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Monday, February 17 - Friday February 21, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 3

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Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

CBN probes eight banks’ forex deals Boko Haram kills 50 in Borno, Adamawa border I Ayodele Aminu

n a bid to sanitise the forex market, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has launched an

investigation into the foreign exchange transactions of eight banks, New Telegraph can authoritatively reveal.

The rationale for the examination, according

to a top CBN official, was because of the huge foreign exchange demands they made in January on behalf of some Bureau De Change (BDC) operators.

The thinking of the

banking watchdog is that some of these transactions are spurious.

“The CBN is concerned that the foreign exchange

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CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

2015: APC shuts door on Atiku, settles for Buhari

lThe game plan: Oshiomhole, Amaechi considered as running mate; Banks on NorthWest, South-West votes; Tambuwal for Sokoto governor; Emirs to mobilise subjects

5 QUESTIONS FOR CBN Gov, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

Ayodele Ojo

T

he inner caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may have settled for the candidature of MajorGeneral Muhammadu Buhari for the February 14, 2015 presidential election.

A competent source in APC told New Telegraph that major stakeholders in the parties – Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) – that formed the APC have concluded plans to endorse Buhari’s candidature.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

has persistently 1. CBN defended value of the

Naira. Will the apex bank change its position?

of Nigeria’s reserves 2. Part was moved to the Yuan.

Is it viable when other countries are diversifying to dollar and gold?

has 3. Unemployment risen to 24 per cent. Is the CBN comfortable with this?

aggressive Cash 4. Will Reserve Ratio policy not constrain credit expansion and slow down growth?

L-R: Wife of the General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Folu Adeboye, the General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye; and President Goodluck Jonathan at the Olive Tree Parish of the Church, Ikoyi Lagos... yesterday photo: timothy ikuomenisan

Jonathan widens consultations, set to declare second term bid Page } 2 INSIDE

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AT A GLANCE

INVESTIGATION

METRO

Guns, guns everywhere: In the build up to 2015 elections, politicians are leaving ballot boxes for bullets Page 43

VIO official, banker arrested in Lagos over disappearance of N6.5m from customer’s account Page 37

constant 5. Does friction between the

government and the CBN governor not portend danger to the economy?

Response to these questions should be sent to: info@newtelegraphonline.com lNNPC GMD yet to respond to last week’s questions.

POLITICS

SPORT

I leaked coup plot to Shonekan and earned Abacha’s wrath, says ex-Internal Affairs Minister, John Shagaya Page 12

Close shave with death: ex-Super Eagles captain, Segun Odegbami, tells the story of his escape from armed robbers Page 53

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NEWS

RE-ELECTION President Jonathan seeks support of eminent Nigerians in his re-election bid.

Ayodele Ojo and Joe Ezuma

A

head of the February 14, 2015 presidential election, President Goodluck Jonathan has widened his consultations with stakeholders in the country.

He is also responding to the onslaught of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by taking the battle to its stronghold in the South-West.

The President has embarked on aggressive mobilisation in the SouthWest.

He was in Lagos at the weekend to engage some stakeholders on his reelection bid. Jonathan arrived on Saturday and was expected to leave on Sunday after holding series of consultations with some dignitaries.

On Saturday, he visited prominent Yoruba traditional rulers for consultations ahead of his formal declaration.

He was at the palaces

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday February 21, 2014

Jonathan widens consultations, set to declare for second term of Ooni of Ife, Alaafin of Oyo and Oba of Lagos for what his aides described as ‘private visit.’

The President also visited the Emir of Kano, Dr. Ado Bayero, before his shuttle to the South-West.

He is also expected to be in the South-East this week to continue his consultations and will receive prominent politicians returning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from opposition parties in Imo State on February 21.

Yesterday, the president met with the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, in Lagos.

A source said the president sought Adeboye’s support for his re-election bid at a private meeting.

Jonathan had earlier attended church service at the RCCG Olive Tree Parish, Ikoyi where Adeboye ministered.

It was learnt that after the series of consultations, Jonathan will declare his re-election bid.

Vice President Namadi Sambo is also expected to start criss-crossing the North to enlist the support of political, religious

and traditional leaders for Jonathan’s re-election.

He has personally and through proxies being interfacing with a couple of

traditional, political and religious leaders.

Also, several political groups are being formed to sell the Jonathan candi-

“Majority of the APC stakeholders have settled for Buhari as the presidential candidate in the 2015 election but that does not foreclose any other aspirant vying for the office. We consider Buhari above others as an asset to the APC in our quest for the Presidency,” the source said.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set November 16 for the flag off of presidential campaign.

Impeccable sources in the APC told New Telegraph that the choice of Buhari was arrived at based on certain criteria including, but not limited to: his credibility, wide acceptance, zero tolerance for corruption, electoral value and ability to pull crowd.

The choice is also influenced by the fact that the 2015 election is Buhari’s last battle and the North’s chance.

The northern factor is

expected to play a critical role in the presidential election.

Former governor of Lagos State and one of APC’s leaders, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday in Osogbo confirmed that the process for the emergence of the presidential candidate of the APC has commenced, assuring that the process would be open, transparent and acceptable to all members.

He said: “There has never been crisis in the party and there won’t be any crisis even after the selection of the party’s acceptable candidate.”

In the calculation of the APC leadership, Buhari is the only person that can confront President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 election.

This is hinged on the strength of his electoral value as demonstrated in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential elections.

The APC leadership believes that Buhari’s outing against Jonathan in the 2011 election is a major fac-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 48

L-R: Director General, Invest Hong Kong, Mr. Simon Galpin; Chairman, FBN Holdings, Dr. Oba Otudeko; Consul, Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Guo Yulu; and Group Managing Director, First Bank Nigeria Limited, Mr. Adebisi Onasanya, during the bank’s Invest Hong Kong inauguration in Lagos

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

28.3

the median age, in years, for men in the United States who married for the first time, according to a 2012 report. The median age for women was 25.8 Source: US National Health Staistics

4b

the number of monthly page views of all websites based on WordPress Content Management System in 2013 Source: wordpress.org/bluehost

tor considered in settling for his candidature.

Buhari, a former Head of State and presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), defeated Jonathan in 12 of the 19 states in the North in the 2011 election.

Of the 19 northern states, Jonathan won in seven - Kwara, Kogi, Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba and Adamawa.

Buhari, as the CPC candidate, defeated the President in 12 northern states of Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Borno, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara.

It is expected that the fortunes of Jonathan would further be depleted in the North as Kwara and Adamawa states are in the hands of APC while the party is sure of winning Nasarawa with the defection of former Governor Abdullahi Adamu to APC. Nasarawa has an APC governor.

In the 2011 poll, Jonathan, as an incumbent,

polled 22, 350, 242 votes to defeat Buhari, who got 11, 914,953 votes.

Most of Jonathan’s votes came from the South.

When the issue of age was raised, an aide of the former military ruler who craved anonymity said: “Age is not a barrier. In the presidential contest, age is not an issue as Buhari is eminently qualified for the office of President of Nigeria. So, don’t listen to speculation. How old was Nelson Mandela and Ronald Reagan when they became presidents of South Africa and United States respectively?”

Buhari will be 73 by 2015. Critics believe that age may be a factor against his candidacy.

Already, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a new convert in APC, is poised for the Presidency.

So also the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.

Atiku does not feature prominently in the APC calculation. Although he will contest in the party’s

$1,5bn

the amount grossed (US Box Office )

by Sci-fi movie, adjusted for inflation,

by Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) Source: Box Office Mojo

Oshiomhole may emerge as Buhari’s running mate CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

dacy in the zone.

Sambo met some groups and Northern leaders based in Lagos at his

presidential primaries, but given the makeup of the party, the ticket will be tilted towards Buhari.

“We can’t leave Buhari for Atiku,” a party source said. “We need Atiku in our party but Buhari has mass appeal in the North.

Buhari has cult followership no one can ignore.”

But the former vice president is not giving up.

He is reaching out to some APC governors. He is also working on the possibility of a merger of his proxy party, the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), with the APC as a bargaining power.

Tambuwal may end being a governor in Sokoto.

“He is young and popular, but he will be pressured into contesting for the governorship of Sokoto State on the platform of APC,” a source said.

According to an insider in the party, the inner caucus of APC has also settled for an incumbent governor as running mate to Buhari.

CONTINUED ON PAGE5

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST PORT HARCOURT

37o 22o Partially Cloudy

ABUJA

38o 21o Sunny

KANO

32o 13o Partially Cloudy

ENUGU

38o 22o Partially Cloudy

IBADAN

10o 8o Cloudy

CALABAR

35o 24o Partially Cloudy

MAIDUGURI

35o 18o Mostly Sunny

ONITSHA

38o 24o Partially Cloudy

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

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NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday February 21, 2014

Boko Haram kills 50 in Borno, Adamawa border MASSACRE In another orgy of violence, Boko Haram members kill 50 in Borno, Adamawa Ibrahim Abdul Yola

M

embers of Boko Haram went on the rampage in the early hours of yesterday and killed 50 people in Izghe, a border village between Borno and Adamawa states.

All the victims, most of whom were residents of Madagali Local Government, Adamawa State, were buried yesterday.

Some of those who survived the attack said the onslaught started at 10pm on Saturday with the fundamentalists going from house to house.

After killing the residents, their houses were set ablaze.

It is believed that the fundamentalists invaded the town after escaping from their camps in Sambisa and other camps in Borno and Yobe states.

“They invaded our

village and asked us to assemble in one place.

Initially, we thought they were soldiers who came to rescue us, but before we knew what was happening, the insurgents started their heinous act, slaughtering people like goats,’’ a fleeing villager, who did not want to be named for security reasons, said.

He went further: “They came in at about 10 p.m. yesterday (Saturday).

They were driving six pickup vans filled with young men chanting Allahu Akbar (God is great).

Others were on motorcycles. Those of us who heard their arrival earlier were able to escape, but several of our colleagues who were already asleep couldn’t make it before the gunmen caught them.

They burnt houses, and left with ten vehicles belonging to our people.

Several women and children were found seriously injured. We had to flee the village because we cannot risk being attacked again.

Our food stores have been looted by the gunmen too”.

Chairman of Madagali Local Government,

Mr Maina Ularamu, confirmed the incident.

He said: “Everybody is living in fear. There is no protection. We cannot predict where and when they are going to attack.

People can’t sleep with their eyes closed.”

The chairman, who said he was in Abuja yesterday in respect of issues regarding his relationship with the Nyako-

led administration, said he got information that close to 20,000 displaced persons had moved to the headquarters of the council while the insurgents are reportedly looting

the areas as of yesterday after the attacks.

The chairman was returned through a court verdict four months ago against the wish of the Nyako administration.

L-R: Financial Secretary, South-East South-South Professionals of Nigeria, (SESSPN), Mr. Andy Wabali; President, Mr. Emeka UgwuOju; Managing Director/Executive Vice President, Arik Air Limited, Mr. Chris Ndulue; Treasurer, SESSPN, Chief Albert Iyorah, and Assistant Executive Secretary, Mrs. Gloria Maduka, during the SESSPN delegation’s courtesy visit to the MD of Arik Air Limited at the Lagos Airport, Ikeja.

PHOTO: ADEYANJU OLOWOJOBA

200m

thenumber of text messages collected indiscriminately across the globe on a daily basis for ‘spying’ by the US National Security Agency Source: The Guardian of London

8

the date in April 2014 that Microsoft will stop issuing security updates for its Windows XP operating system, leaving it open to attacks Source: Computeractive magazine

12

the number of new events being introduced at the 22nd Winter Olympics holding at Sochi Source: Sports media

CBN probes banks’ foreign exchange deals CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

demands are going up and affecting reserves despite the law on capital importation.

“We cannot continue to defend the naira with the country’s foreign reserves. This cannot be sustained. We really need to investigate where these spurious demands are coming from to save the economy,” he said.

One of the embattled banks’ founding father, who was chairman during the Governor Joseph Sanusi’s regime, was barred from holding such position after it was established that the lender round-tripped – culminating in the suspension of its forex licence.

Round-tripping in banking parlance, means buying forex at the official market – where the exchange rate is a bit low

and selling same at the parallel market for profit motive.

The immediate past governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, along with other South- West governors, have major interest in a second lender that is being probed, while Tinubu and Lagos State, is also believed to have stakes in the third bank, whose Managing Director/CEO was forced to resign in line with the mandatory 10 years maximum tenure stipulated by the Governor of the CBN, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, for bank CEOs in the country.

The fourth bank, whose major owners are based in South Africa, merged with and share names with one of the most successful merchant banks in the country, whose owner is a staunch member of the privatisation programme

in the power sector.

The three other lenders being investigated have been bailed out by the CBN one time or the other, while the eighth bank retained its identity during the regulatory-induced banking consolidation spearheaded by Governor Chukwuma Soludo and, thereafter, acquired another lender.

In a bid to bridge the gap between naira-dollar exchange rates in the official and parallel markets, the banking watchdog had removed the $250,000 weekly foreign exchange sales limit placed on BDC operators in the country.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) had raised the alarm over the widening gap between the naira-dollar exchange rates in both segments of the markets, noting that this could precipitate speculations and round-

tripping.

The CBN governor said though the BDCs represented a small component of the foreign exchange market, the widening spread appeared to have led to creeping increases in core inflation.

As at the close of business last Friday, a dollar exchanged at the official market at N156.75 per dollar, and traded for N170.50 at the parallel market.

Demand at the CBN forex auctions has not eased since the end of the holiday season last year.

The apex bank sold $400 million at each of its last six auctions but apparently not met demand since the interbank rate has moved southwards.

Nigeria has a hearty appetite for imports but the challenge arises because of oil sector losses/ leakages, which have reduced forex supply and led

to drawings from the excess crude account (ECA), which is now $2.3 billion.

Offshore portfolio inflows have largely compensated for the losses in terms of forex supply.

However, they have clearly slowed under the cloud of tapering in the United States.

Nigeria’s reserves have fallen to $42.2 billion.

Probe of the eight banks, which began penultimate Friday and which will be on weekly basis, is coming shortly after the banking watchdog is about completing risk examination of banks to ascertain that their 2013 financial reports are true representation of what they would present to the public.

Known in banking parlance as special examination, the last time the apex bank conducted such probe was about a year and a half ago, when it

scrutinised banks’ foreign exchange transactions to verify their huge demands at the forex market.

The results of the audit were made available to the Managing Directors of all the banks in the country and those that contravened were sanctioned by the CBN. Twenty-one banks were examined. In the first batch were banks that are top foreign exchange players.

These were Stanbic IBTC, CitiBank, Standard Chartered Bank, Guaranty Bank, Zenith Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Access Bank.

Fourteen other banks were examined in the second and third phases of the plan.

The three bridged banks (Keystone, Mainstream and Enterprise) are excluded because they were new in the system.

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday February 21, 2014

UNITY Former President of the Court of Appeal believes that for Nigeria to progress, leaders must be united Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

F

or mer President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Mustapha Akanbi, has said those pretending there is no problem with Nigeria should perish the thought and look around to see the dangers to the future of the country.

Akanbi, who was pioneer chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related offences Commission (ICPC), told New Telegraph that Nigeria’s leaders are toying with the unity of the country and that the development portends serious danger to the continued existence of the nation.

He was asked to respond to the position of Second Republic Justice Minis-

Mustapha Akanbi to Akinjide: There is problem with Nigeria ter and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), that there is no problem with Nigeria.

Just as well, he condemned recent public statements of South-South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, saying from all indications, Clark is a pretender since the renowned Ijaw leader cannot live among the people freely but is always guarded by heavy security.

Akanbi, who recently served on a committee of Northern Elders that discussed the emerging crisis in the region with President Goodluck Jonathan also said it would be wrong to conclude that a member of the committee and former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Professor Ango Abdullahi, has been speaking for the North on several of his

public utterances about the future of Nigeria and its politics.

His words: “Akinjide in a way is a friend. He was

my senior colleague at the bar but luckily, he appeared before me at the bench and he knows that I also have strong feelings. But he has

practised politics here.

He has not changed; he is what he was yesterday. You know, he has his own ideas about politics; most of the

time you find him on the right wing and you know his daughter is a politician so, whatever he says also must be coloured.

L-R: Group Managing Director, Dangote Sugar, Mr. Graham Clark; Adamawa State Commissioner for Trade & Cooperatives, Mrs. Talatu Yohana; Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga; Adamawa State Commissioner for Commerce & Industries, Alhaji Ibrahim Gorko, and the Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council, Dr. Lateef Busari during the Minister’s working visit to Savannah Sugar in Adamawa State.

Benin, Cameroon reduce tariff APC settles for Buhari to cripple FG’s policy on rice CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

RICE BAN Smugglers from Benin, Cameroon flood Nigeria with rice to cripple government’s policy on importation

Bayo Akomolafe

T

he move by the Federal Government to completely ban rice importation next year may hit the rocks as more than 2.2 million metric tonnes of the commodity are being smuggled into Nigeria through land borders.

New Telegraph investigations reveal that about 2.2 million metric tonnes of rice are smuggled into the country annually through the borders of Cameroon and Benin Republic and experts believe this will affect the new Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government.

5

Currently, Nigeria’s annual rice production stands at 3.1 metric tonnes.

As part of effort to encourage more local production and engender self-sufficiency, the government recently introduced a number of anti-rice-import measures such as high duties, levies and even a proposal for outright ban.

But, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has expressed doubts about the practicability of such measures.

In its 2014 forecast, USDA noted that rice imports to Nigeria might likely remain at the 2013 levels of around 2.9 metric million tonnes, to meet an annual consumption demand of around six million metric tonnes.

Part of the challenge government faces is that much of those imports will come in illegally.

While Nigeria slammed 110 per cent levy on rice to discourage importation, Cameroon and Benin Republic reduced theirs to zero per cent and seven per cent levies to attract rice importers.

Given the porous nature of the nation’s land borders, it is feared that Nigerian rice importers operating from the neigbouring countries would easily flood the country with illegally imported rice, thereby defeating the objective of the anti-import measures.

Executive Vice Chairman of the company, Mrs. Vicky Haastrup, confirmed that millions of bags of rice were being smuggled into Nigeria from Cameroon and Benin daily. She explained that the two countries were exploiting the anti-rice-import policy of the Federal Government to their rubbish its objective.

The choice is zeroed to South-South between Governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) and Adams Oshiomhole (Edo).

In the end, the source said, Oshiomhole was tipped as Buhari’s running mate based on his popularity, mass appeal, and being less controversial.

“The caucus of the APC considered Oshiomhole as running mate to Buhari because he has mass appeal. The fact that he is from Niger Delta stands him ahead of other potential aspirants. The essence is to divide the Niger Delta votes. Oshiomhole will also receive more sympathy from the people than Amaechi who is seen as President Goodluck Jonathan’s enemy,” the source said.

New Telegraph learnt that the game plan of the APC in winning the February 14 presidential election is to ensure that Buhari wins overwhelmingly in the seven North-West states of Kano, Sokoto,

Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi and Jigawa while Tinubu and APC governors are expected to deliver South-West for Buhari.

“We believe that a comfortable win for Buhari in North-West and SouthWest is a sure way to the Presidency in 2015.

“Unlike in 2011 presidential election when Tinubu and APC governors stood aloof during the presidential election, the party will embark on aggressive campaign and mobilisation for Buhari in South-West. We will work hard to ensure that President Jonathan who will fly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket fails to win the required 25 per cent of votes cast in the zone except in Ondo State where his man, Olusegun Mimiko, is in charge,” one of the APC strategists told our correspondent.

It was further learnt that the APC leadership is working on the possibility of some northern PDP governors crossing over to the party to boost its chances in the election.

The permutation is that the governors will leave PDP to APC or, in the alternative, stay back in the party and support Buhari in the presidential election. And as a pay back, APC will support the governorship candidates of the PDP governors in their respective states.

“Some of the governors will be allowed to stay in PDP and work for Buhari from within. We will also partner with them to produce their successors,” a source said.

The APC is also rallying the Emirs to convince their subjects on the need to vote for a Northern candidate. One of the campaign strategies is to produce jingles and TV commercials on the need to vote Jonathan out of office, stating that the president will be spending nine years in office if he is reelected in 2015.

During electioneering, according to plan, Southern leaders vast in Hausa will speak against Jonathan in the North to create an impression that “even the South has rejected Jonathan.”

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NEWS

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

photo news

Fresh cracks in Delta PDP over race to succeed Uduaghan Dominic Adewole Asaba

T L-R: Mr Bayo Onauga; Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Nuhu Ribadu; President of Sierra Leone, Dr Ernest Bail Koroma; National Leader, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Imam Kashim Ibrahim; Mrs Derin Dosu;Mr Olawale Edun; Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Mr Oladele Alake; during the Presidential Reception in Honour of the Former Governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as honourary Doctorate Degree at Njala University, Freetown, Sierra Leone.

he crisis rocking the Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has assumed a new dimension.

Youths, under the aegis of the Delta State Youth Forum for Good Governance at the weekend called for the resignation of the state party chairman, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi.

In a letter signed by the President-General of the group, Prince Kpokpogri, addressed to the National

Chairman of the ruling party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, copied to President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Uduaghan, tagged “Clarion Call for Barr. Peter Nwaoboshi Removal as Delta State Chairman for PDP Chapter”, the group said the call became imperative following the antics being played up by the chairman ahead of 2015.

“We are using this medium to call on your exalted office to quickly intervene and ensure that Barr. Peter Nwaoboshi is removed or asked to step aside as any primary

elections conducted or supervised by him will be tilted or likened to have favoured his anointed candidate, at least, going by his recent outburst and body language”, the group demanded.

But Nwaoboshi, who spoke with the New Telegraph, when contacted lashed out at the group, describing them as “paid disgruntled elements.”

He said, “I don’t respond to sponsored groups. We know those sending them.

For now, as a top party functionary, I want to concern myself with party works and activities.”

Orji’s son's PA shot dead at endorsement rally Ikechukwu Ucheoma Umuahia

Plateau State Governor Jonah David Jang (left) receiving a book from the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina during the minister's working visit to Plateau State.

Guest Speaker/Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; Founding Partner, Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma and Managing Director, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Mr. Mustapha Chike Obi during the 30th Anniversary lecture, entitled: “What Next’’ at the Banquet Hall, City Hall, Lagos.

PHOTO:SULEIMAN HUSAINI

T

he Senatorial ambition of Governor Theodore Orji on Saturday turned sour as the Personal Assistant (PA) to Chinedu, his first son, was shot dead at a rally organised to endorse him.

Some people in the Abia Central Senatorial zone had organised a rally at an event centre close to the Abia Tower in Umuahia to endorse the governor for Senate when the tragedy occurred.

According to an eyewitness, towards the end

he may have been hit accidentally by the bullets from a Corporal who was one of the many security operatives seen all over the place during the event.

When contacted on phone yesterday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Geoffrey Ogbonna, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) confirmed the incident, saying that already the Corporal and two other policemen were in police custody, pending the outcome of their investigation after which they will be charged to court.

Ekiti guber race: Bamidele promises accountability Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

A Governor Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano state (right) with the newly-posted Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Aderenle Tasheed Shinaba, when the Police chief paid the governor a courtesy in the Government House in Kano.

of the event, Chinedu’s PA, Mr John Ndubuaku, was suddenly shot, leading to pandemonium at the centre. No one knew where the shot came from.

The eye-witness also told New Telegraph that government officials and other security officials present at the event quickly carried away the shot Ndubuaku to a hospital where he was confirmed dead.

Nobody was sure of who shot the officer or on whose orders it was done, but speculations were rife that if he was not intentionally shot

member of the House of Representatives, Mr Opeyemi Bamidele, has promised to run a government that is accountable to the people, just as he alleged that the Kayode Fayemi administration has collected N400 billion in the last 40 months.

Also, no fewer than 500 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) defected to the Labour

Party at the event.

Speaking in Iyin-Ekiti on Saturday during the ward congress of the Labour Party (LP), Bamidele, a governorship aspirant, challenged the state government to go public on how it had utilised the huge sums that had accrued to it.

In a swift reaction, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Tayo Ekundayo, said the allegations

by Opeyemi were baseless and unfounded.

"Have we not done anything? Opeyemi Bamidele is lying. The state did not realise the huge figures he is claiming. Our finances are in the domain of the public, we have nothing to hide. The people of the state know that he is lying and cannot trust him with their destiny," he said.

However, Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 1 in the National Assembly, gave a breakdown of his figures.

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

Many more exciting SUBSCRIPTION PLAN available

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NEWS

Tax evasion: Lagos to arraign 52 companies' CEOs, GMDs Muritala Ayinla

H

ard times await 52 Chief Executive Officers and Group Managing Directors of various companies in Nigeria as the Lagos State Government is set to commence the prosecution of tax defaulters in the state this week, even as it threatened to jail them.

The state government had last month commenced prosecution of about 60 tax defaulters, including 12 lawyers and 48 eminent citizens.

Speaking with New Telegraph yesterday, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Justice Reforms, Mr Lanre Akinshola, who made the disclosure, said 52 eminent Nigerians and tax defaulters are employers of labour who have companies across the country, but refuse to perform their civic obligations.

He said: "They are 52 high net work individuals who have defaulted in their obligations. They will be prosecuted this week. Some of them have refused to pay their taxes for a very long time.

They are business men who are into different sectors of the economy".

"If we had not warned them to pay, they have an obligation to file in their taxes without any demand. There is no need for notifying them before they do what is right. Although, we have served them notices but yet they refuse to comply”.

Akinshola said apart from penalty of imprisonment, the tax defaulters would also be mandated to pay their taxes, even after serving the punishment.

He added that they would also be denied the opportunity to be voted for in any election in the country, once they have been convicted.

He added that some of them have not been paying taxes as far back as 2006 and beyond, reiterating that the defaulters are public figures.

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

Conference: South-West delegates may emerge today as Yoruba leaders meet DELEGATES Despite opposition by some people, delegates to represent the South-West at the National Conference may emerge today Dapo Folorunsho

P

rominent Yoruba leaders under the aegis of Yoruba Committee on National Conference will reconvene today in Isara-

Remo, Ogun State to strategise for the national conference proposed

by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The meeting, slated for the residence of elder statesman, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, may also produce some delegates that would represent the South West at the conference.

New Telegraph gathered that the selection of delegates was on the agenda of the committee, whose meeting was to beat the February 20

deadline set for the submission of delegates' names as directed by the Federal Government.

The committee is expected to select 15 delegates to represent the South West at the national dialogue.

The committee had penultimate Friday convened a meeting which had in attendance Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, former Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State, Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Fa-

soranti, former Minister of Finance, Chief Olu Falae, General Alani Akinrinade (rtd), Dr Tunji Braithwaite, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi, Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu and the convener of Save Nigeria Group (SNG), Pastor Tunde Bakare.

Others included former Nigeria’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Dr Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, the National Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba

Gani Adams, former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Sarafa Isola, former Lagos State governorship aspirant, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Afenifere spokesman, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, former Secretary-General of Yoruba Counci of Elders (YCE), Dr Kunle Olajide, Chief Supo Sonibare and Mr. Bisi Adegbuyi.

Their meeting deliberated on issues that would form the "Yoruba Position" at the national conference.

Fuel scarcity hits Oyo, litre sells for N120 Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

M Members of the Editorial Board of New Telegraph, after the board's inauguration in Lagos. From left: Dr. Femi Olufunmilade; Mr. Martins Azuwike; Dr. Usman Shehu; Victoria Ibanga; Felix Abugu; Ike Abonyi; Bolaji Tunji (Managing Director); Jide Ayobolu; Prof. Nkemdili Nnonyelu and Kerian Enechi. photo: olugbenga joseph

UBTH makes history in sickle cell blood replacement TREATMENT Sufferers can have abnormal red cells replaced with normal ones

Cajetan Mmuta Benin

Reprieve may have come the way of sickle cell patients in the country as the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) has successfully drained abnormal red blood cells from a 27-year old patient in a feat that replaced it with normal ones.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Professor Michael Ibadin disclosed this on Friday at a press conference held in Benin, the Edo state capital.

Prof. Ibadin noted that the feat was made possible through a joint effort of team of medical experts from the University of Basel, Switzerland which provided the technical support and the machine designed to drain blood through one arm and replace it through the other arm in a smooth manner at the same time.

Ibadin said, “The same department that championed the break-

through in the stem cell transplant some two years ago is again in the news and we need them to share it with the members of the public”.

The head of the team, Dr Nosakhare Bazuaye, pointed out that Nigeria rates highest among countries with sickle cell carriers in the world.

He said about three per cent of Nigerians carry the sickle cell in them, stressing that, “What we do is to remove the entire blood from the body through one hand arm and put in fresh blood from the other arm” He added that “When we do this total red cell

exchange, we will remove the blood and it is replaced, the machine is such that it doesn’t cause much discomfort as it is taking away blood from one side, it is being replaced immediately from the other side. It can also be done for children without harm”.

Dr. Bazuaye stated that, “We have successfully performed the first one for a 27 years old patient who is a friend of the department; he is Masters student in one of the universities and we feel he is also very important in pioneering this feat, he had severe crisis”.

ANY cities and towns of Oyo state yesterday witnessed fuel scarcity as many of the filling stations shut their gates to customers.

The few ones that were dispensing the product hiked their price from the official N97 per litre to between N100 and N120 per litre.

There had been panic buying of the petroleum product by commuters and private vehicle owners since Saturday when it was rumoured that fuel price would increase.

New Telegraph's checks at some areas in Ibadan, the state capital, showed that many filling stations were shut since early morning, while just few were selling to customers.

By afternoon, both major marketers and privately-owned filling stations had closed shop, forcing many people to scamper from one area to the other seeking to get the commodity.

A trip to Ona Ara area in the suburb of Ibadan showed only two filling stations (private) dispensing fuel, but as at 5.30 p.m, the two also shut their gates claiming that the fuel had been exhausted.

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

Ondo govt, PDP differ on staff audit PLOY OR NOT

The government says it is routine, PDP says it is a ploy Babatope Okeowo Akure

O

pposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Ondo State government yesterday differed sharply on the verification exercise embarked upon by the government for civil servants.

While the state government, through the Head of Service, Mr

Toyin Akinkuotu said the staff audit was a routine exercise to ascertain the number of workers in the employment in government service, the PDP, through its Publicity Secretary, Chief Wale Ozogoro said it was a ploy to sack some of them.

The government had embarked on the staff audit in what it described as routine exercise.

But the opposition PDP kicked against the exercise, saying it was another move by the government to send workers into the labour market.

However, Akinkuotu insisted that the exercise was not meant to

150

witch-hunt workers or send them into early retirement, but a routine exercise being carried at all levels of government in the country.

Ozogoro, in a statement made available to New Telegraph on Sunday, said the government was not sympathetic to the plight of the workers who would have to travel from their various stations for the exercise.

His words: “The attention of the party has been drawn to the unending staff audit in Ondo State and the deceit inherent in the exercise. It is embarrassing that the State Government will be visiting Ondo workers

25m

the number of times an average person checks his/her phone per day Source: T-Mobile

the number of meetings that take place daily in United States of America Source: Ayers Report, 2013

with this excruciating hardship of impending sack as a New Year gift.

“The government deceitfully sacked local Government workers last year while the state professed that it had saved over N500million every month. Indeed, salary arrears of over a year of few of these workers reabsolved into the system have not been paid.”

Ozogoro alleged that the government “is broke, not focused and therefore cutting down the work force even when the level of youth unemployment is at alarming rate.

“The introduction of fees ranging from

N5,000 to N10,000 to collect primary six certificate from the State government is a ploy aimed at increasing Internally Generated Revenue even when abandoned projects dot the landscape coupled with a bogus Federal Allocation that the gover nment has not accounted for over the years.

“The gover nment statement that it had no intention to sack any worker is a selfseeking, from a government that is deceitful and not interested in the welfare of workers.”

$18.6b the total amount expected to be spent to celebrate Valentine’s Day in the United States. The amount for UK is $1.6b Source: Telegraph/CNN/Daily Mail

9

Visa scam: ICPC recovers 372 international passports from suspects Emmanuel Onani Abuja

T

HE Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has recovered 372 international passports from some persons and Travel Agents, as part of efforts to bring about a fraud-free visa regime.

The recovery, according to a statement by the head of media of the ICPC, Folu Olamiti, “is part of an ongoing clampdown on corruption-prone processes in the acquisition of visas.”

To this end, the anti-graft agency has directed owners of such passports to appear at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, where they are expected to present their travel documents.

Lagos govt reads riot act to truck drivers KEEP RIGHT Trucks are to leave left lane for others

Muritala Ayinla

L Former Governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Adamu Abdullahi (right), being presented with a copy of the New Telegraph by the Managing Editor (North), Northern Operations, Mr. Suleiman Bisalla, during an interview with Abdullahi.With them is Louis Achi, Deputy Editor.

PHOTO : TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Fayemi tasks Ekiti people on industrialisation Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

E

kiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has called on the people of the state to take advantage of the enabling environment provided by his administration to industrialise

it.

He stated this in AdoEkiti at the weekend while on an inspection of a modern resort being put up by an indigene of the state, Mr Abiodun Isinkaiye.

The governor, who was impressed with the facility, noted that well-to-do

citizens of the state must come down and start businesses that would gainfully engage people, especially youths who were going about looking for jobs in an already saturated labour market.

“What is being done here by Mr Isinkaiye is showing Ekiti people the

huge possibilities that exist in the state. The owner believes in what we are doing in the state and he is complementing our efforts.

“He could have taken the venture to other places that are more cosmopolitan. I am glad to have come here and we will support your efforts,” he said.

agos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has ordered drivers of trucks and all articulated vehicles to always drive on the right lane and leave the left lane for other motorists, to reduce high incidence of accidents involving such vehicles.

Although the Lagos Traffic Law 2012 restricts movement of trucks and trailers in the state to between 9pm and 6am, that aspect of the law is yet to be to be enforced unlike restriction of commercial motorcycles.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting with the truck/ articulated vehicles operators and owners at the Banquet hall, Alausa, Fashola said 93 percent of the traffic gridlock in the state metropolis is caused by articulated vehicles and tankers, saying two percent of the

traffic gridlock recorded in the state is caused by luxury buses.

His words: “Trucks and other articulated vehicles should not be on the fast lane, they must always be on the slow side of the lanes. No heavy-duty truck must be on the left side of the road. It is against traffic rule anywhere in the world.

“I appeal to the operators of articulated vehicles and haulage businesses to co-operate with us so that we can serve you better. Anybody could become victim of some these crashes and traffic gridlock, it could be anyone. It could be your son, wife just anyone could be victim of some of these unsafe practices.

“You have to talk to your employees and other stakeholders in this business to adopt safer business models, we can’t allow you to continue to kill our citizens. We have a duty to protect lives and properties,” Fashola added.

10

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Eriday, February 21, 2014

SON to certify block makers

Controversy over market closure as USE WELL Tinubu-Ojo gives conditions Cement grades in

the market okay, but being misapplied

Muritala Ayinla

T

en days after, traders in Abibatu Mogaji Model Market, Iponri in Surulere Local Government of Lagos State may have to wait a little longer before the market is reopened as efforts to resolve the lingering crisis which led to the closure failed at the weekend.

The market was shut on Saturday, February 8, 2014 allegedly on the orders of the PresidentGeneral of the Market Women Association, Mrs Folashade TinubuOjo. New Telegraph’s investigation revealed that the market was shut over fees demanded from traders. It was learnt that the Surulere Local Government council suddenly increased the monthly dues paid by each of the shop owners from N500 to N10,000.

Some traders pointed out that their shops were shut allegedly because they could not pay the exact amount demanded by the state market board, headed by Tinubu-Ojo, who is also the daughter of national leader of one of the country’s leading political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Others blamed the crisis on alleged feud between the politicians and civil servants in the council over whose account the dues should be paid into.

But when contacted on phone, Tinubu-Ojo who said she was annoyed by the rumour that the market was shut to coerce traders to partake in the registration exercise of All Progressive Congress, (APC), which held last week, told our correspondent that a committee in the market had been ordered to go on the air to tell the truth on why the market was shut.

Ayodele Aminu

T

he Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) will soon commence certification of block makers in the country, in a bid to further sanitise the construction industry.

SON has also allayed fears over the quality of made-in-Nigeria cement, explaining that the different brands

in the country adhere strictly to the approved standards.

Director-General of SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu said these during a chat with newsmen in Lagos.

Stakeholders in the industry had raised concerns over the production of 32.5 grade of cement in the country, against the 42.5 grade, which SON earlier approved for imported brands.

A coalition of civil society groups and professional bodies in the construction industry had protested against manufacturers and importers of 32.5 grade cement,

threatening to mobilise end-users against some brands of cement.

But Odumodu explained that SON was fully on top of the situation, stressing that the organisation’s sole responsibility is to protect lives and properties.

Specifically, he said both 32.5 and 42.5 grades of cement are of acceptable qualities.

The DG, however, accepted that misapplication of both grades could compromise the integrity of a building structure.

Already, he said SON has instituted a technical committee to review standards on locally

produced cement, to address current rampant controversy over quality of the essential building material being produced by the nation’s manufacturers.

Odumodu insisted: “there is no sub-standard cement brand being produced in the country”, saying that like other manufactured products, cement has its life span.

“There could also be mis-application of cement types during its processing for construction. The 32.5 grade, for instance, is used mainly for plastering, block making, flooring and other lighter jobs.

“The 42.5 grade of ce-

ment, on the other hand, is used for heavier jobs like pillars and high rise buildings, even though appropriate application of acceptable ratios must be adhered to during mixing, to achieve the best results”, he said.

Unethical practices on the part of builders, he explained, could compromise the integrity of a structure and “SON has intensified its enlightenment campaign to address the situation”.

Immigration service starts visa issuance at borders Andrew Okungbowa

N

L-R:Chief Executive Officer, Forte Oil Plc, Mr. Akin Akinfemiwa; Forte Oil Brand Ambassador, Tiwa Salvage; Group Human Resources and Administration Manager, Mr. Dare Arinde and Head, Brands and Corporate Communication, Mr. Odion Aleobua, during a Press Conference to unveil the Company’s Brand Ambassador/ Launch of Super Visco Static Engine oil in Lagos.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

$1.8b

N6m

the amount needed by electricity distribution companies in capital expenditure in the next five years according to the plans they submitted Source: BPE

the cost of a new B-Class Mercedes -Benz car as advertised by an authorised dealer Source: newspaper advert

24m the level to which cancer cases is expected to rise by 2035, according to International Agency for Research on Cancer Source: New Scientist

igerian Immig ration Services (NIS) has finally started the issuance of visas at Nigeria’s borders even as it has moved to ease the processes of visa renewal and other services rendered by it to the travelling public.

This development was disclosed by the Comptroller - General of the Nigerian Immig ration Services (NIM), Mr. David Parradang even as he pledged to partner the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) in boosting tourism.

“The Federal Gover nment of Nigeria has made Nigerian visa procurement easy and smooth. The Operation of getting visa at point of entry has kicked off.

Importers, concessionaires groan over port access roads BLOCKED Two access roads to ports blocked Bayo Akomolafe

T

erminal operators and importers at the Lagos

seaports are not finding it easy to facilitate trade due to road congestion and poor power supply since the beginning of the year.

The two access roads to the ports, Wharf and Creek roads, have been blocked by trucks due to poor traffic management.

A journey of 10 min-

utes from Tin can Island and Creek road axis to Lagos Ports complex now takes about four hours. Also, it takes two hours to get to the port from Ijora and Wharf Road axis.

Investigations revealed that the power supply to the ports has dropped drastically as

terminal operators depend on generators to facilitate trade.

E x e c u t ive Vi c e Chair man of ENL Consortium, Princess Vicky Haastrup explained that the terminal operators are facing a major challenge from the access roads.

She said: “We cannot

discharge importers’ consignments as at when due because trucks do not have express access to the ports. The trucks using the road are too many.”

She added that tank farms clustering around the port community had contributed to problems face d by port users.

Intrigues in Senate over defection / PAGE 14 | Defection as a bazaar / PAGE 15 11

POLITICS

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/politics

ayodele Ojo

Deputy Editor, politics

ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

Ekiti guber’ll be the best –Jega

p-16

ayodeleojo@yahoo.com

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

PDP, APC’s unending spat Most political activities of late by the Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressives Congress have been viewed with suspicion by both camps, but FELIX NWANERI reports that the recent membership registration by the opposition party and defection of some of its lawmakers to the ruling party has further worsened the war of words between the nation’s leading parties.

T

he just-concluded membership registration by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and defection of some members of the party in the House of Representatives to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have rekindled the endless war of words between both parties.

Ordinarily, the registration exercise should have been rancourfree, as it was meant to ascertain genuine members of the party after the merger process that saw the coming together of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

But, like most political activities of late, whether by the ruling or opposition parties, the APC membership registration came under the fire of the PDP while it lasted. The APC, had in reeling out plans for the registration exercise that lasted between February 5 and 10 before it was extended by two days, said it will culminate into the conduct of its congresses.

According to the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, “all the information in the form will be compiled and put into the register and afterwards they will be compiled at the ward level, state level and

POLITICAL NOTES Season of sack, resignation

W

federal level. At the end of the day it will be inputted into the data bank of the party. If you are not registered you will not participate in the congresses. You cannot have your man contest for any position. The delegates will be the ones that will elect the presidential candidate at the congress.”

Mohammed further stressed that with the development, the party would be able to resolve the leadership issues it was facing across the states.

PDP’s apprehension But, alleging that the exercise was meant to derail the electoral process, the PDP said that part of the plot by the APC was to use the membership registration to hype a phantom public support after which it would declare a particular bogus figure and create a false impression of massive public followership ahead of the 2015 general elections.

National Publicity of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, who made the

claim, added that it was unfortunate that while the PDP-led Federal Government was solidifying the foundation of a credible electoral system it had already laid, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yet to release the final details of the timetable of the elections, the APC was already introducing inventions calculated to torpedo the process.

His words: “We wish to alert Nigerians to the incontrovertible evidence at our disposal to the effect that the APC is sadly and currently using every foul means at its disposal to build a particular membership figure, running into tens of millions, which it intends to use as a justification to fault, dispute, reject and subsequently take to violence when it loses the 2015 general elections.”

APC fires back Responding to the PDP’s allegation, the APC accused the ruling party of sabotage and being

CROSSFIRE

a clog in the wheel of democracy.

The party’s spokesman, Mohammed, stated that the only reason the PDP spewed out lies on another party’s membership registration exercise was because it had seen the handwriting on the wall; and was consequently jittery.

He said: “The PDP is wrong about its claim that the APC is engaging in phantom registration. The party should know that while anyone can manufacture numbers, no one can manufacture human beings. Therefore, in the fullness of time, any party that gives a fake number of its membership will get its comeuppance.”

Claim and counter-claim of rejection A new twist was added to the spat when the PDP claimed that the APC’s extension of the registration exercise was a sign that Nigerians had rejected the opposition party.

The personal insults...

We indeed find it very depict its managers as difficult to understand childish, petulant, and this type of bitterness above all incompetent. towards the party even It confirms the notion from persons such as that they don’t have the former vice president what it takes to live who hugely benefitted up to their ‘sacred’ from the PDP… mandate. They have lost - Olisa Metuh, PDP their way National Publicity - Atiku Abubakar, Former vice president Secretary

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

hile Nigerians were still ruminating over the sudden ‘resignation’ of the Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, the Presidency dropped another shocker.

Four ministers were dropped from the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

President Jonathan dropped Ms Stella Oduah, the Aviation Minister who was embroiled in controversies, especially the purchase of two armoured cars at an overpriced of N225million.

The president also let go of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe; Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade and the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama.

Recently, the president removed the Service Chiefs.

The reason for the recent resignations seems doubtful.

One, the argument that Oghiadomhe left to pursue interest in politics has set tongues wagging as there are reports of his alleged involvement in misdemeanour in subsidy payment by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The government has denied the claim.

Even if the former CoS is interested in politics, why the sudden resignation at least the time is still far. It is either he contests for governorship or senatorial election. And in his state, Edo, the governorship election won’t take place until 2016. If he has interest in the Senate, the election is still in 2015. And would he afford to sacrifice the all-powerful Chief of Staff to the President for a lesser office of a senator that is not guaranteed especially when his party, PDP, is in opposition in Edo State.

For Oduah, it is a better way to exit out of government. Her continued stay in government had placed a moral burden on the Jonathan administration.

To many, Jonathan only dignified Oduah by exiting her along with other ministers; not to be seen as succumbing to the demands of the opposition.

No doubt, Orubebe has his eyes on the Delta governorship but there are also petitions against him bordering on corruption and poor performance.

Olubolade surely has interest in Ekiti governorship.

Ngama is not known to have serious political interest.

The duo of Oduah and Orubebe may be needful in the Jonathan’s re-election campaign.

12

POLITICS | MONDAY DIALOGUE

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

I leaked coup plot to Shonekan and

zSpeaks z on the day Maryam Abacha sent Useni out of Kano residence Senator John Nanzip Shagaya retired from the military as a Brigadier-General shortly after the late General Sani Abacha took over power from Chief Ernest Shonekan in November 1993. He dared Abacha by not only refusing to take part in the coup but leaked the plot to Shonekan. What became the consequence for him? In this exclusive interview with our Managing Editor (North), Suleiman Bisalla, in Jos, Shagaya, who is also the Danburam Langtang, revealed details of his encounter with the former Head of State and their relationship thereafter. He also spoke on former President Ibrahim Babangida and gave details of some of the things that remained hazy during the Muhammadu Buhari regime. Excerpts:

The military took over power from Shehu Shagari in 1983. Less than two years after, there was a palace coup for Muhammadu Buhari by some officers, including you.

Looking back at the circumstances, is it something you would have repeated?

First, you consider my age and rank at the time. I was a Lt. Col. and the Deputy Military Secretary to Idiagbon, meaning that at the highest level of political decision, one was not consulted. So, you either conform or you quit. It’s just like in 1993 when I refused to be with Sani Abacha, I put down my uniform, simple.

After the Shagari coup, I found myself commanding a Brigade in Ikeja. That may be because of my record. Buhari, being an S and T officer, didn’t know much about me and many other officers but, of course, deployment at the time, of anybody above the rank of Lt Col, was political and whoever was the Head of State or President had the right to call for records and decide certain deployments to key strategic locations that he wanted. That was how I found myself in that Brigade.

General Babangida appointed you as Minister of Internal Affairs and you set a record as the longest serving minister in that office to date; how were you appointed and what was your reaction to the appointment?

At first, I rejected the appointment. I delayed the swearing-in of that executive council for two weeks because I said I wasn’t going to take it. My reason was that there were so many senior military officers; there were Colonels, Brigadiers and Generals much more senior to me.

I would have done so many military training; I would have equipped myself to command a Battalion or a Brigade but I thought I was not too qualified to handle such a complex ministry that would partially be responsible or answerable to the head of government on national security matters. And then to preside over superior civil servants; I thought it was a misnomer. But I was compelled, with the threat of being forced to resign if I didn’t accept, so I reluctantly accepted.

But I think at the end of the 54 months that I had been there, I was proud.

So that was your reward for your participation in the coup?

I don’t think so. Many reasons would be responsible. I will go back to 1976 when I left Jaji and was commanding a battalion in Lagos, just before the Gowon coup.

Of course that was the situation Murtala met me, and asked to establish what you call the Road Safety Corps today. I was the first Corps Marshal until some senior military officers wanted to kick me out of it, which was the reason I didn’t go into it. Such officers include Paul Tarfa who was Provost Marshal. At that time, the thinking was why this officer handling an office with so much budget. For this, Murtala said I should go and do a course overseas.

Babangida, Buhari and others belonged to the circle of northern officers who knew the younger ones. That confidence came in more when Buhari became Head of State; there were two daunting responsibilities he gave me that till today many Nigerians do not know.

One of them was changing the colour of the naira. It was a programme, directed

by Buhari, designed by the Central Bank governor, the man from Bauchi (Ahmed), Idiagbon and myself, just four of us. Buhari’s first priority was to redress the economy which had already been bastardised by Asians and Lebanese.

In 1982, 1983, the naira would go for two dollars, then suddenly the situation was changing. So, Buhari thought he would block lots of the naira that may have been siphoned by the economic saboteurs, as we called them at that time.

We worked and kept it secret until the naira was circulating in the whole of this country. The fifth person that knew about the operation was the man from Belrus, Malta through whose mint company the naira was produced. So, I think Babangida was aware of that kind of confidence.

The next thing was the idea we recreated so as not to forget that we fought a war at all. I was given the responsibility

Shagaya

When he called to say that the coup was going to take place in November, I flew in and sent a note to Shonekan, before September 11, to inform him that there was going to be a coup to establish the military war museum in Umuahia. The partial strategy then was to use that opportunity to collect arms and ammunition that may still be hanging around the East. For every category of weapon that either Biafrans or Easterners produced in Umuahia, there was compensation. Some of those weapons were retrieved and you find them in Umuahia today.

One of the security reasons would be to also checkmate the armed robbery activities that had become rampant as a result of the civil war. Many weapons had fallen into the hands of wrong people. So, it was an indirect way of collecting back the weapons. You produce a weapon to John Shagaya in Umuahia and you take money, no prosecution, nothing. I think these exposures were the reasons; when

Babangida became Head of State, he would have imagined how Murtala had taken me into confidence; how Buhari had done this much and so on.

You had a very successful military career but looking at the way you exited, especially considering the tone of the letter that you wrote to General Abacha which you published in one of your books, suggested that you did not leave a happy man. Can you tell us the circumstances of your exit?

You are correct. I was in Liberia at that time and if you would recall, Charles Taylor was to disarm to the Nigerian contingent but he refused. You know we were the major contributors to the ECOMOG. At that time, I had the responsibility, as approved and mandated by the head of authority, the Chairman, and also the Secretary General of ECOWAS who was supposed to be my Commander in Chief, even though still answerable, under the command procedure, to the head of the Nigerian government.

So in shuttling to solicit and to woo African countries to contribute forces, I thought I was busy enough to be detracted by being called back to participate in a coup. In September that year, I was informed that there was going to be a coup, and I was asked to support it, but my reaction was no. I disagreed because we had held a meeting in March/

POLITICS | MONDAY DIALOGUE

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

13

earned Abacha’s wrath –Shagaya April of that year and swore to a piece of document that the military would no longer intrude into government, and that those of us who were around should assist Ernest Shonekan to conduct election.

So, I said I saw no reason for a coup and I wasn’t going to participate. Sani Abacha asked for my opinion and I said no, he was on his own, and if he succeeded, I would leave. It was my word against my bond. When he called to say that the coup was going to take place in November, I flew in and sent a note to Shonekan, before September 11, to inform him that there was going to be a coup, and signed it. I gave the note through Olagunju, and Olagunju took it to Shonekan. Then Shonekan took it to Sani (Abacha), and Sani called me from Liberia; he sent a jet to pick me, and I said I wasn’t coming.

I asked him, ‘is it about the letter that I wrote Shonekan that you are planning a coup?’ He said ‘no’.

May his soul rest in peace; he sent me a jet, but I arranged with ADC Airline and asked the jet to go. I came and reaffirmed that honestly, Nigeria had seen enough of coups, and I didn’t think we had solved the national problems. So, as we got talking I said ‘give me an option, I remain in Liberia; I won’t be here to overthrow you when you succeed. I will serve my term and I move to the U.S. and stay there for as long as you are Head of State, I won’t be here’. The day he succeeded, he called me on a wireless radio and said ‘I have succeeded, what do you do?’ And I said ‘I quit’. That was the day I wrote that letter.

Prayerfully, I said I hope my colleagues would support you because I guess you would be visited with coups. And what happened? He was visited with coups!

Hence he sent Obasanjo to jail in 1997.

The 19 of us or thereabout who he then called IBB boys were those who said we were party to a decision that Shonekan should be groomed to conduct an election, so we were not going to heed. But to make Nigerians believe that he had taken power and was in charge, Chijuka announced that IBB boys had been retired. I hold the same commission with Sani Abacha, a presidential commission, so I couldn’t have been anybody’s boy.

After my departure from Liberia, ECOMOG was left without a commander because I walked back to Nigeria in December (1993). There was no commander in January. Sani then sent for me and said I should go back, but I said I wasn’t going. He now said I should give him a commander.

Was this encounter with Abacha held after you had retired?

Oh yes! I came from Langtang in suits.

The day I left Liberia I came and said to him ‘I’m heading home; your troops are there without a commander’. He asked where I was going and I said I was going home. People said he would kill me but I said no, if he did so, at least I took that step for a good course for Nigeria. But luckily, he didn’t do so. He would ask AlMustapha to call me on phone if he had

a problem. So, in January (1994), he said I should re-organise the command for him and I did. I sat down with the military secretary then, Lawrence Onoja, and moved John Inenger from Rwanda to Liberia and moved Chris Garuba to Rwanda and then posted Olagunsoye Oyinlola to Somalia. We did that and he said ‘are you now comfortable to go and hand over’ and I said ‘yes’. So, I flew out to Liberia and handed over.

There was a certain controversy about your rank at retirement; did you retire as Major General or Brig. General?

First of all, Sani downgraded me. And that is a point that Nigerians will later see in history. Mike Akhigbe, Eduok and I, three of us had been pencilled down as service chiefs, believing that he would go.

I was for Army, Mike was for Navy and Eduok was for Air Force, published. But because I said I was not going to participate in the coup, he cancelled the promotion and appointment.

So, what became of your relationship in the five years that he was Head of State?

I had no grudges against him. If I had wanted to be a sycophant, I would have remained. And he could shoot me for refusing an order in spite of my oath of allegiance that I would serve wherever ordered by my Commander in Chief, but I said no more. Mine at that time was principle, the country before me. But he wanted to serve so that he would look back and say he had been there as Head of State. I think we both understood it so, that’s why, Al-Mustapha is alive, every time he sent for me, I went. And I drove my car alone carrying nobody, except that I would call my brothers and say look, I am going to Aso Rock. I would call Joe Garba; I would call my lawyer and others. I would call Mustapha and say I am coming with Peugeot PL 516 L air conditioned, so tell your security, period.

So, you didn’t have the kind of nasty experience that other officers had with him?

No, because I met him at Jaji in 1975 and I worked with him. If you read that letter, I said in a paragraph: ‘Sani you know me more than I know myself; remember our days in NMTC’. I was doing every job for him as Captain –he was a Major. I was doing the writing, exercises, grading of students and signing on his behalf, and he was taking the credit. That is what I reminded him.

Some military officers also complained that they had nasty experiences with Major al-Mustapha. Did you have the same experience?

No, I never had anything like that. AlMustapha was my Cadet. In 1978, when I was sent to NDAGI, he was one of those young people of the 25th Regular Course that I used in producing the film: “The Making of an Officer”. So, he knew me well and I have nothing against him. Anytime I called him to say I want to see Oga, whatever appointment the man had, AlMustapha would make sure I saw Sani.

Even when the wife (Maryam Abacha) had an encounter with Useni (Lt Gen.

His son calls commissioners to order, his son is a supreme principal staff; every key appointment in Plateau must be held by a Berom man from Du. And I ask, where is the Christianity?

JT Useni) in Kano at the burial of Abacha and sent him out of the compound, I walked in, and I asked ‘what’s wrong?’

And he (al-Mustapha) said ‘don’t mind him, go, madam is upstairs’. In fact, Joe Garba was like, ‘you mean this woman drove Jerry out and al-Mustapha said you can go see her?’ So, where many were not allowed, I was allowed. That was because between me and her, there was a good relationship. In fact, Sani himself never called me by name; he called me Baban Nanpon. He respected his wife very well, so if I wanted something from him, I go through her. And between me and him, our parting meeting was three weeks before he died.

While you were at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, VIP prison was created. Why the concept?

Knowing that some politicians had been imprisoned, we said may be we too could be there one day, and of course Obasanjo and Zamani Lekwot were there. But truly the essence of the VIP prisons was to address some issues I observed when the 1984 administration put so many people in jail. I thought that as a governor, being removed alone is enough punishment, not to talk of sharing facilities with criminals, so we said let’s create some prestigious place. That is how the renovation of Kuje and some other satellite prisons came about. But some of the politicians, Solomon Lar and co didn’t get to enter some of the facilities because the administration at the time decided to pardon them.

You came out from a regimented life and moved into the murky waters of politics where rules are more or less an aberration.

Shagaya

And you even made it to the Senate; how did you adjust your ways among the politicians?

One thing I must admit is that throughout my service, I never lost sight of the fact that I will one day return to my roots. It never got into my head when I was minister; I considered it a privilege on an extra regimental assignment, so I remained focused as a military officer.

That then meant that I kept touch with my family, my constituency and what have you. So, when I indicated interest in politics, it was well blessed and I was supported by the entire constituency. I joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) formally in 1998 and I was one of those few who went with Baba Lar to collect the certificate of registration of the PDP when others stayed away. Three of us; Waku, Baba Lar and myself went.

It will be a confirmation of service, of recognition or whatever. So for me the landing was very soft.

Unfortunate the political minefield would not take too kindly to that minebuilder... So Baba Lar and co took exemption to that popularity. And when I won the election of 1999, being chairman of the party, he went to Abuja and overturned the result and announced Silas Janfa, the first cousin of his wife, Mary as the PDP candidate. People said I should go to court but I said no, God’s time is the best.

In 2003 I won my election again but Joshua Dariye, indicated that Baba Lar had said I wouldn’t conform, so the result of that election was carried to Baraikin Ladi and they used the returning officer, one retired General, and announced Cosmas Nyagwan as the winner, when the result had early been at the senatorial zone (Plateau South). The fact that the election was conducted in Plateau South but the results announced in Barkin Ladi (Plateau North) rendered it null and void.

But I failed to go to court.

When Nyagwan’s time was up I went to the National Assembly and said to him, ‘you know you are not supposed to be here’ and he said ‘yes’. I told him that I was contesting the next election and he said, ‘sir I will support you, thank you for C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 1 6

14 POLITICS

Mark

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

Saraki

Abe

Adamu

meeting of the PDP caucus at the residence of the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba by 7p.m.

It was believed that the PDP senators, who were probably jolted by the defection furore, used the meeting to plot a ‘counter coup’ against the defectors the following legislative day. This time, the PDP senators arranged and perfected to dangle a threat of vacation of their seats consequent upon their defection to the APC. But in the whole political drama, the President of the Senate took and acted the part of a just judge, who was not seen to be biased against his perceived political enemies in the Chamber (the defecting senators).

Just as planned, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom-PDP) commenced the drama of the ‘counter coup’ against the defectors. Immediately the only petition in the day’s Order paper was laid by Senator Ayogu Eze (Enugu-PDP), Enang, coming under the popular Order 14, moved a motion, urging the President of the Senate to declare vacant the seats of the senators, who declared their defection to the APC the previous day.

Citing Section 68 (1 g) in his argument, Enang, who is also a lawyer, pointed out that when a senator left the party platform upon which he was elected to the legislative office, he must vacate the seat because the seat belongs to the party that sponsored him.

Enang, in a committed attempt to convince Mark, the Senate and the entire Nigerian public that the defectors had become strangers in the Senate Chamber and must vacate their seats, also read to the Senate the judgement of the High Court last year, which established that there was no division in the PDP. He further cited some decided cases in the Nigerian Law Reports, even as he struggled to be heard in the midst of commotion instigated by the affected senators and their APC allies.

Senator Abdullahi Adamu was seen intermittent, putting on and speaking through his microphone just to ensure that Enang was not heard. He was busy distracting the Chamber with comment such as, “where is Bamanga Tukur”, etc.

The drama became more interesting when, after labouring so hard to persuade the President to use his powers as provided by the law and sack the ‘rebel Senators’ from the Senate; and all you could hear from Mark was, “Senator Ita Enang, you were in the chamber here yesterday and I did explain that the matter is in a court of competent jurisdiction. We all agreed that no reference should be made in a matter before a competent court of law. My ruling is that I am not going to be different because it is a constitutional matter. I shall not make any more pronouncements on it. The decision that you ask me to make is not possible. Therefore, I rule you out of order.”

Still in the mood of the orchestrated drama, Senator Thomson Sekibo (RiversPDP) ignored the position of Mark on the matter and also came under Order 14 of the Senate Standing Orders and Sections 1 and 2 of the Constitution to argue that Order 53 (5) of the Senate Standing Orders, upon which the Senate President based his refusal to declare the seats of the affected senators vacant was inconsistent with Section 1 of the Constitution.

At this point, another act was introduced to the scene, which eventually brought a temporary solution to the lingering conflict. That was when one of the aggrieved senators, Ali Ndume came through Order 14 and noted that the issue of defection and reading of their letter had dragged for long in the Senate. He therefore, implored the President of the Senate to make a final ruling on the matter and lay it to rest.

Interestingly, Mark sustained Ndume’s point of order and ruled that from that day, the matter would never be mentioned or discussed until the outcome of the pending court judgement. With this scenario, it is expected that the defection brouhaha and the attendant distraction in the Senate would be put in abeyance, pending the ruling of the court. The defectors also have an option to withdraw the matter and resolve it politically with the Senate PDP caucus.

Intrigues in Senate over defection For some time now, 11 senators elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been seeking to cross over to the All Progressives Congress (APC) but seem trapped in some legal and parliamentary intrigues. In this report, CHUKWU DAVID captures the drama trailing the move

I

n the last four weeks, the Senate has been characterised by apprehension, confusion and intrigues over the uncertainty of what might happen at plenary session.

This was precipitated by the crisis that lingered in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which provoked some members of the party in the Upper Chamber to join the rival All Progressives Congress (APC).

With all the politicking surrounding the defection imbroglio, the situation suddenly turned the hallowed chamber to a political theatre of sorts, where the elected senators gather to dramatize and defend their vested or threatened political interests on daily basis.

But the successive events of Tuesday and Wednesday last week, where the 11 defecting PDP Senators and the PDP loyalists in the Senate acted their orchestrated melodrama, seemed to have brought the matter to its interim climax.

Between court order and Senate rule The aggrieved PDP senators have pestered the President of the Senate, David Mark, in the last three weeks to read their jointly written letter, conveying their cross over to the rival APC to the chamber but to no avail.

The defecting senators had earlier gone to court and obtained an interim injunction to stop the President of the Senate from declaring their seats vacant if they cross carpeted to another party. The court order also stated that the status quo should be maintained by the parties in the suit.

The main case is however, still pending in court for final judicial decision.

Unfortunately for the aggrieved senators, Order 53(5) of the Senate Standing Orders 2011 as amended states: “reference shall not be made to any matter on which a judicial decision is pending, in such a way as might in the opinion of the President of the Senate prejudice the interest of the parties thereto.”

With this discretional power conferred on the President of the Senate by the

Standing Order of the Senate, Mark, in his opinion interpreted it to his advantage that, making reference to it would amount to prejudice in the pending case in court.

Therefore, he resolved not to make reference to it in the Chamber until the court makes final pronouncement on it.

Defying court order However, on Tuesday, in an arrangement reminiscent of a parliamentary coup, five out of the 11 PDP senators defied all legal hitches and declared their defection to the opposition APC at plenary.

Those who raised point of order, citing Order 14, which deals with the privileges of Senators, and declared their defection to the APC were: Senators Bukola Saraki (Kwara Central), Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa West), Aisha Alhassan (Taraba North), Magnus Abe (Rivers South East) and Wilson Ake (Rivers West).

After raising a point of order, based on Order 14, Ake said: “I want to inform this hallowed chamber that I have joined the APC. I have registered with the APC. After consulting with my people, they supported me to move. I am a member of the APC and will remain a member of the APC.” Abe, who in spite of seeing his colleagues ruled out of order by Mark, also stated: “I have joined the APC because my interest can no longer be protected or promoted by the PDP. I have found a party that can protect and promote my interest. So I have left the PDP.” Mark rules But Mark, relying on Order 53(5) of the Senate Standing Orders 2011 as amended, successively ruled them out of order and declared their defection null and void and of no effect.

Consequently, though they publicly proclaimed their defection to the opposition party, they still maintain their PDP seats in the Red Chamber, since by law, Mark voided their action in the Chamber.

PDP senators plot against colleagues After the display on the floor of the Senate that Tuesday, Mark announced a

POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

The defection of lawmakers in the House of Representatives has become a daily affair with no end in sight.

PHILIP NYAM captures the trend

House: Defection as a bazaar

T

he defection of five Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors last year to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) opened a flood gate for lawmakers loyal to them to also shift their party affiliation.

In the House of Representatives, it all began on December 18, 2013 when 37 PDP members from Kano, Sokoto, Kwara, Katsina, Bauchi and Rivers states in a fell swoop crossed over to the APC. Those who defected from Kano were: Nasiru Sule, Ahmad Zarewa, Aliyu Sani Madaki, Bashir Babale, Alhassan Ado Dogon, Munir Dangyadi, Aminu Suleiman, Abdulmumin Jibril, Musa Ado, Mustapha Bala and Muhtari M.C. From Sokoto were Kabiru Marafa Achida, Aminu Shehu Shagari, Isa Salihu Bashir, Abdullahi Mohammed Wamakko, Saalu Mohammed Nabunkari, Aliyu Shehu, Shuaibu Gwandu Gobir, Musa Sarkin Adar, Abdullahi Balarabe Salame and Umar Bature.

Those who defected from Rivers were: Andrew Uchendu, Asita Honourable, Sokonte Davies, Dakuku Peterside, Mpigi Barinada, Pronen Maurice, Dawari George and Ogbonna Nwuke. From Kwara were: Ali Ahmad, Zakari Mohammed, Ahman Pategi, Rafiu Ibrahim, Mustapha Mashood and Aiyedokun Akeem while Nasiru Sani Zagon Daura and Yakubu Dogara from Katsina and Bauchi respectively defected.

The gale of defection however took a different dimension as some aggrieved members of APC also changed camp.

Perhaps some were not aggrieved but be-

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

The ruling party, in a statement by Metuh, said the development had shown that Nigerians were not fooled by attempts by the opposition party to hoodwink them, undermine the electoral process and coax unsuspecting Nigerians to register as members by portraying the exercise as voters’ registration, being conducted by INEC. “This is the first sign of rejection for the boastful APC. It is a clear indication that the party is neither on ground nor does it command the followership it claims. They have now seen that true membership and public support are not secured through media hype and propaganda,” the statement said.

But, reacting to the PDP’s claim, Mohammed explained that the extension was to accommodate millions of Nigerians who were unable to register within the first five days of the exercise.

Dollars for defection Amidst the brickbat over the APC membership registration ensued another spat over the defection of five APC members of the House of Representatives to the PDP. The APC in response to the development which helped the PDP regain majority in the lower legislative chamber,

15

cause their political leaders or “godfathers” moved, they were compelled to follow suit.

On January 14, 2014, two members from Adamawa State defected from APC to PDP while chairman of the House Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Emmanuel Jime (Benue) left the PDP to APC and Hon. Yahaya Kwande (Plateau) left Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) to join the APC. Consequently, the exercise occurred in quick succession. On January 23, chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Budget, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele from Ekiti dumped the APC for Labour Party.

Barely a week after, the APC suffered another loss as the chairman of the House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control; Hon. Joseph Haruna Kigbu (Nasarawa) joined the PDP on January 29. The following day, January 30, another lawmaker from Nasarawa, Hon. Davematics Ombugadu abandoned the APC for the PDP. Surprisingly, last Tuesday, five members of the APC yesterday defected to the PDP while one PDP member crossed over to the APC making the PDP the majority.

The lawmakers that defected from the APC to the PDP were made up of two from Kano:

Ladan Shehu Bichi and Abdulsalam Adamu; two from Zamfara: Sani Umar Dangaladima and Shehu Gusau and Umar Bature from Sokoto while Hon. Isa Mohammed Bashiru from Kaduna state dumped PDP for APC. The intriguing aspect of the last two defections was that members who had hitherto left the PDP for APC made a detour and returned to their first love.

At the inauguration of the 7th House on June 5, 2011, the PDP had 197 members as against 163 by the seven minority parties.

The breakdown was: Accord Party (five), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN-71), All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP-27), All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA-seven), Congress for Progressives Change (CPC-40), Democratic Peoples Party (DPP-2) and the Labour Party (11).

However, when some of the opposition parties agreed to the merger to form APC in 2013, again, the conflagration changed with the PDP controlling 208 as against APC’s

PDP, APC’s unending spat accused the ruling party of using public funds to lure back the lawmakers who have earlier dumped it for the opposition.

Describing the action as political horse trading carried too far, APC further alleged that the PDP, in an unprecedented show of desperation, has rolled out a mouth-watering enticement package that promises $2 million to each senator who returns to the PDP; $1 million to each member of the House of Representatives and $10 million dollars to each ‘leader’ who abandons the APC for PDP. The party added that the price tag for federal legislators from Rivers State is even higher, at $5 million each, saying: “Nigerians can now see why their country has gone broke; why the allocation to states from the Federation Account has continued to dwindle, and why infrastructure have either remained decrepit or non-existent. It is not difficult to imagine the number of boreholes that $10 million dollars can sink, or how far such a huge amount will go in building cottage hospitals and health clinics.”

Nigerians can now see why their country has gone broke; why the allocation to states from the Federation Account has continued to dwindle Diminishing Returns theory Dismissing the APC’s dollar inducement claim as cheap blackmail, the PDP said the opposition party has reached its peak with diminishing returns setting in.

The party said: “The truth is that the APC has reached its peak. Diminishing returns has set in and the party can only go down further. It is a clear sign that it has exhausted all its strategies and now seeks to cover its premature boast of majority in the National Assembly.

“The APC celebrated too early. They have played all their cards and displayed all their tactics well ahead of the contest.

Theirs is a case of engaging in a marathon race as a sprint; a football team celebrating

137.

Following the first major defection on December 18, 2013, the PDP’s dominance was whittled down to 171, while the APC’s numerical strength shot to 174. At this point, the APC was relentless in its quest to assume leadership. But shortly after the defection became a ding dong affair so much that it was impossible to state categorically which party was in the majority. However, with last week’s defection, the equation changed significantly.

The PDP now has 178 members while the APC has 168.

Although, it looks as if the APC has started losing steam in the House, the PDP cannot be said to be comfortable because the defection would continue at least until about April, when the parties are expected to kick-start the process of selecting candidates for the 2015 elections. The APC is already crying foul alleging that the PDP is luring its members away with huge sums of money and promises of automatic tickets. So, the stage is now set for both parties to intensify lobby and counter-lobby to win over more lawmakers ahead of the next general elections. For now, it seems the issue of change of leadership would have to be suspended since the defections have become a daily affair.

What is however a puzzle to many is the position of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal. Is he going to change party to the APC? Right now, out of the 11 members from Sokoto, only three (including Tambuwal) are still in the PDP. The rest have defected to the APC. The Speaker is said to have gubernatorial ambition and it is being rumoured he may want to contest on the platform of the APC. His defection to APC or his continued stay in the PDP will in the long run shape the position of politics in the lower chamber.

its mere appearance in the pitch far before the beginning of a match. Now, they are weary and tired while the contest is yet to begin.”

The party added that it was not surprised about the flurry of defections and return to its fold, as it remains the only national party while the APC is quasinational, while calling on the leadership of the National Assembly to probe the inducement allegation.

While many see the brickbat between both parties as propaganda, which is allowed in politics, the verbal war is expected to get messier in the days ahead as the country inches closer to the 2015 elections, though some analysts cautioned the various camps to exercise restraint.

Former Kaduna State governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa who spoke on the issue told New Telegraph that though the spats are unexpected, both parties should thread with caution to avoid plunging the country into crisis.

His words: “The war of words is unexpected, given the fact that the PDP and APC are the two main political parties and each has what it takes to win the 2015 presidency, but we hope that it should remain a war of words only and not by other means.”

16 POLITICS On preparations and logistics We are fully prepared for the election.

Concerning logistics, it has always been a challenge. If we say voting will start by 8a.m., we want it so but it is not always so.

Some of the problems are systemic. If you look at the elections we have conducted, we are improving. The Anambra State issue only affected one local government area and some people are latching on that to create negative impression about us. Ekiti governorship election will be the best.

On Permanent voters’ cards

We have printed the permanent voters’ cards for the Ekiti election. In fact, Ekiti is the first place where the card will be used to vote. It has a lot of features to prevent electoral fraud. It has an in-built chip and it is smart card-based which has details of the holder such as the biodata, fingerprint and the face of the voter.

It has 10 years duration and will be used for electronic identification at polling units. The permanent voters’ cards will be distributed in the state from March 7 to 9.

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

Ekiti guber’ll be the best –Jega The National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Wednesday, February 12 chaired a meeting of the commission with stakeholders in the coming governorship election in Ekiti State and fielded questions from reporters. ADESINA WAHAB reports.

Underage voters

There is no technology that can detect that but at the point of registration, we will ensure that it is eliminated.

From past experiences we found out that there is community connivance in some cases where our staff are forced and threatened to register underage

Role of state-owned security outfits

Some state governments have created their own security outfits, but for the purpose of the election, we will make use of the Nigeria Police.

Controversy over election observers

Ekiti 2014

An election observer is a person or group that has applied to INEC to help monitor election and who after proper verification has been approved to act as one. We normally advertise to get people and groups to serve as observers.

In Anambra State, 218 illegal observers were arrested and arraigned in court by the police. Of course, the issue is bailable but they must meet the conditions laid down by the court. In Ekiti, we will be more vigilant.

New voters

Those who have come of voting age after the last registration exercise and those who have lost their temporary cards will have the opportunity to register from March 12 to 17. For those who have lost their previous cards, they will provide some documents to prove that they truly need new cards and fill appropriate forms.

We will ensure that they get their permanent voters’ cards before the election.

However, if this is not possible for whatever reasons, we will let them use new temporary voters’ cards.

people do go to voting centres to tear the names on display.

On billboards and posters people. When such people come to collect their permanent voters’ cards, they may be compelled to provide documents to prove their age. Underage voters’ cards are to be pulled out of the lot and those concerned will have to go to our local government offices to meet our electoral officers and adequate steps have been taken to ensure that the process is not abused by anybody.

Mercenary voters

If you have registered somewhere and you go to another state to register with the intent to vote there, we will catch you. We are running our programme to detect multiple registration nationwide.

There is no statute of limitation for the prosecution of electoral offenders. We will start prosecuting those involved in multiple registration in Ekiti before the

Jega

June poll. There are many offenders but the capacity to prosecute them at once is not there. In Anambra, we took some people to court but regrettably due to the slow process of our court system, none of the cases has been fully concluded.

On excess voters in voting units

We will create voting points to cater for the excess figure. We cannot create additional polling units before the next general elections next year.

Availability of voter’s register

We will make it available to political parties and when it is time to display it in polling units we will do that. It has never been a challenge, we do that on time only that some

People involved should remove their posters and billboards. It is too early to engage in that. We are only advising those politicians that have breached the process. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. They should take heed.

Inflammatory statements by politicians

They should speak responsibly and not overheat the polity. The political parties have signed a Code of Conduct covering how they will behave during electioneering, election period and even after that period.

Regrettably, INEC has no power to prosecute those who utter unguarded statements, it is the duty of security agencies. You media practitioners must also exercise restraints as not everything that politicians say that you will help them broadcast. INEC has a responsibility so also other stakeholders.

Don’t fan the embers of violence.

How to end Boko Haram crisis –Shagaya C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

not taking me to court’. And in fairness to Nyagwan, he did not only refuse to contest but he left all his structures in the six local governments for me and I won the election.

But I had to leave PDP in 2010 as a sitting senator. The simple reason was that there were many Plateau citizens who indicated interest in the governorship race, and in fact paid to be screened for primaries, but President Goodluck Jonathan said he had ordained Jonah Jang. Many of us thought that was not democracy. So we created PDP 2 and the day I left PDP I said look, before 2015 we may meet at a different forum in the leadership of this country. I gave my reasons and today they are coming to pass.

With your background as a soldier, how will you consider the way the problem of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North is being tackled by the incumbent government?

My views in the Senate were that there is no substitute to dialogue. Having been in Rwanda; having contributed forces and having visited our troops several times in former Yugoslavia, when I was GOC 1 Div, and having had

the experience of the command of an African Joint Force – I was the first chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff of the ECOMOG forces – I thought by taking certain steps to push casualties to the other side would be better.

I know what I did right not to lose a soul for the period I was there, not because I didn’t know how to authorise soldiers to shoot. We didn’t go there to die for that country; we went there to make peace.

I used some background information, predating even my commissioning. I participated in the Tiv crisis, and I came to the conclusion that shooting was not the answer.

The military between 1964/65/66 picked no casualties in the Tiv crisis because they never believed in shooting people whose armaments were much lower than what they held. Police became victims of the Tiv crisis because at the slightest intimidation they would use maximum force, so they became enemies and they were killed in their numbers.

Therefore borrowing from these experiences on the floor of the Senate, I always

Knowing that some politicians had been imprisoned, we said maybe we too could be there one day, and of course Obasanjo and Zamani Lekwot were advised my colleagues that the best solution would be peace talk; the carrot and stick that Obasanjo keeps talking about.

Again if you go back to the verbatim reporting of the Senate of 2009/2010, you would find those exact words being said by some of us because we know the cause, so why not attack the cause?

What was the cause?

Some governors decided to train people to use them to rig elections for them and they were not compensated. Those former governors are still alive. That was their cause of going wild. And they started by fighting and eliminating the relations of those governors, their appointees and all that. Why didn’t we tackle it from that

point? Between 2008 and 2009, they were communicating with government using radio, wireless sets, telephone, mobile, land line and so on. Why didn’t you use the avenue? You allowed the issue to run up to 2011 elections where some of us, may God forgive us, decided to use religion – this is Christian turn and so on. The voting in some parts of the North was based on religious sentiment. And advocates of such sentiments are very literate people; they are lecturers, they are professors, they are engineers and all kinds of characters.

Sometimes what comes out of us, whether Muslims or Christians, could really inflict casualties on innocent people who might not be aware of what certain big people are up to. It’s unfortunate we’ve lost lives and property. Even my governor here in Plateau used religion to be there. He couldn’t have been more religious than the others who wanted to be there. But today where is the religion?

His son calls commissioners to order, his son is a supreme principal staff; every key appointment in Plateau must be held by a Berom man from Du. And I ask, where is the Christianity?

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

Monday, FEBRUARY 17 - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014

Drug-trafficking toll on Nigerians abroad

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he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) recently stated that over 6,000 Nigerians are serving various jail terms across the globe for drug related offences, with Iran, for instance, imprisoning 4,000, Brazil 500, Thailand 500, and Malaysia 300. This fraction of a list not only makes Nigeria the leading African country with its citizens in prisons abroad, but a closer scrutiny highlights a worrisome dimension. Out of the 500 Nigerians in Thailand’s prisons, 480 of them are from the South East and 450 specifically from Anambra State; a pattern that is easily replicated in most of the foreign prisons.

A number of intertwined factors are responsible for this sorry pass. There is a fundamental breakdown of family system, societal values and moral ethos, as youths who indulge in this social misdemeanor have erroneously imbibed anti-social and warped get-rich-quick syndrome, as a result of rapacious tendencies, attributable to negative peer pressure, ebbing ethical values and obvious misplacement of priorities.

This disconcerting and frightening phenomenon is accentuated by ubiquitous grinding poverty forcing people, especially youths,

to be vulnerable to dangerous survival schemes. Unquestionably, there is an unprecedented but totally unacceptable state of hopelessness and despair that is so unprecedented, indicative of a failing country. And, having very high numbers of drug offenders from a single state, lends credence to institutionalised kindred criminality designed to ensure the secrecy of the modus operandi of the villainous drug cartels. Lamentably, the image, reputation and credibility of Nigeria are being immeasurably dented by this sordid situation.

Even more discomforting is the fact that Nigeria has graduated from being a transit haven for narcotics to actually becoming a consuming nation, as armed robbers, prostitutes and other social deviants are increasingly dependent on these drugs. Also, a formidable nexus has been established between terrorism and the use of narcotics in the country, evidenced by the discovery of large quantities of different hard drugs in the overrun camps of the Boko Haram insurgents. This portends great danger for the security and wellbeing of the people.

Sadly, the country’s anti-drug agency’s capacity to function effectively is being undermined severally. According to its Di-

rector-General, Mr. Femi Ajayi, some of the challenges facing the enforcement agency include poor funding, lack of necessary equipment including scanners, uncooperative attitude of some collaborative agencies, lack of adequate capacity building for staff, difficulty in tracking down drug barons as well as porous and unmanned border posts. For instance, in 2011 the capital budget was N84.5 million but only N61 million was released, overheads also reduced from N630 million in 2011 to N600 million, despite the fact that the staff strength increased from 3,200 to 5,300.

We insist that government needs to get to the brass task of fixing the national economy, in accordance with sections 14 (2) (b); 16 (1) (a), (b) and (d) as well as 16 (2) (d) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In addition, the weak and ineffective law enforcement institutions in the country, which have enabled pervasiveness and proliferation of narcotic trafficking and usage in the country, need to be overhauled.

We recommend that NDLEA should be properly and promptly funded, and equipped. Indeed, Nigeria must not only wage war against hard drugs in its entirety, but it must really been seen to be

doing so. The drug enforcement agency must get back to the seaports as well as police the border posts throughout the country with constant air surveillance.

Curiously, the NDLEA has focused too much attention on marijuana, but it should also beam its searchlight on cocaine, heroin and similar hard drugs across the country, as the dangerous narcotics are purchased and used in the full glare of the public in various locations in Nigeria.

Also, there is the exigent need for public enlightenment and sensitization on the menace of drugs and the death penalty in some foreign counties, if caught. Of course, the youths must be taught by parents, educational institutions and religious organizations that there is no shortcut to success in life.

The proposed initiative by government to get Nigerians in jails abroad back home to complete their jail terms under the Prisoners’ Transfer Agreement is unrealistic and indeed a tantalizing mirage, as prisons in the country are already over-congested with awaiting trail inmates. And, the prisons are punitive and not corrective cum rehabilitative facilities. Government must urgently devise creative and pragmatic ways of addressing the socio-economic adversities confronting the people.

BOLAJI TUNJI Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief IKE ABONYI Deputy Managing Director FELIX ABUGU Managing Editor, South SULEIMAN BISALA Managing Editor, North GABRIEL AKINADEWO Editor, Daily LAURENCE ANI Editor, Saturday EMEKA MADUNAGU Editor, Sunday LEO CENDROWICZ Bureau Chief, Brussels MARSHALL COMINS Bureau Chief, Washington DC SAM AMSTERDAM Editorial Coordinator, Europe EMMAN SHEHU (PhD) Chairman, Editorial Board BIODUN DUROJAIYE News Editor PADE OLAPOJU Production Editor TIMOTHY AKINLEYE Head, Graphics ROBINSON EZEH Head, Admin.

18

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

OPINION The Enveloping Ecology of Poverty Jide Ayobolu

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here have been various attempts to deal with grinding poverty in Nigeria. But it seems the attempts have not in any tangible way yielded positive results, by way of bring succour to the people, in terms to concrete economic palliatives. This worrisome trend undoubtedly is a disturbing development, bearing in mind the fact that; the fundamental reason why people are in government is to see to the welfare and security of the masses.

Although, this very position is indeed a very critical one in Nigeria, where public office holders have abandoned the people and are helping themselves with public funds. And, as they are getting richer, the masses are being pauperized. In Nigeria today, the issue of poverty has unfortunately become a nagging recurring decimal.

Poverty has really become a sing-song, it writs large in our clime with its ubiquitous presence. Spiritually poverty

is a curse. Socio-economically, it is a state of extreme want, need and deprivation. When the government led by President Olusegun Obasanjo came on board in 1999, one of the cardinal programmes of his administration was poverty reduction which had by then had become endemic.

To this end, the administration created the Poverty Alleviation Programme (PAP) which became a lame duck, and at the end of the day N15billion was sunk into programme and nothing concrete came out of it. Hence, National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) was put in place; however, it did not meet the aims and objectives for which it was created, instead, it has been a drain-pipe on government’s lean purse. This led the government to set up another poverty reduction initiative called Investment led Poverty Reducing Employment which equally failed very woefully.

The point here is that any government programme that does

not have the people as the aim and essence will be nothing, but an unmitigated disaster.

Yes, poverty in Nigeria did not start with the government in 1999; it has been with us for quite a while now. For instance, in 1986, according to official figures, three million Nigerians were unemployed. Of these, those below 25 years accounted for 73.1 per cent, young school leavers accounted for the bulk of the employed with 60.3 per cent and 46.2 per cent in the urban and rural areas respectively. The Gross National Product has been declining.

The decline in the housing sector averages about 10 per cent, that of manufacturing 6.4 per cent and 5 per cent for construction, wholesale and retail sectors. However, the agriculture sector has been improving by an annual average of 2.2 per cent, expressed in real terms, by an average of 36.7 per cent. It is important to note that, Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava, albeit, much of this is lost to waste

because of the absence of good storage facilities. In spite of this, the country goes a begging to imperialist creditors for credit facility for development purposes.

It is also important to note that, the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) in 1995 estimated that at least half of Nigeria’s teeming population are regarded as undernourished, the 71 million ill-fed Nigerians constitutes 25 per cent of the 200million under-nourished Africans alone. It is equally important to note that, the Gross Domestic Product(GDP) of Nigeria in 2001 was $41billion, that of South Africa was $113billion, Malaysia $188 billion, Korea $9,460, United Kingdom $25,120 and United States of America $34,000.

It is very clear therefore that, Nigeria is not only grossly underdeveloped, it is poverty ridden. Hence, it would be apropos if the government of the day could create conditions in which Nigerians could be very

productive and self-employed.

All the present government is talking about is foreign investment but, Nigerians should be able to invest in their own economy that is when real development can actually take place. However, this is not the case, for example, according to the UNDP report 2002, 70 per cent out of every 120 Nigerians live below the poverty line.

Also, the report emphasized that, Nigeria is one of the 20 poorest countries in the world.

Nigeria also ranked 57th in terms of Gross National Product (GNP). Equally, the country is 124th in gender related development and 151st in Human Development Index. Nigeria’s contribution to global Gross Domestic Product being mere 0.22 per cent and also ranking 187th in GNP per capita income.

In the Human Development Index report 2002, out of the 173 countries whose living conditions were assessed, Nigeria ranked 148th behind Madagascar and Haiti. *CONTINUES NEXT EDITION

Of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and tempest in a teapot Gary Igariwey

A

small event that has been exaggerated out of all proportions is the very definition of a storm in a teacup. In the course of the last couple of months, one or two self-appointed custodians of Igbo priorities, aspirations and destiny have been very busy stoking an otherwise dying ember of discord in our society – to achieve personal ends.

Let me restate, from the outset, the sentiments that represent the totality of my aspirations as the leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. My commitment to reform Ohanaeze, to leave it on a more solid and enduring platform than I met it, will remain undiminished. My dream for Ohanaeze is for it to emerge and remain a veritable instrument that will give authoritative voice to social, cultural, economic and political issues that affect the generality of Ndigbo, at home and abroad, young or old, rich or poor, elite or ordinary. A body that will act in concert with others to elevate and promote the aspirations of Ndigbo; challenge any encroachment upon our interests and stand up against those who might be tempted to bully, intimidate or exploit our sons and daughters wherever they may be. I shall strive unremittingly for the realisation of this dream and will not be swayed by

self-obsessed lone-rangers eager for selfpromotion and intolerant of alternative categories of options and preferences.

The quantum of intellectual energy and material resources that some of our able sons and daughters are usually willing to expend in shooting themselves in the foot never fails to amuse and sadden me in equal degree. The amusement comes from the folly of such self-flagellation and the sadness comes from the utterly unnecessary waste. As I write, extensive newspaper advertorials, booklets, sponsored opinion editorials and pamphlets are being published and circulated with feverish zest by a handful of individuals upset by our efforts to modernise Ohanaeze and take it forward to the digital age. Those who are misguided enough to embark on these futile enterprises may presume that they are attacking the leadership of Ohanaeze but the bitter truth is that their efforts are blatantly anti-Igbo.

Given that the characters in question have attained a certain status in society, both in terms of age and personal accomplishments, I feel compelled to situate their declamations in proper perspective so that a mere teapot does not assume the proportions of a geopolitical zone.

Firstly, the allegation that Ohanaeze Ndigbo is enmeshed in leadership crisis and legal tussle is baseless and unfounded. There are no litigations pending in

any court in any jurisdiction within the Nigerian federation in respect of the leadership of Ohanaeze as presently constituted. If any such litigation exists, then it must have been instituted in the last 24 hours and my attention is yet to be drawn to its existence or pendency. I am bound in honour and duty to assure every Igbo son and daughter that the Ohanaeze executive which I have the unique privilege of leading is entirely legitimate and was brought into being through a legitimate democratic process.

Secondly, the allegation that the Presidency dispensed a monetary largesse of 1.2 billion naira to Ohanaeze as a reward for supporting the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2011 presidential election is false, defamatory, ignorant and calculated to whip up antiIgbo and anti-Ohanaeze emotions. The additional claim that such monies were embezzled or fraudulently appropriated is a weighty accusation and one that was not lightly or flippantly made. It, therefore, cannot go unchallenged.

I assumed office as the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo on 12th January, 2013, long after the general elections of 2011 were contested, won and lost. Given the defamatory, malicious and criminal dimension of the allegation, I have commenced discussions with my legal advisers with a view to ultimately giving

instructions for all legal means of challenging this allegation to be explored and proportionate redress obtained.

Thirdly, the position of Ohanaeze on the National Conference has remained consistent and formulated in tandem with contributions made by various Igbo organisations. This formulation formed the basis for the Memorandum presented

by Ohanaeze to the Presidential Advisory Committee on the National Conference in October, 2013. The Memorandum was signed by not only the President-General and Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo but also by notable members of Ohanaeze’s Imeobi and representatives of other Igbo groups, including Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, Sen. Ken Nnamani, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, Igwe Agubuzu, Prof Ukwu I. Ukwu, among others.

In that Memorandum, our unified position on the structure, legal framework, duration, post-conference legal procedure, etc, was brought about through intense dialogue within the Imeobi; consultations, debate and disputations with other interested groups endeavoured to live up to my aspiration of leading an Ohanaeze that is inclusive of all shades of opinion, tolerant of debates and disputations without which sound and compelling conclusions cannot be realised.

Chief Igariwey is the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo *CONTINUES NEXT EDITION

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Monday, February 17 - friday, February 21, 2014

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Outrage over abandoned Lagos road projects

Capitol Road, Agege. lnset: Ipaja-Ayobo Road.

PHOTOS: SULEIMAN HUSAINNI AND TONY EGUAYE

Many residents of Lagos are facing hardship over slow pace of work on road projects, report Taiwo Jimoh and Tunde osowe

M

any people in parts of Lagos metropolis are groaning from the impact of abandoned or slow pace of work on roads projects.

In many of the places NT Metro visited such as Ayobo-Ipaja, Capitol Road, Oworonshoki, it was lamentation from the residents and road users.

Driving through the AyoboIpaja Road has, in the last couple of months, become a nightmare.

Apart from the cloud of dust that greets road users during dry season, potholes, uncompleted drainages, heaps of sand, gravel, etc are common features of the road.

“The experience when it rains, with muddy water everywhere, is worse,” said Adeolu Olabiyi, a commercial motorcyclist.

When one of our correspondents visited the area, the

residents, traders and artisans, particularly at the popular Oja Junction, were going about their daily business activities in the dusty environment. They were said to be in for what some of them termed “dust baptism”.

The reconstruction of the Ayobo-Ipaja dual carriageway began in 2011. There is no sign the project, awarded to Plycon Construction Limited, will be completed soon.

This is one of the abandoned or slow-paced projects which dot the landscape of the metropolis.

Another one, according Miss Damilola Akosile, who resides at Meiran, is Meiran/Ile-Iwe Road in Ifako/Ijaiye Local Government Area, abandoned since 2012. Others are Oke-Ode, Araromi streets in Coker Aguda; WEMPCO Road, Ogba and OkeKoto drainage in Agege, among others.

Also t h e residents of Capitol Road in Agege expressed concern over the near neglect of the road project which began about two years ago.

The people expressed, grievances when NT Metro visited the project site to ascertain the level of work done so far by the contractor.

One of the residents whose family house was cut off by a deep ditch created by the construction work, Alhaji Yesufu Akanji, described the state of the road as appalling, adding that the construction had inflicted more pains on the residents.

Akanji urged the state government to query the contractor for doing a shoddy job. He added that Governor Babatunde Fashola ought to have visited the

site to ascertain the level of work done so far.

Another resident, Mrs. Rose Okeowo, said the state of the road was worrisome.

Okeowo, who is also a trader in the area, said: “The state of the road has practically affected our sales. We have been coping with this in the last two years but our sales have dropped drastically.”

According to Mr. Sam Okechukwu, another resident, whenever it rains, the people have to battle with flood.

He said: “Once the rain subsides, the area becomes dusty.

This constitutes major health hazard to the people and because of this, some people have closed their shops, while many others have relocated.”

The dual carriage way road has been converted to a single lane, because of the heaps of

marshy sand dug out at some sections along the stretch of the road. This has resulted in persistent gridlock.

A commercial driver, Saidi Amao, also decried the number of hours wasted on a daily basis on the road, particularly during the peak hours.

He said: “The traffic situation in the area is better imagined than experienced.”

But the residents of Oworonshoki urged the government to speed up the construction of Meyaki Street and the adjourning streets because of the approaching rainy season.

When one of our correspondents visited the road, some abandoned caterpillars were parked at different locations.

A resident of Onabanjo Street, Mr. Oyewo Kolawole, said the work was supposed to be completed in one year, but it had been on for more than a year.

He said: “We appeal to the governor to mobilise the contractors and let them go back to site and finish the road project.”

Also abandoned is the construction of drainage at Isaac Jones Street in Ikeja Government Residential Area around Ikeja Country Club.

Water from the drainage has taken over a section of the road.

A commercial taxi driver, who craved anonymity, said the abandoned project had affected cabs’ patronage.

He urged the governor to monitor contractors handling road projects across the state for them not to sabotage his efforts in transforming the state.

But the Commissioner for Works, Dr Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat, said none of the road projects had been abandoned.

He said: “I, along with the governor and some others, inspected Meiran, WEMPCO, Ayobo-Ipaja roads just yesterday (on Thursday). The contractors are on sites and working. So, how can anyone claim that they are abandoned? No one who resides in those neighbourhoods can claim such.”

20

METRO

Monday, February 17 - Fr

I got N400,000 from Christ Embassy robbery –Pastor End of the road Four robbery suspects, now in police net, recall their exploits Juliana Francis

I

saiah Willie is a pastor at the Happy People Bible Church, Ayobo, Lagos State. Every Sunday, he preaches the word of God telling his congregation to ‘repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.’

But his white clerical collar, according to the police, has dirt and he uses cassock to cover his iniquities.

Willie, 41, is a member of a seven-man robbery gang that specialised in breaking Dosunmu Automated Teller Machine. The robbers, Willie who were recently arrested by the Lagos State Police Command, used gas cylinder to break ATM before stealing the money.

He said: “Temptation always comes. At my age, I should not be in this sort of thing.

I have a cab that I even used to manage. I have already belittled myself by getting involved in this mess. My experience since I was arrested has taught me that one should be contented with what one has.”

The pastor claimed he had followed the gang to two operations, adding that he became involved after they requested for his cab to carry out an operation.

The pastor also recalled how a woman was attacked and robbed at the Christ EmNsirim bassy church in Lagos.

Kasim Willie said: “There was a robbery opdeal about the robbery. Richard later told me us that the woman used to go to Central Bank eration they went for at the Christ Emabout it. We went to Alade Market area, where to get dollars, to give to Christ Embassy, adding that she was into money laundering. bassy. They gave me N400, 000 but I didn’t we met with a lady and a bank manager.

“She asked if we could intercept the womgo with them.

“The lady is the bank manager’s girlfriend.

“It happened that a guy called Richard She told us that she was working with one an and get the money from her. I now told and one dismissed mobile policeman got the woman who goes about with dollars. She told Confidence Saviour. They traced the woman

One of my sons is in the United States Navy and my daughter is in Germany. They send money to me from Lagos Island down to Christ Embassy. I don’t know how much they collected from the woman, but they gave me N400, 000.”

When asked why he did not quit crime, he went biblical: “Go and read Matthew 26 verse 41. It says: ‘The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.’”

Another member of the gang, Jonathan Nsirim, said his love for music pushed him into robbery.

He said: “I used to play music in night clubs. It was there that I met some of the members. They took me to a man who they call chairman. They told me that the chairman would assist me with money to buy my musical instruments.

“On the second visit to the chairman, they told me that if I wanted to get money to buy my instruments, I would have to go and rob with them.”

Nsirim said he was now a “born again” and was ready to face the consequences of his action.

But before his arrest, Nsirim’s desperate need to have his own band took pre-eminence over his sense of reasoning and he went with the gang to vandalise an ATM. He said: “When the gang took me to the chairman, they told me they were robbers and they told me what my assignment would be. I knew if I refused, they would kill me. I had to play ball with them. My assignment is to carry gas cylinders.”

After a failed attempt to rob Access Bank, he went underground. But the suspect was later

Traders, shuttle drivers bemoan LASU closure Tunde Osowe

T

raders and other small business owners around the Ojo campus area of the Lagos State University (LASU) are counting their losses over the crisis rocking the institution.

Some of them who spoke with NT Metro said they were yet to recover from the over five-month-old strike called by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) before LASU crisis broke out.

The crisis has grounded trading on the campus and the adjourning areas.

LASU was shut on January 23 because of violent demonstration by the students.

The students were protesting the closure of the institution’s portal thereby preventing several

of them from registering for the first semester examinations of the 2012/2013 session.

However, the closure is having an undesirable effect on the traders who depend on the students to make sales.

The traders have appealed to the Lagos State Government, the state House of Assembly, the school management and the students’ union government to resolve the crisis.

One of them, Mrs. Foluke Adigun, 53, who sells snacks, food and beverages, said she used to make between N28,000 and N30,000 daily.

But now, according to her, she hardly makes N2,000 per day.

“At this age, I can’t afford to stay at home. If I stay back, how will I be able to cater for my children? This is one major challenge we’re facing

here,” the mother of four said.

Mrs. Christy Rahman, a widow, who sells stationeries, said the closure had impacted negatively on her business.

According to her, once students are not on campus, petty traders like her will have to bear the brunt.

She said: “For instance, most of the writing materials I bought long before the ASUU strike have not been sold.

“I’m running at a loss now, because printers review their designs from time to time. Apart from that, if you buy some notebooks and you have been displaying them either on the shelf or on the table for buyers to see, with time they get faded.”

Another trader, who gave her name simply as Mama Chigozie, owns a canteen at the institution’s

Entrance of Lasu

mini market.

She said: “I won’t deceive you; to cook food for unknown number of buyers is like a suicide mission. If you decide to reduce the quantity that may be when

more people would come to buy.

So, it is very challenging.”

The campus shuttle drivers too were not left out.

Their park was virtually empty when our correspondent vis-

BUSINESS Monday, February 17 - FrIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014

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$20bn Nigeria's Trans-Sahara gas exports plans dashed

Skilled manpower shortage hits power sector The acute manpower shortage in the Nigeria’s power sector continued to worsen, threatening the privatisation of the sector.

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}p-22

Webb Fontaine dumps MTN over poor service

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Integrated Marketers: Leaving their first love?

At a point in time, they made their marks in the country’s Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) industry. But today, they seem to have abandoned the profession, which brought them to limelight for other interests.

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US targets Nigeria with new video technology United States-based social video company, PublicVine, is to make market entry into Nigeria later this month with the introduction of an online marketplace for video distribution and purchase.

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BUSINESS CREW AYODELE AMINU, Deputy Editor (Business) Simeon Ogoegbulem, Dep. Business Editor BAYO AKOMOLAFE, Asst. Editor (Maritime) SUNDAY OJEME, Asst. Editor (Insurance) JONAH IBOMA, ICT Editor DAYO ADEYEMI, Property Editor

L-R: Chairman, West African Capital Market Integration Council (WACMIC) and CEO, The Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema, and Chairman, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Suleyman Ndanusa, at the WACMIC Sensitisation Workshop held in Abuja.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

lPressure on minister to curb scam allegations ANXIETY An uneasy calm has pervaded the Petroleum Resources Ministry since last Thursday when the Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah, was sacked.

Stories by Adeola Yusuf

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he Presidency has given a matching order to the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, to cleanse the oil industry of myriads of scam allegations rocking it - including those leveled against her, or get the boot, New Telegraph has learnt.

The multi-billion dollars oil and gas industry is awash with allegations of scam but of "great interest to the Presidency," according to the source, "is the embarrassment, which the N3 trillion subsidy claims disparity between 2009 and 2011 as shown by the Extractive Industry Trans-

ADEOLA YUSUF, Energy Editor

parency Initiative (EITI) report last year caused the government before the International community."

The minister, who last Tuesday shunned a National Assembly committee probing the $20 billion kerosene subsidy scam in Abuja, rushed down to Lagos for the Public Enlightenment Workshop on Oil and Gas Industry Audit for the Year 2012 organised by NEITI. At the seminar, she read the riot act to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and other agencies in the ministry to

This government has been unduly criticised for many alleged atrocities in the oil and gas industry

surrender data and statistics to NEITI for the new audit.

The source told New Telegraph: "Mr. President had already initiated an Inter-Ministerial Taxes Team on the NEITI audit and the team has commenced its first meeting on Wednesday.

The minister, on the other hand, already has her directive to sit-up.

"You know, this government has been unduly criticised for many alleged atrocities in the oil and gas industry and all these has to be addressed before it is too late, mind you, the next general elections are around the corner.”

Chairman of the Board of NEITI, Ledum Mitee, had disclosed at the public presentation of 2009-2011 NEITI’s independent audit reports of the oil and gas industry and solid minerals: "The report observed that the disparity between subsidy claims paid from the Federation account and that made by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) was N175.9 billion during the same period.

For example, the Office of Accountant General of the Federation reported to NEITI auditors a total subsidy payment of N2.825 trillion, while PPPRA disbursed N3 trillion to marketers during the same period."

In a bid to save her job, the minister has compelled the NNPC, PPMC, PPPRA and other agencies to avoid a repeat of non-compliance to the request by NEITI to verify their accounts.

"Compliance and cooperation with NEITI in the ongoing 2012 oil and gas audit is mandatory and compulsory for all agencies," the minster had said.

"Let me say that NEITI reports are vital instruments, which government will continue to work and integrate their findings and recommendations in the overall interest of the national policy.

"As a result of the importance of the work of NEITI inter-ministerial taxes team set up by Federal Government to implement CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

Rates Dashboard

CHRIS UGWU, Capital Market Editor

INFLATION RATE

Abdulwahab Isa, Finance Editor

January 2014 ...........................8.00% December 2013.......................8.00% November 2013..........................7.90%

Nnamdi Amadi, Reporter

he $20 billion Trans Saharan gas infrastructure and exports plans by Nigeria have suffered a major setback.

Investigations by New Telegraph showed that major lenders from Europe, the continent where Nigeria plans to transport her natural gas, shunned pleas to invest in the projects due to perceived corruption in the country.

President Goodluck Jonathan had penultimate week

Alison-Madueke's job on the line

DELE ALAO, Brands/Marketing Editor

Chuks Onuanyin, Energy

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Deputy Editor, business

What's news

The service provider at the nation’s seaport, Webb Fontaine has resolved to drop MTN network for another service provider over its poor service delivery and incessant break down of the Customs server.

Power to hit 7,000MW by end of 2014 –NERC boss

LENDING RATE InterBank Rate. . . . . . . . . . . 10.75% Prime Lending Rate. . . . . . 17.01% Maximum Lending Rate. .24.90%

EXCHANGE RATE

EXCHANGE RATE

USD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N170.50 Pounds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N280 Euro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N232

USD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N155.75 Pounds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N259.06 Euro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N212.7

(Parellel As at Feb. 7)

(Official As at Feb. 7)

22 business | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

Skilled manpower shortage hits power sector SKILL GAP Skill deficit in the power sector appears to be threatening the survival of the industry Adeola Yusuf

T

he acute manpower shortage in the Nigeria’s power sector continued to worsen, threatening the privatisation of the sector.

New Telegraph's investigation across the country showed noticeable shortfall in the commercial operation of the privatised distribution companies.

The National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) corroborated the shortfall in skilled manpower. The institute said it is faced by 8,400 deficits in skilled manpower, which according to Reuben Okeke, its director-general, would rise to over 17,000 in four years.

Following the takeover of the

L-R: Vice-Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Professor Idowu Bamitale Omole, with the Executive Director, Lagos & West Directorate, Keystone Bank, Mrs. Yvonne Isichei, during a courtesy visit by the VC to the bank's head office in Lagos recently

various facilities last November by the new owners, over 60 per cent of the workforce manning the privatised former Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) assets were sacked.

The BPE had on Monday, November 4 last year, issued sack

letters dated October 21, to the workers in a move to perfect the privatisation of the PHCN. Director, Human Resources at the Ministry, Grace Papka, however, admitted that the task of producing the required skilled manpower needed to

Webb Fontaine dumps MTN over poor service

lWe're working to get better, says telcom operator CHUCKED Importers and customs agents are experiencing qualms at the seaports over the incessant breakdown of server powered by a service provider, Webb Fontaine through the MTN Nigeria.

Bayo Akomolafe

T

he service provider at the nation’s seaport, Webb Fontaine has resolved to drop MTN network for another service provider over its poor service delivery and incessant break down of the Customs server.

In the last three weeks, importers and customs agents have been finding it difficult to clear their consignments at the ports, leading to demurrage.

The Managing Director of Webb Fontaine, Mr. Mukthar Ahmed, said the decision to terminate MTN’s service was part of efforts to address the incessant failure of the Cus-

toms server.

MTN has also acknowledged the challenges faced by Webb Fontaine.

The telecoms company said it was working very hard to resolve the operational challenges.

“We are aware that Webb Fontaine is experiencing operational challenges, which we are working very hard to resolve with the full co-operation of the company. Indeed a cross-functional team from MTN held a fruitful meeting with officials of the company today (last Thursday) and it yielded positive results. We expect that their experience on the MTN network will quickly improve,’ said MTN’s General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Funmilayo Onajide, in response to New Telegraph’s enquiries.

But the boss of Webb Fontaine said his company had decided to dump MTN for another network, which he declined naming.

He blamed MTN for the current challenges encountered by port users during cargo clearance, especially with the

new Pre- Arrival Assessment Reports(PAAR) regime, saying the inefficiency was not from his company as painted by customs agents and importers.

The managing director said that another network provider would oversee the affairs of Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt axis respectively.

Ahmed said: "Two weeks from now, Webb Fontaine will sign contract with another network provider for services within Yaba and Abuja axis as well as the Port Harcourt and Abuja axis respectively.”

In the last one month, importers have been lamenting over the huge demurrage they incurred as a result of the breakdown of the server.

The National President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Mr Eugene Nweke, wondered why the Customs did not back up the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) regime with an independent server.

He noted that server breakdown was responsible for the poor turnaround time of the trucks in Apapa port.

achieve and drive the target capacity of 40,000mw is huge.

Pakpa, who disclosed this at the induction ceremony for 274 trainees by the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, (NAPTIN), Graduate Skills Development Programme for

2013/2014 session, said that the skills are needed to drive the sector.

Okeke said so far, about 5,340 power sector workers have benefited from NAPTIN intervention programme to bridge the skill gaps in the sector.

Director General of Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE), Benjamin Dikki, also disclosed that investors in the power generating companies of the former PHCN are under obligation to increase generation capacity by 5000 mega watts in five years.

This would require an investment of $7.5 billion.

He added that distribution companies are also contractually obligated to Reduce Aggregate Technical and Commercial Losses (ATCL) that will require an investment of about $1.8 billion in five years.

According to him, “The core investors must invest in capacity building and skilled manpower if they are to achieve their targets.”

$20bn Nigeria's Trans-Sahara gas exports plans dashed C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 1

announced that his government had secured $700 million through loan and others for the project. When completed, the venture will transport about 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Nigeria's Warri region through Niger to North Africa's Algeria northwards to Spain and Europe.

"What is notable about the proposal is that not a single major European financial lending source has signed onboard," an expert at the oilprice.com said, confirming New Telegraph's investigation.

This lukewarm attitude towards Nigeria's government by European lenders is caused by high level of corruption and instability in the country.

"The European investors, like other investors usually take so many economic indices into consideration before they act and I do not see any reason for them to overlook these indices based on sentiments that the project is for Europe," the expert said.

"Accordingly, if Nigeria wishes this project to go forward, given its European end-user consumer interests, it must - begin to grapple with corruption in its energy sector and find a way to deal with its neighbors so as to pacify a transit route, which

would make such a massive investment less risky," he stressed.

Analysts are doubtful that either of these developments will occur anytime soon.

Meanwhile, the project has some major African backers notwithstanding the poor response from Europe .

The only slight stumbling block on this grandiose scheme is cost, which is estimated at $20 billion.

The $700 million, which Jonathan said on January 29 in Addis Ababa, that he had mobilised to support the completion of the project leaves the project with nearly $19 billion short. And, if built, will become the world's most expensive energy export project, dwarfing the $3.6 billion, one million bpd, 1,092-mile Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which ships 850,000 barrels per day of Azeri Caspian oil to Turkey's deep-water Mediterranean Ceyhan port. This also represents one of international investors' most major energy commitments up to now.

Nigeria, already one of Africa's largest oil exporters, is thinking big, about exporting natural gas to Europe - thereby undercutting Brussels' unhappy dependence on natural gas exports from the Russian Federation.

BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS 23

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

14-Feb-14

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

Bonds

Price

FGN Bonds Issuer

Rating/Agency

NA

FGN

Description 10.50 18-MAR-2014 10.75 31-MAR-2014 9.20 29-JUN-2014 9.25 28-SEP-2014 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 16.39 27-JAN-2022 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

18-Mar-11 31-Mar-07 29-Jun-07 28-Sep-07 23-Apr-10 16-Aug-13 27-Apr-12 27-Jul-07 31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 27-Jan-12 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10

10.50 10.75 9.20 9.25 4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 16.39 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00

320.00 35.00 45.00 100.00 535.00 292.47 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57

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

0.09 0.12 0.37 0.62 1.19 2.50 3.20 3.45 3.54 4.29 5.37 5.69 7.95 14.79 15.27 15.76 16.44

13.39 13.37 13.38 13.53 13.99 13.88 14.16 13.97 13.96 13.96 14.01 13.96 14.06 13.72 13.70 13.68 13.71

7.91 9.43 11.97 12.64 13.83 13.80 14.04 13.84 13.84 13.85 13.93 13.86 14.00 13.67 13.65 13.61 13.65

99.70 99.62 98.47 97.52 89.40 98.30 102.30 89.01 87.44 89.70 107.30 73.27 110.90 107.97 92.30 66.82 76.00

100.20 100.12 98.97 98.02 89.55 98.45 102.60 89.31 87.74 90.00 107.60 73.57 111.20 108.27 92.60 67.12 76.30

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

4,402.04 Description

Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM

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

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

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

978.35 24.56 6.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.71 1.27 1.63 2.82 3.18 3.39

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.49 1.00

14.59 16.43 16.08 15.94 15.46 14.97

90.52 81.79 101.76 88.32 85.36 83.90

05-Aug-14 15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 30-Sep-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21

0.47 0.67 1.54 0.91 1.44 1.45 3.18 2.01 3.88 2.65 4.64 2.85 2.85 3.93 3.32 5.77 3.38 4.18 6.78 4.19 4.22

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

18.32 19.55 18.24 16.96 18.26 17.28 19.56 21.41 15.75 15.72 14.95 14.95 15.16 14.96 16.43 15.90 16.71 16.70 14.97 15.40 15.91

98.09 96.62 92.56 96.68 95.05 98.09 78.10 88.43 95.01 96.53 96.85 99.19 102.52 98.69 97.88 94.77 95.25 94.48 93.79 100.28 99.92

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

0.64 0.84 0.88 0.79 1.10 1.18 2.62 2.69 3.62 2.24 2.15 2.31 2.31 4.60 2.42 2.51 6.75

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

14.54 18.89 22.42 18.52 14.79 16.42 14.91 15.26 18.48 15.73 17.32 19.06 18.92 17.01 16.17 20.00 16.73

98.15 95.92 95.81 92.53 97.51 97.76 95.93 97.77 85.91 105.20 97.94 98.20 101.89 90.60 99.43 94.23 94.06

11-Feb-18

3.99

1.00

14.96

86.07

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,304.32

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

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

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

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

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

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

567.90

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

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

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

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

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

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

175.67

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

IFC

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

12.00 Description

Issuer

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value ($'mm)

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

5.68

5.50

106.08

107.12

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

18-Dec-09

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.83

4.62

101.14

102.00

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

01-Apr-10

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

6.20

6.06

101.22

102.20

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

Corporate Eurobonds Afren PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

4.11

3.32

113.68

115.29

GTBank PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

5.20

4.39

104.81

106.59

GTBank PLC II

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.27

6.08

98.90

99.67

B+/S&P

Access Bank PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.49

6.86

99.28

101.18

B/S&P; B/Fitch

Fidelity Bank PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.37

8.04

94.75

95.88

B/Fitch

Afren PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

5.48

4.67

114.03

115.84

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

First Bank PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.16

6.81

104.11

105.45

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

Afren PLC III

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

6.69

6.41

99.62

100.88

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

2,960.00

**Treasury Bills DTM 13 20 27 34 41 48 55

FIXINGS Maturities 27-Feb-14 6-Mar-14 13-Mar-14 20-Mar-14 27-Mar-14 3-Apr-14 10-Apr-14

Bid 13.00 13.00 12.90 13.00 13.00 13.00 13.10

Offer 12.75 12.75 12.65 12.75 12.75 12.75 12.85

^Yield (%) 13.06 13.09 13.02 13.16 13.19 13.23 13.36

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor CALL 7 DAYS 30 DAYS 60 DAYS 90 DAYS 180 DAYS

Rate (%) 13.7083 13.8750 14.1250 14.4167 14.6667 14.8750

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

13.17

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

O/N

13.63

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M

162.08 163.40 163.65 164.20 165.41

162.18 163.66 163.80 164.87 166.67

Tenor Call

REPO

Rate (%) 13.33

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

*BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS *EKITI *NASARAWA

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 06-Jan-14

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

13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 14.75 13.50 14.50 15.00

24 business | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

50.00 25.00 50.00 9.00 20.00 12.00 27.00 20.00 80.00 30.00 11.40 87.00 5.00 5.00

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 06-Jan-21

2.01 7.60 21.41 88.43 3.88 1.79 15.75 95.01 2.65 1.80 15.72 96.53 4.64 1.00 14.95 96.85 2.85 1.00 14.95 99.19 2.85 1.21 15.16 102.52 3.93 1.00 14.96 98.69 3.32 2.46 16.43 97.88 5.77 1.94 15.90 94.77 3.38 2.74 16.71 95.25 Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014 4.18 2.74 16.70 94.48 6.78 1.00 14.97 93.79 4.19 1.44 15.40 100.28 4.22 1.95 15.91 99.92 Sanctity of Truth

Experts link market downturn to budget passage delay TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

567.90

Corporate Bonds

bear run

A+/Agusto; AA/GCR LAFARGE WAPCO Aa/Agusto GTB µ The Nigerian bourse, Nil NGC Bbb+/Agusto *UPDC last week, continued A-/Agusto to witness across*FLOURMILLS the BBB-/GCR *CHELLARAMS A+/Agusto; A-/GCR as investors' board losses NAHCO A-/Agusto appetite declinedFSDH A+/GCR UBA BBB-/GCR *C & I LEASING BBB+/DataPro; BB+/GCR *DANA# Chris Ugwu A-/DataPro; A-/GCR *TOWER# AAA/DataPro; A-/GCR *TOWER# A/Agusto; A/GCRmarket UBA apital operators Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *LA CASERA have linked the current BBB-/DataPro; BBB-/GCR *CHELLARAMS# capital market depression A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO

C

toTOTAL the delay in passage OUTSTANDING VALUEof 2014 budget by the National AssemSupranational Bond bly .

AAA/S&P The apex bank IFC had penul-

timate week raised the cash 11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014 reserve ratio on public sector 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 funds from 50 per cent to 75 per 17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 cent in a bid to preserve the 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 value of the naira.

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 The Managing Director, 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 Crane Securities Limited, Mr. 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 Mike Eze, who spoke to our 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 correspondent, said investors 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 had expected that MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018by now, the MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 National Assembly would have MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018to help proapproved the budget 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 vide liquidity to the financial 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 system.

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 EzeNAHCO saidIIsince the lawmakers 15.25 14-NOV-2020 have not given their nod to the budget, investors have decided to offload their shares to enable 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 them access funds to execute

the economy. their businesses.

07-Oct-11 11.50 11.80 07-Oct-14 0.64 He noted that the trend is He noted that if the delay 18-Dec-09 13.50 13.17 18-Dec-14 0.84 taking its toll on the continues, it might compli01-Apr-10 17.00 market 2.00 31-Dec-14 0.88 because investors are selling at 15.00 cate current17-Aug-15 depression in0.79the 17-Aug-10 10.00 all cost to meet financial Capital Market triggered by 09-Dec-10 12.00 needs, 37.50 09-Dec-15 1.10ta06-Jan-11 14.00 1.50 06-Jan-16 1.18 which ordinarily would have pering of Quantitative Easing 13.00there is 15.00 29-Sep-16 2.62 not 29-Sep-11 happened once in the United States and tight 25-Oct-13 14.25 5.53 25-Oct-16 2.69 approval and government dis- monetary policy of the apex 30-Sep-10 13.00 20.00 30-Sep-17 3.62 burse money for projects. bank.

30-Nov-12 18.00 0.94 30-Nov-17 2.24 He09-Apr-11 urged the lawmakers to be 8.01The equities had 16.00 09-Apr-18market 2.15 more09-Sep-11 apt, proactive and treat the seen sustained bear pressure, 18.00 3.63 09-Sep-18 2.31 09-Sep-11 16.00 1.00 2.31 proposed budget with urgency. which led to 09-Sep-18 more losses across 22-Sep-11 in the same 14.00 22-Sep-18 4.60 Speaking vein, 35.00 board. The ASI of the Nigerian 18-Oct-13 15.75 3.00 18-Oct-18 2.42 the Managing Director, Lam- Stock Exchange (NSE), a com17-Feb-12 17.00 0.54 17-Feb-19 2.51 beth14-Nov-13 Trust & Investment Com- mon value index that measures 15.25 2.05 14-Nov-20 6.75 pany Limited Mr. David Adonri, 175.67 changes in prices of all quoted said the delay in passage of the companies and consequentappropriation bill has negative ly doubles as market wide 11-Feb-13 for all segments 10.20 3.99by implication of 12.00 benchmark 11-Feb-18 index, slumped

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

12.00

Why retail investors haven't embraced CIS –Shareholders Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

FGN Eurobonds

S

ome shareholders of quoted have linked the inability of retail investors BB-/Fitch; FGN toBB-/S&P key into Collective InvestBB-/Fitch; ment Scheme initiated by the BB-/S&P Securities and Exchange ComTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE mission (SEC) to lack of proper education.

Corporate Eurobonds TheB/Fitch President ofAfren IndepenB-/S&P; PLC I dent Shareholders Association GTBank PLC I B+/S&P; B+/Fitch of Nigeria (ISAN),GTBank Sir Sunny PLC II Nwosu, told New Telegraph B+/S&P Access Bank PLC B/S&P; B/Fitch , that the Fidelity Bank PLC exclusively initiative B/Fitch II can only succeed if Afren the PLC regulaBB-/Fitch; B+/S&P companies

Issue Date

tors realize the important of 28, 2021 to the this segment6.75 of JAN investors growth of the local bourse and 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 back it up with education.

Nwosu noted that the share 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 meltdown investors in the stock market witnessed following the global financial crisis, led to apathy and 11.50 lullFEB in 01, the 2016trading activities. 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 The Securities and Exchange 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 JUL 25, Commission7.25 (SEC) in2017 its efforts 6.88 MAY 09,confidence 2018 to ginger investor’s APR 08,had 2019 urged in the local 10.25 bourse

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

First Bank PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

Afren PLC III

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

Coupon (%)

Issue Value ($'mm)

Bid Yield (%)

the investment public to em- catch in on the robust advan6.75 28-Jan-21 5.68 brace07-Oct-11 CIS as an alternative to 500.00 tage provided

by CIS to ensure boost their investment oppor- returns on their investment.

18-Dec-09 5.13 500.00 12-Jul-18 4.83 tunities.

Nwosu also noted that the only way out of the woods The Director General of 500.00 01-Apr-10 6.38 12-Jul-23 6.20 is SEC, Ms. Arunma Oteh, who for the regulator to tactically 1,500.00 noted that CIS as an investment confront the stereotypes and tool is utilized globally to foster educate uninformed minds. economic He disclosed that ISAN4.11 last 01-Feb-11growth and 11.50develop- 450.00 01-Feb-16 ment, said that rather than inyear introduced cluster sys19-May-11 7.50 500.00 19-May-16 5.20 dividual investors approaching tem in investment, the 08-Nov-13 6.00 400.00 08-Nov-18 which 6.27 arrangement allows three the equities market with little 25-Jul-12 7.25 350.00 25-Jul-17 7.49 or 09-May-13 02-May-18 8.37 or no knowledge of6.88how the 300.00 more members pull their funds 08-Apr-12 10.25 08-Apr-19in shares.

5.48 together to invest market operates, investors can 300.00

5.06 3.06 2.29 6.11 2.76

18.92 17.01 16.17 20.00 16.73

101.89 90.60 99.43 94.23 94.06

Alison-Madueke's job on the line C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 1 1.00address all 14.96the remedial 86.07 isand sues, identified revenue recoveries had just been reconstituted Offer Yield (%) Bid Price by the Offer Price and strengthened president,’’ she said.

Prices & Yields The NEITI 2011 audit report 5.50 "From 106.08 107.12 read: the findings of the report, the subsidy payments 4.62 101.14 102.00 made through NNPC increased from to N416 101.22 in 2009102.20 6.06 N198 billion billion in 2010 and nearly doubled when it rose to N786 billion in 2011.

"During 113.68 the same 115.29 period, 3.32 subsidy paid through PPPRA 4.39 104.81 106.59 increased from 6.08 98.90 N208 billion 99.67 in 2009 to N278 billion in 2010 6.86 99.28 101.18 and 8.04increased 94.75 95.88 to also astronomically 4.67 trillion114.03 N1.12 in 2011. 115.84

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.16

6.81

104.11

105.45

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

6.69

6.41

99.62

100.88

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Maturity Date

2561.9bps exacerbating year-to1.00 14.54 98.15 date loss to 6.19 per cent. Also, 5.21 18.89 95.92 all8.71 sectored 22.42 gauges closed 95.81 in the4.88red.

18.52 92.53 The stock which 1.00 14.79market 97.51 2.63opened 16.42 also at N13.226 97.76 trillion 14.91 95.93 in 1.00 market capitalization at the 1.34 15.26 97.77 beginning of trading this year 4.52 18.48 85.91 had dropped15.73

by N799 billion at 1.88 105.20 the3.48close of trading last Friday 17.32 97.94 to 5.20 close at N12,427trillion.

19.06 98.20

2,960.00

14-Feb-14

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

NIBOR DTM Maturities 13 27-Feb-14 6-Mar-14 FGN Bonds20 27 13-Mar-14 34 20-Mar-14 Issuer Rating/Agency 41 27-Mar-14 48 3-Apr-14 55 10-Apr-14 62 17-Apr-14 69 24-Apr-14 83 8-May-14 90 15-May-14 97 22-May-14 104 29-May-14 NA FGN 111 5-Jun-14 125 19-Jun-14 132 26-Jun-14 174 7-Aug-14 202 4-Sep-14 293 4-Dec-14 328 8-Jan-15 342 22-Jan-15 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 5-Feb-15 356 Rating/Agency

Issuer

Bid 13.00 13.00 12.90 13.00 Description 13.00 13.00 10.50 18-MAR-2014 13.10 10.75 31-MAR-2014 9.20 29-JUN-2014 13.00 9.25 28-SEP-2014 13.10 4.00 23-APR-2015 12.70 13.05 16-AUG-2016 12.70 15.10 27-APR-2017 12.60 9.85 27-JUL-2017 12.70 9.35 31-AUG-2017 12.70 10.70 30-MAY-2018 12.70 16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 12.70 16.39 27-JAN-2022 12.60 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.40 12.49 22-MAY-2029 12.35 8.50 20-NOV-2029 12.50 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.50 12.50

Offer 12.75 12.75 12.65 12.75 Issue Date 12.75 12.75 18-Mar-11 12.85 31-Mar-07 29-Jun-07 12.75 28-Sep-07 12.85 23-Apr-10 12.45 16-Aug-13 12.45 27-Apr-12 12.35 27-Jul-07 12.45 31-Aug-07 12.45 30-May-08 12.45 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 12.45 27-Jan-12 12.35 28-Nov-08 12.15 22-May-09 12.10 20-Nov-09 12.25 23-Jul-10 12.25 12.25

Description

Agency Bonds *from the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated not the duration (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00and AMCON 31-OCT-2014 AMCON #

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums FMBN 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 **Exclusive ofNA non-trading t.bills 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 ^Bid yield ***LCRM

0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

^Yield (%) 13.06 13.09 13.02 13.16 Coupon (%) 13.19 13.23 10.50 13.36 10.75 9.20 13.29 9.25 13.43 4.00 13.08 13.05 13.11 15.10 13.04 9.85 13.18 9.35 13.21 10.70 13.28 16.00 7.00 13.31 16.39 13.41 15.00 13.31 12.49 13.71 8.50 14.08 10.00 14.16 14.24

Bonds

Issue Date

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

Tenor CALL 7 DAYS 30 DAYSValue Outstanding 60(N'bn) DAYS 90320.00 DAYS 18035.00 DAYS 36545.00 DAYS 100.00 535.00 292.47 452.80 Tenor 20.00 1M 100.00 2M 300.00 3M 351.30 233.90 6M 600.00 9M 75.00 12M 150.00 200.00 591.57

NITTY

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

978.35 24.56 6.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

13.17

O/N

13.63

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Tenor 0.09 Call 0.12 0.37 1M 0.62 3M 1.19 6M

Rate (%) 13.39 13.33 13.37 13.38 14.33 13.53 14.75 13.99 15.00

REPO

Tenor Spot

Offer7DYield (%) 14D

1M 7.91 2M 9.43 11.97 3M 12.64 6M 13.83 1Y 2.50 13.88 13.80 3.20 14.16 14.04 13.97 13.84 NOTE: 3.45 3.54 13.96 13.84 :Benchmarks 4.29 13.96 13.85 * :Amortising 5.37 Bond 14.01 13.93 5.69 Bond 13.96 13.86 µ :Convertible AMCON: 7.95 Asset Management14.06 Corporation of 14.00 Nigeria 14.79 13.72 13.67 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 15.27 13.70 13.65 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 15.76 13.68 13.61 IFC: International Finance Corporation 16.44 13.71 13.65

LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company NGC: Nigeria-German Company # Risk UBA: United Bank for Africa Avg. Life/TTM Maturity Date Premium (Yrs) Company UPDC: UAC Property Development (%) WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company 31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.71 1.27 1.63 2.82 3.18 3.39

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.49 1.00

0.47 0.67 1.54 0.91 Implied Yield 1.44 1.45 3.18 14.04 2.01 3.88 14.05 2.65 13.71 4.64 13.91 2.85 2.85 3.93 3.32 5.77 3.38 4.18 6.78 4.19 4.22

4.88 5.99 4.44 Implied 3.23 Portfolio 4.46Price 3.48 5.59 99.6073 7.60 1.79 116.0396 1.80 81.6332 1.00 101.3781 1.00 1.21 1.00 2.46 1.94 2.74 2.74 1.00 1.44 1.95

Bid ($/N) 162.08 163.40 163.65 164.20 99.70 165.41 99.62 98.47 167.90 97.52 170.49 89.40 178.01

Price

Bid Price

Offer ($/N) 162.18 163.66 163.80 164.87 100.20 166.67 100.12 98.97 170.21 98.02 174.22 89.55 185.83

Offer Price

98.30 98.45 102.30 102.60 89.01 89.31 87.44 87.74 NA :Not Applicable 89.70 90.00 # :Floating 107.30 Rate Bond 107.60 73.27 coupon bonds 73.57 ***: Deferred 110.90 111.20 107.97 108.27 92.30 92.60 66.82 67.12 76.00 76.30

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

14.59 16.43 16.08 15.94 15.46 14.97

90.52 81.79 101.76 88.32 85.36 83.90

1,304.32

Sub-National Bonds KWARA NIGER KADUNA Modified Duration *EBONYI *BENUEBuckets *IMO LAGOS <3 *BAYELSA 3<5 EDO *DELTA >5 NIGER Market *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS *EKITI *NASARAWA

28-Sep-14 23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 Rate (%) 27-Jul-17 13.0383 31-Aug-17 13.1795 30-May-18 13.3238 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 13.6528 27-Jan-22 13.7936 28-Nov-28 14.3083 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30

4,402.04 NIFEX Current Price ($/N) BID($/N) 162.2325 Coupon Issue162.3325 Value (N'bn) OFFER ($/N) (%)

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Bbb-/Agusto A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto Nil A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR Bb+/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 A-/GCR

Rate (%) 13.7083 13.8750 14.1250 Maturity Date 14.4167 14.6667 18-Mar-14 14.8750 31-Mar-14 29-Jun-14 15.1667

14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00Porfolio EBONYIMarket 30-SEP-2015 Total Outstanding Value(Bn) Volume(Bn) 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 1,229.00 1,280.27 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 1,042.34 951.30 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 449.59 591.57 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 2,720.94 2,823.14 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 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

05-Aug-09 15-Oct-09 31-Aug-10 Weighting 30-Sep-10by Outstanding 30-Jun-11Vol 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 45.35 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 33.70 30-Sep-11 20.95 04-Oct-11 100.00 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 06-Jan-14

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX 14.00 14.00 12.50 Weighting 13.00by Mkt Value 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 45.17 14.00 38.31 14.00 16.52 14.00 14.50100.00 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 14.75 13.50 14.50 15.00

17.00 6.00 8.50 Bucket16.50 Weighting 13.00 18.50 57.00 50.00 0.45 25.00 0.34 50.00 0.21 9.00 20.00 1.00 12.00 27.00 20.00 80.00 30.00 11.40 87.00 5.00 5.00

05-Aug-14 15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 % 30-Sep-15 Exposure_ Mod_Duration 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 22.14 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 38.72 30-Sep-18 39.13 04-Oct-18 100.00 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 06-Jan-21

18.32 19.55 18.24 16.96 INDEX 18.26 17.28 19.56 1,007.58 21.41 15.75 982.58 15.72 988.24 14.95 986.55 14.95 15.16 14.96 16.43 15.90 16.71 16.70 14.97 15.40 15.91

98.09 96.62 92.56 YTD96.68 Return (%) 95.05 98.09 78.10 0.7576 88.43 - 95.01 1.7421 - 96.53 1.1764 96.85 - 99.19 1.3451 102.52 98.69 97.88 94.77 95.25 94.48 93.79 100.28 99.92

BUSINESS | BRANDS & ADVERTISING 25

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

Integrated Marketers: Leaving their first love?

Survival The down turn in Nigeria's economy that has taken its toll on corporate earnings, has compelled integrated marketers to devise other means of livelihood.

A

t a point in time, they made their marks in the country’s Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) industry. But today, they seem to have abandoned the profession, which brought them to limelight for other interests. Is this a means of survival in the face of dwindling revenue or sheer infidelity, asks DELE ALAO? Ken Egbas This South-South born public relations practitioner is the Managing Partner, Tru Contact Communications, a public relations concern and the organizers of the annual Social Enterprise and Report Awards (SERA).

“I oversee one of Nigeria's leading PR agencies. I am in charge of driving the vision and discovering and capturing new markets. I work with my team to develop strategies for new clients. Under my supervision, we have moved the issues that bother on responsibility, sustainability and innovation to the front burner and using that to drive stakeholder engagement for brands and organizations in Nigeria. This has enabled TruContact to occupy

Egbas

Adenekan

Modupe

the market leader position, Egbas said on Linkedin.

Meanwhile, checks have revealed that Egbas has gone into politics. He is at present eyeing the House of Representative seat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Akin Adeoya While at Rosabel advertising agency some years ago, Akin Adeoya distinguished himself as a good copywriter. He pioneered the Marketing and Brands Desk of Thisday and thereafter set up his PR firm, MarketingMix. Adeoya, also set up Brands & Products magazine, which later metamorphosed to M2 magazine – now defunct.

Adeoya’s MarketingMix, for a long period handled some aspects of MTN Nigeria business.

While his PR agency is still battling for survival, Adeoya, is now fully entrenched in the

hospitality business,.

TokS Modupe Modupe, also known as Mr. PR for the dynamism and glamour he brought to the practice of the profession, is another practitioner who has taken to other interest apart from his first love-PR. Modupe, who had his PR tutelage under JSP boss, Dr. Phil Osagie, is the arrow head of TPT International, a thriving PR firm.

Modupe, has however, ventured into the political terrain.

He is said to be one of the closet associates of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State.

New Telegraph gathered that Modupe may soon declare his poltical ambition.

Hakeem Adenekan Hakeem Adenekan, is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer at Commstrat Associates Limited, a Market-

ing and Advertising firm.

Checks revealed that Adenekan is now into food business.

Muyiwa Kayode Muyiwa Kayode is the Chief Executive Officer, USP Brand Management and author, The Seven Dimensions of Branding.

Kayode is regarded as a branding apostle until recent when he ventured into organizing conferences. He is said to be also involved in other businesses apart from the core branding profession.

Akin Odunsi Co-founder, Rosabel Advertising, Akin Odunsi, is now a Senator.

Ahmed Omisore Ahmed Omisore, who once bestrode the country’s outdoor advertising landscape is a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly. He was at a time the president, Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN).

Indomie seeks consumers’ feedback SAMPLING The stiff competition in the noodles market has prodded makers of Indomie noodles to embark on a sampling exercise.

A

s part of Dufil Prima Foods’ efforts to continually ensure objective consumer feedback and satisfaction, eight million consumers will, this year be sampled with the varying flavours of Indomie instant noodles na-

tionwide, This projection stemmed the company’s desire to surpass last year’s 5,000,000 sampled consumers.

Speaking on this development, the Head of Marketing, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr. Manpreet Singh, affirmed that the company intends extending the sampling to the entire geo political zone in the country namely: North-Central, NorthEast, North-West, South-East, South-South and South-West.

He added that the intent behind the sampling exercise is

targeted at creating excitement and increasing the emotional connection between the brand and its consumers, as a way of encouraging a store experience in the home of consumers.

“Sampling is a regular and continuous exercise that Dufil embarks on with the purpose of strengthening the existing bond between consumers and the brand. This serves as a feedback mechanism that affords consumers the opportunity to freely savor and experience the unique taste of indomie noodles while also expressing

their sincere opinion about the brand. In the long run, this will furnish us with valuable information towards making consumer-tailored adjustments to our products,” Singh said.

Also speaking on the sampling exercise, the Public Relations Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju, said that product sampling is an ideal way to continuously earn customer trust and loyalty while also sustaining existing ones who have maintained their brand loyalty over the years.

APCON tasks staffers on work ethics

T

he Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) has urged its staff to imbibe a culture of diligence, punctuality to work, team spirit, high performance and productivity.

The Registrar/Chief Executive of the Council, Alhaji Garba Bello Kankarofi made this call at a forum to honour some staffers for their outstanding performances.

The registrar noted that it was when each and every staff had done his or her bit well that the council could be said to have succeeded in executing its mandate to the nation.

Alhaji Kankarofi added that the reward exercise was a continuous process, which every staff who shows outstanding performance would be recognized and rewarded accordingly.

In all, 14 staffers across the council areas of operations were rewarded.

GSK rejuvenates Horlicks

G

laxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc (GSK) has re-launched its premium nutritional beverage drink.

Brand Manager Horlicks, Mrs. Adebimpe Osanyintuyi, said GSK is re-launching the brand to meet consumer needs and yearnings based on research, feedback and traders’ insight.

“Nigeria is a cocoa beverage market and we have decided to meet our consumer’s needs by introducing Horlicks Chocolate flavour with an improved package and formulation to appeal more to our esteemed consumers. We have also decided to re-launch the premium beverage as a way of creating awareness amongst traders, distributors, partners and consumers on the new Horlicks that offers 23 key nutrients to meet the nutritional needs of every member of the family, providing them with total vitality and nourishment” Osanyintuyi said.

She added that Horlicks now comes in two flavours: the original malt flavour and the chocolate flavour that contain multiple micronutrients and essential vitamins for the health of the whole family.

26 business | CAPITAL MARKET

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at February 14, 2014

BUSINESS | MONEYLINE

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

CBN to partner NIGCOMSAT, MainOne on financial inclusion

CURBING FRAUD In a bid to reduce fraud and money laundering in the banks, the apex bank has initiated a verification process

access.

As the CBN Governor put it, “In the next two weeks, on February 27, 2014, the CBN will present a proposal to the CBN board for approval, which will allow us to sign a contract with NIGCOMSAT and drop satellites and work with MainOne for internet and have internet in all local governments in this country.”

“For the initial three to four years, the CBN will pay; it will be free, there will be dedicated lines to all financial access points like Automated Teller Machine (ATM) and Point of Sale (PoS) terminals in a village. We will also provide dedicated access points to any primary school or secondary school in the hot spots. So, while the focus is on financial inclusion, just think of what it will be at the end of the day where a villager or child in the remote creeks in Bayelsa or in some dark corner of Yobe, can have computers because he has got free internet. And this is in all 774 local governments in this country plus as many more in urban centres.”

Stories by Dayo Adeyemi

A

s part of efforts to boost financial inclusion in the country, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is partnering with the Nigerian Communications Satellite Company (NIGCOMSAT) Limited and the MainOne Cable Company to ensure that every local government area has convenient access to the internet.

CBN Governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, disclosed this in Lagos last Friday at the launch of the Bank Verification Number (BVN).

The BVN is a biometric authentication of bank customers and its launch marked the commencement of the 2nd phase of the banking industry’s biometric data base project, which is aimed at promoting financial inclusion and reducing banking frauds.

According to Sanusi, the collaboration with NIGCOMSAT and MainOne will result in primary and secondary school pupils in the remotest parts of the country having free internet

Sanusi noted that the banks’

biometric data base project would have tremendous impact on the industry, pointing out that when it becomes fully operational, there may be no need for lenders to maintain back offices as that role could be played by the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System(NIBSS), the company

A

ccess Bank has announced the appointment of Mr. Paul Usoro as a Non-Executive Director.

Mr. Usoro, is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrator and the Founder and Senior Partner of the law firm, Paul Usoro and Company.

The bank said on Friday that he brings on board his extensive boardroom experience from some of Nigeria’s leading companies and multinationals.

Usoro has over 30 years post-call experience and is acknowledged as one of Nigeria’s brightest litigators and

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

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

foremost communication law experts. He has advised a wide range of blue chip Nigerian and foreign companies in project finance and development, equity raising, infrastructure development and management buy-outs.

Usoro currently serves on the Board of Airtel Network Limited and several blue chip companies.

His appointment has been approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, ,Chairman, Access Bank said: "I am delighted to welcome Paul on the Board of Access

E

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

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

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

tails of all customers nationwide within the next 18 months.

Sanusi said that the platform already rolled out nationwide attracted no charges, adding that it would allow banks to enrol and verify the identity of each customer from any point of transaction device.

Bank. He brings on board a very rich professional and corporate board experience relevant to our industry as well as a deep understanding of the needs of shareholders. I am certain that these skills can only benefit Access Bank in our quest to become the world’s most respected African bank."

In a related development, the bank’s board has also announced the retirement of Dr. Babatunde Folawiyo as a NonExecutive Director following his completion of the maximum 12-year term stipulated by the CBN’s Code of Corporate Governance for Banks in Nigeria.

Cashless: Enterprise Bank assures of quality service

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

that provides the connectivity service to the scheme.

He said that by this week, the CBN would start to issue circulars to banks to inform their customers to come in and register for the biometric authentication adding that banks are expected to have captured biometric de-

Access Bank appoints Usoro Non-ED

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

27

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

nterprise Bank Limited has reiterated its commitment to quality financial services delivery in an efficient, seamless and cost-effective manner across its branches in the country.

This coming on the heels of the cashless policy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that has entered into its second year of implementation.

The bank, in a statement, also reassured her customers of improved service as they make use of its electronic transactional systems across the nation.

The lender said it has ensured that those that will patronise the different platforms and channels through which it serves the public will continue to enjoy seamless banking services.

Enterprise Bank said it had fully strengthened its Automated Teller Macines (ATMs), Point of Sales (POS) terminals, mobile and internet banking services across the various outlets in the country to ensure quality of service.

It disclosed that through the internet banking channel for instance, customers will be delighted with the different platforms, which allows banking transactions from the comfort of peoples’ offices and homes anywhere in the world.

These transactions, the bank stated range from checking account balances, viewing or downloading statements of accounts, requesting for cheque books and banking transfers to as much as N10 million in one go.

The banking transfers, according to the statement, can be intra or interbank as the case may be with the use of Personal Computer (PCs) or smart phones.

The interesting thing, the statement added, is that both new and existing customers of the bank can sign on for these safe and secured services that will in addition provide transaction options in the face of the cashless policy and also give added value in the form of convenience banking in any of the bank’s branches.

28

Sanctity

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of Truth

iday, February 21, 2014

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30 MONDAY | INTERVIEW

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

Power to hit 7,000MW by end When the power assets of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) were transferred to the new owners last November, Nigerians expected to see a spontaneous improvement in power supply. But the Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, (NERC), the agency regulating the electricity sub sector of the economy, Dr. Sam Amadi, in this interview with LATEEF IBRAHIM, SIMEON OGOEGBULEM and JOHNCHUCKS ONUANYIM, explains why it would take a while for the desired improvement in power to materialise and how the on-going power reforms could result in the country increasing its electricity power generation to 20,000mw within the next three years. Excerpts;

H

ow feasible is the projection that Nigeria will be generating 20,000mw of electricity in 2017 considering that the country is presently generating less than 4,000MW? The projection is based on expectations and already, we know the generation capacity we have on ground; we know the plants that are supposed to come on stream and we know their expected capacity. So, you can predict and say that by the time you get gas supply fixed, this is what is going to come to the market. If you look at what we have today, you can see that we have capacity for over 6, 000mw. It is just that we don't have the gas to run all the plants and maybe some plants are also going through maintenance. So, presently, what we have potential for, if it is delivered is 7,000MW. If you say in the next two years that there should be 10,000MW to 15,000MW, it means that we are looking at license capacity; we are looking at potential; we are looking at gas that is coming on stream to fire those plants and we can look at their schedule and say this is what is supposed to be built for commissioning and this is when the available capacity will be actual in terms of gas to power. So, really, from the data in the industry - from generation to all other facilities - you can make the projection.

If you have not been able to solve the gas problem to generate the present target of 6,000MW to 7,000MW, what is the assurance that the gas issue would not also affect this projection?

All these will be tackled with time. In the next one year, gas pipelines would have been completed. So, you know that those gas pipelines will go to the power stations. For example, there are many power stations that cannot have gas now because there is no capacity to take gas to them. However, people are also exploring and processing new gas supplies.

So, a generation company can have an agreement with a gas company for the supply of gas in the next two years for this amount because this gas has been commissioned, produced, processed and facilitated. So, you can see, just as we have the generation capacity plan, we also have the gas plan and it is for the gas people to tell us when this gas will be available.

Some of the short term gas problems have to do with gas not being available to operate some power plants as well as pricing and gas facilities undergoing repairs. We had a meeting with the gas suppliers few days ago and we looked at the data they have and the plans on the ground. So, we can say that we are optimistic on how those problems would be solved. it is either facilities on the ground would be completed or commissioned or new suppliers would be introduced into the market through contracts. So, every one of these power capacities is contingent on gas supply - new gas contracts being entered into and those that have been contracted and supplied based on the commercial arrangements that have been approved.

Can we liken vandalism of gas pipelines that have caused shortage of electricity supply to sabotage?

Yes. You can say it is an economic sabotage just as we have illegal bunkering. It could also be political sabotage. The minister of petroleum has been in the forefront on how to deal with that. However, the proportion of gas pipelines under vandalism is not just what we are concerned with. In fact, we are more concerned with having enough contracted gas supplied to the power plants. Many of the power plants do not have enough gas contracted to them. More gas is going to Dangote Industries, Plastics industries and other Petrochemical industries because of their export framework. We believe that with-gas-to-power programme, there should be

Amadi

MONDAY | INTERVIEW

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

of 2014 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;NERC boss BIODATA Previous Jobs: Counsel at Gani Fawehinmi Chambers Schools: University of Calabar,

Nigeria Law School,

Harvard Law School and Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

Degrees: LLB, LL M, MPA, Ph.D Experience: Over 21 years

more investment downstream to process more gas for power supply given the fact that gas is not easily produced. Some of the new contracts going on now show that they now have bankable agreements for gas processing.

So, one chunk of the problem is vandalism and when it happens, there would be outage for few days before you fix it.

But when you don't have enough to generate 1000MW, probably you only have gas that can fire 500MW or 700MW. So, you will need to have more contracts to cover the remaining 300mw, which means you have to find a gas supplier who has the gas ready and is also ready to enter an agreement with you to give you that gas on daily basis. So, one component is vandalism, which can be fixed by better policing, technology, monitoring and all that and then the other larger issue for sustainability is the commercial and technical framework around gas. This has to do with more gas network for processing gas and transporting gas from its plants to power plants.

How much of gas do we need for the 20,000MW of electricity that is being projected by 2017?

You may not have the number because I don't have the data. If l have a 5,000MW power plant, l would have known what amount of cubic metres of gas I need to fire everyday and that is what l would have contracted with the gas supplier. So, we get periodic volumetric assessment by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) or the gas company that says this is the amount of gas that they are ready to supply to the industry. So, if the back of the envelope shows that we need this amount of gas and this is amount available, the difference becomes the problem for the power plant. So, Nigeria Gas Company can tell you that they have one third of all the gas that you need. For the ones that were not supplied, you look for local or private suppliers to supply them. So, when we look at the gas gap, we look at how much gas we need to fire the available capacity and if we cannot find that capacity, that would be the stranded capacity of power plants that does not have that amount of gas to fire it. So, l will have to look at the books and look at the power plants and the megawatts and look at the corresponding gas availability that is in the pipeline for me to know the amount of gas to fire 20,000MW. Essentially, our tender people have details of how much gas that is being released per day.

Don't you think that with this differential in the gas pricing between the power stations and the domestic market, the 20,000MW pro-

jection of electricity generation by 2017 will be hampered?

That is why we are doing a lot of work.

Before now, the power sector and domestic gas supply were running on different tracks. But now there is a converged arrangement basically. Domestic supply obligation benchmarked price has changed to meet with the export price. So, we started from 60 cent to $1 and from $1 this year, we are already on $2. It will keep increasing and at some point in time the comparative cost will become small, especially, as power will be taking more and then the alternative hydro and renewable energy coming in, will not be taking gas. However, it is pertinent to say that gas is relative cheaper for us in Nigeria compared with foreign countries. But the problem is that gas processed for power plants lags behind that for industries. All the work we are doing around gas - pricing, infrastructure - is to ensure that more gas gets to the power plants. There is no way you can build the capacity you want to build without investing in gas-fired plants. Gas is readily available and cheaper but you need to create financial framework that allows more gas to get to power plants.

Is there no way a law could be made to ensure that gas gets to the power stations not minding what the domestic markets are willing to pay for it?

There is lot of gas to be processed, so what the power sector needs to do, is to unleash more gas potential. Nigeria is basically a gas country. Therefore, there would be no need to constrain gas available for other industries. What you have to do is to ensure that you unlock more gas potential for the power sector and what

Nigeria, apart from South Africa and Egypt, has the largest megawatts capability in Africa. Many of them like Ghana have about 2,000MW regular capacity.

will attract this is payment. If we are paying for gas and there is more demand for gas and there is financial framework for that, there will be more investment in the gas sector over time and as the price in gas is internationally depressed, as expected, then the problem would have been solved.

Gas is still the cheapest means to generate our electricity relative to hydro. Hydro is more expensive, coal is expensive, solar is expensive. But hydro gives higher volume into the network and you have a lot more cleaner power from hydro.

Another area of gas problem is the flaring.

How has this been addressed?

Gas flaring is an environmental production issue, which those regulating it had set out deadlines to stop. But one thing people are doing is that they are converting flaring into power. There are small micro entrepreneurs and projects that generate power from gas flare.

As a regulatory body in the power sector, how many applications do you have on your table from those interested in investing in the power sector?

I wouldn't know if there are applications on our table because when they come in, we process them immediately.

When people come and apply for license for power, it goes through processes of financial and technical review. Most of those who we work with now are those that have been licensed. Those that are already generating power are those we are concerned with - including those who have different level of construction works to do for commissioning. Power is not a cheap product. Therefore, we don't receive applications every day.

We are talking about $1 million for a megawatt. Is there any deadline for companies that got the license to roll out power?

If someone gets a power license, there is nothing it gives him. It is not a license to trade or do business with. What we do is that when you apply for a license, we benchmark you for a number of years to roll out power. Probably, it takes three to four years for you to construct your station. You have to have a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) before construction and you have to go and raise money. So,

31

in the past, before the various reforms, people took licenses for many years and they did not have money and could not go anywhere. Power projects are, basically, bank financed. When you get a license, you need to raise finance by going to banks and the banks will ask questions like: Who is going to buy the power? Probably, they will ask you how much you are going to pay for the power. So, if you do not have a good framework that you will present to them, they are not likely to lend money to you.

What is it that a country like Ghana has done that it was able to have more megawatts than Nigeria?

I don't know. But let me answer you directly. Ghana has less than 2,000MW and probably they serve only Accra and people who go around Accra think they have light everywhere. Nigeria has a very large land mass with over 160 million people and over 40 per cent electricity connection. But in most African countries, electricity connection is about 15 per cent.

Maybe, in their capital territories you see light and you generalise. So, we have an expansive grid that we can even serve huge number of people with. Some states in Nigeria, especially in the North, receive only 100MW and sometimes 80MW a day.

So, you don't expect to have 12 to 16 hours of electric power supply in these places and that is why the power sector reform is about increasing capacity. Nigeria, apart from South Africa and Egypt, has the largest megawatts capability in Africa. Many of them like Ghana have about 2,000MW regular capacity. So, people go to Ghana and say there is more stable light in the city. If you look at consumption of electricity in terms of industrial and domestic use, you will see that Nigeria has more than 20,000MW. We cannot begin to talk about having stable power supply until we pump up capacity fundamentally. What government has just done was to create a market that is attractive for investment.

So, if you look at the trajectory of power, you will see we started with 3,000MW and we are getting to 7,000 and 15,000 and then to 20,000MW and above.

But Nigerians are worried that after the unbundling of the PHCN, electricity power is yet to improve?

Improvement has to come over a spectrum. Some people said that electric power has dropped after November and my question is have they looked at the pattern? There is improvement today because you have a much more financially viable market. We did not have any viable market in the past or any investment just as we did not have expectations that things would improve. You know we were talking about 6,000MMW under President Olusegun Obasanjo yet no framework was put in place for that to happen. But l can conveniently tell you that at the end of this year, we should be averaging 7,000MW because for some of these power plants, all they need is gas.

So improvement has happened and the question might be where are they happening? If Nigerians are looking at the grid report of 7,000; 6,000 or 5,000MW, they might not be able to appreciate what is happening in the power sector. Talking about infrastructure, this also takes time to build. But the button line is that the government is on cause and there is a big hope in the power sector.

32

business | ICT WORLD

Foreign Brands Low confidence in local brands has spurred the demand for imported fairly-used computers Stories by Jonah Iboma

F

airly used personal computers have continued to enjoy steady share of the Nigerian computer market despite efforts by the government to encourage purchase of new ones, especially those locally made.

Our correspondent gathered that many medium and smallsized computer dealers, especially at the Ikeja Computer Village in Lagos have made the importation of second-hand computers into the country a major part of their business activities.

Over the years, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has been working towards reducing the influx of fairly-used computers into Nigeria and has facilitated the introduction of policies including imposition of high taxes and also issuing a directive that local computers should be given priority in government purchases.

Unofficial figures by some industry watchers put the fairly-used computers market at about 40 per cent. However, the consistent growth of the second hand computers market in the

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

Fairly-used computers maintain steady market share country has been attributed to a number of factors including the relatively high cost of acquiring new ones; the low income levels of Nigerians and growing desire by many people to be included in the technology revolution.

Aside these, experts also state that issues related to low confidence in local brands and the general belief that products made by global names such as HP, Dell, IBM and Acer are better than local brands have contributed to growth in the importation of fairly-used PCs into the Nigerian market.

According to the Chief Executive Officer, Total Infotech and Telecom, Mr. Adeniyi ObabiyiAdeosun, second hand PCs are very easy to be sold due to their affordability.

“The second-hand PC market in Nigeria has steadily been growing over the years due to the fact that they cost less than new ones to acquire. Besides these, some of them come with pre-loaded software and as such do not require users to buy new ones.”

He also noted that many small and medium enterprises such as cybercafés and private schools depend on fairly used computers

due to cost issues “The reason for this is not farfetched. The cost of setting up a cyber café and equipping such an outlet with new computers is prohibitive. Moreover, cyber cafés are beginning to attract lesser patronage, and so for operators to remain in business, they have to look at ways of cutting cost and one of such is to go for fairly-used computers," he said.

Also, Chief Executive Officer, Lordsgbate Computers, Mr. Bode Abdul, noted that the growth of second PC market is due to the fact that the established practice of building computers systems by buying components from

the open market (cloning) is no longer in vogue as people now prefer established brands to computers without recognizable brands names.

He stated, “The cloning of computers is not working again. Moreover, the fairlyused computers also come in grades and as a matter of fact, there are some ‘grade A’ second hand computers that can easily be packaged as new. This is because they have almost everything that new ones have and it will take an eagle eye to spot such ones as fairly used. So, that is why people go for such systems.”

Abdul said also that globally,

second-hand PCs market is a huge market and it is not just a Nigerian phenomenon.

“In the United States of America, Canada and other countries, there is huge market for fairly-used computers and this is what extends to Nigeria.

It is just like the second-hand cars market,” he said.

However, experts warn that the dominance of the local market by fairly-used computers must not be allowed to continue without control. According to them, issues such as electronic waste could become a serious matter in the future if the current trend is not properly checked.

US targets Nigeria with new video technology

U

nited States based social video company, PublicVine, is to make market entry into Nigeria later this month with the introduction of an online marketplace for video distribution and purchase.

New Telegraph exclusively gathered that the firm is pioneering a method of online content distribution that will allow for wider global audience to purchase and watch video online.

According to the founder and Chief Executive Officer of PublicVine, Nam Mokwunye, a Nigerian, the firm has decided to finally start the use of the online marketplace in the country after almost five years work and having seen the benefits it could offer.

“What PublicVine will be doing is to present film makers, video vendors and consumers a marketplace for them to trans-

act business. It is an online social video marketplace that enables video vendors and their consumers to connect, transact, and get paid. We are pioneering a method of content distribution globally, which puts power in the hands of people who own content and those who have the right to distribute such using social media,’’ he said.

Mokwunye said the firm was starting from Nigeria due to the huge potential that is existent in the market.

“We have seen the local film industry grow astronomically and observed that latent potential for further growth.

PublicVine believes that with our online marketplace, greater market can be created for the country as vendors get opportunity to own online distribution channels on PublicVine. This will create greater efficiency and also increase value for local video and film industry.”

L-R) Bharti Airtel’s Director and Africa Head, Airtel Money, Chidi Okpala, receiving the Kalahari Award 2014 on Airtel Money from the CEO/Principal Consultant, Swifta Systems & Services, Victor Asemota. With them is Airtel’s Senior Manager, Mcommerce, Yewande Adewusi, at the 4th MobileMoney Expo held in Lagos.

NIMC concludes acceptance test for e-ID Cards

T

he National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has completed a special test on the National Identity Smart Card facility to ensure its conformity with international standards and best global practices.

The User Acceptance Test, as it is called, is aimed at ensuring that new identity card system meets the complete requirements as provided by Datacard Group, the international consultant working with NIMC on the project.

The Director General of the Commission, Mr. Chris Onyemenam, confirmed the development in a telephone interview, stating that the test case for the system “was nec-

essary to check the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) and the System Acceptance Test (SAT) configuration.”

Explaining the process of the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) and the System Acceptance Testing (SAT), the Director General noted that ‘test data’ was used to encode on the chip of the e-ID card before it can be printed.

He said: “The Smartcard chip encoding applications allows for personal information to be encrypted on the chip of the National Identity Card according to the card profiles, while the machines was used to write names on the card.

He added that the process by which the chip on the card is

encoded and data are written on it is called chip encoding.

Speaking further, the NIMC boss said the applications currently encoded on the chip are: International Civil Aviation Organization /ePassport application, which enables the card to be used as a travel document; the eID application, which is the holders Identity.

It also involves the public key infrastructure (PKI) application, which ensures that the card conforms to international security standards as well as other applications, which will be used for authenticating and verifying the holder and which can ensure that the card can be used as a payment solution, just as an ATM Card.

ENTREPRENEUR S TORI E S OF B U SI N ESS S U CC ES S ES

NEW TELEGRAPH

33

newtelegraphonline.com/entrepreneur

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17 - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014

How to commercialise your talent George Essien is a designated Peak Performance Consultant (PPC) and Chief Inspirational Officer Of Powerminds Community.

Contact: powermindscommunity@yahoo.com, essien_success@yahoo.com, drgeorgeessien@gmail.com twitter: @GeorgeEssienPPC Facebook@George Essien Tel: 0818 713 3153

George Essien

H

ere is what talent is: Talent is whatever you possess within you that you can exchange for fame or fortune. A talent is anything you do exceptionally well. It is that which you do with ease. Your talent is your grace, your grease. Your talent is anything you do that people celebrate you or appreciate you for. Your talent is that inner quality you possess that draws you closer to a coach or draws a coach closer to you.

Your talent is whatever you possess inwardly that attracts envy, criticism and jealousy. Your talent is that quality

30 SECONDS LECTURE

that springs out from you when you are under pressure, emergency or tension.

Yet, as beautifully as this may sound, your talent is not enough. You probably have read John Maxwell’s book: TALENT IS NOT ENOUGH. It is the truth, in every sense of the title. Talent must be converted to skill for it to have market value. Talent is common.

Dedication is rare .It takes dedication to convert talent to skill.

There are 4 ways talent can be expressed: First, there is the scientific expression of your talent; secondly, the artistic expression of your talent; thirdly, the technological expression of your talent; fourthly, the business expression of your talent. Let us focus on the business side. There are 3 ways to commercialise your talent; 3 ways to make profit from your talent. Let us look at them quickly.

3 ways to commercialise your talent 1. BRAND YOUR TALENT What this is simply asking is what qualities of your talent differentiates, distinguishes your talent from others?

What sets you apart from others? What is your USP -Unique Selling Point?

Branding also entails what dress style, slogan, colour, voice pitch, name you have that makes your talent re-

main in the minds of people. A brand is that colour, logo, name, slogan, style that sets your talent apart from others; that make people quickly notice you.

Your job is to accentuate it! This is what gives you commercial value in the market place. People pay more for brands than for products or services. That is why event organisers would pay the comedian, Basket Mouth, N2 Million for comedy yet owe another comedian N30,000 for the same event.

2. PACKAGE YOUR TALENT Packaging attracts. Packaging involves doing a complementary card; having a business manager; having a website; having your demos and profile brochures etc. Packaging also means converting your talent to sellable and well packaged products. For example, having a musical album, a show, a book, a magazine, a radio program etc. Packaged products sell higher than unpackaged products. Packaging is also a form of branding, the difference is that it focuses on appeal and perception rath-

er than the distinguishing features of that talent.

3. PROMOTE YOUR TALENT Nothing succeeds until somebody sells. At the beginning of your business, you must promote your talents the same way you promote your products. You must scout for jobs. You must search them out. You “must” accept “every” invitation and make sure that you have a lot of visibility. It’s just a matter of time, continuous differentiation and promotion would eventually pay off financially.

Packaging involves doing a complementary card; having a business manager; having a website; having your demos and profile brochures etc

5 skills today’s entrepreneur cannot do without Our business was built in response to a huge gap noticed in the market. We decided to fill it.

Stella Chinyelu Okoli, Founder, Emzor Pharmaceuticals Nigerian Limited

Precision thinking: It’s not just okay to think; your thinking must be precise.

Entrepreneurs must always strive for precision. Think everything through.

Excellence: You need to understand the value of excellence in business. Good is not enough. Don’t just strive to be better; be the best. Continuous improvement is the way forward.

Problem solving: Businesses and clients need solutions. Problems are opportunities to excel. Today’s entrepreneur cannot afford to shy away from challenges.

Speak up: Don’t be too humble; let people know what you do.

Blow your trumpet.

How else will people know what business you’re into?

by Wale Ajiboye Build your network: Knowledge comes from interacting with people. It gives you a data base of knowledge. Value those who sit next to you at events. You can never tell how far they can help you grow

34 BUSINESS | ENTREPRENEUR

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

Building a strong I D E A PRENEURSHIP SME brand Folu Adeyeye is a Brand and Business Strategist at Headstart Consulting Limited. He writes about businesses, brands, innovations and design.

He lives in Lagos, Nigeria. +234 (0) 703 236 8068 foluadeyeye@gmail.com Twitter: @foluadeyeye www.about.me/foluadeyeye

Folu Adeyeye

A

mong the several factors that affect the success of SMEs is a weak brand strategy. More often than not, many businesses start out without clearly defining the type of brand that their business will sport; hence, they fail to identify and foster those connections with their audiences; connections that will enable patronage and profitability.

The reason isn’t far-fetched: the role of branding has been placed in the “not too important” section of most SME business plans.Most small business owners do not fully understand the importance of building a strong brand and the resulting financial value that can be generated. Perhaps, the return on investment for brand building initiatives are mostly seen to be measured in terms of “Top of Mind Awareness” and other brand measurement metrics.

However, global brands like Coca-Cola, Nike, and Apple, have shown that when harnessed properly, the financial value of your brand can match and even surpass that of your business itself ! The case is not for the established businesses alone, several small businesses have also shown how leveraging on a strong brand can drive competitiveness and improve your bottom line.

So how do you go about building this strong brand for your business? First you must break these three myths about brands: zz A brand is not a logo zz A brand is not an identity zz A brand is not a product So what is a brand?

A brand is a combination of attributes, communicated through a name, or a symbol, that influences a thought-process in the mind of an audience and creates value. It is the sum of all that a business consists of: its services, products, capabilities, skill, people, culture, communication and interactions with its various publics. Branding therefore is the implicit and explicit expression of an entity in ways that enable it stand out and secure unique advantages. The brand building process is guided by five principles.

Differentiate your business: The core purpose of branding is to achieve some level of distinction for a business in its market so as to secure unique advantages. You must therefore seek to differentiate your brand by identifying and leveraging on those features and attributes that are unique to your business. A Poultry Farm, for instance, can capitalise on its ability for prompt delivery in differentiating its brand; or an event management firm can exploit its detailed approach to providing tailored solutions in standing out from its competition. The key to differentiation is FOCUS. Focus on what you do better than your competition and express it as your differentiating value proposition.

Encourage collaboration within your business: Brand building is a collaborative effort. Building a strong brand must cut across every facet of your business: strategy, structure, capabilities, culture, processes, service delivery, consumers, manifestation and communication. Even more importantly, are the inclusion of the key stakeholders of your business in this collaborative effort including: management, advertising agencies, staff, customers and suppliers.

This is because building a strong brand requires that after creating your differentiating value proposition, you ensure that this proposition is effectively and consistently delivered by all parts of your business. A mobile technology servicing firm, for example, may fail at this collaborative effort if they claim to deliver prompt service but don’t even reply their customers’ email enquiries promptly.

Let innovation be your guiding light: Creativity and innovation are fundamental to building strong brands.A strong brand should have a compelling idea which must be based on its differentiating value proposition. This compelling idea

The core purpose of branding is to achieve some level of distinction for a business in its market so as to secure unique advantages

Brand building is a collaborative effort. Building a strong brand must cut across every facet of your business: strategy, structure, capabilities, culture, processes, service delivery, consumers, manifestation and communication should then be translated into relevant offerings, both tangible and intangible. You must continually seek new and creative ways of delivering your brand’s proposition to your customers. After differentiating itself as a genuinely customer friendly bank, GTBank proceeded to identify and exploit innovative ways for delivering this proposition. So they introduced new services like the FastTrack and quick account opening via Facebook!

Validate your ideas: You must ensure that you bring your audience into the creative process of building your brand. Make sure your brand’s value proposition and the ideas for delivering same is based on a deep consideration and clear understanding of your customer’s needs, worries, lifestyle and realities. The configuration of most industries today is centred around the consumer, not the business. Hence, success is often determined by how well you can connect with the real need of your customers in creative and innovative ways Cultivate your brand: After you have differentiated, collaborated, innovated and validated your brand and your value proposition, the next step is to begin nurturing your brand.

At this point, you must begin to see your brand as a living, breathing being that must respond adequately to its environment.

By mastering these 5 principles of brand building, you will create a value cycle chain and with every trip around the cycle, your brand’s value will continue to grow. Dare to build sustainable competitive advantage in your market. Dare to brand. It’s the big way forward!

BUSINESS | ENTREPRENEUR

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE WEEK

Dare Tanimomo

Property makeover specialist Dare Tanimomo: My greatest inspiration VENTURING Property business is not for the faint-hearted; measure your strength and capabilities before venturing. It is rewarding

Tell us about yourself?

My name is Tanimomo Dare. I’m a graduate of Quantity Surveying, an entrepreneur and the mind behind Property Makeover Nigeria Limited, a company whose vision is to help clients enhance the potential of their property.

How did you get into the property business?

I wouldn’t say it’s a coincidence; it was bound to happen.

After my first degree, I worked with a management consulting firm, a bank, and then a church, as personal assistant to the Senior Pastor, Sam Adeyemi. A visit to Dubai in 2008, was where the name “Property Makeover” first hit me.

In June of same year, I was in school - Wits Business School in South Africa to strengthen my managerial capabilities and entrepreneurial skills.

The school’s international study trip to Tunisia, India and the United Kingdom was, additionally, a mind opener.

Returning home, I knew it was time to go into business.

How do you see the construction/ property business in Nigeria today?

The property business in Nigeria, for me, is still growing and full of potential, especially for the creative minded. There are still houses to be built for our overwhelming population, interiors to be packaged, roads to be constructed, street lights to be fixed, etc. It may interest you to know that Nigeria has a shortfall of over a million houses. You will agree with me that the bulk of middle class income earners today, want to own their own houses. These houses would need innovative finishing and furnishing. The opportunities are vast and

endless.

What’s been your biggest challenge in the business so far?

That would be funding. Our business requires a lot of money. Unfortunately, the banks are not lending and if they do, you can be sure the interests are business-choking. I really believe we need angel investors who are serious about helping genuine startups grow. Security is another challenge. I’m talking about both real and potential threats. Security affects even the cost of houses to be built because the average developer, many times, puts this issue into consideration. It is interesting to note that only few houses abroad have burglary proofs. In Nigeria, the cost of securing houses, sometimes matches a major cost of bringing the house to occupation state. Massive security gates, bulletproof doors and of course security men, who ordinarily should be engaged in some other ventures, tell the remaining part of the story.

On a human resource note, we

need to work out ways to move our security men from security posts to learning posts. Mensah Otabil captured it perfectly when he said, “if a man is doing what machines can do, then man is not thinking.” Still on challenges, I mustn’t forget to mention the issue of power supply. In Dubai for example, it is not uncommon to see high rise in the region of 20 and 30 storey buildings. Imagine how much power would be needed to power such buildings in Nigeria. Many companies would rather use the money meant to generate power supply to build extra structures. Power supply remains a big challenge here in Nigeria.

What do you enjoy as an entrepreneur?

A quote by George B. Shaw, is one of my greatest inspiration, “some look at things that are and ask why? I dream of things that never were and ask, why not?” The joy of birthing new ideas, concepts and projects excites me as an entrepreneur. My direct contribution to nation building is another thing I enjoy as an entrepreneur. There’s also the joy of seeing an occupant move into a new apartment or one that‘s just been made over.

It gives me this feeling of fulfillment. Children also bring a special kind of joy. In our kind of business, we make over lots of football and sandy pitches.

It’s exciting to see children run excitedly into a well laid Astro turf pitch on the day of the commissioning as against the sandy pitch they once had.

We just finished one at The British School in Togo. It was an emotional moment. I also enjoy the luxury of choosing my projects and the flexibility of travelling and working as it suits me. The inner fulfillment of being an employer of labor, providing mentorship for my team is serene satisfying.

35

stood contract can signal the end of your business and put you in lifelong indebtedness.

Where do you see your business and indeed the industry in the next 5, 10 years?

Once the nation gets her power issues right, the next few years will see the emergence of multi-storey buildings which will help solve part of the housing problems we presently face. Imagine a twoplot land in high brow Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, now only sits say three to four town houses or eight flats. Once power is upgraded, developers can build up to 30 storey buildings, which will accommodate more people. We also need to focus on the area of renewable energy. These are some areas we are already positioning ourselves for, amongst several other opportunities that abound in the industry.

There’s a dearth of competent and qualified workforce at the moment in the country.

Developers who are given to extreme details are not really getting value for money. For example, many resort to using masons from Togo or Benin Republic. I see a situation where we begin to produce home-grown builders. I also believe 10 years from now, the challenge of half baked graduates would have been resolved.

Hopefully, we would have graduates of Architecture who have been properly exposed to the right software complete with hands-on practical.

If you had an opportunity to speak to a gathering of 100,000 professionals in the industry, the Government inclusive, what would you say to them?

There is need to explore more private public partnerships. Lagos state seems to be leading in this regard. It is a development that other states must begin to emulate.

C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 3 6

What’s been your turning point in business?

I’ll say when our company began to go into partnership with foreign companies. This expanded our knowledge, expertise and capacity to handle bigger assignments. It meant we could explore our creative and innovative potentials. But I must also add here that one must be very careful in his or her choice of foreign partners.

It is important to pick partners that can adequately deliver in your chosen area or assignment. You also would require a good lawyer to screen agreements properly before you put pen to paper. One misunder-

A quote by George B. Shaw, is one of my greatest inspiration, “some look at things that are and ask why?

I dream of things that never were and ask, why not?” The joy of birthing new ideas, concepts and projects excites me as an entrepreneur

36 BUSINESS | ENTREPRENEUR

Doing Business in Nigeria

Remi Dairo is the President, School of Productivity and CEO , Solvere Word Consult.

He is a facilitator at Nigeria’s foremost entrepreneurship school, Fate Foundation. +234 (0) 803 590 0175 info@schooofproductivity.org me@remidairo.com

Remi Dairo

I

hope you found our last piece on “How to Do Business with Zero-Capital” very useful. I got many calls

and text messages from several entrepreneurs who are already applying the secrets we talked about.

This week, we would be ex-

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

BUSINESS SCHOOL

ploring how to do business in Nigeria. For Nigerians, it will be an eye-opener; for foreigners, it will be a great opportunity to learn how to profit in this land of opportunity. It would interest you to know that not all Nigerians are eating from the fruit of this land. While large numbers of foreigners come to Nigeria and smile back to their countries with profit in “Hard Currency”, many Nigerians still complain and languish in poverty despite all the great ideas and potentials they are loaded with. Let me warn you; this may not be the conventional business lessons you learnt from your conventional business school; this piece is basically about the unique way to do business in Nigeria. I have here five things you

My greatest inspiration CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 5

The recent first time ownership scheme spearheaded by the state government is another initiative that must be commended. It takes a huge burden off the shoulders of government. There are currently about 744 Local Government Areas in Nigeria in need of buildings and general

infrastructure. That’s a vast market waiting to be penetrated, the question is; do we have a penetrating idea? Lest I forget, we must continue to plead with the banks to play their ideal role by providing favourable loans to those who really need them.

coming entrepreneurs in the industry?

The practice is not for the faint hearted; measure your strength and capabilities before venturing. It is rewarding.

Thank you Mr. Tanimomo You’re welcome.

need to access business doors in Nigeria. Once these doors are opened, they’ll guarantee continuous productivity and profitability. I will also give you several instances where these techniques are expressed in reality.

Open your Eyes Nigeria has a population of over 175 million people (July 2013 est.) with 52% living in the rural areas, while 48% live in urban areas. United Nation’s projections indicate that Nigeria is one of the eight countries expected to account collectively for half of the world’s total population increase between 2005 and 2050. These 175 million people will eat daily, they will take their bath, wear clothes, move from one point

to another point etc. They need education, they need accommodation, sound health, they will need light, and they will need water and many more things daily. In Nigeria, “even a blind man can see money literally on the street.” If you go to the rural areas, there are people involved in agriculture who want to communicate, transport their goods and services to the urban areas. If

Many Nigerians still complain and languish in poverty despite all the great ideas and potentials they are loaded with you come to the urban areas, the culture and the way of life there is a big business door for those who dare to see. *CONTINUES NEXT EDITION

MENTOR’SQUOTE “A ‘startup’ is a company that is confused about: 1. What its product is.

2. Who its customers are.

3. How to make money.”

– Dave McClure, 500 Startups Co-founder

What is your advice to up and

BUSINESS What are you reading this week?

L I B R A RY

Entrepreneurs who lead, read. Here are two books you should read this week.

Startup:

Wealth Without Theft:

Before you take out your Cheque book, listen to what Elizabeth Edwards has to say. In Startup: The Complete Handbook for Launching a Company for Less, she bares her mind to startup entrepreneurs. If you’re about to start a business and marketing gives you sleepless nights, you should read this book. The author has some great money-saving advice on branding, logo design, email systems, accounting and tax software, legal services and more.

Wealth without Theft by Kolawole Oyeyemi, marketing expert, pastor and writer, is a practical application of the secrets of true wealth and prosperity.

It takes great examples from everyday happenings in personal and business circles of those aspiring to make a wealth of difference.

It carries a message of transparency and truthfulness; a message all business men and women will learn from. It is indeed recommended for those who have always struggled with what direction to follow in a bribe-infested economy.

The complete handbook for launching a company for less – Elizabeth Edwards

– Kolawole Oyeyemi

For feedback and information, please contact the Project Coordinator: ENTREPRENEUR Phone: +234 (0) 803 721 9064 | +234 (0) 809 551 0411 | Email: mailyourthoughts@gmail.com | www.book-brands.com

METRO

riday, February 21, 2014

arrested through his girlfriend.

‘Dr.’ Tajudeen Dosunmu is also a member of the gang. He is a fake medical doctor and had practised for 34 years. Of the 34 years, he worked for more than 10 years with forged medical certificate at the Lagos State General Hospital, Ikeja.

Dosunmu, 63, was in charge of treating wounded gang members. Besides, he used to go to robbery operations with medicines and IV drips to provide first aid treatment for wounded members during operations.

He said: “I have only three wives and eight children. One of my sons is in the United States Navy and my daughter is in Germany. They (children) send money to me. I don’t know what happened to me.”

At that point, the suspect broke down in tears. Forty-year-old Tairu Kareem, alias Tallest, another suspect, was described by policemen as the “engine of the gang.”

He brought his technical expertise to bear as a welder using gas cylinders to blast ATM doors.

The suspect said he joined the gang after his shop was demolished and the land used to build residential houses.

He said: “The first operation I went with them was at First Bank. The second was Access Bank, but we got nothing at Access Bank.

I got N300,000 from the First Bank operation.

“I was arrested through my girlfriend. I was taking my bath when the policemen entered.

Once I saw my girlfriend with the police, I knew it was over.”

37

21

VIO official, banker in N6.5m fraud Juliana Francis

T

he management of the Iponri branch of a first generation bank (name withheld) in Lagos State is still in shock over the disappearance of N6.5 million from a customer’s account.

The money, which was deposited between June and October 2013, was said to have disappeared from an account belonging to the Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO).

VIO discovered that the money was missing after it could not reconcile its account in October.

The organisation then demanded its statement of account from the bank.

A source in the bank said: “The missing money led to the arrest of one of our staff, Mr. Olakunle Olatunbosun. Olatunbosun is a teller at our Iponri branch. He was employed two years ago. But he was transferred from the head office to the Iponri branch, a year ago.”

It was learnt that Olatunbosun was handed over to the police at Iponri Police Station by the bank after its Public Relations Section set up an investigation panel which found him wanting.

The panel invited Olatunbosun, the teller who was in charge of receiving fund deposits from the VIO and an employee of VIO, Lateef Goloba, who works in the organisation’s Ac-

Our internal fraud detection mechanisms were able to detect and trace the fraudulent act counts Department.

According to another source, Goloba was in charge of fund deposits at the bank.

The panel believed that the disappearance of the N6.5 million was planned and carried out by two persons.

“The panel found out that once Goloba deposited the funds, Olatunbosun would only stamp the customers’ teller and deliberately leave out the stamping of the control copy, which was supposed to be dropped into one of the bank’s boxes by the depositor.

“Once Olatunbosun stamped and signed the customer’s copy, he would hand it over to Goloba. Goloba would then take the stamped teller to his office, signifying that he had deposited the money,” the source said.

It was gathered that when Goloba was confronted, he immediately presented all the stamped and signed tellers.

VIO petitioned the bank, demanding that it should account for the missing N6.5 million.

In the course of the investigation, the panel discovered that all the control copies,

which were supposed to be dropped into the bank’s boxes, were missing.

The panel declared that since the tellers with Goloba had the bank’s stamp and bore Olatunbosun’s signature, it would accept responsibility for the missing money.

“The panel accused the supervisor of Iponri branch of condoning lapses and not being alive to his duties. The panel said this made it possible for a customer who had lodged in such an amount of money to do so without the bank being able to trace or locate any copy of the control copies,” one of the sources said.

A top official at the bank’s head office confirmed the incident.

He said: “Our internal fraud detection mechanisms were able to detect and trace the fraudulent act and the perpetrator has been handed over to the appropriate law enforcement agency for prosecution.”

Lagos State Chief VIO, Mr. Abdulafeez Toriola, said he was not aware of the incident, but acknowledged that there is an employee named ‘Goloba,’ in VIO. Sources said Olatunbosun was arrested and taken to Iponri Police Station, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, called the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to find out the fact of the case, but the DPO denied ever handling such case.

mad man kills two siblings

MOTHER’S AGONY

Taiwo Jimoh

A mentally-deranged man killed two children of the same parents in one day.

L

photo: Tunde Osowe

ited the place. Some of the drivers who were around were seen discussing in clusters. One of them, who spoke with our correspondent, said the drivers too were fed up.

ike every mother, Mrs. Salawat Tijani had hoped that her children would be able to provide for her at old age.

However, that dream came crashing when she lost her two children, four-year-old Qudus Tijani and his one-year-old sister, Misturat, in just one day.

The children, who were on holidays with their maternal grandmother, Mrs. Ajimot Talabi, in Emuren village in Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State, were reportedly slaughtered by a butcher identified simply as Moshood.

The butcher, according to the villagers, had a mental disorder but had been treated.

On the fateful day, Talabi had left her grandchildren in her shop to sell confectionaries in the community secondary school when the man slaughtered them.

The killing annoyed sympathisers who reportedly beat Moshood to death.

Talabi told our correspondent that she relocated from Shagamu to Emuren 35 years ago after the death of her husband.

She said: “I came here with my four children including the mother of the kids in search of greener pasture.

Ogun CP, Ikemefuna Okoye

“It was in the village that my daughter met Shehu Tijani, the father of the kids. They got married and were blessed with the two children.

“My son-in-law took me like his mother. Whenever they were going out, their children were always in my custody when they were still in Emuren before they relocated to Ajah in Lagos.”

Talabi said her daughter called her three days before the incident that her children were coming to spend the holidays in Emuren.

She added: “My daughter sells smoked fish. When she was coming to Emuren with her kids; she came with some of the fish.

“When she was about leaving that day, she wanted to take the

kids along with her but I told her to leave them with me.

“I took them to my shop where I sell groceries. After a while, I went to Olomimeji Community High School to sell some groceries and told my neighbour to look after the shop and the kids; promising to return early.

“But five minutes later, a motorcycle rider came and told me that Moshood had slaughtered my grandchildren.

“When I got to my shop, I met the two kids in a pool of blood. I almost died. Everything became black and I fainted. I was rushed to a nearby hospital.”

The mother of the kids, Salawat, told our correspondent that her children’s death still remained a mystery.

She said: “I don’t see the reason why I am still alive. Before I left for the market that fateful day, I bathed them, prepared their food and handed them over to my mother.

“On my way back from the market, someone called me on the phone and asked after my children.

I told the person that they were with my mother. Immediately, the person dropped his phone, I called my mum to ask about my children, her phone was switched off.

“Some minutes later, my hus-

band called, asking where I was and instructed me to take the fish to his parents’ house as there were customers waiting to buy the fish.”

Salawat said she was surprised when she got to her mother-inlaw’s shop and saw a crowd in front of the shop.

She said: “I was scared. I asked my mother-in-law what was the problem.

She assured me that all was well.

“Then I shouted and demanded to know what the problem was.

Some of the elders in the village calmed me down and finally broke the news that someone slaughtered my children.”

But an elder in the community, Mr. Fasasi Oyebanjo, said it was not true that Moshood was a mad man.

He said: “From my investigation, I was told the alleged mad man went to Imota (another village in the area) to pick his knife and came back to Emuren on a motorcycle.

“Why didn’t he use the knife he went to pick to kill the motorcycle rider if he actually wanted to kill that day?”

The village’s spokesperson, Chief Kunle Shokeye, said the villagers were shocked about the incident.

When contacted, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, did not pick his calls.

38 NEWS

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

LAW

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/law

FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE JUDICIARY Editor

foluso.ogunmodede@newtelegraphonline.com

Monday, February 17 - FRIDAY, February 21, 2014

Falana, SAN

INEC’s intention is in order.

When politicians move from the platform of the party on which they were voted to another, they shortchanged the electorate

Abayomi

Section 68 of the Constitution provides for liberty to defect from one party to another subject to certain conditions.

INEC cannot be wiser than the Constitution

Much ado about PDP’s legal wars

39

}p-40

Osipitan, SAN

I don't see the Bill scaling through because the Constitution has already made provision for such

Aturu

Political parties are not secret cults, so you cannot make a law that tries to make people belong permanently to a political party

Lawyers differ on INEC’s law against defection Should the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) initiate law that would curb future defection by politicians? Lawyers are divided. Judiciary Editor, FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE reports.

A

PPARENTLY determined to ensure that politicians in the country played the game by the rules, especially to halt the gale of defection , the nation’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), may initiate a bill, which, if becomes law, would empower it to enforce internal democracy.

‘We are determined to seek a law against defection by politicians’, said INEC’s national commissioner in charge of Electoral Party Monitoring, Hajiya Amina Zakari.

But the proposition by the electoral umpire may have pitted lawyers against each other as they differed at the weekend, on what the Constitution says about INEC’s proposition.

While some disagreed with INEC that the proposed law would be undemocratic, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana queued behind the electoral umpire, saying the law was in order if enacted.

To him, the planned law was not only

in order, but would go a long way to curb the frivolous defection by politicians, who move from one platform to another, shortchanging the electorate.

Falana said : “INEC’s intention was in order. When politicians moved from the platform of the party on which they were voted to another, they shortchanged the electorate, who had voted them on the basis of the party’s ideologies, manifesto and programmes.

“What INEC is saying is in order; it is simply saying that things should return to status quo ante. Before the case, Atiku Abubakar .v. Attorney-General of the Federation, it was illegal in Nigeria to cross from one party to another. Then such a person was bound to lose his mandate so that he could contest on the platform of a new party. That was the law.

“Unfortunately, it was the Atiku Abubakar case that allowed for political prostitution”.

But his colleagues in the Inner Bar, Jubrin Okutepa, a law teacher, Professor Taiwo Osipitan, Ahmed Raji, Abubakar

Malami, Dr. Tunji Abayomi and an activist lawyer, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, picked holes in the proposed law.

Okutepa said the law was already dead on arrival as the matter had long been settled by the Supreme Court in Atiku Abubakar.v. Olusegun Obasanjo’s case.

He said : "Why should INEC propose to stop any politician from defecting from one party to the other? In the first place, all the political parties are the same, the only difference is the name they bear. None of the party has ideology.

"INEC has no business in people defecting rather, its business is to conduct elections".

He was echoed by Raji, who believes the planned law would gain popularity as INEC had no such powers to so do as the 1999 Constitution was clear about defection by politicians.

Raji said: “I am not sure if INEC could say it wants to propose a Bill, it does not have the mandate to formulate laws as it is only the National Assembly that has

the constitutional power to do so."

To Professor Osipitan:"I am not sure whether the Bill can fly. If it is sponsored, it will have to pass through the National Assembly and they may not pass it into law because it will affect many of them and because of that, they may not pass it.

"Even if it flies, implementation will be very difficult because it can't affect those that have defected already, it will only be for those who will defect in the future.

"In any way, I don't see the Bill scaling through because the Constitution has already made provision for such".

To Aturu “ Political parties are not secret cults, so you cannot make a law that tries to make people belong permanently to a political party. Any law like that should be condemned.

Abayomi said: "Section 68 of the Constitution provides for liberty to defect from one party to another subject to certain conditions. INEC cannot be wiser than the Constitution.

"Freedom of association is essential and crucial to democracy. Restriction will not achieve anything rather it will thwart the growth of democracy.

"Such Bill cannot find support in the norm of democracy or in the law".

40 LAW | SPECIAL REPORT

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

Much ado about PDP’s legal wars

Mu'azu, PDP Chiarman

T

he People’s Democratic Party (PDP) may be the largest political platform in African continent.

That claim also goes with a lot of baggage in terms of litigation especially within.

First was the sack of its National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. The sack ,was however upturned by the Court of Appeal, Abuja division.

Also is the suit between the erstwhile national chairman of the PDP, Dr. Bamanga Tukur- led executive council and the Abubakar Baraje faction seeking to determine which of the factions is the authentic one.

The presiding judge in the suit, Justice Elvis Chukwu , having listened to the parties, held that the Bamanga faction was the recognized PDP , hence the Baraje faction should desist from carrying out any duty or obligation to that effect.

Recently, there are three different litigations in court , involving the party pending before different judges.

One of the suits was filed by the party seeking to stop the House of Representatives from changing its leadership as a result of defection of some lawmakers from the ruling party to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

The suit which is pending before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has as defendants, the Speaker Aminu Tambuwal; Deputy Speaker , Emeka Ihedioha; Majority Leader Mulikat Adeola, Deputy Majority Leader , Leo Ogor; Chief Whip Isiaku Bawa and Deputy Chief Whip Ahmed Mukhtar.

Others are Minority, Leader,Femi Gbajabiamila, Minority Whip ,Samson Osagie, Deputy Minority Leader, Sumaila Kawu, Deputy Minority Whip, Garba Dattijo (2nd -11th respectively) and 54 other members of the House.

Besides, there is a suit instituted by 59 members of the House of Representatives, who defected to the APC, seeking an order restraining the PDP from declaring their seats vacant.

The case is pending before Justice Ramat Mohammed of the Federal High Court , sitting in Abuja.

Defendants in the suit include the national chairman of the PDP, Senate President, Speaker, House of Representatives, PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The third is the suit filed by the PDP seeking to unseat Governor Rotimi Amaechi and four other governors following their defection to APC. They are Alhaji Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Al-

Muktar, CJN

Wali, SAN

PDP’s season of legal battles, how far can it go? Asks Tunde Oyesina as he traces a myriad of the party’s legal wars haji Magatakarda Wamakko (Sokoto), Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Alhaji Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara).

The case pending before Justice Gabriel Kolawole, also has INEC as the first defendant.

In the suit seeking to stop the change in the House leadership, the plaintiff is represented by Yunus Usman, while Mahmoud Magaji represents (1st-3rd), Adeniyi Akintola, represents (8th-11th), James Ocholi , represents (36th-41st) and Sebastine Hon , represents (12th, 13th,15th-30th) and A.J Owonikoko (14th, 31st-35th) and Jibrin Okutepa (42nd-53rd), all Senior Advocates.

At the last adjourned date, defendants’ lawyers had filed and served the necessary processes, which paved the way for the argument and adoption of their preliminary objection in opposition to the PDP’s originating summons.

In an aggregate submission, the defendants mainly predicated their objection on lack of locus standi by the PDP to institute the suit and that the court had no jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

Magaji while adopting his submission, posited “that on the face of the process itself, the originating summons of the PDP should be dismissed as it constitutes an abuse of court process and therefore not justiceable”.

Akintola, on his part argued that the court had no jurisdiction over the matter as “the suit is predicated on an existing suit in a sister court herein at the Federal High Court”.

To him, the PDP lacked the requisite powers to dabble into the internal affairs of the House of Representatives as enshrined under Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution.

He was echoed by Sebastine Hon, who asked the court to outrightly strike out the suit for want of jurisdiction, insisting that the PDP lacked the locus standi to initiate the case.

Having listened to the defendants’, Justice Ad-

The suit is predicated on an existing suit in a sister court herein at the Federal High Court

eniyi, adjourned the matter for further hearing of the PDP’s originating summons as well as in opposition to the preliminary objection of the APC lawmakers.

PDP had asked the court to determine "whether in view of the mandatory provision of Section 68(1) (g) of the Constitution as amended and in view of the pendency of Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/621/2013, between Senator Bello Hayatu Gwarzo and 78 others against Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and four others before the Federal High Court , Abuja division, the 23rd to 79th defendants can validly function as members of the 1st defendant , contribute to or vote on any motion and or debate in the proceedings of the 1st defendant with a view to removing or sanctioning 2nd to 10 defendants or any of the Principal Officers of the 1st defendant”.

Besides , PDP seeks to know among others, whether in view of the mandatory provision of Section 68(1) (g) of the Constitution as amended and in view of the pendency of Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/621/2013 between Senator Bello Hayatu Gwarzo and 78 others against Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and four others, before the Federal High Court Abuja Division, the 23rd to 79 defendants can lawfully alter the composition or constitution of the leadership of the 1st defendant”.

However , the plaintiff wants a declaration that in view of Section 68(1) (g) of the Constitution as amended and in view of the pendency of Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/621/2013 between Senator Bello Hayatu Gwarzo and 78 others against Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and four others, the 11th to 52nd defendants (who are 23rd to 79th plaintiffs in the aforementioned suit) , cannot lawfully vote and or contribute to any motion for the removal or change of any of the Principal Officers of the 1st defendant.

Although , the court had fixed February 18 for definite hearing in the suit before Justice Mohammed, but before the case was adjourned, lawyer to the Speaker of the House, Alex Marama apologised to the court for his client’s inability to appear in the matter until that day, citing a minor issue with another lawyer over legal representation . This , he said had long been resolved.

He, however pleaded with the court to enable him file necessary process in the matter.

Justice Mohammed, after listening to counsel in the matter , ordered parties in the matter to file and serve all necessary processes before the next adjourned date.

LAW

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

N1.2b suit: Union Bank asks judge to excuse self BREACH The once robust and mutually beneficial relationship between Union Bank and one of its customers has gone awry

U

nion Bank of Nigeria Plc (UBN), has asked the Lagos division of the Federal High Court to strike out a N1.2billion suit initiated against it by a firm, Visana Nigeria Limited over an alleged breach of contract.

Besides, the bank in a motion, had asked the court, presided over by Justice Okon Abang, to excuse itself from the matter on the grounds of jurisdiction, insisting that the court lacked the requisite jurisdictional powers to entertain the matter.

Sued are KPMG, Chief R. U. Uche, the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, Prince Fida Azar and Metalloplastica Nigeria Plc. The plaintiff had filed the suit following a disagreement with the sixth defendant (Metalloplastica) over the supply of raw materials about two decades ago.

Metalloplastica allegedly defaulted in the payment of cost of goods which Visana was said to have supplied, as the sixth defendant’s cheques were said to have bounced.

Also, the sixth defendant’s indebtedness to the plaintiff was said to be unsecured.

Meanwhile, Metalloplastica was also independently indebted to the Universal Trust Bank, which was acquired by Union Bank by way of secured credit/ debenture.

When Metalloplastica defaulted to offset the bank’s debt, the bank appointed two receiver/managers over the company’s assets in 1994.

The bank’s ground of objection was that Visana’s suit was statute-barred , having been instituted in January 2000, more than six years after the cause of action accrued and outside the statutory period within which the action ought to have been instituted.

Apparently insisting that the suit was statutebarred, the bank said the monies due the plaintiff from Metalloplastica accrued around 1992, yet Visana did not commence any action to recover it.

“The plaintiff did not commence any action to recover his monies or outstanding indebtedness from the sixth defendant until about eight years after the said monies and outstanding indebtedness accrued the plaintiff,” the bank said.

The bank said the suit was based on the alleged failure of Metalloplastica to pay outstanding monies or debt it allegedly owed as a result of various goods and raw materials supplied it by Visana.

“The sum of $7,616,188.94 US Dollars claimed by the plaintiff in this suit is a representation of outstanding monies due to the plaintiff as at 26th January, 2000, same having accrued since 1991 and 1992.

“This court has no jurisdiction to hear this suit. It is statute-barred, and this court has a duty to strike it out or dismiss it for want of jurisdiction,” the bank said in a supporting affidavit sworn to by Olanma Okoronkwo, a litigation officer in the bank’s firm of solicitors.

The bank’s lawyer, Mr Tom Awhana, had applied that trial be suspended so that the objection could be taken first.

He argued that without the application being taken to determine the issue of jurisdiction, the trial being conducted could be a waste of time.

However, the plaintiff ’s lawyer, Etigwe Uwa (SAN) averred that the objection was designed to further de-

41

‘I want to become SAN, AGF like dad’ Akinsola Olujinmi, studied law at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun state. His father, Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, is a former Justice Minister and Attorney-General of the Federation. Akinsola, who is also a partner in his father’s law firm, speaks on his foray into the profession , and his ambition. TUNDE OYESINA, met him in his Abuja office.

My dream is to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and eventually Attorney General of the Federation

Olujinmi

H

IS study of law was not by happenstance. He was born into the family of lawyers just as his father’s advocacy endeared him to the ‘noble’ profession, having on many occasions, watched him appearing in court. This , Akinsola says attracted him to the profession.

He was born in Ibadan , the capital of Oyo state where he had both his primary and post primary education before proceeding to Obafemi Awolowo where he read law some years ago.

Akinsola told the New Telegraph his father, Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi was the motivating factor.

His words: “I developed interest in the legal profession when I was much younger. I remember that I used to see my father studying his reports and reading his files at home then. For hours , he would bamboozle us at home on how he argued his matter in court. It was then I developed interest in the profession.

Asked if his father compelled him to study law, Akinsola simply said : “My father did not tell me to study law. I decided on my own because of the passion, I have developed over time. I chose the course by myself as there is no other course I have passion for like the law. There is no other course I would have studied apart from law”.

On his first day in court, he said “my first day in court was fine. I prepared for the motion well and I argued it, although I had been appearing with my father in similar motions. I amended the note I made from the other appearances and adopted same in court”.

Dwelling on his background,he said “I was born in Ibadan where I attended Omolewa nursery and primary school after which I proceeded to Loyola

College Ibadan. Shortly after my secondary education, I headed for the Obafemi Awolowo University, where I bagged an LL.B. After that, I went to Law School, Abuja and shortly after my call to Bar, I joined my father’s law firm and that is where I am practicing till date’’.

On the benefits accruing to him as a lawyer’s son, Akinsola said his privileged position had earned him accolade from both far and near especially the experience he had garnered over the years through a series of exposure to law books.

He said : “There are so many advantages being the child of a lawyer. For instance, I get to know a lot of principles of law, have access to law books in the library and get to understand the procedures better.

This serves as an added advantage over someone who is a first generation lawyer in his or her family.

“For now, I have not experienced any disadvantages and I have not thought of any, I think it is more of benefits than disadvantages”.

On the challenges, Akintola said “nowadays, young lawyers always complain about what they are being paid at the end of the month. I know that if they devote their time to understand the profession better, they will become masters and charge their clients accordingly’’.

The young Olujinmi who likes to play table tennis and football in his leisure time, says his ambition is to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria with a view to becoming the nation’s Justice Minister and Attorney-General in a no distant future.

“I like playing table tennis, football and I also love reading. My dream is to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and eventually the Attorney General of the Federation, he concluded.

42 LAW | INTERVIEW The planned national conference is raising dust in some sections of the nation, how would you look at controversy and its attendant benefits?

I do not think the purpose is wrong, the timing may be somewhat very hasty, the idea behind it cannot be faulted. For example, the presidential system of government which we practice at the moment is too expensive. We began with the parliamentary but some people complained and we switched over to the presidential model. Having tested the two, comparatively, the parliamentary is less expensive and the cost of election will not be as high as it is now. So, the conference will provide a veritable platform to thrash out this type of idea. In addition, not a few Nigerians have condemned it but the state structures as it is today ,is unhealthy and not really serving the purpose which they are supposed to serve , that is, the engine room of development to the common people.

They are so structurally weak and economically disabled, that they cannot embark on laudable projects, hence what we have are pockets of failures. In essence, it is being suggested that we should try and have six or seven viable regions that will hasten development and reduce the cost of governance. Administration at the state levels could have been synchronized. When there were regions, there was visible development but now that country is divided into 36 states, we now have lack of growth. Why can't a region have a functional rail system, a large farm plantation and telecommunications. All these are two big for a state to embark upon but appropriate for the state to embark upon. These are the issues, the conference may discuss. As for the purpose, it cannot be faulted but for the time, it may not be appropriate.

How would you look at the reasoning that the nation does not need a review of the constitution but in need of an effective implementation of the existing laws?

Well, I agree with them as well. A whole lot of our provisions are untested and at the slightest opportunity, everybody wants to go for a jamboree so to speak. Instead of going for piece meal review as being suggested by some people, which may be desirable in some cases, I am of the humble opinion that a conference with membership from all the major groups in the country will be able to address some of these issues once and for all, at least for the next few decades, we will not have reason to talk about it again.

The judiciary is being underfunded by the executive, at least, in recent time, what would you say are the implications of this especially as the nation is itching towards elections?

Well, when the judiciary is underfunded, it has a lot of grave implications. It renders judicial officers to manipulation by the executive because they will always be in need and they will always ask executive to oblige them. If the judiciary is underfunded, because this funding is not just about salaries, maybe, their medicals and the likes. If the judiciary is starved of funds, it may open the judges to corruption and it can demoralize them

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

Parliamentary system better for us, says Raji Ahmed Raji, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, is an Abuja-based legal practitioner. He spoke with TUNDE OYESINA, on the planned national conference , role of the judiciary ,its readiness for the 2015 general elections and sundry issues.

Raji

Corruption in the judiciary is not as alarming as being portrayed especially when the other arms are being properly funded or enjoying better leverage. It may lead to self-help. Self-help here is corruption and that will have great implication on our democracy. Those are just few , out of the numerous ones.

Corruption in the judiciary is now too heavy to bear, what is the way out?

Corruption in the judiciary is not as alarming as portrayed, there may be one or two bad eggs but substantially, a good number of our judges are not corrupt.

And a good number of them are overworked, but as for the few ones, I think the current approach of the NJC should be commended that promptly they attend to any report of corruption and such victim is dealt with without looking back.

Corruption is a human problem, it is a sociological issue which will have to be addressed by the larger community. We have huge level of corruption in the min-

istry than the judiciary. The judiciary is the least corrupt organ. Judges don't award contracts. More often than not, it is the people that try to tempt them. In most cases they resist, I have never heard anybody saying that a judge compelled him to go and bring money. It is the corrupt member of the society who are always trying to influence them one way or the other. Their duty is to dispense justice and in every case, there must be a winner or a loser or the matter will enunciated.

So, if there is no inducement move either way, there must be a judgement at the end of the day. The real culprits, if any, are the members of the public, litigants and unfortunately some members of the Bar. What is your opinion on the introduction of capital punishment?

It depends on the school of thought one belongs to. There are some offences that attracts capital punishment even in the holy books. For instance, in Islam, if you take life, your life must be taken except you are forgiven by the relation of the victim. Even in America, it is not all the cases that capital punishment is given. Technically, I did not believe in its abolition, but it should be sparingly used and it should be limited to just very few cases. Although some people have advocated that in corruption matters, there should be capital punishment to deter

people because when somebody steals so much and you sentence him to, maybe, three or four years and the bulk of the stolen money not forfeited, such will prefer to go and spend some years in jail and come back to enjoy it. Like in China, anybody caught on corruption charge will be sentenced to death. The thought of capital punishment will discourage you from embarking on corruption since you know that when you are caught you will not benefit from what you have stolen. In most cases, people engage in corruption because they want to enjoy not because they want to go and do humanitarian service.

Some lawyers are rooting for the separation of the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria from the chairman, National Judicial Council. Do you share their view?

The proponent of that must have his reasons, it is coming from a very senior judge who had worked for over three decades and later rose to the President of the court. His suggestion was borne out of his experience with one of the holders of that office. But generally speaking, the CJN is the highest judicial law officer, it may be very curious to look for another person who will head the council. But like I said, if the suggestion is borne out of the experience of the proponent, that may be an exception, it may not be a general rule. I believe the manner of selection should be fine-tuned so as to produce credible characters to head our courts. And we should not because of one or two examples try to change a working structure all over the world.

Generally, how would you assess the judiciary ahead of the 2015 elections?

The judiciary is more than ready for 2015 going by what it went through in 2011. For the first time, the constitution gave time limit for which to dispense of a matter. And in a year the Supreme Court of Nigeria attended to almost 400 matters. In England, the Supreme Court will barely take six cases in a year. Nigerian Supreme Court delivered over 400 judgements and as we are moving forward , I believe the electoral system will be getting better and cases will be reducing.

The number of cases in 2007 was more than 2011, hopefully this will continue, in 2015. There will be less cases. All we need to do is to beg INEC to give us a credible election so that disputes will be reduced to the barest minimum. Once we have that, litigation will be brought down to the barest minimum.

What is the most challenging case you have handled and what makes it challenging?

It is terrorism case involving three Lebanese. It was challenging because of the weight of public opinion against terrorism.

How do you unwind?

Well, I meditate and do some exercises.

INVESTIGATION

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/investigation

GEOFFREY EKENNA Editor, INVESTIGATION

geoffrey.ekenna@newtelegraphonline.com

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

Men of the NPF displaying a cache of arms and ammunition recovered from hoodlums

2015: Guns, guns everywhere...

W

ith the 2015 general elections a few months away, a palpable fear is enveloping the polity. This fear is informed by insecurity, occasioned by massive acquisition of arms and ammunition by politicians, apparently with intent to cause violence and mayhem during the elections. Over the years, this has characterised the build up to major elections in the country.

In what is reminiscent of scenarios in 2003 and 2007, which saw to the elimination of political big wigs such as the then National Vice Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-South, Chief Aminasori Dikibo; Chief Marshall Harry of the then All Nigeria Peoples Party and the post-election carnage of 2011, this unsavoury development may be signs of danger in the next few months. Observers are worried that history might repeat itself, with the attendant blood-letting that comes with it.

Already, some states, such as Kaduna, Edo, Kogi, Delta, Rivers, Ogun and parts of Ondo and Ekiti have become something akin to mini-theatres of war, where party members and thugs brazenly brandish assorted weapons to either harm or eliminate aspirants they consider dangerous to the realisation of their political ambitions. Party secretariats, court premises and political rallies are places where the use of these dangerous weapons are now being perfected.

Recently, the Director-General of the National Task Force on Illegal Importation of Light Weapons and Small Arms, Osita Okeke raised alarm over the proliferation of

In the build up to the 2015 general elections, it appears that politicians are leaving the ballot boxes for bullets, what with the upsurge in the illegal importation, possession and utilisation of arms and ammunition by their followers. The direct objective is the elimination of political opponents ahead of the party primaries reports BIYI ADEGOROYE. Additional reporting by BAYO AKOMOLAFE and EMMANUEL ONANI. arms in the country. In particular, he shocked the nation when he drew the attention of security agencies to “the use of private jets by serving governors to import arms ahead of the 2015 general elections.”

Speaking in Okirika, Rivers State, Okeke was alleged that the “uncontrollable number of private jets in the country was being used by governors to import arms.”

The Task Force’s boss’s worries gave currency to the apprehension that the increase in arms build-up in the country, particularly as the nation is drawing close to the 2015 general elections, is very dangerous, indeed.

He stated that politicians bring in arms in order to prosecute their political projects, an indication that the governors could not be exonerated from the arms proliferation. The influx of illegal weapons has since manifested in the increase in political violence and attacks in many parts of the country.

A critical reference point is Rivers State, where some weeks ago, officers of the State Security Service inter-

cepted a vessel, MV Iron Trader, which was carrying 2,700 anti-aircraft and anti-tank bombs carefully concealed in a 20-foot container in the ship.

The cargo, which was said to have originated from Turkey, was imported on the pretext that it contained building rods from Panama in Central America, and was heading for Uruguay. However, the latest discovery was said to be the outcome of the diligence of the SSS, who placed consignments from Turkey, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and other countries that are perceived to have links with terrorists, on the watch-list.

Needless to say the political crisis in Rivers State, where Governor Rotimi Amaechi and Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike are on a collision course is still unrelenting. The crisis produced a political aberration where six legislators “impeached” the Speaker of the House of Assembly in a riotous and bloody plenary.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

44 Investigation C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 3

Of course, not a few people, including a serving Senator have been wounded.

As at the last count, a number of rallies have been disrupted, while the police in the state are perceived to have been manifestly partisan and compromised.

That was until the former Police Commissioner, Mbu Joseph Mbu was removed two weeks ago. The curious involvement of the Police in the crisis has drawn the ire of many Nigerians. Even Amaechi had to present his 2014 budget from the Governor’s Office.

Mbu, on his part, said his officers and men recovered 243 firearms, 6,944 ammunition, 88 magazine, 523 cartridges, 58 vehicles and 94 bags of cannabis sativa from criminals in the state. About 209 suspected kidnappers, 402 armed robbers, 69 cult suspects and three sea pirates are currently in police custody.

Figures from Anambra State show that over 8,496 arms, 90,835 cartridges and 164 loaded magazines for AK47 rifles were recovered by the police after raiding several robbers’ hideouts in various parts of the state recently.

The state’s police boss, Mr. Usman Gwary also explained that over 182 notorious kidnappers were arrested while over 45 kidnap victims regained freedom. But 18 kidnappers were not as lucky as they paid the supreme price in the process.

Arms recovered include 25 AK-47 rifles, two types of K-2 rifle, one air rifle, 57 locally made pistols, 120 pump action guns, three toy guns, 15 DGSGS, nine English pistols, three cut-to-size shotguns and 25 machine guns, among others. While these dangerous weapons were recovered from robbers and kidnappers, it has been observed that they can come handy during election period. For instance, four lawmakers representing Ogun State at the National Assembly had a raw deal with the some extremely dangerous thugs two weeks ago. The legislators escaped death by whiskers following an invasion of a meeting of their Senatorial zone in Wasimi, Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state in a shoot-out.

Senators Gbenga Obadara (Ogun Central), Akin Odunsi (Ogun West) and two members of the House of Representatives, Olumide Osoba (Obafemi/Owode) and Adekunle Adeyemi (Ifo/Ewekoro Federal constituency), ran for their lives when the gun-wielding thugs stormed the political meeting.

A police orderly attached to Senator Obadara, Sergeant Sunday Akinbode was however, not very lucky, as he was shot dead by the thugs, while about nine other members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were also injured in the incident. A Divisional Police Officer and four other officers were left with injuries in the shootout. A similar attack by political thugs at a scheduled news conference in the state earlier left six journalists with various degrees of injuries.

Importers of arms don’t relent. This is what some of them do as a job to survive

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

Ugly warm-up to 2015

Another set of ammunition recovered

Ready for use? Guns on display

The bloody incidents compelled the Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, to constitute a team of police detectives to investigate the causes. The incidents, which followed pockets of other related skirmishes, are seen as evidence of cracks in the ranks of the APC in the state.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun, not only condemned the attacks but also any attempt to link him or any member of his government with such acts of violence in the state, which he said was aimed at scoring cheap political points.

The unsettling development was the basis of the security meeting the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2, Mr. Moammar Tsafe held with political leaders from Lagos and Ogun States, two weekends ago by. Pointedly, he warned politicians “to avoid importation and utilisation of arms and ammunitions, and avoid all forms of assassinations” ahead of the 2015 elections.

In, Kaduna, a state where a couple of armouries were traced to sympathisers of the insurgent group, Boko Haram, the story is rather shocking. Recently, the State Police Boss, Mr. Olufemi Adenaike paraded seven suspected members of a gun-running syndicate involved in the manufacture, sale and repair of locally

made guns.

The suspected gun-runners, including Malam Aliyu Yahaya, the village head of Sabon Gidan, Kakau, in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, were arrested in the operation, and some guns and items for fabricating them were presented as exhibits. That came months after an illegal weapons factory was discovered in the same state.

Included in these small arms currently in the country, experts said, are imported pump action rifles, pistols, AK-47rifles, cut-to-size locally made shot guns, rifles, shotguns, manual, locally-made and imported semi-automatic and full automatic weapons and man-portable machineguns.

Others are a wide range of medium-calibre and explosive ordnance, including man-portable and vehicle-mounted antipersonnel, antitank and antiaircraft guns, missiles and rocket propelled grenades, currently used by insurgents.

Porous borders and ports How these weapons find their way into Nigeria has been a source of great concern to security agencies despite the stringent conditions attached to official permit for importing them. Amongst often cited illegal channels are the seaports.

Some individuals among the political

class and some business men are believed to be neck-deep in the smuggling of arms through the seaports in Lagos, Warri and Port Harcourt.

They usually import the weapons under the guise of bringing in needed motor parts or auxiliary engine spare parts.

Some of the weapons also come through the land borders while others are traced to ex-militants, who failed to turn in their entire weapons as part of the amnesty programme for the former Niger Delta militants.

Spokesman of Customs, Tincan Island Command, Mr. Chris Osunkwo said majority of the importers nabbed by customs for illegal arms importation found one excuse or the other to evade the long arms of the law. “They claimed that arms were hidden in their consignments without their consent. They made false declaration in their manifests and you cannot detect if there are arms and ammunition in their consignments if you are not vigilant,” he said.

He gave further insight into the clandestine activities of the merchants of death: “When we arrest customs clearing agents or importers, some of them would tell you they obtained license in America to own a gun. These are the tales we hear from arms smugglers whenever they are arrested.”

For this reason, Customs has decided to embark on 100 per cent inspection of containers. Osunkwo added that examination officers have been instructed to be vigilant at the examination bay in all the terminals.

A customs agent, Mr. Sam Elem, who is the Managing Director of Okpoto Logistics Limited, said illegal importation of arms and ammunition is a global issue.

In his view, the Nigerian government has done a lot contain this nefarious trade by putting anti-smuggling and security operatives at the ports. “But the irony is that nobody can stop the importer because of their influence. Importers of arms don’t relent. This is what some of them do as a job to survive,” he said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 46

Investigation 45

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

We’re mopping up arms –Mba, FPRO

T

here is proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the country today.

What is the Police doing to mop up these weapons ahead of the 2015 general elections?

I agree with you that we have got challenges that have to do with proliferation of small and light weapons, though those challenges are not peculiar to Nigeria. These are challenges that we have seen worldwide, particularly in the developing countries of Africa. Nigeria is one of those countries, where we’ve seen some of these challenges. We are worried, but the good news is that these challenges are not insurmountable, and the force is doing everything humanly and operationally possible to systematically mop up all forms of illicit arms in wrong hands, as well as putting machinery in place to ensure that we make it very difficult, if not impossible, for them to continue to acquire these arms. We must understand that there are reasons some of these light weapons are attractive to criminals and all those illegal holders of those weapons. The first one is that these weapons, as they are called, are light and small. As a result, it is easy to move them

Licensing Section 3. No person shall have in his possession or under his control any firearm of one of the categories specified in Part I of the Schedule hereto (hereinafter referred to as a prohibited firearm) except in accordance with a license granted by the President acting in his discretion.

Section 4. No person shall have in his possession or under his firearms control any firearm of one of the categories specified in Part II of the Schedule to this Act (hereinafter referred to as a personal firearm) except in accordance with a license granted in respect thereof by the Inspector-General of Police, which licenses shall be granted or refused in accordance with principles decided upon by the National Council of Ministers.

Section 8. (3) Upon the death of the holder of a license or permit, a person lawfully in possession of the chattels of the deceased or a person to whom a firearm or ammunition therefore has been bequeathed may, notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, lawfully have in his possession a firearm or ammunition in respect

In this interview with EMMANUEL ONANI in Abuja, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mbah says the police leadership is worried by the proliferation of arms in the country and has, therefore, ordered a mop-up exercise around; in effect, they are portable and also easy to operate.

They are not as complicated as some heavy weapons, such as artillery and the rest of them…

Another concern is that these weapons complicate the security situation. Mere possession of weapon in itself does not just cause crime, even though unlawful possession of weapon is a crime. But, the fact is, it is not just the crime that is associated with unlawful possession of arms that is our concern but the fact that when you have such weapons indiscriminately and in large numbers too, then it fuels the challenges of insecurity; they create a cycle of violence.

Sometimes also, they could become catalysts for destabilizing and heating up the polity.

But in all these, you need to also understand why we have got these challenges.

Why? It is very easy for people to say, “Oh, it is because the security agencies are not working hard”, but it goes beyond that.

Mba

We need to look at where we are coming from, we need to look at where we are now, and you need to look at our projections for the future.

For example, one of the major causes of proliferation of light weapons, particularly

in Africa, is arms that you can describe as remnants or leftover of civil wars. It may interest you to know that between 1990 and 2005, Africa alone recorded about 23 wars, some of them civil wars. The implication is that these conflict situa-

tions and even the post-conflict situation that arises soon after peace treaty is entered, provide the fertile ground for these illicit arms to begin to disappear into the hands of criminals, who now begin to move them surreptitiously to neighbouring countries. The second thing that fuels proliferation of light arms is the challenge of globalization and border-related challenges.

Unlike so many other countries in the world, where international borders are clearly defined, in Africa and particularly in Nigeria, most of our borders have both official routes as well as unofficial routes. Unofficial routes are usually routes that are not manned the way the official routes are manned. So, we have challenges that have to do with borders…Until we are able to control unbridled capitalism by some arms dealers, we will continue to have some of these challenges.

What is your advice to the citizens as the nation prepares for another round of elections?

Our advice to parents is to ensure that their children are not enlisted into armed thug groups. Young people should also be mindful of the fact that at the end of the day, their future is in their hands.

Fire Arms Act, 1990: What the law says on possession and importation of arms of which the deceased person held a license or permit for a period of fourteen days after such death: Sale and Transfer 10. (1) No person shall by way of trade or business buy or sell or transfer or expose for sale or transfer or have in his possession for sale or transfer any firearm unless he is registered as a firearms dealer.

11. (3) A registered firearms dealer, in the case of loss, theft or destruction of a firearm in his possession, shall notify such loss, theft or destruction as soon as possible and in any case within seven days thereof to the Inspector-General of Police.

12 (2) No person, whether a registered firearms dealer or not, shall alter or render illegible the maker's name or number or other prescribed particulars stamped upon a firearm without the previous consent in writing of the Inspector-General of Police.

Import and Export 18. No person shall import any firearms or ammunition into Nigeria by sea or by air or export the same there from by sea or by air except through a port which is a port for the purposes of the customs laws or an airport duly designated under the civil aviation laws nor import or export the same by land except through a prescribed town adjacent to the land frontier or by the shortest route from the nearest part of the frontier to such a prescribed town.

19. No person shall import or cause to be imported or export or cause to be exported any firearms referred to in Part I of the Schedule to this Act or ammunition therefore except in accordance with a license duly granted by the President who may grant or refuse the same in his discretion and impose such terms and conditions as he may think fit.

21. No person shall import or cause to be imported any Import

by firearms or ammunition by post.

Manufacture and Repair of Arms 23. Subject to the provisions of sections 24 to 26 of this Act, no person shall manufacture, assemble or repair any firearms or ammunition except at a public armoury or at arsenals established for the purposes of the armed forces with the consent of the President, acting in his discretion.

25. The Inspector-General may, with the consent of the Governor of the State, in his discretion grant a permit to any person to carry on the business of manufacture and repair of the firearms referred to in Part III of the Schedule to this Act, and shall maintain a register of such permits in force.

27. No person shall shorten the barrel of a smooth-bore firearm to a length of less than twenty inches from the muzzle to the point at which the charge

is exploded on firing, and no person shall have in his possession or under his control any smooth-bore firearm which has been so shortened, or manufacture a smooth-bore firearm having such a barrel of less than twenty inches or have in his possession or under his control any firearms manufactured in contravention of this section.

Enforcement and penalty 28. (1) Any person who contravenes any of the provisions 1966 No.31 of this Act specified in paragraphs (a), and (c) of this section, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction- for unlawful possession or control of firearms or certain categories, for unlawful importation or exportation of firearms or ammunition other than through prescribed ports, manufactures, assemble, or repair of firearms and ammunition, shall be liable to a minimum sentence of 10 years.

46 Investigation

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

Arms build-up towards general elections C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 4

Also, a stevedore, who does not want his name mentioned, said government knows the right thing to do to curtail illegal arms importation through the border, but appears to lack the political will to do so. He laments that the Nigeria’s image as country that where people traffic in small arms with much impunity is not exactly a good one.

Investigations show that some terminals concessioned to private individuals in Tincan Island ports and Lagos Port Complex in Apapa are notorious for the illegal business. Neither are some of the 120 private jetties in the country left out in arms smuggling.

President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Mr. Eugene Nweke corroborates this view, attributing the importation of arms and ammunitions to government’s port reform policy. According to him, government made a fundamental mistake in its concession of the nation’s port terminal by giving out 100 per cent stake to foreigners.

To be sure, a lot of arms and have been illegally brought into the country through the ports in the last three years.

For instance, on October 26, 2010, officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the State Security Service (SSS) discovered 13 containers laden with arms and ammunition at the Apapa Wharf Ports Complex. Rocket launchers, grenades, mortar bombs and other light weapons were stacked with ceramic tiles in crates and shipped from Iran into the country by unknown persons.

In 2012, 15 crew members, all Russians, were arrested by men of the Nigerian Navy and their vessel impounded for importing fire arms into the country. The Navy arrested the crew for non-declaration of cargo and possession of a cache of arms and ammunition. No fewer than 8,598 ammunition, 14 AK47 rifles and 20 Benelli MRI rifles were recovered from the Russian ship, MV Myre Sea Diver Avatiu, after the ship was searched.

Also, last year, the Customs Area Controller, Apapa Area 1 Command, Comptroller Charles Edike made a seizure of huge weapons when operatives of the service discovered several caches of arms and ammunition illegally brought into the country through its numerous sea and land borders. The arms easily found their way into the hands of criminally minded groups of persons who would, in turn, have used them to wreak havoc on innocent members of the public.

At the Lagos Port Terminal Multipurpose Services Limited (PTML), Command of NCS, officials of the service intercepted arms and ammunition concealed in one of the two vehicles shipped in from the United States. In September of the same year, arms were found in a

Right from the Olusegun Obasanjo era to date, I have seen many people attacked, or killed

Atake Tom, a former militant with a machine gun

container loaded with two cars---a 2004 model Chrysler 300 and a 1999 model GMC Suburban where they were hidden.

Also, 52 rounds of .38mm calibre and 48 rounds of .9mm calibre and two empty magazines were discovered.

Former Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav blamed politicians and flexible government policies for the proliferation of arms in the country. “Because of the fact that political office holders have access to a lot of money and allowances, they want to retain their offices by all means. They arm their thugs and bodyguards, and any political opponent who wants to displace them must acquire superior firepower and that is why the cycle of violence continues,” he said.

Tsav attributed the situation to the “laxity of many commissioners of police in the enforcement of restriction on licensing of arms,” adding: “In our time, we were prevented from issuing anything more than 10 or 15 firearms licenses every month. In some months, we did not issue at all. But today, many CPs issue such licenses in order not to fall out with their governors.”

Tsav is also uncomfortable with the laws, which empower many government agencies like Civil Defence, the Task Force on Human Trafficking and others to possess and utilize arms. He believes that such easy access to arms by a plethora of security agents, coupled with disloyalty and lack of patriotism on the part of many serving officers and arm dealers, are the fuel for the spread of illegal arms and ammunitions into the hands of disgruntled politicians.

If the outspoken ex-police officer from Benue State spoke from hindsight as a retired police chief, Annkio Briggs, the Convener of South-South Democratic Alliance, shares her experience as a victim of the violence that illegal arms spawns.

Briggs is of the view that the mentality of some members of the political class, who rode to office through violence and are bent on retaining the office by the same means by arming their thugs, provides the fillip for illegal weapons importation.

“I am speaking from experience both in the Niger Delta and in Rivers State in particular. Right from the Olusegun

Obasanjo era to date, I have seen many people attacked, or killed, and I have also been attacked severally myself by these elements,” Briggs said, wondering how these guns find their way into Nigeria, given the high presence of the Navy on the waterways, the Customs at the borders and the police and the FRSC on the highways.

Criminal complicity by military men This dimension is as disturbing as the apprehension generated by the allusion to customs and military officers, who allegedly supply weapons to insurgents and politicians. A report from the Joint Task Force, (JTF), in Maiduguri said soldiers arrested a customs officer for presumably assisting Boko Haram insurgents to import weapons into the country.

A few years ago, a general court-martial in Kaduna sentenced an army officer and five soldiers to life imprisonment for illegal arms supply to the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND).

During the hearing, Major Suleiman Akobi and the five soldiers were said to have sold 7,000 military weapons of various of descriptions, stolen between January 2000 and December 2006 from the depots of the Nigerian Army located at the Command and Staff College, Jaji and the One Base Ordinance, Kaduna, to MEND through one Sunny Owei Okah, a junior brother of the leader of the Niger Delta militant group, Henry Okah, years before his conviction in South Africa for the Independence Day bombing in Nigeria.

Brig- Gen K E Usara, who headed the court-marshal, held that Akobi and the five soldiers, Sergeant Matthias Peters, Lance Corporal Alexander Davou, Lance Corporal Moses Nwaigwe, Lance Corporal Nnamdi Anene and Private Caleb Bawa, realised about N100 million from the sale.

Arms control Several measures have been put in place over the years to ensure the control of arms and ammunitions globally. For instance, the procedures for the control of small and light arms have been defined by the United Nations and domesticated by member states to effectively ensure

legislative and regulative controls. Such controls cover the manufacture of such weapons, international transfer, national controls over the end-user and end-use of internationally transferred small arms and light weapons, national controls over the access of civilians to such weapons.

Others are national coordinating mechanisms on weapons control, border controls and law enforcement cooperation, international legal cooperation, criminal offences and investigations.

Each country is expected to design and implement its National Action Plan, design and implement community safety programmes, raise awareness of the need for small arms and light weapons control and monitor and carry out evaluation of the success of these measures. In the areas of operational support, each nation is expected to conduct periodic small arms and light weapons surveys, ensure management of such weapons, marking and record keeping, tracing, collection and destruction of illicit weapons.

This informed the enactment of the Firearms Act, Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1990, an Act regulating the possession of and dealing in firearms and ammunition including muzzleloading firearms, and for ancillary matters. Interestingly, the Act regulates the manufacture, repair, importation and possession of firearms in all parts of the country.

In an interview with New Telegraph, a retired General in the Nigerian Army, who does not want his name in print, said the politicians’ penchant for bullets instead of ballots as a means of electoral battle amounts to crass criminality and underscores their desperation for power and disregard for the democratic process.

According to him, such development is not only an erosion of democratic values, but “is also very dangerous to our democratic experiment.”

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, has given a marching order to all police commands and squads to, as a matter of urgent national priority, deploy both intelligence and modern crime-fighting equipment to mop up illegal arms in the country.

47

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

Deposed Egypt's president, Mursi, on trial for terrorism charges TRIAL Egypt docks former leader on conspiracy charges

D

eposed Egyptian president Mohamed Mursi appeared in court yesterday on charges of conspiring with foreign groups to commit terrorist acts in Egypt, in a further escalation of the crackdown

against his Muslim Brotherhood.

Declaring it "the biggest case of conspiracy in the history of Egypt", prosecutors have detailed a "terrorist plan" dating back to 2005 and implicating Palestinian group, Hamas and the Shi'ite Islamist government of Iran as well as its Lebanese ally, Hezbollah.

Mursi's Muslim Brotherhood propelled him to victory in the 2012 presi-

Thai police fail to reach deal with protesters STALEMATE Thai roads and offices remain blocked as protests rock bangkok

T

hai police and a prominent protest leader failed to reach a deal yesterday to reopen state offices and roads in Bangkok that have been occupied for months by protesters seeking to overthrow Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Talks with Buddhist monk, Luang Pu Buddha Issara, a protest leader, failed to free up an occupied government complex in the north of the capital as a third day of a security operation designed to retake sites occupied by protesters

drew to a close.

Buddha Issara said the government was using a request to reopen roads as an excuse to crack down on protesters.

"If there is blood loss... will the authorities take responsibility? Or will you blame it on provocateurs?" Buddha Issara asked police representatives.

Speaking to the monk during a televised video conference, Naret Nanthachot, commissioner of Provincial Police Region 1, said police would not use force.

"I am asking for your kindness and understanding...tens of thousands of people are frustrated each day by their inability to use roads," said Naret.

200 illegal miners trapped in South Africa

R

escue services in South Africa are trying to reach more than 200 illegal miners reported trapped underground in an abandoned gold shaft in a suburb just east of Johannesburg, an emergency services spokesman said yesterday.

Werner Vermaak of ER24 emergency services said rescuers were communicating with a group of about 30 miners trapped by fallen boulders below the surface at the

old mine site in Benoni.

"They told us there are about 200 others trapped further below," Vermaak said.

"It's an abandoned mine shaft in the middle of the public veld (open fields) ... it was not a blocked-off area," he added. No injuries or casualties had been reported so far, Vermaak said.

Heavy equipment had been brought in to try to remove the boulders obstructing the shaft.

dential election, but has been driven underground since the army took power in July after mass protests against his rule.

The state, which has declared the Brotherhood a terrorist group, has killed about 1,000 of its members on the streets and jailed thousands of others, including top leaders.

Egypt's Western allies have exerted little pressure on the Cairo government to end what critics say are widespread human rights violations.

In the latest one, the prosecutor also charged

Brotherhood leaders, Mohamed Badie, Khairat ElShater, Mahmoud Ezzat and others with crimes including committing acts of terrorism in Egypt and divulging military secrets to a foreign state.

The Brotherhood accuses the army of staging a coup and reviving a dictatorship, an allegation the military denies.

The prosecutor said the Brotherhood's plan was to send "elements" to the Gaza Strip for military training by Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.

Upon their return to

Egypt, they would join forces with extremist groups in the Sinai Peninsula, the Egyptiancontrolled territory that borders Israel to the east, it said.

After the 2011 uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak, the group exploited the chaos to carry out attacks on security forces in North Sinai and elsewhere, it said.

The prosecutor said they aimed to establish an "Islamic emirate" in North Sinai were Mursi not declared president.

Mursi's presidential aides including Essam

El-Haddad, his national security adviser, had leaked secret reports to Iran's Revolutionary Guards and Hezbollah as a reward for their cooperation, the prosecutor said.

Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, has dismissed the charges as "fabrications and lies".

After crushing the Muslim Brotherhood at home, Egypt's military rulers plan to undermine the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which runs the neighboring Gaza Strip, senior Egyptian security officials have declared.

Pope Francis, m, having a chat with a couple before being blessed

Pope advises couples on Valentine's Day

I

n a gesture toward the romance of Valentine's Day, Pope Francis at the weekend gave his advice on how to have a happy marriage before thousands of young engaged couples.

The unprecedented event, held under brilliant winter sunshine in a packed St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, may reflect Francis' desire to be closer to ordinary people's lives.

Three couples were able to put their own questions directly to the Pontiff before being blessed.

His answers were shared with the 25,000 or so people from around the world spread out in the square before him.

The first young couple to speak explained how they had decided to get married. "We didn't want

to give in to the easy way of not committing," the man said.

The couple asked the Pontiff to give them his advice on how to make a lasting marriage.

Francis, himself committed to lifelong celibacy as a Catholic priest, said that many people are afraid these days to make "definite decisions" and long-lasting choices -- but that it can be done.

"Today, everything is changing rapidly and nothing lasts for long.

This sort of mentality leads so many who are getting ready for marriage to say they will be together for as long as love lasts," which can lead to divorce, he said.

Love has to be built together, he said, not alone.

"To build such a thing

means to help your love grow," he said.

"Dear engaged people, you are getting ready to grow together, to build a home, to live together for good. Do not just base it on those feelings that come and go, but on the rock of true love that comes from God," he said.

Francis also took to Twitter to encourage those who are in love to take the plunge and tie the knot.

"Dear young people, don't be afraid to marry. A faithful and fruitful marriage will bring you happiness," he said on his official @Pontifex account.

A second couple in St. Peter's Square told Francis of how their love and commitment had changed their lives, before the woman asked for the Pope's advice on how to live together

day to day.

"Living together is an art. It's a patient art, it's a beautiful art, it's fascinating," Francis replied.

He spoke of the need to communicate with respect and attention, "to request politely so that you enter with courtesy into the life of the other."

That isn't easy, he said.

Each half of the couple must learn to say thank you, and to apologize for his or her mistakes.

"We all know there isn't a perfect family, neither a perfect husband nor a perfect wife. Of course, we are not talking about the perfect mother-in-law," he joked.

"Do not end any day without asking each other for forgiveness, having peace back in your house and your family," he said.

48 news review

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

Sack fear grips aviation workers lUnion petitions EFCC, Senate, wants Oduah probed PROBE Workers are raising allegations against the tenure of the former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah

Ayotunde Ayantunga

P

alpable fear has gripped workers in the aviation industry following the sack of Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, last week

by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Oduah and three others were last week relieved of their posts.

This is coming as analysts have called for probe into many of the projects under the airports remodeling exercise.

The Secretary-General of National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Abdulkareem Motajo, disclosed that the group would send a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the ex minister over what he described as “perpetration of monumental fraud in the sector under her watch”.

In the petition entitled, “Request for full investigation. Synopsis of financial recklessness, duplication of contracts, theft and abuse of due process in the award of contracts in the Ministry of Aviation”, the union said it had a legitimate, historic and patriotic duty to call the attention of all the necessary institutions to the, “zenithal corruption in the aviation industry”.

According to the body, “the ongoing airports’ remodeling exercise, wonderful as the idea may seem, is a scam and a broad day light robbery of our common wealth”, alleging that “Oduah, on assumption of duty, mooted the idea of a quick win project that could add colour to Mr. President’s transformation agenda”.

The group further noted that as a result, she contracted three consulting firms to carry out services for urgent upgrade and rehabilitation of terminal buildings in 11 airports, describing the entire project as a mere “sham and charade calculated to dupe unsuspecting Nigerian public”.

Buttressing the allegations with documentary evidences, Motajo alleged that Messrs. Ngonyaama Okpanum and Associates, Messr. Design Union Consulting Ltd and Messrs.

Triad Associates Ltd were in the last quarter of 2011 awarded the contracts for the consultancy works on the upgrade of the airports in the sum of N99.18 million; N60.99 million and N95.152 million respectively.

Motajo assured that the workers, represented by their body, are in pos-

Oduah

session of documentary evidence that would help to “establish and authenticate our claims and allegations”.

According to him, “It is with great concern that we write to intimate you that due process was trampled upon in the award of these jobs. First, the jobs were not advertised. Secondly, the companies were awarded the contracts without the certificates of no objection first applied for and gotten.

The companies were awarded the contracts in anticipation (anticipatory approval) that No Objection Certificates would be gotten from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP)”.

Equally disheartening to NUATE was the allegation of award of N9.5 billion airport security contract to I-SEC Security, a company, it said,

was incorporated less than one year without any track record of “performance in volatile, delicate and sensitive sector like security especially in the aviation industry to provide security to the gateway airport and other airports around Nigeria”.

They expressed concern that there was more to it than meets the eye that a company, whose registered address has no sign of life in it, was paid N9.5 billion for airport security with full payment made at once through a bank (name withheld).

Motajo further alleged that the Ministry got approval for the award of the renovation contracts to the companies and thereafter substituted them for other companies without writing back to the BPP for a fresh

approval.

He appealed to the Senate President and the EFCC to press appropriate authorities to call for the list of the contractors that worked or are currently working at the various airports and crosscheck it with the approval list that was gotten from BPP. “A perusal will reveal the fraud inherent in the whole exercise. Thirdly, these contracts were neither advertised in the Federal Government of Nigeria’s official Tender’s Journal nor in any national newspapers before being awarded”.

Motajo disclosed that the memo awarding the contracts provides that “the projects be funded from the sum of N7, 515, 177, 460, N7, 500.000.000 from the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) and another N1,000,000,000 from FAAN’s IGR. He noted that the phase two of the remodeling exercise is mirred in serious controversies of contract duplication, saying, “Most of the jobs had already been awarded to the same companies.

A visit to many of the agencies, such as the Federal Airports of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET), and Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), indicated how jittery many of the over 200 workers the former minister directly employed; an action that was condemned by other workers who had risen from the ranks but who were either sacked or redeployed to make way for the fresh staff.

The situation caused managements of the agencies to be top-heavy, and in many cases, officials allegedly worked at cross purposes.

Many of the workers who spoke to New Telegraph on condition of anonymity said there is no way a new minister of Aviation would not cut down on the over-bloated work force of virtually all the agencies which they admitted would help the sector focus on more critical issues of safety.

It is the norm in the sector. Workers are retrenched each time a minister of Aviation is appointed. The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN) had criticised the manner of engagement without due process in the sector.

Speaking in the same vein, President, Aviation Round Table (ART), Captain Dele Ore stated that there was nothing wrong in engaging people only if they follow due process.

According to Ore, “For the first time in many years, we saw the engagement of many people into departments they were not needed."

NEWS 49

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

Treat gunshot victims first before asking questions, Fashola orders hospitals NOW ILLEGAL Hospitals in Lagos must no longer delay in treating victims Muritala Ayinla

L

agos State Gover nor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has ordered public and private hospi-

tals in the state to henceforth waive the usual demand for police report, and treat gunshot and accident victims, to reduce the number of deaths resulting from such delays.

Many gunshot and accident victims end up losing their lives as a result of the common practice by hospitals to demand for police reports before treating them. The

hospitals do this, so as not to end up giving treatment to suspected ar med robbers who sustain gunshot injuries, or had an accident while trying to escape from law enforcement agents.

But in separate interviews, the state Commissioner for Infor mation and Strategy, Mr Lateef Ibirogba and his Health counterpart, Dr. Jide Idris, told New Tele graph

that the State Gover nor had expressed worry over the policy and declared it illegal for hospitals to tur n back emergency victims or delay their treatment.

According to Ibirogba, “the Gover nor has ordered that anybody that deserves urgent medical attention should be given the needed treatment whether it is gunshot or accident victims,

President, Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation, Pastor, Yohana Buru (7th from left) addressing members of Northern Blind Unity Forum during his visit to the forum to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Kaduna at the weekend.

50,000

the number of Cooperative Societies that Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment targets to create every year Source: Minister, Dr. Olusegun Aganga

30% the level of the nation’s installed gas supply capacity to power stations that were shut out as a result of pipeline vandalism as of Feb. 9, 2014 Source: GMD of NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu

especially gunshot.

They (hospitals) can ask questions after they have saved the life of the victim.

They should save life first before inter rogation of the victims and the sympathisers who often bring the victims to the hospitals.

“Our major assignment as an elected gover nment is to ensure safety of lives and proper ties and ensure people don’t become victims of avoidable death. After all, if the person is allowed to die just like that, we won’t be able to ask questions.”

On his part, Dr Idris said that the culture of unnecessary referrals of gunshot victims would also be checked with the new policy, saying it is illegal for any hospital in the state to tur n back victims without first administering proper treatment.

He added that referrals should also be done only when there is assurance that the victim’s life would be saved in the hospital where the victim is being referred to.

N5tn

the amount the Federal Government expects the manufacturing sector to earn annually, following inauguration of the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan

Source: President Goodluck Jonathan

APC extends registration exercise indefinitely NO END There is no closing date to register as party member

Julius Toba, Abuja

I

ndications have emerged that the membership registration exercise of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has

been extended indefinitely.

This came despite the two-day extension of the initial five-day period for the exercise.

The two-day grace, which extended the registration period till Wednesday, February 13, was announced in a press statement, citing as reason the large turn-out of party supporters who wanted to be registered.

But visits by the New Telegraph to some poll-

ing centres, where APC also sited its registration points, in FCT on Thursday confirmed that the exercise was still going on, though with low turn-out.

It was also confirmed that a consignment of registration materials left Abuja APC National Secretariat for Rivers State in the early hours of last Thursday, while materials left for Sokoto, Adamawa and Kano states earlier in the week.

New Telegraph gathered that the decision to extend the exercise indefinitely was not unconnected with very low turn-out witnessed in several states, especially in the South-East geo-political zone .

A reliable source within APC said Chief Rochas Okorocha, the Imo State governor and Chairman of APC Registration Committee, last Tuesday suggested the idea of continuing the exercise indefinitely before

national party leaders.

When contacted, APC spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed refuted claims that the exercise was extended due to low turn-out.

He said “if registration materials cannot be exhausted, it is only possible that we continue to register. If materials are still there and people are still coming, how does that bother you? Is that not a party matter?”

FUTO labour crisis deepens Steve Uzoechi, Owerri

T

he face-off between the management of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) and labour unions of non-teaching staff may spiral out of control, following insistence of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Chigozie Asiabaka to sustain dissolution of the elected executives of the unions.

The executives of the unions, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian University (SSANU); the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), were dissolved by the Vice Chancellor and caretaker committees appointed following the unions’ threat to pass a vote of no confidence on him.

Problem started on 25th of September, 2013 when the Joint Action Committee of non-academic labour unions in the University involving the three unions, held a congress and issued a communiqué touching on welfare issues of members and mandated the Vice Chancellor to redress same within a stipulated period.

In the communiqué, the unions threatened to pass no-confidence vote on the Vice Chancellor for alleged failure to pay overtime and shift duty allowance of deserving members of staff; alleged casualization of labour in FUTO; alleged unjust termination of the appointment of two junior staff; and alleged cancellation of occupational hazard insurance policy for staff contrary to Union/FGN 2009 agreement, among others. The content was conveyed to the Vice Chancellor.

Reacting, the Deputy Registrar in-charge of Public Relations for the University, Mr. Chike Ezenwa stated that the University council viewed the content of the communiqué as an insult to the council, describing same as offensive and abusive, betraying ill intentions.

50

ACROSS THE NATION

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

IMO

NIGER

OWERRI

MINNA

Students charged on eradication of cultism in Imo The National Association of Imo State Students (NAISS) has been charged to ensure total eradication of cultism and other social ills in their universities.

The Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Development, Mr Uche Nwosu, gave the charge at an interactive forum with the executive members

of the association at the weekend in Owerri.

Nwosu described cultism as a menace that had distracted a lot of students from academic work, saying it should be tackled effectively. He advised the students to conduct their activities honourably and responsibly as future leaders of the country.

KWARA ILORIN

Kwara Govt warns workers against being used by politicians The Kwara Government has warned its workers not to allow themselves to be used by politicians or any group against the administration.

The State Head of Service, Alhaji Mohammed Dabarako, gave the warning in IIorin during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Dabarako said he held a successful dialogue with the labour leaders in the state public service on the best way to settle all the pending issues with the government, adding that the recent threat of industrial action in the state by the Nigeria Labour Congress could have political undertone.

Niger govt. to spend N2.4b to construct new stadium The Niger State Gover nment is to spend N2.4 billion on the construction of a new stadium in Minna, the state Commissioner for Sports, Mr Daniel Shashere, has said.

Shashere told newsmen in Minna after the weekly meeting of the State Executive Council that the stadium would restore the lost glory of the state in sports activities.

He said that the stadium complex was scaled down from its original scope to a compact one that would include the construction of its main bowl, adding that the main bowl was expected to have a 10,000 seat capacity, with the ability of expanding it to accommodate 15, 000.

NASARAWA

EKITI

LAFIA

EKITI

Nasarawa governor’s wife warns parents against Ekiti workers demand more health care child labour Hajiya Salamatu AlMakura, wife of Nasarawa State governor, has advised parents against involving their children in hawking and hard labour, thereby exposing them to social vices.

Al-Makura gave the advice at the weekend when she received officials of Kwandara

Development Cultural Association (Women Wing), who paid her a courtesy visit in her office.

She said that the advice had become imperative to ensure positive child development so that as leaders of tomorrow, they would contribute meaningfully to the development of the state and the country at large.

YOLA YOLA

Multi billion naira Yola prison attains 75% completion - Controller The construction of a multi-billion naira Yola Central Prison has reached 75 per cent completion, Mr Ekijere Shidi, the Controller of Prison in Adamawa has said.

Shidi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola that the construction of the prison was

part of government’s effort to tackle prison congestion in the country. ``As at February 12, 2014, the construction of the Yola Central Prison had reached 75 per cent completion,” adding that when completed, the prison will accommodate over 1000 inmates at a time.

A cross section of civil servants in Ekiti State has appealed to the state government to make its ongoing free health week screening a regular exercise.

The Ekiti State Health Week, which began on Feb. 11, is scheduled to end on February 17.

BORNO MAIDUGURI

Borno Govt. replaces 22 thatched houses for free in Maffa The Borno Government on at the weekend inaugurated 22 modern houses it built in replacement for thatched ones for some residents of Maffa near the Bama-Maiduguri entrance gate.

Gov. Kashim Shettima, who presided over the brief ceremony, said it was part of efforts to enhance the living conditions of the people.

Charles Ogundiya

T

he Nigeria Tennis Federation is engulfed in a scandal over the usage of the tennis courts of the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.

National players are lamenting the fact that members of

Scandal rocks tennis federation zSmashers, z club members fight over usage of courts the Lagos Mainland Tennis Club took possession of four out of the seven courts at the stadium. Since May 2012, the club members make use of the

centre court and the first three courts in front of the umpires’ room at the arena.

Interestingly, the club is said to be paying the NTF to

SPORT

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

51

make use of the courts and to maintain them. Consequently, the club placed the four courts under lock and key to deny naCONTINUED ON PAGE 55

Did you know?

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/sports

ADEKUNLE SALAMI, DepUTY Editor, SPORTS kunle.salami@newtelegraphonline.com adekunles@yahoo.com

Monday, February 17 - FRIday, February 21, 2014

Gerd Muller, who played for West Germany in the 1970 and 1974 World Cups, held the career record for most World Cup goals with 14 until he was surpassed by Ronaldo of Brazil in 2006. Ronaldo has 15 World Cup goals

WORLD CUP:

Enyeama can lead Eagles to semis – Baruwa Ifeanyi Ibeh

T

he Super Eagles have never gone beyond the second round stage of the World Cup but a former Nigeria goalkeeper, Abiodun Baruwa, believes the reigning African champions can go as far as the semifinals at the forthcoming tournament in Brazil with Vincent Enyeama in goal.

It’s the third World Cup appearance for the 31-year-old goalie, 12 years after he made his debut at the Korea-Japan 2012, where the Super Eagles failed to go beyond the first round.

A first round exit was also the best Enyeama and his Super Eagles teammates could achieve four years ago in South Africa. But Baruwa, who was one of Nigeria’s goalkeepers the last time the Eagles featured in the second round at France 1998, said the Lille goalkeeper could lead Nigeria to break the African quarterfinal jinx at the mundial.

Baruwa said, “The goalkeeping position is always vital in any football team. If you look at recent World Cup tournaments, the teams that made it very far had one thing in common: good goalkeepers. France in 1998 had Fabien Barthez, Brazil

Enyeama

Thrills, flair of the USA ’94 Eagles

}p-52

Cwealth Games: NSC seeks alternative funding

}p-55

and Germany in 2002 had Marcos and Oliver Khan, Italy in 2006 had Gianluigi Buffon, and Spain in 2010 had Iker Casillas.

“Enyeama is currently one of the best goalkeepers in the world and I am confident with him in-between our goal line, we’ve got a very big chance of going all the way to the last four. I said this because he is a very brave goalkeeper. I have watched him over the years, and he knows how to organise his defence and motivate the rest of the boys.

He is a world-class goalkeeper and we are blessed to have him in our team.”

The former Shooting Stars goalkeeper stressed that the forthcoming global football showcase would be very tough due to the current form of many top players in various leagues abroad.

“This World Cup will be very competitive because all the African countries that have made it to Brazil were there in South Africa and the players are now more experienced. I am predicting that one African team will make it to the semifinals and I pray that country will be Nigeria.”

Africa will be represented in Brazil by Algeria, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria.

I’m not young players’ problem –Toriola

}p-55

52 SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

Countdown to Fifa World Cup

Nigeria’s USA ’94 team Westerhof

Emmanuel Tobi in this piece, chronicles Nigeria’s maiden appearance at the FIFA World Cup

E

xactly 20 years ago, a group of young and enterprising Nigerian footballers came into limelight with a brand of football embedded with the African flavor, mixed with the Brazilian samba dance, shook the entire football world at the USA 1994 copa mundial.

Thrills, flair of the USA ’94 Eagles

Bulgarians were up to. They seized the opportunity to come to us. From the moment we got our composure, we took over the game.”

Genesis

In late 1989, Dutchman Clemence Westerhof was signed by the Nigerian Football Association to coach the national team and he came with Jo Bonfere (a Dutch physical trainer) while the NFA attached a consortium of Nigerian coaches to join him. They are Christain Chukwu, Bitrus Bewerang and Tunde Disu who was assigned the role of Technical Director.

After the team failed to qualify for the 1990 FIFA World Cup by not getting at least a draw away to Cameroon on the last day of the qualifiers, Westerhof set about rebuilding the team. His effect was immediate, as Nigeria reached the final of the 1990 African Cup of Nations where they lost 1–0 to the host nation Algeria. In the lead-up to the 1992 African Cup of Nations, the Nigerian team which had adopted the nickname “Super Eagles” since losing controversially to Cameroon in the 1988 African Cup of Nations final match.

Nigeria tried to justify the tag with the winning run under Westerhof. The Eagles placed third at that tournament, losing to archrivals Ghana in the semifinal.

Qualifiers

In 1992, Nigeria began its quest to qualify for its firstever FIFA World Cup slated for the USA in 1994. Placed in a group with South Africa and Congo, Nigeria finished top of its group in the first round, winning three games and drawing one, and did not concede a single goal in all four games. For the second and final round, Nigeria was grouped with Côte d’Ivoire and Algeria. The Super Eagles won two games, drew one and lost one, and finished equal with Côte d’Ivoire on points but advanced to the World Cup with a superior goal difference.

Matches

On 21 June 1994, Dallas witnessed a historic moment, when after 21 minutes of play, Rasheed Yekini scored Nigeria’s first goal in a World Cup final and held the ball up in the goal afterwards. That picture went into the world’s newspapers as Nigeria recorded a 3-0 victory over Bulgaria.

“After the second goal,” according to the Bulgarian coach, Dimitar Penev, “the team lost its motivation and the quality of the game came down.”

The Eagles despite losing 2-1 to Argentina in the second

Engine Room

Sunday Oliseh (right) tackling Argentina’s Diego Maradona.

match qualified for the second round courtesy of a 2–0 victory over Greece and also emerged tops in Group B. In the second round, Nigeria played Italy and took the lead with a goal from Amunike at 25th minute and were within two minutes of qualifying for the quarterfinals of the 1994 World Cup in the game against Italy but Roberto Baggio scored to take the game to extra time. He also scored the eventual winning goal. The game ended 2–1 in favour of the Azurris.

Strength

One unique factor that propelled the team into world beaters during their era was the style and flair of the team which was anchored on the energetic African flavor mixed with the Brazilian football samba.

The team had stamina, creative skills and vigorous defence line with a very solid goalkeeping base.

The experience of goalkeeper Peter Rufai backed up with two other reliable lieutenants in Aloy Agu and Wilfred Agbonivbare, served as an inspiration to the defence line led by skipper Stephen Keshi.

The combination of Uche Okechukwu, Ben Iroha, Austin Eguevoen and late Uche Okafor not forgetting Chidi Nwanu, Mike Emenalo and Emeka Ezeugo was a threat to opposing strikers. “We had to get a grip on the game,” said Peter Rufai. “You have to see what the

The creative midfield display orchestrated by the dribbling skills of Austin Okocha backed by the firm solidity from Sunday Oliseh, Mutiu Adepoju and late Oliha Thompson made the work of the strikers easier with late Rashidi Yekini, Nigeria’s goal scoring machine, marshalling the attack for the Eagles.

The energetic run of Dan Amokachi who was nicknamed “Da Bull” supported by Samson Siasia, Victor Ikpeba, Efan Ekoku and the consistent rapid runs on the wings by George Finidi and Emmanuel Amunike were so delightful to the 44,132 fans, slightly more than two-thirds of capacity at the Cotton Bowl Stadium.

“I told them its show time,” said Clemens Westerhof. “You show them what you can do. We came here to show we can play football in Africa. We are there.

Maybe the next match we lose. It doesn’t matter.”

Weakness

Reminiscing on the tournament, Mutiu Adepoju who is now a certified UEFA Pro Licence coach, said, “I don’t want to say we had a weakness but I will call it inexperience because, the Italian who later played in the final scored a late equaliser after we dictated the pace of the game for nearly the entire duration of the match.”

He added that, “We lost concentration two minutes before regulation time and Roberto Baggio stole the show. We had great potential in that squad with every player wanting to prove a point but unfortunately, inexperience cost us that game.”

Legacy

Despite the heartbreaking loss, the Super Eagles’ World Cup campaign was considered a tremendous success; hence Westerhof and the players were hailed as heroes on their return to Nigeria.

The Super Eagles were voted the 2nd best Most Entertaining Team of the tournament behind Brazil and the team formed the nucleus of the Dream Team that won football gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics led by Westerhof ’s former assistant, Bonfere.

SPORT 53

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

Shehu, Odunlami dare Mikel, Oboabona, others

...excited over call-up for Mexico match Ajibade Olusesan

S

uper Eagles new invitees, Shehu Adamu and Ebenezer Odunlami, have expressed their desire to compete for World Cup slots with good performances in the friendly match against Mexico on March 5.

Adamu and Odunlami were part of the three players from the team that got bronze medal at the last Africa Nations Championship that have been invited for the friendly match slated to hold in the United States.

In separate interviews with New Telegraph, the players believe the opportunity have further boosted their chances of making the team to the World Cup. Kano Pillars midfielder, Shehu, said he was not oblivious of the tough competition in the department in which he plays but he was certain he could hold his own

against the foreign-based stars.

“I am happy for this call up because it will further help me fight for my place in the Super Eagles for the World Cup. I don’t care about where anybody is playing because I believe in my own ability and I am sure the coach also believes in me that is why he has given me this opportunity.”

For Sunshine Stars player, Odunlami, hard work can guarantee him a place on the plane to Brazil.

“I believe in God that if I work hard I can make it. I am happy that the coach acknowledged what I did in CHAN and invited me again. I will not disappoint him. I cannot be thinking about other players, I just have to go there and work hard and prove myself. By the grace of God, I will be at the World Cup for my country,” he said.

My escape from robbers, act of God -Odegbami Adekunle Salami

A

former Super Eagles captain, Chief Segun Odegbami, has said that his escape from armed robbers along the old Lagos – Abeokuta Road was an act of God. Odegbami was alone in his SUV driving to Lagos from Abeokuta when the incident happened on Friday. He told New Telegraph that his escape was a miracle.

Odegbami said, “I was about 17 km away from Abeokuta and still hoping to head for my school in Wasimi when the robbers overtook my vehicle and

blocked me on the bridge.

“I hit their car off the road with speed and also hit the blockade but was lucky to find myself in front. It was like movie. I kept speeding and going and they started shooting.

“Their bullet got my tyre and it exploded but I did not stop. I was simply destined to remain alive because it was a very close shave with death.

“I am overwhelmed with the love Nigerians have shown me since the incident happened.

Governor Ibikunle Amosu has called me on a number of times.

I am lucky to be alive.”

Mariam Usman, Nigeria’s Weightlifting captain

Camping: Weightlifting federation considers Bayelsa, Delta SPONSORSHIP Two states are on the cards to boost Nigeria’s preparation for the C’wealth Games Mercy Jacob

T

he Nigeria Weightlifting Federation is leaving no stone unturned in its effort at ensuring a good outing at the forth coming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with early camping of athletes as the body is considering Bayelsa or Delta State for camping.

According to George Aluo, spokesman of the NWF, the proposed camp will host the athletes before they travel abroad for final preparations.

Aluo said, “All hands are on deck at en-

F/ Eagles ’ll break U-20 World Cup jinx - Ugbade Ugbade

Ajibade Olusesan

N

ewly appointed assistant coach of the national U-20 team, Nduka Ugbade, believes the technical crew can put together a Flying Eagles squad that can shock the world.

The former Super Eagles defender was promoted to the U-20 cadre after assisting Coach Manu Garba to win the

FIFA U-17 World Cup in United Arab Emirates last year. Garba is the new chief coach of the Flying Eagles.

Ugbade told New Telegraph that the job has provided fresh challenge for him and he would delay celebration of his elevation until the team accomplish success.

Ugbade said, “I thank the President of the NFF, Aminu Maigari, and everyone that believed in us and gave us this assignment. For me it was a great elevation but I will not jubilate yet until

we are able to achieve great thing with this team.

“Though I am not going to promise anything now but we are going to do our best to put together a team that can shock the world.”

The handler of national league club, MFM FC, said they were not under any pressure to repeat their success with the Golden Eaglets.

“It is true that majority of that winning team would move up with us especially those that failed the MRI test and could not travel with us to the UAE.”

suring that Nigeria regains its lost glory in weightlifting. The board is utilizing every available opportunity to ensure our weightlifters perform very well in Glasgow.

“Arrangement is in top gear to get good camping site for the lifters. We are looking at camping our athletes in Bayelsa or Delta State. We have reached out to the two governors and we are waiting for their responses before we conclude final arrangement. We are hopeful of getting a positive answer from them.”

Champions League: Sterling Bank set to thrill Arsenal fans

O

n Wednesday, in continuation of this season’s UEFA Champions League, Arsenal will welcome Bayern Munich to the Emirates Stadium, and Sterling Bank is set to delight football lovers in Nigeria, especially fans of the London Gunners, by offering them 700 free tickets to experience the encounter, cinema-style, at the Silverbird Cinemas in Lagos and Port Harcourt under the bank’s ‘Fanatic Experience’ initiative.

Sports journalists, entrepreneurs, professionals, administrators, academicians and students will be part of this experience organised by Sterling Bank as part of activities aimed at bringing the benefit of its partnership with the English Premier League club to life.

Already, the excitement is building up as lucky fans with the Sterling Arsenal Account have started picking up their tickets from the bank’s branches in Lagos and Port Harcourt.

However, the Bank has assured customers in other states operating the Sterling Arsenal Account to get ready for a similar experience.

54 SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

OAU will dominate NUGA 2014 –VC The Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Professor Bamitale Omole, speaks in this interview with DAPO FOLORUNSHO on the institution’s preparations to host the 2014 NUGA Games and achieve resounding victory at the event. Excerpts.

Prof. Omole

In previous editions of NUGA, the event centres were scattered in different places, but we have a situation where all the events are taking place within a specific area. This is historic, isn’t it?

That is why OAU is different. All the events, starting from football to basketball, badminton, baseball, cricket, are taking place on our grounds and this is the only university that has ever done it. All the events are taking place at our sports centre. This is the first time there will be a big assemblage under one sporting umbrella.

Everybody knows that OAU is number one and we are showing exactly why we are number one.

How prepared is OAU to emerge overall winners at the end of the games?

I want to assure you that we are not only prepared in terms of the facilities we’ve provided for the games, but also prepared to haul all the gold medals.

It’s a target we have given them and there is a prize for anyone that wins.

Nigeria may lose CAF Champions League slot Chimaobi Uchendu

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igeria might lose one of the Champions League slots allotted to it by Confederation of African Football when it reviews performances of participating countries at the end of this year’s football season.

Kano pillars’ ouster from this year’s Champions league on Saturday at the Sanni Abacha stadium by AS Vita of Congo DR compounded Nigeria’s woes as the country’s ratings is expected to dip during the evaluation.

With the huge investment in sporting facilities, how would you ensure that these facilities are well maintained after the Games?

Your question is very apt and germane. Apt in the sense that it’s a major social malaise that buffets us all the time and germane because, few days ago, I was watching a documentary about the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium; a stadium that used to be the pride of the nation. The Edo State Commissioner for Sports went there and discovered that the place that used to be the cynosure of all eyes is now so decrepit and unkempt. And that is why I said, for us, we have learnt our lessons. If you go around, people who come to our campus ask us ‘how do we maintain these structures’? You can’t find that in other universities.

Let me give you an example to tell you that we have seen ahead. For the swimming pool that was constructed with millions of naira given by the Federal Government, three people from our Department of Works and Maintenance will be going to Sweden to be trained so that, after the NUGA, they can start maintenance. It’s part of the agreement with the company that constructed it. For the tartan track, we also have grounds men that can take care of it. Sustainability is very important. One of the things we are planning is to start running the facilities to help some other state governments around us, that do not have these kind of facilities, to come and rent and we’ll charge appropriate economic fees to help our internally generated revenue here too.

continent over two seasons.

“I’m sad that Kano Pillars lost the chance to qualify for the second Enyimba’s Bashir (right) celebrating with round last teamate Rasheed during the Super4 in Abuja, recently.

S a t u r d a y, Nigeria has permaking it two formed poorly at the last consecutive years that they three editions of CAF would be booted out. This Club competitions, with would have a negative efPillars accounting for a fect on Nigeria’s rating sizeable number. and subsequent reduction Last season, Pillars in the number of teams and Rangers crashed out that can represent Nigeria in the first round of the at the Champions League,” CAF Champions League. Obaseki said.

“I want to urge Clubs to A former chairman of Nigeria Premier learn from this by keepLeague, Chief Oyuiki ing their good players Obaseki, said he was and coaches at the end disappointed at Pillars of every season because performance’s in the continuity is key.”

Arsenal’s Koscielny constesting the ball with Arjen Robben of Bayern.

Bayern wary of improved Arsenal – Lahm

P

hilipp Lahm thinks that Bayern Munich’s grip on the Champions League trophy is under threat from “the biggest danger” Arsenal on Wednesday.

Speaking ahead of his side’s game at the Emirates Stadium in midweek, Lahm stressed that the encounter will be difficult for Bayern to navigate with Arsenal a muchimproved outfit.

“The biggest danger for us, right now, is facing Arsenal in the last 16,” the 30-year-old German told The Guardian newspaper. “It’s a tough draw. A lot can happen in those two games.

It’ll be two teams that are very good tactically and technically. I’m really looking forward to that game. I think every football fan is.

“I follow Arsenal a bit more this year and

Yaya Toure targets history against Barca

Y

aya Toure is keen to “make history” with Manchester City ahead of the clash with Barcelona in the Champions League.

Manchester City won their first top-flight title in 44 years in 2012 and now look to add the Champions League to their list of honours after advancing from the group stage for

the first time.

“It will be a good test for us,” Toure told Telefoot. “We want to win trophies. At the historical level, we’re still poor.

We need to begin to make history.

“Between [winning] the Premier League and the Champions League, I will choose the Champions League.”

FA CUP Q/FINALS Man City Vs Wigan Arsenal or Liverpool Vs Everton Brighton or Hull Vs Sunderland Sheff Utd or N’ham Vs Sheff Wed or Charlton

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES TUESDAY Leverkusen Man City WEDNESDAY AC Milan Arsenal

Vs Vs

PSG Barcelona

Vs Vs

Atletico Bayern

zzAll matches will commence 8.45pm Nigerian time

they’ve left a good impression. They’re fighting for the championship, that’s not a coincidence: I believe they have developed as a team. They’ve become much stronger, the squad is more balanced.

“And they still play the way Arsenal always play.

They want to have the ball, they like playing it short, and they have outstanding individuals.”

English FA Cup Results

Everton Cardiff Sheff Wed Man City Sunderland Bastia Lorient Nice Reims Rennes Sochaux PSG

3 - 1 Swansea 1 - 2 Wigan ( PP ) Charlton 2 - 0 Chelsea 1 - 0 S’ampton

Ligue 1 Results

0-2 1-3 0-0 1-0 2-2 1-0 3-0

Monaco Toulouse Nantes Bordeaux Montpellier Guingamp Valenciennes

Bundesliga Results

Bayern 4-0 Braunschweig 4 - 2 Bremen 1-1 Dortmund 4-0 Hoffenheim 4 - 1 Leverkusen 1 - 2

Freiburg Hamburg Gladbach Frankfurt Stuttgart Schalke

Serie A Results

Fiorentina Catania Atalanta Cagliari Genoa Juventus Sassuolo

1-2 3-1 0-4 1-2 3-3 3-1 0-2

Inter Lazio Parma Livorno Udinese Chievo Napoli

La Liga Results

Atletico Levante Barcelona Villarreal Granada

3-0 1-0 6-0 0-2 1-0

Valladolid Almeria Vallecano Celta Vigo Betis

SPORT 55

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2014

Scandal rocks tennis federation C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 5 1

tional players access to the facility.

Sad enough, the three other remaining courts at the back are very bad and too risky for the players to use.

A few weeks ago, two tennis players were allegedly molested by members of the club while training on the court.

The two players, according to former Nigeria tennis player, Destiny Ford Da Silva, were Samuel Omoile and Albert Bikom.

When New Telegraph visited the tennis section on Saturday, there was pandemonium as both sides claimed to have the right to use the disputed front courts with the players insisting the facility was for the general public use since it is within the National Stadium complex However, the club members argued that they were using the place legitimately with authorisation from the NTF. “They told us that the club members would be maintaining the courts and be helping to groom players but things have gone opposite because the members are not ready to allow players to train,” Da Silva said.

National number five player, Omoile, is furious about the development.

He said, “I was a ball boy in a private club. We were not allowed to play because the place is privately-owned.

Now some set of people are stopping us from training inside the National Stadium. How do we prepare for competitions?

“We only have two tournaments every year and the only way to keep ourselves fit is to train regularly and maybe go for one or two competitions if we can get sponsors. I was dragged on the floor because they wanted to play at

Front court for members.

the time I was trying to train inside the court. I was actually with number eight seed, Albert Bikom, when the fracas started because one old man wanted to play.”

Bikom told New Telegraph that he would also prefer the club to be disbanded and players allowed normal access to the front court.

“The situation is very bad, imagine one of them saying if the courts are locked, the players will be at the receiving end as they have nothing to lose,” Bikom said.

A member of the club who is also a coach, Godwin Michael, said, “The players are facing the same problem they face in privately owned clubs, if they are not ready to allow the players, then it is better the place is taken away from them. The place is national entity and the players are the main actors”

Commonwealth Games: NSC seeks alternative funding BUDGET DELAY The 2014 budget delay is affecting preparation for events Ajibade Olusesan

N

ational Sports Commission is seeking alternative means of securing funds for the preparation of athletes ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as passing of 2014 Budget suffers delay in the National Assembly.

New Telegraph learnt that funds for preparation of athletes were captured in 2014 Budget but the delay in passing the Appropriation Bill is affecting preparations for the games.

According to our source, the development has been a major source of worry for officials of the NSC and they are now seeking alternative means of raising money.

The source said the commission

was considering two options to raise funds so that athletes can begin training tour on time. She said that the commission had been speaking with corporate organisations for sponsorship and the body is also seeking loan facilities from banks.

“Funds have always been our problems when it comes to planning for major competition like this. But the NSC has been working hard to make sure that preparation continues without waiting for the budget,” an official of the NSC who pleaded anonymity said.

“The commission has been talking to some companies for sponsorship but that has been difficult."

They have even approached some financial institutions for loans. NSC may not want that process to be revealed to the public yet but hopefully, we should get our athletes on training tours on time by the time the commission is successful with the plan.”

B a ck c o

urt ...left

for the p

lay

ers President of the club, Mr. Sola Taylor, who spoke with our correspondent, said they never denied the players access to the courts, but accused them of not showing enough respect to him and other club members.

Entry fee for the club is N50,000 while N30,000 is the annual subscription fee out of which the affiliation fee to the NTF is paid.

Taylor said, “The agreement was to allow the players play inside the courts from morning till 4pm when the club members arrived to relax and enjoy themselves. But every weekend and public holidays, the club members have the

monopoly to the place because it was given to us on a concession agreement with the NTF. “We pay an affiliation fee every year. If they claim the place is national property, are we not also citizens of the country? Don’t we also have right to the facility? We even have more rights than the players because we pay tax which is used to provide all these amenities they are talking about.

“On that Saturday evening, when one of our patrons wanted to play, two small boys (Omoile and Bikom) were playing.

But when he asked them to leave the court, one of them threatened to hit him with his racket and break his head.

“We didn’t set up this club to fight anybody.

When the club was set up, it was to incorporate everybody, including coaches, players and ball boys, because some of us also learn tennis from them. We play them and we also enjoy seeing them play.”

In a reaction, secretary of NTF, Mrs Gloria Ekwempu, said; “I don’t know what you are talking about. How do you want me to comment on what is happening in Lagos when I am in Abuja. They are deliberating on it, when they are through, they will inform the federation about the outcome.”

President of the NTF, Sani Ndanusa, said the crisis would soon be resolved.

“We are on top of the situation, very soon everything will be resolved and by then I can tell you whatever you want to hear on the issue,” Ndanusa said.

I'm not young players' problem –Toriola Ajibade Olusesan

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igeria's top table tennis player, Segun Toriola, has said his continuous stay in the game is not inhibiting the development of other young players.

The Commonwealth Games gold medallist has been the Toriola country’s top performer in the last twenty years with many of the youngsters failing to knock him off the top spot.

Some pundits argued that the presence of the former African champion is intimidating the young ones suggesting that it was high time for Toriola to quit so that the young ones could grow.

But in an interview with our correspondent, Toriola said it was erroneous to suggest that he has not allowed the players to develop. He insisted that he

has been doing his best to encourage the young ones even though he constantly works on his own progress too.

“I have read it in the papers too when some people are saying that these young players are not growing because Toriola is still around but I laughed because it is wrong to think like that.

"I have been doing my best to encourage these young players to improve on their game and I can tell you that they are improving."

On Marble There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humour.

– Charles Dickens

World Record

Sanctity of Truth

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

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha Monday, FEBRuary 17 - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014.

Centenary Despite its enormous human and material resources, Nigeria is still very poor…100 years after!

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he unanimity of opinion about the paradoxical nature of the Nigerian nation is now common knowledge even amongst its leaders. The self-proclaimed giant of Africa is derided even by its own people as a Mickey midget, a country of immense potentials yet poor, what with about 70 per cent of its citizens living below the UN Benchmark of 2 dollars a day. Nigeria is characterized by abject poverty and want in the midst of plenty. The humongous wealth accruing to the country since the discovery of oil cannot be accounted for. Many Nigerians are of the opinion that the country cannot say with exactitude the amount of oil that has been produced and sold, much less the proceeds therefrom since the days of oil boom in the early seventies. Nigeria’s unscrupulous ruling class has been frittered away close to $400billion over the years.

Nigeria has remained a reference point for poor governance, a corruption haven where all manner of illicit practices are accepted and encouraged.

Nigeria is plagued by a new disease Affluenza – or sudden wealth syndrome, symbolized by the emergence of overnight billionaires. A hitherto unemployed indolent can become a very important person (VIP) the next day.

Social institutions and infrastructure have collapsed. Social life has deteriorated considerably, with increasing pauperization of the masses, even as the state becomes a wealth mine for the leaders, cronies, associates, and their hordes of praise singers.

Indeed, political power in Nigeria is perhaps the easiest means of becoming wealthy. Meanwhile, basic amenities are still conspicuously absent in our cities and villages. Pipe-borne water, regular supply of electricity, modern, well-equipped hospitals, effective and functionally relevant schools are notoriously absent, or in short supply, and this is 53 years after we asked the Queen of England and her folks to let us run our dear country. Many Nigerians have not stopped wondering, whether in the light of given reality and bleak future, October 1 1960 independence was not a mistake after all. The bitter disappointment of a cross section of Nigerians with successive leaders has culminated in unending merry-go-round in search of prayer warriors, witch doctors and marabouts.

The consequence is a deep feeling

N150

Nigeria: Not yet a hundred cheers!

IvoryGlory Nkemdili Nnonyelu

of distrust, cynicism and fatalism. The situation is becoming very worrisome, hopeless as the state becomes comprehensively criminalised. The past few years have witnessed unimaginable challenge by non-state actors on the supremacy of the state as the sole custodian of the coercive apparatus. Unprecedented criminality, banditry, kidnapping and all manner of antisocial behaviour have become a recurring, indeed permanent feature of our daily existence, and if this is not properly handled will imperil irredeemably the continued existence of the Nigerian nation. If that happens, it will be an unfortunate validation of the touted thesis of American military intelligence that Nigeria is likely to crumble in 2015, under its feet owing to its own internal contradictions.

Why can’t we put our acts together, and make Nigeria a better place. How did the country get to this sorry state?

Our current dilemma requires that we probe backwards into our past to contextualise the social forces or undercurrents that have facilitated the national descent into abyss and chaos.

I am aware that the current crisis in Nigeria cannot in any way be separated from the dialectics that informed the character of the Nigerian state and its political economy. The entity, now called Nigeria, we are told, was hewn together in 1914 from a motley tribes of different demographies and cultures numbering more than 350, by the agent

Our current dilemma requires that we probe backwards into our past to contextualise the social forces or undercurrents that have facilitated the national descent into abyss and chaos

The fastest one mile (1.6km) sack race is 16minutes, 41 seconds, and was set by Ashrita on May 19, 2007.

of British Imperialism, Lord Lugard, ostensibly for the exclusive promotion of British interests. Do not be deceived by the claims of civilising mission as trumpeted by the colonialists. Given that colonialism in Africa came too soon after several hundred years of slavery and depopulation of the active labour force, it is not difficult to see why many Africans regard colonialism as double jeopardy. Autochthonous development could not proceed under such a scenario. The colonial state did not promote the material condition of the populace. Therefore, it didn’t take long before some members of the emerging African elite started demanding for a change of the status quo, and overthrow of the colonial order.

Regrettably however, Nigerian political independence did not witness any serious change or alteration of the extant unequal relations with imperialist interests. I find no particular reason to romanticize or even glamorize the activities of the ‘founding fathers’ of the Nigerian nation, who were ethnic bigots supported by religious zealots. The difficulty, or near impossibility of forging a nation in Nigerian till date owe in part, to the seeds of division sowed by the early political elite in Nigeria. The Awolowos, Azikiwes, Bellos, Tarkas, etc were complicit in this regard.

The arrival of the military and its prolonged stay in power was like a Tyson upper cut that extinguished whatever breath that was left of the Nigerian nation. From Gowon to Abdusalami, military rule proved a complete aberration as the military chaps helped themselves with the resources of the society. It was indeed a classic example of profligacy, the worst being the Abacha regime that ruled Nigeria like a private estate. Prolonged military rule in Nigeria may be seen partially as both cause and effect of the general tendency towards de-development and de-democratisation.

Civil rule in Nigeria only meant to soothe the voracious appetites of the civilian wing of Nigeria’s ruling class.

Being good students and willing accomplices of military kleptomania, civil politics was seen as a consolidation of primitive accumulation. The centrality of the state in resource allocation helped to ensure that contest for state power became acrimonious and crisis infested. It has remained so till date.

From Obasanjo, through Yar’Adua to Jonathan, the story is the same. Not much has changed. Nigeria is still reeling under the burden of Economic and political crisis. Productive national enterprises have collapsed, and the process of de-industrialisation is continuing. In the name of privatization, and in obedience to the dictates of international capital, public enterprises are given away at ridiculous prices. Unemployment has greatly multiplied swelling the ranks of possible recruits for militancy. Poverty, crime and criminality, diseases and ignorance are on the increase.

In other climes the citizens hold their leaders accountable. What happened recently in the Middle East now known as Arab Spring, or the events in Ukraine, even the Occupy campaign all over the Western cities are eloquent demonstration of citizens’ awareness of their rights and responsibilities. The current state of complacency, zombie followership cannot sustain Nigeria’s march to the Promised Land. A civil non-violent engagement of the state and its rulers (not leaders) may be a necessary starting point for the recreation of a new Nigeria.

Nkemdili Nnonyelu, Professor of Sociology at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, is a visiting member of New Telegraph Editorial Board.

OmoBaba

PDP WOOS DEFECTORS WITH MONEY, AUTOMATIC TICKETS – APC

- Desperados all!

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