments to mitigate the implications of lower oil prices on the fiscal and external balance of Nigeria’s economy. These belt-tightening measures, she said, form the first tranche of a series of fiscal policy adjustments to be implemented if oil prices continue to fall. Some of the measures include the six per cent downward revision in the 2015 budget benchmark oil price to $73pb from $78pb, an upward revision in the collection target for FIRS, a reduction in international travel and training within the public service and surcharge on luxury items such as private jets and alcoholic beverages. A cross section of stakeholders and economic analysts who spoke to New Telegraph, recalled the various attempts at getting the government to plug the leakages in Nigeria’s economic system. This fiscal irresponsibility has led to the austerity measures being foisted on the general public. New Telegraph spoke to analysts at the Financial Derivatives Company, FBN Capital and the Centre for Social Justice. Sources of leakages Lead Director, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Mr. Eze Onyekpere, recalled several attempts made at getting government to reduce the cost of governance and plug the leakages in the financial system. According to him, the unduly high cost of governance and administration in Nigeria has been a perennial and recurring decimal. He also averred that some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) generate IGR and failed to report it to the appropriate authorities, against government relevant financial policies. The Federal Government, he said, should plug all the loopholes from which revenues fritter away even as Nigeria goes through general developmental challenges including the austerity measures being proposed by government in response to the falling oil prices. Specifically, he argued that the country spends over 75 per cent of her budget on recurrent expenditure, leaving less than 25 per cent for capital expenditure. He noted that a good part of the capital expenditure is still spent on administrative capital. On the other hand, the recurrent expenditure is over 85 per cent personnel expenses and this is for the maintenance of less than one per cent of the population. Specifically, he noted that at a time when Nigeria is still hoping that government will achieve the dream of investing a minimum of 40 per cent of her budget in capital expenditure to facilitate the closing of infrastructure deficit and funding gap, the minister of finance is announcing austerity measures. Drawing from his handbook on cost of governance and leakages in the system, Onyekpere argued that the country suffers a lot of leakages. Revenues that are due to be remitted to the treasury

President Jonathan

Okonjo-Iweala

There is no justification for a legislature run with N45billion in 2006 to be getting N150billion in the last five years

CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

and oil theft and bunkering have been the order of the day, he alleged. According to Onyekpere, some MDAs generate IGR and fail to report same to the appropriate authorities, against government relevant financial policies. Government accounts are overdrawn as the Treasury Single Account is yet to cover all the (MDAs). This is aggravated by the continued importation of refined petroleum products despite being an exporter of crude oil. It has also led to the loss of external reserves and loss of revenues that would have accrued to the government from taxes. Furthermore, he argued that the budgeting system is opaque with repetitive budgeting and frivolous and wasteful expenditure while high level government officials enjoy medical expenses funded by government in foreign lands. Moreover, the service wide votes have also become a conduit for mismanagement of public funds. These are added to the petroleum theft and controversial accounting system, which allow stealing in pension sector among others. Large number of ministers Section 147 of the Nigerian Constitution gives the president the power to establish offices of government of the federation, provided he appoints at least one minister from every state. The implication is that at any point in time, Nigeria will have a minimum of 37 ministers representing the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory. In 2014, there are 41 ministers. This is an unwieldy arrangement that increases costs of governance. This contrasts with the position of United States and France with 21 and 24 ministers respectively. There is also a large number of special advisers to Mr. President, pursuant to

Section 151 of the constitution. Although the remuneration and allowances shall be prescribed by law or a resolution of NASS, there is no law that restricts Mr. President on the number of advisers. Special advisers’ remuneration and allowances, like ministers special advisers, earn N1, 942,875.00. They enjoy the same percentage of allowances like ministers vis a vis their annual salary amongst others. Failure of monitisation policy The monetisation policy failed to check excesses. Despite, the provisions of monetisation policy and certain political, public office holder salaries and allowances in the Amendment Act of 2008, some person whose entitlements have been monetised still have same facilities provided for them again at public expense. Given that some ministries have two ministers with a permanent secretary, they enjoy very high perks of office that bloats cost of governance. The Ibrahim Bunu Presidential Committee, which submitted its report in June 2011, reported that there were 11,886 abandoned projects, which required N7.78 trillion to complete. Abandonment of projects leads to waste because the sums already invested give no benefit to Nigerians. Experience shows that if such projects are kick-started, they are completed at a higher cost. National Assembly’ s high cost It is alleged that members of the National Assembly are the highest paid lawmakers in the world. Citing the Economist magazine, Onyekpere said that the lawmakers in Nigeria are the highest paid in the world with an annual salary of $189,500 (N30.6trillion) which excludes allowances. The report, quoting data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), considers the salaries of the lawmakers around the world. “It states that the annual salary of Ni-

gerian Federal lawmaker at $189,500 is 116 times the GDP per capita, estimated at $1.600,” Onyekpere said. According to him, there is no justification for a legislature run with N45billion in 2006 to be getting N150billion in the last five years. Compared to other countries, NASS budget is three per cent of the Federal budget in 2013; Ghana and South Africa’s legislatures draw 0.34 per cent and 0.24 per cent of their countries’ annual budget respectively. Essentially, while NASS draws N150billion, Ghana and South Africa’s parliament draw N8.965 billion and N26.208billion respectively. As a corollary to the austerity measures, the fiscal policy tribunal, at their recent workshop, recommends the following: amending the provision of the section 147 of the constitution to read, “Provided that in giving effect to the provision aforesaid, the president shall not appointment more than 18 ministers”. This, they argued, will cut down the cost of maintaining over 41 ministers – their paraphernalia of office, salaries and allowances. The remuneration and allowances of ministers are as stipulated by certain political, public and judicial office holders salaries and allowance, etc) Amendment Act of 2008. The fragmentation of government’s banking arrangement leads to ineffective aggregate control over government cash balances. The continued delay in returning government accounts to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is adding to the huge costs of government debt due to poor cash flow management. Accordingly, the fiscal revenue tribunal called for all MDAs logged on the Treasury Single Account (TSA). This will give a consolidated view of FGN’s cash position and helps reverse overall Federal Government position. Last Year, the TSA was reported to have reversed the position from an overdraft of N102billion to a credit of N4.6billion. This helped to cut expenses on bank charges and costs. The full introduction of the government integrated financial management information system (GIMFIS) will also facilitate the proper management of federal finances diversion of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). For Bismarck Rewane, MD/CEO of the FDC, the austerity measures outlined by the Minister of Finance are more academic than practical and are unlikely to have any significant impact. “The Federal Government has taken the first step in the right direction. However, a blend of fiscal, structural and monetary policy adjustments are required to effectively mitigate the dire effects on the Nigerian macro-economy,” he stressed. However, he argued that whether the austerity dose is adequate or not, the acceptance of the need for fiscal therapy in the face of a sharp decline in oil prices is a great achievement. In macro-economic lexicon, it is said that the mental adjustment of acceptance is more difficult than the fiscal or monetary measures that you eventually adopt. This is good news for Nigeria as she seeks to become insulated from shocks and becomes economically competitive. Conclusion It is hoped that the proposed austerity measures will lead to an improvement in Nigeria’s management of her fiscal resources. This in turn, will lead to improvements in the living conditions of Nigerians despite the austerity measures.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

38 Nigerian ports handle 5.2m tons of petroleum products p.39 DANGER Shipping business unprotected from pirates Bayo Akomolafe

he Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has said that no appropriate laws to prosecute pirates and sea robbers in Nigeria. Its Director General, Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi, expressed frustration in government’s

Maritime

Nigeria lacks law to prosecute pirates, sea robbers – NIMASA inability to secure jail terms against suspected sea criminals at the 6th Strategic Admiralty Law seminar for judges held in Lagos. He explained that some of the criminals arrested by the agency were seen on the street the next day.

Akpobokemi noted that this was capable of dampening the morale of those who carried out the arrest. He said: “One area that I need support of the judiciary is the issues of piracy or hydrocarbon theft. The greater challenges are that many of the culprits that

L-R: Mrs Onyemachi Doreen, Hull Blyth Shipping Company; Dr. Alex Okwuashi, Rector, Certified Institute of Shipping (CIS); Miss Alli Folashade Temitope and Mr Babalola Yusuf, journalists, during the 2014 annual lecture investiture and award ceremony of the institute held in Lagos.

Inland waterways in 22 states of the federation have become snares to voyagers in the last one year due to recklessness, wrecks and derelicts, rickety boats, inadequate safety infrastructure and lack of awareness. BAYO AKOMOLAFE reports.

espite some codes put in place, accidents on the water ways are being recorded monthly across the country as the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) lacked infrastructure to safeguard the lives of people using the nation’s inland waters. In 2013, over 296 lives were lost to boat mishaps across the country. In January this year, three persons died at Ogogoro Village, opposite the Tincan Island port in Lagos. Also, March recorded 13 deaths at Festac in Lagos while eight died and six got missing in April at the Ikorodu area of Lagos State. In Niger State, 11 people lost

APM Terminals to invest $1bn in Tema Port p.39

we arrested have themselves out of cell as quickly as we do not intend that to be. We arrest someone for piracy with guns, arms and the rest, the next day you see them on the street. “When they are on bail, it endangers our lives. It will also dampen the interest of those fighting piracy, it will also encourage pirates to go back to commit the same crime and we cannot continue in this direction. “It is the laws that is the problem, if there are areas we need to change the law to make it tough for implementation, let us do that. If it is the system that is sluggish, let us find a way of reducing the time that we can use to secure conviction so that we can deter the people from entering the criminal industry. “All of us must work together to change the situation. The situation where oil thieves are arrested, how they find themselves in the street the next day or the next few hours is difficult for us and this is not what NIMASA alone can do. He said that agency could only achieve the result by collaborating with maritime stakeholders, the judiciary and lawyers.

Akpobolokei urged the judges to find a way of working with the agency. He noted that only punishment could serves as deterrent to thieves. Akpobolokemi also stated that the agency would not resort to self-help in dealing with criminality on the nation’s inland waters and called on the judiciary to assist in checking the trend. He said: “It will be ungodly and inhuman and out of the rule of law for us to see these pirates and start killing them, we are in democracy and we are law abiding. “Jungle justice is against the rule of law and that is why we bring them to the judicial process. So, if these cases are quickly treated, it will solve a whole lot of problems for us because if we arrest them tomorrow and they spend two or three years languishing in jail, it will deter others who may want to venture into this activity, but because they know the judicial system is long and that they can get bail, they go to compound the situation for us and that is making shipping unattractive for some new persons that want to go into the venture.”

Nigerian inland waters record 300 deaths their lives in June between Garafini-Kodo and Garafini riverine area while 33 persons died between Dere in Niger State and Murtala Bridge on the River Niger in September. Four women died in Ebonyi State in August, 15 teenage girls between the age of eight and 14 were killed in Kano boat mishap. This month, four people lost their lives in Bayelsa State. Measures Miffed by these, NIWA recently, inaugurated Waterways Emergency Preparedness Unit (NWEPRU) to kick start a campaign tagged, ‘No life jacket, no travel’ in conjunction with Enviroplus, with a view to discouraging sea travelling without life jackets. The Head of Projects and Programme, Enviroplus, Olubankole Omokive, said that the campaign would be done in two phases, with the southern outreach covering Lagos, Anambra, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, while the northern outreach would cover Kano, Kaduna, Kwara, Kogi, Benue and Niger states. Omokive noted that the NIWA team would work closely with

communities along the waterways with a view to sensitising them on the safety measures to be employed while travelling on water and to equip them with necessary infrastructure in case of emergencies. He noted that 22 out of 36 states of the federation use water as a means of transportation, stressing the need to have an emergency outfit in place to take charge of emergency response in the waterways. Omokive stressed: “The communities along the waterways are the first responders whenever there is a boat disaster, so there is a need to provide them with necessary skills and equipment, so we are looking into having voluntary responders and we would structure them into groups and provide them with all the needed facilities. “We are setting up standards for marine emergency operators with the aim of scaling down to the barest minimum, the number of deaths in the waterways.” He listed the cause of boat mishaps in the country to include poor visibility, lack of

communication, poor investment in water transportation infrastructure, among others. New guidelines Also, to consolidate the efforts of the new unit, NIWA has directed all ferry and boat operators in the country to paint their craft in the country’s white and green colour. The authority said new safety measures for boat operators in the inland water transport business in Nigeria would commence in 2015. It noted that the operators must register their boats and carry some identities in case of distress calls on the inland waters. Already, the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON) has agreed to comply with the new guidelines. Its President, Alhaji Gani Balogun, said some of the operators were excited about the new directives by the Federal Government. Balogun, who is also the Managing Director of Gani Tarzan Marine Enterprises

Nigeria Limited explained that “just like the numbered plates for vehicles for identification, this is what we are going to do come next year we also agreed that our boats should be painted.” He said that the meeting held with NIWA officials in Lagos deliberated on a colour that was accepted by the operators and the colour green and white was agreed upon by both the agency and the operators. He said that government had given the operators between six months and one year to comply with the directive before it will commence sanctioning erring operators. Licensed operators Meanwhile, the authority has declared that unlicensed boat operators would no longer be allowed to operate ferry on Nigerian waterways. It declared that only trained and certified seafarers licensed by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency would be allowed to operate ferries on the waterways.

Business | Maritime 39

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

Bayo Akomolafe

Nigerian ports handle 5.2m tons of petroleum products

igerian seaports have handled 5.2 million metric tons of refined petroleum products, 277,694 Twenty Equivalent Units (TEUs) of laden containers and 217,080 TEUs of empty containers in the third quarter of the year. The figures were 9.1per cent, 3per cent and

9.5per cent increases respectively over the third quarter of 2013. Nigerian Ports authority’s spokesman, Mallam Musa Ilya, an assistant general manager, Public Affairs, explained that the ports handled 4.21 million metric tons of general cargo, representing an increase of

TRADE More ships visit Nigeria ports

41.7per cent over the 2013 third quarter volume; 2.6 million metric tons of dry bulk cargo representing a marginal increase of 0.6 per cent over the corresponding period of 2013 while Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) volume stood at 5.1 million metric tons, a growth of 5.8per cent over 4.9 mil-

lion metric tons over the third quarter of 2013. He said: “In the third quarter of 2014, a total of 1,405 oceans going vessels called at all Nigerian ports as against a total of 1,366 vessels that called at the same period in 2013 representing an increase of 2.9per cent. Also, cargo through-

put handled at Nigerian ports in the third quarter of 2014 stood at 22.3 million metric tons, showing an increase of 12.5 per cent over 19.8 million metric tons handled in the third quarter of 2013. He said: “The total Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of all ocean going vessels in the third

quarter 2014 amounted to 38 million metric tons representing an increase of 9.8 per cent increase over the GRT of 34.6 million metric tons in the same period of 2013.” Iliya noted that the Lagos Port Complex (LPC) Apapa recorded a gross registered tonnage of 10.1 million metric tons, showing an increase of 9 per cent over 9.3 million metric tons achieved in 2013. The port, he said, handled 397 vessels were during the period. He said that Tin can Island Port recorded a gross registered tonnage of 13.1 million metric tons, indicating an increase of 16.8 per cent over 11.2 million metric tons recorded in the corresponding period of 2013, while the port handled 475 ocean going vessels. Calabar Port complex recorded a total GRT of 1.05 million metric tons, showing a rise of 40 per cent over 751,553 gross tons of 2013.

APM Terminals to invest $1bn in Tema Port

PM Terminals has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Ghana for the expansion of Tema Port. This represents a private investment in excess of $1 billion. APM Terminals has 12 operating facilities in 10 African countries including Lagos, Nigeria; Tangier, Morocco and Port Said East, Egypt. Also, new terminal projects are currently underway at the Port of Abidjan, Ivory Coast and Badagry in Nigeria. The deal was signed through Meridian Port Services (MPS), the joint venture between APM Terminals, Bolloré Africa Logistics (Meridian Port Holdings) and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA). Approximately $145 million has been invested in Tema Port since MPS was incorporated in 2007. In March 2014, the Government of Ghana announced the proposed port upgrade and expansion programme to improve rail and roadway connections and expand capacity.

40 Politics

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Extension of emergency rule: Hurdles facing Jonathan’s request CHUKWU DAVID examines the intrigues, horse trading and rage that trailed President Goodluck Jonathan’s third request for extension of the state of emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, and how the Thursday’s furore between members of the House of Representatives and the security operatives at the National Assembly constitutes a major barrier to its approval by the two chambers

L-R: Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin; Chief of Army Staff, lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah; Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and Minister of Defence, Gen. Aliyu Gusau (Rtd) at a recent meeting.

Conditions before extension of emergency rule When the Senate approved the second request of President Goodluck Jonathan for the extension of the emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states on May 20, 2014, with some conditions attached, it was a warning signal that subsequent request(s) would face serious challenges to be approved by the parliament. One of the conditions stipulated in the last approved document by the Senate was that, there should be special recruitment into the Armed Forces, of screened and vetted youth, particularly those in the then civilian JTF, who would receive emergency training and deployed in the troubled zone in order to help beef up the strength of the troops and win hearts of the locals, who would, through concerted efforts crush the Boko Haram sect within the shortest possible time. Another condition used to bargain for the approval of the presidential request by the opposing senators were that: The Federal Government in conjunction with state governments should come with an Economic Marshal Plan to revive the economy of the economically and educationally backward parts of the country. They also implored the Federal Government to seek and secure multilateral support for the marshal plan. The senators also stipulated that President Jonathan should prepare and submit to the National Assembly, supplementary budget to meet any establishment financial requirements needed to combat the insurgency. Moreover, the Upper Chamber impressed on Mr. President to immediately approve intervention

funds to the affected states for development, so as to cushion the devastating effects of the already dragging war against insurgency in the North East. In addition to the above conditions, the Senate resolved that the Federal Government should expand the military cooperation and collaboration with the international community on the rescue of Chibok girls, to the overall arrest of the ugly incidence of terrorism in Nigeria. It also implored the Federal Government to ensure proper equipment of the Armed Forces deployed to fight and bring to an end the insurgency, and ensure adequate welfare for troops. Lastly, the lawmakers mandated that the Minister of Defence; Police Affairs; National Security Adviser; Director-General, State Security Services; should report to the Senate on monthly basis of progress made in combating the insurgency, on the basis of which Senate could take any decision it considered necessary on the matter. Disappointedly, from the time of the last extension to date, there have been series of ugly developments in the states where the emergency rule was proclaimed, indicating that the insurgency is not abating. Contrary to the expectation of the Federal Government and the Nigerian people in general, the insurgents appear to have done serious reinforcement to frustrate all efforts by the nation’s military to end their onslaught on the region and Nigerians in general. The terrorists are seen to have become worse in their loathsome activities as they intensified their hostilities against the government and the people of Nigeria.

What is the alternative for now, especially that the thing has expired? Can anybody come out to say that the celebrated hunters in the North East can take charge of the situation?

Apart from bombing cities, villages, churches, mosques and government installations, which destroyed many innocent lives and property worth millions of naira in the process, the sect later progressed their dastardly operations to capturing communities, villages and local government areas with the aim of imposing Islamic rulership. In the captured territories, the sect removed Nigerian flags and hoisted their own in line with their proclamation of Islamic states in those areas. Traditional rulers were also killed while the lucky ones escaped and became refugees in other lands. Married women and young girls were forced into marriages with the sect members. Therefore, throughout the six months of the last extension, the situation has been traumatic to both the government and the citizens. The inhabitants of the captured cities in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states are now refugees in the neighbouring states and countries such as Niger, Chad and Cameroon. The refugees are also reported to be living in most pathetic and deplorable conditions as they do not receive adequate care from either government authorities or individuals. Allegations of sabotage within the military rank and file have been reported as a major impediment to success of government’s campaign to flush out the insurgents from the region. The promises of the international community to assist Nigeria militarily and intelligence wise have not yielded any fruitful result. The situation is rather making Jonathan administration unpopular in the sight of many Nigerians especially the opposition parties, who also want to dislodge him in 2015. However, determined to find solution to this enigma, President Jonathan, who is obviously worried about the situation, decided to do what might not be acceptable

in other climes by succumbing to calls by many Nigerians to negotiate with the Islamic sect. Sequel to this, a ceasefire arrangement was reached between the Federal Government and the insurgents, just to restore peace to the already devastated region. In addition to these measures put up to tackle the menacing activities of the Boko Haram in the country, President Jonathan has also made efforts recently to improve on the facilities of the Armed Forces by purchasing some modern military equipment to enable the soldiers effectively fight and defeat the insurgents. Jonathan’s fresh request In his resolve to face the problem and bring it to an end, Jonathan last week wrote to the National Assembly, requesting the two chambers to grant him another approval for the extension of the emergency rule. Entitled, “Extension of the period for the proclamation of a state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states”, the letter reads: “May I respectfully draw your attention to the state of emergency proclamation 2013 in respect of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states which was approved by the National Assembly and extended for a further period of six months by the National Assembly as conveyed by the Clerk of the National Assembly’s letter dated 21st of May, 2014. “By virtue of provisions of Sections 305, Subsection 6C of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, the proclamation aforementioned will elapse after a period of six months from the date of approval of the National Assembly except the period is extended by the National Assembly. “It is important to state that despite concerted efforts by this administration to stem the tide of terrorism and insurgency in

Politics 41

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

Jonathan

the affected states, the security challenges that necessitated the proclamation are yet to abate. Consequently, it has become imperative to request the approval of the Senate for extension of the period for the state of emergency for a further period of six months. “In view of the foregoing, I most respectfully request distinguished senators to consider and approve by resolution the extension of the proclamation of the state of emergency by a further period of six months from the date of expiration of the current period.” Opposition to president’s request Hearkening to the plea of Mr. President to give the request prompt attention, the Senate immediately went into executive session that lasted for one and half hours to deliberate on it. Expectedly, the request was already considered contentious, after most senators threatened that the last extension in May 2014 would be the last time they would support further extension of the martial rule. From the mood and comments of senators, particularly those from the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) and North East, it was obvious that this third request was going to meet stiff opposition from the legislators, unless if successful lobbying was done to persuade them to change their position. Senators Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North) and Ali Ndume (Borno South), in their separate comments, stated that their Northern colleagues were vehemently opposed to another plan by Jonathan to extend the emergency rule. According to Lawan, “although we will continue deliberations on the issue, but I can assure you that we will not approve the emergency rule extension because the president can deploy the military to any part of the country without declaring state of emergency. We have a very strong military in Nigeria and nobody can doubt their capacity to handle this insurgency except if the government is telling us that so many things are fundamentally wrong. “Discussions on it will definitely continue but I want to tell you that I am totally opposed to it. I believe that after 18 months of the state of emergency, we should look at other avenues. So many options are being advanced which would be concluded tomorrow (last Wednesday). What we need at the moment is the massive deploy-

Mark

ment of troops to quickly launch serious attacks because we had lost so many territories already. “And at any case, the president under Section 218 of the Constitution has the powers to deploy the military in whatever capacity without declaration of a state of emergency. I believe that a state of emergency extension is only a waste of time because we have had a state of emergency for 18 months and the result we all know is failure, failure and failure.” Ndume on his part also expressed his total opposition to the extension of the emergency rule because, according to him, extension of the martial rule would further worsen the situation in the three North Eastern states. He said: “The state of emergency since it was declared in the three states had taken us from bad to worse. Our fears now is that if we extend it again, we are inviting more problems to ourselves because the insurgents would capture more territories during the period. “As the representatives of my people, my entire constituents are totally opposed to the extension of the emergency rule because it restricts movements of the civilian populace while the insurgents move freely and have a field day. When people are sleeping in the night, the insurgents are freely moving around. By 6p.m., the whole towns are closed but the insurgents are busy taking control of everywhere.” Ndume doubted the sincerity of the Federal Government to the fight against the insurgency and urged the relevant military authorities to adopt fresh strategies to combat the menace. In his views, Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central) said: “Even if you are a student and you sit for the same examination three times, people need to ask question, because it is either that the teacher is bad or the student is bad. But as the Senate, we can’t say we won’t approve it. We have to come up with something in its place.” Senator Kabiru Gaya (APCKano) said: “Before we granted the extension none of the local governments was under the control of Boko Haram but now in Borno State, we have 14 local governments out of 27 under the control of Boko Haram. “So, does that mean that the granting of additional six months will help? The state of emergency did not work there in that case.

Tambuwal

We will continue deliberations on the issue, but I can assure you that we will not approve the emergency rule extension because the president can deploy the military to any part of the country without declaring state of emergency

We have problem also in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, we lost two or three local governments in Yobe State and almost five local governments in Adamawa State. So, the whole thing is retrospective. The problem is escalating. Borno camp has the highest number of refugees in Africa.” However, Senator Boluwaji Kunlere (PDP-Ondo) expressed support for the extension of the emergency rule, saying, “People must be properly protected, including the President, the Senate and the citizens as well. What is the alternative for now, especially that the thing has expired? Can anybody come out to say that the celebrated hunters in the North East can take charge of the situation?” Despite this opposition, there were still indications that the Senate would pass the request. New Telegraph checks revealed that apart from the seeming unabating state of insurgency in the North East, the main reason for opposing further extension is the huge financial burden the emergency rule imposed on the coffers of the three affected states, which use substantial part of their monthly allocation to augment the contribution of the Federal Government towards the prosecution of the war against the insurgents in their respective states. As part of the effort to get convincing evidence to approve the request of President Jonathan, the Senate, during the second day of considering the proposal, summoned the Service Chiefs to appear in the Chamber last Thursday and brief it on the progress of military operations in the three states, the basis upon which the lawmakers might hinge their approval of the request. This was in spite of persistent opposition from the Northern Senators, who were allegedly acting the scripts of their governors. On bribery allegation Senate spokesman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has denied the allegation that the Presidency had bribed the senators to approve Jonathan’s request. Abaribe said: “It is utter rubbish and that there is no such thing. I think senators are very well aware of the fact that

they are here, voted in by their people to make sure that whatever decision they take would be in the interest of Nigeria and has nothing to do with pecuniary benefits. “I can assure you that no such thing happened and no such thing is being contemplated by anybody and I want to put it on record that that allegation is merely the figment of imagination of anybody who decides to concoct it. If there was such a thing, maybe we would not have also continued to have this discussion. The mere fact that the discussion is still going on should tell you that there is no such thing.” Invasion of parliament Regrettably, while efforts were intensified to get the National Assembly to approve the extension of the emergency rule for another six months, the commotion that erupted on Thursday between the members of the House of Representatives and the security agencies at the National Assembly posed a serious barrier to the passage of the request. After a rough encounter between the embattled Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and the security agents, the House, at its plenary on Thursday, resolved not to approve the request. President of the Senate, David Mark, who was also assaulted by some aggrieved lawmakers decided to shut down the National Assembly till this week. With this unprecedented development, the fate of Jonathan’s request for the extension of the emergency rule is now hanging in the balance. However, one fundamental truth the lawmakers must know and work with is that emergency rule is not for President Jonathan. It is rather for the helpless Nigerians who have lost their peace and sleep as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East. If they insist on not approving the request, then knowingly or otherwise, they will be working against the interest of the people that elected them to represent them at the centre. Therefore, it is very imperative for the members of both Chambers to be guided by high sense of patriotism and responsibility in making their conclusions on the controversial matter.

42 Politics

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘Anointing’ tears Delta PDP apart As the 2015 elections draw closer, the battle for who occupies various positions in Delta State, especially the governorship seat, is becoming more complex, as the aspirants continue to display resistance to the concept of anointed candidacy. The ensuing brawl is threatening to tear the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state apart. ETAGHENE EDIRIN and DOMINIC ADEWOLE report

aving sunk in so much in terms of resources and efforts to clinch the respective political seats they aspire for, a good number of aspirants in Delta State on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are not finding it funny that they may be sidelined out of contention, by virtue of the fact that the incumbent governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, and the kingmakers in the state, may have concluded on who they prefer to occupy the Government House, Asaba and other seats up for election come February 2015. And given the multitude of aspirants vying for the governorship race, the situation has generated a lot of anger and tension in the state, which has even reverberated in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, as the aspirants have continued to voice their opposition to the alleged plan of installing, as it were, a preferred aspirant for the governorship seat. Already there are feelings in political circles in the oil-rich state, that a number of the aspirants may at the end of it all, decamp to other platforms with their supporters, thereby diminishing the electoral strength of the party in the state. Many of the party’s leaders and the aspirants are aggrieved that Tony Obuh, who until very recently, was a Permanent Secretary, Government House, Asaba, may have been pencilled down to take over from Uduaghan. Hence, to avoid Obuh being ‘foisted on them’; every effort is being made to discredit him as the supposed ‘anointed’ one. As the morning foretells what the evening would look like, it is obvious that anger is gaining ground and has started to build up ahead of the 2015 governorship election in the state. New Telegraph gathered that Governor Uduaghan is very much aware of the growing anger across the state over the Obuh issue, especially among the seasoned politicians that have engaged passionately

Uduaghan

in electioneering conspiracy and advocacy processes. This may have informed the topic at the public lecture to mark his 60th birthday anniversary, having benefitted immensely from such an arrangement in 2007 when Ibori insisted on him as his successor. Sociologist and the Dean of the Social Sciences at the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, who was a guest lecturer at the event, spoke on the topic: “Anger Management.” According to him, only those who know Governor Uduaghan too well, like himself, will understand that he is a game-changer per excellence. “His Excellency listens more and talks less. He advises people with anger not to hold onto sentiments like recording all those who had offended one in a diary,” he said. While Okaba may have given a professorial slant to what many may view as a common place phenomenon, it was clear to every discerning listener at the public lecture that the words of the governor at different fora that an “evil-minded aspirant cannot succeed him,” were simply being re-echoed. In as much as the choice of the topic added a new spark of light to the colour of the birthday lecture, it would seem another way of keeping the narrative afloat, not just as it concerns the electoral contest in the state, but nationwide, so that collectively, Nigerians could deal with the apparently worrisome scenario of dirty politics as opposed to politics without bitterness. Prior to this, the governor had expressed worries about the goings-on in the social media, where youths and aggrieved political aspirants vent their anger at society and people in government. This was even as he stated that he was unperturbed by any gangup against him by the governorship aspirants, but urged them to call a halt to divisive actions capable of rupturing the peace of the state.

Obuh

The unfolding events in our party in Delta State, in run-up to the 2015 elections are not satisfactory. We also reject moves by an out-going governor to singlehandedly pick candidates for state and National Assemblies in Delta State

Okowa

Uduaghan who gave the admonition while swearing-in the newly elected chairmen of Ndokwa East and Ethiope East local government councils, said, “Those who are aspiring to be governor should stop creating trouble, I have tried to be fair to all in our journey towards 2015. “Two weeks ago, during the ward congresses, I had meetings with the governorship aspirants, every aspirant and every leader contributed to the emergence of the delegates through a consensus list and they all applauded the free and fair nature of the congress that brought up the delegates list.” Obuh’s entrance into the race has now been tagged “a gamechanger” of the highest proportions. His ‘anointing’ has altered all existing political calculations ahead of 2015, not just for aspirants on the PDP platform but also the opposition political block in the state. The support and endorsement enjoyed by Obuh from all quarters in the state have cleared the coast for him. It has not only confused, but destabilised some aspirants who had contemplated a walkover in the race. On his part, Obuh has denied being endorsed by the incumbent governor, stating that he came into the race like all other aspirants. He stated that what prompted him to join the governorship race was his genuine desire to develop the state and not because he enjoys the governor’s backing. The aspirant stressed that he is most favoured to pick the party’s ticket because of his antecedents and contributions to the development of the state in the past. And that having served in various capacities as a civil servant for over 32 years, he had garnered the necessary experience and relationship needed to actualise his ambition of winning the election and transforming the state. Not convinced, other PDP governorship aspirants in the state still accused Uduaghan and his predecessor and cousin, James Ibori, of hijacking the party in the state. They said the party was being manipulated and that because of this, the ruling party in the state

was bound to lose the forthcoming governorship election. The aspirants after a meeting in Abuja spoke at a press briefing, which was held at the residence of Chief Edwin Clark, where they presented a communiqué. The aspirants said: “The raging battle between the governor and Ibori for the control of the soul of the party in Delta State is weakening our electoral chances. “The unfolding events in our party in Delta State, in run-up to the 2015 elections are not satisfactory. We also reject moves by an out-going governor to singlehandedly pick candidates for state and National Assemblies in Delta State.” Those who signed the communiqué were Mr. Ovie Omo-Agege, Mr. Kenneth Agbagi, Victor Ochei, Ndudi Elumelu and Prof. Sylvester Monye. Others were David Edevbie, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Esther Uduehi, Clement Ofuani, Johnson Opone, Gabriel Oyibode, Godswill Obielum and Peter Okocha. Given the resultant resentment generated by the issue of anointed candidate, Deltans wait patiently to see if the party will put its house in time for the elections next year, or if the brewing anger and resistance exhibited by the aspirants against their colleague would be assuaged, and a level playing field guaranteed to assure everyone of fairness, and healthy competition. Many in the state are however of the opinion that the party in spite of its perceived strength in the state, could easily lose out if adequate steps are not taken to reconcile the various groups, who are already feeling cheated. According to them, if aggrieved aspirants decide to move out of the PDP fold with their supporters, this is likely to deplete the party’s strength and chances at the general election. However, die-hard supporters of the PDP in the state contend that no matter the grievances harboured by the aspirants, the governor, as the leader of the party in the state will still have his ways, especially if he is in tandem with Ibori, who still maintains a strong influence in the state’s politics, despite being in jail.

Politics 43

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

Respite for Nigeria Football Federation

Chukwu David Abuja

of the Senate Committee on Sports and Social Development and represents Bauchi South Senatorial District. By the content of the bill, it is obvious that it was designed to tackle the perennial crisis that has been rocking the nation’s football sector especially the succession problem in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), as the new law finally fixed tenure for the NFF executives. The bill repealed the NFA Act 2004. The re-enactment of NFF Bill 2014, seeks to legalise the NFF

BILL OF

WEEK

Football Federation shall cease to hold office if he becomes bankrupt or becomes involved in gross misconduct. Moreover, an executive member shall also cease to hold office if he or she is convicted of an offence involving dishonesty or fraud or becomes of unsound mind or incapable of carrying out his or her official duties. Presiding over the plenary, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, said the passage of the bill was a great achievement for football

THE

ith the persistent leadership crisis in Nigeria’s football sector, the Senate has passed a bill to address the recurring challenges. The bill is titled: “Nigeria Football Association Act 2004 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2014”. It was passed last Wednesday when the Senate considered the report of the Senate Committee on Sports and Social Development. The sponsor of the Bill was Senator Adamu Gumba, who is the Chairman

and also reduce government’s interference in football that was passed into law. In the new Act, the executive officers of NFF have a tenure of four years to operate, which can also be renewed for a second term, after which the members have to vacate office for another set of executives to take over the administration of the Federation. The new law stipulates that a member of the Executive Committee of the

administration in Nigeria in view of the persistent crisis in the industry. His words: “. I believe that this helps the development of our football and the entire crisis we have had in the past, I believe that this will bring it to an end. “There now seems to be a law that will help to create some sanity in the administration of football and I believe this brings to an end, all confusions and disputes that have tried in the past to mar football administration in Nigeria.” Speaking after the pas-

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NASSARAwA Altaz Plaza, Bukan-Sidi, Laﬁa, Nassarawa State. Cheke Emmanuel Tel: 0802 798 6277

AwKA 1, Ozoagu square, Arroma Junction, Awka, Anambra State Tony Okafor Tel: 0803 503 3836

ONITSHA 70, Old Market Road, Onitsha, Anambra State Paulinus Onah Tel: 0806 128 4479

OwERRI 5, Rotibi Street, Owerri lmo State Steve Uzoechi Tel: 0803 540 3883 PORT HARCOURT 37, lkwere Rd, Port Harcourt, Rivers State Emmanuel Marshal Tel: 0703 197 3865 ADAmAwA Ibrahim Abdulaziz 0803 608 3297 ASABA Dominic Adewole 0803 434 9280 BAyELSA Chris Ejim 08032556608 BORNO Ahmed Mohammed Mari 0806 008 8822 CROSS RIvERS Clement James 0803 547 7050 EBONyI Charles Onyekwere 07032878736 EDO Cajetan Mmuta 0803 713 6664

EKITI Wahab Adesina 0810 885 3793 GOmBE Williams Attah 0803 604 7966 KADUNA Ibrahim Musa 0803 451 3786 KANO Mohammed Kabir 0803 451 7813 NIGER Daniel Atori 0803 583 6019 OSUN: Adeolu Adeyemo 0803 391 5294 PLATEAU: Musa Pam 0803 241 6557 UmUAHIA: Igbeaku Orji 0806 344 3131 yOBE: Hassan Jirgi 0810 361 5693

sage of the Bill, Senator Gumba explained that the new law would stop friction in the succession problem as there has been fixed tenure for the NFF executives. He said: “It is a bill that is trying to improve on the Nigerian Football Association Act. It seeks to improve on that particular act, to make sure that most of the provisions of the law comply with FIFA regulations. “We hear FIFA each time it intervenes in Nigeria’s football administration that it is going to sanction the national federation. We have received similar threat this year. That happens when some regulations of FIFA seem to be violated by individual federation.” Gumba further explained that the bill was handled by the NFA alongside the Senate Committee on Sports, adding that the relevant stakeholders in the football sector made input after looking at the various provisions of the law and agreed with what the Senate proposed. On the fixing of tenure for NFF executives, he said that was done after looking at the peculiar nature of Nigeria where even the initial four years given, some members of the football family wouldn’t want to allow the new executive to last for four years. “I understand Sepp Blatter is there now as FIFA president for many years and CAF President, Issa Hayatou is there for many years. If the Nigerian football family decides to fix their own the way we have presented in the bill, Nigerians will see. I think that we should start somewhere than to jump into another area that we cannot be able to sustain. That is the position.” He said that the Senate would not delve into the selection or appointment of foreign coaches or technical advisers, adding that the primary concern of the red chamber was to try as much as possible to provide the law, while individual members of the football family try to also comply. “Nigerians are quite interested in litigation, you may make a perfect law and they may decide not to obey the law but the courts are there, the arbitration panels are there to enforce the decisions or the provisions of the law because in football, FIFA frowns at going to court but there are Football Arbitration Panels that can sit down to reconcile, adjudge, adjudicate on matters where you have differences as members of the football family.”

Business | Money Line

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ tasked on transparency, risk management EQUILIBRIUM

Financial markets are in search of an elusive equilibrium Stories by Godson Ikoro

he management of FMDQ OTC has been charged to ensure that the market is transparent and ensure prudent risk management. An economist and faculty member of Lagos Business School, Dr. Doyin Salami made this call at the dinner party organised for the outgoing inaugural directors of FMDQ in Lagos. Salami said that in the last two years, the Nigerian financial market, the securities market and the fixed income have been focused on liquidity management rather than prudent risk management by using the market to hedge and manage liquidity. For market to develop, he said that the fundamental challenge before the FMDQ is to ensure that the market can serve the purpose of risk man-

agement and create opportunities for consumers to take advantage of. Noting that these are very risky tunes for both the country and corporate, he said that his friends in the banking industry are complaining that these are difficult times with regulatory headwinds all over the place. But he said that if market players operate the way they should, looking at the portfolio and profit and loss, people will be looking out for opportunities and taking up such opportunities but rather the efficiency of the market being undermined because they only use them to address the growth. If the market is going to succeed, the market must develop not with everybody on the selling side but rather create opportunities for resale and repurchase. Citing example of how people held equities for 12 years before deciding whether to sale, he explained that this was part of the reason why people described the market as not being liquid and deep enough. Consequently, he urged FMDQ to ensure

that the market is global, organised, liquid, sustainable and fully developed. While noting that the operation of several establishments are seen as opaque, he urged FMDQ to be ethical, stressing that sanctions must be such that there are no sacred cows. He argued that unless the FMDQ lives up to expectation and entrenches the protection of the consumer, it will be a major let down of the founding fathers. Also in her comment, the Chairman of FMDQ,

Dr. (Mrs.) Sarah Alade, paid glowing tribute to the outgoing directors. She urged the current board to build on the excellent foundation laid by the outgoing directors. She also acknowledged the contribution of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Debt Management Office (DMO), who worked tirelessly to empower the financial market to develop the forex derivatives, as well as the introduction of fixed income. Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief

he Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM) has floated a N300 billion fund to support to Nigerian exporters in 2014, as part of its commitment to bolster credible non-oil exports in the future. The Managing Director, Mr. Roberts Orya disclosed this at the 2014 Nigeria Nonoil Export and Investment Development Conference organised by Business Journal

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

Description

TTM

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

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

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

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

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

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

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

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

Imoukhuede, outgoing Chairman, Mr. Emeka Onwuka, who chaired the human resources committee;, Mr. Laoye Jaiyeola, who was a key to the driving force in crystallising and advancing objectives; Mr. Akinsowon Dawodu who worked with the consultants, Dr. Demola Sogunle, who worked assiduously to drive the achievement of FMDQ’s goals and objectives, and Mr. Sola Adegbesan, who contributed significantly to the realisation of FMDQ’ goals and objectives.

EXIM Bank floats N300bn loan guarantee for exporters

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

Executive of FMDQ, Mr. Bola Onadele Koko lauded the outgoing directors for bringing into reality, the ideas and dream of FMDQ. He averred that converting interbank market into a securities exchange was very challenging but the outgoing inaugural chairman took the idea to Bankers’ Committee and convinced the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other CEOs of banks that there was a need for FMDQ. The outgoing directors who were being sent off are, Mr. Aigboje Aig-

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

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

yesterday in Lagos. He said that the bank has been working on deepening export-import trade and attracting foreign investments. Orya, who was represented by the Head of Strategic Planning of NEXIM, Tayo Omidigi, said that over $1.3 billion in foreign exchange has been facilitated through the bank with over N100 billion guarantees and created 2,000 direct jobs. The NEXIM boss has stressed the need for the diversification of the economy away from oil and the importance to promote the non-oil sector, urging stakeholders to look deeply into avenues that will induce growth to develop the sector. He regretted that the country failed to invest in the non-oil sector especially in oil palm, stressing that

Nigeria has low agriculture productivity. Furthermore, he said that in other countries, 10 per cent or more of their budgets are allocated to agriculture while Nigeria budgets just three per cent to the sector, resulting in persistent low records in the raw solid minerals of the non-oil sector. According to him, while South exports over 65 per cent of its solid minerals, the limited investment in the minerals sector stagnates its contribution to 1 per cent to the growth of the economy. Orya listed the non-availability of long-term funds, poor infrastructure and transportation constraints as part of factors that have continued to hamper trade and investment with other countries.

Sterling Bank launches mobile health screening campaign

s part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, especially in the health sector, Sterling Bank Plc has commenced a four day Mobile Health Screening Campaign to provide on-the-spot health checks for members of the general public. In a statement, Sterling Bank said it is rolling out this project in partnership with Medifield Mobile Health Services and will deploy a Mobile Medical Unit to provide fast and reliable health services to interested customers. Customers with new accounts opened during this campaign will also be eligible for basic health screening checks such as blood pressure check, body mass index and diabetes screening. Locations for the four-day programme will include Ogijo, Owode Onirin, Festac and Ajegunle.

The campaign, according to the lender, would help to provide basic counsel and medical solutions to customers and prospects on health issues. The bank said: “Many Nigerians don’t have the time to go for medical checks either because they are busy or they do not have the financial capacity to do so. So, what we are doing is to take this facility to their door steps free as part of our CSR initiative to enrich the lives of our customers as well as noncustomers”. According to the Bank’s spokesperson, Mr. Shina Atilola who is also the Group Head, Strategy & Communications, the existing customers will have free access to the health check while noncustomers will be required to open an account with the Bank to enjoy the benefit.

Business | Financial Market News

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

25-Nov-14

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

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

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

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

535.00 563.89 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 371.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 130.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,675.13

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,458.75

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

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

0.41 1.72 2.42 2.67 2.77 3.51 4.59 4.91 7.17 9.30 14.01 14.49 14.99 15.66 19.64

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

14.02 13.95 14.08 14.10 14.08 13.97 13.83 13.80 13.77 13.81 13.57 13.54 13.51 13.66 13.30

13.62 13.85 14.01 14.02 14.01 13.85 13.75 13.70 13.71 13.75 13.52 13.49 13.45 13.60 13.25

96.10 98.60 102.00 90.77 89.43 91.15 107.15 76.30 111.65 101.95 108.88 93.41 68.14 76.55 92.00

96.25 98.75 102.15 90.92 89.58 91.45 107.45 76.60 111.95 102.25 109.18 93.71 68.44 76.85 92.30

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 3.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.49 1.23 2.04 2.40 2.61

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

16.69 15.59 16.06 15.11 15.11

92.34 102.01 99.31 96.52 93.58

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.97

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

312.04

Sub-National Bonds A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.76

4.44

17.94

96.21

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.60

3.23

17.07

98.41

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

0.89

4.46

17.70

96.95

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

0.89

3.48

16.71

99.25

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.40

5.59

19.70

82.10

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.44

1.00

14.60

99.04

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.10

1.79

15.82

95.63

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.27

1.80

15.89

96.74

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

3.86

1.00

14.92

97.33

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

14.96

09-Dec-18

2.27

1.00

15.09

98.92

A-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

11.13

12-Dec-18

2.27

4.78

18.87

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.65

1.00

15.10

98.83

91.22

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*GOMBE

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019

02-Oct-12

15.50

16.23

02-Oct-19

2.91

1.00

15.06

101.14

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

22-Nov-12

14.50

80.00

22-Nov-19

4.99

1.00

14.80

98.97

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

12-Dec-12

14.75

27.51

12-Dec-19

2.88

2.74

16.81

95.54

A/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

11.40

10-Oct-20

3.43

1.00

14.98

99.45

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

6.01

1.00

14.76

95.07

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

6.10

1.94

15.70

97.26

A/Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.78

31-Dec-20

3.58

1.44

15.40

97.73

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.79

06-Jan-21

3.61

1.95

15.91

97.75

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

471.68 450.06

Corporate Bonds Aa/Agusto Nil

GTB NGC

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014

18-Dec-09

13.50

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.06

5.21

19.45

99.56

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.10

8.71

22.89

99.29

Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.48

4.88

18.93

96.21

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

13.62

09-Dec-15

0.56

1.00

14.94

98.15

BB+/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.60

06-Jan-16

0.64

2.63

16.40

98.82

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.84

1.00

14.94

96.92

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.92

1.34

15.33

98.22

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.85

1.00

15.07

95.30

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.73

30-Nov-17

1.66

1.88

15.68

104.35

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

6.30

09-Apr-18

1.87

3.48

17.44

98.08

A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-18

2.04

5.20

19.26

98.33

AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR

*TOWER

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

09-Sep-18

2.04

5.06

19.12

101.85

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.83

1.35

15.27

96.35

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.40

18-Oct-18

2.15

2.29

16.37

99.15

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.23

6.11

20.20

94.85

BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR

#{r}

Nil

*DANA

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

3.10

2.16

16.19

99.61

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.97

2.76

16.53

95.25

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.85

1.00

14.78

85.38

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.85

1.00

14.78

92.13

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

144.16

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

139.41

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

3.21

1.00

15.02

88.03

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.43

1.00

14.83

89.11

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 22.10

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

5.23

5.07

107.94

108.81

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.35

4.11

102.58

103.38

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.51

5.39

105.88

106.73

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,581.99

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

AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

8.45

103.30

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

4.82

103.75

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.46

99.48

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

9.58

8.94

92.23

94.00

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.40

6.00

98.62

99.98

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

9.67

102.00

102.00 99.00

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.51

99.00

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

9.45

9.15

97.50

98.55

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

8.10

99.75

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

10.00

85.00

9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021

24-Jun-14

9.25

400.00

24-Jun-21

9.76

9.42

97.75

99.38

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

8.50

96.50

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

8.43

8.22

100.57

101.66

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

AFREN PLC III

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC II

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,760.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,680.87

**Treasury Bills DTM 9 16 30 37 44 51 58

Money Market

FIXINGS Maturity 4-Dec-14 11-Dec-14 25-Dec-14 1-Jan-15 8-Jan-15 15-Jan-15 22-Jan-15

Bid Discount (%) 12.15 13.40 13.65 13.60 13.10 13.40 13.30

Offer Discount (%) 11.90 13.15 13.40 13.35 12.85 13.15 13.05

Bid Yield (%) 12.19 13.48 13.80 13.79 13.31 13.66 13.59

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 9.5050 13.4429 13.9841 14.8199

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.00

O/N

10.21

Tenor Call

REPO

Rate (%) 10.42

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M

177.25 172.32 172.60 173.23 174.45

177.35 172.56 172.91 173.87 175.60

A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.76

4.44

17.94

96.21

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.60

3.23

17.07

98.41

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

0.89

4.46

17.70

96.95

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

0.89

3.48

16.71

99.25

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.40

5.59

19.70

82.10

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.44

1.00

14.60

99.04

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.10

1.79

15.82

95.63

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.27

1.80

15.89

96.74

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

3.86

1.00

14.92

97.33

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

14.96

09-Dec-18

A-/Agusto

Business | Financial Market News

2.27 1.00 15.09 98.92 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

11.13

12-Dec-18

2.27

4.78

18.87

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.65

1.00

15.10

98.83

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*GOMBE

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019

02-Oct-12

15.50

16.23

02-Oct-19

2.91

1.00

15.06

101.14

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

RESCUE A/Agusto

*OSUN

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

Stocks undervalued as foreigners exit

*OSUN

14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

22-Nov-12

14.50

80.00

22-Nov-19

4.99

1.00

14.80

98.97

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

12-Dec-12

14.75

27.51

12-Dec-19

2.88

2.74

16.81

95.54

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

11.40

10-Oct-20

3.43

1.00

14.98

99.45

13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

6.01

1.00

14.76

95.07

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

6.10

1.94

15.70

97.26

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.78

31-Dec-20

3.58

1.44

15.40

97.73

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.79

1.00

15.02

88.03

1.00

14.83

89.11

NSE seeks to KOGI 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 A/Agusto *EKITI 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 boost listings from A-/GCR *NASARAWA ably remain 15.00 wary NASARAWA of06-JAN-2021 the marginal oil field Nigerian market until TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION presidential elections in operators

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

 Shares gain N80bn

3.61 97.75 to06-Jan-21 take advantage of 1.95 which 15.91 was particularly the undervalued stocks driven by the two comin spite of security and panies. political challenges that Consequently, at the close of transactions, has posed threat to in18-Dec-14 0.06 5.21 19.45 99.56 vestment in the0.10country. 8.71 market22.89capitalisation 31-Dec-14 99.29 The NSE 0.48 ASI and4.88 increased 17-Aug-15 18.93 by 0.71 96.21 per 09-Dec-15 capitalisation 0.56 98.15from market in-1.00 cent or14.94 N80 billion 06-Jan-16 by 0.710.64 16.40 creased per cent,2.63 N11.263 trillion 98.82 traded 1.84 14.94 96.92 as29-Sep-16 market sentiments re-1.00 last Friday to N11.183 25-Oct-16 1.92 98.22 turned to the green zone.1.34 trillion15.33 on Monday . 30-Sep-17 2.85 1.00 15.07 95.30 Transactions in the Also, the NSE All Share 30-Nov-17 1.66 1.88 15.68 104.35 share prices of PZ CusIndex (ASI) appreciated by 09-Apr-18 1.87 3.48 17.44 98.08 sons Plc and 2.04 Total Oil5.20 240.59 basis or 0.71 09-Sep-18 19.26 points 98.33 09-Sep-18 2.04 other5.06 per cent 19.12 101.85 inNigeria Plc led to hit 34,115.85 22-Sep-18 to lift market 3.83 15.27 from 33,875.26 96.35 gainers in-1.35 dex points 18-Oct-18 2.15 2.29 16.37 dicators. points recorded in99.15 the pre17-Feb-19 2.23 6.11 20.20 94.85 The key benchmark vious day . 01-Apr-19 3.10 2.16 16.19 99.61 Further review95.25 of the indices maintained pos-2.76 14-Nov-20 5.97 16.53 itive trajectory to close day’s trading showed 30-Sep-24 9.85 1.00 14.78 85.38 that in30-Sep-24 the green, taking sup-1.00 investors 9.85 14.78 bought 92.13357.7 ports majorly from me- million shares worth dium capitalised stocks, N4.3 billion in 4,666 deals.

471.68 450.06

February. There is pent- pronounced, because of public offering in April, up demand for stocks, some of the perceived Nigeria’s first since 2008. 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 18-Dec-09 13.50 13.17 Aa/Agusto GTB µ though investors won’t weaknesses in our buf“The 17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 01-Apr-10 17.00 marginal 2.00field NGC Nil Stories by Chris Ugwu commit funds until they fers such as the level operators have a real 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 17-Aug-10 10.00 3.61 opBbb-/Agusto *UPDC 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015of foreign reserves A-/Agusto 09-Dec-10 12.00 13.62 and portunity on policy and to participate *FLOURMILLS have clarity 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 BB+/GCR oreign investors 14.00 0.60 *CHELLARAMS security under the new the ability of the 06-Jan-11 central in our market, especially 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 A+/Agusto;fleeing A-/GCR 29-Sep-11 15.00 SeNAHCOas Nigeria administration,”Onyema bank to defend the cur- given13.00 the success that 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 A-/Agusto 25-Oct-13 14.25 5.53 FSDH oil prices plunge said. rency,” Onyema said. “I plat has shown,” Onyema 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 A/GCR 30-Sep-10 13.00 20.00 UBA An Islamist insurgenare leaving stocks have confidence in the said. 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 BBB-/GCR 30-Nov-12 18.00 0.73 *C & I LEASING #{r} undervalued, the *DANA Nigecy in northern Nigeria Meanwhile, the MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 central bank’s ability 09-Apr-11to 16.00 6.30bulls Nil and a campaign for9-SEP-2018 the provide a currency rian Stock Exchange’s that yesterday returned to the MPR+7.00 TOWER 09-Sep-11 18.00 2.90 A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR *TOWER# # MPR+5.25 TOWER can9-SEP-2018 has stability.” 09-Sep-11 0.80 AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR *TOWER presidency pitting (NSE) chief executive oflocal16.00 bourse, as bargain 14.00 UBA A/Agusto; A/GCR 22-Sep-11 14.00 struggled35.00 UBA Onyema said the NSE hunters ficer Mr. Oscar Onyema didates from theII 22-SEP-2018 mainly to take 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR 18-Oct-13 15.75 2.40 *LA CASERA Muslim north has said. against is seeking to boost listposition on the back deMPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 17-Feb-12 17.00 0.41 BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS# an incumbent from the “The benchmark inings and talking to sovalued stocks. #{r} 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 01-Apr-14 16.00 4.50 Nil *DANA largely Christian south called marginal oil dex’s 18 per cent decline field Analysts said the resil15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR 14-Nov-13 15.25 2.05 NAHCO this year isn’t justified by point to “a very perilous operators eager to match ience of the bulls to ush182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR 30-Sep-14 11.93 0.10 STANBIC IBTC economic changes and asIBTC contest whose results Pe- er in13.25 market rally 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024the success of Seplat A/GCR 30-Sep-14 15.44 was STANBIC may also be disputed,” troleum Development evidence that investors’ aTOTAL resultOUTSTANDING Nigerian equities VALUE 144.16 are effectively on sale. the Brussels-based In- Company Plc’s initial confidence is returning TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION 139.41 The fundamentals de- ternational Crisis Group Supranational Bond mand higher valuations,” said in a report last week. AAA/S&P 11-Feb-13 10.20 12.00 11-Feb-18 3.21 Onyema said in anIFC inter“We’re10.20 in IFC a 11-FEB-2018 political 11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P AfDB 10-Jul-14 11.25 12.95 01-Feb-21 4.43 view with Bloomberg at cycle right now and forOUTSTANDING VALUE 24.95 aTOTAL conference in Diani, eign investors want to see TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION what the outcome is,” Onhief Executive Officer of 22.10 said he welcomed the newly Kenya. the Nigerian Stock Exelected president and comNigerian stocks yema said. “They want to Outstanding Value Description Rating/Agency Issue Date Coupon (%) Oscar Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) change (NSE), Mr. mittee members, and look dropped as crude slid into Issuer get certainty about the ($mm) Onyema has been elected presi- forward to ASEA’s continua bear market and the security situation and FGN Eurobonds dent of African Securities Ex- ing progress as it seeks to enbanking watchdog erod- they also want to see the JAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&Pto support the 07-Oct-11 6.75(ASEA). 500.00 28-Jan-21 competitive5.23 changes Association hance the global ed reserves package of measures6.75 that This decision according ness of member Exchanges. currency the fiscal and monetary BB-/Fitch; , which fell to a FGN 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 12-Jul-13 5.13 500.00 12-Jul-18 4.35 BB-/S&P low this month. to a statement, was reached Onyema, reacting to the record authorities will take in BB-/Fitch; election stated was Nigeria is Africa’s big- addressing the shocks at the Executive Committee 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 12-Jul-13 6.38 500.00 12-Jul-23 that he 5.51 BB-/S&P meeting of ASEA after its honoured to be elected presigest oil producer, and its that we’ve seen.” TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 1,500.00 18th Annual General Meeting dent of ASEA, which is the $520 billion economy is The naira has weakTOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION 1,581.99 forecast to grow 6.5 per ened to a record low in Diana, Kenya. largest platform for Africa’s of N178 per dollar this cent this year and next, Deputy President of the stock, futures and options exCorporate Eurobonds month because of11.50 the Republic of Kenya, Mr. Wil- 450.00 changes. 01-Feb-16 according to a Bloomberg FEB 01, 2016 B/Fitch; B-/S&P AFREN PLC I 01-Feb-11 11.50 8.45 collapse in the price of survey of economists. liam Ruto, opened the ASEA “I would19-May-16 like to thank the 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I 19-May-11 7.50 500.00 4.82 oil, which accounts for flagship conference where he “The local instituoutgoing Executive Commit7.25 JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC 25-Jul-12 7.25 350.00 25-Jul-17 7.46 tional investors are net more than two-thirds emphasised the critical role 300.00 tee led by02-May-18 Mr. Benimadhu 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC 09-May-13 6.88 9.58 buyers at the moment. of government revenue. that the capital markets have for their stewardship of 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC 08-Nov-13 6.00 400.00 08-Nov-18 6.40the They’re buying andAFREN their to play in Africa’s10.25 economic 300.00 Association over the last 10.25 APR 08, 2019 B/Fitch PLC II The currency was down 08-Apr-12 08-Apr-19 9.67two way ofBB-/S&P looking atZENITH it is 1.3 per cent to N176.32 per development. years, and22-Apr-19 I look forward 6.25 APR 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BANK PLC 22-Apr-14 6.25 500.00 6.51 to that the prices we’re see-BANKdollar yesterday. Commenting on working with 8.75 May 21, 2019 B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND PLC 21-May-14 8.75the elec- 200.00 21-May-19ASEA mem9.45 8.25 AUG B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC 07-Aug-13 07-Aug-20counterparts 8.10 ing today are not justified “When you look at 07, 2020 tion, the out-going8.25 president 300.00 bers, our global 6.63 DEC 09, 2020 B-/Fitch; AFREN PLC III OPEC countries, they’re 09-Dec-13and the Chief 6.63 Execu- 360.00 09-Dec-20to contribute 10.00 by theB/S&P fundamentals,” of ASEA and regulators USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK all PLC IIfeeling the9.25/6M 9.25 of Mau- 400.00 24-Jun-21 said Onyema. sweat, but tive,24-Jun-14 Stock Exchange to the association’s rich9.76 legaSWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P BANK LTD 23-Jul-14 8.00 450.00 23-Jul-21 8.50 “Foreigners willFIRST probNigeria tends 8.00/2Y to beUSD more ritius, Mr. Sunil Benimadhu, cy, as well as to promoting our Corporate Bonds

NSE boss is ASEA’s president

B-/S&P

91.22

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

8.43

8.22

4,760.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

14-Aug-21

markets in a broad range of areas,” he said. Offer Yield Bid Price the Offer Price To(%)support Association’s mission and vision, Prices & Yields Mr. Onyema highlighted four 5.07 strategic 107.94objectives 108.81 that key the new Executive Committee 4.11 102.58 103.38 will focus on to support the effective mobilisation of106.73 capital 5.39 105.88 for economic development. The strategic objective according to him, include strengthen the association’s governance, financial103.30 and re8.45 103.30 porting framework; promote 4.82 103.75 103.75 the sustainable development 7.46 99.48 99.48 of8.94African92.23 capital markets; 94.00 facilitate an increase in mar6.00 98.62 99.98 ket the regional 9.67 access at 102.00 102.00 level, cross-listing 6.51and promote 99.00 99.00 among African exchanges; 9.15 97.50 98.55 8.10 align the 99.75 and goals of 99.75 African 10.00 85.00 85.00 capital markets with those 97.75 Development 99.38 of9.42the African 8.50 96.50 96.50 Bank (AfDB). 100.57

101.66

25-Nov-14

4,680.87

The FMDQBills 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 Money Market **Treasury FIXINGS Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) the FMDQDTM OTC PLC Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement on www.fmdqotc.com. Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%)

9 16 FGN Bonds30 37 44 Rating/Agency 51 58 65 72 79 86 93 100 107 121 NA 128 135 142 149 156 163 170 254 282 TOTAL OUTSTANDING

VALUE

4-Dec-14 11-Dec-14 25-Dec-14 1-Jan-15 8-Jan-15 Issuer 15-Jan-15 22-Jan-15 29-Jan-15 5-Feb-15 12-Feb-15 19-Feb-15 26-Feb-15 5-Mar-15 12-Mar-15 26-Mar-15 NA 2-Apr-15 9-Apr-15 16-Apr-15 23-Apr-15 30-Apr-15 7-May-15 14-May-15 6-Aug-15 3-Sep-15

12.15 13.40 13.65 13.60 13.10 Description 13.40 13.30 4.00 23-APR-2015 12.80 13.05 16-AUG-2016 12.80 15.10 27-APR-2017 12.94 9.85 27-JUL-2017 13.10 9.35 31-AUG-2017 13.25 12.90 10.70 30-MAY-2018 13.40 16.00 29-JUN-2019 13.70 7.00 23-OCT-2019 13.30 16.39 27-JAN-2022 12.90 14.20 14-MAR-2024 13.00 15.00 28-NOV-2028 13.10 12.49 22-MAY-2029 13.00 8.50 20-NOV-2029 11.70 10.00 23-JUL-2030 13.30 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 12.25 11.75

11.90 13.15 13.40 13.35 12.85 Issue 13.15Date 13.05 23-Apr-10 12.55 16-Aug-13 12.55 27-Apr-12 12.69 27-Jul-07 12.85 31-Aug-07 13.00 12.65 30-May-08 13.15 29-Jun-12 13.45 23-Oct-09 13.05 27-Jan-12 12.65 14-Mar-14 12.75 28-Nov-08 12.85 22-May-09 12.75 20-Nov-09 11.45 23-Jul-10 13.05 18-Jul-14 12.00 11.50

Bid Yield (%) 12.19 13.48 13.80 13.79 13.31 Coupon 13.66 (%) 13.59 4.00 13.10 13.05 13.13 15.10 13.31 9.85 13.52 9.35 13.71 13.37 10.70 13.95 16.00 14.35 7.00 13.95 16.39 13.55 14.20 13.69 15.00 13.84 12.49 13.76 8.50 12.35 10.00 14.18 12.1493 13.39

NIBOR

Bonds

12.92

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

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

535.00 563.89 452.80 20.00 Tenor 100.00 1M 2M 300.00 3M 351.30 6M 233.90 9M 600.00 12M 371.68

Rate (%) 9.5050 13.4429 13.9841 Maturity 14.8199Date

23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 Rate (%) 31-Aug-17 11.2455 13.1601 30-May-18 13.3152 29-Jun-19 13.6692 23-Oct-19 13.7085 27-Jan-22 13.7580 14-Mar-24 75.00 28-Nov-28 150.00 22-May-29 NIFEX 200.00 20-Nov-29 591.57 23-Jul-30 Current Price ($/N) 18-Jul-34 BID($/N) 130.00 176.1000 NITTY

OFFER4,675.13 ($/N)

176.2000

4,458.75

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.00

Spot O/N 10.21 7D 14DYield REPO Offer TTM (Yrs) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%) 1M (%) Call 10.42 2M 0.41 14.02 13.62 1M 12.97 3M 1.72 13.95 13.85 3M 13.65 6M 2.42 14.08 14.01 6M 14.78 1Y 2.67 14.10 14.02 2.77 14.08 14.01 NOTE: 3.51 13.97 13.85 :Benchmarks 4.59 13.83 13.75 * :Amortising 4.91Bond 13.80 13.70 µ :Convertible Bond 7.17 13.77 13.71 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 9.30 13.81 13.75 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 14.01 13.57 13.52 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 14.49 13.54 13.49 IFC: International Finance Corporation 14.99 13.51 13.45 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 15.66 13.66 13.60 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 19.64 13.30 13.25 O/N: Overnight

UPDC: UAC Property Development Company WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company

*for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration # Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums Rating/Agency Issuer **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Tenor

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

177.25 Price 177.35 172.32 172.56 172.60 172.91 Bid Price Offer 173.23 173.87Price 174.45 175.60 96.10 96.25 175.67 177.34 98.60 98.75 179.53 183.05 102.00 102.15 187.36 195.59 90.77 90.92 89.43 89.58 91.15 91.45 NA :Not107.15 Applicable 107.45 # :Floating Rate Bond 76.60 76.30 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 111.65 111.95 101.95 102.25 †: Bond rating expired 108.88 109.18 N/A :Not Available 93.41 93.71 {r} :Issuer in receivership 68.14 68.44 76.55 76.85 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 92.00Bank for Africa 92.30 UBA: United

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM Modified Duration Buckets

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION <3 Sub-National Bonds

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 Total Outstanding 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 Porfolio Market Value(Bn) Volume(Bn)

24-May-10 0.00 03-Apr-12FMDQ FGN 17.25 BOND 09-Dec-11 0.00/16.00 20-Apr-12 0.00/16.50 Weighting by Weighting by Mkt 06-Jul-12 0.00/16.50 Outstanding Vol Value

1,017.84

1,016.68

33.21

33.75

3<5

1,425.25

1,322.98

43.22

47.26

572.45

721.57

23.57

3,061.23

Market

12.50 KADUNA3,015.54 31-AUG-2015

24.56

INDEX 3.00

112.22 116.70 66.49 Bucket Weighting

322.97

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 % Exposure_ 06-Jul-17 Mod_Duration

0.49 1.23 2.04 2.40 2.61 Implied Yield

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 Implied 1.00 Portfolio Price

16.69 15.59 16.06 15.11 15.11 INDEX

92.34 102.01 99.31 96.52 YTD Return 93.58 (%)

312.040.33

14.48

14.02

117.0005

1,111.27

0.43

45.65

13.80

124.6052

1,055.11

11.1266 5.5109

18.98

0.24

39.86

13.58

91.4182

1,068.84

6.8839

4.44 114.2570

A+/Agusto

KADUNA

31-Aug-10 100.00

12.50100.00

0.76 13.74

17.94 1,091.05

96.21 9.1054

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

8.50 1.00 4.18

31-Aug-15 100.00

A/Agusto

30-Sep-15

0.60

3.23

17.07

98.41

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

0.89

4.46

17.70

96.95

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

0.89

3.48

16.71

99.25

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.40

5.59

19.70

82.10

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.44

1.00

14.60

99.04

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.10

1.79

15.82

95.63

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.27

1.80

15.89

96.74

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

3.86

1.00

14.92

97.33

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

14.96

09-Dec-18

2.27

1.00

15.09

98.92

NEW TELEGRAPH wednesday, november 26, 2014

News 47

south — east

N1.7bn scam: Councillors vote to remove Enugu council boss fight

When two elephants fight, the grass suffers. The duel between Enugu governor and senators says it all. Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

t least 16 out of the 20 councillors in the IgboEze North Local Government in Enugu State yesterday unanimously voted to serve an impeachment notice on the Chairman of the council, Mr. Bonaventure Onuh, over alleged ‘misappropriation and embezzlement of local government funds’ this year, totaling N1.7 billion. Onuh is a close ally of Senator Ayogu Eze, who is believed to belong to the faction of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who has been sloging it out with Governor Sullivan Chime, in the on-going factional crisis over the 2015 elections. They had last week impeached the leader of the legislative arm of the council, Hon. Kenneth Odo, said to be an ally of the chairman, accusing him of conniving with the now embattled chairman to scuttle the sitting of the council for four consecutive times without any reason. In a seven-page impeachment notice raised by the councillors yester-

day and addressed to the Secretary to the Igbo-Eze North Local Government for service on Onuh, the councillors said “this action is backed up with signatures of 16 out of 20 legislators and is taken pursuant to Section 14 of Local Government Law, Cap 109, Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2004.” The councilors mandated the secretary to the local government to perform his duties as stipulated by Section 14 (2) (b) and 14 (4) of the Local Government Law

The percentage of the population of women above 60 years in Bahrain in 2012. Source: Un.org

Umuahia

he Director General of the Uche Sampson Ogah Campaign Organisation, Ambassador Empire Kanu, has called on delegates to the December 8 governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State to make the right choice of candidates in order to avoid what he described as another eight years of agony. Kanu, who was speaking in his office, said Dr. Uche Ogar, has been cleared by the screening committee for the governorship primaries, adding that “he is the first to collect the form, first to submit and first to be cleared.” According to Kanu, “Abia citizens are aware

the document through the local council scribe, “advanced copies of this notice of impeachment have been sent to the chairman, the chief judge and the governor of Enugu State.” The new leader of the council, Hon. Onyekachi Itodo, his deputy, Hon. Tochukwu Mamah and 14 other councilors, were present during the sitting yesterday and all the 16 personally signed the impeachment notice. Giving particulars of the alleged misappropriation and embezzlement

£28,011

The average weekly salary of Germany’s Bundesliga players in 2013-2014 season. Source: Soccernet.com

of local government funds leveled against the chairman, they cited the “non-implementation and execution of the 2014 budget of N1.7 billion, adding that of the budget, only N70 million was approved by the council for payment of compensation to landowners at the Eke Ozzi New Market, alleging that the said sum was retired by the chairman, but that he did not pay the landowners the compensation. They also alleged that of the 2014 budget, over N237.2 million was ap-

18,270

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

proved for grading, reconstruction of roads and bridges, but that “the money was retired even while no road was graded and no bridge was constructed in Igbo-Eze North in 2014.” The councillors said of great importance to them is the N20 million budgeted for the completion of their legislative building, whose roof while under construction, was allowed to cave in, yet the chairman appropriated the money and it was allegedly retired by him. The councillors also accused Onuh of retiring N50 million presumed to have been spent in building primary schools in some 11 communities in the local government, but that no such school buildings were constructed by the council in those communities.

Tension in Anambra over APGA’s delegates’ election

L-R: Chairman, Sam Onyishi Campaign Organisation (SOCO), Sir Chike Ngwu; Managing Director, Peace Mass Transit Company, Mr. Sam Onyishi and Secretary, SOCO, Chief Agu Chinemere, during Onyishi’s formal declaration to contest for Enugu State Governor in Enugu

Ogah: Abia must avoid eight more years of agony Igbeaku Orji

by serving the notice of impeachment on the chairman of the council and also informing the Chief Judge of Enugu State to appoint a sevenman panel to investigate the allegations contained in the notice as well as inform the state governor in writing of this impeachment proceedings. According to a copy of the impeachment notice made available to our reporter yesterday, the councillors said notwithstanding the procedural requirement of routing

of what is happening and should be ready to help Ogah turn around the state and place it where it should be.” He said the philanthropic activities of the governorship aspirants, including the 600 capacity auditorium at the Abia State University, Uturu, were visible for everyone to see, cut across all strata of society and age brackets. In his remark, the Director of Planning and Strategy, Dr. Ndukwe Adindu, said the zoning of the party is unconstitutional, adding that since the creation of the state, zoning has never been observed. He added that there has never been a time when other zones were barred from contesting election, noting that even the ‘present governor was not a product of zoning.’

Plot to dump Andy Uba thickens Okegwo Kenechukwu

enator Andy Uba’s bid to return to the senate to represent Anambra South senatorial district in 2015 may have suffered a setback following the massive defection of his supporters to Chief Nicholas Ukachukwu’s All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). The defection manifested recently during his constituency empowerment programme held at Aguata Local Government, which witnessed a low turnout of people, especially major stakeholders. A close ally of the senator, who spoke with New Telegraph, expressed disappointment that the people have failed to realise that the senator has done a lot to develop the state and senatorial district in particular, describing the empow-

erment programme as a failure. “This is a slight on our senator, but I have come to realise that people feel that the aim of the mandate giving to him is now defeated. “I think they have decided to go back to the drawing board and work with the people who they feel will listen to their yearnings and aspirations and ensure that their lives are touched." He said further that it is not about an individual, neither a selected few, nor the hangers-on, but about the generality of the people of the constituency, the children and those yet unborn. A chieftain of APGA, Chief Ndudi Ngonadi said: “We thank him for the gift of money during his empowerment programme, but that is not what we want. “He is in government; let him give employment to our youths. Most lead-

ers and stakeholders refused the gift, some even returned it to him, but I know such items and money would not get back to him, because all those people around him will confiscate it and they will not tell him the truth." It is no longer enticing to our people, the gift of N250, 000 to those he feels he is working with is a total waste, because we don’t want bags of rice, wrapper, or bags of salt and motorcycle any longer,” Ngonadi said. “We’ve decided to join APGA and get our own share of the state’s economy, including basic infrastructural development, because we lost everything during Peter Obi’s administration, reason, we belonged to an opposition party and those who claims to be political fathers and kingmakers have also failed us, so my brother this is where we are,” Ngonadi explained.

ension yesterday pervaded the political space in Anambra State following the commencement of the sitting of the three-man delegation of the ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). In Ogbaru Local Government, for instance, members of the party raised the alarm via a petition to the state Chairman of the party, Chief Mike Kwentor, over a suspicion that the congress in the area might be skewed in favour of certain aspirant. The petition, signed by the party's local government Chairman, Onochie Obiora and others, reads in part: “That a due process of APGA primaries must be followed; that any imposition of delegates on the party shall be resisted by the party’s executives.” Meanwhile, the panel led by Jolly Mgbor Benjamin, yesterday postponed the party's delegates’ congresses in three local government areas but no reasons were given for the postponement. Reliable sources, however, said that the action was to calm down aggrieved members of the party. The local government areas involved are Ogbaru, Anambra West and Awka North. But Kwentoh told reporters at the party’s secretariat that the shift was to get things done the right way, because of the terrain of the areas involved. The delegates’ congress is meant to elect the party's candidates in its primaries scheduled for next month for next year's general elections.

News

wednesday, november 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

south — south

Supreme Court dismisses Agumagu's appeals Tunde Oyesina

Abuja

he Supreme Court yesterday dismissed three appeals filed by suspended Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice P.N.C. Agumagu challenging the decision of the lower court which upheld his suspension. He was suspended by the National Judicial Council (NJC) after he

7.8%

was sworn in as the Chief Judge of Rivers State by the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi. The council suspended him on ground that it did recommend him to Amaechi for appointment as the Chief Judge. Agumagu, was however dissatisfied with his suspension and consequently filed an application for a judicial review of the NJC's directive suspending. The Court of Appeal

The percentage of individuals using the internet in developing countries in 2005. Source: Itu.int

however dismissed the appeal. Still not satisfied, Agumagu approached the apex court to challenge the judgement of the lower court, contending that the Court of Appeal was wrong in its interpretation of the provisions of the Court of Appeal Practice Direction of 2013. In dismissing the appeal Justice Bode RhodesVivour said: "We have examined this, and the other grounds of Appeal and

The life expectancy of men in Niger Republic at age 60 years in 2010-2015. Source: Un.org

are satisfied that the issues in the appeal are matters that can be brought to this court when the appeals are concluded. "Accordingly application for a stay of proceedings of the pending appeals in the court of appeal is hereby struck out. Notice of Appeal to this court is also struck out." The apex court dismissed the three appeals on the ground that the appeals were premature. Agumagu, in the ap-

515

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

peals had challenged the refusal of the Court of Appeal to strike out the records of proceedings compiled by the National Judicial Council. His counsel, Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi SAN had said that the National Judicial Council was wrong to have compiled the records of appeal within 14 days instead of the 60 days stipulated by the law. Counsel to NJC, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN

31.8m

The estimated number of people living with HIV worldwide in 2007. Source: Who.int

however opposed the appeal saying that Olujinmi should have waited for the Court of Appeal to decide the substantive appeal. The Supreme Court however agreed with him. Olujinmi, had applied to the Supreme Court for an order to compel the Court of Appeal to stay proceedings in the appeal which was filed by the NJC challenging the refusal of the trial judge, Adeniyi Ademola to hear the council's objection seeking to dismiss the case filed by Agumagu wherein he challenged his suspension by the council. Justice Ademola had elected to hear the case filed by Agumagu together with the objections raised by the defendants, (the NJC and three others.)

‘No PDP member defected to APC in Akwa Ibom’

L-R: Minister of Sports, Mr. Tammy Danagogo; Rivers State PDP governorship aspirant, Mr. Nyesom Wike; Ferdinand Alabraba and others, after Wike received his clearance certificate in Port Harcourt …yesterday

Akpabio charges NERC on quality service

kwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, has called on Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to enforce service quality delivery and regulate efficient pricing across the states. Akpabio made the call on Monday at the opening of the third seminar on the regulation in the electricity power sector

for judges by Nigerian NERC Electricity Regulatory Commission in collaboration with National Judiciary Institute (NJI) with the theme, "Enhancing Judiciary Capacity in Resolution of Current Legal Issues in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry" at Le' Meridien Hotel and Golf Resort, Uyo. He further called on NERC to support the efforts of Akwa Ibom in

Ijaw, Itsekiri youths stockpile arms for fresh ‘war’ Joe Obende Warri

he age long ethnic battle for supremacy between the Ijaw and Ishekiri, in Delta State, is gathering its momentum, as youths of the two ethnic groups are said to be stockpiling arms for imminent communal war in the state, which may blow out soon.

Indications were rife that the unending battle for supremacy which dates back to several years, is far from over, following the recent show of bravado at disruption of the $16 billion gas Export Processing Zone (EPZ), where arms were freely displayed by the youths, is a clear indication that the tribal war between the ethnic groups would soon blow into the open.

making the state a model for steady power supply in Nigeria and the judiciary to use their potentials to help create an investorfriendly climate through informed dispute resolutions in Nigeria power sector. "As members of the judiciary, your role as upholders of the constitution and interpreters of the law is crucial. The judiciary has great po-

tentials to help create an investorfriendly climate through informed dispute resolutions in Nigeria's power sector", Akpabio noted. The governor, who described the seminar as a turning point in the electricity and power sector, pointed out that the seminar shows their dedication and passion in changing the electricity directive in the country,

Tax evasion: FIRS angry with defaulting firms Dominic Adewole ASABA

he Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), has decried the nonchalant attitude of taxable firms in Delta State. The abuse of the rights of taxable persons by companies yesterday forced the agency to

clampdown on two leading hotels – Jina Hotel, situated along Asaba/ Onitsha expressway and Sea-park International Hotel in Okwe axis of the capital city. The agency vowed not to fold it alms any longer and watch dodging firms from constant abuse of filing the returns of their profits.

believing that the seminar would lead to the road of electricity excellence in the country. He said the two respected bodies have come together for judges to strengthen the confidence of investors in the power sector, and that the seminar would not only equip judges on judiciary services but will also enhance judicial capacity in the power sector, hoping that the problem of the electricity sector would be resolved in the seminar.

kwa Ibom State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described as false and baseless, a media report that more than 20, 000 members of the party were defecting with a governorship aspirant to the All Progressives Congress. The party in a statement signed by its Chairman, Obong Paul Ekpo, said none of its members across the 329 wards in the State have left Peoples Democratic Party or indicated interest to leave, saying the PDP remains a united family. The party advised public office seekers and other political parties to utilize their energy and resources toward soliciting peoples' support as well as present their manifestoes to the electorate, instead of engaging in blackmail. It described the PDP as the only national party that places priority on the welfare and collective interest of Nigerians, at the national, state and local government levels.

Mordi steps down from Delta guber race Dominic Adewole ASABA

s the governorship race among aspirants of the Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), hots up, a frontline aspirant, Professor Mordi Chukwuma, yesterday announced that he is stepping down from the race. The move was pur-

portedly made to support another contender Hon. Ndudi Godwin Elumelu, who is from the same zone with Chukwuma. It was learnt that Elumelu, confessed to have heaved a sigh of relieved after his kinsman, stormed the declaration venue with the executive members of his campaign organization and teeming supporters.

NEW TELEGRAPH wednesday, november 26, 2014

go home

Authorities shut UNIJOS over protests. Musa Pam JOS

he Management of the University of Jos, yesterday ordered that the institution be shut down until further notice as a result of students’ protest directing all students to vacate their hostels immediately On Monday, the students of the Univer-

News 49

north

Jos varsity shut down over protest sity had embarked on a peaceful demonstration demanding the reverse over the increase in their development levy While announcing the closure of the Institution in a press statement signed by the University Registrar, Mr Jilli Dandam, the school management said in order to avoid further escalation of the situation, the management met yesterday morning and directed that the university should be closed down until further notice The statement read in

part: "Management met and issue a release assuring students and members of the University community that some of the issues raised by the students were nothibg but rumours that had no basis". According to him, steps were taken to address all the grievances that include the shifting of the second semester examination by one week and the setting up of a committee to look at the issues and appealed to all students, parents and guardians to disre-

gard any rumours going round to the contrary. New Telegraph gather that the students were not satisfied with the responds of the management and they mobilised themselves and blocked the Bauchi road highway, set tyres on fire which prompted the school authority to close down the school indefinitely. It would be recalled that the students had at the early hours of Monday morning in their thousands stormed the Main Campus of the Institution and shut down

academic activities demanding the reverse decision of the management of the institution to increase their development levy President of the Student Union government (SUG) Abel Noel Nok said the students are agitating and not happy with the increase of their levies which they as leaders of the students had written to the school authority. "We are calling for the removal of development levy from our school fees payment. We are also calling for the reduction

Maku a political neophyte to Al-Makura, group tells PDP Cheke Emmanuel LAFIA

he Nasarawa State chapter of the Goodluck/ Sambo Youths Vanguard, has warned delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the state to be wary of the unpopularity of the immediate past Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, ahead of the December 8th gubernatorial primaries. Leader of the group, Hon Ahmed Dogara stated this in Karu while addressing hundreds of PDP faithful who came in to register their support for President Goodluck Jonathan following his recent declaration to seek for 2nd term. Hon. Dogara, who declared that the party cannot afford to risk another imminent loss and crisis ridden four years of misrule under the APC, urged the leadership of the PDP to take extra measures to avoid picking an aspirant with low political profile as its candidate to contest with Gov Tanko Almakura in the coming gubernatorial election.

Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Ashraf Salama (left), presenting a gift to Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, during a courtesy visit on the governor in Minna…yesterday

Yuguda presents N127.8bn budget to Assembly Mohammed Kawu BAUCHI

auchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda, yesterday presented a budget estimate of N127.8 billion to the state Assembly for the 2015 fiscal year. The amount is made up of a recurrent expenditure of N62.8 billion and a capital expenditure of N65.8 bil-

lion. Presenting the budget to the House, Yuguda said the budget recurrent estimate is put at N77.9 billion, made up of N69 billion statutory allocation and an Internally Generated Revenue of N8.9 billion. The recurrent expenditure estimates, according to the governor, is made up of personnel cost

PDP’s zonal guber primaries split Jigawa Dahiru Suleiman Dutse

merging indications have revealed that the just concluded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), zonal gubernatorial primaries held in Kaduna last weekend has further deepened the existing factionalisation of the party in Jigawa. Aspirants in the party’s governorship primaries, where Alhaji Aminu Ringim, emerged winner, include, Abba

Anas, Danladi Auyo, and Arch. Aminu Kani. The aftermath of the primaries has seen the aspirants in the camp of Saminu Turaki-led faction, faulting the proceedings of the whole exercise, as they have vowed not to support Ringim, who they alleged did not win the election by popular votes. New Telegraph reliably gathered that shortly after the pronouncement of Ringim as PDP sole candidate,

many PDP supporters in Dutse and beyond commenced protest, what was termed the nomination of a candidate who didn’t have people's mandate, but imposed by government. One of the stalwarts on the party Alhaji Zubairu Kwaimawa, in his reaction to the development said, ‘’I love PDP, as I don't have any party like PDP, but I won't vote Ringim, since he wasn't people's choice but a government candidate.’’

N26.1 billion, overhead cost N25.1 billion while the Consolidate Revenue Fund Charges take N11.4 billion. Tagged, “Budget of Fulfillment”, Yuguda said that Bauchi State will remain on the path of sustainable development in the implementation of

the 2015 budget. Mallam Isa Yuguda gave a breakdown of the Consolidate Revenue Fund Charges as N4.5 billion Pension and Gratuity, Public Debt Charges/ debt servicing takes N5.4 billion, as Public Officer’ Salary consumes N1.5 billion.

Kumuyi charges electorate on party manifestos Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

eader of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, yesterday called on Nigerians to critically examine the manifestos of political parties on whose platforms political office seekers want to actualize their ambitions to determine the one that best suits the citizens’ suitability or otherwise in the forthcoming general elections. Kumuyi, who spoke

with newsmen shortly after arriving in Ilorin, Kwara state for the takeoff of a three-day crusade by his ministry at Eyenkorin, on the outskirt of the state capital, also described as ‘mere speculations’, insinuations the possibility of Nigeria’s break-up after the elections. He asked Nigerians to separate ‘pronouncements’ from ‘prophecies about the future of the country. The programme is schedule for Tuesday 25th –Thursday 27th November, 2014.

of N25, 000 acceptance fees for admission, as I'm talking to you now must of our properties have been destroyed as a result of us standing in the gap between the students and the school authorities". Abel said the SUG met with the school authority and resolved that the exams would yesterday, but the students were adamant on the issue and accused us of been compromised and destroyed our properties. According to him, in the northern Part of the country University of Jos students pays the highest development levy, including acceptance fees. Th Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Hayward Mufuyai, when contacted, called on the students to disregard the rumours being peddled that the management intends to review school charges "There is absolutely no plans by the University of Jos to review any school fees. If you hear any rumours around then it is an evil rumour. We have not contemplated at anytime to review the school fees upward uptill the last hours of Sunday we were with students I told them there is no such plans and we agree to start our exams today, but I'm surprise with this development".

Suswam to dissolve LGAs tomorrow Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

enue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, is expected to dissolve the 23 Local Government Areas of the state tomorrow, Thursday following the expiration of their two year tenure. As a prelude to the dissolution, politicians have intensified lobbying and schemings fo appointments in the Caretaker administrations that would replace the dissolved LGAs as chairmen and secretaries in the respective councils while some of the outgoing Chairmen are equally lobbying to be retained. New Telegraph, gathered that those who may make the list of Caretaker Committee Chairmen would be appointed on the basis of their loyality to the government in power as the forthcoming general elections approach.

WORLD | News

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Riots after US jury fails to indict Ferguson policeman

he town of Ferguson erupted in violence as protesters shot at police and set cars and buildings ablaze Monday night after a grand jury chose not to indict a white officer who killed an unarmed black teen. In the latest case to trigger debate on forceful police tactics against minorities and race relations in America, hopes and appeals including from President Barack Obama, for a peaceful reaction to the decision evaporated quickly. Many protesters took the ruling as a message that

a black person’s life was worth less than that of a white person. Groups of youths roamed the streets, looting stores and spreading mayhem, as flames lit up the night sky in this suburb of St Louis, Missouri. At least 12 buildings and two police cars were set on fire and destroyed. But no one was killed or seriously hurt and police did not open fire at any point, said St. Louis County police chief Jon Belmar. The grand jury concluded that officer Darren Wilson, who shot at 18-year-old Michael Brown 12 times, had acted

in legitimate self defense after they got into an “altercation” as the officer investigated a robbery at a store, said St Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch. But a separate federal civil rights investigation into the Wilson incident and Ferguson policing in general will continue, US Attorney General Eric Holder said. After the violence broke out in Ferguson, protests quickly spread to major US cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, but there were no reports of violence.

Hundreds of demonstrators,many of them Howard University students,march down the middle of U street in Northwest after a grand jury did not indict the white police officer who killed an unarmed black teenager in Missouri yesterday

Libyan PM fingers government over Tripoli airport bombing

ibya’s internationally recognized Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni said yesterday his government’s air force was responsible for strikes on the airport of the capital Tripoli, controlled by a rival administration. Mitiga airport has been hit at least twice this week, part of growing confrontation between rival factions in the North African state which is struggling for stability three years after the fall of Muammar

Gaddafi. “The air strikes on Mitiga airport were conducted by the national air force to target the group Libya Dawn,” Thinni’s government website quoted him as saying. He was referring to an armed group backing the rival government controlling Tripoli. Libya Dawn took over the capital Tripoli over the summer, setting up its own government, taking over ministries, and forcing Thinni and the elect-

ed parliament to take up residence in the eastern city of Tobruk. The rival government in Tripoli has said it may forbid a UN official from entering the territory it controls, a move that could make it harder to negotiate an end to a struggle for power that threatens to tear the country apart. “We were open for dialogue, but are forced into a confrontation and war and we will be victorious,” the rival government’s Prime Minister Omar alHassi said Monday.

Strong earthquake hits China’s Sichuan province

strong earthquake shook a sparsely populated area of western China late yesterday, cutting telephone service and prompting residents to rush out of their homes, officials and media reports said. There were no immediate reports of injuries. The U S Geological Survey said the magnitude-5.6 quake hit about 25 kilometers (16 miles) from Kangding city in Sichuan province. It said

it was centered at a relatively shallow depth of 11.6 kilometers (7.2 miles). China’s seismological agency put the magnitude at 5.8. China’s official Xinhua News Agency said the earthquake caused some items to fall off of tables. It said many residents rushed out of their houses, mindful of a stronger magnitude-6.3 quake that hit the same area on Saturday, causing five deaths. Yesterday’s quake affected telecommunica-

tions and many people could not be reached by telephone, Xinhua said. The USGS said the quake’s impact should be relatively localized and there was a low likelihood of casualties. Western China is regularly hit by earthquakes. Sichuan was struck by a magnitude-7.9 quake in May 2008 that left nearly 90,000 people dead, many of them in collapsed schools and other poorly constructed buildings.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

Sports News

International Sport

Eagles’ $9m World Cup money ready -Amadu

Echiejile to make Euro bow with Monaco

Sport

53 Did you know? President Theodore Roosevelt radically changed the American football rules by introducing the forward pass in 1906

Separate football from politics l Omokaro tells NFF

Charles Ogundiya

ormer international, Bright Omokaro, has urged the Nigeria Football Federation to work towards separating football from politics in the running of the game. He said that it was important to detach the game from various aspects of politics to enable the game to develop to the expected height. According to him, there is need to remove politics from football to move Nigeria football to the next level. He said: “It is time for us to go back to the basics. We have been having problems because of too much politics in our football. “What we need to do now is to take our football away from politicians and get those who have knowledge of the game to manage our football. “We keep calling ourselves giant of Africa but we are worse than a rat in African football. To get to the top is easy but to stay there is the most difficult task.” Omokaro was apparently referring to the role of politicians in the crucial decisions taken in the national football scene in

recent time. He said the Super Eagles failure to qualify for the 2015 African Cup of Nations was a blessing in disguise as it would give Nigeria the opportunity to sort out its football. Speaking with New Telegraph on the telephone, Omokaro said the country should use the opportunity to reform football generally in the country. The former player of the defunct New Nigeria Bank said the coach (Stephen Keshi) was not the problem of the team. “Calling for a foreign coach now is not the solution because Keshi was never the problem of the team,” noted Omokaro fondly referred to as “1010” in his heyday. “We need to start by cleaning up the football house, the Nigeria league and everybody involved in our football and flush out the wrong people from the game so that we can move forward.” Omokaro said football in Nigeria had lost its glamour unlike in the past when the game was played with all sincerity with players fighting to defend the country’s colours.

Ike Uche in action against South Africa

Tennis players need sponsorship –Samuel Ajibade Olusesan

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Deputy Editor, Sports

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Editor, Sports

Ifeanyi Ibeh Sports Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan Sports Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sports Correspondent

Governor Babatunde Fashola presenting the trophy to Moses Samuel at the final of Lagos Governor’s Cup

ewly-crowned champion of Lagos Governor’s Cup, Moses Samuel, has said Nigerian tennis players cannot fully realise their potentials without financial support from corporate organisations. He said that Nigeria was blessed with quality tennis players who have been struggling on the international stage because they do not have the kind of support their counterparts in other countries enjoy. “Our biggest problem is funding. We do not have sponsorship and that is affecting our game. Some

people have said that we do not do well especially in the Governor’s Cup but how can we do well against players who are well exposed? I wish companies can help some of us so that we can continue to bring honour to Nigeria,” he said. The player hopes his success at this year’s Governor’s Cup will attract sponsorship so that he can take his tennis to another level. “I believe my victory in Governor’s Cup is the beginning of good thing to come for me. For example somebody from Etisalat has promised to help and I know by the grace of God something good will come out of that,” he said.

SPORT

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

AFCON ouster: Quit Disu, Nwosu tell Keshi Charles Ogundiya

uper Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has been advised by some former internationals to walk away from the national team in his own interest and that of the nation. The duo of Tunde Disu and Henry Nwosu in separate interviews with our correspondent said Keshi should be honourable enough to step down as the coach of the team to allow for proper restructuring. Speaking with New Telegraph, former Flying Eagles coach, Disu, advised the coach to seek another challenge elsewhere because he has lost the respect of the populace. “Keshi needs a rest now from what he has been expe-

riencing, I will say he should go and get the needed rest in his own interest and that of the nation. “The job of a coach is about hiring and firing and I can say Keshi has not been having the best of time recently, so let him quit so that he can enjoy his wealth,” Disu said. The former NFF Technical Director said football had gone scientific and there was need to keep abreast with the demands of the game. Disu said: “Coaching job is now dynamic. No coach want to lose a game but you have to be intelligent too. When things are not going your way, then quit and improve on yourself so as to come back better. “As a coach, there are so many things to put into consideration when fielding a

player for a game, the technical aspect, the tactical aspect and medical aspect. You cannot ask a player that was sick to play and you would be expecting good result, you are even putting the player at risk.” In his own words, former national team assistant coach, Henry Nwosu, also urged Keshi to call it quits with the Eagles. The current Gateway of Abeokuta technical adviser said: “I am going to call Keshi personally to walk away from the national team and allow a new coach to handle the team. “We cannot continue to do the same thing that has been giving us same result over and over again, we need a new challenge and I don’t think Keshi can give us that.”

Elite referees secure UK entry visas

mmanuel Gyan made the long trip from Obudu after winning the Mountain Race to also claim the men’s professional race of 2nd Lucozade Sport Lagos City Fun Run on November 15 in a time of 28.41.67 seconds and revealed it has been the best ever personal time of his career. Gyan, from Plateau State finished ahead of Williams Kefas of the Nigerian police and Saka Sanusi of the Nigeria Civil Defense Corps to go home with the N150, 000 cash prize.

Emmanuel Tobi

he Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed that the $9m FIFA World Cup largesse which sparked up protest by the Super Eagles players in Brazil is ready for disbursement. NFF Secretary General, Musa Amadu, confirmed on Tuesday that the sum of $3.6m from the $9m will be returned to the Nigerian Government, being the amount given the NFF for preparations for the World Cup. “Government gave $3.6m to the team and we have a letter from the National Sports Commission that says we are obliged to return that money and we will return that money,” said Amadu on Cool FM

Abuja on Tuesday. He added that the leadership crisis that recently engulfed the NFF necessitated the delay in the disbursement of the funds. “We have this money with FIFA and it is safe there, there’s nothing wrong with the money, the money is safe there. But because of all these problems and things happening, it is not even wise to access it now,” he added. “I even remember last week, the board met and decided that at the highest level they will consult and tell people in government that the money is already in our account. So that when the time is right, we will write and if there’s an account directly to the NSC we will send it there.”

CAF appoints Pinnick into AFCON organising body

Mikel in action against South Africa

Mobil School Sports: David’s feat thrills national coach N

ational Athletics Coach Gabriel Okon who was part of the recently concluded Zonal Finals of the AKS/NNPC/MPN Schools athletics championships, has gone back to Abuja with fond memories of the event. “This is a great potential. To have jumped 1.85 metres with an unorthodox style and on a crude surface, this is definitely a great potential worthy of tracking,” he said.

Lucozade Sport Run: Gyan celebrates record timing

lNFF to return $3.6m to Sports Ministry

lNFF names Ebikagboro U-23 team media officer

igeria’s 11 elite referees listed for a two–week capacity–enhancing programme in England have been granted entry visas into the United Kingdom. The referees, constituting the first batch of arbiters to be afforded capacity–enhancing opportunities with a view to improving officiating of the domestic league, are Ferdinand Udoh, Shuaibu Abdullahi, Usman Isah, Samuel Pwadutakan, Tope Orowole, Egudia Efosa, Peter Ogwu, Paul Umuago, Musa Dung Davon, Olayinka Olayide and Ukah Ndubuisi. The delegation, to be led by President of Nigeria Referees Association, Alhaji Ahmed Maude and Chairman of the NFF Referees Committee, Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed Fresh, will depart for London on Sunday, and will be at the English FA High Performance Training Facility at St. Georges Park, Burton-on-Trent on Monday and Tuesday. Meanwhile, President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick has disclosed that the new NFF administration is striving to enhance the capacity of Nigeria’s referees in order to be able to improve the lot of football on the domestic front. He said: “We want to start with the referees because they are critical to the matches. Referees have the power to influence the course and complexion of games, for good or for bad. If the referees are firm and incorruptible, we would be on the road to sanity.”

Eagles’ $9m World Cup money ready -Amadu

“This happens to be my personal best time in the 10km race since I started running the marathon and my appreciation goes to the organisers, Lucozade Sport who made it possible,” Gyan said. “I feel good and happy because this second edition of the Lucozade Sports Lagos City Fun Run was very tough and brought out the best in me.” He called for increased corporate support for sport, especially the long distance races.

Coach Okon was referring to David Ukoh who at the Ikot Ekpene Zone of the competition won the High Jump event by setting a new championship mark of 1.85 metres to erase the two-year-old record of 1.75 metres held by Blessing Udo. According to the coach, timings during grass roots athletics events may be suspect, but when it comes to jumps and throws, you can hardly fault the distances and heights. “I was there myself to measure the height and I can tell you he is a very good jumper. I spoke to him and am in touch. I can see him jumping higher in a better environment,” he said. The student of Top Faith Secondary School Mkpatak, Essien Udim, attributed his mark to the availability of decent sport equipment in his school, and he is sure that with enhanced infrastructure at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium, he will do even better.

he Confederation of African Football has appointed the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick, as a member of the Organising Committee for the Africa Cup of Nations. In a letter signed by CAF President, Alhaji (Dr.) Issa Hayatou, CAF invited the NFF supremo to the opening ceremony of the 30th Africa Cup of Nations in Malabo on January 17, 2015, and also to coordinate one of the four centres during the three –week, 16 –nation tournament. Similarly, The NFF has appointed hardworking broadcast journalist, Timi Ebikagboro as the Media Officer of the U-23 National Team, otherwise known as Dream Team. Ebikagboro who has worked

at the Delta State Broadcasting Service, based in Warri, for the past 15 years, will resume immediately with the U-23 squad at the FIFA Goal Project in Abuja under Head Coach, Samson Siasia. The team’s immediate assignment is an 11th All –Africa Games qualifying fixture against Gabon, with the first leg away in Libreville in February 2015.

Pinnick

NFF in generational next plan for Eagles Ajibade Olusesan

igerian-born players in the Diasporas will form the fulcrum of the Super Eagles that the Nigeria Football Federation is planning for the future. The President of the federation, Amaju Pinnick, said that there were many unsung Nigerian-born players who are honing their skills in top clubs abroad. He said there was the need to approach them with a view to bringing them to play in the Super Eagles. He said they were compiling data on the youngsters

Akpom

and will start approaching the players. “We are starting a project we call Generation Next. There are Nigerian-born players in clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea and others that many people don’t know and we intend to bring them home to play for the new Super Eagles we envisage. For instance we have about five players in Arsenal alone who are playing in their reserve teams, their central defenders are Nigerians and with due respect they are better than those we have now in Nigeria. “We can have more than 10 of these players and I will start to travel to meet with them and their clubs. They will be willing to play for Nigeria because it will boost their careers. Playing international matches will accelerate their development from reserve teams to playing in the main squads,” he said.

Travel Advisory 53

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

International Flight Schedule

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

British Airways flights from Nigeria Flight path

Distance

Duration

Lagos (LOS) to London Heathrow (LHR)

4990km

6 hours 20 minutes

Abuja (ABV) to London Heathrow (LHR)

4762km

6 hours 25 minutes

Flight path

Distance

Duration

London Heathrow (LHR) to Lagos (LOS)

4990km

6 hours 20 minutes

London Heathrow (LHR) to Abuja (ABV)

4762km

6 hours 25 minutes

British Airways flights to Nigeria

Flights from Nigeria (Lagos, Abuja) to New York JFK Airliner

Airports

Stops

Arik Air

Lagos (LOS) to New York (JFK) non-stop (11h)

Delta Airlines

Abuja (ABV) to New York (JFK) non-stop (14h)

British Airways Lagos (LOS) to New York (JFK) 1-stop (17h) London (LHR) Alitalia Airlines

Lagos to New York (JFK)

1-stop (21h) Rome (FCO)

Emirates Airlines

Lagos to New York (JFK)

1-stop (21h) Dubai (DXB)

KLM

Lagos to New York (JFK)

1-stop (23h) Amsterdam (AMS)

Turkish Airlines Lagos to New York (JFK)

1-stop (29h) Atatürk (IST)

Qatar Airways

Lagos to New York (JFK)

1-stop (29h) Doha (DOH)

Virgin Atlantic

Lagos to New York (JFK)

1-stop (31h) London (LHR)

Arik Airlines– International Travel Tips Passport & Visas Travel Tips • Check the passport and visa requirements for the countries you are visiting / transiting in on your planned journey - make sure you apply for them well in advance of your date of travel. • Check the validity of your Passport and Visas. • Don't forget your passport and visa on the day of travel. • If you lose your passport or visa please contact the embassy or consulate immediately in the country you are traveling in. • Some airlines including Arik air Nigeria also give leverage to planned journey due to delay in Visa processing procedure so you must consult your travel service provider in case of such conditions.

Security Tips for Travel • Put a luggage strap around your case for easy identification and extra security. • If you lose your passport or visa please contact the embassy or consulate immediately in the country you are traveling in. • Never carry packages on behalf of anyone else, however genuine they seem to be never leave luggage unattended at airports, this creates a high security risk. • Before departure you must have knowledge about your destination as well, if you are new visitor then travel guide is best option for you. The most leading airlines including Arik airpresent travel guide modules to air voyagers during arik air flight.

News Feature

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigeria’s crisis of cronyism and conscience Orji Uzor Kalu

any will tell you Nigeria is undergoing a highly sensitive period of revitalization. That our country, home to the largest economy on the continent, is making bold strides to position itself as a conduit for African integration and a leader in its geopolitics. However, as we approach what can only be described as hotly contested elections in February of 2015, one thing remains abundantly clear – oligarchy is oligarchy. Feudalism may forever be feudalism. Nigeria’s polity remains in cyclical quagmire and its casualties are the very citizens being told that change is on the way. This week, I announced that I was pulling out of the Senatorial race in my district, that of Abia State’s Northern region. I did so, not because I did not believe that we could fundamentally enhance my home State’s infrastructure, supply electricity to Abians and work with our partners in the public sector so as to ensure the next generation of Nigerians are not disillusioned by false promises and self-serving bureaucracy. No. I left for the same reasons that so many of those before me have – out of disgust for the cronyism that denies innovation, entrepreneurship or even competition to flourish in the private and indeed political arena. For Abia, much like Nigeria, is suffering from a crisis of such

cronyism, one entirely revisable yet utterly out of our grasp. We’ve heard this tale before. Our military, though adamantly entrusted to protect our citizenry, has sometimes been used (historically noted) as a weapon for the aims of the political elite. We look no further than in the words and actions of the resurgent spirit of Fela Kuti to view a depiction of governance run amok, free will and speech stifled and glad-handing ensuring a select few reap the benefits of natural resource abundance, while the remaining in the periphery suffer. In Abia, as but an example, we have seen journalists arrested arbitrarily, ripped from their families, beaten and thrown in to detainment cells for prolonged periods of time for speaking out against injustice. We have seen propaganda and hate-speech overtake that of opportunity on the campaign trail; mudslinging as opposed to the offering of practical solutions for taking our province and country forward. My successor as Governor, a gentleman by the name of Theodore (T.A) Orji and his actions are not solely guilty of this. And admittedly, to lopsidedly slant the Senatorial playing field in favour of his cohorts is not unprecedented in our jewel of the ECOWAS. However, it remains morbidly disappointing when undertaken while we collectively wish to enter a period of societal maturity and brotherhood

amidst the regionalism and tribalism that certain cabals have leveraged to divide us. And, despite the integration of foreign partners from China, India and around the world, touted and promoted as effecting lasting change for the future, Nigeria’s naira hit a record low this week. The fall comes amidst political concerns and moreover, that a slide in global oil prices could undermine our central bank’s ambitions to keep afloat our currency. This is also in part due to Nigeria’s unfortunate importing of approximately 85 per cent of what it consumes, meaning that the dollar demand is indelibly tied to the structure of the country. There is work to be done to right the wrongs of the hierarchical system of dependency. And yet nonetheless, transformative Nigeria is still on the upswing. I have the utmost faith in President Goodluck Jonathan to carry forward our mission and better integrate us tomorrow on the world stage. Today, however, I pause and reflect on how far we have yet to go in order to actualize that dream. • Editor’s Note: Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu is a former two-term Governor of Nigeria’s Abia State and previously, a 2014 Senatorial candidate for its Abia North district. He is presently shortlisted on Africa’s Wealthiest individuals by Forbes Magazine and remains Chairman of SLOK Group Nigeria, a multinational organization he founded.

St. Mathew Daniel: Believe me, a child sat on stove chop and disappear. And the office of the public defender is there, knowing that a whole lot things impede the woman, where they can go in and have legal aid, there is the criminal Justice system in place. We are trying as the domestic violence law has been enacted in five states: Jigawa, Ekiti, Lagos, Cross River and Rivers State are coming up with theirs as well. Mrs Erelu Fayemi has done well as she went further to open up a diary of sex offenders, just like as it is done abroad. but the federal government needs to be really focused there are several bills waiting to be attended to at the National assembly. There is a Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba who came up with a bill that confronts these issues. There are quite a few international laws that needs to be domesticated.

Dramatic, lively and thorough are some of the leadership qualities that best describe the founder of Acts Generation, Mrs. Laila St. Mathew Daniel. She took time to explain the theme for the NGO’s November 28 international conference, writes SONY NEME. Excerpts…

cts Generation is involved in whatever that concerns the voiceless in our society. And our modus is going out there on the streets to sensitize the public not minding any form of intimidation. So when the Chibok girls kidnap occurred, we were out there to lend our voice. Before then there was this apprehension about coming out on anything related to the insurgency as they said that the fear of Boko Haram was the beginning of wisdom. On February 13, Chibok girls were kidnapped. Before then kidnap had been going on for so long. I was pondering on what to do, when the worst started happening. At that point I spoke with a few people on the need to hit the road wearing black with placards. Their nod encouraged us. Before then we were more on the social network. And as the way forward was agreed on, almost all members of our network threw in their support. Though some expressed reservation about the risks inherent, but we were not deterred. Thereafter we started off with the need to go beyond the harsh tag into the emerging concern about a new trend on abuses such as domestic violence, rape and human trafficking. Though lots of other people are on it but we need to mobilise more people to curb immorality in our society. First we need an approach through a conference where we can

Laila St. Mathew Daniel

talk about the interventions. We need to sit down and talk about why these continue to emerge, and let us talk about possible solutions. At the end of the day we will be able to come up with papers which we will give to different agencies, NGOs and the government. this is the first of its kind from us. Next year’s conference will be for two years because under domestic violence there are so many issues to be treated, so many on sexual harassment so also on trafficking. We will be looking at legal, policy and other forms of interventions for a solution based conference. Has government done enough on the issue of domestic violence? In fact Lagos State government is blazing the trail, because they came out with domestic laws in 2007 and Governor Babatunde Fashola has not joked on this. They also came out with child abuse laws as well. They don’t joke with that. recently they came up with another law that 18 woman is pregnant and she identifies you as the man behind the show you will look after that pregnancy. So no more

Like you may be aware, these issues are not only suffered by women, are there any window of opportunities for men and boys who are also abused but have almost no NGO to fight their case? What we are doing with the one day conference falls within the 16 days activities against gender based violence. it cuts across – Women, men and children. Yes we know that most often, men also get abused as well, but what is the percentage that is what we are talking about? And what is the role of women in the society, because a cracked woman cracks everything about her as she would not be able to give her best. It involves everybody from the schools, corporate bodies, religious institutions and government as well as the media as well. The media in particular - as it concerns violence and domestic assaults, and the place of media. Luckily you are reporting more. I tell people that it is not that such abuses have increased, but because the media is reporting more about it that is the reason. It is good that you raised this question on the abuse of male aides we are aware and we are doing something about it because both domestic

violence and child abuse depends on the report that we receive. because Act Generation is more about awareness and sensitization as it is not just about organizing seminars and conference, but getting to the grassroots, and letting people to be aware of the intervention areas. in all our handbills we let you know how to reach us and what to do at any situation. We have gone to the markets, and we know also that people have the fear of reporting and the resultant backlash. so what we say is call in and we will not disclose who you are. We have had cases of seven years old who are meant to be selling akara (bean cake) at school hours, and lots more of issues on child abuse and much more. In such cases I move in, and because I work closely with the Lagos State government, I call the child abuse center and I work with the instrument of the state. About three weeks ago we had a case of a girl child whom was made to sit on a stove, and she has blister all over her - on her vagina and her bottom - I have the photographs. It was sent online. That is why we say women and children. The reason why you don’t hear more about the men is because it is an ego thing. How can you go and report that your wife is abusing you, or that your wife beats you up? Yet a lot of men go through it. But a lot go through emotional punch. that is why when you see our photos, you see a punch coming from the mouth. One of the things we do also is to counsel the women and train them not to look for trouble, because everybody has a trigger point, and when you trigger someone who is not psychologically stable enough, coming from a cracked background, someone whose esteem has been eroded, and you now erode what is left of him, then you should expect a reaction. We all have the DNA of reacting to danger. We either fight or take a flight. These are the two reactions. All the NGOs are in one way or the other dealing with these problems that is why I keep emphasizing on the need for us all to collaborate.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

Transforming the Maritime Sector: Nigerian Navy to the rescue

ne of Africa’s foremost political scientists and statesmen, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Turakin Adamawa, Sardaunan Ganye, for mer Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, turned 68 yesterday. Here’s wishing him more prosperous years of service to humanity. I have thus found it expedient to allow Professor Margee Ensign, President of the American University of Nigeria, Yola, to have a share of this page to pay tribute to this man that has, in real ways, transformed the lives of a countless number of Nigerians. My part of the page celebrates the Nigerian Navy; taking a brief look at its many important contributions towards transforming the nation’s maritime sector, and by extension, the Nigerian economy. The lack of adequate knowledge of the Navy and its roles, functions, operational and strategic assets by the political class has made the management of this arm of he Nigerian Armed Forces a very difficult one. Since his assumption of office on January 20 this year, the current Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, clearly the best person so far to occupy the office, has embarked on noble efforts to totally transform the Navy, making it a frontline contributor to making our economy the largest in Africa. Since its establishment 58 years ago by an Act of the Parliament, the Navy has been saddled with the responsibility of the maritime defence of Nigeria. In concert with the Army and the Airforce, the Nigerian Navy has gallantly taken part in various international peace keeping operations, and has been part of the Joint Task Force (JTF) operating in 32 states of the Federation. Nigeria’s maritime trade accounts for approximately 60 percent of our national GDP, and this translates to over 70 percent of our national income. As a major maritime country in the West and Central African region, international and domestic shipping traffic in Nigerian waters is considerably high throughout the year. The growing economy also attracts significant level of liner and tramp traffic to Nigerian ports on a daily basis. The stability and efficiency of Nigeria’s international trading systems which shipping constitutes a key component, as well as the sustainable inflow of foreign capital and technology in oil and gas investment, depends on the performance the Navy as well as other security authorities and relevant government agencies. Clearly, the overall performance of the Nigerian Navy has a direct effect on the economy of this country. The incidences of piracy and armed robbery at sea have been a challenge for security agencies in Nigeria. However, the Navy, especially under its current leadership, has gradually been reducing these incidences, owing to enhanced capacity and operational platforms. This year alone, the Navy has seen to prosecution and dismantling of illegal refineries and eradication of crude oil theft, culminating in the seizures of over 100 vessels. This has saved the country billions of dollars in revenue. The Navy has been playing a key role towards attainment of the nation’s developmental index. It is involved in the current effort at

Brass Tacks SULEIMAN UBA GAYA suleimanuba1@gmail.com 08035676295 (sms only)

Jibrin

various internal security arrangements, especially the war against insurgency and terror in the North-

Eastern flank of Nigeria. Though the Nigerian Navy Transformation Plan (NNTP) predates the current leadership of the Navy, having being set up on December 11, 2011, the fact remains more implementation milestones have been achieved this year. Only last August, for example, the NNTP was revised, providing more realistic attainables and overview up to 2020. The current leadership has also been intensifying on institutional cooperation with other security agencies, especially in the key area of intelligence sharing and gathering. Recognising the need for information sharing, the Navy has installed the Regional Maritime Awareness Capability (RMAC) for NIMASA, serving as a useful tool in monitoring illegal activities within our waters. The achievements of the Nigerian Navy, this year alone, cannot be

captured in a brief space like this, and it has been so recorded inspite of the fact that a lot remains to be desired in adequate funding of its operations. The Navy is not insulated from the existing budget constraints in the Nigerian defence sector. Other challenges, for example, include shortage of offshore patrol vessels. Also, the Gulf of Guinea is a vast expanse of water, stretching almost 6,000km from Angola to Senegal. There are, in addition to that, inadequate legal frameworks for prosecuting intercepted criminals. As fervently prayed for by different speakers at the Chief of the Naval Staff Annual Conference that took place earlier this month in Lokoja, the Nigerian Navy should make a case for direct fiscal allocations for assets, such as the Hydrographic School, as well as commence lobbying for a share of proceeds generated by agencies, such as NIMASA, NPA and the Customs Service, towards creating a sustainable, strong base for operational funds. The Navy should also canvas for the cost of capital assets to be funded by the first line of charge of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, especially for major assets acquisitions. The political class will also need to do more to identify with the Nigerian Navy, appreciate its indispensable role in the running of our economy, and strengthen it to achieve lots more.

The quintessential Atiku @ 68 Margee Ensign

s President of the American University of Nigeria, I have been asked for my reflections on the occasion of the birthday of our university’s founder and benefactor, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar. I know I speak for the entire University community when I say that our Founder’s generosity--which I daily experience first hand--has been astonishing and truly humbling. I am, therefore, very happy to have been given this opportunity to express our gratitude for all that he has done for AUN, for education in Nigeria, and even the rest of the world. However, I have a problem. How do you begin to thank someone whose generosity has reached such truly epic proportions, proportions quite without precedent or parallel in Nigerian history? How do you thank someone who, beginning with the distinguished ABTI (now AUN) Academy, has created the finest educational endeavour—from pre-school to the doctoral level—in all of Nigeria? How do you thank someone who has financed the building of the entire AUN infrastructure? From power plants to student hostels, from computers to desks to security guard uniforms, from roads and classrooms to the greatest assembly hall in northern Nigeria, all were made possible by his largess. Just this fall, we finished the construction of our revolutionary new e-library, in a wonderful and elegant new building. That library has won international awards and global recognition. He built this award winningLibrary. How do you thank someone who has gone on to underwrite major scholarship aid for countless talented Nigerian students who would otherwise have lacked the means to attend the American University of Nigeria? Growing up a poor orphan himself in the Yola area, he has never forgotten those in need, nor the road out of

poverty that education provided him. One of the most influential educational experiences of his youth came from American Peace Corps teaching volunteers, young men who taught the boy Atiku to think for himself, and to believe in himself. The former Vice President of Nigeria, His Excellency is now paving the road out of poverty for other deserving young Nigerians, employing the same American pedagogy that helped to transform his life, and his future. AUN is the only Americanstyle university south of the Sahara, and in only ten short years has established itself as one of the most important universities in West Africa. Nor has his generosity been limited to the support of the schools and university that he himself has founded. He has personally provided scholarships to thousands of young Nigerians, scholarships to fund their study both in Nigeria and abroad. He has built hundreds of schools throughout the country. He has even funded a Professorial Chair in African History at Oxford University, extending his educational philanthropy to the United Kingdom! His exemplary record of public service and private philanthropy led the American National Peace Corps Association to award him the Harris Woffard Award in 2012. The citation read in part: “No private business man in Africa has worked harder for democracy or contributed more to higher education than Atiku Abubakar.” On a more personal note, let me confess that I have often urged him to take greater public credit for his generosity. As a university president, I know that, in general, the way one rewards major donors is to provide “naming opportunities.” Donors like to see their names in prominent places, usually on sports facilities and other large buildings. Not His Excellency. No, he said. Do not name the new Commencement hall in my honour. No, he said. Do not name the new Library in

my honour. But there was one project particularly close to his heart. On this one he relented. Since its inception, our Founder had envisioned AUN to be not only an Americanstyle university (and one with world-class standards and expectations) but also to be something quite new. It was to be Africa’s first “Development University.” It would have as its singular mission the fostering and supporting of research, teaching, and practice in how to bring sustainable development to the peoples of Africa; economic development, political development, educational development. AUN would be fully involved in its community and its nation, not only training its students in information technology, public health, entrepreneurial skills, petroleum chemistry and the like, but sending those students out to learn first hand about their society and its problems and potential. They would learn about its environmental challenges, about its illiteracy, and the barriers to economic progress. But perhaps most importantly, they would learn about Nigeria’s people, so eager for a better life and the opportunity to build it for themselves and for their children. Our various development efforts in peace-making, teaching, environmental restoration and poverty eradication have now been brought together in one place, located in the gleaming new Robert A. Pastor Library and e-Learning Center. And that Center now, with his permission, bears our founder’s name. It is the “Atiku Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Development.” Thus it is with boundless appreciation, respect and great affection--on behalf of everyone at the American University of Nigeria and the Atiku Center--that I send His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, our founder and patron, our very best wishes and prayers on the occasion of his birthday. • Professor Ensign is the President, American University of Nigeria, Yola.

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On additional state for the South East

olitical leaders in Nigeria must one way or the other and sooner than later resolve the question of an additional State for the South East Geo-Political Zone. The creation of an additional State out of the South East has become a recurring decimal in almost all the major Conferences called to either restructure the country or find ways of dealing with the major challenges of the Nigerian nation. The agitation for an additional state for the South East is popular and has bi-partisan support. Most of the political leaders and major stakeholders across the political spectrum support the creation of an additional State fir the South East which they consider as rational and meant to heal the wounds of the past, promote reconciliation and guarantee equity and justice within the Nigerian federation. The agitation is also premised on imbalances within the Nigerian federation. By the non constitutional nomenclature in Nigeria, there are six States in the South-South, SouthWest, North–East and North Central Geo-Political Zones. The North-West Geo-Political Zone has a total of seven States while the South East GeoPolitical Zone is the only zone with five States. The logic in the agitation is that no clearly defined criteria and logic was used in the creation of most of the States in Nigeria, an additional state should be created in the South East geo-Political Zone to bring them at par with the other zones except the North West geopolitical zone. Let me state from the onset that I support the creation of an additional State in the South East Geo-Political Zone. I supported the said creation as a Civil Society Delegate to the 2014 National Conference. I supported it because it accords with justice, equity and good conscience. But my support may pale to insignificance because of some unresolved fundamental issues around the creation of an additional State for the South East. The first issue revolves around the opportunism, lack of savvy and political naivety of some of the South East Delegates to the 2014 National Conference. The second issue revolves around the constitutional issues involved in the creation of States and the third revolves around the place and status of the report of the National Conference. It is on record that the South East Delegates more or less went to the 2014 National Conference with two core issues. The first is the creation of an additional state out of the South East and the second is the restructuring of the country along zonal lines. Most South East delegates displayed a lot of passion and enthusiasm on the issue of an additional state for the South East. They lobbied for it. They used it as a bargaining chip with the leaders of the other geo-political zones and they insisted that the creation of the

Hard Choices FESTUS OKOYE

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President Goodluck Jonathan

additional state is the most rational and just thing to do. On this I agree and I also participated in the lobbying and advocacy around an additional state for the South East. However, I am of the firm view that the opportunism and self centeredness displayed by some of the South East Delegates account for the State creation confusion and the proposal for the creation of additional 18 States in Nigeria. At the crucial point, some of the South East Delegates refused to agree on where the additional state will come from and the name and headquarters of the additional State. Some of them claimed that they should be allowed to “go home” and resolve it. Some claimed that the South East Governors met on the issue and could not resolve it and wondered how the South East Delegates will resolve it. Some threatened to abandon the State creation project if their preferred choice is not submitted. This disagreement created the loophole that gave rise to the additional 18 states. This is self evident because, a critical look at the resolutions of the National Conference on the issue of State creation bears this out and clearly showed that the opportunism and self centeredness of some of the South East Delegates created the 18 State confusion at the National Conference. To buttress this, I call to evidence the Report of the 2014 National Conference Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government. The Committee in its report to the 2014 National Con-

ference submitted that “the subject of State creation has remained a huge political issue in Nigeria. The Committee examined the Reports of the 2005 National Political Reform Conference and the Report of the Presidential Committee on Review of Outstanding Issues from Recent Constitutional Conferences 2012(the Belgore Report) and after wide consultations and extensive deliberations and in the interest of equity and fairness the Committee resolved by consensus as follows (i) There shall be created an additional State for the South East Zone and (ii) that all other requests for State creation should be considered on merit.” When the time came for the submission of the name and capital of the new State to be created, the individualism, opportunism and self centeredness of some of the South East Delegates took the better part of them. They allowed other geo-political zones that came to the Conference to canvass other core issues to sneak in and dilute the gains already made in terms of the creation of the additional State for the South East. When the bazaar for new States started, it caught some of the zones unawares. This can be seen from the report of the National Conference itself. The 2104 National Conference adopted the report of the Conference Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government that “(I) there shall be created an additional State for the South East Zone and (ii) that all other requests for State creation should be considered on merit.” Additionally the 2014 National Conference approved the criteria for the creation of new States and stated that “States sought to be created must be viable. In considering viability, the following should be taken into consideration. a. Any new State should be economically viable. b. it should have human, natural and material resources’. It should have a minimum land mass; and d. the viability of the existing State(s) should be taken into consideration as well, so as not to create a situation where new State(s) would leave the existing State(s) unviable. That State creation should be on the basis of parity between geo-political zones to ensure equality of Zones. Additional States should be created in each of the six(6)geo-political zones to bring the number of States in each zone to nine(9); That eighteen(18) more States should be created as follows: Apa State from the present Benue

State; Edu State from the present Niger State; Kainji State from the present Kebbi State; Katagun State from the present Bauchi State; Savannah State from the present Borno State; Amana State from the present Adamawa State; Gurara State from the present Kaduna State; Ghari State from Kano State; Etiti State from the present South East Zone; Aba State from the present Abia State; Adada State from the present Enugu State; Njaba/Anim State from the present Anambra and Imo States; Anioma State from the present Delta State; Ogoja State from the present Cross River State; Ijebu State from the present Ogun State; New Oyo State from the present Oyo State” To underscore the fact that the State creation for certain zones was an afterthought, the Conference recommended “That the third State to be created in the South-South Zone will be named later, along with its State capital; and that the third State to be created in the South-West Zone will be named later, along with its State capital.” The Conference also proposed that “the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(s amended) shall be amended to allow for less onerous process for creation of States” It can be seen that the recommendation of the National Conference for the creation of an additional State for the South East stands on its own and the creation of other States are clustered together. The logic is that if the South East Delegates agreed on where the new State will be created from, it would have stood as a single item that will go to the National Assembly requiring creation and consequential amendment to the Constitution. Clustering the 17 States and the one additional State for the South East together is akin to saying that no State will be created. As the National Conference acknowledged, the process and procedure for State creation in the Constitution is onerous and cumbersome. It is difficult to satisfy unless the political leaders from all the States of the Federation agree before the proposal is presented to the National Assembly and thereafter it goes to a referendum. Amending section 8 of the Constitution to provide for a less cumbersome procedure for State creation requires the concurrence of four-fifths majority of members of the National Assembly and the approval of the Houses of Assembly of not less than two-thirds of all the States. My submission is that the political leaders from the South East GeoPolitical Zone must agree on where the lone State from the South East should be created from and it should be presented to the National Assembly as a single issue. Let the National Assembly deal with it using the doctrine of necessity or present it to the State Assemblies and it goes to referendum as a lone issue without encumbrances.

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