Binder1 sept 2, 2014

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Vol, 1 No. 196

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Ebola: 271 under surveillance in Lagos, P'Harcourt lMinister denies fresh outbreak in Abuja lFashola gets FG’s N200m donation Appolonia Adeyemi, Wole Shadare, Muritala Ayinla and Obinna Odoh

N

o fewer than 271 Nigerians are under surveillance in Lagos

and Port Harcourt, Rivers State as a result of the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, disclosed this yesterday in

Abuja during an emergency meeting of the National Council on Health on the epidemic.

"Now as of August 31, the number of contacts under surveillance in Lagos

stands at 72 while in Port Harcourt, the total number of contacts under surveillance stands at 199. There is nobody under surveillance in Enugu presently and no case of EVD in

Enugu State.

"As of August 31,278 contacts in Lagos State had completed the 21-day surveillance and have been discharged from the isolaCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Chukwu

My Boko Haram story,

by Sheriff, ex-Borno gov

lSays APC is Tinubu's personal estate

By Eric Osagie

F

ormer Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has dispelled insinuations that he has a hand in the insurgency unleashed on the North-East and other parts of Nigeria by Boko Haram.

Sheriff, in an exclusive interview with New Telegraph, said he was neither a sponsor nor did he have any affiliation to the terrorist group that has killed about 3,500 people this year alone.

Quick Read Chime: Onyebuchi’s exit, best interest of Enugu

Sheriff, who has been a member of opposition parties since he began his political career, also spoke on why he left the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State yesterday declared that the ouster of his former deputy, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, was in the best interest of the state.

Full interview on pages 13-15

}3

He described the APC, of which he was a founding member after the fusion of opposition parties, including the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP), of

Oyakhilome: Church members seek God's intervention }8

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

If for any reason I am connected to Boko Haram, I am not above the law, I would have been prosecuted like any other person. It is not for an Australian to come and say that I am a member or sponsor of Boko Haram

NIGCOMSAT multimillion naira satellite TV deal with Netlinks collapses }5

Sheriff

Troops foil terrorists’ bid to capture Bama LAGOS

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l50 insurgents killed in battle Emmanuel Onani, Temitope Ogunbanke and Ahmed Miringa

T

he army yesterday engaged the Boko Haram in a gun duel to ward

off attacks by the terrorist group on Bama town, the headquarters of Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.

By the time the battle subsided, over 50 terror-

ists were left dead.

Yesterday's attack on Bama was part of efforts by the outlawed group to expand its 'territory' after capturing Gwoza, where it had turned into

the headquarters of its self-declared 'Islamic Caliphate,' and Madagali, in Adamawa State.

However, it was learnt that the military was planCONTINUED ON PAGE 3

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Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

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Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

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Chime: Onyebuchi’s exit, best interest of Enugu

lNwoye takes oath of office as Enugu dep gov Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

G

overnor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State yesterday declared that the ouster of his former deputy, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, was in the best interest of the state.

He said the development will ensure effective running of government machineries in the state.

Chime spoke during the swearing-in of the new Deputy Governor, Rev. Raphael Ifeanyichukwu Nwoye, who was screened and cleared by the state House of Assembly last

50 terrorists killed CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ning a secret campaign to dislodge the insurgents who have turned the palace of the Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Mohammed Idrissa Timta, to their seat of power.

A resident of Bama, Mallam Ibrahim Abubakar, told New Telegraph yesterday that over 200 terrorists stormed the town through the BamaBanki-Gwoza Road but they were intercepted by troops about five kilometres away to the town.

He said the insurgents were in a convoy of military vehicles and motorcycles and were dressed in military uniform.

The insurgents were armed with sophisticated weapons and local improved explosive devices (IEDs).

According to him, the shots of Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) as well as bomb explosions forced hundreds of residents to flee the town to neighbouring villages and towns, including Maiduguri and Konduga.

Another resident, Alhaji Mohammed Bunu Ahmed, who spoke on the phone, said: "Yes, there was an attempt by the Boko Haram insurgents to enter Bama and capture it as they did in Gwoza some weeks back. But thank God for the good efforts of the troops stationed near the mobile police unit who repelled the attack in a joint effort with their colleagues from the 21 Brigade of the Nigerian Army who gallantly succeeded in repelling them wherein 59 Boko Haram terrorists were killed and 30 others injured.

"The fierce battle between the army and the insurgents forced many of our people to flee to Konduga and Maiduguri for safety."

When New Telegraph visited Konduga Motor Park in Maiduguri, located on Bama road, over 200 internally displaced persons from Bama town

were seen waiting for possible government intervention.

One of those who fled, Alhaji Masa Bukar, said: "We are here because we woke up this morning as early as 5am and while we were praying, we started hearing gunshots and RPGs shots around the Bama Technical College and mobile police unit in Bama along Banki road.

“We were advised to even leave the town by the military and Civilian JTF. They asked us to leave Bama to give them the chance to fight the Boko Haram people without any let or hindrance.

So, we have to leave but nobody was killed or had any casualty. : "Our people are still coming from Bama; as you can see people are still coming out of Bama town, though a few hours ago we saw military reinforcement moving towards Bama from Maiduguri.

On our way coming, we saw many military vehicles and armoured tanks heading to Bama."

A traditional title holder in Bama, who does not want his name in print, said in Maiduguri that the people of Bama were highly excited with the new efforts of the military in the area and the relocation of the 21 Armoured Brigade Battalion to Bama.

"Even the reinforcement being done by the GOC now is a clear indication that the military is serious and ready to get rid of the insurgency unlike in the past," he added.

Confirming the gun battle in a text message, the Director of Public Relations, Defence Headquarters', Major General Chris Olukolade, said: “Yes the attack on Bama is being repelled. I cannot tell casualty figure now but everything necessary will be done to contain the insurgents.”

Also, the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri has reviewed CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Tuesday.

Chime said: "Drawing the analogy of a broken down vehicle, we have just replaced a bad spark plug, the vehicle is repaired and journey will be smooth again.

"What has happened and I believe it happened in the best interest of Enugu State and not only government."

Nwoye’s oath of office was administered by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice innocent Umezurike.

The event, which took place at the Executive Chambers of the Government House, Enugu came on the heels of the im-

peachment, a week ago, of Onyebuchi by the state Assembly.

While congratulating the new deputy governor, Governor Chime said that with the development, the machinery of government will continue to run smoothly.

According to the governor, the new Deputy Governor was not new to him as both had served together as commissioners in the previous administration, adding that he was sure that Nwoye would bring his experience and background "not just as a Minister of God but as a fine gentleman" to bear in the discharge of his duties.

He enjoined the deputy governor to serve with due diligence and cooperation with the government as well as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In his response, the new deputy governor expressed gratitude to God and to Governor Chime for the opportunity to serve in his new capacity.

He lauded the vision and good works of the governor and pledged his unalloyed support and commitment to ensure that Enugu people continued to enjoy the benefits of good governance being delivered by the Chime administration.

Nwoye was serving as the Bishop in charge of the Ugwuaji Awkunanaw, Enugu District of the

Christ Ascension Church.

His father, Apostle (Prof.)

O. N. Godwin is the founder and head of the church.

Nwoye had earlier served as Commissioner for Environment and later, Caretaker Chairman of Nkanu East Local Council during Chimaroke Nnamani administration.

He hails from the same community- Isiogbo Nara, Nkanu East Local Government Area, as his predecessor, Onyebuchi. He is also the President General of the Isiogbo Nara town union.

The event was witnessed by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Eugene Odo, and other top government officials.

L-R: Chairman, MTN Nigeria, Dr. Pascal Dozie; Executive Secretary, Nonny Ugboma and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, during the presentation of personal protective items against Ebola Virus Disease, donated by MTN for healthcare workers to the governor, in Lagos …yesterday

US tells Nigerians: Don't be discouraged in electoral process Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

T

he United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, yesterday told Nigerians not to be discouraged in the nation's electoral process.

Entwisle, who was speaking at a training programme for journalists in Abuja, noted that genuine change through democratic process is "absolutely possible".

He recalled that some 50 years ago, African-Americans led by Black Minority leader, King Martain Lurther (Jnr) were agitating for their right to be allowed to participate in the electoral process. "Today, an African-American is the president of the United States. Election matters and the votes can count," Ambassador Entwisle added.

He stated that America desires to see a free, fair and credible elections devoid of violence in Nigeria, and urged media practitioners to demand that politicians who may come to them for coverage to pledge for non-violence during the election.

"I have been asking the media and individual Nigerians to do the same: make it clear that if a candidate wants your vote or wants to appear on your radio or TV station or in your newspapers, he or she must make the pledge that they will not advocate, foment, or condone violence before, during, or after the elections.

"Nigerians must demand such a commitment from those who are seeking their approval to govern.

"The people of Nigeria and Nigeria’s friends and allies around the world are

deeply interested in the 2015 elections and deeply invested in ensuring that those elections are free, fair, peaceful and credible.

"The United States stands with Nigeria on your journey towards perfecting your democracy, I want to make it clear that we do so as your friends and partners. You have many friends and partners who want Nigeria to succeed, and the U.S. stands at the front of that line," he added.

He described the workshop as one of the ways in which America is demonstrating deep commitment to supporting Nigeria to ensure that elections are free, fair, peaceful, and credible.

The Ambassador noted that the recent Ekiti and Osun governorship elections were solid examples of what happens when everyone, both the govern-

ment and citizens, commit themselves to ensuring that the electoral process is respected.

In his remark, President of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), Muhammed Garba, noted that the 2015 general election is important to all journalists especially because it will further stabilise democracy and strengthen the democratic skills in Nigerians.

He added that the NUJ is committed to improving the ethical standard of news reportage during elections.

"We are keen in ensuring that Nigerian journalists undertake their professional duties within the ambit of the Electoral Law and other regulations.

"Professionally, we desire to improve the news judgement of journalists as it affects elections and elections related issues."

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Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Ebola: Minister denies fresh outbreak in Abuja CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

tion centre. In Enugu, all the six identified contacts have completed the 21-day observation period and have been discharged from surveillance,” he said.

He added that the number of people under surveillance in Lagos State was decreasing while that of Port Harcourt was increasing because of the number of people who had contacts with the late Dr. Iyke Enemuo, who treated an official of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) that brought the disease to Rivers State.

Chukwu also denied the existence of a suspected case of outbreak in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The minister stated that it was expected that few contacts would develop the EVD, especially in Rivers State, before Nigeria will see the last case of EVD. Chukwu said: "While it is encouraging that so far, all confirmed cases of EVD in Nigeria have their roots in the index case, Mr. Patrick Sawyer. Great vigilance is required, particularly at our ports of entry to ensure we do not have cases of EVD from other sources other than Mr. Sawyer."

Some of the strategies

in containing the EVD, according to the minister, include: appropriate information, education and communication, sustaining surveillance systems, provision and equipping of isolation wards/centres, provision of adequate cars for confirmed cases, active and aggressive contact tracing and reduction in harmful practice that promote the spread of the virus.

Also yesterday, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, said the state had received the N200 million donation approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the con-

tainment and control EVD in the state.

He also appealed to residents not stigmatise those who had survived the disease or tested negative to the deadly virus.

Besides, the state government announced plans to celebrate eight survivors of the disease in the state after it might have carried out sensitisation campaigns to change the perception of residents about the nature of EVD as part of efforts to prevent stigmatisation.

Speaking when he received personal protective equipment and other items donated by the manage-

ment of the telecommunication giant, MTN Nigeria, Fashola expressed the readiness of the state government to partner Rivers State in managing the disease.

While lamenting that some state governments were not carried along before the announcement of the new resumption date for pupils, Fashola said everything must be done to prevent and control the spread of the disease.

According to him, the nation’s greatest challenge in the management of EVD is not the financial resources but dearth of virologists.

He commended health workers who had been working tirelessly to treat and contain the spread of the diseases, assuring them that the state government will do everything possible to cater for their welfare "for standing up him to be counted at the time of need."

The state Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Wale Ahmed, said plans were on to celebrate survivors of the deadly virus in the state in order to change people's negative perception about the survivors.

Earlier, the Chairman of MTN, Mr. Pascal Dozie, CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

30o C 22oC Thunder Storms

PORT HARCOURT

29o C 21oC Rain Storms

KANO

32oC 22oC Partially Cloudy

ENUGU

31o C 22oC Storms

IBADAN

28o C 22oC Storms

CALABAR

29o C 22oC Storms

MAIDUGURI

32o C 24oC Thunder Storms

ONITSHA

22oC 13oC Partially Cloudy

FIRST NATION AIRWAYS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06.50; 09:30; 11:45; 16:00 (SAT) 06:50; 11:45 (SUN) 11:45; 16:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 11:30; 13:40;18:30 (SAT) 09:00; 13:40 (SUN) 13:40; 18:30 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 14:45 (SAT) 16:15 (SUN) 14:45 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:50 (SAT) 18:20 (SUN) 16:50 AEROCONTRACTORS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06:50; 13:30; 16:30; 19:45 (SAT/SUN) 12:30; 16:45 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 13:00; 19:00 (SAT) 12:30 (SUN) 15:30 MEDVIEW AIRLINES LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:50; 12:00; 15:30 (SAT) 10:00; 15:00 (SUN) 17:30; 18:30 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 14:00, 15:00; 18:30 OVERLAND AIRWAYS LAGOS-ILORIN (MON-FRI) 07:15 LAGOS-IBADAN (MON-FRI) 7:00 IBADAN-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:00 IBADAN-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:30 ILORIN –ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30 ILORIN –LAGOS (MON-FRI) 17:00 ABUJA-ASABA (MON-FRI) 10:00 ASABA-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 14:15 ASABA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 11:30 LAGOS-ASABA (MON-FRI) 13:00 ABUJA-ILORIN 16:00 ABUJA-IBADAN 15:00

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST ABUJA

FLIGHT SCHEDULE

An official of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Mr. Laurie Kakulu (left), presenting post graduate scholarship award to Mr. Chukwudum Chukwuedo, during send-off for the beneficiaries of 2014/2015 batch of post graduate scholarship award scheme at Amasoma, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

My Boko Haram story, by Sheriff, ex-Borno gov CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

which he was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), as a personal estate of former Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu.

The former Borno State governor also asked Nigerians not to blame President Goodluck Jonathan for the insurgency in the country, saying the incident predated his administration.

Reacting to the allegation that he has a link with the terrorist group, Sheriff said if that were true, Boko Haram could not have killed his brother and cousin.

He added that he became a target for Boko Haram because he sponsored a law that specified a 25-year jail term for anybody involved in terrorist activities.

He said: "I was the former governor of Borno

State for eight years. The Boko Haram war as we know it today started in 2002 in Yobe. The first attack of Boko Haram was in 2002 in Kanama; from there they ran to Borno State. And in 2002, where was I? I wasn’t a governor.

There was a sitting governor in Borno State, and there was Boko Haram.

"I was the first victim of Boko Haram in Borno State. In their first attack, they killed my brother, the same father and mother with me. That was when they fought with the military in Borno. The first casualty was me. Then, they killed my cousin. They killed my candidate for governorship; they killed my party chairman. Two of them were direct relations of mine. Why did they do that? Because I made a law prohibiting Boko Haram in the domain of Borno State. The

law said anybody practising or associated with what Boko Haram was doing, was banned by law from so doing, and if caught will be prosecuted and jailed for 25 years."

According to him, the allegation linking him with the outlawed terrorist group is politically motivated and has become so worrisome that his children are wondering why the family should be so tagged.

"My children are pained.

They tell me, ‘Daddy, talk to the world. Tell them we are not like this. We are not Boko Haram.’ Every day, my friends, my family, are disturbed. What do I stand to gain by sponsoring Boko Haram? To do what?

"I want to tell Nigerians that I am not Boko Haram.

I have nothing to do with them. What do I stand to gain from doing so? I did not arm any youth that

transformed to Boko Haram," he added.

Sheriff said he had to leave the APC for PDP because he discovered that he could not tolerate the way the party was being managed.

"The party I used to be in, the ANPP, every decision of the party, we sat down and took it collectively. Unfortunately, today, APC has only one driver.

And Nigeria is too big for that.

"Decisions are made by one person (Tinubu), rather than the collective.

When you have that kind of situation, that is no longer a political party. It is a personal estate. I don’t believe in that," he stated.

He called on the Federal Government to reorientate gullible youths who are being recruited

by Boko Haram as one of the ways of tackling the insurgency.

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

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

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Atiku blames Nigeria's underdevelopment on leaders lAPC’ll take over governance in 2015, says Oyegun Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

F

ormer Vice-President Atiku Abubakar yesterday blamed Nigeria's relative underdevelopment and poor governance on lack of vision by leaders.

Atiku pointedly declared that the nation's underdevelopment has nothing to do with lack of resources.

The former vice president (1999- 2007) stated this in Owerri, Imo State capital, as the Chairman at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors' Progressive Governance Lecture Series.

He maintained that Nigeria has the resources, but needed "leadership, vision and determination to make things work."

In his speech, which dwelt extensively on health, Atiku Abubakar said the outbreak of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Nigeria has brought to the fore Nigeria's emergency management response strategies.

According to him, the arrival of the disease calls for urgent need for adequate investments in healthcare, infrastructure and service delivery across the country.

Speaking on what he called the inconsistency between Nigeria's resources and its performance, Atiku pointed out that the statistics are disturbing and that the outbreak of Ebola had only exposed the underbelly of our health-

L-R: Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his Rivers State counterpart, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, at a lecture by the party in Owerri...yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

care system.

Despite Nigeria's vast resources and human capital, he regretted that the doctor-to-patient ratio in Nigeria is 1 to 6,400 which is far below the WHO standard of 1 to 600.

He also lamented that at 50per cent access to improved water source and 35per cent adequate sanitation for Nigerians, the country is among the lowest in the world.

On infant and maternal mortality rate of 74 and 630 respectively, the former Vice President said the figures put Nigeria among the worst.

According to him, health is not a privilege, but a right which "every citizen in a modern society is entitled to."

The former Vice-President explained that security and healthcare are

Ebola: Fashola gets FG’s N200m donation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

had commended the state government for its efforts in the management of the disease, saying that the telecommunication giant is happy to appreciate the state government through the support.

He added Nigerians should be happy that the disease was first recorded in Lagos, where response was timely and systemic, saying if it had happened in other parts of the country, the situation would have been worse.

Meanwhile, the Rwandan Government has directed its airline, RwandAir, which operates to Nigeria and other West African nations not to board passengers whose body temperature rises between

37.5 degrees and above.

The airline began schedule airline service to Lagos from Kigali in December 2011, operating B737-800 aircraft.

However, Rwandan returning passengers (residents) with a fever of 37.5 degrees and above will be requested to stay at an isolation facility at the border posts for further medical checks and consistent follow up by professionals accredited by the Minister of Health.

The airline state that all passengers intending to enter Rwanda coming from the Republics of Guinea-Conakry, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Senegal within the last 22 days will not be allowed to enter the country.

critical areas posing urgent and grave challenges to Nigeria.

He said emphasis on healthcare education is no less important, and that it is embarrassing that in the 21st century Nigerians would be resorting to crude solution of "soaking ourselves in salty water to fight the virulent Ebola virus."

The former Vice President also lamented the fact that highly qualified and experienced medical professionals, who were

trained at public expense, now prefer to practice abroad."

In his keynote address, the national chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun lamented that despite the fact that Nigeria had enough to stand as one of the strongest economies in the world, its health sector was in comatose.

He added that the situation had reached a stage where people in government would travel out of the country for the treat-

ment of headache.

The APC national chairman told Nigerians to continue to bear the pains of bad governance currently foisted on them by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP-led) Federal Government, assuring that the situation would get better once the party takes over in 2015.

Oyegun told Nigerians to reject the PDP in next year’s elections as, according to him, “Nigeria can’t survive another four years of the PDP.”

Earlier in his welcome address, the host governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, said the party remained the best national party in Nigeria that takes into consideration, the interest of both the Christians and Muslims.

He noted that one of the propaganda machineries the PDP had been using against the party was that it is a Moslem and Boko Haram party, saying “APC is just one-year-old whereas Boko Haram came into existence 10 years ago.”

NIGCOMSAT multimillion naira satellite TV deal with Netlinks collapses Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

I

ndications have emerged that the multimillion naira Direct To Home (DTH) TV satellite signal flow, a commercial venture leased by Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) to NetLink Technologies Limited eight months ago, is on the verge of collapse.

Multiple sources privy to the deal struck with a fanfare early in the year spoke on their frustration and disappointment over the inability of lessee (NetLink) to debut on air seven months after the agreement was consummated.

The near collapse of the DTH TV deal, according to insiders, has become a source of concern to the management of NIGCOMSAT after Netlink, owned

by Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu, reneged on agreement.

NIGCOMSAT’s DTH solution provides satellites TV operators the platform to optimise the use of available bandwidth to minimise cost and maximise

returns on their investment.

The NIGCOMSAT DTH platform is a content carrier; whereby, all licensed broadcasting organisations for both free to air and or pay TV offerings using the platform will have their signals carried based on a fee.

The lessee is said to have also reneged on paying for the six transponders acquired from NIGCOMSAT at the cost of $1million each per annum totalling $6 million, a development that has led to revenue loss.

Efforts to get official comment from NIGCOMSAT were futile. Its head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Sonny Akpore, was not available for comment when New Telegraph visited the company premises in Abuja and his line was not accessible.

NIGCOMSAT General Manager, Emerging Techonolgies, Mr. Agu Colins, was said to be on vacation and he did not answer his calls when our correspondent called.

However, in a phone conversation with New Telegraph, the company former Managing Director, Engr. Timasaniyu AhmedRufa’i said he accepted the responsibly of all that transpired in respect to DHT deal.

“It’s sad development.

Seven months after all the promises by that young chap to commence operation and be on air, nothing on ground to indicate he is committed. But as I said, I take all the responsibility as former MD in saddle when the deal was consummated. It was supposed to be a partnership agreement between NIGCOMSAT and Netlink and don’t forget that we are a limited liability company allowed by an ACT setting it up to go into commercial business and generate revenue,” Ahmed-Rufa’I said.

Enquiries by New Telegraph showed NetLink CEO, Dumebi Kachikwu had travelled overseas as at the time of filling this report.

The DTH platform is designed to transmit 100

Channels of Standard Definition (SD) programmes and High Definition (HD) television programming to viewers in addition to voice calls and internet data services on a pay as you go and free to air service delivery model. This creates the first multimedia triple play system offering for Nigerian and African satellite system users.

The signals will be transmitted using the MPEG 4 AVC (H.264 Compression algorithm) and DVB-S2 modulation Standard. Such that it compresses files thereby providing more room to accommodate more channels in an apportioned bandwidth.

The primary source of television content is Nigerian broadcasters and other licensed representatives of local and international broadcast organisations. Terrestrial mobile telephone operators will primarily supply the voice and data content, by adapting and harnessing the power of both terrestrial and satellite technology.

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Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Afenifere rules out full implementation of confab report Babatope Okeowo Akure

S

ecretary General of the Pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Chief Seinde Arogbofa, has ruled out complete implementation of the recommendations of the just-concluded National Conference.

Arogbofa, however, expressed confidence in the ability of President Goodluck Jonathan to implement the recommendations of the conference.

Arogbofa in an interview with reporters yesterday also recommended the implementation of the recommendation of the reports in phases in the interest of the country.

According to him, “we are not expecting 100 per cent acceptance of what we did but we expect that most of them and especially those on policy matters should be quickly handled.”

Arogbofa ruled out controversy over the imple-

mentation of the report.

He said: “If there is no war before this time and there was no war before we started and after; Nigerians have sat and discussed there won’t be any war.

“All we should wait for is some patience for the President, the Council of State to look into all these reports. We don’t pray for any war and we don’t expect any war.”

On the implementation of the reports, Arogbofa said: “We should not be afraid because we have made our recommendations open to the public and our recommendations can be divided into three groups.

“Those that are policy matters that could be addressed purely on administrative fiat, those dealing with the judiciary that the judges and the lawyers are to look into, and the third is the ones referred to the National Assembly.

“These are the three sections and we are convinced that if it is just the policy papers or issues

2015: Pro-Jonathan groups hit 8,000 Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

T

he number of support groups and non-governmental organisations rooting for President Goodluck Jonathan has risen from 3, 000 to over 7, 000.

The Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, disclosed this when he received the report of the special committee set up to restructure the Goodluck Support Group (GSG).

The committee has Gen. A.T. Ibrahim (rtd) as its chairman.

According to him, all the officers saddled with the responsibility of carrying out this exercise went to the six geo-political zones and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for the exercise.

Alkalli said: “I am pleased to inform you that one of the preliminary observations from the report of the team is that contrary to our earlier position that there were about 3, 000 groups rooting for Mr. President, we now have more than 7, 000 Support Groups nationwide all calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to declare for the presidential race.

“Indeed, initially we

printed 5,000 forms that were distributed to the non-governmental organisations and other Support Groups but the forms soon ran out and we had to print additional 2,000. As I am speaking to you now, we have at least another 1,000 groups demanding to be screened.

“With the report of the Screening and Evaluation Committee now submitted to us, we are going to the next level. That is to say, we shall undertake content analysis of the reports with a view to properly positioning the various support groups for the challenges of the 2015 general election.

“We want to assure every support group irrespective of their sizes, from two-man group to 20 million-man group that they are all important to us and we shall carry them along.”

Alkali appealed to the pro-Jonathan groups to commence process of winding down the structure and operations of their organisations.

In his response, the chairman of the committee, Gen. Ibrahim said in the course of carrying out their assignment they went round the country and interacted with various interest groups.

alone, that the President can go into that quickly, things would change for better in this country.

“We have made it clear and the President himself on Thursday when we handed over the report to

him did make it clear that he was going to invite the Council of State to look into all those things and we cannot but agree with him.

“The President has also said it clearly that he

was not going to tie down our decisions. Decisions made are for this country and the country has come together.”

Besides, the septuagenarian politician dismissed the insinuations

that there would be conflict in the country after the next year election.

He added that those who want the unity and development of the country are far more than those canvassing for its fall.

L-R: Chairman, Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organisation, Mr. Ayodele Akele; widow of the late Chief Fawehinmi, Ganiat; Treasurer, Ven. Folorunsho Oginni and Prof. Maurice Fangnon of the Centre for Defence of Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CDHRDA), at a press conference to kick-start the 2014 Fawehinmi memorial programme in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Military plans discreet counter-terrorism operations CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

the curfew imposed on the Maiduguri metropolitan council and its environs from 9pm-6am to 7pm to 6am.

The army in a statement by Deputy Director Army Public Relations Officer, Col. Sani Usman, said: “With effect from September 1, curfew hours imposed on Maiduguri Metropolitan and its environs have been reviewed forward. It is now to last from 7:00pm to 6:00am daily. All must comply with this directive. Anybody found flouting this directive will be arrested and prosecuted.”

It was learnt that the reason for the review of the curfew was due to security reports that the terrorists are planning to attack and capture Maiduguri.

The review of the curfew hours came just as New Telegraph that the military had started reviewing its counter-terrorism strategy, especially planning and execution of its operations against the rampaging Boko Haram fighters.

A senior military officer, who spoke with New Telegraph in confidence, said the need to embark on "discreet operations" against Boko Haram insurgents, became imperative in order to eliminate rising cases of sabotage and to contain the excesses of the sect in the North-

East.

He said military operations to retake Gwoza might not be launched immediately, as all strategic arrangements must be completed first.

He added that having been conscious of deliberate attempts made in the past to sabotage wellplanned operations, the military had devised a means to keep operations away from officers, whose loyalty to the course may be in doubt and to hoard sensitive information from the media.

"We (military) have decided to keep our new counter-terrorism strategy and operations, close to our chest.

"It is not for nothing that well-planned operations, get thwarted midway. Our singular objective has been to contain these elements (Boko Haram), with minimal casualties on our side and the civilian population," he said.

On the delay in retaking Gwoza, the source explained: "To the public, Gwoza ought to have been retaken since. But, you see, we are being very careful with that operation so as not to expose our troops to danger. They (suspected insurgents) are digging in and waiting to cause serious damage; we will not fall because we are welltrained."

Efforts to get Olukolade to corroborate the story failed, as repeated calls

to his mobile phone were not answered, neither was there a reply to a text message sent to him.

Meanwhile, the President, Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, has faulted the recent alarm raised by the Department of State Services (DSS) of the possibility that female suicide bombers, may disguise as reverend sisters, to bomb their target destinations.

The Deputy Director, Public Affairs of the DSS, Ms. Marilyn Ogar, had stated that some unidentified persons broke into a tailoring shop in Kano and stole about 13 pieces of Catholic Church reverend sisters’ regalia, warning that “the theft of these regalia heightens concerns about the possibility of terrorist elements using same to perpetrate acts of terror.”

But in a telephone conversation with New Telegraph yesterday, the CBCN president, who is also the Archbishop of Jos Archdiocese, faulted the security alert, saying that the story was not borne out of "proper investigation."

"Somebody has manufactured this story in order to say that even reverend sisters can carry explosives," he added.

According to him, "the information was epileptic, not well-researched, and maybe somebody was being overzealous, to say

they are doing their work."

He explained that an organisation in the Catholic Church, St. Louis Sisters, gave materials to a tailor to sow uniforms for students, and those were the items stolen.

"Among them were a few dresses stolen; not the kind of distinctive garments worn by sisters. St. Louis Sisters are very few in Kano, and their uniforms are, more or less, the same kind of dresses ladies wear, the only difference being the veil," he stated.

Also, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has requested the Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC), Ms Fatou Bensouda, to investigate an Australian hostage negotiator, Dr. Stephen Davis, over allegations that high ranking public officials and politicians are sponsoring and providing support for Boko Haram.

SERAP in a petition dated September 1 and signed by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, also stated that: “Without accountability for these serious human rights crimes, the victims will continue to be denied access to justice and impunity of perpetrators will remain widespread and the result will continue to be a vicious cycle of violence and abuses with serious consequences for the entire citizenry.”

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

7

Why Tambawal didn’t attend PDP North-West meeting’

Ibraheem Musa KADUNA

peaker of the House of SAminu Representatives, Hon. Tambawal did

L-R: Assistant Brand Manager, Dettol, Reckitt Benckiser, Mr. Oladipupo Ogundele; Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu and Marketing Director, West Africa, Reckitt Benckiser, Mr. Oguzhan Silivrili, after a partnership meeting between the Federal Ministry of Health and Reckitt Benckiser on Dettol Public Enlightenment Campaign on Ebola in Abuja...at the weekend

Hajj 2014: NAHCON allays fears over visa delay Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

T

he National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has allayed fears among intending pilgrims for this year hajj exercise over the delay in the issuance of visa by the Saudi Arabian Embassy. It said the problem was caused by the upgrade of the system in the visa processing at the Saudi Embassy.

The Public Relations Officer of the Commission, Uba Mana, told New Telegraph in Abuja yesterday said that the delay was not peculiar to Nigeria alone as there were other countries like Turkey and Egypt among others, who

were also affected.

He, however, disclosed that the problem has since been resolved, as the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu and members of his family, planning to embark on this year’s hajj were issued visas yesterday by the Saudi Arabia Embassy in Abuja.

He said other states would also get their visas from the Kano Consulate of the Saudi Arabia Embassy.

Mana, who said 76,000 Nigerians would take part in this year’s hajj exercise, also said that the delay in the issuance of visa would not affect the inaugural airlift of pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The inaugural airlift

has been fixed for Saturday September 6 in Dutse, Jigawa state.

His words: “The problem of visa is not peculiar or restricted to Nigeria alone. There were other countries that have the same problem. It is just a technical problem in the efforts to upgrade their visa issuance. The Saudi Authority, particularly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had a small hitch and it wasn't Nigeria alone that was involved. There were other countries. We learnt Turkey was among them and many others but it has been finally resolved."

Oba of Lagos has got his visa together with members of his family as

of today.

Other states like in Kano, the Consulate also issues visa. In fact, most of the visas are issued in Kano. So far Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Yobe and Katsina have already submitted their passports of their pilgrims for their visas.

“It won't have any effect on the date of inaugural airlift of pilgrims. You see the beauty of what they have done is this. They have upgraded their system of issuing the visa such that we are the one that virtually do the main job for them. They only cross check and stamp, unlike before when they virtually do everything.

The inaugural airlift of pilgrims stands."

Again, Bash Ali disrupts activities at NEXIM Bank RECORD

While Bash Ali keeps dreaming of a World record, his style outside the ring is also worth watching Abdulwahab Isa ABUJA

F

or the second time this year, Nigerian boxer, Bashiru Ali(Bash Ali) disrupted business activities at the headquarters of Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) yesterday, deriding Robert Orya -led management’s refusal to

support his N150 million boxing contest.

As early as 11am, Bash Ali and a handful of his supporters had driven to NEXIM Bank in anticipation of holding a scheduled meeting with Orya to facilitate the release of the money meant to aid the hosting of his boxing competition.

Ali, who was lying flat on the floor outside the premises of NEXIM Bank at as the time our correspondent visited NEXIM Bank yesterday, said Orya’s security guard on his instruction, pushed

him down while a vehicle climbed over his legs.

Struggling with emotion to narrate his ordeal, he said his coming to NEXIM Bank was sequel to another letter he addressed to bank dated July 20th which the bank responded to and invited him for a meeting yesterday.

On why the bank denied him entrance if he was truly invited for a meeting, he said the bank had requested for a private meeting to be held with him, without his staff ; an arrangement he objected to, thus prompting the MD

to come down with his security guard to roughen him up.

Responding to allegation by Ali on phone, Orya denied his security touched Ali. He said NEXIM’s Bank mandate did not include funding sporting activities and questioned why Ali has chosen to constantly harass the bank.

“Please ask him what he is doing there. I have explained to this man times without number that NEXIM Bank does have the mandate to sponsor sporting activities”, Orya told our correspondent on phone.

Ebola : NCH mandates agencies to regulate importation of bush meat Obinna Odoh ABUJA

Council on Ntheational Health has mandated Federal Ministry of Agriculture, NAFDAC and Customs Services to regulate the importation of Bush Meat and make sure that local consumption of same is discouraged.

The Chairman of the Council, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, disclosed this after the 2nd Emergen-

cy National Council on Health (NCH) meeting on the Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Nigeria held in Abuja yesterday.

After the council meeting that lasted for about eight hours, the Minister read out the following resolutions: Council approved that all PPEs procured must be in accordance with WHO specifications and from WHO accredited and certified manufacturers. Furthermore, Universal Pre-

caution must be adhered to by all health workers as well as proper sanitation in all the health facilities; Council requested the Federal Ministry of Health to work out guideline in collaboration with all the relevant stakeholders especially the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, NAFDAC and Customs Services to regulate the importation of Bush Meat into the Country and also discourage the consumption of Bush Meat locally

and also the eating of dead animals; Council directed that particular attention should continue to be paid to vulnerable groups such as market women and other women groups, patent medicine vendors, road transport Workers, fishermen in the riverine areas, hunters and bush Meat sellers, school children, morticians and mortuary attendants, traditional healers and faith based groups;

not attend the North West Zonal Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) stakeholders meeting, where President Goodluck Jonathan was endorsed for the 2015 election because he was attending to another national assignment, New Telegraph was informed yesterday.

The meeting, which held in Kaduna on Sunday, was presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo and was attended

by Governors Muktar Yero of Kaduna State and

Alhaji Saidu Dakingari, the Kebbi State governor.

Although Governors Ibrahim Shema and Sule Lamido of Katsina and Jigawa states respectively did not attend the meeting, they, however, sent representatives. Tambuwal was neither present nor represented at the meeting, heightening speculations that he was about to dump PDP for APC. Speaking to our correspondent yesterday, one of Tambuwal aides said it was wrong to make wild insinuations about the Speaker’s absence, as according to him, ‘’the meeting coincided with other pressing national assignments that needed his attention.’’

PDP receives Ogun lawmaker, APC defectors Kunle Olayeni ABEOKUTA

he ranks of the PeoT(PDP) ples Democratic Party in Ogun State

swelled yesterday as the party received into its fold, a member of the state House of Assembly, Adijat Adeleye-Oladapo, who defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

At the reception held at the Goodluck Jonathan Political Centre in IjebuIgbo, the PDP also received no fewer than 2,000 defectors from APC and Labour Party (LP) across Ifo, Ogun Waterside and Ijebu North local govern-

ment areas of the state.

The defection of Adeleye-Oladapo increased the number of PDP lawmakers to five in the 26-member House of Assembly.

Addressing the defectors and party members, the state PDP chairman, Chief Adebayo Dayo, said the party would ensure a level playing field for all aspirants towards the 2015 general elections.

Dayo, who noted that the party had not anointed anybody for any elective position, urged PDP members to close ranks in order to defeat the APC-led administration in the state.

8

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

UNIJOS asks Jonathan to sustain agricultural transformation Musa Pam JOS

he authorities of the Tcalled University of Jos have on President Good-

luck Jonathan to sustain the Agriculture Transformation Agenda (ATA) because of the impact it has so far created in the sector.

Managing Director, UniJos Consultancy Limited, Mr Meshach Chinda-

ba, made this known at the monthly technical review of its seed multiplication farms in Gagnam, Langtang South Local Government of Plateau State.

Chindaba said that the ATA, through its Growth Enhance Scheme (GES), has supported many farmers with inputs and that encouraged even institutions like UniJos to venture into agriculture.

Ex-FCDA boss joins governorship race in Plateau Buhari Bello L-R: Rivers State Publicity Secretary, APC, Mr. Chris Finebone; Chairman, Omuma Local Government Area, Hon. Emeka Wogu; Chief Press Secretary to Rivers State Governor, Mr. David Iyofor and Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Dickson Omunakwe, during a press briefing on Wogu’s ordeal in the hands of the police in Port Harcourt…at the weekend

Chibok girls: Group raises six questions for Jonathan Lateef Ibrahim ABUJA

O

ne hundred and forty days after the abduction of the secondary school girls in Chibok, Borno State, by members of the insurgent group, Boko Haram, President Goodluck Jonathan has been asked to provide answers to six pertinent questions concerning the issue.

The BringBackOurGirls group, which posed the questions to the President, also vowed to persevere in its demand for the swift rescue of the abducted Chibok girls until they are brought back safe and alive.

The BBOG group, in a statement last night, signed by its National

Coordinators-Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili and Mrs Hadiza Bala Usman, said that as well-meaning citizens, who consistently demand for accountability in the process of governance and given its concerns about the Chibok girls, who have been in captivity for almost five months now, "we seek clarifications from the Presidency on the following pertinent issues that have come out of the Davis interviews.

The statement reads, "Today marks day 140 since the abduction of 219 girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, while they were sitting for their final exams.

"Our Movement, #BringBackOurGirls, is an organ for advocacy and civic engagement

Oyakhilome: Christ Embassy members charged to pray for God’s intervention Our reporter

A

s the divorce scandal between Pastors Chris and Anita Oyakhilome gets messier, news came that the whole branches of the Christ Embassy in the world have been charged to pray, so that, “God will wade off this present evil away,” from the church.

According to two members of the church in Ogba, Ikeja, branch, their Zonal pastor, Yinka Okunnusi, during the Sunday service, ha charged them to pray.

His words: “Let everyone of us pray for our pastor and his wife that God should intervene in this present crisis they are going through.”

Michael said: “We sensed two weeks ago that something was wrong. Last two weeks, Anita was supposed to make the yearly Youth Loveworld Awards, via

projector, but it was a strange lady, who introduced herself as Ose Oyakhilome, who presented the awards. I had never seen her before that day.”

On Saturday, news broke that Anita Oyakhilome had filed for divorce in a London court.

The following day, the church deleted her pictures and other information pertaining to her from their website.

Yesterday, a church member claimed that the couple had been apart for close to 15 years.

Speaking from the altar, Okunnusi confirmed thaqt various branches of the church were praying. The prayer went on for 15 minutes before the closure of the Sunday service.

“We’re not the only branch praying against this, pray that God should intervene,” urged Okunnusi.

which has from inception always taken appropriate steps to reach out to relevant stakeholders.

"Our purpose has been singular, to ensure that the relevant authorities do everything within their powers to search for and bring back the abducted Chibok school girls, alive and well.

"In accordance with our practice, we wish to observe with considerable consternation, the recent revelations by one Dr. Stephen Davis, who has been widely reported to have a track record of negotiating on behalf of the Federal Government with militants and insurgents in Nigeria.

"It is surprising that following the revelations and claims by Dr. Davis, the Federal Government has not provided any specific

responses or reactions.

"As well-meaning citizens, who consistently demand for accountability in the process of governance and given our concerns about the Chibok girls, who have been in captivity for almost five months now, we seek clarifications from the Presidency on the following pertinent issues that have come out of the Davis interviews: What was the nature of the mandate given to Dr. Davis to be a negotiator working for the rescue of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls? When the President re-established contact with Davis in the wake of the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls, what was the support given to the negotiator to facilitate the release of the hostages?

Ensure passage of TCB, ERA/FoEN tells NASS Ayorinde Durojaiye Environmental Tandhe Rights Action, ERA Friends of Earth

Nigeria, FoEN, have called on the National Assembly to hasten the passage of the bill on tobacco control in Nigeria.

The House of Representatives Committee on Health had on July 16, 2014, organized a public hearing on an act to enact the tobacco smoking (control) bill, 2013.

At that event, ERA/ FOEN, CISLAC, the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) and other groups submitted memoranda to the committee, urging them to ensure that the final legislation is in tandem with the World Health Organization’s framework convention on tobacco control (WHO FCTC).

The Non- governmental organization com-

mended the hearing as a monumental step in their quest for the enactment of strong Tobacco control legislation.

Representatives from NTCA, CISLAC, and some Media Practitioners observed that some clandestine activities and visibility events by the British America Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) and other tobacco entities in Nigeria, including their front groups seeking either to misinterpret the law or to delay the passage of the bill.

Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, Director Corporate Accountability and Administration of ERA/ FoEN, described the hosting of an empowerment program training for officials of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) by the BATN as an influence to slow the passage of the bill.

JOS

ormer Director of FedFment eral Capital DevelopAuthority, FCDA,

Engr Jimmy Zingtim Cheto, has promised transparency in leadership and commitment to the wellbeing of Plateau State citizens if elected as a governor of Plateau state in 2015.

Cheto stated this in an interview yesterday at

his residence, Dandaura Tudun Wada.

He said why he picked the PDP governorship form in Plateau State is to bring new policies in the agricultural, educational and industrial sectors of the state.

Over eight persons have shown interest to contest the 2015 general elections in the state under the PDP in the state.

A/Ibom 2015: Tricycle riders endorse Ekere s the 2015 gubernaAmomentum, torial race gathers the imme-

diate past Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Nsima Ekere, has received the crucial backing of the Akwa Progressive Commercial Tricyclists, Taxi and Motorcyclists Association (APCOTMA), the umbrella union of tricycle and motorcycle operators in the state.

The endorsement came on Thursday when Mr. Ekere consulted the state executive council members and chapter chairmen of the association as well as their wives at their secretariat in Uyo. Addressing them, the former Deputy Governor, who was visibly over-

whelmed by the show of support, promised to institute a N2billion revolving loan for members of the association within six months of his assumption of office as governor.

He explained that the loan would assist those tricycle operators that intend to graduate to taxi operators and those willing to go into other businesses, adding that the whole idea was to sustainably empower them in line with his people’s development agenda.

Ekere disclosed that his government would flood Uyo, the state capital, with taxi cabs but assured that all registered tricycle operators would benefit from his taxi scheme gradually.

...It’s a national concern — Ekwueme Johnchuks Onuanyim ABUJA

he Senior Pastor of TAbuja, House on the Rock, Pastor Obi

Ekwueme, yesterday stated that Ebola Virus Disease, EVD being battled in the country is a national concern.

E k w u e m e, wh o briefed journalists in Abuja on the planned dedication of the permanent church building located by City Gate, Abuja, stated that the church had taken time out to enlighten members on the virus and how to avoid it.

He said, "Ebola is a common responsibility for every Nigeria and we are educating our members about it".

While fielding ques-

tions from journalists on national issues, the Senior Pastor also stated that corruption was not restricted to political office holders.

According to the Pastor, everybody should be sincere in accusing people of corrupt act, saying, searching their conscience to know if they would do more or less if found in such position was very important.

Speaking on the church Tower christened Transformation House, he said. "The vision of House on the Rock is to be a bridge of hope to the hurting and dejected, release the might of God’s power to the people who come in contact with us and to stand as a voice of excellence to our generation.

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

9

NDE trains 100 youths on technological skills in Calabar Clement James CALABAR

bout 100 unemployed Alected youths have been seby the National

A cross-section of qualified Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Adamawa governorship aspirants, during a stakeholders' meeting in Yola …at the weekend

8.01

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Botswana in 2012.

Source: Itu.int

22

The life expectancy (in years) of women at age 60 years in Bosnia & Herzegovina in 2010-2015.

Source: Un.org

$US467.6bn The nominal GDP of Saudi Arabia (World Bank) in 2009.

Source: Blatantworld.com

Rivers APC slams TAN over rally EBOLA

For holding a proJonathan rally in Port-Harcourt, transformation Ambassadors get knocks

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), which organized the pro-President Goodluck Jonathan rally in Port Harcourt last Saturday as people who do not mean well for Rivers.

The Rivers State chairman of the party, Dr. Davies Ibiamu, who stated this noted that TAN went

ahead to hold the rally despite concerns raised by some experts over the likely spread of the dreaded Ebola virus at the Liberation Stadium venue of the rally.

He said all they were interested in was the reelection of Jonathan and did not care whether or not the people of the state were infected with the Ebola virus.

Ibiamu said in a statement signed by Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze: “President Jonathan and his promoters through the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) have once again demonstrated their hatred and lack of understanding of the plight of Nigerians, particularly those in Riv-

ers State, by going ahead to organise their rally in Port Harcourt even after being alerted of the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease in the State.

“With this TAN Rally in Port Harcourt, President Goodluck Jonathan and his cohorts have only succeeded in exposing their deep-rooted hatred for the good people of Rivers State, fully aware of the implication of organizing such rally.”

While stressing that an event that aims to promote Jonathan’s re-election ambition was not supposed to be above the danger of Ebola, he said no amount of campaigns or rallies can suppress the achievements of Governor Chibuike Amaechi in the state.

He said: “In any case, the feats of the Amaechi administration are enough to give us victory in future elections. These feats, which are well known, include making Port Harcourt the World Book Capital City, eradication of militancy, dogged fight for the oil wells and other rights of Rivers State and her people, as well as awardwinning achievements in Education, Agriculture, Health and others.

“This was after Nigerians had been warned to desist from organizing large gatherings. This is the height of insensitivity which will surely spell electoral doom for President Jonathan and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015 and beyond.”

Directorate of Employment (NDE) to undergo advanced technological skills training in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

This was disclosed by the state Coordinator of the Directorate, Mr. Edem Duke on Monday during an orientation programme for trainees and trainers of the Advance National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (A-NOAS).

He said the training was designed to enhance their proficiency and add more value to their already acquired skills and that it would help them to start their own businesses after three months of training.

According to him, the participants would undergo advanced training

on computer maintenance and repair, electrical installation, website design, and auto-mechanic, among others.

“The advanced national training was designed to enhance their proficiency and add more value to their already acquired skills”, Duke explained.

The state coordinator said participants were drawn from the eighteen Local Government Areas of the state and were graduates of the Basic Apprenticeship Scheme of the Directorate.

“The overall task of job creation has become more challenging than ever and therefore, requires a more dynamic and innovative strategies like the A-NOAS. “Today’s exercise marks another milestone in the continuous efforts of the NDE to checkmate the unemployment milieu in the state and the country as a whole”, he said.

Stakeholders: Religious intolerance, unemployment bane of Nigeria Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

takeholders yesterday atSinsecurity tributed the problem of presently fac-

ing the country to religion intolerance and unemployment.

The various speakers at an Inter-Faith Forum organized by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) held in Benin, Edo state capital urged the citizens to stick to peace as the panacea to the myriads of the nation’s socio-political, cultural and economic problems.

Besides, they also advocated that government at all levels should as matters of necessity create jobs for

the army of unemployed youths and graduates roaming the streets.

They harped on the imperative for federal and state governments to be proactive in the management of crisis situations while leaders at various levels must insulate themselves from making unguarded statements capable of setting the country on fire.

Speaking at the forum, the former Secretary, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, (SCIA) in the state, Alhaji Amedu Oyakhire challenged governments to rise to the occasion towards nipping in the bud the problems before they get out of control.

2015: Akpabio urges youths to be agents of change

NUJ chairman sues for unity over 2015 polls

Tony Anichebe

Tony Anichebe

UYO

T

he Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, has called on youths in the state and other stakeholders to strive to be the catalysts that will drive the state to becoming a haven of industrialization and a model of the country’s economy.

The Governor, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Power, Dr. Victor Udo, stated this in Uyo yesterday, during the inauguration of the National Secretariat/Resource Centre of Akwa Ibom Young Professionals’ Leadership Initiative (AK Pro), maintaining that the change they so desired will become a reality when they take advantage of the laudable programmes of the state government.

He said he was happy to be associated with the dreams and vision of the group, adding that their existence will make his job, as a leader, easier and the success of his succession plan even much easier.

The Governor urged the youths to be serious and committed in their climb in life by doing their best for the future of Akwa Ibom State, according to him, “hard work, honesty and sincerity is profitable. We do not have any other state, so do your best for the future of the state because posterity will judge you.”

Also speaking, a former Chairman of Uyo Local Government Council, Dr. Chris Nyong also charged the young professionals to be patriotic in their services to the state and the country, saying “to be a profes-

sional is an achievement but to be a youth is an advantage.”

In his remarks, the National President of the group, Barrister Ofonime Enoh, said the group was founded in 2007 in response to the growing need to encourage active participation of young professionals from the state across various industries in the world in politics and governance.

“Our definition of who a professional is not in the context of elitism but as someone who has a particular skill, who believes in result, excellence and who understands that service and result are one. So, from the fashion designer who brings to bare his designs to the oil company owner who looks at a particular ground and decides to go in and explore and invest are all professionals."

UYO

he State Chairman of TJournalists the Nigeria Union of (NUJ), Akwa

Ibom State Council, Elder Patrick Albert has sued for unity against violence in 2015 general elections.

Albert, who bared his mind yesterday at the 1st Uyo Metropolitan Peace Advocates’ Summit with the theme “Towards community policing and peace: the Role of Peace Advocates,” held at Dignity Hotel, Uyo was organized by the United Nations – POLAC peace Programme Nigeria, Uyo Metropolitan Peace Zone, Akwa Ibom State.

He stressed the need for politicians to de-emphasize ethnic politics but learn to harp on issues that would unite and promote the collective unity, peace, development and well-being of the state.

Albert who chaired the occasion stated that while it was necessary for power to go round all parts of the state introducing sectionalism, would sow dangerous seeds of discord, which he noted, may end up tearing the people apart and creating enmity among children to the extent that Akwa Ibom may begin to experience inter-communal strife.

While advocating for a leader who would interpret the collective dreams of Akwa Ibom people and who has the capacity to take the state to its next level of development, the NUJ chairman noted that in the contemporary society where world peace is threatened, men and women are committed towards ensuring the reign of pace in the world, since no meaningful progress and development could be achieved without peace.

Albert said peace is

very essential aspect of development and its prevalence in the society as a collective concern, applauding the peace drive by the Uyo Metropolitan UN-POLAC and its choices of the theme of the summit, saying, it is quite apt considering the various security challenges the society and the country is facing.

He pointed out that the absence of peace in any society is a precarious situation that favours none, recalling that when there was insurgency in the Niger Delta, not only several lives and properties were lost, but that the economy of the nation plummeted to a disastrous level, urging all to employ collective efforts to get others to embrace peace and to employ peaceful means of resolving grievances without recourse to violence.

10

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TUESday, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

0802 393 8212

Police discover fraudsters’ shrine, arrest 11 suspects NEMESIS 11 persons are in police net after failed bid to dupe banker Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

P

olice have arrested 11 people in connection with a fraudsters’ shrine discovered at Eruku Agbon community in Itori, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The state Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, disclosed this yesterday while conducting journalists round the shrine sited on two plots of land.

At the expansive shrine constructed with mud, which had over 20 rooms, are underground tunnels, figurines, masquerade, effigy, coffin, calabash, cash and fake currency, charms, among other things.

The leader of the shrine, Abiola Akoje, is already in police net with his wife, Bunmi, and Kolawole Wasiu, who described himself as an Islamic cleric, as well as eight others.

They were arrested by detectives and are now in custody at the state police headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta.

The police commissioner disclosed

The shrine

that the suspects had wanted to dupe one man identified as Taiye and an unidentified banker before they met their waterloo.

Okoye explained that the suspects had already collected N400,000 as mobilisation fee to prepare concoction for their victim.

He stated that the suspects usually hypnotised their victims to defraud them.

Okoye said the suspects would be arraigned on completion of police investigation.

He said: “People should stop being

Ex-OPC member held for robbery Shola Adefuwa

A

Akoje (middle), Bunmi and Wasiu, at the shrine

former member of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC), Mr Ishola Jamiu, has told the police in Lagos that he got two guns from the association.

Jamiu was arrested by the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, for being involved in robbery after the two guns were traced to him.

He said: “I joined OPC when I came to Lagos. That was where I got the two guns. I was also doing security work. They gave me the two guns while serving there.

“But I left OPC in 2009 and afterward left Lagos for Ogun State. But they bought the guns for me while I was keeping watch at two petrol stations at Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos.

“Some robbery suspects linked me with their operations. They said that I gave them guns. I was arrested last Saturday.

“I am a commercial driver; I was plying the Agbara-Seme route. I was arrested in my house in Atan, Ogun State. But I did not rob as claimed by the police; I only held the guns with me.”

greedy. And be godly. They should stop being after things of the world. Whatever you have, be satisfied with that.

What will be will be. What happened to this person is that he was out to get more than he expected. Be contented with whatever you have.”

But fielding questions from journalists, Akoje, who claimed to be a herbalist operating a traditional healing home in the area, said the place was set up in 2005.

He added that he was not involved in crime in the past.

Pickpocket stabs girl to death Dominic Adewole Asaba

22-year-old Fulani man, identiAreportedly fied as Shehu Sani, yesterday stabbed a girl, Bateren

Okiotodoro, to death at Sabon-Kasua market in Asaba, Delta State.

The suspect, it was gathered, accosted the victim and her friend, one Nkem Egwuonwu, at the market and threatened to kill them with a dagger, if they refused to surrender their bags.

Angered that Bateren refused to yield to the threat, the suspect stabbed her in the back.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Celestina Kalu, confirmed the incident, saying that the suspect fled the scene after stabbing the lady.

She said, “Consequently, the said Shehu Sani stabbed Bateren Okiotodoro snatched the victim’s bag and fled.”

She said Egwuonwu, who was with the victim at the time of the

incident, however, recognised the suspect and raised the alarm which attracted Corporal Thompson Eniya and other policemen attached to Department of Operations, Asaba, who were on duty at NNPC Filling Station on Asaba-Benin Expressway to the scene.

The corporal quickly alerted ‘B’ Division Police Station, Asaba and detectives were dispatched to the scene.

Kalu said that the victim gave up the ghost while she was being rushed to the hospital for treatment.

She said: “In an effort to effect the immediate arrest of the fleeing suspect, detectives, in the same night, raided the area during which the suspect, Shehu Sani, was fished out and arrested through the cooperation of the Fulani community in the area.”

According to her, the suspect has confessed to the crime and mentioned one Shagari Usman, who has also been arrested, as his accomplice.

FRSC, towing vehicle operators move to free Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Camillus Nnaji agos-Ogun Zonal ComLSafety mand of the Federal Road Commission (FRSC)

is partnering with LagosOgun Towing Vehicle Operators Association (TVOA) to remove broken down ve-

hicles causing gridlock on the expressway.

Addressing the operators at Mowe Unit Command yesterday, the FRSC Zonal Commander, Assistant Corps Marshal Godwin Ogagaoghene, said the aim was to have a special patrol of towing

vehicles called ‘Operation fluid’ to pick broken down vehicles or those involved in accidents from the scene within 10 minutes.

He said: “Once there is a breakdown on the road, the nearest towing vehicle will pick it up not later than 10

minutes after the breakdown.”

Ogagaoghene explained that the collaboration would see the association take responsibility for towing of vehicles concerned after which they would do the costing and get their money.

Gunmen snatch Delta city bus, flee to Imo Dominic Adewole ASABA

rmed robbers have snatched one of the buses AEmmanuel purchased by the administration of Governor Uduaghan of Delta State to cushion

the effects of fuel subsidy removal in 2011.

The robbers, however, spared the driver of the bus, with registration number 14B76 DT, Aniemeka Ekene.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Celestina Kalu, confirmed the incident.

She said the public relations manager of Delta Line Transport Company informed the police, adding that men of the Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad were mobilised to the scene of the robbery.

Kalu said yesterday in Asaba that a man, who gave his name as Mr Anazia, hired the ‘Hummer’ bus from Delta Line office, Asaba, and one of the company’s drivers, Aniemeka Ekene, was assigned to drive him (Anazia) to Ugbolu.

She said: “However, at a spot along the way, the man asked the driver to stop so that he could check something in his farm.

“As soon as the driver stopped, five armed men emerged from the bush and snatched the bus from him and drove to unknown destination with the purported hirer.”

The PPRO, however, said that the police, with the aid of tracking device installed in the bus, tracked the hoodlums to Port Harcourt Road in Owerri, Imo State, where they abandoned the vehicle and jumped into the bush on noticing that policemen were on their trail.

Kalu, who said efforts were on to track the fleeing hoodlums, disclosed that armed robbers attacked Niger Delta Hostel of Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka.

She said: “Police patrol team from Abraka Police Station in synergy with vigilance men mobilised to the area. The hoodlums, on sighting them, took to flight and engaged the security team pursuing them in a shootout during which one of the hoodlums, Oghenekewe Michael, was shot on his leg and arrested.

“The suspect confessed to the crime and led policemen to his cohort, one Gbenga (surname yet unknown), who was also arrested from his hideout within Abraka town.”

Kalu listed the items recovered from them to include one cut-to-size locally-made double barrelled gun, laptops, jewellery, a woman handbag belonging to one of their victims.

METRO

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

11

‘I killed my father after stealing his cigarette’ Cajetan Mmuta Benin

A

suspect, Mr. Bestman Momodu, told journalists yesterday that he killed his father, Zuberu Momodu, after stealing the old man’s stick of cigarette.

Bestman, an indigene of Ubiane village in Aviele town, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state, was among 67 suspected criminals paraded yesterday by the police in Benin, the Edo State capital.

The 22-year-old suspect was arrested for killing his father with a machete over argument He said: “It was because of a quarrel I had with my father that led to it. I stole a cigarette from him. As we were quarrelling, I mistakenly took a cutlass and cut him. We are five in the family and I am a labourer.

It was a mistake. I did not run because it was a mistake, it was the community that arrested me. I was told my father died but I did not attend his burial.”

The suspects paraded included armed robbers, rapists, kidnappers, illegal arms dealers, secret cult members and murder suspects.

Also paraded was one Endurance Igbinoviawho, who falsely obtained about N400,000 after he had posed as a former commissioner of police in the state.

The suspect promised unsuspecting victims that he would employ some unnamed “boys” into the Nigerian Customs Service.

Items recovered from the suspects include 17 guns of different sizes and types, 48 live cartridges, three vehicles, a motorcycle, battle axe and cutlasses.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Foluso Adebanjo, who paraded the suspects, warned bandits and others who indulge in criminal activities to leave Edo State during the ember months or face the full wrath of the law.

Adebanjo urged the residents to be security conscious, remain vigilant and monitor the movement and activities of people as well as their neighbours within and round their premises and to report suspicious

ASP’s widow, five children face eviction, seek IG’s intervention

Ibadan

has petitioned the Aof widow Acting Inspector General Police, Suleiman Abba,

risis is brewing between the supCParty porters of a Peoples Democratic (PDP) governorship aspirant,

The Ugiagbe’s family

with several seemingly insurmountable hurdles. The file of the deceased was first missing for a couple of years and when it finally surfaced, it has gone through a lengthy process between the police and Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited.”

According to them, while the issue of the pension was being sorted out, the children of the deceased dropped out of school because of their inability to pay their fees.

“They have nowhere to pack to, because the deceased pension has not been paid to enable them afford accommodation outside the barracks.

“It is in the midst of this suffering that some of your overzealous officers have given our clients an ultimatum to move out of Block 2, Flat 12, Queens Barracks, Apapa, Lagos State, or be thrown out forcefully on or before the

end of August 2014.

“On June 1, 2014, they were served with a purported notice of ejection by the Provost Marshal Office, Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos to vacate the said apartment as same has already being allocated to two police officers in the person of one Inspector Francisca Joseph and Inspector Josiah Joseph who are currently jostling to wrestle possession from the deceased family.

“This is not without the several pleas and explanations proffered to the officers giving the reasons for the delay in moving out of the said apartment which obviously is as a result of the administrative bottlenecks and attendant delays and corruption that normally characterise the payment of entitlements and gratuities of retired and deceased police officers,” the lawyers added.

Seyi Makinde, and those of Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State over the drilling of a borehole in the Aleshinloye Market in Ibadan.

In fulfilment of his promise to solve the problem of water supply in the market, which was recently gutted by fire, Makinde, an engineer, on Sunday commenced sinking of a borehole, but the project, which was near completion, was aborted as hoodlums suspected to be supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Chairman in Ibadan South West Local Government Area, Mr Taoreed Adeleke, swooped on the workers.

The supporters, wielding cutlasses, guns and other dangerous weapons, chased the workers away and blocked the 70-feet borehole with stones.

Many property and goods were lost to the fire owing to shortage of water in the fire engines of the state fire service.

The incident moved Makinde to promise to sink a borehole in the market.

When our correspondent visited the scene yesterday, there was tension between the supporters of the two politicians as some traders in the market claimed that Adeleke did not have the right to stop those working there.

They expressed disappointment over the action of the government.

Speaking on behalf of the Aleshinloye market traders, Chairman, Fancy Section, Mr Rahman Olabamiji,

Auto crash claims UNIOSUN lecturer Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

lecturer at the Osun State AOsogbo, University (UNIOSUN), Mr Wale Farawe,

yesterday died at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, (LAUTECH), Osogbo following his involvement in a crash at Oke Ila Road.

Farawe and the students of UNIOSUN were involved in the accident which occurred on August 15.

The lecturer and the students were on an excursion to Ayunkunnugba Waterfall at Oke-Ila, during the annual week of the History and International Studies Students’

Association (HISSA).

The deceased, who had been in a state of coma in the last two weeks, gave up the ghost in the early hours of yesterday.

One of the family members, who preferred anonymity, told journalists yesterday that all efforts to revive Farawe were fruitless.

Sulaimon Abba, IG

Alesinloye: Thugs prevent PDP guber aspirant from sinking borehole Sola Adeyemo

Juliana Francis

to help her stave off imminent eviction from the police quarters where she is living with her five children.

The petitioner is the widow of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Henry Ugiagbe. Ugiagbe was said to have died in active service.

The widow, who was desperate to ensure she and her children are not thrown out of the quarters, has sought the intervention of Festus Keyamo’s Chambers. The case was handed over to Terfa Mark Anata and Gloria Albert-Ekpe.

In a petition to Suleiman, the counsel said: “Until his death, Supol Henry Ugiagbe with AP/ No. 37829 was serving at B Department (Transport), Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos State, as a driver. He enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force in 1980.

“He, however, died of cardiac arrest at Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State on February 1, 2009, where he was taken for medical attention whilst on official duty, conveying some newly acquired police vehicles from Lagos to Abuja.

“However, since his death, the process of getting his pension by his widow and children has been fraught

characters to the police for prompt action.

The commissioner also called for active cooperation between men of the command and members of the public by providing useful information to the security agencies “who are ever determined to ruthlessly flush out and deal with criminals in the state”.

He said: “My officers and men are poised and will not relent in the effort to ensure peace and security in Edo State.”

The measures put in place to combat crime in the ember months, according to him, are in line with the directive by the Acting Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, to all officers to be more proactive in their duties and responsibilities at the various commands across the country.

“He has ordered that surveillance and raids on vulnerable targets must be intensified. We are more than determined to decisively carry out the orders,” Adebanjo said.

Ajimobi (left) during a recent visit to the market

said there was fire outbreak at the market on August 17.

He said: “Many sympathisers, including politicians, visited us and promised to sink borehole for us.

Makinde was one of them. Yesterday (Sunday), he brought an engine and started work on the borehole without demanding money from us. They were about to complete the borehole when some people stormed the market with weapons and blocked the borehole.

“Not long after, the local government chairman brought another machine saying they wanted to sink borehole in the same place. If they actually wanted to help us, they can choose another place where they would sink another borehole. We need up to 10 boreholes considering the population of traders in this market.

We are not politicians.”

Responding to allegations, Mr Adegboye Osuade, who spoke on behalf of Adeleke, said the governor visited the market when the fire incident happened.

He said: “Governor Ajimobi promised to help us dig a borehole so that there would be adequate water for the fire station. He then directed the council boss to start work on the borehole.

“What we are saying is that before they started digging the borehole, the chairman of the council who is the chief security officer in the local government should have been briefed.

This is under his jurisdiction and as a mark of respect, he needed to be informed.”

However, the traders urged the governor to prevail on Adeleke to allow Makinde to sink the borehole.

12 NEWS

LIES

Former Ogun governor takes on his successor as 2015 drawn near Kunle Olayeni ABEOKUTA

F

ormer governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel, yesterday debunked the allegation by his successor, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, that he set booby traps for his administration.

Daniel, who spoke at a Labour Party (LP) summit in Atan, Ijebu North East Local Government on Sunday, said the election of Governor Amosun in 2011 was a mistake.

He said he would not be deterred by any effort

75

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Daniel: Amosun election, a mistake aimed at sending Amosun packing in 2015, urging the people of the state to resist the temptation of being hoodwinked.

Daniel spoke against the backdrop of newspaper interviews published on Sunday, where Amosun claimed that the former governor created a mess and incurred massive debts for the present administration.

While describing the allegation levelled against him as tissue of lies, the LP chieftain wondered why the governor continued to make the issue of debt a sing-song affair, three and half years after he (Daniel) left power.

Daniel explained that he inherited a liability of N33 billion from the

The life expectancy (in years) at birth of men in Bahrain in 2010-2015.

Source: Un.org

administration of former Governor Olusegun Osoba in 2003 and did not make any issue out of it.

He said: “As somebody who has been on that seat for eight years - we must respect that seat - I therefore find it very difficult to describe our governor as a liar. Since our governor went on television, it is important that we give the people of Ogun State the correct information.

“I heard the governor said Daniel has set booby traps for him. What are these booby traps? I now checked the newspapers to know what he said I had done. After three and half years, this man is still disturbed by my profile. I didn't say I want to contest governorship against him.

120,540

The total area (in sq. km) of North Korea.

Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

“Among the booby traps he claimed I set for him was that I was not satisfied with the number of tertiary institutions in the state to the extent that I established a new university and polytechnics and as a result, he couldn't fund them.

According to Daniel, “All the four ICT polytechnics that we established and the Gateway Industrial and Petrochemical Institute, Oni, what they got was not up to N50million.

But somebody who cannot pay them N50million is now constructing bridges at N5billion, N8billion.

“My submission therefore is that unfortunately we have a government in Ogun State today that has no capacity and they do

1,383m

The number of mobile-cellular subscriptions of developed countries in 2009.

Source: Itu.int

not know what they are doing. Part of what they said was that OGD owed debts. It's as if I embezzled the money. Agreed that

there were debts, what is the business of government? Is it not to pay the debts since government is a continuum?”he added.

Group condemns northern elders’ comment on Chibok girls Wale Abiodun he League of SouthT(LSSN) South Nationalities yesterday con-

demned the statement credited to the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) on the purported sixty days ultimatum to President Goodluck Jonathan to produce the abducted Chibok schoolgirls or forget the 2015 presidential elections.

In a statement made available to New Telegraph in Lagos and signed by its National Coordinator, Mr. Victor Mathew, the group said the statement is self-serving, malicious, mischievous, intimidating and a blackmail.

The statement further said that: “The League of South South Nationalities views with utter dismay statement credit-

ed to the Northern Elders Forum on their purported 60 days ultimatum to the president to produce the Chibok girls or forget 2015 elections.

“It goes on to buttress the fact that the efforts of the president on this issue and many others have been invidiously constructed.

“The so-called elders in their wisdom should direct their frustration to the sect and the state governments that wittingly neglected their duty; and which has plunged the nation into this needless crisis,” the statement reads.

The group is also of the view that politicising the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls by the northern elders is unfortunate, a disservice to the girls and their families and all well-meaning Nigerians.

Pedro harps on grassroots democracy Wale Elegbede former Deputy GovAFemi ernor in Lagos State, Pedro, has con-

L-R: Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka; Deputy Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Technical Services and Special Duties, Yemi Omidiji and Permanent Secretary, Aviation Ministry, Mr. Yemi Adelakun, during a fact-finding visit to the FRSC IT facilities by the Aviation Management team in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

MOSOP calls for Ebola sensitisation in Rivers communities Cephas Iorhemen and Clement James

T

he Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) yesterday called on the Rivers State government to take the campaign on the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) to rural communities in the state.

MOSOP said such move would go a long way in containing the disease, stressing that ignorance on the part of the people, especially those in the rural communities, was capable of spreading the disease.

MOSOP President, Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, who stated this while addressing a large crowd of MOSOP faithful at Bori-Ogoni, called for a massive enlightenment campaign on the signs of the disease

and the safety measures to take against it.

Pyagbara cautioned against devoting the entire efforts on Port Harcourt to the detriment of the rural areas, adding that the situation may not augur well for the poorly informed local populace.

He said: “The effort being made so far, in our view, is commendable but limited, especially relating to the rural areas in terms of awareness, Ebola designated facilities and manpower.

“It is in this regard that we call for a more focused tilt towards the rural areas, which virtually have no access to anything in this country, yet accounts for over 85 percent of the population of the nation, and which would be worse hit in the event of the spread of the disease in

the communities.”

Meanwhile, the three people that were been monitored at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi, on account that they came from Liberia and may have contracted the disease, have been discharged.

The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Orkurga Malu, told journalists that two missionaries as well as a driver of a chartered vehicle, who are indigenes of Benue State on a mission in Liberia, had left that country in the wake of the disease outbreak for fear of being infected.

According to Malu, the three were received and kept at a designated place for treatment of such persons, but said after series of tests, there was no

proof that they contracted the disease.

However, in a statement yesterday, the chief medical director said the three had been discharged as all tests confirmed that they were immuned to the disease.

In a related development, the Cross River State government yesterday denied rumours that a woman died at the weekend of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).

Reacting to the widespread rumour in a press statement he personally signed, the Commissioner for Information, Chief Akin Ricketts, said the rumor was “peddled by unscrupulous facebook users” and it has created panic and fear among residents of the state.

gratulated the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for selecting the modified direct primaries system as the preferred way of choosing candidates for the 2015 elections, saying that it is a victory for grassroots democracy.

In a statement released via his personal twitter handle @FEMIPEDRO yesterday, the APC chieftain said the party is standing on a historical threshold of victory in 2015, and needs to continue to remain focused as it

prepares for a turbulent electoral season.

The statement reads in part: “Typically, this period in the electoral calendar usually throws up a mixture of controversy, disenchantment and irresolvable internal conflicts, but we are extremely prepared this time around.

“Our party has come this far because all its leaders agree that internal democracy must continue to prevail.

Cynics initially thought we won’t merge, but we did. We conducted an aggressive membership registration drive with minimal hitches across the country," Pedro said.

Dabiri-Erewa asks FG to immortalise Adadevoh

Wale Abiodun

hairman, House of Cmittee Representatives Comon Diaspora Af-

fairs, Hon. Abike DabiriErewa, has called on the Federal Government and Nigerians to immortalise the late Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, the first Nigerian medical doctor to attend to Liberian Patrick Sawyer, who died of Ebola in Nigeria.

It will be recalled that Adadevoh also died of Ebola last month.

According to the statement made available to New Telegraph in Lagos and signed by Dabiri-Erewa; “Courage,

selfless commitment and an unwavering belief in a cause are three essential, but rare qualities of truly great leaders. She also added that great leaders exhibit an uncommon commitment to a cause and go as far as laying down their lives for a purpose they truly believe in.

“Our dear Dr. Adadevoh has certainly stamped her feet in the sands of time as one of Nigeria’s heroines who fought like a true warrior, the battle against the Ebola Virus Disease and deserves to be commended, applauded, celebrated and immortalised by Nigeria and Nigerians,” she said.

Kwara: APC, PDP differ over ban on rallies / PAGE 17 | Jonathan’s presidential stake / PAGE 18

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ayodele Ojo

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13

Battle for Uduaghan’s seat rages in Delta

p-16

TUESday, September 2, 2014

Former Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, in a no-holds-barred interview with ERIC OSAGIE, spoke on his relationship with Boko Haram, why he defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and how the Federal Government can tackle the insurgency ravaging the country, among other sundry issues. Excerpts: Governor Ali Modu Sheriff, it is nice to have you with us on this interview session. You must have read the story by the Australian negotiator on Boko Haram, which claimed you were one of the major sponsors and financiers of the group. What is your reaction to that?

Well, first and foremost, I was shocked. The whole story looked senseless and baseless. Number one, the man that purportedly gave the interview said he was an Australian, who said he came to Nigeria, and spoke to Boko Haram. I thought that really, if he is a professional mediator or negotiator, or whatever he calls himself, his report would have been given to the security agencies of Nigeria. That is number one. Number two, also, if at all he spoke to Boko Haram, before making his views public, he should have known that I have a right of reply. He should have asked for my reaction or views on his findings, because I am a Nigerian, I am in Nigeria, I didn’t go anywhere. Number three, I was the former governor of Borno State for eight years. The Boko Haram war as we know it today, started in 2002 in Yobe. The first attack of Boko Haram was in 2002 in Kanama, from there they ran to Borno State. And in 2002, where was I? I wasn’t a governor. There was a sitting governor in Borno State, and there was Boko Haram. They ran away from Kanama and moved to Gwoza hill!

But come to think of it, who is Mohammed Yusuf (first leader of the group)?

Yusuf had been in Maiduguri, doing his preaching and later taken to court by the Federal Government, and prosecuted in Abuja, ever before I became a governor.

And who was the first casualty of Boko Haram in Borno State? It is me. I was the first victim of Boko Haram in Borno State. In their first attack, they killed my brother, the same father and mother with me. That was when they fought with the military in Borno. The first casualty was me. Then, they killed my cousin. They killed my candidate for governorship; they killed my party chairman. Two of them were direct relations of mine. Why did they do that? Because I made a law prohibiting Boko Haram in the domain of Borno State. The law said anybody practicing or associated with what Boko Haram was doing, was banned by law from so doing, and if caught will be prosecuted and jailed for 25 years.

Boko Haram: My story, by ex-Borno gov, Sheriff

Sheriff

Are you saying that Boko Haram attacked you because of the law you promulgated against them?

Exactly. They saw me as their attacker, that I was against them and fighting them. But I did so, because I had a responsibility to the state. I was a governor of Borno State, and it is my duty to make sure that what is not tenable in law should not be tolerated. Because you cannot just go and kill human beings and go free. Now, for anybody to turn round and accuse me, or say that Ali Modu Sherriff is Boko Haram, is insane, because…

Look, I left government three and a half years ago, they have prosecuted many Nigerians, prominent ones, who were dragged to court, prosecuted by the Federal Government as being connected to Boko Haram, if for any reason I am connected to Boko Haram, I am not above the law, I would have been prosecuted like any other person. It is not for an Australian to come and say that I am a

member or sponsor of Boko Haram.

And if you look at the interview, it would clearly show that it was a preplanned agenda. It was a sponsored work. Somebody wanted to tarnish my

Even if you are in PDP and you are involved in Boko Haram, the state will prosecute you. So, it is senseless for anybody to think that because you have something to hide that’s why you joined the ruling party

image. Why did they choose to do that now? I was a member of the APC (All Progressives Congress), I was one of the founders of the APC. I have been in opposition (parties) all my life. Why didn’t you write then that I was Boko Haram.

It is only now that I want to join the ruling party that you now publish that I am Boko Haram. It is totally a smear campaign! A campaign of calumny. Because why is it that the interview carried on television, and also the newspaper they carried it, came at the same time? If you check, there’s something under it.

Because United Kingdom is a European nation that has a lot of source of information dissemination, not for a medium owned by a Nigerian to be the medium he would use to propagate his opinion.

He didn’t speak with BBC, VOA, CNN on such a sensitive issue.

There are too many contradictions CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

14 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Sheriff: I’m a victim, not a CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

in that interview by the Australian. He talked about Boko Haram; then he said I was corrupt, in the same interview. You wonder what he was actually looking for: my corruption or Boko Haram? He said my government was not properly run; that he doesn’t understand why I was not arrested by the Economic and financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). I don’t know when he became a criminal investigative bureau for the EFCC or negotiator for Boko Haram? The whole thing does not make sense.

Were you jolted when you read the damning report?

I was shocked. I was completely shocked. Because, there is no consistency for one minute on what he was trying to do. He was scrambling. A scrambling, faceless person. They said he was struggling to talk on telephone in the TV interview.

But this is not the first time you are being linked to Boko Haram. Part of the accusation is that you armed a group of youths during your election and didn’t disarm.

That was the group that turned into Boko Haram?

You know, unfortunately…

Did you arm some people during your election or re-election?

Why should I do that? Let me tell you the history of my elections in Borno State. I was elected into the Senate of Nigeria three times, as a senator of the Federal Republic, by the people of Borno State three times. I was elected as a governor twice. I am the only indigene of Borno State that has ever been elected by the people of Borno to that level. Before I came into government, there was Boko Haram. Now, if you say it is the youth that metamorphosed to Boko Haram, whose youths? Because every political party in Nigeria has a youth wing. To my knowledge there are over 15 parties that ran for positions in the last election in Nigeria. Therefore, whose youths? You know, I didn’t bother myself [about the accusations] all along because to start talking about…the Federal Government of Nigeria, two different administrations set up more than three committees to investigate this matter. And all the investigations came out clearly to say that I have nothing to do with all these people, the Boko Haram. On the contrary, I am a victim of the Boko Haram onslaught.

I am a victim who they are now projecting as sponsor. I don’t know how I will be a victim and also the sponsor of Boko Haram. It is just a pure imagination of some people.

If you are not the sponsor, did you succeed in fighting Boko Haram during your tenure as governor of Borno State?

Yes, I did.

Unfortunately, today, APC has only one driver. And Nigeria is too big for that...

Decisions are made by one person, rather than the collective. When you have that kind of situation, that is no longer a political party. It is a personal estate in your time as governor…

Much more than it was.

Is it so difficult or impossible to flush them out?

No. The truth about it is that terrorists all over the world everyday device different methods. Let me give you an example: The Americans moved out of Vietnam without succeeding. America is today the strongest country on the living earth. If they didn’t succeed in Vietnam, and moved out, one wouldn’t be surprised whenever terrorists fail to stop terror act. You are fighting people that you don’t know. Terrorists all over are people who know their target, but you don’t know them. So, it’s like guerrilla warfare. I don’t live in the insinuations that our military are not fighting or capable. That is not true. When I was a governor, our Operation Flush, the military, police and SSS, they curtailed them effectively.

How come they are not doing that now?

I am not in government, so I wouldn’t know.

If you were in government or being a governor, what would you be doing?

Well, I would exactly do what I had done in the past to curtail them. In Maiduguri during my tenure, there was no curfew for one day. They had never taken over any local government or anywhere in the state. They started their operations in an enclave and the soldiers were able to crush them.

Now, they are everywhere, capturing over 200 chibok schoolgirls. Nobody can find them or say precisely when they would be freed. As a former governor, are you not

You drove them out of Borno?

Yes, I did.

So, how did they return?

Well, I left government. I wouldn’t know what happened thereafter.

How did you then curtail them during your tenure?

First, I did a law. Second, I had the cooperation of all the security agencies, who were working 24 hours round the clock to ensure that Boko Haram did not operate. My responsibility (on security) ended when I left office as governor.

What happened thereafter I cannot be responsible for it.

As a private citizen and leader in your own right, why has Boko Haram become so hydra-headed and more vicious now, than

Sheriff

worried?

I am more than worried. I am more than worried…

Three-time senator and two-term governor, what are you doing about it. Even as a private citizen?

As a citizen right now, what I have tried to do as a person is to make sure that all my contacts, who I interacted with as governor, in the neighbouring countries, to ask them to provide security information to relevant security agencies in Nigeria, on what they know about the group and how to get them. We are praying. And every day, we spend our time in praying, that God should bring us out of this terrible mess.

And the girls are still there?

Not only the girls. Every day, human beings are dying.

Are you in touch with your successor, Governor Kashim Shettima, on how to fight Boko Haram. Do you give him advice?

Well, as someone who took over from me, who succeeded me. I did advise him.

How come he is not following what you said you did during your tenure?

Advice is what you call it. You are free to accept it or not to accept.

Did you put him in power?

God installed him, through me.

Are you still the best of friends?

We have no issues between us.

But we are no longer in the same party.

Why are you not working together on the insecurity in Borno State?

Security matters

should be above politics.

The word itself is advice. It is left for the person you are advising to evaluate if your advice is worth anything or nothing. He has a right to decide on how he wants to run the state. I don’t interfere in any matter of government. He is the governor of Borno State. I am a former

POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

15

sponsor of Boko Haram

governor. And I wish him well. I advise him on matters he requires my advice.

At the national level, are you satisfied with the way President Goodluck Jonathan is prosecuting the war against Boko Haram?

The president is trying. The truth about it is that Boko Haram issue is a matter that is very complicated. And you should know that it didn’t start during his tenure. As the president of a nation who came and inherited this issue, to me personally, I believe he is doing his best, because like I told you, America could not succeed in Vietnam because of the difficulty in dealing with terrorists; what happened in Iraq? Up till today, there has been no solution. What happened in Afghanistan? No solution.

Despite his efforts, the fact remains our girls are not back?

Unfortunately, our girls are not back.

I know he is trying. I am not trying to hold brief for him. But the information that I have is that he is doing everything within his power to get the girls out. I know so, because some of his aides and lieutenants are my friends, and they tell me the serious efforts being made to free the girls.

Let’s leave Boko Haram for a while. All your political life, you have been in opposition parties: NRC, APP, ANPP and APC. Now, you have joined a ruling party, PDP. What is the motivation for you? Did you quit APC to avoid prosecution over corruption charges

by EFCC? How would you join others to form an opposition party only to dump it?

(Laughs) The opposition that I used to know and APC are two different things. I choose to be in opposition purely on principle and my beliefs.

All the beliefs that I have in opposition parties, APC has none of them, no single one. I want you to understand that APC is a culmination of many parties coming together.

And our views are dif-

ferent. People that we thought have the same thinking with us, they are not near our thinking. What is in APC of today is not what I believe in, at all.

How come as an experienced politician you didn’t notice you were not ideologically compatible before joining them or founding the party with them?

The thing is that I was the chairman, Board of Trustees of ANPP. It was one of the three political parties that came together to form APC: ANPP, CPC and ACN. Some of the people that we met, we had never worked together. We were only seeing them from a distance. What I found out was that a lot of people there today are people that I cannot work with.

You discovered it early in the day or much later?

Not early in the day. Later in the day, I would say.

What were the signals you saw?

The party I used to be in, the ANPP, every decision of the party, we sat down and took it collectively. Unfortunately, today, APC has only one driver. And Nigeria is too big for that.

Are you talking about Asiwaju Bola Tinubu?

If he became the sole driver, could it not also be that he is the major financier?

It is not true if they say Asiwaju is the major financier of the party. Everybody financed, everybody, when we were there. Everybody made his own contribution.

You were opposed to one person owning the party. That was your major grouse?

Yes. Decisions are made by one person, rather than the collective. When you have that kind of situation, that is no longer a political party. It is a personal estate. I don’t believe in that.

You could have gone to any other party aside PDP? Which party? Tell me which party I could have gone. There are technically two parties in Nigeria today. You are either in APC or PDP. Look at the people in PDP today; it is a party more democratic than my former party, APC. They say to avoid being prosecuted, I left APC. All the people involved in Boko Haram are already being prosecuted in court. You see it on TV. All the people suspected to be involved in Boko Haram are already being prosecuted. Therefore, it is absolutely nonsense to say what they are saying. Even if you are in PDP and you are involved in Boko Haram, the state will prosecute you. So, it is senseless for anybody to think that because you have something to hide that’s why you joined the ruling party.

Did you have any deal with the presidency or more specifically President Jonathan before agreeing to dump your former party for the ruling party?

What deal? Listen, I do politics on principle. To propagate and defend the interests of the people I represent, to have the benefits of democracy. I have been a governor already. The party that elected me is no longer in existence. By surrendering our certificates, ANPP is no longer a political party. And looking at the APC today, I stand to be corrected, it is not a political party.

What is it?

It is a limited liability company owned by a single majority shareholder!

Tell Nigerians a bit about yourself. We just know you were a governor and an ex-senator. Not many people know who Ali Modu Sherrif is?

Let me tell you, all my life I have been

I was the first victim of Boko Haram in Borno State. In their first attack, they killed my brother... Then, they killed my cousin. They killed my candidate for governorship; they killed my party chairman. Two of them were direct relations of mine. Why did they do that? Because I made a law prohibiting Boko Haram in the domain of Borno State a businessman. My father and my grandfather were all businessmen, successful businessmen for that matter. Half of my years on earth, I lived in Lagos. I only went to Maiduguri during the NRC/SDP days to run for election as senator. My life and orientation have no place, no relationship with people or those inclined to religious fanaticism. I will never be associated with such people. I have friends across different divides: religious and social. My friends, my best friend, who was best man at my wedding is a Christian.

Not even a Nigerian, but a Christian. He is a European-Chinese. He was best man at my wedding. In my home, there is no basis for religious discrimination. This man sitting down here, my former commissioner, is a Christian. He is one of my most trusted aides. He can go anywhere in my house, even up to my bedroom.

My wife treats him as a brother and a member of the family.

The Ali Modu Sheriff family has no relationship or correlation with religious fanaticism. It is just that in my state, there are people who believe that as long as I live, they cannot realise their political ambition, either they are with me or they lose, because I led my people well, I enjoy their confidence. That is really a problem to a lot of people. And that is the genesis of trying to link me with Boko Haram, just to tarnish my image.

One day, somebody asked me, that one of your ex-commissioners, was a member of Boko Haram. I said do you know that this person you are talking about was chairman of his local government before I became a governor? He had been a politician for a long time. And he left my government three years before Boko Haram started. How can I be responsible for the way of life of somebody, an adult?

It is just that people are just looking for a way to see how they can tarnish another person’s image.

You feel pained?

A lot of pain. My children are pained.

They tell me, ‘Daddy, talk to the world.

Tell them we are not like this. We are not Boko Haram.’ Every day, my friends, my family, are disturbed. What do I stand to gain by sponsoring Boko Haram? To do what?

I made money before I joined politics.

The house I am staying today in Abuja, I built before I joined politics. I moved into this house in 1986. Where is politics in it? The house I am staying in Lagos, I bought it since 1990. I was not in politics.

What business are you into?

I am into oil.

You’ve always been in the petroleum sector?

I was a defence contractor. I supplied naval materials to the Nigerian Navy and did work also with other arms of the military. But I stopped that when I joined politics, and moved to oil business. Right now, I am involved in drilling oil in Chad.

That’s what I do for now. So, all my life we are business people. And there is no reason for any kind of extremism.

So, what’s your next political move?

For now, I want to really concentrate on my business, and watch politics.

We will help the younger people who we brought into the political arena to achieve their ambitions. But, for me, personally, I don’t plan anything for now.

May be, in the future.

2015 is few months away. Where would you stand in the choice between a president of northern extraction and one of South-South ?

I am a party man. If I join a political party, I always believe in the doctrine and ethics of the party. So, whoever emerges as the candidate of the PDP, that is where I would stand. For us today, Jonathan is the president, and we will support him.

I will support him. I believe he is trying.

There are too many issues he is tackling.

At another time, I will give you one million reasons why I am saying he’s done well to be re-elected. He has not formally declared. When the time comes, if he decides to run, that’s the time we will talk about it. But for me, I see nothing wrong in Jonathan running again. Nothing absolutely wrong.

Do you nurse the fear that Nigeria will disintegrate in 2015?

No. I don’t have such fears. We have a strong will. Nigeria is a nation that can strive under any difficulty. Our people are resilient. Nigerians are self-confident and determined. We are different from any nation. Nigeria will not disintegrate.

We will overcome our challenges.

What is your final take on Boko Haram?

I want to tell Nigerians that I am not Boko Haram. I have nothing to do with them. What do I stand to gain from doing so? I did not arm any youth that transformed to Boko Haram. Like I said, I was the first casualty of Boko Haram in Borno State. From their activities so far, the Boko Haram do not believe in any politician. Their beliefs are different. Even the youths they are talking about, they are targets as well. Their views, beliefs are different from what you and I believe as human beings.

What can we do to stop them?

What we can do to stop them is to ensure that the orientation of the gullible youths is changed. They go to villages to look for and recruit gullible youths, and indoctrinate them. What we should do is to change the psyche of our youths.

Remove them from this indoctrination.

They say there is mass poverty in Borno and the North-East, which makes Boko Haram recruitment fertile?

Poverty is everywhere.

But more in your zone as statistics reveal.

What did you do as governor to reduce poverty?

When I was governor, I created ministry of poverty alleviation and eradication, and I floated a scheme. I was giving money to all the local governments to train the youth. After training them, set them up in business on what they trained in. And that is what I would really advise the Federal Government to do. Empower the Ministry of Youth Development so that they can change the psyche of these gullible youths.

16 POLITICS

Uduaghan

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Okubor

Okowa

Battle for Uduaghan’s seat rages in Delta

In Delta State, the web of intricacies being woven by kingmakers within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has set the ball rolling for manoeuvres to succeed the governor, even as the opposition is scheming to gain from the expected implosion within the ruling party. DOMINIC ADEWOLE reports

F

or those seeking to succeed the governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan come 2015, prudence is the watchword, as the unknown intent of kingmakers in the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has continued to elicit serious concerns for contenders.

And since it is hard to penetrate the ranks of the kingmakers, aspirants who have littered every nook and cranny of the state with their campaign messages, and have since last year embarked on consultations, now have brawny stories to tell.

At various fora, Governor Uduaghan has continuously told anyone who cares to listen that, he has “not anointed anybody, whoever that wants to contest among my cabinet members should resign.”

Although, none of the governor’s men have summoned the courage to throw in the towel, New Telegraph gathered that no fewer than three of his aides, including his Chief of Staff, Dr. Festus Okubor, have embarked on consultations and campaigns on possible ways of succeeding their boss.

At a point, Okubor’s campaigns allegedly pitched his loyalists against those of the senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, in Ika South and Ika North-East local government areas of the state.

The squabble was over the defacing of Okowa’s campaign billboards near the College of Education, Agbor, which led to a gun duel by both parties.

In reaction, Okowa through his solicitor, Peter Mrakpor, in suit No. A/151/2014, filed at the High Court of Delta State, dated 01/07/2014, deposed to by one David Gidigbo, sought redress in court, claiming N20 billion damages, even as he averred that the allegations of murder, attempted murder and vandalism levelled against him, were “cal-

culated attempts by his detractors to harm him.”

The exchange of unprintable words that trailed the allegations, which the matter dovetailed into, left no one in doubt that the battle for the soul of Delta North Senatorial District – the zone that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rotational arrangement favours, was going to be very unfriendly.

Little had the billboard saga been laid to rest than a scuffle ensued between Mrs. Mariam Nneamaka Ali, the wife of the former national chairman of the ruling party and the state chairman of the party, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, reared its head in the senatorial district.

Now, the plot of the kingmakers, which is usually full of surprises, has set ripples among the highly trumpeted contestants including former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe; the former Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Ochei; Okowa; Okubor; Lagosbased multi-millionaire, Chief Peter Okocha; the chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Chief Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Olejeme; Special Adviser on Projects’ Monitoring and Evaluation to President Goodluck Jonathan, Prof.

Sylvester Monye; the former Acting Governor of the state, Hon. Sam Obi; a former Assistant Commissioner of Police in River State, Chief Godswill Obielum; Chief Tony Prest; Dr. Otive Igbuzor and a host of others.

And as such they have started to make amends in their ultimate dream to govern the state, especially in the light of claims from some quarters that the Permanent Secretary, Government House, Asaba, Mr. Anthony Obuh, has been conscripted into the race on the platform by the ruling class in the state.

Even those who have been in the same camp with the former helmsman since the advent of democracy in 1999, have not only lost their political compass but no longer have a hiding place in the hi-tech politics recently orchestrated by the kingmakers in the state in collaboration with former Governor James Ibori in a London jail.

Prior to Obuh’s entry, the top contenders like Okowa, Okubor and Ochei, who roared back after he was forced to resign as Speaker under the threat of impeachment by the kingmakers, in order to reduce his rising profile, had assumed they would walk over other challengers to succeed the governor.

But Obuh, a career civil servant and bureaucrat who plied his public service

trade over the past 15 years in the state, has diplomatically claimed, having been allegedly anointed and assured of adequate protection, to be the right man for the job.

Obuh’s sudden emergence on the political turf has turned the Ika nation and Delta North at large, where Okowa, Okubor, Obi, Monye, and a host of others hail from, into a theatre of battle by the gladiators.

Since Obuh declared for the race, three aspirants in the race, Okowa, Ochei and Olejeme, popularly referred to as “the Big Three” have started to smell tomfoolery, especially going by the way and manner, Okowa has been shuttling between the state and Abuja in the past three weeks since Obuh’s posters surfaced.

This is even as Okowa’s return ticket to the Senate next year, has already put Nwaoboshi and Ali on a warpath, because the duo have both concluded that if Okowa is gunning for governorship, then his seat at the Senate is vacant.

The reason for their panic is not farfetched. A reliable source at the Government House, Asaba, revealed to New Telegraph that Obuh is highly favoured by the powers-that-be in the state, and that “as it is now, Obuh is unrepentantly optimistic about the 2015 polls, having been assured that with Comrade Ovuozorie Macualay (incumbent SSG) as his running mate, he will coast to victory” and professional kite-flyers have littered the streets of the state, especially Asaba metropolis with Obuh’s posters with the inscription: “Right Man for the Right Time for Delta State Governor 2015.”

Analysts assume Obuh’s footprints have an intimidating profile to other challengers. And that surely, though Obuh is not a hardcore politician, he has walked tall with Governor Uduaghan in several capacities and knows the governor’s strength, weaknesses, lopeholes and selling-points.

A PDP source in the state recently told New Telegraph that the pendulum settled again on Obuh because “he has

Now that the governor wants to avoid the mistakes of his brother (Ibori), he has decided to handover to somebody who is harmless and can do justice to official papers

seen it all.” According to the source, “Obuh knows the governor and the state in and out. Since Ibori was the helmsman, Obuh has been in government, signing official documents of public importance. The financial and political records of the state are at his finger tips. Now that the governor wants to avoid the mistakes of his brother (Ibori), he has decided to handover to somebody who is harmless and can do justice to official papers.”

The source continued: “Initially, he (Uduaghan) was considering his Chief of Staff (Okubor), an ardent loyalist of the party and anything Ibori, who also at one time the state’s Commissioner for Health and later Commissioner for Information during Ibori’s administration. But the wind of change blew after the battle became dirty in Ika axis between him and Okowa, who equally was an insider, being Ibori’s Commissioner for Health and Governor Uduaghan’s SSG before he vied for the Senate.”

Political analysts are of the opinion that Okowa may end up the greatest loser in this battle if he fails to succeed Uduaghan next year. First, he missed his chance in 2007 when he was to succeed Ibori after he was prevailed upon to step down for Uduaghan in the ‘give-and-take’ politics between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibori, over who becomes the governor of the state, and who goes to the Senate between Senator Patrick Osakwe and Mrs. Mariam Ali. Second, the assurance given to him that year that he would have a shot at the governorship of the state after Uduaghan might have completed the eightyear slot of the Delta South Senatorial District, which Ibori also savoured for Delta Central, may have hit the rocks.

Moreover, his chance of returning to the Senate next year is very narrow. Already, the state chairman of the party (Nwaoboshi) has developed interest in the seat and has positioned foot soldiers as PDP flag bearers in the council areas of the district ahead of the local government poll billed for October 25 in order for him to have a smooth ride to the Senate next year.

“Nwaoboshi will definitely give the ticket to himself but whether he will win is another thing,” a PDP source said.

If that happens and except the governor considers him for ministerial or ambassadorial slot, Okowa may end up a political orphan disappointing his teeming supporters from across the state who voted massively for him during the PDP primary election at Austin Jay-Jay Okocha Stadium in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area of the state, whom he later dumped when he keyed into the Obasanjo-Ibori political master plan in 2007.

POLITICS 17

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

The police in Kwara State stirred the hornets’ nest recently when it announced a ban on unauthorised public procession and protests in the North Central state.

BIODUN OYELEYE reports

Kwara: APC, PDP differ over ban on rallies

T

he statement of the police banning unauthorised public processions and protests in Kwara State gave no specific reason for the action, but some observers have linked it to the latest round of violence that greeted the collection of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) specifically at a polling unit where former gubernatorial candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr. Dele Belgore (SAN) had gone to collect his PVC. Before that incident, the state had also witnessed some instances of violent attacks associated with political gathering or activities and each time such occurred the two major parties – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state have always pointed accusing fingers at each other leaving the police with the task of establishing the truth behind the incidents.

But if the police thought its new directive on political gatherings would be welcome with applause, the reactions of various stakeholders seem otherwise. As usual in the state, the PDP and APC are sharply divided over the matter. While the latter has glowingly embraced the ban, the ruling party in the state has been almost acidic in its public condemnation of the directive.

The opposition of the APC to the ban, according to its state Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, was hinged on the argument that such directives contravene the provisions of the constitution. To the party, the ban was an affront to democracy and the Nigerian Constitution.

He said: “The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) as an institution established by law must allow itself to be guided by law and history rather than arbitrariness.

The ban is not only illegal and unwarranted; it is also null and void in the face of Nigerian constitution. The police command lacks such powers to ban rallies, procession and political meetings in Kwara State, only the governor of Kwara State who doubles as the Chief Security Officer of Kwara State has such constitutional powers.

“The fundamental rights to freedom of conscience, expression, assembly and association of the good people of Kwara State as guaranteed by sections 38, 39 and 40 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria cannot be unilaterally violated by the NPF, an institution responsible for the enforcement of same fundamental human rights.

“The Kwara State Police Command should be reminded that when a Commissioner of Police attempted to impose ban on political rallies in Rivers State, the ban was defeated by law and the people of Rivers State. Again, when a Commissioner of Police banned rallies and protests at Abuja in June 2014, the InspectorGeneral of Police overruled the ban and reiterated that Nigerians have the rights to organise protests and rallies.

“Aside facts that the statement conveying the purported ban on political rallies is conspicuously devoid of why political rallies were banned and where the Police Command derived such powers, there is fundamentally no basis for such ban in Kwara State.

“The APC holds that the rights of Kwarans must not be infringed upon by the police. The Police Command should halt any attempt to arrest the freedom of our people. Kwara State is not under siege, no form of siege not even Police siege is acceptable to our party and the people of Kwara State.”

Ahmed

On the directive that party agents should steer clear of polling units during the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, the APC said: “CVR exercises are conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not the Police Command. It was INEC that requested the participation of political parties and deployment of party agents to polling booths. In any electoral process, the duty of the police is to ensure compliance with INEC laws and guidelines, not to give counter unlawful orders.”

But the PDP threw its weight behind the police directive. The party argued through its publicity secretary, Chief Rex Olawoye, that the move would help to stem the tide of violent attacks it alleged was being perpetrated by the ruling party. It also dismissed arguments about the violation of rights as inconsequential considering the spirit and letters of Section 48 of the 1999 constitution which it notes “creates exceptions where right could be deviated upon when the collective security of the people is at stake.”

The PDP stated: “All the police command seeks to prevent is the continued degeneration of the security of the state and nothing more. It is not targeted at the APC alone but all groups and individuals irrespective of their political leaning. So, why is the APC crying more than other institutions that are affected by the order? Does the APC have other motives other than what it is making the public to believe?

“As far as we are concerned, we believe that the police would not have handed down the ban order but for the violent conduct of some members of the APC in Kwara State. And as an institution whose primary responsibility is to protect lives and property in the state, the police would not stand by while the APC turns the state into a theatre of war.

“For instance, over the last two weeks, under the guise of rallies and public processions, members of the APC in Kwara have wrecked untoward havoc on the lives and properties of Kwarans. This situation came to its head on Friday, August 15, 2014 when some sponsored APC thugs invaded the Ode Belgore and Alege Compound polling units in Ilorin South

Abba

Local Government Area of Kwara State and assaulted innocents PDP members who had queued to collect their PVCs, including an innocent NYSC youth corps member, whose only offence was his insistence on due process. But instead of owing up to the criminal conducts of its members, the APC has characteristically turned the table against the victims of their crime.

“Would the police have banned rallies and political gatherings around the registration points if the APC had not moved to subvert the rule of the game?

Would the police have placed a temporary embargo on public procession if the APC had acted within the confines of the law? These are the questions that all right thinking members of the public are now asking.

“It is our contention that the right of the APC to protest or hold rallies in whatever guise, is not elastic, it is subject to their leaders’ responsibility to ensure decorum and sanity – a commitment which the APC leadership has unfortunately not been able to extract from its members across the state. This is the spirit and the letters of S. 48 of the 1999 Constitution which creates exceptions where right could be deviated upon when the collective security of the people is at stake.”

Apart from considerations of constitutional provisions, what must have buoyed the confidence of the APC to op-

The right of the APC to protest or hold rallies in whatever guise, is not elastic; it is subject to their leaders’ responsibility to ensure decorum

pose the ban was the decision by the immediate past Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar,to stop the police from enforcing such moves when in June this year, the then commissioner of police for the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, had similarly banned public processions by members of the #BringbackOurGirls# campaign.

In a statement to announce the ban, the police boss said: “As the FCT police boss, I cannot fold my arms and watch this lawlessness. Information reaching us is that too soon dangerous elements will join the groups under the guise of protest and detonate explosive aimed at embarrassing the government.

“Accordingly, protests on the Chibok girls are hereby banned with immediate effect. I urge all to encourage our security agencies in this war and appreciate them for the sacrifices we have made and are still making.”

But following public outburst over the order, Abubakar had sent then Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Frank Mba, to explain that there was no order banning peaceful assemblies or protests anywhere in Nigeria. He explained what Mbu meant to be an “advisory notice, enjoining citizens to apply caution in the said rallies, particularly in the Federal Capital Territory and its environs.”

The reversal of the ban order came as the #BringBackOurGirls# groups sought a court order against the ban through their lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) and insisted that the protests were legal.

In a suit filed at an Abuja High Court, Falana urged the court to uphold his client’s right to freedom of conscience, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly as well as the right to associate as guaranteed by sections 38, 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution. The plaintiff also sought a declaration from the court that the decision to ban protests and rallies related to the Chibok girls is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void as it violates the fundamental rights entrenched in the constitution.

Mobolaji Ojibara, Chairman of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

18 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Jonathan’s presidential stake President Goodluck Jonathan is in a pole position for reelection in 2015, argues SUFUYAN OJEIFO

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he race for Aso Rock Villa is expected to peak on February 14, 2015, with the presidential election in which a winner will emerge, preparatory to a new four-year term, with effect from May 29, 2015. The incumbent president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, is poised to exercise his constitutional right to a second term in office in spite of political shenanigans by forces that are opposed to him.

Even though he has not formally declared that he would run in the presidential race, his body language, nuanced and veiled remarks, which perceptive minds easily discern, point to his readiness to take a shot at the nation’s topmost job for another term. This has been the expectation – reasonable as it is – of many Nigerians who are rallying behind him and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

For some privileged Nigerian politicians who are close to Jonathan and enjoy his mutual respect, he will seek re-election. One of them, Chief Tony Anenih, who is Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, was categorical on the issue in his address to South-South leaders in Calabar during the recent tour of the zone by the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu.

Anenih delivered his message in a way that left no one in doubt at all about its real intendment: he told the gathering that he is a father who knows what his son wants; that his (political) son (Jonathan) will contest the 2015 presidential election. He then urged Mu’azu to take the message back home to the northern part of the country.

The Oracle of Uromi, Nigeria’s political Nostradamus, has spoken.

Truth is, Anenih is not loquacious and his declaration in Calabar, at a time party leaders were dancing round the issue by merely calling on the President to contest, was one of his rare interventions that have, over the years, seen him provide answers to political jigsaw puzzles. He rarely comments publicly on political issues. He would rather respond to them silently and build bridges of understanding, by reaching out to groups and individuals to achieve desired results.

But when he chooses to speak up, as he did in Calabar, he cannot be ignored.

Like a crystal ball watcher, he had once declared that there was no vacancy in Aso Rock, meaning that then incumbent President Olusegun Obasanjo would be re-elected. He walked his talk by collaborating with other members of the PDP apparatchik to realise victory for Obasanjo and the party.

The issue today in the unfolding 2015 presidential politics is Jonathan, on whom Anenih has greatly raised the stake: that he will contest (and, I daresay, WIN!) and why not? Here is an incumbent President whose performance in office has given him a huge head start over any likely challenger in the PDP for the party ticket. Therefore, with an amazing record of achievements to flaunt, the argument that is being strongly canvassed in some circles in the party is that the President should be given the right of first refusal, something akin or tantamount to an automatic ticket.

For me, that is not a bad idea. It will, however, be appropriate if individuals who desire the party’s presidential ticket are allowed to contest for it in the primary in order to strengthen internal

Jonathan

party democracy. I can place a bet that whatever scenario plays out, Jonathan will be incredibly comfortable. This is because he enjoys the confidence and support of the party, which he leads. He is thus the man to beat in the party. He is also the man to beat in the presidential election.

Jonathan said that much in his last media chat when he declared, in an answer to a question on when he would formally declare his intention to seek reelection, that he remains the defending champion and he is therefore not under pressure to announce whether or not he would participate in the 2015 presidential race. I completely agree with him.

Implicit in that rationalisation is that he would contest.

The pressure is actually on the opposition parties, especially the All Progressives Congress (APC). They should be worried that they have not been able to produce their candidates. Not only have they not been able to produce their candidates, they have also not been able to package and sell them, as a number of groups have done for Jonathan by running television jingles dwelling on the

While Jonathan will be reeling out his catalogue of achievements to Nigerians, others will be inundating the people with campaign promises achievements of his government.

Besides, the timetable released by the electoral body has circumscribed the opposition parties. The same timetable has egregiously given Jonathan and the PDP a clear edge. By the time the opposition parties accept the Jonathan challenge to come up with their candidates, it will be some four months to the election. The opposition will certainly struggle to sell their candidates in four months against the run of an incumbent PDP president whose achievements since stepping in the saddle, particularly from 2011 till date, are remarkable.

And when electioneering begins full blown, it is a fact that while Jona-

than will be reeling out his catalogue of achievements to Nigerians, others will be inundating the people with campaign promises. It is not difficult to know which narrative will appeal to Nigerians more. Already, as groups and individuals intensify calls on the President to announce his intention to seek re-election, the leitmotif of their advocacy has been the avalanche of achievements of his government in all sectors of the national economy. This is sweet song to the ears of Nigerians, not the salad of mendacity and propaganda that the opposition has been feeding the Nigerian people on daily basis.

Significantly, the zonal rallies and advocacies by a number of groups have provided veritable platforms by PDP leaders, members, friends and followers of the President to sing and dance about his landmark achievements; and to urge Nigerians to pressure him to seek re-election. Nigerians are doing their reality checks to match claims of performance with tangible “democracy dividends”, and I believe, they must be ready to, in their large numbers, reinvest their mandate once more in Jonathan for another four-year term.

•Ojeifo, magazine publisher, sent this piece from Abuja.

Kwara: APC, PDP differ over ban on rallies

CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 7

Ilorin Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said the ban, if it were related to the undertaking of political activities by the parties contrary to the dictates of the Electoral Act, would be valid. He told New Telegraph that the fact that some people are holding rallies in some parts of the country without being stopped does not mean the police cannot stop such. His words: “Of course I know that unless it is three months before the election the ban on campaign will not be lifted, so if any political party is seen as engaging in any act that can be termed as engaging in campaign of course they can be stopped.

“If policeman arrests me for committing an offence, my defence should not be that it was because you committed it; I should be able to tell the police why I did it. So, the fact that they have not been stopping people who are doing so in other parts of the country does not mean that you cannot be stopped. What the Electoral Act says is that you cannot campaign three months before the election and the fact that some people have been doing it and were not arrested does not mean the police cannot stop it anywhere.”

The parties are, however, optimistic that the police will relax the ban order.

The APC implored the police to summon

courage to reverse the ban. “Since we have highlighted and proved without doubt that the ban on political meetings and rallies is illegal and unconstitutional, the Kwara State Police Command should summon the courage to reverse itself on the unlawful ban forthwith,” the party stated.

The PDP called on the ruling APC to show more maturity in its conduct. According to the part, “We are confident that the police would relax its order as soon as the political class in Kwara, particularly the APC, show a firmer commitment to uphold the sanctity of the rule of law and the security of lives and property of the citizens of the state.”

EDITORIAL

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

OUR VISION To build a newspaper organisation anchored on the sanctity of truth.

OUR MISSION To publish a newspaper of superior value, upholding the fundamental ethics of journalism: balanced reporting, fairness, accuracy and objectivity.

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

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

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

TETFUND’s puzzling untapped N43 billion

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s the nation’s tertiary institutions remain in deplorable conditions due to inadequate funding, the revelation that the sum of N43 billion is lying fallow in the coffers of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) is a serious indictment. Chairman of TETFUND, Dr. Musa Babayo revealed recently that most institutions of higher learning did not meet the requirement to access these funds hence the money cannot be used despite the daunting need for it.

He noted that his agency was interested in monitoring every project the funds were used for in order to prevent qualitative corruption, which might even be more dangerous than quantitative corruption. Therefore, “the funds are not accessed because we want to be sure they are used judiciously. If the requirements are not met, we can’t release funds no matter the pressure.”

The problems associated with the Nigerian university system have been repeatedly attributed to long neglect and inadequate funding.

Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, (UNILAG), Professor Rahmon Bello restated this well-known scenario recently while delivering the second annual memorial lecture in honour of the institution’s immediate past vice chancellor, Professor Adetokunbo Sofoluwe.

In the lecture titled, “Funding of University Education in Nigeria: Trends, Challenges and new Direc-

tions,” Sofoluwe noted that one major effect of inadequate funding of university education in the country has been academic instability arising from strikes that virtually paralyze university education.

Regretting that the country’s funding of the sector still falls far below the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommendation of 26 per cent of the annual budget, the VC lamented that only about 8.34 percent of the annual budget is allocated to education. According to him, funds released for overheads and capital requirements are grossly inadequate and do not meet the reality of the needs. He added that universities will enjoy relative autonomy and become more focused if they receive funds per student in their institutions, and the funds will be more efficiently utilized for the core businesses of the institution.

Most strikes that have involved Nigerian universities have been brought about by the seemingly incurable problem of funding and financing. At the end of each strike, the pertinent solutions are addressed half-heartedly by the powers that be, thus trapping the institutions and the system in a needless cycle of strikes and closures. The fact that these problems are yet to be tackled by the government emphasizes the need for universities to evolve strategies for generating additional funds.

The Federal Government directed through the National Universities Commission (N.U.C.) that all Federal

Universities generate 10 percent of their total yearly funds internally through various revenue diversification means.

It is also on record that the paucity of funds is largely responsible for the fact that no Nigerian university is ranked amongst the top 19 universities in Africa and equally no Nigerian university is ranked amongst the top 1,600 in the world; this no doubt speaks volumes about the Nigerian university system. In the absence of adequate funding and clear direction, universities are left to engage mainly in routine activities. There are master plans alright and periodic development plans are constructed, but neither is implemented. A number of federal and state universities have remained on their temporary sites for decades because the government has failed to back up its initial promise with adequate funding. The government’s failure to respect its agreements with the Academic Staff Union of Universities has frequently led to strikes and university closures.

However, throwing money at the universities will not in itself solve the endemic problems within the university system. Inadequate funding, poor planning, and the erosion of values have produced a culture of underachievement that will take decades to change. Particularly affected by these factors are the universities’ internal administration and the trio of teaching/learning; research/consultancies; and community service.

It is, therefore, unthinkable that about N43 billion will be idling away with the CBN when various universities could have used such for physical infrastructural and research development, training and retraining etc.

Even the universities are unaware of the availability of funds in TETFUND. There seems to be a problem with TETFUND itself. It appears to have failed in properly communicating what its services are to the immediate beneficiaries. Given the way public institutions engage in underhand activities, this could have been a deliberate ploy. The current leadership of TETFUND must see that it has a duty to bring all relevant information and processes of engagement to the notice of the universities including the criteria for accessing funds.

It leaves much to be desired that TETFUND has kept mute on such a very important issue that is central to the all-round growth and development of the country. It is even more worrying and disturbing to realize that funds meant for financing Nigerian universities are reinvested in other areas, which is very appalling. The question now is what happens to the profits made from the investment of TETFUND funds?

Also, such other funds that are trapped in bank accounts and other places should be traced and made available to Nigerian universities to ease funding problems. There should be no-hide-andseek in this matter. Henceforth, transparency, honesty and probity should be the watchwords in this regard.

GABRIEL AKINADEWO Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU Deputy Managing Director/DEIC SULEIMAN UBA GAYA Managing Editor YEMI AJAYI Editor, Daily LAURENCE ANI Editor, Saturday EMEKA MADUNAGU Editor, Sunday EMEKA OBASI Deputy Editor, Daily AYODELE OJO Deputy Editor, Daily LEO CENDROWICZ Bureau Chief, Brussels MARSHALL COMINS Bureau Chief, Washington DC SAM AMSTERDAM Editorial Coordinator, Europe EMMAN SHEHU (PhD) Chairman, Editorial Board GEOFFREY EKENNA News Editor TAIWO AHMED Advert Manager UCHEY OKEZIE Ag. Sales/Marketing Manager TIMOTHY AKINLEYE Head, Graphics ROBINSON EZEH Head, Admin.

20

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

OPINION Can a state develop without borrowing?

Alex O. Atawa Akpodiete

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rom Thursday to Saturday last week, I attended the Annual National Editors Conference (ANEC) of the Guild of Editors, held in Katsina. There were over 200 other editors in attendance.

The only notable drama was when we arrived by a mosque and our driver left the vehicle for a brief prayer.

All of us (and our spouses) that were filled with trepidation over the dreaded Boko Haram were pleasantly surprised at the peacefulness of the State. This fact was acknowledged by the President of the Editors Guild, Mr. Femi Adesina in a vote of thanks.

During the Governor’s Forum, our host Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema commented that since he came into office in 2007, his administration has not borrowed one penny, despite the massive infrastructure and human capital development. He also stated (euphemism for boasted) that workers’ salaries were always paid between 22-24th of each month and no salaries were owed. Other state governors, including Bayelsa and Lagos, were represented. Part of the side discussion was whether a state can develop without borrowing. A colleague postulated that there is a magnitude of development that you will want to engage in as a state but you cannot do without borrowing. We are not talking about reckless borrowing.

The representative of Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State pointed out that because we are in a federation, a state cannot borrow from the bond market without the federal government’s involvement. Also, a bond company will do its due diligence to verify if a state can repay based on various indices including federal allocation and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). This should be part of the Loss Prevention Analysis of the lending company.

To the extent that several states in the federation have borrowed billions ostensibly for infrastructure develop-

ment to deliver the ubiquitous “dividends of democracy” to their citizens, it was imperative we hear and see what Shema has done so far. It was not necessary to do a comparative demographic (population) analysis with a state like Akwa Ibom that receives the highest federal allocation based on oil generation.

I love reading books and quotes on leadership. "The Little Red Book” is a book of selected statements from speeches and writings by Mao Zedong (Tse-Tung), the former leader of Chinese Communist Party, published from 1964 to about 1976 and widely distributed during the Cultural Revolution. The most popular versions of the book were printed in small sizes that could be easily carried and were bound in bright red covers, becoming commonly known in the western hemisphere as The Little Red Book. It is apparently one of the most printed books in history to date. One of my favorite quote of Chairman Mao from the book is the following: “It is the duty of the cadres and the Party to serve the people. Without the people's interests constantly at heart, their work is useless.”

In other words, to evaluate whether a state should borrow, I will postulate that the people’s interests should be paramount.

The day after Shema’s speech about not borrowing, we visited the Katsina Youth Craft Village (KYCV), where we saw young men and women being trained in various industries such as computer operation, photography & video production, tailoring, welding & fabrication, bakery, beauty salon, pottery & iron works, and leathering & shoe making. AT the shoe making section, several delegates were so impressed that they were buying up all the leather sandals made by the trainees. Everyone undergoing the trainee receives 2,000 Naira monthly stipends while in the programme. We further learnt that all graduates of the skills acquisition program receive seed money and needed tools as entrepreneur to start their business.

So that the extent of the governor’s programme is limited to human capital development, we visited the take-off location of the new Federal University in Dunsima (FUDMA).

What business does the state have with a federal university?

We went to confirm that the governor had actually provided N1b to refurbish the Senate building.

Thereafter, we went to a Songhai agricultural facility.

At this farm, we saw tomatoes that grew to maturity in 60 days, garden egg farms, chicken facilities and section where a hybrid of chicken and turkey were being bred. I don’t know what to call it. (chikey?).

Three other paces we saw were the remodeled stadium, a brand new ICT complex and an orthopedic hospital. These were all built without loans.

Our dinner and investiture was at a brand new government house, spanning several hectares of land fully developed and manicurely landscaped. Again without borrowing.

An examination of the economies of many states will reveal a deficit or that they are financially in the red. Governance involves planning and is a matter of responsibility.

We did not see any white elephant projects and the governor appeared allergic to stomach infrastructure.

What the representative of another governor stated was that “America is one of the worst debtor nations, but has great infrastructure.” He was not being facetious when he pointed out that it is the same America that many of us praise.

So, we are still faced with the unanswered question: is it possible to develop a state without borrowing? It is worth thinking about it especially as the 2015 general election is just around the corner. Keep in the back of your mind this other quote by Chairman Mao: “It is necessary for intellectuals, students, soldiers and the average peasant to pay attention and involve themselves with political work.”

• *Rev. Atawa Akpodiete, a public affairs and publisher wrote from Asaba, Delta State. or (Profatawa@gmail.com, 08138391661)

Military: The $1b presidential lifeline debate (2) Frank Akinola Continued from yesterday is request for only one billion dollar worth of armaments , when juxtaposed with the volume of weapons acquired by General Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s first war time leader, which the military is still relying on today, one would be bold to advise the National Assembly to hike the Presidential request to five billion dollars to ensure that a formidable stock of modern weapons is acquired to confront the Boko Haram threat and to restock their armoury for a long all-out military operation that could be fought for some years to come.

This becomes necessary because over the years, apart from the armament reserve which General Gowon acquired which the Armed Forces had relied on since the end of the Civil war in1970, there have been cases of donations of weapons to friendly countries like Liberia at the early stage of the Liberian Civil war which further depleted our weapons stock.

The pertinent questions that we need to ask ourselves are: 1. If General Yakubu Gowon had not been foresighted enough to have made

H

such a large purchase of armaments to prosecute the Civil war and still have enough reserve which we have been using at peace- keeping operations world -wide as well as the current terrorists attack, how could Nigeria have claimed to be the giant of Africa without the military might that goes with it.

When the Republic of Liberia was caught in a similar war, it took the initial intervention of General Ibrahim Babangida as President of Nigeria who facilitated the airlift of the initial set of weapons donated

by Nigerian for the Liberian Armed Forces to hold the insurgents at bay before the ECOMOG initiative came on stream.

2. The salient message embedded in this anecdote is that just the same way a nation maintains a Foreign Reserve Account for future emergencies so also a serious country that is proactive and security conscious stockpiles or manufactures armaments in readiness for external attacks and internal insurrections to protect her citizens and the territorial integrity of the nation.

In countries where the leadership is not dynamic nothing is done to equip the military believing that it has no immediate threats of war until the enemy crosses the border into her territory. All super power nations in the world today invest a large

chunk of their resources in the production of arms and to update them to meet with current trends in military maneuvers which explains the invention of unmanned fighter aircraft called DRONES, which now dominates the fight against terrorist groups.

In a July 15, 2014 letter to the National Assembly, President Goodluck Jonathan sought approval to obtain a loan of one billion dollars to re-stock the armoury of the Nigerian Armed Forces to enhance their capabilities to protect the nation and her citizens. To any serious minded and patriotic Nigerian such a request should be resoundingly applauded since it will make Nigerians live in full realization of the fact that our armed forces could stand their ground in any military confrontation.

Surprisingly and myopically certain persons and groups who have become fulltime critics of any step government takes, without the capacity to proffer alternatives have persistently challenged the propriety of President Jonathan’s farsighted and appropriate decision as the Commander- in - Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to build a modern, swift and efficiently managed Armed forces with gallant and well kitted men and officers.

In their myopia, every issue about Nigeria that tends to create positive image for our

country, that is embarked upon by the present Government is derided and rubbished by clothing it in partisan interpretation, ‘ethnic chauvinism, religious extremism while ignoring the truth that is embedded in the fact that in a war situation as we currently have in this country, the ambition to become President, Governor, Senator, etc, could only be realized when there is no war.

With the prevailing situation in Borno, Yobe, Kano and Adamawa States there may be no elections in those states except peace is restored there because no one will allow his or her NYSC person to go to these states to serve which means only military personnel would perform that role yet the military must at all costs be insulated from partisan politics.

Therefore, every step must be taken to ensure that the funds needed to kit the military to clean up those places before February 2015 must be approved swiftly.

How the International Community laughs at the opposition groups and our psuedo-war specialists when they display their ignorance and naivety makes those who are well tutored in the art of war to look at all of us Nigerians with pity and derision.

Concluded • Akinola is a former ECOMOG Press Secretary and the author of the book ECOMOG STORY. inquirer2020@gmail .com

ARTS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

21

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/arts

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

“A PEOPLE WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR PAST HISTORY, ORIGIN AND CULTURE IS LIKE A TREE WITHOUT ROOTS.” ― MARCUS GARVEY

CULTURE

Echoes of slave trade in Human Cargo John Enubiak

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t was another week of rich theatrical performance in the Legendary Play Series production of four plays – King Must Dance Naked, Woe Unto Death, Human Cargo, and Conflict Resolution, all written by Fred Agbeyegbe – aimed at reviving live theatre culture in Lagos.

For the teeming theatre enthusiasts and guests who were at the at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, for the command performance of ‘Human Cargo’, directed

by Williams Ekpo, it was a beautiful potpourri of drama and music, enacting ‘man’s inhumanity to man’ during the trans-Atlantic slave trade era.

Human Cargo’ interrogates the exportation of human beings from Africa, from Nigeria to the plantations in the United States and Spain and all other places during the transAtlantic trade era, a period that has been described as the darkest era in the history of man’s inhumanity to man.

The play begins with a boisterous market occupied by people who are trading, exchanging pleasantries and interacting.

A man dressed in police uniform, with a whip in his hand comes on stage, chasing them to leave the premises at once.

Two young men, who saw the maltreatment of the people by the police officer, decide to confront him. The police man engaged into physical combat with both of them and one of them fainted as a result. While the other one was trying all possible means to revive his friend that fainted, and also calling for help, he meets a girl who gave him the bottle water in her hand in exchange for money.

During the battle and struggle to revive the one that fainted, the story continued, illustrating what had happened and what brought them to Nigeria.

Next on stage was a group of people in their hostel at night preparing to sleep. One of them decides to read a poem before retiring to sleep. Their actions are barely illuminated by a dim-lit torch; it is revealed that the young man’s sin is writing a poem. Urged to read it, the

Ekpo

A scene in Legedary Play Series production of Fred Agbeyegbe's play Human Cargo at national Theatre, Lagos.

poet begins a story about his far away land according to lines of the poem. After much exploration and demonstration, the senior prefect, ready to report the poet to the task masters, becomes very interested in the work, saying it is good enough to lead them into an understanding of Africa.

A church scene is later enacted in an African village, with a sign of crucifix standing at the centre. Conducted by the Rev. Father and the altar boy, as the service progresses with the Reverend Father launching into a sermon, slave raiders tiptoe into the church, and to the surprise of the congregation who felt that the Priest should come to their rescue, the Reverend Father brings out a Pistol from his garment and ordered the slave raiders to capture the men, including with his altar boy, for slavery. The gripping cries of agony and grief-stricken tunes rendered by the women were ignored by the parish Priest.

The scene is a classic demonstration of the “Bible on one hand and gun on the other” for which missionaries who came to Africa have been criticised.

Also portrayed is a plantation scene which apparently demonstrates of man’s inhumanity to man. In unison, the cry of hunger by the slaves was ignored by the slave master, but rather they continued whipping them at every interval. As a result of no food or water, one of the slaves slumped and gave up the ghost. The other slaves immediately carried the corpse out of the set to be buried. The remaining slaves burst into an

It is very crucial that we know; a lot of us are still suffering. A lot of us today are still going through one form of slavery or the other touching save our souls cry, but despite their agony and the death of one of the slaves, the slave master remained adamant and refused to offer them food or water to refresh themselves for a moment.

As the slaves continued with their suffering, representatives of the government of the country where they were taken to, bring good news of freedom to them, saying the present day government has declared freedom of any person that was serving under a slave master, and also gave the freed slaves freedom to choose to either remain in the foreign land or go back to their mother’s land where they were abducted from. This gladdened the heart of the slaves.

Two of the ex-slaves decide to return to Nigeria. But it saddened their heart that even in Nigeria, a country that is pre-dominantly occupied by the blacks; there was still traces and element of slavery.

With a fitting mixture of songs and dances, the play dwells powerfully on the story of slaves transported far away from Africa during the slave trade and made to work

in sugarcane plantations for the prosperity of lands they never heard of. But as it is not just gloom all around, pleasant news comes with the 1865 Emancipation Declaration setting them free but with fear, self-doubt and uncertainty clouding the judgment of many of the freed slaves as new existence beckons.

Ekpo, the director of the play, said casting for ‘Human Cargo’ wasn’t easy, but it is a familiar terrain for him. “I look at the artist available, who are good, who are hungry and yearning to express the talent that they have. So it wasn’t a problem really, bringing people together to be part of ‘Human Cargo’.”

According to him, they hope that challenges everyone to say no to intimidation. “The message for Human Cargo is 'no' to any form of intimidation. Any form of oppression, we are saying no to it. That is the message.

“It is very crucial that we know; a lot of us are still suffering. A lot of us today are still going through one form of slavery or the other, and that is why we are bringing the story again, to help us better our life, and help us to grow as a nation, as a family, as friends, as colleagues, as stakeholders in this industry.

That is the whole idea,” he said.

Ekpo explained that the sole aim is to create awareness, letting people know that the theatre is back. “I am appealing to the public to support the art.

It is very important that they do. It is our heritage, you cannot buy it with money; and you cannot leave your own heritage and be promoting somebody

else’s heritage. The National Theatre here is our monument; it belongs to all of us, particularly those of us in the art, in the culture industry. It is our place. We have to bring it back to life and we are happy that they have done a lot of refurbishment; they have done a lot security network. But a lot needs to be passed on to the public for them to know that theatre is back. People don’t know; they still live under that illusion of what National Theatre used to be. But it is back and that is why we are here to promote it.

“One of the major challenges was finance. There was not one support apart from National Theatre giving us the hall, which came at the time that we expected it to come, and it was nice, and we appreciate it. But there was no financial support from anybody, both corporate and individual.

Ekpo described the playwright Fred Agbeyegbe as “a legend of our time. We are glad that he is still alive at this time for us to celebrate him, and we are praying to God to give him many more fruitful years, so that we can celebrate him. He has done well for the industry, particularly the promotion of live theatre. And because he is a legend, we have chosen him as the first person to celebrate.

We are proud of him.”

The play featured Patrick Diabuah as Dele, Victor Cooker as Segun, Femi Olaiya as Fola, Pius Amolo (a.k.a Bongolipso), Jennifer Osammor, Nissi George, Onyeka Fiaka, Joy Amata, George Akutsam, Agatha Nwobodo, Taiwo Fowobaje and other talented artistes.

22 ARTS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

619 Crew wins MTN Battle of the Year dance contest This is, really, really, the best moment of my time.

I have always dreamt of taking my dance skills to the international stage.

It’s just amazing it’s happening now

619 Crew

Moses Kadiri

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his year’s edition of MTN Battle of the Year 2014, came to an end penultimate Sunday, with “619 Crew” emerging the overall champions in the break dance competition that attracted lots of fans who came to show Moses Kadiri

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support for the dancers.

The show was a demonstration of the maxim that whatever talent one has in life, if well nurtured in the right direction such individual will go places. The youth culture event driven by the dance element of hip-hop where break-dance crews engage in com-

petitive dance to determine the best break-dance group took place at the Indoor Sports Hall of the University of Lagos (Unilag), Akoka. The mesmerising skills, precision and team work exhibited by all the contestants was a sheer delight to behold. The guests and students who turned out en masse to get maximum entertainment were highly impressed, as evident by their continuous applauses. The guest performances by popular artistes and MTN ambassador, EME Records boss Banky W., alongside gifted rapper, Mode 9, Oga Boss, IllBliss and many others lit up the evening of fun.

Four crews battled for a place in the finals of the B-Boy category but only the “619 Crew” and “Squad One Machinery” did enough to make it through. With amazing body-twisting, fleet-footed flips and acrobatic

displays, the 619 Crew comprising Nzemeke Franklyn, Obiora Francis, Nwachukwu Jeremiah were too brilliant for the opposing Squad One Machinery. It was clear victory for the Lagos-based crew and they will be on their way to Braunschweig, Germany, in October, to represent Nigeria at the International Battle of the Year competition.

The excited 619 Crew could not hide the feeling of winning the competition. One of the members of the crew, Obiora Francis, said, amidst tears of joy, “This is, really, really, the best moment of my time. I have always dreamt of taking my dance skills to the international stage. It’s just amazing it’s happening now.”

The break dance series is an annual international break-dancing competition that began in Hannover, Germany over 20 years ago; widely regarded as the premier International B-Boy Championships in the world, it is frequently referred to as the World Cup of B-Boying. The contest creates spaces for a globalisation at the bottom, bringing people together across the barriers of geography, language, and race.

The break dance competition was indeed successful given the recorded turnout, it also gave the winners a new lease of life which afford them to dance in the world stage; a feast so many youngster dream of achieving.

Drama, glamour as Esther wins AGN Eko beauty pageant

xcitement enveloped the air at the second edition of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) Eko Beauty Pageant where Miss Esther Kenneth was crown winner in a contest that featured several other contestants.

Organised by the Lagos State Chapter of Actor Guild of Nigeria, the talent discovery pageant was held recently at Haile Selassie Hotel, Aguda, Surulere, Lagos, to promote the tourism potentials in the state and afford winners the opportunity to sign movie contract that will further enhance their talents in the Nigerian movie industry.

There was no dull moment throughout the period the show lasted, as there were several performances. Stand-up comedians comprising Keffe.com, Olele, Xsod did justice to their perfor- L-R: UN Peace Ambassador Cornel Udofai, winner 2014 Miss AGN-EKO pageant mance. They swung in between and Chairman AGN Lagos Chapter Aganbi jokes that made the guests reeling in laughter. holor, Amanda Ebiye, MD of up. Victoria Buseni, won Miss The highpoint of the contest MBF, Adetutu Owolabi, former Photogenic while Anita Nwaogwas when five of the 15 contes- Chairman AGN Lagos, Emeka wu was decorated as Miss Inteltants were picked after a drama Rising, MD Springboard, and ligent. presentation. The successful Mark Idiah picked Esther as the Queen Esther however comcontestants showed that they are winner. The Mass Communica- mended the organisers of the equal to the task when it comes tion student of North America beauty pageant for putting the to acting. The guests where held University defeated other con- event in place. She promised to spellbound with their perfor- testants to win the crown. The be a good ambassador of Actors mance. Indeed they entertained newly crowned Miss AGN Eko Guild of Nigeria, adding that her everyone present with their re- who hails from Kwale in Delta priority is to empower the lessmarkable presentation.

State smiled home with a movie privileged in the society and After a keen contest among contract, cash prize and 42inch promote the excellent spirit of the contestants the judges, UN Plasma TV. Lagos State during her reign as Peace Ambassador Cornell Nkoyo Ikot, won the second Miss AGN –Eko. Udofia, popular musician Buga, runner-up prize, while Sarah Chairman AGN Lagos, Don Nollywood actress Cynthia Ag- Temitope emerged 3rd runner Pedro Aganbi congratulated the

new Queen and urged her to use her reign to develop a pet project.

Speaking on the beauty pageant Aganbi said it is a way of raising models in the society, and to also promote the tourism potentials in the state.

“The objective of the pageant is to discover tourism potentials

for Nollywood and corporate organisations. We believe that the pageant would continue to foster and create new role models who through the beauty pageant will serve as ambassadors that will define a new Nigeria, enrich the beauty of the Nigerian woman," he said.

CJ Mama drops new single, Fo Won Lenu Olushola Ricketts hinedu James, popularly Ccently known as CJ Mama, redropped a new single

'Fo Won Lenu' featuring the rave of the moment, Oritsefemi.

Since 2009 after winning Globacom Rock n roll competition, the Anambra State born has released several singles to show his strong intent in the industry.

Three producers, DaPiano, LayLow and TeePiano, worked on the 'Fo Won Lenu' in separate studios. In the single, CJ Mama and Oristefemi gave good acount of their street credibility and bond.

However, the song attracted a bit of controversy with lines

CJ Mama

like “Like Suarez my flow still dey Bite dem” and “No matter wetin the devil smoke e no fit high reach the Most High”.

There was also a line talked that about 'if Dagrin didn't die Olamide wouldn't have blown.'

It was the most controversial of all, as it pulled attention from the Olamide camp and the artiste himself. But according to CJ Mama, it was purely music and he meant no rift.

Plans are on to shoot the video of the song in few weeks time.

MOM&PARENTING

NEW TELEGRAPH

23

www.newtelegraphonline.com/mum&parenting

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

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

We all came into this world to serve different purposes; which is why we were created in the first place.

But along the line, our parents who are meant to guide us towards achieving these purposes tend to bend us into becoming what ‘they want us to become’, forgetting that they have lived their lives and should give their children the privilege of making certain choices. That is especially when it has to do with their career, writes LYDIA FAMOUS.

When parents make career decisions for kids

T

he joy of every parent is seeing the child they nurtured, becoming somebody great in life.

Hence, the expedition of career choice by doting parents can become a little over board. A once loving relationship could lead to heart break, if certain fundamentals are over looked.

Growing up, Abayomi Owolabi, 22, who lives in Owode, Ajah, was his mum’s favourite, but their relationship turned sour when Abayomi did the unimaginable. He had an average score of 265 in this year’s Joint Admission and Matriculation Board Examination, JAMB, which was fair enough for his choice of course of study. Florence, his mother narrated that she was shocked to discover that her son didn’t write the exam as he had claimed. She discovered when it was time for him to write the post UME exam. “He told me that the form was out and I made provision for him to acquire the form in UNILAG which was his first choice. Alas!

I got the shock of my life when I found out that my son didn’t write JAMB. It was when I tendered the result to someone that would help with the admission process, that we discovered the result was fake. “I felt like the ground should open up”. The person in question showed me the difference in his fake result and an original result,” she narrated.

Upon inquiry, Abayomi confessed. He said his first love has always been music and he was ready to go any length to achieve his dream; he already has several songs to his credit and he believed he will make it but his mother wanted him to go to school to read a course, which he had no interest in. So, he had no choice but to deceive the mother in order to make her ‘happy’.

But the mother firmly shook her head that it was impossible. “I want him to become a graduate in Law. Music could later come but his first degree must be in law,” she said.

Parent involved in her daughter's decision

Chika Ezeani so much wanted to study medicine but her father changed her orientation and persuaded to study Mass Communication. She has always been a science student and it would be difficult for her to adjust to Art courses. She said she regrets the decision her father coerced her to make and she wished she had studied medicine because her grades were so poor; she has carryovers which has increased her work load in school.

Angela Ori, 21, student in one of these private universities told her story. In her words, “I went to school against all odds; I had passion for fabrics and love playing with colours. I wanted to be a fashion designer but my parents preferred me to be a graduate.”

Angela was not doing well in schoolher grades were below standard. In the long run, a concerned lecturer in her school had a tete- a-tete with her and she told him how much she hated school and loved fashion. Contrary to what she thought, the lecturer told her to try to make good grades and he would see to it that she achieved her dream. She therefore braced up and her academic performances improved. “After graduation, with a little assistance from my lecturer, I am now living my dream, doing what I love doing best.” She said.

The above mentioned cases are few of the many children who live the dream of

Apollos

their parents.

According to Edafe Apollos, a guardian and counsellor, parents should consider the fact that, it is not in their place to choose career for their children and in some cases, neither is it a decision a child should make. Rather, he counselled that professionals in different fields should be consulted. “They would take into consideration some factors such as the academic history of the child, academic performance, interests and personality of the child,” he said.

He analysed that, like in medicine, one doesn’t just say, based on how he feels, he wants to take a particular drug. He has to

PHOTO: TEMIVILLE.WORLDPRESS.COM

consult experts in that field after which they have carried out some tests and results are out, only then would certain drugs be prescribed; same thing applies to career decision making. Certain tests are carried out that would determine the career path a student should take. These are standardized professional tests that can help in career decision making.

He further said that often times, parents look at the lucrative aspect, while choosing career for their children and fail to look at the above mentioned aspects that experts would consider. Failure to put these factors into consideration would make it difficult for parents to know where a child would adequately fit in.

Also, parents should not be at logger heads with their children when they decide to delve into career which is not “professional”. For instance, if a child has made up his or her mind to be a musician, fashion designer or beautician, what the parents should do is to support and get a guardian counsellor, who would make the child understand why he should get a formal education and also make the child understand that there are courses that relates to what they what to do and therefore, it would be an added advantage if they go to school because they would do better with the education acquired merged with what they have passion for.

24

MOM&PARENTING

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Learn to manage misbehaviours with discipline

W

hen it comes to parenting children, there’s a big difference between punishment and discipline.

When children make mistakes, they rely on parental intervention to help guide and teach them. However, the various approaches parents take to intervene can make a big difference in a child’s ability to learn from mistakes.

What is Punishment?

Punishment is an intervention that instills a penalty for a child’s offense. It often results from a parent’s feelings of frustration and desperation. It usually gives kids the message that “I’m bad.” Often the focus is on the parent trying desperately to maintain control and trying to prove to the child that “I’m in charge whether you like it or not.”

Authoritarian parents often offer punishments to children. When children ask why they can’t do something, they are often told, “Because I said so.” These sorts of answers often give children the message that their opinions don’t matter and that they lack the ability to make any decisions on their own.

An example of a punishment would include things such as spanking. If a child hits his brother and then receives a spanking from his parent, he learns, “I’m bad.

Mom hits me.” Other examples of punishment include things such as a teenager getting grounded indefinitely or when a parent throws away a child’s toys because he didn’t clean his room.

The Problems with Punishments There are several problems with punishments. One problem is that children are not taught how to behave.

For example, if a child hits his brother and then receives a spanking, he is not taught what to do the next time he feels angry with his brother.

Punishment also teaches kids that they are not able to be in control of themselves.

They often learn that their parents must manage their behaviors and feelings because they are not able to do it on their own. They also tend to lack the ability to make good decisions because their parents have always made their decisions for them.

parents can use to teach kids how to become responsible adults. Age appropriate discipline strategies help kids feel secure in their relationships with others and promotes healthy self-esteem.

Discipline is a loving way

to show kids your desire to keep them safe, teach them to make healthy choices for themselves, and gain independence.

•Condensed from www.circle of moms by Ann Morin.

Mom’s Alert The busy bee Grace Essen

Punishment?

PHOTO: WWW.HUFFINGTONPOST.COM

Subtle discipline between mother and daughter

When children receive frequent punishments, they may grow up to be hostile and aggressive. When they receive a punishment, they often focus on how angry they are at their parents rather than thinking about how they can learn from their mistake. Parents who provide punishments are also inconsistent much of the time which can be quite anxiety-provoking for kids.

What is Discipline?

Discipline focuses on teaching children new skills, such as how to manage their behaviors, solve problems, and deal with their feelings.

Discipline focuses on training kids to learn from their mistakes and find better ways to solve problems in the future.

Discipline techniques include things such as time out. For example, if a child becomes angry and throws a toy, he is given a time out where he can calm down.

PHOTO: WWW.STANDARDMEDIA.CO.KE

The goal of time out is to teach children how to calm themselves down when they are upset so that in the future they can seek time out on their own before they throw a toy.

Discipline takes an authoritative approach where kids learn alternatives to their behaviors. When they are given negative consequences the consequences make sense and are time sensitive. For example, a child who does not eat all of his dinner, is not allowed to have desert but is told how he can get desert the next night if wants it.

Discipline may include some proactive ways to promote new skills such as by using praise or reward systems.

Discipline also helps foster a positive relationship between children and parents and kids are often given positive attention on a regular basis to help reduce attention seeking behaviours.

There are plenty of effective discipline strategies that

M

om and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, “I’m tired, and it’s getting late. I think I’ll go to bed.”

• She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day’s lunches.

• Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, • Took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, • Checked the cereal box levels, • Filled the sugar container, • Put spoons and bowls on the table and • Started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning.

• She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, • Put a load of clothes into the washer, • Ironed a shirt and • Secured a loose button.

• She picked up the game pieces left on the table and • Put the telephone book back into the drawer.

• She watered the plants, • Emptied a wastebasket and • Hung up a towel to dry.

She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom.

• She stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher, • Counted out some cash for the field trip, and • Pulled a textbook out from hiding under the chair.

• She signed a birthday card for a friend, • Addressed and stamped the envelope and • Wrote a quick note for the grocery store.

• She put both near her purse.

• Mom then washed her face with 3 in 1 cleanser, • Put on her Night Solution and age fighting moisturizer, • Brushed and flossed her teeth and • Filed her nails.

Dad called out, “I thought you were going to bed?”

“I’m on my way,” she said.

• She put some water into the

dog’s dish and • Put the cat outside, then • Made sure the doors were locked.

• She looked in on each of the kids and • Turned out their bedside lamps, • Hung up a shirt, • Threw some dirty socks into the hamper, and • Had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework.

• In her own room, she set the alarm, • Laid out clothing for the next day, • Straightened up the shoe rack.

• She added three things to her six most important things to do list.

• She said her prayers, and visualized the accomplishment of her goals.

About that time, Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular, “I’m going to bed.”

-Author Unknown Sounds familiar? Well everyday may not be so loaded for us in reality, but you would agree that the life of a mom is quite a busy one. Even when she has helps, she still needs to make sure things are well coordinated and running smoothly. But ask a mom and she would tell you she wouldn’t want to miss a minute of all that motherhood has to offer, even with the demands of keeping a job or business, a clean house, and a happy husband (if married).

But that often leads to a neglected aspect of effective mothering: taking care of ourselves.

As moms, we must find ways to recharge and renew ourselves so we can keep going on this journey as God intended for us. Maybe we need to forget about getting it all perfectly done (there are no inspectors coming round to carry out a check anyway!), and learn that when we have done the best we can for the day, every one of us deserves a good night rest.

• Grace Essen is the founder and president Mum To Mum Support Initiative.

BUSINESS

25 NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/business

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

What's news Lagos, Ibadan among 10 attractive African cities

The world is turning focus to subSaharan Africa (SSA), with its potential now recognised by several international conglomerates holding a deeper presence on the continent.

}p-26

Aviation fuel infrastructure needs ‘emergency' –Expert Fuel transportation infrastructure from Apapa Terminal, Lagos to the airport, has been described as an arrangement that is in desperate need of urgent attention.

}p-27

Weak national grid threatens 4,500 MW new electricity peak The weak national grid remains a stumbling block on Nigeria’s new electricity generation profile of 4,500 Megawatts and the target of 10,000 MW power generations, New Telegraph has learnt.

}p-27

The real threat facing Nigerian airlines Over the past decade, global airline industry has desperately turned to mergers, consolidating with the hope of achieving economies of scale. For Nigerian airlines, they seem to be missing the bigger problem as they are neither involved in consolidation nor merger.

}p-37

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

Abdulwahab Isa, Finance Editor Chuks Onuanyin, Energy Nnamdi Amadi, Reporter JOHNSON ADEBAYO, Asst. Production Editor

ayodele aminu, Deputy Editor, business

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

$5bn assets sale: Shell, oil minister meet over FG’s approval STATUTORY Minister’s consent is a statutory requirement for the divestment, according to the Petroleum Act Adeola Yusuf

T

he Royal Dutch Shell has met with the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, with a view to having the latter’s consent, as the oil firm’s sale of $5 billon oil fields assets in Nigeria entered its last stage, New Telegraph gathered.

The meeting, which was at the instance of attorneys of the two stakeholders, was between representatives of the minister and that of the major oil company.

The minister’s consent is a statutory requirement for the divestment, according to the Petroleum Act. Some Nigerian oilfields owned by a Royal Dutch Shellled consortium are close to being sold for about $5 billion to domestic buyers, The Financial Times of London had reported last week.

Last year, Shell put up for sale its 30 per cent shares in four oil blocks in the Niger Delta – Oil Mining Licences (OML) 18, 24, 25, 29 – as well as a major pipeline, the Nembe Creek Trunk Line.

The price of the four oilfields and a key pipeline co-owned by Shell, France’s Total and Eni of Italy has doubled since initial estimates towards the end of last year and the latest moves by oil and gas major corporations to reduce their onshore oil presence in Nigeria.

The Financial Times quoted sources as saying that the sale could amount to $5.2 billion, adding that the figure could still change as the companies negotiated the final details.

Reuters also confirmed that Shell had reached deals on some of the four Nigerian oil fields it offered for sale but refused to give details on the value of the deals nor when the full process would be completed.

“We have signed sales and

WOLE SHADARE, Aviation Editor CHRIS UGWU, Capital Market Editor

Rent to Own scheme gathers momentum }p-33

purchase agreements for some of the oil mining leases, but not all that we are seeking to divest,” a Shell spokesman had said. Politics have also played a role, according to Reuters.

Government is keen on putting indigenous operators in charge of onshore oil extraction, leaving the international majors to manage more difficult and capital-intensive deep-water projects offshore.

Firms have also been ham-

pered by uncertainty over the particulars of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) designed to overhaul the industry, which has been stuck in parliament for two years and looks unlikely to be passed before February 2015 elections.

Other companies including Total, Eni, and Chevron are also set to dispose their assets. Last month, ConocoPhillips sealed a $1.5 billion deal with Oando, a process that took over 18

months to sign off.

France’s Total and Italy’s Eni are also set to raise revenue from the sale of 10 per cent and five per cent stakes in the assets.

Shell Petroleum Development Corporation (SPDC) is a Shellrun joint venture, 55 per centowned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), with the other 45 per cent split between Shell, Total and Eni. CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, CleanAce Drycleaners and Launderers, Adetayo Eni-ibukun; Senior Manager, Segments, MTN Nigeria, Mrs Saidat Lawal-Mohammed; Managing Director, Javago.com, Marek Zmyslowski and Managing Director, Tavia Limited, Mr Ayo Olashoju, at the MTN Link Forum in Lagos.

LEAKAGES The country’s oil output has been projected to remain at 1.9mbpd with high risks of leakages Adeola Yusuf

N

igeria’s crude production has recorded a shortfall of 24 per cent from the benchmark of 2. 5 million barrels in the country’s 2014 budget, New Telegraph gathered at the weekend.

The country’s oil output has also been projected to remain at the current levels (1.9mbpd) with high risks of leakages as the election campaigns inten-

2014 budget: Nigeria records 24% crude production sify.

Nigeria, which depends largely on proceeds from crude to service over 85 per cent of its budget, fixed the average crude oil production at 23,883 million barrels per day in 2014 budget.

The benchmark oil price was set at $77.5/b. Nigeria’s total budget for the year is N4.695 trillion ($28.4 billion), which is N53 billion ($324.2 million) or 1.14 per cent higher than the original budget sum presented by the coordinating minister for the economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala.

A report by the Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) said

that Nigeria’s crude oil production remained unchanged at 1.9mbpd in the month of July. This is 24 below the 2014 benchmark of 2.5mbpd, the report said.

The company, which said this in the report obtained by New Telegraph, however, said that the oil and gas sector remains the star for Nigeria despite this shortfall.

The FDC maintained that sectorial returns on the index also portrayed the negative sentiment in the broader market.

It noted: “Apart from the best CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE July 2014.................................8.3% June 2014................................8.2% May 2014....................................8%

LENDING RATE

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at Aug 29)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N168 InterBank Rate . . . . . . . . . . 11.57% Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N290 Prime Lending Rate. . . . . 16.93% Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N228 Maximum Lending Rate..25.83% • Foreign Reserves – $39.60bn as at 28/08/2014

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at Aug 29)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N156.73 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N259.24 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N206.42 Source: CBN

26 business | news Promising The continent’s fledging youth workforce is expected to further drive economic growth Dayo Ayeyemi

T

he world is turning focus to sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with its potential now recognised by several international conglomerates holding a deeper presence on the continent.

As a result, Lagos, Ibadan and eight other cities in Africa have been identified as the right cities for investments, the August 2014 edition of Price Waterhouse Cooper’s (PwC’s) Global Economy Watch, has stated.

According to the report, these cities are ideal for international investors looking to expand to the sub-region.

Analysts from PWC said that large cities are typically entry points for companies trying to expand to new markets. This, it said, explains why most large multinationals have presence in at least one of sub-Saharan Africa’s three largest cities: Lagos (Nigeria), Johannesburg (South Africa) and Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo).

The report identified five cities in West Africa (Ibadan, Kano, Abidjan, Ouagadougou

Investment: Lagos, Ibadan among 10 attractive African cities and Dakar); four in East Africa (Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, Addis Ababa and Khartoum) and one Southern African city, Luanda.

PwC believes that investors should look further than these three cities as the next 10 largest cities of sub-Saharan Africa also hold abundant opportunities investors should exploit.

Half the projected 2.2 billion rise in the world population in 2015-2050 is expected to emerge from Africa, according to the United Nation (UN). But the good news is that Africa will have the largest youth population by 2030.

The continent’s fledging youth workforce is also expected to further drive economic growth and investors would be eager to position themselves within the cities that hold the greatest potentials.

An interesting fact, the UN noted, is that two out of the ‘Next 10 cities' (Dar es Salaam and Luanda) could have bigger populations than London has now by 2030.

Although there are myriad of challenges faced by the subregion, PWC identified the top

Shell, oil minister meet over FG’s approval C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

In March, Reuters reported that Nigerian firms, Taleveras and Aiteo, made the highest bid of $2.85 billion for OML 29, the biggest of the four oil fields. Two market sources said that Aiteo had won that bid, although it was not clear whether the two companies were still working as partners.

One banking source said that Aiteo might have gone in without Taleveras. A senior Taleveras official said that the company could not comment until Shell makes an announcement.

A senior Nigerian oil executive said that a consortium headed by Pan Ocean Oil Corporation had bided for OML 24 at a price of about $1 billion. He said that it worked out to about $10 per barrel of crude in the ground, similar

to Oando’s deal, and that the price was “high, especially considering the issues with the trunk line.”

The banking source said that Crestar had clinched OML 25. It was not clear who had got OML 18, the sources said, but The Financial Times reported it went to Eroton, a consortium of Midwest Oil and Gas and Mart Resources.

Cement and food tycoon, Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man with a fortune of some $20 billion, was among the bidders on the blocks, although he did not win anything, the sources said.

There is widespread speculation that Shell is also seeking to offload OMLs 11 and 17 in Ogoniland, where it has faced criticism from the United Nations Environment Programme and human rights groups for failure to adequately clean up decades of oil spills.

Nigeria records 24% crude production deficit C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

performers – the oil and gas, and industrial goods indices, which year-to-date re-turned 39.26 per cent and 7.59 per cent respectively, all other sub-indices have underperformed the NSE All Share Index. The consumer goods oil and gas sector continues to drive index performance.

“The oil and gas sector saw the newly listed indigenous upstream firm, Seplat Plc, recording a marginal decline of seven per cent in revenue but a significant decline of 45 per cent in PAT. The firm witnessed 28 days of no production at one

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

of its fields and suffered from increased costs.

“The downstream players had mixed performance.

Mobil’s revenue increased by 8.8 per cent, while its PAT increased by 190 per cent on the back of an impressive financial management. The company recorded a 983 per cent increase in finance income and a 62 per cent decline in finance cost.”

The report stated that in July, global oil prices (Brent) decreased by an average of 1.92 to $102pb in comparison to midJuly, spurred by ease in geopolitical tensions and increased output by Libya, which is expected to boost supplies.

three to include infrastructure, education and leadership.

It noted that poor transportation network shoots up the cost of doing business, while poor education infrastructure may hamper long-term business growth as skills gap occasioned by the inadequacies in the educational system would flourish.

Also, the inability of regulators and policymakers to effectively manage the windfall from the economic growth

could be a great undoing. Failure to tackle issues relating to corruption and excessive bureaucracy that deter international investment could also hamper the growth of the ‘Next 10 Cities.’

While it will be in the best interests of the ‘Next 10 Cities’ to ensure these challenges are addressed, PwC however, advised potential investors to form independent plans to mitigate these problems, sug-

gesting support for the cities in developing infrastructure and organizing skills development programmes.

Insecurity is also fast becoming a barrier to investment in several sub-Saharan African countries; governments of the countries therefore need to address the growing scourge to ensure investors are not discouraged despite all the promises these ‘Next 10 cities’ hold, PwC added.

Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi (middle); Managing Director, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Mr Fortunato Leynes (second left); Deputy Managing Director, Mr John Darlington, and others at the inauguration of the rehabilitated Olorunsogo Injection Sub-station, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Aviation fuel infrastructure needs ‘emergency' –Expert

Explains why Lagos Airport may not be hub INEFFICIENCY Trucking fuel through dense traffic for storage on site is inefficient and costly Wole Shadare

F

uel transportation infrastructure from Apapa Terminal, Lagos to the airport, has been described as an arrangement that is in desperate need of urgent attention.

This was the view of the Chief Executive Officer of Centurion Aviation Security Services, Group Capt. John Ojikutu (rtd), in a chat with New Telegraph in his office on Saturday.

He said that ensuring fuel reliability is critical to Lagos’s future as a hub for connectivity across South-West Africa.

Specifically, the expert said trucking fuel through dense traffic for storage on site is inefficient, costly and making unscheduled technical stops to top-up fuel causes schedule disruptions and inconveniences for passengers in addition to the direct costs of a technical stop.

The former Commandant, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, advised the Federal Government to find a sustainable long-term solution to this problem, lamenting that pipelines are no longer in use because of the damage done to them by vandals.

Ojikutu equally denounced huge airport taxes levelled against travellers.

“Without making light of the challenges involved, I know that there are many and complex; securing a few kilometers of pipeline is not an impossible task,” he stressed.

The expert noted that aside from the physical infrastructure, there are infrastructure policy issues, which he said must be addressed.

“As for safety, global standards exist to provide guidance.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has clear principles on charges. These include cost relatedness, nondiscrimination and transparency,” he explained.

The expert also recommended that charges be developed in consultation with users and there should be no pre-financing.

He reiterated that alongside safety, infrastructure development is also a critical challenge not only for Nigeria but Africa.

On how to curtail high airport taxes, charges in Nigeria and other African countries, the expert said there are too many exceptions to the pragmatic approach that has been agreed internationally.

The Centurion Aviation Security Services boss said: “Let me give you a few examples to illustrate. In Senegal, airport charges include an infrastructure development fee. If airlines and their passengers were enjoying a beautiful new modern and efficient facility, that might be acceptable. But they are paying for an airport that is still under construction. You would not charge a toll for a bridge that is not yet built. ICAO principles indicate that the same approach should be followed here.

“On top of charges for services, we also see government looking to aviation as a source of funding. A number of revenue raising regimes exists such as solidarity taxes, tourism taxes, VAT and sales taxes and so on”.

Asked if government needs to recoup funds invested in aviation infrastructure with the introduction of multiple taxes and charges, which are described as unreasonably exorbitant, he stated that infrastructure needs to be paid for.

27

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

COMPETITION Nigeria has given interested Brazilian power companies an opportunity to invest

Weak national grid threatens 4,500 MW new electricity peak

Adeola Yusuf

T

he weak national grid remains a stumbling block on Nigeria’s new electricity generation profile of 4,500 Megawatts and the target of 10,000 MW power generations, New Telegraph has learnt.

The national grid, which is the major storage facility for generated electricity, is weak, checks revealed. It experienced unprecedented collapses last year.

Although the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, who announced the new electricity profile, disclosed that this is in addition to excess considerable spinning reserve, it was gathered however that the present state of the national grid could thwart this effort.

Nebo’s disclosure of the recovered electricity generation capacity also coincided with Nigeria’s signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Brazilian firm, Benco Energie Limited, for the construction of a 700MW combined cycle power plant in Bayelsa State, Southern Nigeria.

The minister had also admitted that the national grid was weak, noting at the opening of the sixth power summit in Abuja, that Nigerians no longer want to hear about megawatts but to have electricity in their homes and businesses.

He acknowledged that national transmission infrastructure are still very fragile and has therefore planned to host an international conference on financing major projects in the power sector. The minister stated that major investments are needed to shore up the nation’s fragile national grid system that experienced unprecedented collapses last year.

Nebo said at the MoU signing ceremony last week that the current growth in nationwide electricity generation and distribution had been aided by increase in gas supply to thermal generation plants in the country, as well as relative stability in the transmission network.

“I am very sure that some of you if not all, would have noticed that within the past few weeks, we have averaged about 4,500MW of power delivery and it has been stable.

“And that means that most of you are now getting better power supply than you have had in the recent past. Gas is now coming in and we are expecting even a lot more of gas.

“The transmission facilities are being beefed up to strengthen and make more reliable and stable the national grid to be able to wheel out more power,” Nebo said shortly after signing the MoU. Nigeria had recently recorded decline in its power generation profile, owing

Oil rig

majorly to poor gas supply to thermal power plants, vandalism of critical energy assets as well as sabotage of procedures initiated to help grow the country’s power generation profile.

According to Nebo, the MoU with Benco was an extension of Nigeria’s earlier agreement with Brazil to give interested Brazilian power companies an

SHUTDOWN NNPC confirms shut down of Erhoike Flowstation Adeola Yusuf

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he Indigenes from the eleven Orogun host communities in Niger delta have demanded for 25 per cent equity shares to be ceded to their communities from the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 30, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said.

The management of the corporation, which said this also confirmed the shut-down of the Erhoike flowstation located within the OML 30 operation area in Delta State, which belongs to its upstream subsidiary, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, by youth, from the host communities.

Indigines from the 11 Orogun host communities who had

opportunity to invest and produce a minimum of 10,000MW of power in Nigeria.

The Benco MoU was the first to take advantage of the agreement; the power plant is expected to be ready within three years from the day its construction will commence.

Nebo said of the MoU: “A couple of years ago, Electrobras of Brazil and the Nigeri-

an government signed a MoU and it was aimed at bringing into Nigeria, Electrobras to help Nigeria develop as much as 10,000MW of power “What we are signing today is the very first take-off of the implementation of that MoU, bringing Benco to work with the Federal Ministry of Power for their plant. We want to assure Benco that the terms of

the MoU that we have signed today, we will do our best to implement them.”

He had said earlier: “As we move to meet all condition precedent for the declaration of the Transition Electricity Market (TEM), we still face some challenges. Our transmission grid is still very fragile and this resulted in unprecedented system collapses in 2013.

N'Delta community demands 25% equity shares in OML 30 earlier threatened to disrupt the operations of the NPDC in the area if their demands for patronage and community development projects were not met within 14 days, shut down the flow-station. Some of the demands made by the communities included:Payment of the arrears of rentals and leases owed by SPDC before and after divestment of the field. Remediation of their environment and refrain from further degradation. All roads within the communities where NPDC operate should be tarred or constructed. 5% of oil production should be invested in community development and 25% equity shares ceded to their communities. Stable electricity supply and 80% skilled workers, 100%

unskilled workers vacancies must be filled by community applicants. All contracts below N1Billion must be reserved for indigenous contractors of host communities who must also be given first right of refusal. A development plan for host communities with implementation timeline. All quick-win project contracts awarded and outstanding contracts to the communities to be paid for with immediate effect.

NNPC, in a statement statement said the following:“We, however, wish to state that most of the demands have been addressed by the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU), which has been negotiated with the OML 30 host communities amongst, which are the 11 host communities of

the Erhoike flowstation. The draft of the GMoU is at the last stage of ratification as NPDC plans to discuss it with the Governor of Delta State after, which a date will be fixed for the signing ceremony.

“We also wish to state that a scheduled inspection visit to the communities by the Management of NPDC to verify the complaints about the deplorable state of the roads and identify which of the roads needed immediate intervention was scuttled by the youth in the communities who chased away NPDC officials who went for the inspection.

“On the payment for quickwin community projects, we would like to state that approval has been given to the NPDC to pay contractors who have completed their projects.

28 business | ENERGY JOBS A free trade zone is to provide hundreds of jobs for Nigeria very soon Bayo Akomolafe

A

Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Egina, valued at $3.8 billion is billed to create 50,000 jobs in Nigeria.

This follows a renewed pact between the technical facilitators, LADOL and Samsung

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

LADOL/Samsung's $3.8b project to create 50,000 jobs

Heavy Industries.

The project earlier awarded to the two organisations, is to be executed under a fresh Joint Venture (JV) partnership called, SHI-MCI Free Zone Enterprise, with LADOL and Samsung jointly investing about $300 million in the creation of the new facility.

Managing directors of the JV, Mr KS Lee and Dr. Amy Jadesimi, in a joint statement on behalf of Samsung and LADOL, respectively, said the project was set to generate 50,000 direct and indirect jobs in Nigeria over the next few years.

The construction of the facility is expected to last for 18

months and once completed, it will be capable of fabricating 1,000 tons per month as well as integrating all other FPSOs expected to be built in Nigeria for the next decades.

The project was described as the first of its kind in Africa and is being built for Total Upstream Nigeria Limited, the

Power substation

SYNEGY Nigeria is planning to collaborate with African nations Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

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inister of Power, Prof.

Chinedu Nebo, has stated that the lack of students’ efficiency in Information Communication Technology (ICT) was as a result of poor power generation in the country.

He expressed Federal Government’s determination to eradicate this problem in Africa through sub-regional collaborations that would ensure a robust transmission network super-grid, running across every country in Africa.

This, he stated, will bring about cooperation from countries in the region, drawing on their areas of strengths for the collective good of the entire continent.

According to a statement from Patricia Deworitshe, Assistant Director, Press, Ministry of Power, the minister made the assertion when the Under Secretary General and Special Representative of the UN SecretaryGeneral, Dr. Yumkella, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.

According to him, the Af-

operator of the oil field, as well as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

It is being encouraged by the provisions of the Nigeria’s Local Content Act 2010, which mandates the domestication of up to 70 per-cents of oil and gas activities, a move that is expected to put the country at par with Brazil, the world’s sixth largest economy.

The managing directors described the project as “one of the largest FPSO in the world with a storage capacity of 2.3 million barrels, and a targeted production capacity of 200,000 barrels per day.

He said: “In short, billions of dollars that are currently spent overseas will be domesticated in Nigeria for the first time and billions of dollars in new revenues will be earned from market expansion.

“This increase in in-country capacity will position Nigeria to become West Africa’s hub, generate sustainable long term GDP growth required for Nigeria to become one of the world’s leading economies in line with vision 2020.”

The essence of the facility according to Jadesimi and Lee, is to ensure that large vessels including FPSOs are integrated (partially constructed and assembled) in Nigeria.

The JV operators expressed their gratitude to the Petroleum Recourses Minister, Mrs Dieziani Alison-Madueke, as well as the management of NNPC, the Local Content Board, Total, for making the commencement of the project a reality.

Power generation, bane Uganda ups oil reserves estimate by 85% of students’ efficiency Finds natural gas in ICT –Minister rican Energy Leaders Group championed by the latter was a welcome development as it is targeted at the transformation and upliftment of the region.

Nebo stressed the need for the group to give renewable energy a boost to ensure that communities that are far flung from the national grid are adequately powered with electricity so as to promote the citing of small scale industries in such African communities.

He argued that the disqualification of students by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) over deficiencies in ICT would not have occurred had adequate electricity been provided for rural dwellers to expose such students to computer and information technology.

He stated that “our common destiny is being threatened by lack of access to power,” adding: “With the growing population, the need for reinforcement of forces can never be overemphasised as it will avert the looming threat in the future without energy.

Earlier, Dr. Yumkella had

said that he had come to intimate the country on the need for the African Leaders’ Energy Group, an initiative borne out of the vacuum observed from the Millennium Development Goals MDG), which focused more on social development, without energy - a key factor in the sustainability of the programme.

The Group, he said, aims at providing universal access to energy by 2030, to improve energy efficiency and double the share of renewable energy mix in the global reach.

According to the UN delegation, Nigeria, which is a case study for other African countries to emulate - because of the success of its power sector privatisation exercise - will head the West African sub-region of the Group.

He said that consultations were on-going with financial conglomerates such as Bank of America, Brazil and other stakeholders to produce some of the instruments that would facilitate the provision of regular power to Africa.

U

ganda has revised upwards its oil reserves by 85 per cent to 6.5 billion barrels after an appraisal that also showed commercial deposits of natural gas, officials said.

The East African country discovered commercial hydrocarbon deposits in the Albertine rift basin that straddles its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2006.

Production has been repeatedly delayed since then by contractual disagreements, tax disputes and infrastructure setbacks and is now expected from 2017.

In a speech seen by Reuters, Ernest Rubondo, Commissioner for the Energy Ministry’s Petroleum Exploration and Production Department, said that only 40 per cent of the basin had been explored so far and that estimated recoverable oil stood at 1.4 billion barrels.

Production of the discovered oil could last 20 to 30 years, and even more oil could be found, Rubondo said.

“Since additional exploration and appraisal is expected ... this could lead to additional resources being discovered in

the country, hence prolonging the production period,” Rubondo said.

Rubondo said Uganda was preparing for “open competitive licensing rounds” for the remaining acreage in the basin, but did not yet have a time frame for the process.

Ugandan officials say they aim to get better terms from explorers in future oil deals now that the country's exploration risk has been diminished by the discovery of more commercially viable oil deposits.

In a separate statement, the energy ministry said on Friday that the country had some 500 billion cubic feet of natural gas.

Ugandan oil officials have long suspected the presence of gas traces, but on Friday they confirmed publicly for the first time the existence of commercial natural gas deposits.

East Africa has been a focus of hydrocarbon exploration after substantial crude oil deposits was found in Kenya, although commercial viability has yet to be established. Major gas reserves have been discovered in Tanzania and Mozambique.

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MULLS PULLOUT Rusal may be considering total pulling out from Nigeria Adeola Yusuf

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he on-going sales of assets in Nigeria and Kazakhstan by Rusal, the world’s largest aluminium producer is at the advance stage, the BCS financial group analysts have said.

The Russian company has, with the divestment plan, joined Shell, Chevron and other multinational in the selling binge of their assets in Nigeria.

The company is already considering the sale of about $1 billion worth of non-core assets, including its stakes in the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) located in Akwa Ibom State.

Rusal owns a 28 per cent stake in Russia’s Norilsk Nickel. Indications also emerged that Rusal may be considering pulling out from Nigeria.

The privatisation of ALSCON, in which Rusal emerged as preferred bidder,

Rusal’s $1bn Nigeria assets’ sale, others advance had earlier been dogged with controversy.

When the Supreme Court in July 2012 ruled that BFI Group, the Nigerian- American consortium that emerged preferred bidder for the ALSCON, Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, in 2004, was the valid winner of the bid, the organisation thought it was time to heave a sigh of relief after eight years of legal battle.

But the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) disqualified the company under controversial circumstances.

However, unfolding events have indicated that the controversy surrounding ALSCON are far from over as the preferred bidder; BFI Group has accused the BPE of aiding and abetting illegality in the sale and transfer of the aluminium plant.

Chairman of BFI Group, Dr. Reuben Jaja, said that the BPE had refused to give a fair resolution of all matters relating to

the Supreme Court judgment, adding that as part of efforts to ensure enforcement of the court judgment, the group has filed a $2.8 billion suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja against UC RUSAL. Other assets that could be sold include stakes in the Bogatyr coal company in Kazakhstan, the analysts said in a research note to clients after meeting Rusal’s management last week. Shell, Chevron, Agip

and other oil multinationals have disclosed decisions to sell more assets in Nigeria in what they term the divestment exercise.

Rusal, according to BCS financial group analysts, has been struggling to manage $10.3 billion of net debt due to a slump in aluminium prices amid a supply glut stoked by huge production growth in China. The Russian firm recently finalised a refinancing deal

with creditors, buying time to turn itself around.

The company is considering several options related to its non-core assets, but no decisions have been taken yet, Rusal told Reuters.

Shares in Rusal, owned by Russian tycoon, Oleg Deripaska, have jumped 75 per cent in Hong Kong since the start of 2014, thanks to a rebound in aluminium prices and a spike in nickel prices.

Oil firm gives update on Kenya, Ethiopia deals

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anada’s Africa Oil Corporation (Africa Oil or the Company) has provided an update on its operations in Kenya and Ethiopia.

The Etom-1 well in the Lokichar Basin on Block 13T (Kenya) has reached a total depth of 6,561 feet (2,000 meters) and has discovered oil in the primary Auwerwer and Upper Lokhone target formations.

The well encountered a range of between 16 and 65 feet (5 and 20 meters) of potential net pay sands based on wireline logging and drilling data.

Oil has been recovered in MDT sample chambers, which appears to be of similar quality to the oil found in the discoveries to the south. There is an additional 1,312 feet (400 meters) of porous sands in the Auwerwer and Lokhone Formations, which also confirms the extension of thick reservoir sections into the northern portion of the basin. Oil and gas shows were noted throughout during drilling of the well confirming the extension of the petroleum system to the northern portion of the basin.

Based on these positive drilling results, the partnership has agreed to extend the current 3D seismic survey over the northern portion of the basin where several additional large prospects have been identified by 2D seismic.

The well has been suspended for potential future drill stem testing. Africa oil holds a 50 per cent working interest in this block, which is operated

by Tullow Oil plc (Tullow) that holds the remaining 50 per cent interest.

Drilling on the Ngamia-3 and Amosing 2/2A appraisal wells also in the Lokichar Basin on Block 10BB (Kenya) has also been completed. The

results of these wells appear to confirm the thickness and lateral extent of the Auwerwer sands at both locations and also has extended the known oil column significantly downdip, which will extend the proven field areas.

The range of thickness of Auwerwer reservoir quality sands in all six penetrations of these two structures is between 479 and 721 feet (146 and 220 meters) and the sands appear consistent over the field areas. Net pay was encountered over multiple reservoir zones over a gross interval ranging from 1,640 to 4,921 feet (500 to 1500 meters). Pressure data seems to indicate that there could be pressure communication between many of these reservoirs.

The upcoming extended well test programmes on both of these fields will be designed to evaluate reservoir connectivity and help constrain estimates of flow rates and recovery factors for field development planning, which are expected to commence early in 2015. Africa Oil holds a 50 per cent working interest in this block, which is operated by Tullow that holds the remaining 50 per cent interest.

Well testing has been completed on the previously announced Ewoi discovery on the eastern flank of the Lokichar Basin in Block 10BB (Kenya).

The main zone of interest tested approximately 50 barrels of oil per day from the lower Lokhone sands, which were relatively thin and of moderate reservoir quality. Data from the well may suggest that the wellbore may have been located in a downdip position and the Company is considering updip appraisal opportunities on this structure.

Coordinating Chairman, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, (Anan) South West Zone, Mrs Elemanya Ebilah (l), former president of Anan, Dr, Samuel Nzekwe, Anan President, Alh. Sakirudeen Labode and his wife, Taibat, during the presidential dinner, in honour of Labode, in Lagos .

MANPOWER PTDF to address the dearth of competent and low level manpower Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

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xecutive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Mr Femi Ajayi, has declared that the Welding Training and Certification Programme (WTCP) is a significant step towards addressing the dearth of competent and low level manpower.

Ajayi, who said this when his agency commenced the tour of all the training centres being utilised for the Fund’s WTCP, said that this act is globally recognised as a bridge for the gap that have existed in the oil and gas industry.

He described this fund as a significant step towards addressing the dearth of competent and low level manpower globally recognised to practice and bridge the gap that have existed in the oil and gas industry.

In statement from the PTDF office, Ajayi, who inspected welding training facilities in Port Harcourt, Lagos, Minna and Benin, expressed satisfaction with the amenities provided at the centres with the quality of instructors and the

PTDF justifies interest in welding, fabrication

training manual, which he described as not only theoretically grounded but practically solid enough to change the psyche of the trainees from the ordinary skilled welders to internationally-certified and skilled workers, competent enough to practice in all parts of the world.

He said that an organisation like PTDF has to make up its mind on whether they are only interested in high technology or low end technology that involves more people, stressing that the Fund is committing so much money to welding to explore what he termed “the low hanging fruit” because at the level the country is now, it has to invest more in the quick- win projects that will impact more on the industry and equally satisfy President Jonathan’s agenda of addressing youth empowerment and unemployment.

“It is important when you see facilities provided for able bodied youth like this because the president is emphasising on youth employment and empowerment. When you come to a place like this, you feel happy because it is a training centre

that is theoretically grounded and practically solid. I expect that the product will not only be skilled workers, but entrepreneurs who will employ people and I foresee Nigerians taking over the welding bit of the oil and gas sector in no distant future, that is the goal of PTDF and we will spare no effort to make sure that the dream became a reality.”

The fascinating thing according to the executive secretary, is when the trainees have already seen themselves as learning to bridge the gap that exist within the industry, which further justifies the investment being made by PTDF. He said: “I therefore urge you to take full advantage of the facilities and good instructors to make sure you graduate on record time, as the Fund we will not spare any effort within the available resources to ensure that you complete all the stages that will eventually qualify you as competent welders because the success of the exercise will determine how much we do in increasing local content in the production processes of the oil and gas industry.”

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RECORD Africa’s highest generator importer in four years Adeola Yusuf

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igerians spent N22.8 billion ($152 million) on importation of generators in one year, Chairman, Benin Electricity Distribution Company Limited (Vigeo Holdings), Mr Gbolade Osibodu, has said.

Osibodu made this disclosure in a paper at the plenary session of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Owerri, Imo State.

He added that Nigeria topped the list of generator-importing countries in 2005 for the fourth year in a row.

The country has been surpassing others in this record since 2002.

He said, for instance, that Nigeria accounted for 35 per cent or $152 million of the total $432.2 million spent by African countries on generator imports in 2005.

Speaking on the topic: “Nigeria: Any hope for an industrial revolution?” Osibodu, expressed optimism that the privatisation of the power sector would help government’s aspiration of ensuring stable power supply for Nigerians.

Although Osibodu said that this could be achieved at the long term, he maintained that the short-term effects of the exercise would soon be felt.

The BEDC boss said that the development would continue to elude Nigeria until there is regular power supply.

According to him, the effect is that nearly all surviving manufacturing companies run private plants, with more production costs being shifted to the consumers.

“Nigeria has all it takes – sufficient water, gas, manpower – to solve the power problem in the country. Nigeria is faced with inadequate and unreliable power supply, making it difficult to achieve needed economic

‘OIL-CENTRIC’ Poor infrastructure, energy, finance, skills and capacity in non-oil sector have made export market to be monotonous Adeola Yusuf

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he Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has disclosed that crude oil still dominates Nigeria’s export market.

Nigeria is world’s seventh biggest crude exporter.

The Executive Director/ CEO, NEPC, Mr Olusegun Awolowo, who said that oil is still Nigeria’s biggest product for export, however, expressed government’s desire to increase the non-oil sector.

Already, he said, the country has realised $2.970 billion from non-oil export, in 2013 a 15.9 per cent increase over $2.561 in 2012.

He disclosed these at the business meeting tagged” A new

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Nigerians spend N22.8bn on generator imports -Osibodu growth and development,” he said.

Osibodu expressed optimism that on-going power sector reform would guarantee power supply, adding that post-privatisation challenges such as inadequate generating capacity and transmission limitation must be tackled.

“Successful reform of the power sector will lead to revitalisation and growth of industries in Nigeria. To the

question: Any hope of industrial revolution in Nigeria?

The answer is yes, but this will require the commitment of all stakeholders,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government, last Friday, said that some measures had been put in place to ensure more stable power supply in the country by the beginning of October.

Minister of Power, Prof.

Chinedu Nebo, disclosed this to State House correspondents

after a meeting presided over by Vice President, Namadi Sambo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Part of the strategies, he said, was the method put in place to ensure availability of gas for generation companies.

He said that the step had started yielding results as some parts of the country had started experiencing more stable power supply.

He said: “The cheering news from all of these is that if you

have noticed throughout the country in the past one week, people have been getting much better power supply.

“The gas is now beginning to come back and it is something that gives all of us a lot of joy.

“And we know that it will continue to grow that way even until December. The gas producers have come to a place where almost all of these are being taken care of.

“So, that part of the shortfalls we’ve had in production up to this time, we hope that by the beginning of October, we will see a much better stabilisation of the entire power delivery system in the country.”

Saudi Aramco plans $40bn investments

S

Generators

Oil still dominates Nigeria’s export market —NEPC dawn for Nigerian export” organised by the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC).

Awolowo said that Nigeria’s export is dominated by oil, but that, there has been steady growth in non-oil export to $2.970 billion in 2013, a 15.9 per cent increase over $2.561 in 2012.

He said that non-oil export potentials have not been fully exploited despite endowed natural resources in solid minerals and agriculture, adding that, some of the challenges are poor infrastructure, energy, finance, skills and capacity.

According to him, the nonoil export challenges in Nigeria are infrastructural deficiency, poor standardisation of products, high cost of production and falsification of documents, weak linkages to chain supply, unwholesome trade practices, and exports dominated by pri-

mary products. Others are inability to meet export orders, restricted access to credit and trademark.

He said that for Nigerians to position effectively in the global market, the country’s goods for export must meet competitiveness standards – identify international benchmarks, invest in skill, technology and innovation, provide conducive and stable Export Policy Environment.

Nigeria he said, must also intensify Public Private Partnership (PPP) collaborations, consult widely with stakeholders, address issues of market failure, partner with bi-lateral chambers of commerce on export opportunities and promotion, engaging Nigerians in Diaspora, take optimal advantage of trade preference programmes – AGOA and others.

She must also export value added products as against com-

modities, simplify export procedures and documentations and imbibe E-Commerce culture to reduce cost and time.

Awolowo noted that there is no better time than now to critically address issues that will enhance the development and promotion of Nigeria nonoil exports and that the world is “our oyster as opportunities abound to stamp ‘Made in Nigeria Products’ on the global stage.

He said that Nigeria needs to harness her comparative advantage population, natural resources and geo-diversity, adding : “The Bilateral Chambers of Commerce including NBCC has a critical role to play in harnessing the existing potentials for export by achieving world class standards for products and creating jobs and economic growth through value chains.”

audi Aramco, the world’s biggest oil producer, plans to invest $40 billion a year over the next decade to keep oil production capacity steady and double gas production, Chief Executive Khalid Al-Falih, has said.

State-owned Aramco sees more capital going into offshore projects and expects rising costs across the oil sector to underpin oil prices, Al-Falih told a conference.

Oil prices fell to a 14-month low of $101.07 last week as global demand growth weakens, even as production ramp ups in several places create a glut of oil.

“To meet forecast demand growth and offset (global output) decline, our industry will need to add close to 40 million barrels per day of new capacity in the next two decades,” Al-Falih said.

“Although our investments will span the value chain, the bulk will be in up-stream, and increasingly from offshore, with the aim of maintaining our maximum sustained oil production capacity at twelve million barrels per day, while also doubling our gas production.”

Al-Falih said that the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries or the International Energy Agency should not try to control oil prices but fundamental problems within the industry, like rising costs, increasing technical challenges and the falling size of finds would support the price.

“I share ... the belief that this is a market driven business, it's not OPEC, the IEA, and consumers that should be in the business of trying to control the market,” Al-Falih said. “OPEC will take the price as it comes.

“To tap these increasingly expensive oil resources, oil prices will need to be healthy enough to attract needed investments ... (and) long-term prices will be underpinned by more expensive marginal barrels.”

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Tuesday, September 2, 2014

BACKPEDAL Afren shares prop after Kurdistan shutdown prompts production forecast cut

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Probe of Afren’s $135.1m transactions ends Sept

Adeola Yusuf

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ritish law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher is expected to conclude a review next month relating to three alleged unauthorised transactions, which it has linked to the four suspended senior staff of Afren.

Announcing the temporary suspension of the CEO and COO last month, Afren had said the company did not make the payments but no conclusive findings had been reached and its investigation was continuing.

The company said at the weekend that the payments totalled $135.1 million, including $93.3 million for an agreement on field extensions related to the Okoro field in Nigeria.

The payments also relate to $298 million in deferred tax assets related to its Ebok oil field in Nigeria, its main producing asset in which Afren holds a 50 per cent stake.

The company gave no further comment on the investigation.

Oil explorer Afren slashed its full-year production forecast by 20 percent at the weekend after counting its losses from the shutdown of operations in Iraqi Kurdistan, dragging its shares to their lowest level in more than 2-1/2 years.

The forecast cut came a day after the company suspended two senior employees as part of an investigation into the alleged receipt of “unauthorised pay-

Workers at an oil installation recently

ments” that had already lead to the temporary suspension of its chief executive and chief operating officer.

The explorer, which operates in Nigeria and Iraqi Kurdistan, cut its 2014 production outlook to between 32,000 and 36,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd), from an initial forecast of 40,000 bopd.

Afren had shut production at its Barda Rash oil field in

Kurdistan on Aug. 8 and started evacuating staff due to escalating security risks in the area.

“I’m not going to risk anybody’s life for anything. Not one drop of blood for a million barrels,” said Egbert Imomoh, Afren’s executive chairman, during the presentation of the company’s half-year results.

Shares in Afren dropped as much as nine per cent, making them the second-biggest losers

in London’s FTSE 250 index of mid-sized companies. They traded as low as 90.35 pence, their lowest since late 2011.

The suspension of the CEO and COO prompted ratings agency Fitch to put Afren on its negative watch list earlier last month until the company concludes the investigation.

Afren said it would restart operations at Barda Rash, which produced an average of

536 bopd over the first half of the year, “as soon as is prudent to do so.”

Imomoh added that before production can resume the company will have to go through a lengthy process of re-mobilising some of the rigs at the field.

Afren also said last Friday its net production fell 25 per cent to 33,488 bopd over the first half of the year, halving the company’s pretax profit to $133 million.

Minerals: FG moves to block loses to foreigners ADVANCEMENT The NGSA has secured laboratory to analyse and certify mineral ores

certify the content of its solid mineral ores rather than allowing international market operators determine such to the disadvantage of local miners” and exporters.

“I am very sure that with this laboratory, miners are well po-

Adeola Yusuf

the state of arts equipment to test and analyse any mineral thoroughly irrespective of its origin,” commented the chairman, NGSA Governing Board, Professor Ibrahim Garba.

Besides reducing cost to miners, Garba said the laboratory

would also provide credence to minerals from Nigeria.

He expressed confidence in Nigeria’s solid minerals trade, saying the products from Nigeria are imbued with all the qualities required internationally.

Chinese energy giants upbeat on shale gas

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he Federal Government has begun moves to save miners and exporters of solid mineral ores in the country from financial losses resulting from the exploitative tendencies of foreign partners.

This follows the recent opening by the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development of the National Geosciences Research Laboratories of the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA).

The facility, reported to be of world class, will, specifically, save miners and exporters of solid mineral ores in the country from financial losses resulting from the exploitative tendencies of foreign partners.

These foreigners, SweetCrudereports said in a report, exploit Nigerians due to the absence of bankable mineral laboratory to analyse and certify the content of mineral ores, often exploited by local operators.

Nigeria, it reported, “can now effectively analyse and

sitioned to cut costs of mineral assay, which before now were done in United Kingdom, South Africa or Australia.

“Again, minerals from Nigeria would be coming out now with much credibility as there is a national laboratory with

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A gas plant

hina’s energy heavyweights Sinopec Corp and PetroChina have upgraded their outlook on the country’s shale gas industry, citing steadily declining costs, but stopped short of predicting a near-term boom.

China, estimated to hold the world’s largest technically recoverable shale resources, is hoping to replicate the shale boom that has transformed the energy landscape of the United States.

Industry experts caution that it would be much more difficult for China to monetise its shale gas reserves than the US as it faces serious challenges from water shortages to complicated geological structure and a lack of infrastructure.

But top executives at Chi-

na’s two biggest energy companies conveyed a bullish assessment of the country’s shale gas potential last week, citing rapidly falling drilling costs and rising domestic gas prices. That’s a far cry from two years ago when they overwhelmingly focused on the hurdles faced by China.

“It took the US nearly four decades to achieve large-scale production. We are at the early stage, but we don’t need to spend three decades. Cost will come down sharply,” Sinopec Chairman Fu Chengyu told reporters at the firm’s interim results briefing in Hong Kong.

“We have found that there is big room for cost reduction...

Also domestic gas prices are being raised, so, these two factors will lead to greater investment,” he said.

32 BUSINESS | ENERGY

Shell submits revised drill plan for Arctic

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oyal Dutch Shell Plc has sought permission from the US government to drill in the Arctic Ocean and is keeping open the possibility that it could drill there next summer, The Financial Times has reported.

The newspaper said that Shell had filed an exploration plan for approval by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the agency that controls offshore drilling rights.

The plan addresses issues such as safety and environmental impact.

The Financial Times also reported that Shell said although it had not yet made a definite decision to drill in the Arctic next year, it wanted to keep the option open and required permits and a court decision to go in its favour.

Shell was not immediately available for comment outside regular working hours in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Meanwhile, Norwegian energy firm Statoil has said that it would only slightly raise its US shale oil and gas output in the near term due to spending curbs, well below a potential for a 50 per cent surge.

Statoil, which produces around a tenth of its oil and gas from its US shale operations in the Bakken, Eagle Ford and Marcellus formations, has even cut back investments in the area, as shale projects are competing for capital within the company, said Torstein Hole, Statoil’s chief for US onshore activities.

Statoil abandoned its 2020 production target earlier this year and cut its capital spending budget, arguing that it needs to save cash and return more to shareholders after a decade of ramping up spending.

The firm increased shale production to around 210,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day by the middle of 2014 from close to nothing in 2010, but output levelled off in the second quarter.

When asked if output would stay broadly unchanged for the rest of the year, Hole said during an oil and gas conference in Stavanger, west Norway: “I expect it (US shale production) to be approximately the same.

“It will increase somewhat, but it will not be a significant increase. It (growth rate) will not be back to the levels we’ve seen in the past.

“We could easily, with the portfolio we have now, increase it to 300,000 per day. But we have the priority toward profitability.

“We have to compete for capital within the company and the pace of development will depend on how successful we are in delivering high profitability,” Hole said.

Statoil had earlier targeted daily production of 500,000 barrels per day from US operations by 2020, including 300,000 barrels per day from shale, but also gave up that target when it revised broader projections.

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Oil posts second monthly fall TENSION Commodity prices are higher on Ukraine tensions and data

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rude oil prices posted their second straight monthly losses, despite rising on worries that the intensifying Ukraine crisis may trigger more sanctions

and as US economic data portended strong demand in the world’s largest oil consumer.

US crude oil rose for a fourth straight session after data showed consumer confidence rose in August to a seven-year high, although consumer spending dipped 0.1 per cent.

The Institute for Supply Management-Chicago said its business barometer shot up to 64.3 last month from 52.6 in July. It was the index’s biggest

monthly point gain since July 1983 and pointed to continued strength in the manufacturing sector “The strong data in Chicago manufacturing is making people think that there could be something going on that will show up in demand numbers shortly,” said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago, Illinois.

Brent crude oil rose after the government in Kiev said

Oil barrel

BYPASSING The Disco urged consumers to pay their bills and avoid shortchanging the company

T

he Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has reiterated its commitment to regular supply of electricity to all its customers.

The company, which serves seven states including Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Kwara and part of Niger State, gave this reassurance at the inauguration of the rehabilitated injection substation last Friday.

In an address by the company chairman, Mr Tunde Ayeni, which was read by the managing director, Mr Fortunato Leynes, IBEDC underscored its readiness to ensure a minimum of 18 hours of power supply daily to all its customers.

The chairman said that the prompt action taken by the company to rehabilitate the substation that was set ablaze by some youths during the national antisubsidy removal protest in 2012 was a testimony of its readiness to improve the quality of its customers’ lives through unparalleled services.

He said: As an organisation bound by our core values of teamwork, innovation, excellence, integrity and dependability, we are committed to building a world class utility company where performance and exceptional service delivery comes naturally.

Russian troops had entered Ukraine in support of proMoscow rebels, intensifying a separatist war and prompting alarm among Kiev’s Western allies, as well as fears of new sanctions that could target Russia’s energy sector.

Russia is Europe’s biggest supplier of oil, coal and natural gas, meeting around a third of demand for all those fuels, according to EU data. It receives in return some $250 billion a year, or around two-thirds of government revenue.

Brent for October delivery rose 73 cents to settle at $103.19 a barrel, while US crude gained $1.41 to $95.96 a barrel.

US crude’s discount to Brent narrowed to $7.23 a barrel, having touched $7.19, the smallest amount in two weeks and nearly $2 narrower than last Thursday’s $9.15.

Both benchmarks pushed higher toward the end of the trading session, ahead of a long holiday Labour Day weekend in the United States.

The October contract’s premium to September fell as low as 43 cents intraday on Thursday, reacting to a fire at BP's 413,500-barrel-per-day Whiting, Indiana, refinery, but had increased to as much as 96 cents intraday last Friday.

“It’s war premium, because if you’re trading do you want to trade on a refinery problem that may last a few weeks or the possibility of war?” said a New York-based futures broker.

IBEDC reiterates commitment to regular power supply “To transform the industry we are operating today, we need the support of the government at every level, relevant stakeholders and especially our consumers that we seek to serve. Permit me to use this opportunity to appeal to residents to take ownership of this installation to forestall any unfortunate recurrence. I call on all community leaders to work in partnership with IBEDC to nip vandalism in the bud. We all

Power installation

cannot move forward if nothing is done to stop this evil.”

IBEDC’s Deputy Managing Director, Mr John Darlington, while expressing his appreciation to the people, said: “Our customers are the reason we exist,” urging them to pay their bills and avoid short-changing the company via bypassing prepaid metres and illegal connections.

“Please, pay your bills so we can serve you better. We shall join hands with the govern-

ment and make a difference in power distribution,” Darlington said.

While inaugurating the substation, Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, urged residents and community leaders in the area to protect the power infrastructure and make it sustainable.

He also commended the management of IBEDC for taking a bold step of rehabilitating the vandalised substation.

PROPERTY&ENVIRONMENT PAGE 33, Tuesday, September 2, 2014

LONG TERM CAPITAL Experts seek long term capital investment to construct rental homes Dayo Ayeyemi

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s opportunity for homeownership among the low and middle income earners is getting tougher by the day, no thanks to the high price tags on 'affordable' housing units in the urban centres, some experts including government have begun to consider a shift in focus towards rental housing.

The Nigerian housing market is one of the most expensive globally such that over 80 percent of the country’s 160 million people cannot afford to build or buy their own homes, leaving the country with a staggering housing deficit burden estimated by the United Nations to be about 17 million units.

To bridge this shortage, concerned citizens are already embracing formal rental housing, including Rent to Own scheme, as a better alternative to address the issue of affordability among accommodation seekers.

As many stakeholders in the sector are concluding the process of unbundling this initiative, experts across Africa have already pushed their weight behind a formal rental housing system.

Experts' position In the recent conference held at a Narobi hotel in Kenya, they pointed out that the future of housing in Africa has been pegged on a shift in focus towards rental housing.

The panel discussion was chaired by Shelter Afrique on the issues affecting housing in Africa.

Panelists at the event outlined the various advantages that could accrue from establishing a formal rental housing system.

Director of Portfolio Management at Shelter Afrique, Femi Adewole, remarked on the need for long-term capital investment in order to construct rental homes.

Managing Director of Shelter Afrique, James Mugerwa, said: “With about 90 per cent of Africa’s population unable to buy a house or even qualify for a mortgage, there is the need to make a serious mental shift towards formal rental housing as a viable option to solve the housing crisis.

“We must break the housing unit the same way we broke down the mobile phone," he said.

Supporting this, Lands' Permanent Secretary, Mariam El Maawy, added that investors and government must flag off important policy to spur housing development.

The forum that brought together government officials,

Rent to Own scheme gathers momentum

Safe Court, Lekki-Lagos

Jonathan

Fashola

private rental property owners, financiers and non-governmental organisations in housing sector came ahead of a pan-Africa wide conference to be held in October.

the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola, said that the new policy is known as Rent to Own initiative, which is coming under the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme.

This initiative, when it comes on board, he said, would encourage more residents to participate in the state housing scheme.

Justifying this, he explained that a research conducted by his team has shown that traders, transport operators, bricklayers and fashion designers, among others in the informal sector, could conveniently pay for the homes across the state.

He said: “The investigations indicated that most people in the informal sector could also afford the mortgage scheme, going by their monthly income and profit. So, the Rent to Own

Stakeholders' perspective In Nigeria, the federal and the Lagos State governments are already at the hedge of rolling out a scheme that will present a paradigm shift towards rental housing.

While the Lagos State government is planning to start a new policy that will enable Lagos residents to own their homes after paying rents for a specified period of time, the Federal Government also says the other area it's looking into is the Rent to Own. Giving the hints recently,

We should look for this area because not everybody can buy a house. Where will the cleaners get money to buy their own house?

But they can rent a studio room and graduate to twobedroom apartment later initiative will further make the scheme affordable for all and sundry.”

This is how the initiative works: When you rent, there will be fixed amount and you pay your rent every month or yearly, and by the time you cover the cost of the building, it becomes yours.

Experts view In what he called his own formula, first Vice President of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, (NIESV), Mr Joshua PatunolaAjayi, said that he believed so much in housing for rent since not everybody can afford to buy a house.

He is of the opinion that all the houses being constructed by government should not be

sold, but rent out for people who could not afford the lump sum of buying a home.

On the modalities to be adopted for this to work, he said: "Government should make sure that when the project is kickstarting, an estate surveyor is available so that as you are finishing the project, he is taking tenant to it and managing it.

The rent collected, according to him, would be used to pay the loan of the private partners in the scheme.

“We should look for this area because not everybody can buy a house. Where will the cleaners get money to buy their own house? But they can rent a studio room and graduate to two-bedroom apartment later,” he said.

In a swift reaction, the Principal Partner of Lordsfield Limited, Mr Ropo Olajugba, argued that economic power determines the type of housing that somebody wants to live, canvassing the need for mortgage to enhance homeownership among the citizens.

He said: “The price determines where you want to live even if there is available rental housing. The market forcesdetermines what you build and sell. It would not solve the problem. Abroad, the middle income go for buy because there is mortgage and the houses are cheap. Some buy and use the rent to pay the mortgage.

“The best solution is to make housing available for the people to buy on mortgage. This is sustainable. We don’t even have for rent and buy. But government should look more into long-term solution," he submitted.

Existing situation Informal housing is most prevalent in the urban centres of the country, with more than 80 percent of the population living in settlements that are unplanned with poor living conditions.The informal urban settlements are visible in the Lagos metropolis and other major cities. The Mowe and Ofada axis in Ogun State (close to Lagos) provides an example of this kind of settlement, with unhealthy conditions due to overcrowding and lack of adequate infrastructure.

It was reported that 85 percent of Nigeria’s urban population lived in rented accommodation in 2010, devoting more than 40 per cent of their income on rent.

According to UN statistics, the urban population of Nigeria constituted 48 per cent of the country’s population in 2009.

This indicates that 73.92 million Nigerians out of the estimated total population of 154 million people live in urban centres.

And of this figure, 62.93 million (representing 85 per cent) live in rented houses across the country.

This also implies that of the estimated 17 million inhabitants of Lagos State, 14.45 million live in rented accommodation.

34

property & ENVIRONMENT

SYNERGY Experts wants synergy among government agencies and parastatals Dayo Ayeyemi

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onsultants under the auspices of the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON), have tasked the federal, state and local governments to consider physical planning as a critical development tool for overall economic development of the country.

Speaking during the Annual General Meeting of the association in Lagos at the weekend, its President, Mr Moses Ogunleye, warned that Nigeria, with a vision of becoming one of the 20 economies in the world by year 2020 cannot continue to carry on with care free attitude in matters of physical planning.

He noted that the importance of the symbiotic relationship that should exist between economic planning and physical planning has long been established by experts.

As evident in many parts of the world, Ogunleye explained that countries with effective policies and strategies on physical planning have grown faster economically and socially, citing Canada, Australia, United Kingdom and Singapore as examples.

He explained that development planning without a high content of physical planning has a high probability of leading to retrogression.

He encouraged synergy among the core ministries, departments and agencies at state and federal levels that are in charge of economic planning, budget, transportation, physical planning, ag-

H

ouse prices surged by 11 per cent year-on-year in August to reach another new alltime high of £189,306 on average, Nationwide has reported.

Property values were pushed up by 0.8 per cent month-on-month, marking the sixteenth monthly increase in a row, and the annual pace of price growth accelerated from 10.6 per cent in July as a result.

Typical UK house prices first surpassed their 2007 peak

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Experts to govt: Exploit physical planning for economic devt riculture, housing as well as infrastructure.

He said: “At both levels – federal and states – there should be horizontal and vertical synergies. It is odd that Nigeria at the 21st century will have cities or towns that are developing without physical development plans – master plans, town plans, district plan, and so on.”

One of the flagship of the annual general meeting was the induction of new member firms to the fold of the association.

Ogunleye briefed the audience that within the space of one year, membership of the association has increased from 99 to 115, adding that the concerns of the association border on how to ensure that the new firms would operate in a way that will add value to the practice of the profession.

He said: “I am proud to say that we have improved tremendously on the criteria for admitting new members. This again, is meant to enhance the status of practice and allow town planning firms be at the competitive edge. We shall do more in this regard.”

He decried the low level of patronage of member firms by the government, alleging that many of the governors have claimed not to be aware of town planners' services, "while holding the erroneous belief that foreign firms can perform some services better than the Nigerian firms."

The president of ATOPCON assured member firms that the

leadership of the association is prepared to stem the tide using all available means within.

He enjoined all consultant town planners to do their best to uphold the provisions of the association’s Code of Conduct and Practice Regulation.

Meanwhile, ATOPCON has been tasked on the need to break new grounds despite its achievement in the past.

Speaking during the annual general meeting, President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Chief Steve Onu, urged ATOPCON to come out of its shell and reach out to government, its agencies, the political class and similar consultancy associations locally and internationally

any other body in the profession has greater responsibility.

A lot of young town planning graduates leave institutions of higher learning every year, most of who end up joining others already in the job market. I therefore enjoin you to use all machinery at your disposal as a “think tank” to create job opportunities for our teeming professionals,” Onu said.

He also admonished members of the association to channel their energy towards the issue of discipline in planning practice, pointing out that unethical practice is one hydraheaded monster that has been gradually eating and deeply into the fabric of this profession.

Falomo Roundabout, Ikoyi, Lagos

UK: House prices ‘hit new high’ in cash terms in May this year and they have been hitting new records every month since.

Year-on-year house price growth has been in double digits since April, according to the building society’s study.

Despite property values reaching record highs over the summer, there have also

been signs of a cool down in the market in recent months.

Mortgage approvals generally dipped after stricter lending rules, which force lenders to ask for more detail about a mortgage applicant’s spending habits, came into force at the end of April but approvals have since rebounded slightly.

Ogun recruits 2,000 ad-hoc street sweepers gun State government has promises made by Governor essary kits and equipment that commenced the process of Ibikunle Amosun during this would help in the effective disOrecruiting 2,000 ad-hoc street year's World Environment Day charge of their duties. sweepers across the state in its bid to create a cleaner and safer environment, as well as create job opportunities.

Speaking on the exercise, Commissioner for Environment, Ayo Olubori, said that the recruitment of the additional street sweepers would complement the efforts of the 1000 already employed, adding that the exercise would cut across the three senatorial districts of the state.

“The recruitment programme is in fulfilment of the

for the much needed synergy to facilitate the building and maintenance of the environment on a sustainable basis.

Challenging the leadership of the association, he said: “You need to explore the mass media more than ever before. Your programmes and achievements need to be publicised for all to know your intervention programmes.”

Lamenting the high rate of unemployed graduates of town planning in the country, the NITP boss enjoined members of ATOPCON to use all machinery at their disposal to create job opportunities for the teeming professionals.

“Job creation is one area that ATOPCON more than

celebration in June that additional 2,000 street sweepers will be recruited alongside 3000 Environmental Marshals as a measure aimed at creating a cleaner and safer environment.

While it will also create job opportunities, which is one of the five cardinal programmes of the present administration,” he disclosed.

The commissioner disclosed that successful candidates would be contacted soon through their phone numbers, explaining that the sweepers would be given nec-

“In few days time, all the successful candidates that are physically and mentally fit will be contacted through their various phone numbers. I can assure that all the candidates will be given all the necessary kits and equipment that will help them in the discharge of their duties,” he said.

Olubori however advised everyone to see the management of the environment as a collective responsibility and desist from of indiscriminate dumping of refuse on roadsides.

Nationwide said it is still unclear how much of the cooling in activity was due to the introduction of the new Mortgage Market Review (MMR) rules as opposed to an underlying loss of momentum in the market.

Separate research released by property analyst, Hometrack, has found the gap between house sellers’ asking prices and the amounts that buyers are willing to pay is widening.

Hometrack said this points to the pace of house price increases slowing in the coming months.

In further signs that competition among buyers is starting to ease, the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) reported this week that only one in 25 (4 per cent) of homes were sold for above the asking price in July, compared with nearly one in five (19 per cent) in May. Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s chief economist, said that while house price growth continues to outpace earnings

by “a wide margin,” cheap mortgage rates mean that, at present, typical mortgage payments as a share of people’s take-home pay are relatively affordable.

Recent speculation about the possibility of the Bank of England base rate moving from its historic 0.5 per cent low has prompted calls for homeowners to start preparing now for how they will cope with the prospect of borrowing costs becoming more expensive.

Gardner said: “The prospect of interest rate increases together with subdued wage growth may temper demand in the quarters ahead.

“However, the brightening economic outlook is likely to provide ongoing support for housing demand. Consumer sentiment remains buoyant thanks to declining inflation and sustained increases in employment.

“Similarly, the first increase in interest rates still appears some way off - we expect the first increase in the first quarter of 2015.

property & ENVIRONMENT

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

35

Tejuosho Shopping Complex: From ashes to beauty Dayo Ayeyemi

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hen last have you been to Yaba, Tejuosho area to be specific? If you haven’t lately, please take a trip to the location and it will amaze you how the landscape of the area has been suddenly transformed, no thanks to the new modern shopping edifice adorning the highways.

Lest we forget! When the old Tejuosho market in Yaba, Lagos, got burnt on December 17, 2007, many thought that was the end to the major trading and commercial centre in the state.

But seven years after, the market, which was reduced to ashes, has suddenly become the toast of many people, especially traders, shoppers and service providers alike, following its redevelopment into a modern

shopping complex with glittering infrastructural facilities.

Promoted by the Lagos State government, the reconstruction of the market was made possible through Public-Private Partnership (PPP), arrangement , a tripartite arrangement with First Bank Plc, the state government and Stormberg Engineering Limited.

Solely financed by First Bank of Nigeria, the first phase of the main Tejuosho Shopping Complex has now been completed and reopened for operations .

Parading some of the stateof-art- facilities, available amenities in the new complex range from 2,640 lock-up shops in the first phase to 1,251 key-clamps; banking spaces; eight lifts to enable goods, services and people move up; two escalators for up and down movement;

two ramps designed to assist the physically challenged; and a crèche where nursing mothers can attend to and keep their children while they are trading.

The new shopping complex parades dedicated fire service station with fire fighting systems, and a dedicated 800-vehicle capacity car park The joy of the displaced traders while the project was on-going knew know bound as they danced in appreciation to government for being at the edge of fulfilling its promise of returning them to the new shopping arcade and for a job well done.

Commenting on the modern shopping complex, Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola, said that the market facility was part of the longterm radical infrastructure renewal plan by the state gov-

New Tejuosho Shopping Complex, Yaba, Lagos

ernment.

He warned would-be occupiers of the new complex that illegal extensions would not be tolerated, urging shop owners to resist expansion.

He added: “Those who try to create extension must face resistance by those who are owners of the market. There must be no illegal extension, any time you see it, tell us, let us know and we will come and remove it.”

On the method of payment for the shops, Fashola explained that the shops are offered to prospective traders on owner-occupier basis whereby they would pay for their shops gradually and overtime, adding that it would take them eight years of mortgage payment to fully pay for their shops.

Fashola said: “If you see the quality of what has been provided inside here for you, that is the quality of what we have expected of you; not to be trading by the road sides. You deserve better and that is what we did here.”

He expressed appreciation to First Bank Plc and its leadership, especially Mr. Bisi Onasanya, for providing the financing support for the project construction and for agreeing to the request to provide mortgages for small owners to pay their shops gradually and overtime.

He said: “The role of leadership is to help the people at the bottom of the ladder to dream and aspire to take their first foot on that ladder with the help of their colleagues behind them, telling them it is time; so that is the flexibility by First Bank Plc which is commendable given the challenging market

in which it operates.

“By this act, the bank has helped about 2,105 people to begin to make equity contribution for ownership of their shops.”

The governor thanked all the traders for their understanding during the construction exercise, adding that many lessons have been learnt during the building process that would help in the building of future development of other projects.

The Managing Director of First Bank Plc, Mr. Olabisi Onasanya, described the project as a veritable example of how a Private Public Partnership could be deployed, adding that the opening ceremony signified the beginning of a new dawn in commercial activities in the state and in the country.

Iyaloja-General, Chief (Mrs.) Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, expressed appreciation to the governor for fulfilling his promise to the market traders, while urging the traders to ensure that they abide strictly by the sanitation rules of the market.

The duo of Babaloja of Tejuosho Market, Mr. Adeshina Oyegunle; and the President Ndigbo Traders in Tejuosho, also thanked the governor for keeping to his promise of giving the former shop owners the opportunity to return after the reconstruction.

Justifying the action of government, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Olutoyin Ayinde, said that government was conscious of the untold suffering which the fire disaster in the market brought to the traders, pointing out that this informed the determination not to lose the opportunity to restore their hope.

Housing: Experts converge to tackle finance, others

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hen all stakeholders including foreign investors, promoters, consultants, bankers, policy makers and buyers converge on Victoria Island, Lagos next month, some factors inhibiting the growth of real estate sector in Nigeria and Africa at large, and ways to resolve them will top the agenda to chart a new course for the sector.

Top among these factors are inadequate infrastructure, dearth of cheap fund, insecurity and government bureaucracies.

The event is the annual Real Estate Unite, an international construction sector forum put together by 3Invest Limited.

Themed: “Igniting the F.I.R.E where lies the key?”, the Real Estate Unite, packaged by Obih’s 3Invest, promises to encourage networking, synergy and cross-fertilisation of ideas among all participants.

The theme represents key factors that have been identified over the years as having the potential to catalyse the industry's growth. The “F” represents Finance, the “I” represents Infrastructure, “R”

represents Red-Tapism while “E” represents Education.

Already, the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola and the Minister of Land, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi, have been scheduled to give key note address, while over 25 speakers such as the Managing Director of UPDC, Hakeem Ogunniran; Senoir Housing Finance Specialist, World Bank, Simon Walley; Group Head, Real Estate, Ecobank, Kunle Osilaja; Managing Director of Aso Savings, Hassan Usman; Director of Shelter Afrique, Femi Adewole; Professor Olumide Olusanya of University of Lagos; Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance, Dr. Chii Akporji; and Managing Director of Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company, Mr Sonnie Ayere; and many others have indicated interest to be part of the event.

Justifying the hosting of the conference which is the third edition, the Chief Executive Officer of 3Invest Limited, Ruth Obih, pointed out that with the Nigeria’s rebased Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the sub-Saharan real estate market pres-

ents an attractive investment opportunity; a portfolio which currently accounts for about 7.6 per cent of the nation’s GDP. She added that this could be increased to as much as 40 per cent if better mobilised.

How to harness this, she said: “Is what we are seeking to do at this year’s event through the theme, “Igniting the F.I.R.E, where lies the key?”

“We are asking relevant questions such as: How can finance

be raised for building projects?

Why should infrastructure investing be addressed? How can red-tapism be eradicated from the housing sector? What is the way forward for the education sector in terms of investing and security? Answers to these will be the much-needed fuel to ignite growth in the real estate industry,” Obih said.

On the outbreak of Ebola Virus, she stated that the conference will also focus on the fu-

ture of healthcare from the real estate perspective as it would address the process of developing structural spaces, systems, networks and technologies for the provision of quality care.

“This roundtable is going to be the first of its kind and I for one cannot wait for what comes out of the deliberations because we are possibly sitting on the verge of major reform in Nigerian healthcare, thanks to changes in real estate,” she said.

L-R: 3Invest’s Chief Executive, Ruth Obih; Director, Education, Pan Atlantic University, Peter Bamkole; and Managing Partner, Sefton Fross, Yemi Anyanechi, during the 3invest Limted’s Media Conference to officially launch Real Estate Unite 2014 in Lagos at the weekend

36 property & ENVIRONMENT SUSTAINABILITY Experts urge authorities to improve environmental sustainability and performance

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Post 2015: Stakeholders harp on climate change integration

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nvironmental experts have called on the Federal Government to make climate change an integral part of Nigeria’s Post-2015 Development Agenda.

The stakeholders suggested that the post-2015 targets should be climate-smart – targets that build resilience and adaptation, promote low-carbon development pathways, and deliver irreversible development progress.

They stated this during a parallel session on “Addressing the challenges of climate change and sustainable development” during the recentlyheld Presidential Summit on Millennium Development Goals and Post-2015 Development Agenda.

They also cautioned against confusion and inconsistency with the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) process.

Participants declared in a communique released at the close of the event, that climate change targets in the post-2015 agenda need to be consistent with, and at least as ambitious as, the objectives agreed under the UNFCCC. The session, according to report from EnviroNews, was organised by the Climate Change Department of the Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the Millennium Development Goals office.

In the process of mainstreaming climate change mitigation and adaptation into development plans, the forum underlined the need for collective action to avoid dangerous climate change in accordance with the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities and capabilities.

Participants called for concerted effort in the implementation of the National Framework for the Application of Climate Services. They also urged the authorities to ensure that the process captures key areas of intervention critical to delivering concurrently on development and climate objectives including the highly-climate relevant areas of water, forests, disaster, energy, governance, and food and agriculture.

They stated that there must be means of implementation that foster policy coherence, encourage synergies and winwin solutions and engage multiple stakeholders in a global partnership for sustainable development.

They said: “Greater coherence in the objectives of financing for development and climate change finance will also be required, along with more joined-up approaches across governments.”

They called for the pursuit of green growth, emergence of climate change action plan, as well as the incorporation of climate change in the educational

Ms Mallam

Ms Jimeta

Ladipo

curriculum.

Environment Minister, Laurentia Mallam, while opening the session, noted that about 60 per cent of the issues composed in the United Nations Post-2015 Development Agenda are related to climate change.

Her words: “This implies that climate change will determine whether the levels of development progress that have already been achieved can be sustained, as well as whether post-2015 development goals can be achieved. Put simply,

development objectives will not be achieved unless the post2015 framework is climate and future-fit.

“Similarly, the achievement of global climate change objectives – including keeping the average global temperature rise below 2oC – will depend on development decisions taken across sectors and in all countries.

She observed that although, there was already an international process in place to address climate change – under

the UNFCCC – which needs to reach an agreement in 2015, the new climate deal will only take effect in 2020, by which time significant action will already have to have been taken to stay within 2o.

“Hence, we don’t have a fighting chance of achieving climate goals without development goals that start guiding countries down a climate-smart track,” she said.

Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Rabi Jimeta, stated that changes as a result of the

phenomenon have significant ecological, social, economic and political impacts on the human race, including effects on food production, water availability, intensification of wildfires, changes in epidemic vectors of diseases and human security in general.

In the main presentation, environment and climate change specialist, Prof Emmanuel Ladipo, described Green Growth as growth in GDP that maintains or restores environmental quality and ecological integrity, and for meeting the needs of all people with the lowest possible environmental impact.

Ladipo urged the authorities to improve environmental sustainability, enhance environmental performance, promote environmental protection as an opportunity for sustainable growth, and integrate disaster risk management and preparedness in socio-economic development policies and planning.

In his remarks, Prof Chinedum Nwajiuba of the Nigerian Environmental Study/Action Team (NEST) in Ibadan and Imo State University in Owerri wants the authorities to take the idea of no further businessas-usual in the management of the environment much more seriously, and not as mere words.

EBOLA: NCF decries calls to wipe out wild animals

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pparently worried by suggestions and opinions on the best way to curtail the spread of Ebola Virus, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has condemned calls from different quarters to kill all the wild animals.

Commending the efforts of government as well as international agencies for the prompt response and measures taken to prevent the spread of Ebola virus, the NCF in a statement by its Executive Director, Adeniyi Karunwi, said that the organisation is totally concerned and disturbed by persistent calls by some individuals and groups in recent times to kill all the wild animals believed to be vectors of the virus in the country.

"While we appreciate and support the need to refrain from having an animal to human contact with some animals that are believed to be carriers/vectors of the Ebola Virus such as fruit bats and primate, killing all the wild animals is not the best solution," Karunwi said.

He noted that in this situation the country has found itself, education and information are important as precautions necessary to avoid contamination and effective measure to prevent further spread.

He said: “NCF believes

education is key to protecting remote communities living in Ebola prone regions, and providing local people, most importantly, hunters and healthcare professionals-with information on the precautions necessary to avoid contamination as a simple and effective measure to prevent further spread. This is the time to distribute posters, pamphlets, and other education and awareness aids to remote villages especially forested and forest-edge communities."

Karunwi canvassed more government support to allow the organisation and other environmental groups to visit local communities for informal discussions regarding Ebola and other zoonotic diseases.

“As it is being done in some other countries, it has become imperative to establish Animal Health Monitoring Network, which encourages the rapid reporting of, and prompt response to wildlife mortalities, with a focus on hunters, who are typically the first people to encounter deceased vectoranimals: great apes/monkeys, porcupines, fruitbats, forest antelopes etc,” he said.

In addition, Karonwi warned that scientists and veterinary doctors must develop a non-invasive method of determining whether an animal

Monkey, one of the wild animals believed to be vector of Ebola Virus

has been exposed to Ebola by testing the animal’s feaces.

“Also, identifying animal outbreaks through monitoring and novel diagnostic tests will inform researchers as to how the virus is spreading and in what direction, thus, serving as a warning system to the public health authorities in the country,” he said.

Rather than killing animals as a preventive measure, The NCF suggested a thorough examination of the behavior of great apes and other forest animals via camera traps while exploring how vaccines against Ebola that are developed for humans might also protect the animals from this deadly disease.

He said: “It may be possible to administer the vaccine to the wild great apes orally. A photographic dataset will

provide clues to the manner in which the disease might spread between forest species.”

As a reputable conservation group with a core mandate and mission to preserve the full range of Nigeria's biodiversity (which includes species, ecosystems and genetic biodiversity), NCF says it is organisation’s duty to enhance, encourage, promote and ensure sustainable management and protection of the vast array of the country's natural resources in the event of humaninduced activities.

The Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever (EHF), is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-tohuman transmission.

Why do airlines make many annoying schedule changes? p–38

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

BUSINESS 37

Dana and Arik aircraft waiting for take-off at the Lagos airport

The real threat facing Nigerian airlines The skyrocketing price of aviation fuel is a challenge to many airlines across the globe. Aviation Editor, WOLE SHADARE, writes that currently, JET A1 takes at least 50 per cent of airlines’ operation cost, which does not augur well for the business.

O

ver the past decade, global airline industry has desperately turned to mergers, consolidating with the hope of achieving economies of scale. For Nigerian airlines, they seem to be missing the bigger problem as they are neither involved in consolidation nor merger.

The operating environment in Nigeria is absolutely expensive and unrealistic. Generally, airline business is marginally unprofitable.

Government's assistance Everywhere else in the world, government’s support for airline business is geared towards the derived benefits of creating jobs for the populace, and stimulating other economic activities. In aviation-friendly countries, adverse policies, exorbitant charges and undue regulations (especially nonsafety-related regulations)

are regularly reviewed to give airline operators a breather, to survive and prosper.

These are indeed hard times for airline operators in the country as they continue to grapple with the scarcity of aviation fuel, otherwise known as JET A1. Until recently, Nigeria was one of the preferred destinations for refuelling because of the nation’s favourably competitive price of aviation fuel. Today, the product is more expensive in Nigeria than any other oil producing nation.

Skyrocketing price Recently, the pump price of JET A1 rose from N170 to N195 per litre. Interestingly, the latest hike is the third in eight months. It would be recalled that the price had gone up from N160 to N165 in August, 2013, and had risen to N170 per litre some two months ago.

Apart from the fact that a litre of aviation fuel is now sold for N195, the reported indebtedness of airline operators to oil marketers further compounds the issue. This, according to aviation sources, has led to a situation where marketers now sell their product on a ‘cash and carry’ basis.

Obviously, both the marketers and airline operators are now at daggers drawn, because while the airlines claim that JET A1 is very expensive in Nigeria, the marketers are quick to tell anyone who is ready to listen that the airlines buy the product on credit and sometimes fail to redeem their

PRICE LIST Fuel quotation estimated regarding the US Energy Information Administration Fuel price/ Name # Country Name Airport Airport Name ($) US gallon Code Africa ALGERIA ALG Algiers 3.00 Africa ANGOLA LAD Luanda 5.63 Africa BENIN COO Cotonou 3.66 Africa BOTSWANA GBE Gabarone 5.91 Africa BURKINA FASO OUA Ouagadougou 4.50 Africa BURUNDI BJM Bujumbura 4.88 Africa CAMEROON DLA Douala 3.28 Africa CAMEROON GOU Garoua 6.25 Africa CAMEROON NSI Yaounde 3.75 Africa CAPE VERDE SID Ilha Do Sal 3.19 Africa CENTRAL AFRICAN BGF Bangui 4.60 REPUBLIC Africa CHAD NDJ N'djamena 3.75 Africa COMOROS HAH Moroni-Hahaya 4.88 Africa CONGO BZV Brazzaville 5.16 Africa CONGO, THE DEMOC FIH Kinshasa 4.50 REPUBLIC OF Africa NIGERIA KAN Kano 3.75 Africa NIGERIA LOS Lagos 3.66 debts.

Experts kick The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has, therefore, called on the Federal Government to put an end to the arbitrary increase in the price of aviation fuel to safeguard the interest of the flying public, the airlines and the aviation industry in general.

Justifying their actions, however, the marketers claim that they face a lot of challenges including the landing cost of the product. They also claim to spend so much money

on high demurrage charged by the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), increased depot cost at the Apapa Port, increased operational cost, the high cost of charges levied on them by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other charges they incur in the course of doing business.

The operators under the aegis of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have appealed to government to stem the tide as the commodity cost more outside Lagos and could be as high as N180 per litre.

High cost of JET A1 in Nige-

riaNigeria ranks as one of the nations in the world with high cost of JET A1 despite being the fifth largest oil producing country.

In the international market price list for aviation kerosene, a gallon of aviation fuel which equals four litres of the commodity, goes for $3.74 in Kano and $3.65 in Lagos.

Prices in other climes In Algiers, it is sold for $2.99, Cape Town $3.08, Cairo $3.08, Djibouti $3.18, Cotonou $3.65, Yaounde $3.75, Durban $3.83, Johannesburg $3.18, Dakar $3.74, Lome $4.21, Lusaka $3.21, Tunis $3.2, Uganda $3.74, Shangai $3.18. Others are Chad $3.74, Congo $4.99, Addis Ababa $4.21, Accra, $4.49.

In a chat with the media recently, chairman, AON, Captain Noggie Meggison, frowned at the high cost of the commodity, lamenting that most airline operators in Nigeria spend approximately 40 per cent of their operation cost on aviation fuel, adding that it sometimes go beyond 40 per cent. He called on the Federal Government to intervene in the issue by reviving the Warri refinery, Atlas Cove and Mosemi pipelines – the hydrant system for supplying aviation fuel, arguing that the pipelines that supplied aviation fuel to the airport before it was shut down by the late General Sani Abacha-led military regime in January 1996 were fully functional.

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BUSINESS | AVIATION

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Two weeks internship with BA AIR RAGE shaped my future – Ogunranti Olaoluwa Ogunranti is a graduate of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) and currently, a student of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, studying Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME), Avionics. He was one of the students that scaled the British Airway (BA)s’ Leaders of Tomorrow initiative aimed at broadening the competencies in the aviation sector.

He spoke with WOLE SHADARE after a one-week internship module, which included understudying Keith Williams, Chief Executive Officer of BA in London as well as visiting other strategic persons and places to get firsthand experience of the workings of a global airline. Excerpts

weeks. It was mind blowing for me and I knew it is a great achievement in my career.

Could you please describe your reaction when you were announced as one of the winners of the British Airways Leaders of Tomorrow?

It was shocking. I was travelling in a bus when I received the call, I couldn’t hold it and before I knew it, I shouted. To be among the six selected from two schools to participate in the internship for two weeks in Nigeria and London? I was elated.

What were the best sessions in the programme?

In my opinion, the session with the Chief Executive Officer, Keith Williams, was the height of the event, climbing the topmost of the control tower of the Heathrow airport terminal 5 was exciting and also the experience gained at the British Airways Engineering base in Cranebank.

How has the two weeks internship shaped your career in the aviation sector?

I would rather say that the internship has widened my horizon in the industry. You will agree with me that, to be a good manager, you should have experience/orientation on all the departments under you. I got a training from practically all the departments of British Airways and now I am not only gazing on practicing as a licensed Aircraft Engineer but also on rising fast to be a top official of an International Airline like BA as I have been tagged ‘Leader’ by the initiative.

You all received some training at the British Airways Nigeria and United Kingdom offices. How has this helped you manage your career?

Knowledge they say is power; I really appreciate BA for empowering me this two

Could you kindly share your experience throughout the programme, both in Nigeria and in the UK? My experience is what I summarise as ‘how to run an International Airline like BA successfully.’

During the two weeks internship, we were taken through sessions of trainings by BA’s top officials both in the UK and Nigeria with the exceptions of some of our instructors who were experts outside BA. In Nigeria we had topics ranging from The Holistic View of British Airways, British Airways Operations in West Africa, The Customer Base, Channel Mix, The Competition, The Core of the Business, Global Distribution System (GDS), Connecting The Dots; Tourism and Aviation in Nigeria, Leadership, Aviation Journalism; Past, Present and Future, and Engineering Operations.

In London we got training right from Heathrow Airport Terminal Control Tower (The world’s busiest airport), Jamie Cassidy (BA Regional Manager for Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific), Andy Lord (BA Director of Operations), The British Airways Engineering Base in Cranebank, The BA Flight Training Centre where we flew the B747 Jumbo Jet Simulator, The Cargo section, The Community Learning Centre, to mention but a few.

What was your favourite part of all the classes/ trainings?

All of my instructors inspired me and all the classes I found so important and exciting.

After each session, we were permitted to ask questions on both the topics and the individual instructors. Three people who inspired me most were Keith Williams, Jamie Cassidy, and Kola Olayinka (British Airways Country Commercial Manager, West Africa).

I am aware that you met with the global CEO of British Airways. can you explain what this meant to you and what you learnt during your session with him?

Yes I had a session with the CEO, Keith Williams and what it meant to me is that I am already a ‘leader’ as the initiative was tagged British Airways Leaders of Tomorrow. It was indeed a rare opportunity and an eye opener for me, as I know Keith is not someone you get to see easily. With Keith, we talked far and wide on his background, his experience as a manager, how he has helped BA even to survive the hard economic times and the future of Nigeria’s Aviation Industry. We also talked about our future and got inspiration on how to achieve some of our set goals.

How would you classify the overall training both quantitatively and qualitatively?

It was rich, both in quantity and quality and I believe that if the initiative continues in the coming years, there will be more improvement.

Ogunranti

Now that the training is over and you have been awarded a global certificate by British Airways, could you share some of your plans with me?

Well, the initiative no doubt has boosted my CV, it was an eye opener.

I am passionate about Nigeria and in my capacity; I will contribute my quota to the aviation industry. Although, I know I will need to be further trained because aviation training is intensive. I wouldn’t mind to attend the training school of BA for a full course and bag an EASA AME license.

Nigeria’s aviation industry is rapidly developing and I believe and know that we will get there.

WITH

38

Wole Shadare

The departure hall of the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2, Lagos

Why do airlines make many annoying schedule changes?

O

ver the last few years, it seems like airline schedule changes have become much more frequent. Now, on most Nigerian airlines, it’s extremely rare to book a flight and not have a schedule change. Why is this happening? My guess is that it’s all about efficiency… at the expense of customer convenience.

I consider Aero and Arik Air to be the king of making annoying schedule changes.

These two carriers do take passengers for granted. Arik is more guilty of this. They schedule flights for instance for 9am, you need to thank God if the flight leaves at 3pm.

Most times they come up with flimsy excuses attributing it to ‘operational reasons’.

But you have to have some level of schedule integrity so people can feel comfortable booking your airline.

Travellers have had cause to miss their appointment.

Many have also missed their connecting flights and lost contracts worth billions of naira as a result of the painful action of airlines. They seem to be non sensitive about people the fly.

When you think about a business market, a half-hour change could make a big difference. But even worse are those flights that get canceled after they’ve already gone out for sale.

This has also led to many foreign airlines shunning partnership with Nigerian carriers because of their lack of respect for schedules. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) seems to be helpless. All measures to stem the tide have not yielded any fruits. Infact, the aviation regulatory body appears to have lost the battle.

A frequent traveler shared his experience with New Telegraph concerning the attitude of an airline when he flew to

Port-Harcourt penultimate.

According to the source who gave his name simply as Johnson, said, “I went straight to the airline to see if I could get someone to talk to me about what was keeping us as”.

“We were inside the terminal waiting for our flight to Port-Harcourt. It was over three hours and was unable to get anyone to talk. So all I could do was use the knowledge I had to speculate. Of course, this isn’t limited to these two notorious airlines.

Other airlines all do it and it’s really annoying across the board”.

Not only do flight departure and arrival times change, but so do the total flight duration.

I wish I had an easy answer as to why this happen, but I don’t. After all, there were so many changes that in the end, the final times (and I say “final” hoping nothing changes again) are within some minutes of the original flight schedule. So what’s the point of all this ridiculousness?

There are certainly reasons that some of these things can change. For example, the easy one is if the scheduled aircraft type changes. Some airplanes fly faster than others, so they would adjust the flight duration to match. But that didn’t happen here. It has always been a B737.

Flight duration can also change as they review historical performance. Maybe taxi times have gone down over the last few months, so some of them adjust times to match reality. Maybe there’s some scheduled work coming up at the airport that means that they pad times to make up for the expectation of longer time on the ground.

All of these schedule changes are simply frustrating. It seems to me that the pendulum has swung too far toward optimization and completely away from customer service.

BUSINESS | AVIATION

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

39

Top 10 airlines from holistic safety profiles RANKING Accident records are not the only criteria for airline safety

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he independent Swiss rating agency “Air Transport Rating Agency” (ATRA) has released the 2014 holistic safety rating for commercial airlines.

2014 is regarded as a black year for air disasters. Four major accidents occurred within five months (flights MH370 and MH17 from Malaysia Airlines, GE222 from TransAsia Airways, and AH5017 from Air Algerie), then many passengers experienced new symptoms of fear of flying with these particular airlines.

However, accident records are not the only criteria for airline safety, since accident rates cannot be used to derive any valid statistical interpretations. Whatever, case-bycase, learning are useful for the aviation community to understand and improve safety procedures.

Such as individuals, the general health of the company is a very important safety factor. A “healthy” company would have less risk of accidents compared to companies in financial difficulties. For example, potential cost cutting strategies could significantly impact fuel management, suggesting favouring direct

routes in minimising storm avoidance, or flying over countries in conflict, which would increase external risk.

Although most airlines reach a very high level of safety requirements, there are real differences in terms of safety profiles among companies, but very poor information is currently available to compare airlines according to multiple criteria.

Unlike airlines’ rankings based on passenger satisfaction surveys, which used to promote Asian and Middle East companies, the Air Transport Rating Agency is the only rating agency using an objective mathematical multi-criteria approach, which takes into account the complexity of air safety in order to obtain results which are tangible, meaningful and that can be reproduced without any arbitrary weighting systems: the ATRA holistic safety rating.

Using mainly available public data sources, ATRA has selected 15 criteria contributing to a general safety profile.

Quantitative parameters (such as financial benefit or the average age of the fleet) or qualitative parameters (such as the homogeneity of the fleet) were computed using mathematical algorithms in order to generate a synthetic indicator and to present a meaningful scientific rating. For example, Malaysia Airlines was at the 26th rank in the 2011 ATRA rating.

It earned tree ranks one year later at the 23rd position in

2012, before falling at the 42nd rank in the last 2013 ranking.

A situation which could be explained by the impact of important financial lost in the last years, which ATRA consider as a risk factor.

The innovative and unique approach of the ATRA holistic safety rating is to take into account a number of parameters, which contribute to general safety, without being necessarily directly attributed to safety management or accident history.

The quality and originality of the ATRA scientific multicriteria approach adapted to the aviation sector, explains why a number of financial

E

mirates and Arik Air have signed a one-way interline agreement, whereby Emirates passengers are connected throughout Nigeria and West Africa via Arik Air’s current domestic and regional network.

The MoU was signed last week by Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Planning, Aeropolitical and Industry Affairs, Adnan Kazim and Arik Air’s Managing Director, Chris Ndlulue at Emirates Group Headquarters in Dubai.

“Both Emirates and Arik Air have expressed interest in exploring ways to expand on our existing commercial relationship and to look at different areas in which we can cooperate that will be mutually beneficial to both airlines, including seamless connectivity for our customers on our respective networks. We also intend to explore the potential of code share arrangements as passenger traffic flows mature between both parties’ networks,” said Mr Kazim.

“Arik Air is delighted to partner with Emirates. Both airlines share a similar vision of convenience and safety for our customers. While Arik Air is happy to open its network

in Nigeria and West Africa to Emirates passengers, we are excited at the vast worldwide network of Emirates being made available to Arik Air’s passengers. The invaluable cooperation between the two airlines offers a lot of synergy to both airlines in achieving their objectives,” added Ndlulue.

Emirates and Arik Air will also explore other areas of cooperation for the future, including frequent flier programmes, passenger and cargo handling.

Nigerian Arik Air is the

Arik Air's Business Class lounge

Of particular importance, the top 10 airlines represent the most important companies in terms of turnover, number of aircraft, employees, among others. This is because all these criteria directly or indirectly contribute to the general safety profile.

The full rating of the 94 most important Airlines and their exact ranking details are available in the frame of technical reports for professionals (insurance companies, financial analysts, investors, etc.) under request to the Air Transport Rating Agency. l Source: Air Transport Rating Agency

Delta Air's B747-400 aircraft

Emirates, Arik Air sign MoU Stories by Wole Shadare

analysts, insurers and travel agencies use the ATRA holistic safety rating as reference.

From a dataset of the 94 most important airlines in term of financial revenues, the top ten airlines 2014 (2012 data) from the holistic safety profiles are (by alphabetic order): l Air China l Air France KLM Group l AMR Corporation lChina Southern Airlines Group lInternational Airlines Group l Delta Air Lines l Lufthansa Group l Southwest Airlines l United Continental Holdings lUS Airways Group

largest airline in Western and Central Africa and has developed and successfully operates an extensive domestic route network in Nigeria, and regionally across Western Africa from its twin hubs in Lagos and Abuja, and to Johannesburg in South Africa and intercontinentally to New York and to London from its Lagos hub.

Emirates is one of world’s leading international airlines and flies to over 140 destinations in 81 countries across six continents. It operates the world’s largest fleet of Boeing 777 aircraft and Airbus A380s.

S'African Airways celebrates women’s month outh African Airways (SAA) recently celebrated Swomen’s month with a flight

between Johannesburg and Cape Town, which was operated by an all-female crew.

Females, also conducted the rest of the flight preparations.

On board, the commemorative flight also comprised of SAA female executives, led by General Manager Operations, Ms Zukisa Ramasia, Ramasia is responsible for SAA’s overall global operations portfolio, which comprises SAA’s flight and cabin operations, airport operations, ground handling, lounges, onboard logistics and inventory, aviation safety and security as well as SAA’s central nerve system, global operations control centre.

SA313 was captained by the airline’s first black female captain, Captain Kavistha Maharaj, with First Officer, Olga Bottger, as the co-pilot.

Looking after customers were cabin crew Purser: Nomvuzo Mjanyelwa, Senior Cabin Crew Member: Rene Essack, Cabin Crew Member: Sonali Bissessor, Cabin Crew Member Thilimbeli Mikosi and Cabin Crew Member: Michelle De Freitas.

Playing a key role in putting the flight together was Mathilda du Plessis, the Flight Dispatcher. Nwabisa Mbulaheni, was the Operations Controller. The load controller was Nicole Mortimer and the Ramp Controller Lucia Mcpherson.

“We are extremely proud of the achievements of the women at SAA, where we are represented throughout the company in leadership positions as well as in key operational areas which enables SAA to run smooth and on-time operations,” says Ramasia.

The all-female-operated flight is symbolic and yet a strong transformation indicator reflecting the airline’s efforts to transcend the stereotypes and barriers of the past. These were manifest in the form of race and gender discrimination.

Today SAA has women working as technicians, flight deck crew, cabin crew, and in key operational and support areas throughout the SAA Group.

At present SAA women make up 38.96 per cent of all staff, (24.85 per cent general staff; 0.83 per cent cockpit crew and 13.29 per cent cabin crew).

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BUSINESS | AVIATION

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

UK issues fresh travel advisory on Ebola TRAVEL ALERT Latest figures show that over 1,550 people have died from the virus

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he UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office says all travel to Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia should be avoided - unless essential, due to the Ebola outbreak.

British Airways has suspended flights to Sierra Leone and Liberia and other airlines are taking similar measures.

Such flight restrictions may make it increasingly hard for people working in these areas to leave, the FCO warns.

Meanwhile, scientists have announced trial plans of an Ebola vaccine on UK volunteers this month.

Global outbreak The latest figures show that over 1,550 people have died from the virus, with more than 3,000 confirmed cases - mostly in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The FCO said that British nationals working in these countries “should be aware that the narrowing range of commercial flight options and growing restrictions on travel may make it difficult to leave, particularly at short notice.”

The government officials advise that people should stay in contact with employers, dis-

cussing any help and support they can provide.

This comes as the World Health Organisation (WHO) announces the virus could affect some 20,000 people during the course of the current outbreak which is expected to continue for many months.

But there is no proven vaccine or cure for Ebola Researchers at Oxford University will begin a trial of a potential vaccine on healthy UK volunteers once ethical approval is granted.

And if the vaccine works well, the study will extend to The Gambia and Mali.

Scientists hope that the vaccine will prevent people from catching the disease in affected countries, but will first test the medicine in unaffected populations.

The vaccine consists of a single Ebola virus protein which triggers an immune response once it enters the body - but experts say this cannot cause anyone who is given to become infected.

In the first part of the study it will be administered on 60 healthy volunteers and if shown to be safe and working well, it will then be administered to 80 volunteers in The Gambia and Mali.

The vaccine could then start to be offered more widely in affected countries next year.

‘Future epidemics’ Dr Jeremy Farrar, direc-

Threat facing Nigerian airlines C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 7

New mode of supply Meggison who is also Chairman Jed Air noted that before the pipelines were shut down in 1996, aircraft refuel, using the aviation fuel hydrant at the Murtala Muhammed Airport without the archaic mode of using trucks to supply fuel to aircraft, stressing that fuel was pumped through pipeline from Atlas Cove and Mosimi.

He said: “We need NNPC to revive these pipelines so that airline can get cheaper and cleaner fuel.”

Meggison pointed out that one of the causes of high cost of aviation fuel is the cumbersome chain of distribution and supply it has to pass through before getting to airline operators, listing other reasons to include cost of importing fuel, delay at seaport which translate into high demurrage paid by oil marketers, cumbersome and dramatic process of loading at the Apapa port and inefficient transportation of the product by road from Apapa Port to the Joint Users Hydrant Installation (JUHI) at the airport.

He noted that all these costs are passed down to airlines.

The Chairman said that some of the marketers he spoke to on the issue disclosed that their vessels get delayed for about two weeks before it could dock at the port and the cost to them is as much as $20,000 in demurrage on the product per day while products are on the sea.

He however maintained that this increase passed on to airlines by oil marketers cannot easily be passed down to the passengers, as this would discourage them from travelling by air.

The JedAir boss recalled that in the 70’s through 90’s, Nigeria used hydrant both at the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL) apron, the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), the international and Cargo ramp.

Digital to analogue He said that it is sad that Nigeria allowed aviation fuel distribution in the country to deteriorate from digital to analogue, just as he likened it to Morse Code; a very primitive way of using trucks and fuel bowsers to fuel airplanes in 2014, when 30 years ago the country used underground hydrant from the port directly into the tanks of aircraft.

tor of the Wellcome Trust, said: “How useful drugs and vaccines might be in complementing existing public health interventions can only be assessed in epidemics.

“The initial safety work we’re announcing with our international partners will hopefully make that possible during this crisis and for inevitable future epidemics.”

Dr. Moncef Slaoui, at GlaxoSmithKline, the company working on the vaccine, said: “Developing a new vaccine is complex with no guarantees of success and it is still early days for our Ebola vaccine candidate.

“But we are encouraged by progress so far and will do the best we can, along with WHO and our partners, to speed up development and explore

ways in which the vaccine could contribute to the control of this or future Ebola outbreaks.”

Adverts requesting UK volunteers will appear in local papers and on social media, the researchers say.

Each volunteer will be given one dose and be followed up for six months to check for any side effects.

Etihad featuring private multi-room residence in one of its' A380 airplanes

Etihad A380 features private multi-room residence

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tihad Airways said its Airbus A380 fleet will feature the world’s first private multi-room cabin on a commercial passenger aircraft.

The ‘Residence’ features a living room, double bedroom, separate ensuite shower room, and for the first time in the airline industry, a dedicated, trained Butler.

Measuring 125 square feet in total area, The Residence will be located on the forward upper deck of the airline’s new fleet of Airbus A380s and will be available for single or double occupancy.

Guests staying in The Residence will have a dedicated Butler on call throughout the flight, offering the type of discrete personal service and attention to detail found in the world’s most exclusive hotels.

These hospitality professionals have been selected by Etihad Airways and are undergoing specialist training at the Savoy Butler Academy in London, part of the world-famous Savoy Hotel. The Butler’s role is multi-faceted including that of a Concierge and Maitre

d’hotel.

A dedicated VIP Concierge team will ensure all aspects of the experience, including booking luxury limousine transfers, check-in, and custom menu planning, are handled with the utmost discretion. Chefs will prepare a wide range of gourmet à la carte meals or create custom menus.

The living room in The Residence is furnished with a twoseat reclining sofa upholstered in Poltrona Frau Leather, dual marquetry dining tables and a chilled mini-bar.

A touch-screen control unit operates the retractable ottoman, the ambient and mood lighting, window shading, adjusts seat position and firmness, and activates the in-seat massage functions.

The living room features a large 32 inch LCD TV, whilst the bedroom boasts its own 27 inch LCD TV. The communications suite features broadband with internet mobile and data capability, Live TV, HDMI, AC outlet and USB ports.

A door and passageway

separate the living room from the master bedroom and the ensuite shower room. The bedroom features a Poltrona Frau upholstered 82 inch long double bed with custom-made mattress, bedside unit, wardrobe, and under-bed stowage for hand luggage.

The Residence is fully WiFi enabled and equipped with the latest Panasonic eX3 entertainment system, controlled by video touch screen and handset.

In keeping with the cabin interiors in the rest of the aircraft, The Residence is decorated in a contemporary style influenced by modern Arabian design.

It also has unique décor elements such as custom carpets, table marquetry and soft furnishings, creating individuality and exclusivity. The Residence on each Etihad Airways Airbus A380 aircraft will feature a unique design inspired by best-in-class boutique hospitality.

Thanks to Etihad Airways for providing this exclusive view into The Residence!

BUSINESS | MONEY LINE 41

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

FG opens up Transmission Company to private investors

ADEQUATE RETURNS Investments in the Nigerian power sector are guaranteed of adequate returns

The minister, according to a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Olawale Rasheed, was quoted as saying “I urge you all to participate in the planned transmission project expansion in Nigeria.

“The government of Nigeria is working out participation of private investors in the transmission sector under a public private partnership. This has worked so well in other sectors of our economy.”

Wakil, who also visited Huawei Company headquarters in Shenghen, said the potentials for profitable investment in Nigeria was very high and described the opportunities in the transmission and renewable energy sectors as “very attractive and sustainable.”

“In the renewable sector, we are opened to both independent power producers and participants in public private partnership. Which ever area

Johnchucks Onuanyim Abuja

T

he transmission arm of Nigeria’s power sector has been opened up to private investors, the Federal Government said yesterday.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) runs the nation’s power transmission arm and the firm is managed by Manitoba Hydro International, a Canadian firm with expertise in the management of power assets.

Minister of State for Power, Mr. Mohammed Wakil, said that the transmission arm of the power sector was opened to investors under a public private partnership (PPP) model.

Speaking with top power sector stakeholders and investors in China, he said that investments in the Nigerian power sector were guaranteed of adequate returns.

you prefer, you cannot regret investing your money in our dear country,” he added.

At the headquarters of TBEA, the world largest manufacturers of transformers and sub-stations, Wakil urged Chinese companies to retain high standards in job delivery.

He said, “As much as we welcome foreign investors in our economy, we are also conscious of the need for investors and contractors to maintain high level of efficiency and standard comparable to great projects I saw all over China.

“Specifically, after seeing the great wonders of the seven Gorges Dams, I call on the Chinese firm handling the Mambilla hydro projects to deliver a project as standard as the Gorges dam. We want high quality job to be done in this very important hydro project.

“Mambilla is key to us because it is a project too long

Naira gains on dollar sale by Shell

T

he naira firmed against the US dollar yesterday, supported by dollar sales by the local unit of Royal Dutch Shell, dealers said.

The local unit according to Reuters closed at N162.40 to the dollar, firmer than N162.55 it closed last Friday.

Shell sold an undisclosed amount on Monday, increasing dollar liquidity on the interbank.

The naira has traded around N161.70-162.55 last week on the back of dollar flows from energy companies and some offshore investors

buying local debt in the wake of inclusion of Nigeria's 2024 bond in the JP Morgan index.

"We expect more dollar sales from some oil firms, including NNPC and offshore investors in the coming day to boost the naira," one dealer said.

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

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

Description

TTM

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

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

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

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

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

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

FX

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

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Offer 163.38

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

Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

W’Africa to generate 50% of region’s power by 2030 Godson Ikoro

W

est Africa has the capacity to generate 50 per cent of the region’s electricity by 2030, the African Development Bank has said.

AfDB in a report tiled ‘West Africa Monitor,’ said that access to electricity in the region is extremely low when compared with other developing communities globally, with 57 per cent of the region’s population unable to enjoy any decent energy supply.

The bank noted that with so much promise shown by the growth of the region, lack of adequate electricity may hamper growth if the deficiency is not addressed.

“The mismatch between the increasing demand for energy and the limited power generation and transmission is a clear limit to the region exploiting its full potentials,” the report said.

While stating that West Africa is rich in energy resources, with large hydropower energy potentials and strong winds that could allow for wind energy deployment, AfDB said that the intense solar radiation and large reserves of oil and gas estimated at 60 billion barrels translates to 60 per cent of the continent’s reserves.

“Using such sources would help to expand access while reducing reliance on traditional biomass, increase reliability and affordability, and contribute to climate change mitigation,” the AfDB report said.

According to the report,

K

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX

team that his company was ready to collaborate with Nigeria for the successful conclusion of the power sector reform.

He described the Nigerian power sector reform as progressing successfully and assured that his firm was eager to be part of Nigeria’s success story.

hydropower in West Africa has an estimated potential of 25,000 megawatts, while only 16 per cent has been exploited and despite Africa’s wealth in waterways, it only holds 214 dams out of the 1,282 total in Africa.

But most of citizens do not enjoy stable and affordable electricity, the report said, stressing that the gap presents a huge opportunity for investors.

It also noted several incountry lakes and dams that hold promise for renewable energy development, pointing out that Volta River was identified in the report as holding great potential for Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Togo, while Lake Chad could be used to serve Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad.

Furthermore, citing solar power projects rapidly increasing in West Africa, including the 155 MW Nzema solar power plants in Ghana, one of the largest in Africa, the report emphasised that Burkina Faso, Ghana and Guinea has potential for hydropower, while Mali and Niger had for solar energy, and Cape Verde, Gambia and Senegal for wind resources.

Besides sustainability, the report said that getting energy from renewable sources could enhance West Africa’s ability to access to reliable power, stressing that the emerging region will continue to strive towards revamping an ailing energy sector.

It also urged West African States to dismantle barriers to investment, allowing for a more transparent, regulated and competitive market.

Kenyan inflation rises to two-year high

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80

on the drawing board. Our President is breaking the jinx on both Mabilla and Zungeru, hence the need for the job to be well done. For the NorthEast, Mambilla holds great promise for enhanced power supply and job creation.”

Representing the management of TBEA, Mr. Jun Ye told the minister and his

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

enyan inflation quickened for a fifth month in August to the highest in more than two years, complicating the central bank’s efforts to bolster the economy.

Consumer prices according to Bloomberg, rose 8.4 per cent compared with 7.7 per cent in July, when the rate breached the upper limit of the government’s 7.5 per cent target, the Nairobi-based Kenya National Bureau of Statistics said in an e-mailed statement. In the month, in-

flation was 0.9 per cent, the agency said.

“While the drivers of inflation are mostly supply-side for the moment - and related to poor rains and the pressure on food prices - forex volatility, strong credit growth trends, and a gradual recovery in economic performance risk second-round effects becoming more entrenched,” Razia Khan, head of Africa macroeconomic research with Standard Chartered Plc in London, said in an e-mailed note.

42 BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

1-Sep-14

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

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

NA

NA

Description 9.25 28-SEP-2014 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

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

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

100.00 535.00 530.27 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 281.35 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 70.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,591.19

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,690.38

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

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

0.07 0.64 1.96 2.65 2.90 3.00 3.74 4.83 5.14 7.41 9.53 14.24 14.72 15.22 15.89 19.88

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

10.87 10.99 11.20 11.20 11.20 11.20 11.19 11.18 11.27 11.73 11.88 12.47 12.52 12.56 12.15 12.15

8.88 10.73 11.12 11.14 11.14 11.07 11.09 11.11 11.18 11.68 11.83 12.43 12.47 12.51 12.10 12.11

99.85 95.77 103.15 108.70 96.71 95.40 98.50 117.55 83.66 122.60 113.00 116.59 99.78 72.69 85.00 99.95

100.00 95.92 103.30 108.85 96.86 95.70 98.80 117.85 83.96 122.90 113.30 116.89 100.08 72.99 85.30 100.25

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

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

978.35 24.56 3.30 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.16 0.73 1.34 2.27 2.63 2.84

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.57 13.68 13.50 13.20 12.20 12.20

98.15 90.81 104.75 101.22 99.66 97.20

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,301.62

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,280.51

Sub-National Bonds A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014

15-Oct-09

14.00

6.00

15-Oct-14

0.12

3.29

14.01

99.91

A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

1.00

4.44

15.68

97.17

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

6.08

30-Sep-15

0.60

3.23

14.19

99.54

Nil

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

1.12

4.46

15.70

98.68

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

1.13

3.48

14.72

101.28

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.63

5.59

16.79

85.98

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.68

1.00

12.22

102.55

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.33

1.79

12.98

102.63

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

37.25

30-Sep-18

2.30

1.80

13.00

102.10

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

4.09

1.00

12.19

105.68

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

14.96

09-Dec-18

2.50

1.00

12.20

105.03

A-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

11.13

12-Dec-18

2.50

4.78

15.98

96.29

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.88

1.00

12.20

105.35

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*GOMBE

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019

02-Oct-12

15.50

17.28

02-Oct-19

2.95

1.00

12.20

108.15

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

22-Nov-12

14.50

80.00

22-Nov-19

5.23

1.00

12.29

108.28

14.75

28.37

12-Dec-19

3.02

2.74

13.94

101.95

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

12-Dec-12

A/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020

30-Sep-13

14.75

11.40

30-Sep-20

3.63

1.00

12.19

107.14

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.00

27-Nov-20

6.24

1.00

12.58

103.83

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

6.33

1.94

13.55

105.97

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

3.81

1.44

12.63

105.49

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.79

06-Jan-21

3.84

1.95

13.14

105.43

99.92

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

484.10 493.90

Corporate Bonds A+/Agusto; AA/GCR Aa/Agusto Nil

LAFARGE WAPCO

11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014

07-Oct-11

11.50

11.80

07-Oct-14

0.10

1.00

11.79

GTB NGC

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014

18-Dec-09

13.50

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.30

5.21

15.63

99.28

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.33

8.71

19.21

99.14

µ

Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.72

4.88

15.92

96.30

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

13.62

09-Dec-15

0.79

1.00

12.09

100.50

BB+/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.60

06-Jan-16

0.87

2.63

13.78

100.73

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

2.08

1.00

12.21

101.39

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

2.15

1.34

12.55

103.08

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

3.08

1.00

12.20

101.99

BBB-/GCR

*C & I LEASING *DANA#

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.73

30-Nov-17

1.90

1.88

13.09

109.32

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

7.20

09-Apr-18

1.85

3.48

14.69

102.39

BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR

#

*TOWER

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR

09-Sep-11

18.00

3.27

09-Sep-18

2.02

5.20

16.41

102.86

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.90

09-Sep-18

2.02

5.06

16.27

101.66

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

4.06

1.35

12.54

104.52

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.70

18-Oct-18

2.13

2.29

13.50

104.42

BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.46

6.11

17.31

99.51

BBB/GCR

*DANA

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

3.33

2.16

13.35

106.89

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

6.20

2.76

14.33

103.63

11-Feb-18

3.45

1.00

12.19

94.51

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

142.08

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

145.11

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

IFC

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

12.00 11.34

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

4.64

4.48

111.57

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

112.50

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

3.91

3.66

104.32

105.23

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

4.96

4.84

110.03

110.91

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,629.59

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

3.34

3.34

111.13

111.13

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

4.40

4.40

105.04

105.04 101.20

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

6.78

6.78

101.20

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.73

8.15

94.24

96.01

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.05

5.74

99.80

100.96

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

8.47

8.12

106.64

108.02

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.16

6.16

100.35

100.35

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

8.96

8.68

99.18

100.26

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.42

7.42

103.01

103.01

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

7.64

7.64

95.00

95.00

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

24-Jun-14

9.25

400.00

24-Jun-21

8.72

8.56

102.88

103.73

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

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

7.53

7.53

101.48

101.48

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

8.63

8.24

99.61

101.67

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,760.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,849.66

**Treasury Bills DTM 10 17 24 31 38 45 52 59

Money Market

FIXINGS Maturity 11-Sep-14 18-Sep-14 25-Sep-14 2-Oct-14 9-Oct-14 16-Oct-14 23-Oct-14 30-Oct-14

Bid Discount (%) 10.50 10.50 10.45 10.50 10.40 10.65 10.75 10.55

Offer Discount (%) 10.25 10.25 10.20 10.25 10.15 10.40 10.50 10.30

Bid Yield (%) 10.53 10.55 10.52 10.59 10.51 10.79 10.92 10.73

Tenor

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 12.0167 12.8045 13.7062 14.5026

Rate (%)

OBB

11.21

O/N

11.54

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 11.25 12.21

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

162.30 162.46 162.72 163.32 164.50 165.59

162.40 162.74 163.10 163.96 165.64 167.25

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

NA ***LCRM

03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

3.30 112.22 116.70 66.49

03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,301.62

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,280.51

1.34 2.27 2.63 2.84

2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

13.50 13.20 12.20 12.20

104.75 101.22 99.66 97.20

Sub-National Bonds A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014

15-Oct-09

14.00

6.00

15-Oct-14

0.12

3.29

14.01

99.91

A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

1.00

4.44

15.68

97.17

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

6.08

30-Sep-15

0.60

3.23

14.19

99.54

Nil

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

1.12

4.46

15.70

98.68

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

1.13

3.48

14.72

101.28

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.63

5.59

16.79

85.98

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.68

1.00

12.22

102.55

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.33

1.79

12.98

102.63

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

37.25

30-Sep-18

2.30

1.80

13.00

102.10

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

4.09

1.00

12.19

105.68

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

14.96

09-Dec-18

2.50

1.00

12.20

105.03

12-Dec-13

14.00

11.13

12-Dec-18

2.50

4.78

15.98

96.29

Sanctity of Truth

A+/AgustoSeptember 2, 2014 *IMO Tuesday, A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

A/Agusto

EDO

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

BEARISH

Investment value dips N44bn at NSE

Bears bulls at A/Agusto; overwhelm A-/GCR† *EKITI A-/Agusto *NIGER the local bourse A/Agusto; A-/GCR *ONDO A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*GOMBE

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

A/Agusto; A-/GCR *OSUN Stories

by Chris Ugwu A/Agusto *OSUN

A

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS 43

LAGOS

ctivities in theKOGI Nigerian equities market*EKITI began the *NASARAWA week sluggish tone, as the TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE bears overshadowed the TOTAL MARKET to CAPITALISATION bulls, leading share decline inCorporate most blue chip companies.

Bonds The key market performance A+/Agusto; AA/GCR LAFARGE WAPCO measures, the NSE All Aa/Agusto GTBShare InNGC Nil and market capitalisation, dex Bbb-/Agusto *UPDC as mardropped by 0.32 per cent A-/Agusto *FLOURMILLS ket sentiments turned red on BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto A-/GCR

µ

the back of 14-FEB-2019 losses recorded by 15.50 ONDO 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 Guinness Nigeria Plc and Con 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 Oil Nigeria Plc. 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 Specifically , the NSE All14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020 Share Index depreciated by 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 134.26 basis points or 0.32 per 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 II 31-DEC-2020 cent,14.50 toEKITI close at 41,398.05 as 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 against 41,532.31 recorded at the weekend.

The market capitalisation of equities equally fell by N44 billion or perWAPCO cent7-OCT to close at 11.500.32 LAFARGE 2014 13.50trillion, GUARANTYfrom TRUST 18-DEC-2014 N13.669 N13.713 tril17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 lion recorded the previous day.

UPDC 17-AUG-2015 At10.00 the close of trading, 25 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 stocks appreciated in price as 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

against14-Feb-12 30 others that15.50 depreci15.50 ated in02-Oct-12 value.

22-Nov-12 14.50refined On the gainer’s table, 12-Dec-12 14.75 petroleum products marketer, 30-Sep-13 14.75 Forte Oil, rose for the 13.50 third con27-Nov-13 secutive day; firming 31-Dec-13 15.00 up by 31-Dec-13 14.50 N0.99 to close at N229.99 a share.

06-Jan-14 15.00 Similarly , makers of building inputs, Lafarge Cement WAPCO, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria and Dangote Cement, increased07-Oct-11

by N0.24, N0.1911.50 and N0.16 18-Dec-09 13.50 to close at N177.25, N14.49 and 17.00 N225.1601-Apr-10 per share respectively .

17-Aug-10 10.00 On the flip side, brewery ri09-Dec-10 12.00 vals, Guinness Nigeria shed 06-Jan-11 14.00

N5.00, to close at N180.00, Conoil 27.00 14-Feb-19 2.88 17.28 Nigeria Plc 02-Oct-19 lost N4.00 to 2.95 close 80.00N61.05 per 22-Nov-19 5.23 at share, Nigerian 28.37 12-Dec-19 3.02 Breweries dropped

by N0.95 to 11.40 30-Sep-20 3.63 close per share, while 87.00 at N176.05 27-Nov-20 6.24 financial services players, Zenith 5.00 31-Dec-20 6.33 4.78 31-Dec-20 Trust Bank, 3.81 Bank and Guaranty 4.79 06-Jan-21 and N0.39, 3.84 to reclined

by N0.59 484.10 close at N24.01 and N29.51 per 493.90 share respectively.

Meanwhile, a turnover of 222.4 shares worth0.10 N2.2 11.80 million07-Oct-14 13.17 18-Dec-14 0.30 billion in 4,455 deals was record2.00in the day’s 31-Dec-14 ed trading. 0.33 3.61 17-Aug-15 0.72 The banking sub-sector of 13.62 09-Dec-15 0.79 the financial services sector 0.60 06-Jan-16 0.87

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

2.08

1.00

12.21

101.39

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

2.15

1.34

12.55

103.08

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

3.08

1.00

12.20

101.99

BBB-/GCR

*C & I LEASING *DANA#

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.73

30-Nov-17

1.90

1.88

13.09

109.32

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

7.20

09-Apr-18

1.85

3.48

14.69

102.39

Transcorp plans to raise N8bn for hotels

I

was active (measured 1.00 the most 12.20 105.35 by1.00turnover12.20 volume);108.15 with 98.8 1.00 12.29 108.28 million shares worth N907.4 2.74 13.94 million exchanged by 101.95 investors 1.00 12.19 107.14 in1.00 1,543 deals.

12.58 103.83 Volume in the banking 1.94 13.55 105.97 sub1.44 105.49 sector was 12.63 largely driven by 1.95 13.14shares of 105.43 activity in the Access Bank Plc and Diamond Bank Plc. Also, other financial services sub-sector of the financial services sector, 1.00 11.79 boosted 99.92by the 5.21 15.63shares of 99.28FBNH activity in the 8.71 followed 19.21with a turnover 99.14 Plc, 15.92 96.30 of4.8822 million shares valued at 1.00 12.09 100.50 N223.8 million in 727 deals.

2.63 13.78 100.73

BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR

#

nA-/DataPro†; a bid toBB-/GCR actualize*TOWER its growth AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR *TOWER strategy, Transnational A/Agusto; A/GCR UBA Corporation of Nigeria Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *LA CASERA Plc BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS to (Transcorp Plc) is planning BBB/GCR *DANA to exraise about N8 billion A+/Agusto; A-/GCR pand its subsidiary,NAHCO Transcorp TOTAL Plc, OUTSTANDING VALUE Hotels TOTAL CAPITALISATION The MARKET hospitality subsidiary ofSupranational Transcorp Plc, Bond has filed an application for an Initial Public AAA/S&P IFC Offering of 800,000,000 ordinary TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE shares 50 kobo each at N10.00 TOTALof MARKET CAPITALISATION per share.

Transcorp had recently said Rating/Agency Issuer that it was also planning to raise $1 billion to build power FGN Eurobonds plants as it seeks to triple profit BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P in 2014.

BB-/Fitch; FGN Chief Executive Officer, BB-/S&P Transcorp, Mr. Obinna Ufudo, BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P said the organisation thought VALUE close it TOTAL couldOUTSTANDING reach financial byTOTAL January 2015 and start conMARKET CAPITALISATION struction of a 1,000 megawatt Corporate gas plant.Eurobonds B/Fitch; B-/S&P AFREN I Ofudo added that thePLCcomB+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I pany will explore fundraising B+/S&P ACCESS loans, BANK PLC options including bank B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC selling shares or bonds.

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC Nigeria sold control of 14 B/Fitch AFREN PLC II power companies to new ownB+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC ers last year including Siemens B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC AG, Korea Corp B-/Fitch; B/S&PElectric Power FIRST BANK PLC and Lagos-based Transcorp B-/Fitch; B/S&P AFREN PLC III to #

#

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC II

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

Flour Mills Q1 profit falls by 24.5%

F

09-Sep-11 18.00 3.27 09-Sep-18 2.02 Africa,09-Sep-11 we expect the16.00 hospitallour Mills09-Sep-18 of Nigeria (FMN) 0.90 2.02 ity business Plc has said that its pretax 22-Sep-11 to continue 14.00 to im35.00 22-Sep-18 4.06 the first-quarter prove,”18-Oct-13 Ufudo said. 15.75 2.70profit for18-Oct-18 2.13 17-Feb-12 17.00 a 122 0.41 to N3.5417-Feb-19 fell billion down2.4624.5 Transcorp) had posted 01-Apr-14 16.00 for the 4.50 cent, from 01-Apr-19 3.33 per cent growth in profit per N4.69 billion a 14-Nov-13 2.05 6.20 half year ended June15.25 30, 2014. year ago. 14-Nov-20 The group in a filing with 142.08 The company in a filing with the Nigerian Stock Exchange the posted Profit Before Tax 145.11 (PBT) of N8.02 billion for the six (NSE) also said turnover demonths ended June 30, clined to N9.71 billion in 11-Feb-13 10.20 2014, a 12.00 11-Feb-18 3.45the 122 per cent increase from N3.61 12.00 three months to June 30, combillion achieved during the cor- 11.34 pared with N10.49 billion in the responding period in 2013. same period of last year.

Value part Maturity of growth strategy , TheIssue group’s operating profitOutstandingAs Date Coupon (%) Date Bid Yield (%) ($mm) said that it had invested for half year 2014 was N9.75 bil- FMN lion, an increase of 145 per cent $250million in Golden Sugar from corresponding period in Company Limited.

07-Oct-11 6.75 500.00 28-Jan-21 4.64 2013, while gross revenue for The Group Managing Direc12-Jul-13 5.13 500.00 12-Jul-18 Officer, 3.91 Executive Paul the group stood at N21.21 bil- tor/Chief lion, representing 177 per cent Gbededo, disclosed this at the 6.38 500.00 12-Jul-23 4.96 growth12-Jul-13 from half year 2013 re- company’s “Facts behind the Fig1,500.00 ures” at the Exchange in Lagos. sults of N7.67 billion.

Total assets grew by 6 per 1,629.59 ‘‘For Golden Sugar, a $250 milcent from N149.64 billion for full lion investment, the first time was a year 2013 to N158.18billion for very difficult year, we only operated 01-Feb-11ended 30 June 11.50 450.00 3.34 six months 2014. for about nine01-Feb-16 months,’’ he said.

19-May-11 7.50results, 500.00 19-May-16 4.40 On the business of sugar Commenting on the 350.00 25-Jul-17 6.78 Ufudo 25-Jul-12 said: “Our half7.25year re- production in Nigeria, Gbededo 09-May-13 6.88 300.00 02-May-18 sults for 2014 consolidates the said before FMN ventured8.73into 08-Nov-13 6.00 400.00 6.05 significant growth achieved in that area last08-Nov-18 year, it was selling 08-Apr-12 10.25 300.00 08-Apr-19 8.47 first quarter 2014 and firmly at N9,000 a bag, ‘‘before we6.16 came 22-Apr-14 6.25 500.00 22-Apr-19 board, sugar was selling in sets us on course for the at- on 21-May-14 8.75 200.00 21-May-19 8.96 tainment of FY 2014 8.25 financial the market at N9,000 07-Aug-13 300.00 Nigerian 07-Aug-20 7.42 targets. per as we came 09-Dec-13 6.63 360.00 bag, as soon 09-Dec-20 7.64 in,

attract private investment to MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 reduce 14.00blackouts.

UBA II 22-SEP-2018 Transcorp bought the Ughel15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 II 17-FEB-2019 li gasMPR+5.00 plantCHELLARAMS in the Niger delta 16.00 DANA 1-APR-2019 and plans toII boost its output to 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 700 megawatts by the end of the year after spending as much as $300 million on turbine repairs, Ufudo said.

An10.20 increase in power generIFC 11-FEB-2018 ation capacity will help treble pretax profit to N30 billion ($185 million) this year, Ufudo said.

“With the kind of expansion Description we plan in key sectors we operate, our vision is to make about N160 billion in 6.75 profit by 2018,” JAN 28, 2021 he said.

5.13 JUL 12, 2018plans Ufudo said Transcorp to start the $500 million con6.38 JUL 12, 2023 struction of three international standard hotels this year in the capital Abuja, Lagos and Rivers States and it would upgrade the existing 670-room Transcorp 11.50 FEB 01, 2016 Hilton Abuja hotel.

7.50 noted MAY 19, 2016 The company that it 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 plans to build eight hotels under 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 the Hilton brand by 2018.

6.00 NOV 08, 2018 “With improved occupancy 10.25 APR 08, 2019 and performance, our hospital6.25 APR 22, 2019 ity business is 8.75 contributing to May 21, 2019 profit. With Nigeria strate8.25 AUG 07,a2020 gic investment6.63 destination in DEC 09, 2020

16.41 it5.20 dropped to N5, 500,’’102.86 the FMN 5.06 16.27 101.66 CEO 1.35 affirmed.

12.54 104.52 He further affirmed104.42 that due 2.29 13.50 17.31 to6.11the entry of FMN99.51 into the 2.16 13.35 106.89 sugar market, Nigerians are ben2.76 14.33 103.63 efitting because of the drop in its prices, ‘‘it’s a business that will help Nigeria not for only local consumption; but for the whole of1.00 the sub region,’’ he said.

12.19 94.51 Gbededo, explaining why Golden Sugar didn’t impact much on the group’s profit for the year, said when the Nigerian Offer Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price government enacted the sugar master Prices &plan Yieldslast year, willing investors were mandated to go 4.48 111.57 112.50 back to the land and invest in the 3.66 104.32 105.23 cultivation of sugarcane. ‘‘We are also investing in cul4.84 tivation and110.03 crushing110.91 of sugarcane, you can see why we had this costly effect in our sugar business,’’ he said.

According to him, Golden 3.34 111.13 Sugar is performing in111.13 line with 4.40 105.04 expectations – volume105.04 now at 48 6.78cent capacity 101.20 101.20 per utilisation.

8.15 94.24 96.01 ‘‘Good performances in both 5.74 99.80 100.96 Food and Agro-allied divisions 8.12 106.64 108.02 were partly100.35 offset by 100.35 low com6.16 mencement year results of 8.68 99.18 100.26 Golden Sugar 7.42 103.01 Co. Ltd.’’ 103.01Gbededo 7.64 said.

95.00 95.00

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

24-Jun-14

9.25

400.00

24-Jun-21

8.72

8.56

102.88

103.73

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

7.53

7.53

101.48

101.48

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

8.63

8.24

99.61

101.67

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,760.00

1-Sep-14

4,849.66

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 Money Market **Treasury FIXINGS the FMDQ Bills OTC PLC Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement on www.fmdqotc.com.

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) FGN

DTM 10 17 Bonds24 31 38 Rating/Agency 45 52 59 66 73 80 87 94 101 115 129 NA 143 157 171 185 220 234 248 339

Maturity 11-Sep-14 18-Sep-14 25-Sep-14 2-Oct-14 9-Oct-14 Issuer 16-Oct-14 23-Oct-14 30-Oct-14 6-Nov-14 13-Nov-14 20-Nov-14 27-Nov-14 4-Dec-14 11-Dec-14 25-Dec-14 8-Jan-15 NA 22-Jan-15 5-Feb-15 19-Feb-15 5-Mar-15 9-Apr-15 23-Apr-15 7-May-15 6-Aug-15

Bid Discount (%) 10.50 10.50 10.45 10.50 10.40 Description 10.65 10.75 9.25 28-SEP-2014 10.55 4.00 23-APR-2015 10.10 10.75 13.05 16-AUG-2016 9.70 15.10 27-APR-2017 10.75 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.90 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 10.70 30-MAY-2018 10.85 16.00 29-JUN-2019 10.80 7.00 23-OCT-2019 10.50 10.50 16.39 27-JAN-2022 10.40 14.20 14-MAR-2024 10.35 15.00 28-NOV-2028 10.20 12.49 22-MAY-2029 10.30 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.15 10.00 23-JUL-2030 10.40

12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Offer Discount (%) 10.25 10.25 10.20 10.25 10.15 Issue Date 10.40 10.50 28-Sep-07 10.30 23-Apr-10 9.85 10.50 16-Aug-13 9.45 27-Apr-12 10.50 27-Jul-07 9.65 31-Aug-07 10.45 30-May-08 10.60 29-Jun-12 10.55 23-Oct-09 10.25 10.25 27-Jan-12 10.15 14-Mar-14 10.10 28-Nov-08 9.95 22-May-09 10.05 20-Nov-09 9.90 23-Jul-10 10.15

18-Jul-14

Bid Yield (%) 10.53 10.55 10.52 10.59 10.51 Coupon (%) 10.79 10.92 9.25 10.73 4.00 10.29 10.99 13.05 9.91 15.10 11.03 9.85 10.16 9.35 11.03 10.70 11.23 16.00 11.23 7.00 10.95 11.00 16.39 10.93 14.20 10.92 15.00 10.87 12.49 11.03 8.50 10.90 10.00 11.51

NIBOR

Bonds

12.1493

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

Value

4,591.19

**Exclusive of non-trading t.bills TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,690.38

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

AMCON FMBN

NA

<3 3<5 ***LCRM >5

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Market

Total Outstanding 0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) Volume(Bn) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 1,038.78 983.07 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 1,146.77 951.30 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017

Porfolio Market Value(Bn)

0.00/16.50 LCRM 820.48 III 06-JUL-2017 3,006.03

Coupon (%)

Weighting by 28-Dec-11 Outstanding Vol 24-May-10

Weighting

by Mkt 0.00 Value 0.00

872.92

2,807.29

03-Apr-12 35.02 09-Dec-11 33.89 20-Apr-12

31.09 06-Jul-12 100.00

17.25 34.56 0.00/16.00 38.15 0.00/16.50

27.29 0.00/16.50 100.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Rate (%)

OBB

11.21

O/N

Call 1M0.07 3M0.64 6M1.96

978.35 24.56 3.30 0.35 112.22 116.700.34

Bucket Weighting

66.490.31

1.00 1,301.62

Tenor

11.54

Bid Yield (%) Rate (%) 11.25 10.87 12.21 10.99 12.88 13.73 11.20

2.65 11.20 11.14 2.90 11.20 11.14 3.00 11.20 11.07 :Benchmarks 3.74 11.19 11.09 * :Amortising Bond 4.83 11.18 11.11 µ :Convertible Bond 5.14Management Corporation 11.27 11.18 AMCON: Asset of Nigeria FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 7.41 11.73 11.68 FMBN: Federal Nigeria 9.53Mortgage Bank of 11.88 11.83 IFC: International Finance Corporation 14.24 12.47 12.43 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 14.72 12.52 12.47 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 15.22 12.56 12.51 O/N: Overnight 12.15 12.10 UPDC: UAC15.89 Property Development Company 19.88 12.15 Company 12.11 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement

Maturity Date

% Exposure_ 31-Oct-14 Mod_Duration 24-May-15

03-Apr-17 16.32 09-Dec-16 34.53 20-Apr-17

49.15 06-Jul-17 100.00

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

0.16 0.73 1.34 11.22 2.27 11.61 2.63 12.07 2.84 11.77

Implied Yield

Bid ($/N)

Spot 7D Offer 14D Yield 1M (%) 2M 3M 8.88 6M10.73 1Y11.12

NOTE:

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

Agency Bonds Modified Duration Buckets

Issue Date

Tenor

REPO TTM (Yrs) Tenor

Date

100.00 28-Sep-14 535.00 23-Apr-15 NITTY 530.27 16-Aug-16 Tenor Rate (%) 452.80 27-Apr-17 1M 10.5866 20.00 27-Jul-17 2M 10.6694 100.00 31-Aug-17 3M 10.8919 300.00 30-May-18 6M 10.9265 351.30 29-Jun-19 9M 11.0493 233.90 23-Oct-19 12M 11.6796 600.00 27-Jan-22 281.35 14-Mar-24 75.00 NIFEX 28-Nov-28 150.00 22-May-29 Current Price ($/N) 200.00 20-Nov-29 BID($/N) 162.3100 591.57 23-Jul-30 OFFER ($/N) 162.4100 70.00 18-Jul-34

*from the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE # Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums

Rate (%) 12.0167 12.8045 13.7062 Maturity 14.5026

108.70 108.85 96.71 96.86 95.40 95.70 NA :Not Applicable 98.80 # :Floating98.50 Rate Bond 117.55 ***: Deferred coupon bonds117.85 83.66 83.96 †: Bond rating expired 122.60 122.90 113.00 113.30 116.59 116.89 99.78 100.08 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 72.69 72.99 UBA: United Bank for Africa 85.00 85.30 99.95 100.25

# Risk Premium (%)

Implied 1.00 Portfolio 2.63 Price

2.27 119.1605 2.00 136.2118 1.00 103.8256 1.00 120.1703

Offer ($/N)

Price162.40 162.30 162.46 162.74 162.72 163.10 Bid Price Offer Price 163.32 163.96 164.50 165.64 99.85 100.00 165.59 167.25 95.77 95.92 169.27 173.92 176.61 184.47 103.15 103.30

Valuation Yield (%)

11.57 13.68 13.50 1,131.78 13.20 1,153.39 12.20 1,211.21 12.20 1,141.49

INDEX

Indicative Price

YTD Return 98.15 (%) 90.81

104.75 13.1782 101.22 15.3389 99.66 21.1209 97.20 14.1490

1,280.51

Sub-National Bonds A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014

15-Oct-09

14.00

6.00

15-Oct-14

0.12

3.29

14.01

99.91

A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

1.00

4.44

15.68

97.17

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

6.08

30-Sep-15

0.60

3.23

14.19

99.54

Nil

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

1.12

4.46

15.70

98.68

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

1.13

3.48

14.72

101.28

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.63

5.59

16.79

85.98

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.68

1.00

12.22

102.55

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.33

1.79

12.98

102.63

Daily Summary as of 01/09/2014

Printed 01/09/2014 15:11:37.037

44 BUSINESS | CAPITAL MARKET

Sanctity of Truth

Daily Summary (Bonds)

Daily Summary as of 01/09/2014 Printed 01/09/2014 15:11:37.037

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

No Debt Trading Activity

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at September 1, 2014 Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities)

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

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 3 16 12 31

Current Price 0.50 34.50 36.30

Quantity Traded 600,000 81,071 40,300 721,371

Value Traded 300,000.00 2,801,752.80 1,434,865.00 4,536,617.80

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 25 25

Current Price 3.20

Quantity Traded 276,684 276,684

Value Traded 877,537.28 877,537.28

998,055

5,414,155.08

Quantity Traded 110,582 20 17,473,715 225,999 17,810,316

Value Traded 170,296.28 82.80 111,025,414.53 13,229,831.98 124,425,625.59

17,810,316

124,425,625.59

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Daily Summary as of 01/09/2014 Diversified Industries Printed 01/09/2014 15:11:37.037 A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. CHELLARAMS PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

56 Symbol AGLEVENT CHELLARAM TRANSCORP UACN

Daily Summary

No. of Deals 4 1 263 57 (Equities) 325

Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Building Structure/Completion/Other

COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

Current Price 1.54 3.95 6.43 59.00

325

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 19 19

Current Price 1.13

No. of Deals 6 6

Current Price 65.00

No. of Deals 23 23

Current Price 15.60

Quantity Traded 163,424 163,424

Value Traded 2,506,087.79 2,506,087.79

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals

Symbol UPDCREIT

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 9.13

Quantity Traded 85,000 85,000

Value Traded 776,050.00 776,050.00

642,558

4,673,715.59

Quantity Traded 135,300 154,203 236,008 322,516 52,618 900,645

Value Traded 1,078,123.00 27,959,005.74 6,606,768.00 56,671,522.89 114,707.24 92,430,126.87

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

CONSUMER GOODS Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. UNION DICON SALT PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Daily Summary as of 01/09/2014 Household Durables Printed 01/09/2014 15:11:37.037 VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC.

Activity Summary on Board EQTY PublishedCONSUMER

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © GOODS Personal/Household Products UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals

Symbol No. of Deals CHAMPION 6 GUINNESS 63 INTBREW 19 NB Summary (Equities) 86 Daily PREMBREW 2 176

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals

Page Quantity Traded 110,529 110,529

No. of Deals 23 23

Current Price 134.00

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM UNIONDICON

No. of Deals 39 49 52 47 34 4 1 226

Current Price 7.00 8.75 68.11 4.15 10.19 19.95 14.11

Quantity Traded 63,860 1,479,109 114,476 560,606 421,500 48,706 100 2,688,357

Value Traded 430,780.46 12,943,654.49 7,596,419.37 2,315,223.11 4,154,784.25 975,360.00 1,341.00 28,417,562.68

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 52 20 72

Current Price 59.85 1,079.99

Quantity Traded 196,266 12,090 208,356

Value Traded 11,620,049.10 12,629,936.75 24,249,985.85

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 13 6 19

Current Price 4.15 1.05

Quantity Traded 187,540 51,069 238,609

Value Traded 773,489.32 54,089.00 827,578.32

No. of Deals 54

Current Price 35.00

Quantity Traded 421,149

Value Traded 14,356,148.01

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol PZ

Page Symbol UNILEVER

No. of Deals 41 95

Current Price 48.50

3

of

OIL AND GAS Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors

Published by The Nigerian CONOIL PLCStock Exchange ©

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

Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

13

Value Traded 12,191,678.45 26,547,826.46

4,820,335

188,024,510.48

Current Price 9.77 6.00 16.95 1.96 29.51 2.88 2.26 7.30 8.10

Quantity Traded 36,414,477 19,797,845 3,923,040 5,077,371 3,707,472 2,153,001 12,694,320 4,879,363 192,732

Value Traded 354,179,489.37 120,261,041.12 66,445,135.70 10,028,910.77 109,446,159.34 6,269,322.24 28,629,452.07 35,926,027.56 1,569,611.39

Value Traded 1,041,081.00 729,131.13 172,876,598.87 907,401,960.56

Current Price 1.00

Quantity Traded 300,000

Value Traded 300,000.00

Micro-Finance Banks Micro-Finance Banks Totals

Symbol

No. of Deals 4

Current Price

Quantity Traded 300,000

Value Traded 300,000.00

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

Symbol INFINITY UNHOMES

No. of Deals 1 2 3

Current Price 1.52 0.50

Quantity Traded 100 520 620

Value Traded 159.00 260.00 419.00

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

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 60 18 459 84 12 19 75 727

Current Price 3.31 4.00 15.17 4.25 0.60 30.00 2.15

Quantity Traded 1,164,933 2,258,094 12,617,525 1,838,596 1,107,263 138,819 2,875,096 22,000,326

Value Traded 3,974,607.62 8,892,532.62 192,085,027.01 7,754,251.56 664,190.13 4,163,924.61 6,313,734.52 223,848,268.07

132,099,141

1,138,978,033.93

Quantity Traded 67,640 545,526 7,563 480,895

Value Traded 131,898.00 1,832,352.92 476,980.46 700,630.85

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

2,391 Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER

No. of Deals 3 18 7 17

Current Price 1.95 3.39 65.99 1.45

Page

6

of

Quantity Traded 1,000,000 1,000,000

Value Traded 570,000.00 570,000.00

Symbol OMATEK

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,880 1,880

Value Traded 940.00 940.00

Symbol NCR

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 13.50

Quantity Traded 4,409 4,409

Value Traded 59,741.95 59,741.95

Symbol CHAMS

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,765,340 1,765,340

Value Traded 882,670.00 882,670.00

2,771,629

1,513,351.95

Daily Summary (Equities)

9

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER

No. of Deals 47 8

Current Price 33.47 9.00

Quantity Traded Page 716,919

Symbol CAP CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 10 43 34 1 9 38 190

Current Price 39.05 14.49 225.16 1.15 5.01 117.25

Quantity Traded 53,781 786,419 1,076,782 4,650 258,100 638,321 3,590,445

Value Traded 2,103,805.71 11,225,603.18 242,866,854.32 5,580.00 1,296,575.00 74,902,184.88 356,798,838.03

Symbol AUSTINLAZ CUTIX

No. of Deals 1 8 9

Current Price 2.09 1.90

Quantity Traded 7,000,000 146,966 7,146,966

Value Traded 14,630,000.00 277,066.60 14,907,066.60

10,737,411

371,705,904.63 Value Traded 2,597,388.49 2,597,388.49

13

55,473

199

Value Traded 723,905,062.98 of 13 493,171.96

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 46 46

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 5,040,909 5,040,909

Symbol

No. of Deals 314 314

Current Price 26.75

Quantity Traded 4,816,073 4,816,073

Value Traded 130,869,904.27 130,869,904.27

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 47 75 62 31 6 18 239

Current Price 61.05 4.09 229.99 175.00 55.96 180.00

Quantity Traded Page 155,875 35,888,506 126,941 47,993 4,770 121,369 36,345,454

Value Traded 9 of 13 9,711,800.06 146,742,114.16 28,737,248.39 8,408,160.30 266,268.20 21,847,020.00 215,712,611.11

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 6 6

Current Price 680.00

Quantity Traded 101,561 101,561

Value Traded 69,055,362.84 69,055,362.84

46,303,997

418,235,266.71

Daily Summary (Equities) OANDO

Page

605

8

of

Symbol LENNARDS

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 3.15

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 300.00 300.00

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 14

Current Price 0.90

Quantity Traded 620,363

Value Traded 550,458.72

Symbol

No. of Deals 14

Current Price

Page Quantity Traded 620,363

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Symbol REDSTAREX

No. of Deals 12 12

Current Price 4.80

Quantity Traded 207,500 207,500

Value Traded 935,179.25 935,179.25

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 10,300 10,300

Value Traded 5,150.00 5,150.00

Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.80

Quantity Traded 357,894 357,894

Value Traded 281,220.50 281,220.50

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 2 1 20 23

Current Price 1.55 1.58 4.20

Quantity Traded 2,000 6,060 282,893 290,953

Value Traded 2,980.00 9,817.20 1,146,114.27 1,158,911.47

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 0.71

Quantity Traded 604,155 604,155

Value Traded 425,147.50 425,147.50

Symbol NSLTECH

No. of Deals 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 200

Value Traded 100.00

Symbol

No. of Deals 1

Current Price

Quantity Traded 200

Value Traded 100.00

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

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 4 36 40

Current Price 2.00 5.00

Quantity Traded 62,800 1,074,980 1,137,780

Value Traded 126,400.00 5,376,151.00 5,502,551.00

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

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 15 15

Current Price 5.06

Quantity Traded 440,400 440,400

Value Traded 2,234,760.00 2,234,760.00

126

3,669,845

11,093,878.44

EQTY Board Totals

4,455

222,428,264

2,268,818,441.66

Equity Activity Totals

4,455

222,428,264

2,268,818,441.66

Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

No. of Deals 4

of

Current Price 0.57

Value Traded 100.00 100.00

SERVICES

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

5

No. of Deals 1 1

Quantity Traded 200 200

Automobile/Auto PartExchange Retailers© Published by The Nigerian Stock

Value Traded 586,641.52 4 134,227.00 of 13 55,220.00 142,500.00 43,000.00 175,050.00 50.00 436,486.00 2,868,504.00 2,057,082.78 9,050.00 19,000.00 700.00 500.00 899,375.00 7,427,386.30

4,753,999.26

Current Price 0.50

Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC.

Quantity Traded 733,301 136,350 Page 100,400 285,000 86,000 350,100 100 174,048 5,317,600 2,583,678 18,100 38,000 1,400 1,000 1,171,035 10,996,112

2,574,977

No. of Deals 1 1

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Current Price 0.80 0.98 0.55 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 2.50 0.54 0.79 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.76

Value Traded 1,505,743.94 106,393.09 4,753,999.26

Symbol AFROMEDIA

Apparel Retailers LENNARDS (NIG) PLC. Apparel Retailers Totals

No. of Deals 17 6 4 1 1 2 1 7 12 18 2 2 3 1 37 114

Page

SERVICES Advertising Daily Summary as of 01/09/2014 AFROMEDIA PLC Printed 01/09/2014 15:11:37.037 Advertising Totals

Quantity Traded 1,426,486 46,867 2,574,977

Symbol COURTVILLE

OIL AND GAS Totals

Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE CORNERST EQUITYASUR GUINEAINS INTENEGINS LINKASSURE MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM NIGERINS PRESTIGE STACO UNITYKAP WAPIC

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © FINANCIAL SERVICES

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Quantity Traded 2,082,162 765,346 7,114,954 98,802,083

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

OIL AND GAS Daily Summary as Equipment of 01/09/2014 Energy and Services Printed 01/09/2014 15:11:37.037 JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals

Current Price 1.10 2.38

83

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Current Price 0.50 0.95 24.01

Daily Summary (Equities)

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials Published by The Nigerian Stock ASHAKA CEM PLCExchange ©

Electronic and Electrical Products AUSTIN LAZ & COMPANY PLC CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

No. of Deals 7 31 229 1,543

Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC

No. of Deals 35 3 83

ICT Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals

Symbol UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. REINSURANCE Published by CONTINENTAL The Nigerian Stock Exchange © PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. Daily Summary as of 01/09/2014 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. Printed 01/09/2014 15:11:37.037 STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Daily Summary as of 01/09/2014 CHAMS PLC Printed 01/09/2014 15:11:37.037 Processing Systems Totals

Activity Summary on Board BERGER PAINTS PLC EQTY

Quantity Traded 252,690 673,839

611 Symbol No. of Deals ACCESS 160 DIAMONDBNK 121 ETI 114 FIDELITYBK 77 GUARANTY 212 SKYEBANK 86 Daily Summary (Equities) STERLNBANK 276 UBA 179 UBN 51

Processing Systems

2 of 13 Value Traded 15,551,430.30 15,551,430.30

Symbol 7UP

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. Daily Summary as of 01/09/2014 DIAMOND BANK PLC Printed 01/09/2014 15:11:37.037 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC BANKon NIG.PLC. ActivityUNION Summary Board EQTY

Current Price 7.91 180.00 28.00 176.05 2.18

IT Services Daily Summary as of 01/09/2014 NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. Printed 01/09/2014 15:11:37.037 IT Services Totals

Value Traded 965,198.10 965,198.10

Symbol UAC-PROP

50

Computers and Peripherals OMATEK VENTURES PLC Computers and Peripherals Totals

Quantity Traded 15,066 15,066

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

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals

1 of 13 Value Traded 426,379.70 426,379.70

Symbol JBERGER

Symbol NEIMETH PHARMDEKO

HEALTHCARE Totals

Page Quantity Traded 379,068 379,068

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

CONSUMER GOODS Daily Summary as of 01/09/2014 Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Printed 01/09/2014 15:11:37.037 CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. PREMIER BREWERIES PLC Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals Daily Summary as of 01/09/2014 Printed 01/09/2014 15:11:37.037 Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals Specialty SECURE ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY PLC

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

Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities)

Page

SERVICES Totals

13

10 of 13 Value Traded

550,458.72

11

of

13

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

Daily Summary Nameas of 01/09/2014 Printed 01/09/2014 15:11:37.037 NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF)

VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

13

Symbol NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 2 1 3

Daily Summary (ETP)

Current Price 2,023.00 18.81

Quantity Traded 43 5 48 Page

Value Traded 87,619.00 94.05 87,713.05 12

of

ETF Board Totals

3

48

87,713.05

ETP Activity Totals

3

48

87,713.05

13

FEATURES

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

45

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/entrepreneur

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES EDITOR

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

Ebola: Weighing cost, consequences of schools’ closure Mixed reactions now trail the Federal Government’s decision to close schools and postpone resumption date, report SHADRACH YUSUF, VICTORIA EWOH, SINMILOLUWA SOKUNBI and LYDIA FAMOUS

Baptist Academy, Obanikoro Lagos.

T

o properly contain the spread of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), the Federal Government, among other measures, ordered schools to remain closed till October 13.

The Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, gave the directive while briefing journalists on Tuesday after a meeting with Commissioners for Education in Abuja.

He said: “The minister and all commissioners met today, August 26, to discuss issues related to the reopening of schools for the new academic year vis-à-vis the Ebola epidemic issue.

“At the end of the meeting, the following decisions were arrived at as preventive measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students in our schools throughout the federation.

“All primary and secondary schools both public and private are to remain closed until Monday, October 13, 2014, which is the new resumption date for all schools throughout the federation.

“This is to ensure that adequate measures are put in place before the students report back to school.”

Shekarau advised all tertiary institutions to suspend exchange of staff and students’ programmes, visits, and major international seminars and workshops until further notice.

“They are to monitor movements of foreign students in their campuses and liaise with appropriate government health institutions to organise and ensure effective sensitisation programme for all their staff,” he said.

The minister also ordered the im-

Supreme Education Foundation School

mediate suspension of summer classes conducted by some private schools.

He said that appropriate sanctions would be taken against any defaulter of the directives.

Some stakeholders in the education and health sectors initially faulted the Federal Government on the directive, saying it was too harsh considering that the Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, had announced that Nigeria had successfully contained the Ebola outbreak.

Chukwu had while briefing journalists on the fight against EVD said that apart from those that had died, all contact with the Liberian-American, Parick Sawyer, who brought the disease to Nigeria had been discharged but for one whose condition he described as stable.

However, the health minister announced on Thursday that another doctor infected by one of the primary contact with Sawyer, had died in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

He said: “This primary contact of Mr Sawyer evaded our surveillance team in the last week of July 2014 and travelled out of Lagos to Port Harcourt where, as we now understand, he consulted with a doctor and was apparently treated for some symptoms.

“After four days, following a manhunt for him, he returned to Lagos by which time he was found to be without symptoms. Even though presently he does not have EVD, further laboratory tests indicate that he had suffered EVD. “This case would have been of no further interest since he had complet-

ed the 21 days of surveillance without any other issue, but for the fact that the doctor who treated him died last Friday, 22nd August, 2014.

“Following the report of this death by the doctor’s widow the next day, the case had been thoroughly investigated and laboratory analysis showed that this doctor died from EVD. “As a result, several contacts have now been traced, registered and placed under surveillance. However, because the widow is now symptomatic, she has been quarantined pending the outcome of laboratory tests on her.

“The Incident Management Committee has already deployed a very strong team to Port Harcourt to work with the health authorities of Rivers State.”

The minister also said that 70 people had been placed under surveillance in Port Harcourt.

The latest announcement has, however, caused panic among Nigerians already celebrating “victory” in the battle with the lethal virus.

Although many people have now accepted the need to take precaution by extending school resumption, others, particularly proprietors, said the directive would have a negative impact on their resources.

The Head Teacher, Mbari Mbayo Schools, in Yaba, Lagos, Mr Quaque Andrews Al-Hassan, said the summer school was on before the directive.

He said: “We have complied with the directive. The notice has been sent to parents. So, summer school ends today (Thursday).”

A teacher at the Salvation Army Catherine Booth School, at Onipanu, Shomolu, Lagos, Mrs Joyce David, said the school ended the summer classes immediately they heard the information.

She said: “We hope that the aim of the Federal Government will be achieved over the closure of schools.”

Similarly, the Head Teacher, Temitope Nursery and Primary School, Shomolu, Mrs Josephine Chikeka, said the parents had been informed of the directive and had been coming to pick their children.

Also, the Administration Manager, Straitegate School, Magodo, GRA, Mrs Dupe Faminigbe, said the outbreak of Ebola had led to low turnout of pupils at the summer classes.

She said: “The summer class would have come to an end on Friday but immediately the Federal Government asked us to stop, we complied.”

Supreme Education Foundation Schools, Magodo, GRA Phase 2, also conformed to the directive.

The secretary, Temitope Adedeji, said summer classes had been terminated.

But the proprietor of Winners Treasure Kids at Alapere, Mrs Ndukwu Busayo, said she was not happy with the directive.

She said: “We heard that Ebola outbreak was under control and we were all happy thinking that everybody would go back to their normal lifestyle.

But the decision of the Federal GovC O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4 6

46 FEATURES

Sanctity of Truth

Paying the price of Ebola outbreak

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 5

ernment to close down schools for the main time is absolutely out of it. If the control should be more adequate then markets and offices should be closed down.

“What if children are prevented from contacting the virus in school and their parents still go out to the market or office and get the disease?

“In the school, teachers take adequate precaution in dealing with the kids, so keeping them at home is not the best, it will affect them academically, health wise and in many other ways.

“Two days ago, health officials came to the school to educate the kids on Ebola, what it is, how it is spread, precautionary measures to take and so many others but at home it is not like that.

“Some parents are not always around; they do not have time for their kids and once they go out the kids roam about.

“To a large extent, it will affect the teachers because it is going to affect the school, most especially the teachers. They are going to be paid through money being generated.”

The proprietor of Damdel Nursery and Primary School at Alapere, Mrs Bola Gbadamosi, said the Federal Government had taken a very good step for the benefit of everyone, especially the little children.

She said: “It is a good directive because children’s immune system is very low, they contact virus easily unlike adults.

“But at the same time, it is not the solution to the virus because markets are still on and parents go the market, they board commercial buses whereas in the school the children are put on surveillance.

“The kids are aware of the virus and they are taught how to wash their hands after using the toilet.

“Although the closure is not affecting our school that much because the summer coaching is coming to an end this Friday. The only thing is that the resumption date has been extended to October and the teachers will not be paid the salary of September which will affect them one way or the other.

“But in everything we give thanks to God.” Mrs Agnes Akinbuwa, a teacher in Mopem Nursery and Primary School, said that keeping the children at home would not stop the virus.

She said: “The resumption date it is too far and it will be uncomfortable for the children because if we resume on October 13, children will be rushed through the courses. In every school, there are slow and fast learners. How will the slow learners cope?

“I still believe that the government can reverse the directive.”

Mr Samuel Adubi, the administrator of La Citadel Nursery and Primary School, at Agboyi Ketu, says that gov-

StraiteGate School

Oseni

The Salvation Army Catherine Booth

Shekarau

the teachers will not be paid the salary of September which will affect them one way or the other ernment was trying its best to keep the children safe from the virus.

He said: “From what we are hearing, there is improvement. The Federal Government decision to close down schools is not really the best because the children will roam about aimlessly which will not help matters.

“The government should instead educate school administrators on how to take precaution against Ebola virus.

The children, our future leaders, will

Chukwu

only stay at home at the expense of their education.”

On Thursday, Baptist Academy, Obanikoro, Lagos, was a beehive of activities as students roamed in out of the school premises.

One of the students, who gave her name as Oluwadamilola Osun, said they were informed by the principal to report to the school to collect their report cards.

She said: “I have been waiting here since 9am, nobody has attended to us, we were just asked to wait. But all the teachers looked busy; I pray they will attend to us very soon.”

One of the teachers, who craved anonymity, said they heard the announcement made by the minister.

She said: “The school is not running, students are not here for sum-

mer lessons, but to collect their report cards.”

The teacher also said that the school would only be opened to applicants, teachers, parents, admission seekers and other workers of the school.

At Liberty Children School, Obanikoro, the pupils were preparing for the school’s end of the session party.

Female teachers were decorating classes, while the male teachers concentrated on the field, fixing canopies and arrangements of tables and chairs.

Some pupils were playing football, some on the swings, while others were jumping around the school premises.

One of the teachers, Mr Bayo Towa, said the school was only opened because of the party which was holding on Friday at the school premises.

He said: “The school will obey the directive by the Federal Government to close and postpone resumption date.

After tomorrow (Friday) the school will be under lock and key until October 13.”

Director of the New Life School, Obanikoro, Mr Bolu Oseni, said the school was already closed to pupils in the nursery and primary section.

Oseni, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the new resumption date.

He said: “The decision by the Federal Government is not logical. Whatever the government wants to do should be done now before the first week of October, because by then the country will be celebrating her Independence. All schools should resume by first week of October.

“This is the period when the government must sit up and do things right by taking the necessary steps towards fighting the Ebola virus. Resumption date shouldn’t be elongated unnecessarily.”

The Head of the baby unit of the school, Mrs Regina Innocent, said pupils were restricted from going into the school premises.

She said: “Only babies are allowed into the day care unit. These are children who can’t talk or walk by themselves, we can protect these ones.”

Innocent also said the school had provided protective measures such as clean water and sanitizer for workers and parents who would be going in and out the school premises.

47

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Niger bye-election: Stakeholders caution against irregularities RE-RUN Gov. Aliyu meets politicians in Minna, decry use of thugs Dan Atori

MINNA

P

olitical stakeholders in Niger State yesterday cautioned against irregularities in the aftermath of last

Saturday’s bye-election in the state.

After assessing the conduct of the exercise, they warned against any misconduct and irregularity that may arise from the poll.

Chief Press Secretary to Niger State Governor, Mr. Israel Ebije, in a statement signed yesterday, said so many voters were disenfranchised for frivolous reasons in the exercise.

The governor’s spokes-

man said the government admonished the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to checkmate future occurrence, adding that members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) should be properly educated on how to go about accreditation before the voting.

According to Ebije; “The Governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, met with stakeholders, comprising

-0.6%

Clark: I have not endorsed any candidate in Delta Gabriel Choba

Ughelli

A

head of the 2015 governorship election in Delta State, elder statesman, Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, yesterday said he has not endorsed any candidate.

He warned aspirants using his name in their campaigns to desist from such.

Clark, who disclosed this yesterday during the consultation visit made to him by Chief Kenneth Gbagi, also called on President Goodluck Jonathan, to declare his intention to seek re-election for a second term.

He said there would be a level playing ground for all aspirants where the best candidate would be elected, adding that he was not a dictator and cannot impose or support any form of imposition of candidates on the people.

“No single man can make anyone a governor, but whoever God has or-

dained would become governor. I want all of you to go and pray to God to grant you your ambition and not me. I cannot make you or anyone governor, but God. “You might have my support but if you don’t have the support of God, you will fail. However, if God will use somebody, God can also use me.

“Both of us, myself and the governor, had an agreement that we are not going to endorse or pick any candidate,butwillguaranteealevel playing ground for all aspirants; and so, nobody should use our name to campaign that he has been anointed by the governor or myself.

According to Clark, “When I went to Abuja, I told Mr. President that I have not come to discuss the issue of the governorship of Delta State, but that I want him to declare his intention to seek reelection and I will not leave Abuja until he becomes President in 2015."

Varsity don wants free antenatal care in public hospitals Biodun Oyeleye

Ilorin

professor of Obstetrics ACollege and Gynecology at the of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Abiodun Peter Aboyeji, has called on the Federal Government to make antenatal care free in all public hospitals in the country.

He also said the government should subsidise the cost of deliveries in such hospitals.

Aboyeji, who made the call while delivering the 150th inaugural lecture of the University of Ilorin titled; “Pregnancy: The Burden of Womanhood,” lamented that despite the commitment of billions of naira in intervention funds to maternal health programmes in the country, the rate at which Nigerian women die from pregnancyrelated causes is comparable to a “war situation.”

According to him, 40, 000 women die every year in Nigeria from pregnancy-

related causes; 3,333 die every month, 769 every week, 109 every day and five every hour.

While calling for the declaration of a state of emergency to address the issue, he canvassed the inclusion of practical components of how to treat obstetrics emergencies in the curricular for health providers and also that government should ensure the availability of the national health insurance to all Nigerians.

“Nigeria is among the top 10 countries with the highest maternal mortality ratio (MMR),”hesaid,pointingout that developing countries accounting for 99 percent of the global maternal deaths.

Aboyeji noted that in the South-West part of the country, “MMR is 165 per 100,000 live births, while in the North-East it is 1,549 per 100,000 live births,” adding that; “the situation is likely to be worse with the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency that is most prominent in that part of the country.”

commissioners, special advisers, director generals, chairmen, heads and members of boards of parastatals, who unanimously agreed that the time limit for accreditation was too short.”

He said government was also alarmed at the way and manner thugs almost took over most of the polling units. Ebije said they called for more security operatives at the affected units for next Saturday’s re-run

The annual population growth rate of Georgia in 2010-2015.

Source: Un.org

poll.

At the meeting, public officers were asked to put in their resignation once they have indicated interest in partisan politics, adding that they must all abide by the rules regarding public servants in partisan politics.

The stakeholders, however, concluded that the general outcome of the election was peaceful, urging all residents to conduct themselves in

51,644

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Benin Republic in 2000.

Source: Itu.int

that manner in next Saturday re-run election.

It will be recalled that elections to fill the vacant Niger East senatorial seat, following the death of Senator Awaisu Kuta last Saturday, witnessed results from Bosso, Chanchaga, Munya, Paikoro, Rafi and Shiroro Local Government Areas (LGEA) being cancelled.

PDP was, however, leading with 89,640 votes while APC had 84,689 votes.

$497.6bn

The nominal GDP of Belgium (World Bank) in 2009.

Source: Blatantworld.com

L-R: Marketing Manager, GOtv, Oludare Kafar; General Manager, Elizabeth Amkpa; Regional Sales Manager, MultiChoice Nigeria, Ade Adenuga and Public Relations Manager, GOtv, Efe Obiomah, during a media launch of GOtv in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State…yesterday

3m voters for Katsina polls We’ll pay attention to Ahmed Sani Mohammed tance themselves from youths, says Gombe APC the polling units, they KATSINA

A

t least three million eligible voters are to participate in the next Saturday’s local government elections in Katsina State.

Chairman of the state Independent Electoral Commission, Abubakar Lawal Malumfashi, told newsmen yesterday that the election is to take place in 4, 900 polling units across the state.

Malumfashi said about 371 wards were also designed for the success of the election, adding that the commission had acquired enough election materials for the smooth conduct of the poll.

“We are set for the election, all necessary election materials are acquired by the commission,” he said.

Malumfashi added that the commission will work closely with all security agents to ensure a peaceful election.

“We advise youths under the age of 18 to dis-

should stay at home till after the election.”

He commended political parties for their support and cooperation with the commission.

The chairman appealed to the people not to allow themselves to be use to foment trouble, warning that trouble makers would be dealt with decisively by security agents.

Meanwhile, Mustapha has called on members of state House of Assembly to commence impeachment processes against Governor Ibrahim Shema, for allegedly embezzling N56 billion public funds.

He said it is the duty of the lawmakers to investigate any alleged embezzlement of public funds in the interest of the state.

Mustapha vowed that APC will not allow the alleged embezzlement to be swept under the carpet, but will take up the issue with the EFCC for necessary action.

Ugo Willies

GOMBE

he All Progressives TGombe Congress (APC) in State yesterday

said it will pay attention to the development of youths in the state if given the mandate in next year’s elections.

According to the party, which spoke through its Zonal Vice-Chairman, Gombe South, Mr. Julius Ishaya, the party will stop youth restiveness that goes by the name ‘Kalare.’ Ishaya blamed the activities of the restive youths, who have made life unbearable for the common man in Gombe, on the PDP-led government, saying the APC, if elected, will never encourage youths to engage in any form of restiveness or thuggery.

He said: “When APC comes, the youth will be a priority to our government. We have the ideas, we have the initiative and

we have the political will to create jobs, to engage the youths.

“And naturally, people will come to renounce ‘Kalare.’ But as for this government, we have not seen any effort,” he said.

The APC advised the PDP-led government to put its house in order and ensure nobody’s son is used for inimical reasons in the name of politics as leadership should be by example.

“For people to be clashing and killing themselves in the name of politics is not a good development.

APC is against it and we will never encourage our youths to engage in any form of restiveness or thuggery.

“And because of the way we love the development and citizens of Gombe State, we will not want an individual to lose his or her life or get injured because of politics, the centre of our activities is the people,” Ishaya said.

48 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Oil firm donates 400 market stalls to A’Ibom communities Tony Anichebe

Uyo

people of Enwang Tinheand Udesi communities Mbo Local Government

L-R: Director, Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN), Mr. Freddy Messanvi; Executive Director, Women in Management and Business (WIMBIZ), Ms. Mosun Layode; Chairperson, Ms. Osayi Alile; Chairperson, Funds Raising, Ms. Ronke Onadeko; Executive Council Member, Mrs. Bunmi Oke and Human Resource Director, BATN, Mr. Tosin Akinyemi, during a courtesy visit by WIMBIZ officials to BATN in Lagos ...yesterday

Coordinators raise the alarm over Kwara SURE-P scheme POLITICS In Kwara SURE-P has become sure politics with allegations and denials Biodun Oyeleye

Ilorin

Z

onal coordinators of the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) in Kwara State were yesterday up in arms against the state coordinator of the programme, Mr. Moses Ibiyemi, over alleged plans to remove about 3, 000 beneficiaries of the scheme, who are not members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The zonal coordinators, who addressed newsmen

over the issue in Ilorin, alleged that Ibiyemi has been running the affairs of the programme like a sole administrator and has allegedly refused to call a mandatory implementation meeting for the past five months.

But Ibiyemi denied the allegations.

In an e-mail sent to newsmen on the issue, the state coordinator assured that there was no plan to replace the beneficiaries for belonging to the All Progressives Congress (APC), but added that those who were part of the press conference where the allegations were raised are not original beneficiaries of the scheme.

The press conference was addressed by Alhaji Kola Yusuf, a former member of the House of Representatives and a for-

Nurses call for more measures against Ebola Yusuf Shu’aib, Ibrahim Abdul and Musa Pam

ederal Capital Territory (FCT) Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Comrade Mohammed Ndaman Bida, yesterday said lack of protective and screening equipment for health workers in the country, especially for nurses, is suicidal.

He added that government’s inability to provide and distribute such equipment as earlier promised, is endangering the lives of health workers generally, especially with the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Bida, who was speaking exclusively to New Telegraph in his office, said government’s inability to provide and distribute

F

such equipment as earlier promised, is endangering the lives of health workers generally, especially with the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) He said lack of such equipment daily exposes nurses to the risk of contracting the virus, because they are the first point of call to all sick persons before they can ever see the doctor or whoever will attend to them.

“There is no way a nurse will run away from a sick patient, who needed medical attention.”

Meanwhile, Adamawa State Universal Basic Education Board, yesterday warned that it would sanction any public or private school that failed to comply with the Federal Government’s directive on resumption of schools for the 2014/15 session.

mer Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Cook Olododo, with hundreds of the beneficiaries in attendance.

Yusuf, who read the statement said: “As the coordinators of the scheme in the state, we are the link between the local government coordinators and the state coordinator, by this mandate, any action or decision to be taken must be in the best interest of the beneficiaries and the state at large, which must be jointly deliberated upon and a consensus reached.

“However, it is regrettable that the Chairman, Implementation Committee in the state (CIS), Mr. Moses Ibiyemi, has not only politicised the programme, but plotting to clandestinely replace names of the original beneficiaries of the

programme with his party members, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Responding to the allegation yesterday, Ibiyemi said: “On the issue of the purported press conference said to have been called by Alhaji Abdulganiyu Cook Olododo and Alhaji Kola Yusuf in the former’s office it was most unfortunate.

“In the first instance, the two did not have any right or basis to call a press conference on Sure-P matters without clearance. The purported Sure-P crowd of about 100 was rented and is not true beneficiaries of the scheme.

“This is so because the 3, 500 true beneficiaries have just been paid N60, 000 each and as such could not have attended any unholy gathering to condemn the scheme, Ibiyemi said.

Methodist prelate: 2015 elections'll hold without North-East Charles Onyekwere and Babatope Okeowo ABAKALIKI

P

relate of the Methodist Church in Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Samuel Kanu Uche, at the weekend, said the 2015 general elections can be conducted without the leaders of the North-East geo-political zone. He also expressed optimism that God will settle all crisis and tribal differences rocking the nation ahead of the elections.

The Prelate spoke while fielding questions from newsmen in Agba community in Ishielu Local Government of Ebonyi State shortly after the burial of late Elder Moses Edeh Akuru, the father of Enugu Archbishop, His Grace Most Rev, Christopher Nweke Edeh, who lived for 84

years.

According to him; “My message to Nigerians is that we should go on with the 2015 election. If the leaders of the North-East are not ready to cooperate, we should go ahead without them.

“But, I want them to behave well and advise their children and sons, so that the elections will take place everywhere in Nigeria. But I think before then, God would have settled this matter.

“The Boko Haram people are troubling the country. I am appealing to them to have a change of heart, because if they destroy this country, we have no other country to call our own. I want them to know that they may be deceiving themselves if they think that Nigeria will ever be Islamised.

of Akwa Ibom State were yesterday in high spirits as they received new 400 market stalls built by Moni Pulo Limited, an indigenous oil firm operating in their domain as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility.

Speaking at the inauguration of the stalls, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Moni Pulo, Chief O. B. Lulu Briggs, said the ceremony was significant, because it marks the positive result of a unique type of relationship that brings a private organisation closer to its host community.

Represented by the Head, Community Relations, Mr. Clifford Daerego, Briggs said corporate social responsibility is an integral part of how Moni Pulo conducts its business, saying that the company will remain ethical, caring and mutually co-operative in dealing with its host communities.

“This is the way that ensures there is a win -win situation for everyone,” he highlighted.

Briggs recalled that the company had, two years ago, commissioned a similar project in Ebughu and Uda communities, where they assured Mbo people of more projects in the future, adding that they still have more obligations to the people of Mbo.

Emir advises National Assembly on confab report Musa Pam

Jos

mir of Kanam, Alhaji Eyesterday Mu'azu Babangida, cautionedmembers

of National Assembly not to treat the report of just concluded national conference with levity when it is finally passed on to them by the President.

Babangida said this yesterday in Kanam Local Government, Plateau State while interacting with newsmen in his palace. He said the report demands justice and fair play in the interest of the nation at large.

According to him; the report concerns the wellbeing of the entire of people of Nigeria and therefore should be given the utmost attention it deserves.

“The people who prepared that report, painstakingly deliberated on the way forward for the

country, therefore, it should be given the desired attention and passed into law, areas that would unite the country.”

The emir stressed that if the report is properly handled by the National Assembly, the various agitations and the problems of leadership will be tackled to a reasonable level for the good of the nation.

Babangida also noted that the nation has not been able to attain the desired development level, because our leaders lacked the fear of God in them.

He argued that unless the fear of God becomes paramount in the lives of our leaders and Nigerians in general, the country would not be able to move forward as expected.

According to him, it was because there is the absence of the fear of God that corruption thrives and lust for wealth among the youth abound.

Ekiti PDP women back Jonathan Adesina Wahab

Ado-Ekiti

omen in the Ekiti W State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP) under the aegis of ‘Coalition 2015’ yesterday held a rally to drum support for President Goodluck Jonathan, and urge him to seek reelection next year.

The event, which held at the PDP state secretariat in Ado-Ekiti, saw PDP women from the SouthWest gather to galvanise support for President Jonathan and also charge the womenfolk in the state to support the PDP in the 2015 general elections.

Speaking on the occasion, Ekiti State Women

Leader, Chief (Mrs.) Modupe Orubuloye, said the women had gathered from the 16 local government areas of the state for the launch, adding that they were ‘resolute in their support for another term for President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.’

She said the group's activities cut across party lines, because; “President Jonathan's good works cut across party lines and have impacted positively on all and sundry.

“Women must not be deceived and they must not allow themselves to be deceived, because the President has done very well for Nigerians, especially the Nigerian women,” she said.

NEWS 49

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Aba residents hail Arthur Eze over comment on Abia development INDICTMENT Questions are being asked in Abia about the dividends of democracy Peter Osondu

esidents of Aba, Abia state have hailed billionaire businessman, Arthur Eze for opening up on the true state of infrastructural decay in the state and prayed God to grant him

R

long life and good health to continue to speak about the maladministration that has become the lot of the present government in the state.

Chief Arthur Eze had on Wednesday at Abia State capital, Umuahia, while speaking at an event to make the 23rd anniversary of the state apart from saying that “Abia stinks” referring to the decayed infrastructure and collapsed roads, admonished Gov. Theodore Orji to go to President Goodluck Jonathan if he was bereft of ideas on what to do again.

According to him, Abia

state is now the dirtiest in the country. “Garbage everywhere along with bad roads.

The people are really suffering, and you see it in their faces. Are there no elders in Abia again? What are the senators, the members of the Houseof Representativesand other elected people doing?

Nothing!”

A resident, John Ugwu said Chief Eze said things the way they are in the state, stating that the billionaire businessman spoke like a true Igbo son and an elder statesman which he is.

He said the problem of

Abia State was that it had no men in the mould of Chief Ezewhowouldlookthegovernor in the face and tell him he hasfailed,stressingthatwhat was in vogue in the state was the celebration of failure.

“I am not from Abia State, but I have lived here since 1970. The state has not had it so bad yet. The so called elders who have sold their consciences go about celebrating an administration that has put suffering on the faces of the people and that is why most of us are grateful to Chief Eze for summoning couragetotellOrjithathewas

not doing well and God will bless him for that.”

A commercial bus driver who gave his name simply as Ndubuisi and plies from Aba to Umuahia said Chief Eze was supposed to be given an honour for speaking the truth on the state of things in Abia.

Ndubuisi who said he spends about six hours to get to Umuahia from Aba, a journey that should take 45 minutes, because of bad roads wondered what the billionaire businessman would say when he visits Aba, the commercial hub of the state

if Umuahia that was regarded as the London of the State is so badly described.

His words: “If Chief Eze would visit Umuahia and speak so bad about the state, what will then happen if he visits Aba? Maybe he would be weeping inside his car because he would definitely not come down for lack of where to match his feet.”

While thanking the oil magnet for saying things the way they are, he pleaded with him to come to Aba on a private visit in order to appreciate the enormity of the peoples sufferings.

Lawmaker tasks APC on fairness Philip Nyam

Abuja

D

eputy minority leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Suleiman Sumaila has called on the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure justice and fairness for the party's victory in the 2015 general elections.

Sumaila urged the leadership of the party, especially in Kano State, to ensure a level playing ground for all aspirants vying for positions on the platform of the party so that no one would feel being short-changed, for peace to reign.

The lawmaker who is a governorship aspirant in the state made the call while addressing hundreds of supporters at Rano town during the opening of his campaign office for Kano South Senatorial District.

He said his struggle as a politician is to ensure that more dividends of democracy get to the people of Kano State, adding that for democracy to be sustained, every politician must play according to the rules.

"This gathering has

shown that the people of Kano South have spoken. We need your support to make life better for all our people.

But I shouldn't be misquoted like before. All we want is a level playing field for a good democratic process.

"Our leaders must ensure that democratic tenets are not only tenable in the party but are also followed to the letter. Our coming together to form the APC was for the sustenance of our democracy. We should therefore not allow our efforts to go in vain. We made a lot of sacrifice to see that APC is what is it today, and we'll continue to work for the interest of the party and the people", he said.

While calling on politicians to remove any form of fear in their minds and work for the people that elect them into offices, Kawu cautioned the electorate to be wise in their choice of leaders.

"It is only when you remain steadfast, prayerful and elect the right people that you will know the beauty of democracy. I believe in Allah and thank him for all that he has been doing in my life. "

Adamawa guber: Group urges delegates to shun gratification Philip Nyam

Abuja

Adamawa State ColTonhelective (ASC) has called delegates to the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary scheduled for next Saturday, September 6, in the state not to be bought by money.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Chairman of ASC, Mr. Musa Ayuba urged the delegates to collect monies that would be given to them by some of the aspirants that would want to induce them but should in the overall interest of the state vote for the candidate that can take the state out of the woods.

He said there was an unwritten gentleman agreement reached for a rotation between the Christians, (who are in the majority)

and Muslims in the state, lamenting that the agreement has been breached by some forces that do not mean well for the state.

He therefore urged delegates to cast their votes for Engr. Marcus Gundari, who is shoulder above all the other aspirants.

He further said that now that the sacrifice of the Christian majority has been taken forgrantedbysomeforces,the people may have no choice than to use their electoral strength to do what is most appropriate for the state.

The ASC Chairman noted that with the quantum of money at the disposal of some of the aspirants particularly Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and Modibbo, allegedly put at over N6billion, the delegates might be tempted to vote for the wrong candidate owing to monetary inducements.

L-R: Head, Lagos Office, Consumer Protection Council, Tam Tamunokonbia; grand prize winner, Johnson Nnemeka Agbo; Marketing Manager, PPS West Africa, Hewlett-Packard, Tolulope Lawani and Assistant Manager, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Kingsley Ogudu, at the prize presentation of the “Touch Anywhere Create Anything” campaign in Lagos

Community reaffirms commitment to Uduaghan’s administration Gabriel Choba

Ughelli

ku community in Ethiope Earea East local government of Delta state yester-

day staged a solidarity rally across the local government area to reaffirm their commitment and loyalty to the administration of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.

The community which embarked on the solidarity rally to show appreciation to Uduaghan over his numerous projects in the community, said there is no space for opposition political party in the com-

munity, adding that the Uduaghan’s government had done much for Eku community and it is their position to tell him thank you.

One of the community leaders and PDP stalwart, Chief Arthur Akpowowo who spoke on behalf of the people said the purpose for the solidarity rally was to show to their amiable governor that Eku community from their deep heart appreciates all the infrastructural development he has brought to the community.

“This appreciation is coming from Eku commu-

‘Aregbesola, a pace setter' Adeolu Adeyemo

Osogbo

he Ataoja Royal FamTfour ilies comprising the ruling houses in

Osogbo, Osun state capital yesterday described the achievements of governor Rauf Aregbesola in the last four years as outstanding and pace-setting.

The royal families which include Matanmi, Sogbo, Olahanmi and Olajomo in a communique made available to news-

men in Osogbo, pointed out that what he has been able to record as achievements since he emerged as the state governor would linger forever in the minds of those who appreciate the work of a genius.

They said with his various achievements, he has written his name in the Guinness book of record of achievements and charged new breed politicians to emulate his motivational way of politicking.

nity because of my governor’s tremendous developmental projects such as the bridge that linked Eku and Edo state which our forefathers had thought they could build then but could not but as l speak with you, the bridge is almost at the completion stage as approved by the Uduaghan led administration.

“Apart from the bridge, the primary and secondary schools in Eku community are wearing new faces and all these are handiwork of our amiable governor.

Also, after the secondary school was handed over to

the mission the community could not afford to pay the school fees, we again cried to the governor who magnanimously approved a public secondary school for us, which project has commenced, giving us both public and private schools" Akpowowo said.

CHANGE OF NAME

OLAJIDE

I formerly Fayose Segun Elijah now wish to be known and addressed as Fayose Oluwasegun Olajide Elijah.

Former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

OGANIRU AMAKA SOCIAL CLUB

The general public is hereby notified that the above-named church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Acts,1990.

The Trustees are: 1. Mr. Aginwa Geoffrey Anyaehie - Chairman 2. Mr. Nwabunwunne John Mmaduneka - V. Chairman 3. Mr. Akpa Leonard Echezona - General Sec. 4. Mr Ezeigbo Fredrick Okwudiri 5. Mr. Unigwe Sunday 6. Mr. Ezeogbo Luke 7. Mr. Alex Obinna Joseph 8. Mr. Ben Victor Emeka Aims and Objectives: 1. To promote unity, peace and progress amongst its members.

2. To promote friendly relationship and social activities amongst its members 3. To settle dispute amongst its members.

Any objection to this application should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Mr. Akpa Leonard Echezona General Secretary

50 WORLD | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Protesters storm Pakistan state TV station

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nti-government protesters stormed Pakistan's state television building yesterday, forcing the channel briefly off the air as they clashed with police and pushed closer to the prime minister's residence.

The violence comes as part of the mass demonstrations led by cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri and opposition politician Imran Khan that demand Prime Minister Nawaz Shar-

if resign. Over the weekend, clashes between protesters and security forces killed three people and wounded hundreds in running street battles in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad.

Yesterday, protesters and police clashed in various areas of the city's Red Zone, a sprawling complex of government buildings and grassy lawns in the center of Islamabad. The protesters, armed

with clubs and many wearing gas masks, hurled rocks at police. Five police officers, including a senior Islamabad police chief, and three protesters were taken to hospital, bleeding. The protesters made it to a gate that surrounds the prime minister's residence, where they were met by paramilitary Rangers and army troops.

They also stormed into the building of the Pakistani

state broadcaster, located in another area of the Red Zone, and forced the television briefly off the air. Inside the state TV building, the protesters moved through the corridors with sticks and clubs, smashing equipment as visibly nervous employees looked on. The rallies against Sharif constitute the biggest threat to his government after a little more than a year in office. Several rounds of nego-

tiations between representatives of Khan and Qadri and the government have failed to make any headway.

The two opposition leaders allege widespread fraud in the country's May 2013 election, in which Sharif's party won by a landslide.

International observers had found no evidence indicating rampant election tampering.

Sharif has refused to step down.

Libyan parliament reappoints PM as government loses grip

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Riot police in Tahir ul-Qadri.

Vacuum in Lesotho after coup

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olice were off the streets and out of uniform in Lesotho's capital yesterday, as the mountainous kingdom experienced a power vacuum after the military's actions over the weekend caused the prime minister to flee. King Letsie III is appointing a Cabinet minister to run the country as both the prime minister and deputy prime minister are in neighboring South Africa, Foreign Affairs Minister Mohlabi Kenneth Tsekoa said yesterday. It was not immediately clear who was named to run the nation of about 2 million that is completely surrounded by South Africa.

The military say they disarmed police in the capital, Maseru, Saturday. Prime Minister Thomas Thabane called the actions a coup attempt but Lesotho Defense Forces say they merely stepped in after getting information that police were planning to supply arms to participants in a demonstration. There was little evidence

of the conflict Monday in Maseru, but police at one of the attacked stations were walking in and out of the building in civilian clothes, not in uniform.

Experts expressed concern over who is running the country. "Personally I don't know who's leading the country now that the leaders are outside the country. So you could say that there is probably a vacuum," said Motlamelle Kapa, head of political studies at the University of Lesotho.

Residents said they are worried about their businesses and the future. "I am a businessman, I am working with guys from overseas, so now it is not easy for them to come here and invest. All the projects that I'm doing now they might not go on," said Hatahata Majora, who is self-employed. Lesotho, though a poor country, is known for manufacturing clothes, its hydropower projects and the provision of water to South Africa. Thabane said he fled to South Africa in fear

for his life and to consult with regional leaders there. Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing was put in charge, according to provisions in the constitution, but he is now in South Africa to attend the talks. President Jacob Zuma is meeting yesterday with Thabane and Metsing, according to the Nelson Kgwete a spokesman for South Africa's Department of International Relations.

Political tensions have been high between Thabane and Metsing and within the coalition government in the tiny kingdom since June when Thabane suspended parliament to dodge a vote of no confidence.

Thabane's All Basotho Convention party and Metsing's Lesotho Congress for Democracy formed a coalition with Thesele Maseribane's Basotho National Party after 2012 elections. Conflict has since simmered. Lesotho has seen a number of military coups since gaining independence from Britain in 1966.

ibya's parliament reappointed Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni yesterday as the government lost control of ministries in the capital where armed groups have taken over and a separate parliament has claimed legitimacy. In another sign of the oil producer sliding deeper into anarchy, Islamist militants launched a new attempt to seize Benghazi's civilian and military airport from army forces allied to a renegade general. At least eight soldiers were killed and 40 wounded, medics said.

The parliament that was elected in June moved to the remote eastern city of Tobruk last month as rival armed groups battled for Tripoli. An alliance led by forces from the western city of Misrata seized control of the capital last week. The reappointment of Thinni, a former defence minister and career soldier who

has been prime minister since March, sets him the challenge of reasserting government control over a country where many fear a descent into fullscale civil war. Parliamentary spokesman Faraj Hashem said 64 of the 106 representatives present had voted for Thinni and the house had instructed him "to form a crisis government within a period of time not exceeding two weeks".

U.S. Foreign Minister John Kerry called Thinni before his appointment to give his support, the Libyan government said in a statement. Both stressed the need for national dialogue and reconciliation, it added. In a stark illustration of the government's loss of control in Tripoli, a video posted online showed dozens of men, some armed, crowding around a swimming pool at an U.S. embassy building, with some diving in from a nearby building.

Pro-Russian rebels lower demands in peace talks

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ro-Russian rebels softened their demand for full independence yesterday, saying they would respect Ukraine's sovereignty in exchange for autonomy a shift that reflects Moscow's desire to strike a deal at a new round of peace talks. The insurgents' platform, released at the start of yesterday's negotiations in Minsk, the Belarusian capital, represented a significant change in their vision for the future of Ukraine's eastern, mainly Russian-speaking region.

It remains unclear, however, whether the talks can reach a compromise amid the brutal fighting that has continued in eastern Ukraine. Yesterday, the rebels pushed Ukrainian government forces from an airport near Luhansk, the second-largest

rebel-held city, the latest in a series of military gains.

The peace talks in Minsk follow last week's meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Petro Poroshenko. The negotiations involve former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma; Russia's ambassador to Ukraine; an envoy from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and representatives of the rebels. Yet similar talks earlier this summer produced no visible results.

Unlike the previous rounds, this time rebels said in a statement carried by Russia's state-run RIA Novosti news agency that they are willing to discuss "the preservation of the united economic, cultural and political space of Ukraine."

SPORT

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

T

Did you know?

ADEKUNLE SALAMI, DepUTY Editor, SPORTS

That Basketball first featured at the Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany in 1936

newtelegraphonline.com/sports

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

tuesday, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

Oboabona, five others hit Eagles camp

he Super Eagles camp for the Nations Cup qualifier against Congo Brazzaville opened on Monday night with Turkey based Godfrey Oboabona being the first foreign based player to arrive camp. He has been joined by Kunle Odunlami, Azubuike Egwueke, Gbolahan Salami, Chigozie Agbim and Solomon Osadunna.

Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, his assistants Daniel Amokachi,

Ajibade Olusesan

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NEW TELEGRAPH

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ormer Super Eagles winger, Tijani Babangida, has warned the national team players not to allow the crisis rocking the Nigeria Football Federation to affect them as they confront Congo and South Africa in the 2015 African Nations Cup qualifiers.

Nigerian football has been enmeshed in crisis in the last two months and pundits fear the development might affect the national team as they play their first matches since the 2014 World Cup. But Babangida in an interview with New Telegraph said he was sure the players would not concern themselves with what happens off the pitch.

He said that although the ugly development in Nigerian football was unfortunate and capable of derailing the team, he urged the players to remain professional and do their job.

“I don’t believe the crisis will affect the team. The players are professionals; they know that it is not in their place to bother about what is happening outside the football pitch. That is not to say that it is not unfortunate that we are having this kind of crisis with important tasks before us.

I expect the players to go all out and make Nigeria proud with good performance on Saturday,” he

Hyadounou Valere and Ike Shorunmu are also all in the team’s Transcorp Metropolitan Hotel in Calabar, with Keshi insisting that there is no time to waste before the game on Saturday.

He also revealed that he has granted team skipper, Vincent Enyeama, leave of absence from the two games against Congo and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana on September 10, because of press-

ing family issues. “Its better we excuse him, instead of bringing him down here without him concentrating for the game. I have asked him to sort himself out and he can join us in the future.

For now, there is no replacement for him because there is no time to do that” he said.

Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi, assured that all the players should be in camp by Tues-

day on time for the evening training session, even as the technical crew has mapped out a twice a day training schedule.

He revealed that almost all invited players except Enyeama are already in the country and would all arrive camp on Tuesday. The team will have its first training session on Tuesday morning at the Abraham Ordia soccer pitch inside the University of Calabar.

Oboabona

NFF crisis won’t affect Eagles – Babangida Babangida

said.

Eagles have been tipped to win their group and qualify for the tournament in Morocco next year, but Babangida insisted that it was not going to be easy.

“Of course, I expect Nigeria to qualify. We are the African champions and it is normal for us to go there and defend the title. But we don’t have to take things for granted, we have to avoid fire brigade approach and we must also give to the players what is due to them. We have to beat Congo in our first match with that it becomes easy. Although we always beat South Africa but going to play them away won’t be an easy thing. I expect us to win there though. Overall, I think Super Eagles will do well,” he said.

Giwa defies FIFA’s order, remains in NFF office

Osaze (left)

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Sanctity of Truth

Giwa defies FIFA’s order, remains in NFF office …says no more election Comfort Chukwu Abuja

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he crisis rocking the Nigeria Football Federation is far from being over as the factional president of the football body, Chris Giwa, on Monday defied FIFA’s order by insisting he won’t vacate the NFF secretariat in Abuja.

Giwa’s position is against the order of FIFA as contained in a letter sent to the football body on Friday. FIFA in the letter signed by General Secretary, Jerome Valcke, and addressed to NFF General Secretary, Musa Amadu, stated clearly that Giwa and his team should stop parading themselves as board members, adding that Nigeria will be sanctioned if Giwa remains in office on September 1 (Monday midnight).

“I remain the President of the NFF.

I am going nowhere. I want to tell every Nigerian to be calm and they should not listen to those people that are trying to bring their personal interest into Nigerian football,” Giwa said.

On FIFA’s letter sent to the NFF last week on the current crisis in Nigeria, the proprietor of Giwa FC said there was no cause for alarm.

He said; “I want to believe that letter is from FIFA and by the grace of God we are replying them. One thing I know is that we have received the letter and it has asked us to do somethings and certainly we are going to reply and present our position and we will do it today (Monday).

“I am confident that Nigeria Football Federation will not be sanctioned because I know FIFA as an organisation is not biased; FIFA will listen to everybody and the right

decision will be taken. I am confident that this is the last hurdle and by the grace of God it has already been crossed.”

Giwa also stated that there would be no other election on September 4 in Abuja, again contrary to FIFA’s position that elective congress should be held on that day.

“No,no,no there will never be an election on September 4 because we will never allow it and I repeat we will never allow anybody to mess up with the NFF, CAF and FIFA statutes no matter who the person thinks he is. I say this because election is not held under one week,” he said.

If the situation remains this way, FIFA may ban Nigeria and the Super Eagles could be the first casualty as the two Nations Cup qualifiers against Congo and South Africa will not hold.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Osaze to see specialist, feared long term injury lAs Iheanacho to get chance at Man City

Iheanacho (right)

Moyosore Makinde

S

uper Eagles striker, Osaze Odemwingie, will be seeing a specialist on Tuesday in London to confirm the extent of his cruciate knee ligament injury as the club fear a long term injury.

The former West Brom star collapsed with nobody around him at Manchester

FILA Bureau: Ebola threatens Igali’s election bid Ifeanyi Ibeh

D

aniel Igali’s dream of becoming a member of the FILA Bureau, the highest decision-making organ of the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles, has come under threat following Uzbekistan’s refusal to allow Nigeria’s contingent entry into their country for the World Wrestling Championships.

The World Wrestling Championships will run from September 8 to 14 in the Uzbekistani capital, Tashkent.

And the elections into the FILA Bureau will take place over the course of

the weeklong tournament with Igali keen to secure one of the six slots up for grabs in the 22-man decision-making organ of the world body.

But the former Olympic champion’s aspirations may not come to pass after the Uzbekistani government ordered that the Nigerian team, as well as that of Sierra Leone, should not be allowed into the country due to the recent outbreak of Ebola in parts of West Africa And Igali, who is also the president of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, has expressed his displeasure at the decision of the Uzbekistani government.

LOC invites 110 athletes for 2014 Obudu race Charles Ogundiya

A

total of 110 athletes will feature at this year Obudu race, the Local Organising Committee has revealed.

Rising from the meeting of the committee, it was agreed that 110 athletes will feature in the world-class mountain race based on their performances around the globe.

According to the LOC, the event shall feature children,

youth, media and VIP races on the first day of the competition while the main race will come up on the second day with the state governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, assuring of taking part in the VIP race.

The committee revealed that prizes and awards will be presented immediately at the end of each event to make the competition one of the most ICT-compliant in the history of the competition.

City on Saturday and was stretchered from the pitch but New Telegraph scooped that the specialist is expected to give a final verdict on the injury.

Meanwhile, Kelechi Iheanacho’s chances of featuring at Manchester City received a boost on Monday with the expected departure of Alvaro Negredo.

Sunday Mirror reports that if no replacement is signed for Valencia-bound Negredo then the club must be very confident of securing a work permit for Iheanacho in October.

As it stands now, Iheanacho is yet to fulfil the requirement of playing in the English Premier League as he isn’t qualified yet as he hasn’t played in 75 percent of Nigerian games in the past two years.

FIBA World Cup: Senegal record first win since 1998

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Argentina’s Federico Fernandez challenging Nigeria’s Michael Babatunde during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

South African coach eyes Nigeria upset Emmanuel Tobi

B

afana Bafana coach Ephraim Mashaba has revealed that his team is ready for an upset against the Super Eagles, while predicting a tough 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sudan and Nigeria.

Bafana Bafana will play Sudan in Omdurman on Friday before heading back home for a clash with Nigeria in Cape Town on September 10.

Mashaba spoke to the press on Monday shortly after taking the players through a regeneration exercise in the pool, the players are fresh from playing for their respective clubs over the weekend.

“I hear a lot of people say the coach is lucky because there’s no mandate.

There’s nothing like that. Once you are given the job, the mandate is automatic.

Nobody likes to lose. I do not want to be a losing coach even if I am building up a side. Yes we are looking at bringing in results as well against Sudan and Nigeria,” said Mashaba.

The Bafana coach added that: “There will never be enough time to prepare the team. You can get six weeks or six days it will not make too much of a difference.

Our players are playing football week in and week out and it’s not something new to go and play in other countries.”

He further stressed the team is ready for Nigeria considering that the bulk of the team that won the 2013 Nations Cup in South Africa also featured at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, while revealing he knows nothing about the Sudanese team.

enegal registered their first victory at FIBA’s flagship event since 1998 by knocking off Puerto Rico 82-75 at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Mouhammad Faye scored 20 points while Gorgui Dieng collected 18 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and two blocks for the African side which improved to 1-1 in Group B play in Sevilla.

“We are happy to win our first game at the World Cup,” said Senegal coach Cheikh Saar. “We are very humble and honoured to play in this competition.

Nobody expected us to at least win a game except us.

We have to be greedy, say we want more and be forwardlooking.”

Senegal lost all five games at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan, the last time they featured in FIBA’s flagship event. Their last win in the event dates back to 3 August 1998 when they beat Korea 75-72 in the 13th edition staged in Athens, Greece.

Senegal beat China 89-79 for their only win at the 1978 FIBA World Championship in Manila, Philippines.

SPORT | EURO FOOTBALL

Falcao joins Man United Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

53

lUndergoes medicals

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adamel Falcao arrived at Manchester United’s training ground to complete his season-long loan move from Monaco.

The 28-year-old underwent a medical and finalized the terms of his switch before the transfer window closed yesterday.

United will pay a £10 millionplus fee for the Colombia international, as well as a significant part of his £300,000-a-week sal-

Alonso targets Seedorf’s record

ary.

United are also expected to complete a deal for Ajax defender Daley Blind before the deadline which will take United’s total spending this summer to a figure close to £160m.

Manchester City appeared to be closing in on the signing of Falcao after the striker’s proposed move to Real Madrid fell through at the end of last week.

The Colombian, who required

X

abi Alonso has targeted winning the UEFA Champions League with a third different club - a feat only previously managed by Clarence Seedorf.

The Spanish midfielder joined Bayern Munich from Real Madrid last week, making his debut in Saturday’s 1-1 Bundesliga draw with Schalke.

Alonso won last season’s Champions League with Real, although he was suspended for the final victory over local rivals Atletico, and also lifted the trophy with Liverpool in 2005.

The 32-year-old says he intends to continue his impressive run in Europe’s elite club competion, and could equal the haul of Seedorf, who won the tournament with Ajax, Real and Milan.

“I’ve already won the Champions League with two teams,” he said at a press conference on Monday. “It’d be a dream come true to win it with a third.”

Chicharito

surgery to repair a damaged anterior cruciate ligament in January, was targeted by City as a replacement for Alvaro Negredo, who has agreed to join Valencia on loan.

Arsneal manager Arsene Wenger had also sanctioned a pursuit of Falcao with the same agreement as United have reached with Monaco.

Falcao(right)

Real confirm Chicharito signing

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eal Madrid have signed Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez on loan from Manchester United with an option to buy, the Spanish club have confirmed.

Hernandez will spend the 201415 season at the Santiago Bernabeu, after a deal was finalised on Monday.

An official statement from the European champions read: “Real Madrid C. F. and Manchester United have reached an agreement for the loan of

Javier Chicharito Hernandez, who will be at the club throughout this season. Real Madrid have the option to purchase the player.”

The signing of Hernandez adds further depth to a Real side bursting at the seams with attacking talent.

And while it is almost certain that the Mexico international will play a supporting role to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema

Messi to miss World Cup final rematch

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rgentina captain Lionel Messi will miss his country’s World Cup final rematch against Germany.

The two nations go head-tohead in an international friendly in Dusseldorf on Wednesday, less than two months after Mario Gotze’s extra-time goal gave Germany a 1-0 win in the World Cup final in Rio de Janeiro.

However, Barcelona star Messi will not take part after suffering a muscular injury in his club’s 1-0 La Liga victory over Villarreal on Sunday.

A statement from the Argentina Football Association read: “The player suffered a muscle strain in his right hamstring and needs rest as a precaution.”

Messi’s absence further undermines a game that will also be shorn of Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil, who has an ankle problem.

Ozil’s unavailability means Germany coach Joachim Low is without six players from the party that lifted the World Cup in Brazil.

Alonso

arlo Ancelotti apologised after Real Madrid’s loss to Real Sociedad and promised things would improve.

Suggestions that Real are lacking balance following the sales of Angel di Maria and Xabi Alonso were given further weight on Sunday as the European champions surrendered a two-goal advantage in a remarkable encounter on

Sunday.

But it was the opportunities spurned that proved most important as David Zurutuza’s double, backed up by goals from Inigo Martinez and Carlos Vela, earned Sociedad a remarkable 4-2 triumph.

Ancelotti was understandably frustrated afterwards, saying: “The match wasn’t easy. It was like two matches.

Remy excited to work with Mourinho

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Messi

Ancelotti apologises for disgraceful loss C

and James Rodriguez, the club’s packed fixture list could give him several chances to shine.

Hernandez has made just two appearances for United this season, both coming in defeats.

He started the club’s 2-1 opening-day loss to Swansea City at Old Trafford but was hauled off at half-time, and he did little to convince new United manager Louis van Gaal in last week’s shock 4-0 League Cup defeat to third-tier outfit MK Dons.

The first half-hour was easy.

We thought the match was over.

“We did not have a good defensive system to maintain our two-goal advantage. We defended very badly.

“We are very sorry. I am sorry. I don’t like seeing the team play like this. We must change our attitudes as well as our concentration.

oic Remy is excited to be working under his new manager Jose Mourinho after becoming Chelsea’s fifth addition of the summer, following the arrivals of Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas, Filipe Luis and Didier Drogba.

And the 27-year-old, who has made the short journey across west London from QPR, admits he is hoping to discover his best form under the Portuguese coach.

“I spoke with him (Mourinho),” Remy told the club’s official website after agreeing a four-year contract. “He is very clever and he knows exactly what he wants. He has targets for me and I know I have a target for myself as well.

“Everybody wants the best so the discussion was really good. I know he can get the best out of a player and I’m looking forward to working with him.”

The former Marseille striker knows he has work cut out to earn a place in Mourinho’s starting line-up following Costa’s impressive start to his Chelsea career.

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Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Martins: I’ve had so many sweet moments Obafemi Martins’ blinding pace and predatory instincts took him, at a young age, from the streets of Lagos, Nigeria, to the biggest stages of world football. Now approaching 30, he’s embarked on a new challenge in America with Seattle Sounders. He speaks with FIFA.com about the journey so far as he looks into the future.

Your second season in Major League Soccer is going a lot better than your first,with your goals and assists having led the Sounders to the top of the table.What’s been the difference?

Last year I joined the team after playing more than half a season in the Spanish top-flight with Levante. I had no rest.

It was too tight. I went from one season to another without a break. So I wasn’t able show what I could do. But this year I had a proper pre-season camp. I got settled and healthy, and it’s showing.

You’ve also carved out quite a partnership with USA icon Clint Dempsey.You have 21 goals and 14 assists between you this term.

Dempsey’s a serious player. We connect on the pitch. If I get the ball, he knows I’ll give him the right pass. I know the same, too, when he gets it. It’s not an easy thing to create a strong understanding in attack so quickly, but we are on the same page. The man knows the game and I respect that.

How would you say the still-young MLS measures up to some of the big leagues you’ve played in,like the Premier League,the German Bundesliga and Serie A? When you talk about those leagues in Europe, you’re talking about deep, long history. They have all the tradition that comes with years and years. So you can’t just compare a league like MLS to those leagues. It’s not fair.

What would you say about the American league’s status then?

It’s growing fast, maybe faster than any other league in the world. More teams are coming in all the time and players, friends of mine from Europe, want to come here now. You can see it getting better every year. And the fans in Seattle, they are some of the best I’ve ever seen.

You scored the winner in a League Cup final for Birmingham City,played at a World Cup, won Serie A with Inter Milan. Can you single out a highlight of your career?

It’s a tough question to answer. I’m always hunting for trophies and trying to get better. I have had so many sweet moments. I have sweet memories with all the teams I’ve played for. Newcastle was a great time for me and so was Spain Germany with Wolfsburg was also special, but my career is a story that’s still going on. When I finish playing and sit down with my grandkids, I can tell them a story that will have a lot of high-points, not just one.

You’ve been called to play for Nigeria only twice in the last three years. Do you think, considering your current form, a recall might be in order, maybe for next year’s African Cup of Nations?

I’m here and I’m Nigerian, so we’ll see if I get picked. I have no control over it. Every coach has his favourites. All I can say is that I’m playing good football in Seattle and I’m happy doing it. If I’m in the Nigeria team, great, and if I’m not, I wish them all the best. I always want Nigeria to do well.

When you look around the world you always

find Nigerians playing. I don’t think I can name a league where there aren’t at least a few Nigerians.

Why is this?

We don’t have the best domestic league system in Nigeria, but we do have some of the best players - too many talented players [laughs]. Go to Germany, Russia, Spain, Italy, wherever, and you’ll find Nigerians playing there. They might not be the big stars, but they’re out there showing what Nigerian football is all about. Nigerians love to play football and it’s not like here in the States where there’s American football, baseball, basketball. All we have is football in Nigeria. And we love it.

You started out on the streets of Lagos, playing for the love of the game. How did you get all the way to Europe’s biggest stages?

I started out just playing for fun, with my friends. I was spotted by a man named Churchill Oliseh, the older brother of former Nigeria captain Sunday Oliseh. I played in his team and he was a good man. He helped me out with food and support, because it wasn’t a professional situation at that time. And before I could blink, he told me I could go to Italy for trials. It seemed unreal.

Were you nervous?

I was nervous. But my parents said, ‘Why

not give it a go?’ Churchill looked at me and asked, ‘Do you want to play football or do you want to go to school?’ I wanted to play football, so off we went. I passed the trials and signed with a third division side, AC Reggiana. I did well with the youth team, made the first team and then was signed by Inter Milan – all in my first season! It happened so quickly I was dizzy, but I felt blessed.

Everyone knows about Obafemi Martins’ pace.

Your speed on the pitch is legendary. But you’re approaching 30 now, a normal age for a player to slow down. Have you had to change your game?

I’ve slowed down some and so I have to adapt the way I play. It’s fine, though, because I like to play with the ball, to have it at my feet. When it’s time to run and get up the pitch fast, I can still do that too, though [laughs].

We all know about your achievements as a footballer, but you’re quite the acrobat too. Tell us about the famous springing flips you do after scoring.

When did you start that?

Ah, since I was really young, back when I was 11 or 12 in Lagos. There was a sawdust pitch in the neighbourhood and we saw guys practicing tumbling, flipping like gymnasts. My friends and I thought it was cool so we started practicing it too. Our acrobatics were getting good at the same time we were getting better at football too. One of my friends said, ‘You should put the two together and do some flips when you score; it would be awesome.’ So that’s just what I did.

Did you ever think about a more conventional goal celebration?

When I started to flip as a professional in Europe, people couldn’t believe it. They never saw anything like it. When I started in Italy, I scored my first goal and flipped like crazy. The fans couldn’t get enough of it. They loved it so much they started talking more about my flips than the goals!

SPORT 55

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Sports Ministry to pay Keshi’s salary

Charles Ogundiya

S

ports minister and chairman National Sports Commission, Tammy Danagogo, has assured Nigerians that the ministry will pay the salary of Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi , until normalcy returns to the Nigeria Football Federation.

The minister while talking on a radio programme monitored in Lagos on Monday said, it was important to retain the coach for the sake of continuity.

According to him, the coach’s contract will be sorted out immediately the crisis in the football house is resolved.

“The ministry has guaranteed to pay his salary until the NFF is able to continue discussions with him. We all knew that the Aminu Maigari-led b o a rd failed to open discussion with Stephen Keshi, which led to the vacuum in the first place; it

was only when the Mike Umeh group came onboard that discussion was re-opened but they couldn’t agree on a salary.

“I spoke with Keshi and the NFF on the issue, the difference between what the coach was asking for and the amount the NFF was willing to pay was not

B

amount.

He said; “I can assure you Emmanuel Tobi that Keshi has come down considerably, I don’t want to anormer national Judo Champinounce how much, that will be on, Oteje Olugbenga Abel, has NFF’s responsibility. I can asconcluded plans to improve the sure you that when the crisis is standard of the sport through a settled, the Keshi issue will be clinic tagged ‘Gabel Youth Trainsorted out too.” ing Camp and Tournament’ while also sourcing for sponsors for the competition.

Oteje said the programme which had received the support lution after the conclusion of Duro Soleye Hospital and of their findings, while Nestle Food Plc, is opened to Juassuring that everyone indokas between the ages of six volved would be punished. and 13 years as the event would “We are still carrying out be run by three member jury our investigations, the inand twentyfour judo referees ter national doping agency is yet to come up with their while the training camp would findings, and I hope we will be handled by three established get their final report before coaches.

The gold medalist at the 2000 we conclude ours.

National Sports Festival in Bau“What happened was chi State said the event was open very unfortunate, that girl 13 to Judo clubs, state judo teams, was just 15, a very promprimary and secondary school ising star and we need to judo teams, and would motivate salvage the situation,” he Glasgow after winning a weightthe participants to channel their said. lifting gold in the 53 kg class on Speaking fur ther, he energies in positive ventures and July 25, and was subsequently said; “We are going to punish also to develop them to become stripped of the medal with the the people around her who world beaters.

World Anti-Doping Agency in“This tournament would should have detected it before vestigating how a teenager had complement government’s efwe travelled for the competiaccess to banned substances. forts on sports development tion or prevented her from getThe minister said they were since government alone cannot ting into the hands of people still investigating the incident fund sports,” he said. that will give her any banned and would come up with a resosubstance.”

F

Amalaha ban: Danagogo re-affirms sanction on coaches

Amalaha

Charles Ogundiya

D

r. Tammy Danagogo, the Sports minister and chairman National Sports Commission, on Monday, re-affirmed the intention of the ministry to punish those found culpable in weightlifter Chika Amalaha’s drug incident.

Amalaha failed a drug test in

Swiss teen Bencic stuns Jankovic

elinda Bencic became the youngest quarter-finalist at the US Open since her Swiss compatriot Martina Hingis won the title in 1997 with a 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 victory over ninth seed Jelena Jankovic.

The 17-year-old works with Hingis’ mother and former coach Melanie Molitor and the two are very close.

It was Bencic’s second victory over a top-10 player in a row after her third-round win against Angelique Kerber.

Speaking after that match, Hingis said of Bencic: “I think there is huge potential for her.

“I definitely think she can be top-five. She’s on the way to get there. How far, it’s up to her. Nobody can play the matches for her and win matches, win the tournaments.

“But she showed that she can win a big

something that could stop the two parties from reaching an agreement,” he said.

On the rumour that Keshi was asking for N15m to coach the national team while the NFF was only offering N5m, the minister said, the coach has come down to a reasonable

Oteje shops for Sponsors for Judo Youth Tourney

match when she has to.

Hopefully there will be more opportunities in the near future. Maybe here.”

Jankovic was the highest-ranked player left in the bottom half of the draw and that status now belongs to 10th seed Wozniacki.

In the last eight, Bencic will meet another unseeded player in China’s Peng Shuai, who reached her first slam quarter-final by beating 14th seed Lucie Safarova 6-3 6-4.

Bencic

US OPEN

Federer through to fourth round

R

oger Federer recovered from dropping his first set of the tournament to race into the fourth round of the US Open.

The second seed made a slow start in a match interrupted by a thunderstorm but was hugely impressive thereafter in beating Spaniard Marcel Granollers 4-6 6-1 6-1 6-1.

Federer came into this tournament in superb form and had not been tested in his opening two matches so it was a big surprise when he only won one point in the first three games.

At 5-2 to Granollers, the players were taken off because of the threat of lightning and a few minutes later a torrential downpour began.

When they returned it was to the odd scene - certainly for Federer -

of a virtually empty Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The 33-year-old said: “I enjoyed it. I thought it was a good match and I’m

happy I was able to come back and turn it around.

Marcel started really on fire. The break helped me and I came out and played

Bryan brothers in quarter finals

A

Federer

some great tennis.

“I felt he was in trouble, also. It’s not very often that him and me are tired like this after two hours.”

mericans Bob and Mike Bryan advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open doubles Monday, downing countrymen Bradley Klahn and Tim Smyzek 6-3, 7-6 (5).

The 36-year-old Bryan brothers, the world’s top-ranked doubles team, have yet to drop a set through their first three matches. They capped the victory with their trademark chest bump.

In a career of milestones, the Bryans are pursuing their 100th career doubles title together. They hold a record 15 Grand Slam tournament titles, including four U.S. Opens, but have not won one since Wimbledon 2013.

A win at the U.S. Open would give them at least one Grand Slam tournament title for a record 10 straight years.

World Record

On Marble

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.

Sanctity of Truth

– Anais Nin

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

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

Gabrielle Turnquest (UK) was the youngest person to be called to the bar in 600 years and at just 18. She started her first degree at the age of 14, graduating two years later.

N150

What NATO’s Newport summit means for Nigeria

M

ost Nigerians might struggle to see any significance in Newport, the Welsh former industrial backwater that straddles the brown-watered River Usk. But though it seems far removed, events in the city this week could have a direct impact on Nigeria and the world: Newport hosts the annual summit of NATO, the Atlantic defence alliance.

The NATO summit will be dominated by the rumbling Ukraine crisis, with leaders – including US President Barack Obama – likely issuing a stern rebuke to Russia for meddling in its neighbour’s affairs. But other security issues will be on the agenda, including the sharp rise of the Islamic fanatics ISIS in Syria and Iraq, and broader questions about how much each NATO member should spend on defence.

Why should this matter for Nigeria?

Because the NATO summit takes place at a time when global security is particularly precarious, with leaders slowly recognising the connections between instabilities in different regions.

For example, take ISIS (or Islamic State, or IS, or whatever it is calling itself this week). The group has rampaged across the old Levant with a monomaniacal savagery that surpasses Boko Haram in its bloodlust. Indeed, there is even talk of the two Al-Qaeda affiliated armies linking up to declare a joint African and Asian caliphate.

The two terror threats have something else in common: their rise has left the establishment flat-footed. Both Nigeria and its neighbours fighting Boko Haram, and Iraq, and the Western allies combating ISIS look bewildered as they scramble to forge an effective strategy to fight these armed extremists.

For NATO, this is partly an existential issue: since the end of the Cold War almost a quarter of a century ago, it has wrestled with the question of what it should be defending itself against, and how much it should even be putting into its military.

Many European nations like to believe they are living in a post-conflict era in which business and diplomacy would replace primitive battlefield dramas. Now they are slowly coming to remember why they still need their collective security.

Nigeria and Africa have no defence association like NATO. The 55-member African Union is slowly developing capabilities to intervene to prevent and manage conflict across the continent, but its collective security apparatus is woefully underresourced. The AU has been conspicuous in its absence against Boko Haram, and the intervention of military support from the US and France has proved a more significant outside addition to the fight.

World View LEO CENDROWICZ Brussels Bureau Chief, New Telegraph

The two terror threats have something else in common: their rise has left the establishment flat-footed

NATO Headquarters, Belgium

sometimes expresses itself as outright terrorism.

The NATO summit is thus a test of resolve. Does the West still stand for something? Are America and Europe ready for fight for the values and interests they keep bleating on about? And are they ready to embrace and support others fighting similar battles, including Nigeria? Let’s hope they have some clear answers.

OMOBABA

NATO Sec-Gen, Anders Fogh Rasmussen

Boko Haram leader, Shekarau

Authorities still need to respond to radical Islamism. Any strategy has to be backed up by the resolve to set clear and forceful lines. It means there can be no compromise with those that choose to operate outside the accepted norms of the international community – and of humanity. And it means following through: statements of intent quickly become empty words if they are not met with real measures.

When it comes to extremists, the response also matters because the poison of violent, radical Islam can infect. Left unchallenged, it can spread, overcoming those people and communities whose will is already weakened by a misguided sense that modern life has somehow let them down.

And when the world fails to respond, it emboldens them. Even though decent society is repulsed by the Grand Guignol antics of ISIS and Boko Haram, they still somehow manage to recruit: Europe has been aghast at recent stories of local Moslem youths packing up and joining the fight, relishing the chance to bathe in the blood of decapitated infidels.

And for those who say we should not regret the departure and demise of society’s rejects, it is worth bearing in mind how much their sense of mission involves a malice towards civilisation that does not conform with their twisted, medieval authoritarianism. Indeed, many jihadists coming back to their former homes are infused with a destructive agenda that

2015: NOBODY CAN STOP JONATHAN – Asari Dokubo

– Yes, only the electorate!

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