Binder1 sept 4, 2014

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS Thursday, September 4, 2014

Vol, 1 No. 198

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New York Times grants New Telegraph exclusive licence in historic deal lInsertion of publication starts October 6 Biodun Durojaiye

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he New York Times (NYT), one of the most reputable newspapers across the globe, has granted the New Telegraph an

exclusive licence to print and distribute its international publication in Nigeria every week for the next three years, starting from October 6.

The deal, the first of

its kind by NYT with any newspaper organisation in Africa, entails the New Telegraph carrying a 12page insert of the International New York Times, produced by chief corre-

spondents and editors of NYT, every Monday for the next three years.

The insert will be a cobranded weekly section in the New Telegraph, in the layout and typography of

the New York Times domestic edition. It shall be composed of news coverage, commentary, colour photos and graphics about the United States, world affairs, business, culture and

social trends.

The New York Times is an American daily newspaper, founded and continuously published in New York City since September CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Boko Haram: I’m ready for probe, says Sheriff lNigeria, allies seek help to stop terrorist group lPDP counters APC's accusations Onyekachi Eze and Wale Elegbede

The Federal Government yesterday directed the Minister of Education to review downward, the resumption of schools nationwide. }6

F

ormer Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, yesterday offered himself for probe over allegations that he is one of the sponsors of Boko Haram.

The governor, at a news conference in Abuja, professed his innocence just as he did in an exclusive interview he granted New Telegraph, which was published on Tuesday.

Also yesterday, Nigeria called on the international community to offer more assistance to West Africa in fighting Boko Haram, saying the fight against terrorism is a global task that should not be left to either a country or a regional to do alone.

Yesterday's news conference by Sheriff came barely 24 hours after the All Progressives Congress (APC) pointedly told PresiCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Divorce: My marriage to Oyakhilome has irretrievably broken down –Anita }5 FIFA sets Sept 8 deadline for NFF

L-R: Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Prof. Ade Adefuye; British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Pocock and US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, at a meeting on security in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Navy accuses IOCs of oil theft in Nigeria LAGOS

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Quick Read Ebola: Schools may reopen before October 13

Emmanuel Onani

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hief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, yesterday accused International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria of being involved in the theft of the

nation’s crude oil.

The Navy boss disclosed this at a meeting with the top leadership of the Navy and chief executive officers of the IOCs in Abuja.

He said that the Navy would not pretend about the involvement of the oil

companies in the crude oil theft.

Jibrin said it took him seven-and-a-half months to call the first meeting between the Navy and the oil firms since his appointment to discuss issues of concern in the oil sector,

which included oil theft and illegal bunkering.

He also explained that he made it clear that the MD/CEOs should attend the meeting in person without representation because of the need to disCONTINUED ON PAGE 3

FIFA have set a September 8 deadline for the NFF to get their house in order, otherwise Nigeria will be automatically suspended.

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Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

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2015: We'll ensure violence-free elections, says IGP Emmanuel Onani

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he Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Suleiman Abba, has assured of the police readiness to ensure a violence-free 2015 elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has since announced February 14, 2015, as date for Presidential and National Assembly elections, even as it fixed February 28 for governorship and Houses of Assembly

polls.

Abba gave the assurance in Abuja yesterday, shortly after decorating 37 newly-promoted Commissioners of Police (CPs) with their new ranks.

He noted that the force has since commenced the

training and re-training of its personnel, to acquaint them with realities of policing in the present age.

The IGP said, as Chairman of the Election Planning Committee, before his elevation, he had fashioned out strategies to en-

L-R: Member, House of Representatives, Mr. Peter Biye; former Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bakari Yerima, at a press conference by Sheriff in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Navy accuses IOCs of crude oil theft in Nigeria CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

cuss the issues, which he described as “worrisome” but the request was disregarded.

The Naval chief said that some of the oil firms had deliberately left the manifolds of their oil wells open for years without any conscious efforts to close them in spite of the fact that only experts had the capacity to reopen closed manifolds.

He presaged that the Navy would ensure the arrest of operators of oil firms who decided to leave the manifolds of their oil wells open for years without closing them.

Jibrin also threatened to deal with any Naval officer found to have been involved in the criminal theft of the nation’s oil resources in accordance with the laws guiding the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

He warned that the Navy would go beyond accusing the firms to mentioning names of stakeholders suspected to be involved in the theft of the nation’s resources.

The Navy boss wondered why the oil chiefs had not given the expected cooperation in the bid to seek a concerted solution to the raging issue of oil

theft.

He said that the time had come for the oil firms and the security agencies to seek the solutions to the issue of oil theft in the country.

Jibrin said: “We have a serious challenge and we need the commitment of the CEOs to discuss in regards to oil theft. It has become worrisome that we have not been able to check the issue of oil well.

It has gotten to a point that instead of pointing accusing fingers we will mention names including the major stakeholders.

“We cannot pretend that the oil companies do no not have a hand in some of these illegalities; pretending is to allow it to continue. We will not pretend. I can start by citing some examples; for some companies that their oil wells are open for years and have done nothing to close them up… Because of the technical nature of the manifolds, once they are closed, only the experts can open them. Why have they been left opened for years?

“I have pictures here, I can pass it round for you to have a look at them. Why is it that all of us cannot sit down at a roundtable

and provide a solution?

Why are we denting the image of this country? It has come to a point that we would meet, discuss and provide solution to issues pertaining to oil theft.

“Government is worried and those of us that are agents of government are also worried. On my part, if any of my personnel is involved, they will be dealt adequately in accordance to the existing law of the Armed Forces.

“I have decided that I will take some steps that if the manifolds are left open for years and our attention is drawn to the need for it to be closed, the oil company who owns it and left it without taken appropriate actions, we can look for them and start arresting them.”

He said that the government was taking the issue of oil theft seriously because of the loss of revenue and the inimical effect of oil theft on the environment.

Speaking on behalf of the IOCs, the Chairman of the Oil Producer Trading Services, Mr. Ayobami Olubiyi, said that the companies had also taken steps to curb the threat of oil theft.

He recalled that the Federal Government set up an ad hoc committee on the issue with some funds released to address the pressing issue some months ago.

Olubiyi said that the men of Nigerian Navy were involved in securing the operations of the oil firm in the Niger Delta and Lagos.

Olubiyi said: “I want to assure you that concerning oil theft, we have taken a lot of steps. That is why in the last couple of months, an ad hoc committee was set up by the Federal Government to look into this and I am aware that some monies have been released to help curtail this situation.

“We will continue to advocate for a true platform and as you are aware, we have a number of your officers and men that have been supporting our operations in the Delta including Lagos.

They have been very professional in the way and manner they carry out this operation and together with CNS, I am sure we will all be able to work to ensure that, we mitigate this very unfortunate situation in our country today.”

sure adequate security for voters as well as the electoral process.

His words: "You know too well that we have a lot of national assignments, aside from those that we perform daily, which is 24 hours. The national election is just around the corner.

"We have already commenced implementing our strategies for safety and security for the elections, and I am glad as chairman of the planning committee before now, to say we are on course.

"We also have staggered elections in some places and any other national assignment that will come up. If for any reason you find it necessary to make recourse to me on any issue, I urge you to make it 24 hours a day."

While reminding the CPs of the need to justify their promotion, Abba said: "The achievement of this expectation will be the yardstick for your assessment. There is no better assessment of a policeman or a police organisation, than its ability to control crime; it is not about how many ranks you are decorated with or how much wealth you have acquired.

"I must also say that there are other expectations. The public will ex-

pect you to be accountable.

They want you to be accountable for how you exercise your powers. They also expect you to control the level of corruption.

These are expectations that I will like the CPs to discharge creditably well.

"You must also take the issue of the welfare of your personnel very seriously so that that influence you are supposed to give to make sure that they perform will be there.

"The government that we serve, and the government that also services us expects you to live up to these expectations. If there is no safety of lives and property in the society, there is no way there can be any real development," he argued.

Also yesterday, the IGP declared open a one-day workshop on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Abuja, The police chief, who stressed that responsibilities of security operatives put them at risk of contracting the EVD, noted: "The Nigeria Police Force can be said to be vulnerable to this kind of threat.

Security operatives the world over control outbreaks and enforce quarantine measures. So, a proper knowledge of EVD is necessary for us all."

2015: Anenih, Gana, Aliyu in closed-door meeting Dan Atori MINNA

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s countdown to the 2015 general election draws closer, the chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, and former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Prof.

Jerry Gana, yesterday led a high-powered delegation of the party to Niger State where they met behind closed door with Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu.

Although the motive and outcome of the meeting which lasted for about two hours was not made public, New Telegraph learnt that the visit of the PDP chieftains may not be unconnected with plans to mobilise support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid in 2015.

The visit of the five-man delegate, our correspondent further gathered in Minna, was partly to keep the party abreast of what transpired during the Niger East senatorial

by-election which was inconclusive, leading to a rescheduled election in four wards.

A source said the team were also in the state to prepare ground ahead of the North Central zonal rally of Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN).

Anenih, Gana and three others had arrived Government House at about 10a.m. on Wednesday and went straight to the Governor’s Office where they held a meeting which lasted till 12noon before their departure to Abuja.

The PDP helmsmen's visit, the source said, is also in line with the party’s belief in continued dialogue with key stakeholders to ensure that the party speaks with one voice ahead of the 2015 general election to usher in the next dispensation.

It was further learnt that the visit by the PDP delegation was part of continued dialogue to ensure that Aliyu is integrated into the mainstream of the ruling party.

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Thursday, September 4, 2014

Nigeria, allies seek help to stop Boko Haram CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

dent Goodluck Jonathan to hand over Sheriff and a former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika, to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for prosecution for their alleged links to Boko Haram.

Besides, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fired back at the APC over its accusations, saying the opposition party cherry picked from the statement purportedly made by the Australian investigator, Dr. Stephen Davis, to absolve itself of blame for allegedly promoting insurgency in the country.

Sheriff, repudiated allegations of any link to Boko Haram, saying rather than being a sponsor, he is “one of the greatest victims of the atrocities of the Boko Haram sect.”

He stated that because he did not allow the sect to operate in Borno State during his tenure, they were driven by a desire for vengeance against him, members of his family and political associates.

He said: “From the number of causalities amongst my relations and political associates it is evident that I suffered considerable personal loss from the crisis.”

He listed those killed

to include his younger brother, Goni, the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) state chairman the late Alhaji Awana Ngala, the party's gubernatorial candidate in the 2011 election, the late Mr. Modu Fannami Gubio, Alhaji Mustapha Fulawama and Bukar Goni Kolo, who were the former governor's friends.

He doubted the identity of the Australian, wondering why he could not turn in his findings to the Federal Government who engaged him or speak to any of the Nigerian media, “but rather sneaked out to purportedly speak to a third rate television station, ARISE.” Sheriff added that the fact that the face of Davis was not shown in all the three interviews he granted cast a doubt on the genuineness of his intention.

While dismissing the insinuations that he formed Boko Haram to achieve his political ambition,

the former governor said Boko Haram predated his government because the founder, the late Mohammed Yusuf, was a member of Borno State Sharia Law Implementation Committee set up by his predecessor, Alhaji Mala Kachallah, in February 2001.

“I have no association with any terrorist anywhere. I have never met the group. I cannot be a sponsor of a group I have not met before. I don’t have foot soldiers, as they alleged.

"My name has been mentioned for political reasons over the attacks of Boko Haram. I have been accused unfairly in connection with Boko Haram since I left office.

“For the records, let me state categorically that I do not share the same ideology with Boko Haram. For the records, the late leader of Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf, once named me, Umaru Yar’Adua and some other leaders as targets. He

boasted he would deal with all of us," the former governor added.

According to Sheriff, the pattern of killings by the sect members makes it easy to conclude that the sect had become captive of some political forces bent on settling scores with the defunct ANPP that had ruled Borno State since 1999.

He blamed the difficulty in tackling the menace of the sect on the geographical location of Borno State coupled with the relatively poor socio-economic status of neighbouring countries.

He added that because Borno State shares borders that are porous with three countries, it has been easy for dissidents, some of who were engaged in fighting in Chad since the 1980s, to enter Nigeria and become part of the insurgents.

He stated that the campaign against him became more strident after he decided to leave the APC for

the PDP, adding that he is not deterred by his resolve to take Borno State to main stream politics.

Also reacting to the APC's accusations, the PDP said the opposition party was merely using Davis' statement to defend itself.

The party in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, described as shocking and worrisome the accusation by the APC. “Oyegun’s statement rather than exonerate the APC has reinforced and underscored its true identity as a party of desperate politicians supportive of violence and disunity through their utterances and body language, a fact that is already well known to all Nigerians.

“In trying to stand the truth on its head, Oyegun has succeeded in further exposing the desperation of the APC to launder its image through renewed CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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L-R: Chairman, Board of Trustees, Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria, Prof. Idowu Sobowale; Mr. Eric Osagie, representing former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and Director General, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Alhaji Ladan Salihu, during the inaugural conference of the association in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

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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

18, 1851. It has won 112 Pulitzer Prizes, more than any other news organisation in the world.

Also as part of the deal, the New Telegraph will display a PDF version of each issue of the insert on the newspaper’s website, http://www.newtelegraphonline.com, for a period of no more than 14 days following the first publication.

Commenting on the historic deal, the Publisher of New Telegraph, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, said: “Nigerians, much like those actors

in the emerging world, live and engage within a 24hour, seven days a week information cycle.

“However and similar to many of the said actors, we have so too often fallen victim in years past to such insight being filtered by the agendas of few; those who would seek to shape the perception of national and global events.

Conversely, the New Telegraph has subscribed to offering factual, bipartisan and unadulterated political and economic insight in order to keep our audiences informed and en-

gaged, a mantra no doubt shared with our new partners at the International New York Times.

“We look forward to the unique value that the team behind ‘The Gray Lady’ will bring to our organisation and to our readerships via their international offering each week.

“On behalf of the dedicated and effective team at the New Telegraph newspaper, we look forward to future endeavours and shared next steps with our colleagues at the International New York Times.

Our readers, Nigeria’s

true decision-makers, will reap the benefits of a broadsheet determined to bring the very best and brightest each week and every day.”

The New Telegraph newspaper is one of the most widely read daily newspapers in Nigeria.

Published simultaneously from three locations – Lagos, Abuja and Aba – the New Telegraph has, within months of its debut, become arguably the nation’s most authoritative newspaper in business and politics reporting.

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

Thursday, September 4, 2014

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Divorce: My marriage to Oyakhilome has irretrievably broken down –Anita Mojeed Alabi

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he divorce crisis between the Founder and President of the Believers Love World (aka Christ Embassy), Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and his estranged wife, Pastor Anita, has grown messier, with Anita saying that the relationship is irreconcilable.

Investigation by New Telegraph has revealed that Pastor Anita has confided in her legal counsel, the United Kingdom-based law firm- Attwaters Jameson Hill Solicitors, that the relationship had degenerated beyond redemption, and that she was prepared to move on in life having filed her divorce papers.

In an exclusive interview yesterday with the law firm’s Business Development Manager, Stephen Goddard, New Telegraph was told that the matter was presently before a competent court in the UK and that based on the instruction given by its client, the law firm would not be willing to drag the matter further in the news but to continue pursuing the case as instructed.

According to Goddard, Pastor Anita, who is presently based in the UK and Vice President of Christ Embassy, is no longer interested in the marriage and that the divorce case filed in the court was only to formally end the relationship, which had produced two daughters – Sharon and Charlyn.

In a mail forwarded to New Telegraph yesterday by Goddard, the law firm had written: “It is with great sadness that our client, Pastor Anita Oyakhilome, has come to the conclusion that her marriage to Pastor Christian Oyakhilome has irretrievably broken down and regrettably there is no hope of any reconciliation. We can confirm that Pastor Anita Oyakhilome has commenced divorce proceedings in London as she resides in the UK.” It would be recalled that an online news platform, TheCable, had last week broken the story of the divorce, which instantly unsettled the church with accusations and counteraccusations flying in the air.

Anita had accused her husband of “adultery” and “unreasonable behaviours” as her grounds for seeking the divorce. But in

his reaction, the husband has refuted the claim, saying his wife was only being insincere and that the real cause of the disagreement was based on Anita’s quest to lord it over some church elders, which he said he refused.

Anita, through her lawyers, was said to have filed the divorce case with Suit No FD14D01650, on April 9, 2014 at Divorce Section A, Central Family Court, First Avenue House, High Holborn, London, UK. However, members of the various branches of the church have been tasked to commit the situation to prayers with pastors giving express command to their members to seek God’s intervention in the matter as their prayer point.

According to two members of the Ogba branch in Ikeja Area of Lagos, who simply identified themselves as Michael and Olakunle, their Zonal Pastor, Yinka Okunnusi, during the Sunday service, had charged them to pray for the overseer’s troubled family.

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

According to Michael, members had noticed that there was something fishy about two weeks ago when Anita, who was supposed to anchor the yearly Youth Love World Awards via projector, had been absent and was represented by “a strange lady”, who introduced herself as Ose Oyakhilome. “I had never seen her before that day,” Michael stated.

He continued: “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 the website. And yesterday, a church member claimed that the couple had been apart for close to 15 years.”

But speaking from the altar last Sunday, Okunnusi confirmed the ongoing divorce case having been informed by the Lagos Zonal Head, who was simply identified as Pastor Lanre. And he offered prayer which lasted for about 15 minutes before the closure of the Sunday service.

“We’re not the only

branch praying against this, pray that God should intervene,” Okunnusi urged.

It was also alleged that Pastor Chris had hith-

erto given inkling into the breakup of his marriage, when in a speech he reportedly gave on May 16, 2014, at the church branch in Bermondsey, UK, say-

ing: “Some pastors’ wives think when they marry a pastor they are equal to the pastor. My wife thinks so, as a matter of fact, Rev. Tom was her pastor before

I married her and Rev. Ray and Evang. Owase were her leaders long before I married her. How come she thinks she's senior to them now?”

Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido (right), during the inspection of Dutse International Airport, Dutse…yesterday.

Another Ebola patient dies in Rivers lLate doctor's sister tests positive l296 now under surveillance Appolonia Adeyemi and Emmanuel Anule

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inister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, yesterday confirmed that a female patient who earlier tested positive to the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has died while another female tested positive to the virus.

The eighth death from EVD is a female patient who was on admission in the same hospital where the late Port Harcourt doctor, Dr. Ike Enemuo, was also admitted.

Dr. Enemuo’s wife and sister are down with the virus having contracted the infection from the late doctor.

Dr. Enemuo died on August 22 after he had treated an ECOWAS Commission official who jumped surveillance in Lagos and travelled to Port Harcourt where he infected the doctor who attended to him.

This brings the total number of death from EVD to seven while those who have tested positive so far have increased from 17 to 18, the 18th being sister to the late Dr. Enemuo.

According to a statement from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), signed by the Special Assistant on Media and Communication to the Minister of Health, Dan Nwomeh, the latest death was a patient at the isolation ward in Port Har-

court (the female patient who was on admission in the same hospital where the late Port Harcourt doctor was also admitted).

Listing the deaths from EVD so far, he said: “Total number of deaths from Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria is now seven. One, the index case, occurred in a private hospital in Lagos; four in the Lagos isolation ward, one in the Port Harcourt isolation ward (the female patient who was on admission in the same hospital where the late Port Harcourt doctor was also admitted), while another one was the doctor who was infected by the ECOWAS Commission official in Port Harcourt and who did not come under the care and management of the Incident Management Committee.”

Chukwu, who had earlier briefed FEC on the status of the Ebola epidemic in the country, said only two patients were being treated in Lagos and Port Harcourt.

The Health Minister also gave a weekly report to the Council on the Ebola disease brought to Nigeria by the late LiberianAmerican Patrick Sawyer in July.

He said that there are presently 296 contacts under surveillance in the country.

The 296 under surveillance, he said, include 255 in Port Harcourt, Rivers

State and 41 in Lagos State.

According to him, after three weeks of surveillance in Lagos State, government decided to remove 320 persons from surveillance list in the state.

He said Enugu is completely free from the disease. The minister stated that the nurse who initially left surveillance in Lagos and went to meet her husband in Enugu are completely free from the disease.

"As at yesterday morning, the total confirmed cases of Ebola in Nigeria is 18 including the index case, Patrick Sawyer. Fourteen of the cases were recorded in Lagos while four were recorded in Port Harcourt,” the minister stated.

Chukwu noted that those who have been managed and discharged are eight while seven deaths have been recorded from the disease in Nigeria.

The minister also refuted media reports stating that 60 Ebola contacts were missing in Port Harcourt.

He said Abuja and Calabar have no case of the disease, saying that the test result of the Ahmadu Bello University student in Zaria, Kaduna State is being awaited to confirm investigations carried out on him..

Those who have treated him, he said, have not seen symptoms of Ebola.

Speaking on the ECOW-

AS staff, Olu-Ibukun Koye, who jumped surveillance and took the virus to Port Harcourt, the minister said: "One is that presently he doesn't have the virus in his blood now so he cannot infect other people but he has high antibodies which are just showing that he had the disease.

Also, a British nurse infected with Ebola while working in Sierra Leone was discharged from a London hospital yesterday after recovering from the disease following treatment with the experimental drug ZMapp, according to AFP. Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared that more than 1,900 people have died in the Ebola epidemic sweeping through West Africa – all in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone Margaret Chan told a news conference in Washington that 3,500 confirmed or probable cases of Ebola have been reported in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia as of this week. The death toll from this outbreak is now higher than in all the previous epidemics since the disease was first detected in 1976.

The latest figures Wednesday show that the deaths are mounting fastest in Liberia, which now accounts for at least 576 of the deaths.

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Thursday, September 4, 2014

Ebola: Schools may reopen before October 13 lRights commission threatens to prosecute proprietors Anule Emmanuel and Tunde Oyesina Abuja

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he Federal Government yesterday directed the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, to convene an emergency meeting of the National Council on Education (NCE) to review downward, the resumption of primary and secondary schools nationwide.

Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, told State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting that government, based on advice from a team of experts,

was looking at reviewing the October 13 resumption date early fixed for schoolchildren to go back to classes.

The NCE, comprising the minister and the commissioners for education in the 36 states of the federation, had at a meeting last month, directed both public and private primary and secondary schools to remain shut until October 13 to enable the Federal Government contain the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) contagion.

Chukwu, who was joined at the briefing by Ministers of Information, Labaran Maku Transport, Umar Idris, National Plan-

ning, Abubakar Suleiman and Power (State), Mohammed Wakil, hinted that the schools might resume by middle of September.

The minister spoke just as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) warned school authorities against violating the extant school resumption date determined by the Federal Government or they would be prosecuted.

He explained that the decision to review the extension of the school resumption date was based on the recommendation of experts set up by government to look at the resolution, who advised that based on the efforts by

the government to contain EVD, it was safe for pupils to resume earlier than the October 13 date.

In another development, the NHRC said it will prosecute any school proprietor that violates the October 13 resumption date for primary and secondary schools.

Speaking at a one-day public awareness on the rights of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) held in Abuja, the NHRC Executive Secretary, Prof.

Bem Angwe, said the commission will ensure that schools comply with the directive of the Federal Government on October 13 resumption date, in the interest of Nigerian chil-

dren.

While assuring that the NHRC will continue to live up to its expectation in the protection of people’s rights against violation, he warned against stigmatisation and discrimination against PLWHA. According to the NHRC boss, it is a violation of the rights of people living with the virus if they are discriminated against or stigmatised.

On the EVD, Angwe said anybody suspected to be affected by the virus and kept in any of the isolation

FG blacklists firm over abandoned power project Anule Emmanuel Abuja

T

Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Zainab Maina, with Founder, Body Enhancement Foundation, Ms. Modupe Ozolua, during a visit to the minister in Abuja.

centres and break away will be prosecuted, because such action amounts to violation of the rights of other people.

Also speaking at the workshop, the Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Prof. John Idoko said stigma and discrimination are the major factors responsible for the spread of HIV/AIDS. Idoko said stigmatising and discriminating against PLWHA amounts to destroying the fabrics of the society.

he Federal Government has blacklisted Techno Electric & Engineering Company and its directors from executing any contract in the country.

The decision came as a result of the firm's failure to continue and complete a power project located in Ebonyi State.

Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil, who briefed State House correspondents yesterday after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting said Techno Electric abandoned an electricity project in Ebonyi State where it was expected to provide Engineering Design, Manufacture, Supply, Installation, Testing and Com-

missioning of 2X60MVA, 132/33KV at Amasiri and 2X132KV Line Bays Extension at Abakaliki after it had collected 15 per cent mobilisation fee.

According to the power minister, the FEC in taking the decision to blacklist the firm, re-awarded the contract with the same scope in favour of Messrs North China Power Engineering Limited and NCEP (Nig) Limited at the sum of $5.835million.

Wali explained that the power project is designed to boost power supply to Ebonyi and parts of Cross River as well as enhance socio-economic development in the state.

He said that funding for the project would be sourced from Eurobond loan and the 2014 budget.

Boko Haram: PDP counters APC's accusations CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

propaganda and blackmail, a project which has already failed”, the PDP said.

It wondered why the APC would choose to be silent on the revelation

by Davis that some people opposed to President Goodluck Jonathan used their connections to Boko Haram to frustrate his efforts if not to achieve the self-serving purpose of exonerating the party.

PDP also said the opposition party chose to ignore some of the revelations made in Davis’ interview concerning Boko Haram's funding and sponsorship, apparently because they were favourable to the opposition party.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government yesterday urged more support from the international community to ensure Boko Haram does not establish fresh links with other terrorist

networks in the Sahel, especially with the self-styled Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, said at a one-day ministerial meeting on security in Abuja that the government was intensifying efforts at sharing intelligence and information on the operations of the terrorists with concerned countries.

The meeting, which had in attendance the foreign ministers of Benin, Cameroun, Chad and Niger, also had representatives of African Union (AU), European Union (EU), United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC), among others gracing the occasion.

Wali stated that beyond the military campaigns in the North-East, Nigeria had undertaken a comprehensive and critical review

of the socio-economic conditions in the zone as part of efforts to combat terrorism.

He listed the efforts to include the launch of a Presidential Initiative in the North East (PINE) and the Victims' Support Fund with over $490 million realised at its inception.

“As we seek to break any operational link between Boko Haram, Al Qaeda, El Shabaab and other terrorist networks in the Sahel, we must not allow Boko Haram to establish fresh links with the self-styled Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

“We need to intensify the sharing of intelligence and information on the operations of the terrorists.

We also need to track both local and external sources of funds, logistics, arms and ammunition to the terrorists with a view to cutting them off, so as to

deny them the oxygen that nourishes the insurgency.

“The claim by Boko Haram to a phantom “Islamic Caliphate” in a few areas of the north-eastern part of our country is ludicrous and untenable. The Federal Government will never surrender to terror and is committed to taking all necessary steps to protect the unity and territorial integrity of Nigeria,” he said.

The meeting, which is a follow-up to the earlier conference held earlier year in Paris, France, also deliberated on some crucial questions relating to funding, sponsorship and sources of the sophisticated arms and ammunition being used by the terrorists in the country.

Harping on the need for concerted global efforts at curtailing Boko Haram, Wali said: “As a government, we are not aware of

any model for prosecuting the war on terror. The history and experience of countries that have faced the challenge of terrorism reveal no quick fixes. Nigeria can therefore not be an exception.”

However, Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, has cut short his official visit to Sudan and the United Kingdom following the invasion of Bama by Boko Haram.

The governor who left the state last week was expected to visit school authorities and over 70 students recently sponsored by the state government for Medicine and Petroleum Geo-Sciences in the two countries.

But it was learnt that he aborted his trip in view of the emergency and on returning, held crucial meetings in Abuja on the security situation in the state.

The governor was also said to have approved the formation and release of funds to a committee set up to coordinate distribution of relief materials to displaced people.

Also, the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Al-Amin ElKanemi, has asked Muslims to immediately begin a three-day fasting and prayers to seek divine intervention for the return of peace in the terror-ravaged parts of the country.

The monarch yesterday in a statement equally called on Christians not to relent in the prayers so that the threat of the insurgents who invaded Bama three days ago could be warded off.

El-Kanemi in the statement by the Secretary of Borno Emirate Council, Alhaji Zanna Laisu Kazalma, said the fasting should start from today to

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

7

Mark: Mimiko is an achiever Babatope Okeowo AKURE

President, David Snorenate Mark has said GoverOlusegun Mimiko

of Ondo State will leave legacies of good service for the people of the state by the time his tenure expires in 2017.

Also, Mark who was in Akure, the state capital for the annual Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) 1967 course 3 meeting, described the planned defection of the governor to the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) as the best decision for the people of the state.

The Senate President, who was honoured with command performance by the state cultural troupe on Tuesday night, said the performance of Mimiko speaks volume since he became governor six years ago.

His words: "Governor Olusegun Mimiko is going to leave behind, a legacy of good governance in this state. I am not surprised because you are a child of the great party called, PDP. I want to warmly welcome you back home because this is where you belong and I want to congratulate you for coming back home.

"On behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan

and the National Chairman of our party, I warmly welcome you home."

Mark said on third day of September every year, they always celebrate the anniversary of their entry into the Nigerian Defence Academy.

He said at the time they were admitted into the NDA in 1967, it was obvious that Nigeria was going to face a civil war.

His words: "We were just young boys from all parts of this country, who loved adventure and were looking forward to adventure. We were propelled not by adventure but by love and patriotism for this country.

"Even when we went for interview, we were aware that we were going to face a civil war. So, more than anything else, it was love for Nigeria and patriotism that made us enrol at the NDA. "The Command performance of the Ondo State Cultural Troupe clearly shows that the solution to Nigeria's problem is dialogue, love and mutual respect for one another not through waging of war, Peace, progress and development could only be achieved when we accommodate one another and resolve to live together as members of the same family," Mark added.

GDI threatens to protest over Rivers’ N50bn loan Emmanuel Masha PORT HARCOURT

he Grassroots DemocratTthreatened ic Initiative (GDI) has to protest over

the N50 billion loan the Rivers State House of Assembly granted Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

The House, had last Monday, approved the sum of N50 billion bond requested by Governor Rotimi Amaechi, requesting that they approve the money to enable the state government complete ongoing projects in the state.

He also explained in the letter that the N50 billion bond was not a fresh loan, adding that the money would be withdrawn from the N100 billion bond earlier approved by the House.

GDI alleged that the only thing that the Assembly members have been doing since the crisis began in the state has been the award of loans and more loans to Amaechi,

and in the process indebting the state.

The president of GDI, Bright Amaewhule, who issued the threat in Port Harcourt, said that members would soon take to the streets to peacefully protest the incessant loans by the Assembly.

He said: “The members of the Rivers State House of Assembly don’t mean well for the state and its' people. About 85 per cent of the bills in the House are diverted to empowering Amaechi and not for the development of the state.

“They are approving loans to their friend; money is being borrowed for things that have no benefit for the state” Also speaking, the secretary-general of GDI, Samuel Nwanosike, accused the lawmakers of indebting the state by approving whatever loan request the governor makes to the detriment of the people of the state.

Team leader, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Olu Aina (left) and Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, during the commission’s visit to the governor in Osogbo, Osun State…yesterday

109,306

The number of air travel passengers of Maiduguri airport in 2012.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

CAREER

Carter, before assumption of office as Deputy High Commissioner in 2013, headed the U.K. mission in Estonia

T

he British High Commission yesterday confirmed the death of its Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Peter Leslie Carter.

The late Carter slumped and died on Tuesday, from a possible heart attack on arrival at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

A statement by Rob Fitzpatrick, Head of Press & Public Affairs Section,

42.1%

The percentage of households with internet access at home in CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) of 2012.

Source: Itu.int

102

The ratio of women to 100 men in Angola in 2010.

Source: Un.org

British High Commission, Kalu mourn envoy British High Commission, Abuja, said the Commission was saddened by the sudden death of Carter, who joined the HM Diplomatic Service in 1984 and was an experienced career diplomat.

“Mr. Carter had previously served as Consul General in Milan and then as the British Ambassador to Estonia before becoming Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos in 2013, where he made an exceptional contribution to the UK’s relationship with Nigeria.

“Peter will be sorely missed by his family, friends and colleagues.”

Also yesterday, eminent businessman and former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu, expressed his condolences to the British government over the death of Carter.

In a statement issued by his media adviser, Mr. Ebere Wabara, Kalu said: “Peter was one of the finest diplomats I have ever come across.

He was a friend of Nigeria, who was committed to strengthening bilateral

relationship between Nigeria and United Kingdom”.

While wishing the British community in Nigeria and at home the fortitude to bear the great loss, Kalu recalled the enduring sessions he had with the diplomat when they both meet at different forum.

Leslie slumped and died of suspected heart attack at the airport shortly after landing from a foreign trip despite efforts to resuscitate him.

2015: NSPMC may print election materials

Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

A

gainst the practice of printing election materials outside the country, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may explore the possibility of giving the job for the 2015 general elections to an indigenous company.

This indication emerged yesterday when Chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, received the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin

Emefiele in his office in Abuja.

Emefiele had told the INEC Chairman that he was in his office purely for business, noting “basically it is a business visit and I will crave your indulgence that we don't stretch it just beyond just this business visit."

According to him, the Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC), the printing arm of CBN should be given the first choice of refusal in the printing of the materials for the 2015 elections before

such documents could be contracted out to a foreign company.

"We have come to collaborate with INEC to ensure that the objectives of ensuring that the printing of materials and as well as transportation of the materials from the printing press to the various voting centres are discussed and to seek a harmonious way of handling it," the CBN governor disclosed.

He said this was in tandem with President Goodluck Jonathan's directive that all secu-

rity materials either for elections or any other purpose are printed at NSPMC. On his part, Professor Jega expressed the willingness of the commission to discuss the proposal, adding that INEC would continue to explore more ways to collaborate with CBN in terms of what is best for the country.

The INEC Chairman further noted that the CBN has been a strategic partner of the commission in ensuring free, fair and credible elections.

APC twisting facts on motorcyclists return, says Lagos PDP Wale Elegbede he war of words beTchapters tween the Lagos State of the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the removal on restrictions to (motorcyclists) “Oka-

da” riders in some areas within the metropolis, continued yesterday when the PDP lashed out at the ruling party in the state, alleging that the APC is misrepresenting facts to malign it over the issue.

In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary,

Taofik Gani, the party denied involvement in the return of motorcycles to restricted routes in the state, adding that reports credited to the APC State chairman, Dele Ajomale, that the PDP is behind the return of the riders on Lagos roads is false.

Ajomale at a media parley on Tuesday had said that the state chapter of the PDP was bent on bringing okada issues to the front burner as a campaign matter for the forthcoming 2015 elections, stating that, “PDP is using the okada issue as a political

tool, therefore, encouraging okada riders to disobey laws of the state.”

Describing APC’s stance as disgraceful and mischievous, the PDP said the ruling party was only playing the Ostrich, stressing that it is the APC that has decided to allow

the riders, beggars and street traders to return to Lagos roads in a bid to woo them for vote in 2015.

“It is a verifiable fact that the APC populated Lagos Assembly that is presently considering a Law to allow the riders return on restricted roads."

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Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

ABUTH medical director refutes Ebola report Ibraheem Musa

Kaduna

hief Medical Director CBello (CMD) of Ahmadu University Teach-

ing Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, Prof. Khalid Lawal has said that there is no case of Ebola Virus Disease(EVD) in the North.

Lawal who was reacting to media reports that a student of Ahmadu Bello University

(ABU) was suffering from Ebola and admitted in the hospital dispelled the rumour.

Similarly, the ABU/ ABUTH joint committee on Ebola Virus Disease said although a student had complained of fever, body pain, diarrhea and vomiting last Monday, he took himself to hospital and the test for Ebola virus has been done with the result expected soon.

ACF chairman tasks Northern governors on agenda L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wale Ahmed; Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris; General Manager, External Affairs and Communications, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, Dr. Chioma Nwachukwu; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Modele Osunkiyesi and General Manager, Human Resources Management, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, Mr. Moses Onuwe, during the presentation of N20 million cheque to the Ministry of Health by Seplat for the support of Ebola management in Lagos

Anambra speaker declares for House of Reps seat Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

T

he Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Princess Chinwe Nwaebili, has declared her intention to contest the House of Representative election into the Ogbaru North and South Federal constituency on the platform of APGA. The Speaker, who announced her intention at

an APGA stakeholders meeting in Atani, Ogbaru Local Government Area, said her desire to represent her people was to give them efficient and effective representation.

She stated that she had represented Ogbaru 11 Constituency in the state House of Assembly for two tenures. She observed that the constituencies are being denied of federal presence due to lack of quality representation.

Ebola: MTN Foundation donates personal protective equipment Appolonia Adeyemi

agos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, yesterday commended communications giant, MTN, for its public-spirited gesture, which he said is a tradition associated with the MTN brand, especially in matters of Education and Health.

Fashola’s commendation came against the backdrop of MTN Foundation’s donation of Ebola personal protective equipment towards the fight against the

L

dreaded disease in Lagos State.

Receiving the personal protective equipment for healthcare workers and caregivers, which was made under the MTN Foundation's Community Support Project, the governor lauded the organisation for always responding to such emergencies in the past.

He gave the example of assistance given in past in the areas of provision of water boreholes, transformers, among others, for the benefit of people.

FG appoints new directors for NCAC, CBAAC Tony Okuyeme

he Federal Government yesterday appointed new directors for some of its agencies.

While Mrs. Dayo Keshi, was appointed the new Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC); Mr. Ferdinand Anikwe, is to take over as the Director General of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) and Mrs. Chika Balogun, who will

T

serve as the new head of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR).

Keshi recently retired as Director, Cultural Industry and Heritage, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, where she served for 33 years.

Anikwe is to take over from Prof. Tunde Babawale, while Balogun takes over from Dr. Munzali Dantata both of whom have completed their two terms respectively.

She also announced that she will sponsor five youths to Germany for skill acquisition programme to be organized by a German Engineering expert invited by her to train 60 people to be drawn from each wards that make up the constituency.

The Speaker, who told her community that since she became the speaker, she had also tried to conduct herself as a responsi-

ble public officer appealed to her constituency to support her.

She said; “You know I have been in the House of Assembly for two terms and I want to go up. I think I have passed stages 1 and 2 having attracted more than 12 transformers, built schools and other visible infrastructures to the constituency, I am pleading with you to support me” the speaker pleaded.

Ethnic nationalities hold peace, cultural rally in Lagos nationality groups Ewillthnic resident in Lagos State on Saturday, host La-

gosians to the first-ever ‘United Festival of Cultures’ of their various ethnic groups.

The event, which would be held at the training pitch of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, comes with the theme of “Unity in Diversity.” It will attract the best of the rich cultural heritage of

the Igbos, Hausas, Ijaws, Ibibios, Binis, Urhobos, Efiks and other groups in Lagos State.

Expected at the cultural festival are the former Chief of General Staff and Ex-Governor of Lagos State, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe. Also, expected are Chief Goddy Uwazuruike, President of the Igbo socio-cultural think-thank, Aka Ikenga, who will chair the event.

2015: Free, fair election will guarantee peace says, Dan Musa Ahmed Sani Mohammed Katsina

he former Speaker of THouse the defunct Kaduna state of Assembly during the Second Republic, Mamman Abubakar Danmusa has said only free and acceptable 2015 election will guarantee peace and unity of Nigeria.

Mamman, who spoke at state congress of Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) in Katsina on Wednesday, described activities of Boko Haram as a great threat to the unity

of the country.

He said INEC and all stakeholders must work together to ensure conduct of credible elections in 2015.

Ahmed Mohammed Sani Katsina

he Chairman of Arewa T(ACF) Consultative Forum Alhaji Ibrahim

Coomassie has stressed on the need for Northern Governors to work together to fashion out a Northern Agenda that will take care of all the various interest in the region.

In his speech during a dinner at Katsina Government House to honour Katsina state delegates to the 2014 National Confer-

ence, Coomassie said time has come for all Northerners to accommodate their differences and bury grudges and misunderstandings.

“We should not forget that Niger Delta on the platform of self-determination are bent on declaring their republic if they do not get 100 percent derivation on oil. The South-West and Biafra are waiting on the wings. We should not be caught with our pants down,” he said.

Gunmen kill Enugu chief magistrate Uwakwe Abugu

Enugu

ssailants yesterday AMagistrate gunned down a Chief in Enugu State, who serves in the Enugu South ministerial area in Enugu metropolis..

The law officer, Mr. O. J. Ani, who hails from Aku Town in Igbo Etiti council area of the state was said to have been shot severally on the head after his assailants called him on his cell phone.

The development is

causing tension among the judicial officers in the state as well as in the Aku community, where another prominent son of the area, who resides in the United States of America was equally gunned down by unknown gunmen, who had trailed him to his country home late last year.

The spokesman of the Enugu State Police Command, Ebere Amaraizu , confirmed the sad development, saying “our operatives are on the trail of the murderers.”

FMBN contribution: Abia hits N1.4bn Igbeaku Orji

Umuahia

he contribution of Abia TMortgage Workers to the Federal Bank of Nige-

ria (FMBN) has hit N1.46 billion, chairman of the Banks board of Directors, Chief Bisi Ogunjobi has said.

Ogunjobi who disclosed this in Umuahia yesterday at the commissioning of the banks modern office complex also said the bank has concluded plans to commence the building of a

500 unit housing estate in the state.

According to him, the management of the bank has reached advance level for its commencement “This shows that the partnership between the bank and the state government is a mutually beneficial one”, he stated.

The board chairman who spoke through the South East representative on the board, Dr. Godwin Duru commended the robust relationship between the bank and Abia workers.

Women Affairs Ministry collaborates with enhancement foundation Federal Ministry of TcialheWomen Affairs and SoDevelopment and Body

Enhancement Foundation have gone into a collaboration on all the Foundation's humanitarian activities.

During a courtesy visit to the Ministry, the Honourable

Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Honourable Hajiya Zainab Maina, received the foundation's team and set up a committee which comprises of four major sectors within the Ministry: rehabilitation, welfare,womenandchildaffairs;

to work with Body Enhancement Foundation.

The Honourable Minister was full of praises and appreciation of the foundation's activities and pledges full support of the ministry and all State Ministries of women Affairs.

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Filani removed as SW PDP chairman

31 killed, 40 injured in Nasarawa, Taraba

IBADAN

Sabiu Mustapha, JALINGO and Cheke Emmanuel

Sola Adeyemo

T

he Crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South West part of the country worsened yesterday as members of the zonal executive council of the party removed its Caretaker Chairman, Chief Ishola Filani, and elected a new acting chairman, Mr. Lanre Orimoloye to take charge.

The removal was announced after 12 members of the zonal executive passed a vote of no confidence on the former chairman.

In a communiqué issued at the end of an extraordinary executive meeting of the party which held at the party’s zonal office, Bodija,

28

Ibadan, members of the executive present included Chief Adepegba Otemolu, Secretary; Chief Mrs. Wunmi Osinroluke-Eube, zonal women leader; Bolaji Jeje, zonal youth leader; Mr. Waheed Lawal, Zonal Publicity Secretary, and others.

Filani had the following allegations levelled against him; high-handedness and inability to carry other members of executive along in his decisions.

According to the chieftains of the party, the decision of the meeting was in accordance to Section 27: 3 & 4 of the party’s constitution which authorizes the two-third majority of members to convene a meeting.

“The meeting also reviewed the activities of

The number of clubs from England that were represented at Brazil 2014 World Cup. Source: Goal.com

the zone since the emergence of the caretaker committee, noting that Mr. Chairman, Chief Ishola Filani, has been running a one-man show and has not carried the members along in the running, finance and other statutory issues of the zone”, the party stated.

It therefore resolved that “Finally, for the smooth running of the zone, the meeting hereby appoints Hon. Lanre Orimoloye- the Zonal Treasurer to act in his place and Arc. Ayo Olowofoyeku the Zonal Ex-Officio from Osun State to act as the Zonal Treasurer”.

Reacting to his removal, Filani said he was not aware of any meeting as the chairman of the zone, adding that he did not commit any offence

80%

The estimated percentage of used water worldwide not collected or treated.

Source: Unesco.org

to warrant any sanction from other members of executive.

On the allegation that he did not summon a meeting at the normal periods of two weeks which the party’s constitution allows, he said that he did not know which section of the constitution that made it mandatory for him to organize a meeting, adding that he was expecting the meeting of the executive to hold today and not yesterday.

After his removal, the Publicity Secretary of the party, Lawal, said the former chairman would still be welcome to the zonal meeting but would have to take permission from the new acting chairman before contributing to the party’s decision.

338.1

The number of newspaper journalists per 1m inhabitants of Palau in 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

LAFIA

bout 31 people have Aothers been killed and 40 injured in fresh

violence in parts of Nasarawa and Taraba states.

Barely 24 hours after the peace summit convened by Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State an attack on Maiakuya community by suspected Fulani mercenaries left 20 persons dead in what is described as the worst attack launched by the insurgents since hostilities broke two weeks ago.

The latest attack on Gidan Mai-Akuya, an Eggon community located about 20 kilometres away from Lafia, the state capital.

The gunmen ignored the peace summit hosted Tuesday by the Governor and unleashed mayhem on the affected commu-

Senator Magnus Abe, has blamed the Federal Government for the poor access to some Rivers communities, especially those in riverine communities.

Abe, who spoke on the backdrop of the recent boat mishap, which claimed more than 10 lives along the Bonny River in Rivers State, said the people of the state were facing serious challenges on the Bodo-Bonny road and other roads due to the Federal Government’s refusal to complete work on them.

Abe said that the Rivers State government has done enough in road con-

T

he Peoples Democratic Party’s ward congresses conducted in Adamawa State for the October 11thgovernorship election has been unanimously endorsed by all the 14 governorship aspirants of the party in the state.

In the said election, which was held on September 1, three (3) Adhoc delegates for the September 6th primaries of the party were elected in a peaceful and orderly manner The aspirants in a joint statement issued in Yola, yesterday and made available to journalists described the ward congress as transparent and substantially in compli-

 Modibbo meets delegates ance with the party’s guidelines.

“The pursuant to the above, we (Aspirants) accept the delegates list resulting from the ward congresses to be used for the September 6th state congress for the election of the party’s flag bearer in the 2014 bye-election for the office of governor of Adamawa”.

The statement added that the resolutions were unanimously passed and adopted at the stakeholders meeting convened by the ward congress committee headed by Dr. Akilu Indabawa held moment after the conduct of the ward congresses.

According to it, all the aspirants attended the meeting in person with

the exception of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who was represented by Mr. Kelvin Peters, the Director General of his campaign organization, while Mr. Marcus Gundiri absented with apologies.

Meanwhile, ahead of the primaries, one of the aspirants, Dr Ahmed Mohammed Modibbo, has assured of an all-inclusive government if elected as a governor, just as he met with elected delegates from the southern senatorial zone of the state.

Modibbo made the promise at a meeting with the 147 PDP delegates on Wednesday in Ganye town, who were drawn from four local governments that make up the zone, namely:

Mayo-Belwa Local Governments Areas.

He also met with another 178 delegates from five local governments of Demsa, Numan, Shileng, Guyuk and Lamorde which are part of the Southern Senatorial zone.

While seeking their votes in Saturday's primaries, he reassured that as a foundation member of PDP and a proud son to Adamawa State; he was committed to bringing back the lost glory of the state through a purposeful political leadership.

He revealed that a thoroughly all-inclusive government would be the only solution of Adamawa's challenges going by its large tribal population.

struction in the state. He further said that “Governor Amaechi pleaded with the Federal Government to allow the state take over the construction, but the appeal for whatever reason unknown to Rivers people was turned down,” The Senator, who stated this at the 2014 General Harvest Thanksgiving service of St. Stephen’s Anglican Cathedral, Bonny, with the theme: “Harvesting in the Beauty of Holiness” advised churches and organizations against accepting gifts from politicians without ascertaining the source of acquisition, especially as the country approaches electioneering period.

IGP opens workshop on Ebola Juliana Francis

anxiety continues to Adamawa bye-election: Aspirants endorse ward congresses list Asmount over the spread Ibrahim Abdul Ganye, Jada, Tongo and of the Ebola virus in NiYOLA

nity, killing their victims while several others sustained bullet injuries.

Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO of the Nasarawa State command, ASP Ismaila Numan, confirmed the attack but said only six casualties were recorded in the incident, adding that two houses were razed by the attackers. Ayaka Ibrahim, who escaped from the attack told our correspondent that over 10 houses were have been burnt down during the attack.

Also 11 persons were reportedly killed and 40 others injured in Wukari Town in southern part Taraba State in a fresh ethno-religious crisis which erupted in the town between Hausa/Fulani and Jukun, on Tuesday.

The violence, came few weeks after the town experienced a similar crisis which claimed dozens of lives.

Abe blames FG over poor access to Rivers’ communities

he Chairman, Senate Tleum Committee on Petro(Downstream),

L-R: Registrar, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Mrs. Biekoroma Amapakaro; Commanding Officer, Nigeria Army Cadet Corps, Cadet Major Ojediran Adusagbemi; Deputy Rector, Academy (YABATECH), Mr. Innocent Akhemokhan; Deputy Rector, Admin, Dr. Moroof Adebakin and College Librarian, Mrs. Adebowale Taiwo, during the 2013/ 2014 matriculation ceremony in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

9

geria, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, yesterday declared open a one-day training workshop on Ebola virus.

The workshop was organised by the Nigeria Police Medical Department in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Health, on Police response on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak.

Abba said a lot has been done in the areas of sensitisation and awareness campaigns in Police Divisions, Formations and Barracks nationwide.

He noted, however, that the Force still needed to harmonise her operations with other Police key operational units, in line with the National Response Protocol.

The workshop, which had resource persons from the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and World Health Organisation (WHO) was attended by police officers from across the nation.

Meanwhile, as part of efforts aimed at repositioning the Nigeria Police Force towards becoming a more professional and efficient Law enforcement organization, Abba, yesterday, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, decorated two newly promoted Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, 30 Commissioners of Police and seven Acting Commissioners of Police.

Among the decorated officers are; AIG Buhari Tanko, AIG Johnson Ogunsakin, CP Austin Iwar the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to the IGP and the Force PRO, Ag. CP Emmanuel Ojukwu.

10

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/metro

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

ThursDAY, September 4, 2014

DESTRUCTION

Fire guts at least 24 rooms, renders policemen and family members homeless in Lagos Muritala Ayinla and Taiwo Jimoh

S

cores of policemen, their family members and relatives escaped death yesterday when fire razed Line B, Block 3 of Ijeh Police Barracks at Obalende, Lagos.

Properties, including household items worth several millions of naira, were lost to the inferno.

The fire, which reduced about 24 rooms and properties inside to ashes, rendered hundreds of people homeless.

Although the cause of the fire could not be immediately ascertained, witnesses said several residents were feared injured.

The fire fighters from the Lagos State Fire Service were struggling to put out the fire while reinforcement was called for from Sari-Iganmu station of the fire service.

Confirming the early morning fire, the state Director of Fire Service, Mr Rasak Fadipe, said 24 rooms were destroyed.

He said: “There is an outbreak of fire ongoing now at Ijeh Police Bar-

Ak we,tbho y,ra tetViee n-cydteoi nragrOs- buoimled--

mer school at the Anglican Nursery a n d P r i m a r y S ch o o l ye s t e rd ay f e l l f ro m a one-storey building a n d d i e d i n s t a n t ly.

The school is located off Lagos Street in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

The boy’s father, Mr Emeka Obiekwe, told our correspondent that teachers called him on phone to report to the school immediately and on arrival, he saw his son in a critical condition.

Obiekwe said he tried to rush the boy to a hospital near the state fire service but discovered that he had

0802 393 8212

Policemen escape death as fire razes Obalende barracks racks, Obalende. Twenty- Francis, however, called on four rooms consumed by the Inspector General of the fire. Two fire trucks Police to come to the aid of from Onikan and Sari- those residing in the barIganmu are on ground racks. battling it.”

She said: “We are sufferIt was gathered that ing here. Look at where huthe fire incident occurred man beings are sleeping. We about 3.30am when most want better welfare package of the occupants were for our husbands.” still sleeping.

Mr David Ofrie, another When our correspon- victim, said he was inside dent visited the barracks, his room with his siblings some of the residents when they heard shouts of were busy packing the fire, fire, fire. remnants of their propHe said: “We all rushed erties. out of our room. We have Mrs Maureen Francis, lost all our house appliancone of the victims, said es to the inferno; the wreckshe owned a restaurant at age of our burnt properties the block where she was is what the scavengers are selling drinks and paper taking away. We don’t know soup. where to start from now.

She said: “I was here till “We want the police auaround 2.30am on Tues- thorities to come our rescue. day, before I went to bed What my mother is earning with my children. as a policewoman cannot “It is not up to 30 min- take her anywhere that was utes later when I heard why we still remain in this the shout of fire, fire, fire. place.”

“The environment of the If my family and I did not rush out of our block, we barracks is not conducive would have been trapped for us. We are not safe in inside. this place. If an epidemic “Everything my hus- breaks out here today, noband and I had laboured for has gone with the fire.

Even the little freezer and Juliana Francis fridge I was using in selling my drinks have been he National Drug Law consumed by the inferno.”

Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said yesterday that it had destroyed 334 hectares of Indian hemp plantations in Osun and Ondo states.

The NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, who disclosed this, said that on Tuesalready died. day, 100 hectares of cannabis He said some of the plantation were discovered teachers went with and destroyed at Ikoyi forest him to the hospital in Isokan Local Government but no pastor of the Area of Osun State.

The NDLEA Head, Mechurch which established the school had dia and Publicity, Mitchell visited to sympathise Ofoyeju, said that no fewer than 80 officers drawn from with him.

Obiekwe said he South-West and Edo State was advised by some commands as well as 50 lapersons to involve the bourers took part in the oppolice in the case but eration that lasted 36 hours he took solace in the from Monday night. fact that “God gave He said: “Two arrests have and had taken the been made in respect of the boy”. The man, who is discovery and the agency is a Catholic, said Victor working very hard to identify was his first child. all culprits behind cannabis When our cor re- cultivation and bring them spondent visited the to book.” school, the head teachGiade said that NDLEA er and a pastor seen at would not allow criminal the premises refused to groups to replace cash and comment on the issue. food crops with cannabis.

They claimed that “The large scale cultivathe church had not tion of cannabis has left us been briefed so they with no option than to dewould not speak to clare a total war against canany jour nalist. nabis cultivators,” he said.

Makurdi: 3-year-old boy falls from building, dies Cephas Iorhemen M a k urdi

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

T

Some residents at the scene of the fire incident

body may be saved.”

A policeman, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the incident was unbelievable.

He said: “I was in deep sleep when I heard the shout of fire, what came to my mind first was to take my car away. When I was about taking my car away, I also instructed my wife to rush the children out of the room, I thereafter, went inside to

take my appliances. Even when I was doing all this, the fire was still raging.”

It was gathered that fire swept through the barracks on December 17 last year.

When the former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, visited the barracks, he promised the residents new structures.

One of the residents, who also spoke on condition of

Photo: Suleiman Husaini

anonymity, told our correspondent that after they waited in vain, those whose buildings were affected rebuilt their houses.

Some scavengers were at the scene of the incident, picking the wreckages of the burnt properties.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ngozi Braide, did not pick her calls to speak on the incident.

NDLEA destroys hemp farms in Osun, Ondo

NDLEA officials at the cannabis plantation in Osun

According to Ofoyeju, in the past two months, the agency has carried out three major operations to destroy cannabis plantations in the South-West.

He said: “The first was 184 hectares and the second 50 hectares both in Ondo State.

The third operation was in Osun State where a total of 100 hectares of cannabis plantation was discovered and destroyed.”

The NDLEA Director of Operations and General Investigation, Mr Olugbenga Mabo, said that two farmers were arrested at Osun State.

He said: “I personally participated in the operation because of the seriousness attached to it by management.

The activities of cannabis cultivators are a threat to food security. We were able to trace the farms because of intelligence report which the

agency has been processing for several months.

“Two farmers resident in the cannabis plantation were apprehended. Apart from the large plantations so far detected, there are other intelligence reports we have received.”

Those arrested are Opute Abbi, 48, and Peter Bonduku, 55. The suspects, who hail from Delta State, said they were contracted to work at the farm for a fee.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Politician sponsoring robbers evades arrest Juliana Francis

P

olice in Lagos are on a manhunt for a politician, identified simply as Akogun, who used to sponsor robbery operations.

Akogun’s name appeared on the police wanted list after four members of an armed robbery gang, arrested at the Ojo Local Government Area of the Lagos State, mentioned his name.

The politician was said to have escaped through the window when detectives from Ojo Police Station led one of the suspects to his residence.

The suspects are Victor Cletus, 27, who claimed to be the owner of the arms and ammunition recovered from them, Victor Oluramide, 23, who claimed to be an employee of Lagos State Education Board, Semiu Fashola and Femi Akanyande.

Police recovered a locally-made pistol and three unexpended cartridges from the suspects said to be part of a robbery syndicate which had been terrorising Iba and its environs in Ojo Local Government, including Obadore in Alimosho Local Government Area.

“The bandits were unleashing terror on their latest victims last Tuesday when they were repelled by our men from Iba Police Post who were on surveillance under the Obadore Bridge that links Ojo and Alimosho area of the state.

“In the ensuing melee, one of the suspects was apprehended and we recovered the locally-made pistol and cartridges from him, while the rest took to their heels. The suspect was transferred to Ojo Division and later led detectives to the residences of other suspects at Iba area, thus leading to the arrest of other members of the gang,” a police source said.

It was gathered that after their arrest, Cletus claimed ownership of the weapon and also confessed that the gang was being sponsored by Akogun living in Iba area.

METRO

SSS holds 68-year-old herbalist, others for kidnapping Tony Okafor Awka

T

he State Security Service (SSS) yesterday paraded a 68-year-old herbalist, Ajana Onyibor, and two others for their alleged involvement in a series of kidnapping in Anambra State.

The suspects were allegedly responsible for the abduction of one Charles Onyido from Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area.

The suspects were also said to have kidnapped an Onitsha-based legal practitioner (name withheld) at Nkpor in Idemili North Local Government Area in June.

The state Director of SSS, Mr Alex Okeiyi, who paraded the suspects before journalists in Awka, the state capital, said they had demanded a ransom of N100 million from one of their victims’ family before they were appre-

hended.

Onyibor, from Igbakwu in Ayamelum Local Government, allegedly owned a shrine opposite the building where their kidnap victims were kept, waiting for ransom to be paid.

Okeiyi said the herbalist was believed to be providing spiritual protection to members of the gang, adding that he was arrested through the help of Oyi vigilance group and Nteje police station in Oyi. Others paraded were 25-year-old Chukwuebuka Okafor aka Ichafu (headscarf) from Uruezealor in Ogidi village and 24-year-old Ernest Elem aka Lamborghini from Nkanu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The SSS director said the suspects were apprehended at their hideout at Ogbunike, while a pump action gun, 25 live rounds of cartridges were recovered from

Onyibor.

Okafor

Elem

them.

Okeiyi, who said investigations were on the matter, warned criminals in the state to desist from their nefarious activities or be ready to face the full wrath of the law as there would be no hiding pace for them in the state.

He said: “Kidnapping is now rare in Anambra State; the command appreciates ongoing efforts by the state

government under the leadership of Governor Willie Obiano and sister security agencies to rid the state of criminality.

“We will continue to contribute our own quota in this regard until this state is free from all sorts of crime.”

A kidnap victim, Charles Onyido, praised the efforts of the SSS. Onyido said that the

suspects had told him that somebody paid them N20 million to kill him.

He said: “They tied my eyes, used machetes, gun butts and other dangerous weapons to beat me. They slapped me at will. I did not eat for three days. I also fainted three times.

They equally removed one of my teeth. I saw hell on earth.”

Customs impounds N186.4m vehicles Camillus Nnaji

F

Fake Ebola test kits flood Lagos Muritala Ayinla residents of Lagos State Tof he have been advised to be wary fake Ebola Cassette Test Kits

currently in circulation in the state.

The Special Adviser to the governor on Media, Mr Hakeem Bello, who gave the warning in a statement, said there were no certified Ebola test kits in the market.

Bello also described the marketers as unscrupulous elements out to deceive unsuspecting residents and make money from anxious and frightened citizens.

The special adviser urged the residents to maintain personal hygiene.

He said: “The Rapid Response Canada with test results purportedly available in 10 minutes is a hoax. There are no Ebola test kits manufactured anywhere in the world. The technique for its manufacture does not exist yet.

Members of the public should not patronise the dubious marketers of the product.”

11

Adamu welcomed by officers

Defamation: Amosun dissociates self from cyclist’s trial

gun State Government has denied the inOvolvement of Governor Ibikunle Amosun in the arraignment a commercial motorcyclist in Sagamu for allegedly denting the governor’s image on Facebook.

The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Abimbola Akeredolu, said in a statement yesterday that Amosun did not know anything about the allegations levelled against the rider and the court case.

He said: “The governor knew about the case only after reading the report in

the newspapers. The governor consequently dissociates himself entirely from any such action taken against the said Okada rider or indeed against any other person in that regard.

“Amosun, being a true democrat, believes that all citizens are entitled to freedom of expression as enshrined in the constitution of Nigeria.

As the Chief Law Officer of the state, upon becoming aware of the report, I have examined the provisions of the law under which the Okada rider was allegedly charged to court and cannot find a single correla-

tion between the offence for which he was charged and what he is alleged to have done.

“Nevertheless, the governor has immediately directed the Ministry of Justice to urgently look into the matter to prevent the infringement of the Okada rider’s fundamental rights and bring an end to his continued remand in custody.

“While the present administration in Ogun State does not want to encourage indiscipline and abuse of rights, it will also not tolerate the infringement of rights of any citizen.”

ederal Operations Unit (FOU) of Customs, Zone A Ikeja, Lagos, has intercepted brand new vehicles of various brands and models valued N186,474,128 smuggled into the country.

The unit’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), DSC Ejesieme Uche, said in a statement yesterday that the move was part of the determination of the New Controller of the unit, DSC Turaki Adamu, to check smuggling.

“The unit has intercepted 22 brand new vehicles, comprising 19 Toyota Hilux pickups, two Izuzu-DMAX jeeps and one Toyota Land Cruiser GRX 2014 model, along Ikoyi/Victoria Island axis. The vehicles were valued at N186,474,128,” Uche said.

The PRO said that the seizure was a result of intelligence gathering, adding that FOU ‘A’ operatives trailed the vehicles coming from unapproved routes.

He said: “As professionals with the requisite training and competence, the unit could not afford to embark on aggressive

confrontation with the smugglers, particularly in densely populated areas, hence the need to trail them to a safe place.

“Despite these precautionary measures, the smugglers engaged our operatives in a gun duel, but were over powered by the superior fire power of our operatives. But interestingly, there were no casualties.”

Uche attributed the seizure was attributed to the dexterity, resilience, commitment and dedication of all officers and men of the unit. Meanwhile, Adamu on Tuesday inspected the quarter guard mounted by officers and men of the unit in his honour.

Addressing officers and men of the unit, Adamu emphasised the need for the repositioning and strengthening of the operational functionality of the unit, particularly to ensure that it remains a flagship in anti-smuggling efforts.

He charged all officers and men to redouble their efforts while describing the task of policing the borders and complementing the efforts of other commands as herculean.

12 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Ebola: Ogun warns health workers against rejecting patients lAs U.S. Embassy heightens awareness campaign

H

ealth workers in Ogun State have been warned against rejecting patients who come to their hospitals for fear of contracting the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Director, Hospitals Services, State Hospital Management Board, Dr. Nurudeen Aigoro, who gave the warning at the Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak Response Training package held for health workers at the State Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta, said it is better if patients are attended to promptly by health workers to avoid untimely death.

He said any health worker found flouting the instruction should be reported immediately even

as he urged hospitals to have Infection Control Committees.

Also speaking, the Director of Public Health Department, Ministry of Health, Dr. Quudus Yusuff, advised the health workers to avoid getting in contact with body fluids while emphasising the importance of hand washing with soap and water.

In his presentation, Acting State Epidemiologist, Dr. Yufuf Akeem, advised health workers in the state to discard used gloves appropriately and never wash or reuse disposable gloves after treating a patient.

Assistant Coordinator, Ogun State Ambulance and Emergency Services, Dr. Sedagbe Zeal Hunko-

koe, also in his presentation, said at the end of the training, health workers should be able to identify suspected cases of Ebola Virus Disease, determine appropriate Personal Protective Equipment kit to provide safer care and how to put it on appropriately.

According to him, this would stop further disease transmission in the healthcare and community settings.

In a related development, United States Embassy in Nigeria yesterday urged media practitioners to disseminate basic information that would help the public contain and wipe out the EVD. “Printing a front page banner with the informa-

tion below would help Nigerians across the country be vigilant to join the fight against the deadly disease,” the embassy stated.

Furthermore, the embassy said: “Television and radio stations can also convey this message effectively. All of us together can, and will contain and wipe-out the disease. Take action now; saves lives!”

Similarly, the embassy said the symptoms of Ebola typically include fever (greater than 38.6°C or 101.5°F), fever headache, muscle pain, meekness, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal (stomach) pain, lack of appetite, among others.

Anyone that sees a patient with these conditions is advised to call 0800Ebolahelp.

‘...Amosun not serious about reconciliation’ Kunle Olayeni

Abeokuta

he senator representing Tdistrict, Ogun Central senatorial Gbenga Obadara, yesterday said Governor Ibikunle Amosun is not genuinely committed to reconciliation in the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Obadara, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation, spoke while featuring on a live programme monitored on a private radio station in Abeokuta.

He urged a former governor and APC national leader, Chief Olusegun Osoba, not to accept any apology from Amosun.

It will be recalled that the party had been polarised into two factions, with Governor Amosun supporting the faction headed

by Alhaji Roqeeb Adeniji,

NLC urges FG to monitor those on Ebola surveillance Yekeen Nurudeen

Abuja

Labour ConTsaidhegressNigeria (NLC) yesterday the Federal Govern-

ment must be ready to police those kept under surveillance if its efforts at containing the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease must be successful.

NLC General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, who stated the position of the labour body while speaking with journalists in Abuja, said the recurring cases of people escaping from ‘observation centres’ should stop while such people should be forced to comply with such restrictions.

He commended efforts made so far by the Federal Government to manage the outbreak and spread of the disease, lamenting that

Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babaginda Aliyu (left), receiving a souvenir from the Programme Director, GIZ, Mr. Daniel Werner, during a courtesy visit to the governor in Minna…yesterday

Kalu tasks communication professionals on nation’s problems

E

minent businessman and former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has challenged the nation's communicationscholarsand professionals to brainstorm on the challenges facing the country with a view to coming up with solutions to them.

Kalu, who threw the challenge in a keynote address he delivered at the inaugural conference of Association of Communication Scholars and Professional of Nigeria (ACSPN) in Abuja, further taskedtheexpertstoprescribe antidotes to hate, malice, fear and suspicion, dogging the footsteps of the country.

Represented by the Managing Director and Editor-inChief of the New Telegraph

lSlok group set to float TV, Radio stations newspaper, Mr. Eric Osagie, the former governor said the rest of the world has gone ahead in science and technologyinconqueringnewvistas and realms, while Nigeria, sadly, is still marooned in an inglorious past.

In the words of the former governor; “Please use the couple of days ahead to brainstorm on the problems facing our country and how communication can be used to solve them. You are the scholars and professionals.

Please prescribe antidotes to malice, hate, fear and suspicion, dogging the footsteps of our country, using the instrumentalityof communication.

Meanwhile, Kalu, yesterday hinted of plans to establish television, radio and online platforms in the country.

The television and radio stations as well as the online platforms are to be established under the umbrella of Slok Group.

Kalu disclosed this yesterday in a keynote address he delivered at the conference of Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria in Abuja.

“The rest of the world has gone ahead in science, technology, in conquering new vistas and realms, but Nige-

ria, sadly, is still marooned in an inglorious past. Multiculturalism,whichtherestof the world has turned to strength, is a curse to Nigeria.

“Diversity has become a bitter pill, which the country is constantly forced to swallow,whentherestof theworld has used the same diversity as a launch pad into greater realms,” he said.

Whilepointingoutthatthe challengesof the21stcentury aremultifarious,particularly for a fractured polity like Nigeria, Dr. Kalu asked rhetorically:“Wouldweeverbecome a true nation-state, instead of anamalgamof ethnicnationalities?

while Chief Osoba supporting another headed by Chief Olu Agemo.

But Amosun had last week asked the people of the state to prevail on Osoba to forgive him in order to put an end to the lingering crisis in the party.

Reacting to the new development yesterday, Obadara said the governor’s actions show that his was not genuine repentance. The senator insisted that Amosun was not sincere in his reconciliation efforts.

Giving reasons why Amosun’s apology should not be accepted by Osoba, Obadara alleged that the governor had not been a team player.

He said the parallel congresses held by members aggravated the crisis, expressing regret that concerned authorities have refused to address the crisis.

some level of indiscipline at individual and medical levels has led to the situation that has now created more spread and threat.

Ozo-Eson, who took over on Monday as the newly appointed General Secretary of NLC, noted that such cases of escape, which has been worsening the spread of the virus, should be treated as a serious breach of protocol.

He said if the diplomat who left Lagos to hide in Port Harcourt did not do so, the containment of the disease within Lagos would have been progressing.

While describing the disease as another security threat to the nation, the NLC General Secretary said the Federal Government must invest in policing and intelligence gathering against the spread of the disease.

Mimiko’s defection redefines progressive politics, says Kekemeke Babatope Okeowo

Akure

he All Progressives ConTyesterday gress (APC) in Ondo State said the confu-

sion over the identity of a true progressive politician has ended with the planned defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, from the Labour Party (LP) to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Chairman of the party, Duerimini Isaacs Kekemeke, who disclosed this when he met with leaders of the party, said they should be ready to harvest aggrieved politicians from both the Labour Party (LP) and the PDP. Already, Kekemeke said some serving commissioners, House of Assembly

members, National Assembly members and leaders of political parties, who were displeased with the governor’s action, have opened talk with APC on the need to dump their parties for APC. Before now, he said there was confusion among the people as to who is a true progressive as LP usually lays claim to being a progressive political party.

Kekemeke said the future of APC, which was bleak as a result of the confusion between LP and APC, is now bright with the planned defection of Mimiko to the PDP. He said: “By that singular act, which is divinely orchestrated, the confusion created in the minds of the people has been removed. "

‘New states will strengthen equal citizenship’ / PAGE 15 | Babatope: Osun’ll bear brunt of Aregbesola’s victory / PAGE 16

POLITICS

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/politics

ayodele Ojo

Deputy Editor, politics

ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

ayodeleojo@yahoo.com

13

Boko Haram: Davis’ allegations grievous, says Fani-Kayode

p-14

THURSday, September 4, 2014

Senator Nkechi Nwaogu represents Abia Central in the Senate. Last week, she narrowly escaped an assassination attempt.

Nwaogu, who spoke with journalists after the attack, attributed it to her governorship ambition. New Telegraph presents excerpts from the interactive session.

We heard that some thugs attacked your convoy, how exactly did it happen?

On Friday August 29, we went to Umuahia to attend the burial ceremony of the assassinated Commissioner for Agriculture in Abia State, and on our way back, we went to His Eminence (Eze) Bernard Enweremmadu’s palace at Ngwa Ukwu for his new yam festival.

After the event, we were heading back to Aba and on getting to Uratta Amaekpu junction in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government, along the Enugu/Port Harcourt Expressway, some cars blocked us right at the middle of the road, and prevented us from passing. That was at about 6.45p.m. The hoodlums had been there waiting for us because I believe they knew where we went.

When we approached, there were a lot of young men, they were shooting and I saw the Transition Committee Chairman of a local government (name withheld), telling them that Governor Theodore Orji had zoned the governorship to Abia South, and that the governor instructed them not to allow anybody not from Abia South to campaign. As he was saying this, he was shooting and the policemen in my convoy came to our rescue. I was frightened because in the first place, I am not aware I have been told that I cannot contest for governorship, which is what I’m vying for on the platform of PDP. I am not aware also that I have been banned from contesting to become the next governor in 2015. I am aware that I am the only woman contesting for governorship of this state.

This boy (the transition committee chairman), it’s not the first time that he has tried to embarrass me. In fact, I believe it is an attempted assassination. If there hadn’t been an intervention from the policemen that I was given, who knows what would have happened to me by now. For them to be shooting, for the small boys to be shooting and he himself (TC chairman) was also shooting and was beckoning some boys inside the bush around there and they all came out, this was a clear attempt to assassinate me but I thank God that nothing happened to me and to any of the people that were with me.

Did you report the matter to the police?

It’s been reported to the director, SSS, reported also to the police, although I was unable to reach the commissioner of police myself because his line did not go through then. But if and when I get the commissioner of police, I would

How I survived assassination attempt –Sen. Nwaogu

Nwaogu

talk to him, because if this thing is not nipped in the bud, it could result to lawlessness and truncate the peace we have enjoyed in this state. It has also been reported to the governor. I sent the governor a text message and told him about the unfortunate incident and he said he would look into it. I believe he would look into it because he would not allow his name to be dragged into the mud.

What do we make out of the incident?

With what happened, thuggery is creeping into Abia politics and it should be nipped in the bud. The incident has also shown that we have a miscreant in the society who has been causing havoc, this boy would have killed me or his stray bullet would have hurt me or any member of my entourage for no reason. He is not a policeman, he is not a military man, and what was a mere transition committee chairman doing with guns? So, what I’m saying is that security operatives should look into it because you don’t play or joke with this kind of thing, waylaying a serving senator, accosting people on the road, blocking an Expressway with cars and then shooting sporadically and chanting, ‘Ochendo (the governor) said he has zoned the governorship to Abia South,

nobody from Abia Central should contest’. He has been going about boasting and telling everybody that the governor has assured him of protection and that was why he was re-appointed as TC Chairman, that he will be the one that will stop anybody who he wants to stop, that he is the mouthpiece, and that is what he has been doing. It can be investigated. We have not started campaigning, but I believe I have 100 per cent right to campaign, to contest and eventually to

This boy would have killed me or his stray bullet would have hurt me or any member of my entourage for no reason. He is not a policeman, he is not a military man, and what was a mere transition committee chairman doing with guns?

win by the grace of God. I do not think that it is my governor that told this boy to say so and that is what he is doing everywhere.

My only offense was that this boy asked for money and I refused. Sometime ago, he asked that I should give him N20 million, that that is what he would use to create a good impression before the governor of the state on my behalf, and I said that was insulting. That is why this boy has been maligning me, disrespecting me because I refused to become a conduit for him, that is why he is doing all these. Why should I be the one to pay money to a tout like that to go and paint good story before the governor on my behalf ? This is extortion.

With this incident, what’s your advice to your supporters?

My advice to them is to be vigilant as well as remain calm because we cannot take the laws into our hands. Though this boy has been boasting, I know he is an ordinary citizen like any other person, so I’m asking my supporters to be calm, that the law enforcement agents will take care of this situation.

This thug is growing into a monster and something has to be done now before he kills someone.

14 POLITICS Chief Femi Fani-Kayode is a former Minister of Aviation

I

read the grave allegations made by an Australian by the name of Mr. Stephen Davis about those that he believes are behind Boko Haram in the August 29th edition of Thisday Newspaper. He made some very serious allegations, he mentioned names and I would be interested in seeing the hard evidence that he claims to have. I have always said that I believe that anyone, no matter which political party that person belongs to and no matter how highly placed or powerful that person may be, that is involved with Boko Haram ought to be captured, caged, flogged and brought to justice because I regard such people as nothing but bloodthirsty beasts.

I have also always said that I believe that some of the leading members of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) are secret sponsors and supporters of Boko Haram and I am glad that Mr. Davis appears to share this view and that he has indeed confirmed my worst fears in his celebrated interview with Arise TV. Similar concerns have been raised and allegations made about the suspicious nexus, the direct link and the questionable relationship between APC and Boko Haram by senior Members of Parliament in the British House of Commons together with a number of leading Russian and American civil and religious institutions, organisations, commentators and political figures.

It is, therefore, good news that Mr. Davis has confirmed some of our collective suspicions and fears and that he has decided to come out and tell us what he knows given the role that he played in the negotiations to broker a deal to get the Chibok girls released from Boko Haram. I have little doubt that on the allegation that the APC and Boko Haram are linked, Davis is absolutely right.

I am not, however, convinced about the culpability of one or two of the other people that he has fingered. No one should be spared if the evidence is really there but I must say that I find the allegation that, for example, the former Chief of Army Staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika, is somehow involved with Boko Haram a little far-fetched. I say this because firstly, the man spent so much of his time, energy, career and resources fighting that same terrorist organisation that he is now being accused of being part of.

Secondly, I say it because that terrorist organisation has killed and continues to kill so many of his own officers and men.

And thirdly, I say it because the man is not a Muslim but a Christian and I have never heard of a Christian helping or assisting a terrorist organisation in their quest to establish an Islamic fundamentalist state or ‘’new world caliphate’’ in his country.

This is especially so when that terrorist organisation is committed to wiping out the Christian faith itself and killing every Christian, every secularist and every moderate Muslim in the country.

It seems to me that this is an absurd notion and that it really doesn’t make any sense but if the Australian has any hard evidence, let us see or hear it.

Again, I disagree strongly with the leading figures in the opposition that have said that the Federal Government and the PDP are the ones behind Boko Haram. I say this because those individuals know very well that the APC, as a party, has far more sympathy for Boko Haram and far many more of their leaders and members have spoken up for and in defence of Boko Haram than anyone else.

On Friday August 29 in Thisday Newspaper, one of those leaders said that the Senator from Borno State that was facing terrorism charges was ‘’a PDP member’’. This is not true. The Senator that he was referring to is Senator Ali Ndume and he is in the APC and not the PDP.

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Boko Haram: Davis’ allegations grievous, says Fani-Kayode

Fani-Kayode

Quite apart from that, certain things need to be noted. Let me remind those that are pointing fingers at the PDP today that it was not a member of the PDP or the Federal Government that said that Boko Haram should not be proscribed as an organisation, even after they had slaughtered no less than 15,000 innocent Nigerians in cold blood, sometime last year. It was rather the official spokesman of the APC, Lai Mohammed, who said so.

It was not the PDP or any member of the Federal Government that told the world only last year that they were against the declaration of a State of Emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, that an attack on Boko Haram was an attack on the North and that Boko Haram members ought not to be killed but rather, they ought to be pampered, granted amnesty and treated in a gentle manner like the Niger Delta militants. It was the leading presidential aspirant and one of the two co-owners of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, that said so.

It was the same General Buhari who has openly identified with and publicly endorsed a number of the core objectives of Boko Haram when, as far back as 2001, he told the world that he wanted to ‘’spread sharia all over the country’’, when he said that ‘’Muslims should only vote for those that would protect their interest’’, when he asked ‘’why should it concern Christians when Muslims chop off the limbs of one another’’ in accordance with their divine law and when he said, in 2013, that there would be violence and that ‘’the blood of the dog and the baboon would both flow’’ if the coming elections were rigged.

It was not the PDP or a member of the Federal Government that told the world three years ago that if President Goodluck Jonathan or any southerner emerges as President in 2011, that ‘’we would make the country ungovernable’’. It was Alhaji Lawal Kaita, a leading member of the APC, that said so. It was not the PDP or any member of the Federal Government that guaranteed the security of the Chibok girls and insisted that they should go ahead and do their exams at Chibok and that he would provide the

necessary security, even after WAEC and the Federal Ministry of Education had written him a letter and warned him that it would be dangerous to do so and that he must not go ahead.

It was the Governor of Borno State, who is a leading member of the APC, that did that. Not only did he not provide the promised security but he also abandoned the girls and left them in the lurch because only one adult, the school gateman, spent the night in the school with those girls, despite all the obvious dangers. Worst still, there was no electricity and no generator functioning at the school throughout the night and neither was there one adult, teacher or supervisor with the girls at the school.

Even more suspicious was the fact that not one of the daughters of any of the staff and teachers that attended that school spent the night with the other girls at the school that night. They were all in the safety of their homes. One wonders why? Was it just a coincidence or did they have prior notice of the impending doom?

The whole Chibok episode is still clouded in mystery but given the fact

I believe that anyone, no matter which political party that person belongs to and no matter how highly placed or powerful that person may be, that is involved with Boko Haram ought to be captured, caged, flogged and brought to justice because I regard such people as nothing but bloodthirsty beasts

that the Governor of Borno State is now one of the leading members of the Bring Back Our Girls campaign, I wonder why he allowed all these lapses to take place and why he behaved in this way? Was his motive for not taking all reasonable measures to protect those girls political?

Is there not more to his actions and inactions than meets the eye?

I repeat my constant assertion that Boko Haram is the military wing of the APC and that the APC is the political wing of Boko Haram. I make this grave and very serious allegation partly because of the aforementioned public utterances and actions of these leading APC members and partly because of a number of other things that I will not say publicly because Nigerians would be utterly traumatised if they heard them.

There would be an uproar in this country if some of us were to say all that we know about the irresponsible and insidious religious agenda that the APC has and the hideous and shameful things that they are doing and saying behind closed doors.

The suggestion that they never had a plan to have a Muslim/Muslim ticket is a lie from the pit of hell. They may have dropped that plan now due to the fact that it has generated a good deal of public uproar and outrage but that was their original plan and many of them were hell bent on it and probably still are. The suggestion that they have not used religion as a political tool is another dirty lie. That is what they have been doing from day one and they are still doing it now.

The suggestion that they cannot be equated with or compared to the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt or the Sudanese Janjaweed is another lie from the pit of hell. If anyone has any doubts about that, they should just scrutinise the religious composition of both their old and defunct Interim National Executive Committee (NEC) and the new one and they will see that it is virtually an all Muslim affair spiced with a few token Christians lurking in the shadows and acting as fronts. Nigeria is a multi-reliCONTINUED ON PAGE 15

POLITICS | THURSDAY INTERVIEW 15

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

NATIONAL CONFERENCE Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba is the Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, Imo State University Owerri and a delegate to the just-concluded National Conference. He tells FELIX NWANERI in this interview that the 18 new states approved by the confab, when created, will strengthen the idea of equal citizenship for all Nigerians. He also believes that the implementation of the conference’s recommendations will ensure true federalism. Excerpts: What is your assessment of the justconcluded National Conference of which you were a delegate; did it really address the issues for which it was convoked for?

It was an opportunity to further appreciate the wide diversity of challenges confronting Nigeria. It was also encouraging to known that most Nigerians have so much faith in the country and are determined to work towards the emergence of a better Nigeria. I also came to realise that a better Nigeria will require a lot of work especially in getting some of us to appreciate the imperatives and requirements for the emergence and the running of a modern state that serves the purpose of all Nigerians in context of section 14(2)(b) of the constitution that the main responsibility of the Nigerian state is security and welfare of her people.

Was there any time you had fears over the success or otherwise of the conference?

At some point, it was obvious that some people believed that Nigeria is fine and doing very well and therefore requires no change. Such persons acted as if they did not want the conference at all. On the other hand were people who believe that Nigeria has the potential to serve her people better. Resolving that was a key issue. That we all agreed to be together and argue out our varying understanding of Nigeria was not something that was to be without effort.

Looking at the conference’s recommendations, would you say that your expectations were met?

Yes, my expectations were met. We came, we argued, disagreed, agreed, and ended together. That is what it should be.

From the perspective of the South-East that I represented, and the various other groups to which I belong, including the academia, environment, religion, civil society, and others, we did very well.

How about the disagreements?

Nigeria is a huge country by population, ethnic groups, socio-economic circumstances, geographical and other variables. We therefore cannot all agree on specifics about the structure and running of our country. I also do not believe this will be the last conference or attempt to improve the state of the country. We however made progress along that line.

What do you think should be done to the recommendations, as there are fears that the National Assembly may not ratify most of the confab’s recommendation by the

Nwajiuba: New states will strengthen equal citizenship about the viability of states as if they are business concerns. The first human desire is security and freedom. The economics will follow. The approved states when created will strengthen the idea of equal Nigerian citizenship for all. It will change the state of appreciation of Nigerian citizens as equals. We will further understand that when we seek true federalism, and specifically fiscal federalism, we can reduce the cost of governance by appreciating that uniformity of wages in the country is not feasible. Less financially endowed states will have to run leaner governments, and pay less to civil and public servants than those with more financial capacity. The structure of governance and personnel related to that will not have to be uniform. That subsequently in future suggests that we may have to review having labour and wages on the exclusive legislative list.

Nwajiuba

time the report gets to it? The President is also planning to send the report to the Council of State?

Those are institutions established by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that are relevant to the issue at hand. A broad and inclusive approach should be helpful, as the recommendations of the conference will strengthen, rather than hurt the Nigeria state. On what should be done with the recommendations, I will simply say, implement them. Those recommendations are in three categories: The first is simply policy and programmes. That should be simple to implement by administrative/ executive action. The second category deals with those requiring legislative action, including laws. That also requires the executive sending bills to the National Assembly. The third category requires constitutional amendment. So far, we have seen the 1999 Constitution amended. That means the executive and the legislature at the federal and state levels will have to do the same. One of the most contentious issues will be creating new states. The stakeholders on this

are sufficiently broad to pass through the National Assembly and sufficient number of states Houses of Assembly to be successful. It also requires some joint political sagacity between the President and the President of the Senate, who has the opportunity of delivering the APA State, long sought by the Idoma and Egede people of his constituency of Benue South.

Some people believe that most of the recommendations are not feasible in present day Nigeria. The thinking is that politics informed them, what is your take on this?

I can’t recall any that cannot be implemented. The recommendations were informed by the need for a better Nigeria; a better Nigeria for majority of Nigerians; a stronger Nigeria that is respected in the comity of nations.

How will the implementation of the conference recommendations impact on Nigerians?

When implemented, we will have an improved and better Nigeria. The recommendation on new states is particularly appreciated. Many persons talk

Reports of similar conferences in the past never saw the light of the day; do you see the Jonathan administration implementing the report of the 2014 confab?

Certainly yes. It is to the credit of the current leadership of the country.

So, I don’t see the 2014 confab going the way of others because it is slightly different. The composition and issues discussed were also unique. We also have an educated President at the helm of affairs contrary to the situation when those other conferences took place. In any case, the 1994/95 Conference under General Sanni Abacha yielded the use of six zones for administrative purposes and minimum of 13 per cent derivation.

Those aspects are being implemented. It was the 2005 Conference under President Olusegun Obasanjo that completely ended in the waste basket. With respect to the issue of derivation, the constitution currently says, “a minimum of 13 per cent,” not a maximum of. This suggests that the President may consider administratively raising it above 13 per cent without any constitutional amendment.

The various ethnic nationalities went to confab with their respective agenda, how far did they go in pushing them, and what roles did they play influencing the recommendations of the conference?

No one achieved 100 per cent, and none had zero either. That is what it should be. We all went home with something.

Fani-Kayode: Boko Haram is the political wing of APC CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 4

gious, multi-cultural and multi-ethnic secular state and it is exceptionally dangerous to introduce religion into politics and seek to use it to gain political power as the APC are shamelessly doing.

The suggestion that some of their more notable leaders often make that the PDP is linked to Boko Haram in any shape or form or that President Goodluck Jonathan, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) or the High Command of the Nigerian Military, Security Agencies and Intelligence Services are sponsoring or supporting Boko Haram is another lie from the pit of hell. For anyone in the APC to make such an allegation is not only absurd but it is like the pot calling the kettle black.

It was rather elements in the APC, and none of those in PDP or any of those

organisations that worked day and night to ensure that America did not label Boko Haram a terrorist organisation throughout last year and up until early this year. This is after the terrorists had killed and abducted so many young and innocent Nigerians. Now the question has to be asked, why was this so? If the APC were not behind Boko Haram, why did they not want them to be labelled as terrorists by the Americans and the international community?

Why did they complain morning day and night that the Nigerian military were killing ‘’innocent Northerners’’ and ‘’violating human rights’’ simply because our brave soldiers were risking their lives on the war front and battlefield fighting terror, trying to protect our people and trying to wipe out the enemy.

Some have cited the former National

Security Adviser, General Patrick Azazi’s comments as evidence of PDP’s socalled involvement with Boko Haram.

They conveniently forget that the elements that Azazi was referring to at that time have now all left the PDP and have joined the APC. We do not need any more lessons, finger-pointing or self-serving statements from leaders of the APC or their party about Boko Haram. What we need and what we want from them is for them to stop supporting and encouraging the terrorists and to stop bringing religion into politics. They should also apologise to the Nigerian people for the shameful things that they have said which has done nothing but encourage the terrorists and the enemies of our people. May God grant them the grace and humility to do so.

16 POLITICS | THURSDAY INTERVIEW Chief Ebenezer Babatope, a Board of Trustees (BoT) member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Minister of Transport and Aviation in this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, says that Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s re-election will have terrible effects on the economy of Osun State.

Excerpts: What is your take on the outcome of August 9 governorship election in Osun State?

We had the election and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) pronounced that we lost and pronounced Aregbesola to have won.

It was a normal election but I am surprised about what the INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said recently that the election was nearly rigged. Jega is an intellectual and he should have the courage to say which political party actually tried to rig the election. Is it the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or All Progressives Congress (APC)? He should tell Nigerians those who attempted to manipulate the election. I am a PDP man, if he names my party, I will call on him to provide the proof of PDP attempting to rig the election. I want to appeal to Jega that at this particular time when he is winning credibility in terms of the elections he has been conducting in Nigeria, he should not play with such statement that Osun election was nearly rigged. He should name the party. The spokesperson of the Department of State Security (DSS), Ms Marylyn Ogar, was categorical; the woman talked very intelligently and clearly.

How do you mean by INEC pronounced that APC won the election?

It announced that APC won the election and I am not alluding anything about that. It is left for our party to decide what line of action to take. We have decided to head to tribunal to prove our case because the tribunal is part of the legal steps that can be taken to complete an electoral exercise.

But many people are of the view that the election was free and fair.

We of the PDP will go to tribunal and we will try to prove our case before the tribunal that certain things went wrong with the election. The election was heavily manipulated. They chose certain areas and we are aware of those areas. Take Osogbo’s result for example, they announced that APC won 40,000 and PDP won 11,000 votes. That is beating us by 29,000 votes and I laughed because I know every part of Osun State very well.

In Alekuwodo, which have non-natives of Osogbo, the PDP have sufficient political strength in the place to ensure that even if we are going to lose Osogbo, we are not going to lose it the way it was announced. So, certain things happened and those things, I am not going to tell you until we get to the tribunal. And if the tribunal pronounces that what we brought to it is not sufficient to annul the election, so be it. That is democracy in action. Then we would go back home to prepare for the presidential election in which by the grace of God we will beat the APC. What can you attribute as reasons the PDP lost the election?

I am not going to tell you that because we are going to the tribunal, and when we get there, we will do a lot to proof our case; we have assembled our facts.

Some people are of the view that the PDP

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Babatope: Osun’ll bear brunt of Aregbesola’s victory

spent himself but I am so sorry because eventually his overspending will have terrible effects on the economy of Osun State in the next to two-three months. I can assure you that they will now start to say we don’t have funds from the centre.

The man will not be able to pay salaries of staff and that is where problems will begin. I concede to him the fact that he has every right to spend as much money as he wants to, but I am saying that there is much punishment that he would get economically with the overspending because when you cannot pay salaries, I am only sorry and very unhappy for Osun public officers and civil servants who are going to bear the brunt of all these things. The man will not get money to pay and there lies the power of the PDP. When we go for the presidential election in 2015, you will see what will happen.

Babatope

was the architect of its own problems and that the party lost because of internal wrangling and defection of some of its chieftains to the APC. Do you share in this assertion?

Elections are contests for power between political parties; elections are never rub my back and I rub yours game. We had primaries and Iyiola Omisore was pronounced to have won the primaries and before the primaries, we had Isiaka Adeleke complaining that certain things happened. But eventually, he opted out of the party and joined the APC. And towards the election, Olagunsoye Oyinlola announced that he was quitting the PDP to join the APC. These people have rights to join any party of their choice. So, as far as I am concerned as a seasoned organiser trained by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, I don’t see anything wrong in that.

But the belief is that if Adeleke, Oyinlola and other PDP chieftains have not left, the party would have performed better in the election.

That is not correct. Go and look at the statistical result in Ede, it did not show that PDP lost too much. The APC won but with narrow margin. I am not saying Adeleke is not popular in his area. Adeleke’s father was with me in the UPN; he was a fantastic, clearheaded and absolutely loyal party man.

Adeleke knows that the love I have for him comes from the love I had for his father because his father at one time was among the few UPN senators who were paying their membership fees directly to the party. I am not saying the Adelekes can be erased in Ede but I am talking of the margin. The margin does not show that Adeleke controlled Ede absolutely. It is the right of Adeleke and Oyinlola to defect to APC and they did. I wish them the best of luck because there are still many elections to be held and there are so many electoral contests that would involve the PDP and the APC in Osun State. The next one is the presidential election, which, we of the PDP are pre-

The money spent by Aregbesola will soon have effect on the economy of Osun State. And it is a pity that public officers in Osun State are going to bear the brunt of this mess paring hard for and we will meet when the time comes.

There is also the belief in some quarters that Omisore was a wrong candidate for PDP...

Why do people jump to funny conclusions? The PDP members that picked Omisore were not fools. I am not saying that there are no other candidates. We have Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi; he is a good material. If he had won the primaries, we would have fielded him and campaigned for him. Hon. Wole Oke is a good candidate. If he had contested the primaries and won, we would have fielded him. To say that Omisore is a bad candidate is trying to falsify history and facts. What has now made it that Omisore becomes unacceptable to the people? Omisore was a senator and deputy governor in Osun State. When he was deputy governor for the Alliance for Democracy (AD) government in the state, nobody said he was not a good candidate. Why are they saying that now?

Don’t mind them.

You said Osun PDP is prepared for the 2015 general election....

I am not going to tell you how we are preparing for the election. One thing you must say of Aregbesola and you cannot quarrel with him about that is that he spent money. He spent and over

But PDP also spent money to prosecute the election We spent money but we are not in government in Osun State, we tasked ourselves. It will surprise you to know that the PDP organised massively, financially or otherwise for that election. Take Ijesaland for example, I am the leader of the Ijesa PDP. We really prepared for the election. We did a fund raising, all Ijesa within the PDP attended the meeting and we raised funds for the election.

We even made appeals to PDP members outside the state and they answered us by donating money. So, by the time we were going for the election, the Ijesa PDP that comprises six local governments was able to give out money to all the local government branches of the party to prepare for the election. So, we are not in government in Osun State but Aregbesola was, and according to reports in the newspapers, he had to borrow money from so many other states. I had no quarrel with that because they want to win election, so they went for it. All I am saying is that the money spent by Aregbesola will soon have effect on the economy of Osun State. And it is a pity that public officers in Osun State are going to bear the brunt of this mess.

What gave you the assurance that Osun State civil servants will suffer over Aregbesola’s re-election?

I don’t need to be a magician or a soothsayer to see that. I am unhappy with them but we are going to fight and struggle with them because they are also Nigerians to ensure that we get solutions that would not make them to go under economically with that exercise. But that Aregbesola will not suffer deep economic crisis from what he spent for the election, we are wasting our time. Politics is contest for power and no matter what route you take to it; you are the person that can be answerable to that one. We are in the business of politics and that is the beauty of democracy. Democracy is about contending for power; we contended for power and Aregbesola was declared winner. When we are through at the tribunal; if he defeats us, we would know what to do. I will then congratulate him and the APC. But if I do so now, I shall be rocking the boat of my party and that would be very dangerous. I have already quarrelled about the way PDP at the national level congratulated Aregbesola. I didn’t like it. The President is the president of the entire country, so he is free and quite right to have issued the congratulatory message. But for my party without even waiting for our reactions from Osun State to have done what it did was wrong. They should have contacted us to hear our views in Osun PDP before they issued a statement representing the views of the party.

POLITICS | THURSDAY INTERVIEW 17

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Isaac Kekemeke is a major player in Ondo State politics having served as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Commissioner for Works and later Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

The Ondo State chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in this interview with BABATOPE OKEOWO, speaks on the state of affairs in Ondo, the chances of APC in 2015 and the Olusegun Mimiko administration. Excerpts: What is your view on how the government is being run by the state government?

As a party, we are very concerned about the vacation that government in Ondo State has entered, and which it is refusing to come out from. Government is on holidays and we thought that it would be for a while, but it is refusing to come out of the holidays.

Our offices are not functioning, our civil servants are not doing their jobs because, according to them, they have not been given the tools which they are meant to do their jobs.

Local governments are no longer doing any noticeable physical development because, according to them, allocations are not being distributed.

About a month ago, I issued a statement that for 16 months, a Joint Account Allocation of local government called JACC has not been held. We want to thank the state governor for responding to that call by calling one of such meetings but we want to say that the conduct at that meeting is below our expectations. Allocation papers were released to secretaries and treasurers of local councils and they were removed from them after meetings. In other words, they don’t have to go home with records of their allocations. That is not acceptable. Government owes it a duty to function here at the state level, and also to cause our local government councils to function.

I am appealing to government to release funds to the different Ministries, Departments and Parastatals so that our civil servants can do what they are being paid for. This holiday is getting too long and our people are no longer enjoying it. The rains have come, the potholes are increasing in town, the hospitals are not functioning and this is a government that promised that it was going to be people centered. We challenge Governor Olusegun Mimiko to live up to that expectation.

What is your take on the fate of the state-owned Owena Motels which is giving way to a mall?

The desire to construct Shoprite and a five-star hotel is a welcome development. We have nothing against investment in the state, we think that it is right for government to continue to promote and support investments. It is good for all of us, it is good for our state. But we ask government to lay the facts on the table and be open about the transaction. Has government or Owena land been sold? If it has been sold, for how much? Is it a partnership, and if it is, a partnership of what choice? We are afraid that this legacy which Ondo State people emotionally attached to will not be destroyed and then be left to be another Dome project, which is uncompleted up till now. We don’t want Owena motel, Shoprite or

Kekemeke

Mimiko govt on holiday in Ondo –Kekemeke

five-star hotel to become another Dome project. We want a time lag within which this would be completed.

How do you see the victory of the APC in the Osun governorship election?

We are celebrating our victory in Osun governorship election. For us, that victory is well deserved, it is scaring off the PDP which is like a roaring lion looking for who to devour, and which has become desperate to take over the South-West in an attempt to ensure that they win the presidential election next year knowing fully well that the North-West and the NorthEast zones have been foreclosed to it.

We thank God for the vigilance of the people of the South-West, particularly the people of Osun who resisted the harassment, intimidation, arrest, inducement through kerosene and rice; they stood for what they believed in.

A number of people have said that the APC cries wolf too often, they said that APC celebrates elections when it is announced victorious.

The over-militarization of elections by the PDP is unacceptable.

Over 73,000 security officials were engaged in that election. If it were to be a presidential election, and we need to secure it the way they secured Osun, we will need 2.6 million security personnel to conduct the presidential election. We should try as much as possible to keep soldiers off our elections to avoid intimidating voters. We should keep off DSS off our elections; our SSS officials must be involved in intelligence gathering and security surveillance and not wearing hoods and carrying heavy equipment and arms to intimidate Nigeria people

This holiday is getting too long and our people are no longer enjoying it... This is a government that promised that it was going to be people, centered. We challenge Governor Olusegun Mimiko to live up to that expectation because of elections.

What is the fate of APC in Ondo State?

Our party in Ondo State is new. We cannot shout loud on our strategy of winning elections but we can assure you that we are doing all we can to sell our party to the good citizens of Ondo State who have seen the PDP at its best and who have also seen the LP. We believe we will remain the most credible alternative to bring about change in our state. We are doing that and we are getting support, we have talked with people in the PDP, we are talking to people in the LP. We will announce the outcome of our interaction in due course, and we will receive members from the PDP and LP. APC never lost any governorship election in the state. It was ACN that did in Ondo. This is APC and it has not been involved in any gubernatorial election in the state. Second, the

first election our party did was the by-election in Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency. We know why we lost; we just went into the election because we did not like to boycott elections. At the time we went into that elections, we did not have ward, state, local government executives, even at the national level. We are not disturbed by that at all. The reasons PDP and LP are rated above of us are obvious: we have the PDP which in control of the government at the centre and in the state we have the LP which is in government.

So, naturally they have all the powers, but all we need to do is to sell ourselves as the best alternative to those two.

I believe that the next government of Ondo State would be formed by the APC, that the next government of this country would be formed by APC by May 29, 2015. Which means the APC would win the February 14 presidential election. I believe sincerely that the people of this state are tired of LP. I can see, feel and hear it and everybody knows it. I also believed that the people of this state have tasted PDP, I was a member of that government, we did our best but the people of this state also saw a few lapses of that government. The only party that they have not tried in this state is APC. There have been gale of defections in the state recently. Why this?

For every person that leaves our party we have more people approaching us to come over. I can assure you we will lose nothing, I am not aware of any of our chieftains leaving but for every chieftain that leaves we have other chieftains joining us from the other parties.

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Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

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

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

Now that the NMA strike is over

fter 55 days of industrial action, the Nigerian Medical Association had a rethink apparently in reaction to pleas by influential personalities and the trauma and tension unleashed on the nation by the incursion of the Ebola Virus. NMA leader, Dr. Lawrence Obembe told journalists in Abuja that delegates considered the intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan, the Senate President, David Mark and other prominent Nigerians, in reaching the decision to suspend the strike embarked upon on July 1, this year.

The current reality of critical health challenges and threats posed by the outbreak of Ebola virus in the country also spurred the decision. With alacrity, Dr. Obembe said that “all medical and dental doctors are hereby directed to resume duty at their working posts with effect from 8.00 hours of Monday, 25th August, 2014.” Our hearts are gladdened that the doctors have since complied with the directives.

While we join other Nigerians to appreciate the decision by the striking practitioners to end the strike in the interest of the nation, our hearts go to the families that either lost dear relations or had their ailments complicated as a result of absence of proper attention by experienced medical experts while the strike action lingered. If all

the necessary interventions had been made to avert the industrial action, some of the people would probably be alive today, and the now complex cases better mitigated. This underscores our position that every possible step needs to be taken by all stakeholders to either completely avoid or shorten industrial actions at any point in time because of the huge costs, distortions and trauma associated with them.

So also are we encouraged that concerted efforts are being made by stakeholders, medical and dental doctors to contain the Ebola outbreak despite the strike action, according to the NMA chieftain. However, we add that whoever is involved at whatever level in the fight to halt the multifarious challenges and gaps in the nation’s healthcare sector should henceforth concentrate more on achieving evidence-based results that can save the greater percentage of the country’s estimated population of 170 million rather than on mere efforts coded and loaded in catchy rhetorical expressions.

This explains why we commend the federal government for the bold steps it has taken not only to reinstate about 16,000 resident doctors sacked in response to the strike embarked upon by members of the NMA, but also to pay their two-month salary arrears. It is our belief that the striking doctors would reciprocate this gesture and allow

peace to reign over the lingering crisis situation in the country so that progress can be made in addressing our collective interests in the already delicate healthcare sector. All other aggrieved persons and institutions should now also sheathe their swords in the spirit of true reconciliation.

For this reason, we do not share the position and sentiments of the Health Committee of the House of Representatives in demanding apologies to Nigerians from members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) over what they tagged the “unpatriotic” strike embarked upon by medical doctors. The Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Health, Ndudi Elumelu, while addressing journalists in Abuja on the suspension of the NMA strike, said it was not enough for NMA to call off the strike, and demanded that the association apologise to Nigerians over the “avoidable” deaths. “The committee has a final word for NMA. The NMA has suspended the strike, but it has failed to do one thing: the NMA failed to apologise to Nigerians. The NMA should apologise to Nigerians for all the inconveniences and lives that were lost during the strike,” he asserted.

Although it is unfortunate that medical doctors, given the specialised nature of their profession, failed to exercise caution in the decision to embark on the strike in the first instance, we advise that

the overarching reasons for which they embarked on the action should now be thoroughly and adequately addressed in order to avoid a reoccurrence. This, we strongly believe, is a rather more germane and urbane approach than stoking the fire of emotions in the moves to reconcile, claw back and put behind us the harvest of deaths from the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and other more manageable ailments during the period of the industrial action.

While we share the Committee’s concern, we appeal to them to bury the hatchet and let the sleeping dog lie at this point. It is enough that the medical practitioners lost the unique opportunity to display their professional prowess in such manners that could have won national and international awards, including the much-soughtafter Nobel Prize for them if they had been available to manage the Ebola syndrome. Stretching them further to extract their apologies to the nation may not be an easy nut to crack now.

Our position is that all stakeholders should be more pragmatic and proactive in addressing and assuaging the grievances of professionals and other constituents of the labour force to nip strike actions in the bud rather than waste time and other valuable resources to negotiate after the milk has already been spattered and hefty losses incurred.

MANAGING DIRECTOR/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Eric Osagie DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTORS

Gabriel Akinadewo Felix Oguejiofor Abugu MANAGING EDITOR

Suleiman Uba Gaya EDITOR, DAILY

Yemi Ajayi EDITOR, SATURDAY

Laurence Ani EDITOR, SUNDAY

Emeka Madunagu DEPUTY EDITORS, DAILY

Emeka Obasi Ayodele Ojo BUREAU CHIEF, BRUSSELS

Leo Cendrowicz BUREAU CHIEF, WASHINGTON DC

Marshall Comins EDITORIAL COORDINATOR, EUROPE

Sam Amsterdam CHAIRMAN, EDITORIAL BOARD

Emman Shehu (PhD) NEWS EDITOR

Geoffrey Ekenna ADVERT MANAGER

Taiwo Ahmed AG. SALES/MARKETING MANAGER

Uchey Okezie HEAD, GRAPHICS

Timothy Akinleye HEAD, ADMIN.

Robinson Ezeh

19

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

OPINION

Insurgency: Where are the fighter jets?

Kingsley Nnajiaka

N

igeria recently witnessed an embarrassing scenario with the activity of the insurgents who captured a part of Nigeria and thereafter declared it a caliphate. It was even more embarrassing that the Nigerian military rather than put up a gallant resistance reportedly abandoned their responsibility of defending the nation and ran to Cameroun. In defense of the soldiers, the Nigeria Military High Command ridiculously described their action as ‘tactical Maneuver.

Let us recall that the governor of Borno State once told the world that Boko Haram fighters were more equipped and motivated than Nigerian soldiers, a senior federal government official criticized him of being myopic, unpatriotic and full of mischief. Several persons called the governor all sorts of names; the federal government ignored the message and tried to kill the messenger. Now, in debunking this information and trying to preserve the integrity of the armed forces where has this left us?

We understand the challenges of waging war against terrorists but at the same time Nigerians expect more from the military. We expect more than mere reassurance that the military is winning the war; we expect more than mere protecting military integrity in the face of criticism. We don’t envisage a situation where the military comes out at all time to defend its face without pulling weights against these insurgents.

The Gwoza attack leaves `a lot of questions about the operation and capacity of the military. Where are the fighter jets? Do we really have one or do we corroborate the position of the Borno State Governor that the military lacks weaponries?

The video of the attack on Gwoza went viral; we saw how the insurgents went on a shooting spree in Gwoza. We also saw how our military men ran for their lives. We saw how their armories were looted and their vehicles taken away out of the barrack.

This operation lasted for hours and yet the insurgents came back to declare the town a republic outside Nigeria. We still need to inquire: what happened to our fighter jets? Is the Nigerian Military Gwoza Military? If there is a fighter jet and the military is not just stationed in Gwoza alone, then why was

Let us recall that the governor of Borno State once told the world that Boko Haram fighters were more equipped and motivated than Nigerian soldiers, a senior federal government official criticized him of being myopic, unpatriotic and full of mischief.

Several persons called the governor all sorts of names; the federal government ignored the message and tried to kill the messenger there no mobilization and air bombardment?

Every eye that watched the video needed not to be in the military to know that what was required at that point was communication for backup. It was expected that a signal be given to the nearest command for mobilization of troops and equipment into Gwoza for aerial bombardment.

At this point we still need to make more inquires: could this be an act of sabotage? Because if it was not, I see no reason why there was no order for the reinforcement of troops into Gwoza to contain the enemies. Also, we would want to know if it was a question of lack of capacity amongst the military personnel? This would be very hard to believe because Nigerian soldiers have fought more battles in the past and it is assumed that they are more knowledgeable in combat operations than the insurgents.

We are aware that at some point in time, some of the military personnel had complained of poor

welfare, but we are also aware that for the past three years, the military had received the highest funding from the national budget. How much more do we really need to spend?

But, where are the provisions for more fighter jets aerial viewing equipment, drones and other necessary technical equipment for the fight against the insurgents? It is unfortunate that hundreds of billions that is been appropriated for security in the fight against terrorism contains unnecessary priorities. Sadly the makeup of these huge sums is for security votes which is not accounted for, and recurrent expenditure. It is even more worrisome that despite the increased allocation on recurrent expenditure, the military personnel still complain of poor welfare.

Nigeria has gotten to the point where by sincerity and openness is the only way forward in treating national affairs. This is even more needed in the fight against the insurgents. The lives of our officers are so precious and should not be lost cheaply in the hands of the insurgents. The safety and security of Nigerians should not be jeopardized with the corruption and insensitivity of our leaders.

Based on this, it is advised that the necessary equipment needed for the fight against the insurgents be procured, the personnel should be well trained on combat and counter terrorism. Large scale offensive like that of Gwoza should be well prepared for; the military should never be caught off guard.

Such offensive should be approached hands on with the use of air troops, which should serve as a cover for ground troops.

The sincerity of government is needed most especially in the funding of the military, the military should be well funded and the use of this fund should also be monitored. Recruitment of persons into the military should no longer be based on connection but on merit. There is need to avoid frivolous expenditures without useful tags, like the security votes and channeled back to procurement of fighter jets and modern military equipment.

Finally, there should be consistent check within the military for sabotage and any of such reported cases should be accorded deserving punishment.

•Nnajiaka is Legal Officer, Centre for Social Justice Tweet @kingfad2k2, 08038254251

Prince Emeka Obasi: The indignity of defending the indefensible George Opobo

I

n a rather narrow-minded ‘Open Letter to Chief Orji Uzor Kalu’, Prince Emeka Obasi, a former employee of the former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, indicted himself, arraigned himself in the court of public opinion and convicted himself. He then proceeded to subject himself to ridicule.

Prince Obasi opened his self-indictment by questioning “the point [Dr. Kalu was] trying to make and to whom.”

The answer is very obvious. In his relentless and eloquent prosecution of Governor T A Orji, Dr. Kalu was consistent in the points he was trying to make.

Firstly, he was trying to tell his own side of the story, having endured more than half a decade of calumnious and false narrative by Chief Orji and his band of media hounds.

Secondly, Kalu eloquently tried to show that the governor hasn’t always told the truth about so many things in so many occasions and that he is grossly incompetent.

Thirdly, Kalu portrayed Chief Orji as a chameleon, which is not only able to change colours but can look in two distinct directions at the same time, qualities the former governor described as having grave and nega-

tive implications for the human character, namely: the ability to deceive; the quality of being dishonourable; the inability to be resolute and firm and the paralysis that ensues from cowardice.

To any citizen with an average intelligence, a cursory reading of Kalu’s Leadership series in the past few weeks would have made the above points abundantly clear. But not to Emeka Obasi, it would appear.

Obasi went on to express the notion that Kalu wrote as though he functioned as “an Island” in the years in which he served as the Executive Governor of Abia State.

With all due respect, Mr. Obasi, nothing that Chief Kalu wrote conveyed such an impression. On the contrary, he gave a painstaking narration of the key events and key players, among whom was Obasi’s ‘Dede’ T.A Orji, throughout the eight years he led Abia State. He took into account several points of views, dimensions, tendencies and ideologies.

With such a rich reflection on history, Kalu made connections with the people and events that lay at the heart of the matter. As the central character in the history of Abia from 1999 to 2007, he demonstrated in his narrative that he was neither an Island nor even a peninsula. The man was continental and that impression

was clearly and unambiguously conveyed. It is evidence of a failure of imagination and simple comprehension on the part of Prince Obasi for him to have arrived at his simplistic conclusion.

“As you well know, the man you take so much pleasure to lampoon at every turn is my kinsman, My Dede!”

By making this myopic statement the very centre-piece of his attack on Kalu, Obasi exposed himself to the greatest ridicule, as narrow-minded and lacking self-dignity.

Obasi could have based his argument on moral objection; he could have argued from point of intellectual disapprobation or objective disquisition of the central issues of public interest and importance. Indeed, he could have embarked on a systematic dismantling of the case built against ‘Dede Orji’ by Dr. Kalu.

But, he did not do any such thing; instead, he chose to proceed from the most primordial, backward, unimaginative premise possible: “As you well know, the man you take so much pleasure to lampoon at every turn is my kinsman, My Dede!” This singular lack of sophistication at the heart of Obasi’s ‘open letter’ is also, interestingly, what boosted Kalu’s case.

What do I mean? The former youthful Abia governor had his own kinsmen and yet, he was broadmin-

ded enough to appoint Obasi into his administration as Special Adviser on Research and Strategy. Kalu set aside the expectations of his own kinsmen and demonstrated superior wisdom by appointing Obasi again to the position of Commissioner for Information. Kalu was sufficiently accommodating and guided by equitable principles to overlook several of his own Dede’s to appoint Obasi’s own Dede, Chief T A Orji as his Chief of Staff for eight years. Possessed by the statesman spirit, Kalu proceeded to strive against storms, swim against tides, march against the dangerous vindictiveness of the Gorilla of Ota to make Obasi’s Dede the governor of Abia State.

By his infantile ranting, Obasi might have thought that he was savaging Kalu but far from it. The fact of the matter is that wittingly or unwittingly, Obasi reaffirmed Kalu’s broad-mindedness and restated his statesmanship credentials. The greatest example of these elevated affirmations is to be found in the fact that the vast majority of those who have risen in defence of Kalu are neither his kinsmen nor those who regard him as their Dede, but citizens located in the broad spectrum of Igboland and Nigeria at large.

There can be no greater tribute to a genuine statesman than that.

20 POLITICS Joe- Martins Uzodike is the Special Adviser on Political Matters to Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State. In this interview with Chinedu Ekeja, the former Information commissioner of the state speaks on the governor’s political career as well as the upcoming general election.

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Obiano won’t dump APGA for PDP –Uzodike

What is the relationship between Governor Willie Obiano and stakeholders in the state?

Cordial. The relationship is cordial in terms of whom you mean to be the stakeholders. If you mean the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) chieftains, it is very cordial.

Mind you, our governor was not a politician before ascending to the office of a governor.

The governor is being accused of not being inclusive in the running of the party?

That is why I said that Governor Obiano has not been a politician, so he is just playing politics the way he perceives it for now. That is to say that as a new comer, he might be making some mistakes, but that is not to say it is wilful. He is just trying to grapple with the tenets of politics which he has not been exposed to before his election.

He is quite different from someone who has been in the terrain of politics that knows what to say and who to talk to at any given point in time.

APGA has been hit with defection of federal lawmakers. How is the party handling this?

I am a politician and I know how painful it is for even a friend of yours in the same political party to say that he is moving to another political party, let alone people who were elected like federal lawmakers on the party. No party will be happy about it. Though we have not come to know their reasons, I am happy some of them are coming back.

Who? Hon. Afam Ogene representing Ogbaru federal constituency in the House of Representatives. He is back already. He addressed his people some days ago to tell them that he is back to his family. So, I am still hopeful that most of them will still come back.

If any of them had resigned, I don’t think it is because he is having any grouse with the governor; the governor is new and a friend to all. If they have individual differences with the functionaries of the party, they have nothing to do with the governor.

Were there efforts made to have Ogene return to the party or he returned on his own?

Of course, the governor has been in touch with all of them, trying to know what their grouse was. He has been continuously making overtures to them and I am sure that with his temperament and open mindedness, he is bound to woo them back to the party. I would not doubt if they all come back. You know every politician wants something in a fast manner, and sometimes, what we perceive might be different from the reality. So, on realisation of this fact, most of them are bound to retrace their steps.

What do you make of the recent resignation of the immediate past governor of the state from APGA Board of Trustees (BoT). Do you think that it has anything to do with his relationship with Governor Obiano?

Uzodike

You see, he (Peter Obi) gave his reasons, from what we read in the media.

He said he has been a BoT chairman and the office has not been ratified.

From what I heard, the national chairman of the party said that the ex-governor did not release money to fund the party’s national convention, and that it was in that convention that they were supposed to ratified that position. But all these things are trivial as far as I am concerned.

You know when somebody is in that position, and he is not set in motion to work, people will be attributing every problem in that office to his inactivity without knowing that he may be handicapped. For instance, people have been blaming him that it was during his tenure as chairman of the BoT of the party that people are leaving in droves, why can’t he act and all that. And the only way to call the party to order is by resigning.

He has said he will never live to see APGA die and that all his live is built around the party. Let me believe that he is just using the resignation to call our attention to those anomalies.

People are even speculating that Obi might dump the party for PDP… (Cuts in) That rumour has been there over the years and he has not left the party. We heard it in the first tenure, but we went for a re-election and won. We also heard it at the end of his tenure but we presented an APGA candidate and that candidate won in the election. So, he will be shooting himself on the foot if he leaves his candidate midway to go somewhere else because he will lose a lot. How can you build a house and leave it?

Is Obiano also considering leaving APGA if the crisis in the party persists?

The governor is in APGA, he does not belong to any other political party and he is not planning to join any now.

He is rather planning to move APGA beyond the state. He is not a politician that will be moving from one political party to the other. He knows only one party and that party is APGA. You feel he will not do that when the need calls for it?

You see, he has to look at the people he is governing; the state is APGA. For him to take any political decision, he has to consult widely. Peter Obi looked at the state and discovered that Anambra people are APGA. So, we want to strengthen our hold in Anambra.

The 2015 general election is approaching, what does the polls holds for Anambra and the governor?

As far as I am concerned, we are going to sweep the elections. There is no doubt about it. The people of the state are behind us. The governor has started well, former Governor Peter Obi did well and Obiano has come to raise the bar. You can see what he is doing on security and in other ar-

That rumour has been there over the years and he has not left the party... he will be shooting himself in the foot if he leaves his candidate midway to go somewhere else because he will lose a lot. How can you build a house and leave it?

eas. So, with these, I don’t have doubt about 2015. The people will follow us because there is no sign of disenchantment anywhere from anybody.

What informed the tour of the local governments by the governor?

We have embarked on a thank-you tour, which we feel we are already running late because a lot of sentiment that came in. People said let us wait for the tribunal, after the tribunal, some people said again let us wait for the Appeal Court, after the Appeal Court they said again that we should wait till after the Supreme Court that these people have gone to the apex court but we said no, we have to start now.

We have covered six local governments and if not for this collection of the voters’ cards and continuous voters’ registration exercise, we would have gone far. They equally appreciated him. The people at the grassroots are united; they don’t have any problem except the elite who are struggling for one thing or the other.

We have visited six local governments; Onitsha South, Ogbaru, Idemil North, Dunukofia and Awka North.

The turnout, I must tell you, was very impressive. In the course of the tour, the people saw a different person, a dancing governor. When he sees his people doing something, he will join them, showing that he was born and brought up amongst them. When Mr. Peter Obi was here, he never danced for one day. He never took a chieftaincy title, but here is a governor that will dance with you; a governor who is a member of the Igwe cabinet and a chief who identifies with the people and you know that in governance, nothing brings you closer to the people than this kind of thing.

After the thank-you tour, we will start preparation for the 2015 elections, which we will face with full force.

LAW THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

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FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE JUDICIARY EDITOR

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'SIX-YEAR SINGLE TERM GOOD FOR RULE OF LAW, DEMOCRACY'

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Alegeh: My agenda for the Bar

L-R: OCJ Okocha (SAN), NBA President, Alegeh (SAN), Yusuf Ali (SAN), JB Daudu (SAN), Prof. Taiwo Oshipintan (SAN), Former NBA General-Secretary, Emeka Obegolu and others

At last, Mr. Okey Wali, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria handed over to his successor, Mr Augusting Oyarekhua Alegeh, SAN as the elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). Alegeh, who was sworn-in on August 29 as the 27th President, promised to restore the Bar to its former glory. Writes Judiciary Editor, FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE

F

ollowing the change of baton between Mr. Okey Wali and his successor, Mr. Augusting Oyarekhua Alegeh at the crowded Imo State International Conference Centre, Owerri during the weeklong 54th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), another chapter has begun in the life of the over 150 year-old association.

Wali, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria bowed out on August 29 following the swearing-in of his successor, Alegeh.

Alegeh was elected on July 15 in keenly contested election which had a former vice-president of the association, Mrs. Olufunke Adekoya, SAN, the association’s ex-scribe, Deacon Dele Adesina, SAN and Chief Adeniyi Akintola, SAN as co-contestants.

Alegeh polled 691 to emerge the winner of the election. During the election, the President vowed to address the dwindling fortune of the association which his colleagues believed lost its voice in the tenure of the Okey Wali’s leadership.

Besides, Alegeh vowed to raise the Bar and restore it to its traditional role

as the voice of the voiceless as his responsibility, good sense and integrity would be useful to turn the association around while harping his confidence on God with clear thoughts and direction to enable him exercise diligently ‘the great powers of the office and carry out the duties attached thereto in the very best interest of the association and the overall interest of our country’.

He however reeled out his agenda as follows: Amendment proposal of the Constitution, E-voting,other amendments, National Executive Committee Meetings, welfare of NBA members, NBA identification card, NBA insurance policy, Bar practicing fees, Annual General Conference fees, NBA partner Discounts and Hotels.

Others include airlines,loans and the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).

On the NBA Constitution, Alegeh proposed that there was the need to amend the Constitution with a view to taking advantage of the 21st century trends.

He said: “The recent amendments to the NBA Constitution were ratified at the Annual General Meeting [AGM] of the NBA on 28th of August, 2014. The said amendments addressed issues that were topical at the time and have essentially served their purpose.

“However, there is a further need to amend our Constitution to meet present realities and take advantage of modern

I have always made it clear that the welfare of NBA members would be given high priority in this administration

technological developments.

“The cost of NBA national elections to the association is increasing at an unsustainable rate. The risk, dangers and inconveniences encountered by NBA members during these elections is becoming unbearable. The elections are becoming too expensive for NBA members and voter tampering appears to be encouraged when delegates at national elections are not provided with accommodation and other logistic requirements by the association. The resultant effect is that candidates are compelled to provide accommodation and logistic needs for the delegates in a manner that may compromise the decision-making process of the candidates.

On e-voting, Alegeh said “I believe strongly, that the delegate election system of the NBA needs to be reviewed and that e-voting through the NBA website should be introduced and this would require a constitutional amendment.

He went on: “Other amendments, the wording of the electoral provisions of our Constitution and several other provisions would need to be reviewed and fine-tuned. The amendments to our Constitution to introduce e-voting and other changes would be given priority and dealt with speedily with the hope that the system would be operational and members made conversant with its working long before the 2016 national elections.

“In the light of the approval of Uniform Bye Laws for NBA branches, it would be advisable for the provision of e-voting to be contained in the Uniform Bye Laws to afford branches the opportunity to implement e-voting and be conversant with its operations before the national elections.

“I have therefore set up a Constitution Review Committee with the following terms of reference: 1] To review the provisions of our Constitution on elections with a view to intro-

ducing e-voting at all NBA National Elections.

2] To review the provisions of Our Constitution on elections and propose such amendments as may be required to make the provision more definitive and NBA National Elections more rancour free.

3] To review the NBA Branches Unified Bye Laws to bring it in conformity with the Amended NBA Constitution.

4] To review and propose all other such amendments as it requires necessary to the provisions of Our Constitution.

The Committee shall submit its report on or before the 30th of November, 2014.

“Our NEC meetings should be made more effective and dedicated totally and entirely for discussion of NBA matters.

NEC must also take advantage of modern day technological developments in its operations. Matters for debate at NEC must be by Written Proposals/Counter Proposals submitted and circulated to all NEC members.

The branch reports shall be presented at NEC meetings. NEC to operate with an Order Paper Pre-registered Observers to be allowed at NEC Meetings.

Pre-Registration would be available to verified lawyers who have paid their Bar Practicing fees and branch dues as at when due and is subject to availability”.

On his agenda for the welfare of the association’s members, Alegeh vowed to reverse the trend as it would be given utmost priority.

He said: “I have always made it clear that the welfare of NBA members would be given high priority in this administration. I have since my election engaged myself in seeking ways of enhancing our collective welfare and I have received offers in principle in respect of CO NTINUED O N PAGE23

22 JURIST

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Daudu: Many judicial officers are still corrupt

Joseph Daudu led the lawyers’ umbrella body-the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) as its president between 2010 and 2012.

Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, in this interview with APPOLOS CHRISTIAN, speaks on challenges in the judiciary and the need for reforms, corruption and sundry issues.

Daudu, SAN

H

e is an advocate for corruptionfree society. Joseph Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria spent the greater part of his tenure as the president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to fight corruption especially in his constituency-the Bar and the Bench.

For instance, many of his colleagues who were indicted of corruption were derobed. At a point, JB Daudu as fondly called, openly accused the Bench of corruption.

Today, he is highly revered and applauded as some of his allegations have been confirmed with the sack of some judges who were indicted for corrupt practices.

However, the Senior Advocate in a chat with the New Telegraph said he has been vindicated as it is obvious that ‘a substantial number of judicial officers are corrupt’.

I was maligned in some quarters for having the temerity to accuse the Bench of corruption within its rank He said: “I was maligned in some quarters for having the temerity to accuse the Bench of corruption within its rank. But I have long been vindicated. Although it is not that I care or wish to be vindicated, it is now accepted that a substantial number of judicial officers are corrupt. Corruption is not only when you receive gratification or bribe to pervert the course of justice by rendering a cor-

rupt judgment. Corruption is: (a) When a decision goes against the grain of common sense and has deliberately and brazenly subverted the law. (b) When a Judge or judicial officer or official absents himself inexcusably from his duty post or does not provide the requisite services for which he is paid for. (c) It is when a judicial officer is indolent and does not give expeditious and qualitative justice to all those who daily come to him for redress. (d) It is when the system appoints unqualified or proven corrupt people to the Bench. (e) It is when the system dismisses or dispenses with the services of hardworking honest judges without any justifiable or just reason or cause. (f) It is when the leadership of the Bench takes into consideration irrelevant and irreconcilable matters in serious matters or policy or (g) worse still behaves as if it is above the law etc.

“Two years after my tenure, the only point that can be said in favour of the system and for which I must concede deserves commendation is that the leadership of the profession particularly the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, has approached the problem from the proper perspective. First, it recognises that there is a serious problem of nationwide proportions in judicial corruption and secondly, it has not taken its eye off the ball during this period.

“She has carried on with the conviction that she must leave the system better than she met it. Some people have complained that in solving the problem she has employed draconian and at times unusual methods but the truth is that unusual problems require unusual measures. But the problem is a long way from being solved. I only wish that her successor will continue to show zero-tolerance to the issues undermining justice delivery in Nigeria.

On the role being played by his as-

sociation, Daudu said the NBA had no requisite powers to ‘arrest’ or curb corruption in the justice sector.

He said: “The Nigerian Bar Association does not possess any coercive powers to arrest or curb corruption in the justice sector.

“That is not to say that it lacks the wherewithal to fight corruption as a scourge. NBA possesses a great moral platform more efficacious than an executive platform from which to fight corruption. NBA must always identify and speak against corrupt practices anywhere it is identified in the country. Corruption is the major indicator that the Rule of law is under assault in any country. Any nation and indeed Nigeria is in peril because those who are mandated to speak against corruption have kept silent. There is quite a lot the NBA can do but i will be doing the right thing by turning my ideas over to the leadership as usual for implementation if accepted.

Asked on what should be the priorities of the newly sworn-in NBA officers, Daudu said ‘there are urgent steps to be taken in salvaging the image of the justice sector and these steps are a continuum from preceding administrations”.

He went on: “It is apt and I am sure that they are aware that leadership must study the system and must be courageous in removing the problems afflicting the system from it. There must be no sacred cows within the legal system now and in the future.

Secondly, the incoming CJN must ensure that appointees to judicial positions are sourced from the best materials and are not chosen on the basis of extraneous considerations.

Thirdly, the fight against corruption must not only continue but must be seen to be efficiently and courageously prosecuted. As it relates to the Bar, it must never relent in its task as the watchdog (sentinel) of the people overall rule of law matters.

Adamawa: Lawyer seeks court’s nod to invalidate Nyako's sack HOPE

For the sacked governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako hope beckons Appolos Christain

A

judge of the Federal High Court, Lagos, Justice Okon Abang will tomorrow hear a suit initiated by a lawyer, Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje, seeking to invalidate the sack of former Adamawa state governor, Murtala

Nyako by the state lawmakers.

Although Justice Abang said his jurisdiction was limited to the South-west cases, he intimated the initiator of the suit that there was a need to convince the court why the matter must be heard within the confine of his territorial jurisdiction.

Sued are the Acting Adamawa State Governor, Umaru Fintiri, State House of Assembly, outgone Chief Judge of the State, Justice Ambros Mammadi, Chairman of the impeachment panel,

Buba Kajama, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Inspector General of Police.

However, Ogungbeje while citing Order 46 Rule 5(2) of the Federal High Court Rules, urged the court to grant the leave for hearing as the suit had a lifespan should it not be given a speedy hearing.

Specifically, he told the court to grant accelerated hearing in the matter as the fifth respondent, INEC, had already fixed October 11, for the byeelection.

This, according Ogungbeje would truncate the scale of justice should the court ignore his pleading for accelerated hearing especially as the matter may die a natural death if the matter was not heard before the bye-election.

In the suit marked FHC/L/CS/1180/14, Ogungbeje is asking the court to declare as "unlawful, unconstitutional, illegal, null and void" the impeachment proceedings and the eventual removal of Nyako as the Governor of Adamawa State.

Nyako was sacked from office on July 15 after the state's House of Assembly adopted the report of a seven-man investigation panel which indicted him on 16 counts of gross misconduct.

Fintiri, who was then Speaker of the House of Assembly, had since been sworn in as the acting Governor in Nyako's place.

But Ogungbeje described the process which led to Nyako's impeachment as unconstitutional on the grounds that the ousted governor was not personally served with

the impeachment notice by the lawmakers.

Accordingly, the lawyer said the failure by the Adamawa State House of Assembly to serve Nyako personally with the impeachment notice had occasioned a violation of Nyako's fundamental right to fair hearing as enshrined under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.

He,however sought an order to compel the acting Governor of Adamawa State, Fintiri, to vacate office with immediate effect and Nyako be reinstated to the office.

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

FACES AT THE 54TH NBA ANNUAL GENERAL CONFERENCE HELD AT THE IMO STATE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE, OWERRI

LAW | NEWS

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‘I will give priority to e-voting’ CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 1

L-R: Mr. Okey Wali (SAN), Imo State Gov., Rochas Okorocha, Former Head of State, Dr. Yakubu Gowon, Attorney-Gen./Minister for Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN) and SPeaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal

Cross section of lawyers at the conference

Okorocha and Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan

the following: All lawyers who have been verified in the NBA Data Base shall be issued with NBA Identification Cards which would be a chip and pin card that would contain the following: • Name of the lawyer • Passport photograph • Supreme Court Enrolment Number “The card would also function as a payment card for ATM, Pos and Online transactions.

Presentation of the card would entitle the lawyer to a variety of discount and other packages negotiated

by NBA. This card would be issued free of charge.

“We have received offers from various insurance Companies in respect of the NBA INSURANCE SCHEME which would provide insurance cover for all lawyers who have paid their Bar practicing fees as at when due.

The latest offer we are considering offers lawyers the following choices: OPTION A: N700,000.00 – Death or Permanent Disability OPTION B: N500,000 – Death or Permanent Disability N500,000 – Death by Accident OPTION C: N350,000 – Death or Permanent Disability N350,000 – Death by Accident N350,000 – Critical Illness OPTION D: N280,000 – Death or Permanent Disability N280,000 – Death by Accident N280,000 – Critical Illness N30,000 – Medical Expenses It is to be noted that all lawyers who have paid their Bar Practising Fees as at when due are automatically entitled to this insurance cover and a Policy would be issued in the lawyer’s name.

Also he is proposing a 10 per cent reduction in the amount being paid as practicing fees.

Alegeh said: “I shall propose to NEC a 10% reduction across board in respect of Bar Practising fees for all lawyers excluding Senior Advocates. Upon ratification by NEC I will take appropriate steps to give effect to the reduction.

“I shall also propose to NEC, that the share of branches from BPFs be increased from 10% to 20%.

The Additional 10% to branches would be applied to set up a lawyers Welfare Trust Fund at all NBA branches.

The payment of the branches’ share of BPF shall be

by Direct Debit utilizing currently available e-banking means.

“The fees for the 2015 Annual General Conference shall be a forty percent reduction of the Fees for the 2014 Annual General Conference.

The Fees shall be as follows: 1 — 5 Years: N5,000 6 — 10 Years: N15,000 11 — 14 Years: N25,000 15 — 20 Years: N35,000 Above 20 Years: N50,000 SANs/AGs/Benchers: N100,000 Judges: N75,000 Magistrates: N50,000 Governors/Legislators & Political Appointees: N250,000 “The association shall conclude arrangements to have Corporate Partners who shall offer NBA members discounts upon presentation of the NBA Card.

“We have received offers in Principle from leading Hotels in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Benin offering from 25% - 50% discount to NBA members who use their hotels. We plan to finalise on these offers immediately hereafter while we continue to contact hotels in other cities to sign up partner deals with them.

“We have engaged a leading airline in Nigeria and have received a discount offer which shall be finalised in the next few days.

We are currently in discussions with several leading financial institutions to provide specialized financial products to lawyers in the form of Consumer loans for Cars, Generators etc as well as for Commercial and Residential Mortgage loans at reasonable interest rates and with repayment moratorium.

“There are several other discount and value added services that we are negotiating for the benefit of NBA members.

“The decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in SC/111/2006 Akintokun v. LPDC has adversely affected the work of the LPDC with the resultant effect that the Committee has stopped sitting since that decision was given by the Supreme Court.

“We cannot overemphasize the importance of discipline in our profession and we are all witnesses to the appalling level of indiscipline bedeviling the profession.”

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LAW | INTERVIEW

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Ali: Six-year single term good for rule of law, democracy How would you look at the Federal Government’s position on the resident Doctors?

I am the legal adviser to the Nigerian Medical Association and as their legal representative nationally, I am not in a position either to commend or condemn them because I cannot be a judge in my own course. So, presently we have filed a suit against the Federal Government for the purported sack of the resident doctors and we are handling the matter. In fact, we have gotten an injunction to stop the government from further carrying out the action.

Confab report is recommending a single term of six years for President and Governors, how feasible is this in view of the nation’s socio-political configuration?

I was one of the earliest proponents of a six-year single tenure for president and governors and it is on record that I have been at the vanguard of a single term of six years since 2003 or thereabout because I believe it will save us the problem of seeking re-election by the governors and president considering the peculiarity of re-election bid by political officeholders.

So, I believe passionately that if we can adopt the six years single term for the president and governors, wrangling and political tension over reelection by political officeholders will abate just as it would afford any political officeholders to perform creditably well since he or she knows there is no second term. So, I believe it will assist the entrenchment of the culture of democracy and rule of law in Nigeria. I strongly support it.

Also, which process would you suggest for adoption on the implementation or resolution of the confab report?

My take is from what we have presently in the constitution and in our laws. There is no provision for referendum anywhere. And there is no law backing anything done or comes out of the confab that must be adopted through referendum, even the confab itEkpo self was not setup by any law.

I actually opposed the timing of the conference because a lot of activities are on the field such as the process for the 2015 elections, which has already begun. Governance has virtually been suspended everywhere now because of the 2015 elections. Right now politicians are busy going here and there for the sake of one position or the other. So, when and what time will the president or the National Assembly members have to make the confab recommendations a reality? This is a question I want us to answer.

So, talking about a new constitution and all that, I am sure all this will have to wait till further notice. But howbeit, whatever the decision of the confab whether for a new constitution or not can only become the responsibility of the National

He is a Life Bencher and Chairman Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) AntiCorruption Commission. Malam Yusuf Ali, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) speaks on a single-term of six years, the recently resolved Federal Government and Resident Doctors’ imbroglio, confab report and sundry issues. APPOLOS CHRISTIAN met him.

Ali, SAN

Assembly because it is the only body with enough power to effect a new constitution.

And having people talking about President Jonathan to implement confab resolutions in terms of a new constitution or amendment is a little out of place because even though he is the midwife of the conference, the highest the president can do in that respect is to send it to the National Assembly. He cannot pass the laws by him-

self no matter the powers he is entitled to. And note that the National Assembly did not set up the conference, so sending the confab resolution to them is also a risk because they have the right to either dump it in the trash bin or bring it to life.

Also know that while the confab was going on, the constitution amendment was at the same time in progress in the National Assembly, which clearly shows that it will take more than mere

Single term of six years will assist the entrenchment of the culture of democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria

words for the confab recommendations to truly become anything serious especially a new constitution. I want you to also know that there is nothing different the confab has recommended that has not been said before by other bodies in the past, so like I have always said, the confab considering its timing was more like an avenue to keep Nigerians busy despite the resources that went in there.

Do you share the view by some of your colleagues that there is need for the country to have regional Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court?

Well they are just trying to replicate what happens in the United State of America. Before the creation of states and up

to 1976, before Federal Courts of Appeal coming on board, there were regional Courts of Appeal, at least the defunct western region had its own.

But the case is a bit different today. I would rather suggest that we should allow the states to have their own Court of Appeal and not Supreme Court.

Because the Supreme courts in the state in United State of America is only supreme at the state level and not the Federal level because there is already a Supreme Court which has the final say and which no other court’s decision can override.

So, let the states rather have appellate court. Regional Court of Appeal is totally impossible because we don’t have regions anymore unless we want to go back to the 1963 era. And even at that, how many regions do we have, the six geo-political zones are far from it and only meant for convenient purpose.

So, since we are not abolishing the states, let just have Courts of Appeal in the states.

Do you think Nigeria desires a new Constitution?

Look, we can make do with what we have. I don’t know what is wrong with us. The American Constitution has endured for more than 200 years with only 17 amendments. Nigerians just like to make noise about things and talk about serious issues without serious considerations as if they can blink their eyes and those things come to be. We have not even used this Constitution effectively since 1999 let alone talking about whether the constitution has failed us or we have failed the Constitution. At least we should use the Constitution for like 20 years. Nigerians like change for change sake which I think is our problems.

And our major problems stand on the fact that as a people or a nation, we don’t keen to have proper retrospection of our problems rather we always like and crave for quick solutions.

The Constitution is bad, throw it away and make another one and they make another one now people will also come tomorrow with another argument that it is illegitimate because it emanates from the confab and has no legal power anywhere. Can we rather be truthful to ourselves and face the daily problems that are confronting us in the likes of shortage of power supply, inadequate hospitals, good roads, portable or drinking water, security, challenges of terrorism, kidnapping, robbery, pipeline vandalisation, dilapidating education system, agriculture, fuel scarcity and so on?

To be honest, will a new constitution solve these problems for us? Is it what we put in place or needs to be put in place in the Niger Delta that will grantee a business environment for Igbo man, Yoruba or the Hausa man?

Will it develop our country and give us that which we always CONTINUED ON PAGE25

INTERVIEW | LAW

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

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‘Six-year single term good for rule of law' CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 4

run to another man’s country to enjoy?

Truly, there are many other highly situations we should rather be talking about now than a new constitution. So, we should rather focus on what we need to survive on, what is really important for Nigeria to be a place in the sense of what is obtainable around the world.

The day the Nigerian press is 50 per cent corrupt-free, corruption will reduce almost 50 per cent in Nigeria

NBA, the lawyers’ umbrella body has elected a new President, which area would you want the association’s new executive to focus on?

First, there is a highly need to reform the electoral process that produces the members of the national executive of the body. Because as it is presently, it is a corruptive system and our elections in the NBA are hardly better than elections between the PDP and the APC. So, the leadership really has to do something about it. Secondly, the current president has said it and I as the chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission of the NBA that the issue of corruption within the judicial sector which is within the administration of justice which encompasses the lawyers, judges and security agencies must be tackled and arrested.

And thirdly, the issue of empowerment of lawyers especially our younger colleagues must also be tackled because it is very pertinent.

What do you think the nation’s justice system needs to make it more effective and efficient, at least to meet the challenges of the 21st Century?

Well I have always been saying it that you cannot fight a twenty first century war with eighteen century equipment or garget. Our judiciary is still useto what was last used in Europe may be hundred years ago. There is nowhere in the world now except some few poorer countries that proceedings are not automated but as wealthy as Nigeria is, proceedings are not automated. Judges still write in long hand and many of our judges don’t have legal assistance, I am talking about 99%. Even our courtrooms are very dilapidated and outdated, very pitiable. In fact there are courts in this country which roofs have been blown -off. I am talking about High Courts; go to the north and you will see for yourself. So, you cannot talk about performance and competent without equipment and modern courts as you have it in other parts of the world. We have the personnel; our judges are firstclass brains and world class standard.

The case of our judiciary and judges are just like the case of our hospitals and medical doctors. Our doctors are world class as well but when you visit the hospital it seems as if they are not there because the equipment are not there while the ones available are not working. Like our courtrooms, our hospitals don’t even look like a place you can get care and treatment. In fact, if you see how some hospitals are and patients jam packed like pieces of woods you even will prefer to stay back in your house. Hospital in our dear country are still using what was used in Europe 50, 80 years ago, which is not supposed to be.

So, there are needs for the judiciary to be provided with modern courtrooms that will facilitate faster dispensation of justice. And let the court system be automated and the judges as well should all have legal assistants that will assist them in researches and in other activities. We cannot be operating an eighteen century judiciary and expect it to deliver a twenty-first century result. And universities should develop curricular that will educate on judicial administration for the purpose of professionalization and enhancement of judicial workers.

How comfortable are you with the funding

gerian press is armed to facilitate, in the way of eulogizing those that perpetrate corruption. The Nigerian press seems to promote the corrupt people and in most cases suppress the honest, which is very bad. The press has a duty to bring the truth out irrespective of who-is-who and how highly one may be. So, we are all in league, all of us. In fact, the course of fighting corruption is not of EFCC alone and they cannot do much, really the press is even the real and strongest and effective anti-graft agency to fight corruption and with the press doing their calling, everything will work well.

Also, fighting corruption is a matter of a serious Nigerian. If there are no demand and given or given and taken, there won’t be corruption. So, saying that corruption mainly revolves around the above mentioned bodies is not entirely true because it has eaten deep into so many other sectors that people don’t even think about. They assume its worst with these three bodies because they are always on the news.

Ali, SAN

Free and fair election in 2015 is possible only if INEC will be more honest and transparent. The major problem we have in our county regarding our things and most especially with elections is the lack of honesty and transparency of the judiciary especially on how to make it works? Who will make the judiciary work?

It is both the Federal and State’ Governments. Everywhere in the world, judiciary is the third arm of government and the most essential of the three arms because without it, there will be total anarchy.

Take for instance, during the military era when the executive and the legislature were fused together, the judiciary was the only outstanding body. And I have always been telling people that it’s a miss normal to say that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man because it is the last hope of every human being, either common or uncommon because the rich also cry, and every human being wants justice in one time or the other.

On its own, the judiciary cannot do much to equip itself to the required standard because they don’t provide the money as it is the executive and the legislature that hold and provide the money. So, it is squarely of the executive and the legislature to provide the required needs to equip out judicial system to the modern standard as seen in other part of the world.

Generally sir, what is your appraisal of the judiciary under the current Chief Justice of Nigeria?

I say she has scored a very good high pass mark, if I am to rate her; I will give her an ‘A’, considering what we all know, she has done very well and the judiciary is presently breathing a better fresh air now.

Corruption, a very familiar word in Nigerian context seems to revolve around government establishments, Judiciary and the security agencies, what is your take?

This is really not true because I expect the press to be inclusive. I am not saying there is no corruption with these three bodies but we are all Nigerian and we know how things work here. The day the Nigerian press is 50 per cent corrupt free, corruption will reduce almost 50 per cent in Nigeria. The day the Nigeria press decides to fight corruption considering the power the press holds especially in this present democratic system, we are likely to have it right.

Go to all over the world, the press is feared because they bring everything to light. So, even the most powerful man in the world is conscious of one single journalist. As it is now, it seems the Ni-

Corruption and terrorism, which one is better?

Yes, there is. And I have said it before that eighty per cent of Nigerian problem is traceable to corruption. From lack of electricity, good roads, drinkable water, unemployment, abject poverty, underdevelopment, dilapidating education system, about lack of even good human beings and to the new born insurgency, which has drastically, increased the rate of insecurity in the country. So, once the level of corruption and insecurity reduce even to 60 per cent, our problems would have been gone and even terrorism. Boko Haram will run and leave us alone because they won’t be able to stand the almighty Nigeria. Corruption indeed has a lot to doing with terrorism and other high rising crimes and the earlier we realize it and wake up from our slumber, the better it will be for us.

With the Ekiti and the Osun states governorship elections, do you foresee free and fair election in 2015?

Yes, free and fair election is possible with the INEC if only they can be honest and transparent. The major problem we have in our county regarding our things and most especially with elections is the lack of honesty and transparency.

Honestly,if INEC is determined that Nigeria will have free and fair elections, and they charge themselves with honesty and transparency, we will get it right and can have the best election the world never had.

Also, I want to appeal to Nigerians and our government that though we are not a people of one tribe but for the fact we are one country, opportunities, rights and privileges should not be tied to our places of origin but places where you live, and that is what happen in other countries all over the world. Why is it that if you want to apply for anything in our country you still be asked for the local government or state of origin?

How long do we go on creating division and differences among us even when we are one country? It is high time we took this country of ours seriously and sincerely key to making it a better place.

Those who take everything to be politics should really think twice and rather stop dividing this country for their selfish gain.

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Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

CON T INU ED F R O M LA S T W EEK

herefore, the law enforcement authorities must do the needful within the provisions of the law and use such discretions as permitted by the enabling laws and case laws to conduct identification parades.

Police bail is a constitutional right of the accused person when not related to capital offences. Capital offences are those punishable by death or life imprisonment which includes offences of Murder, Homicide, Rape, Armed Robbery, Mutiny, War Espionage (internal enemy of our country in times of war), et al. Therefore, right to bail for a suspect under police custody is constitutional under Section 35 (4) (b) of the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria (as amended). Pretrial bail is available to the suspect at the police station and police extract of his statement in the presence of his lawyer or on video if offence is committed in Lagos. Section 35 (6) provides that “any person who is unlawfully arrested or detained shall be entitled to compensation and public apology from the appropriate authority or person specified by law.”

The second kind of bail is the Pretrail bail in court after the charges have been read to the accused person and upon acceptance that the matter should be tried in that court.

If he objects to the trial of the case in the Magistrate Court and want it tried, for instance, in the High Court, suspect will be reminded in prison custody pending when case file will be transferred to the High Court through the usual administrative procedure. Once bail is granted, the accused person and his or her surety is expected to meet the bail terms or conditions. Upon satisfying the court on the terms, his or her bail is processed and accused released on bail.

Usually, sureties are made to sign congnisance forms which specify the amount to be forfeited to the court if the accused person jumps bail or cannot be produced in court by the surety. It is strongly recommended that the surety should trust the character or pedigree of the accused person before signing bail bonds in court.

It follows that an accused person who is arrested or detained shall be brought before a court of law within a reasonable time, and if he is not tried within a period of two months from the date of his arrest or detention in the case of a person who is in custody or is not entitled to bail; or three months from the date of his arrest or detention in the case of a person who has been released on bail, he shall without prejudice to any further proceedings that may be brought against him; be released either unconditionally or upon such conditions as are reasonably necessary to ensure that he appears for trial at a later date as decided in Eda v. Commissioner of Police (1982.

In a situation where bail is refused in violation of the constitutional rights of the accused or where bail is an issue based on his or her fundamental rights to liberty under section 34 (1), Section 35 (4) (5) of the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria (as amended), the suspect is entitled to apply to court under the legal instrumentality of Habeas Corpus to order the person or authority to produce the body of the accused and not whether he is guilty or not.

The emphasis here is the production of the physical body of the accused in court and to show cause for the further detention of the accused person or suspect without trail.

Habeas Corpus proceedings are usually governed by State Laws and application is made ex-parte accompanied by a deposition of Oath, stating the facts and circumstances of the wrongful detention necessitating

*Dr. Oghenesivbe, is a member, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (M.NIIA), a political and socio-economic analyst.

FredLatimore Oghenesivbe

Pre-trial investigation in criminal litigation Police must observe constitutional rights of the suspect or the accused person so as not to give room for quashing of charges that would ordinarily succeed based on the evidence before the court the filing of the application. It is a provision of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009 and is a potent and reliable weapon for the restoration of abridged and deprived fundamental rights of detainees anywhere in Nigeria. In the case of Alhaji Manfred v. Inspector General of Police & others, the court ordered the immediate release of the applicant from detention as well as the release of his confiscated properties on the grounds that the Police lacked the power to carry out his arrest without sufficient evidence, and also had no powers to confiscate his property and personal effect without a valid court order.

It follows that where a police officer or authority confiscates or seize properties which belong to the suspect or accused without first obtaining the order of court, such action

is illegal and void ab initio and offends the rule of law. For example, the police have no right whatsoever to seize and retain the international passport of an accused or suspect without the order of the court as was decided in Director of State Security Services (SSS) v. Olisa Agbakoba. In that case, the SSS was made to pay compensation plus public apology to the plaintiff.

Exhibits in police station are kept by the police in the registry department away from the reach of the accused person and tendered in court as evidence. However, there are a lot of difficulties connected with this especially in Nigerian Police Stations where there are lacks of proper facilities to keep exhibits. Sometimes, exhibits disappear in police stations before the case commences in court.

Police Officers are prohibited from keeping exhibits in their private custody. All exhibits must be kept at the registry or such safe areas as provided by the police authorities.

Exhibits must be directly connected to the offence or crime committed by the accused person. Any other properties belonging to the accused persons not related to the offence committed should not be interfered with by the prosecution. However, if the prosecution is convinced that certain properties so acquired by the suspect or the accused person is related to the proceeds from such offences, application must be made to the court and approval obtained before such properties can be confiscated. These include the personal effects of the

Delta 2015: Why Urhobo UPU Uvbiamuge must produce next governor CO N T I N U E D F R O M L A ST W E E K

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ome of our political leaders in Urhobo Nation do not want others to grow politically hence they do not take them along to the top. We need a paradigm shift from politics of “self ” to politics of “collective progress”. It is only this change of heart that can cure the political backwardness of Urhobo Nation in terms of super political appointments and advancing the political greatness of our people.

Faith Majemite belong to the breed of “collective progress” which is why the good people of Ethiope East are pushing for greater political power for her so that the backwardness of the communities in that part of the state can be addressed. Political leaders should put their people in positions of political relevance to garner progress for their constituencies and senatorial districts. Delta North is excelling in this aspect and to jealous them is to the absolutely unfair to them.

Therefore, it will be most ideal to let Delta North take their turn to produce the next Governor of the State. The three ruling houses in Delta State are: Delta Central, Delta South and Delta North. Central has produced two Governors (Chief Felix Ibru and Chief

Obuh

Ibori – our great valid and unstoppable leader). Incumbent Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan is from Delta South and almost completing his 2nd term. As it is today, Delta North must produce the next PDP Governor based on the principles of equity and Tony Obuh has been chosen to mount the saddle. It is clear and proper. The implication of Obuh’s choice is that the rest aspirants from Delta North must necessarily be more united than ever to give support to their own brother – TONY OBUH to enable him achieve sweet victory at the

accused person, monies in bank accounts, Vehicles, landed properties, et al.

In conclusion therefore, pre-trail investigations must be conducted or carried out with due compliance to the judge’s rules and other enabling laws and enactments. Time is of the essence in criminal law litigation which is why law enforcement agencies and officers must of a necessity be proactive in the discharge of their duties.

Unnecessary delay of court proceedings by the prosecution or the defense counsel constitutes to a large extent delayed justice which is why some of the criminal cases especially in the Magistrate Courts are dismissed or struck out where the court is of the opinion that too much time is being wasted as a result of multiplicity of adjournments coupled with failure of both complainant and accused person to attend proceedings.

A criminal charge may also be dismissed if the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt and in such circumstances the accused person will be discharged and acquitted by the court. A person can be discharged but not acquitted.

In such cases, the matter can be revisited or revived in the future by the prosecution. But when an accused person is discharged and acquitted; the case dies or brought to an absolute finality and the accused person is clean as if he was never accused of the commission of the offence.

The Police must observe constitutional rights of the suspect or the accused person so as not to give room for quashing of charges that would ordinarily succeed based on the evidence before the court. One of such is where a suspect or accused person pleads alibi and gives particulars as to justify his claim but the police fails to investigate the particularly so provided. In this case, the court will assume that prosecution accepted the defense of alibi and the accused person may be discharged and acquitted. Therefore, there is the absolute need for the training and re-training of crime detectors and core criminologists within the rank and file of law enforcement agencies and departments so as to upgrade their knowledge and skills in crime detection and prosecutorial legal capabilities.

Political leaders should put their people in positions of political relevance to garner progress for their constituencies and senatorial districts polls come 2015.

Tony Uboh is a super brand. Tested and trusted by our political leaders and the good people of Delta North.

He is highly detribalized and will ensure equity in power sharing in terms of political appointments and overall development of Delta State.

Delta United for Tony Obuh conveyed

by Chief Ayiri Emami is making serious progress. Emami is the arrowhead of the Tony Obuh project in accordance with the political arrangement of party elders and leaders in Delta State. It is a done deal and all hands must be on deck to actualize this noble project. All PDP aspirants should now look towards the direction of Tony Obuh and come to a round table discussion on how to implement the political equation for the socio-economic development of the state and for the prosperity of all Deltans. I so submit.

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THURSday, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

‘Medical care, contact investigations can stop Ebola' demystified Not a death sentence Damilola Obada

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he Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a deadly virus and the most dangerous out of five viruses in the genus Ebolavirus, family Filoviridae and order Mononegavirales. Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are considered to be the natural host of the Ebola virus.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), it is one of the world’s most virulent diseases, with a case fatality rate of 90 percent.

Despite improved control measures, the recent outbreaks of the disease has triggered a lot of speculation and fear most especially in Sub-Saharan Africa where the disease has witnessed increasing outbreak due to presence of tropical rain forests.

In an epidemiological context, the basic reproduction number, R0 is the number of secondary cases generated on average by an index infectious case in the absence of effective control interventions and in an uninfected population. The R0 will help determine whether or not an infectious disease can spread through a population.

The larger the value of R0, the harder it is to control the disease epidemic i.e. if R0<1 the infection will die out in the long run but if R0>1 the infection will be able to spread into the population. Therefore, for Ebola to be completely eradicated R0 must equal zero.

Usually, its is more difficult for viruses with a non human reservoir to qualify for possible eradication efforts, e.g. diseases like polio and small pox lack nonhuman reservoir hence, have been easier to eradicate. The typical value of R0 for Ebola is one to four.

In 1976, the first ever outbreak occurred in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with over 300 cases identified in which 280 persons died from the disease, leading to a case fatality of 88 percent.

After this, several other outbreaks were seen across countries including Sudan, Gabon, Cote d’Ivoire and Uganda. In 2000, there was an outbreak in Uganda that affected 425 persons and caused 224 deaths with a case fatality of 53 percent.

Also, the following year 2011, Uganda experienced a mild outbreak with just one infected case that eventually died. In 2012, two outbreaks were later reported in Uganda.

Although the disease became apparent in the 1970s, this recent 2014 outbreak across Africa is said to be the largest outbreak yet, affecting countries like Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria. It has recorded the highest number of cases and deaths. At present, there have been a total of over 1700 suspected cases identified and more than 960 deaths in these listed countries.

Compared to past outbreaks, there are now better healthcare relief measures provided for the affected regions to adequately manage the disease especially with the development of an Ebola specific drug approved by the World Health Organisation. (W.H.O Media Centre, EBOLA virus disease.

A healthcare staff in a personal protective equipment (PPE)

Ebola virus

Transmission In terms of transmission, the virus is transmitted to humans from their primary host; which is mainly wild animals such as bats, rats and monkeys. It can also be transmitted to domestic animals such as dogs and pigs. It spreads to humans through human-to-human transmission.

The transmission rate is considered low compared to air borne diseases such as Tuberculosis and Influenza.

Ebola requires direct contact with bodily fluid-blood, urine, sweat, saliva, and semen before a person can be infected.

Health workers and family members of the infected are considered to be at highest risk of contracting the disease.

Onset of symptoms once in contact with an infected person is typically between two to 21 days. Early Symptoms of

the disease are flu-like and start with fever, sore throat, fatigue and headaches. Then, it later progresses to symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, and loss of appetite.

In worst prognosis, it escalates to internal and external bleeding that can be in form of skin rash, leading to excess blood loss and multiple organ failure and eventually cause death.

The disease is not contagious until a person begins to show symptoms. On the other hand, some infected people are able to survive the disease through provision of supportive care to prevent dehydration.

The recovery time may be quick and complete, but more than half of those infected are likely to die.

Ebola remains a serious public health risk but it is a disease that can be contained through true public health measures.

Control measures that have been implemented to control Ebola include education and creation of awareness, contact tracing, quarantine of infected and possible contacts with infected victims, providing adequate treatment facilities and increasing emergency management.

Other short term and long term methods of prevention are around better sanitation and hygiene to avoid possible infection. Some of the precautionary methods to be taken include: • Frequent hand washing with soap and clean water • Culling of infected animals with close supervision of burial or disposure of animal remains • Reducing animal to human contact C O N T I N U E D on PA G E 3 0

Orji: Hospitals be on guard, protect health workers, patients Since the importation of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) into the country in July, rapid deaths recorded from the outbreak have put many Nigerians on edge. Dr. Michael Orji, an orthopaedic surgeon and an international ambassador for infection control for the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), in this interview with EBERE AMEH highlights factors to curb its spread. Excerpts: We have heard so many things about Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and separating fact from fiction is important. What really is Ebola virus and how is it different from other viruses?

E

bola virus is one of the viruses that causes a group of diseases called viral haemorrhagic fever. It belongs to a family of viruses we call Filoviridae. These are viruses that have some special features.

They cause diseases like laser fever, dengue fever, yellow fever and marburg virus.

These viruses are RNA viruses and up till today, there is still no cure for most of them.

They cause a viral fever that in their late stages are characterised by inexplicable bleeding from various sites in any of their victims.

People are worried if it is airborne and if it is transmitted through insects like mosquitoes.

Could you educate us more on the means of transmission of Ebola virus?

Whether it is airborne is still a little bit controversial but I would rather we err on the side of caution. Remember it is a disease that is still under study. All infection control (IC) professionals agree that it is spread by droplet infection. That means it can be spread through sneezing from a symptomatic person. But we also know that the virus stable in aerosols and can be spread in such medium. Infact, Ebola virus is actually a Centre for Disease Control (CDC) category A bio-weapon.

Mosquitoes are not known to transmit the virus but there are some other haemorrhagic virus diseases like dengue and yellow fever that some species of mosquito are known to transmit. However, besides the fact that Ebola is not transmitted by mosquito, if one scratches a mosquito bite site with an infected hand, there is a likelihood of infection through the bite site. So as we fight Ebola, let us not forget the lessons we have learnt about protecting ourselves

Orji

from mosquitoes.

Ebola is known to spread to man through animals. An infected man easily C O N T I N U E D on PA G E 2 8

28 HEALTH

Sanctity of Truth

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Govt should engage in aggressive education to contain Ebola'

with Dr. Ihuoma Uko-Ndukwe

ada.ndukwe@yahoo.com

Acne vs rosacea: Know the difference

Orji C O N T I N U E D f r o m PA G E 2 1

continue the transmission, infecting everyone he comes in close contact with.

Fruits bats and some bush animals in the high forest zones of the Congo areas are notorious for harbouring Ebola virus.

When there is an outbreak, by virtue of transport and transfer, human and animal movement, the disease can spread far and wide.

When a human has contracted it from animals, the commonest means of transmission is through direct contact with the excreted body fluid of the person, especially when he has started having Ebola symptoms. Body fluids, including saliva, semen, urine, sweat and also droplets from affected person are infectious.

The use of unsterilised needles and sharp objects can also spread it. This is more for those who are care givers and healthcare workers.

We have been made to understand that the only guarantee for being Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) free is by preventing it. Are we getting the preventive measures right in Nigeria?

When we do training, we say that prevention is better than cure, but when there is no cure, then, it should be absolute prevention. The only known prevention from the virus is to avoid coming in contact with infected people. Anybody that has it exhibits Ebola symptoms. To prevent it is to limit contact with that person. Similarly, because EVD is a zoonosis, i.e. transmitted from animals, we should also limit contact with animals. Those who have pets should ensure they are well cared for and treated by veterinary doctors.

The issue of hand hygiene cannot be overemphasised because one way to limit infection when you are in an environment that is vulnerable is to disinfect your hands using a sanitiser or washing your hands regularly. Limit direct contact with people coming from places known to be overrun by the virus.

If someone has shown symptoms of the disease, the best option is to report to a trained professional or dedicated centre where it can be taken care of or have the appropriate tests done.

We should clear our houses of rodents and pests. Bush meat and burial practices that expose people to corpses while increasing their risk to contracting EVD should be avoided.

There is a lot of panic about Ebola in Nigeria.

With the treatment and discharge of five patients who were previously infected, should we relax?

It is interesting to know that as deadly as EVD is, it is not completely a death sentence. Though there is a fatality rate of about 60 to 90 percent, which is very high, people, even Nigerians have survived it.

However, despite their recovery, panic should not give way to carelessness because as long as we still have a few cases in Nigeria and people in other countries still have it, the possibility of contracting

SKIN SPOTS it is still there.

We should not relent in our adherence to the preventive measures until when we are sure that Ebola has been taken care of. The need for personal hygiene, especially hand hygiene should continue even after Ebola as through that, we protect ourselves from so many other infections. The hand being the common means of communication is also the commonest and a veritable instrument for infection transmission.

As an infection control expert, do you think the government is doing enough in their attempt to control the spread in Nigeria?

The ministry of health is trying to put a lot of things in place to prevent the spread but the emphasis should also be on education. Education is the most important thing in fighting EVD. Recently the Ministry of Health released the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Ebola virus disease. The mass media should be deployed using different languages to ensure the message gets to the people. The National Orientation Agency (NOA) should rise to the occasion and educate the people on preventive measures, the need for caution; instead of fear and stigmatisation, among others.

Proper education will make the containment much easier. It will prevent a lot of the misinformation making the rounds and debunk a lot of the myths and mysticism around EVD. That was the problem they had in Liberia. A lot of people had very funny ideas of what EVD is. Some claim it is witchcraft, some claim all sorts of things. Education will also be about honesty. People should be able to come out when they have come in contact with a victim and not deny it or run to another place to infect others. The awareness is that the only way to contain the spread is to quarantine persons, groups and areas that have been affected. Once you notice you have been affected, there is no point running away to go and hide as you worsen the matter because the person end up infecting others.

A lot still need to be done by the government to contain the spread. Most important is coming out with measures that will protect and motivate healthcare workers to assist. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) is asking for health insurance for healthcare workers. We also need an abundant provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers and infrared thermometers and other screening equipment too. Government should make them available to all hospitals or subsidise it so that health workers would be able to access it. Otherwise, people putting their lives at risk by caring for infected people increase the risk of infection and spread. More laboratory facilities for testing should also be provided.

Though government has brought out the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for handling this Ebola, the onus is on every hospital to be on their guard to protect their healthcare workers and their patients.

Age and hereditary linked with pimples

A

cne is a skin disease of the pilosebaceous (fat containing) units in the skin, units associated with an increase in the sebum secretion, characterised mostly by visible open comedones (blackheads) and closed comedones (white heads) and sometimes by swellings with pus at the tips.

Main cause of acne is unknown but age and hereditary plays important roles. It is thought to be an interplay of four main factors, mostly by excessive sebum production, too much thickening of the hair follicles at the base preventing normal hair shedding thereby obstructing the follicles, fat and dead particles accumulate within the blocked follicle. A particular bacteria called propionibacterium acnes ( which likes oily environment) comes in and multiplies there.

Acne is most commonly found is area with the greatest concentration of sebaceous glands like the face, neck, chest, upper arms and back.

It may be triggered or worsened tors like by external fachelmets, shirt collars and certain medications used to treat other ailments especially steroids of any kind. Some cosmetics/ body creams may cause increased acne by blocking the follicles from shedding.

Some of the consequences of severe acne can be physical scars, excoriation (leaving skin looking rough after healing) and dark spots (hyperpigmentation) of the skin and psychological effects (affecting self-esteem especially in teenagers, and even in some adults who develop adult acne, causing significant side ef-

Acne may be triggered or worsened by external factors like helmets, shirt collars and certain medications used to treat other ailments especially steroids of any kind.

Some cosmetics/ body creams may also cause increased acne by blocking the follicles from shedding

fect).

It can be grouped into mild, moderate and severe acne, characterised by presence of few (mild) to several/swollen (severe) and treatment is based on the appearance of the acne, ( with or without pus at the tip and some can be just few bumps that will go away on its own while some will require more aggressive/ longer treatment.

TREATMENT First line treatment is mostly topical and selection is based on the severity and type of acne. Topical liquids/soap/cream contain BENZOYL PEROXIDE which is effective for mild acne, clearing mostly the comedones, and it can be purchased over the counter without prescription.

Benzyl peroxide is an antimicrobial that comes in different forms/concentrations/ and formulation one of the side effects include dry skin, and redness. Salicylic acid which is found in most of the facial cleansers and bars also has some anticomedonal properties but less potent than benzoyl peroxide.

For moderate acne, topical antibiotic medications like clindamycin, erythromycin, dapsone has been used with significant success and when there is some resistance, a combination of facial cleanser containing either benzoyl peroxide/or salicylic acid with topical antibiotic.

Oral antibiotics are reserved for moderate to severe acne because of bacterial resistance. It is recommended to add benzoyl peroxide to the treatment and it must be taken for at least six to eight weeks before results can be evident. In severe case; a three part treatment of benzoyl peroxide/topical antibiotic cream/ oral antibiotic for a minimum period of at least six months to prevent the development of antibiotic resistance is required.

For very severe resistance of acne, oral isotretiniion is used but mostly be closely followed on, due to serious side effects of causing abnormalities in an unborn child in women of reproductive age using isotretinion.

Laser and light therapies have been known to be used but there is insufficient evidence to recommend the routine use of these therapies for the treatment of acne.

I have personally used the laser therapy in my struggling years with acne and it was effective but not curative.

There is also insufficient evidence to avoid chocolate, caffiene and sugar consumption. The uses of chemical peeling with glycolic/salicylic acid and microdermabrasion have no studies showing effectiveness.

Oral contraceptives (pills) can be effective in females. It helps in decreasing circulating androgens thereby decreasing sebum production and similarly decreases acne. The choice of contraceptive should be based on compliance and tolerability.

HEALTH

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

29

Medicinal uses of ginger, aromatic herb Stories by Appolonia Adeyemi

for hypertension and stroke. This is due to the presence of gingerol, an antiplatelet chemical that inhibits the formation of thromboxane. Add a teaspoonful of dried ginger powder to a cup of hot water and allow it to infuse for ten minutes, Take a glass twice daily. Adodo added: "You need to take this preparation for as long as three months to be able to experience its full benefit".

G

inger with botanical name: Zingiber officinale is one of about 1,400 species in the Zingiberaceae family of herbs and consumed as a delicacy, medicine, or spice.

Ginger contains phenols, resins and many volatile oils such as borneol, camphere, citral, eucalyptol, linaol, and zingiberol. Similarly, it is rich in carbohydrates, proteins, minerals and vitamins. In middle-age Europe, ginger was an important food and medicine.

The pungent taste of ginger is due to nonvolatile phenylpropanoidderived compounds, particularly gingerols and shogaols which form from gingerols when ginger is dried or cooked.

Anselm Adodo, an expert in medicinal uses of plants, said "ginger's warming aromatic properties have long been used to treat colds and flu.

Ginger promotes a beneficial sweating that helps to eliminate toxins from the body system and may be taken as a tea with honey and lemon at the first sign of a chill.

The fresh or dried also stimulates blood circulation and is helpful for cold hands and feet. It aids the digestion of food as well as has a calming effect on the digestive system.

Adodo in his book, Nature Power writes: "It is not possible to list all the medicinal effects of ginger on the body because ginger affects most of the body's organs. Ginger acts on the musculoskeletal system by reducing inflammations. This is why is useful for treating rheumatism, arthritis, gouts and appendicitis." Some studies show that ginger may affect arthritis pain and have blood thinning and cholesterol lowering properties, but these effects remain unconfirmed.

That is not all. For instance, Adodo who is the founder and director of the Pax Herbal Clinics in Esan, Edo State, stated, "in the digestive system, ginger inhibits the growth of toxic micro-organism while allowing the useful bacterial to grow."

Drawing a comparism between

W

ith the availability of a typhoid vaccine in the country, many Nigerians who suffer frequent bouts of typhoid fever, going through the burden of hospital stay during treatment and spending thousands on bills can now heave a sigh of relief. This group of Nigerians and others can now prevent typhoid fever by being vaccinated with Typhoid Vi Poliysaccharide. Vaccine (TYViVAC).

At a public presentation of the vaccines in Lagos recently, the Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii who launched the medication said, an innoculation of VIVAC would make an individual save from typhoid for three years.

Orhii said people should avail themselves of the opportunity of protecting themselves from typhoid, adding that the vaccine "can only prevent but not cure."

Typhoid fever is a life-threatening illness caused by bacterium salmonella typhi. Typhoid fever is common in developing countries. The United States (U.S) Centre for Disease Control estimates that typhoid affects about 21.5 million persons each year in developing world.

However, on its management, Orhii said the appropriate treatment should be sought from hospitals once an individual is down. The DG said the agency too the issue of typhoid seriously by ensuring that the production aligns with good manufacturing practice (GMP).

He said countries with very level of per-

Ginger

herbal and orthodox medicine, he said, this quality in ginger, of fighting toxins while allowing useful bacterial to grow, is never present in synthetic drugs.

A 2013, In vivo evaluation demonstrated ginger extract showed a hepatoprotective effect in rats while a 2013 review found that ginger is a free radical scavenger, antioxidant; thus inhibits lipid peroxidation and these attributes could be contributing to its known gastroprotective effects.

Ginger acts on the circulatory system preventing the formation of thromboxanes, a substance that causes blood platelets to aggregate, which eventually forms blood clots and leads to hypertension, heart attack, and stroke.

It is scientifically proven that ginger is as effective as aspirin in preventing formation of blood clots in the arteries, with the added advantage of having no side effects.

Fever Ginger has been an ancient African remedy for fever. It stimulates the body to perspire, lowering the body's temperature. Adodo's prescribed: “Soak one teaspoon of ginger powder into a glass of hot water, then drink.”

Cough/Sore Throat Ginger is one of the most active herbs against cough and sore throat. In this case, the fresh raw ginger is more effective. Similarly, he urged those trying this remedy to tear off a finger of ginger and chew, then, swallow the juice, adding, do this twice daily,.

High Blood Pressure and Stroke As mentioned above, ginger is good

Cancer For the treatment of cancer, he said: "follow the same recipe as for stroke above and take a glass three times daily.

Ginger has an important role to play in the fight against cancer.

According to American Cancer Society, ginger has been promoted as a cancer treatment “to keep tumours from developing”, but available scientific evidence does not support this”. They added, “Recent preliminary result in animals show some effect in slowing or preventing tumour growth. While these results are not well understood, they deserve further study, Adodo said.

General Health Furthermore, he said the most important quality of ginger is the fact that it is beneficial for the whole body system, adding “it is therefore recommended that everybody makes a habit of taking ginger regularly.

Organic India launches new products

O

rganic India, frontline producer of Organic medicine, supplements and food worldwide, is set to launch some of her high potent products in Nigeria.

The event, titled "Product Launch and Exposition of Substantiation Reports", is scheduled to take place at the office of the company, Bfi Bhawan in Ikeja, Lagos State on Friday September 5.

According to the Vice - President of the Host Company, the BFI Group, Mrs. Perpetua Okeke, the occasion will be used to showcase the scientific proofs and results of clinical trials

on some of the company's products.

She named some of these products as Neem, Flexibility, Ashwaghanda, Woman Well Being (WWB), etc, describing them as major breakthrough in providing reassuring solutions to divergent health challenges with no side effects.

Renowned Phar macist, Mrs. Ekpedeme Adeduro would do the presentation while the crème of the medical world, the academia, government functionaries, researchers, health reporters, and other stakeholders are expected to grace the occasion.

Typhoid vaccine available in Nigeria sonal and environmental hygiene usually don't have problems with the disease as it thrives mainly in dirty environment.

Orhii said the vaccine came into existence in 1975 when the American in Vietnam used it to protect themselves against typhoid.

"We have been evaluating the vaccine for four years," he said.

He described typhoid as a menace the country has been grappling with for many years, adding that the introduction of the vaccine would bring the desired change to people's health status in Nigeria.

He said the Federal Government takes the issue of typhoid seriously and as such okayed the product for use to prevent the disease.

On his part, the Managing Director, Fidson Limited, Mr. Fidelis Ayebae said the disease has been contributing to manpower loss and meaningless and preventable deaths. The vaccine, he said, would add value to the lives of the people.

He said typhoid treatment is complicated as patients are often loaded with several antibiotic, which is detrimental to the body.

Mr Tonye Briggs, Director, Creative Ideas Pharmaceuticals Limited, a subsidiary of Creative Ideas Pharmaceutical Limited, the company behind the distribution and marketing of the vaccine in

L-R: Third Secretary, Embassy of Viet Nam,Tran Trong Kim; Duc; Briggs; Orhii; and Ayebae at the launch of TYViVAC vaccine in Lagos

Nigeria, said the product is good for adults and children from two years.

"It should not be administered on adults and children that are allergic to any ingredients of vaccine.

"In the case of suffering from fever, an acute disease, a progressive chronic disease, the vaccination should be postponed," he said.

He said the vaccine can be administered with other vaccines, such as Hepa-

titis A and B, yellow fever and tetanus, among others.

The side effect, he said are usually moderate and of short duration, such as pain, tiredness and headache, among others.

Head of Trade Office/Third Secretary, Embassy of Viet Nam in Nigeria, Dao Manh Duc, said his country, Vietnam was willing to work with the Nigerian community to transfer technology with a view to solve problems.

30 HEALTH

Sanctity of Truth

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Study: Drinking protects hearts of people with high blood pressure Oluwatosin Omoniyi

D

rinking alcohol has been tied in the past to a higher risk of high blood pressure but in a new analysis of past studies, researchers found that a drink or two a day seemed to protect even those with hypertension from heart disease and death.

“People with high blood pressure who have never been drinkers should not start now based on the evidence from studies like these,” said senior author Qi-Qiang of the School of Public Health/Global Health Institute at Wuhan University in China.

Observational studies only include data on what people do in their lives and what happens to them, and cannot say for sure that one action, like drinking alcohol, causes a particular result.

The new meta-analysis combines the data from nine previous studies involving a total of nearly 400,000 people with high blood pressure. In all of the studies, alcohol consumption, including wine, beer and spirits, was recorded, as were cases of heart disease, stroke, heart failure and death from any cause.

The researchers divided the participants into four groups: occasional or never drinkers, those who drank about 10 grams (about a third of an ounce) of ethanol - pure alcohol - per day, and those who drank 20 or 30 grams of ethanol per day.

In the United States (U.S), a five-ounce glass of wine, a 12-ounce bottle of beer and a

A doctor takes a patient's blood pressure measurement

1.5-ounce shot of liquor each contains about 14 grams of alcohol. Overall, the team found that cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, strokes and other risks went down as alcohol consumption went up, according to the results published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

This study included relatively few heavy drinkers.

The authors caution that other studies have found that the heart risk decline disappears for very heavy drinkers or binge drinkers.

For all causes of death, the risk was lowest among those who drank between eight and 10 grams of alcohol per day, and the risk was higher for those who drank more or did not drink at all.

Light to moderate drinkers were about 18 percent less likely to die over the course of a study than people who did not drink. “This was firstly found true in people with normal

Ebola virus demystified C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 1

• Avoid consumption of bush meat and exposure to bats • Avoid public crowd gatherings as this can reduce possible chain of transmission • Avoid traditional burial rituals such as embalming bodies.

People who have died from Ebola should be buried immediately and safely to avoid virus spread • Gloves and appropriate personal protective equipment should be worn when taking care of ill patients • Do not take care of infected ones at home as they need to be isolated to prevent spread. Report any first symptoms to the hospital or healthcare centers.

Recently, the WHO approved a licensed Ebola virus specific treatment developed in the United States. The secret serum drug is called ZMapp, which when ingested is expected to lock onto the antibodies and stop the virus from spreading to other parts of the body, thereby boosting the immune system to battle the virus.

In July 2014, the experimental drug was first tested on two persons in the United States who got infected in Liberia. Although both victims have shown positive improvements it is still unknown whether the treatment is helpful, harmful or has any useful impact

because the numbers receiving the drug is not yet enough to show high-level efficacy.

Recovery is still not 100 percent with this drug as a Spanish priest who also got infected and was administered the same drug did not survive the disease. Nonetheless, this can be attributed to the time frame in which drug was commenced, the disease might have already reached a stage whereby it was impossible for the drug to work effectively and prolong life.

There have been a lot of myths relating to cure for the Ebola virus disease. Myths of salt intake and baths, eating kola and spiritual healing from religious leaders cannot cure the infection.

People with likely symptoms are scared to test or seek treatment.

It is necessary to visit a hospital or medical centre once you feel any first symptoms so a proper medical test can be carried out.

Even without treatment we can stop Ebola, all we need outbreak is good core basic medical care and effective contact investigation to save lives and revert this unforeseen.

Obada is a Technical Programs Associate at Friends Africa a pan African, non-profit, health advocacy organisation for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

blood pressure,” he said.

In the general population, some studies suggest that al-

cohol consumption might enhance heart rate variability or keep plaque from building up inside arteries, but the mechanism is still not clear, he said.

If anything, beneficial effects of alcohol should be even more pronounced for people without high blood pressure, said Dr. Franz H. Messerli, a cardiology expert at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. “One to two drinks daily is said to be the goldilocks amount of alcohol,” Messerli told Reuters Health by email. But even these small amounts of alcohol have been associated with an increased risk for high blood pressure, he said. “We don’t know whether moderate drinking is

truly cardio protective or if it is merely a marker of a healthy lifestyle,” Messerli said.

He said moderate alcohol drinkers also tend to be part of the healthiest subset of the social landscape. “Non-drinkers are usually older, eat a less healthy diet and exercise less than moderate drinkers,” he noted. Messerli agreed that the study results should not be taken as encouragement for nondrinkers to take up drinking.

Suggesting that people start having a few drinks here and there to reduce their risk of various heart problems may actually lead to binge drinking which increases the risk of stroke, Messerli said.

R-L: Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duty, Dr. Wale Ahmed; Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola receiving personal protective items against Ebola Virus Disease and donated by MTN, from Chairman, MTN Nigeria, Pascal Dozie; Executive Secretary, MTNF, Nonny Ugboma; Chairman, Rodot Nigeria, Remi Adeseun; and Corporate Services Executive, MTN, Akinwale Goodluck, held at the Lagos State Secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State on Monday

FG, Nestlé tackle malnutrition for healthier future

T

he Federal Government has announced plans to partner with Nestlé Nigeria on manufacturing and processing of agricultural raw materials such as maize, sorghum, millet and soybeans into high-energy nutritious foods.

According to a statement from Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Nestlé Nigeria PLC, Dr. Samuel Adenekan, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina disclosed this plan

when the minister visited Nestlé factory in Agbara recently.

The partnership is aimed at tackling Africa’s high incidence of malnutrition and ensuring healthier future for children in the continent.

He said that Nestlé was an ideal partner for the Transformative Partnership for HighEnergy Nutritious Foods, which was launched at the last World Economic Forum in Abuja in May 2014.

The statement noted that

Adesina was particularly impressed by the breakthrough technology for processing maize and millet into Nestlé all-family cereal, Golden Morn.

He said that Nestlé’s commitment to responsible sourcing of agricultural raw materials, which has resulted in purchase of over 32,000 metric tonnes of grains from local Nigerian farmers in 2013 alone, is a clear example of business supporting farming and promoting it as a livelihood of choice that offers an attractive income.

Foundation partners Ministry of Women Affairs on humanitarian activities

M

inister of Women Affairs and Social Development has set up committees which comprise of four major sectors within the Ministry: rehabilitation, welfare, women and child affairs to work with Body Enhancement Foundation.

In a release, Body Enhancement Foundation disclosed that the committees were established during a team of officials from Body Enhancement Foundation paid courtesy visit to the Minister of Women Affairs and Social

Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina in Abuja.

The minister was full of praises and appreciation of the foundation's activities and pledged full support of the ministry and all State Ministries of women Affairs.

Body Enhancement Foundation also expressed appreciation to the minister, the Permanent Secretary and Directors for their exceptionally warm reception and commitment to helping the underprivileged.

L-R: Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina and Founder of Body Ecement Foundation, Modupe Ozolua

BUSINESS Thursday, September 4, 2014

What's news Digital Migration: Broadcasters to face content shortage Broadcasting companies, especially television outfits may run into content challenge once digital migration becomes a reality in Africa.

}p-32

Collaboration needed for wireless services providers' growth Wireless Applications Service Providers of Nigeria (WASPAN) has urged all stakeholders in the mobile telecommunications industry to join hands in order to fully develop the wireless application subsector for the country’s social and economic growth.

}p-32

Telecoms to lead Nigeria’s non-oil growth –Study Telecommunications is expected to continue to lead what has been described as a robust growth in the non-oil sector in Nigeria’s economy, according a study by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry that highlighted investment opportunities in subSaharan Africa.

}p-35

Ebola: NCS warns on use of SMS, social media to create fear

Information technology professionals, under the aegis of Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) have warned Nigerians to stop the use of text messages and social media to create fear and spread rumours about the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak.

}p-38

BUSINESS CREW AYODELE AMINU, Deputy Editor (Business) Simeon Ogoegbulem, Dep. Business Editor BAYO AKOMOLAFE, Asst. Editor (Maritime) SUNDAY OJEME, Asst. Editor (Insurance) Godson ikoro , Asst. Editor (Money Market) DAYO ADEYEMI, Property Editor ADEOLA YUSUF, Energy Editor WOLE SHADARE, Aviation Editor

KUNLE AZEEZ, Senior Correspondent Chuks Onuanyin, Energy Nnamdi Amadi, Reporter JOHNSON ADEBAYO, Asst. Production Editor

NEW TELEGRAPH

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New electronic ID: Would Nigeria get it right? }p-33

ayodele aminu, Deputy Editor, business

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

How to stop N162bn software capital flight, by Uwaje EMPLOYMENT Software strategies must provide avenue for creating jobs and wealth Kunle Azeez

N

igeria needs to retool her software policy to stop the $1 billion (about N162 billion) annual capital flight being recorded in the nation’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, former President, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Dr. Chris Uwaje, has said.

Speaking in telephone interview with New Telegraph, Chris decried the increasing growth of capital flight lost to foreign software licensing in Nigeria, saying that the patronage of foreign software and applications has continued to stunt the sector.

He had stated that the losses were in addition to evidence of colossal losses to banks, oil sector, and government.

The expert explained that the loss was also due to inconsistent version upgrade and processes leading to failed software products, project implementation and services.

Chris also listed unregulated state of foreign software products in Nigeria, nonexistent national policy and legislation on software, implementation of e-government, e-education, tele-medicine and protection of cyberspace for national security and survivability, as other factors inhibiting the growth of information and communication technology.

At recent information technology event in Cross Rivers State, Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, had condemned the extant capital flight being recorded in the sector.

She insisted that for Nigeria, software strategies must

CHRIS UGWU, Capital Market Editor Abdulwahab Isa, Finance Editor

31

L-R: Minister of State FCT, Jumoke Akinjide; Director Legal Drafting, Isah Bin Abdullahi and Head of Department Infrastructure, Nairda Limited, Yair Segal, after the signing of Gidan Daya Engineering infrastructure in Abuja.

not only be about improving productivity as it also provides an avenue for transforming the economy, creating jobs and creating wealth. “So we need to tackle the broader challenge of how we take our promising software developers and software engineers and help them to become entrepreneurs that can take advantage of this opportunity,”

DOMINANCE A few stockbroking firms determine direction of the Local bourse Chris Ugwu

T

op 10 brokers at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) contributed 63.43 per cent to total market value last month, according to the Exchange’s broker performance report for the review period.

The 63.43 per cent represents N86.199 billion in terms of cash

she said.

The minister noted that assessing Nigeria’s software industry landscape, however, has revealed two things the country needs to focus on to tackle the current challenge the sector is facing. “The first is the innovation process, which centres on the process of creation or ideation that ultimately results in a suc-

cessfully executed software solution or platform.

“The second is focused on companies, not code. We have to keep sight of the fact that brilliantly-written lines of code must still be considered as building blocks for the successful software companies that must be our ultimate target in building a viable software industry.”

10 brokers account for 63.4% market value value to the Nigerian bourse between August 01 to August 29.

Top on the list of the 10 top brokers in the review period include Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Limited, contributing 19.11 per cent worth N25.969 billion to market value.

Second on the list, is RENCAP Securities Nigeria Limited, contributing 11.34 per cent valued at N15.408 billion; the third position was occupied

by CSL Stockbrokers Limited, adding 10.70 per cent valued at N14.669 billion.

Others are FBN Securities Limited N7,989 billion, Chapel Hill Denham Management Limited N5,114 billion and Marina Securities Stockbroking Services Limited N4,074.

Also on the list are African Alliance Stockbrokers Limited CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE July 2014.................................8.3% June 2014................................8.2% May 2014....................................8%

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

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

32

BUSINESS | NEWS

DEADLINE Only a very few African countries will meet the 2015 deadline for the transition to digital broadcasting Jonah Iboma

B

roadcasting companies, especially television outfits, may run into content challenge once digital migration becomes a reality

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Digital Migration: Broadcasters to face content shortage in Africa.

This was one of the conclusions of expert, who are preparing for the annual African broadcasting conference, Africast, billed for November in South Africa.

According to a document released by Informa Telecom and Media Limited, organisers of the event, it has been

discovered that there is a gradual growth of channels in countries where switchover has happened.

Chairman, Africast 2014, Russell Southwood, said: "The volume of new channels associated with the digital switchover is beginning to ramp up.

For example, in Kenya, there are now over 30 new channel

L-R: Deputy President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr Remi Bello; National President, Mr Mohammed Abubakar and Director- General, Dr. John Isemede, during a media briefing on the state-of-the-nation as it affects the economy, in Lagos. PHOTO:GODWIN IREKHE

Collaboration needed for wireless services providers' growth, says body DIVERGENT VIEWS Toeing different directions on several critical issues would not augur well for the sector Jonah Iboma

W

ireless Applications Service Providers of Nigeria (WASPAN) has urged all stakeholders in the mobile telecommunications industry to join hands in order to fully develop the wireless application sub-sector for the country’s social and economic growth.

WASPAN is the trade body of several companies who offer services that ride on mobile networks.

The body, in a document made available to New Telegraph, said that the current scenario whereby mobile networks, wireless application service providers were toeing different directions on several critical issues would not augur well for the sector’s player and the general public.

According to the National Coordinating Consultant of WASPAN, Mr Simon Aderinola, wireless application

sub-sector is one that emerged globally in recent years and not part of the traditional telecommunications services.

He noted that based on this, there were problems on how issues should be handled in many countries, adding that in many of them, after initial problems, stakeholders collaborated to find ways develop the sector for their economic benefits.

“We need to learn from what has worked in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Kenya and Ghana. These are countries where the wireless application services industry is doing well. These countries collaborated to develop a framework that is now successfully benefitting stakeholders,” he said.

It will be recalled that following unending controversies, especially between mobile networks and wireless application services providers, WASPAN in 2012 invited experts from South Africa to help in sharing their experiences on the matter. Dr. Leon Pellman, the consultant that helped South Africa set up the country’s joint industry led the delegation to Nigeria and had useful discussions with several stakeholders in the country.

Aderinola stated that col-

laboration was needed so that the potential of the sector could be realised.

The industry regulator stated that the volume of business activities in mobile VAS segment of the Nigeria’s highly competitive telecommunication industry is currently valued at $200 million year-on-year.

The revenue is, according to NCC, is expected to more than double to reach $500 million in the next few years if proper regulatory framework is put in place.

A major issue of disagreement between WASPAN and mobile networks is the current revenue sharing formula that gives close to 80 per cent to the networks. Another is the gradual encroachment by mobile network operators into the wireless applications sub-sector and the stifling of growth of small companies.

The NCC had called a stakeholders’ meeting earlier last month to discuss several issues bedeviling wireless application services. Fallout of the meeting was the announcement by the Executive ViceChairman of NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, that a plan to develop an industry-driven regulatory framework to strengthen the mobile VAS market would soon be unveiled.

operators, in addition to existing broadcasters planning their own new channels."

He opined that the success of all the new channels could not be guaranteed in the medium term, but added that the situation was "putting pressure on the local content ecosystem to produce more content without there being any clarity about how successful the new channels will be."

He advised new channel owners to take their cue from pay-TV and be themed by topic rather than time-based.

Southwood also said that the broadcast industry today in Africa faces some serious issues that must be addressed to ensure a better future.

"There are a range of anxieties and excitements that can be grouped under three headings: the digital transition in broadcasting, the lack of good local content in volume and the changing business models. Only a very small number of African countries will meet the 2015 deadline for the transition to digital broadcasting.

Besides, Southwood said that there was growing uncertainty about digital migration, which, he noted, is impacting the industry negatively.

"I have heard recently that Ghana has pushed back on the deadline until December 2015.

Some countries have met the deadline by having what you might call a “hard stop,” which means that they turn off the analogue signal without worrying about the last 10-20 per cent of citizens making the transition. The uncertainty about the digital transition is affecting the overall health of the industry, particularly as advertisers will pay less for audiences that have been reduced in size."

He said the time had come for broadcasters to develop the market based on reliable research in order to get better revenue.

"The professionalisation of African media planning is long overdue. Broadcasters need to finance the commissioning of reliable market research that is widely trusted. With the digital transition, it should be perfectly possible to create a 1000+ audience panel with settop boxes with a return path that will give you what people are watching almost instantaneously.

"In other words, “overnight” results on who’s watched what the night before. With the increase in TV channels, if this does not exist, then broadcasters will be selling something they can only guess about and advertisers will be buying blind," he said.

10 brokers account for 63.4% market value CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

- N3,986 billion, Partnership Securities Limited - N3,518 billion, WSTC Securities Limited - N2,986 billion and INVESTMENT ONE Stockbrokers International Limited reporting N2,482 billion to market value for the month of August.

Similarly, Stanbic IBTC, Rencap Securities and CSL Stockbrokers led the NSE’s top 10 brokers in volume in the review period; all 10 contributed 54.54 per cent of the total market volume.

In the period, the 10 top brokers in volume were responsible for 5.940 billion units of shares that exchanged hands at the Nigerian bourse.

Stanbic IBTC, Rencap Securities and CSL Stockbrokers brokered 1.194 billion, 957 million and 937 million unit of shares, contributing 10.37 per cent, 8.79 per cent and 8.61 per cent respectively to total volume of transactions at the Nigerian equities market during the review period.

Checks by our correspondent also showed that it has been a usual market trend for the 10 stockbroking firms to determine the direction of the market.

The implication of the development, according to market analysts, calls for industry induced mergers and acquisition among the stockbroking firms,

as most of them are inactive.

It would be recalled that NSE had recently announced that it would administer and enforce a five per cent sanction on any Issuer that fails to pay dividends to shareholders within the timeline specified in the resolution passed by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) at which such dividends were declared.

According to the Exchange, the sanction was not a new proposal but part of the already existing undertaking in the Exchange’s listings requirements, which was executed by every Issuer before its securities were approved for listing on the NSE. The Head of Legal and Regulation Division at the NSE, Ms. Tinuade Awe, stated that before securities are approved for listing on the Exchange, every Issuer has to execute a document known as the General Undertaking, adding that the undertaking sets out the obligations imposed on an Issuer.

These commitments, according to her, include; the obligation to notify the Exchange prior to taking certain corporate actions; the obligation to seek the Exchange’s approval before publishing certain information; the obligation to comply with the Exchange’s Listings Rules and the obligation to comply with the directives of its shareholders in the event of declaration of dividends.

BUSINESS 33

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

New electronic ID: Would Nigeria get it right?

Nigeria has had many identification programmes over the years, but the success of these schemes has been mixed. However, a few days ago, the country achieved the issuance of national electronic identity card. Jonah Iboma examines how this new identification scheme could become the needed solution that has eluded the country for many years.

O

ne common programme that both the military and civilian governments have tried to carry out over the years is the creation of a national identity scheme. The several attempts made have been dogged by repeated difficulties and hitches such that when one of the attempts to deliver card yielded fruits first in year 2000, it was soon embroiled in another controversy.

Previous attempts A look at the various attempts showed that government initially made it look like an impossible task, as it preferred initially to go with foreign firms, even though a Nigerian firm, Chams Plc, (then Chams Nigeria Limited) came tops in the bid process held around 2003. Aside that, there were accusations of corruption and non-transparency in the manner government arrived at bid winners. Even when government eventually settled for a winner, litigation followed the decision as some agreements earlier entered into tied the hands of government to fulfil some obligations with some earlier bid winners. In addition, when the current national identity cards were then produced, complaints arose that they did not fulfil certain requirements including biometrics and their possible use for electronic payment transaction.

Aside these, the agency that government set up to oversee identity cards production, the Department of National Civic Registration (DNCR), was scrapped an replaced with the Nigerian Identity Management Commission (NIMC), while the staff of the former were sacked, leading to another round of unforeseen of issues.

So, when President Good-

New electronic ID

luck Jonathan received his national electronic identity (eID) card last Thursday to herald the official launch of the eID pilot programme, another page in the history of identity management in Nigeria was opened.

New scheme In the pilot phase, NIMC will issue MasterCard-branded identity cards with electronic payments functionality to 13 million Nigerians. This initiative is the largest rollout of a biometric-based verification card with an electronic payment solution in the country and the broadest financial inclusion programme in Africa.

The eIDcard forms a key component of the Nigerian Identity Management System, deployed by NIMC as part of its mandate to create, maintain and operate the country’s first central National Identity Database and provide proof of identity to Nigerians 16 years and older.

With 13 applications, including MasterCard’s prepaid payment technology and Cryptovision’s biometric identification technology, the eIDcard will provide millions of Nigerians – a substantial percentage of who have never had access to a banking product - with the security, convenience and reliability of electronic payments.

President's perspective President Jonathan said at the launch in Abuja: “I am happy that this important milestone of the rollout of the National Identity Management System has been realised today.

I am impressed with the quality of the eIDcard and the work of the corporate partners that made it possible. I commend

especially MasterCard and Access Bank Plc, as well as the Commission (NIMC) for achieving a world-class product.”

He stated that the card built a window to a social security benefit system and therefore, it is a card every Nigerian should get.

An overview of the scheme shows that NIMC is working with several government agencies to integrate and harmonise all identity databases including the driving license, voter’s registration, health insurance, tax, SIM and the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) into a single, shared services platform.

Director General of NIMC, Chris Onyemenam, said: “The National eID program enables us to create an optimised common platform for Nigerian citizens to easily interact with the various government agencies and to transact electronically,”, adding that “there are many use cases for the card, includ-

The several attempts made have been dogged by repeated difficulties and hitches such that when one of the attempts to deliver card yielded fruits first in year 2000, it was soon embroiled in another controversy

ing the potential to use it as an international travel document, which will have significant implications for border control in Nigeria and West Africa.

“In close collaboration with both the public and private sectors to achieve the full potential of this program, NIMC is focused on inclusive citizenship, more effective governance, and the creation of a cashless economy, all of which will stimulate economic growth, investment and trade,” he added.

One major aspect that differentiate the new identity card from previous ones is the fact that Nigerians will gain access to financial services, starting with the 13 million people in the pilot program.

This is through the collaborative efforts of NIMC (the project lead), MasterCard (payments technology provider), Unified Payment Services Limited (payments processor), Cryptovision (Public Key Infrastructure and Trust Services Provider), and pilot issuing banks, including Access Bank Plc. NIMC DG's view Division President of subSaharan Africa, MasterCard, Daniel Monehin, said: “This is a memorable occasion for MasterCard as we witness the start of a financial inclusion programme that is unprecedented in scale and scope. “Combining an identity card with MasterCard’s prepaid payment capability creates a game changer as it breaks down one of the most significant barriers to financial inclusion - proof of identity while simultaneously enabling Nigerians to access the global economy.”

According to him, a broader economic impact of the card will be felt as the previously

unbanked and under-banked are able to gain access to the mainstream economy and the visibility of their assets allow them to build a financial history and establish credit-worthiness with financial institutions.

Also, Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe, said: “Access Bank is a supporter and promoter of innovative ideas that would improve the quality of lives of Nigerians. This initiative provides another opportunity to highlight our commitment to national development and nation-building.”

For Nigerians aged 16 and above to get the cards, they need to register at any of the hundreds of NIMC enrollment centres nationwide. The enrolment process involves the recording of an individual’s demographic data and biometric data (capture of 10 fingerprints, facial picture and Iris) to authenticate the cardholder and ensure that there are no duplicates on the system. Upon registration, NIMC issues each person with a unique National Identification Number (NIN), followed by the national eID card.

Once the pilot programme is completed, NIMC plans to roll out over 100 million e-ID cards.

“By supporting the Nigerian government in the implementation of a world-class and innovative electronic payments program, we are helping them to reduce the costs of cash to the economy and society, improve efficiencies and prevent fraud and corruption. More importantly, we are opening up a world of financial inclusion to millions of Nigerians and improving lives,” Division President of sub-Saharan Africa, MasterCard, Monehin, said.

34 BUSINESS | ICT

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Stories by Jonah Iboma

Firm signs mobile money pacts for services rollout

erchant and Agent Transactions Services Limited (MATS) has signed agreements with several mobile money firms and actively integrating them for agency transactions in Nigeria. MATS is also deploying its own proprietary software, point of transaction kiosks and staffed agency network to serve licensed providers in Nigeria.

The firms that MATS has signed agency agreements with include FETS, VCash, Teasy Mobile, Clicknpay, Readycash, Paga, eTranzact, Fortis MobileMoney and Heritage Bank.

MATS said in a statement that it was also expected to complete agreement-signing processes with licensed providers in coming weeks.

The agreement with the firms is the largest of such initiative in West and Central Africa. The initiative will enable licensed operators lower their operational cost, acceler-

ate roll out and the expansion of mobile financial services as well as agency banking.

A Director at MATS, Emmanuel Okoegwale, said: “We have been working on the project in the last two years and have witnessed the pain points of the licensed providers in terms of agent network churn, acquisition cost and monitoring. We have taken all these into consideration to offer this next generation platform which comes along with the staffed agency network to serve licensed providers in Nigeria to further deepen the financial inclusion aspirations of the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

MATS is powered by technology from Alterna, a subsidiary of Swifta Systems. Alterna has built and deployed agent service aggregation platforms to support MATS initiatives. The technology behind MATS is a convergent system that aggregates mobile financial services from multi-

COLLABORATION MATS moves to strengthen the brand of each operators

M

ple payments schemes across heterogeneous systems – providing convenient and secured channels for mobile financial services covering agency, merchant and other associated transactions.

Leveraging on the strong footprints of Swifta in some of the leading and pioneer mobile financial services frontier markets in Africa, Alterna has successfully deployed robust and highly scalable enterprise financial service aggregation platform in partnership with leading mobile network operators and financial institutions across Africa.

Chief Executive Officer of

Swifta Systems, Victor Asemota, said: “We have seen all around Africa the gap in getting mobile financial services initiatives to reach scale. We decided to solve this problem by helping to put in place a collaborative marketplace platform that not only provides the consumer all alternatives and choice, but also strengthens the brand of each operator.”

Musa Ali Baba, CEO, Teasy Mobile, said: “We at Teasy are delighted to partner with MATS. We have worked closely together from inception of the project and are pleased that it has come to fruition. Our customers and the general

public will benefit from the agent access, convenience, interoperability and consistency of service that we all need to make mobile money work for Nigeria.”

MATS said that it was in active discussions with leading international remittance firms, utilities providers and value chain enterprises to use the agency network to make low cost banking and payment more efficient nationwide. The innovative model will enable providers accelerate and deepen adoption of mobile financial services across Nigeria while MATS will focus on the agency network roll out.

GSMA launches infographics on network GSM Association has Ticshe launched two new infographto show the exposure limits

for radio signals used in each country around the world for both mobile network infrastructure and for devices such as mobile phones and tablets.

GSMA Senior Director of Research and Sustainability, Dr Jack Rowley, said that the purpose of the project was to address certain misconceptions associated with mobile technologies standards.

“There is a misconception that exposure standards for mobile networks and handsets vary significantly around the world and that many countries have adopted additional precautionary limits. However – as these maps show – the radio frequency exposure limits developed by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) in 1998 and confirmed in 2009 form the basis of most national safety standards.”

The infographics summarise each country’s limits and provide a clear representation of which standard the country follows. Most countries follow the guidelines set by ICNIRP. Mostly for historical reasons and alignment of spectrum bands, a minority of countries follow the United States guidelines for devices adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1996. In 2013, the FCC announced a review of radio frequency exposure policies.

The move towards implementing global radio frequency exposure limits is known as harmonisation and in this

area, GSMA follows the lead of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the United Nations specialised agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs).

“As mobile phones are global products, the devices’ map shows a strong trend towards international harmonisation following the biologically based rationale of the ICNIRP guidelines,” Rowley said.

“Unfortunately, however, for networks we see more fragmentation where national politics has taken the place of scientific rationale.Restrictive limits for mobile networks have no proven health benefits, do not reduce public exposure to radio signals and increase both costs and public concern. They also delay the deployment of new radio technologies such as 4G,” he added.

According to him, the GSMA supports the recommendation of the WHO and the ITU that governments should base policies on the ICNIRP guidelines as these are designed to be protective for all persons.

“Some countries have set exposure limits for mobile networks more restrictive than those recommended by ICNIRP. Often this is due to internal political pressures rather than scientific observations. Such arbitrary limits imply larger compliance zones around antennas, which can make collocation – the sharing of sites by multiple operators – difficult to implement, and risk undermining confidence in science based limits,” Rowley said.

Telecom mast

Stakeholders lauds Airtel’s mobile health care A irtel Nigeria has been commended by stakeholders of the Pampaida Millennium Villages Project (MVP) in Kaduna for its contribution towards the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Specifically, they lauded Airtel’s mobile-health service, an intervention, which, they noted, has significantly reduced the mortality and morbidity rate of infants and mothers in several villages in Kaduna State.

While expressing gratitude, health workers and residents in the communities and other beneficiaries urged Airtel to continue in its genuine commitment at improving the quality of life of Nigerians as demonstrated by the smooth operations of the M-health service.

Under the M-health initiative, Airtel is providing critical telecommunications infrastructure, including a telecom

masts, smartphones, toll free lines and closed user group (CUG) services for the health workers in the villages.

The Pampaida Millennium Village Project in Kaduna is one of the two Millennium Villages inaugurated by the Federal Government in May 2006 in line with the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals.

Team Leader and Operations Manager, Pampaida MVP, Mr Bala Yunusa, described the role played by Airtel Nigeria as vital and indispensable towards achieving the key goals of the MVP. Yunusa, in an interview during an assessment tour by Airtel Nigeria to the MVP in Kaduna said: “After conducting a rapid diagnostic test, the village health workers were able to capture and send realtime information on their mobile phones to a server which provides automatic response and guidance for the health

workers on the field.

“The mobile data provided

by Airtel is used to send required details to the remote server, while the CUG allows smooth communication among the team of health workers. This is made possible by our partner, Airtel Nigeria, in collaboration with Ericsson.”

While highlighting some of the achievements recorded by the health project, the Coordinator, MVP, Dr. Clement Woje, noted that it has resulted in increased access and utilization of health care services, decreased malaria prevalence rate and influenced a general decline in child and maternal mortality.

Corroborating Dr. Woje, Mr Ojo Adedotun, a Health Facilitator under the project, said that the project records a monthly average of 30 to 40 child deliveries out of which CONTINUED ON PAGE 35

BUSINESS | ICT 35

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Telecoms to lead Nigeria’s non-oil growth –Study IRONY Nigeria's economy to remain robust, but not sufficient for much improvement in living standard Jonah Iboma

T

elecommunications is expected to continue to lead what has been described as a robust growth in the

non-oil sector in Nigeria’s economy, according a study by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry that highlighted investment opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa.

The study, which was done ahead of Africa Global Business Forum (AGBF) slated for October, identified infrastructure, tourism, trade and agriculture as investment opportunities for Dubai-based companies.

Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collabo-

ration with the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) developed a detailed study highlighting economic and investment potentials in sub-Saharan Africa and its potential to become the world’s fastest growing region.

The study showed that Nigeria is a strong destination for investments in telecoms and retail due to the large population (20 per cent of the subSaharan population). It also identified the country as a key market to multinationals.

The report read: “FDI has

L-R: Director, Health Planning, Research & Statistics, Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Ansa Ogu; Technical Advisor to Minister of State, Health, Dr. Faisal Shuaib; CSR Manager, Airtel Nigeria, Chinda Manjor and Permanent Secretary/Board Secretary, Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Oguntimehin Olukayode, during the donation of mobile phones and SIM cards by Airtel Nigeria to the Ebola Isolation Centre, Yaba, Lagos.

Glo Xchange trains potential agents in Edo

G

lobacom’s mobile money agent network, Glo Xchange, received a boost in Benin City recently as potential mobile money agents besieged the venue of the first training session organised by the company to take the innovative service to the hinterlands.

Glo Xchange was launched in Lagos about two weeks ago

by Globacom in partnership with Firstmonie, Ecobank, Stanbic IBTC and Zenith Bank.

Hundreds of people from across the 18 council areas of Edo State turned out to register as agents of the mobile money network.

Alex Munia, Globacom’s Mobile Money Specialist, who anchored the training, said in a statement that Glo Xchange was a win-win platform for the agents, their customers and the beneficiaries of the money transferred through the mobile wallet (m-wallet).

“Glo Xchange will afford them the chance to key into a platform where many, especially in East Africa, had made a lot of money without borrowing from the banks to do

business,” Munia explained.

According to him, in addition to the commission that would accrue from the m-wallet transactions, the agents would have a lot of human traffic coming into their business premises to do the mobile money transfer and “get to know about other services the agents are rendering and patronise them accordingly.”

In his opening remarks at the training, Executive Assistant to the Group Chief Operating Officer of Globacom, Mr Charles Odiase, said that Globacom had been in the forefront of breaking new grounds in the telecoms industry in Nigeria, adding that Glo Xchange “is a robust initiative that will significantly enhance financial inclusion, get the unbanked into the formal banking system and completely change the way we live.”

One of the participants at the training, Mr Odion Inegbinebor, said that “after listening to the presentations here today and the fact that one does not have to borrow from the bank to start this business, I am willing to be an agent and make legitimate money for

myself.”

Also speaking at the end of the training, the Managing Director of Dadev Ventures, Deaconess Maria Oisamoje, said that she could testify that “it is profitable to do business with Globacom.”

Participants at the training included businessmen and women, members of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, (ACPN), artisans and petty traders.

About 500,000 agents will be recruited for the platform in the next five to six years and they will have the opportunity of earning excellent commissions, the telecoms firm said.

Globacom also said that the agents can start the business with as little as N20,000 and earn up to twice their investment as commissions monthly, depending on their volume of transactions.

The telecoms company further said that efforts have been made to ensure the protection of funds on the Glo Xchange platform through its trusted financial partners such as Firstmonie, Ecobank, Stanbic IBTC and Zenith Bank “who will help to keep the money safe.”

exceeded $6 billion mainly in the energy sector. Owing to the investment in oil and gas, the economy will remain robust but will not be sufficient for a sizeable improvement in living standard.

“Growth is expected to continue until 2017 owing to the investment in the oil and gas sector. Non-oil growth will be robust, led by telecoms, trade and infrastructure.”

It noted that non-oil trade between Dubai and Nigeria accounted for almost $1.52 billion in 2013; imports accounted for around AED 1 billion and exports and re-exports around 1.25 billion. Nigeria ranks 47th on the list of Dubai trade partners.

According to President and CEO, Dubai Chamber, H.E. Hamad Buamim, the chamber always strives to provide companies and investors with access to studies and research that will help them take informed investment decisions in target markets, namely the African market where the future of business is very promising.

He also highlighted that the increase in economic reforms, rising fiscal spending and ties with fast growing economies in Asia were the main factors supporting the economy in sub-Saharan Africa. He added that the AGBF would shed light on the economic and investment realities in Africa and would give business leaders and decision-makers from Africa, Dubai and the wider GCC region an ideal platform to discuss business partnerships and opportunities.

Also, challenges, opportunities and cooperation between African and Dubai-based companies will be discussed further by leaders and busi-

nessmen attending AGBF in October, he said.

Buamim further stressed that this study was one in a series of studies on Africa developed by the Chamber, and was aimed at introducing businesses in Dubai to investment opportunities available in the continent.

Another finding in the study is that Africa holds 60 per cent of the world’s uncultivated arable land, but remains a net importer of several food products as well as processed foods. It said that encouraging growth in domestic production and reducing reliance on imports was a key goal to governments and investors.

It stated that investment opportunities are particularly significant in the telecoms sector. “Although there are over half a billion mobile subscribers, most countries are still far from saturation and internet access is still almost non-existent in many countries,” it stated.

The study emphasisesd that with the emergence of middle class, formal retail is starting to develop, offering "value" products aimed at lower income customers while infrastructure needs are enormous, with an estimated $100 billion a year required by the power sector alone.

Established in 1965, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry is a non-profit public entity, whose mission is to represent, support and protect the interests of the business community in Dubai by creating a favourable business environment, supporting the development of business, and by promoting Dubai as an international business hub.

Stakeholders lauds Airtel’s mobile health care CONTINUED from PAGE 34

10 to 15 are home deliveries while the remaining occur in the clinic, noting that the Mhealth service supported by Airtel Nigeria plays significant roles in the success of these deliveries.

Pampaida is located in Kaduna State and it comprises of 57 settlements/villages with a total population of about 27,000 people divided into about 4,050 households.

It has four health centres in Saulawa, Kwari, Fadama and Kale districts where the village health workers serve.

The Millennium Villages project, based at The Earth Institute at Columbia University, is a science-based bottom-up approach to lifting rural villages out of the poverty trap that afflicts over a billion people worldwide. The community-driven initiative currently operates in 11 sub-Saharan African countries where it tackles challenges related to

health, education, nutrition, livelihoods, gender equality and other vital issues.

Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, says that the company is providing communications solutions that will help to improve the quality of life of people in one of the remotest parts of Nigeria.

“The communication solutions that have been deployed will enable the people of Pampaida to make calls, access health services and education and improve their economic status.

“We are creating enormous opportunities for these communities and we expect the impact of this project to outlive our generation. At Airtel Nigeria, we are convinced that the attendant benefits and potential of this project will fasttrack transformation of the lives of many of the residents of Pampaida from their current status,” he said.

36 BUSINESS | ICT

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Microsoft to sponsor DEMO 2014 Africa event

M

icrosoft Corporation has taken up platinum sponsorship for this year’s edition of DEMO Africa 2014 that will be held later in the month, in Lagos.

The company will participate in the event for the third time under the Microsoft 4Afrika initiative.

The sponsorship, according to a statement from the firm, will see Microsoft offer financial support for the event where 40 technology-based start-ups from across Africa are expected to pitch to potential investors.

DEMO Africa recently re-

leased the names of the final 40 start-ups that will launch on the DEMO Africa stage where Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Egypt will have the highest representation.

Commenting on the collaboration, Fernando de Sousa, General Manager Africa Initiatives at Microsoft, underscored the importance of innovations to the growing African economy.

“DEMO Africa has given a platform for investors to realize the enormous potential amongst African youth showcased through startups. As an organisation that has oper-

ated in the continent for over 20 years, Microsoft believes Africa’s economic take-off to long-term growth prospects will be determined by the investment decisions we make today in support of youth initiatives.”

Welcoming the support, DEMO Africa’s Executive Producer, Harry Hare commented that investor’s confidence plays a very critical role in motivating start-up entrepreneurs.

“We acknowledge the support of Microsoft and their efforts in uplifting young entrepreneurs in Africa. It’s this

kind of support that assures us that the future is indeed bright for Africa and at DEMO Africa we are keen to make our contribution to this success.”

As has been witnessed in the past, the September event is expected to attract top investors, tech acquisition specialists, IT buyers and media from across the region and around the globe.

Organisers said that the secretariat had put together a special package for investor delegates which comprises 15 per cent discount on a DEMO Africa ticket, 15 per cent discount on a VC4A Pro Account,

access to the companies’ financials, ticket to the investor cocktail on DEMO Africa’s opening evening, ticket to a special investor Boomcamp as well as access to a special Investor Lounge and Deal Room at DEMO Africa.

DEMO Africa 2014 is scheduled to take place between 22nd and 26th of September at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria. This year’s event is being organized in collaboration with the LIONS@FRICA partners, VC4Africa and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies.

Airtel takes ICT to rural communities s part of a strategic ef- world of opportunities beANigerians fort to empower more fore them. in line with its “We are pleased by the

L-R: Globacom’s Chief Commercial Director, Mr. Prabhat Aggarwal; Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali and Director, Consultancy Services, University of Ilorin, Prof. Olugbenga Mokuolu, during a visit of the varsity officials to the telecoms company recently.

Nokia maps to appear on Samsung phones N

okia’s mapping service will soon be appearing on Samsung smartphones. A deal between the two will see a test or beta version of an Android app for Nokia’s Here maps included free on handsets and the Gear S smartwatch.

The move is widely seen as a way to help Samsung distinguish itself from Google, which oversees Android.

Formerly known as Nokia maps, Here is also used by Yahoo, Amazon and Garmin and it provides map data for Microsoft’s Bing search engine.

The map service covers 190 countries, offers turn-by-turn navigation, tourist information and public transport details. In addition, the maps can be downloaded to a device so they can be used offline.

A version of Nokia’s mapping service is being specially prepared for Samsung’s Gear S smartwatch, according to reports by bbc.co.uk. Called Here for Gear, it will be a navigation system optimised to use the relatively small display on the wrist-worn gadget.

Writing on Ars Technica, Ron Amadeo said that Nokia maps were just one of the applications Samsung was keen to stop relying on Google for.

However, he said that Samsung’s strategy had some disadvantages.

He said: “For end users it

just means a confusing experience with a ridiculous amount of duplicated apps.”

Nokia’s maps division was one of the parts that Microsoft did not buy when it acquired the phone-making “devices and services” part of Nokia in 2013.

key objective of becoming Nigeria’s number one mobile Internet operator, Airtel Nigeria has announced an empowerment initiative that focuses on creating awareness for ICT use and uptake in the rural areas across the country.

The programme, Boost ICT Usage in Rural Areas, is designed to help consumers living in or visiting the designated locations in these underserved communities to have first-hand experience of the company’s unequalled data services with no financial implications to the consumers.

According to Airtel, the programme will also assist to facilitate ICT/Data penetration in the country’s rural settlements.

Currently, Nigeria has 55,930,391 mobile Internet users out of a population of 174,507,539 representing 32.9 per cent penetration rate with heavy concentration in the urban areas.

Speaking about the Boost ICT Usage in Rural Areas programme, Airtel’s Chief Commercial Officer, Maurice Newa, said the initiative is designed to bridge the gap between consumers in the rural settings and the

prospect of ensuring our customers in the rural communities experience data services aimed at enhancing their quality of work and living. As a responsible corporate citizen, we have consistently sought ways of rendering life-enriching services to them just like we have done with those in the urban areas.

“There is a lot going on across the globe which ordinarily may fall outside the scope of the rural dwellers but which, if they are given the right access, may bring their dreams to fulfilment. So we are providing this trusted platform for them to achieve more. This initiative is in tandem with our vision of becoming the most loved brand in the daily lives of Nigerians,” he said.

Speaking further, Newa also assured on the company’s readiness to lead the drive for internet penetration and uptake especially in the rural areas of the country which has about 50 per cent of the total population but is yet to be covered effectively in terms of access to data services.

“As a data-centric operator, we are prepared for the chalCONTINUED ON PAGE 37

Co-creation Hub starts $0.5m investment fund agos-based open living labLcentre, oratory and pre-incubation Co-creation Hub, has

inaugurated $500,000 seed investment fund to boost its incubation programme.

The fund, which is provided by the Tony Elumelu Foundation, is to support early stage start-ups over the next two years.

Already, some start-ups ideas have benefitted from the fund and they include Truppr, Vacantboards, Traclist, 500shops and GeniiGames.

Co-creation Hub said these idea owners would receive sums ranging from $10,000 to

$25,000 to support business model experimentation and operations.

CcHUB said that the initial beneficiaries of the seed investment went through its pre-Incubation programme, which identifies and supports aspiring technology entrepreneurs looking to address local market problems with relevant solutions.

“Through the $90,000 Tony Elumelu Foundation/CcHUB pre-seed fund, beneficiaries started out with a grant award of $5,000 each to support their ideas, build working prototypes, carry out initial mar-

ket testing and proof of their concepts. These ideas grew steadily, earning revenues, increasing their user bases and building partnerships, hence needing a different kind of support,” CcHUB said in a statement.

Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of CcHUB, Bosun Tijani, said that the seed investment ensures that startups had a sure footing after pre-incubation to concentrate on rapidly executing their plans and learning from the market.

“CcHUB’s incubation office was launched in response to

the need to provide business development, mentoring and funding support to start-ups that showed traction from our impactful Pre-incubation program,” Tijani said.

Director of Incubation at CcHUB, Tunji Eleso, said that the centre is discussing with investors to provide additional funding to two of the initial beneficiaries.

“We hope to break the news in the coming months. We welcome startups looking to transform the way Nigerians live, play and do business to apply to join our portfolio,” he said.

BUSINESS | ICT 37

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Thursday, September 4, 2014

EXPANSION Firm plans further expansion across the country Stories by Kunle Azeez

P

lans by the Federal Government to increase broadband penetration to 30 per cent by 2018, is being boosted by the on-going efforts by Smile Communications Nigeria Limited to roll out products that can encourage usage of broadband services.

In addition, the company said it was planning further expansion of its operation to other areas across the country, in the next few months, saying that expansion plans for Abuja and Port Harcourt were underway and would be completed soon.

Smile, a broadband services company, said that it has introduced products into the Nigerian data communications market, designed to keep customers connected to its virtual network.

According to the company, the products are also meant to enhance broadband penetration in the country and expand customers’ experience on the network.

The services include SmileON, MySmile portal and Smile Super-fast Internet connection.

According to the Chief Corporate Services Officer of Smile Communications, Ms Lee-Ann Cassie, the new products would ensure that more Nigerians get access to the high-speed Internet and al-

Broadband: Smile to accelerate 30% penetration target low them to work much better.

“SmileON becomes available automatically if a purchased bundle depletes before the end of its validity period,” she said.

Ms Cassie also said that SmileON would be available until the end of that bundles validity period or until the allocated usage allowance is depleted during the validity period.

This, she said, is done to sustain customers until another bundle is purchased within 30 days.

“SmileON also allows access to unlimited sites and applications and extends to banking and news services, browsing, email, social networking, Skype voice calls, messaging, government sites and Wikipedia, among others.”

On the likely prime beneficiaries of the unique service offering, Cassie disclosed that “all customers who purchase 5GB or larger data bundles per month are automatic beneficiaries.

“For a 5GB bundle, there is a SmileON allowance of 1GB with a validity period that starts from when the bundle depletes and valid to the end of the bundle validity period.

A 10GB bundle ensures a 2GB SmileON allowance which starts from when bundle depletes and valid to the end of the bundle validity period.

Any bundle from 20GB and

above attracts a 2GB SmileON allowance with validity that spans when bundle depletes and valid for 30 days within the validity period of the bundle,” she added.

Cassie explained that “should a customer attempt to use a site application not available on SmileON, such would be directed to the web page notifying him or her that there was a trial to access a site that is unavailable. From

this point the customer can return to any allowed site or purchase a new data bundle to gain full Internet access.”

According to her, once a customer purchases a new bundle, normal Internet access will be restored automatically.

Other benefits that will accrue to SmileON patrons, according to Cassie, include access to essential sites during the validity period of their purchased data bundles, it al-

L-R: Chief Technical Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Stephane Beuvelet; Legendary Nigerian artiste, Mike Okri; Director, Strategy, Etisalat Nigeria, Temi Ogunbambi and Nigerian female R&B/Pop artiste, Niyiola, during the Etisalat Cloudnine session in Abuja recently.

Ccomputer Warehous HY profit falls 23%

N

igeria’s Information and Communication Technology conglomerate, Computer Warehouse Group Plc., has recorded a decline in its first half-year report for 2014.

The development is, however, hinged on the business refocus and restructuring, where the company is moving from traditional IT services provision to cloud-based services.

This became manifest as the

Group MD/CEO, Computer Warehouse Group, Mr. Austin Okeke

company recently paused to evaluate the progress achieved and the impact on its hitherto traditional business, underpinned by technology sales and support to major enterprises in Africa.

CWG is at the twilight of a five-year strategic plan to take the company in a different direction into a more robust subscription businesses model.

According to the Financial Controller, CWG, Mr Remi Adeloye, “CWG’s 2014 first half of the year revenue of N8.3 billion is 16 per cent below 2013 N9.9 billion, while Gross Profit N1.6 billion is 23 per cent below 2013 N2.1 billion.”

According to him, the lower H1 revenues was a reflection of the continued decline in margins on traditional IT infrastructure business due to commoditisation and competitive pressures, as well as viable alternatives in the cloud computing frontier.

Adeloye said: “The financial position of the group remains strong with adequate liquidity, leverage and efficiency ratios. H1 2014 Current ratio improved to 1.5 as against H1 2013, which was 1.4 signify-

lows customers to carry out banking transactions with zero bundle balance, allows access at all times to Wikipedia and the Smile Website during the validity period, and keeps customers connected when their data bundle is at zero.

Smile has therefore introduced some fantastic new innovations, some of which are not available from other service providers

ing strong liquidity and adequacy of working capital to meet transactional needs. Also CWG’s leverage Debt to Equity ratio remains low at nine per cent as against 10 per cent in 2013.”

Emphasising the imperative in the shift in strategy, the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Austin Okere, added: “We consider the refocusing of our business into a subscription based model as a dual advantage play. In addition to being a more sustaining strategy, it maximises our social impact investing on the economy of Africa, and helps to create jobs by empowering entrepreneurs in the countries of our operation.”

According to him, the dip in its first half-year numbers, while, expected will be more than compensated for when the full import of CWG2.0 comes fully on stream by second half-year number by 2015.

Okere added that with the rebasing of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to $509.0 billion (N80.3 trillion), capturing the recent growth effects in sectors such as telecommunication and the movie industry and with the

fast growth of the ICT sector, contributing about 8.3 per cent of current GDP, his company was optimism to achieve its financial target next year.

“We crafted the plan code named CWG2.0 in 2010, realising back then the pervasiveness of cloud computing, and the major enablement for this in our region following the increase in broadband access from 0.65tb to a combined capacity of 9 terabits per second.

“We were very clear that while our tremendous growth over the years had been propelled by our traditional businesses in hardware and software sales and support, and VSAT bandwidth vending, these represented mature and declining margin businesses, the import of which have been evident in our recent Financial Statements,” he said.

Okere added that the uptake of the company’s new cloud products, not only in Nigeria but also in Ghana, Cameroon and Uganda, proves that its emerging business model of providing cloud services on a subscription basis is scalable, repeatable and transferable, albeit relatively more sustainable and profitable.

Airtel takes ICT to rural communities CONTINUED from PAGE 36

lenge of internet penetration in the rural areas. We have shown leadership with our 3.75G network which is in over 200 cities and towns across the nation,” he said.

Under the Boost ICT Usage in Rural Areas, Airtel will provide the enabling tools like tablets and smart phones to facilitate the experience of customers.

Starting with rural communities in Ebonyi, the Airtel ICT train will criss-cross rural communities in Imo, Enugu, Benue, Anambra, Delta, Edo, Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Cross Rivers, Bayelsa and Rivers. Others are Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Kwara, Oyo, Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory.

The initiative highlights Airtel’s role as the innovative leader in data services.

It currently prides itself as the leading data-centric company being the only operator with 3.75G services, which can be accessed in over 200 cities and towns across Nigeria.

38 BUSINESS | ICT

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Thursday, September 4, 2014

Nigeria to showcase IT innovators at Gitex 2014 TALENT HUNT NITDA seeks to promote ideas and knowledge among youths Stories by Kunle Azeez

T

he Federal Government has said that one of the chief factors for its participation at this year’s Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (Gitex) was to expose young Nigerians with innovative and entrepreneurial skills to the global opportuni-

ties and partnerships.

Nigeria is setting up its pavilion at the 28th edition of the world’s second largest IT event.

The country will also harness international collaborations for its IT industry through the Nigerian ICT Forum and ICT Dinner scheduled to hold on October 14 in Dubai as part of activities to solidify the country’s presence at Gitex.

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), which is saddled with the formulation and implementation of a National IT policy in the country

is facilitating Nigeria’s presence at Gitex in Dubai with the driving theme: “Invest in Nigeria – Your Gateway to Africa.”

Nigerian Pavilion, according to a NITDA statement, is featuring 20 expo booths, 10 of which have been secured for young Nigerians with innovative and original technological ideas to exhibit free of charge.

The young innovators will be exhibiting under the NITDA Knowledge Hub. The young innovators are being promoted as part of the new objectives of NITDA to boost Nigeria’s fledgling IT industry where a growing

number of start-ups are already attracting offshore angel investors.

Speaking on the country’s plans ahead of the event, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for Nigeria’s participation at Gitex, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, said that NITDA, under its new Director General, Mr Peter Jack, was committed to promoting original ideas and knowledge among young people and believe that a dynamic and thriving industry could be built round young talented Nigerians.

“These people are highly talented. They need more training and exposures and government through NITDA believe that an entire thriving industry can be created out of these young people,” Olatunji said.

He further said that “at NITDA, we have a responsibility to uncover talent; we have seen many of these talents and we have been doing our part to nurture them. But we want to take it to another level by

showing the world what Nigerians are doing.”

Gitex is the biggest ICT event in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. It holds in Dubai, UAE every year. The 2013 edition witnessed over 154,000 visitors. About 35,000 of this came from Africa.

Key stakeholders expected to lead discussions at the Nigerian ICT Investment Forum include Mr Peter Jack, Director General, NITDA, Mrs Saratu Umar, Executive Secretary/ CEO, National Investment Promotion Council and Mr Austin Okere, Group CEO, Computer Warehouse Group Plc, aqmong others.

Over 200 people are expected to attend the ICT Conference and Dinner, largely drawn from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and several other leagues of offshore investors seeking to explore Nigeria.

Nigeria’s participation at the event is also being driven by the Nigerian foreign mission in the United Arab Emirates.

Ebola: NCS warns on use of SMS, social media to create fear technology pro“Caution and deep sense Iofnformation fessionals, under the aegis of responsibilities and not Nigeria Computer Society stigma, should be the focus at L-R: Head, Public Affairs and Communications, Coca-Cola, Clem Ugoriji; TV Personality, Andre Blaize; Consul General, United State of America, Jeffrey Hawkins; Director, Corporate Communications/CSR, Airtel Nigeria, Emeka Opara and Managing Director, GSK Pharmaceutical Nigeria, Lekan Asuri, during the celebration of Niger Delta Legacy in Lagos

Sambo, Atiku, others for Nigeria Telecoms Awards

V

ice President, Namadi Sambo, and former Vice President, Abubakar Atiku, are among key dignitaries expected at this year’s edition of the Nigerian Telecom Awards.

The award, instituted a decade ago, is Nigeria’s topmost evaluation exercise in the nation’s burgeoning telecoms sector.

The personalities expected at the event scheduled to hold in Lagos on September, 20, also include former Head of State, Rtd. Gen. Mohammed Buhari and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.

Others include the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda and the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.

According to the Secretary-General, Nigeria Telecoms Awards, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, who confirmed the personalities expected at the event, said that the event yearly takes high pride in awarding worthy operators in the

telecom and allied sectors.

“This includes banks and other areas of interest that uses the ICT as a mode of operation. This year’s event looks at about 30 titles in the competitive category and about 15 awards in the recognition category, recognition category is the one that takes a careful and cursory study of an operator in one particular area and endorses such going by simple criterion of interest to the society,” he said.

Ajiboye said that the award “is all encompassing. We recognise telecom as a Societal Tool for engagement and interaction, lives of people and organisation, therefore, and we recognise government institutions, particularly those that take ingenious measures, using ICT.” He said: “These are initiatives worthy of recognition.

Look at what the NAFDAC has done with authenticating drugs by sending codes to a number to tell original from fake. These are high level initiatives that touch the society and how we live.”

As a foremost evaluation exercise in the ICT industry in Nigeria in the last 10 years, Ajiboye said that the event has hosted over eight African presidents, saying that its major focus of interest is African peoples’ development.

Speaking on the impact of the award on the industry in the last 10 years, Ajiboye said: “It has increased the level of competition in the industry; most companies in the industry now see this exercise as a benchmark and a measure of competitive edge between themselves and the public.”

He added that the organisers have always ensured impartiality in the selection of awardees, as “the public has a say in who wins what award.”

According to him, “there are several cadres of evaluation including the primary assessors, who are some 750 professionals, who nominated the companies; the consultants cum judges, comprising the cadre that screens the initial assessment and nomination. Consequently, the Board of Trustees gives final ratification.”

(NCS) have warned Nigerians to stop the use of text messages and social media to create fear and spread rumours about the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak.

Rather, NCS enjoined the use of the IT platforms to educate Nigerians on necessary precautions to take against contacting the disease.

According to its president, Prof. David Adewumi, who made the call, NCS also commended the Federal Government and Lagos State government for their efforts and emergency response in containing the disease outbreak in Nigeria.

He said: “Addressing the epidemic in a quick, decisive, cooperative and coordinated manner is appreciated. Public communication has so far been realistic, clear, and transparent.

“The fact that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the EVD outbreak in West Africa ‘an international health emergency’ and one of the ‘largest public-health emergencies in recent history’ indicates the enormity of the threat from EVD. “With the highest professional regards, NCS recommends the purposeful development and deployment of technology to enhance the achievement of Nigeria’s health goals. In this regard, while NCS commends the use of emerging media (mobile and social networks) to spread EVD and health information awareness, NCS decries in the strongest terms the use of text messages and social media to create fear, and spread rumours and false information.

this time. The fact that EVD is still spreading wildly in West Africa calls for continued vigilance and embrace of recommended health practices by the populace to improve the quality of detection and prevention.”

The NCS president also commiserated with families that have been affected and most especially, those who have lost family members as a result of the Ebola scourge.

He said: “Respect and honour go to the heroes and heroines, epitomised by the late Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh, consultant physician, First Consultants, who led the frontline and paid the supreme sacrifice while working to stop the spread of the disease in Nigeria.”

Adewumi, who stated that the emergence of EVD has raised national health and security issues, stressed that “Public health has become an integral element of any nation’s national security because it affects lives and livelihoods. Infectious diseases can cause substantial damage in terms of lives lost and socioeconomic impact, just as with physical wars and military attacks.”

He added that in addition to EVD containment, the response from Nigeria should encompass the proper functioning of the public health system.

Adewumi said that NCS would be ready to partner with the federal and state governments in the innovative utilisation of IT to support and enhance the handling of the EVD threat and national health security.

BUSINESS | GLOBAL NEWS 39

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Halliburton to pay $1.1b for oil spill lawsuits

H

alliburton Co. has agreed to pay $1.1 billion to settle most of the lawsuits over its role in the biggest US offshore oil spill to help it avoid billions more in potential penalties.

The oilfield services company was accused of doing defective work on BP Plc (BP/)’s Macondo Well before it exploded in 2010, killing 11 men and dumping millions of barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

Halliburton’s settlement comes as the federal judge overseeing oil-spill cases weighs fault for the accident, and averts the risk of a more costly judgment against the company in favour of some spill victims. The agreement removes much of the uncertainty that has plagued Halliburton for the past four years as investors waited to see how much the company might be hurt by payouts in the case. With its biggest piece of liability resolved, Halliburton can refocus its attention on developing new oilfield technology that will help it boost profits worldwide.

US District Judge, Carl Barbier, who oversees the spill cases in New Orleans, is expected to rule within days or weeks on how much blame each company carries for the disaster.

A decision that Halliburton committed fraud and gross negligence in the case would have opened the company to billions in punitive and compensatory damages.

Halliburton’s agreement is subject to court approval and

doesn’t cover claims by states, including Louisiana and Alabama, or private party claims eligible for compensatory damages only, such as businesses alleging harm from the federal drilling moratorium after the spill.

“Halliburton stepped up to the plate and agreed to provide a fair measure of compensation to people and businesses

harmed in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon tragedy,” said co-lead plaintiffs’ attorneys, Stephen J. Herman and James P. Roy. The $1.1 billion represents the most significant payout yet for Houston-based Halliburton in the disaster. Transocean Ltd., owner of the drilling rig and another defendant in the case, settled some claims for

$1.4 billion last year, while BP has paid over $28 billion and faces potentially tens of billions more.

According to Business week prior to the settlement, Halliburton had incurred legal fees and expenses of about $294 million, with $263 million of this reimbursed or expected to be covered by insurance, according to a July filing.

Narendra Modi and Shinzo Abe during a tea ceremony at Tokyo’s Akasaka Palace

Firm cuts sale of riskiest bonds to $2bn

B

anco Santander SA (SAN) has cut a sale of the riskiest bank bonds to $2 billion (1.5 billion euros) after saying it planned to issue as much as 2.5 billion euros.

Spain’s largest lender sold contingent capital notes that were priced to yield 6.25 per cent, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The bonds convert to equity if the bank’s capital ratio falls below 5.125 per cent of assets weighted by risk, a person familiar with the deal said.

Santander, which has already issued two additional Tier 1 notes this year, is the first major European lender to offer the debt since Societe Generale SA (GLE) sold $1.5 billion of the securities in June, Bloomberg data show.

The Madrid-based lender was seeking to take advantage of a drop in borrowing costs as the debt recovers from a selloff last month that sent yields to a six-month high.

“This is a new market and it’s still developing,” said Mark Holman, chief executive officer of Twentyfour

Asset Management LLP in London, which has about $3.9 billion of fixed-income assets.

“How deep is it? Not very deep.

Santander has already sold Tier 1 bonds so anyone who wants them already has them.”

The average yield investors demand to hold the notes tumbled 45 basis points since Aug. 8 to 6.42 per cent, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s High Yield Contingent Capital index.

Also, HSBC Holdings Plc (HSBA) is planning an inaugural sale of additional Tier 1 notes. Europe’s biggest lender hired its own investment bank to arrange meetings with global investors, according to a person familiar with the plans, who asked not to be identified because they’re not authorised to speak about it.

“The deal will be big and it will be liquid,” said Holman.

“That, not more Santander, is exactly what this market needs.”

Italy’s biggest bank, UniCredit SpA, is also holding presentations for its second sale of the securities following

a $1.25 billion issue in March.

Additional tier 1 bonds are designed to shift a bank’s losses to investors instead of taxpayers. They have optional interest payments and no set maturity, meaning cash outflows can be prevented in a crisis.

“There’s a bit of a rush to issue because rates are so low and it’s very cheap for the issuer,” said Francois Lavier, a money manager at Lazard Freres Gestion SAS in Paris,

which manages about $19 billion. “These kinds of securities are in vogue among investors because it’s very difficult to get this level of yield from issuers of this quality.”

Santander’s new bonds can be bought back by the lender after seven years. Its 1.5 billion euros of 6.25 per cent notes sold in March fell 0.88 cent on the euro to 101.5 cents to yield 5.9 per cent, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Japan doubles India investment to $35bn ndia and Japan has anIstrategic nounced deepening of their defence and econom-

ic cooperation and asked their officials to expedite inking of a pact for nuclear energy cooperation. While Tokyo announced doubling of its investments in India and committed itself to putting $35 billion, or Rs 2,10,000 crore, in the country’s public- and private-sector projects over the next five years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised he would introduce special mechanisms like “Japan Fast Track Channel” for Japanese investors here.

The investments from that country are expected to be in Modi’s pet projects, such as cleaning of the Ganga, highspeed trains, building smart cities, etc.

An admirer of Japanese society, Modi also took time from his official engagements to visit an elementary school in Tokyo to “learn strategies” that he said could help “bring modernity, moral education and discipline” to India’s primary education system.

The prime minister’s fiveday visit to Japan, his first bilateral trip outside the subcontinent, has been marked by rare warmth and rarer protocol gestures by his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, since Modi landed in Kyoto on Saturday afternoon. While Modi termed Abe “an old friend,” their joint statement, or the ‘Tokyo Declaration’, referred to their meeting as “the dawn of a new era in India-Japan relations.”

However, both Modi and Abe, seen as two important nationalist leaders of Asia, acknowledged the shadow of an “expansionist” China, albeit in a veiled way, in their statements and discussions. Modi told a gathering of business leaders how the world was divided into two camps - one that pursued “expansionist policies” and the other that believed in development. He didn’t name either China, or Japan’s other expansionist neighbour, Russia. But, at a joint press interaction, he termed India and Japan two peace-loving democratic nations.

Banks agonise over US tax evasion ‘guilt’ banks are engaging in sers down. exited the scheme this summer Liechtenstein’s VP Bank last while Fribourg Cantonal Bank Sbywiss a game of cat-and-mouse positioning themselves to week became the latest institu- has withdrawn from category 2 the best advantage in a United States tax evasion scheme that promises non-prosecution in exchange for owning up to past offences.

While some banks have formed a clear picture of where they stand in the so-called ‘nontarget letter’ programme, others are still weighing up the cost of registering versus the risk of being caught by the Department of Justice (DoJ) with their trou-

tion to pull out of the scheme having initially subscribed itself in “category 2” – effectively pointing the finger of suspicion at itself for potentially helping US clients evade taxes.

The NZZ am Sonntag newspaper claims that at least ten banks have also performed such a u-turn but it did not name names. Britain’s Barclays, which has a Swiss-based wealth management business,

but has not yet decided whether to move to another less onerous category (see box).

Research by swissinfo.ch into 30 institutions found that two other Swiss private banks currently registered as category 2 (which did not want to be named) do not know if they will ultimately stick or twist. Three gave no comment and the others said they had no plans to change.

40

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ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES EDITOR

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

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

Saving lives through Ondo Trauma Centre R oad traffic accident (RTA) is regarded as one of the highest sources of deaths in Nigeria.

It probably comes second after malaria. While malaria is responsible for the death of about 300,000 people in Nigeria annually, according to the Malaria Fact Sheet of the United States Embassy in Nigeria, RTA claims 4,380 yearly in the country.

The Head, Policy, Research and Statistics Department of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Dr Kayode Olagunju, said in a paper entitled: “Avoidable Tears of Ember,” that Nigeria had one of the highest road traffic crash figures in the world.

He said: “In 2012 alone, there was a report of a total of 4,260 deaths on Nigerian roads; an average of 12 persons died daily and with 20,752 injured.

“Hence, on the average, 69 persons were either injured or killed on our roads daily; 48,114 persons were involved in 6,269 documented cases.”

This alarming death rate through road crashes has caught the attention of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State.

The government has established a trauma centre at the Medical Village in Ondo town to help reduce avoidable deaths from road crashes. This comes after the success recorded through the Mother and Child Hospital. With the Mother and Child Hospital, pregnancy is no longer a death sentence for women, particularly in Ondo State.

The yet-to-be commissioned Ondo Trauma Centre, which has commenced a test run of its facilities, is located on Laje Road on the Ondo Ore Road in Ondo town, where the 100-bed Mother and Child Hospital, Gani Fawehinmi Diagnostic Centre, Call Centre, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Hospital, Heliport, staff quarters, staff school, shopping mall, the kidney care centre, the first public solarpowered house in country, sports centre, among others are sited.

The trauma centre is off Adeyemi College Road.

Its Chief Medical Director, Dr Ige Olugbenga, said the major reason for the establishment of the trauma centre was to reduce loss of lives and disabilities from road traffic accidents.

The centre, according to is the orthopaedic and spine surgeon, will ensure that those involved in accident are promptly and appropriately attended to.

The governor, he said, had come to realise that the only way to do that was the way it was done in other countries.

To be able to achieve its aims, the centre has pre-hospital, the hospital and post-hospital otherwise called the rehabilitation components.

The pre-hospital system is the ambulance service and the call centre which is the central command system of the pre-hospital unit of the trauma system.

“The Ondo Trauma Care System involves advanced life support ambulances on the highways located in stations specially constructed to allow these ambulances access to the highways and cover the length of the highways where they are located, such that when there is an accident, between 10 to 15 minutes when the calls come in, these ambulances are at the accident scene,” the CMD added.

The ambulances come with paramedics, extricators or rescuers who can get to the scene of accident and professionally rescue victims from the wreckage of accident.

The rescuers, according to Ige, have

After the success of the Mother and Child Hospital, Ondo Trauma Centre has become another tool by the administration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko to save lives, writes ABIODUN BELLO

Ondo Trauma Centre

Mimiko

An operation session at the theatre of the Ondo Trauma Centre

been trained and they work with equipment that do not aggravate the degree of injury sustained but actually enhance victim’s chances of survival.

“The Ondo Ambulance System is to get the right people to transport accident victims to the right place in a right manner at the right time,” he said.

Apart from the ambulances stationed strategically, there are also tollfree numbers to the call centres where ambulances get the signal to go to accident sites to pick victims.

The government has, in the last six months, trained hundreds of ordinary citizens in towns and villages along the major roads to be first responders.

Their job is to complement the activities of the paramedics in the ambulances.

The process of recruiting first responders, according to the government, is ongoing because many more citizens will still be exposed to assist paramedics in safely extricating survivors of accidents.

Existing government hospitals are also not left out of the safe the trauma victim focus of the Mimiko government.

The government has also upgraded

the accident and emergency units of general hospitals in the state, so they can handle to a great extent some level of injuries.

The upgraded hospitals stand lower on the referral ladder than the Trauma Centre which is the apex of the Trauma care system.

The Ondo State Trauma care system also doubles as a special surgery centre.

According to the CMD, it is a level one trauma centre because it has the complement of surgical specialities in terms of requisite equipment and personnel to take on neuro-surgery, paediatric surgery, orthopaedic surgery, facial surgery, ear, nose and throat (ENT), maxillofacial, plastic surgery and neurology among others.

He said: “With a well-equipped intensive care unit (ICU) and general surgery, accident victims brought to the hospital are promptly and appropriately attended to and irrespective of the nature or severity of their injuries; they are given a genuine chance of survival.” Within five months after it opened its doors to patients to test run its facilities, about 400 major surgical operations across all surgical specialities have been done with mortality rate

of less than three recorded.

This, according to Ige, is irrespective of the severity of the injury.

The very few who could survive were those who had severe head injuries.

In their own cases, the impact of the accident was seen to have caused irreversible damage to structures of the brain.

In most other cases, according to the CMD, the Trauma Centre has reached a point where most patient brought there, no matter the severity of the injuries, have been given a chance to survive, by prompt and appropriate attention to the injuries.

He added: “We have been doing very well in keeping people alive after major accidents.

“The edifice was constructed to respond quickly to victims when they are brought here, from the access roads to the space where the patients are dropped to be received by the hospital personnel, quick and uncomplicated transfer of patient is ensured and enhanced.

“We have the resuscitation room which is also referred to as the crash room, where we have life support gadgets and the design of the place is such that we can quickly establish patent airway and ventilate the patient if need be.

“We can rapidly infuse fluids into the blood system if need be. We can also rapidly do imaging studies which include x-rays and ultrasound inside that crash room, we have point of care machines that can conduct different tests inside the crash room and we can also do emergency surgeries if need be.”

This, according to him, is a pace-setting standard for other hospitals across the country.

“Elsewhere, where a patient is brought into the hospital and there is need for urgent interventions in terms of investigations and treatments, they will have to move the patient from one point to another, but here we do everything in the same room,” the CMD said.

One of the highpoints of the centre is that it places value on human life than money. That is, it ensures the survival of an accident victim far above monetary consideration.

business | MONEY LINE

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Sterling Bank activates products for Arsenal Promo

ANOTHER FIRST Lender brings sports into banking Godson Ikoro

poorest in the country.

He said that the promo allows the entire financial packaging of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), cheque books and MasterCards to be branded with arsenal icons and colours, which are aimed at bonding with arsenal fans and customers.

He said that the bank had visited the Emirate Club and met with the officials who passionately received the officials and acceded to the partnership proposal of the bank, adding that the partnership is renewable after for three years.

Also speaking on the details of the partnership, Mr. Gbenga Adegoke, Head of retail products department, said that the survey showed that the EPL was very popular among Nigerians and the bank approached all the teams on the EPL, but it was only Arsenal that passionately received the bank.

He said that the lender’s partnership with Arsenal was in line with its niche in delivering services that are aligned

S

terling Bank Nigeria PLC yesterday opened a new vista in Sports Business as it activated its Arsenal Promo with three financial products namely; kick off account, Arsenal premium account and Arsenal Platinum account.

Addressing Journalists on the reason for bringing sports into banking, the Executive Director, Communication and Strategy, Mr. Suleiman Abubakar, said that it was a landmark achievement for 60,000 Arsenal fans to have identified with the bank in the last one year.

He noted that the lender has always been committed to the youth and passionate about football and entertainment.

The Sterling Bank ED cited that the bank’s survey, which showed that Nigerians are passionate about football, indicating that Arsenal Fans cut across the entire spectrum of Nigeria, ranging from the richest man in Nigeria and Emirs, down to the

with customers’ passion and interests.

Coincidentally, he said that the bank has started discussions with the local league, stressing that the ongoing discussions are yet to crystallise into a concrete agreement.

On the details of the financial products, Adegoke said that the kick off account is a simple account, which only requires the basic information of name address and passports of a prospective customer.

Stating that Arsenal Premium account and Platinum accounts also have the unique features respectively, Adegoke said that the platinum account does not have changes below N1million.

He said that the promo, which will run till may 2015, will produce 30 persons who will visit the Emirate Stadium and watch Arsenal home matches.

Adegoke stated that to qualify for the raffle draw, participants are expected to open any of the three accounts and allow

Naira unchanged, supported by oil firms' dollar sales

T

he naira was unchanged at N162.40 per dollar at yesterday's close, supported by dollar sales from two oil companies, dealers said.

The local unit of Italian oil firm Eni according to Reuters,

sold $13 million, while Addax Petroleum sold $12 million, boosting dollar liquidity on the interbank market.

"We are still expecting major dollar flow ... in the coming days," one dealer said.

Dealers expect state-owned oil firm Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation of Nigeria (NNPC), which accounts for bulk of the dollars traded on the interbank market, to sell the greenback next week, giving the naira a boost.

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

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

Description

TTM

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

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

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

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

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

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)

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

in selecting the six persons who will visit the Emirate on January 10,2015.

He said that existing customers of the bank are also eligible to participate and win the authentic Arsenal jerseys and other paraphernalia of the club.

Union Bank supports capacity for journalists

U

nion Bank of Nigeria Plc has in partnership with Businessday Training Division trained financials journalists on the road map to adopting the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) by the federal government of Nigeria.

At the opening session, Ogochukwu Ekezie-Ekaidem, Head of Corporate Affairs and Corporate Communication of Union Bank, said that the lender was excited in co-sponsoring the workshop because it considers financial reporting as critical for stakeholders to understand so that they would be guided in taking informed decision.

She pledged the bank`s continuous support and commitment to promoting excellence and professionalism in journalistic practice in Nigeria.

The one-day training workshop, which held in Lagos, had 25 selected financial journalists drawn from the print and electronic media.

The workshop was meant to equip the participants with knowledge of the IFRS requirements so that they can report and inform the public with accurate details about companies’ financials as stipulated by the law.

Professional accountants guided the participants on the new standards and format of the IFRS, required to be adopted by all companies operating in Nigeria. These areas include property, plant and equipment, inventory, revenue, employee benefits, extractive industries as well as the tax implication of the IFRS conversion, among other issues

Keystone Bank to partner NTDC on WTM

T

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80

N30,000 .00 to remain in the accounts for at least three months before the raffle draws in December, which would be supervised by the National lottery Commission and Consumer Rights Protection Counsel to ensure that there is transparency

Kenneth Tyohemba

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

41

here are indications that Nigeria’s participation in this year’s edition of World Travel Market (WTM) will be grand as Keystone Bank has agreed to partner with the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) to ensure a historic outing at the yearly event.

The successful participation of NTDC in last year’s edition of WTM hosted in London has been lauded by participants as a landmark achievement in the tourism industry.

NTDC successfully made Nigeria a major focus of attention at the international event due to its outstanding performances in cultural and business scouting display, putting up enviable shows and drawing hundreds of potential investors in both tourism and other business ventures to the biding tables.

Keystone Bank has already indicated interest to partner NTDC for this year’s edition.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Keystone Bank, Mr Philip Ikeazor, hinted of the partnership during a courtesy visit to the DirectorGeneral of NTDC, Dr (Mrs) Sally Mbanefo.

Ikeazor who gave the assurance of the bank’s readiness to partner with the corporation

for the event also lauded the strides of the NTDC boss at ensuring that Nigeria, which is endowed with innumerable natural and man-made tourist sites, benefit immensely from the money-spinning sector.

“The appointment of Dr Mbanefo as the DirectorGeneral of NTDC is divinely orchestrated to reposition the nation’s tourism industry, and make Nigeria stand tall in the comity of tourism nations,” he stated.

The Keystone Bank boss also assured that the bank will build a befitting Information Desk for NTDC at the spaces which the Minister of Aviation, Mr Osita Chidoka, recently approved for the corporation at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja and Murtala International Airport, Lagos.

“We are willing to ensure that NTDC has a befitting Information Desk at the airports in Lagos and Abuja to enable the corporation further promote Nigeria and her tourist sites,” he assured.

The NTDC boss, however, promised to promote domestic tourism in Nigeria so as to boost revenue for the country. She noted that “Our cultural tourism assets are our strength and therefore must be promoted effectively to attract investors.”

42 BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

3-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

Price

FGN Bonds Issuer

Rating/Agency

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

4,680.35

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM

Description

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

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 1.95 2.65 2.90 2.99 3.74 4.82 5.14 7.40 9.53 14.24 14.72 15.21 15.89 19.87

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

10.86 11.00 11.28 11.28 11.29 11.29 11.30 11.31 11.41 11.86 11.99 12.41 12.43 12.46 12.15 12.16

8.72 10.74 11.20 11.21 11.22 11.23 11.20 11.24 11.32 11.81 11.94 12.37 12.39 12.40 12.10 12.12

99.86 95.80 103.00 108.50 96.51 95.19 98.17 117.00 83.18 121.85 112.35 117.07 100.35 73.26 85.00 99.85

100.01 95.95 103.15 108.65 96.66 95.34 98.47 117.30 83.48 122.15 112.65 117.37 100.65 73.56 85.30 100.15

#

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 0.72 1.33 2.27 2.63 2.84

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.57 13.68 13.53 13.29 12.29 12.29

98.21 90.88 104.70 101.12 99.53 97.05

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

0.12 0.99 0.59 1.12 1.12 2.63 1.67 3.33 2.30 4.09 2.50 2.50 2.88 2.95 5.22 3.01 3.63 6.23 6.33 3.81 3.84

3.29 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78 1.00 1.00 1.00 2.74 1.00 1.00 1.94 1.44 1.95

14.00 15.68 14.20 15.71 14.73 16.88 12.28 13.09 13.09 12.31 12.29 16.07 12.29 12.29 12.43 14.03 12.30 12.73 13.69 12.74 13.25

99.91 97.18 99.52 98.68 101.27 85.84 102.47 102.35 101.92 105.27 104.85 96.13 105.13 107.91 107.71 101.73 106.81 103.21 105.35 105.15 105.09

1,301.62

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,280.77

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

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

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

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

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

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Corporate Bonds

484.10 492.31

A+/Agusto; AA/GCR

LAFARGE WAPCO

11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014

Aa/Agusto

GTB µ NGC

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014

Nil

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto

*UPDC

BB+/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

*FLOURMILLS

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

NAHCO

BBB-/GCR BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR A/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR BBB/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

FSDH

A/GCR

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

*C & I LEASING *DANA#

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

*TOWER *TOWER

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

*DANA NAHCO

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

07-Oct-11

11.50

11.80

07-Oct-14

0.09

1.00

11.78

99.92

18-Dec-09

13.50

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.29

5.21

15.60

99.29

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.33

8.71

19.19

99.16

17-Aug-10

10.00

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.71

4.88

15.92

96.34

09-Dec-10

12.00

13.62

09-Dec-15

0.78

1.00

12.10

100.50

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.60

06-Jan-16

0.86

2.63

13.78

100.74

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

2.07

1.00

12.29

101.24

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

2.14

1.34

12.63

102.91

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

3.07

1.00

12.29

101.75

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.73

30-Nov-17

1.89

1.88

13.17

109.17

09-Apr-11

16.00

7.20

09-Apr-18

1.85

3.48

14.77

102.26

09-Sep-11

18.00

3.27

09-Sep-18

2.02

5.20

16.49

102.69

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.90

09-Sep-18

2.02

5.06

16.35

101.65

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

4.05

1.35

12.66

104.13

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.70

18-Oct-18

2.12

2.29

13.58

104.25

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.45

6.11

17.40

99.37

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

3.33

2.16

13.45

106.61

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

6.20

2.76

14.48

103.04

11-Feb-18

3.44

1.00

12.30

94.25

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

142.08

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

144.85

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

IFC

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

12.00 11.31 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

4.65

4.50

111.48

112.34

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

3.90

3.69

104.33

105.11

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

4.98

4.87

109.84

110.67

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,628.22

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

3.28

3.28

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

4.38

4.38

105.04

105.04

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

6.72

6.72

101.35

101.35

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.74

8.16

94.23

95.98

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.06

5.74

99.77

100.94

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

8.81

8.35

105.33

107.11

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

9.01

8.76

99.01

99.95

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.43

7.43

103.01

103.01

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

AFREN PLC III

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

7.64

7.64

95.00

95.00

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC II

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

24-Jun-14

9.25

400.00

24-Jun-21

8.73

8.57

102.88

103.73

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK 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

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

8.66

8.44

99.51

100.64

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,760.00 4,845.52

**Treasury Bills DTM 8 15 22 29 36 43 50 57 64

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 6-Nov-14

Bid Discount (%) 10.40 10.40 10.45 10.50 10.00 10.50 10.60 10.55 10.25

Offer Discount (%) 10.15 10.15 10.20 10.25 9.75 10.25 10.35 10.30 10.00

Bid Yield (%) 10.42 10.44 10.52 10.59 10.10 10.63 10.76 10.73 10.44

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 11.8333 12.7118 13.5306 14.4962

NITTY

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.63

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

10.88

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M 6M

162.30 162.59 162.85 163.45 165.12 165.73 169.39

162.40 162.83 163.15 164.03 165.74 167.41 172.74

O/N Tenor Call 1M 3M

REPO

Rate (%) 10.75 12.33 12.96

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,280.77

Sub-National Bonds A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto Nil A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR Thursday, September A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto A-/GCR Sanctity of Truth

PLUMMET

NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA 4,NIGER 2014 *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA

Share prices depreciate by N19 billion

Stories by Chris Ugwu

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

T

he Nigerian bourse contina decline in stock prices asLAFARGE the bears A+/Agusto; AA/GCR WAPCO Aa/Agusto sustained theirGTB stronghold, µ Nil resulting to 0.13 perNGC cent drop *UPDC inBbb-/Agusto both market performance A-/Agusto *FLOURMILLS indices.

BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS Consequently , the All-Share A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO Index A-/Agustoshed 56.86 basis FSDH points Corporate ued toBonds witness

A/GCR

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

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

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

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

BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR

T

AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR

to close at 41,207.79 as against 41,264.65 recorded the previous day, while the market capitalisation of equities fell by N19 billion or 0.13 per cent as market sentiments remained on the negative trajectory.

Meanwhile, a turnover of 11.50 LAFARGEshares WAPCO 7-OCT 2014 N2.4 201.06 million worth 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 billion in 5,392 deals was record31-DEC-2014 ed at17.00 theNGC close of business.

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 As12.00 usual, the banking subFLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 sector ofCHELLARAMS the financial services 14.00 06-JAN-2016 sector was the29-SEP-2016 most active (mea13.00 NAHCO 14.25by FSDHturnover 25-OCT-2016 sured volume); 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

*C & I LEASING *DANA#

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

*TOWER# #

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

3.29 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78 1.00 1.00 1.00 2.74 1.00 1.00 1.94 1.44 1.95

14.00 15.68 14.20 15.71 14.73 16.88 12.28 13.09 13.09 12.31 12.29 16.07 12.29 12.29 12.43 14.03 12.30 12.73 13.69 12.74 13.25

99.91 97.18 99.52 98.68 101.27 85.84 102.47 102.35 101.92 105.27 104.85 96.13 105.13 107.91 107.71 101.73 106.81 103.21 105.35 105.15 105.09

Bears sustain grip on Nigeria’s equities

UBA

he Joint Forum*TOWER of the InA/Agusto; A/GCR UBA ternational Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR Organisation *LA CASERA of Securities BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR Commissions *CHELLARAMS# (IOSCO), world securities regBBB/GCR *DANA A+/Agusto;yesterday, A-/GCR ulator unveiled its NAHCO TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE report on supervisory colleges for financial TOTAL MARKETconglomerates.

CAPITALISATION IOSCO, in statement obSupranational Bond tained from it’s website, said AAA/S&P IFC the result of a recent self-asTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE sessment survey of joint forum TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION members, presents findings on how far cross-sectoral issues, Rating/Agency Issuer and specific questions related to financial conglomerates, are FGN Eurobonds effectively addressed within supervisory colleges.

BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P The commission, which NiBB-/Fitch; FGN geria BB-/S&PSEC is a member, noted BB-/Fitch; that the stocktaking exercise BB-/S&P also provides information on TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE the implementation of the TOTALforum MARKETprinciples CAPITALISATION Joint for the supervision of financial conCorporate Eurobonds glomerates and, in particular, B/Fitch; B-/S&P PLC I principle 6 relatingAFREN to superviB+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I sory cooperation, coordination B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC and information-sharing.

B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC According to IOSCO, the B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC present report identified sevB/Fitch AFREN PLC II eral gaps and issuesZENITH in relation B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P BANK PLC toB/Fitch; theB/S&P implementation of PrinDIAMOND BANK PLC ciple B-/Fitch;6.

B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC IOSCO identified B-/Fitch; B/S&Psaid issues AFREN PLC III includes jurisdicB-/Fitch; B/S&Pthat not all ACCESS BANK PLC II

0.12 0.99 0.59 1.12 1.12 2.63 1.67 3.33 2.30 4.09 2.50 2.50 2.88 2.95 5.22 3.01 3.63 6.23 6.33 3.81 3.84

business | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS 43

with 87.7 million shares worth N715.3 million exchanged by investors in 2,085 deals.

Volume in the banking subsector was largely driven by activity in the shares of Sterling Bank Plc and Access Bank Plc. Also, other financial services 07-Oct-11 11.50 sub sector of the financial ser18-Dec-09boosted by 13.50 vices sector, activity 01-Apr-10 17.00 in the shares of FCMB Plc, fol17-Aug-10 10.00 lowed with a turnover of 20.6 09-Dec-10 12.00 million06-Jan-11 shares valued 14.00 at N232.5 million29-Sep-11 in 553 deals. 13.00 Further analysis of 14.25 the day’s 25-Oct-13

trading showed that Guinness Nigeria Plc topped the day’s gainers’ table with N4.44 to close at N184.94, while Nigerian Breweries Plc followed 484.10 with N1.11 to close at N176.75 492.31 per share.

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

tions14.00 have place a specific UBA II in 22-SEP-2018 supervision for 15.75 LA CASERAframework 18-OCT-2018 financial or coMPR+5.00conglomerates CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 16.00 DANA II agreements 1-APR-2019 ordination with 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 other supervisors of financial conglomerates on a cross-sectoral level.

The report affirmed that gaps also exist in the coordina10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 tion of on-site and off-site supervision with other domestic or international supervisors, and in arrangements or processes Descriptionactions for taking enforcement with other domestic or international authorities.

JAN 28,there 2021 Another gap6.75 is that appears to be insufficient specific 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 mechanisms for supervisory cooperation and coordination in 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 periods of crisis/stress, thereby possibly hindering effective intervention in times of crisis.

According to Thomas Schmitz-Lippert, chairman of 11.50 FEB 01, 2016 the joint forum and executive 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 director, International Policy at 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 the German Federal Financial 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 Supervisory Authority (BaFin), 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 supervisory colleges are key to 10.25 APR 08, 2019 supervisory cooperation, 6.25 APR 22, 2019 coordination and information-shar8.75 May 21, 2019 ing on financial8.25 conglomerates.

AUG 07, 2020 Schmitz-Lippert 6.63 DECnoted 09, 2020 that the implementation of the joint 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021

On the flip side, Nestle Nigeria Plc led losers with a drop of N7.90 to close at N1,047, while Cadbury Nigeria Plc followed with N2.98 to close at N56.87 per share. Forte Oil dropped by N2.03 to close at N224.97.

Thermocool records N300m turnover in Q2 11.80

07-Oct-14

0.09

1.00

11.78

99.92

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.29

5.21

15.60

99.29

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.33

8.71

19.19

99.16

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.71

4.88

15.92

96.34

13.62

09-Dec-15

0.78

1.00

12.10

100.50

0.60

06-Jan-16

0.86

2.63

13.78

100.74

15.00

29-Sep-16

2.07

1.00

12.29

101.24

T

hermocool Nigeria, one 25-Oct-16 2.14of 30-Sep-10 13.00 20.00 30-Sep-17 the leading household3.07 ap30-Nov-12 18.00 0.73 30-Nov-17 1.89 a pliance companies and 09-Apr-11 16.00 7.20 subsidiary of09-Apr-18 PZ Cussons1.85 Plc, 09-Sep-11 18.00 3.27 09-Sep-18 2.02 recorded over N300 million 09-Sep-11 16.00 0.90 09-Sep-18 2.02 forum’s22-Sep-11 principles for14.00 colleges turnover during for the half 35.00 22-Sep-18 4.05 is critical and will continue to year the 18-Oct-13 15.75 2.70 ended June 18-Oct-1830, 2014,2.12 be monitored. company’s Managing Director, 17-Feb-12 17.00 0.41 17-Feb-19 2.45 The 01-Apr-14 joint forum was Mr. has said.3.33 16.00estab4.50 Panos Katsis 01-Apr-19 14-Nov-13 15.25 2.05 6.20 lished in 1996 under the aegis of Speaking 14-Nov-20 during a press 142.08 the Basel Committee on Bank- briefing in Lagos to kick-start ing Supervision (BCBS), IOSCO activities marking the compa144.85 and the International Associa- ny’s 40 years of doing business tion of Insurance Supervisors in Nigeria, Katsis also revealed 11-Feb-13 10.20 12.00 11-Feb-18 3.44 (IAIS) to deal with issues com- that the company had employed 12.00 3000 Nigerians in Lagos mon to the banking, securities over 11.31 its network of branches and insurance sectors, includ- and ing the regulation of financial across the country.

Outstanding Value Issue Date Coupon (%) Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) He promised more quality conglomerates. ($mm) The board of the Internation- products, adding that in the al Organisation had recently spirit of the celebration, the 07-Oct-11 500.00 met in Madrid to drive6.75 forward company also28-Jan-21 recently reward4.65 IOSCO’s work on market-based ed its loyal consumers with fan12-Jul-13 5.13 500.00 12-Jul-18 3.90 tastic prizes during the Therfinance.

Chairman Greg Medcraft mocool Moments 12-Jul-13 6.38 500.00 12-Jul-23 2 campaign 4.98 said at the meeting “capital to flag off the 40th anniversary markets are emerging as a key 1,500.00 celebration. source of the finance needed 1,628.22 He said: “When we started across the globe to drive eco- out in Nigeria in 1974, we knew nomic growth. Through a work there were potentials in the Ni11.50 450.00 01-Feb-16 3.28 agenda01-Feb-11 focused on fostering gerian market.

We recognise 19-May-11 7.50 500.00 markets as a trusted source of the need and19-May-16 the desire of4.38Ni7.25 350.00 25-Jul-17 6.72 capital,25-Jul-12 IOSCO is playing an im- gerians to enjoy life; run their 09-May-13 6.88 300.00 02-May-18 8.74 portant08-Nov-13 role in supporting that businesses and personal chores 6.00 400.00 08-Nov-18 6.06 with relative ease.

As an innogrowth”.

08-Apr-12 10.25 300.00 08-Apr-19 8.81 The22-Apr-14 Board, comprising 32 vative company , we sought to 6.25 500.00 22-Apr-19 6.16 members from both developed fulfill by providing 21-May-14 8.75 200.00 these needs 21-May-19 9.01 and growth and emerging world that were 07-Aug-13 8.25 mar300.00 class products 07-Aug-20 7.43 kets, discussed progress technology relevant era 09-Dec-13 6.63 on a 360.00 09-Dec-20 in that 7.64 number of key initiatives. and it”. 8.73 24-Jun-14 9.25 400.00even surpassing 24-Jun-21 5.53

IOSCO’s report on supervisory colleges out BBB-/GCR

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

Speaking further, he said: 1.34 12.63 102.91 1.00are glad12.29 101.75able “We to have been 1.88 109.17 in to satisfy our13.17 dear customers 3.48 14.77 102.26 Nigeria in the past 40 years.

It 16.49 has5.20been a journey of 102.69 success 5.06 16.35 101.65 and mutual 12.66 benefits nurtured 1.35 104.13 by 2.29 our values13.58 as an innovative 104.25 company and17.40 our understanding 6.11 99.37 of 2.16 the demand of our esteemed 13.45 106.61 2.76 14.48 103.04 customers”.

Further appreciating Nigerian consumers, Panos said “Thermocool recognises Nigeria’s penchant for good quality 1.00 12.30 94.25 household items; hence we have designed our products to meet these standards. I am sure our consumers in Nigeria appreciate Offer Yieldproducts; (%) Bid Price Offer we Priceare these that is why still here and we hope to be here Prices & Yields for a longer time, satisfying our consumers”.

4.50 111.48 112.34 For Thermocool, it is not all 3.69 104.33 about producing quality105.11 product but4.87 improving the quality of life 109.84 110.67 and life style of Nigerians.

“Thermocool believes that the home is where the heart is – whether working to provide clean clothes, well cooked meals or hav111.13 111.13 ing3.28 just a calm, organised envi4.38 105.04 ronment.

For105.04 us, the convenience 101.35 101.35 of 6.72 our consumers and their fam94.23 ily8.16 takes priority . That is95.98 why we 5.74 99.77 100.94 offer reliable 105.33 support in terms of 8.35 107.11 prompt after sales services and 6.16 100.35 100.35 long-term warranties enough to 8.76 99.01 99.95 put7.43 the minds103.01 of our consumers 103.01 at rest they use our prod7.64 while 95.00 95.00 ucts” 8.57 Panos said.

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

8.66

8.44

99.51

100.64

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

4,760.00 4,845.52

3-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 **Treasury Bills FIXINGS Money Market FMDQ OTC PLC Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement on www.fmdqotc.com.

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

DTM Maturity Bid Discount (%) 8 11-Sep-14 10.40 15 18-Sep-14 10.40 FGN Bonds 22 25-Sep-14 10.45 29 2-Oct-14 10.50 36 9-Oct-14 10.00 Issuer Description Rating/Agency 43 16-Oct-14 10.50 50 23-Oct-14 10.60 9.25 28-SEP-2014 57 30-Oct-14 10.55 4.00 23-APR-2015 64 6-Nov-14 10.25 13.05 16-AUG-2016 71 13-Nov-14 10.70 15.10 27-APR-2017 78 20-Nov-14 10.00 9.85 27-JUL-2017 85 27-Nov-14 10.75 9.35 31-AUG-2017 92 4-Dec-14 9.90 10.70 30-MAY-2018 99 11-Dec-14 10.70 16.00 29-JUN-2019 113 25-Dec-14 10.80 NA NA 120 1-Jan-15 10.80 7.00 23-OCT-2019 127 8-Jan-15 10.80 16.39 27-JAN-2022 134 15-Jan-15 10.80 14.20 14-MAR-2024 141 22-Jan-15 10.15 15.00 28-NOV-2028 155 5-Feb-15 10.50 12.49 22-MAY-2029 169 19-Feb-15 10.40 8.50 20-NOV-2029 183 5-Mar-15 10.35 10.00 23-JUL-2030 218 9-Apr-15 10.20 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 232 23-Apr-15 10.30 246 10.15 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 7-May-15 337 6-Aug-15 10.40 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION *from the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration

Offer Discount (%) 10.15 10.15 10.20 10.25 9.75Date Issue 10.25 10.35 28-Sep-07 10.30 23-Apr-10 10.00 16-Aug-13 10.45 27-Apr-12 9.75 27-Jul-07 10.50 31-Aug-07 9.65 30-May-08 10.45 29-Jun-12 10.55 10.55 23-Oct-09 10.55 27-Jan-12 10.55 14-Mar-14 9.90 28-Nov-08 10.25 22-May-09 10.15 20-Nov-09 10.10 23-Jul-10 9.95 18-Jul-14 10.05 9.90 10.15

Bid Yield (%) 10.42 10.44 10.52 10.59 10.10 (%) Coupon 10.63 10.76 9.25 10.73 4.00 10.44 13.05 10.93 15.10 10.22 9.85 11.03 9.35 10.15 10.70 11.02 16.00 11.17 11.20 7.00 11.22 16.39 11.25 14.20 10.56 15.00 10.99 12.49 10.93 8.50 10.92 10.00 10.86 12.1493 11.02

NIBOR

Bonds

10.90 11.50

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

Rate (%) 11.8333 12.7118 13.5306Date Maturity 14.4962

100.00 28-Sep-14 535.00 23-Apr-15 530.27 NITTY 16-Aug-16 452.80 27-Apr-17 Tenor Rate (%) 20.00 27-Jul-17 1M 10.4992 100.00 31-Aug-17 2M 10.5288 300.00 30-May-18 3M 10.6768 351.30 29-Jun-19 6M 10.9113 9M 11.0560 233.90 23-Oct-19 12M 11.6855 600.00 27-Jan-22 281.35 14-Mar-24 75.00 28-Nov-28 150.00 NIFEX 22-May-29 200.00 20-Nov-29 Current Price ($/N) 591.57 23-Jul-30 BID($/N) 162.2900 70.00 18-Jul-34 OFFER ($/N) 162.3900

4,591.19

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.63 10.88

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON NA

FMBN Modified Duration Buckets ***LCRM

<3 3<5 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION>5 Market

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

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

NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER

Description

Issue Date

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

1,037.47 1,142.12 818.93 2,998.52

14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

983.07 951.30 872.92 2,807.29

Coupon (%)

28-Dec-11FMDQ FGN0.00 BOND 24-May-10 0.00 03-Apr-12 17.25 Weighting by Weighting

by Mkt 09-Dec-11 0.00/16.00 Outstanding Vol Value 20-Apr-12 0.00/16.50 06-Jul-12 0.00/16.50

35.02 33.89 31.09 100.00

15-Oct-09 31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Price

162.30 162.40 162.59 162.83 162.85 163.15Price Offer Bid Price 163.45 164.03 165.12 165.74 99.86 100.01 165.73 167.41 95.80 95.95 169.39 172.74 103.00 103.15 176.75 184.61 108.50 108.65 96.51 96.66 95.19 95.34 98.17 98.47 NA :Not Applicable 117.00 117.30 # :Floating Rate Bond ***: Deferred 83.18coupon bonds83.48 121.85 122.15 †: Bond 112.35 rating expired 112.65 117.07 117.37 100.35 100.65 73.26 73.56 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 85.00 85.30 UBA: United Bank for Africa 99.85 100.15

WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company

4,680.35

#

Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

Tenor

Spot 7D REPO Bid Yield (%) Offer 14DYield TTM (Yrs) (%) Tenor Rate (%) 1M Call 10.75 2M 0.07 10.86 8.72 1M 12.33 3M 0.64 11.00 10.74 3M 12.96 6M 1.95 11.28 11.20 6M 13.75 1Y 2.65 11.28 11.21 2.90 11.29 11.22 NOTE: 2.99 11.29 11.23 3.74 11.30 11.20 :Benchmarks 4.82Bond 11.31 11.24 * :Amortising µ :Convertible 5.14Bond 11.41 11.32 AMCON: Asset of Nigeria 7.40 Management Corporation 11.86 11.81 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 9.53 11.99 11.94 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 14.24 12.41 12.37 IFC: International Finance Corporation 14.72 12.43 12.39 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 15.21 12.46 12.40 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 15.89 12.15 12.10 O/N: Overnight 19.87 12.16 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company 12.12 O/N

34.60 38.09 27.31 100.00

14.00 12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

INDEX978.35

24.56 3.30 Bucket 112.22 Weighting 116.70 66.49

0.35 0.34 1,280.77 0.31 1.00

1,301.62

6.00 8.50 6.08 6.27 7.37 57.00 29.92 25.00 37.25 9.00 14.96 11.13

Maturity Date

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

16.30 34.50 49.19 100.00

15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

0.16 0.72 1.33 Implied2.27 Yield 2.63 2.84

11.28 11.70 12.10 11.83

0.12 0.99 0.59 1.12 1.12 2.63 1.67 3.33 2.30 4.09 2.50 2.50

# Risk Premium (%)

1.00 2.63 2.27 Implied 2.00 Portfolio Price 1.00 1.00

119.1098 135.8196 103.7144 119.9851 3.29 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

11.57 13.68 13.53 13.29 INDEX 12.29 12.29

98.21 90.88 104.70 YTD Return 101.12 (%) 99.53 97.05

14.00 15.68 14.20 15.71 14.73 16.88 12.28 13.09 13.09 12.31 12.29 16.07

99.91 97.18 99.52 98.68 101.27 85.84 102.47 102.35 101.92 105.27 104.85 96.13

1,131.30 1,150.07 1,209.91 1,139.73

13.1300 15.0069 20.9913 13.9730

Daily Summary as of 03/09/2014

Printed 03/09/2014 15:01:11.011

44

Daily Summary as of 03/09/2014 Printed 03/09/2014 15:01:11.011

business | CAPITAL MARKET Daily Summary (Bonds)

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

No Debt Trading Activity

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at September 3, 2014 Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

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

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals Current Price 8 0.50 31 34.50 6 36.30 45

Quantity Traded 562,278 225,528 33,511 821,317

Value Traded 281,139.00 7,786,982.28 1,210,095.08 9,278,216.36

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals Current Price 11 3.14 11

Quantity Traded 196,500 196,500

Value Traded 616,877.16 616,877.16

1,017,817

9,895,093.52

Quantity Traded 80,490 20,000 39,544,456 1,206,172 40,851,118

Value Traded 119,302.59 93,400.00 258,843,730.57 71,082,782.56 330,139,215.72

40,851,118

330,139,215.72

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries Daily Summary as of 03/09/2014 A.G.15:01:11.011 LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. Printed 03/09/2014 S C O A NIG. PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

56 Symbol AGLEVENT SCOA TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals Current Price 8 1.47 3 4.91 585 6.40 66 59.00 Daily Summary (Equities) 662

Activity Summary onTotals Board EQTY CONGLOMERATES CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE PublishedBuilding

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

662 Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 14 14

Current Price 1.16

Quantity TradedPage 213,055 213,055

1 of 11 Value Traded 243,030.50 243,030.50

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

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 7 7

Current Price 65.00

Quantity Traded 16,062 16,062

Value Traded 1,008,981.20 1,008,981.20

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

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 26 26

Current Price 15.15

Quantity Traded 216,238 216,238

Value Traded 3,279,269.98 3,279,269.98

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals

Symbol UPDCREIT

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 9.13

Quantity Traded 500 500

Value Traded 4,340.00 4,340.00

445,855

4,535,621.68

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER Daily Summary as ofGOODS 03/09/2014 Automobiles/Auto Parts Printed 03/09/2014 15:01:11.011

48 Symbol DUNLOP

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 2,000 2,000

Value Traded 1,000.00 1,000.00

Symbol CHAMPION GUINNESS INTBREW

No. of Deals 9 49 29

Current Price 7.91 184.94 28.01

Quantity Traded 57,553 164,387 10,383,154

Value Traded 477,689.90 30,277,025.30 290,828,881.76

Beverages--Brewers/Distillers JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. PREMIER BREWERIES PLC Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

Symbol JOSBREW NB PREMBREW

No. of Deals 1 206 7 301

Current Price 2.46 176.75 2.62

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,443,958 159,085 12,209,137

Value Traded 2,340.00 255,223,171.18 416,756.50 577,225,864.64

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

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 23 23

Current Price 134.00

Quantity Traded 80,071 80,071

Value Traded 11,531,447.08 11,531,447.08

Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC Food Products Totals

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR MULTITREX NASCON

No. of Deals 13 57 44 40 1 38 193

Current Price 6.65 8.32 68.11 4.10 0.50 9.69

Quantity Traded 115,808 1,489,306 149,703 506,000 5,472 751,420 3,017,709

Value Traded 731,906.56 12,529,954.00 9,766,883.34 2,077,085.40 2,736.00 7,282,034.69 32,390,599.99

Food Products--Diversified

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 58 34 92

Current Price 56.87 1,047.00

Quantity Traded 255,533 60,133 315,666

Value Traded 14,571,024.09 62,318,604.47 76,889,628.56

Symbol

No. of Deals 19

Current Price 4.25

Quantity Traded 678,339

Value Traded 2,795,204.10

DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals

Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTYPLC. INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES

CONSUMER GOODS Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Daily Summary as of 03/09/2014 CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. Printed 03/09/2014 15:01:11.011

NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC.

Daily Summary (Equities)

DailyVITAFOAM Summary (Equities)

Page

Page

Published

by The Nigerian on Stock Exchange Activity Summary Board EQTY©

CONSUMER GOODS Household Durables VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. INTERNATIONAL BANK Published by ZENITH The Nigerian Stock Exchange © PLC Banking Totals

of

3

of

732,490,465.78

Quantity Traded 11,979,968 1,303,631 2,854,608 8,107,703 8,906,637 4,831,233 36,712,254 6,443,164

Value Traded 111,199,522.32 7,829,077.75 47,491,098.73 15,983,904.92 268,734,951.82 13,698,226.71 80,336,068.19 46,766,026.33

Value Traded 3,345,018.20 25,000.00 1,162,328.20 4 of 11 118,764,410.17

Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE CORNERST EQUITYASUR INTENEGINS LINKASSURE MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM NIGERINS REGALINS UNIVINSURE WAPIC

No. of Deals Current Price 27 0.80 11 0.99 5 0.53 3 0.50 5 0.50 4 0.50 7 2.50 14 0.54 21 0.79 1 0.50 1 0.50 1 0.50 38 0.76 138

Quantity Traded 2,169,295 191,965 918,873 45,000 1,308,000 4,000 252,000 1,771,006 6,158,137 18,678 10,000 70,000 1,202,036 14,118,990

Value Traded 1,740,216.25 189,453.35 487,002.69 22,500.00 654,000.00 2,000.00 630,022.00 956,323.56 4,780,843.68 9,339.00 5,000.00 35,000.00 893,680.77 10,405,381.30

Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals Current Price 3 0.95

Quantity Traded 8,300

Value Traded 8,134.00

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

11

17,140,951

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. EQUITY ASSURANCE 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. REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Page

5

of

Quantity Traded 220,034 30,236 500 4,843,018 7,413,270 201,018 3,933,127 3,975,196 20,616,399

Value Traded 726,645.08 118,334.18 415.00 71,976,567.08 31,134,336.84 121,110.80 119,927,320.47 8,579,379.12 232,584,108.57

122,460,242

958,333,257.21

Quantity Traded 43,060 424,552 7,430 119,430 767,656 1,362,128

Value Traded 82,210.60 1,430,530.16 475,829.55 189,033.70 809,527.24 2,987,131.25

1,362,128

2,987,131.25

2,779 Symbol No. of Deals Current Price EVANSMED 6 1.86 FIDSON 15 3.42 GLAXOSMITH 10 65.99 MAYBAKER 16 1.59 NEIMETH 19 1.03 Daily Summary (Equities) 66 66

6Value of Traded11

Symbol NCR TRIPPLEG

No. of Deals 1 4 5

Current Price 13.50 1.88

Quantity Traded 1,065 10,200 11,265

Value Traded 14,430.75 18,258.00 32,688.75

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals

Symbol CHAMS

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 259,000 259,000

Value Traded 129,500.00 129,500.00

356,218

207,743.84

16

45,555.09 45,555.09

No. of Deals 58 13 (Equities) 16 28 34

Current Price 32.90 9.00 39.05 14.40 225.50

Quantity Traded 403,546 25,701 81,017 314,084 71,467

Value Traded 13,165,162.43 220,850.88 3,161,078.62 4,531,630.45 16,197,423.73

Symbol IPWA PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 1 12 48 210

Current Price 0.50 5.18 115.45

Quantity Traded 10,000 360,000 174,301 Page 1,440,116

Value Traded 5,000.00 1,831,150.00 720,143,080.45 of 11 59,255,376.56

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

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 12 12

Current Price 1.82

Quantity Traded 605,000 605,000

Value Traded 1,110,099.20 1,110,099.20

Packaging/Containers AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS BETA GLASS CO PLC. GREIF NIGERIA PLC Packaging/Containers Totals

Symbol AVONCROWN BETAGLAS VANLEER

No. of Deals 1 4 1 6

Current Price 1.75 18.85 12.08

Quantity Traded 8,078 6,181 2,000 16,259

Value Traded 13,490.26 121,681.85 22,960.00 158,132.11

2,061,375

60,523,607.87

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials IPWA PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE PLC. Published by The NigerianAFRICA Stock Exchange © Building Materials Totals

Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER Daily Summary CAP CCNN DANGCEM

OIL AND GAS Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

228 Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 49 49

Current Price 0.51

Quantity Traded 3,083,533 3,083,533

Value Traded 1,550,198.10 1,550,198.10

Symbol No. of Deals Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 25.95

Quantity Traded 4,346,004 4,346,004

Value Traded 112,853,875.75 112,853,875.75

OANDO

292 292

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals Hotels/Lodging

Activity Summary on Board EQTY IKEJA HOTEL PLC SERVICES Hotels/Lodging Hotels/Lodging Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

8

of

No. of Deals 49 81 124 28 10 21 313

Current Price 61.00 4.25 224.97 174.65 55.96 180.00

Quantity Traded 106,001 1,392,075 607,762 101,133 2,876 124,345 2,334,192

Value Traded 6,044,730.55 6,047,070.50 137,240,852.14 17,607,257.94 154,181.92 22,387,791.12 189,481,884.17

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 12 12

Current Price 679.98

Quantity Traded 34,408 34,408

Value Traded 23,395,559.69 23,395,559.69

9,798,137

327,281,517.71

OIL AND GAS Totals SERVICES Daily Summary as of 03/09/2014 Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Printed 03/09/2014 15:01:11.011 Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

Page

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

666 Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 21 21

Current Price 0.96

Quantity Traded 838,026 838,026

Value Traded 797,141.86 797,141.86

Symbol REDSTAREX

No. of Deals 8 8

Current Price 4.80

Quantity Traded 68,774 68,774

Value Traded 314,273.80 314,273.80

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 12

Current Price 0.84

Quantity Traded 285,100

Value Traded 239,456.00

Daily Summary (Equities)

Page

9

of

11

11

Symbol

No. of Deals 12

Current Price

Quantity Traded 285,100

Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Symbol LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 2 25 27

Current Price 1.62 4.18

Quantity Traded 37,000 1,423,368 1,460,368

Value Traded 58,850.00 5,473,929.40 5,532,779.40

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 0.72

Quantity Traded 1,006,500 1,006,500

Value Traded 726,748.00 726,748.00

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

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 4 42 46

Current Price 2.00 4.95

Quantity Traded 48,190 1,334,003 1,382,193

Value Traded 93,071.08 6,618,443.51 6,711,514.59

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

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 37 37

Current Price 5.00

Quantity Traded 532,313 532,313

Value Traded 2,682,545.36 2,682,545.36

162

5,573,274

17,004,459.01

EQTY Board Totals

5,392

201,067,115

2,443,398,113.59

Equity Activity Totals

5,392

201,067,115

2,443,398,113.59

SERVICES Daily Summary asTotals of 03/09/2014 Printed 03/09/2014 15:01:11.011

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Exchange Traded Fund

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

11

Page Quantity Traded 85,953 85,953

IT Services NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. IT Services Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Value Traded 15,158,591.05 16,449,414.36 31,608,005.41

715,335,633.34

No. of Deals Current Price 42 3.30 10 3.96 1 0.87 297 14.63 104 4.25 4 0.60 22 30.50 73 2.15 553

Current Price 0.55

Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Quantity Traded 443,120 343,629 786,749

87,716,553

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS DEAPCAP FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 6 6

JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals

No. of Deals Current Price 42 35.00 36 48.01 78

Quantity Traded 406,523 50,000 1,252,537 4,868,295Page

Value Traded 8,134.00

Symbol COURTVILLE

OIL AND GAS

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals Current Price 52 8.20 2 0.50 26 0.92 246 24.19 2,085

Quantity Traded 8,300

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Value Traded 48,716.00 2,843,920.10

Symbol UBN UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

No. of Deals Current Price 3

Activity Summary on Board EQTY HEALTHCARE Totals

Daily Summary as of 03/09/2014 Energy Equipment and Services Printed 03/09/2014 15:01:11.011

Quantity Traded 51,280 729,619

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price ACCESS 239 9.26 DIAMONDBNK 60 6.00 ETI 72 16.62 FIDELITYBK 88 1.96 GUARANTY 252 30.00 Daily Summary (Equities) SKYEBANK 115 2.80 STERLNBANK 762 2.19 UBA 171 7.20

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. Daily Summary as of 03/09/2014 FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC Printed 03/09/2014 15:01:11.011 GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Pharmaceuticals Totals

Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLCEQTY Activity Summary on Board

11

Symbol

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

ICT Totals Daily Summary as of 03/09/2014 Printed INDUSTRIAL 03/09/2014 15:01:11.011 GOODS

No. of Deals Current Price 2 0.95 21

709

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

ICT Published byComputer The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals

Symbol VONO

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking Daily Summary as of 03/09/2014 ACCESS BANK PLC. Printed 03/09/2014 15:01:11.011 DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. ActivityUNITED Summary onFOR Board EQTY BANK AFRICA PLC

2

FINANCIAL SERVICES Micro-Finance Banks Micro-Finance Banks Totals

Page

Daily Summary (ETP) Symbol NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 3 4

Current Price 1,992.00 18.72

Value Traded 239,456.00

10

of

11

Quantity Traded 24 1,010 1,034

Value Traded 47,808.00 18,837.20 66,645.20

ETF Board Totals

4

1,034

66,645.20

ETP Activity Totals

4

1,034

66,645.20

45

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Ekiti: Transition committee warns banks against fraudulent transactions •Stop campaign of calumny - Govt Adesina Wahab

Ado-Ekiti

T

he T ransition Committee set up by Ekiti State GovernorElect, Mr. Ayo Fayose has warned banks in the state against involvement in illegal financial transactions with the outgoing administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi.

The committee in a letter dated September 2, 2014 and signed by the Chairman, Chief Dipo Anisulowo, and sent to all branch managers of commercial banks operating in the state, said it had information that the outgoing administration was mopping up N50 million each from the banks under the guise of taking

contributions for Education Trust Fund from them.

Anisulowo wondered why the administration would now start to collect such at the twilight of its tenure.

"Similarly, we have been informed that some banks are being used by the incumbent government to effect payments on phony and nonexistent multi-billion naira contracts/procurement/ services, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti inclusive.

"The purpose and intent of this letter therefore, is to advise your bank/financial institution to decline further cooperation with this administration on these irregular expenditures

and on any other questionable financial transactions which lack integrity, but are purposely initiated to loot the government treasury.

"We wish to state, with due respect to your corporate image as a registered financial institution in Nigeria, that the incoming administration of Dr. Peter Ayodele Fayose when it comes on board, in October 2014, will not hesitate to take appropriate administrative and legal actions, consonant with the dictates of the relevant financial laws, principles and regulations against any bank/financial institution found culpable of negligence, reckless and fraudulent financial dealings with the outgoing administra-

Kwara PDP sues for peace among members Biodun Oyeleye

Ilorin

tion," he warned.

However, Ekiti state government has advised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to focus on ways of ensuring a smooth transition in the state and how to record any laudable achievement during the next administration instead of its current campaign of calumny against the present government.

The Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr. Tayo Ekundayo who gave the advice in Ado-Ekiti, described all the stories being churned out by the PDP in the last couple of weeks as part of a sinister plan to generate public disaffection against the Fayemi administration.

Chairman of the Tthehe Kwara state chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mr Iyiola Oyedepo yesterday pleaded with members of the party in the state to give peace a chance.

Oyedepo, who gave this advice at the state Secretariat of the Party in llorin while swearing-in members of the new Executive committee of the Party for llorin West Local Government area described peace and unity as cornerstone to any development.

The swearing-in put paid to the factional acrimony that had been witnessed among members of the party in the local government area. But Oyedepo, who said the new executive council had been endorsed by the national headquarters of the party, urged members

to eschew bitterness, acrimony and hatred among themselves for victory of the Party in the 2015 election.

He also advised the new council executive members to ensure unity among warring factions of the party in the council, saying with their endorsement they are expected to live above board and ensure indissoluble entity of the Party.

"Provide a platform of unity among Members of the Party in the area without being factional and ensure that the Party is more vibrant in the area", Oyedepo said.

In his remark at the event, the Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) and chieftain of the party, Professor Shuaib Oba-AbdulRaheem described the new development as a testimony that he controls the party at the grassroots.

Aziza: Jonathan condoles with UPU Gabriel Choba

Ughelli

ollowing the sudden FGeneral death of the President of Urhobo Prog-

L-R: Chairman, King Week 2014 Planning Committee, Mr. Albert Okumagba; Vice-President, Kings College Old Boys Association (KCOBA), Dr. Leke Oshunniyi and General Secretary, Mr. Lucky Idike, during a press conference to unveiling the activities of the 105th Founder’s Day Anniversary by the association in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO:TONYEGUAYE

ress Union (UPU), Major General Patrick Aziza (Rtd), President Goodluck Jonathan has sent condolence message to UPU. Aziza died on August 16, 2014.

In a letter of condolence addressed to Chief Joe Omene, Deputy President General of UPU and made available to New Telegraph yesterday, President Jonathan condoled with them over the death.

“On behalf of the government and good people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and myself, I commiserate with you, all Urhobo people, as well as the government and peo-

ple of Delta State on the passing away of a worthy Nigerian patriot.

“My heart specially goes out to members of his immediate family in their moment of grief. They have lost a father, leader and source of enduring inspiration. By his passing away, Delta state has lost a committed political leader, dedicated and selfless servant. Nigeria has lost a quintessential officer and gentleman who serve our nation gallantly and meritoriously in high military and political positions.

“It is my prayer that almighty God grant you, the family he has left behind, the Urhobo people and indeed the entire people of Delta State the fortitude to cope with the pain of this irredeemable loss”, he prayed.

Ogundipe slams APC over comments on Sheriff, Ikimi

Ondo PDM elects officers, pledges to dislodge opposition

Adesina Wahab

Babatope Okeowo

Ado-Ekiti

E

kiti State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe, has slammed the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its leaders for their comments on Chief Tom Ikimi and Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff following their defection from the APC to the PDP. Speaking in a chat in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, he said APC and its leaders were suffering from politics of 'bad belle'.

He was reacting to the call by the APC that Sher-

iff, a former Borno state governor, be prosecuted for allegedly being a sponsor of Boko Haram, an extremist religious group.

Also, APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, described Ikimi, a former foreign affairs minister, as a mole sent to the APC by the PDP in the first instance.

Ogundipe, who faulted the comments by APC leaders, wondered why they did not come out with their 'revelations' when both men were in the APC. "Modu Sheriff has always been in the opposition. He won election twice on the platform of the then

All Nigeria Peoples Party and when they formed their contraption called APC, Sheriff was never seen as a sponsor of Boko Haram.

"The APC is only playing bad politics of not seeing anything good in others that are not in their camp.

They saw Sheriff as a pillar in their party, somebody who won election twice and even succeeded in installing his successor. When he left them, APC people know that their backbone in the North-East is gone.

"We know APC to thrive in propaganda and blackmail and that is what they are doing. For Ikimi, Ti-

nubu is only belly-aching.

"Why should Tinubu and APC leaders expect Ikimi to stay with them with the level of blackmail they subjected him to before their kangaroo national convention? Ikimi is not new in politics and has held various positions in the past.

"Let Tinubu explain to Nigerians how Ikimi would have sold APC that is in the pocket of Tinubu.

Would he have torn the pocket to remove the party from him? Our party, the PDP, is waxing stronger by the day and the fortune of APC is waning and they are afraid," he said.

Akure

head of next year’s elecAcratic tion, the Peoples DemoMovement (PDM)

in Ondo state yesterday promised to provide alternative platform for the people of the state by dislodging the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressive Congress (APC) and others.

The state Chairman of the party, Mr. Oluwole Fagboro who disclosed this during the inauguration of the new executives of the party said the people of has seen the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its

best, the Labour Party (LP) in the last six years and All Progressive Congress (APC) in other states in the country.

He said since the people of the state have not tasted the newly registered PDM, it would serve as a best alternative platform for them.

He charged other executive members including the Secretary, Prince Pius Egbukuyemi, legal adviser, Mr. Morakinyo Ogele, Organising Secretary, Festus Elusiyan, Publicity Secretary, Shadrach Adedipe and Mrs. Abigail Daramola to mobilise people into the party.

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Thursday, September 4, 2014

Kogi youths boo Adeyemi Muhammad Bashir

Lokoja

he third term ambiTAdeyemi tion of Senator Smart in the National

Assembly may be in jeopardy as youths and PDP supporters in his constituency, in what appears to be a disapproval of his candidacy, booed him continuously at a recent event.

Senator Adeyemi, who represents Kogi West senatorial district, was called upon to deliver his speech during the thank-you-tour of Governor Idris Wada to Kabba/Bunnu Local Government, was embarrassed by the youth, who were calling him unprintable names.

Despite the intervention of the member representing Kabba/Ijumu federal constituency, Hon.

Members of the Good Women Society of Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide, Restoration Parish, Akute, Ogun State, during their first anniversary in Akute, Ogun State

Benue senatorial seat: Onoja plots to unseat Mark LANDMARK Senator Mark is like a landmark in the senate and an Onoja will always be blunt with him Cephas Iorhemen

Makurdi

T

here are indications yesterday that a former Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Defense, Chief Mike Okibe Onoja, may challenge the Benue South senatorial seat of Senate President, David Mark, in the 2015 general elections.

Chief Onoja, who contested the 2007 governorship election with Chief George Akume, has confirmed that he would contest the senatorial seat with the Senate

president.

Chief Onoja, an Idoma from Ado Local Government, said his decision to contest next year’s senatorial seat against Mark was informed by the collective decision of people of Benue South to effect a change and bring succour to the lives of other Idoma people, who have suffered neglect in the last seven years.

The former permanent secretary, who addressed key political stakeholders in Igumale, headquarters of Ado Local Government recently, said he drafted himself into the race after wide consultations, and only needed the people's blessings before ‘embarking on the journey.’

According to him; “If any child was born sixteen years ago, he would have finished secondary school now, a girl born sixteen years ago would

have probably given birth to a child, in other words, such a person has not known any senator in Idoma land.”

While lamenting that the prolonged stay of Mark in the Senate has made the Idoma people a laughing stock, Onoja said the much-talked about Apa state which Mark promised, is to excise Idoma people from the present Tiv-dominated Benue State.

“I give you an example, in Tiv land there are two senatorial zones.

In Zone A, Prof. Daniel Saror took the first shot, after him, we had Joseph Akaagerger, after him, we have Barnabas Gemade and yet somebody wants to take over, that is how it is going.

“In Zone B, it was started by Senator Joseph Waku, after Waku it was Senator Adagba, who died only for Fred Orti

to take over, thereafter Senator George Akume, took over but yet another person is eyeing the seat.

But in the case of Zone C, it is only one person, so is it a birth right or a traditional title?

“The Idoma people approached me and said look, enough is enough, and this seat must rotate.

It appears as if there is nobody in Idoma land except one person, this is unacceptable,” said Onoja.

Some speakers at the event, including Chiefs Ameh Udoh, John Ochoga and Ekpe Ogbu, all hailed Onoja's move to join the race and promised him their support.

New Telegraph has observed that already, Onoja's senatorial campaign posters have flooded Otukpo town, the headquarters of Idoma land in preparation for the contest.

Zungeru Dam: FG begins compensation to communities Dan Atori

MINNA

T

he Community Relations Committee (CRC) of Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Dam yesterday said payment of compensation to communities in Niger State has started.

Chairman of the project and Head of CRC, Alhaji Isah Jibrin Garkuwa Nupe, in a statement signed and made available to the New Telegraph, said the compensation will be for farmlands in

communities close to the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Dam site and its environs.

According to him; “The Federal Government has made funds available, and arrangements have commenced towards the resettlement of some of the communities, especially those that are close to the dam site.

“We will only compensate farmlands in communities closest to the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Dam site and its environs and compensation are in

progress.

“We encourage the communities to continue to be law-abiding, patient and peaceful, and the committee will not let them down.”

The CRC chairman also appealed to the beneficiaries to make good use of the money, saying what was paid to them is for crops and economic trees while that of structures will soon be addressed.

While he urged those yet to be paid to exercise patients, he expressed appreciation to Governor Muazu Babangida

Aliyu, for being there at all times, supporting the progress of the project.

He also appealed to the communities for their understanding and cooperation, adding that “the authorities have noted with seriousness the observed cases of omission of names, underpayment, and the delay experienced in the banks in the compensation exercise."

The chairman assured them that the issues will be looked into with a view to making the needed amendments.

Tajudeen Yusuf, to calm them down, they continued shouting and molesting him while his speech could not be heard due to the rowdy situation.

Senator Adeyemi, it was learnt, was visibly angry and was said to have blamed Hon. Tajudeen Yusuf for using his supporters to embarrass him publicly.

The youth, who were bent on expressing their grievances towards the senator, expressed disapproval on the third term aspiration of the senator.

But when it was the turn of Yusuf to speak, the youth gave him a standing ovation, saying he has done well. They also praised Governor Wada for bringing the dividends of democracy to the area.

House Committee cuts vacation, visits Adeyemi COE Babatope Okeowo

Akure

hairman of the House CCommittee of Representatives on Education,

Hon. Aminu Suleiman, has charged government at all levels in the country to give more attention to educational development.

Suleiman spoke when he led a 17-man team to Adeyemi College of Education (ACE) Ondo, as part of their oversight functions to Federal Government-owned institution in the South-West of the country.

Underscoring the importance of education to the development of a nation, Suleiman said because of its critical nature, every nation aspir-

ing to be economically and technologically advanced, must as a matter of priority, accord more importance to the development of education.

He added that the decision of the committee to cut short the duration of their vacation to embark on the oversight function was in demonstration of their desire to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of funds appropriated to institutions by the lower legislative chamber of the National Assembly.

The chairman lauded the management of the college for the reception accorded the team and the physical development of the college.

Be civil in your operations, Lagos lawmaker urges VIO Etaghene Edirin

hairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Transportation, Commerce and Industry, Hon. Bisi Yusuff, has urged officials of the state Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) to be more civil and friendly while discharging their duties.

Yusuff, who made the plea while interacting with the zonal heads of units yesterday in Ikeja, said there is need for the officials of the unit to change their attitude whenever they accost vehicle owners for the inspection of their documents.

He also said the officials should be more proactive and stop harassing vehicle owners unnecessarily.

“The way VIO stops moving vehicles for checks on the road is dangerous and not all the offences have to

C

be criminalised as a penalty”.

He said the committee has received complaints and petitions on the activities of the VIO from the public.

“We are not pleased with complaints and reports from the public; that is why we invited all the Heads of the Units, so that they can pass the message across to their subordinates. The committee is not here to intimidate you or to witch-hunt anyone, but to correct your wrong doing.

“I want to warn all the officials not to be an agent of any insurance company. Any vehicle owner is entitled to collect insurance document from any recognised insurance company they like.”

He also appealed to the director of the VIO to make sure that all their depots are kept clean.

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Adamawa bye-election: APC decries state of emergency CAMPAIGN

It is a little over a month to find a replacement for Murtala Nyako Temitope Ogunbanke

A

head of October 11 gubernatorial byeelections in Adamawa State, Conference of All Progressives Congress, APC State Publicity Secretaries (CAPS) has called for the suspension of the state of emergency in the state to pave the way for free and fair elections.

Speaking to journalists yesterday at the end of three-day summit of

CAPS held in Lagos, the organisation’s chairman and Lagos APC Publicity Secretary, Mr. Joe Igbokwe said the party is prepared to set the people of Adamawa free from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) bondage.

The Conference of the APC Publicity Secretaries in its communique signed

by Igbokwe and the sixgeo political zones coordinators, also denounced the wind of impeachment blowing across the country, warning that if allowed to continue, it may degenerate the nation into a mushroom society.

"The PDP, having forced an illegal impeachment on Adamawa State, is now seeking to employ

every crooked machinery to return the state to the path of retrogression.

The APC is however, prepared to set the people of Adamawa free.

“CAPS hereby demands the suspension of the 'state of emergency' in Adamawa State, which has the barest minimum of insurgence, or at the least, lift the dusk-to-dawn curfew from this week to rid the electioneering atmosphere of fear or encumbrance and paved the way for free and fair elections.

"The conference is highly pleased with the transparent process put in place by the APC national leadership for the conduct of the Adamawa State gov-

ernorship primaries and trust that the successful management of yet another clean, free and fair process, which the APC is reputed for, will lead to a resounding victory for the APC in the election" the communiqué stated.

The APC spokesmen also faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC's recently concluded distribution of Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) and continuous voter registration in some states based on complains that trailed the exercise.

"The conference does not share in the selfeulogies by INEC on its so-called successes in the Ekiti and Osun elections

because it is exaggerated.

Elections have increasingly become militarilised, even to the point of deploying masked security personnel to intimidate and humiliate the electorate.

"Consequently, he called on all stakeholders, particularly the National Assembly, "to as a matter of utmost urgency return the recommendations of the Justice Mohammed Uwais panel on electoral reforms to the front burner, particularly as it affected INEC deriving its funding on first line charge; drawn from Federation Account and independent operatives appointed by the National Judicial Commission to guarantee some measures

of independence from political interferences," CAPS advised.

The conference also expressed its dismay about the inconclusive senatorial election in the Niger East Senatorial zone and urged the constituents to be vigilant and forestall being robbed of their candidate.

"It is the right of Niger East to freely choose their senator. We hereby urge them and the entire people of Niger State to be vigilant and forestall the collusion between the PDP and key officials of INEC to rob the people of their choice of an APC candidate, which is now about to be truncated, as was done in Ekiti and Anambra states," it stated.

ANA pledges to revive reading culture in Nasarawa schools Cheke Emmanuel LAFIA

he Nasarawa state Tciation chapter of the Assoof Nigerian Au-

L-R: Ekiti State confab delegate, Bishop Felix Ajakaye; Speaker, state House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin; confab delegate, Prof. Bisi Aina; Governor Kayode Fayemi; Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu and leader of the delegation, Dr. Kunle Olajide, during a post-confab visit by the delegation to the governor, in Ado-Ekiti... yesterday

Sokoto LG boss, commissioners Politicians trade accusations pay solidarity visit to Wamakko over Niger East by-election Umar Danladi Ado SOKOTO

T

he Sokoto State Chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has expressed appreciation to the 27 out of 30 members of the State House of Assembly for passing a vote of confidence on governor Aliyu Wamakko.

The Sole Administrator of Sokoto North local government council, Alhaji Aminu Ibrahim who lead a group of concerned Sokoto citizens said that the group reaffirmed that the recent vote of confidence passed on Wamakko by members of the state Assembly represent the collective voice of the good people of sokoto state.

His team comprised of politicians, commis-

CHANGE OF NAME

ABATI

I formerly known as Miss.

Kafayat Oyeronke Oyewunmi now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Kafayat Oyeronke Abati. All former document remains valid. NYSC and General public should please take note.

sioners, traders, women organizations, local government sole administrators, councilors as well as business community.

They paid a solidarity visit to Governor Wamakko yesterday at Government House.

He said the people of Sokoto are testifying to the fact that they have immensely enjoyed the dividends of democracy through various projects and programmes of the Wamakko administration that have impacted positively on their lives.

Ibrahim appealed to Wamakko to contest the seat of central Senatorial after his governorship tenure saying that the people of Sokoto have offered to purchase the party nomination form for him to contest.

Responding, Wamakko thanked the people for their solidarity and confidence in his administration and appealed to them to engage in fervent prayers so that peace shall rain in the state and the country at large.

Dan Atori MINNA

Peoples Democratic TAllheParty (PDP) and the Progressives Con-

gress (APC) in Niger state have continued to trade words over the inconclusive Niger East Senatorial bye-election of last Saturday and the re-run in few polling units scheduled for next Saturday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Deputy Chairman of PDP in Niger state, Barrister Tanko Beji in a statement in Minna on Wednesday called on the APC to focus on the rerun election instead of engaging in cheap blackmail.

However, the APC in a statement in Minna yesterday by its state publicity secretary, Jonathan Vatsa accused the PDP of plotting to deny its candidate, Barrister David Umaru of the seat against the popular will of the electorate.

While insisting that the opposition party must learn to be a discipline team in the game of politics, Beji said the Niger east senatorial seat was not the birth right of the APC. According to Beji, the decision to cancel and order re-run by the INEC was based on use of thugs in some areas where PDP would have swept the polls. “Therefore the cancellation reflects the resolution of INEC towards deepening democracy, and allowing the will of the people to prevail”, he said.

Vatsa insisted that the PDP and its administration should allow the popular will of the people to prevail adding that the people have realised that PDP has lost its political bearing in the state and that APC has become the alternative for a change.

“We are calling on the people of Niger state to come out and vote for APC. The electorate has seen the truth and they are looking for a change."

thors (ANA) has said it is determined more than ever to revive the reading culture amongst school children.

To this end, the association said it has unveiled plans to organize a reading and writing competition for both public and private schools in the state aim at improving reading and writing skills amongst school children in the state.

The state chapter chairman, Ismaila Isa Umaisha, disclosed this yesterday when he led

members of the association on a courtesy visit to the management of the state Universal Basic Education Board in Lafia, the state capital.

Umaisha who identified poor reading culture amongst Nigerians as some of the factors for poor performances amongst students at various levels of education, stressed that all hands must be on deck to remedy the situation.

He informed that the visit was to seek collaboration with management of the primary education board to achieve their aim by reviving reading culture in school children by way of catching them young.

Osun poll: Adesiyan charges INEC to investigate erring officials Adeolu Adeyemo OSOGBO

inister of Police AfM fairs, Alhaji Abdul Jelili Adesiyan yesterday

charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to do a thorough investigation on the arrest and suspension of two of its officials over alleged electoral malpractices in the August 9 governorship election in Osun state.

The minister who made the charge in a statement made available to newsmen in Osogbo by his Chief Press Secretary, Wale Akinola, said: "The suspension of the two INEC officials was an indication that the gubernatorial election held in August 9, was massively rigged in favour of the incumbent Governor, Rauf Aregbesola against the people's will".

"The INEC should try and get to the root of the matter with a view to getting those involved exposed and punish them

according to the electoral law. I believe that if this is done, more perpetrators of electoral fraud during the last election will also be exposed and dealt with accordingly."

He however described the arrest and suspension of two officials of the commission as the beginning of electoral victory for the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

"Less than a week after we have filed the petition at the Tribunal, two INEC officials were suspended for colluding with APC in Osogbo and Obokun Local governments to rig the election. The arrest and suspension of those two INEC officials has proven our claims beyond a reasonable doubt that the election was massively rigged because it is our collective belief that a castle built on lies cannot stand a test of time.

The revelation has indeed vindicated PDP that the election was fraught with electoral malpractices and irregularities.

48 NEWS

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Thursday, September 4, 2014

Impeachment: Enugu groups urge Chime to forge ahead PRAISE SINGERS With things back to square one, Enugu gov gets more commendations Uwakwe Abugu

Enugu

G

roups of professionals of Enugu State extraction have called on Governor Sullivan Chime to move ahead with the administration of the state and not be deterred by whatever political in-

trigues that arose from the recent impeachment of his former Deputy, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi.

The groups under the auspices of the Regeneration Group (RG) and Enugu Professionals Forum (EPF), urged the governor to put behind him all effects and distractions that greeted the impeachment saga and concentrate on his efforts towards moving the state forward.

In separate releases in Enugu, the groups expressed satisfaction with the procedures adopted by relevant authorities in the impeachment of

Onyebuchi, calling on the governor to discountenance any accusations of premeditated bias against his former deputy or manipulation of the impeachment process.

Speaking on behalf of Regeneration Group (RG), which is a group of Enugu State-born professionals based in Lagos, Mr. Hilary Ogili, advised Governor Chime “to ignore the tactics of his former deputy to distract him and focus on his remarkable transformation of the state and not allow anyone to distract him.”

Reviewing the utter-

ances and actions of Onyebuchi during the process of his impeachment and after, the Lagos-based group accused the former deputy governor of dissipating energy, trying to sow seeds of discord, saying that he actually brought unto himself, the cruel fate that had befallen him.

The RG enjoined Governor Chime to disregard attempts by his impeached deputy and his sponsors to effect face-saving actions, but to focus on his visible transformation of the state.

“My advice to Gover-

nor Chime is to ignore the tactics by his former deputy to distract him.

He (Chime) should focus on his remarkable transformation of the state and not allow ‘angry bad losers’ to distract him," Ogoli said.

On its part, Enugu Professionals Forum (EPF) expressed satisfaction with the procedure followed by relevant authorities towards the impeachment, even as other groups and notable persons equally agreed with his removal.

The group’s position is in line with the position taken recently by the Civ-

il Liberties Organisation (CLO) in the South-East in maintaining that the process that culminated in the impeachment of the former deputy governor could not be faulted.

EPF, in a statement signed by its SecretaryGeneral, Nebechi Ugo, said it was satisfied that all the parties in the matter were accorded fair hearing while other necessary procedures undertaken from the day impeachment proceedings were commenced by the House of Assembly to the eventual impeachment were religiously observed.

Dangote cement launches premium 32-5 brand

D

angote Cement Plc yesterday announced plans to launch its brand of the premium 32.5 cement grade, selling N200 lower than the price of higher strength 42.5 grade.

This, the company said was to fully comply with the directive of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on the various grades of cement and their prescribed uses.

Addressing newsmen in Lagos yesterday, Group Managing Director of the organisation, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, said the 32.5 grade, which has the lowest strength among the various cement products, will be priced lower than the others and will be selling at N200 lower than the price of the higher strength 42.5 grade.

“This, in addition, offers our numerous customers and end users the prerogative of choice and its appropriate application,” he said.

The new product, which has been branded “Dangote Cement 1X,” Edwin said, was in response to popular demand from customers as well as in full compliance with SON directive, encouraging production of all grades of cement, but with clear labelling on its use.

Edwin added that the entrance of the 32.5 cement grade from Dangote would ensure that the consumer pays the appropriate price for the right value, rather than paying more for lower grade as is presently the case in the market.

Edwin said Dangote cement is currently reviewing the selling prices of its products with intent to reduce them and make the products available with the recent commissioning of additional six million metric tons per annum lines 3 and 4 in Ibese, Ogun State and another three million metric ton capacity additional line 4 at Obajana, Kogi State.

Sokoto spends N40.75m on students’ registration fees Umar Danladi Ado

Sokoto

okoto State government SN40.75 yesterday said it has paid million for the registration fees of its indigenes currently having their matriculation at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, for the 2013/2014 academic session.

This was made known in a statement signed by the Special Assistant on Students’ Matters, Alhaji Ibrahim Tureta, and issued to newsmen in Sokoto yesterday.

According to the statement, the payment included those that had paid their registration fees and were refunded and those who were yet to pay their fees.

The statement also said Governor Aliyu Wamakko, had approved the payment sequel to his relentless efforts to further uplift the standard of education in the state.

It said the gesture was also aimed at alleviating the suffering of the benefitting students, who were largely indigent.

The statement also quoted the special assistant as admonishing the students to reciprocate the gesture of the government by studying diligently.

It further cautioned them against involving themselves in acts capable of jeopardising their studies such as cultism, examination malpractice and other social vices, among others.

L-R: Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Education, Hon. Aminu Suleman; Commissioner for Education, Jide Adejuyigbe and Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, during a visit by members of the House Committee on Education to Mimiko in Akure…on Tuesday

Rivers PDP warns against Okon: No defection in C/River diversion of N350m Ebola fund Clement James members of the ruling Emmanuel Masha

Port Harcourt

ivers State chapter of RParty the Peoples Democratic (PDP) has warned

the state government and its officials against diverting the N350 million earmarked for the control of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

The party said the funds should go directly into fighting the disease and not be looted under any guise.

“There is no doubt that some misguided elements will see this glaring threat to human lives as yet another opportunity to enrich themselves, not realising that you must be alive to enjoy such loot,” it said.

The party said the warning became necessary following the information tabled by the state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) that the state lacks necessary facilities to tackle the Ebola scourge.

The PDP Chairman,

Felix Obuah, who stated this in a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Jerry Needam, urged the relevant authorities charged with handling the disease to be cautious and see this call to duty as an assignment that requires total commitment.

He said: “This is a very serious issue, because it has to do with life. The earlier the better and this does not call for politicking.

“The killer disease is not a member of any political party and spares no one based on political affiliation. So, all hands must be on deck to ensure that our generation is saved from total annihilation,” the PDP said.

While urging the people to pray for the successful fight against Ebola, Obuah said there have been consistent conflicting reports by government about the status, spread and the number of victims of the disease since its outbreak in Port Harcourt.

Calabar

River State Cplesross Chairman of the PeoDemocratic Party

(PDP), Ntufam John Okon, yesterday denied claims that about 3,000 members the party defected to the opposition All Progressives Party (APC) on Monday.

In an interview with our correspondent in his office, Okon said the claim was baseless and meant to give the impression that the opposition party ‘is on ground in the state.’

“I can tell you that there is no truth in that claim. It’s mere propaganda. How can three thousand members of my party decamp to another party and I am not aware. It did not happen,” he said emphatically.

APC, through the Media Officer to the ViceChairman, South-South, Mr. Bassey Ita, had on Tuesday, in a press statement, claimed that 3,000

PDP decamped at the APC.” But Okon said the claim was a mere fluke and was made up by the opposition to be seen to be relevant.

“That is a publicity stunt. Before people move, it must be the leadership that is moving. In this case, as the party chairman, I should know. But I can assure you that it never happened,” he argued.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the leadership of the party to ensuring that a proper structure was put in place to give every member a sense of satisfaction.

On the issue of lifting the ban on political activities by members, Okon said he was eagerly waiting for INEC and the national leadership of the party for the green-light to unban political activities, assuring that once that is done, the leadership will act accordingly.

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Thursday, September 4, 2014

Delta, Edo youths cautioned against pipeline vandalism Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

National CoordinaTtionhe tor of the Youth Coaliagainst Vandalism

L-R: Dr. David Unam, of the Ministry of Health, Akwa Ibom State; Chairman/CEO, Moni Pulo Limited, Dr. O.B. Lulu-Briggs and Executive Vice-Chairman of Moni-Pulo Limited, Mrs. Seinye O.B. Lulu-Briggs, at the opening ceremony of the Five-Day Free Medical Mission organised in Uruan Local Goernment, Akwa Ibom State by Moni Pulo Limited in partnership with NNPC/NAPIMS…recently

NLC tackles Chevron over anti-labour practices Dominic Adewole ASABA

T

he Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is angry with the management of Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) over ill-treatment of workers.

Its Delta state wing has called on Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to order the company and its contractors to desist from engaging in “mindless” anti-labour practices.

The body’s state chair-

man, Comrade Williams Akporeha, in Asaba, said, “the persistent casualization and willful dismissal of workers” by the company and its contractors has placed the management of the company and the union on war path.

According to him, labour would no longer fold its arms and watch the company tactically entrenching slave trade in the state.

He said: “It is bad enough that Chevron management forbids the

Group accuses Adamawa acting Chief Judge of partisanship FRUSTRATION Murtala Nyako's supporters cry out over unfavourable happenings Ibrahim Abdul YOLA

A

Group, Concerned Adamawa Citizens for Justice, has criticized Adamawa state acting Chief Judge, Justice Ambrose Mammadi, for deliberately frustrating efforts by former Governor Murtala Nyako and his aides to seek redress in the state court.

Spokesman of the group, Ezra Ibrahim, told newsmen in Yola that the actions of the acting chief Judge with regards to cases involving Nyako or his aides left much to be desired.

Ibrahim explained that recent cases filed by Nyako and his aides that required urgency were assigned to Judges on vocation or delayed for assignment in a manner that looked like a deliberate attempt to frustrate the cases.

Ibrahim cited an example of the case filed by Mohammed Gidado Ibrahim, the Special Adviser on Security to former Governor

Nyako, who was challenging the constitutionality of the Panel of Enquiry set up to probe the administration of Nyako.

He said the suit filed about a month ago was yet to be assigned by the acting chief judge even as the counsel to the plaintiff, Oladele Oyelami, had filed affidavit of urgency on the matter since August 8.

In that suit, Ibrahim wanted the court to declare that the setting up of the panel which was given one month to probe the administration of Nyako was in contravention of the provisions of section 128 and section 129 of the constitution.

He also wanted the court to declare that the setting up of the judicial panel of inquiry without recourse to the state house of assembly was illegal.

Furthermore he also wanted the court to among others grant an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, themselves, their servants, agents and/or privies from sitting, conducting any proceedings and make any findings against the plaintiffs in connection with the judicial commission of inquiry as it’s relates to or concern him.

unionization of their contract employees. The wicked aspect of it is that these workers have had to agree to less than acceptable work conditions just to earn a living. Yet, they are being put on the firing line daily by their paymasters supervised

by Chevron.”

He described the recent call-out of the members of the Warri Zonal Council of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) on protest as a “ticking time bomb.”

“As we speak, the Chevron branches of NUPENG are on strike and you know how these things work, it can attract solidarity and escalate. So

it is a time-bomb that government and other wellmeaning Deltans need to defuse by their immediate intervention with a view to discontinuing the anti-labour practices and regular lay-off of staff by Chevron to avoid triggering a state-wide industrial crisis”, Akporeha insisted.

He said the maltreatment being meted out on the workers was not only a violation of their rights but also rebellious against the provisions of the International Labour Organization (ILO) as articulated in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and other international instruments.

Support group alleges plot to disrupt Alao-Akala's guber declaration Sola Adeyemo IBADAN

head of today's formal Aration gubernatorial declaof ex-Oyo State

governor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, a group, 'Team Akala' has alleged a clandestine plan by some politicians in the opposition party to cause mayhem in Ibadan in order to discredit the party.

This was contained in a statement signed by its Media Coordinator, Ademola Adeniyi and made available to New Telegraph in Ibadan yesterday.

However, in a swift reaction, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a statement signed by its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, faulted the group's claim, describing it as a false alarm coming from the camp of some noise makers.

"The APC is today popular for its ability to restore peace, tranquil-

ity and discipline in every sector of the society.

As far as Oyo State is concerned, the party will for no reason, encourage violence, social disorder and political brigandage again but rather collaborate with every patriotic citizen to sustain the prevailing atmosphere of peace and orderliness", he said.

"We are aware that they have printed T-shirts bearing the PDP logo, Alao-Akala and President Goodluck Jonathan's pictures to perpetrate the evil act", the Akala group had alleged.

It alleged that Governor Ajimobi and the APC had perfected the plan to storm the venue of the declaration with some political thugs and disrupt the event.

'Team Akala' therefore calls on the police and other security agencies in the state to ensure adequate security of lives and property, and apprehend anybody caught violating law and order during the declaration rally."

(Y-CAV), Comrade Roland Odih has urged youths from Edo and Delta states to devise means of protecting petroleum and pipelines installations in their areas rather than vandalising them.

Odih stated this while addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday after a two day sensitization programme organised by his Coalition for selected youths from Edo and Delta states held in Ughelli North Local Government area of Delta state.

He charged youths from the two states to be patriotic to their country by ensuring that its infrastructures are not vandalized by them.

The Coordinator further urged them to work with the Coalition, the federal government, all security and relevant agencies in preserving and protecting the various power projects and facilities within their domain.

Odih who explained the socio-economic, collective and individual benefits derivable from having the power plants and allied facilities functioning in full capacities across the country, urged the youths to support government efforts at improving the well-being of the people of their various states.

He said the programme, which was the pilot phase is expected to span through three years with the coordination and support of the Federal Ministries of Power and Petroleum Resources.

Fasehun tasks S/West governors on security Wale Elegbede and president Fistounder of the Yoruba nationalorganization, Oodua

Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr. Fredrick Fasehun, has urged governors in the South-West zone to financially support informal security apparatuses in their domain, warning that such private outfits should not be taken for granted.

Speaking in Lagos at an event to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the OPC, Fasehun said state governors in the South-West must find a way of disbursing security votes to informal security apparatuses like his own.

“While people are sleeping and snoring, OPC watchmen are out in the dark and in the

cold, keeping the night watch to guarantee that citizens sleep in peace.

Various state governors earn mind-boggling sums every month as security votes.

“One particular state governor in the SouthWest reputedly earned N48 billion, at the rate of N500 million monthly, in the eight years he spent in government. What stops these governors from spending money on informal security apparatuses like OPC?” He queried.

Fasehun who called on members of the group to get involved in active politics as 2015 election inches closer, said the background and various trainings acquired over the time from the group has made its members better citizens that could lead in any facet of life.

VC warns against exam malpractices, occultism Musa Pam JOS

he Vice chancellor UniTHayward versity of Jos, Prof.

Mafuyai has

warned all students of the Institution to desist from any form of examination Misconduct and Cult activities, saying offenders would be summarily expelled.

He also disclosed that all registered students with false certificate or incomplete qualifications will be withdrawn from the University.

Mafuyai stated this Yesterday during the Matriculation of 1005 students into the B.ED Long Vacation Programme of the Faculty of education held at the Multipurpose Auditorium of the University in Jos.

"If at any point in time, any of you is found to have registered with false certificates or incomplete qualifications, you will be withdrawn from the programme and you need to avoid examination misconduct all through your stay in this University. If you are caught engaging in any form of examination misconduct and occultic activities, the penalty is outright expulsion", he threatened.

According to him, the matriculation has great significance and should not be taken as a mere routine. He said: "It is a promise you are to respect. You also have to observe the provisions of the University of Jos laws and statutes, ordinance and regulations".

50

WORLD | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

French mum reunited with toddler taken by alleged jihadi father

A

young French mother whose two-year-old daughter was smuggled out of the country by her father and reportedly taken to jihadist centres in Syria arrived home yesterday after they were reunited in Turkey. Meriam Rhaiem, 25, made headlines in March with an emotional appeal to French authorities to recognise her baby girl as “the youngest French hostage”. Mother and daughter arrived at Villacoublay air base outside Paris at 2:15am Wednesday (0015 GMT) aboard a plane chartered by the French interior

ministry.

“It’s a moment of great emotion with the arrival of Meriam Rhaiem and her daughter Assia, after months of waiting,” said Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve who went out onto the tarmac to meet the plane. He noted “the trials this young woman has endured, fighting hard for the return of her daughter who was kidnapped in circumstances which aren’t clear.”

He thanked the Turkish authorities for their role in the family reunion which led to “the best possible outcome”. Rhaiem, hold-

ing her child in a beige blanket and flanked by her lawyer who was also on the plane from Turkey, made no comment upon her arrival.

Rhaiem, who lives in eastern France, had said she was certain her French husband, whom she is divorcing, and who is wanted under an international arrest warrant, was in Syria where he was seeking to join jihadists. The father was arrested last weekend with their 28-month-old daughter Assia in Turkey, where he is still being held, a French interior ministry source said. Assia’s father

had failed to bring his daughter home after spending the day with her in October last year, and had left France by road bound for Turkey, from where he called his wife regularly and asked her to come and join them.

He had also said he planned to cross into Syria with their daughter to join the Al-Nusra Front, which is Al-Qaeda’s official Syrian affiliate. Cazeneuve told French radio yesterday that the father “had taken this child into the theatre of jihadist operations in Syria”, adding she was “in danger every day.” He paid

tribute to “a brave mother (who) decided to get her child back.”

According to Rhaiem’s lawyer Gabriel Versini-Bullara, her husband had become radicalised after travelling to Mecca, asking her to wear the veil, criticising her for working or banning her from playing music to Assia. Like a number of European countries, France has expressed concern over radicalised people leaving the country to fight in Iraq and Syria, with fears that they could pose a risk to domestic security on their return.

Obama plans to ‘degrade and destroy’ Islamic State

T

he United States plans to fight Islamic State until it is no longer a force in the Middle East and will seek justice for the killing of American journalist Steven Sotloff, President Barack Obama said on yesterday. He added destroying the militant group will take time because of the power vacuum in Syria, the abundance of battle hardened fighters that grew out of al-Qaeda in the Iraqi war, and the need to build coalitions, including with local Sunni communities.

Islamic State released a video two days ago showing the beheading of the U.S. journalist, the second American hostage to be killed within weeks, in retaliation for U.S. air strikes in Iraq.

“The bottom line is this, our objective is clear and that is to degrade and destroy (Islamic State) so that it’s no longer a threat not just to Iraq but also the region and to the United States,” Obama told a news conference. “Whatever these murderers think they will achieve with killing innocent Americans like Steven, they have already failed,” Obama said. “They failed because, like people around the world, Americans are repulsed by their barbarism. We will not

be intimidated.”

U.S and British officials both examined the video, showing the same British-accented executioner who appeared in an Aug. 19 video of the killing of U.S. journalist James Foley, concluding it was authentic.

The United States resumed air strikes in Iraq in August for the first time since the pullout of U.S. troops in 2011 and Obama said the strikes are already proving effective.

“Those that make the mistake of harming Americans will learn that we will not forget and that our reach is long and that justice will be served,” he said.

“This is not going to be a one-week or one-month or six month proposition because of what’s happened in the vacuum of Syria, as well as the battle hardened elements of (Islamic State) that grew out of Al Qaeda in Iraq during the course of the Iraq war. It’s going to take time for us to be able to roll them back.”

The White House said late Tuesday that Obama was sending three top officials -- Secretary of State John Kerry, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and counterterrorism adviser Lisa Monaco -- to the Middle East “in the near-term to build a stronger regional partnership”

Murdered US journalist Sotloff ‘held Israel citizenship’

Yemen rebels reject presidential overture

U

S journalist Steven Sotloff, whose videotaped murder by the jihadist Islamic State group shocked the world, also held Israeli nationality, Israeli media reported yesterday.

The Haaretz newspaper cited a foreign ministry spokesman as saying that Sotloff, 31, held dual citizenship, although the ministry made no immediate comment when contacted by AFP. Public radio reported that Sotloff ’s family, who live in Miami, Florida, is Jewish and that he had studied in Herzliya, north of Tel Aviv.

The Islamic State made no reference to Sotloff being either Jewish or Israeli in the video it posted. His masked executioner said the killing was in retaliation for expanded US air strikes against jihadist fighters in Iraq over the past week.

Y

emeni Shiite rebels and activists took to the streets of Sanaa yesterday to reject a presidential overture to replace the government and reduce a disputed fuel price hike. Faced with increased pressure from the Shiite rebels, who are also known as Huthis, and a deepening political crisis, President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi announced the measures Tuesday.

The government has pledged that a 30 percent reduction in the fuel price hikes will take effect Thursday, its spokesman Rajeh Badi said. But the rebels, camped inside and outside Sanaa, rejected the initiative and yesterday hundreds blocked main roads inside the capital after calls to protest sent through radio. Demonstrators chanted slogans rejecting the presidential offer and called for more protests.

“Escalate! Escalate! We reject the initiative,” read a banner carried by protesters. “The people want to topple corruption,” they chanted. The protesters

Meriam Rhaiem holds her daughter after arriving in Veilizy-Villacoublay near Paris

Somali government offers amnesty to extremists

S

omalia’s government yesterday offered an amnesty to fighters with al-Shabab, the Islamic extremist group whose leader was targeted Monday night in a U.S. airstrike. Following a Cabinet-level security meeting Tuesday, Somali authorities are giving al-Shabab militants 45 days to take up the offer, Security Minister Khalif Ahmed Ereg told reporters yesterday in the Somali capital of Mogadishu.

cleared the road after a blockade that lasted more than three hours, an AFP correspondent said. Security forces had cordoned off roads leading to the government headquarters. No confrontations were reported but some residents complained about disruptions. “I am ill. I need to go to hospital but I could not reach it,” said Mohammed Haidar, 30. Speaking at a cabinet meeting yesterday, Hadi warned of “violence and chaos” and vowed that “we will work on achieving security and stability across the country and we will not be lenient regarding the security of the capital Sanaa.”

The presidential initiative stipulates naming a new prime minister within a week and reducing a recent fuel price hike, two demands of the rebels who accuse the government of corruption. The rebels’ spokesman, Mohammed Abdulsalam, dismissed the initiative as an attempt to “skirt around the demands of the Yemeni people,” writing on his Facebook page

He said the government “will create a better livelihood to build their future for those who meet the deadline.”

The offer of amnesty comes after a U.S. airstrike that targeted al-Shabab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane, whose fate remains unclear as U.S. and Somali officials assess the outcome of the attack.

Somali forces, backed by African Union troops, last week launched an offensive on

that the rebels “do not agree to it”. The initiative comes after Zaidi Shiite rebel leader Abdulmalik al-Huthi Sunday urged supporters to press on with a campaign in Sanaa to oust the government.

Zaidi fighters have been camped around the capital for the past two weeks and held protests throughout much of August to push for the government’s resignation. Analysts say the rebels are trying to establish themselves as the dominant political force in the northern highlands, where the Zaidi Shiites are the majority community. The government initiative demands the dismantling of the Huthis’ encampments within and around the capital, describing them as a “cause for tension”.

It also calls for bringing the northern province of Amran, where rebels have expanded their presence in past months, under full government control, as well as ending confrontations in nearby Jawf province.

al-Shabab’s last strongholds in southern Somalia, where the militants are believed to plot attacks across Somalia that have left scores dead this year. Al-Shabab is believed to have thousands of fighters in its ranks, fighting to impose Sharia law on Somalia, but the group faces increasing military pressure from African Union forces that helped to oust the militants from Mogadishu in 2011.

Al-Shabab has since resorted to tactics that include suicide bombings and assassinations of government officials. Godane, the group’s spiritual leader, claimed responsibility for a deadly attack a year ago on an upscale mall in neighboring Kenya, whose government has sent its army troops to fight al-Shabab in Somalia.

Somali authorities are trying to verify whether Godane, 37, was killed or wounded in the U.S. strike, government spokesman Ridwaan Abdiwali said yesterday.

Somalia’s government is certain that the strike hit “a gathering” of leaders of the Islamic extremist al-Shabab group and they are “in the process” of confirming who was hit in the attack Monday night, he said.

Abdiwali praised U.S. support in the war on the militant group, saying close military collaboration had helped to weaken al-Shabab. The U.S. confirmed Tuesday that the strikes, conducted by special operations forces using manned and unmanned aircraft, targeted Godane. The U.S. launched the operation based on “actionable” intelligence, said Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby, a Pentagon spokesman.

SPORT

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/sports

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

F

IFA have set a September 8 deadline for the NFF to get their house in order, otherwise Nigeria will be automatically suspended.

FIFA released the following statement on their site: Following the decision by the FIFA Emergency Committee, FIFA has today, 3 September 2014, sent a letter to

51

That with a total of 239 goals, Ronald Koeman was the best goalscoring defender in the history of football

tHURSday, september 4, 2014

FIFA set September 8 deadline for NFF Emmanuel Tobi

Did you know?

the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirming that the NFF will be suspended with immediate effect should there still be persons claiming to have been elected to NFF positions on 26 August 2014 and occupying their offices on Monday, 8 September 2014 at 08.00 (Central European Time).

The decision follows events linked to the NFF general assembly held on 26 August 2014. While the said general assembly was duly convened by the NFF

Executive Committee to adopt a new roadmap leading to the NFF elections, some members proceeded to hold elections in the absence of the NFF President, who was being held by security forces for questioning.

In a letter sent on 29 August 2014, FIFA confirmed that it would not recognise the results of the aforementioned elections and that the matter would be brought to the respective FIFA bodies should there still be persons claiming

to have been elected and occupying the NFF offices at midnight on 1 September 2014. On expiry of the deadline, some people were still claiming to have been elected and were occupying the NFF premises.

Given the current circumstances, the FIFA Emergency Committee has decided to set a new deadline of 8 September 2014 at 08.00 CET. Should the new deadline not be respected, the NFF will be automatically suspended until the board claiming to be elected vacates the premises of the NFF and the NFF General Secretary is able to perform CONTINUED ON PAGE 52

Tension, anxiety over NFF Elections lAmaju, Umeh, five others

fight for presidency EmmanueI Tobi and feanyi Ibeh

T

he mounting anxiety amongst football stakeholders in the country over the fate of the September 4 elective congress of the Nigeria Football Federation will hit its peak on Thursday, even as Chris Giwa, who took over the secretariat of the football body in the aftermath of his recent purported election, insists there won’t be any polls.

This was the situation before world football governing body, FIFA, sent a letter after its emergency meeting in Zurich, Switzerland, on Wednesday ordering the Aminu Maigari board to convene as soon as possible a first extraordinary general assembly to elect the members of the electoral committee and a second extraordinary general assembly in the shortest time possible allowed by law in order to proceed with the elections of new NFF office-bearers.The world body, even as it continues to threaten the country with a ban, has also failed to recognise the existence of the Giwa-led NFF board.

However, Giwa, on Wednesday, in a press statement made available to New Telegraph, declared the upcoming congress illegal.

The statement read: “It has come to the notice of the Nigeria Football Federation that some persons are spreading information to the effect that there is a Congress of the NFF taking place on Thursday, 4th September, 2014. This is absolutely untrue.

“If there would be any NFF Congress of any nature, the notice for such would come from the NFF secretariat. I am aware the NFF secretariat has not issued such notice.”

Giwa also dismissed reports that officials from FIFA and CAF would be in Nigeria to witness the elective congress, even as he warned chairmen and secretaries of the various state FA’s not to attend.

“There are no persons coming from FIFA or CAF, and there is no elective Congress because the elections have already been conducted,” continued the statement.

“This is to advise all the Chair men and Secretaries of the State Football Associations and those of NFF’s affiliate bodies to disregard the notice. We also urge the general public not to go anywhere near the venue of the gathering.”

The venue of the congress however continues to be shrouded in mystery.

Calabar, the Cross Rivers state capital, has for a while been touted as the congress’ venue, especially as the Super Eagles are scheduled to take on their Congolese counterparts on Saturday at the city’s U.J. Esuene Stadium in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

New Tele graph however gathered from sources that the cong ress could take place either in Warri or Lagos owing to concer ns over the safety of the delegates expected to attend the Congress, especially following the recent arrest and detenCONTINUED ON PAGE 52

Roll-call of candidates cleared PRESIDENT Ogunjobi Taiwo Joseph (Osun State) Yola Abba Abdullahi (Kano State) Chief Mike Umeh (Anambra State) Pinnick Amaju Melvin (Delta State) Iorfa Mtem Dominic (Benue State) Dikko Shehu (Kaduna State) Amanze U. Uchegbulam ( Imo State) 1ST VICE PRESIDENT Inyama Emeka (Abia state) Adamu Shehu (Kaduna State) Seyi Akinwunmi (Lagos State) CHAIRMAN OF CHAIRMEN Musa Gusau Ibrahim (Zamfara) ORDINARY MEMBERS

North Central Zone AgaraSilas(NasarawaState) Hon.SuleimanYahayaKwande(PlateauState) AhmedYusuf-Fresh(NigerState) BewarangBitrusYigol(PlateauState) NorthEastZone YahuzaAdamuHaruna(BauchiState) AbisoAlhajiBashir(BornoState) ModibboHussainiA.(TarabaState) KachallaBabaGanaKalli(BornoState) ZiraEmmanuelStephen(AdamawaState) NorthWestZone SharuRabiuInuwa(KanoState) BaleleAminu(KatsinaState) Babangida M. Tukur - (Kano State)

South East Zone Agwu Felix Anyasi (Abia State) Obikwelu Jude Benjamin Chukwudi (Anambra State) Okenwa Chidi Offor (Enugu State) Igbokwe Leonard Ikechukwu (Anambra State) South-South Zone Tenebe Jarrett Celestine (Edo State) GreenChristopherTam-Abinye(RiversState) Oswald Atuake (Cross River State) South West Zone Adepoju Emmanuel Olaleye (Oyo State) Tinubu B. Ayodeji (Lagos State) Otunba Sunday Dele Ajayi (Ondo State) Majekodunmi G.A. Adesina

52 SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Musa, Ambrose vow to wreck Congo Clement James Calabar

S

uper Eagles striker, Ahmed Musa, has told teammates that the2015 Nations Cup qualifier against Congo on Saturday is a must win for Nigeria.

Speaking with New Telegraph in Calabar on Wednesday, Musa expressed confidence in the ability of the team to secure the three points at stake.

“This is our home. We are playing at home and I don’t think we are here to lose at home. On Saturday, the better side will win,” he said.

Musa added that: “We are waiting for Saturday to come. I can tell you that we are prepared and we know Nigerians want us to suc-

ceed. I know with the caliber of players we have in the camp, Saturday’s match will come and go with victory on our side.”

On the possibility of his quitting his present club, CSKA Moscow for a Premiership club, Musa said: “I am happy in Moscow and I have a bright future before me. So, I am not in a hurry to leave my club now.”

Similarly, Efe Ambrose, has assured Nigerians that the Super Eagles will wreck the Red Devils of Congo when both teams clash at the UJ Esuene stadium, Calabar on Saturday.

“We know what is at stake and both individually and collectively, we are going to ensure that we foil their plan and go on to win,” Ambrose declared.

Continuing, he said: “For us, we don’t want to talk too much

but look forward to the match on Saturday. We know that we will do our best. The technical input has been okay, the players are excited to be back together and we are ready to do the country proud. So, there is really nothing to worry about.”

He said the team was ready to defend the AFCON cup and will kick off its campaign with a win on Saturday.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Sterling Bank rewards Arsenal fans

Charles Ogundiya

Bank is set to reward its Snewterling faithful customers ahead of the season after a successful one

year partnership with English Premiership side, Arsenal FC. Speaking during a press conference to flag off Sterling Bank Arsenal Promo in Lagos on Wednesday, the Executive director of the bank, Abubakar Suleiman, said the bank was happy with the achievements recorded

NFF crisis: Reps urges parties to consider national interest Philip Nyam Abuja

T

he House of Representatives on Wednesday urged all parties in the ongoing leadership crisis rocking the Nigeria Football Federation, to abide by whatever resolution it comes up with in the interest of Nigerian football.

Chairman of the House committee on sports, Godfrey Ali Gaiya, who made the appeal at the end of a three-day fact finding meeting with stakeholders in Abuja also disclosed that the committee would takes its decision on the issue today (Thursday) at a world press conference.

He called for restraints by all the warring parties saying ‘’my

FIFA set September 8 deadline for NFF CONTINUED FROM PAGE 51

his work without interference. The NFF Executive Committee as it was composed on 25 August 2014, meaning under the presidency of Aminu Maigari, should then convene as soon as possible a first extraordinary general assembly to elect the members of the electoral committee and a second extraordinary general assembly in the shortest time possible allowed by law in order to proceed with the elections of new NFF officebearers.

appeal to all of you, is to trust us.

Whatever position we come up, we urge that you should all be willing to abide by it. We are looking at a position that will suite majority of parties involved. ‘’I want to assure you that we have taken note of all the issues raised, and God willing, we will do our best to come up with resolutions that will attempt to address them as we do not have the instrument to coerce or force compliance.”

This is even as the Ambassador Chris Giwa-led board had on Tuesday told the Committee that the only way out of the crisis is for all parties to uphold the NFF status, which subjects any contested process to an appeal committee.

Efe Ambrose holding off Greece’s Ioannis Fetfatzidis during an international friendly match

Ghanaian referees for Nigeria, Congo match Ajibade Olusesan he Confederation of AfriTmatch can Football has appointed officials from Ghana for Saturday’s first leg of the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifier between Nigeria and Congo, billed for

Iheanacho in Nigeria, battles hamstring injury Moyosore Makinde igeria and Manchester City striker, NNigeria Kelechi Iheanacho, has returned to and is recuperating from a hamstring injury he picked up after City’s pre-season tour of the United States of America.

He is expected back in England at the end of next month, when he is to sign a professional contract as he would clock 18 on October 3.

Iheanacho, who was voted the MVP of last year’s FIFA U17 World Cup in UAE, shone at the recent preseason tour of the US by the English Premier League champions, scoring three goals.

Manchester City boss Manuel Pel-

legrini hailed the Nigerian starlet as the future of the EPL champions.

“We have new players. ...Kelechi is just 17 years old and he’s a very important player for us in the future,” Pellegrini remarked.

Meanwhile, Iheanacho is expected to secure a loan move from Manchester City when the transfer window opens in January so as to get first team action.

“He will go on loan in January,” revealed a top Manchester City official.

However, the official would not divulge the destination of the exciting Nigeria U20 star. Speculations have been rife he could be shipped out to City’s affiliate New York City FC in the MLS.

I can’t beg Ik Uche to play for Nigeria -Keshi Emmanuel Tobi

S

uper Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has revealed that he can’t beg Ikechukwu Uche to play for Nigeria after the Villareal of Spain striker shunned fresh invitation extended to him.

The Eagles coach informed journalists in Calabar on Wednesday Ik Uche was supposed to be part of the Nations Cup preparatory team currently in Calabar but he wanted to be begged.

“He was supposed to be

in the past one year and ready to reward their customers with some interesting rewards.

“We were truly committed to what we said we are going to do, today we have over 60,000 Arsenal fans as our customers that have decided to be partner with us and bank with us which is actually more than we envisaged when we started the partnership.

“Today also marks a major landmark as we try to reward those customers that are passionate about Arsenal, I can also tell you that the club has done far better in the past one year that we partnered with them by winning the FA Cup and the Community shield after nine years.

While describing the promo system, the Head of Retail Products Unit, Gbenga Adegoke, said 30 customers would have the opportunity to watch their darling team play inside the Emirates Stadium starting with the home match against Stoke City in January.

“The promo starts from today (Wednesday) till the end of the season in May. Six fans will have the privilege of an all-expense paid trip to England among other rewards,” Adegoke said.

Speaking further, Adegoke said the first draw would be in December with customers advised to maintain a minimum balance of N30,000 for three months to be eligible for the draws.

part of the team that is presently in camp but he said we must beg him first to play for Nigeria because he was left out of some competitions but I can’t beg anyone to play for Nigeria, impossible. That’s why he is not here.”

Saturday at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

39-year-old Joseph Lamptey who is a Fifa referee will be at the centre while he will be assisted by compatriots Abdul Malik Seidu and David Laryea.

Williams Agbovi who was named the best referee in the Ghana Premier League last season serves as the fourth official while Abdoulkadri Boube from Niger will serve as match commissioner.

The quartet are expected in Nigeria on Thursday.

Clashes between Nigeria and Congo at international level are few and far between, but the Devils famously held the Eagles to a 0-0 draw in Lagos in a group phase match at the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations, and

last year, the Golden Eaglets mauled the Congo U-17 side 7-0 at the African U-17 Championship in Morocco.

Lamptey

Tension, anxiety over NFF Elections C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 5 1

tion of Maigari by agents of the Department of State Services on the day of the controversial congress that saw Giwa emerge as president of the NFF. The choice of Warri is likely due to the interest shown by Delta State Sports C ommi ssi o n ch a i r m a n , Amaju Pinnick, in the NFF presidency, while the choice of Lagos is possibly due to the fact that Lagos State FA boss, Seyi Akinwumi, has shown interest in vying for the post of NFF vice-president.

Besides Pinnick, six oth-

ers have been cleared to vie for the NFF top post. They are former NFF vice-president, Amanze Uchegbulam; former NFF secretary general and current boss of the Osun State FA, Taiwo Ogunjobi; former Nigeria international and long-serving chairman of Lobi Stars FC, Dominic Iorfa, and Kano Pillars boss, AbbaYola Abdullahi.

Others are Mike Umeh, who acted as NFF president in the absence of Aminu Maigari, and Shehu Dikko.

Along with Akinwunmi, other candidates for the NFF vice-presidency are Emeka Inyama and Shehu Adamu.

SPORT | EURO FOOTBALL

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Costa made me leave Chelsea – Torres

F

ernando Torres admits he knew his time at Chelsea was up when they signed Diego Costa, and he is excited about his new challenge at AC Milan.

Torres switched from Liverpool to Chelsea in a then-British transfer record £50million deal in January 2011.

Despite winning a UEFA Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup with the club, he never found the form he showed at Anfield and, after Chelsea recruited Costa this summer, Torres knew he needed to move on.

He is now relishing helping Milan get back to the top in Serie A after

moving to the San Siro on a twoyear loan.

“Obviously I could see what the season at Chelsea was going to be. They signed a striker that was expecting to play and I need to have this feeling of being important,” said Torres at his unveiling in Italy. “I want to thank my two English clubs, Liverpool for bringing me to the Premier League and Chelsea for the trophies I won.

“After all these years, however, I needed a change, something that would give me the desire to play, to feel important. AC Milan

‘Di Maria wanted PSG, not United’

P

aris St Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi believes Angel di Maria wanted to move to his club - and not Manchester United - from Real Madrid in the summer transfer window.

Al-Khelaifi reckons the only reason the 26-year-old did not move to the Parc des Princes was because PSG could not agree a fee with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.

“For two or three weeks I discussed this issue with my friend Florentino Perez, the president of Real Madrid,” Al-Khelaifi said. “We met twice, we made an offer, but we did not agree on the price. For me it was too expensive.

It has nothing to do with Financial Fair Play. The player wanted to come to Paris, but this was not possible.”

The French side has invested hugely in players over the past couple of years, signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Di Maria

Balotelli

Milan happy with van Ginkel signing

Ginkel(right)

Milan are delighted to have seen AofCtheir persistence pay off in the pursuit Chelsea midfielder Marco van Ginkel.

It appeared at one stage as if a seasonlong loan would not happen, with the Hol-

Falcao’s exit saddens Monaco onaco vice-chairman Vadim he said, believing to be at Real M Vasilyev admits he was not and United’s level was ‘imposhappy at Radamel Falcao’s de- sible’.

Fernando Torres (right) and Diego Costa

parture, but the club must move on.

In comments reported by L’Equipe, Vasilyev is quoted as saying: “If he had left for Real Madrid, that could have lent to that theory, but that is not the case. That he was going to leave, one day, maybe, but not after a season. That was not planned.

“I understand (fans’ disappointment) but that is football. If there is an offer and the player wants to leave. I am not happy that Falcao left, but when a player wants to leave, you shouldn’t keep him. It is nonsensical.”

Monaco also lost James Rodriguez to Real Madrid and Vasilyev believes the club should be proud.

“We should be proud that our players are going there. I believe in our project but we are not at the level that those clubs are at,”

land international initially reluctant to commit to a deal.

Having spent so long sidelined through injury, Van Ginkel was determined to prove his worth to Jose Mourinho and earn a regular role at Stamford Bridge.

He has, however, accepted that a spell in Italy may be of greater benefit in the long run, allowing him to get important minutes under his belt.

Milan are delighted to have him, with another of their summer acquisitions from Chelsea – Fernando Torres – helping to force through a move.

Vice-president Adriano Galliani said at Torres’ unveiling on a two-year loan arrangement: “The most difficult deal was Van Ginkel’s one because he resisted our negotiation, he wanted to be a regular at Chelsea.

“To build one of the biggest clubs in the world you need more than money and ambition: you need to be in a big town, to have a population around you, play in a big league. There are several elements there which just don’t exist. But we can reach a very good European level and play a role in the Champions League.”

Falcao

Real exits shock Ronaldo

is all I needed, a great club with great fans where I will try to shine and come back ristiano Ronaldo is surmyself. We need to return prised to have seen Real to the first three (Serie A Madrid allow Angel di teams) and I want to get Maria and Xabi Alonso leave back my past levels. over the summer.

Di Maria, an important creative influence and leading assist maker, has departed for Manchester United, while World Cup-winning midfielder Alonso has been allowed to join Bayern Munich.

Both men have played a leading role in maintaining Ronaldo’s prolific strike rate in Madrid and the Portugal international admits it is too early to tell whether Perez’s

and David Luiz. Al-Khelaifi claimed Financial Fair Play (FFP) was not a fair rule and said his club would meet with UEFA to urge them to reconsider it.

53

C

Ronaldo

changes will help or hinder last season’s UEFA Champions League winners.

He said: “I have strong opinions but I can’t always say what I think. Otherwise it would be on the front page and I don’t want that.

“But if it was to me, I wouldn’t have done so.

“But if the president thinks the best thing for the team is to sign players and let others leave, we must respect and support the decision.

“With new players the style will change and it may change for better or worse.

Arsenal move thrills Welbeck anny Welbeck says the time DUnited was right to leave Manchester and believes he can be a

big success at Arsenal.

The England striker joined the Gunners in a surprise move on deadline day.Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger wanted another striker following an injury to Olivier Giroud, who is out until the new year.

Welbeck felt the time was right to leave the club where he grew up, and he revealed that he has imagined what it might be like to play for Arsenal, with their impressive array of midfield talent.

“It’s exciting times for me,” he told the club’s official website.

“It’s great to be a part of this club and it’s a team that I’ve always watched in the Premier League.

I’ve envisaged myself playing in this team before. For it to finally happen is very exciting.

“I believe the style of play the manager’s got and the boys play, and with the magnificent players in midfield slotting balls through, I can run on to the end of those balls and slot them away.”

Welbeck admits Monday was a rollercoaster ride, with the move appearing to stall on a number of occasions.

“It went right down to the wire in the end,” he said. “It’s difficult to say how I felt at the (different) times of each day because the deal was on and then it was off but at the end of the day I’m an Arsenal player and I couldn’t be any happier at the Welbeck moment.

Why I left Man City – Richards icah Richards has revealed that he turned M down a new deal at Manchester City to join Fiorentina on a season-long loan.

The agreement to take Richards to Italy includes the option for a permanent move to be made next summer.

The 26-year-old is taking in his first experience outside of City, having graduated through the academy ranks at the reigning Premier League champions to become an England international and the longestserving player in an era of big-spending.

He has been part of the first-team setup since 2005, but has found opportunities increasingly hard to come by – with Pablo Zabaleta currently blocking his path to a right-back berth.

Richards has remained an important part of the fold, so much so that City were prepared to offer him a salary increase, but he feels the time has come to try something different and kick-start his career at an ambitious Serie A side.

He told talkSPORT: “I’m desperate to play football. It’s been a frustrating two years at Manchester City. It’s my club and I’ve given my blood, sweat and tears for them. When you find yourself not playing, it’s hard.

“I was offered a new contract and I thought long about it. I was offered more money at City but it’s not about the money, it’s about playing football now. It was so, so hard to leave and it was an emotional day for me.”

54 SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Top 10 summer transfers in Europe

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Sanchez

The 2014 summer transfer is over and following are the top 10 deals during the window. games. Indeed, the 27-year-old has wasted no time demonstrating his eye for a killer pass and his ability to orchestrate games and create an endless amount of chances.

At £27m, the Spaniard did not come cheap. But his exceptional start suggests the Blues will be repaid every penny in terms of quality on the pitch.

Diego Costa Chelsea, £32 million

Suarez

Costa

Mario Balotelli Liverpool, £16 million In today’s transfer market, when loan fees far exceed what used to be considered a huge sum for a permanent transfer, what odds would you have got on a vastly experienced 23-year-old going for just £16 million?

That’s what Liverpool got themselves with their signing of Mario Balotelli from AC Milan this month, with many calling the deal an absolute steal.

The Italy striker’s chequered past - and Milan’s desire to sell - may have knocked a few million off his fee - but, on value alone, Balotelli is easily one of the signings of the summer even if Brendan Rodgers only gets one good season out of him.

Another Chelsea signing to feature in HITC Sport’s top five, Diego Costa’s impact after three Premier League games has simply been scary.

In his first two games for Jose Mourinho’s side, Costa scored two goals in as many shots. In his next appearance for the Blues, the Spaniard scored twice at Everton despite not being fully fit.

Finally, there is a striker at Stamford Bridge that could be clinical enough to win them titles again.

Cesc Fabregas - Chelsea, £27 million Arguably the best all-round import onto English shores this summer, Cesc Fabregas has already proven what he is capable of Alexis Sanchez - Arsenal, £35 million Arsenal fans have become accustomed at Chelsea after just three Premier League

Balotelli

to certain standards at the Emirates Stadium these means at least days. That one marquee signing every year.

This summer, it was World Cup and former Barcelona star Alexis Sanchez that brought a smile to Gunners fans’ faces. At 25 - and with a pricetag of £35m - Sanchez is, quite simply, a world-class signing.

Toni Kroos to Real Madrid – $40.9 million Despite helping his nation go all the way to winning football’s greatest trophy this summer, Toni Kroos has made a massive transfer from Bayern Munich to Real Madrid. Although he was a major player in Germany’s World Cup triumph, he wasn’t often in the starting XI at the Allianz Arena, and thus has moved to the Bernabeu for an estimated $40.9 million. That being said, Kroos h a s claimed that his move was motivated by the fact that he thinks Real Madrid are “the greatest club in the world” and that there was “no other club” for him – much to the ire of Bayern supporters.

James Rodriguez to Real Madrid – $634 million The winner of the Golden Boot trophy at this summer’s World Cup despite Colombia crashing out in the quarterfinals, James Rodriguez’s spectacular performances at the tournament earned him a move to Real Madrid – to the tune of about $107.4 million in a transfer fee. Although Real Madrid’s midfield is worth a fortune in transfer fees just by itself – coming up to about $634 million combined between him, Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Asier Illarramendi, Xabi Alonso and Isco – James most certainly has the talent to make a name for himself at the Bernabeu despite the ridiculous array of talent the team possesses.

Luis Suarez to Barcelona – $127.8 million Not only is this transfer the most expensive on this list at $127.8 million, it’s also by far the most controversial. Unless you lived under a rock, you saw and/or heard about Luis Suarez’s bite on Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini at this summer’s World Cup that earned him a four-month suspension from all football-related activities. As such, Suarez can’t even enter the Nou Camp thanks to his ban. Regardless, the Blaugrana took a flyer on him thanks to his sublime footballing skills despite his controversial behaviour. Sadly for Barcelona supporters, he won’t be able to showcase such skills in

their unifor m until his suspension ends October 26th.

David Luiz to Paris SaintGermain – $85 million PSG have been known for spending big in recent Di Maria years, and their recent $85 million purchase of David Luiz from Chelsea is no exception. However, the Ligue 1 champions may be regretting dropping so much money on someone who’s probably better suited as a defensive midfielder than a central defender. If you need proof of why, just take a look at the wild-haired Brazilian’s shambolic performances for his country in the latter stages of the FIFA World Cup this past summer – in particular, his poor showing in a 7-1 rout at the hands of eventual champions Germany. How quickly David Luiz can come back from those performances while playing in France is so far unknown.

Angel Di Maria £59.7 Desperate to halt the slide that saw them finish seventh in the Premier League last season, United signed Di Maria for a British-record fee of almost £60 million. The skilful Argentina winger, voted man of the match in May’s Champions League final, made his debut in United’s 0-0 draw at Burnley on Saturday Radamel Falcao £6 million United pulled off a stunning coup on the last day of the transfer window by signing prolific Colombia striker Falcao on a season-long loan with an option for a permanent £43 million transfer. The 28-yearold could form a devastating three-pronged attack alongside Wayne Rooney Not the signing United, nor the footballing world, expected. Yet Louis Van Gaal couldn’t resist. The Premier League debutant is a classic modern-day striker - big, fast-paced, quick-footed, strong and big.

The arrival of 28-year-old Falcao sparked new moves around United, who have failed to win any of their first three games in the Premier League.

SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, September 4, 2014

US OPEN Federer breezes through, meets Montfils in quarters

R

oger Federer buried another of last year’s ghosts by defeating Roberto Bautista Agut to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open.

Twelve months ago, the 17time grand slam champion was a shadow of himself in a straight-sets loss to Tommy Robredo in the fourth round.

He has turned his form around impressively this year and against another Spaniard a repeat never looked on the cards.

Federer was not quite at his brilliant best and allowed Bautista Agut to claw his way back from 5-1 to 5-4 in the opening set.

But he kept his nose in front throughout and emerged a 6-4 6-3 6-2 winner to set up a lasteight meeting with Gael Monfils.

Federer said: “It was difficult, we both had to adjust to the wind. I’m always happy when I get through these type of matches. I’d never played Bautista Agut before and it was tough. I’m happy I was

able to control the match out there.”

Federer and Monfils have had plenty of tight battles, although the Swiss has won seven of their previous nine matches.

Monfils upset Grigor Dimitrov in unexpectedly comprehen-

Berdych cruises into last-eight

sixth seed Tomas Cilic but the Croatian CUSzech Berdych reached the won their most recent Open quarter-finals meeting in straights

sive fashion to reach his second US Open quarter-final.

It was the best match-up of the fourth round in the bottom half of the draw but seventh seed Dimitrov was off his game and went down 7-5 7-6 (8/6) 7-5.

Federer

on Tuesday with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 win over Austria’s Dominic Thiem.

Berdych, a semifinalist, in 2012 will tackle Croatia’s Marin Cilic for a place in the semi-finals.

The big Czech has a 5-3 career lead over

Wozniacki to face Peng in semifinal

F

ormer world number one Caroline Wozniacki and first-time Grand Slam semi-finalist Peng Shuai will meet for a place in the US Open title match after dominant victories early Wednesday.

Wozniacki, the runnerup at Flushing Meadows in 2009, dismissed 13thseeded Italian Sara Errani 6-0, 6-1 and is back in the semi-finals of a major for the first time since the 2011 US Open.

China’s Peng, in the quarter-finals of a major

for the first time in her 37th attempt, made similarly short work of Swiss teen Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-1.

Peng joined two-time Grand Slam champion Li

Wozniacki

Na and Zheng Jie as the only Chinese to reach the last four of a Grand Slam.

“Thirty-seven times Grand Slam,” Peng said, then had to stop the thought as she struggled to contain her emotions after taking apart Bencic in just 64 minutes.

“It’s a little bit too exciting,” she said. “I love tennis, I love to play, but it’s a long time, the career.

It’s tough. Sometimes I’ve thought to give up and stop playing because I don’t know if I can make

55

it or not.

“My coach and my parents always told me to fight and not give up - that today was coming.”

Wozniacki was similarly convincing on a windy night on Arthur Ashe Stadium court, where towels from the players’ chairs and stray plastic bags had to be corraled.

In a match between two players with an uncanny ability to extend rallies, Wozniacki’s 26 outright winners to the 12 of Errani made the difference.

sets in the Wimbledon third round.

Berdych, who reached the semifinals here two years ago, is 1-4 lifetime in fourth-round matches in Flushing Meadows.

The top player from the Czech Republic is attempting to reach his 11th major quarter-final.

Since 2010, Berdych is 9-3 in major fourth-round matches after starting with a 1-9 record in fourth-round decisions from 2004-’09.

Berdych

South Africa coach plots how to stop Musa lcelebrates Moses’ absence

Emmanuel Tobi

B Nigeria’s Ahmed Musa controls the ball against Argentina’s Pablo Zabaleta during the 2014 FIFA World Cup

Ikpeba: NFF needs visionary leaders like Amaju Emmanuel Tobi ormer Super Eagles Fthrown striker, Victor Ikpeba, has his weight behind

Delta State Football Association Chairman, Pinnick Amaju, as the next President of the Nigeria Football Federation, stating that the NFF needs visionary and men of integrity like Amaju for the body to regain its lost glory.

“Amaju is a man of integrity. He loves excellence and knows how to get the sponsorship deals that will help our football to develop beyond the current level. I can assure the delegates that if they vote for Amaju that

they will not regret their decision as our football will rank at per with the standard in Europe and America,” he told New Telegraph.

He added that Amaju has transformed Delta Sports which has seen the state remain the strongest force in sports in Nigeria in the last five years.

“His records speak volumes and it is fair for Nigeria to give him the chance to serve our fatherland for peace and progress of our football. He will make the NFF self-sufficient financially because he has a vast business network, that has been built with trust, integrity and visionary leadership”, said Ikpeba.

afana Bafana of South Africa coach, Shakes Mashaba, has concluded plans to make Super Eagles winger, Ahmed Musa, ineffective when they host Nigeria in the second game of the 2015 Nations Cup qualifier billed for September 10 in Cape Town, South Africa.

Bafana Bafana left Wednesday morning for Khartoum for Friday night’s qualifier against Sudan, Mashaba’s first game in charge. They return on Saturday to play Nigeria in Cape Town on Wednesday.

New Telegraph gathered from the camp of South Africa that Mashaba who expressed relief with Victor Moses’ absence, has warned his players to be wary of Ahmed Musa whom he described as the main threat alongside Emmanuel Emenike considering the former’s superlative

goals at the World Cup. To this end, the coach revealed he will fortify his midfield with FC Twente midfielder Kamohelo Mokotjo in the central midfield position but added that the 23-year old will have to compete with Andile Jali, Dean Furman and Sibusiso Vilakazi for a place to stop the rampaging Super Eagles strikers.

“The Sudan game’s very important. We have to get the country back on top, and it starts with this game and then we focus on how to cage Nigeria,” Mashaba added.

The Super Eagles are expected to fly into Cape Town on Tuesday morning for an AFCON qualifier against South Africa the following day, officials said.

South Africa are yet to beat Nigeria in a competitive full international game. Both countries clashed at this year’s CHAN staged by South Africa with the West Africans again running away 3-1 winners.

Odemwingie to undergo knee surgery

N

igeria forward, Peter Odemwingie, has revealed that a surgery is now “required” for his injured cruciate knee ligament.

Odemwingie is now expected to miss a larger period of the current season following the injury he sustained in Stoke City’s 1-0 win at Manchester City on Saturday.

Reports suggest that the former Bendel Insurance man could be out for up to 10 months.

The 33-year-old Nigerian confirmed on Tuesday that he faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines, as “I will miss many games of the season.”

The former Cardiff City and West Brom man wrote on his Twitter account: “It’s confirmed now surgery is

required. Really gutted I will miss many games of the season. I Will work hard to be back as early as possible.

“We have a strong squad that will do great in the league and I will be back well in time for the Wembley finals!”

Initially Odemwingie’s injury was perceived to be a minor knock after he was stretchered off the pitch in Stoke City’s famous win at the Etihad over the weekend.

But the injury to Odemwingie, who is considered an important figure at Stoke City, forced the club’s manager, Mark Hughes, to sign Moroccan winger, Oussama Assaidi, on loan from Liverpool on the deadline day of the summer transfer window. Osaze (middle)

World Record

On Marble

If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God.

– Gilbert K. Chesterton

The tallest man living is Sultan Kösen (Turkey, born 10 December 1982) who measured 251 cm (8 ft 3 in) in Ankara, Turkey, on 08 February 2011.

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

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 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

N150

In Nigeria, who protects the protector?

I

t is bad that many Nigerians have been left to cater for themselves by the government. One of my friends always refers to himself as a local government chairman. Why? He provides his own water (borehole), security (vigilante), electricity (generating set) and road. This applies to most Nigerians, including many of those reading this column.

Worse still, Nigerians are often left in the cold if something terrible happens to them. Those who work for government too suffer the same fate. If the government is not ready to take care of its very own, one can imagine what happens to private citizens.

The story of the Ugiagbe family, as reported by New Telegraph on Tuesday, is both pathetic and shameful.

Henry Ugiagbe must have joined the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in 1980 with so much enthusiasm. For 29 years, he worked with so much zeal and he was serving at B Department (Transport), Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos State when the unexpected happened on February 1, 2009.

He was conveying, alongside other officers, some newly-acquired police vehicles from Lagos to Abuja when he started feeling uncomfortable. Ugiagbe was immediately rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo where he died of cardiac arrest.

Immediately this happened, the wheel of progress stopped for his widow and five children. Today, the family members are seeking the intervention of the Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba, to get what is due to their late breadwinner.

A petition written on the widow’s behalf by Festus Keyamo Chambers to Abba reads: “Since his death, the process of getting his pension by his widow and children has been fraught 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. 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. 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

TALKING TOUGH GABRIEL AKINADEWO gabyfola@hotmail.com - 08023010222 (sms only)

The Ugiagbes

entitlements and gratuities of retired and deceased police officers. The forceful ejection of families of deceased police officers before the payment of their entitlements was a terrible way of paying back policemen who had faithfully served their fatherland. We urge the IGP to look into the issue of Mrs Ugiagbe and her children”.

A visit to the apartment yesterday by one of our reporters revealed that the widow and her children had been ejected. A few weeks ago, Nigerians also read how some widows were ejected from barracks without the pensions of their dead spouses being paid.

Obviously, when tragedy strikes an officer in our security forces in the line of duty, there are questions that will immediately face the immediate members of the family. The most important is ‘what does the future hold?’

What exactly is the offence of the Ugiagbe family members that they have to be treated this way?

Who protects those who protect us?

What happens to the benefits of these individuals who are killed while on official duty, leaving a family behind?

What of the physical pain and mental anguish of those left to mourn them by an imperfect system? What does the future hold for the children now that they have been thrown out of school?

Does the system expect other officers to be dedicated to their work and be patriotic when they see the way their colleague was treated, even in death?

Do we have any plan or policy, written or unwritten, that provides for the widow and children of any officer killed on duty? If yes, what of the response

factor?

Can you imagine the trauma the Ugiagbe widow and children would have gone through in the last five years, waiting for the so-called benefits which, pitiably, refused to come? Now that they have been thrown out into the wilderness of poverty, hunger and joblessness, is the system not increasing the insecurity situation in the country? Faced with hardship, will some of the children not be forced to do the unthinkable?

In the United States (U.S.), the Public Safety Officers Benefits (PSOB) Act became a law on September 29, 1976, providing $50,000 death benefit for law enforcement officers who die in the line-of-duty. On December 15, 2003, the Act was amended to cover deaths from heart attack and stroke occurring in the line-of-duty.

On November 11, 1988, the benefit was increased from $50,000 to $100,000 and made retroactive to June 1, 1988. It also provided that every year, thereafter, the benefit would be increased to reflect any increase in the consumer price index. Listed below is the benefit payout and increment since 1988: • September 29, 1976 ($50,000) • June 1, 1988 ($100,000) • October 1, 1988 ($103,890) • October 1, 1989 ($109,460) • October 1, 1990 ($114,235) • October 1, 1991 ($119,894) • October 1, 1992 ($123,520) • October 1, 1993 ($127,499) • October 1, 1994 ($130,416) • October 1, 1995 ($134,571) • October 1, 1996 ($138,461) • October 1, 1997 ($141,556)

• October 1, 1998 ($143,943) • October 1, 1999 ($146,949) • October 1, 2000 ($151,635) • October 1, 2001 ($154,199) • October 26, 2001 ($250,000 • October 1, 2002 ($262,100) • October 1, 2003 ($267,494) • October 1, 2004 ($275,658) • October 1, 2005 ($283,385) • October 1, 2006 ($295,194) • October 1, 2007 ($303,064) • October 1, 2008 ($315,746) • October 1, 2009 ($311,810) • October 1, 2010 ($318,111) • October 1, 2011 ($323,035.75) • October 1, 2012 ($328,612.73) • October 1, 2013 ($333,604.68) Next month, the payout for this year will be announced and, definitely, it will be higher than that of last year.

Aside the death or disability benefits, the law makes provisions for financial assistance, up to higher education, to the dependants of federal, state, and local public safety officers killed or permanently and totally disabled as a result of traumatic injury sustained in the line of duty.

Despite the fact that each state police department ensures the payment of these benefits to spouses and children ‘almost immediately’, the Office of Special Programmes, Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice ensures the strict compliance with the PSOB programme and Public Safety Officers Educational Assistance (PSOEA) Programme nationwide. In essence, injustice to one is injustice to all. So, dependants of officers who died on duty will never be allowed to suffer unnecessarily. In fact, the surviving spouse and children under the age of 18 or 21 will continue their medical coverage 100 per cent. It is only if the surviving spouse remarries that the benefit for him or her will automatically terminate.

With provisions like these, Americans are ready to die for their country.

In Nigeria, who protects the protector?

OMOBABA

2015: I ‘LL BE WITH JONATHAN TILL THE END, SAYS YUGUDA

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