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Tuesday, June 24, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 126

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CBN hikes capital for BDCs to N35m Simeon Ogoegbulem and Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday rolled out tough

measures to check lapses in foreign exchange management by operators of bureaux de change (BDCs). Top on the list of the new measures is the hike in the minimum capital

requirement for the operation of BDCs from N10 million to N35 million. The central bank also increased the mandatory cautionary deposit to N35 million, the amount CBN

said would be deposited in a non-interest yielding account in the CBN. The new guidelines were contained in a statement yesterday from the Corporate Communica-

tions Department of the central bank, which was signed by Mr. Isaac Okorafor. It stated that the new measures were geared towards correcting “ob-

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served deficiencies in the operation of which have led to gross inefficiencies and sharp practices.” The bank expressed optimism that the steps CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Soldiers harass Tambuwal

lInsist on searching his official car lIt is not true, says FG Ibraheem Musa, Philip Nyam and Emmanuel Onani

ouse of Representatives Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, was yesterday forced to disembark from his official car at the gate of Hotel Seventeen, the venue of a security conference, which held in Kaduna by soldiers who insisted on searching his car. Tambuwal was

stopped about 200 metres away from the venue of the international conference on “Security and development: Challenges of pastoralism in West and Central Africa”, organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser. However, other dignitaries, especially governors who attended the conference, were allowed access into the hotel without hindrance. The speaker’s harass-

ment came barely a week after soldiers threatened to shoot Rivers State Governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, on his way to Ekiti State to attend a campaign by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for its candidate in last Saturday’s governorship election, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. While Amaechi was stopped at the Ekiti-Ondo border after his plane had landed at the Akure

Airport, the helicopter to convey his Edo State counterpart, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, to Ado-Ekiti for the rally was denied flight permit at the Benin Airport. Tambuwal, elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is believed not to be in the good books of the ruling party because of his alleged closeness to the opposition. The relationship be-

tween him and the party as well as the presidency had taken a turn for the worse following the defection of Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, to the APC. Tambuwal, who is from Sokoto State and a close ally of the governor of his state, is suspected of being a closet APC member, despite his affirmation that he remains in PDP. A witness told New

Telegraph that as the speaker’s convoy was heading towards the hotel, soldiers attached to the venue insisted on searching his official car before he could be granted access. He said pleas from the speaker’s security details fell on deaf ears compelling Tambuwal to alight from the car and walk the remaining distance to the venue. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Fayemi, Fayose meet on smooth transition

lPresidency, Anenih, PDP, others hail governor’s sportsmanship Adesina Wahab, Chukwu David and Onyekachi Eze

ith the governorship election in Ekiti State won and lost, the two key participants, Governor Kayode Fayemi and the governor-elect, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, met yesterday to chart a future for the state. The meeting, which held at the Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti, according to Fayemi, is aimed at

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setting up a committee to facilitate a smooth transition from the current administration to the incoming one on October 16. According to him, though some people described his acceptance of defeat as rare in the country, he had to do that as a democrat who must walk his talk. Fayemi, who contested the election on the platform of the All ProgresCONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi (left) and Governor-Elect, Mr. Ayo Fayose, during a meeting at the Governor’s Office, in AdoEkiti... yesterday

Suicide bomber kills eight in Kano school

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Presidency, Anenih, PDP, others hail gov’s sportsmanship CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

sives Congress (APC), had on Sunday accepted defeat and congratulated Fayose, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who was declared winner of the election. The governor’s action, which is uncommon among Nigerian politicians, attracted applauses from Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Prof. Rufai Alkali; Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba and Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih. However, the governor, responding to remarks by Fayose, who praised him for his sportsmanship, said since the outcome of the election was the wish of the people, conceding defeat was the right thing to do. He said: “For me, leadership is about service. It is about sacrifice. It is not about personal aggrandisement, not about personal benefit but the duty that we owe our people is to ensure that Ekiti continues to progress. Anything that will make the state progress is what I will be associated with. People have said my gesture is strange, it is un-African well I am a democrat and the will of

the people is the basis of democracy. If it is the will of the people, we do not have a choice than to respect their will, and to do everything to ensure that we deepen this democracy not just for Ekiti but also for Nigeria. “The lesson for us is that as Ekiti people, whatever we do must be in the overall interest of this place even when we suffer personal losses, as long as our state which is still largely disadvantaged can get out of this and our people can laugh last by having a better society entrenched in this state, we will all have been winners of this process. We must continue to fine-tune this process so that whatever gap may still be there is erased in the succeeding years.”

He added that though his administration had a fairly long period to hand over, governance would not stop and that he would cooperate with the incoming administration. On the remarks by Fayose that all should work together for the development of the state, Fayemi said he was ready to identify with anything good that would benefit the state. He advised politicians not to distract his administration with needless politicking as it winds down its activities. He congratulated Fayose on his victory and prayed that he would have a successful tenure. Earlier, Fayose had said he was happy with the governor’s gesture of calling him for the meet-

ing, saying it was time for reconciliation. He described the governor as an unusual Nigerian leader who puts the interest of his state ahead of personal gains. He explained that Fayemi’s attitude to the outcome of Saturday’s poll showed that “he conceded in the overall interest of Ekiti State.” “Whether in or out of office, Governor Fayemi remains a leader in our state. I am impressed by his show of sportsmanship and his spirit. The time we are in now is for reconciliation. “We are all winners and must do everything possible to move our state forward. I am appealing to our supporters not to distract us or cause disaffection. I am ready to work

with everybody in order to move the state forward,” Fayose added. According to him, Fayemi has demonstrated commitment to the peace and development of the state since 2010 and assured him that he would complement all achievements made by the incumbent governor when he hands over in October. Fayose said: “I got a call from the governor, our leader, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and he told me expressly of his readiness to ensure that the state moves forward by accepting the result in the outcome of the June 21 governorship election which I consider as he is the only statesman that can do that without being immodest. “I want to equally unCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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L-R: Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II; Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III and Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar ElKanemi, during a visit by Sanusi to the sultan…yesterday

CBN hikes capital for BDCs to N35m CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

KANO

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

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being taken would check the growing incidence of rent seeking, depletion of external reserves, financing of unauthorised transactions and dollarisation of the economy.” As exclusively reported by New Telegraph yesterday, the CBN further noted that the measures were all aimed at restoring sanity to the business of foreign exchange transaction, with a focus on the bureau de change segment. The CBN accused BDCs operators of subverting the cashless policy initiative and its monetary policy through their various subverting tendencies. Other modifications specified by the apex bank to guide BDCs operation include, payment of N100,000 application fees, N1million for licensing fees, annual renewal fess

pegged at N250,000 just as the bank frowned on ownership of multiple BDCs and threatened to sanction errant operators. To allow a level playing field in the BDCs sector, CBN has ruled out compulsory membership of the Association of Bureau de change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) as a criterion for obtaining a BDC operating licence. The new CBN operating guidelines for BDCs are meant to instil sanity and check the abuse of foreign exchange transaction by BDC operators. CBN in a statement decried the “avalanche of rent -seeking operators whom, it said were only interested in widening margins and profits from foreign exchange market, regardless of prevailing official and interbank rates.”

It also accused the BDCs operators of weak and ineffective operational structure, resulting in the sub-sector completely abandoning the objectives for its establishment, depletion of foreign reserves in view of the unusually large number of BDCs, and potentially financing of unauthorised transactions with foreign exchange purchased from CBN window. Other infractions committed by the BDCs, according to the central bank, include gradual dollarisation of the Nigerian economy with attendant adverse consequences on the conduct of monetary policy and subtle subversion of cashless policy initiative. With the new regulation, CBN said the objective of having a structured BDCs effectively regulated

and well capitalised to perform the role of BDCs as expected in the economy would be realised. The New Telegraph in an exclusive report on Monday revealed ‘special examination’ launched by CBN on foreign exchange transactions by banks. The special examination includes utilisation at the twice-weekly Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) and interbank market where banks purchase foreign currencies. According to the report, the probe, which began on June 9, will cover between January when Nigeria’s foreign reserves took a hit and May 2014. The CBN, the report said, believed some of the foreign exchange transactions were spurious since the BDCs had no ceiling on the amount they could purchase from the banks.

ARIK AIR LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:00; 09:00; 11:00 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00; 20:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 09:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 (SAT) 07:00; 11:00; 15:00 (SUN) 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 09:00; 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 (SAT) 07:30; 11:30; 09:00; 13:00; 17:00 (SUN) 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 ABUJA-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30; 16:50 (SAT/SUN) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30 PORT-HARCOURT-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10; 18:30 (SAT/SUN) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10

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Nyako: Lawmakers defy court order … vow to serve governor, deputy notice through media

Ibrahim Abdul Yola

he Adamawa State House of Assembly yesterday defied court order, insisting to serve impeachment notice on Governor Murtala Nyako and his deputy, James Ngilari, through the media. A Yola High Court headed by the Acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ambrose Mammadi, had in the early hours of yesterday dismissed an application filed by the state Assembly to serve Nyako and Ngilari the the impeachment notice through the media. While ruling on the application filed by the

lawmakers, Justice Mammadi averred that: “In view of the holding of Supreme Court judgement in the case of Inikojo vs Adeleke to which I am bound, I refuse to exercise my discretion to grant the application sought by the appellants. “I hold that service of the notice of allegation against the respondents must be personal service. I resolve the issue for determination in the negative. I refuse the application and accordingly dismiss.” But moments after the ruling, some lawmakers defied the court ruling. They held a special plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Laori Kwamoti where they di-

rected the Clerk of the House to go ahead and publish the said impeachment notice in two national dailies and NTA. New Telegraph learnt that in defiance of the court’s ruling, 10 lawmakers, including the deputy speaker, who are on twoweek recess hurriedly met yesterday at a special session to adopt the rules and proceedings of the June 18

“It is true that soldiers insisted on searching the speaker’s official car. The soldier even told the speaker that he had orders from above to search oga (speaker’s) car,” he added. He said the car was however not searched after the speaker alighted and walked to the venue. “But as I am speaking to you, we are on our way back from Kaduna and we have been told that the errant soldiers have been arrested and detained and will be investigated.” He said apart from the speaker, who is number four on the order of protocol in the country, other important dignitaries were allowed access to the venue without their vehicles being searched. He said: “So who gave the orders that the speaker’s car be searched? Why was the speaker singled out for search?” Another witness said: “There was a conference on security, organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser in Kaduna where the speaker was to deliver a speech. “In the process of getting to the venue, everybody was subjected to security screening, including the speaker’s convoy. So there was delay in the process and the speaker had to walk to the venue due to time constraint.” He confirmed that the speaker had since left Kaduna for Ibadan to condole with the fam-

ily of the late Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola-Alao who passed away last week. Tambuwal’s spokesman, Mallam Imam Imam, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with New Telegraph, saying that “the honourable speaker’s convoy was stopped and the soldiers insisted on searching his official car. The speaker was forced to come down from his car and trekked to the venue.” “This is unheard of for anyone to say he wants to search the speaker’s official vehicle,” he added. But a security source said the issue was “just being magnified out of context.’’ He said governors’ convoys were also barred from the conference venue but was silent on whether or not the governors’ official cars were searched. In a speech delivered at the conference, Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, said clashes between farmers and pastoralists had gone from being and agricultural problem to a security issue. He said: “Old traditions must give way to new realities and challenges. Movement of animals without tracking systems for animals or record of the animals for traceability can no longer be sustained in the face of rising conflicts, criminality and insecurity. “Just like humans cannot move between

visited the offices of the governor and his deputy severally without positive result, stressing that he had gone to court and taken an affidavit to serve Nyako and Ngilari in some national dailies. Reacting to the development, a former lawmaker, Alhaji Umaru Mijinyawa Kugama, described the move to serve the governor and his deputy through the media as contempt of court.

Sultan to politicians: We’re not competitors Umar Danladi Ado Sokoto

he Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday told politicians in the country

Soldiers harass Tambuwal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

plenary, directing the clerk to serve the governor and his deputy with the impeachment notice. During the sitting, the member representing Hong Constituency, Mr. Wafama Theman, raised an issue of constitutional matter to the effect that the decision of the House to serve the governor and his deputy for their alleged gross misconduct be table.

This prompted the Deputy Speaker, Laori, to invite the clerk to furnish the members with the progress made on the June 18 resolution of the House which directed that Nyako and Ngilari be served with the notice. The clerk, Mr. Francis Gabsenso, informed the House that he could not serve the governor and his deputy because they could not be located. He disclosed that he had

places without identification, it is no longer tenable for migrant pastoralists, whether local or foreign, to move without any identification. “The days that animals are without labels, records and tracking are limited. As a government, we must change our approach. Our communities must change. And within ECOWAS, we must change.’’ He advocated the use of modern technology such as satellite imagery and remote sensing to track the movement of animals within and across borders. The minister also suggested the registration of all pastoralists, adding that the government has set up a digital system for registering all farmers. “Farmers will now have identity cards with biometric chips. The same should now be done for all pastoralists,” he said. He also advocated the establishment of grazing buffer zones across border areas of countries to support crossborder pastoralism. National Orientation Agency (NOA) Director General, Mr. Mike Omeri, however faulted reports that Tambuwal was stopped by soldiers in Kaduna. According to him, as at the time the report was making the rounds, the speaker was attending the conference on security; an event he said was transmitted live on television.

not to see traditional rulers as competitors but partners in progress. He stated this when he received the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II who paid him homage at his palace in Sokoto, yesterday. “Politicians should listen to us; we are not dragging anything from them. As traditional rulers, we support whoever occupies political position such as president, governors and ministers. “So, there is need for synergy in order to move the country forward. We are partners in progress

not competitors and we will not relent in giving the necessary advice to politicians because that is what is expected of us,” the Sultan stressed. The Sultan who is also the President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) said the traditional institution would continue to render all necessary advice and remained loyal to those holding public offices. He explained that the visit of the emir symbolised respect, loyalty and cordiality to the Sultanate. He prayed that

Almighty Allah would continue to assist the new Emir of Kano to discharge his responsibilities. The NSCIA President expressed gratitude to Sanusi that the visit coincided with that of Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai. He counselled Sanusi to provide good leadership and to be fair to all. Earlier the Emir of Kano said the visit was to assure the Sultanate council of his loyalty. The Emir also paid a courtesy visit to the Governor Aliyu Wamakko.

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Suicide bomber kills eight in Kano school lBoko Haram kills 30, abduct 60 women in Borno Ahmed Miringa and Muhammad Kabir

eight students of About the School of Hygiene,

Kano, were killed yesterday when a suicide bomber struck at the school. No fewer than 12 others

were injured. Most of the victims were students rushing for final screening to collect their admission letters.

The suicide bomber, according to the Kano State Police Commissioner, Adenrele Shinaba, made his way to where the students

L-R: Editor, New Telegraph on Saturday, Laurence Ani; Managing Editor, Felix Abugu; Director-General, Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture, Dominic Ajibo and Vice-President (Public Relations), Okechukwu Anene, during a visit by the newspaper’s team to the chamber’s office in Onitsha

Presidency, Anenih, PDP, others hail gov’s sportsmanship CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

derstand the fact that as a leader and governor of a state, when such gestures are made, it behooves on people like me as a leader on the other side to meet with him and acknowledge the fact that he conceded in the overall interest of Ekiti. It is unusual; it is not Nigerian or an African-like for leaders to concede readily,” he added. The governor-elect urged supporters of each political party to shun acts that could jeopardise the peace of the state, saying it was time for reconciliation in order to build upon what Fayemi had done. “I hope this meeting will further strengthen the peace in our state; and I want to add that our supporters must help us to help this state. Some people came to my house yesterday singing all sorts of songs; I had to wake up and stop them. This is not a time to sing such songs. It is a time for reconciliation and love, to learn from the past and ensure that we have a wonderful future ahead of us. This leadership calls for us to live according to the rules of the game and ensure that tomorrow, we will be made accountable. “Dr. Fayemi has demonstrated commitment to peace and I am going to complement his effort. I am going to take it up from wherever he stops and make sure that im-

mediately after office, he still continues to enjoy his rights and benefits of a leader that has served his own people,” he said. Fayemi and Fayose later met behind closed doors with their teams to discuss the setting up of a joint committee to supervise the transfer of power to the incoming administration. Meanwhile, Alkali yesterday said the success of last Saturday’s Ekiti governorship election was a confirmation that the culture of credible elections had been entrenched in the country. In a congratulatory message to Fayose, Alkali said President Goodluck Jonathan had again proved that as a leader he could be trusted in delivering on free and credible polls. He also commended Fayemi for not only conceding victory but also congratulating the winner of the election. Both Fayemi and Fayose also received congratulatory messages from Anenih. Anenih, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, paid glowing tributes to Fayemi’s statesman-like act and urged other people who aspire to elective public offices to emulate him. “I congratulate Mr. Ayodele Fayose on his well-deserved victory, which is a reward of hard work that he invested in the electioneering as well

as his steadfastness in identifying with the grassroots people of Ekiti State. “I commend Dr. Kayode Fayemi of the APC for demonstrating a good game spirit by accepting the result of the election as having flowed from a free and fair electoral process that was witnessed by election observers across the 16 local government areas of the state. “It is remarkable that Dr. Fayemi has offered to work with the governorelect to institute a smooth transition programme. This is a mark of a statesman which I urge other people who aspire to elective offices to emulate,” he said. PDP also lauded Fayemi for his exceptional patriotism and sportsmanship, which it said was difficult to find among Nigerian politicians. “This exceptional show of statesmanship has indeed earned Governor Fayemi the respect and admiration of Nigerians as a man of honour, a true democrat and a patriot,” the party stated in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh. While commending Fayemi for exhibiting “the spirit of sportsmanship propagated and practised by the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan,” the party called on politicians to “imbibe the same spirit and jettison all forms of bad-loser

syndrome, especially ahead of the 2015 general election.” Ndoma-Egba also described Fayemi as “a rare breed politician” just as he congratulated Fayose for his victory. According to him, Fayemi has brought “a new dimension” into Nigerian politics by conceding victory to Fayose when it became clear that the people of Ekiti had spoken through their votes. A former member of the Senate, who represented Anambra North Senatorial District, Emmanuel Anosike, told journalists in Abuja that the action of Fayemi had written his name in gold in the annals of Nigerian politics. He said Fayemi exhibited enough courage to accept the wish of his people in a country where politicians hardly accept defeat, thereby saving the state from avoidable violence and bloodletting. Also reacting to the fallout of the governorship election in Ekiti State, the senator representing Zamfara Central, Kabir Marafa, said Fayemi had demonstrated that he was in politics for service and not for selfish interest as most Nigerian politicians do. Marafa, an APC senator, added that irrespective of what had taken place in Ekiti gubernatorial election, the end of it was good for democracy.

were waiting for their names to be called before detonating the bomb. “There was an explosion in the school this afternoon and it happened right inside the school premises; that is why we had to move in. I want to confirm to you that 20 people were moved to the hospital, but eight were confirmed dead and 12 others injured,” he said. Shinaba added that several cars parked at the lodge were destroyed. A suspect, he added, had been arrested and was helping the police with useful information. The commissioner said the vehicle used by the suspect had also been towed to the police headquarters. Many public buildings were subsequently put under surveillance to forestall further attacks. However, hundreds of onlookers besieged the scene to catch a glimpse of the devastation. Meanwhile, the Boko Haram insurgents have

again kidnapped 60 women in Kummabza village in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno between Thursday last week and Sunday. The terrorists killed 30 men in the process. A source told our correspondent on phone that the gunmen, numbering about 30 stormed the village in three Hilux vehicles and motorcycles. He said the whole village was also set ablaze by the insurgents, who carted away foodstuff , motorcyles and domestic animals. The caretaker chairman of the council, Alhaji Mohammed Gumsuri, could also not be reached on phone, but his secretary, Alhaji Modu Mustapha, said he was not authorised to speak on the matter. Effort to get to the spokesman of the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army, Col. Muhammad Dole, did not yield result, as his phone was switched off.

Assembly probes Shekarau over N7bn contract Muhammad Kabir KANO

he Kano State House of Assembly has commenced the probe of former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau over alleged verbal award of a N7billion road contract without due process. Already, the House had summoned Shekarau, the state Commissioner for Works and Housing, Alhaji Sarki Labaran and his Rural Development counterpart, Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso. The House, which brought before it the two former commissioners as well as their former permanent secretaries, alleged that Shekarau, through the Ministry of Rural Development and Works, awarded the road projects none of them had been executed. Reading the Notice of Motion of the House, the Deputy Majority Leader, Yusuf Babangida, alleged that moneies were paid to the contractor even before he mobilised to site. The roads, according to the House, are TattarawaJalli allegedly awarded at the cost of N1.5 billion and Konar Kira, Ungogo to Fanisau road at the cost of N3.5 billion.

The other road, according to the House, is Takai, Rimi to Magami awarded at the cost of N2.5 billion. The House accused Shekarau of awarding the contract verbally without the consent of the relevant bodies who are staff of the ministries involved, adding that all the jobs which monies were paid have not been completed though the contract sum of over N7 billion had been paid. However, the former commissioner, Kwankawso, told newsmen on leaving the Legislative Chamber that, “What is happening is nothing but politics; they are not happy that Shekarau is getting ministerial post, but they cannot do otherwise.” He added: “All they are asking are nothing but speculative issues and we are fully ready for them. They should come with concrete evidence, then we will know they are serious. All the jobs we did followed due process and we did them with the due sense of humility and law. “You can see they are not even comprehensive in their actions because they are hurriedly asked to tarnish Shekarau’s name, but they have failed and the greatest failure will come in 2015 when we will chase away red caps.”

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Tuesday, June 24, 2014

N47.1bn: Court adjourns Akingbola’s suit to July 11 Appolos Christian former Managing Director of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc., Dr. Erastus Akingbola, yesterday asked an Ikeja High Court to stay further proceedings on an alleged N47.1 billion fraud case initiated against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Akingbola and a former manager, Tropics Securities Ltd., Mr. Bayo Dada, are facing criminal prosecution over the alleged economic crime. Akingbola, who is being represented by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria,

Chief Wole Olanipekun, asked the court to temporarily hands-off the matter pending the outcome of an appeal lodged in the matter. The erstwhile bank chief told the court that since he was challenging its jurisdiction to hear the matter, the need to however stay further proceedings on the matter pending appeal became inevitable. This, Akingbola said, the court had no alternative other than to halt further proceedings as the court’s power to refuse his application would become a nullity should it continue with the matter.

Court refuses ruling on applications by Edo lawmakers Cajetan Mmuta

BENIN

High Court sitting in BeAfailed nin, Edo State yesterday to rule on the three

applications pending before it which were filed by the Deputy Speaker and three PDP lawmakers suspended by the All Progressives Congress in the state. Justice Victoria Eboreime ruled that the court has to wait for the outcome of the appeal filed by the lawmakers at the Court of Appeal in Benin before it could rule on the application. The four lawmakers, Deputy Speaker, Festus Ebea, Patrick Osayimen, Jude Ise-Idehen and Friday Ogieriakhi through their counsel, Chief Ferd Orbih, had applied for an order of the court for continuous proceeding, an order for setting aside the interim injunction and stay of execution. The same court had last week restrained the four lawmakers from plenary. Justice Eboreime said

that hearing of the applications would amount to turning the law on its head and therefore declined jurisdiction and adjourned sine die until the ruling of the Court of Appeal. Counsel to the Assembly, Ken Mozia, had prayed the court to reject the applications since the defendants appealed against the interim injunction. He stated that, "Activities will now shift to the appellate court. What happens depends on the processes filed at the court of appeal." The suspended lawmakers were earlier restrained by the Court from entering the assembly premises and the legislative quarters. They were however at the assembly premises yesterday along with the other 19 colleagues, though proceedings at the house did not hold due to disagreement among them to allow both suspended and non suspended members to participate in the plenary.

Severance package: Amosun lifts predecessor's aides

gun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun will today (Tuesday, June, 24) present cheques for payment of severance package to 103 aides of his predecessor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel. According to a statement endorsed by the commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu, beneficiaries of the severance package, who served the state government between 2007 and 2011, form the first batch as other ex-political office holders have been scheduled

to get their cheques in the coming months. “The event, which holds at the Arcade Ground of the Governor's Office, Oke-Mosan in Abeokuta from 12 noon, will see 60 beneficiaries, who served at the state and Local Government Areas receiving their cheques. “Political office holders, who have served the state for at least three years are entitled to a severance package at the end of their tenure and it is calculated based on the monthly salary of the affected official while in office”, the statement read.

UK announces changes in visa application for Nigeria CHANGE Commercial partner takes over running of visa application centres Lateef Ibrahim

Abuja

he United Kingdom (UK) yesterday announced that its new commercial partner for UK visa services, Teleperformance Ltd, will take over the running of its Visa Application Centres in Lekki, Lagos with effect from next month

(July). The Visa Application Centre, according to Mr. Robert Fitzpatrick, Head of Press and Public Affairs, British High Commission, Abuja, will be moving to different premises. The Visa Application Centres in Abuja and Ikeja (in Lagos), the statement said, will continue to be operated by VFS Global Services. The statement explained that UK visa customers will continue to complete their applications and pay their visa fee online before selecting an appointment at their nearest application

centre. It added that hours of operation at the new centre will be 0800-1600hrs, stressing that UK is not making any changes to its customer service standards as a result of this process. The statement assured that UK will work, closely with the commercial partner to ensure continuity of service during the transition period. All UK visa applications, it pointed out, will continue to be decided by UK Visas & Immigration staff. The statement reads, “In July 2014, our new commercial partner for

UK visa services, Teleperformance Ltd, will take over the running of our Visa Application Centres in Lekki, Lagos. The press statement indicated that the Next Generation Outsourced Visa (NGOV) Project will deliver the next set of outsourcing contracts for the UK visa application process, including biometric enrolment, courier services and interviewing facilitation. These, it pointed out, will replace current contracts that are due to expire in 2014. Why there’re no new projects in aviation-Ortom.

FAAN to terminate airports' concession pact

Wole Shadare he Supervising Aviation Minister, Dr Samuel Ortom, has said that the Federal Government would not embark on new project in the aviation industry until the ongoing ones initiated by former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, are completed. He directed the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN), Saleh Dunoma, to terminate the contract of the contractor handling the cleaning of the terminal, if he fails to improve its work . Ortom said this at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos shortly after a tour/inspection of the ongoing remodelling exercise yesterday. He assured that none of the ongoing projects in the sector would be abandoned, contrary to speculation in some quarters that the AviationMinistrywouldabandon theongoingprojectsscattered acrossairportsinthecountry, especiallywhenoverN174billionhasbeenexpendedonthe projects. He stated that the Ministry would prioritize the projects, adding that already, some of the projects were about 70 to 80 per cent completed. Ortom said that though some projects were recently suspended due to lack of fund, the contractors have, however, resumed work since the Federal Government had signed the 2014 budget into law. “We have to prioritise our work here. We have been operating through Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) and we will continue to operate with it. We have done a lot. During this course of inspection, we have identified some works we have to tidy up. We intend not to

go on any new project until we tidy up these ones,'' he said. On the lack of manpower and human capacity building challenge raised by the Acting General Manager, Fire Service, Rindap Domtur, Ortom, said that the ministry would take steps to

address human capacity and upgrading, adding that FAAN has been directed to employ more of the fire staff that had retired. He noted that the authority had a total of 600 fire staff across airport in the country and that the agency would require

of 1,500 personnel for effective performance. Domtur added that the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA),Lagos, which is in Category 9 has 160 ,which according to him, is far below what the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) approved for such category.

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Provost: Crisis hits College of Agric, Ishiagu

risis is set to return to the Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, Ebonyi State over alleged lack of transparency by the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, ARCN in the processes of the appointment of a new Provost for the institution. A stakeholder, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, alleged that ARCN was working with the Chairman of the Governing Board, National Root Crops Research Institute,

Umudike, Chief Oluwole Aina and highly placed interests” in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to impose the Acting Provost, Dr. Felix Anuebunwa on the College. The source alleged that rather than invite all qualified applicants for the position for free and fair consideration, the ARCN made sure nobody who understands the goings on in the College and its environ was invited to an interview set to hold on Tuesday, June 24 in Abuja.

Taraba opposition charges INEC to remain neutral Sabiu Mustapha JALINGO

he Chairman of Taraba State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Hassan Jika Ardo, has said that the survival of Nigeria depends on the judgement of the Independent National Electoral Commission,

INEC. Ardo, who spoke to reporters in Jalingo, charged the INEC to remain neutral and conduct free and fair elections in 2015 for the benefit of all Nigerians. He said for any credible election to take place, the electoral body must remain neutral in everything it does.

IYC alleges plans to truncate democracy

he Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), an umbrella body of all Ijaw has accused some 'disgruntled and power hungry' Nigerian politicians in collaboration with foreign partners of planning to truncate the democratic process. The body condemned a report in a UK based paper that Senator David Mark would take

over as Acting President should President Jonathan under any circumstance be unable to continue as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It warned that any attempt to truncate the leadership of President Jonathan would spell doom and the end for the entity called Nigeria.

Jang raises the alarm over blindness Abdulwahab Isa

Abuja

lateau State Governor, Jonah Jang has decried the rise in population of blind and visually impaired persons in Nigeria. He said the figure is becoming alarming. Speaking in Abuja as father of the day on the occasion of 15th faculty lecture of the National Post Graduate medi-

cal college, Jang said concerted effort must be made by all to arrest and minimize the trend. He said: “The number of blind people in Nigeria is simply alarming. I understand that the prevalence of blindness is about 0.7% meaning that about one out of every 1,200 of our compatriots is blind and when we include the number of visually impaired, there is indeed cause for alarm.”

Fashola urges grassroots cooperation Muritala Ayinla agos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday swore in Mr. Folorunsho FolarinCoker as his new Special Adviser on the CBD, charging him to operate an administration that

would include all the critical stakeholders at the grassroots. Folarin-Coker's appointment followed Mrs Aderinola Disu's resignation. She is rumoured to have resigned to become the next Deputy Governor in the state.

L-R: Registrar/Chief Executive, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (Jamb), Prof. ‘Dibu Ojerinde; Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr. Emeka Wogu; Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji; Minister of Education, Mr. Ezenwo Wike and Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Ude Okochukwu, at the commissioning of the new Jamb office building in Umuahia…at the weekend

879,330

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Bolivia in 2012. Source: Itu.int

4.1m

The population of Ankara, Turkey in 2010. Source: Blatantworld.com

59%

The percentage of children with suspected pneumonia taken to an appropriate care provider. Source: Who.int

Osun APC sets up committee to Confab rejects self determination woo Oyinlola Sources told New Tele- clause in constitution

Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

wo days after the National Leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by the newly elected National Chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun visited the former Governor of Osun state Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola in his country home, Okuku, Osun state to woo him into the party, the state Chapter of the party said it has concluded plans to set up a Committee for that assignment.

graph yesterday in Osogbo that the leadership of the party held meetings that lasted hours after leaving Oyinlola's abode on Sunday and concluded that if the committee could visit the former governor repeatedly before the commencement of election in the state, he could have a change of mind. It was gathered that if he finally agrees to quit PDP for APC, he would be given a leadership position in the party and that this would help the chances of the party in the August 9th election in the state.

Convention: Amaechi receives knocks from Rivers legislator Joe Ezuma

Port Harcourt

on. Evans B. Bipi, one of the Six anti- Amaechi Legislators in the Rivers state House of Assembly, yesterday, called on the embattled Governor to tender apologies to the Rivers people and entire South South zone for misleading them and for the disgrace he has brought them at the just concluded All Progressives’ Congress(APC) na-

tional convention. Reacting to the result of the Congress during a chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt, Hon. Bipi said: “The South South zone commands much respect and prestige in the country, being that the nation’s president comes from there. For governor Amaechi to have reduced us so low at his dismal outing at the APC national convention is regrettable''

Taraba APC charges INEC to remain neutral Sabiu Mustapha JALINGO

he Chairman of Taraba State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Hassan Jika Ardo, has said that the survival of Nigeria depends on the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Mr. Ardo who spoke to reporters in Jalingo, charged INEC to remain

neutral and conduct free and fair elections in 2015 for the benefit of all Nigerians. He said for any credible election to take place, the electoral body must remained neutral in everything it is doing. " We are hoping that INEC will do the best to remain independent and work as an independent body and do the right things,'' Ardo said.

Louis Achi and Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

he National Conference yesterday voted against a proposal seeking to inject a clause granting ethnic groups, states and regional blocks the right to self determination in the Nigerian Constitution. The adoption put paid to the fears that some groups at the conference were out to insert the self determination clause in the constitution in order to pave way

for the disintegration of Nigeria. There had been palpable fears that the South South region was repairing grounds for a possible secession from Nigeria, if its demand for total resource control failed to fly at the conference. The rejection came same day the delegates deferred taking a decision on whether the report of the conference should be subjected to a referendum and a new constitution produced from the outcomes of the conference.

Insurgents: 300,000 Nigerians currently displaced – Commissioner Ladi Gbegi Abuja

he Federal Commissioner for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced persons, Hajia Hadiza S Kangiwa has said that over 300,000 Nigerians are currently displaced as a result of the insurgents in the North-Easthen part of the country. Speaking yesterday at the 2014 World Refugee day in Abuja with

the theme: “A minute Thought for the Displaced and the Oppressed”. Kangiwa said: “a number of people affected have also being displaced across borders and are refugees in neighboring countries in Niger and Cameroun. We shall not relent but continue to give effect to the humanitarian disposition of Nigerians by intensifying our assistance and protection to refugees".

Ebonyi pledges to eliminate maternal mortality Charles Onyekwere Abakaliki

bonyi state government Ereadiness yesterday reiterated its to end in totality the scourge of maternal mortality and morbidity such as obstetric fistula and pelvic organ pro lapse that have ravage the state. It said it would be in collaboration with the United Nations population fund

Agency, UNFPA. The wife of the governor, Chief Mrs. Josephine Elechi made this known in Abakaliki during the sensitization and advocacy workshop on maternal health organized for the stakeholders in the state held at the women development centre, (WDC) said enough is enough for women to die in labour.

news

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Insecurity: Enugu group warns northern politicians Onyekachi Eze

ABUJA

pressure group, Ativepolitical Enugu Roots Initia(ERI), yesterday said

that the position taken by northern elders and politicians on the arrest of about 400 suspected Boko Haram insurgents in Abia State is not healthy for the nation’s fight against insurgency in the country. Security personnel, two weeks ago, arrested 35 buses carrying people suspected to be members of the Boko Haram in Asa, Ukwa West Local Government area of Abia State. But northern elders claimed that those arrested were traders on a business trip, demanding for their immediate release. ERI in a statement by its Secretary-General, Mr. Uche Nwegbo, said security personnel should be allowed to do their job without interference.

The group said it aligned itself with the position of South-East governors who, at their meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, vowed not to allow members of the outlawed sect to gain a foothold in any part of the region. ERI particularly commended Enugu State governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime, for ensuring that members of the Biafran Zionist Movement (BZM), who attempted to take over Enugu State Broadcast Service (ESBS) were arrested. Expressing confidence in the ability of the governors to contain any attempt by the Boko Haram group to enter the SouthEast, ERI noted that the South-East geo-ploitical zone is the most peaceful in the country, commending the measures taken by the governors in maintaining peace and order in their respective states.

PDP youth vanguard disowns Taraba operator Sabiu Mustapha JALINGO

araba State branch of TParty’s the Peoples Democratic National Youth

Vanguard has disowned one Mr. Ibrahim Agya, who was been parading himself as the Coordinator of the organization in the state. At a press briefing in Jalingo, yesterday, the organization said the activities of Mr. Agya as the state coordinator of the PDP National Youth Vanguard were false and

misleading. "We have drawn the attention of Mr. Agya to the existence of the state branch of the PDP National Youth Vanguard and invited him to join, but so far, he has remained defiant on operating an illegal and parallel office,'' said the secretary of the organization, Uba Jibrin. It also condemned the recent burglary attack launched at his office by unknown hoodlums, describing it as unacceptable.

Edo APC/PDP crisis: Lawmakers play cat and mouse Cajetan Mmuta

BENIN

iot policemen and officials of the Directorate of Security Service (DSS) appeared helpless yesterday as lawmakers from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Edo State House of Assembly denied each other access to the Assembly complex. The development has further deepened the crisis bedeviling the House despite efforts made at resolving the disagreements between members. As at the time of filing this report, all the 24 APC and PDP legislators, including the four suspended lawmakers, had besieged the gate of the complex. It was learnt that the

four suspended PDP lawmakers had stormed the gate at about 4.30am with the hope of gaining access first, only to be shocked by the presence of all the APC members. Both sides were later locked in a supremacy battle of who gains access into the chambers first. Members of the ruling APC attempted to lock out the four PDP suspended legislators. But not ready to contain the perceived intimidation, the four suspended lawmakers, Jude Ise-Idehen (Ikpoba Okha), Friday Ogierakhi (Orhionmwon South 11), Patrick Osayimen (Oredo East) and the Deputy Speaker, Festus Ebea, as well as other PDP members also tried to stop the APC lawmakers from entering the chamber.

L-R: Chairman, Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Bayelsa State, Col. Sam Inokoba, (rtd.); Governor Seriake Dickson and Speaker, Bayelsa state House Assembly, Konbowei Benson, during the Party’s Executive committee meeting in Yenagoa

2015: Join APGA or lose your seats, Umeh tells legislators • As Obiano flags off construction 3 flyover Bridges In Awka to mark 100 days CONFIDENCE Smarting from his recent court victory, APGA chairman makes bold statement Uwakwe Abugu and Tony Okafor Awka

ational Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh yesterday gave the 2015 campaign of his party to take over Anambra State a tacit kick-off. He warned Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) legislators in the Anambra State House of Assembly to join APGA or

face humiliating defeats during next year's general elections Also in Awka yesterday, Governor Willie Obiano , who was present when Umeh was face -to-face with the opposition lawmakers, flagged off the construction of three fly over bridges in Awka, the state capital to mark his 100 days in office. Obiano described the flag-off as a fulfilment of his promise to transform Awka into a modern state capital, adding that while they were flagging-off the three flyovers, Awka Capital Territory Development Authority would come up with a master-plan that if followed, no city in Africa would be like Awka. “In nine months, a shopping mall covering nine football pitches will be ready. In Awka, we are

building a conference centre that will contain 5000 people. The place we removed a 5-star hotel on the way to Agulu, we will replace it with another hotel. We want to make Awka a befitting capital that everybody will be proud of” Obiano said On his part, Umeh gave the warning at Aroma Junction, Awka, during the formal flag-off of the construction of the flyovers. The APGA boss, whose leadership was reaffirmed by the Court of Appeal last Wednesday, noted that he does not bear malice to anybody as ‘God upholds the righteous’, even as he urged Obiano to throw the doors of the party open to everybody so that they could join hands and build it to enable them win future elections.

Facing the PDP and APC lawmakers, who were at the flag-off ceremony, Umeh said he was looking forward to them coming to join APGA, warning that if they did not come, he would lead the campaign to come and take their seats. “If you come, you will go back. Since the Court of Appeal re-affirmed our leadership of APGA last Wednesday, I have been receiving calls from our people in Abuja indicating interest to join APGA. We will continue to work for our state” he said. Obiano disclosed that every road in the capital city, both Federal and state, would have street light, assuring that when three of the roads were completed, Awka would look like Amsterdam.

Imo 2015: Iwuanyanwu wants governorship position ceded to Owerri zone Steve Uzoechi

OWERRI

he vexed issue of Imo Charter of Equity was at the weekend revisited as leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Owerri zone visited their counterparts in Orlu zone, for a consultative parley over the zoning of the 2015 Imo governorship seat to Owerri. The delegation from Owerri zone, led by Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who is the President-General of Owerri Peoples Assembly and a member of the national caucus and the Board of Trustees of the PDP was received at

the country home of former governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa, at Amaifeke in Orlu council area, where the parley also held. Iwuanyanwu recounted the history of zoning in Imo State saying; “In 1991, I was among the leaders that decided that for fairness, Owerri zone should be allowed to produce the governor and the late Chief Evan Enwerem, emerged as governor with Dr. Douglas Acholonu as the deputy governor. “In 1998, though I was in the All Peoples Party (APP) then, both the PDP and APP zoned the governorship position to Orlu,

which produced Chief Achike Udenwa as governor, who served two terms of eight years. In 2007, it was unanimously decided, in line with the Imo Charter of Equity, that Okigwe zone should have a shot and Chief Ikedi Ohakim emerged.” According to the Owerri delegation, the emergence of Governor Rochas Okorocha in 2011 was an undue distortion of the existing zoning arrangement. Continuing Iwuanyanwu said: “We must get back on track as it is the turn of Owerri zone to produce the governor by 2015. We are here to solicit your support based on eq-

uity, justice and fairness to reciprocate, for posterity sake, what others have done for you as a people, to ensure peace and political balance.” In his response, the leader of Orlu zone, Chief Achike Udenwa, described the visit as brotherly saying; “I am happy with the delegation and indeed history is being made here today. Your aspiration is legitimate, your request is in order and I am delighted to see all the known leaders of Owerri zone present with almost all the governorship aspirants from your zone which means, there is unity of purpose among the aspirants."

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TUESday, JUNE 24, 2014

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I killed ex-Customs officer because of her money, says herbalist BEAST A herbalist buries former Customs officer and 10-year-old daughter alive because of N10 million. Sells her N200 million property and attempts to bribe police with N5 million, hectare of land Juliana Francis, Taiwo Jimoh and John Edu

64-year-old herbalist, Alhaji Azeez Olatunji, has explained why he killed the retired female Customs officer, Mrs Angela Kerry, and her 10-year-old adopted daughter, Obralulum Kerry. Olatunji, who buried the 68-year-old Kerry and Obralulum alive at the Ajuwon area of Ogun State and cemented the pit because he could not pay the N10 million he owed her, was paraded at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja, yesterday. The suspect said he had to kill the woman because she had earlier threatened to kill him. He said: “I knew that if I didn’t kill her, she would kill me. I didn’t want to kill her daughter, but she caused the death of her daughter. When I planned to kill her, I told her not to bring her daughter along, but she refused. She said she went everywhere with her daughter. If I didn’t kill her daughter, what would I do with the girl?” Olatunji added that the woman was becoming hostile because of the money he owed her. The suspect built a new house and in the middle of the house, he dug a pit and covered it with a praying mat. He allegedly lured the woman and

The late Obralulum

Olatunji

her daughter into the house, saying that he needed to carry out further work and prayers for her to conceive and bear a child of her own, even when he knew it was impossible. When Kerry and her daughter walked into the house, which Olatunji told them was his new shrine, he urged to kneel on the mat. Immediately they knelt down, the mat carved in. The daughter attempted to climb out, but he stoned and pushed her inside. The herbalist poured sand over them, unmindful of their wailings and pleas for clemency. He said: “But the truth of the matter is I didn’t build that house or dug that pit with the plan to kill her there. I built a soak away

for flood which was always disturbing me. When I came back after I covered them with sand, I noticed it had rained and water was on top of the sand. I later called some Hausa men to come and cement it.” Investigators disclosed that Olatunji and Kerry were lovers and that she even gave him N200 million to buy a building for her, but urged him to buy the building in his name. She said she didn’t want family members to be disturbing her about her property,” Olatunji added. The herbalist said that he met Kerry five years ago through her friend called Lizzy. He said: “Lizzy is my patient. She brought Kerry. Kerry was had a spiritual attack. I charged her N5 million and she paid. Later she came back and said that she would like to have a baby. I told her that since she had passed menopause that it would be impossible, but she wouldn’t listen. She kept troubling me. “To dissuade her, I told that if I must prepare a charm for her to get pregnant, she

Vigilantes arrest three for vandalism Clement James Calabar

igilantes in Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State yesterday arrested three persons for allegedly vandalising electricity installations in the area. The state Commander of Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), Cross River State Command, Dr Mercy Felix Effiom, who disclosed this while briefing journalists in her office in Calabar, said the suspects had been handed over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution. Efiom gave the names of the suspects as Udo Otu Ukpong, Akwa Uti Moses

and Akunjo Neji Akpaju. She explained that the group also picked up one Essien Okokon, a few weeks ago, suspected to have been involved in the murder of one Saviour Effiom, recently in Owom village. According to her, the organisation also alerted the security agents on the invasion of Ntan Obu village by Fulani herdsmen on January 24 which claimed two lives in the village with 10 natives wounded. The VGN commandant, who argued that the activities of her organisation did not conflict with the work of the police, the State Security Service (SSS) and other security operatives in the state, said the operations of the organisation were

strictly to arrest suspects and hand them over to the police for prosecution. She said: “We are a voluntary security organisation that assists in the maintenance of law and order thereby reducing to the barest minimum criminal acts as well as protection of lives and property, assisting in accident or natural disasters, monitoring schools during school hours as well as providing intelligence information to the police.” Commending Governor Liyel Imoke for his pragmatic and visionary leadership, the commandant called on the government to give formal recognition to the group or absorb it into government’s security network in the state.

The late Kerry

must pay N10 million so that she could go away but she accepted to pay the money. She immediately brought N2 million and started paying the rest on instalments. I prepared a concoction for her, but I knew she would never be able to get pregnant. “She called one day and said that the medicine was not working. I told her that I had earlier warned that someone who had passed menopause would never get pregnant. She was angry. She invited me to her house and said that I should first give her N6 million out of the N10 million, so that she could use it to facilitate her travel plans and that of her daughter. “It was in her house she told me that I was not showing any sign that I wanted to pay the money. She said that she could kill me right there in her house and nobody would know. I knew that if I didn’t kill her, she would kill me. It was a matter of who kills first. I killed her first.” After the herbalist buried the victims, worried family members besieged OkoOba Police Station to report that their Kerry was missing. A detective attached to the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, said: “After killing the victims, he didn’t know what to do with Kerry’s car and travelling bag. He took the bag and buried it with her. He took Kerry’s car to a dealer to sell for him. A relative of Kerry saw the car where it was placed for sale and recognised it. He went back to Oko-Oba Police Station. The car dealer was arrested and he took policemen to Olatunji. From there, Olatunji was transferred to SARS. But right from OkoOba Police Station, Olatunji repeatedly denied knowing anything about the woman’s disappearance.” It was gathered that Olatunji had attempted to bribe policemen from Oko-Oba Police Station with N5 million and offer a hectare of land with Certificates of Occupancy, for them to stop investigating the case. It was at SARS that he finally owned up to the crime.

METRO

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Two held for robbery Three killed at a birthday party

IG, Abubakar

Babatope Okeowo

Akure

olice in Ondo State have arrested two robbery suspects at ObaAkoko in Akoko SouthWest Local Government Area. They also recovered arms and ammunition at the robbery scene. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Wole Ogodo, said the robbery suspects, who were Fulani, were arrested at the scene of the crime. Ogodo said in a statement that upon a distress call to the police station

at Oba-Akoko that some armed robbers were operating within the area, the Divisional Police Officer, Mr Ojo Ogunmoyole, led a team of policemen to the scene and engaged an eight-man gang of Fulani armed robbers in a gun duel. He said two of them, Aminu Abubakar ‘m’ 26 years old and Abubakar Umar ‘m’ aged 33 years, were arrested thereafter. The PPRO said that while some suspects managed to escape with bullet wounds and abandoned their five locally-made barrelled guns, others were arrested and brought to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further interrogation. He also said that one Dane gun and three cutlasses were recovered. Ogodo added that one of the police corporals sustained bullet wound and was rushed to the hospital for medical attention. The police image-maker said those arrested were assisting police in their investigation in apprehending the fleeing robbers.

Musa Pam Jos

hree youths were killed while several others were injured when gunmen opened fire on them while celebrating a birthday party at Joenice Bar at Nyango Gel, Bukuru Low-cost Housing area of Jos South Local Government Area in Plateau State. The incident occurred late Sunday night. It was gathered that an argument had erupted during the party, prompting the owner of the joint to alert members of the Special Task Force (STF), saddled with the responsibility of restoring peace in Jos. A witness told our correspondent that immediately the STF men got to the scene, they started shooting at the youth, killing three persons while others were rushed to different hospitals for treatment. Nantel Miri, the father of one of the victims, told New Telegraph at his residence at Zawan that he could not believe that STF men saddled with the responsibility of protecting citizens would open fire on innocent teenagers. Miri called for justice and appealed to the commander of the STF to ensure that those who carried out the dastardly act

Mimiko launches Ore regional market lTraders get N20m loan

overnor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has disclosed that the 30 megawatts Independent Power Plant (IPP) under construction at Ore in Odigbo Local Government Area would soon be ready for inauguration. Mimiko, who disclosed this yesterday during the inauguration of the first phase of the Ore regional market amid jubilation by the residents, noted that the power project would help to transform the economy of the state from largely agrarian economy to an industrial state. The governor said that 1,500 local artisans and traders were

empowered during the construction of the market through the supply of goods and services while youths in the area were also meaningful engaged. The ceremony witnessed the disbursement of N20 million to the market women by the wife of the governor, Mrs Olukemi Mimiko, under the state micro credit agency’s loan scheme. According to the governor, the market, which comprises 480 open stalls, 364 lock-up shops, three cold rooms, police post and public toilet, among others, was constructed through direct labour to improve the fortunes of the immediate local artisans.

Mimiko explained that the market was not constructed by government to enable it make money. According to him, the rents are meagre and incomparable to what shop owners collect. He thus directed the Direct Labour Agency to put in place sustainable maintenance mechanism of the facilities to prevent degeneration. The governor noted that the market was central to the socio-economic development of Nigeria because of its peculiar location, stressing that his administration would continue to provide conducive environment for trading in all parts of the state.

Kidnappers free Bayelsa speaker’s mother-in-law Chris Ejim Yenagoa

he 86-year-old mother-inlaw of the Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mrs Ogboro Orumo, has been released by her abductors. Orumo was left at Abua wa-

terside in Rivers State by her captors. She was subsequently identified by security operatives who have been on the trail of the kidnappers since the incident took place. Orumo has since been reunited with her family in Yenagoa. Security sources said the

woman was brought to Yenagoa about 9am on the fateful day and handed over to the speaker. Meanwhile, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Friday Benson, announced the release of his mother-in-law on the floor of the House. He expressed gratitude to God for the safe and unconditional release of his mother-in-law.

were brought to book. A resident of the area described the incident as pathetic. He called the commander of the STF to investigate the matter and ensure that the culprits were brought to book. The STF spokesman, Captain Ikedichi Iweha, who confirmed the incident on phone, said no one was killed. He said: “I can authoritatively confirm to you that there was threat sent to the owner of the hotel around that area by some youths who wanted to burn the place and he quickly alerted members of the STF who immediately went there to maintain law and order and nobody was killed. It was only part of

the hotel that was burnt by the youth. “Nobody has reported any death to the command. But anybody who says his relative was killed there should go and show you the body.” However, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abuh Emmanuel, said the police had not received an official report from the divisional police officer in Bukuru. Emmanuel, however, said the police would investigate and get to the roots of the matter. He called on the parents of the victims to remain calm as perpetrators would be brought to book.

Taraba crisis: Nasarawa donates items, cash to IDPs

The donated items

Cheke Emmanuel Lafia

asarawa State Government yesterday donated relief materials to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), who fled from Wukari in Taraba State to Lafia, in the wake of conflict in the neighbouring state, which left scores killed and many houses burnt. The items included 22 bags of millet, 19 bags of sugar, 22 bags of rice and beans as well as N2 million cash. About 2,324 displaced persons were conveyed in buses and lorries from Wukari to Lafia, the Taraba State capital amid tears. They were received at the place of the Emir of Lafia, Dr Mustahpa Agwi I. The displaced persons, mostly elderly people, men, women and children, would still be taken to Almahiri School in Shabu where they would stay temporarily, before being taken to the permanent IDP camp at Shinge in Lafia. Presenting the items at a brief ceremony at the emir’s palace,

Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Hajiya Zainab Abdullmumin, who stood in for governor Tanko Almakura, said that the items were donated to provide relief to the displaced persons. She said that government would do everything possible to reduce the hardship being experienced by the displaced persons by taking care of their welfare and a temporary camp for them at Shabu. While urging the displaced persons to be peaceful and be law-abiding, the SSG said the government would put in place facilities at the permanent IDP camp at Shinge to accommodate them. In a remark, the representative of the emir of Lafia, Ishaq Ahmed, urged the displaced persons to consider what happened to them as an act of God and urged them to be peaceful while in the state. Receiving the items on behalf of the displaced persons, Mohammed Madaki, the Waziri Wukari, thanked the Nasarawa State Government for coming to their aid.

12 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Govt. to immortalize Ibru asks court to compel fg to Oyo Arisekola-Alao implement plea bargain terms G Tunde Oyesina Abuja

ormer Managing Director of the defunct Oceanic Bank International Plc., Mrs. Cecilia Ibru, yesterday urged the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, to compel the Federal Government to implement the terms of her plea bargain as specified in the agreement she signed with the government. She had instituted the suit through her counsel, Dr. Ted Iseghohi - Edwards, on behalf of herself and the Ibru group against the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and

10m

the Asset Management Corporation(AMCON), over an alleged breach by the Federal Government in the implementation of the terms of agreement she entered as part of her plea bargain in 2010. Ibru is asking the court to make a declaration that the plea bargain and settlement agreement that she entered into in 2010 is a valid and enforceable agreement between the parties and more particularly should be observed by the Federal Government or any of its agencies, including AMCON. She also sought a declaration that the striping of the assets and the subsequent sale of Oceanic

The estimated number of people affected by statelessness worldwide by the end of 2012. Source: Unhcr.org.uk

Bank to Ecobank Plc was not part of the plea bargain and settlement agreement which she signed with the Federal Government. She asked the court to declare the sale of the defunct bank a sham, misconceived, mischievous and of no legal consequences. Furthermore, Ibru prayed the court to also declare that Aero Contractors Nigeria Limited was also not on the list of assets she forfeited to the Federal Government as part of her plea bargain and asked the court to declare as ultra vires and of no legal consequences, any attempt by AMCON to take over the airline or attach its assets.

60%

The projected percentage rise of energy demand from hydropower and other renewable energy resources by 2030. Source: Unesco.org

Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed has adjourned until July 10 for hearing in the suit. Ibru's suit was a reaction to a recent ex parte order obtained last November by AMCON from a Federal High Court, in Lagos against a private company, Sidochem Industries Limited, and the company's Managing Director, Mr. Edgar Sido and two others over a loan of N433.5 million owed the defunct bank, which AMCON had acquired. However, Sidochem Industries Limited and its owners argued that the debts they owed the defunct bank was part the matters resolved in the plea bargain judgment in Ibru's case.

16.6m

The total population of Netherlands (representing 0.24% of world’s population) in 2010. Source: Blatantworld.com

overnor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State yesterday disclosed that the late Aare Musilumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola Alao, would be immortalized through the naming of an important institution in the state after him. He made the disclosure in Ibadan while receiving the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who was in

his office to condole with him over the death of the late philanthropist. Governor Ajimobi said that the late Aare Musulumi epitomized service to humanity, as he lived his life for both the rich and the poor, adding that the people of Oyo State in particular and Nigerians as a whole would continue to remember him for his philanthropic gesture.

Relief for Calabar motorists as govt, tanker drivers meet Clement James Calabar

here are indications that the lingering fuel scarcity in Calabar, the Cross River State capital will soon be over as the state government and striking tanker drivers are already meeting to resolve their differences. Petrol tanker drivers under the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) have since Thursday refused to lift the product at the depot in protest against gover nment directive to relocate to Odukpani, about 14 kilometres from, Calabar. According to a tanker driver who gave his name as Musa Isa truckers have resolved not to lift petroleum products because the distance from the tank farm (where they currently operate) to Odukpani was too far for them and

unless the government backed down, no products would be lifted. “They (government) said we should go to Odukpani, but the place is too far. How can we have a depot in Calabar and park our tankers in Odukpani?” Musa asked. However, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Mr. Fabian Okpa, when contacted on phone, said government’s directive was meant to decongest the city of Calabar. “You know Calabar is a clean city and government only wants to keep the city clean. NUPENG asked to be given a particular land and government decided to allocate another land to them. That is why they are on strike. When the Calabar-Itu road was bad, they went on strike. How reasonable is that?” Okpa asked.

Fashola to workers: Don't allow my exit to affect public service Muritala Ayinla

L-R: Minister for Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki; Federal Commissioner for Refugees, Hajia Adiza Kangiwa and Chairman , Senate Committee on Special Duties, Clever Ikisikpo, during the World Refugee Day 2014, organised by National commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMI) in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Amaechi, NUJ condole with family over Akwu’s death Joe Ezuma

Port Harcourt

ivers State Governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, has described as sad, the sudden passing of former National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ), Ndagene Akwu. Akwu, who was President of NUJ from 2004 to 2008, died last Friday morning, after slumping the previous day on arrival from Abuja, at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, near Port Harcourt. In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. David Iyofor, Amaechi sympathized with the family of

late Akwu and the NUJ, calling his death a huge loss to the nation’s media industry. “Ndagene Akwu was a notable journalist whose contributions to building a strong, vital union of journalists in the country while he served as President of the NUJ cannot be forgotten. “His dispensation as Chairman of the Rivers State Council of the NUJ was also stellar and would be remembered by Rivers people as a Rivers man who impacted journalism in Nigeria through his service,” the statement read. Akwu worked with the Rivers State Television

(RSTV) and was a past Chairman of the NUJ Chapel there. The statement urged members of Akwu’s family to find strength in God and prayed for the repose of the soul of the departed. Meanwhile, the SouthSouth Zone of the Nigeria NUJ has described Akwu’s death as a rude shock to journalists in the zone. The Secretary of the Union in the SouthSouth Zone, Mr. Edward Ogwude, spoke at the weekend when he led the executives of the NUJ in Rivers State, to pay a condolence visit to the Akwu family in Port Harcourt. Ogwude, said the

death was a big loss not only to his family, and Rivers State, but to the entire union. He said; “The news of the death of the former NUJ President came to us as a rude shock. We are so pained. On behalf of the NUJ National, Zone F, and the entire Union, I express our condolences. We will stand by you even after his burial and we pray God to give you the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.” Also speaking, the Chairman of NUJ in Rivers State, Mr. Opaka Dokubo, said the union would not to abandon the family of the deceased during its period of trial.

overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State yesterday appealed to public servants in the state to sustain the bar of excellence they have recorded under his administration, saying the record must be sustained and improved upon even after he leaves office in 2015. This was even as a Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communication and Technology, Mr Tunji Olaopa canvassed for enhanced pay for exceptional civil servants, saying promotion of public servants should not be based on age but on innovation. They spoke at a lecture and award ceremony to commemorate the grand finale of the 2014 Public Service Week, held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja. Addressing thousands of workers in the employ of the state government,

Governor Fashola, in an emotion ladden speech, urged the workers to continue to raise the bar of the state public service and do all they can to sustain the strides. Reminding the workers that it was the last time he would address them as Governor of the State, Fashola charged them not to allow his exit by May 2015, affect the standard of service that has earned the Lagos Public Service accolades across the country. The Governor who said he was proud to be the head of the 'performing' team, commended the public servants for their cooperation since the inception of his administration, saying his achievements recorded couldn't have been possible without their input. His words: “It has been a pleasant journey which is on its final curve into its eighth year. I've enjoyed working with you and we have become the team to beat”.

EKITI: SOME HARD LESSONS FOR APC / PAGE 15 | IMPERATIVE OF TINUBU’S PRESIDENCY / PAGE 18

POLITICS

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/politics

AYODELE OJO

INEC READY FOR 2015 ELECTIONS –ADA

DEPUTY EDITOR, POLITICS

ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

ayodeleojo@yahoo.com

p-17

TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2014

The victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in last Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State has set the stage for a fierce political battle in the South-West, as the centre’s ruling party sees it as a bold step in its bid to reclaim the zone in the 2015 general election from the All Progressives Congress (APC), FELIX NWANERI reports

Fayose’s victory as game changer in S’West

granted. We campaigned, we canvassed and we traversed the nooks and crannies of this state. Our performance and achievements in office will remain the backdrop against which the next government and indeed future governments will be assessed. “We are proud that with the support of Ekiti people, we have raised the bar of excellence in governance. In all, we gave our best, for conscience and for posterity. Indeed a new sociology of the Ekiti people may have evolved. However, the task of understanding how the outcome of this election has defined us as a people will be that of scholars. For us as an administration and a cadre of political leaders in Ekiti State, we have fought a good fight, we have kept faith.” While thanking members of his party for their support, Fayemi, however decried what he described as “brazen harassment, intimidation and allied infractions on fundamental human rights,” which they suffered in the hands of agents of the state, saying it would be documented and communicated to the appropriate authorities, for the records.

n what could be described as a battle like no other, the struggle for who leads Ekiti State for the next four years was resolved on Sunday morning, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ayo Fayose, Ekiti State governor-elect from the results of the June 21 governorship election. Fayose, a former governor of the state (2003-2006), polled 203,090 votes to defeat 18 other candidates including the incumbent, Dr. Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who scored 120,433 votes. A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, of the Labour Party (LP) came a distant third by polling 18,135 votes. Remarkably, Fayose won in all the 16 local government areas of the state in a contest, which many had earlier thought would be a close one between him and Fayemi. Pundits had on the eve of the poll predicted that it would be one to be closely watched, given the personality of the leading contenders – Fayemi, Fayose and Bamidele. But surprisingly, the highly anticipated three-horse race turned out one sided, with the PDP candidate polling close to 60 per cent of total votes cast. The turnout of events had prompted many to wonder where Fayemi got it wrong that he could not even win in his local government area – Oye. The outgoing governor, many had believed before the election would win a large chunk of votes in Oye (45, 918) and Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, which has the highest number of voters (134, 141). This belief was premised on the fact that if performance was to be a deciding factor, Fayemi did enough in the transformation of the agrarian state to have a smooth sail, as it was indisputable that he did better than his predecessors, including Fayose. But in politics, a lot of factors come into play. Performance is not the only yardstick, as the game (politics) remains full of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. Fayemi concedes defeat Unlike in 2007 when Fayemi contested the result of the governorship poll in which INEC declared Engr. Segun Oni, then of the PDP winner, he has accepted defeat, and has gone ahead to congratulate Fayose. In a broadcast to the people of Ekiti

Fayose

shortly after the announcement of the governorship election result, the outgoing governor said: “Yesterday (Saturday), Ekiti State decided. Following the gubernatorial election held in the Land of Honour, Ekiti State, Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially returned the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the election. “If indeed this is the will of the Ekiti people, I stand in deference to your will. If the result of the elections is an expression of the voice of our people, we must all heed your voice. I have just spoken with my brother, Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose, congratulating him on his victory. In a few hours from now, I would be meeting the governor-elect to discuss the future of our dear state and how we would work together to institute a smooth transition

programme. “It has been a hard fought election. As expected, in the course of the campaigns, there were unsavoury episodes as the candidates toured the nooks and crannies of the state to sell ourselves to the people. Elections tend to be highly divisive affairs that often see brother rising against brother. Despite our diverse party affiliations, and regardless of which way we voted on Saturday, we must remember that we are all sons and daughters of Ekiti State. Ekiti is ours to build together.” Apparently disappointed that the people overlooked his achievements in the last three and a half years, Fayemi added: “On our part, over the course of the campaigns, we presented our scorecards before the people of Ekiti State. We never at any point took your support for

Fayose drums support The governor-elect on his part extended the olive branch to the defeated candidates, calling for support to his administration. Admonishing his supporters against making disparaging remarks that may promote violence, Fayose, particularly warned against attacks on the personality of Fayemi, saying: “We must respect each other so as to allow peace to reign in our dear state. Governor Fayemi has called to congratulate me and I am determined to reciprocate this humble and kind gesture.” Fayose pledged to work with Fayemi and Bamidele in order to draw from their wealth of experience, while assuring indigenes of the state that they will benefit from award of contracts. This, he said, will boost the local economy of the state and create employment. Poll as game changer While the contenders in the election seem to have accepted their fate, its outcome will, however, continue to reverberate in the days ahead. Analysts say it will reshape the politics of the South-West ahead of the 2015 general election. The PDP has never pretended that it wants to regain the six states of the South-West which it lost to the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) now APC in the 2011 elections. The reclamation agenda, according to the PDP, will begin from the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun (August 9) and culminate in the 2015 general election. The APC controls Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun and Ekiti (before the loss), while CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

14 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Fayose alters politics in South-West CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

LP holds forth in Ondo State. The PDP, which controlled five states except Lagos between 2003 and 2010, has been relegated to the background controlling nothing except pockets of legislative seats. Governorship elections would hold in Lagos, Oyo and Ogun on February 28, 2015, while that of Ondo will take place in 2016. Now that Ekiti has fallen, the big question is: Will the PDP make good its boast to run APC out of Yorubaland in 2015? The scramble for the South-West between PDP and APC goes beyond the control of the states that make up the zone. The zone holds the ace to who emerges president in 2015, as it has about 10 million registered voters and the PDP cannot afford to toy with such large number of voters. The zone, it would be recalled, played a great role in the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP in the 2011 elections despite ACN’s dominance. Following a last minute “trading” that saw leaders of the then ACN abandoning their presidential candidate, Nuhu Ribadu, as well as pulling out of an alliance with Major General Muhammadu Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), now defunct, Jonathan was able to win the South-West except Osun State, which voted for Ribadu. With the events of 2011 now history, it was clear to the PDP and President Jonathan that another “alliance” with the opposition in the South-West is unlikely to work in 2015 with the emergence of APC following a merger of the ACN, CPC and All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP). The merger and defection of five PDP governors saw the APC controlling 16 states against PDP’s 18, while the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and LP have one apiece. And ahead of 2015, the APC is set to give the ruling party a run for its money in the presidential election with the South-West as its stronghold. This may have informed the declaration of the reclamation agenda by the ruling party, which seems to be paying off. As it stands, the PDP is now sure of two states in the South-West in the presidential poll – Ekiti and Ondo. While the former has 732,166 registered voters, the latter has 1.6 million, and is controlled by LP that has never hidden its support for the PDP-led Federal Government. The state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko is a known supporter of President Jonathan. This means that the PDP is sure of winning the two states in the forthcoming presidential election. But it is still a long walk for the PDP in its South-West reclamation bid. The Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, whose job is next on the line, believes that the APC will match the PDP strength for strength. “I tell people that the only way the PDP can win is to kill a lot of people. They have to march on the blood of the people to displace us. Again, God is a God of justice not injustice. You cannot reward good with bad and vice versa,” he said in a recent interview with New Telegraph. Anxiety in the air Despite Aregbesola’s confidence, some analysts believe that APC in the South-West should watch it given the Ekiti State experience. The outgoing Ekiti governor, the pundits recall, equally made a similar boast when he said: “They (PDP) have the people to confront. And the people will never subject themselves to slavery. I’m not given to boastful and empty rhetoric, but anyone who loves Nigeria and has seen the kind of development that the South- West has witnessed in the last four years, will definitely want this to be protected and deepened,” but was roundly defeated at the weekend. Besides the governors, APC’s Na-

Fayemi

tional Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, equally told New Telegraph that the PDP is not in existence in the zone. “The PDP no longer exists in the consciousness of the people of the SouthWest. The pro-people projects and people friendly policies of the APC governors in the South-West have finally buried PDP in that zone,” Mohammed said. While some say that the Ekiti debacle is likely to be the tonic that will fire up the South-West APC ahead of the forthcoming general election, others believe that the twist in events will surely boost the morale of the PDP and its supporters in the zone. In the ensuing battle, the zone is sure to be a battleground in 2015. Already, a former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Olabode George confirmed the readiness of the PDP for the battle ahead. In an interview with New Telegraph before the Ekiti election, he said the PDP is tired of misgovernance under APC in the South-West. “It was Justice Ayo Salami (former president of the Court of Appeal) who took government from us in Ekiti and Osun states. Now we are ready to take what rightly belongs to us. The people are now ready. They have seen the difference between light and darkness. Come this time, the people are not just going to allow them to run away with power. We are going to plan and we are going to fight like we had done before. We would not take them for granted,” George said. A PDP chieftain in Ekiti State, Dayo Adeyeye, who spoke on the outcome of the weekend’s election, described Fayose’s victory as a sign of the imminent death of APC in the South-West. He told journalists in Ise-Ekiti that the APC was suffering from arrogance and pomposity and its leaders had lost touch with reality. His words: “The victory is the end of the APC in Ekiti State. With what happened, Ekiti people have once again demonstrated to the entire world that whoever takes them for granted will be roundly rejected.” Coast clear for ‘freedom’ Also celebrating APC’s fall in Ekiti, Osun State PDP gubernatorial candidate for the August 9 election, Senator Iyiola Omisore, said the rejection of APC at the poll has laid a solid foundation for the struggle by the people of South-West for freedom from anti-masses reign of the APC in the zone. Apparently referring to the former Lagos State governor and National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Omisore, in a congratulatory message to the

Omisore

We’re taking over the government of Osun State in 49 days. I can assure you that by God’s grace, on August 10, we will have cause to celebrate Ekiti governor-elect, said: “For Fayose to have emerged amidst overt and covert evil machinations against him by APC speaks volume of the determination of Ekiti people to free themselves from the shackles of the ruling APC.” He added: “Ekiti people have spoken with their votes and they have chosen a courageous leader who will protect their interest and return their pride, stolen by imported leaders foisted on them by a Lagos-based emperor, who has annexed the commonwealth of states in the region to himself and few acolytes all the while. “With Fayose’s victory, the coast appears clear for other states to fight and win their freedom from the political aliens that have taken states in SouthWest by storm in the last four years. We are assuring our people in Osun that the baton handed to Ekiti people will also spur us to victory on August 9.” Omisore further said that with what happened in Ekiti, “We’re taking over the government of Osun State in 49 days. I can assure you that by God’s grace, on August 10, we will have cause to celebrate.” Bring back Lagos, Osun, others President Jonathan in a similar congratulatory message to Fayose, commended the leadership of the PDP for its efforts in bringing back Ekiti to the PDP fold and urged it to bring back Lagos, Osun and others. The President, who made the commendation when members of PDP National Executive Committee (NEC), led by its national chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, visited him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Sunday to congratulate him on the successful conduct of the Ekiti election, said: “At least, we have seen clearly that Ekiti is now a PDP state. We pray that we will work very hard, sell our ideas, our programmes, manifesto to Nigerians, so that they will accept us for what we are.” He added: “We always say that we will not disappoint Nigerians. We believe that we will even do more in other states. We are not chameleons, we don’t change,

Aregbesola

no mutation in PDP, we don’t transform to all kinds of characters and colours and shapes based on circumstances, we are what we are and we will continue to preach what we believe in and do our best for this country.” Mu’azu on his part, said the election was conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner, and that the result was generally accepted by local and international observers as well as the opposition party. Wishful thinking Will the PDP re-enact the Ekiti feat, as the election train moves to Osun State? Aregbesola, who reacted to Omisore’s boast through the director of state Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Semiu Okanlawon, said reclaiming his state would be a Herculean task for the centre’s ruling party. His words: “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. Let Omisore continue to live in self delusion thinking what happened in Ekiti will be repeated in Osun. Has he finally resolved how he wants to campaign before the people of Osun who have rejected him and his brand of politics? “In case Omisore is unaware, the song on the streets of Osun among the artisans is Ije ti e je tete, e ma je dagunro, dagunro ko se je (one cannot eat varieties of vegetables the same way). Once again we wish to remind him that his most humiliating defeat will come August 9, when he will be so devastated that never will he come near any contest for political office again.” Former Kwara State governor and chieftain of the APC, Senator Bukola Saraki, also shared in Aregbesola’s optimism. Saraki, who served two terms as governor before he was elected senator on the platform of the PDP before defecting to the APC last year, said the outcome of the Ekiti State election is a signal that President Jonathan could lose reelection in 2015. “It is important that around the clock, people want to be engaged. This should also serve as a lesson to Mr. President that as an incumbent it is very possible to lose in Nigeria if he fails to do the will of the people,” he said in a statement. With the Ekiti governorship poll won and lost, the PDP and APC leaderships in the South-West are not unaware that politics is dynamic, and are unlikely to over celebrate victory or grief endlessly over defeat. Against this backdrop, realignment of political forces and re-strategising of tactics by both camps are expected to hot up in the days ahead, as a tilt in balance of power in the zone cannot be foreclosed until after the 2015 elections.

POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Former Minister of Aviation, FEMI FANI-KAYODE, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), his original party, argues that the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State signalled the eclipse of APC in South-West

here are three things that Ayo Fayose told me during a lively and prolonged discussion in my hotel suite at the Ideal Nest Hotel in Osogbo, Osun State a few months ago. The first was that I would eventually leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) and that the reason that I hadn’t left at that time was because I didn’t know them yet. In order to prove his point, he told me about what they had put him through when he left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined their ranks a few years back (they were known as the ACN at the time) and how after a series of betrayals, misunderstandings and insults he had no choice but to go back to the PDP where at least ‘’freedom of expression and differing opinions were welcome’’ as he so aptly put it. He said that he gave me just a few more months and that after that I would “come back home” to the PDP just as he had done before. The second thing that he told me was that he would become the flag bearer of the PDP and that he would defeat my brother, Governor Kayode Fayemi in the upcoming governorship election in Ekiti State. He concluded by saying that this would mark the beginning of the end of the APC in the South-West and indeed in the whole of Nigeria. I did not accept any of his projections and predictions but it is self-evident that he has been proved right in all three. Not only did I discover, albeit the hard way, what the APC and it’s selfproclaimed ‘owners’ were really like and what their real agenda was, but I also left the party and ‘went back home’ to PDP just a few months later. He also made good his threat, won the PDP primaries and went on to defeat Fayemi in the governorship election of Ekiti State a few months later. He has been proved right on the third count as well because the signs of “the beginning of the end” for the APC had already started appearing long ago. With the way in which many notable leaders of the party have jumped ship in the last few weeks and months, including Ibrahim Shekarau, Attahiru Bafawara, Marcus Gundiri, Dele Belgore, Buba Marwa, yours truly and a number of others and with the quiet grumblings from within by a handful of notable and more respectable figures like Tom Ikimi, Ali Modu Sheriff, Kashim Imam, Segun Osoba, Niyi Adebayo and a number of others who have rightly expressed strong reservations about the way that they have been treated by the ‘powers that be’ from within, it is clear that the APC is not only finished but that after the special convention for its presidential primaries takes place in November it will explode in a very dramatic manner. Fayose appears to have had the gift of foresight in all these matters. Once again, I offer a hearty congratulations to him and to the entire leadership of the Ekiti State PDP on their historic victory in the governorship election that took place in their state on June 21. The people of Ekiti have spoken and their choice must be respected by all. My heart goes out to my brother, Kayode Fayemi, who fought gallantly but

Oyegun

Akande

Ekiti: Some hard Lessons for APC lost the election and who remains not only a man of honour and unimpeachable integrity but also one of the finest minds in the country. He is certainly one of the most cerebral, disciplined, compassionate, accommodating and civilised leaders that the APC has within its ranks and one of those that gave it a semblance of integrity and credibility. His state broadcast where he conceded defeat to Fayose proves my point and it speaks volumes. He is a first class gentleman and a good sportsman. Unlike most of those in his party, he knows when to call it quits and he respects the choice of the people. That is worth commending and it is worthy of emulation. By that single act alone, Fayemi has guaranteed a place for himself in the future of Yoruba and Nigerian politics and if he can only change parties and leave the Almajiris he will still go very far indeed. For him, the future is still very bright and the sky is the limit. I salute his courage and commend his past efforts for Nigeria and for his state. Yet the truth must be told. And that truth is that whether they want to accept it or not, the people of Ekiti State sent a very strong signal to the national leadership and stakeholders of the Almajiri People’s Congress during the election. The rejection of Fayemi at the polls had as much to do with the disgust and opprobrium that most people in the South-West and indeed the country harbour and hold for the tiny cabal of dictators and demi-gods that constitute the APC leadership as much as it does for anything else. Their message is simple and clear and it is as follows: 1) They should stop playing religious politics, stop being petty and stop trying to implement a Muslim agenda in our country; 2) They should stop behaving like a primitive cult where only the opinion of one or two leaders matter and where dissent and differing opinions have no place; 3)They should stop trying to demean others and stop treating them with contempt; 4)They should stop arrogating all knowledge and all power to just a handful of people at the top that have clearly lost touch with reality; 5)They should stop taking others for granted and stop calling our Yoruba oba’s ‘’useless’’. 6)They should stop telling people the

most disgusting, hateful, shameful and monumental lies about others. 7)They should rid themselves of their slave mentality and stop playing second fiddle to those that believe that they own Nigeria. 8) They should stop trying to enslave their people by returning the hegemonists to power through the back door in Nigeria. The simple truth is that God has turned His back on the Almajiri’s People’s Congress. This is because of the atrocities that are being committed by a few of their leaders right at the top, because of their evil, covert and subterranean agenda, because they wish to turn the Yoruba, and indeed the entire southern part of the country, into perpetual slaves and because of their patently and unapologetic anti-christian agenda. Given the history of our country and the suffering of the people of the South-West over the last 53 years since we gained independence from the British, no true Yoruba nationalist should have anything to do with them. I say this because to say that you are a Yoruba nationalist and at the same time you are working day and night to hand over power to a die-hard, ultraconservative, hegemonistic, brutal dictator and despot like Muhammadu Buhari, who believes that Nigeria was bequeathed to him and to his people by God and his forefathers, is a contradiction in terms. Anything and anyone is better than that and no self-respecting Yoruba man, southerner or indeed middle-belter would ever do such a thing. Let those that have slavish souls continue to at-

We will not rest until every inch of Yorubaland and, indeed Nigeria, is freed from the grip of the Almajiri People’s Congress and their insidious and desperate Haramite allies from the north

tempt to turn us all into the slaves of our collective oppressors and throw us into perpetual bondage: the rest of us will stand against them, expose them, resist them, defeat them and flush them down the toilet where they belong. God has rejected the Almajiri Peoples Congress and the sooner they accept that hard fact and bitter truth the better it will be for them and for Nigeria. Yesterday it was Ekiti. Tomorrow it will be Osun. We will not rest until every inch of Yorubaland and, indeed Nigeria, is freed from the grip of the Almajiri People’s Congress and their insidious and desperate Haramite allies from the north. The days of fooling the people and winning elections by propaganda, intimidation, lies, threats and coercion are long over. The people of Ekiti have spoken and soon the rest of Nigeria shall speak as well. For the Almajiri People’s Congress and their Haramite allies, it is all over. A new era for Ekiti begins today whilst another one ends. Yet everyone appears to be smiling and that is precisely how it ought to be. There also appears to be a distinct atmosphere of hope in the air and a new-found, refreshing and distinct sense of unity of purpose coupled with a firm resolve to allow peace to reign and to let bygones be bygones. This is a classic example of what the late Waziri Ibrahim of the defunct GNPP labelled as “politics without bitterness” and it is very refreshing. I was particularly touched by Ayo Fayose’s declaration that there was “no victor and no vanquished” after the election and by his promise to work with Kayode Fayemi and the Labour Party gubernatorial candidate Opeyemi Bamidele to “move the state forward.” I salute his magnanimity in victory. I also salute the sheer courage of Fayemi and Bamidele to accept defeat in good faith and I commend them both for stretching out their hand of friendship to the winner of the election. All three of these gentlemen are well known to me and they are my friends and brothers. They are also proud sons of the Yoruba who have proved to the world that politics in the South-West can be played without any violence, rancour and bitterness. I wish them all the very best in their future endeavours.

16 POLITICS The path to victory of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at last Saturday’s gubernatorial election, Mr. Ayodele Fayose wasn’t that rosy as many may have thought, writes WALE ELEGBEDE who covered the all-important poll

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Fayose: Turbulent path to victory and grassroots driven structure was another factor that cost JKF, as he is fondly called, his re-election bid. The party caucus in the state has majorly elite political class with fewer foot soldiers. The governor seems to have high impact on social media with little or no followership across the 16 local governments of the state. According to a chieftain of the party who prefers anonymity, “The governor does not have deep loyalists, most of those around him are pure sycophants. Whenever you advise them on issues relating to empowerment of people, they shunned you, put you under surveillance and labelled you anti-APC. They don’t know that politics is more than carrying computers around. They don’t attend social events of party members, we refused to conduct local government elections and we allowed some of our think-tanks to leave, especially Hon. Bamidele and those that left with him. They will go back to Lagos and Abuja now, and we will be here facing the music,” he lamented.

fter months of intense battle for the assent of the electorate in Ekiti State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), at about 4a.m. on Sunday, June 22, 2014, declared Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the governorship election held on Saturday, June 21. According to the returning officer of the election and Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Prof. Isaac Azuzu, the PDP candidate scored 203, 090 to defeat the incumbent governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Kayode Fayemi who scored 120,433 and Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele of the Labour Party who had 18,135 votes. “Ayodele Peter Fayose of PDP having satisfied the requirement of the law and scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared winner and is returned elected,” he said. Impeachment from office Three and half years after taking his oath of office in 2003 as the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Fayose and his then deputy, Mrs. Abiodun Olujimi were impeached on October 16, 2006, and interestingly upon last Saturday’s victory, he would be sworn in on October 16, 2014. Amidst serious politicking and palpable tension, 24 out of 26 members of the Hon. Friday Aderemi-led House of Assembly impeached Fayose and his deputy on corruption charges. He was accused of embezzling state funds, particularly fund meant for the Ekiti State Poultry Project handled by his childhood friend and contractor, Gbenga James. After the removal of the first two citizens from office, the Speaker, Aderemi, was sworn in as governor of the state by Justice Jide Aladejana. With the then Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Bayo Ojo, several politicians and legal figures warning against breakdown of law and order in the state, former President Olusegun Obasanjo announced a state of emergency for the next six months to prevent chaos, appointing Brig.- Gen. Tunji Olurin as the sole administrator of the state. Speaking with New Telegraph last Sunday in Ado-Ekiti, a resident, Akin Alawode said: “It wasn’t our people who impeached Fayose in 2006; it was a vested interest from Abuja that colluded with some elements in Ekiti to oust him out then, but you can see how glorious it is for him now this time.” Eight years of political hibernation No doubt, the period of Fayose’s sabbatical from political office could be described as a wilderness experience for him. At different points, he tried to lay his hands on several things, moved to another party; he even aimed to be senator at a time. Interestingly, for the eight years that he was in political Siberia, he still kept touch with his supporters, doled out cash to the needy, attended functions with the masses and continually oiled the engine of his political machinery within the state. Fayose’s ‘octopus wife’ Regarded as a staunch Christian and prayer warrior, Mrs. Feyisetan Fayose, the wife of the governor-elect, is regard-

Fayose casting his vote

violence among the supporters of the three candidates. ed as a prophetic woman. In fact, it was said that her husband intensified his efforts in the campaign because of the strength of the prophesy of his wife that he would return to Government House in Fajuyi road. At a point, it was reported that Fayose told all that care to listen that whenever his wife says anything, it comes to pass. Speaking recently during a reception organised to mark her 50th birthday, Mrs. Fayose said: “I am not a politician, but a woman that believes in God. As the Lord liveth, I have simply come to announce to you and any other doubting Thomas of the inevitable return and restoration of my husband, Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose, to his seat as the next governor of Ekiti State. By the special grace of God, his return is certain and so destined. I am telling you that nothing can stop it.” A PDP leader in Adebayo ward told New Telegraph that: “After Jonathan’s visit, do you know that Fayose’s mother and his wife has been at Oke Orio, fasting and praying for Ayo’s victory at the election? She came back home to participate in the election on Friday or thereby. That woman is a blessing to Fayose, very humble and natural. God specially gave her that gift of prophesy.” Rough conduit to PDP’s ticket Before securing the ticket of the PDP, Fayose had to pass through the eye of the needle. With intrigues, overt and covert horse-trading being the order of the day before and during the PDP primaries, some of the contestants grudgingly accepted his emergence while others opposed him. The three-horse race Though candidates of 18 political parties were cleared by INEC for last Saturday’s election, there were three frontline candidates in the race, namely, Dr. Fayemi (APC), Fayose (PDP) and Bamidele (LP). During the campaigns, flashes of violence were witnessed with a handful of killings and maiming, but the heavy deployment of security personnel during the election did not give room for

The election day The electoral commission deployed 7,941 personnel comprising of members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), lecturers and students of the Federal University, Oye and the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, to 2,803 voting units across the state. In most of the centres, accreditation commenced as scheduled with a high turnout of voters who were eager to observe their civic rights. With 732,166 names on voters’ register, only 476,870 permanent voters’ cards representing 65 per cent, were collected by the electorate. Also on ground to supervise the election were 16 INEC commissioners, comprising six national commissioners and 10 Residents Electoral Commissioners (RECs), with each of them posted to the 16 local governments in the state. Though there were complaints about the heavy presence of security agents especially from the social media, the people of Ekiti were never intimidated with their presence or the heat of the scorching sun, instead they came out en mass to elect their governor. Fayemi, APC nightmare For Governor Fayemi and his supporters, it was a long bad dream that they wish they should wake up from, but it’s the reality that have to live with. Expectedly, APC stakeholders within and outside the state have started pointing accusing fingers at each others over the tsunami that swept them away. From the external fronts, some analysts argued that the rumoured vicepresidential permutation of Fayemi pitched him against some power-brokers in the APC. It is expected that the SouthWest would produce a Christian running mate to whoever emerges from the North in the APC for the 2015 elections. Fayemi’s name has been a recurring decimal in this equation and it was learnt that his perceived choice may have rubbed him off of some salient political and technical support he would have received from the APC hierarchy for his re-election bid. The absence of a forceful, dynamic

Civil servants, teachers hold the ace Any political party that undermine the influence of teachers and civil servants in Ekiti in its policy or even election is at its own peril because they hold the key to success and failure in the polity. In fact, it was learnt that civil servants mobilised against the governor at the eve of the election. Fayemi had issues with them very early in his administration. In 2011 over the issue of promotion and payment of the new Teachers’ Salary Scale (TSS). The governor told them he would not be able to pay the money owing to paucity of funds but a month to the election, he announced that he would implement it. Also, the service reclassification exercise brought damage to Fayemi second term. The test exercise saw to demotion of some principals to vice-principals and vice-principals to classroom teachers. In fact, some of those affected could not accept the demotion and put in their retirement notice to avoid the humiliation. They believe there would be trouble again if Fayemi should get a second term as they would either be forced to take the test or face the sack. Fayemi, the morning after Perhaps the most tensed press conference/state-wide broadcast he had ever given, Fayemi arrived his office the morning after his defeat at the poll without the usual fanfare into the waiting hands of journalists. Stepping out from his black Toyota Camry car, the governor did not expressed his usual emotions of smiling or waving, but walked briskly to his office, donning a black shirt and trouser. Fayemi promised to work with the governor-elect towards a smooth transition programme and to move Ekiti State forward. Fayose’s hand of fellowship Fayose while delivering his acceptance speech at his Spotless Hotel, AdoEkiti, said he is prepared to work with all, irrespective of political affiliation. “Ekiti is for all of us, I salute the courage of Governor Fayemi for his readiness to allow peace and love to prevail in our state. He remains my governor till October 16, 2014 and I will give him the honour and respect that he deserves. I have respect for the Office of the Governor. Governor Fayemi cannot say I insulted or abused him throughout the campaigns. He remains my brother and a respectable leader in Ekiti. “Government belongs to all of us. The next four years will be four years of all of us in government. This is not about an individual but about Ekiti State,” he said.

POLITICS 17

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

INEC ready for 2015 elections –Ada Former Speaker, Cross River State House of Assembly, Mr. Gabriel Ada, is the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Akwa Ibom State. In this interview with TONY ANICHEBE, he speaks on the activities of his commission and plans for 2015 elections. Excerpts:

investigating you so as to be sure that the person who is applying is really resident in that state. Once we investigate that, we start the process and then print a new voters’ card for you.

How prepared is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2015 general election? I will like to share with you here that immediately after the 2011 elections the commission decided that it was proper that INEC should first re-assess itself, and its performance in that election, learn lessons from where we made mistakes, where we succeeded and thereafter begin to plan for 2015. In the course of that reassessment, the commission decided that if we are going to improve on the quality of election, then we must first of all look at the aspect of restricting INEC itself, and the problems of not really having genuine results in some places was examined. What is also the cause of violence and what is the reason behind apathy in terms of people’s response to electoral activities in the state, or in the country. So, arising from all these things INEC began to make plans in preparing towards 2015 so that we can really come out with better elections. First of all, what INEC did was to look at the mission, vision and mission statement, as well as the core values of INEC. What we now have as our vision in INEC was amended. We now amended it from just being an electoral body that conducts credible elections, and now felt that it should be seen as an election management body that conducts elections that meet international standards. So, arising from that we also developed our core values and most of these things I am sure we have passed out to you in terms of leaflets and so on; to be impartial, to be transparent, to show excellence and equity amongst other things. There are so many of these core values that we have tried to pass out to our staff. In addition we felt that the structure of INEC as it was will need to be improved upon. To improve the quality of our elections, INEC has also decided to make good use of technology available to us. And building on the achievement of 2011 when INEC was able to deploy the Direct Data Capture Machines to all polling units in the country for the purpose of carrying out voters’ registration, we now felt that we can still improve upon that. In other words, we need to improve upon the data that were collected during that registration so that we have a clean voters’ register, because we all know that the quality of election depends on how good the register is. And so, INEC has between 2011 and end of 2013 decided to use the data that were generated for the 2011 voters’ register to now improve upon it. And we try to improve it this way. First of all, we know that some people still do double registration, although INEC warned against it. So, what we have done was first of all run AFID on the data that was collected during the 2011 registration; an AFID as we know is Automatic Finger Print Identification. So, we were able to run that through the data generated from every state of this country at the end of which now gave us the true number of

What will happen to PVCs not collected by their owners and why did INEC not deploy adequate personnel to some polling units for the distribution of the PVCs? What we have done is that this Continuous Voters’ Registration is another opportunity for people to collect the permanent voters’ cards, but if they also fail to utilise that opportunity then they will now be required to go to INEC local government area offices to collect the PVCs. Even after the exercise ending on Sunday you can do that any time before the election. So, there is still the opportunity of going to our local government offices to collect it. On the issue of limited personnel at some poling units to distribute them; yes the general idea behind this is that our personnel were told to arrange these cards serially before they even come to the field. Some of them did not do it, so when they got to the polling units they were now overwhelmed by the crowd. Otherwise if they arranged it serially as advised if you come and you are A’, they will just go to your guide and sort it out. We also told them to display the register at the venue so that when somebody comes he will check his name there; he will even see the number and that number will correspond with the register that you have. Some polling units distributed more than 200 cards a day. However, when I also went round the various polling units and noticed that in some places there was huge turnout and, of course we were able to deploy additional personnel in those polling units that needed it.

During the 2011 election, it was observed that due to delay in accreditation, there was overcrowding at polling units, what is the commission doing to address this issue in 2015? With the introduction of the card reader, I am sure INEC will come up with a new policy on that. And again, this policy will only be determined after proper analyses at the Federal High Court. We will be guided accordingly as we proceed for the next election.

Ada

REC’s

F RUM INEC

people who were registered in that state. And through the process, we were able to identify people who did double registration and these people were removed in a separate folder created for them. So, we now have a register that is devoid of all that registrations. In preparing for the 2015 general election, INEC now decided that it will be proper that we go back into the field, to first of all distribute Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to people. After that, we can now register people whose voters’ cards were not printed for them because of some problems relating to double registration. We did the registration in what we call zero polling units; there are about 205 of them in Akwa Ibom State. During this continuous voters’ registration, our men were deployed to conduct fresh registration at those polling units for the five days that was given. We also felt that INEC should give another opportunity to people that did not register because they were not of age in 2011. So, we have again provided an opportunity for continuous voters’ registration at the ward level. To ensure credible election, we are using card readers for the 2015 elections. And what does the card reader do? Card reader is a small device just like your phone, when you come to the polling unit during the election you will come with your permanent voters’ card and plug it into the card reader and at the same time use your finger print on that card reader and it will read your finger print and authenticate it that truly the information stored in your PVC is the same. Once it does that it will automatically record your data. It is only after that you will be given a ballot paper to cast your vote. So, we believe we will be able to contain all the excesses that have been taking place at polling units in previous elections. These are all the various strategies that INEC has now put in place to safeguard the quality of elections in 2015.

We are using card readers for the 2015 elections... to contain all the excesses that have been taking place at polling units in previous elections In the 2011 elections, most polling units suffered breakdown of machines and power failure; don’t you think the use of card reader may hamper smooth elections in 2015? Actually, it is not as complicated as it seems. It is a device that will require us charging it, using generator. The card reader is just like your phone, with battery, and if your batteries can last for about eight hours or more, the card readers have batteries that can last up to eight hours. But in addition, we are also supplying back up battery. And it will be able to authenticate more than 500 persons in each polling unit. So, the issue of looking for electricity is not a problem What will happen to people that registered in crisis-ridden states like in North-East but have left the area and cannot go back to collect their PVCs? These are the group of people you can ask to do a transfer. If, for instance, you were in Borno State but have returned to Akwa Ibom State, and you want to transfer your voting point from Borno. All you need to do is to write an application with photocopy of the temporary voters’ card that was issued to you there, addressed to the REC through the electoral officer where you are now residing. The EO will now bring the letter to me requesting that you want to transfer your voting point from Borno State to that particular local government area in this state and the particular polling unit that you want. When you do that, we will then investigate first of all to know whether it is true that you are now living here or whether you are not just faking because some politicians may employ people to abuse the process. So, we will have to satisfy ourselves by

How serious was the problem of double registration in Akwa Ibom? Well, what I can tell you is that out of about 1.6 million registered voters in the state, the total number of PVCs that we printed was 1.4 million, and the difference between the total registered voters and the number that we have may be due to double registration. That is why we want to address the problems through the Continuous Voters’ Registration. We have 205 polling units where fresh registration will take place. This will help people that may have fallen into that category to come out and register afresh. What challenges did you face in the distribution of PVCs? In this PVC distribution exercise, it was not supposed to be an activity that we should mobilise as if we are going for election. We felt that mobilising, letting the people aware of the process, know that something like that was going on was enough to help us do the distribution. Of course, the finances for the exercise have to be proportional to the weight of the activity. So, I don’t think we had issues with finances. Also, on people having health challenges, and those who have passed on, of course we know people that have passed on and to such ones we do not issue cards. We will retrieve the cards and return them to the office so that their names can be removed completely. We have what we call an Incident Report there. When all these things are written down, then we use that data we have to remove their names.

18 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Imperative of Tinubu’s presidency A public affairs analyst, IDOWU AJANAKU, argues that former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is the best choice for Nigerian presidency in 2015

igeria’s determined quest for a visionary, patriotic, selfless, committed and courageous democrat, who is fully prepared to steer the ship of state to the Promised Land has been on for eons. Getting that highly experienced and detribalised individual who would connect the long-suffering citizens with the vast natural resources at our disposal has been the missing link in the nation’s socio-political equation. Paradoxically and painfully, the same country has been bedevilled by a history of dark horses – of people who were not adequately prepared for the onerous and enormous tasks of the exalted office of the presidency but found themselves there. Sadly, past political leaders such as Alhaji Tafawa Balewa(of blessed memory), Alhaji Shehu Shagari, dictators such as General Ibrahim Babaginda, late General Sani Abacha and General Abdulsalami Abubakar, as well as the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan have failed to meet this mandate; to discharge their duties to the good citizens. The reason is not far-fetched. They were not well grounded in the nitty-gritty of political engineering. And they were not prepared for the plum office which fate or sheer ambition put on their laps. It is an irony of economic history that though Nigeria is immensely blessed with oil and gas deposits, it has four nonperforming refineries. And yet, it takes an obscene interest in massive importation of refined petroleum products, sometimes from less endowed countries and continues to pay huge bills in the name of fuel subsidy to an irredeemably corrupt business class. Also, in spite of its several solid minerals, arable land, and a clement climate we are still bedevilled with the twin evils of mass poverty (put at 72 per cent) and an alarming youth employment rate (of 23.9 per cent), according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). With a crop of well-read, grounded and greatly talented professionals within the country and in the Diaspora, Nigeria should indeed be ranked amongst the top 10 robust economies in the world. But it is not. The million-naira question therefore is; who is that well-heeled Nigerian democrat with the capacity and courage, the experience and expertise, the desire and determination, the passion and the political pedigree to pull the country out of its current socio-economic quagmire? Who is he? It deserves an answer and an urgent one too. As the opposition political parties (especially the All Progressives Congress, APC) gear up to wrest power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) behemoth, which has evidently failed Nigerians to provide quality leadership for some 15 long years, the onus now lies on them and the electorate to find that person and project him to the presidential podium. To do so, we must search for the best of candidates, irrespective of ethnicity, religion and geo-political location. A country such as ours, currently caught in the eye of a political storm can ill afford the luxury of such base sentiments. What matters now is who is capable to bell the cat. The answer may not be farfetched. The one name that easily comes to mind is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Are you surprised? Please, do not be just yet. His name rings a loud and clear bell in Nigeria’s political firmament, does it

not? Of course, it does. He is the former governor of the Centre of Excellence, Lagos State; the brilliant brain behind progressive political parties such as Alliance for Democracy (AD); Action Congress (AC); defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and currently the All Progressives Congress (APC). You must be astounded by just how one Nigerian has been able to mastermind the evolution of people-based political associations that started from the South-West geo-political zone but has over time metamorphosed into a pan-Nigeria mandate. Are you not? The truth remains that he has been adequately preparing himself for the biggest post of all, which is the presidency. And why not? For, that is the sterner stuff which Williams Shakespeare says men of such calibre are made of. Now you know why his legion of admirers call him ‘a master political strategist’, or ‘master of the game’ or even ‘the game changer’. They did not give him such beautiful appellations for the sake of it or, for nothing. In fact, there are more reasons than one to canvass for his candidature as the nation’s next president at this crucial and perilous moment of our troubled history. Much like the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, you cannot sit on the fence when his name crops up for discussion. You either love him with an abiding passion, as millions of people all over the world do, or you hate to love his sheer guts. Either way, there are some salient factors you cannot take away from his engaging persona. One of these factors is his uncommon, yet exemplary courage in the face of fiery opposition. And as the Greek philosopher, Aristotle Onassis once noted; “courage is the first of human virtues, because it makes all others possible.” It was such rare gut that propelled him as a pro-democracy activist, who stood firm against those that attempted to rout our fledgling democracy when they came garbed in khaki as military despots. You can also not take away his unflinching love and commitment to the ethos and ethics of democracy. Hence, his foray into politics and the significant roles he played towards the enthronement of democratic culture in the Nigeria’s political space. Lest we forget, the famed Asiwaju teamed up with other lovers of democracy to cut his political teeth as a NADECO activist in the aftermath of the annulled June 1993 elections. He spent his money, time and valuable resources to provide succour and shelter for others on the run from Abacha’s much-dreaded gulag. If Tinubu wants to be the president of Nigeria, what did he achieve as a state governor? That is the crucial question many are wont to ask. Talking about his political antecedent, the acclaimed pathfinder of modern Lagos politics laid some enduring, people-oriented legacies through pragmatic programmes. From May 1999 to 2007, Tinubu’s administration strengthened democratic institutions by making huge investments in the field of education, with the establishment of millennium schools, and free access to education. On infrastructural development, there was the construction of new roads and reconstruction of over 7,500 inner access roads and mass housing projects with the construction of 120,000 units of houses across the state. He undertook some strategic development projects which include the creation of 37 Local Council Development Areas and the Independent Power Plant (IPP). In the transport sector, his administration made inroads in mass urban transportation through the innovative BRT (Bus Rapid Transit). The motive was to meet the increasing demands of an exploding urban population.

Tinubu

Furthermore, there was great improvement in the judiciary especially for the Lagos courts with the complimentary increase in the personal emoluments of members of the judicial arm of government. Added to this was the Office of the Public Defendant (OPD) and Citizen Mediation Centre. On security, his government’s Rapid Response Squad (RRS) to tackle youth restiveness and LATSMA to bring sanity to road safety. The health sector was not left out with the establishment of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and free eye test for the citizens and eye glasses to the elderly citizens. What makes these achievements laudable and remarkable was that they were made in spite of the illegal withholding of statutory allocations for local government councils. All these remain great testimonies of his exemplary leadership skills. These, analysts say, should be replicated at the national stage. And why not? Tinubu was there as the leading light during the dare-devil days of military dictatorship and fascism. Back then he said: “Because of the multiple issues surrounding our skewed federalism and constitutional flaws, the Nigerian nation is weak… We must convoke a national conference.” If only Nigerians had woken up then to support his clamour we would not have found ourselves in this

There are more reasons than one to canvass for his candidature as the nation’s next president at this crucial and perilous moment of our troubled history

current political logjam and having a questionable National Conference that is already dead on arrival. Tinubu was indeed the man who saw tomorrow. He again it was who as a legislator suggested the 13 per cent derivation enjoyed by the oil-producing states till this day. As a detribalised Nigerian, Tinubu’s ACN representatives defeated President Jonathan’s preferred candidate, Mulikat Adeola-Akande of Oyo State for the position of Speaker of House of Representatives in favour of Aminu Tambulwal of Sokoto. He exhibited that uncommon courage of a patriot who stands on the side of his people when it mattered most. Unfortunately, he is still here now witnessing the same democracy he fought assiduously for, caught in the throes of political ineptitude. As crass corruption rides on the high horse of opportunism Tinubu has stood up to say a vehement “no”. He can no longer watch on, arms folded as the ship of state is besotted by the waves of cluelessness. The patriot in him has stirred up to take up the gauntlet and the bull by the horn. One’s candid wish is that members of his political party, the APC, would put aside their differences and turn their back to the sentiments of religion and ethnicity and go for the first amongst equals, the best qualified democrat equipped to take over the baton of presidency to enthrone the tenets of quality political leadership that our dear nation so much desires and deserves. Politicians in India, the USA, Germany and England have at one time or the other been confronted with such critical choices and never wavered. We can emulate their worthy examples for the good of the nation. The factors of age, experience, intellectual and physical energy as well as immense popularity are on his side. Now is therefore, the moment of truth as history beckons on the man whom the cap truly fits.

EDITORIAL

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

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

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

TUESday, JuNE 24, 2014

Again, no to creeping dictatorship

he gravely ominous signs on the wall of Nigeria’s current democratic dispensation continue to increase at a frightening pace. The latest is the illegitimate manner some opposition leaders, including two serving governors, were las Thursday prevented from attending the All Progressives Congress (APC) mega-rally at Ado Ekiti. The action inadvertently confirmed an earlier statement by the Vice President Namadi Sambo that the Ekiti State governorship election was going to be a war. Despite the condemnations that followed it, the office of the Vice President neither denied it nor offered any apology for what was obviously a reckless statement. As if it was indeed war, the government deployed security agents in a manner that completely militarized Ekiti State on the eve of last Saturday’s election. The act of preventing leaders of the opposition party from attending a campaign on the eve of an election involving an incumbent governor and a member of the party is, to say the least, a gross abuse of the country’s constitution as the victims of the ill-advised action had not violated any rules relating to that election. It is a dangerous, repressive path we must not tread. We

have observed, to our consternation, that at every opportunity, movement of opposition leaders, particularly during politically significant situations, is illegally curtailed either through grounding of flights or seizure of aircraft. The use of soldiers to waylay vehicles as happened in Ekiti last week came as the climax of such infractions. The explanation by the presidency that the uncivilized treatment meted out to the governors and other party leaders of the opposition was “ because they may have been trying to compromise the elections and as such were prevented from doing so,” cannot be accepted especially when it was reported that while Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s convoy was grounded, those of the Defence and Police Affairs ministers who happen to be members of the ruling party, were allowed to pass unhindered. By so doing, the security agents exhibited undue favouritism towards members of the ruling PDP, a growing trend in this dispensation, which is clearly against extant provisions of the 1999 constitutions on freedom of movement and association. It is necessary to state that democracy is intolerant of any dictatorial tendencies. Having collectively fought and made extreme sacrifices to get rid of

military dictatorship, Nigerians expect to enjoy the fruits of democracy such as freedom and equality, not to live in fear of a creeping civilian dictatorship as appears to be the case at the moment. Democracy must be allowed, at all cost, to take root in Nigeria without any deliberate self-serving circumventions. We say no to any despotic manifestations. Fair competition is an integral part of the democratic culture, which also thrives on the freedom of association, speech, movement and assembly. The administration’s growing intolerance of opposing views is making it difficult for co-operation and consensus building amongst Nigerians and this, in our view, poses a serious threat to the survival of the Fourth Republic. “The reading of history,” John Diefenbaker has noted, “proves that freedom always dies when criticism dies.” Nigerians must be allowed to enjoy all the constitutionally enshrined freedoms including that of electoral choice. Democracy is about viable alternatives; it cannot thrive in a one-party state. Ours is a plural, multiparty democracy and must be encouraged by all political actors to remain just that. Any desperate positioning for 2015 that may lead to acts capable of truncating this democracy must

be avoided at all cost. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is what all Nigerians should be loyal to, irrespective of status, institutional or party affiliation. To supplant loyalty to the constitution with personal loyalty to a leader or party, is a recipe for a catastrophic implosion of the Fourth Republic and must be shunned by all and sundry. Those who encourage disrespect for the constitution while in power must not forget the proverbial tale about those who ride on the back of a tiger: they may just be consumed by the tiger when they eventually dismount. Just as we noted on March 30, this year about the frightening slide to anarchy in the country, “Government needs to be more open, democratic, less draconian and look at the larger picture in a more holistic and comprehensive manner.” The perennial demonization of holders of alternative views, including members of the opposition, has no place in a true democracy. We urge those who were affected by last Thursday’s putschlike action by security agents to demand genuine apologies from their traduccers or go to court to seek redress and adequate compensation. Nigerians must begin to be actively protective of this hard-earned democracy. It is time to stop this tendency to court disaster every so often. GABRIEL AKINADEWO Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief IKE ABONYI Deputy Managing Director/DEIC FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU Managing Editor, South SULEIMAN BISALLA Managing Editor, North YEMI AJAYI Editor, Daily LAURENCE ANI Editor, Saturday EMEKA MADUNAGU Editor, Sunday LEO CENDROWICZ Bureau Chief, Brussels MARSHALL COMINS Bureau Chief, Washington DC SAM AMSTERDAM Editorial Coordinator, Europe EMMAN SHEHU (PhD) Chairman, Editorial Board GEOFFREY EKENNA News Editor PADE OLAPOJU Production Editor TIMOTHY AKINLEYE Head, Graphics ROBINSON EZEH Head, Admin.

Sanctity of Truth

OPINION The agony of a victim of hacking Chiedu Uche Okoye

re Nigerians not intensely religious people? Every Sunday, millions of Nigerians who profess Christianity, go to church. Likewise, we have millions of Muslim devotees. But, millions of Nigerians are without positive morality and spirituality. They would cut corners and circumvent rules and regulations in order to achieve their goals. Even those who sit on the front pews in churches compromise on the teachings of Jesus Christ in order to achieve their objectives. We seek God for selfish reasons. We unburden our hearts to God regarding our financial and marital worries. And, we pray fervently to Him for plum jobs and progress in our careers. I doubt that Nigerians seek God to know about His true nature and existence. Do we reverence and hold him in awe? No, we don’t. That is why we have con artists who masquerade as imams and Christian pastors. Sadly, in Nigeria, the intensely religious people are destitute of spirituality. They perceive religion as a vehicle to achieve their materialistic goals. Pastors set up churches to make money. Those who worship in the churches set their sight on receiving material blessings from God via the so-called men of God. So, the religious people in Nigeria are without righteousness. Consequently, evil and crimes pervade our landscape. While churches and mosques are springing up in every nook and cranny of Nigeria, criminal activities in the country are not abating. Those who loot our economy swore an oath with either the bible or Koran before assuming the mantle of leadership. And, the kidnappers and armed robbers who operate in the

South East bear Christian names. They were baptized and confirmed as Christians, and attended Sunday school classes as children. It is a fact that Nigerians are religious hypocrites. Even street walkers who are on the prim rose path mouth religious piffling so as to hoodwink us into believing that they are good people. Nigeria is at a crossroads of moral crisis .We need messiahs who can salvage the mess that Nigeria has become. Our country, Nigeria, stinks to high heavens with evil doings, criminal activities and others. Our economic stagnation and technological backwardness are linked to our lack of positive morality and spirituality. Yesterday, a bum and computer nerd hacked my email and facebook accounts and sent messages via them begging for financial help. I couldn’t access my facebook account and email, and I was terribly worried. I feared that some unscrupulous person who is Internet savvy had hacked my facebook account. My fears were confirmed when I received a phone call from a friend who told me that some fellow had sent scam messages via my facebook account. It’s an unconscionable act for a person to steal another person’s identity. Our leaders should give teeth to laws that punish people who steal other people’s identities. Those whose identities have been stolen suffer defamation of character. Should we become hold-outs and luddites in the digital age in order not to become victims of email and facebook hacking with its deleterious concomitant effects? I cannot imagine myself becoming a hermit for fear of falling victim to Internet hackers who steal people’s identities to perpetrate crimes. The world has

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

become a global village owing to the existence of improved gadgets of communication in our today’s world .With these communication tools, we can make friends with people who live on continents other than ours. Not a few Nigerians who show inclination towards educational researches have profited from facebook friendships. Our interactions via digital means with people whose cultures are different from us broaden our mental horizons. But, we’ve identity thieves to contend with as we interact with other people on facebook and other online sites. These unscrupulous people have embraced crime in order to earn big money. Perhaps, they are unemployed youths. Unemployment is one of the factors that predispose young people to take to crimes. So, I urge the government to stem the tide of unemployment in Nigeria by articulating and executing economic policies that would create jobs for millions of unemployed Nigerians. The minister of finance would reel out statistical data to prove that our economy is growing, yet millions of Nigerians have been reduced to subhuman beings, no thanks to poverty. However, armed robbers and kidnappers should not excuse their deeds on the grounds that they could not secure employment after graduating from universities many years ago. Lastly, it is an unconscionable act for a young person to steal the facebook account of another person for the purpose of carrying out a criminal act. I was a victim of email and facebook hacking. When I got to know that the perpetrator had sent many messages via my accounts, it took a lot of psychological toll on me.

A Progressives’ coat of many colours John Udumebraye

ollowing the conclusion of the All Progressives Congress (APC) national convention in Abuja last week, it is obvious to all now that the APC is no more than a parastatal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), because all of its actions had the imprint of the ruling party. For many of the insiders who have been crying themselves hoarse over the sins of the PDP, it is clear that they are all wrong or have been playing the ostrich all along. And, for many who did not know or believe that the party belonged to the strongman of Lagos politics, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the proverbial wind has blown and we have seen the ugly rump of the chicken. Tinubu owns the APC and Mohammadu Buhari is the tag- along handbag of the former governor. But, how did Buhari get to this bus-stop in his life where he has to kowtow to a man like Tinubu, who has been accused of everything ignoble? Tinubu sure knows how to play his politics, but we should not be deceived that it is anywhere near progressive politics. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who has displayed the rarest form of desperation to achieve his ambition (someone says it is a marabout’s prediction that he would one day rule Nigeria), has advised the likes of former Governor

Ali Modu Sheriff and Chief Tom Ikimi to remain loyal to the party. Atiku preaching loyalty? Wonders shall never end. Now, this is the same man who was disloyal to his former boss, Olusegun Obasanjo, and fought him to a standstill and ensured that he lost his bid to rule Nigeria for a third term in office; a man who worked assiduously in the media to give his former boss a bloody nose; a man who abandoned the PDP for the Action Congress (AC) later Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN); the same man who dumped the ACN to return to the PDP; who again dumped PDP to join the APC. Is this Atiku’s definition of loyalty? Many who thought the party was devoid of the tendencies that were the hallmark of the PDP must have been shocked to discover that the APC is even better than its opponent in the fine art of consensus candidacy and enthronement. Could it have been the influence of the sheer number of PDP horse-traders that flocked the APC? Maybe and maybe not, going by the manner the stooges of Tinubu took over in Lagos, Osun, Ekiti, and Oyo States. There is a story doing the rounds that Governor Rotimi Amaechi has been belly-aching over the mistreatment he suffered at the convention, though one of his aides has denied that he ever authored the document making the rounds on the Internet. There is also the growing controversy

over the true age of the man chosen to head the Youth wing of the party. No one knows for sure what the man’s age is, but it is the PDP, if it can prove its claim, that did the bloodiest damage to the APC image in its statement preaching integrity to the Tinubu party. The party poked at APC, accusing the new leadership of attempting to lie about the age Ibrahim Dasuki Jalo. The APC claimed that the age of Jalo was 43, but PDP says documents show the man is 53, a clear 13 years above the bar for a youth. It appears that in its jockeying to satisfy loyalists, Tinubu’s party shot itself in the foot. According to the PDP, “It is public knowledge that Ibrahim Dasuki Jalo contested the Gombe/Kwame/Funakaye Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives in 2011 during which he declared his age to be 49 years. The records are there and they speak for themselves. If Ibrahim Dasuki Jalo was 49 years old in 2011, it naturally follows that he is 53 at present for which he should be grateful to God. It is, therefore, clear that the statement by the APC declaring him to be 43 years old is false. Apparently drawing alliteratively from a common social media appellation for the APC’s spokesman as the lying Lai, his opposite number, Olisa Metuh said the APC’s action showed the party had “little regard for integrity and that its statements cannot be trusted.” It advised

“APC, now under a new leadership to imbibe the culture of integrity and honesty especially as Nigerians deserve to know the truth and the correct state of facts always.” However, talks of any cracks or plans to dump the party, especially by chieftain Tom Ikimi and former Borno Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, who failed to install his former political foe turned ally, Kashim Imam, into a plum office, or for his being sidelined for the Chairmanship of the Board of Trustees (BoT), were pooh-poohed by party spokesman, Lai Mohammed who declared: “That is mere speculation. They are strong men of our party; that will not be enough reason for them to leave the party, I can assure you.” But going by strong indications of the men’s anger and that of others, it appears the peace of the graveyard in the APC may soon be shattered when dry bones in the grave begin to rise again. It is sad that APC’s claims to change and being a party of progressives are nothing more than the whining of politicians shut out of the honey-pot of political power at the centre. The next few weeks will tell if Tinubu can rein in his motley crowd of followers and those behind the governors, who conceded to him now to fight another day. • Mr. Udumebraye sent this piece from Port Harcourt via Johnbull.udumebraye@yahoo.com

ARTS TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2014

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TONY OKUYEME

The theatre is a spiritual and social X-ray of its time.”― Stella Adler

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

theatre

Soyinka at 80: Theatre in A Dance of the Forests Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

ifty-four years after its premiere, A Dance of the Forests, one of the plays written by Professor Wole Soyinka will again come on stage in a grand style to commemorate the 80th birthday of the Nobel Laureate. Written in 1960, the play is being planned for presentation at the fifth edition of the WS International Cultural Exchange programme which runs through mid-July. Artistic director, Dr Tunde Awosanmi, disclosed that the play will be performed on Monday July 14. He spoke at a press conference held at Soyinka’s Ijegba residence in Kemta, Abeokuta, where Governor Ibikunle Amosun declared that the literary icon would forever be celebrated by the Ogun State government for his commitment to social justice. Amosun, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, expressed delight at Soyinka’s records of achievements in academics and emancipation of Africans. He said, “The government and people of Ogun State are 100 percent behind this project. Wole Soyinka is one of those that have made Ogun State proud and put it on the world map. Although Soyinka is everybody’s product, we in Ogun State will continue to celebrate him. For a man who has lived a turbulent life in the struggle for justice, his attainment of 80 years of age is very significant. He has joined the octogenarian club which is very significant and unique and we will continue to work for his progress.” The state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Yewande Amusan, also extolled the virtues of the playwright who would be joining the club of the octogenarians on July 13. She noted that Soyinka had continued to fight for the dignity of man, rights of individuals as well as unity and security of Nigeria. “People’s perception of him varies. To academics and literary scholars, he is a playwright, poet and novelist; to his family, a dedicated family man. But to us, he has been an untiring fighter for social justice and democrat. “Little wonder the name Kongi would be at the top when heroes of the present democratic dispensation are mentioned due to his relentless struggles and continuous advocate for the good of the common man,” Amusan said. Explaining the reason for the choice of A Dance of the Forests for the birthday celebration, Awosanmi said it was motivated by the drama’s relevance to the Nigerian political reality. He added that the play was considered because of the imagery embedded in its title. The artistic

The Ijegba residence of Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, in Abeokuta.

director recalled that the play – Soyinka’s theatrical debut – was entered for a dramatic contest instituted in commemoration of Nigeria’s independence in 1960 when the playwright was barely 26 years of age. But as an iconoclastic work, the play angered many of the elite then and was, therefore, denied official performance during the celebrations. “A Dance of the Forests occupies a big brother position in the pantheon of Wole Soyinka’s creative works, especially those of the dramatic genre, for this is just the right time to establish the fact – with all emphasis and authority – that each of the creative works in Soyinka’s oeuvre has attained the iconic status, over the years, of an oracle through which seekers of truth could define the reality of our humanity for ages and ages to come. “In the area of relevance, the strength of the play as an archaeology of history, a revision of the present and a prediction of the future has been authorita-

A Dance of the Forests occupies a big brother position in the pantheon of Wole Soyinka’s creative works... tively established by numerous critics of, and commentators on, Soyinka’s works. “But one key and lucid treasure in the drama that has continued to escape the critical gaze of its reviewers are two particular dimensions of its rituality. The first is the apparent foundational structure which Soyinka laid for what has been understood today as the phenomenon of ‘truth and reconciliation commission’ through the ‘Court of Aroni.’ “So, futuristically, Soyinka had, as far back as 1960 when he was barely 26, foreseen a time when the oceans of iniquity of humanity will overflow

their banks to the extent that mankind will seek resolution of their self-inflicted crisis in the strategy of commissioning truth and reconciliation panels,” Awosanmi said. According to him, the play would be constructed around the iconic space of ‘Igbale’ and presented within a natural grove environment. He said, “In traditional African societies, there have always been spaces of revelation of truth and reconciliation of persons and forces in conflict. This space is what Soyinka has artistically explored in the play. That space is what I have identified as a sacred ground for the enactment of this ritual of revelation which constitutes the drama. “The entire community is involved in this ritual – humans, dead, living and unborn; spirits, deities, animals, the vegetation. Such is the completeness of the African idea of community. That space of unfolding of facts of existence and celebration of the eternal interaction between

L-R, Ogun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Yewande Amusan, Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, and Strategy/BOT Liaison, Mrs. Bolanle Austen-Peters, at a press conference to herald the 80th birthday of Professor Wole Soyinka in Abeokuta.

all these facets of existence is the Igbo Igbale.” The Executive Producer of the WS80-ICE project, Alhaji Teju Kareem, highlighted other activities lined up for the celebration. According to him, the birthday celebration will feature essay competition among secondary school students from all over the country, children’s creative and cultural expression presentation and conference/advocacy summit. Kareem, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Zmirage Multimedia Company, added that tours of landmark places in selected states as well as reflections and dialogue on national life and state of African polity through poetry and the spoken words are being planned for the event. “Because it’s a special year for us and the project, there will be significant international presence. International spoken word performers as well as keynote speakers from several universities abroad will join their Nigerian counterparts in the educational and cultural fiesta,” he said. Kareem also hinted that efforts are underway to confer enduring recognition on Soyinka in the international days observed at the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). He revealed some of the UNESCO conditions to register and designate the Open Door Series project in the international cultural dates. According to him, the programme must run for five years before any application for listing could be made. “To assure you, Professor Soyinka has given us – the Open Door Series – the mandate to have this as a brand and the condition of UNESCO to date it is to have it for five years minimum. After we can apply so it can become part of the world cultural calendar date,” he said.

22 ARTS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Theatre Centrik charity concert, Ara`loba beckons on stage

Theatre Centrik in performance

Stories by Tony Okuyeme

t’s a season of festival and a heart of charity as Theatre Centrik brings to life the Seventh edition of its charity concert. Titled Ara`loba, the show is set to hold on June 27, 2014 at the Main Auditorium, University of Lagos.

Announcing this in a statement, Artistic Director of Theatre Centrik, Tony Biyi said, Ara`loba grew from just a small gathering of like minds who believe in the exposure of their talent and the rich cultural heritage of Africa into a platform and workshop where creative minds share

ideas and present it to a larger audience to learn, enjoy and explore. “Our life is a piece of drama, music and dance; a world of lines and movement, chorus and vocal, movement and dexterity. We act for information; we sing for joy and dance for beauty,” he said.

Biyi added that this year Charity concert is a collection of champions, those who have influence the theatre palace in Africa and globally, those who have supported the development of creative industry in our country, such as Steve James, Segun Adefila, Amb Abel Utuedor, Ebi-Pre Bai, Pat-

Our life is a piece of drama, music and dance; a world of lines and movement, chorus and vocal, movement and dexterity rick Diabuah, Ayodeji Habeed Awoko, Lekan Balogun and others. According to him, the event would explore the tourism potential of the Nigerian Theatre as it is tagged Ara Theatre for Tourism. “We believe that Nigerian Theatre is one major aspect of the Nigerian Tourism potential which we need to explore and export globally. The event is also in celebration of Prof. Wole Soyinka at 80 with a special performance of his poem titled – Conversation at Night with the Cockroach. And in celebration of Theatre Centrik at 15 with Lekan Balogun’s play titled Three Jolly Friends. We shall also have comedy, music and dance. “We invite all lovers of Art and Culture, tourist, children and the general public to this special program. Its promises to be a day of theatre at is best, a platform to express our creative minds without barriers and explore new ideas and areas of development as individuals, group, community and nation.”

Wande Coal now Glo Ambassador

Wande Cole

he recent signing of Wande Ojosipe popularly called Wande Coal as a Globacom ambassador is no doubt a good development for his teeming fans in Nigerian, especially the youths, who enjoy his bumperto-bumper music. The coming on board of Wande brings the number of brand ambassadors in the Glo stable to twenty one. It foregrounds the brand ambassadorship initiative pioneered by Glo and enthusiastically emulated by other corporate organisations in Africa. Asked to comment about his ambassadorship at his unveiling recently at the Mike Adenuga Towers, Headquarters of Globacom in Lagos, Wande enthused “I want to say a big thank you to God and Globacom. This is a dream come

true for me to be signed on as a Glo Ambassador. Coming from Mushin and being so recognised by an international brand. I promise to work hard to justify my appointment and i will positively portray Glo in everything i do from now. Everything is now green”. Wande Coal confessed that prior to his being signed on as an Ambassador, he had been a part of the brand for four years through appearances at various shows. Welcoming guests to the unveiling ceremony, Globacom’s Brenda Akhigbe announced that adding Wande Coal to the rich repertoire of brand ambassadors was to further deepen the telecoms youth market penetration. She described Wande Coal as an icon and a household name in the Nigerian entertainment industry who is expected to increase Globacom’s brand equity. Her words “ Wande Coal will complement our robust list of brand ambassadors and deepen our business strategy of using brand ambassadors to drive our penetration into the youth market in our countries of operations. We see these brand ambassadors as role models who are expected to be above board at all times”. The bumper-to-bumper crooner has joined other A-list artistes in the Globacom stable like D’banj, Lagbaja, M.I., Omawumi, PSquare, Waje, Bez, Sammie Okposo, Ego Ogbaro, Lynxx, Chee, Chioma Chukwuka-Akpotha, Desmond Elliot, Naeto C, Ini Edo to mention a few.

Ijodee, one of the leading contemporary dance companies in Nigeria, in performance

Contemporary dance: Gladiators on the Street of Abuja, Delta, Kaduna

street contemporary dance project with the aim to highlight the simplicity and complexity in human relationship and understanding is set to hold in four select cities across Nigeria. Tagged Gladiators on the Street, the dance workshop will hold from June 23 to 28, 2014, the organisers said in a statement. Communicating the message of unity Aralamo tends to encourage the youths and

the coming generation on the importance of positive relationships, progressive thoughts to one another, positive mindset, liberated mentality and above all togetherness in our community. “The choreographic dance piece explores the spiritual and physical characteristics of man from his vision to his realization in the race of his idealism. This contemporary street dance project uses the platform

of arts to educate the public and promote arts as a tool for social change. It is a unique way to promote social responsibility to a mass market and should result in positive social change. “Contemporary street dance is a project borne out of the challenges and struggles experienced by the inhabitants of the slum. The workshop will take place in Abuja, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Kaduna and Osun.”

MOM&PARENTING

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

TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2014

It is an established fact that no parent wishes his or her child to suffer the same fate that befell him/ her in the younger or later days of life, nor do parents want their children to feel the pains of life throughout their growing stages of life. No, it shouldn’t be so. Experts emphasise that parents should let children understand and value the essence of hard work and earn pay for it, writes OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI.

Teaching your children the dignity of labour

ome days ago, Michelle Obama, in an interview with Parade magazine, said, “I think every kid needs to get a taste of what it’s like to do that real hard work.” She recounted the early days about with her husband, President Barack Obama both worked minimum-wage jobs before they got law degrees: a characterbuilding experience they said they also want their teenage daughters to share. The president scooped ice cream at Baskin-Robbins, waited tables at an assisted-living facility for seniors and also worked as a painter. The first lady worked at a book binding shop. “We are looking for opportunities for them to feel as if going to work and getting a paycheck is not always fun, not always stimulating, not always fair,” the president’s wife said. “But that’s what most folks go through every single day.” The first couple had taken pains to keep their daughters Malia, 16, and Sasha, 13, out of the public eye, while in the White House. But Malia was recently spotted on the set of a CBS television program, working as a production assistant for a day. The Obamas gave the interview to promote a summit the White House is holding to discuss policies to help working families. “There are structures that can help families around child care, healthcare, and schooling that make an enormous difference in people’s lives,” Obama said in the interview. This year, Obama has tried to focus on issues such as ensuring equal pay for women, expanding early childhood education and hiking the minimum wage. These issues so far, have failed to gain traction in Congress, but do resonate with Democratic voters. In the interview, the Obamas talked about how they lived for a year on the second floor of the house of Michelle’s mom, Marian Robinson after law school, drove a used car that they bought for $1,000, and worked through

15-year-old Kelvin Doe working for his pay

Uguru

the stress of being saddled with student loans and small children. They acknowledged that their careers gave them the chance to earn good incomes and negotiate family leave when they needed it - a luxury that most minimum-wage workers do not have. “But what it made me think about was people who were on the clock,” the president said. “If you’re an hourly worker in most companies, and you say, ‘I’ve got to take three days off,’ you may lose your job. At minimum, you’re losing income you can’t afford to lose,” he said. The Obamas are not alone in that

school of thought that believes children earn their pay through hard work. Fadeke Uguru, and educationist consultant, who is also participating in the Summit at the White House, told New Telegraph in telephone chat that children need to know the realities of life, so that they can appreciate what their parents could afford them. By them working hard, they will not feel inferior to their mates and it will keep them out of troubles. “Remember that an idler’s mind is a devil’s workshop. She cited an example of some children and a parent she counselled recently. She said one parent can afford to bring her children to school with a jeep while the other one charters a tricycle (popularly known as keke marwa) to drop her children off at school. What ever happened, the one with a tricycle always pleaded with her mother to tell the driver to drop her some metres away from the school, so that nobody will see her. Why? She gave the excuse that she is ashamed of it and it is not the same with Roseline (her friend) mother’s type. The mother felt hurt and reported the issue to her (Uguru). “I simply told her to be patient to grow up and work hard to be able to buy her own jeep,” she said. Uguru added that she had to work seriously hard on the girl to be herself and appreciate the little her parents can afford to offer. She also recounted her story. She said she earned her first pay at the

age of 14, when she washed plates and pots in America. “It was 14 days make a pay then,” she said. According to Uguru, children need to understand that work equates money. “They should value hard work, especially girls. They will always need more if parents keep dolling out money to them freely. That is when they become desperate for money. Rather, she stated that they should have dignity for labour, and even have respect for those who offer services to them. Most importantly, she advised parents to teach kids how to save money which will follow them through to their adulthood. “This make them respect not only their parents but have respect for authoritative figures that they will eventually work with later in life.” Theresa Ajewole, Children counsellor with a private school, explained that there is no particular age to introduce children to practical labour, and parent should be able to separate hard work from child slavery as commonly seen on the streets. She advised that it could start from home, “the parents could offer to give them a few token for plates washed or for sweeping. Teach them to save the money and help them spend it wisely. By so doing, you will see them willing to work and earn their pay decently,” she said. She added that: “They will have sense of dignity and value.”

MOM&PARENTING

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Bill Cosby’s interesting parenting insight

Correcting her kid

Reluctant to refuse her daughter

t is a natural norm for parents to want their children to be perfect but forget that being perfect is a process that includes failing and trying. Bill Cosby, 76, television comedian, last week, spent Father’s Day doling out parenting wisdom in which he highlights the common mistakes parents make on Social media site “REDDIT.” 1) Being inconsistent or not following through, kids will learn, empty “threats” will be useless. 2) My parents would never let me know how much they spent on bills, on Christmas gifts, on groceries, on gas, on anything. They said it was “none of my business.” Now I’m almost an adult and I have no concept of money. 3) Not letting them be themselves , I’m not saying you have to let your kid run around being a jerk to everyone, but let them know explore what they are interested in, and don’t get so bogged down on the social expectations. If he doesn’t want to play football, don’t make him. 4) Not letting them fail, like little baby birds learning to fly. When I was growing up, I was told that I either did something better than anyone, or I didn’t bother doing it at all. That left me paralyzed to try new things for fear of the ridicule and derision I’d get from my dad. 5) If your kid asks you why they have to do something, don’t say, “because I said so.” Actually tell them the reason. This was by far the most infuriating thing I experienced as a child. 6) Letting them think they are the centre of the universe. They may be the centre of world but they need to know how to be a member of society. 7) Sheltering them from things that will be a huge part of their lives as adults. Things like life skills, personal safety skills, relationship skills, and critical thinking skills. 8) Not letting their teen have any freedom until they go off to col-

lege and crash and burn. 9) Tell them how you catch them lying. Seriously! You really want them to get better at it? Let them think you have ESP, and can see thru walls and shit. 10) Do their children’s thinking for them. Let them come to their conclusions 11) Not teaching them manners at a young age. You can get a long way in life by being polite and courteous. 12) Several studies have come out recently that you not tell a child that he/ she is “so smart” and instead commend their hard work. If you want your kid to strive for more than most of us, tell them to work hard. 13) Ignoring the quiet ones. My oldest brother was really smart, used to get praised for that. My other brother was extremely disruptive, that also got all the attention. Where did that leave me? I wasn’t smart, just average, and I was good and quiet and ignored.

14) Some children need and will flourish with boundaries and some will retaliate with too many restrictions. Some you can trust with freedom and some will abuse it. Every child is different and needs to be parented to in a way that is tailor made to them. 15) Having overprotective parents= lying children. The amount of shit I’ve done that they don’t even know about is too damn high. 16) Only giving them negative feedback and forgetting to praise them. It will scar them forever. Trust me. 17) My dad and mom spilt when I was a kid, and my dad thought he had to ‘win’ by being my friend and telling me my mom was an awful person. 18) Not letting them develop independence. Your perfect little angel is perfectly capable of doing his homework, surviving a skinned knee, not coming in. Eventually, they will grow up and get their own families to take care of. They need

to have the skills and the room to that. 19) When kids are proud of something and show it to you, like a drawing or something and you just act uninterested or critique it. 20) Refusing to believe that their child ever does any wrong. 21) Try to earn their friendship instead of their respect 22) Not reading to them at an early age. From what I understand getting the kids actively involved with reading right away will increase performance in school dramatically over the course of their life. 23) Being absent. Go to the damn dance recital. When they need help, HELP THEM. Don’t pass the buck off to someone else. The first person your kid trusts is you. When you break that trust it is very hard for them to learn to trust anyone. •Culled from www.circle of moms

How to handle temper tantrums

f you have a child, you have at some point peeled his red-faced self off the floor of the baking aisle because you told him no, you’re not buying sprinkles for dinner. (Was he still wearing pants when you exited the store? Congratulations.) “Tantrums are common from ages one to four because kids become frustrated when they can’t get what they want,” says Robert G. Harrington, a professor of psychology at the University of Kansas who specializes in child development, behavior management, and parent education. “Younger kids may also lack the language skills to voice that frustration.” Since a two-year-old doesn’t know how to tell you exactly where to stick that gummy worm you aren’t handing over, he loses it. As we mature, we get (somewhat) better at articulating our needs and exercising self-control. But people of all ages still boil over—because our team lost the soccer game. And believe it or

not, the tactics that calm a screaming toddler can apply to everybody. Here’s the classic three-point plan for managing a meltdown, followed by specific strategies for every age. 1. Anticipate We all have temper triggers. For a toddler, it may be getting dressed for preschool; for an adult, it may be talking about the credit-card bill after three glasses of wine. If you’re aware of the triggers, you may be able to avoid the tantrum. (Allow time for multiple Croc changes; put off the budget meeting until morning.) Also, remember the acronym HALT: Tantrums often happen because the thrower is hungry, agitated, lonely, or tired, says Harrington. 2. Wait When someone is having a tantrum, don’t throw a tantrum yourself. It will only add fuel to the fire. “Don’t yell back in the middle of the outburst,”

says Harrington. “Offer choices, get out of the situation, or just take a breath. Often it will pass.” 3. Validate One reason people throw tantrums is that they want to be heard, says Susan Orenstein, a psychologist in Cary, North Carolina, who focuses on marriage and relationships. “They grow louder and more animated as a way to get attention and show you that this issue is important to them.” So let the tantrum thrower know you feel his pain. This doesn’t mean you have to agree. A simple “I understand you’re angry” will suffice. With kids, it’s also important to let them know that it’s OK to express emotion, but in an appropriate way. You might say to a toddler, “I understand that you’re frustrated that you can’t get the refrigerator open,” and then explain a better way to react: “If you would ask me to please help you, I’d love to.” •Culled from www.circle of moms

BUSINESS TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2014

WHAT'S NEWS World Cup TV advertising may hit $2.3bn Television advertising globally in the on-going World Cup in Brazil could hit $2.3 billion, according to tentative estimates by media buying agency network, GroupM.

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UK Court begins full trial of Shell by 2015 The United Kingdom Court declared at the weekend that it would begin the full trial of the case on Shell’s oil spill in Nigeria next year.

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US to end crude imports from Nigeria, others by 2035 International Energy Agency and oil giant BP, at the weekend, forecast that the United States will not need crude from Nigeria and other countries by 2035.

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What business model for Nigerian airlines? For some time now, Nigerian airlines have been complaining about unfavourable government policy and harsh business environment. They are known to be groaning.

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BUSINESS CREW AYODELE AMINU, Deputy Editor (Business) SIMEON OGOEGBULEM, Dep. Business Editor BAYO AKOMOLAFE, Asst. Editor (Maritime) SUNDAY OJEME, Asst. Editor (Insurance) SIAKA MOMOH, Asst. Editor (Industry/Agric) GODSON IKORO , Asst. Editor (Money Market) JONAH IBOMA, ICT Editor DAYO ADEYEMI, Property Editor ADEOLA YUSUF, Energy Editor WOLE SHADARE, Aviation Editor

HURDLES Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani AlisonMadueke, has outlined the challenge of piracy at the Gulf of Guinea. Adeola Yusuf

he Joint Ventures (JV) operations between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and international oil companies (IOCs) in the Nigeria’s multi-billion dollars oil and gas industry is losing $30 million to pipeline vandalism and oil theft in the Niger Delta every day. A document of the NNPC which revealed this quoted the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani AlisonMadueke to have rolled out this figure. Mrs. Alison-Madueke who have earlier said in a presentation at the CERAWeek in Houston, United States of America, that the Federal Government has entered into various alliances with security agents to tackle the menace head-on, maintained in the NNPC document that the loss to oil theft in the past three years “has been as high as 100,000 to 300,000 barrels per day (bpd).” Global estimates are that each month, pipeline oil theft is as much as $1.5 billion but the minister claimed that about 300,000 barrels of oil, which sells for over $100 per barrel, are stolen daily from the Niger Delta in the last three years. She said: “In Nigeria alone, oil theft in the past three years has been as high as 100,000 to 300,000 barrels per day (bpd). Enormous environmental risks and damage from spillage add to the costs. Theft and piracy require regional, continental and global coordination to track illegal money from crude oil theft.” According to the minister, a legal framework that is internationally binding is essential, as is the participation and cooperation of the international energy and financial communities. Measures in Nigeria, such as the Pipeline Right of Way, were enacted to make access to potential thieves as difficult as possible. “A new horizontal direct drilling system (HDD) has also been introduced which calls for pipelines to be buried further underground,” Mrs Alison-Madueke said.

DELE ALAO, Brands/Marketing Editor CHRIS UGWU, Capital Market Editor ABDULWAHAB ISA, Finance Editor CHUKS ONUANYIN, Energy NNAMDI AMADI, Reporter JOHNSON ADEBAYO, Asst. Production Editor

25 NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/business

HOW ACCOMMODATION SEEKERS CAN BECOME LANDLORDS }p-33

AYODELE AMINU, DEPUTY EDITOR, BUSINESS

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

FG, IOCs lose $30m to oil theft daily –Minister “We have made some progress. Of course, as you make progress on one of the trunk lines that is been vandalized, the thieves or the vandals scurry round to another pipeline to sabotage,” she said at an Honorary International Investors

Council meeting in London. She added: “A key step in controlling the stolen supply was to work with other countries to dry up the market for the stolen crude oil. “We need to encourage more private participation in the oil and gas sector, rather

than the historical majority control by governments in developing countries.” The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

L-R: Marketing Media Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Wasiu Abiola; Marketing Manager, Non- Alcoholic Drinks, Sampson Oloche; Senior Brand Manager, Maltina, Adewole Adedeji and Corporate Media/Brand Public Relation Manager, Edem Vindah, at the Maltina Dance All Season Eight (MDA 8), entitled ‘Rhythm of Happiness’ in Lagos. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Why Nigerian airlines can't compete, by Fadugba FRINGE PLAYER The combined fleet of all Nigerian carriers is far less than the total number of Ethiopian Airway's airplanes Wole Shadare

or Nigerian airlines to be profitable, they need deep pockets, a viable business plan, competent management and an enabling regulatory and economic environment.

Chief Executive Officer of African Aviation Services, Nick Fadugba, disclosed this in an interview with New Telegraph. He said that many Nigerian airlines are disadvantaged from the outset, in terms of their aircraft fleet size, commercial viability and the operating environment. Besides, he noted that in today’s world, for airlines to survive and prosper, they need a critical mass of aircraft, air traffic and an optimal route network. Fadugba stated that the combined fleet of all Nigerian carriers is far less than the total number of airplanes belonging

to Africa’s most profitable airline, Ethiopian Airways, which currently operates 50 aircraft to 81 destinations across five continents with over 200 daily flights, with no real domestic competition. He explained that the Government-owned Ethiopian Airlines has a turnover of over $2 billion and a net profit exceeding $200 million. “What I am saying is. If you look at Arik Air, to its credit, it has most of the ingredients to be effective and efficient. It has the largest airline fleet in CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE April 2014...............................7.9% March 2014............................7.8% Feburary 2014 ........................7.7%

LENDING RATE

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at June 20)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N166.50 InterBank Rate . . . . . . . . . 10.50% Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N284 Prime Lending Rate. . . . . 16.93% Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N227.50 Maximum Lending Rate..25.83% • Foreign Reserves – $37.08bn as at 19/06/2014

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at June 20)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N156.73 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N266.36 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N212.62 Source: CBN

26 BUSINESS | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

World Cup TV advertising may hit $2.3bn BOOST Advertisers across the globe increase spend on television advertising to $2.3 billion. Dele Alao

elevision advertising globally in the on-going World Cup in Brazil could hit $2.3 billion, according to tentative estimates by media buying agency network, GroupM. Also, media buyer, ZenithOptimedia, said that the World Cup is set to kick the global advertising market into the half-atrillion dollar zone this year as television advertisements during the flurry of games will boost the sector to $524 billion. The World Cup will add as

much as $500 million (£294 million, €374 million) to the Latin American ad market this year, a further $300 million in the US and $300 million in Western Europe. However, the Asia Pacific region is set to reap the least in World Cup related ad spend at $250 million, due to the time differences when matches are shown in Latin America. Meanwhile, the remaining $150 million is expected to come from Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the rest of the world. “The World Cup will provide a big boost to television in June and July, but we expect its share of the global advertising market to begin to fall this year, after peaking in 2013,” said ZenithOptimedia. It added: “Television’s global market share rose slowly but steadily for decades, increasing from 29.9 per cent in 1980

to 39.6 per cent in 2013. We now expect its share to erode to 39.4 per cent in 2014 and 38.3 per cent by 2016.” In a related development, Consumers International has launched a social media campaign using the hashtag #JunkFoodWorldCup to draw attention to the way the football World Cup is being used to market unhealthy food.

The campaign is part of CI’s call for more global action to tackle unhealthy diets. CI Food programme manager, Anna Glayzer, said that the aim of CI’s campaign is to highlight how the food industry uses international sporting occasions to sell unhealthy food. “Using footballers and images relating to football to advertise foods high in salt, sugar

or fat gives the false impression that these products are healthy. The impact that this has on children is particularly worrying as they are more susceptible to advertising messages and imagery. If children see their favourite footballer advertising crisps or a highly sugared beverage, they will associate that product with sport and with being fit and healthy,” Glayzer said.

FG, IOCs lose $30m to oil theft daily –Minister C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

(OPEC)’s alternate president laid out a global context for energy markets that focused on some of the challenges and uncertainties facing the economies of the world, and particularly those in developing countries. The minister noted that over half of the world’s fossil fuel demand ends up in fuel tanks, thus tying demand to the transportation sector. A growing need for transportation fuel in China and India will keep a support floor under overall demand, which is expected to rise from 89 million barrels of oil per day (bopd) to 97 million bopd by 2020, and 115 million bopd by 2040, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). However, there are several issues that add uncertainty to long-term projections of world energy markets, including changes in economic growth rates of countries, debt downgrades, population changes, government-driven austerity programs, and other potential issues, Mrs AlisonMadueke said. Outside of North America, tight oil production is expected to contribute only marginally to the global supply of oil, and it is important to developing countries to acquire and exercise the financial discipline necessary to underpin development in industrial sectors to sustain economic growth. Africa and other oil producing countries in the developing world need to shift from predominantly crude oil production to an integration of oil and gas production that emphasizes the natural resources of the country. Particular emphasis should be placed on power and industrial sectors and resources that help the economy to grow, and that fuel job growth, AlisonMadueke said. Technological advances both increase supply and lessen demand, she said, noting that while supply in shale formations will rise on advancing technology, demand will moderate on increased transportation

efficiencies, including the growing use of electric and hybrid cars, and vehicles powered by natural gas and fuel cells. Alison-Madueke expects the US and Canadian tight oil production to plateau in the period between 2017 and 2019, based on information from the World Oil Outlook. A plateau in North America will result in the continued dependency in many countries for oil from the Gulf countries and Africa. Any unrest in the supplying countries will continue to affect global prices. Mrs Alison-Madueke said that an additional challenge was the issue of theft, kidnapping and piracy, which were becoming the norm for crude oil operations in some regions of the world. She further noted that the population of the whole country needs to benefit from the country’s resources. Currently, a petroleum industry bill in Nigeria was out of ministerial control and in the hands of the national parliament. The bill was designed to make the industry more transparent and accountable, and it calls for the creation of an independent regulator. The proposed legislation will give investors additional clarity and help promote a more competitive environment, she said.

L-R: Director, Intercontinental Distillers Limited [IDL], Mr. Esijolomi Rewane; Managing Director/CEO, Patrick Anegbe; Brand Manager, Chapeau Wine, Mrs. Chioma Alonge and President, Lagos Country Club, Ikeja, Kayode Moradeyo, during the unveiling of Chapeau Wine in Lagos.

FG may scrap Aviation Ministry

New national carrier unlikely Plans linkage to airports by rail Wole Shadare

he Transport Committee of the on-going National Conference in Abuja, headed by Senator Musa Abebe, had asked government to return the various aviation agencies that had been slated for merger to status quo. According to the report made available to New Telegraph, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) should remain autonomous, while the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) should either be merged with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) or a related agency in the Ministry of Transport.

The Steve Orosanye-committee on the pruning down of government agencies had in March recommended that the NCAA, NAMA and NIMET be merged to cut governance cost. But the decision met stiff resistance from aviation workers who protested for one week for government to rescind its decision just as other unions in the aviation sector inundated the Ministry of Aviation and the Presidency with petitions on the huge implications the decision would have on aviation safety. The Orosanye-committee had recommended that the Ministry of Aviation be scrapped with immediate effect, just as it called for a transparent and

Why Nigerian airlines can't compete, by Fadugba C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

Nigeria, with over 20 modern aircraft, the largest route network and almost certainly the largest revenue turnover. Will it capitalise on its leading position in the Nigerian airline market," he asked. He reiterated that it is very hard for Nigerian airlines to compete with bigger African and international airlines with just a handful of aircraft, adding that the size and scale of an airline’s operations are important. The expert said that he would like to see airlines in Ni-

geria enter into mutually beneficial partnerships and joint ventures with one another, which he stated would enable them to become more efficient and profitable. “In fact, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) should be championing this cause. All the airlines in Nigeria are owned by shrewd business people, who, in addition to wishing to provide safe and efficient air services, also wish to make a decent return on their significant investment. “Combining forces could help achieve these two objectives. I would like the airline

owners, at least, those that are willing, to sit in a room, lock the door, and ask themselves how they can work together”. He opined that if two or three, or more Nigerian airlines joined forces, they would have a larger fleet size and combined resources and would become more bankable and more formidable. Fadugba also believes that Nigeria has all the ingredients for a successful airline industry but lamented that many of the players are too small, weak and undercapitalised to take advantage of the market opportunities.

competitive public private partnership programme to be initiated for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). But the conference committee had questioned the over N174 billion FAAN debts, just as it requested that the airports’ remodelling exercise be addressed. The committee equally queried the need for another college of aviation, saying that it was of no essence now. It questioned the essence of owning a second training school when government has not been able to adequately fund NCAT, Zaria. The committee tried in vain to convince other conferees on the need of having another national carrier to replace the dead and improperly buried Nigeria Airways. The option was rejected and they agree in totality with the conferees. “We need strong flag carriers to be built from the present carriers through a regulated consolidation process. We cannot wait for the NCAA anymore, since they lack the balls. The conferees and the National Assembly should urgently initiate the process.” The committee described as good and futuristic the planned linkage of all international airports to rail lines, considering the huge funds needed to actualise this dream. It recommended that in the interim, surface connectivity between the domestic and international terminals should be activated, while other connections within cities should be developed to ease movement and encourage tourist and transit passengers.

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Port Harcourt refinery

FINES Shell has sought the co-operation of Bodo community to clean up site of 2008 oil spills Stories by Adeola Yusuf

he United Kingdom Court declared at the weekend that it would begin the full trial of the case on Shell’s oil spill in Nigeria next year. The court which made this known also consented to Shell’s bid to pay damages over the 2008 oil spills in Bodo Community of the Niger Delta. A senior English judge, Mr Justice Akenhead, who delivered a preliminary ruling in a case brought by Bodo Community, limited the scope of the litigation to an assessment of actual damages sustained as a result of the operational spills.

CONTRACTS Dangote has awarded a $139 million refinery EPCM contract to an Indian firm

angote group has completed the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) on the $9 billion refinery project, New Telegraph gathered exclusively at the weekend. The company owned by Africa’s richest business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has henceforth began to issue contract awards for the largest privately owned refinery in Nigeria, a country which produces more oil than any other in Africa but must import most of the motor fuel and diesel it uses because existing refineries are dilapidated and inefficient. Dangote Oil Refining Company of Nigeria, the refining

Oil spills in Nigeria: UK Court begins full trial of Shell by 2015 Shell, New Telegraph gathered, had offered to pay damages of N7.5 billion for the spill, a move rejected by the representatives of the community. Justice Akenhead accepted that the Nigerian Oil Pipelines Act provides a comprehensive and complete regime for compensation of oil spills. This decision limits the scope of the litigation to an assessment of actual damages sustained as a result of the operational spills. Shell, it would be recalled, had offered to pay damages of N7.5 billion for the spill, a move, which was rejected by the representatives of the community.

Meanwhile, the judge dismissed attempts of the community’s UK legal representatives to add a range of additional claims over and above the compensation due under the clear Nigerian statutory regime. The issue of liability for environmental damage caused by oil theft and criminality was also addressed. The judge found that the Oil Pipelines Act does not hold pipeline operators responsible for damage caused by oil theft. He did identify rare, “theoretical” but “difficult to prove” exceptions, for example in the event a pipeline operator knew the time and location of

Dangote completes EIA on $9bn refinery arm of the Dangote group has signed $139 million contact with Engineers India Limited (EIL), a total solutions consultancy company. The contract will enable EIL to render Project Management Consultancy, PMC and Engineering Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) services for implementing a grass root 400,000 barrels per day refinery and 600,000 tons polypropylene plant for Dangote in Lekki Free Trade Zone near Lagos. The $139 million contract is said to be the largest ever consultancy contract for a 20 million ton oil refinery in Nigeria. Engineers India is a total solutions consultancy company and EPC contractor in petro-

leum refining, petrochemicals, pipelines, oil and gas terminals and storages, fertilizers, mining and metallurgy and infrastructure projects. The company is also diversifying into water and waste management and has made inroads into nuclear, solar and thermal power. Within about two years, the new refinery in a stretch of swampy shoreline outside Lagos could start piping in crude from roughly 7 miles offshore, bypassing a traffic jam of tankers often stuck for weeks. Competing against four government-managed refineries that run at barely 20 per cent of their intalled capacity, Dangote would double the country's maximum refinery output.

a planned attack by criminals and decided not to inform the police. He also accepted that no compensation is payable for oil spilled as a result of illegal oil refining. The judge further recognised the significant jurisdictional problems that arise when claims relating to Nigerian land are brought in England rather than in the Nigerian courts that have jurisdiction in relation to such land. These issues will need to be addressed during the main trial next year. Meanwhile, the Country Chair for Shell in Nigeria, Mr Mutiu Sunmonu, declared that his company had accepted full responsibility for the “two deeply regrettable operational spills” in Bodo Community, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, six years ago. Sunmonu who doubled as Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) confirmed that his company is willing to “compensate fairly and quickly those who have been genuinely affected and to clean up all areas where oil has been spilled from our facilities.” Sunmonu, according to a statement by Shell’s spokesperson in Nigeria, Mr Precious Okolobo, said: “From the outset, we’ve accepted responsibility for the two deeply regrettable operational spills in Bodo. We want to compensate fairly and quickly those who have been genuinely affected and to clean up all areas where oil has been spilled from our facilities, including the many parts of Bodo which have been severely impacted by oil theft, illegal refining and sabotage.

“We hope the community will now direct their UK legal representatives to stop wasting even more time pursuing enormously exaggerated claims and consider sensible and fair compensation offers.” He added: “We’ve consistently maintained that the Bodo Community’s UK legal representatives have a fundamental misunderstanding of Nigerian law, and today, the judge has agreed with us. It’s disappointing that we’ve had to go through this process, which has involved a significant amount of wasted time and legal expense.” It would be recalled that various negotiations between Shell and indigenes of Bodo over the spills and the volume of damages have been hitting the wall. Another Shell’s spokesman, Joseph Obari, who confirmed the earlier attempts on out-ofcourt negotiation between the two parties said: “We took part in this week’s settlement negotiations with two objectives - to make a generous offer of compensation to those who have suffered hardship as a result of the two highly regrettable operational spills in 2008, and to make progress in relation to the cleanup. “We await the community’s response to our compensation proposal, and we’re pleased to have made progress in relation to the cleanup. “SPDC and the Bodo Community have committed their full support for the cleanup process, currently in progress, with the support of Bert Ronhaar, the former Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria,’’ he added.

28 BUSINESS | ENERGY

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Nigeria, others get World Bank’s order on gas flaring by September END The World Bank seeks end to gas flaring by 2030

Adeola Yusuf

he World Bank said at the weekend that it would issue a regulation to Nigeria and other oil producing nations on the need to end gas flaring at its meeting in September, this year. The global lender, which said this in a statement, added that it envisaged that these countries would heed its advice for a total end to flaring by 2030. It said that the amount of fuel wasted in the practice would generate enough power to meet all of Africa’s demand for electricity. “It will be voluntary but we hope that both companies and countries will see the sense in what we are proposing,” Anita George, in the bank’s extractive industry unit, was quoted to have said in Moscow. “We are planning to propose it in September,” she said. The World Bank is leading 33 companies and nations in the Global Gas Flaring Reduction partnership that seeks to shrink the industry custom by 30 percent in the five years to 2017. The gas is pumped from fields when companies drill for oil.

Halting the burning of about 140 billion cubic meters of gas globally every year would reduce carbon-dioxide emissions equivalent to taking about 70 million cars off the roads. Mexico and Azerbaijan have reduced flaring by about 66 per cent and 50 per cent, respectively, in the past two years, George said. In Nigeria, Royal Dutch Shell Plc is investing about $4 billion to reduce flaring from local oil fields. BP Plc’s biggest flaring occurs at its crude production in the Rumaila oilfield in Iraq, the chief executive officer at the London-based company, Bob Dudley, said. It’s proposing to pump gas to Kuwait to reduce the country’s liquefied natural gas imports. “That would be a big step forward for the world,” Dudley added. He downplayed the World Bank initiative. “Zero is like saying never or nothing,” he said. “So that’s probably not realistic, that’s an aspiration to go.” “According to a satellite data, Russia is by far the largest flarer of gas,” George said at the World Petroleum Congress in Moscow. OAO Rosneft, OAO Sibur Holding, OAO Lukoil, OAO Gazprom Neft and OAO Surgutneftegas have been increasing use of the gas partly for local power generation, she said. The World Bank’s GGFR

experts have been crunching satellite data for over a year to compile a new report on flaring. The last was published in July 2012, with 2011 data. “We’re working on calibrating the flares” to get reliable results, said Bjorn Hamso, programme manager. Preliminary results show the US share of flaring is growing after a surge in its oil and gas production. It’s behind Iraq and Russia “competing for the top spot,” followed by Nigeria and Iran, Hamso said. It would be recalled that the international oil companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria are in race to evade government’s sanctions on gas flaring, the major source of air pollution

in Nigeria. Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke, who disclosed this also said that the oil multinationals have slashed gas flaring to a record 11 per cent, the lowest since 58 years of oil exploration and production in Nigeria. Although government has kept mute on the new deadline for the IOCs on gas flaring, New Telegraph gathered that government has started to rate their compliance level on the flaring. “Many of the international oil companies are fast approaching full flare-out as the gas obligation and infrastructure growth have all combined to enable utilisation of hither-

to flared gas,” Madueke said, maintaining that the flare-out rate dropped from 25 per cent to 11 per cent of production. “All IOCs have set up special forces to ensure prompt compliance with the gas flaring reduction and we have seen them come up with different strategies to ensure this,” a management staff of one of the oil majors told New Telegraph on phone. Meanwhile, Mrs. Alison- Madueke said that as part of efforts at ensuring steady supply of gas to meet up with growing market demand of the product, the Federal Government is planning to construct the longest pipeline in the country from Calabar via Ajaokuta to Kano State.

Abuja Discos accuses Dutse residents of electricity theft James Nwabueze ABUJA

esidents of parts o f Dutse community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been accused of electricity theft by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, otherwise known as Abuja Discos. The Service Manager, Dutse Business Unit of Abuja Disco, Mr Gomina Mutalib, disclosed that his team discovered the theft which the residents engage in by bypassing installed meters during a routine inspection in the area recently. “The wires you are seeing that spread over the roof tops are actually disconnected because the meters the customers were using were properly disconnected during our inspection as a result of meter bypass. This implies that they were using light directly without connecting to the meters we installed for them. They have not been paying for power consumed and that is illegal. After the disconnection, we have asked them to come to the office for the proper thing to be done so they can have their light re-fixed. When we wanted to evacuate the wires on the roof to our office, the customers almost attacked us, so we left them there but they are not harmful since they were prop-

erly disconnected. The illegal electrical connection practices is so much here that have been trying to educate them on the dangers of quackery as practiced by non electricity staff” he. Mutalib decried the illegality, warning that such offence could attract penal fees of as much as N52,000 or even a jail term if convicted. He said: “There is a penalty attached to bypassing of meters and other criminal acts. If it is a single phase meter, then they will pay N21,000 connection fee inclusive as a penal payment while N52,000 will be paid for three-phase meter. The N2,000 is for reconnection fee while the N50,000 is the penal charge.” Managing Director of the Abuja Disco, Mr Neil Croucher, had recently stated that plans have been concluded to do away with the estimated billing system. Speaking to newsmen in Abuja at the weekend, Croucher said that his company had commenced the phasing out of estimated billing system with an assessment of the various platforms it has for the meters. According to him, the move was to ensure that the vending platform is properly intact and capable of taking the meters and the various payment options before rolling out thousands of meters.

Gas flaring

Chevron’s local content investment on EGTL hits $4bn GMOU Company has said that its Regional Development Committees has awarded and executed $22.3 million projects under the Global Memorandum of Understanding Adeola Yusuf

he Nigerian Content value of the Escravos Gas-to-Liquids (EGTL) project has hit $4 billion, Chevron Nigeria, operator of the facility has said. The United States oil company said this in its 2012 Corporate Responsibility Report obtained by New Telegraph at the weekend The firm maintained that

as at end of 2012, the Nigerian Content value of the Escravos Gas-to-Liquids (EGTL) project approached 40 per cent of project spend. Chevron Nigeria is the third largest oil producer in Nigeria and one of its largest investors, spending more than $3 billion annually, according to an earlier statement by the company. “This is approximately $4 billion invested in the regional economy through contracts for goods and services, employment and regulatory fees. In addition, projects worth more than $22.3 million were executed by the Regional Development Committees under the Global Memorandum of Understanding,” the statement signed by General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), Deji Haastrup, read. According to the report, over 18,500 people benefitted from the company’s River Boat Clinic

programme in 2012, while 3,924 students studying medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, engineering, medical laboratory sciences and nursing joined the Agbami Medical and Engineering Professionals Scholarship programme in 2012. The company, the statement by Haastrup further said, has continued to focus on ‘ZERO’ incident objective and implemented leading programmes to improve its performance with renewed vigor and emphasis on process safety. In 2012, the company contributed $375,000 to the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) to support the Foundation’s programmes including the running of the Lekki Conservation Centre. The report “highlights how in the past year, Chevron has contributed to the social and economic development of Nigeria, through effective partnerships with various stakeholders.”

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Gas flaring: An economy in flames In this report, ENERGY EDITOR, Adeola Yusuf who examines the ‘failed’ gas revolution agenda, details how multi-million dollars go up in flame on daily basis in the Niger Delta

nternational oil companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria are already in race to evade government’s sanctions on gas flaring, the major source of air pollution in Nigeria. Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison- Madueke, who disclosed this, declared that the oil multi-nationals have slashed gas flaring to a record 11 per cent, the lowest since 58 years of oil exploration and production in Nigeria. Although government has kept mute on the new deadline for the IOCs on gas flaring, New Telegraph gathered that government has started to rate their compliance level on flaring. Gas revolution question Before this declaration by the minister, President Goodluck Jonathan in March, 2011, reeled out the gas revolution agenda in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In the presence of the ministers of Petroleum Resources, Power, Works, Interior and Mines, the president described the agenda as a major plan to fast-track Nigeria’s industrial rebirth through a gas revolution anchored on the construction of two world scale petrochemical plants, two fertilizer plants, five fertilizer blending plants, a methanol plant and a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) distribution plant. He assured investors present at the occasion, notably Xenel of Saudi Arabia, Nargajuna of India and Chevron in Nigeria, of his administration’s readiness to provide the necessary support, because, according to him, “this aspiration to reindustrialise Nigeria is aggressive and can only be achieved through a revolution.” About three years after the launch of the much-publicised gas revolution agenda, the absence of any action to show government’s readiness for the implementation of this agenda spreads disbelief and anger among stakeholders in the global gas industry like Dr. Ibilola Amao, a renowned petroleum engineer and industry analyst. “Not only have these quotes become an embarrassment to the president and his minister of petroleum resources, but it is now evidence of the levity with which statements are made by the leadership in Nigeria. To have invited Nargajuna, Xenel and Chevron representatives to a gathering when there was no actual plan in place to ensure that three years afterwards some of the nine (two world-scale petrochemical and fertilizer companies, as well as five fertilizer blending plants, a methanol plant, a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) distribution plant) line items of capital investment mentioned, exists is such a shame,” he lamented. Other notable figures at the event included the Vice President, Namadi Sambo; Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan; then Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Engr. Austen Oniwon; members of the Federal Executive Council among others. The president had even said that

Jonathan

full implementation of the entire gas master-plan agenda would result in about $25 billion worth of investments in gas processing, transmission and downstream utilisation projects over the next few years. “It is no news,” according to the Principal Consultant with Lonadek Oil and Gas Consultants Limited, “that all is not well with the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry. If the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Commander in Chief of the Armed forces of Nigeria promised that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) would enjoy a quick passage, in March 2011, not only to Nigerians but to dignitaries from Saudi Arabia and India as well as representatives of a US-based international oil company, I wonder what credibility we have as a nation if almost three years later the bill has not been passed,” he added. Before this outburst by Amao, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) and Shell Petroleum, both major players in the nation’s oil and gas industry, in July 2013, pulled out of the consortium of companies promoting the Olokola Liquefied Natural Gas (OKLNG) project, with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as the principal partner. Both companies noted as militating factors against their continued participation, the lack of progress eight years after inception, non-commitment of the Federal Government to pursue the completion of the project and the nonpassage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) by the National Assembly. A statement by Chevron’s General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Deji Haastrup, noted that the company effectively pulled out of the project on July 31, 2013. It also confirmed that Shell pulled out of the project the same day. Multi-million dollars in flames Aside from facts that jobs of an estimated 10,000 construction workers were on the line after the pull-out of Chevron and Shell, the seemingly

Diezani-Alison-Madueke

failed gas revolution agenda is also encouraging gas flaring. Air and environmental pollution continued unabated on New Year day by International Oil Companies (IOCs), despite the expiration of the December 31, 2013 deadline given by the Federal Government to implement the 40 year-old legislation to end flaring. Nigeria, Africa’s biggest crude exporter, has been making frantic efforts, setting and shifting deadlines to end the waste. The country’s unsuccessful attempts to end the menace, despite numerous legislation and deadlines, dates back to 1969 when the military junta led by General Yakubu Gowon ordered oil companies operating in the oil rich Niger Delta to work towards ending gas flaring by 1974. Success story “Many of the international oil companies are fast approaching full flare out as the gas obligation and infrastructure growth have all combined to enable utilisation of hitherto flared gas,” Madueke said, maintaining that the flare out rate dropped from 25 per cent to 11 per cent of production. “All IOCs have set up special forces to ensure prompt compliance with the gas flaring reduction and we have seen them come up with different strategies to ensure this,” a management staff of one of the oil majors told New Tele-

Although government has kept mute on the new deadline for the IOCs on gas flaring, New Telegraph gathered that government has started to rate their compliance level on flaring

graph on phone. Meanwhile, Mrs. Alison- Madueke said that as part of efforts at ensuring steady supply of gas to meet up with growing market demand of the product, the Federal Government is planning to construct the longest pipeline in the country from Calabar via Ajaokuta to Kano State. She said this in a statement from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), while delivering a paper titled: “Encouraging investment in gas production, supply and consumption” at a 3-day national conference on gas resources organised by the Senate Committee on Gas Resources in Abuja. “By the end of the year, we will be commencing, via Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme, the nation’s longest pipeline from Calabar via Ajaokuta to Kano State,” Alison-Madueke stated. Represented by the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Andrew Yakubu, the minister said that at present, the Federal Government was constructing the strategic East-West pipeline while the Lagos end segment of the Escravos to Lagos Pipelines System (ELPS) is nearing completion. She explained that almost 500km of new gas pipelines have been completed and commissioned, including the doubling of the capacity of the EPLS between Escravos and Oben and the extension from Oben to Geregu and River Imo to Alaoji respectively. The minister said that by the end of 2018, the backbone pipeline infrastructure for gas would have been delivered, concluding an initial phase of over 2500km of gas pipeline infrastructure development. She said that government was strategising to leverage on the full potential of gas to achieve massive impact on the economy and the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). “We are focused on jumpstarting gas supply to enable usage in gas to power, gas based industrialisation, compressed natural gas for transportation and commercial usage, cooking gas for domestic usage and regional pipeline for gas export,” the minister stated.

BUSINESS | ENERGY

RECORD Oil hits 9-month high above $115 a barrel Adeola Yusuf

nternational Energy Agency and oil giant BP, at the weekend, forecast that the United States will not need crude from Nigeria and other countries by 2035. This, the IEA said, would be as a result of attainment of full energy independence by US. US has "drastically reduced" its demand for Nigeria's crude oil in recent months, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has earlier said. The country is currently buying about 250,000 barrels a day. US demand for imported oil has fallen sharply because of increasing domestic shale gas

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Tuesday, June 24, 2014

US to end crude imports from Nigeria, others by 2035 and oil production - so much so that the International Energy Agency and oil giant, BP, both forecast that the country will be largely energy independent by 2035. Meanwhile, Brent crude hit a nine-month high of over $115 a barrel at the weekend as the United States said that it could send military advisers to Iraq, raising concerns about the escalating conflict. Government forces continued to battle Sunni militants for control of Iraq's biggest re-

finery as US President, Barack Obama, said that the United States will send up to 300 military advisers to Iraq to combat the extremist insurgency. The Baiji refinery near Tikrit, 200 km (130 miles) north of the Iraqi capital, remained under siege as troops loyal to the Shi'ite-led government held off insurgents from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and its allies who stormed the perimeter, threatening national energy supplies. If the 300,000 barrels per day

refinery stays closed, Baghdad will need to import more oil products to meet its own domestic consumption, further tightening oil markets. Brent rose 75 cents to $115.01 a barrel to settle at its highest since Sept. 9. It had reached a high of $115.71 earlier in the session. The U.S. crude oil futures contract for July, which expires on Friday, rose 46 cents to settle at $106.43. The price is now pushing toward a key resistance area at $106.75, according to Dwayne Pliska, a senior trad-

ing consultant at High Ground in Chicago, Illinois. The spread (CL-LCO1=R) between the two benchmarks widened to close at $9.01 from a spread of $8.67 the previous session. In the same vein, India has taken over from the US as the largest importer of Nigerian oil, the West African state's national oil company has said. India now buys considerably more - about 30 per cent of the country's 2.5 million barrels of production.

15, 000MW hydropower potential redundant in Nigeria –ECN

Gas plant

PARTNERSHIP NNPC has promised to bridge the gap between the academy and the oil industry

Adeola Yusuf

roup Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, an engineer, at the weekend, bagged the fellowship of the exalted Nigeria Academy of Science where he promised to bridge the gap between the oil industry and the academy. Yakubu also expressed its readiness to reinvigorate and increase the domestic consumption of the liquefied natural gas otherwise known as cooking gas across the length and breadth of the country. Fielding questions from newsmen after his investiture at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), the NNPC boss stated that as part of efforts to reduce the pressure on kero-

NNPC boss bags Academy of Engineering fellowship sene consumption, the NNPC is refocusing its strategy to encourage and aggressively grow the consumption of LPG which provides a cleaner and cheaper energy alternative. “NNPC’s footprint in the domestic gas market has attained unprecedented growth. With the commissioning of the NPDC’s 100 million standard cubic feet of gas per day Oredo gas processing facilities and the acquisition of the new assets, NPDC is now the biggest producer and supplier of gas into the domestic market, contributing over 400 million standard cubic feet of gas per day,” Yakubu posited. He stated that the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), is being repositioned to become a mediumsized independent Exploration and Production Company with a production capacity of at least

250,000 barrels per day by the year 2015. According to him, today, NPDC asset-base has grown with the assignment of new oil mining leases stressing that the management under his watch is determined to further pursue new strategies to grow production to the target of 250,000 bpd by 2015 from the current level of 130,000bpd. The NNPC helmsman said in line with the strategic direction to support the Federal Government to increase national crude oil reserve and producibility to 40 billion and 4 million barrels per day, there is aggressive exploration campaign in offshore, onshore and the inland basins of Chad, Anambra, Benue, Bida and Sokoto Dahomey. “We are as well carrying out infield developments which have resulted in increased reserve and with the intensified

approach, including the expedited action on new projects like Egina etc the reserve and production targets is realisable,” Engr. Yakubu affirmed. The GMD revealed that over 1,000 square kilometres of seismic data have been acquired in the Chad Basin in spite of the security situation in Borno State. Yakubu said that revamping of the Corporation’s critical downstream facilities such as the refineries, depots, pipelines and jetties have remained the focus of the management stressing that these spirited efforts will ensure seamless supply and distribution of petroleum products nationwide. He implored the graduands to deploy their expertise to enhance the efficiency of the Corporation stressing that integrity, accountability and transparency must be their watch word.

here were indications at the weekend that 15, 000 Mega Watts (MW) of hydropower capacity is redundant in Nigeria, a country that sparsely generate about 3,500 MW for its 150 million population. Director-General, Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Prof. Eli Jidere Bala, who confirmed this maintained that Nigeria is endowed with hydropower potential of about 15,000 mega watts unit of which 23 per cent is small hydropower. The country is pursuing its electricity reforms with the privatisation of many power installations and formations. This move has generally been criticised to have focused much attention on thermal power generation rather than other alternative sources of generation like hydro, coal and wind. Bala however stated that alternative power generation sources like hydro are environmentally friendly and contributes less to Green House emissions. He spoke in Abuja during the five-day training course on conducting feasibility studies on Small Hydro Plants by renewables academy (RENAC), Germany. According to him, “small hydropower schemes of capacities of less than 30MW are known to be environmentally friendly and contributes less to Green House emissions, a major cause of climate change. “Small hydropower potentials are also available in many parts of rural communities, where majority of the population reside.” Bala, who attributed the training to this situation, noted that the training would focus on small hydropower plants feasibility studies to enable the country to have personnel that will identify potentials in suitable sites that can be used to set up the Small Hydropower Power (SHP) plants in virtually any part of Nigeria.

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Tuesday, June 24, 2014

CAMAC spuds Oyo-8 development well in OML 120 offshore Nigeria

NLNG seals N2bn support deal with six varsities James Nwabueze ABUJA

he Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, on Friday, signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) worth over N2 billion with six Nigerian universities to develop engineering education capacity in the country. The event, which flagged off the implementation phase of the NLNG university support programme (NLNG USP), will see NLNG spend N340 million (about $2 million) on each of the six benefitting universities. Essentially, the amount would be used to construct modern engineering laboratories equipped with the cuttingedge equipment in University of Nigeria, Nsukka; University of Ibadan; University of Ilorin; University of Port Harcourt; University of Maiduguri; and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Speaking during the MOA signing ceremony in Abuja with the vice chancellors and other representatives of the six universities at the weekend, the managing director and chief executive officer of NLNG, Mr. Babs Omotowa, assured that the laboratories would be world class. "The signing of memorandum of agreement with six universities marks the first milestone in NLNG university support programme. The memorandum of agreement spells out modalities for the execution of the programme, ranging from financing to contracts and procurement, as well as safety, quality assurance, quality control and sustainability of the universities. "Our implementation strategy is structured to meet the universities' technical needs and specification. Comparative advantages and peculiarities of each university were considered in this strategy, and we believe this (is) the best and most efficient model of project delivery. We also believe that one result is certain from these processes - the laboratories will be world class that will spur the development of engineering education and help bring the universities at par with their peer worldwide," he said. Omotowa hinted on how the six universities were selected. "The six universities were selected based on rankings by the National Universities Commission (NUC), other international bodies, as well as long standing contributions to the development of local capacity in Nigeria and their outstanding performance within each of the six geopolitical zones in the country, especially in the area of engineering and technical education and the grooming of notable engineering luminaries, who have contributed to national development," he added. The Union reports that NLNG USP is the latest of NLNG's pan Nigeria social investment programmes.

Oil barrels

Divestments: Shell targets $4.8bn proceeds in four years REVENUE Shell has raked in $1.8bn from assets’ sale in Nigeria since 2010. Adeola Yusuf

oyal Dutch Shell has targeted about $4.8 billion revenue from four years of its on-going divestment in Nigeria, New Telegraph investigations have shown. With the conclusion of the on-going sale of equity in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29 and the Nembe Creek Pipeline, the company is expected to rake-in about $3 billion. The Anglo-Dutch company has already made $1.8 billion since the 2010 beginning of its divestment drive in Nigeria. “The company will make over $3 billion from the on-going sale of assets, which include the OML 29 as well as the 97-kilometer (60-mile) Nembe Creek oil pipeline,” a source told New Telegraph, adding that only “OML 29 is likely to fetch $1-$1.5 billion.” Spokesperson for the Nigerian subsidiary of the company, Precious Okolobo, had earlier confirmed the on-going divestment of assets, stating that the process is on-going. He described the process, in a telephone interview, as confidential while declining to make further comments on the transactions. OML 29 is the most coveted asset of the four being sold. Its output has peaked at 62,000 bpd of oil and 40 scf/d of gas and holds reserves of 2.2 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe), according to a Shell prospectus. Shell is selling its 30 per cent stake in four oil blocks, with France's Total and Italy's Eni also set to profit from sales of their 10 per cent and 5 per cent

stakes. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) owns the remaining 55 per cent. Shell is also selling the 97-km (60-mile) Nembe Creek oil pipeline, which has been regularly attacked by oil thieves. Shell, the London-listed major, has already made $1.8 billion from asset sales in Nigeria since 2010 as several oil majors divested onshore blocks due to oil theft and a government drive to increase local ownership. Royal Dutch Shell has released the confidential list of shortlisted bidders for its N480 billion worth of oil blocks and assets in the Niger Delta, which holds a large portion of Nigeria's 37 billion barrels of reserves. Checks by New Telegraph showed that under the ongoing divestment programme, Midwestern Oil & Gas Plc/Mart Resources/Suntrust Oil, under the Erotron Consortium, won the bid for OML 18. OML 29 and the Nembe Creek Trunkline were won by Aiteo/Taleveras in conjunction with four other companies in the consortium, having submitted a $2.5 billion bid for the assets. OML 29 is the most prolific oil lease under the current asset sale. Pan Ocean Oil Corporation Nigeria Limited, operator of the NNPC/Pan Ocean Joint Venture, clinched OML 24 valued at between $500 million and $1 billion, while Lekoil, Crestar, GreenAcres/CCC/ Signet Petroleum, NDPR/SAPETRO and Essar submitted bids for OML 25. OML 24 currently delivers 25,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day from three fields and outputs eight million standard cubic feet per day of gas (MMscf/d). The divestment by SPDC is part of the Anglo/Dutch giant’s plan to dispose of $15 billion of assets globally in 2014 and 2015.

Shell, which declined comment on the deals it described as confidential, has said that it might take over one year before winners would be announced. But the source said that part of what is holding the announcement of winners is the need for evaluation by “a team comprising of technical people; Engineers, lawyers, accountants and we also have Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the States Security Service (SSS) and others.” Nigerian firms Taleveras and Aiteo have made the highest bid of $2.85 billion for the biggest of four Shell assets up for sale, but the oil major is holding out while it tries to persuade them to team up with Seplat, an existing operator. Choosing the right buyer, rather than the highest bidder, can be crucial to securing sales, in a country where political influence can decide deals and legal disputes or financial problems can scupper them. "Taleveras is resisting because it wants the block for itself, not in partnership with Seplat," a source said. The sources also said Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote, with a personal fortune of $20 billion, and local firm Sahara Energy, had bid for the other three blocks, OMLs 18, 24 and 25, and were in late-stage talks for at least one of them. Neither Dangote nor Sahara responded to requests for comment. Dangote, who owns two power plants and several cement factories, is more interested in the gas, two sources said. The blocks between them have over 1.5 trillion standard cubic feet (scf) of gas, they said. The Nigerian sales are part of a wider plan by Shell to dispose of $15 billion of assets this year and next, in order to slim down operations after a profit warning.

AMAC Energy Incorporated, an independent oil and gas exploration and production company, reaffirmed at the weekend that the Oyo-8 development well offshore Nigeria has been spud June 15. The Oyo-8 well is located offshore Nigeria in OML 120, where CAMAC Energy is the operator and owns a 100 percent working interest. This development well lies within the Oyo field, which was one of the first deepwater oil discoveries made in Nigeria. The Oyo field is located approximately 46.6 miles (75 kilometers) offshore Nigeria in water depths of approximately 984 feet (300 meters). Oyo-8 will be drilled by the Northern Offshore Energy Searcher (mid-water drillship) to a total depth of approximately 5,905 feet (1,800 meters) in water depths of approximately 1,017 feet (310 meters), and will produce from the Pliocene reservoir. The Oyo-8 well is expected to commence production in the fourth quarter and, together with the Oyo-7 well which will be completed subsequent to the Oyo-8 well, is expected to significantly increase production from the Oyo Field. The company has earlier announced that a letter of intent was signed for the terms and conditions of a long-term agreement for the floating, production, storage, and offloading system Armada Perdana. The vessel, situated on the Oyo field offshore Nigeria in OML 120, can process up to 40,000 barrels of oil per day. It has a storage capacity of one million barrels of oil and currently supports daily production of about 2,000 barrels of oil and 40 million cubic feet of natural gas from the field. "FPSO Armada Perdana has been instrumental in supporting our ongoing operations deepwater offshore Nigeria. It has historically provided a high utilization rate and we are pleased to have this longterm infrastructure in place that will allow us to execute our development and exploration program," said Chairman and CEO Kase Lawal, in a statement. Last year, CAMAC announced a multi-year drilling rig contract with Northern Offshore Ltd. The Energy Searcher (mid-water drillship) is expected to be delivered to the Oyo field in the first half of 2014 to commence drilling and completion activities. It is proposed that the company will complete the Oyo-7, drill and complete Oyo-8, and drill and complete Oyo-9. The company said that these three wells will bring online a total of about 21,000 barrels of oil per day net. The Oyo field commenced production in December 2009 and produces oil and natural gas.

32 BUSINESS | ENERGY ACTION NAPE has underscore actions for FG’s 40 billion barrels oil reserves target Stories by Adeola Yusuf

ody of crude discoverers in Nigeria, Nigerian Association of Petroleum explorationists (NAPE) ,at the weekend, disclosed plans to rally foreign and local experts to channel way forward for oil and gas industry. NAPE has been at the forefront of proffering solutions to myriads of problems facing Nigeria’s oil and gas industry especially the government’s target to increase oil reserves to 40 billion barrels and daily production of 4 million barrels per day by 2020. President of the group, Mrs. Adedoja Ojelabi, disclosed this on the sideline of the June edition of the monthly technical meeting of association in Lagos. Ojelabi told newsmen that the country’s oil and gas industry has a lot of potentials for investors. She pointed out that oil companies in Nigeria were not doing enough to achieve the country’s exploration potential due to a lot of issues. “As long as we continue to operate without finding more crude oil, we will definitely experience decline in reserve, but that will not lead to total depletion unless we unable to come up with new discoveries,” he said.

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NAPE plans breakthrough for oil, gas industry challenges The NAPE boss stressed the need for the Federal Government to urgently create aggressive policies of hydrocarbon reserves replacement in its quest to achieve its crude oil reserve target of 40 billion barrels. “The government projected 40 billion barrels of crude oil reserve and four million barrels

of crude oil production per day, earlier for 2010 now projected the same targets for 2020. All these projections would be achieved if there are strong policies on ground to encourage more investment in crude oil exploration,” she said. According to her, the declining level of exploration may

not be totally blamed on the non-passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) as many people are inclined to believe. “All companies are interested in exploration and production and you cannot continue to produce if you don’t find more oil or gas or hydrocarbon,” she said, adding “ everybody “is

Oil rig

FG resorts to renewable energy for rural electrification initiatives MEETING Minister of State for Power has met with Board of Directors of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA)

James Nwabueze ABUJA

he Federal Government has declared that accelerated rural electrification will henceforth be driven by renewable energy because of it sustainability and environmental friendliness. Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil , who disclosed this said that new approach to powering the rural area will involve a mix of wind, solar, biomass, hydro energy alongside the conventional source of power supply. He made this disclosure at the opening of the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), held in Abuja. Wakil said that the renewed focus on rural electrification was a fallout of the completion

of the power sector privatisation which he said made it imperative for the administration to focus on rural areas where close to seventy per cent of the populace are residing. "Now that privatisation is completed and we are addressing the teething problems, associated with past-privatisation, the administration is determined to focus on rural areas where we have close to seventy percent of our people. “As most of these areas are not connected to the national grid, renewable energy provides an alternative and this is what we have started doing’’. "We have to provide for the majority of our people in the rural areas, in this regard, hence our focus on rural electrification through renewable energy. The Rural Electrification Agency is going to play crucial roles in this new focus and that is why it has to be repositioned to meet the aspirations of Mr. President and Nigerians in general,' the minister said. Describing renewable energy as worldwide trend in energy provision, Wakil recalled that a recent United Nations' Conference adopted this line of thought as a way to empower the under-served and underempowered areas of the world

cognisance of the fact that you must replace what you are producing and that means we must explore.” The country, which is targeting 40 billion barrels oil reserves, produces an average of 900 million barrels in 12 months based on her 2.5 million daily production, whereas little is done to replace the volume produced on daily basis due to many factors, which NAPE said, it was all out to solve. “There are issues concerning the low exploration. First of all the technology. There are also issues of finding, there are issues of regulation,” Adedoja said. He argued that all these “things may make IOCs and independent producers a little bit careful because, you are talking about investments. Investment in the oil sector is capital intensive. It is not something you just jump into without doing your home work. “We have the PIB, which is pending, hopefully, it would be passed. We also have the new marginal field policy that is on-going. So if you are going to put in a lot of money, you will want to ensure that the environment is okay, free and fair for you to make your money back. I believe all the parties are working to create that enabling environment and those are also the kind of things that NAPE is doing.” Commending the Federal Government for the new marginal fields bid round, Ojelabi said: “If that goes through obviously, it would mean that more fields are available for more people to participate in exploring further. I believe some of these fields were inactive for a while and that means you can bring in more people or people who are interested in them. “If you pay a lot of money for a concession or a lease, at least you’ll want to make your money back. You cannot do that by just sitting on an asset. So, you have to go to explore, if you find the oil that you can produce. Consequently, if our new marginal field policies come through it will also be a plus for the industry. “So we come together and discuss how you are finding oil and what your challenges are. The IOCS are doing it, the independent are exploring.

while at the same time saving the environment for the future generation. Responding on behalf of the board, its chairman, Senator Jonathan Zwingina, commended decisions of the minister to strengthen the agency to meet challenges of rural electrification through renewable energy sources. According to him, the board and the management of the agency are united to realise the mandate of the agency under the supervision of the

ministry, commending the minister for the various initiatives designed to strengthen the operational efficiency of the agency. 'We promise to stand by the direction and goals of Mr. President as listed by the Honourable Minister. We share the vision of powering our rural areas through a mixture of conventional and renewable energy. We will re-rededicate ourselves to the realization of this laudable agenda," Zwingina said.

Atwood Hunter to work for CNOOC offshore Equatorial Guinea

twood Oceanics, Inc. (Atwood) announced at the weekend that one of its subsidiaries has been awarded a drilling services contract by China's CNOOC Africa Limited for the Atwood Hunter (deepwater semisub). The contract will be performed offshore Equatorial Guinea, specifies a day rate of $337,000 for a minimum term of 90 days and includes an option for one additional well. To the extent the term exceeds 90 days the day rate for days 91 to 180 shall be $330,000. Any term in excess of 181 days shall have a dayrate of $325,000. The Atwood Hunter is expected to commence the contract midAugust 2014.

In connection with this contract, an Atwood subsidiary and Guinea Ecuatorial de Petroleos (GEPetrol) mutually agreed to terminate the parties' previously announced contract for the Atwood Hunter provided certain conditions are met. Also, China has sent four more oil rigs into the South China Sea in a sign that Beijing is stepping up its exploration for oil and gas in the tense region, less than two months after it positioned a giant drilling platform in waters claimed by Vietnam.

The announcement comes at a time when many countries in Asia are nervous at Beijing's increasing assertiveness in the potentially energy-rich waters, where sovereignty over countless islands and reefs is in dispute. Coordinates posted on the website of China's Maritime Safety Administration showed the Nanhai number 2 and 5 rigs had been deployed roughly between China's southern Guangdong province and the Pratas Islands, which are occupied by Taiwan.

PROPERTY&ENVIRONMENT PAGE 33, Tuesday, June 24, 2014

How accommodation seekers can become landlords –Experts AFFORDABLE Nigerians can own their homes with careful planning and use of local materials Dayo Ayeyemi

any low and middleincome earners who are interested in having their own homes are constrained by high price tags on “affordable” homes currently being showcased in the market by real estate developers and government agencies. It is in the public domain that many low-income houses sold by developers for between N3 million and N4 million five years ago are now selling between N8 million and N17 million. Prices may be seen to be out of the reach of the targeted group, no thanks to their poor remuneration, poor saving culture and inability to access mortgage facility. For example, the housing units under the newly introduced Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme cost between N8 million and N18 million, while the current price for two or three bedroom flats in Ogun State axis cost between N12 million and N15 million. Many accommodation seekers who are hell-bent on starting their own housing scheme, no matter how small, are getting their fingers burnt as a result of lack of fund and improper planning, which have rendered such projects abandoned. A visit to some locations such as Ikorodu, Mowe, Ibafo, Igando, Agbado and Egan, all the outskirts of Lagos will reveal many abandoned housing projects especially those owned by individuals. However, to become a homeowner in Nigeria is a project that first-time homebuilders in low and medium income brackets must take very serious with careful planning in order to ensure completion within limited resources. To overcome this challenge, experts in the housing sector enjoined people seeking to build their house to start small, adding that with simple design, they would achieve their dream of homeownership, depending on where they are buying land. Some of the experts, who spoke with New Telegraph, urged intending homeowners to take advantage of the low cost housing options available from government, cooperative

Units of two, three bedroom flats in one of the government estates in Abuja

Eyakenyi

Awobodu

Ali

society or private real estate developers. They advised that the first option of creating beautiful, stylish and low cost houses is by selecting the right design. Giving tips on how low-income earners can become house owners within the budget of two million to N3.5 million, one of the vice presidents of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Mr Kunle Awobodu, in a recent interview, disclosed that functionality, safety, durability and aesthetics of the building are major factors to consider. He said: “There is a saying in construction sector that if you spend N1 million in achieving a certain square metre of an element in building, you can also spend half of the amount to achieve the same objective but there must be a difference which is the issue of quality.” Awobodu described housing as a place where people want to live for the rest of their lives hence the need for adequate preparation. He said that it would be wise

for the builder to choose a plan that will meet his needs for many years to come. According to Awobodu, cost control starts from design, saying that some people were in the habit of designing their homes in conflict with the fund available as they would design in anticipation of fund. He advised that people should avoid this pitfall. Provided the intending homeowner has an existing plot of land, he said that such a person should start with building design by consulting an architect, followed by the preparation of site. He stated that building a home start with careful planning by considering one’s budget, house plan, type of house, type of foundation, house size, roof types and finishing. He maintained that preparing site for construction could have a big impact on the cost of a home, pointing out that building on a flat plot would usually cost less, while building on a swampy and rough terrain which would require a

lot of grading, clearing trees, or blast through large rocks would make site preparations more expensive. On the number of blocks required, he said that the builder should buy between 2,000 and 3,500 blocks for a two and three bedroom flat, depending on size of the building. On the choice of materials for the foundation and whether to use granite or gravel, he advised that gravel is tolerable if it is in appropriate sizes, warning that gravel in the market now is mixed with laterite and is of small sizes which are below the required standard. According to him, if one must use gravel, it must not contain impurity. On whether to use brick or block for the wall, Awobodu said that bricks are not bad but that availability of laterite especially in Lagos to mould bricks coupled with workmanship challenges have made bricks’ usage nearly impossible. Awobodu noted that modern bricklayers have lost touch

with the methodology of setting bricks. “So, they are more or less block layers and not bricklayers,” he said. In order to avoid mistake and cut cost, he advised that usage of blocks is appropriate because they are readily available and workers are familiar with the setting without any challenge. He, however, warned that quality of blocks have to be considered as substandard blocks presently dominate the market. He said: “Some of them are not load-bearing blocks. Instead of moulding 25 to 235 blocks with one bag of cement, manufacturer would mould between 45 and 50 blocks from one bag of cement which in the long run affect the strength. Block wall is the cheapest and less cumbersome in our environment.” The NIOB scribe said that people can achieve low cost of construction by adopting some building materials and methodologies that can reduce cost. “If the mission is to build a two bedroom or three bedroom and you are cost conscious, first procure good land that is free from water that will not require high cost during the construction of the foundation,” he said. In such a location, he mentioned that strip foundation would be most appropriate before buying blocks being the cheapest foundation types. To achieve quality construction, Awobodu advised that blocks must be laid to DPC level, adding that there won’t be need for German floor slab if the land is not in waterlogged area before continuing the setting of blocks to roof level. After this, he enjoined acC O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 3 4

property & ENVIRONMENT

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

‘Anything short of effective, peopleoriented mortgage system is unacceptable’ Mr Chucks Omeife, a fellow and immediate past president of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) and Managing Director of Built Consult Limited. In this interview with Dayo Ayeyemi, this built environment expert expresses hope in the new Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC) which is expected to commence operations soon, saying that due diligence must be done for effective procedures. Excerpts Are you not concerned about the postponement of commencement date of operation by the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC)? The recent postponement of the Mortgage Refinancing Company by the Federal Government is, to my mind, a time-buying measure to put in place the entire statutory, legal and regulatory framework that is necessary for effective operation. These are things that cannot be done in a twinkle of an eye. The promoters need articulation and the system should be supported by necessary legislative framework accordingly. It is not just about the executive arm of government but also the involvement of the National Assembly. This will take some time and I think the general distraction in the polity as a result of the prevailing insurgency is a serious disservice to government operations whether we want to accept that or not. Can you say it is the same reason for the failure of government to announce the names of Primary Mortgage Banks (PMIs) that are qualify to operate in Nigeria after their consolidation? The delay in announcing the recapitalised mortgage institutions in the country is probably to give room for due diligence in assessing and ratification of those who have fulfilled laid

down requirements. Yes, this delay would definitely affect the opportunities of home seekers in securing supposed mortgages for home ownership and also a discouragement to home builders who would be motivated to put in more effort in providing affordable houses for the people when the policy was announced. However, when there is an effective mortgage system in place, the housing sector will witness a boom as home builders will construct more houses with the confidence that homebuyers will be able to buy using the mortgage facilities available. Are you justifying the delay? For me, it is better to put in place a system that will endure and deliver our collective expectation. Government has a responsibility to ensure that the wait is worthwhile and hence must do that which is the best for the people. The issue of affordable housing provision is very critical and has remained in the national discourse and in the psyche of the people for a long time hence anything short of effective, accessible and people oriented mortgage system will be unacceptable. Let government take all the time in planning but must come out with a big bang to create a robust housing sector. This is our expectation.

‘How accommodation seekers can become landlords' C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 3

commodation seekers to think of building materials that are readily available and cost effective such as hard wood, asbestos or aluzink for roofing skeleton and cover.” He encouraged the use of local building materials, adding that they should use Oridudu and kokoigbo woods, which are hard and termite resistant in nature for roofing and ceiling. On other finishing, he acknowledged that they require a lot of money as they involve the laying of electrical cables and wires, plastering, construction of soak-away and chamber works, water works, bathroom and toilet finishing and ceiling, among others. Instead of conduit wiring, Awobodu advocate the use of surface wiring which is cheaper, adding that materials such as casement and wood can be used for windows, while some doors manufactured by the Chinese are also cheap to be considered. Developer of Medical Guild Estate, Mr Adams Kehinde, explained that land has a special role to play in reducing cost of building, saying that if the land is in good terrain, the cost of erecting foundation would be minimal. He pointed out that with 1,500 sandcrete blocks, 2,500

blocks, people could build a standard two bedroom within the N2 million, and a 3-bedroom within the range of N3 milion but advised home seekers on the need to form cooperative societies to reduce the cost of building materials. According to him, rather than buying 40 bags of cement at N2,000 each, it would be better to buying in bulk directly from the factory at a reduced rate. He also advised that one might not need to use tiles for the floor and aluminium for window, adding that the use of long span for the roof is necessary to promote durability. “Don’t build as individual but build in consortium to reduce cost of materials,” he said. He added that for a bungalow, a minimum of four pillars is required where the land is slightly unstable Managing Director of Xpress Property Limited, Mr. Segun Ali, pointed out that actualizing low income housing in practical term depends more than just a simple architectural design, adding that several factors play prominence in pricing of the cost of materials, labour, logistics and other infrastructure. He said, “Even if the design is offered to present a simple structural provision, all the aforementioned factors have a say in the final cost of delivery.”

Omeife

UN to assist Nigeria on desertification

he United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has promised to assist Nigeria to tackle its environmental degradation challenges especially those related to acidification. The agreement, according to EnvironNews, an online news portal, was reached recently in Cancun, Mexico, at a bilateral meeting involving a Nigerian delegation led by Environment Minister, Laurentia Mallam, and a United Nations (UN) team headed by UNCCD Executive Secretary, Monique Barbut, during the Fifth Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The UNCCD Executive Secretary described Nigeria “as the biggest and legitimate voice in Africa,” promising

that she would flag-off the intervention with a visit to President Goodluck Jonathan before the year-ends. The meeting attracted dignitaries such as Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Environment, Rabi Jimeta; Director PRS/GEF Operational Focal Point; D. M. Dauda; Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Ibrahim Thiaw and Director General, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Li Yong. Barbut underlined the need for countries to look more at the issues of drought, being the highest human killer than any other crises in the world as, according to her, issues of land degradation and security

One of the scenes of desertification in Northern Nigeria

pose more threat to livelihood of people especially Africans, which makes them poor. She urged African countries to consider more seriously issues of land degradation, which will, along the line, tackle problems related to climate change, biodiversity and pollution, while promoting Sustainable Land Management (SLM). Yong assured on the role of UNIDO in promoting green growth in industries, noting that the body recently adopted a new mandate to make sustainability central to industrial development. He said that future developments would be based on low-carbon technologies, even as he outlined a range of strategies UNIDO is adopting to support sustainable industrial development to include: getting public sector policies right; boosting knowledge networks to promote innovation and trade; and looking for synergies between international organisations’ green growth approaches to facilitate investment flows. He suggested that GEF-Nigeria and UNIDO work together in these areas under GEF-6. Also, Thiaw advocated the need for Nigeria to work with UNEP on food security under the GEF-6, adding that Nigeria should seek for soft loans to form part of her co-financing mechanism.

property & ENVIRONMENT

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Land prices soar in Agbowa as govt sets to relocate saw millers, marketers

Oko-Baba Timber Market

OPPORTUNITIES This will create new business vista for the area Muritala Ayinla

f information reaching the New Telegraph is anything to go by, no fewer than 5,000 saw millers and plank traders in Oko Baba Timber Market, a waterfront makeshift adjourning the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge in Ebute Metta area will be relocating to Agbowa in Agbowa/Ikosi Local Government Area by the end of this year following the completion of a modern facility for them by the state government. Eighteen months after the acclaimed largest timber market in Africa was razed by inferno, destroying properties worth millions of naira, the Lagos State Government is now set to relocate over 5,000 Oko Baba timber and plank marketers to Agbowa Timbervile, a modern sawmill. In anticipation of this planned relocation, the price of land in Agbowa and other suburbs has continued to soar, with the influx of land speculators who are currently buying landed properties in order to resell at higher price after. Although better part of the rustic community is still bushy, New Telegraph gathered that the reason for the sudden increase in the value of land in the area was due to the planned relocation of the timber market where thou-

surge in supply and fall in the number of new buyers in the London property market is putting the brakes on the city’s residential real estate growth. The latest monthly housing market monitor from national estate agent firm, haart, according to Property Wire, shows that London has seen supply increase by 9.5 per cent in May compared with April and by 7.2 per cent year on year. But the number of new buy-

sands of people are expected to be attracted by the new timber village which also has housing units for the traders. According to some residents, a plot of land which hitherto sold for N80,000 is now N400,000 The residents expressed optimism that the timber market would also facilitate provision of other facilities such as good roads, water and electricity in their community. Explaining its readiness to relocate the wood sellers, the state government said that it had received assurance from the contractor handling the N3 billion plank market that the project would be completed by December this year. The new timber market has saw sheds, trailer parks, modern restaurants, meeting halls and recreation centre, among other facilities. The Agbowa Timberville, being built on a 214 hectares of land, is designed to have 250 units of offices as well as 250 housing units for saw millers. The Oko Baba timber market located on Lagos Mainland was on January 8, 2013, gutted by fire which rendered many marketers and residents of the area homeless for months. Initially, there were about 450 internally displaced people including 98 children, who were later moved to the Agbowa Relief Camp near Ikorodu. The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, during a visit to the burnt market, had promised to relocate the market

Fashola inspecting the site of the new tmber market in Agbowa

to a “befitting” place and provide all the necessary facilities that would aid buying and selling of their logs. Describing what the new facility will look like, Fashola had said: “It is going to be a clearly articulated timber village that is a whole industry on its own with offices, trailer park and other ancillary services like welding, carpentry and woodwork. What is further interesting about the Timber Village is the housing estate that is being constructed where people can live with modern housing facilities away from the unsightly and unacceptable conditions that now exist.” Also, while reiterating his commitment to the development of new market for the sawmillers and the traders in the market at a different forum, Fashola reaffirmed: “We made an agreement with them; I signed on behalf of government a Memoran-

dum of Understanding (MOU) with them. This is the future that we want for them. We are delivering on our promise and there is going to be a community of about 3,000 houses here with the first 400 already done.” Today, the dream of total relocation of timber market in Oko-Baba is gradually becoming a reality as almost all the needed facilities promised had been provided while construction, dredging and sand-filling are going on to execute others. The new market is also close to the lagoon to enable the marketers transport their timber logs through water. To actualise this, dredging of some portion of the land is being carried out on the lagoon to serve as shore bank where the logs would be off-loaded before being processed for use. Speaking with the New Telegraph, Director, Project

Planning, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Rufai Durojaiye, who gave the indication, said that the major preliminary works on the project had been done. He said: “The Agbowa Timberville is being built on 214 hectares of land. The project is designed to have 250 units of offices as well as 250 housing units for saw-millers. The project will also have saw sheds, trailer parks, modern restaurants, meeting halls and recreation centre, among other facilities. “We are happy with the pace of work here and we have received the words of the contractors that the project would be completed by December. “The major work, which is the sand-filling of the site, has been done. And about 150 structures, comprising of housing units and offices have been erected .We hope the remaining structures will be completed soon.” He said that incorporation of housing units in the project was to enable the about 2,000 saw-millers that would operate at the facility to work not too far from home. Durojaiye said that the dredging of “Odo-Iya pupa,” a lake overlooking the facility, was to link the sawmill to the lagoon facilitate transportation of logs to the facility through water. President, Lagos Mainland Sawmillers Association, AbdulGaniu Onikeku said the sawmillers were impressed with massive development ongoing in the area, saying that they would be happy if works on the site were completed at the said time. “We are satisfied with what is going on, we want the project to be completed on time. We have agreed to move and we thank government for this project,” he said. On his part, Chief Operating Officer of the contractors handling the project, First World Communities, Mr Oluwole Rotimi, also confirmed that the project would be completed around December, 2014, as the work was progressing at a faster rate. A traditional ruler in the community, Chief Olukayode Ogunlari, the Olumeto of Owu, said the project had brought communities in the area together, saying that the project, when completed, would serve as a major source of employment to their teeming youths.

Property supply in London down 9.5% in May ers coming to the London market fell by 6.1 per cent in May and is down 2.6 per cent year on year. Nationally, new property instructions are up strongly on the month by 6.3 per cent and the number of first time buyers had increased by 11.2 per cent yearly. Overall, the average UK is now priced at £200,707, unchanged from the previous

month and up 9.2 per cent since May 2013, while in London prices are down 0.8 per cent month on month but up 22.9 per cent year on year. “At last, stock is coming to the market with new homes for sale in London surging 9.5 per cent in May and 7.5 per cent yearly. Sellers are now keen to capitalise on recent house price rise and lock into continuing low interest rate

mortgages,” said Paul Smith, chief executive officer of haart. “This is a significant factor in freeing up the 18 month log jam of supply. Buyers and sellers across the board will benefit and encourage fluidity in all price brackets. The UK as a whole has also seen a 6.3 per cent monthly surge in new property instructions,” he pointed out.

“Our analysis shows the effect on property prices to be relatively steady with no discernible change in UK property prices on the month. We are now starting to see the market self-correct rather than rapidly deflate. Annual price growth remains strong, but let’s not forget that regional property prices are still below their peak 2007 levels,” he explained.

36 property & ENVIRONMENT

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Cheap, effective ways to secure your home against burglars According to Marilyn Lewis of MSN Real Estate, following these fundamental strategies by installing some inexpensive improvements will help fortify your home against trouble. Pick your location carefully: Location is a huge factor in home security, so buy or rent in the best neighbourhood you can afford. Get smart: Make it a nightly routine to check the locks. Involve children, too. Don’t open the door - and don’t let kids open the door - to strangers. Use your automatic garage opener to close the garage door when you get home before exiting your car. Stick around when people are working in your home. Notice what they’re doing. Check after they’ve left to ensure that nothing’s missing and that no one has left a window or door unlocked as a way to break in later. Call the police: Many departments have a homesecurity inspection program. A designated officer walks through your home looking for weaknesses and advises you on alarm systems, locks and lighting within a modest budget. Join a Neighbourhood Watch program: Or start one. Ask your police department for details. These programs build cohesive neighbourhoods, and that helps reduce

crime and reinforce property values. Make friends with the folks on every side of your place. Suggest keeping an eye on each other’s homes every day and trading favours - feeding the cat or watering plants - when you leave town. Get a dog (or pretend to): A dog won’t make your home impregnable, but it can make it look less approachable. You don’t want a pooch? That’s OK. Post a “beware of dog” sign anyway. Upgrade your house number: You want your home’s street number easily seen in the dark from across the street so police and fire fighters can find you pronto in an emergency. Many fire departments or city or county governments sell inexpensive (around $5) reflective street numbers. Whatever type you use, place it where it can be easily seen. Keep plants around the number well trimmed. Cultivate the lived-in look: When you’re gone, don’t let stuff like newspapers, realestate cards and pizza fliers accumulate in front of your door. Before you leave, consider how your home will appear on the outside and avoid these classic

mistakes that are like waving a red flag to invite burglars Doors: Upgrade the lock. For N5,000 to N15,0000, you can buy a good Grade 1 (commercial grade) or Grade 2 deadbolt. No need for a locksmith; you can install it yourself. Also, get a better door. Replace your hollow-core door (easily kicked in) with a solid wood or metal-clad door. Windows: Keep your windows from opening more than six inches. Install replacement windows that include this as a built-in feature or cut a wooden dowel six inches shorter than the height of each window and drop the dowel into the metal gutter of each window frame so the window can’t be opened fully. Secure the perimeter: Replacing porch lights and other outdoor lights with motionsensor lights is cheap ($50 and up) and easy Erect a fence: Even a 3-foot fence helps create a psychological boundary that helps in deterring intruders. Before

building a fence, check with your city or county planning office. Most require a permit and many restrict the height and even building materials. Eliminate hiding spots: Trim the trees and shrubs. A pruned and maintained landscape robs intruders of hiding places. It also signals to outsiders that your home is cared

for and probably more secure. Put sensor-triggered lights all around the perimeter of your home. Alarms: What alarm is best? The one that makes the worst, most god-awful noise, Ryan says. (Renters can buy portable wireless alarm systems to take along when they move.)

Brazil offers property investment for overseas buyers A ll eyes may be on the World Cup football in Brazil but the country’s real estate market is also proving to be of interest to overseas buyers looking for a real estate investment, Property Wire, an online news portal, has said. According to a new analysis

Brazil property

from real estate firm, Savills, Brazil’s property market, compared to some of the other fast growing emerging economies, does not yet look overheated. According to Paul Tostevin, associate director for world research at international real estate firm Savills, commercial

yields currently stand at 8.5 per cent and residential yields are at 5.1 per cent. He pointed out that the high profile sporting events are helping to raise Rio’s international profile. “It is no surprise that Brazilians are returning to Rio in large numbers. The city is now growing at a faster rate than São Paulo. The rate of annual house price growth in Rio de Janeiro peaked at 40 per cent in 2010, slowing to 15 per cent in 2013,” he said. “This is much more in line with underlying occupier demand, matching rates of growth in rents. However, mortgaged indebtedness is low and credit control is strong, so the prospects for a substantial downward price correction seem relatively remote in the current climate of growing wealth creation,” he explained. He added that while São Paulo is now Brazil’s finan-

cial capital, Rio de Janeiro still boasts a major financial district. Several multinational corporations are based there, a legacy of the city’s days as the country’s capital. Rio is also home to a significant number of oil and gas companies, as well as telecommunications, entertainment and media organisations. Office rents appreciated rapidly between 2010 and 2011, growing by 37 per cent in a year, although they have since fallen by 14 per cent. But there are signs that the property market growth is slowing in some locations. According to the latest edition of the Global Property Guide house prices in Sao Paulo increased by 6.71 per cent year on year in the first quarter of 2014, the slowest growth in the past six years. On a quarterly basis, house prices in Sao Paulo dropped by 0.12 per cent.

One firm, Luxury Estate, says that Rio de Janeiro is the most popular place for overseas buyers followed by Sao Paulo. Those seeking an investment are betting on the considerable infrastructure that has been put in for the World Cup and for the Olympic Games in 2016 will make real estate capital growth promising. While 70 per cent of buyers are from Brazil there is an increasing number of buyers from overseas investing in property, mostly apartments. An analysis of the 250,000 searches conducted on its website from the beginning of the year until the end of May found seven per cent were Americans, six per cent French, five per cent Italian, four per cent Germans, three per cent Spanish, two per cent from Portugal, two per cent from the UK and one per cent from Russia.

Absence of the whistle-blower protection policy in p–38 aviation

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

BUSINESS 37

One of Aero's aircraft

Nigerian airlines are struggling. Could their problem be as a result of bad business model? Aviation Editor, WOLE SHADARE asks

or some time now, Nigerian airlines have been complaining about unfavourable government policy and harsh business environment. They are known to be groaning. For close to two decades, some airlines have gone extinct, with several new ones emerging. But what is the fate of the new entrants if the same problems that caused the extinction of many before them persist? For over two decades, Nigerian airlines and their association (Airline Operators of Nigeria) have been complaining about unfavourable business conditions. They are now known to be always ‘moaning and groaning’ about lack of funds and asking to be ‘rescued’ one-way or the other by government. Just this month, two airlines, Discovery and Azman commenced operations with so much fanfare. There’s always a story in the news about one airline or another about to launch. But alas, no sooner do the new airlines come on board than they join the fray crying about lack of funding and debilitating business conditions. Over the years, there has been an increasing trend of mergers and acquisitions of airlines by foreign airlines with the creation of different models of alliances and the mixing of different business models. While until recently, it was clear which business model provides what level of service, today, it is difficult to differentiate which airline belongs to which category, that has be-

What business model for Nigerian airlines? come especially complicated with the emergence of hybrid carriers that have further expanded their offer in the aviation market. No doubt, the airline business is challenging. It is highly capital intensive and one not helped by low profit margins. Nigerian airlines do not consider merger as an option. While in Europe and America, interlining, code share agreement and mergers are the order of the day. Aviation or airline business is a business that requires clarity of mission and highly adept management in order to be successful. Examples of success stories and models exist all over the world of airlines, small, medium and large, that have stood the test of time. Nigerian airlines are known to struggle. Aside Nigeria’s oldest airline, Aero Contractors, which has been in business successfully since before independence, no other has struggled and stood the test of time. Business moguls, entrepreneurs and seasoned aviation professionals have operated airlines in the country only to struggle to keep them afloat. If that is the case, then, something is wrong with the business plans adopted by many Nigerian airlines. Aviation analyst, Mohammed Tukur, told New Telegraph that start-up airlines, despite full flights recorded by the airlines on both regional and domestic routes the operators still find it difficult to survive. Tukur said that with no roads to travel on, practically everyone with the means trav-

el by air domestically, the reason more of the carriers are packed full with passengers at peak periods. “It is also a known fact that nobody in Nigeria travels without first paying the airline for a ticket. Yet domestic airlines struggle in varying degrees to meet their basic financial obligations to the various service providers that provide them the critical services they require to operate, as obtainable everywhere else in the world. “So what really is different for Nigerian airlines? Why do they complain so much? he queried. Experts stated that for Nigerian airlines to remain afloat and sustainable, they must be able to provide services at a price that covers the total costs of providing these services plus a profit margin, while staying competitive enough not to price themselves out of the market. Another who spoke on condition of anonymity said that if the airlines could argue that their fares are over-regulated to the extent that they are unviable, then it is their respon-

Do Nigerian airline operators just procure aircraft and start airlines without taking some of these basics into consideration?

sibility to demonstrate this to the regulatory authority. On the other hand, could it be that it is actually the airlines’ cost structures that make them inherently unviable? It is a source of amazement, for instance, that many of our domestic airlines are very top heavy with foreigners who apparently get paid in expensive hard currencies. Are these human resources absolutely required to be expatriates? Or is it just a choice the airlines make? If so, are their extra costs factored into their business models? The questions then arise - is it possible that anyone would start an airline without a clear business plan? Did they choose exactly which aircraft would be ideal for their purposes? Did they forecast their running costs and income streams? Did they predict their fixed costs and plan to keep a tight lid on their variable costs? Did they chart a growth path to ‘breakeven’ and then profitability and sustainability? Or do Nigerian airline operators just procure aircraft and start airlines without taking some of these basics into consideration? After all, every airline operator knows up front that he or she will pay landing and parking fees to the airports. They know they will pay for the various services they use from various service providers. They know they will pay for fuel and handling. They know they will collect certain fees from passengers on behalf of other entities and would be required to remit these monies regularly. They seem to have adopted

a strategy to let their debts to their service providers accumulate to the point where they become daunting. They usually ask government to waive the debts or bail them out lest they die. Government had always listened to them and on two occasions, used tax-payers money to assist them but they ended up frittering away such funds. The airlines owe a lot money in unpaid bills. Despite getting away with not paying a significant chunk of the bills they owe on a going basis, they continue to complain. Most of them operate or had operated a faulty business model to this very moment that has put them in serious and difficult situation. There are those who believe that operating costs should vary from airline to airline. In fact, it is the degree to which each individual airline is successful at manipulating the variable elements of their costs that eventually determines their sustainability and on-going competitiveness in the market. Many experts have suggested that Nigerian airlines should consolidate as a potential way to become more viable. But consolidation without a lean and viable business model would simply aggravate their problem. The whole idea of airline consolidation is to further streamline costs by benefiting from the economies of scale and the already established route and inter-lining advantages the different parties bring to the table in order to become more competitive as a unit.

BUSINESS | AVIATION

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

WITH

Foreign airlines' AIR RAGE of the whistle-blower dominance worries Arik Absence protection policy in aviation HISTORIC

The airline had done its feasibility study before embarking on the Asian route, which it plans to service from July 28, 2014 Wole Shadare

he dominance of foreign airlines has been described as a huge drainpipe on Nigeria’s economy and one that has led to huge capital flight. The country is said to lose over N200 billion yearly to international airlines that have been generously given more than enough flight rights into Nigeria at the detriment of Nigerian carriers who are left with just three per cent of the international market share. The inability of Nigerian airlines to reciprocate most of the routes has led to imbalance in the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and most countries, particularly European countries, who keep increasing flights to the country. British Airways operates 14 frequencies to Lagos and Abuja,

Ethiopia Airways operates 37 frequencies to Enugu, Lagos, Abuja, and Kano, while airlines like Virgin, Atlantic Airways, Lufthansa, Air France-KLM, Etihad, Qatar and other carriers also enjoy enormous frequencies. This was the view of the Group Chief Executive Officer of Arik Air, Dr. Michael Arumemi-Ikhide while unveiling plans of the carrier to commence direct flights to Dubai and the launch of its Frequent Flyer Programme, otherwise known as Arik Affinity Wings at the airline’s corporate headquarters in Lagos. Speaking on the competition posed on the airline’s operations to Dubai, which is seen by many as a very lucrative route, Arummemi-Ikhide said that the airline had done its feasibility study before embarking on the Asian route which it plans to service from July 28, 2014. He said that they would work in conjunction with Emirates and Turkish Airlines on how to interline for greater efficiency, adding that Nigeria and Asia are new destinations for opportunities in air travel and aviation. Arik operates point-to-point operations and its interlining pact would help the airline to

operate to Dubai and points beyond the area. “We don’t view competition from the incumbent as hindrance, rather, we see it as a big boost for our operation. There is high demand for the route. We have looked at it very carefully and we believe that it will be a win-win situation for us.” The airline chief stated that the carrier has invested heavily in state of the art technology and equipment as evidence by its fleet of modern aircraft ranging from Bombardier to turbo-props and regional jets to Boeing narrow bodies and Airbus wide bodies, all of which total an average age of approximately 6.5 years. According to him, “Arik Air has and will always maintain the view that our future and that of Nigeria’s air transport sector at large resides in the development of the capability of our people.” He stated that they envisaged that the great potential on the route would drive his firm to increase the capacity to daily flights in the near future, adding that the cargo potential on the Dubai-Nigeria and West Africa route is also significant and said they hope to exploit this.

Arik's business class bar

NAHCO handles 31,000 flights in 2013, holds AGM Friday Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

he Nigerian Aviation Handing Company (NAHCO Aviance Plc) recorded 31,122 flights in 2013 as against 30,134 flights recorded in 2012. Similarly, the volume of passenger flights handled by the firm stood at 27,226 in 2013 while it handled 1,532 149 outbound passengers and 1,455,042 inbound passengers in 2013. NAHCO, the company which handles about 70 per cent of domestic and foreign airlines operating in Nigeria, also recorded a major breakthrough as it handled

3,600 cargo flights in the preceding year, a statement from chairman to shareholders said. “NAHCO, which will hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) this Friday in Abuja, is the largest and most successful ground handler in sub-Saharan Africa. It serves about 40 of the 45 international flights that arrive daily into the country,” the statement said. Breaking down the passenger flights by states, the statement said it handled 16,526 passenger flights in both Local and International wings of the Murtala Airport in Lagos. It said that NAHCO recorded 4,412 in Abuja, 817 in Kano, 3,389

in Port Harcourt, 479 in Kaduna, 1,525 in Uyo, 78 and Enugu. NAHCO has also recorded a significant stride in the area of cargo flights handled in 2013, the statement said. In total, NAHCO handled 3,600 cargo flights, with Lagos topping the pack with 2,943, while Abuja recorded 225, Port Harcourt 389 and Kano 43 last year. The statement also said that the company’s total asset has grown by 25 per cent from N11.162billion in 2012 to N13.994billion in 2013. “Our result shows that we are making progress and we expect this trend to continue,” the statement added.

ot a few including the President, Nigeria Aviation Safety Initiative (NASI), Capt. Pam Dung has proposed the need for Nigeria to evolve a whistle-blower policy that insures protection of both the aviation industry and its users. They said this will serve to reduce the spread corruption within the system. They also stated that it would help in identifying hazards and taking mitigating actions before the entire group is compromised. Good people within the system who observe anomalies such as unsafe practices or misuse of public funds are left with the difficult choices. Speaking out and sacrificing their careers and livelihood or keeping quiet and hoping that nothing goes wrong and nobody else finds out. The result is an unsafe system built on false security, devoid of transparency and accountability that fosters a contagion of corruption and unethical practices. Pam stated that the result is an unsafe system built on false security, devoid of transparency and accountability that fosters a contagion of corruption and unethical practices. The inherent prebendal culture leads to depletion of the much needed manpower. It is unfortunate that with every change in administration the top level management are usually prematurely retired or fired irrespective of the competency and integrity. This unwarranted high turnover of our top professionals deprives the sector of the muchneeded manpower required for capacity building. Some of management staff anticipates this cycle and begin looting the system in preparation for undignified exit. Yes, the whole of the aviation industry was allegedly compromised during the tenure of a former Minister of Aviation. Whistle-blowing became a taboo; corruption was reportedly elevated, the media was hugely ‘bought’ over, reporters scrambled to out-do one another for the piece of cakes that fell from their tables. Professionalism gave way to mediocrity and the general public was fed with lies that the aviation industry was indeed moving towards Eldorado. Alas, the Senate and House of Representatives Committees

Abuja airport

Wole Shadare

on Aviation said what some people knew that the sector made no significant progress. It was not surprising to few when the BMW cars scandal broke and other scandals that tainted the last administration, considered to be the least of all the ‘atrocities’ perpetrated in the sector. Thank God that the aviation industry is trying to get over problems. One hopes that a new Aviation Minister whenever he or she is appointed would try to right the wrongs of the past and reposition the sector to make it work. Nigeria needs a clearly defined and understood transport policy The entire transport policy for Nigeria needs to be re-written. We need clearly defined policies and their respective strategies with specific objectives and time-lines for safety, reliability, efficiency and sustainability. We have to be proactive and attempt to address issues at the policy and strategy level. Though the implementation level is very important, it tend is expected to be driven by the policy and strategy. Historical evidence indicates implementation is usually reactive and prone to serious adverse interference due to the absence of a clearly understood policy. The aviation policy should be part of an over-arching transport policy that integrates road, rail, sea and air travel. With a big picture view, our civil aviation policy must reflect elements of the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) continentwide programme especially the implementation Yamoussoukro decision (1999) and the drive for regional integration. It is quite obvious that the implementation of programmes within the sector is not supported by processes to ensure the objective is achieved; checks, balances, transparency and accountability. A cursory look at the activities of both the regulator NCAA and the Federal Ministry of aviation in the last one year shows a sector without direction, stakeholders buy-in and synergy. A clear indicative of what transpires when a reactive regime attempts to drive a system with cogs already embedded in the wheels; slow, painful and inefficient.

BUSINESS | AVIATION

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

SAA caters for Nigerians' ‘extravagant’ tastes STATUS The Nigerian traveller wants an easy-to-do destination that elevates their status in life and one that will make them proud to share their stories with friends and colleagues

n status-conscious Nigeria, people want to be seen flying business and first class. The South African Airways (SAA) daily flight from Johannesburg to Lagos and back fills up from the front, says the airline’s regional manager for North, West and Central Africa, Ohis Ehimiaghe. “Elsewhere in the world, people are very conscious about price, so economy usually fills up before the front.” These first-class flyers are not typically corporate executives, though. Nigeria’s market traders are frequent flyers on the SAA flight to Johannesburg and are therefore platinum members of its voyager programme. They are usually connecting to a São Paulo flight to purchase items such as hair products and costume jewellery for resale back home. Baggage allowance is particularly important for traders and SAA has made a special baggage concession for the flight to Lagos. Passengers are allowed three pieces of luggage of 23kg each in economy class and three 32kg bags each in business class. On other flights, passengers are only allowed two pieces of luggage. Passengers on the flight to Lagos are also allowed 50 bags of excess luggage each, charged

at $90 apiece - a price tag they have not complained about. This charged baggage limit is specific to the flight to Lagos, for which SAA uses the A340-600, the largest aircraft in its fleet. Ehimiaghe says that the baggage allowance is still “not ideal” for these travellers, who are known to drop luggage off in Lagos and get on the next flight to Johannesburg for more shopping in São Paulo. The airline is not considering increasing the bag allowance but is considering increasing the frequency of flights to Lagos. SAA started flying the Johannesburg-Lagos route with four flights a week in 1999. This increased to seven times a week and the airline now has 60 per cent of the total market share on the route, Ehimiaghe says. About 50,000 round-trip passengers fly the route yearly with the airline. The closest competitor is Nigerian operator, Arik Air. SAA is also working with South African Tourism to create a spin-off for South Africa’s tourism industry from these travellers. Ehimiaghe says that through marketing by SAA, Nigerian corporate and trader travellers are being encouraged to spend time on holiday in South Africa, and to bring their families with them to enjoy holidays in the country. “We say ‘that increases your baggage allowance, so you can buy whatever you want to buy,’” he says. In an effort to grow tourists from Nigeria and the rest of the West African region, South African Tourism opened its first West Africa office in Lagos this year. On the average, a Nigerian tourist spends R11,000 when in South Africa, the body says. Last

year, this amounted to a R700m contribution to SA’s total tourism revenue. The number of tourists visiting South Africa from Nigeria rose 15.4 per cent to over 84,000 last year - 11.7 per cent of Nigeria’s total outbound travel market. Shopping, wining and dining, and South Africa’s urban nightlife, are of interest to these tourists when in South Africa. Personalised treatment such as concierge services, are important. “The Nigerian traveller wants an easy-to-do destination that elevates their status in life and one that will make them proud to share their stories with friends and colleagues,” says South African Tourism CEO, Thulani Nzima. Nigerians have a taste for luxury goods and food. In Lagos, hosts will offer guests tea, coffee, water or champagne, which has to be French. A Euromonitor International report found that Nigerians spent nearly

$60 million on champagne in 2012. Shoprite Holdings says its seven Nigerian stores sold more Moët & Chan-don champagne than all its liquor stores in South Africa combined, in the past financial year. Tsogo Sun is also gaining from a keen understanding of the Nigerian traveller market. According to CEO Marcel von Aulock, the Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel in Lagos is the only hotel the group has outside South Africa where locals make up nearly 50 per cent of guests. In its hotels in countries such as Mozambique, Zambia and Kenya, foreigners make up the bulk of guests. “In the rest of Africa, our hotels are very much (based on) foreign inbound business,” says Mr von Aulock, adding that this is also representative of the magnitude of the Lagos economy compared with most other African economies. The hotel hosts Sunday Champagne brunches to appeal to locals who like hotel

food. In Nigeria, being able to dine at a hotel is a sign that you have made it. With 11 other branded hotels in Lagos, including City Lodge, The Radisson Blu and Hilton, hotels have to compete for a piece of the affluent Lagos market. The GM at the hotel, Mark Loxley, says the Nigerian guest is well-travelled and knows the difference between three-, fourand five-star hotels and service. Loxley says they expect quality and service commensurate with what they spend. Nigerians are also getting a taste for expensive wine. Osayaba Giwa-Osagie, director of the Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce, says companies looking to tap into the Nigerian market need to bring unique offerings and an understanding of the Nigerian consumer. “If you start off with a niche market, a product that is not available in Nigeria or a service that is not available in Nigeria, and you package your product very well, (you are) likely to do very well.”

South African Airways' A330 air plane

IATA urges use of IT to improve passengers’ experience Wole Shadare

he International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged aviation stakeholders to develop and use information technology (IT) to drive improvements in the passenger experience. The Director-General of International Air Transport Association (IATA), Tony Tyler said: “We must always remember that we fly people and cargo, not planes. So our mind-set has to be oriented to view things from the perspective of the customer in all that we do - including how we design, integrate and implement IT systems. Speaking at the Air Transport IT Summit jointly hosted by SITA and Airline Business magazine, Tyler identified three areas where through working together and guided by global standards, opportunities exist to use IT to provide a better passenger experience. He stated that, “In doing so, we will deliver greater value in commercial aviation’s second

century,” He listed these areas as airline distribution, the airport environment and data standards for information exchange. Distribution According to Tyler, “everything begins with the shopping experience. The most successful brands - whether they are fast food chains or five star hotel groups - aim to deliver a predictable and consistently pleasant shopping experience. In the case of air travel, the simple truth is we can’t always do that yet. “It is no secret that airlines, travel agents and travellers face limitations owing to the pre-internet language standard powering most travel agent and online travel agency displays. As a result, beyond price and schedule, travel agents are not able to offer product differentiation among airlines, except on a limited and airline-specific basis,” Tyler said. To address the growing gap between the rich content and additional products available on airline websites and more

commoditised travel options available through travel agents, he said IATA was working with its partners in the travel value chain on the New Distribution Capability (NDC). He said that NDC will update the standard for electronic communications between airlines and travel agents from the pre-Internet standard to XML, and ensure consumers have the ability to access and compare all of an airline’s products and services wherever they shop. Last month, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) granted Tentative Approval to IATA Resolution 787, which is the foundation document for NDC. The airport environment According to IATA’s 2013 Global Passenger Survey, twothirds of travellers would prefer to check-in online or automatically via a text message or email from the airline. And 63 per cent would prefer a self-boarding gate to board the aircraft rather than the current procedure. “We

know that our customers want to be able to do more things for themselves because they’ve told us so. Why not use IT to let them do it at their own pace and convenience?” said Tyler. IATA’s Fast Travel program responds to passenger demands for a more seamless travel experience and more control through six time-saving, self-service options covering check-in, self-tagging of baggage, document check, flight rebooking, self-boarding and bag recovery. IATA’s target for 2014 is to implement Fast Travel projects covering 27 per cent of eligible passengers, up from the current figure of 17.5 per cent. “This will require airlines, airports, and IT providers working together to make it happen. By 2020, we want 80per cent of passengers to be offered a complete self-service suite based on industry standards,” said Tyler. Tyler cited innovation baggage which is aimed at two other programs to improve the pas-

senger experience, innovation in baggage aimed at reducing the percentage of mishandled bags worldwide from 1 per cent currently to 0.5 per cent by 2020 and smart security, which IATA is developing jointly with Airports Council International under a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2013. This is expected to improve security by allocating resources based on risk, while enabling passengers to proceed through security checkpoints with a minimum of queuing and disrobing. This year, IATA will conduct airport trials with Smart Security components at Amsterdam Schiphol, London Heathrow, and Hamad International Airport in Doha. On short and medium-haul flights, the Seat Plus, which offers more legroom, is now available on all flights for customers travelling in the Economy and Premium Economy cabins, at an additional cost of 10, 15 or 20 euros depending on the length of flight.

BUSINESS | AVIATION

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

British Airways launches new look interiors NEW CABINS The installation of elegant new designs takes inspiration from the airline’s most recent fleet entrants, the A380 and Boeing 787. Wole Shadare

ritish Airways has unveiled newly-designed seats and cabin interiors for its short-haul aircraft flying across its European and domestic networks from Heathrow and Gatwick. Fitting-out work began last week on the first of the 95 Airbus short-haul aircraft, with installation of elegant new designs that take inspiration from the airline’s most recent fleet entrants, the A380 and Boeing 787. The elegant charcoal grey leather seats are slimmer and ergonomically designed to enable the addition of extra seats in the Euro Traveller (economy) cabin to allow more low fares. Innovative design maximises personal space and comfort, with chair backs devised to provide more knee space for the customer behind. Customers can also make use of an eye-level seatback tabletholder, which can also provide storage for magazines. A four way moveable headrest provides comfort and support.

And the seat back table moves in and out to provide optimum positioning. The new Club Europe, featuring a silver British Airways speed marque on the front wall, will maintain its 2:2 configurations with the middle seat free. The seats will be bridged with a stylish new ‘central console’ table, providing Club customers with improved functional space. This table provides inlaid leather mats for drinks, snacks and personal devices, freeing up the main table for work or a meal. Contemporary LED lighting systems, inspired by the airline’s newest long-haul cabins, will include blue tones for boarding, a relaxing candlelit mood for dining and a restful gentle white for cruising and landing. As part of its investment in short-haul for Club Europe customers, British Airways has also recently invested in significant re-designs of its domestic lounges in Belfast, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Keith Williams, British Airways’ executive chairman, said: “The short-haul landscape has changed enormously in recent years. To stay competitive and keep offering customers choice, great fares and great service, we are giving our cabins a radical makeover. There will be a new look, but the traditional British Airways’ comfort, elegance and value will remain.” The new cabin is a testa-

ment to British design. The new seats are manufactured by B/E Aerospace in Kilkeel, Northern Ireland, the leather for the seat covers and pads on the ‘central console’ is supplied by Andrew Muirhead& Son Ltd in Glasgow and the decorative stitching on the Club Europe seats has been developed by Prototrim, a car seat design and dressing specialist based in Milton Keynes. The new interiors, to be fitted across the Airbus fleet over the next 12 months, are the most dramatic of a series

services are operated by an Airbus A330-300 aircraft with a total of 231 seats in a three class cabin configuration: Eight First Class, 32 Business Class and 191 Economy Class. From Zurich, Etihad Airways now provides travellers with 25 international connections to the Gulf region, Indian sub-continent, Africa, Asia and Australia via its hub in Abu Dhabi. In conjunction with our global network partners, Air Seychelles, Jet Airways and Virgin Australia, Etihad Airways is now able to provide connectivity from Zurich and Geneva to 44 destinations beyond its hub in Abu Dhabi. Flying into Zurich and Geneva, Etihad Airwaysnow provides seamless onward European connectionsto 22 destinations on Etihad Regional’s network, including domestic services between Zurich and Geneva, and Geneva and Lugano. Travellers can also connect on Airberlin and Niki’s regional network via Zurich to Berlin, Dusseldorf, Olbia, Palma de Mallorca and Vienna. Air Serbia provides a convenient daily connection from Zurich to Belgrade.

estimated five per cent in CO2 per passenger/km, contributing toward the airline’s target of reducing net carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2050. To enhance its short-haul services British Airways is in discussions with Inmarsat about leading Europe in a new era of broadband in the air. Starting with UK domestic routes they intend to roll-out Europe’s first ground-based 4G broadband network giving customers the internet access they expect on the ground while in the air.

London Heathrow terminal 5

Etihad’s new Zurich route, more choice for travellers T he launch of direct nonstop flights between Abu Dhabi and Zurich by Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will bring greater choice for travellers and strengthen Switzerland as a European air transport hub. The new service launched on June 1, 2014, builds on Etihad Airways’ daily flights between Geneva and Abu Dhabi launched in June 2004. Etihad Airways President and Chief Executive Officer, James Hogan, said: “This year we celebrate ten years of operation in Switzerland, which continues to be an increasingly important travel market for Etihad Airways and a significant trading partner with the UAE. “Our new Zurich daily service means Swiss business and leisure travellers have greater access to the UAE and important markets in the Gulf region, Middle East, Africa, Indian subContinent, Asia and Australia. “Etihad Airways’ presence in Switzerland contributes to a resilient aviation sector in Switzerland, bringing the benefits of competition and convenience to travellers,” Hogan said. Both Zurich and Geneva

of changes to the airline’s short-haul flights. It has already introduced a range of new fare options including hand-baggage only, semi-flex and day returns, which are proving enormously popular with customers. Following the success of day return fares from London, the company will today start rolling out day return fares for European travellers coming to London. The new cabins will also deliver significant environmental benefits, saving an

“The greater choice for travellers is further evidence of the value and strength of our network partnership strategy, which enables us to work with partner airlines to offer more flights to more destinations, with more connections,” Hogan said. Etihad Guest loyalty members flying with its partner airlines, Etihad Regional, airberlin, Niki and Air Serbia across Europe, can earn and spend Etihad Guest Miles on flights as well as enjoy recognition benefits such as status miles, lounge access, excess baggage and priority check-in. While passenger traffic between Switzerland and the UAE has nearly doubled in the past five years, cargo volume is similarly increasing as a result of growing trade between the two countries. In 2013, Etihad Cargo carried over 6,700 tons of goods to and from Switzerland, up 21 per cent on 2012. The new Zurich-Abu Dhabi services will offer cargo customers 260 tonnes of weekly bellyhold volume to meet the increasing demand for freight capacity. In total, Etihad Airways will offer just over 510 tonnes of weekly cargo capacity to and from Switzerland.

NIPR holds aviation forum in honour of Agboarumi Wole Shadare Nigerian Institute of Public TanheRelations (NIPR) recently held Aviation Family Forum at the

Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) in a bid to air its voice in the area of air navigation safety and lend support to the growth and development of the sector in honour of one of its members, Mr. Basil Agboarumi, who was recently elevated to the position of General Manager (GM), Corporate Communications, Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL). The National President, Dr. Rotimi Oladele, said that “there is a visible indicator that the aviation industry is growing but there is the need to support the industry to grow through aggressive information management,” adding that “the aviation industry of tomorrow should be based on information management as business can only thrive on accurate information. To this end, he noted: “Public Relations cannot be relegated and NIPR should be a role model.” Acknowledging the professionalism and progress of Agboarumi, Dr. Oladele appealed to NIPR members in the aviation sector to work harder and promote integrity. He also stressed that “modesty is important for

public relations (PR) personalities. “We must build the reputation of Nigeria and all the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in the aviation sector must be part of it,” he submitted. The Managing Director of NAMA, Ibrahim Abdulsalam, assured members of the travelling public of their safety within the nation’s airspace and applauded NIPR for its professionalism, excellence and transparency saying: “Through various trainings, workshops and seminars, NIPR has moulded icons whose contributions to the Nigerian economy have been legendary producing the likes of Mr. Agboarumi who is a valuable product of this reputable institute.” The Managing Director further enjoined all members of NIPR to imbibe and assimilate the code of ethics of the noble profession as the sustenance of the Nigerian project largely depends on them, noting that Public Relations is an integral aspect of the world economy as no business can survive without it. Responding, Mr. Agboarumi expressed gratitude to NIPR for the honour and recognition accorded him and thanked the management of NAMA for accepting to host the forum and for the support extended to the institute to make the event a successful one.

BUSINESS | MONEY LINE 41

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

NSIA promises more robust performance in Q2

ON TRACK NSIA has added new products to allow flexibility and increase the yields on its investments Ayodele Aminu

within the bounds of our expectations with an audited net profit for the period standing at a robust N1.2billion. “While it is humanly impossible to correctly predict the future, I am nonetheless confident that the NSIA is on the path to deliver a more robust performance by the end of 2014, ceteris paribus. We are on track to deliver similar or higher numbers as seen in Q1 in the second quarter. We will be in a better position to give you the specifics at the end of July.” He said that the bulk of the Q1 profits came from investments in hedge fund and equity, adding that NSIA has added new products into its fixed income to allow flexibility and increase the yields on its investments. "Since interest rates in the international markets are extremely low, the only way to go was to invest in long -term. But we have now moved some of our investments into products that gives us flexibility. Now that the Bank of England has announced that interest rates would rise and the United States has started tampering, we decided to introduce more active and flexible products so that we can get higher yields," he explained. On the $200million Stabilisation Fund, Orji said the portfolio had made a modest positive

he Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) would deliver a more robust performance by the second quarter of this year, it's Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NSIA, Mr. Uche Orji, has said. NSIA had recorded a profit of N1.2billion for the first quarter of this year, up from the N525million made in the 15-month period ended December 31, 2013. Speaking with newsmen in Lagos, the NSIA boss explained that the N1.2billion profit made in the first quarter, was from the investment of just 50 per cent of the $400million Future Generations Fund, which only commenced in the fourth quarter of last year. The SWF is divided into three broad areas namely: the Stabilisation Fund, Future Generations Fund and Infrastructure Fund. It has a seed fund of $1billion with the Federal Government recently allocating $200million to it specifically for investment in gas to power projects and another $350 million yet to be received by the institution, which would be managed for the bulk traders. Orji said, “We are encouraged that the financial performance as of Q1 2014 improved

return of 0.55 per cent through to the end of April, because it was not structured to provide significant returns due to the requirement of daily liquidity, the low interest environment and conservative nature of the mandates. The NSIA boss however, said that the management of the fund by external consultants would be reviewed at the end

Godson Ikoro

he Federal Government is vigorously integrating the nation’s insurance sector by embedding the governance and risk management framework for insurance companies even as it targets to increase the percentage of insurance companies meeting the capital adequacy ratio to 70 per cent by 2020 from 15per cent in 2012. It also plans to increase the number of independently rated Nigerian Insurance Companies to at least 29 and increase adult population holding insurance policies to 20 per cent by the Year 2020. Head of Financial Systems

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

Description

TTM

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

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

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

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

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

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

Strategy, (FSS 2020) Unit, Engr. Oluwatoyin Jokosenumi, disclosed this at a seminar with Financial Journalists and Editor at the weekend in Kaduna. In furtherance of this, he said that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) are striving to strengthen and deepen the domestic insurance market by enhancing insurance credibility and to protect insurance policy holders. Speaking on the rebased Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and implications for the financial systems strategy 2020, Jokosenumi said the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the government had lined up over 24 transformational programmes targeted at realizing the objectives of vision 2020. For the insurance sector, he said the move to encourage mass insurance in the country was highly expedient as insurance needs underlie every facet of life. In line with these objectives, of the Central Bank Ni-

geria has been tinkering with NAICOM, on how to encourage mass consumption of insurance products. According to the FSS 2020, he said, total claims as a per centage of total premium earned, is expected to increase from the baseline of 25 per cent to 50 per cent while liquidity to capital ratio is expected to increase from 32 per cent to a higher number being fine turned with NAICOM. He said that to make insurance sustainable for economic development, the percentage of insurance assets invested in sectors requiring long term financing as a percentage of total fund being worked out would also increase to be at par with the fastest growing economies; emphasising that insurance contribution to GDP would increase from 0.72 per cent to four per cent. Also, the percentage of adult population holding insurance policies, he said, would also increase to 20 per cent, from the five per cent baseline in 2012.

UBA Cards now accepted on PayPal

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

the Second Niger Bridge where the authority is investing. He said that NSIA had signed eight Memorandum of Understandings ( MoUs) with various medical institutions, adding that the institution would also go into Private Public Partnerships (PPPs) with teaching hospitals and medical centers to float specialist clinics and diagnostic centers.

Insurance companies meeting capital adequacy ratio to hit 70% –FG

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

of the month in preparation for the anticipated rising interest rates in the countries where it was invested. On the Nigeria Infrastructure Fund, which is being managed directly by the NSIA, Orji said it had been designed to focus on agriculture, health care, real estate, motorways and power, adding that work had already begun on the construction of

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

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

nited Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has announced that its Debit and Prepaid Cards are now accepted on the PayPal gateway. PayPal is one of the world’s largest online payment platforms which allow individuals and businesses to make easy international payments. It has been used over the years to pay for transactions on online platforms like Amazon, eBay, and other top e-Commerce websites. Paypal boasts of more than100 million users worldwide. With UBA Cardholders now joining the already huge network of PayPal users, shopping online from popular international retailers has just become more flexible. Describing how UBA Cardholders can use their cards to make payments through Paypal, Dr. Yinka Adedeji, the Head of the Bank’s e-banking Division explained that all the Customer has to do is to visit the PayPal website, select country of location, fill the application form that will be displayed and submit the form online . Once this is done, the registered Card can be used to make payments

on all websites with the PayPal logo. “UBA Cards on Paypal offer unrivalled convenience for our Cardholders to shop online” said Dr Adedeji Assuring Cardholders of their transaction security, he further said UBA Cards are trusted, reliable and protected with advanced technology for online payments. In addition, UBA MasterCard and VISA cards are fortified with MasterCard SecureCode and Verified by VISA features respectively for secure online transactions. The acceptance of UBA Cards on PayPal will provide more convenience for those planning their summer shopping. This development is coming on the heels of the launch of the Bank’s Summer campaign which encourages Cardholders to travel with their UBA Cards wherever they go in the world. UBA cards are accepted in over 200 countries and on millions of POS terminals and ATMs around the world. This implies that UBA Cardholders are never stranded in any part of the world where they decide to shop or do business.

42 BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

23-Jun-14

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

Bonds

Price

FGN Bonds Issuer

Rating/Agency

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

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

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

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

45.00 100.00 535.00 500.27 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 165.17 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57

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

0.02 0.27 0.83 2.15 2.84 3.09 3.19 3.93 5.02 5.33 7.60 9.72 14.43 14.91 15.41 16.08

10.29 10.87 10.98 11.55 11.57 11.51 11.51 11.49 11.55 11.56 12.16 12.27 12.75 12.80 12.86 12.99

1.57 10.29 10.31 11.47 11.51 11.39 11.39 11.40 11.47 11.47 12.11 12.22 12.71 12.76 12.80 12.94

99.97 99.52 94.57 102.75 108.30 95.76 94.35 97.53 116.60 82.21 120.55 110.75 114.66 97.91 71.05 80.00

100.12 99.67 95.07 102.90 108.45 96.06 94.65 97.83 116.90 82.51 120.85 111.05 114.96 98.21 71.35 80.30

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

4,420.01 Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

***LCRM

Description

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

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

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

978.35 24.56 6.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.36 0.92 1.40 2.46 2.83 3.04

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.73 13.63 13.45 13.46 12.49 12.51

96.02 88.59 105.04 98.25 96.73 94.25

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

0.12 0.31 1.19 0.79 1.09 1.09 2.82 1.65 3.52 2.49 4.28 2.69 2.69 3.08 3.15 5.42 3.21 3.82 6.43 6.52 3.83 3.86

1.56 3.29 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78 1.00 1.00 1.00 2.74 1.00 1.00 1.94 1.44 1.95

12.04 13.98 15.54 14.20 15.52 14.54 17.08 12.28 13.29 13.26 12.49 12.48 16.26 12.51 12.51 12.57 14.25 12.50 12.82 13.78 12.94 13.44

100.15 99.90 96.76 99.68 98.37 101.16 84.60 102.37 101.93 101.73 104.85 104.44 95.44 104.90 107.65 107.37 101.24 106.52 102.89 105.12 116.20 115.88

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 01-Apr-19 14-Nov-20

0.29 0.49 0.52 0.67 0.98 0.83 2.27 2.34 3.27 2.09 2.05 2.21 2.21 4.25 2.32 2.40 3.52 6.39

1.00 5.21 8.71 4.88 1.00 2.63 1.00 1.34 1.00 1.88 3.48 5.20 5.06 1.35 2.29 6.11 2.16 2.76

11.67 16.08 19.60 15.81 12.02 13.61 12.44 12.78 12.51 13.30 14.89 16.63 16.49 12.84 13.73 17.56 13.66 14.57

99.87 98.82 98.76 96.22 100.13 100.51 101.03 102.84 101.25 109.15 102.21 102.80 101.95 103.66 104.13 99.19 106.37 102.71

11-Feb-18

3.64

1.00

12.50

93.41

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,304.32

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

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

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

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

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

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

572.90

Corporate Bonds A+/Agusto; AA/GCR Aa/Agusto Nil Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto BB+/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto A/GCR BBB-/GCR BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR A/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR 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# *DANA 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 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-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 01-Apr-14 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 16.00 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 4.50 2.05

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

180.17

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

IFC

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

12.00 Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value ($'mm)

Maturity Date

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

4.96

4.80

109.96

110.90

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

18-Dec-09

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.27

4.05

103.16

103.98

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

01-Apr-10

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.33

5.20

107.45

108.37

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

Corporate Eurobonds AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

3.91

3.24

111.64

112.75

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

5.06

4.28

104.36

105.81

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.20

5.93

99.25

100.25

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

6.95

6.43

100.81

102.25

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.66

8.25

94.24

95.51

AFREN PLC

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

5.18

4.52

113.19

114.44

ZENITH BANK PLC FIRST BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.45

6.25

99.18

99.99

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.18

6.76

103.75

105.25

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

AFREN PLC

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

5.90

5.65

102.79

103.80

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

ACCESS BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,460.00

**Treasury Bills DTM 10 17 24 31 38 45

FIXINGS Maturity 3-Jul-14 10-Jul-14 17-Jul-14 24-Jul-14 31-Jul-14 7-Aug-14

Bid Discount (%) 10.30 8.00 10.25 10.15 10.25 10.10

Offer Discount (%) 10.05 7.75 10.00 9.90 10.00 9.85

Bid Yield (%) 10.33 8.03 10.32 10.24 10.36 10.23

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 10.5000 12.3390 13.2852 14.1514

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.25

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

10.50

Spot 7D 14D 1M

162.58 162.88 163.13 163.71

162.68 163.14 163.47 164.36

O/N Tenor

REPO

Rate (%)

12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030

22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10

12.49 8.50 10.00

150.00 200.00 591.57

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Description

Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

12.76 12.80 12.94

97.91 71.05 80.00

98.21 71.35 80.30

***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 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

0.36 0.92 1.40 2.46 2.83 3.04

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.73 13.63 13.45 13.46 12.49 12.51

96.02 88.59 105.04 98.25 96.73 94.25

0.12 0.31 1.19 0.79 1.09 1.09 2.82 1.65 3.52 2.49 4.28 2.69 2.69 3.08 3.15 5.42 3.21 3.82 6.43 6.52 3.83 3.86

1.56 3.29 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78 1.00 1.00 1.00 2.74 1.00 1.00 1.94 1.44 1.95

12.04 13.98 15.54 14.20 15.52 14.54 17.08 12.28 13.29 13.26 12.49 12.48 16.26 12.51 12.51 12.57 14.25 12.50 12.82 13.78 12.94 13.44

100.15 99.90 96.76 99.68 98.37 101.16 84.60 102.37 101.93 101.73 104.85 104.44 95.44 104.90 107.65 107.37 101.24 106.52 102.89 105.12 116.20 115.88

BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS 43

Stock market gains N148 billion KWARA NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA

Seplat, Julius Berger led other gainers to lift NSE index

Stories by Chris Ugwu

rading activities on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday sustained northwards trajectory as transaction in the share prices of Seplat Petroleum DeTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE velopment Company Plc and Julius Berger Corporate Bonds Nigeria Plc led A+/Agusto; AA/GCR to liftLAFARGE WAPCO other gainers market inAa/Agusto GTB dicators. Nil NGC The key benchmark indices Bbb-/Agusto *UPDC maintained positive*FLOURMILLS trajectory A-/Agusto toBB+/GCR close in the green, taking *CHELLARAMS A+/Agusto; primarily A-/GCR support from NAHCOhighly µ

14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014

capitalized stocks which was 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 particularly driven by the two 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 companies. 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 Specifically, the market cap10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 italization of30-JUN-2017 equities appreci13.75 BAYELSA ated billion as market 14.00by EDON148 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 sentiments remained positive. 14.00 4-OCT-2018 At NIGER the IIclose of trading, 38 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 stocks recorded price apprecia14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 tion, 27 others constituted 15.50while ONDO 14-FEB-2019 the losers' 15.50 GOMBEtable. 02-OCT-2019 14.50 22-NOV-2019 TheLAGOS twin market indicators, 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 the All-Share Index rose by 14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020 448.18 basis points or 1.07 per 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 cent 41,129.27 on Friday 15.00from KOGI 31-DEC-2020 EKITI 31-DEC-2020 while marto14.50 close atII 41,577.47, 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 ket capitalization of equities gained N148 billion or 1.07 per cent from N13.580 trillion to 11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014 N13.728 trillion. 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 Further analysis of the 17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 day’s trading showed that Se10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 plat the gainers' table 12.00topped FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 14.00N14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 with to close at N684.00, 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 while Julius Berger followed 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 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

Coupon (%)

05-Aug-09 15-Oct-09

14.00 14.00

Insurance sub-sector: Analysts express concern over poor performance

1,304.32

Sub-National Bonds

12.80 12.86 12.99

Issue Date

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

POSITIVE

14.91 15.41 16.08

4,420.01

Rating/Agency

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

22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30

with 31-Aug-10 N7.10 to close12.50 at N76.45 30-Sep-10 13.00 per share. 14.00 On30-Jun-11 the flip side, PZ Cussons 30-Jun-09 15.50 Nigeria Plc led the losers with a 19-Apr-10 10.00 drop of N1.60 to close at13.75 N36.40 per 30-Jun-10 share,30-Dec-10 while NNFM Plc14.00 shed N1.03 30-Sep-11 14.00 dipped to close at N19.75 as Conoil 04-Oct-11 14.00 by 80 09-Dec-11 kobo to close at N67.80. 14.50 On12-Dec-13 the activity chart, the 14.00 banking sub-sector dominated 14-Feb-12 15.50 02-Oct-12 15.50 in volume terms with 256.9 mil22-Nov-12 14.50 lion shares worth N2.2 billion in 12-Dec-12 14.75 1,397 30-Sep-13 deals. The sub sector was 14.75 enhanced in 27-Nov-13by the activities 13.50 31-Dec-13 of UBA and 15.00 Wema the shares 14.50 Bank31-Dec-13 Plc. 06-Jan-14 15.00 Other financial services sub sector boosted by the activities on the shares of FBNH Plc fol11.50 units, lowed07-Oct-11 with 45.9 million 18-Dec-09 worth N421 billion in13.50 768 deals. 01-Apr-10 When the closing17.00 bell rang, 17-Aug-10 10.00 investors staked a total 09-Dec-10 12.00of 519.2 million shares, worth N5.3 bil06-Jan-11 14.00 29-Sep-11 lion in 5,913 deals. 13.00

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

financial analysts have expressed concern over the poor performance of insurance stocks in the Nigerian capital market. The insurance industry is yet to recover from losses incurred during the recession even as market sentiments for other sectors have turned green. Market watchers have continued to stress the need for the sector to rise up to expectations 572.90 of investors and devise mechanisms that would shore up per11.80 0.29 formance of 07-Oct-14 companies listed 13.17 18-Dec-14 0.49 under it, through capital appre2.00 31-Dec-14 0.52 ciation, dividend payment and 15.00 17-Aug-15 0.67 bonus issue where 37.50 09-Dec-15 necessary 0.98. Executive Officer, 1.50Chief 06-Jan-16 0.83 15.00 29-Sep-16 2.27 Lambert Securities Limited, 25-Oct-13 14.25 5.53 David Adonri 25-Oct-16 said insur2.34 Mr. 30-Sep-10 13.00 20.00 30-Sep-17 3.27 ance sector had not improved 30-Nov-12 18.00 0.94 30-Nov-17 2.09 on its performance after the 09-Apr-11 16.00 8.01 09-Apr-18 2.05 recession because 09-Sep-11 18.00 3.63 09-Sep-18 of volatility 2.21 09-Sep-11 16.00 1.00the sector. 09-Sep-18 2.21 of 22-Sep-18 4.25 over 22-Sep-11 a short period14.00 of time, 35.00He said the stocks though 18-Oct-13 15.75 3.00 18-Oct-18 2.32 Caverton has made major dopenny stocks would have at17-Feb-12 17.00 0.54 17-Feb-19 2.40 nations towards uplifting the tracted investors but because 01-Apr-14 16.00 4.50 01-Apr-19 3.52 quality of life of Nigerians of payout of6.39 the 14-Nov-13 15.25 2.05low dividend 14-Nov-20 all around the country. Such 180.17 companies investors are not donations include the ‘Seeing willing to take position. is Believing’ project aimed at Adonri said that the trend 11-Feb-13 10.20 12.00 11-Feb-18 3.64 combating blindness; AMFAR in Nigeria’s insurance sector 12.00 (American Foundation for had remained a product of unAIDS Research) aimed at AIDS derdevelopment of the sector Issue Date Coupon (%) Issue Value ($'mm) Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) prevention, treatment and re- as well as public perception of search; Nigeria Association of the insurance business in the Master Mariners towards the 500.00 country. 07-Oct-11 6.75 28-Jan-21 4.96 construction of the AssociaHe noted that even though 5.13to name 500.00 12-Jul-18 tion’s18-Dec-09 permanent site; few of the insurance compa4.27 a few,” he said. nies had already submitted 01-Apr-10 6.38 5.33 It will be recalled that Caver- 500.00 their reports,12-Jul-23 most of the comton Offshore Support Group 1,500.00 panies were still challenged in recently listed on the Nigerian terms of filling their reports, Stock01-Feb-11 Exchange (NSE), the first 450.00 regulatory approval of their 11.50 01-Feb-16 3.91 oil and gas service company to 500.00 reports among other issues. 19-May-11 7.50 19-May-16 5.06 go public in Nigeria. This new Speaking on why the sector 08-Nov-13 6.00 400.00 08-Nov-18 6.20 development shows7.25 a diversi- 350.00 has not been25-Jul-17 able to thrive in 25-Jul-12 6.95 fication in Caverton’s business the Nigerian capital market 09-May-13 6.88 300.00 02-May-18 8.66 portfolio and income10.25 base. as obtainable in other parts 08-Apr-12 300.00 08-Apr-19 5.18

of the world, he said that the Nigerian market and economy had not been able to break even because of general perception of insurance business in the country. He said, “The insurance sector may find it difficult to materially affect the economy and the capital market. You know that insurance sector has not gained the people’s confidence and long before now when the sector was poorly regulated, it carved for1.00 itself a 11.67 negative 99.87 image 5.21 16.08 98.82 because of their inability to 8.71 settle claims 19.60 promptly”98.76 4.88 15.81 96.22 He that even 100.13 as the 1.00 added 12.02 situation has changed now, 2.63 13.61 100.51 1.00 looking at the12.44 situation101.03 in the 1.34 12.78 102.84 is Nigerian economy which 1.00 12.51 101.25 more of mercantile economy , 1.88 13.30 109.15 financing short term activities, 3.48 14.89 102.21 banks . 5.20 drive such 16.63 an economy 102.80 5.06 16.49 Such scenario has 101.95 placed 12.84 the1.35 banks in a position 103.66 to play 2.29 13.73 104.13 dominant role in the Nigerian 6.11 17.56 99.19 economy, as well 2.16 13.66 as occupying 106.37 a commanding in the 2.76 14.57 height102.71 Nigerian capital market, for which the insurance sector has not really been positioned 1.00 12.50 93.41 to play , even as most of the listed insurance companies are still trading at par value. Offer Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price Speaking against the background the poor state of Prices of & Yields investment in the insurance 4.80 109.96 110.90 industry, an assemblage of shareholders group, 103.98 Coali4.05 103.16 tion Shareholders Associa107.45 5.20 108.37 tion of Nigeria, had said that the investment loss in the industry since the meltdown in 2008 is unquantifiable, noting 3.24 111.64 112.75 that rather than shareholders 4.28 104.36 105.81 getting succor in the light of 5.93 99.25 100.25 present shares appreciation 6.43 100.81 102.25 the8.25 reverse has been the case 94.24 95.51 in the 4.52 insurance 113.19 subsector. 114.44

A-/Agusto A/GCR BBB-/GCR BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR A/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR BBB/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

FSDH UBA *C & I LEASING *DANA# *TOWER# *TOWER# UBA *LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS# *DANA NAHCO

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC FIRST BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.45

6.25

99.18

99.99

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.18

6.76

103.75

105.25

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

AFREN PLC

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

5.90

5.65

102.79

103.80

Caverton donates N55m lecture hall to university

s part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives, Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc has commissioned aTOTAL 520-seater lectureVALUE hall at the OUTSTANDING Federal University of TechnolSupranational Bond ogy , Minna, Niger State. AAA/S&P IFC The commissioning ceremoTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE ny which was attended by dignitaries from the State Ministry Rating/Agency Issuer of Education and the university was as a step in the right FGNlauded Eurobonds direction to assist in improving BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P the quality of tertiary educaBB-/Fitch; FGN tion in the country. BB-/S&P Speaking at the occasion, the BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P Chairman of Caverton, Group TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Mr. Aderemi Makanjuola, said that the commissioning was in Corporate Eurobonds furtherance of the company’s B-/S&P; B/Fitch AFREN PLC I corporate social responsibility GTBANK PLC I B+/S&P; B+/Fitch ideals to leave its footprint on the sands of time. GTBANK PLC B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC Makanjuola noted that the B/S&P; B/Fitch FIDELITY BANK PLC construction commenced B/Fitch AFREN PLC in

2010 and was completed in 2013 at a cost of N55 million. He said that the company planned to deepen the collaboration with the university by offering Internship (IT) positions to10.20 students of the institution. IFC 11-FEB-2018 Makanjuola further stated that engineering students from the university who finish at the Description top of their class graduating with first and second class upper degrees 6.75 were encouraged JAN 28, 2021 to seek employment with Ca5.13 JUL 12, 2018 verton. “Caverton continues to 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 demonstrate commitment to Nigerian Government’s ‘Local Content Policy’. Caverton has trained and 11.50 hasFEB given type rat01, 2016 ings to many local pilots and 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 engineers. There is also an on6.00 NOV 08, 2018 going program to train local pi7.25 JUL 25, 2017 lots and engineers 6.88 MAY year 09, 2018on year. It should 10.25 alsoAPR be08,noted that 2019

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,460.00

23-Jun-14

The FMDQ 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 Money Market Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) to the FMDQ OTC PLC TermsMaturity of Use and Disclaimer Statement. Offer Discount (%) DTM Bid Discount (%) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%)

**Treasury Bills

FGN

10 17 Bonds24 31 38 45 Rating/Agency 52 59 66 73 80 87 94 101 108 115 NA 150 164 199 213 227 241 255 290 304 318

3-Jul-14 10-Jul-14 17-Jul-14 24-Jul-14 31-Jul-14 7-Aug-14 Issuer 14-Aug-14 21-Aug-14 28-Aug-14 4-Sep-14 11-Sep-14 18-Sep-14 25-Sep-14 2-Oct-14 9-Oct-14 16-Oct-14 NA 20-Nov-14 4-Dec-14 8-Jan-15 22-Jan-15 5-Feb-15 19-Feb-15 5-Mar-15 9-Apr-15 23-Apr-15 7-May-15

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

10.30 8.00 10.25 10.15 10.25 10.10 Description 10.15 10.25 9.20 29-JUN-2014 10.25 9.25 28-SEP-2014 10.40 4.00 23-APR-2015 10.70 13.05 16-AUG-2016 10.50 15.10 27-APR-2017 10.45 10.75 9.85 27-JUL-2017 10.65 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.75 10.70 30-MAY-2018 10.30 16.00 29-JUN-2019 10.35 7.00 23-OCT-2019 10.30 16.39 27-JAN-2022 10.60 10.40 14.20 14-MAR-2024 10.60 15.00 28-NOV-2028 10.40 12.49 22-MAY-2029 10.30 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.45 10.00 23-JUL-2030 10.20

10.05 7.75 10.00 9.90 10.00 9.85 Issue Date 9.90 10.00 29-Jun-07 10.00 28-Sep-07 10.15 23-Apr-10 10.45 16-Aug-13 10.25 27-Apr-12 10.20 10.50 27-Jul-07 10.40 31-Aug-07 10.50 30-May-08 10.05 29-Jun-12 10.10 23-Oct-09 10.05 27-Jan-12 10.35 10.15 14-Mar-14 10.35 28-Nov-08 10.15 22-May-09 10.05 20-Nov-09 10.20 23-Jul-10 9.95

*from the Amortising # bonds, the average is Risk Premium is a life combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills Description

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

Modified Duration ***LCRM Buckets

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto Nil A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto

<3 3<5 >5 KWARA Market NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER

953.07 951.30 756.74 2,661.11

NIBOR

Bonds

Tenor O/N 1M 3M Outstanding Value 6M

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 Weighting by 20-Apr-12Vol Outstanding 06-Jul-12

Rate (%) 10.5000 12.3390 13.2852 14.1514 Maturity Date

(N'bn)

45.00 NITTY 100.00 535.00 Tenor 500.27 1M 452.80 2M 3M 20.00 6M 100.00 9M 300.00 12M 351.30 233.90 600.00 NIFEX 165.17 Current75.00 Price ($/N) BID($/N) 150.00 OFFER ($/N) 200.00 591.57

29-Jun-14 28-Sep-14 23-Apr-15 Rate (%) 16-Aug-16 10.1615 27-Apr-17 10.4109 10.7528 27-Jul-17 10.8849 31-Aug-17 11.2204 30-May-18 12.2233 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 162.6175 22-May-29 162.7175 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30

OBB

10.25

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

O/N

10.50

Spot 7D Offer14D Yield 1M (%) 2M 3M 1.57 6M 10.29 1Y

162.58 162.88 163.13 163.71 Bid Price 164.92 166.18 99.97 169.81 99.52 177.64

REPO Tenor (%)(%) TTM (Yrs) BidRate Yield Call

10.25

1M 12.38 0.02 10.29 3M 13.13 0.27 10.87 6M 13.87 0.83 10.98 10.31 2.15 11.55 11.47 NOTE: 2.84 11.57 11.51 :Benchmarks 3.09 11.51 11.39 * :Amortising Bond 3.19 11.51 11.39 µ :Convertible Bond 3.93 11.49 11.40 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 5.02 Government of 11.55 11.47 FGN: Federal Nigeria 5.33 Mortgage Bank 11.56 FMBN: Federal of Nigeria 11.47 7.60 12.16 12.11 IFC: International Finance Corporation LCRM: Local Management 9.72 Contractors Receivables 12.27 12.22 NAHCO:14.43 Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 12.75 12.71 O/N: Overnight 14.91 12.80 12.76 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company 15.41 12.86 12.80 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company 16.08 12.99 12.94

Offer ($/N)

Price

162.68 163.14 163.47 164.36 Offer Price 166.12 167.81 100.12 173.41 99.67 184.64

94.57 95.07 102.75 102.90 108.30 108.45 NA :Not Applicable 95.76 96.06 # :Floating Rate Bond 94.35 94.65 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 97.53 97.83 116.60 116.90 †: Bond rating expired 82.21 82.51 120.55 120.85 110.75 111.05 NGC:114.66 Nigeria-German 114.96 Company UBA: United Bank for Africa 97.91 98.21 71.05 71.35 80.00 80.30

4,420.01

Issue Date

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 Porfolio Market Total Outstanding 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 Volume(Bn) Value(Bn) 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 1,004.41 1,132.92 656.18 14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 2,793.51 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

10.33 8.03 10.32 10.24 10.36 10.23(%) Coupon 10.30 10.42 9.20 10.44 9.25 10.62 4.00 10.96 13.05 10.77 15.10 10.74 11.08 9.85 11.00 9.35 11.13 10.70 10.76 16.00 10.85 7.00 10.91 16.39 11.30 11.12 14.20 11.40 15.00 11.21 12.49 11.22 8.50 11.45 10.00 11.19

Coupon (%)

Issue Value (N'bn)

0.00 BOND INDEX 978.35 FMDQ FGN

35.81 35.75 28.44 05-Aug-09 100.00 15-Oct-09 31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 Weighting by Mkt 0.00/16.50 Value 0.00/16.50

35.96 40.56 23.49 14.00 100.00 14.00 12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00

24.56 6.00 112.22 Bucket116.70 Weighting 66.49

1,304.320.36 0.36 0.28 17.00 1.00 6.00 8.50 16.50 13.00 18.50 57.00 50.00 25.00 50.00 9.00 20.00 12.00

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

0.36 0.92 1.40 2.46 Implied 2.83Yield 3.04

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 Implied 1.00Price Portfolio 1.00

11.73 13.63 13.45 13.46 INDEX 12.49 12.51

96.02 88.59 105.04 98.25 YTD Return 96.73 (%) 94.25

18.29 36.30 45.41 05-Aug-14 100.00 15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18

11.56 11.98 12.82 0.12 12.28 0.31 1.19 0.79 1.09 1.09 2.82 1.65 3.52 2.49 4.28 2.69 2.69

116.0551 131.4806 94.8596 1.56 115.5421 3.29 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78

1,102.29 1,113.33 1,106.61 12.04 1,097.53 13.98 15.54 14.20 15.52 14.54 17.08 12.28 13.29 13.26 12.49 12.48 16.26

10.2287 11.3328 10.6613 100.15 9.7526 99.90 96.76 99.68 98.37 101.16 84.60 102.37 101.93 101.73 104.85 104.44 95.44

Daily Summary as of 23/06/2014

Printed 23/06/2014 14:54:40.040

44 BUSINESS | CAPITAL MARKET

Sanctity of Truth

Daily Summary (Bonds)

Tuesday, June 24, 2014 Daily Summary as of 23/06/2014 Printed 23/06/2014 14:54:40.040

No Debt Trading Activity

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at June 23, 2014 Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

AGRICULTURE Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals AGRICULTURE Totals Daily Summary as of 23/06/2014 CONGLOMERATES Printed 23/06/2014 14:54:40.040 Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. CHELLARAMS PLC. JOHN HOLT PLC. S C O A NIG. PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY U A C N PLC.

CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries PublishedDiversified by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Industries Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 3 43 22 68

Current Price 0.50 33.25 36.00

Quantity Traded 70,800 411,315 143,390 625,505

Value Traded 35,400.00 13,726,416.44 5,200,401.50 18,962,217.94

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 52 52

Current Price 3.11

Quantity Traded 1,692,058 1,692,058

Value Traded 5,301,960.27 5,301,960.27

2,317,563

24,264,178.21

Quantity Traded 16,496 100 1,332 2,920 44,956,430 646,061

Value Traded 23,750.30 376.00 1,465.20 13,636.40 228,898,606.54 38,524,365.97

120 Symbol AGLEVENT CHELLARAM JOHNHOLT Daily Summary SCOA TRANSCORP UACN

Symbol

CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

No. of Deals 7 1 2 (Equities) 5 431 49

No. of Deals 495

Current Price 1.38 3.95 1.15 4.91 5.12 59.70

Current Price

495

Quantity Traded 45,623,339Page 45,623,339

Value Traded 1 of 15 267,462,200.41 267,462,200.41

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 35 35

Current Price 1.36

Quantity Traded 604,626 604,626

Value Traded 822,189.20 822,189.20

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

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 50 50

Current Price 76.45

Quantity Traded 488,744 488,744

Value Traded 37,191,551.65 37,191,551.65

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

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 23 23

Current Price 17.65

Quantity Traded 130,217 130,217

Value Traded 2,336,260.30 2,336,260.30

1,223,587

40,350,001.15

Quantity Traded 1,006,000 1,006,000

Value Traded 503,000.00 503,000.00 Value Traded 235,600.00

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

Daily Summary as of 23/06/2014 Printed 23/06/2014 14:54:40.040 CONSUMER GOODS

Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals

Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Activity Summary on Board CHAMPION BREW. PLC. EQTY CONSUMER GOODS Published byBeverages--Brewers/Distillers The Nigerian Stock Exchange © GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC Daily Summary as of 23/06/2014 NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC Printed 23/06/2014 14:54:40.040 N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. U T C NIG. PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY Food Products--Diversified Totals

CONSUMER GOODS

Household Durables Published by NIGERIAN The Nigerian Stock Exchange © ENAMELWARE PLC. VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Household Durables Totals

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

108 Symbol DUNLOP

No. of Deals 3 3 Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol CHAMPION

No. of Deals 2

Current Price 11.26

Quantity Traded 22,000

Symbol GUINNESS INTBREW JOSBREW NB

No. of Deals 39 26 2 96 165

Current Price 180.00 26.00 2.71 170.02

Quantity Traded 51,659 105,700 50,100 1,041,944 1,271,403

Value Traded 9,310,313.76 2,771,913.00 135,771.00 175,443,478.47 187,897,076.23

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 23 23

Current Price 91.00

Quantity Traded 45,981 45,981

Value Traded 4,226,728.39 4,226,728.39

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM UTC

No. of Deals 31 74 31 45 65 5 9 260

Current Price 8.50 9.49 77.00 4.06 11.88 19.75 0.54

Quantity Traded 140,126 1,036,334 64,586 1,729,490 2,521,038 120,709 1,043,985 6,656,268

Value Traded 1,176,864.88 9,880,986.59 4,953,283.91 7,080,738.32 29,315,290.32 2,384,002.75 562,872.20 55,354,038.97

Symbol No. of Deals Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 81.89 1,050.00

Quantity Traded 207,573 64,446 272,019

Value Traded 16,104,256.62 67,471,675.38 83,575,932.00

CADBURY NESTLE

FINANCIAL SERVICES

ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK Activity Summary on PLC. Board EQTY

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLCExchange © Published by The Nigerian Stock WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals

52 59 111

Page

No. of Deals 48 52 100

Current Price 36.40 50.00

Quantity Traded 261,201 414,857 676,058

Value Traded 9,491,541.56 20,900,516.83 30,392,058.39

10,078,184

362,641,282.48

Symbol UBA UBN UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

Current Price 9.80 6.59 16.00 2.03 28.90 3.34 2.34

Quantity Traded 19,108,282 14,916,240 634,198 10,266,466 12,696,986 11,156,431 9,722,477

Quantity Traded 144,555,663 164,997 245,900 Page 21,276,710 12,221,105 256,965,455

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Symbol No. of Deals AFRICAN ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC AFRINSURE 2 AIICO INSURANCE PLC. AIICO 32 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CONTINSURE 6 CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. CORNERST 2 EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. EQUITYASUR 2 CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC HMARKINS 1 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTENEGINS 61 LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LAWUNION 2 Daily Summary as of 23/06/2014 MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MANSARD 2 Printed 23/06/2014 14:54:40.040 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. MBENEFIT 21 N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NEM 23 OASIS INSURANCE PLC OASISINS 7 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE 11 Daily Summary (Equities) SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC SOVRENINS 3 STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC STACO 1 ActivityUNITY Summary on ASSURANCE Board EQTYPLC KAPITAL UNITYKAP 3

Current Price 0.50 0.84 1.10 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 2.65 0.52 0.85 0.51 0.51 0.50 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded 850 3,166,839 468,000 1,705 200,000 750 8,019,477 510,000 5,560 3,879,894 4,050,002 1,491,460 1,297,268 91,500 502,463 600

Value Traded 425.00 2,670,305.76 503,400.00 852.50 100,000.00 375.00 4,010,622.50 255,000.00 15,012.00 2,017,546.88 3,429,597.68 754,464.60 652,234.00 45,750.00 251,231.50 300.00

Current Price 0.93

Quantity Traded 51,000 51,000

Value Traded 47,470.00 47,470.00

No. of Deals 1 2 3

Current Price 1.36 1.61

Quantity Traded 2,000,000 44,249 2,044,249

Value Traded 2,720,000.00 71,580.81 2,791,580.81

No. of Deals 67 29 466 95 1 1 32 77 Daily Summary (Equities) 768

Current Price 3.25 3.60 15.10 4.27 552.20 0.53 26.81 2.37

Quantity Traded 1,522,985 2,008,830 21,974,749 7,446,369 150 1,000 412,931 12,540,108 45,907,122

Value Traded 4,923,976.20 7,091,874.38 336,944,559.96 31,356,410.19 78,688.50 550.00 10,921,381.40 29,756,007.71 421,073,448.34

346,486,024

2,670,930,417.05

Current Price 0.50 0.75

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

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 2 2

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services ABBEY MORTGAGE BANK PLC INFINITY TRUST MORTGAGE BANK PLC Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Symbol ABBEYBDS INFINITY Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB NESF ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals EQTY Activity Summary on Board

2,425 Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH PHARMDEKO

HEALTHCARE Totals ICT Computer Based Systems

Value Traded 1,156,431,422.46 1,657,470.89 4 122,950.00 of 15 20,290,320.15 297,958,723.26 2,218,937,132.19

5 of 15 Value Traded 50.00 13,373,618.29 28,080,785.71

No. of Deals 1 75 255

HEALTHCARE Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

Value Traded 187,027,982.37 96,806,777.12 10,158,810.48 21,054,029.68 367,110,674.92 37,496,632.91 22,821,337.95

Page Quantity Traded 100 17,831,730 41,518,198

Symbol UNIVINSURE WAPIC

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC Daily Summary as of 23/06/2014 FCMB GROUP PLC. Printed 23/06/2014 14:54:40.040 NIGERIA ENERYGY SECTOR FUND ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 160 69 48 118 (Equities) 282 120 53

No. of Deals 11 22 35 28 23 3 122

Current Price 2.40 3.00 66.00 1.70 1.24 1.50

122 Symbol

No. of Deals

Current Price

Page Quantity Traded 247,500 2,017,200 545,208 772,117 232,670 52,060 3,866,755

Value Traded 7,633.50 7,633.50

Computers and Peripherals OMATEK VENTURES PLC Computers and Peripherals Totals

Symbol OMATEK

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 200 200

Value Traded 100.00 100.00

IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. IT Services Totals

Symbol CWG NCR

No. of Deals 5 4 9

Current Price 4.95 15.20

Quantity Traded 220,205 5,900 226,105

Value Traded 1,082,553.35 89,756.00 1,172,309.35

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals

Symbol CHAMS

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 6,700 6,700

Value Traded 3,350.00 3,350.00

246,155

1,183,392.85

Daily Summary as of 23/06/2014 ICT Totals Printed 23/06/2014 14:54:40.040 INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. on OF Board NORTH.NIG. Activity Summary EQTYPLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC

6 of 15 Value Traded 594,000.00 6,025,875.50 35,721,661.05 1,310,089.74 301,136.38 78,090.00 44,030,852.67

14 No. of Deals 149 8 17 46 29

Current Price 29.93 9.00 42.00 11.42 227.50

Quantity Traded 3,070,639 46,052 102,673 502,167 174,162

Value Traded 89,819,906.91 408,791.56 4,163,837.25 5,653,601.31 39,562,959.81

Symbol DNMEYER FIRSTALUM IPWA PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 1 2 9 4 37 302

Current Price 1.06 0.50 0.50 4.81 110.01

Quantity Traded Page 14,755 50,706 674,529 86,250 119,544 4,841,477

8Value Traded of 15 16,378.05

Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 1.97

Quantity Traded 272,072 272,072

Value Traded 534,761.62 534,761.62

Packaging/Containers AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals

Symbol AVONCROWN BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 1.77 16.59

Quantity Traded 60 7,438 7,498

Value Traded 101.40 126,446.00 126,547.40

Symbol NIGROPES

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 7.46

Quantity Traded 150 150

Value Traded 1,063.50 1,063.50

5,121,197

154,368,678.22

Quantity Traded 81,500

Value Traded 469,440.00

INDUSTRIAL GOODS

NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals Activity Summary on Board EQTY B.O.C. GASES PLC.

Value Traded 3 of 15 18,396.00 674,052.50 692,448.50

Symbol ACCESS DIAMONDBNK ETI FIDELITYBK Daily Summary GUARANTY SKYEBANK STERLNBANK

Quantity Traded 13,150 13,150

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Quantity Traded Page 600 149,855 150,455

675

Current Price 0.58

Toolsas and Daily Summary of Machinery 23/06/2014 NIGERIAN ROPES PLC Printed 23/06/2014 14:54:40.040 Tools and Machinery Totals

Current Price 32.27 4.50

Current Price 7.90 10.00 0.50 0.95 24.70

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

No. of Deals 2 2

FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC IPWA PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. Building Materials Totals

No. of Deals 3 10 13

No. of Deals 175 42 12 52 266 1,397

FINANCIAL SERVICES Published by The Nigerian StockBrokers Exchange Insurance Carriers, and©Services UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC

Symbol COURTVILLE

Symbol ENAMELWA VITAFOAM

CONSUMER GOODS Totals

Daily Summary as of 23/06/2014 Banking Printed 23/06/2014 14:54:40.040

Current Price 0.50

ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals

Symbol ASHAKACEM

Daily Summary (Equities) BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol BOCGAS

315

No. of Deals 2

Current Price 5.76

25,353.00 337,264.50 433,750.00 13,284,463.31 153,706,305.70

Symbol

No. of Deals 2

Current Price

Quantity Traded Page 81,500

Metals ALUMINIUM MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC Metals Totals

Symbol ALUMACO

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 7.75

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 737.00 737.00

Mining Services MULTIVERSE PLC Mining Services Totals

Symbol MULTIVERSE

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 20,000 20,000

Value Traded 10,000.00 10,000.00

101,600

480,177.00

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals Integrated and Gas Services Daily Summary as of Oil 23/06/2014 OANDO PLC Printed 23/06/2014 14:54:40.040

Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY

4 Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 101 101

Current Price 0.60

Quantity Traded 15,579,106 15,579,106

Value Traded 9,345,146.16 9,345,146.16

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 801 801

Current Price 33.47

Quantity Traded 43,646,234 43,646,234

Value Traded 1,459,856,964.68 1,459,856,964.68

Symbol BECOPETRO

No. of Deals 1 66 154 129

Current Price 0.50 67.80 5.04 250.01

Quantity Traded 750 578,892 10,825,893 379,967

Value Traded 375.00 38,878,173.30 50,999,260.18 87,259,938.78

Symbol MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 23 55 23 451

Current Price 130.00 67.00 171.02

Quantity Traded 85,195 759,737 36,412 12,666,846

Value Traded 11,143,405.92 46,734,776.48 6,234,550.82 241,250,480.48

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 15 15

Current Price 684.00

Quantity Traded 51,571 51,571

Value Traded 34,354,045.92 34,354,045.92

71,943,757

1,744,806,637.24

Daily Summary (Equities) CONOIL ETERNA FO

Page

OIL AND GAS Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

OIL AND GAS Totals SERVICES Advertising AFROMEDIA PLC Advertising Totals Daily Summary as of 23/06/2014 Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Printed 23/06/2014 14:54:40.040 R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC.

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals SERVICES

9Value Traded of 15 469,440.00

1,368

Symbol AFROMEDIA

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 700 700

Value Traded 350.00 350.00

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 20 20

Current Price 1.03

Quantity Traded 413,955 413,955

Value Traded 418,364.25 418,364.25

Symbol No. of Deals Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 4.95 2.13

Quantity Traded 430,868 288,047 718,915

Value Traded 2,091,741.76 613,550.11 2,705,291.87

REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

15 12 27

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 28 28

Current Price 0.52

Quantity Traded Page 23,050,534 23,050,534

Hospitality TANTALIZERS PLC Daily Summary as of 23/06/2014 Hospitality Totals Printed 23/06/2014 14:54:40.040

Symbol TANTALIZER

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 91,460 91,460

Value Traded 45,730.00 45,730.00

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 13 1 14

Current Price 0.86 3.88

Quantity Traded 455,882 50 455,932

Value Traded 378,780.88 184.50 378,965.38

Symbol

No. of Deals

Current Price

Quantity Traded

Value Traded

Symbol DAARCOMM

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 100,700 100,700

Value Traded 50,350.00 50,350.00

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 1 6 10 17

Current Price 1.71 1.61 4.35

Quantity Traded 163 42,700 214,611 257,474

Value Traded 265.69 71,323.00 969,312.85 1,040,901.54

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 17 17

Current Price 0.83

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 19 51 70

Current Price 2.42 4.84

Quantity Traded 1,190,491 1,190,491 Page

Quantity Traded 864,920 2,985,287 3,850,207

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 68 68

Current Price 6.41

Quantity Traded 2,153,629 2,153,629

Employment Solutions Totals

Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC. Hotels/Lodging Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Media/Entertainment SERVICES Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Media/Entertainment Totals Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals Daily Summary as of 23/06/2014 Printed 23/06/2014 Support14:54:40.040 and Logistics

CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals

SERVICES Totals

TOURIST Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board ASeM EQTY Board Totals CONSUMER GOODS

Symbol MCNICHOLS

CONSUMER GOODS Totals OIL AND GAS Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CAPITAL OIL PLC Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

11,587,044.82

Value Traded 1,007,145.78 1,007,145.78 12 of 15 Value Traded 2,094,805.25 14,612,150.88 16,706,956.13

Value Traded 14,033,445.16 14,033,445.16

267

32,283,997

47,974,544.93

519,292,158

5,358,492,362.21

Current Price 1.34

Page Quantity Traded 50 50

1 Symbol CAPOIL

Value Traded 11 of 15 11,587,044.82

5,913 No. of Deals 1 1

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.50

13 of 15 Value Traded 64.00 64.00

64.00

Quantity Traded 50,800 50,800

Value Traded 25,400.00 25,400.00

OIL AND GAS Totals

50,800

25,400.00

ASeM Board Totals

50,850

25,464.00

5,917

519,343,008

5,358,517,826.21

Equity Activity Totals

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund Daily Summary as of 23/06/2014 Name Printed 23/06/2014 14:54:40.040 NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Symbol NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 3 4

Daily Summary (ETP)

Current Price 2,066.00 19.07

Quantity Traded 400 3,800 4,200

Page

Value Traded 826,400.00 72,464.00 898,864.00

3,866,755

44,030,852.67

ETF Board Totals

4,200

898,864.00

Quantity Traded

Value Traded

ETP Activity Totals

4,200

898,864.00

FEATURES

TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2014

United Nations’ technical team’s decision to ignore natives’ views in delineating boundary between Nigeria and Cameroun may cause a conflict among the people who speak the same language, but live in two countries, writes CLEMENT JAMES

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/entrepreneur

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES EDITOR

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

Nigeria-Cameroun: Controversial boundary delineation

n the last few weeks, Danare, a sprawling community in eastern Boki, Cross River State, has come into international focus, primarily because of the seeming confusion surrounding the inability of the United Nations Technical team on boundary demarcation to successfully delineate the boundary line between Nigeria and Cameroon in that axis.

This has led to controversy, with the locals highly agitated and speculations running wild. With the experience of Bakassi still fresh in the minds of the people, the raging controversy over the demarcation has generated apprehension in communities located within the border line, especially in Danare 1 and 2 and Biajua, another Boki community. Apprehension has enveloped Biajua, Danare 1 and 2 in Nigeria and Bodam in Cameroon. Community leaders urged the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the matter before they were forcefully excised from Nigeria. In March, officials of Cross River State Government had denied that Nigerian communities would be ceded to Cameroon. Then, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Mr Rekpene Bassey, and the immediate past Director-General of the State Border Communities Commission, Mr Leo Aggrey, said no part of the border communities stood the risk of being ceded to Cameroon although they agreed that the UN team came to the state without contacting the government.

The road linking Danare and Biajua

The Technical Team of the Nigeria-Cameroon Mixed Commission, a United Nations (UN) organ saddled with the responsibility of demarcating the boundary has so far done its job without much controversy. However, in Cross River State, the team is not only at sea on how to trace a portion of the line, it is also said to have allowed desperation to muddle up its confusion. According to Chief M. T. Enu, the village head of Biajua, the UN team arrived his domain, wanting to trace Pillar 113A. He said: “We told them that if they want to trace the pillar, they should go to Danare and not here (Biajua) because there is no pillar here.” Enu said for daring to confront the team, the soldiers who came along brutalised some youths. “They beat up those young The controversy and the agitation men who insisted on stopping Following the judgement of the them but when they saw that we International Court of Justice were not afraid of them, they (ICJ) in 2002 on Bakassi, and the left,” Chief Patrick Owan Esa, a eventual closure of the window community leader said. for an appeal in 2012, the process On his part, Chief Joshua of fully demarcating the bound- Bokub, village head of Danare ary between Nigeria and Camer- 2, claimed that having seen Piloon became compelling. This is to lar 112 which stands just by the fully comply with the ruling. This border between Danare 2 in Nigeprocess started from Lake Chad ria and Bodam in Cameroon and where Pillar 1 is located. having located Pillar 113 behind

Danare 1 Primary School, the UN team ought to “move further down the stream that divides us naturally” before trying to link Pillar 114 which is in Agbokim, Etung Local Government Area of the state. “But the team wants to plant their own pole and we have refused because doing so will cut off about 90 per cent of our land and 70 per cent of farmland in Biajua,” Bokub explained. According to him, the distance between Pillar 113 and the missing Pillar 113A is 9.6 km. “But instead of the team to diligently carry out its duty, it prefers to erect a new pillar where none existed. “They are supposed to retrace the Anglo-German boundary line based on the 1913 agreement and not come in 2014 to erect something else. We will never accept that,” Bokub vowed. Corroborating this position, the village head of Danare 1, Chief K. K. Mbia, said the team seemed to be in a hurry to trace the missing pillar “and in desperation, they are trying to lay a foundation that never existed.” According to him, the community had earlier advised the team that since Pillar 113A was not found, the natural boundary

which the communities there, being contiguous, know should be allowed to serve as their boundary but the team rebuffed the advice, and insisted on going about the delineation their own way. “We own this land and we know our natural boundaries. We have been living peacefully as neighbours for centuries now. Now, these UN people want to create crisis where none was anticipated,” the octogenarian complained. Also adding his voice to the issue, the Councillor representing Abo Ward (Danare), Hon. Douglas Ogar, said all the affected communities living along the axis were unanimous in their resolve to resist any attempt by the UN to cede their land to Cameroon “as we are suspecting”. “Because the people are inept to locate Pillar 113A and Pillar 114, Nigeria will suffer loss of not only a thousand of kilometres of age-long cash crop farmlands, but more than 20 Nigerian communities will be sited in Cameroon,” Ogar argued. He said consequent upon the inability of the team to retrace the yet-to-located pillar, “the communities asked the surveyors to C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4 6

46 FEATURES

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Confusing signals from UN technical team

Biajua community

A bad section of the road linking Danare and Biajua C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 5

stop creating new boundary lines and visit the archives to garner information or request from the appropriate authorities to oblige them with well-defined maps that will enable them navigate the seeming confusing situation they are confronted with”. The councillor therefore, appealed to the state and federal governments “to challenge the exercise before it is too late,” expressing fear that if the team insisted on creating new border lines, “the situation may lead to expression of violence”. The kernel of the Anglo-German agreement

On October 6, 1909, Britain and Germany arrived at an agreement to draw boundary lines between Nigeria and Cameroon “from Yola to Cross River”. This agreement was formally signed and brought into effect on April 12, 1913. It was signed by Capt. W. V. Nugent, Commissioner of His Britannic Majesty (for Britain) and Oberleutnant H. Detzner, Commissioner of His Majesty, the German Government. The agreement attempted a detailed

Danare village

Councillor, Ogep Ward, Bolai, Hon. Thomas Omang, standing beside Pillar 113

description of the boundary lines as follows: 1. “From Pillar 1, at a point a quarter of a mile (0.4km) northwest of Pillar 17 (the last pillar of the Yola-Chad demarcation), the boundary runs in a straight line through Pillars 2 and 3 to Pillar 4, whence it runs in a straight line to Pillar 5, distant about 480 yards (440m) southeast of Pillar 4. Thence it runs in a straight line to pillar 6, and from there in a straight line to Pillars 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 to pillar 16 on top of the Jabeni Hill, whence it runs into a straight line through Pillar 17 to Pillar 18 situated on Maio M’Bulo (German Mao Bulo) at a straight point where that rive bends to east, about 1 3/8 miles (2.2km) from Pillar 17. 2. From Pillar 18 the boundary follows the thalweg of the Maio M’Bulo upstream until it reaches Pillar 19. Furthermore, the agreement described the pillars as consisting of iron poles cemented into concrete blocks, “each block being marked with the number of the pillar, the date and arrows showing the directions of the next pillar”. However, New Telegraph no-

Abandoned police barracks

ticed that only Pillar 112 has the number in place. There is neither date nor arrow as described by the agreement. On the contrary, what is inscribed on it is “Nigeria says welcome,” same inscription on the side of Cameroon. For Pillar 113, no arrow, date or number is on it. The pillar, like 112, looked new and stood about 300m behind the Danare 1 Primary School. Interestingly, the tribe on both sides of the divide speaks the Boki language, a Nigerian language. Due to the affinity long established by these neighbours, they inter-marry, attend each other’s wedding and funeral ceremonies as well as other functions. In fact, from Danare in Nigeria to Bodam in Cameroon is less than five minutes ride on a motorcycle. And except for the molded pillar just by the road side, it is difficult, in fact almost impossible to recognise the boundary, especially for a first time visitor. Generally, Danare, the controversial boundary community, has no social amenities. Indigenes and residents of the area

have no road, health centre, police station and light. No government presence of any kind, yet a visitor to the area will easily notice the level of excitement and enthusiasm among the people. At some point, the Federal Government made efforts to build a police station in Danare 2 but abandoned it to rodents. On its part, the state government, after completing a building block meant for the Police Barracks, has since locked up the facility, allowing weeds and rodents to take over. Left in the hands of fate and tradition, the people of the area continue their daily chores, which of course include farming, a daily activity which may be taken away from them if the wishes of Cameroon and seeming tacit compromise of the officials become a reality. However, the Boki Local Government Chairman, Abubakar Ewa, has assured the people that no part of Boki land would be ceded to Cameroon. Ewa, who attended a thanksgiving in honour of Ogar, assured that Governor Liyel Imoke was on top of the situation and would not allow a repeat of the Bakassi issue.

NEWS 47

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Police disperse Gusau protesters Mohammed Munirat Nasir GUSAU.

L-R: Former Chairman, Obafemi Owode Local Government, Akeem Adesina; Mr. Gboyega Nasir Isiaka; former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, and former Minister for Mines and Steel, Alhaji Sarafa Tunji Isola, at the Ogun State Labour Party Yewa South Federal Constituency meeting in Ilaro…at the weekend

303,000

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Angola in 2012. Source: Itu.int

4,033

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

89.9

The number of newspaper journalists per 1m inhabitants of Oman in 2006. Source: Blatantworld.com

Boko Haram: Starvation, fear loom in Borno Ahmerd Miringa Maiduguri

armers in Maiduguri and some local governments affected by Boko Haram insurgency may not farm this season, as a result of the attacks. The Borno Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Alhaji Musa Ali, told newsmen in Maiduguri that farmers might not farm due to the security

KEEP OFF It may be a long wait for Ezzamgbo to benefit from a planned govt project Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

n Ezzamgbo High Court presided over by Justice Henry Njoku, has issued an interlocutory injunction restraining Ebonyi State Government from entering the ongoing pipeline production site located at EguEffium Nsalakpa Ezzamgbo, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state. The state gover nment had in August last year through the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Mr. Chike Onwe, disclosed that the state

challenges facing the state. Ali said the spate of attacks had crippled farming activities in the state as most farmers were afraid to go to their farms, while others were displaced and were taking refuge in Maiduguri and other towns considered safe. According to him, farming is almost impossible because most of the small-scale farmers have fled while some of them

have been killed in Boko Harram attacks. The chairman further explained that even if the government wanted to help them, it would be impossible because of the vulnerability of the areas, adding that quite a number of farmers have benefitted from various loan schemes to enable them have alternative ways of livelihood. He said the Borno State Government had distributed farming implements,

including 50 tractors and harrowing machines to farmers across the 27 local government areas, but lamented that fear of attacks had sabotaged the move. Ali called on the state and federal governments to assist farmers whoes farms have been destroyed by Boko Harram, and also called on security operatives to work toward ending the insurgence, so as to enable farmers go back to their farms.

Court stops Ebonyi pipeline production project gover nment would build a N200 million pipe production company in the state within five months and that the company would be sited at the new industrial estate in Ishieke in Ebonyi LGA of the state. The High Court sitting in Ohaukwu judicial division, also ordered the defendants, the Attorney General of Ebonyi State, Dr. Benjamin Igwenyi and the State Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Housing, Nwogha Friday Moses not to fence, partition or allocate the land to any other person or group of persons or body and from doing anything

or taking any step that will alter, change or affect the current status of the land pending the final determination of the substantive suit. The copy of the interlocutory injunction was obtained by journalists yesterday in Abakaliki. After hearing the submissions of counsel to the plaintiff and defendants, Barrister Ikechukwu Agbo and S. N. Ogbuinya respectively, the Judge granted the application of the Plaintiff. The interlocutory injunction read in part: “An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby made by this court preventing Ebonyi State Government,

the 2nd defendant, Ministry of Lands, Survey and Housing Ebonyi State or any other government ministry, parastatal, agency,body or persons acting on their behalf or on their instruction from entering the land situated at Egu-Effium Nsalakpa Ezzamgbo, Ohaukwu local government area of Ebonyi State. “The land more particularly marked and delineated in survey plan number BNIL/ EB180/2008 attached to the Certificate of Occupancy, registered as No. 71 at page 71 in volume 163 of the Ministry of Lands Registry, Abakaliki being the subject matter of this suit.”

undreds of protesters yesterday besieged the Government House, Gusau, demandng payment for the acquisition of their lands in Barakallahu area of Zamfara. The protesters, who brandished placards with different inscriptions demanded to see the state governor, Alhaji Abdul’Aziz Yari Abubakar in person, to pay them for their houses and farmlands acquired by the state government without paying them a kobo. According to them ejecting them from their lands without compensation amounted to a breach of their fundamental human rights. The protesters were later dispersed by armed policemen who also seized some of the motorcycles left behind by the protesters. When contacted on phone, the state Commissioner for Lands, Lawal Jangebe, said he was not in a position to speak on the issue as the protest was not held in his office and he was not aware the protest. The Police spokesman for Zamfara State Command, Lawal Abdullahi, when contacted on phone, said the command was yet

to receive report about the protest. Nasarawa donates relief materials , cash to victims of Taraba crisis The Nasarawa State Government yesterday donated relief materials to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) who fled from Wukari in Taraba to Lafia, the state capital in the wake of ethno-religious conflict which left scores killed and many houses burnt. The items included 22 bags of millet,19 bags of sugar, 22 of rice and beans, including N2million cash. About 2,324 displaced persons were conveyed in buses and lorries from Wukari to Lafia, the state capital and were received at the palace of the Emir of Lafia, Dr Mustahpa Agwi I. The displaced persons, mostly the elderly, woman and children, would be taken to Almajiri school in Shabu where they’ll stay temporarily, before being taken to the permanent IDP at Shinge in Lafia. Presenting the items at a brief ceremony at the Emir's palace in Lafia, Secretary to the State Government, Hajiya Zainab Abdullmumin, who stood in for Governor Tanko Almakura, said the items were donated to provide relief to the displaced persons.

Emir of Lafia visits Tor Tiv over Benue killings Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

s part of efforts to stitch back the broken relationship between Benue and Nasarawa States, the Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Isa Mustapha Agwai, has visited the paramount ruler of the Tiv nation, HRH Dr. Alfred Akawe Torkula, to commiserate with him over the massive killings of Tiv farmers by suspected armed Fulani insurgents. Speaking during the visit, Alhaji Agwai stated that it became imperative for him to visit the Tiv monarch in order to strengthen ties betweenTiv farmers in Benue State and nomadic Fulani cattle rearers in neighbouring Nasarawa state and find lasting solutions to the intractable crisis which according to him, has caused heavy destruction of lives and properties --- including the home of Dr. Torkula. Agwai maintained that it was the duty of traditional rulers to resolve crisis when the government failed to do so. He expressed displeasure over the massive killings of the Tiv farmers by

suspected Fulani militia, and stressed the need to rebuild Tiv land through intensive rehabilitation of the land to ensure physical and economic stability of the affected communities. The paramount ruler who was accompanied by over ten traditional rulers, stressed the need to strengthen the relationship and promote peaceful coexistence between Benue and Nasarawa traditional rulers. Also speaking during the visit, a member of the delegation and the Odyong Nyakpa, HRH Barrister Joel Aningye, recalled the brotherly relationship between the two states, but wondered why it has suddenly been diluted by by foreigners, but thanked the Tor Tiv for the warm reception accorded them. Aningye prayed God to guide and protect the Tor Tiv and the Tiv Traditional Council to remain consistent in ensuring the quick return of peace between the two sides. Responding, the Tiv monarch thanked the emir and his delegation for the visit and love for him in particular and the Tiv nation in general.

48 NEWS SUCCESS Following his victory in Ekiti, PDP candidate, Fayose is now everyone's darling By our reporters

ore Nigerians yesterday continued to congratulate Ekiti State governor-elect, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, over his victory at the polls. This was even as encomiums continued to pour in for the incumbent governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, over his statesman like reaction to the results of the election, especially for conceding defeat and congratulating the winner. Among those who congratulated Fayose yesterday was the Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, who described Fayose’s victory as “victory for democracy and the people of Ekiti State.” Dickson, in his congratulatory message

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More Nigerians congratulate Fayose, extol Fayemi’s virtues also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the transparent manner in which the election was conducted and the people, for the mature and peaceful manner they expressed themselves at the polls. Also, the DirectorGeneral of the Technical Aid Corp (TAC), Dr. Pius Olakunle Osunyikanmi, described the victory of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a well-deserved one. He said the victory shows the inherent beauty in participatory democracy, which is the supremacy of the will of the people in the determination of who governs them. Reacting yesterday, the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) congratulated the

The percentage of households with a computer in developed countries in 2012. Source: Itu.int

people of Ekiti State for voting in a peaceful and credible election. The group also applauded Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and the governorelect, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, for the rare show of sportsmanship displayed during the election and after the results were announced. In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Kunle Famoriyo, and titled, “Ekiti election: It’s the votes that count,” ARG expressed hope that Ekiti gubernatorial election has set a landmark that elections need not be a ‘do or die affair,’ but a reflection of democratic choice. “We thank Governor Fayemi for courageously accepting the wish of the people of Ekiti, whom he has served diligently and fervently in the last four

The number of players from the USA’s MLS that will participate in the World Cup in 2014. Source: Goal.com

years.” Also, former Minister of State for Defence, Olusola Obada, congratulated the newly elected Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose. Obada in a release described Mr. Fayose’s victory as a demonstration of his immense popularity with the people of Ekiti and his endorsement by all strata of the Ekiti community. Also, a nongovernmental organisation, the CLEEN Foundation, yesterday gave kudos to security agencies for their conduct during Saturday's governorship election in Ekiti State. The Foundation’s Programme Manager, Mr. Chinedu Nwagu, who briefed the press in AdoEkiti, on the observation of the group during the poll,

29.1

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

said though the election was conducted amid serious security concerns, the performance of the security agencies was laudable. Nwagu added it was gratifying that despite the presence of high security personnel, there was no major incident of security breaches and the presence of security men did not hinder the electoral process. Also, the ViceChair man, Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Nurudeen AbatemiUsman, yesterday hailed INEC for putting in place necessary machineries that made the conduct

of the governorship election credible, free and fair to the admiration of Nigerians. Abatemi Usman further tasked the commission to repeat same in the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State and the 2015 general elections. Another group, the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) said the peaceful conduct and outcome of the election was a rebirth of Nigeria’s electoral process. TAN praised Governor Fayemi for accepting defeat and congratulating the winner, noting that it is an implicit manifestation of a true democrat.

Olubolade praises Jonathan, congratulates Fayose ormer Police Affairs MinFOlubolade ister, Navy Captain Caleb (rtd), yesterday

praised President Goodluck Jonathan, for creating a conducive atmosphere for a free and fair election in Ekiti State. Olubolade, a former military administrator of Bayelsa State, also appreciated security agents deployed to the state for the election for their efforts. He said: “I want to appreciate President Goodluck Jonathan, for the encouragement and support in ensuring a peaceful conduct of the election.”

The former minister, who also congratulated the governor-elect, Mr. Ayo Fayose, also thanked Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Senate President, David Mark, members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the PDP Governors' Forum led by the Akwa Ibom governor, Godswill Akpabio, and others for their support and solidarity. He said: “The victory of the PDP in Ekiti State will open the much-needed avenue to totally key in to the transformation agenda of Mr. President.”

Gbajabiamila: Sovereignty lies in the people Philip Nyam

Abuja

inority Leader of the M House of Representatives, Hon. Femi GbajabiL-R: Chairman/Co-ordinator, National Information Centre (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri; Deputy Director, Information, Directorate of State Security (DSS), Ms. Marilyn Ogar and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr. Frank Mba, during a press conference in Abuja…yesterday

We are not in a hurry to leave Ekiti, says AIG Adesina Wahab

Ado-Ekiti

espite the peaceful conduct of last weekend’s election, security men deployed in Ekiti State are not in a hurry to leave. They insist they are on ground for any possible post-election eventuality. Stating this in Ado-Ekiti yesterday while briefing the press on the poll, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 9, Bala Magaji Nasarawa, war ned anybody

contemplating fomenting trouble to have a rethink. He also said all allowances of policemen for the special duty had been paid and that the police authority would always motivate its officers and men. Nasarawa, who spoke alongside the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Ekiti election, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, said his men would not tolerate any nonsense from anybody. “However, I wish to

advice in the interest of the general public that if any one, group of people or political party, has any grievance or objection to the conduct of the election, such complaints should be channeled to the appropriate quarters.” Nasarawa, who promised that the police would repeat the feat recorded in the conduct of the August 9 governorship poll in Osun State, said his men would henceforth make it impossible for poll riggers to have a field day

in Nigerian elections. He said: “May I recall that in the build up to the election, we gave assurances to the good people of Ekiti State, the residents, electoral stakeholders, election monitoring groups, local and international observers and of course, the entire nation that the police will leave no stone unturned in ensuring a very credible, peaceful, crisis-free and widely acceptable election in Ekiti."

amila, yesterday said last Saturday's election in Ekiti State is a turning point in the country’s political history. Gbajabiamila in a statement he personally signed in Abuja submitted that;“TheEkitigovernorship election of June 21, marks a watershed in our political history. Perhaps for the first time, we all witnessed the gallantry and magnanimity of opponents after a keenly fought electoral contest.” The APC leader congratulated the governorelect, Ayodele Fayose, for his victory. “I congratulate the governor-elect, the PDP, the Ekiti people and more importantly, I congratulate Nigeria and Nigerians, for indeed whether we like the outcome of the election or

not, sovereignty lies in the hands of the people.” The lawmaker, however, lamented that it took the country a long time to get it right, saying that he expected the milestone recorded in Ekiti to be extended to other parts of the country in 2015, without the drafting of military personnel out of the barracks. “It has become evident now that free, fair and credible elections can be held in Nigeria without the useof themilitary,andthatit is possible and better for the peoples’ votes to be counted and human suffrage respected. “We must now stop the unconstitutional use of the military in elections as their role under the provisions is purely to defend our territory from foreign aggression. It is only the police that are constitutionally empowered to maintain law and order,” he said.

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Ogun signs MoU with NHIS on health insurance gun State government people, adding that Osigned yesterday said it has the Community Based a Memorandum Health Insurance Scheme of Understanding (MoU) with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) towards improving the Community Based Health Insurance Scheme “Araya” in the state. Signing the MoU on behalf of the g ove r n m e n t , Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, said the collaborative efforts and commitment of stakeholders on health would make universal health coverage a reality. Soyinka emphasised the need to improve on health care services rendered to the

would be an avenue to solve various health challenges in recent time. “Our people need q u a l i t a t ive and sustainable healthcare that will be accessible to them anytime, anywhere and this scheme will definitely cater for these,” Soyinka noted. Executive Secretary, NHIS, Dr. Femi Thomas, said the health needs of the people must be attended to in a pragmatic way devoid of sentiments. He commended the state for the giant strides, adding that the initiative would drive the health sector forward.

10,000 cooperative societies yet to register in Lagos lGet 3-month ultimatum Muritala Ayinla agos State government yesterday said about 10,000 cooperative societies are yet to register with the state government even as it gave a three-month ultimatum to such societies to get accredited. Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, who made the disclosure, decried the rate of unregistered cooperative societies in the state, saying the development might hinder easy identification and proper planning by government. Briefing journalists on the activities lined up by

the government to mark the 2014 International Cooperatives Week, Lawal explained that co-operative societies remain one of the ways through which the state government deliver developmental programmes to farmers, adding that registration of the societies would enable government get to the people. He added that out of over 13,000 estimated cooperative societies, only 3,000 are accredited by the government through the Lagos State Co-operatives Federation (LASCOFED), urging those who are yet to register to do so by September, 2014.

Osun 2015: PDP accuses Aregbesola of recruiting thugs Adeolu Adeyemo OSOGBO

State chapter of the Otysun Peoples Democratic Par(PDP) yesterday said it

has uncovered plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to cause mayhem before and during the governorship election slated for August 9. PDP Director of Publicity and Strategy, Prince Diran Odeyemi, who raised the alarm in Osogbo, added that Aregbesola has started recruiting thugs to make his plan a reality. He said Governor Rauf Aregbesola is now creating a nest of thugs in a desperate move to instill fear in the electorate, following APC’s loss in the Ekiti election at the weekend. ”Some of the APC thugs unleashed terror on members of the party in

Ibokun, Ifewara, Iwo, Ilesa and some towns in Oriade Local Government areas between Sunday evening and early yesterday, apparently to intimidate them. "The report of these attacks on members of the party have been lodged with police authorities in the towns where the attacks were carried out and those who sustained varying degrees of injuries in the attack are receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital for security reasons. “Our investigations revealed that some of the hoodlums APC had wanted to move to Ekiti through Oke-Ila end, but who were stopped at the entry point by security men are now in some strategic towns in Osun State, especially in Ijesaland, where obviously the popularity of the incumbent governor has nose- dived.

L-R: Chairman, Ebamiyo Community, Lagos State, Alhaji Issa Agesin; former member of the House of Representatives, Bashir Bolarinwa; Chairman, Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), Lagos State Branch, Alhaji Dauda Aduamigba and Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, during a consultative meeting with Kwarans in Lagos State...at the weekend

13.01

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Colombia in 2012. Source: Itu.int

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The estimated total volume (in cubic meters) of global water withdrawals for energy production in 2010. Source: Unesco.org

35.2kph

The speed of Antonio Valencia (Manchester United footballer). Source: Goal.com

Court summons Okorocha, Imo AG SUMMONS Court seeks clarification on who to represent governor, AG in suit Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday summoned the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, and the Attorney-General of the state, ChukwumaMachukwu Ume, SAN, to appear before it in respect of a suit seeking the governor’s removal from office over his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The court summon was for the two to come and clarify who will represent

them in the legal suit. The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) had, through its counsel, Victor Odjemu, instituted the suit wherein it prayed the court for an order directing the Deputy Governor of Imo State or the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly or any officer next in line to the position of the governor, who is a member of the plaintiff (APGA) to be sworn-in as the governor of Imo State. There has been confusion on who to represent the defendants in the legal battle. At the last adjourned date, the trial judge, Justice A. R. Mohammed, had directed the two counsel who appeared for the defendants to file and serve written addresses in order to address the court yesterday, on who was properly briefed

to handle the matter on behalf of the first defendant, Governor Okorocha. But at yesterday's proceeding, Sunday Olabode, on behalf of the solicitors announced appearance for Okorocha while Niyi Akintola, SAN, also said he was duly instructed by Governor Okorocha to represent him in the suit. Olabode said he was asked by the AttorneyGeneral of Imo State and Commissioner for Justice, Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume, SAN, in a letter dated January, 2014 to handle the case for the defendants. On his part, Niyi Akintola, presented to the court a copy of the letter from Governor Okorocha, instructing him to handle the matter on his behalf. He told the court that Okorocha said he should represent him, because the

matter was personal and that it was not the Imo State government that was sued. Ruling on the issue, Justice Mohammed held that; “at the last adjournment, today was meant for the counsel, who had announced appearances for the first defendant (Okorocha) to address the court, but from what is happening in court now, the issue of legal representation for the first defendant is far from being resolved. “In view of this, I hereby direct that the first defendant and the Attorney-General should appear in the next adjourned date to clarify the dispute,” the court ordered. The matter was therefore adjourned to July 3, for Governor Okorocha and the AGF of Imo State to appear in court.

‘How Edo Deputy Speaker, Minority Leader escaped assassins’ bullets’ Cajetan Mmuta

BENIN

acts emerged yesterday about how three members of the Edo State House of Assembly escaped the assassins’ bullet in the state. The three, the Deputy Speaker, a member of the APC; the Minority Leader and another of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), were said to have escaped being killed by assassins at Abudu town, along the Asaba-Benin highway. New Telegraph investigation revealed that the Deputy Speaker, Festus Ebea, the Minority Leader, Emma Okoduwa, and Patrick Iluobe, were in the same car when they were stopped by men in long

jackets, who appeared like policemen, mounting a road block along the highway. They were returning to Benin City from Ebele community in Igueben council area, where they attended an investiture ceremony organised by the Anglican Church with the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Anthony Anenih, during their 16th Synod held on Sunday, when the incident occurred. Findings showed that the road block mounted by the heavily armed men had caused serious traffic jam as one of the suspected assassins personally opened each vehicle to check its occupants. It was learnt that while perceived security checks

lasted, all the official vehicles belonging to the three lawmakers and other aides queued behind that of the deputy speaker. One of the suspected gunmen at the checkpoint was said to have opened the SUV jeep in which the deputy speaker and others were travelling and ordered all the occupants to come down. He was further said to have cocked the trigger of his AK47 riffle in readiness to pull the trigger when the gun failed to go off for a close range shot at them. But an eagle eyed plainclothes police orderly, who was with the lawmakers had quickly pulled out his gun and shot at the suspect’s head, leaving him in the pool of hie own

blood along the lonely highway, a development that forced others to flee. Another of the suspects was said to have sustained serious gunshot injuries while five others escaped into the bush. It will be recalled that the PDPandAPClegislatorsinthe state House of Assembly have been locked in a supremacy battle in the last three weeks over the control of the hallowed chambers, following a suspension and countersuspensionorderamongthem. Edo State police command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Noble Uwoh,confirmedtheincident yesterday, but said that it was not an assassination attempt on the lawmakers but rather a robbery attack along the highway.

50 WORLD | NEWS

hree Al Jazeera journalists were jailed for seven years in Egypt yesterday after a court convicted them of helping a “terrorist organisation” by spreading lies, in a case that has raised questions about the country’s respect for media freedoms. The three, who all deny the charges, include Australian Peter Greste, Al Jazeera’s Kenya-based correspondent, and Canadian-Egyptian national Mohamed Fahmy, Cairo bureau chief of Al Jazeera English. The third defendant, Egyptian producer, Baher Mohamed, received an additional three-year jail sentence on a separate charge involving

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Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Al Jazeera journalists jailed in Egypt, supporters stunned possession of ammunition. There was a loud gasp in the courtroom as the verdicts were read out and some relatives of the defendants broke down. Shaken and near tears, Greste’s brother, Michael, said: “This is terribly devastating. I am stunned, dumbstruck. I’ve no other words.” The three men had looked upbeat as they entered the courtroom in handcuffs, waving at family members who had earlier told journalists they expected them to be acquit-

ted. One Dutch woman and two Britons were sentenced to 10 years in absentia on the same charges of aiding a “terrorist group”, seen as a reference to the banned Muslim Brotherhood. Qatar-based Al Jazeera said the rulings defied “logic, sense and

any semblance of justice”. “There is only one sensible outcome now. For the verdict to be overturned, and justice to be recognised by Egypt,” Al Jazeera English managing director Al Anstey said in a statement. Judicial sources told Reuters the verdicts

could be appealed before a higher court and a pardon was still possible. Egypt’s public prosecutor last week ordered the release of another Al Jazeera journalist, Abdullah al-Shamy, on health grounds after he spent more than 130 days on hunger strike.

Sudan to release woman on death row for apostasy

Sudanese woman on death row for apostasy had her sentence canceled and was ordered released by a Khartoum court yesterday, the country’s official news agency reported. SUNA said the Court of Cassation canceled the death sentence against 27-year-old Meriam Ibrahim after defence lawyers presented their case. The court ordered her release. Ibrahim, whose father was Muslim, but who was raised by her Christian mother, was convicted of apostasy for marrying a Christian. Sudan’s penal code criminalizes the conversion of Muslims to other religions, a crime punishable by death. Ibrahim married a Christian man from southern Sudan in a church ceremony in 2011. As in many Muslim nations, Muslim women in Sudan are prohibited from marrying non-Muslims, though Muslim men can marry outside their faith. Ibrahim has a son, 18-month-old Martin, who was

living with her in jail, where she gave birth to a second child last month, local media reported. By law, children must follow their father’s religion. The sentence drew international condemnation, with Amnesty International calling it “abhorrent.” The U.S. State Department said it was “deeply disturbed” by the sentence and called on the Sudanese government to respect religious freedoms. Sudan introduced Islamic Shariah law in the early 1980s under the rule of autocrat Jaafar Nimeiri, a move that contributed to the resumption of an insurgency in the mostly animist and Christian south of Sudan. The south seceded in 2011 to become the world’s newest nation, South Sudan. Sudanese President Omar Bashir, an Islamist who seized power in a 1989 military coup, has said his country will implement Islam more strictly now that the non-Muslim south is gone.

Obama seeks to expand flex-time for government workers

resident Barack Obama, as part of efforts to make the U.S. workplace more accommodating for employees with families, has directed federal agencies to step up efforts to give workers more leeway in determining their schedules. Obama, who is seeking to boost Democratic fortunes before the midterm elections in November, has been urging Congress to back legislation to make workplaces more “family friendly.” The president will issue a memorandum requiring fed-

eral agency heads to expand flexible workplace policies as much as possible, the White House said in a statement. The goal is to make it easier for parents or workers to take care of family needs and to enable more people to find and keep jobs. Obama will also make clear that federal workers may request a flexible work arrangement without fear it will subject them to negative consequences in the workplace, whether the request is granted or not, the White House said.

Al-Jazeera English producer, Baher Mohamed, center left, Canadian-Egyptian acting Cairo bureau chief Mohammed Fahmy, center, and correspondent Peter Greste, second right, appear in court along with several other defendants during their trial on terror charges, in Cairo, Egypt…yesterday PHOTO: AP

EU ministers threaten sanctions if Russia won’t cooperate

everal European foreign ministers yesterday threatened to impose further sanctions against Russia if it fails to cooperate with Ukraine’s proposed peace plan and doesn’t stop the flow of arms and militants across its border into eastern Ukraine. Russia is “conducting a propaganda war with full speed ahead and no signs of them closing the border,” said Swedish Foreign Minister, Carl Bildt. Armed militants and even tanks continue to cross the border into eastern Ukraine, he asserted. “If the Russians say they

don’t know how to close borders, I don’t think that’s a particularly credible statement,” Bildt added. In a joint statement, the European Union ministers urged Russia to withdraw its troops massed near the Ukrainian border and revoke the parliamentary authorization for the use of force on its neighbor’s soil. The EU also decided to ban imports of most products from the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in April. Separately, the ministers also gave the green light for an EU mission to help reform Ukraine’s police and judiciary. The EU and the United States

have, so far, mainly ordered visa bans and asset freezes for a number of officials, but have refrained from imposing broader economic sanctions. British Foreign Secretary, William Hague, said the EU will be able to agree on further sanctions against Russia at a summit of the bloc’s 28 leaders on Friday, if necessary. “Those measures are ready to take,” he said. “We look to Russia to take actual action to stop the flow of arms over the border into eastern Ukraine, to encourage illegal armed groups to stop what they are doing there now,” Hague said.

Iraqi crisis: John Kerry in Baghdad as Isis rebels advance

S Secretary of State John Kerry has vowed “intense and sustained support” for Iraq after meeting key politicians in the capital, Baghdad. His visit comes as Sunni insurgents expand their control of towns across the country’s north and west. The rebels are bearing down on a vital dam near Haditha, and have captured all of the

border crossings to Syria and Jordan from government forces. The key airport in the northern town of Tal Afar has also fallen to the rebels. There are reports the town itself has also fallen. Tal Afar controls the main road from the Syrian border to Mosul, Iraq’s second biggest city, which was captured by the rebels two weeks

ago. Heavily armed Iraqi troops are protecting the dam near Haditha. Residents told BBC Arabic that rebels had surrounded the town but had not yet entered it. An Iraqi military spokesman said that hundreds of Iraqi soldiers had been killed by Sunni Arab militants in the current offensive.

Eagles ready for Argentina challenge – Omeruo

Omeruo

uper Eagles defender, Keneth Omeruo, has said that the team was ready for the huge challenge in the last group match against Argentina. Omeruo said the team had all it takes to compete keenly

with the former world champions and come out with a result. According to him, the Argentina, Iran game has shown the world that the South Americans are not unbeatable if a team prepares well. He said, “We are not in any

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way scared of Argentina. Nobody gave us a chance against Bosnia but we went all out and got the three points. I believe we can do so against the Argentines also. “They have quality players in the team but we are going to

51 49

play together to ensure we get a result and shut our ears to whatever happens in the other game.” The Argentina, Nigeria game holds 1pm local time here and 5pm Nigerian time on Wednesday in Porto Alegre.

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AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

TUESday, june 24, 2014

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

It’s the final or nothing! –Osaze P

eter Osaze Odemwingie sees no reason why Nigeria cannot reach FIFA World Cup final if they play to their full potential. The Stoke City forward scored the only goal of the game against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday, to put Nigeria on the verge of qualifying for the last 16 in Brazil. The African champions only need a point against Argentina at Estadio Beira-Rio on Wednesday, to ensure

they will progress from Group F along with their opponents. Eagle will also be guaranteed a place in the Second Round if Iran fail to beat Bosnia-Herzegovina. Odemwingie believes Nigeria have what it takes to go all the way to the final, and the 32-yearold revealed that he was not the only one who is optimistic about their chances. “I saw a Brazilian on the street who told me he foresaw Nigeria playing

the final against Brazil and I said to myself why not, going by the level of our players and the fact that they are yet to peak,” Odemwingie said. “But mark my words, we have a very resilient defence, a creative midfield and an attack force that can trouble any defence in the world, if we play to our potentials, we can go all the way.” Nigeria have not progressed beyond the group stage of a World Cup since 1998.

Osaze celebrating with his team mate Emenike after scoring a goal against Bosnia

C’wealth Games: Emedolu calls for equal treatment of athletes Charles Ogundiya

ormer national track star, Uchenna Emedolu, has called on the Athletic Federation of Nigeria and the Sports Ministry to give athletes equal treatment in terms of motivation and grants, so that they can have equal opportunities to win medals for Nigeria.

Speaking to New Telegraph in Calabar during the Commonwealth Games trials at the weekend, Emedolu said there was need to encourage the athletes not minding where they are coming from since they are all Nigerians. The former All African Games gold medallist was speaking against the backdrop of the

dismal performance of some of the country’s male athletes at international competitions, a situation he described as pathetic, while putting much of the blame on the government. “The only thing is for these guys to be encouraged,” he said. “If you encourage them very well, they will surely run well. “The way athletes are treated

nowadays is different from when I was competing for Nigeria and there is a need to go back to that era, so that our boys can bring honour to Nigeria,” he said. On the performance of male athletes during the recently concluded Calabar trials, Emedolu said: “With what I saw here in Calabar, I believe they are coming up.” Emedolu

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Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

FIFA WORLD CUP

Alonso: I’ve not quit Spain yet R Alonso

eal Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso grabbed the headlines after Spain’s 2-0 defeat to Chile which saw the world champions eliminated from the World Cup after just two games -

by declaring that the team lacked “hunger” and “ambition”. Reports later emerged that the 32-year-old was to call time on an illustrious 11-year international career with Spain, in which

he has won two European Championships and one World Cup, but Alonso insisted he had not made any decision. Alonso said, “I’m still not at that moment, I want all this to end as soon as possible, go on holiday, disconnect a little and then decide things with time. Right now is not the time.” The midfielder refused to be drawn on suggestions that his team-mates were irked by his comments that the team lacked hunger, and insisted the atmosphere among the squad in

Brazil was similar to during the glorious Euro 2012 campaign. “I’m not going to say what’s happening in the dressing room, for me that should stay there,” he said. “The atmosphere and feeling in the dressing room is the same as it was two years ago. It’s all very natural, there isn’t the tension that you (the media) imagine there is.” Alonso also appeared to backtrack on his earlier scathing comments about the team’s attitude during the World Cup. “We know that we lacked intensity, but our enthusiasm has been the same as always,” he said. “The hardest thing was (to repeat) what we have already done, which is to win three competitions in four years.”

I want effective, not beautiful Play – Wilmots

elieved at securing qualification for the second phase of the World Cup finals with a late winner against Russia, Belgium coach Marc Wilmots ventured to embark upon an age-old debate. Is it enough to win, or must success be achieved in aesthetically pleasing fashion? Brazil fans have asked the question for decades, demanding not just success – of which they have had plenty down the years – but glory embellished with style. Any deviance from the path of O Jogo Bonito (the beautiful game) has been met with popular irritation and a nagging sense of unfulfilment. Wilmots says he and other coaches will be judged above all by results, leading him to an inescapable conclusion liable to dismay the romantic. “It’s not about being beautiful, but about being effective. Belgium are through to the next round and that is what counts,” said the 45-year-old, who appeared for the Red Devils at four World Cups including their last appearance at a major finals in 2002. “We are tactically very disciplined and we needed to be patient,” added Wilmots, who famously had a goal unfairly chalked

off against eventual champions Brazil in the round of 16 in 2002. With so much at stake, flair was barely the order of the day until Eden Hazard jinked his way to the byline before finding teenage substitute Divock Origi for the only goal right at the death. Wilmots is by no means alone in musing on whether teams should concentrate on winning with flair-filled football or in more functional fashion. Ahead of the tournament, Brazil starlet Neymar insisted winning is what ultiWilmots mately counts with style a distant second concern. suggesting when it comes to a straight fight, “Beautiful football is the last thing we even the home fans concede it’s really all are concerned about. What we want to do is about winning. to win,” insisted the Barcelona man. Despite some outbreaks of cagey be“Our team’s mentality is always the havior, this World Cup has seen attacking same, always beat any adversary, whoever football flourish at least in terms of the goalthey are.” scoring benchmark. It was therefore ironic that the hosts’ After 32 of the 64 games, 94 goals has been goalless draw against Mexico fueled loud scored for an average of 2.94 per game. grumbles from home fans when, had it not The tournament average in 2010 was 2.27, been for inspired goalkeeper Guillermo the second all-time lowest after 1990. Ochoa, Brazil would have won by a handful. While that does not compare with the 5.38 Thereby hangs a tale – plenty of chances average for 16 teams who turned out in the 1954 finals, it is the highest average since and attractive approach play. Style aplenty, substance of result lacking, Pele and company, the original purveyors

of jogo bonito, carried off the Cup in 1970. As coaches tread the fine line between the will to entertain and the will to succeed, United States’ coach and former World Cup winner Jurgen Klinsmann encapsulated before the event the problems Brazil in particular face in walking both sides of that line. “Winning is not enough – you have to score lots of goals and play entertaining football,” said the man who lifted the trophy as a player with West Germany in 1990 but who was criticised by US media for playing down expectations with his American charges.

SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

inside eagles camp Samba notes from Brazil

Compiled by Adekunle Salami

Boko Haram question I was in the train with Nigerian colleagues going to the Stadium in Sao Paulo when a student journalist approached us. He was excited to see us in accreditation tags of the ongoing World Cup. He managed to communicate with us in English which he described as ‘school English’ but to our surprise the guy asked a shocking question. He said; “How is Boko Haram?” we looked at ourselves and wondered what theterroristsaredoingtoNigeria image.It is all over the world that there is a group of people tormenting Nigerians. Second question was; “How do you guys cope?” And so we had to explain that Boko Haram operates in the north and we stay in the southern part of Nigeria. Sheath and language The language barrier remains a big deal here in Brazil and it could be so till we are out of here. A visiting Kenyan journalist went out on Saturday to the club and he came back with a lady to the hotel late in the night. He needed sheath to have a nice time with his guest but was unable to get one because he did not know how to tell the attendants in stores what he wanted. He saw some of us at the hotel lobby and told us about his predicament after going out twice in the cold without success. We now advised him to explain to the receptionist who could speak English. He summoned courage before he could talk to the lady who now wrotethesheath(condom)for him in Portuguese language in a plain paper. Pains of supporters club Thesupportersclubarestill agonising here in Brazil. They are yet to be permitted to enter stadium with their drums, butsadenoughothercountries areenteringstadiumwiththeir drums.Thelogisticshereisalso affecting the club. The members travelled for 27 hours to Cuiaba from Sao Paulo and met just the second half of the match against Bosnia. They again left Cuiaba by 12 midnight local time on Saturday onlytoarriveSaoPauloby5am. About 30 hours on the road.By Tuesday evening, the team will embark on another journey to PortoAlegre,venueoftheNigeria,Argentinamatch.Itistough here for all visitors.

Enyeama ranked best keeper in Brazil

uper Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, has been ranked the best goalkeeper so far at the on-going FIFA World Cup by Castrol’s player rating index. The Lille of France shot stopper, who won two Man of the Match awards from Nigeria’s three matches at the last edition of the competition in South Africa 2010, has so far made eight saves, the most so far by any goalkeeper in Brazil and is yet to concede a goal in the Super Eagles’ opening two games.

Coming second behind Enyeama, who has so far garnered 9.50 points, is Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa who also hasn’t conceded a goal, but is ranked second with 9.25 points, while the trio of Jasper Cillessen from the Netherlands (9.04 points), Hugo Lloris (8.86 points) and Claudio Bravo (8.82 points) from Chile all complete the top five. The trio of Juwon Oshaniwa, Kenneth Omeruo and Joseph Yobo are the remaining Nigerian players in the top 100 after two rounds of matches in Brazil.

20,000-plus Bosnia fans petition FIFA over ref lAfter photo appears of Enyeama, ref celebrating

Enyeama

‘Mikel can be world’s best with increased pace’

rsenal legend, Martin Keown, and former Manchester United player, Gary Neville, have advised John Mikel Obi to increase his pace and become more adventurous, rather than sticking to a defensive role at Chelsea, as it is hampering his development into a worldclass footballer. “Nigerians feel Chelsea have ruined him. He was a top talent as a 17-year-old; he was a really

Mikel

Eagles get match bonuses, allowances

uper Eagles have been paid all their match bonuses and allowances here in Brazil to ginger them to go all out for the crunch game against Argentina on Wednesday. Our correspondent learnt reliably that the players received $5,000 for the draw against Iran and also got $10,000 each for the big victory against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday in Cuiaba.

A member of the Nigeria Football Association said on Monday that the body was ready to provide all that the team requires at the ongoing global soccer fiesta. Meanwhile, an anonymous Nigerian has promised to give the Super Eagles N10m for every goal scored against Argentina in the final Group F tie on Wednesday.

New Telegraph partners Zenith Sports on predict and win promo

Eagles’ Enemies’ Camp

he New Telegraph newspaper has entered into a partnership with foremost sports manufacturing, sales and marketing company, Zenith Sports Group. The partnership flags off the Predict and Win promotions where readers are expected to predict results of matches at the Brazil 2014 World Cup. Winners will take home origi-

nal Super Eagles home and away jerseys and those of other top participating countries in the World Cup like Brazil, Germany, Argentina, Holland, Mexico and others. Participants are expected to cut out a designed foil on the sports pages of the New Telegraph, fill in the space for their names and phone number and submit their enveloped entries

at the company’s headquarters in Lagos located at 1A, Ajumobi Street, off Acme Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos. Draws to pick winners will be held a day after the match whose score line was predicted, at 2pm. We are starting the Predict and Win promo with the Nigeria versus Argentina Group F game on June 25. Submission of entries will close at kick-off time.

top player and was creative. I feel he wants to go and do something but he doesn’t have the pace really to make the difference in the final third,” Keown said. Phil Neville said: “He’s got such a big physical attribute, he should really be running forward almost Patrick Vieiralike. He takes touches on the ball, he slows things down, he doesn’t use that physicality he should be using.”

No injury worry for Babatunde

abatunde Michael doused injury fears as he resumed full training just as he told AfricanFootball.com he hopes to do more for Nigeria after he justified his starting place in a crucial 1-0 win over Bosnia. The left winger, who was picked ahead of Chelsea ace Victor Moses, was attended to twice during the Bosnia game by the medics for a cramp before he was substituted in the 76th minute by Shola Ameobi. “Babatunde (Michael) trained with the team on Sunday, he trained normally with the squad who played against Bosnia, I believe he is okay,” a source in the team said. “Everybody trained well and there are no injury worries, only Godfrey Oboabona didn’t train.”

n online petition has already drawn 20,000 signatures to remove referee Peter O’Leary from the World Cup after an image appeared of him ‘celebrating’ with Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama. The New Zealand referee drew widespread criticism after wrongly disallowing an Edin Dzeko strike after 21 minutes. Eight minutes later Peter Odemwingie fired the Super Eagles in front, but Emmanuel Emenike appeared to clip the heels of Emir Spahic in the build-up. That went unpunished and the appearance of the picture has prompted a Bosnian fan to send a petition to Fifa asking for the removal of O’Leary and the match to be changed to 1-1. In the aftermath of the game Manchester City striker Dzeko, who also hit the post late on, said O’Leary’s performance was “shameful”.

Argentina will play better against Nigeria –Messi

head of Argentina’s meeting with Nigeria on Wednesday, Lionel Messi has admitted that the former world champions “can play better” at the World Cup. Despite winning their first two games against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran, which secured their passage to the knockout rounds, La Albiceleste have looked scratchy and unconvincing in those Group F matches. And Messi, who scored in both of those fixtures, acknowledged that the Argentines are not playing at the level they want to. “If we analyse both matches we might say we can play better but as we progress in the tournament we will improve and reach our full potential,” he explained to the FIFA’s official site. “We know we are not playing as well as we are expected to.”

SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

News Updates Italy, Uruguay in Portugal, an average winner takes all battle team, says Ronaldo

ristiano Ronaldo has labelled Portugal an ‘average’ team after Paulo Bento’s side came within seconds of being eliminated from the World Cup before his cross was latched onto by substitute Silvestre Varela in the 95th minute to earn a 2-2 draw against USA. Portugal now need to overcome Ghana in their final group game and hope Germany beat the USA to stand any chance of progressing from Group G. And Ronaldo has revealed he never felt his side could win the World Cup after another lacklustre performance left their World Cup in doubt.

“Maybe we’re an average team,” he said to reporters. “It would be a lie to say that we are a top team. We have many limitations and suffer from injuries such as with Pepe [who was suspended] and [Fabio] Coentrao. This limits us a lot. We have a very limited team and we are not at the best level. This does not enable you to beat top teams. “There are no miracles. We knew we would have a tough group, with perhaps teams better than us. I never thought we could be world champions, we have to be humble and know our level. I’m not a hypocrite, I never thought we could win the tournament.”

aving been shocked by Costa Rica and beaten England, Italy and Uruguay will meet in Natal’s Estadio das Dunas for the right to advance through to the knockout stages of the World Cup on Tuesday. The draw will favour the Italians, who have a better goal difference than their Uruguayan counterparts.

Head-to-head

Italy

Matches

Wins

Losses

Uruguay

Drawn

Goals for

FIFA ranking

Cesare Prandelli left Marco Verratti out of his starting lineup for the clash with Costa Rica, but the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder could return. There have been further suggestions that Ciro Immobile may feature up front, but the Borussia Dortmund frontman could well start among the substitutes again. As for Uruguay, they will have Maximiliano Pereira available for selection following suspension, but Alvaro Pereira may miss out because of concussion. Captain Diego Lugano is also unlikely Luis Suarez (left) and Edinson to feature because of a knee Cavani celebrating one of Suarez’s goal against England complaint.

Netherlands beat Chile,top Group B

lAs Spain get consolation win

Maradona slams ‘pathetic’ England

rgentina legend Diego Maradona is shocked at England’s early elimination from the World Cup and wants to see action from the Football Association. “Thisfailuresurelyhas tosendamessagetotheFA authorities,” he said on his Argentine television programme, ‘De Zurda’. “England can’t go on like

this. England have a long history in the game and getting knocked out in the first round is not something that England fans should take easily.” Maradona sees a failure to implement a winter break as a significant reason behind the Three Lions’ international struggles, as well as a lack of proper experience for young talent.

STANDINGS (Group E-H) Group E P 1. France 2 2. Ecuador 2 3. Switzerland 2 4. Honduras 2 Group F 1. Argentina 2. Nigeria 3. Iran 4. Bosnia

W 2 1 1 0

D L F 0 0 8 0 1 3 0 1 4 0 2 1

A GD Pts 2 6 6 3 0 3 6 -2 3 5 -4 0

P W D L F A GD Pts 2 2 0 0 3 1 2 6 2 1 1 0 1 0 1 4 2 0 1 1 0 1 -1 1 2 0 0 2 1 3 -2 0

Group G P W D L F A GD Pts 1. Germany 2 1 1 0 6 2 4 4 2. USA 2 1 1 0 4 3 1 4 3. Ghana 2 0 1 1 3 4 -1 1 4. Portugal 2 0 1 1 2 6 -4 1 Group H P W D L F A GD Pts 1. Belgium 2 2 0 0 3 1 2 6 2. Algeria 2 1 0 1 5 4 1 3 3. Russia 2 0 1 1 1 2 -1 1 4.South Korea 2 0 1 1 3 5 -2 1

Leroy Fer puts Netherlands ahead against Chile

oals from Leroy Fer and Memphis Depay gave the Netherlands victory over Chile and ensured the Dutch top World Cup Group B. Fer scored in the final 15 minutes of what was a turgid affair,

netting with his almost first touch after replacing Wesley Sneijder. The Norwich midfielder met a deep cross after Arjen Robben’s short corner with a powerful header and Chile couldn’t reply. Depay netted on the break as the game entered injury time after Robben led a counter-attack and squared the ball for his young colleague to convert from close range. A Dirk Kuyt header gave Bravo a scare but the ball, from Robben’s corner, but the ball flashed well wide of the posts. Bravo was more exercised by Memphis Depay’s long-range drive, the Real Sociedad goalkeeper tipping over the bar.

Oboabona back in training

…Yobo prefers victory to 100 caps

uper Eagles received a major boost ahead of their last Group F match against Argentina as Godfrey Oboabona returned to training. The defender who missed Eagles victory over Bosnia last Saturday trained with the rest of the squad yesterday and could make the cut for the game against Albisleste tomorrow. “I am ready to resume training today (Monday) and the medics have given me a clean bill,” Oboabona said. Meanwhile, Captain Joseph Yobo has said he preferred to win on Wednesday to his much advertised attainment of a 100 caps if featured in the match against Argentina. “it’s a good news that I will reach that milestone but what is uppermost in my mind is for the team to win and for us to advance to the next stage. The rest will be a bonus”, he said on Monday.

Bravo had no chance from the resulting corner when Fer found space and thumped a header into the corner of the goal. Chilean penalty appeals after a risky Nigel de Jong challenge and a clumsy Kuyt attempt to win the ball when unanswered as the South Americans blustered for an equaliser. Instead it was Depay who added to the scoring as the Dutch preserved their unbeaten record. In the group’s other game, Spain left the 2014 World Cup with a win, after goals from David Villa, Fernando Torres and Juan Mata ensured a 3-0 victory over Australia.

Algeria coach slams critics after win

ictorious Algeria coach Vahid Halilhodzic rounded on his critics after seeing his side produce an “almost perfect” first-half display to rekindle their World Cup hopes with a 4-2 win over South Korea.

Halilhodzic

Victory - their first at a World Cup finals for 32 years - means a draw against Russia in Curitiba on Thursday could see them progress to the knockout stages, something Halilhodzic’s detractors thought was beyond them after their opening defeat. The Bosnian said: “You journalists have always criticised me, but the Algerian fans have always been behind us. This is quite paradoxical, but they have never lost confidence in us - you did on the first day. It’s a pity, it’s a pity for you. “But this is a present for everybody and I am sorry for you. We have won this match, we played very well, we scored four goals. Maybe you are sad, but this is how it is.”

SPORT 55

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Wimbledon 2014: Murray starts title defence in style lAs Li, Azarenka, Venus win openers

ndy Murray opened the defence of his Wimbledon title with victory over David Goffin, after walking on to Centre Court to a standing ovation. Murray, 27, received a rapturous reception as he fulfilled the tradition of returning men’s champions by opening play on Centre Court. The Briton, seeded third, had expected to feel the pressure of the occasion but he swept past Goffin 6-1 6-4 7-5.

He will play Slovenian Blaz Rola in the second round on Wednesday. “I thought it was a very high standard match,” Murray told BBC Sport after the victory. Meanwhile, in the women’s category, Australian Open champion Li Na and former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka and Venus Williams posted first-round victories on opening day. The second-seeded Li defeated Poland’s

Main draw serves off at ITTF Lagos World Tour Ajibade Olusesan

ith the conclusion of the preliminaries, the main draw of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Lagos World Tour serves off on Tuesday June 24 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, Nigeria. The top two players from each group are expected to progress to the main draw with matches starting in the U-21 event early on Tuesday.

Omotayo

With all the players already in Lagos for the four-day tournament, the Egypt’s eight-man team had their first training session on Monday with all eyes on African Champion, Egypt’s Omar Assar who had said that he is in Lagos to enjoy himself. For Italy’s based Olajide Omotayo, making it to the main draw of the U-21 event was not an easy task after managing a scrappy victory over Azeez Ogunlade. “I started the match badly because I just arrived from my base in Italy. But I started picking up during the second game. Also, my opponent is a familiar foe and it was so easy for me to overcome him. I am looking forward to a good outing in the tournament especially with the quality atmosphere in place,” Omotayo said.

Excitement for fans as Pepsi Street Cup tourney ends

he football tournament tagged Pepsi Street Cup Tour nament which created excitement in different parts of Nigeria for some weeks came to an end on Friday 20 and Saturday 21. Staged in the football cities of Ajegunle-Apapa and Egbeda centres simultaneously, the event saw fans troop in to watch the display of grassroots talents. Speaking to the media in Apapa, Head of Marketing, Seven-up Bottling Company, Mr. Norden Thurston said: “Pepsi is proud to have given Nigerians joy through football, a well known passion of the country, by taking the game to the people in their

own backyard where they can express themselves better.” The Apapa location saw KC Academy defeat AKP by 3-1 in the finals to cart awaythe N500 000 grand prize, while AKP settled for the first runner-up’s prize of N250,000. Lawal Akapo took home 150,000 Naira for placing third, after defeating The Royal by 1-0. Fans in Egbeda location were thrilled as their favourite team, Awori Street FC from Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi went away with with N500 000 after defeating G Boys FC by 1-0 at the final. G Boys got a consolation prize of N250 000 while the third place winner, Ajao Jimoh also got N150 000 for beating Moving Train FC by 2-0.

Paula Kania 7-5, 6-2 on the famed Centre Court, while the eighth-seeded Azarenka defeated 32-year-old Croat Mirjana LucicBaroni 6-3, 7-5 on No. 1 Court at the venerable All England Club. Li second-round opponent will be Austrian Yvonne Meusburge whileAzarenka will be up against Serbian Bojana Jovanovski. 30th-seeded Williams picked up her first Wimbledon win in three years with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 victory over Spaniard Maria-Teresa TorroFlor and she will be meeting Japan’s Kurumi Nara in the second round. Murray

Brazil 2014 Group Stage Fixtures Date

Thursday June 12 A Friday June 13 A Friday June 13 B Friday June 13 B Saturday June 14 C Saturday June 14 C Saturday June 14 D Saturday June 15 D Sunday June 15 E Sunday June 15 E Sunday June 15 F Monday June 16 G Monday June 16 F Monday June 16 G Tuesday June 17 H Tuesday June 17 A Tuesday June 17 H Wed June 18 B Wed June 18 B Wed June 18 A Thursday June 19 C Thursday June 19 D Thursday June 19 C Friday June 20 D Friday June 20 E Friday June 20 E Saturday June 21 F Saturday June 21 G Saturday June 21 F Sunday June 22 H Sunday June 22 H Sunday June 22 G Monday June 23 B Monday June 23B Monday June 23A Monday June 23A Tuesday June 24 D Tuesday June 24 D Tuesday June 24 C Tuesday June 24 C Wed June 25 F Wed June 25 F Wed June 25 E Wed June 25 E Thursday June 26 G Thursday June 26 G Thursday June 26 H Thursday June 26 H

Group Teams

Brazil V Croatia Mexico V Cameroon Spain V Netherlands Chile V Australia Colombia V Greece Uruguay V Costa Rica England V Italy Côte d’Ivoire V Japan Switzerland V Ecuador France V Honduras Argentina V Bosnia & H Germany V Portugal IRAN V NIGERIA Ghana V USA Belgium V Algeria Brazil V Mexico Russia V Korea Republic Australia V Netherlands Spain V Chile Cameroon V Croatia Colombia V Côte d’Ivoire Uruguay V England Japan V Greece Italy V Costa Rica Switzerland V France Honduras V Ecuador Argentina V Iran Germany V Ghana NIGERIA V BOSNIA & H Belgium V Russia Korea Republic V Algeria USA V Portugal Netherlands V Chile Australia V Spain Cameroon V Brazil Croatia V Mexico Italy V Uruguay Costa Rica V England Japan V Colombia Greece V Côte d’Ivoire Nigeria V Argentina Bosnia & H V Iran Honduras V Switzerland Ecuador V France Portugal V Ghana USA V Germany Korea Rep V Belgium Algeria V Russia

Time

9pm 5pm 8pm 11pm 5pm 8pm 11pm 2am 5pm 8pm 11pm 5pm 8pm 11pm 5pm 8pm 10pm 5pm 8pm 11pm 5pm 8pm 11pm 5pm 8pm 11pm 5pm 8pm 11pm 5pm 8pm 11pm 5pm 5pm 9pm 9pm 5pm 5pm 9pm 9pm 5pm 5pm 11pm 11pm 5pm 5pm 9pm 9pm

Venue

Results

Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo Estadio das Dunas, Natal Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza Arena Amazonia, Manaus Arena Pernambuco, Recife Estadio Nacional, Brasilia Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre Maracanã, Rio De Janeiro Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador Arena da Baixada, Curitiba Estadio das Dunas, Natal Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre Maracanã, Rio De Janeiro Arena Amazonia, Manaus Estadio Nacional, Brasilia Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo Estadio das Dunas, Natal Arena Pernambuco, Recife Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador Arena da Baixada, Curitiba Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba Maracanã, Rio De Janeiro Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre Arena Amazonia, Manaus Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo Estadio Nacional, Brasilia Estadio Nacional, Brasilia Arena Pernambuco, Recife Estadio das Dunas, Natal Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador Arena Amazonia, Manaus Maracanã, Rio De Janeiro Estadio Nacional, Brasilia Arena Pernambuco, Recife Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo Arena da Baixada, Curitiba

3 - 1 1-0 1 - 5 3 - 1 3-0 1-3 1-2 2-1 2-1 3-0 2-1 4-0 0-0 1-2 2-1 0- 0 1-1 2-3 0-2 0-4 2-1 2-1 0-0 1-2 2-5 1-2 1-0 2-2 1-0 1-0 2-4 2-2 2-0 0-3

World Record

On Marble

It is not what you do for your children, but what you have taught them to do for themselves, that will make them successful human beings.

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

– Ann Landers

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

Sanctity of Truth

TUESday, JUNE 24, 2014

Guus Hiddink (1998 &2002) and Luiz Felipe Scolari (2002 & 2006) are the only two coaches to have made it to the World Cup semi-finals with two different teams.

N150

Is the door always open? A perspective on artistic diversity in decline

cclaimed author Igor ToronyLalic recently published a column in which he decried norms bordering ‘reverse racism’ and specifically, wrote at length on the undertone of a new unequal union in the beautifully dystopian, ever-imperfect industry of art. “Short of chaining minorities to seats”, Mr. Torony-Lalic remarks on the subject, “…arts institutions couldn’t have done any more”. It’s a bold stance (though admittedly part of a larger narrative which the author no doubt masterfully crafts); it is one that warrants attention and will likely garner interest and support. However, it is important to note that when forecasting the state of this union, longstanding inequalities do linger. They deter not just a worthwhile education in the arts, but stifle the ambitions of those who feel that their gifts have been crafted and are, perhaps at a young age, ready for the prominent stage to showcase them. Born in West Africa and early in my life I believed that I wanted to be the best artist in the world. In this light and with these ambitions in mind, I believe a refresher is seemingly needed on the current appetite of the industry internationally to promote artists from seemingly unique walks of life. Perhaps a barometer is required to gage exactly how level the playing field truly envisions itself to be in contemporary art and indeed culture, after so much ‘progress’ has been achieved. Ageism, apparent in the discrimination of artists young and old, continues to halt the forward-trajectory of many talented individuals who dared to dream with the gifts they have been given and adamantly believe that their ideas are of equal merit. They continue to reach for opportunities consistently denied to them, ever-climbing despite in some cases, a lack of traditional training and worse yet, the dreaded alibi for their inevitable disentitlement, ‘seasoning’. In Nigeria and around the world, sexism, as another example, is a cross-sectoral threat to budding genius and innovation.

Guest Columnist Kofi Buahin

In Venezuela presently, the arts served and continue to serve as perhaps the only escape for many from a life of dire poverty and morbid violence. As narcotrafficking remains a viable criminal enterprise and freedom of expression has long been quashed with the barrel of a gun, a quarter of a million kids often spend up to six afternoons a week studying classical music Let’s get specific. New York City, journalist Elanor J. Bader noted that in 2012 at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), nearly 170 artists had their works prominently on display. Out of them, only 13 were female. This industry dilemma was no doubt compounded by the fact that concurrently, the modern art section of New York’s Metropolitan Museum was 97 percent male; “on the flip side”, Elanor documented, “…83 percent of the nudes were - you guessed it - girls and women”. Many refute the inequalities that I take note of every day. They believe the inherent instinct within the arts is presently, like Mr. Torony-Lalic states, to engage in reverse racism. Thus, for example, British halls promote “…a conveyor belt of increasingly obscure Venezualan youth orchestras, flown over at [our] expense, taking precedence over homegrown ones”. Sir, the conveyor belt is simply not moving quickly enough. For in Venezuela presently, the arts served and continue to serve as perhaps the only escape for many

Gallery sample of one of Kofi Buahin’s works

from a life of dire poverty and morbid violence. As narco-trafficking remains a viable criminal enterprise and freedom of expression has long been quashed with the barrel of a gun, a quarter of a million kids often spend up to six afternoons a week studying classical music. They do so as part of “a radical social project”, wrote Charlotte Higgins in the Guardian, “…in which children, often living in unthinkable circumstances, are given the chance to punch through the poverty cycle” – this escape has been brought to you by the investment in skills learned through the arts. Despite these instances of modern-day inequality, we remain undeterred. In lieu of them, we commend the galleries and often the humanitarians behind them who seek to challenge the status quo and promote those who might otherwise be ignored. For example, we aspiring artists applaud organizations such as the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation (RPAF), created by brothers

Danny, Russell and Joseph “Rev. Run” Simmons (the latter indeed of the groundbreaking hip-hop group, Run D.M.C.), and their efforts to reinforce, encourage, promote and feature emerging artists nationwide, a program successfully operating from inception in 1995. However and ultimately, despite the diligent efforts of organizations and individuals to support those who aim to ‘open the door’ to the disproportionate yet nonetheless awe-inspiring arts world, there are glaring inconsistencies which ‘jam the lock’. In some way, because of these, I often find myself second-guessing and asking simply “…am I good enough to be here?” And I know I’m not alone. Mr. Torony-Lalic, if the arts industries are failing at equality and diversity, perhaps that doesn’t mean that we should “rage against them for not doing enough”, as you put it. I don’t believe naming and shaming is the answer. But the first step to tangible change is, at the very least, admitting there remains a problem and working collaboratively to rectify it. • Kofi Buahin is a Ghanaian-born artist and multimedia production entrepreneur and former enlistee with the United States Navy.

OmoBaba

FAYOSE DEDICATES VICTORY TO EKITI PEOPLE -News

– Yes o, because the voice of the people is the voice of God!

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